PoochieBells Solid Classic Black Dog Potty Training Doorbell</a>) to hang on the doorknob. He was afraid of them at first, but now he'll bap 'em with his nose & claw at 'em like mad...after I've realized he desperately needs to pee & am at the door with him, trying to put on his harness as he frantically claws at the bells & wriggles like crazy. Dunno how long it's gonna take for him to figure out that we'd all be a lot happier if he'd ring them earlier.\n** Forever: he never did learn to ring the bells, still won't bark, & will only whine if he's about to rupture a kidney. But I've gotten really good at deciphering reeally subtle doggy body language!","Product: Virbac Kitty Korner Komber Self-Grooming Aid for Cats is made of durable, high-impact grade plastic. Attaches easily to wall or corner. Simple to remove and easy to clean. Appeals to cat's natural rubbing instinct.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My cat loves it! Had to buy more after move.\n\nReview: I put one of these up for my cat in our old house, then forgot to take it with us when we moved. My fuzzball Maine coon looooves these things, whether or not I've remembered to put fresh catnip in lately.\n\nbtw, I've never relied on the stick-em or velcro fasteners they come with; even tho this particular brand didn't come with screw holes already existing, it took moments to buzz a coupla screws through it into the wood/wall (I got 2, one for a big wooden aquarium stand, to make sure I couldn't forget to bring it next move!). I figure if the stick-em was powerful enough to hold the thing in place, it'd rip a big patch of paint off, anyway; easier to spackle over little holes if necessary.","Product: Petsport 50010 Biscuit Buddy\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: nice idea, if it didn't fall off all the time\n\nReview: This treat holder does have some nice features; drawstring closure for keeping the treats in ( & dog snouts out), little side zipper pocket which can hold a poo bag, small training clicker, & key. Safety clip to snap onto belt loop so you don't lose it when the utterly useless loose, wimpy clip falls off your belt.\n\nof course, if you ever walk/work with/train your dog while wearing anything that DOESN'T have belt loops, you are (pardon the expression) screwed, & the Biscuit Buddy becomes ByeBye Buddy...& I'm SO glad I didn't have my car or house key in it when I walked on the beach this afternoon.\n\nSo if every single item of clothing you own has belt loops --in the right place-- this is a great treat bag. If not, avoid this thing like the plague. (Ever walk the dog in sweat pants? Buy several replacements.) The clip is incredibly loose & wimpy & strictly for show; the bag falls off every time you bend over, bump it, jog, run, sneeze, or laugh hard.\n\nbtw, I just read some of the other reviews. I did not get mine from Amazon, but from a local retailer. I'm fairly certain I had the actual BB pictured here; it had the zip pocket & the fabric seemed fairly heavy duty, & I'm pretty sure the logo looked just like the ones in the pic. I cannot, of course, compare mine with those pictured, since by now either someone picked it up from the beach & is being aggravated by the stupid belt clip, or it's blown into the Pacific & some large fish is happily digesting the organic doggy treats which were in it (including some very expensive freeze dried goat heart....grrr).\nSo, the brand name \"real\" one has a lousy clip which (as another reviewer noted) is permanently affixed to the bag. I'm going to try another brand, as a treat pouch is VERY handy to have for teaching purposes.","Product: The KONG Squeakair Ball combines two classic dog toys - the tennis ball and the squeaker toy - to create the perfect fetch toy. Our durable, high-quality Squeakair tennis ball will not wear down your dog's teeth. It's made with a special non-abrasive felt, compared to the abrasive material on normal tennis balls.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Eskie adores it, it's survived so far\n\nReview: My Eskie destroys toys very quickly, so when I picked out his first Kong ball (at a local store) I chose one that was almost too big for him, figuring he'd have a harder time mangling it. I seem to've lucked out; it's way too big for him to swallow of course, but he has no trouble with the basics; he can pick it up, carry it around, catch it, & make it squeak --oh boy, can he make it squeak!-- but after almost 2 weeks, the ball & it's squeaker is just fine.\n\nHe figured out very quickly that he could vary the squeak sound by changing where the air hole was in his mouth. He'll sit around sometimes just noodling around with the squeaks, playing with the tone, speed, delay, etc...maybe he's composing doggy squeak sonatas.\n\nI dunno if I lucked out & got an especially tough one, or choosing a slightly bigger one helped, or if he just decided not to destroy it yet (sometimes he'll appear to elect not to mangle a certain toy), but it's held up great so far. l'll add an edit when/if it dies.\n\nSize info; he's quite small for a standard Eskie, around 16.5-17 pounds, 14-15 inches at shoulder (not counting hair, of course!), & his muzzle is about 2.5 inches long (tip of nose to inner corner of eye, 'bout where his snoot stops). I bought a medium, which is 2.5 inches in dia).","Product: PoochieBells, The Leader in Dog Potty Training & Communication Dog Doorbells Since 2005. PoochieBells are proudly 100% handcrafted in the USA for millions of happy dog families. Each PoochieBell comes complete with easy pet profesionally endorsed training instructions. Choose quality for your home, family & pet, Choose PoochieBells.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: great idea! hope the dog figures it out soon\n\nReview: I bought these for my American Eskimo puppy because he refuses to bark or whimper or claw at the door, or anything like that to let me know when he needs to go out. He was afraid of them at first*, but now he'll bap 'em with his nose & claw at 'em like mad...after I've realized he desperately needs to pee & am at the door with him, trying to put on his harness as he claws at the bells & wriggles like crazy. Dunno how long it's gonna take for him to figure out that we'd all be a lot happier if he'd ring them earlier. Or bark. Or do something a bit more obvious than giving me a brief glance, maybe walking a step or two toward the door.\n\nI'm reading \"The Genius of Dogs\" & thinking perhaps my guy isn't a doggy Einstein, but I love him anyway :-)\n\nOTOH, my Maine Coon cat (who's 100% indoor) figured out within a coupla days that \"ring the bells means we go out\" so he spends a lot of time slapping the bells & then giving me the Kitty Death Glare when I won't let him out.\n\n*To get him over the fright, I had to do quite a bit of me barely 'tinging' the bells in front of him while giving him treats, then clicker training him to touch them with his nose. He has been a bit fearful of new things but usually gets over it quickly. I think these took longer because it turned out my roommate was jangling them like mad in his face early on, which reinforced the fear until i found out what was going on.","Product: Made from inert soft thermoplastic polymer to satisfy the chewing instinct of teething puppies and encourage non-destructive chewing. Bristles raised during chewing will help clean teeth and prevent tartar build up. Designed for teething puppies - Not recommended for adult dogs or puppies with any permanent teeth\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: awfully big & awfully hard\n\nReview: Bought one for a 9 1/2 week old American Eskimo standard puppy. He weighs 6 1/2 pounds.\nOne piece of the toy is just about the size of his front leg, & about as long as his head. It's not so big that he can't get his mouth around it, certainly, but could definitely be smaller; I can't imagine how a youngster of one of the really small breeds could get much use out of this.\nAlso, I expected the pieces to be softer than the traditional Nylabone, but they don't seem to be (granted, I've never gnawed on this or the old fashioned kind...). I'm somewhat concerned about the puppy chewing on this with his little puppy needle teeth.\n\nSo: seems too hard, too big. I don't feel comfortable leaving it with him.\n\nedit:\nby the time he was about 4months old, he'd grown into it & it went into the toy pile. He plays with it as much as the others in the 'bottom half' of his toy collection; the ones that arent' his faves but he drags out every now 'n' then like he just discovered it for the first time. upgraded to 3 stars from 1, but probably still wouldn't recommend for baby teeth; he's got his big-boy fangs now.","Product: PoochieBells, The Leader in Dog Potty Training & Communication Dog Doorbells Since 2005. PoochieBells are proudly 100% handcrafted in the USA for millions of happy dog families. Each PoochieBell comes complete with easy pet profesionally endorsed training instructions. Choose quality for your home, family & pet, Choose PoochieBells.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: great idea! hope the dog figures it out soon\n\nReview: I bought these for my American Eskimo puppy because he refuses to bark or whimper or claw at the door, or anything like that to let me know when he needs to go out. He was afraid of them at first*, but now he'll bap 'em with his nose & claw at 'em like mad...after I've realized he desperately needs to pee & am at the door with him, trying to put on his harness as he claws at the bells & wriggles like crazy. Dunno how long it's gonna take for him to figure out that we'd all be a lot happier if he'd ring them earlier. Or bark. Or do something a bit more obvious than giving me a brief glance, maybe walking a step or two toward the door.\n\nI'm reading \"The Genius of Dogs\" & thinking perhaps my guy isn't a doggy Einstein, but I love him anyway :-)\n\nOTOH, my Maine Coon cat (who's 100% indoor) figured out within a coupla days that \"ring the bells means we go out\" so he spends a lot of time slapping the bells & then giving me the Kitty Death Glare when I won't let him out.\n\n*To get him over the fright, I had to do quite a bit of me barely 'tinging' the bells in front of him while giving him treats, then clicker training him to touch them with his nose. He has been a bit fearful of new things but usually gets over it quickly. I think these took longer because it turned out my roommate was jangling them like mad in his face early on, which reinforced the fear until i found out what was going on.","Product: Made from inert soft thermoplastic polymer to satisfy the chewing instinct of teething puppies and encourage non-destructive chewing. Bristles raised during chewing will help clean teeth and prevent tartar build up. Designed for teething puppies - Not recommended for adult dogs or puppies with any permanent teeth\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: awfully big & awfully hard\n\nReview: Bought one for a 9 1/2 week old American Eskimo standard puppy. He weighs 6 1/2 pounds.\nOne piece of the toy is just about the size of his front leg, & about as long as his head. It's not so big that he can't get his mouth around it, certainly, but could definitely be smaller; I can't imagine how a youngster of one of the really small breeds could get much use out of this.\nAlso, I expected the pieces to be softer than the traditional Nylabone, but they don't seem to be (granted, I've never gnawed on this or the old fashioned kind...). I'm somewhat concerned about the puppy chewing on this with his little puppy needle teeth.\n\nSo: seems too hard, too big. I don't feel comfortable leaving it with him.\n\nedit:\nby the time he was about 4months old, he'd grown into it & it went into the toy pile. He plays with it as much as the others in the 'bottom half' of his toy collection; the ones that arent' his faves but he drags out every now 'n' then like he just discovered it for the first time. upgraded to 3 stars from 1, but probably still wouldn't recommend for baby teeth; he's got his big-boy fangs now.","Product: Our Healthy Edibles Puppy Chew Treats are the highly digestible, natural puppy treats that growing puppies love. Crafted with wellness in mind, these turkey and sweet potato puppy treats are gentle enough for your puppy's delicate digestive system, made with natural ingredients, and contain no added salt, sugar, or artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. These longer-lasting puppy treats are for puppies 3 months and older.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: great, IF you want an orange dog, house, etc\n\nReview: Just got these today, gave one to my 9 1/2 week-old Eskimo puppy. Went to refill water bowl. Came back less than two minutes later to find him chewing happily away, which seemed great until I noticed great spots & smears of deep orange on his bedding towels.\nThe bone wasn't even visibly marred or wet, but there were also big spots of orange on both his front legs and his face. I'm really glad I didn't leave it in there longer. I tried to take pix of the orange-blotched puppy, but the light in here's lousy. It's too bad; he's adorable (but naturally so; doesn't need a dye job).\nSo, maybe if you're a rabid Denver Bronco fan* (or maybe U Tennessee), you might be happy with these, but they REALLY need to lay off the annatto. I assume they're trying to make he sweet potato ingredient stand out, but products made with real sweet potato don't bleed radioactive orange all over the place.\nPuppy gives it many stars (I think); I give it zero for ludicrously overdone coloring.\n\n*Actually I am, but not so much I want my house & my dog looking like they got cluster bombed by neon pumpkins.","Product: The only dog treat made with organic wheatgrass\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: healthy maybe, but dog won't touch 'em\n\nReview: well, nice idea --organic, healthy, eco-friendly, made in USA & all that marvy stuff, but my American Eskimo 'teenager' (17 weeks) won't eat the things if he's starving. He won't even eat his favorite treats if these things have been in the same bag for longer than a minute or two. When I offer him one of these oh-so-wunnerful things, he sniffs it gingerly for a moment, then backs away from it while looking at it only from the corner of his eyes, as if it were violently toxic or explosive or scorching hot. He's not a particularly picky eater, either.\n\nbtw, the statements on the package that these are gluten free, & that 'wheat grass contains no wheat gluten' are quite disingenuous: technically, yes, wheat grass contains no gluten --it's in the wheat kernel. However, as any very sensitive celiac will tell you, the likelihood of wheat grass being harvested without any wheat kernels whatsoever are vanishingly small. I haven't encountered data on the prevalence of celiac sprue or gluten sensitivity in dogs, but these would only be really gluten free in a perfect world...& in my 11 years of forced gluten avoidance I have learned repeatedly (to my extreme misery) that perfection does NOT happen in food processing.","Product: The PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist 'n Treat is a highly adjustable treat dispensing rubber toy specifically designed for teething puppies younger than 6 months.Twist the two pieces apart for easy access to treats, or twist closer together for more of a challenge. Works with a wide variety of food options. Not recommended for strong chewers; gentle on puppy teeth. Dishwasher safe, top rack only.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: okay idea, lousy execution\n\nReview: This is an okay idea, but the execution is seriously lacking. It's a pain to fill; you either unscrew it completely, fill, & screw back together (which is complicated by the fact that the treats get stuck in the threads), or you put it together & sneak the bits in thru the gap, meanwhile sealing the other side with the other hand so they don't fall right through.\n\nThen you give it to your dog. If, like my Eskimo, your dog paws at a treat dispenser instead of just nosing it around, it's very easy for the dog to shift the pieces --i.e. screw it in tighter so the little openings shift & nothing comes out, which frustrates my dog like crazy, or loosen it so all the goodies just dump out at once, which obviates the whole idea. It takes very little shift to change the dispensing parameters. Either way, I suppose it provides practice at taking food away from your dog without him biting you, because you have to keep grabbing it away from the dog to re-tighten/-loosen, but in all, it hardly falls under my definition of ideal fun toy or treat dispenser. i got him another, ball-type, dispenser toy which worked great; all I have to do is find the darned thing.","Product: The Exo Terra Turtle Bank Magnetic Floating Island is a unique floating basking area for aquatic turtles. Held in place by magnets, the Exo Terra Turtle Bank can be positioned in the corner of the terrarium to maximize swimming area. The submerged ramp auto adjusts to different water levels, allowing turtle's easy access to a dry basking area for maximum exposure to heat and UVB lamps. The Exo Terra Turtle Bank is available in 3 sizes and with its detailed design and neutral colors, it fits into any terrarium.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Made of toxic waste plastic?? Stay away!!\n\nReview: I bought one of these for my musk turtle a few months ago. He already had a favorite basking spot (one of the faux rock 'caves') but already outgrew the opening in his first fake cave, so I thought I'd plan ahead. The platform did stay in place, helped by the magnets, but when I took the tank down for a regular cleaning a couple of weeks ago & pulled out this platform I was blasted by a hideous, chemical-ish, toxic-waste-type smell. I was utterly appalled --it smelled AWFUL, and I couldn't imagine that it could be healthy for Sir Edmund to be wallowing in whatever is coming off this thing. I cleaned out his tank really well & rinsed everything. The platform went straight into the trash (tho I worry about the landfill...what could be safe disposal for this thing???).\n\nSo far, Sir E seems to be showing no ill effects, thank heavens. I can't imagine what the heck this thing is made of; the faux rock caves look like similar plastic, but after years of use, they have no smell at all besides an occasional algal whiff. I wouldn't use one of these things again around a live animal if you paid me.","Product: Bright colors and extreme attention to detail is just what the extrovert in the family need to express themselves. Rogz Fancy Dress Range, 5/8-Inch Scooter fully adjustable H-Harness features super-fashion ribbon stitched onto pure high grade nylon webbing. All joins are box stitched for extra strength and a quality finish. Spoil your dog with a lead and collar to match and they will certainly stand out in the pack. Choose carefully and never spoil only one dog in the family - we do not want things to get out of control! The perfect outfit for those very special occasions.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Mostly a terrific harness\n\nReview: I say \"mostly\" because it's well made, more adjustable than most H harnesses (most others don't have an adjustable strap between the legs*), & because the latest one lasted over 6 months on my exasperating American Eskimo. He's not quite 20 pounds but has a bite like an alligator. I only put the harness on him when he's on leash (or lately running around the yard when I'm there). I check his harness very regularly because he tends to bite thru that between-the-legs strap. This morning he gnawed all the way thru this one in about 5 minutes. I don't really blame the harness, because unless I reinforce that strap with Kevlar or neutronium, his harnesses don't last 6 weeks, much less that many months. I actually did not reinforce this one, so I think it did pretty well, considering. I am buying another one just like it because it fits well & (since I WILL reinforce this one) it should hold up very well.\n\n3 years later: a few months after this review, I did get another of the same design & reinforced the chest strap with strips from this one. Kenta is still prancing around in that harness. Tho admittedly, he doesn't chew on his harness as much as he did as a young'un, this type of harness has held up very well.\n\n*this is a great feature; I went thru a dozen or more harnesses before I got this type, & this is the only one that fit his adorable but apparently weird shape. I posted pix on the Rogz H Harness small (a size down from this one) to show where he chews, if anyone is interested.","Product: When nature calls, Wee-Wee Pads answer! These dog pee pads are more absorbent than ever, featuring a 6-layer Floor Armor leak-proof system and oversized quilted pads. They also provide 24-hour wetness protection and include a targeted attractant to draw your dog to the pad. One size fits all, so these pads are great for both puppy training and senior dogs. Plus, our refreshed new packaging still allows you to recognize the Four Paws brand you know and love!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: need folded edges to prevent leakage\n\nReview: I was buying the 'classic piddle pads' from the website of those 2 probably non-existent web \"drs\", & frankly I wish I'd stayed with them. They would've been slightly more expensive this time around, but they have one HUGE advantage over these 4-paws brand; folded edges which prevent the piddle from running over the edge & leaking all over everywhere. I don't use the tray, & don't intend to (am just housebreaking a puppy).\n\nThey're not terribly absorbent, either: My puppy is sorta housebroken but hasn't figured out how to indicate that he needs to go out*; he basically waits for me to read his mind to know when he needs to pee. If I fail to do so fast enough, sometimes he'll go to the weewee pads (which are right by the door) & tinkle just a little, to take the urgency out of the situation. Then he waits some more. Unless he hits the wwp dead center, it runs over the side even with this small amount. If he can't get my attention, or I'm out of the house, & he lets the whole bladder go, it'll soak & run over 2 of the small pads & run off onto the newspaper underneath.\n\nWould not buy again, don't recommend unless you have a leak-proof tray to contain overflows.\n(edit; I goofed the first time it posted; I meant to actually give it 1 or 2 stars, not 3. I'll stay with 2, since at least I've not run into any with holes in 'em. )\n\n*I even bought the little doggie bells (<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/PoochieBells-Solid-Classic-Black-Dog-Potty-Training-Doorbell/dp/B0016IWV02/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">PoochieBells Solid Classic Black Dog Potty Training Doorbell</a>) to hang on the doorknob. He was afraid of them at first, but now he'll bap 'em with his nose & claw at 'em like mad...after I've realized he desperately needs to pee & am at the door with him, trying to put on his harness as he frantically claws at the bells & wriggles like crazy. Dunno how long it's gonna take for him to figure out that we'd all be a lot happier if he'd ring them earlier.\n** Forever: he never did learn to ring the bells, still won't bark, & will only whine if he's about to rupture a kidney. But I've gotten really good at deciphering reeally subtle doggy body language!","Product: Healers Booties are designed for protection and healing. The Healers boot provides air flow and moisture wicking properties, decreasing the opportunity for infections and shortening recovery time for injuries to the animal. Healers are manufactured with a High Tech medical grade material that is used in the human market for healing wraps. Its outer surface is loop fabric so the hook can attach anywhere. This provides pet owners the ability to get a snug, secure, fit as they wrap the boot around the paw. The Velcro Hook applied is low profile, high tensile strength hook that enables a strong hold, keeping the boot in its place. Healer's uses the highest quality components available and are made in the USA. They are recommended and used by Veterinarians. Our boots are made to last and are machine washable. Healers Gauze Inserts are designed to fit right inside the boot turning the boot into a non-adhesive bandage. The gauze pads will not stick to the wound while it heals and it has adhesive on the back side so you can place it where you need it. Healers Boots are comfortable, they provide traction on hardwood floors and the synthetic leather sole are perfect for light outdoor use. Best of all they are a bandage that is easy to use and make dressing changes a snap. Healers booties are sold as individual units or in a box set with 2 boots and 2 gauze inserts. They come in 5 sizes from extra small to extra large. Healers Gauze pads can be purchased separately. If you need added protection, check out Healers Leg Wraps. The leg wraps will connect to the boots extending the boot up the leg.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Jury's still out; 1 fell off pretty fast, 1 stayed on... may help his SLO symptoms (?)\n\nReview: My American Eskimo was diagnosed with SLO a couple months ago --an auto-immune disorder that attacks the nail beds. The claws may fall off & grow back deformed, it can be very painful during a flare-up, & the toes tend to be tender & easy to bruise all the time. I've been looking for booties to protect his tender tootsies, & what a nightmare it's been. Tho he weighs only 16 pounds, very few brands make small enuff ones. This brand fit him in the XS (Eskimos have little bitty \"Arctic fox\" feet). We went for our first short walk in them this evening, --it's freezing rain & the weather seems extra hard on his feet. We went with a pair on just the front, as they're so expensive I only bought 1 pair to start.\n\n One fell off in 2 blocks. if we do keep using them I DEFINITELY will sew on a bit of reflective tape...duckwalking around in circles in pitch dark freezing rain trying to find a matte black & blue bootie in icy grass with a teeny LED light is not amusing. Either that or make string 'safety holders' like for kids' or 19th century Antarctic explorers' mittens.\n\nThe other stayed on the whole walk (4-5 blocks). It didn't seem to bother him, as his stride was even, no limp, with 3 bare feet & 1 bootie.\n\nWhen we got back I took off the remaining bootie & gently held his front feet to see if it kept his paw warm, at least. Result; 2 evenly soaking wet, icy cold little paws. So, neither doodly nor squat as to warmth.\n\nThey claim to be \"water resistant,\" a phrase that always makes me cringe. The solid rubber pad on the bottom doesn't actually absorb water, but since the rest of the material acts as a very efficient sponge all the bottom seems to do is prevent any water from draining out. Result: neither squat nor doodly as to keeping paws dry.\n\nPost-walkies report: he didn't lick/chew either front paw longer than the other; only enuff to dry them off, with neither apparently more painful than the other. I figured if the extreme cold aggravated his toes and the bootie did something, then the paw that got naked early might seem more painful & thus get more attention. However, we had an active day so he got a pain pill with dinner, so perhaps that wasn't a valid data point. At least the bootie that stayed on didn't seem to make anything worse.\n\nThe final analysis is....beats me. They do seem to fall off easily. It is hard to judge how much to crank down on the velcro fastener, since you want it to stay on but it'd be nice not to cut off all circulation to the foot. I find myself thinking of the leg wraps I used to put on my horse prior to trailoring, & wondering if it'd be better to retro-fit a bootie with a cloth (non-velcro) wrap that went higher up & was snug enuff to keep the foot part on without reefing down on the one small area of foot/leg.\n\nI've read of other people with SLO dogs who have them wear socks/booties & it helps prevent the easy bruising, which is a common symptom. Of course, all the other breeds I've read/heard about with this rare condition are much bigger, so maybe it's more possible to find booties that fit paws that aren't tiny (?). If I could sew thicker materials (or any material), I'd try & design his own custom booties, maybe with the horse-type leg wrap.\n\nI was worried the rubber bottoms would be slippery on ice --the sidewalks were like a skating rink-- but I didn't see a bootied paw slip once. MY vibram lug sole hiking boots darned near landed me on my keister several times, so either the booties are fairly non-skid or 4 feet are vastly better than 2.\n\nI'm going to give these a few more trials since I spent $35, can't take 'em back, & at least they didn't exacerbate his problem. I'll update if further data reveals itself.\n\nFinal analysis (later revision): they just wouldn't stay on. Again, it may be a problem of Eskmos having little bitty fox feet, or the booties themselves. I've tried nearly every brand on the market & all were either too big or fell off, so maybe it's the feet. On the up side, his SLO has cleared up very well & (cross fingers) no more flare-ups...take hope, those new to the disorder.\n\nbtw, if your dog has an open wound: These booties come with optional 'wound pads' (like the absorbent part of a big band-aid) with peel-off adhesive to stick on the inside so the bootie won't stick to the open flesh. I assume you'd have to keep buying new ones. Since the whole thing gets soaked so easily, you'd want to use the Glad self-stick plastic film stuff around the outside to keep a wound dry. I used that when he was first diagnosed & had a claw removed (not the whole mechanism, thank Anubis, just an outer claw that got half-ripped off the first time a quick died back).","Product: Our designers took years perfecting this bone! Careful attention was made to ensure it fits naturally in the curvature of the canine mouth. The ridges across the top give your dog the feeling that they are chewing through the toy keeping them interested in it for months! Its unique interior shape provides strength for even the most aggressive chewers. The opening on our bone is designed to be the perfect place to put treats, dog bones and peanut butter. When your dog is done, simply throw the toy in the dishwasher for easy cleaning! Our proprietary \"Bionic Rubber\" material ensures that your dog will enjoy playing with the Bionic Bone for a long time. Sizing recommendations: Small - 1 to 20 lbs. Medium - 15 to 35 lbs. Large - 30 to 60 lbs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: As chew toy, worthless; as goody dispenser, primo. Great for restricted diets!\n\nReview: okay, a couple years after posting a \"meh\" review, I'm changing my tune. the PB aspect was always handy, but since my Eskimo got diagnosed with SLO & put on a restricted diet --no PB, no pizzles, no chew toys that he wants to chew on-- this thing has gained major importance in the household. It still gets zero stars as a chew toy, but I can fill it with his canned prescription rabbit diet or sweet potatoes, or (for more interest) one at each end-- & freeze. Then it definitely takes up some of the time he used to spend chewing on his beloved pizzles.\n\nSo, anyone with a dog on a restricted diet might consider it as something fun & tasty for them to occupy themselves with for a few minutes, since you can fill it with whatever your particular patient can eat.\n\ntotally irrelevant, but he makes the most hilarious sucking noises to get the last teeny bits out...sounds like a baby with a bottle.\nold post:\nMy dog doesn't show any interest in chewing on this; he just doesn't like plain rubber.\nThis is very handy as a peanut butter receptacle though; I fill both ends with PB & it keeps him occupied for 5-10 minutes, especially if I pop it in the freezer.","Product: Hare of the Dog Rabbit with Sweet Potato Treats are both delicious and healthy to provide your dog with the perfect snack for any occasion These treats are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and contain no preservatives, grains or fillers. The treats only include allnatural rabbit and sweet potato to ensure that your dog receives only the best. Hare of the Dog Rabbit with Sweet Potato is proudly made in the USA with ingredients sourced from American farms. This bag includes 2.5 ounces of treats and is resealable to help preserve their freshness. Don't choose between rewarding your dog and caring for him order these healthy, delectable treats for your pooch today Key Features: Made in USA with ingredients from American farms Allnatural with no preservatives or grains 2.5 oz of treats in resealable bag\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great treat for restricted diets; Eskie love 'em!\n\nReview: My American Eskimo is at the end of his first week of a restricted diet, hoping to alleviate his newly diagnosed SLO (an auto-immune disease that attacks the quick of the claws, causes them to shed the nails, & is very painful in the acute stage). He's used to getting all sorts of yummy treats, so it's made me feel very bad that not only is he feeling bad, but he doesn't even get his goodies. Well, we've found some new goodies, & these are one of the hits! He loves these & does his best little \"treat dance\" celebration when he gets a piece.\n\nOne reviewer compared the texture to chik-o-stik candy (I think; maybe it was a Butterfinger without the chocolate); either way, they were spot on. They are rather crumbly, but Kenta loves the taste.\n\nThe only thing that bugs me about this is, there's a bit of iffy labeling. On the front it does say \"with Sweet Potato.\" On the back of the package is a big strip that says \"100% rabbit dog treats.\" Apparently what this means is, of the rabbit that is in there, it's all rabbit. It used to be that if something said \"100% X\" it meant that the product contained nothing but X. That seems no longer to be the case; I recently bought a new tub of petroleum jelly for my very hairball-prone cat who also is on a severely restricted diet, so can't use regular kitty hairball remedies. The label says \"100% petroleum jelly\" in big letters on the front. I got it home, opened it, & a very strong cloud of perfume billowed out. In teeny letters on the back, it mentioned it also contains fragrance. So, I guess of the petroleum jelly in the petroleum jelly, it's all (100%) petroleum jelly. There's just other things in there, too. This labeling trend is VERY annoying. Read carefully!!\n\nI do wish I could find a bunny version of something as chewy as the pizzles that he loves so much, to give his jaws something to really work on (sweet potato chewies just aren't sturdy enough), but for tasty rewards & just plain \"have a treat you love\" moments, these are excellent! And I'm finding it (bizarrely) somewhat of a challenge to seek out treats with NOTHING but rabbit & sweet potato...some add chicken products, which seems idiotic to me since I would think most folks who're giving rabbit & sw potatoes to their dogs are doing so because of dietary restrictions.\n\nAnyhow, these are terrific! Nothing but bunny & sw potatoes, & made in the USA. They're not the cheapest treats around, but then, rabbit isn't the cheapest meat around, either, so it's understandable.","Product: Bright colors and extreme attention to detail is just what the extrovert in the family need to express themselves. Rogz Fancy Dress Range, 5/8\" Scooter fully adjustable H-Harness features super-fashion ribbon stitched onto pure high grade nylon webbing. All joins are box stitched for extra strength and a quality finish. Spoil your dog with a lead and collar to match and they will certainly stand out in the pack. Choose carefully and never spoil only one dog in the family - we do not want things to get out of control! The perfect outfit for those very special occasions. Fully Adjustable from 12-20\", 5/8\" Scooter H-Harnesses are suitable for Maltese Poodle, Terrier, Jack Russell, Scotty, Pug and similar sized breeds.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: somewhat well made, very adjustable\n\nReview: * If you've got a very determined harness-chewer you might want to avoid this product. *\n\nEdit, 12/5/13: Down to 3 stars, as the 2nd one tore in the same place the first one did, on the between-the-legs strap (see pix). And I'm sure he didn't chew on this one. I ended up cutting a length off the first one (which I kept for spare parts) & sewing/gluing it along that front strap, thus making it triple thickness. It's a bit stiff, but he got used to it. I continue to use this harness because I can adjust it to fit his hard-to-fit (albeit cute) form better than any other harness we've tried.\n\n[Addition, 9/10/13: I just noticed that there's a tear developing in the material just in front of the 'adjustment buckle' (I still don't know what to call it) on the lower strap that runs between neck & chest loops. He does still occasionally reach down, hook his lower jaw under this, & try to gnaw on it at times. Apparently he's managed to put enough strain on it doing that, plus 2 VERY active ~90 minute \"play dates\" with other ~20 pound puppies, that it's beginning to tear thru.\n\nI've down-graded it to 4 stars, as it seems rather fast (~8 weeks) for this to be tearing already, even given that occasionally it gets worried at, briefly.]\n\nI had a devil of a time finding a harness to fit my American Eskimo puppy. I don't know if he's got weird proportions or what, but we've tried at least 10 different brands & none have come closer to fitting than this one. The problem I had was, the neck & chest attachments were too short on harnesses that were small enough for his size (apparently he's 'long in the chest'). (I also tried various \"step-in\" harnesses, but those were worse; he appeared to be VERY uncomfortable in them, & putting them onto his wiggly self was a nightmare...granted, he's a puppy & getting more cooperative, but with a March 17, 2013 birthday it's going to be a good while before he's totally calm & perfectly trained).\n\nHi measurements at 17 weeks (july 24, 13), 10.5 pounds, are 32\" long (chest to base of tail), 17 1/2\" around chest, 11.5\" around neck.\n\nOne of the great things about this harness is, it's more adjustable than any other I've tried. Not only are the chest & neck 'loops' adjustable, but the strip that connects neck & chest on bottom (goes between front legs) is also adjustable.\n\nHere are the possible dimensions, from maximum extension to minimum:\nNeck: 12-20 inches\nChest: 14 3/4 - 22 1/2\"\nTop connector: 4 1/2\"\nBottom connector: 4 1/2-6 1/4\"\n\nThe material is about 5/8\" wide as advertised, & doesn't mat down my Eskie's hair (though he only wears it when we're actively out on leash; I never leave it on him). It seems quite sturdy --i've only had it for a coupla weeks, but it has stood up to some chewing when he's gotten hold of it when I wasn't looking...& he's got the bite strength of an alligator.\n\nCons: ironically, the only aspect he had trouble adjusting to after switching from his first harness is the feature I like most, the adjustable bottom front-to-back connector. I think the adjustor-thingie (whaddya call them??) --the square piece that allows you to change the length of the strap, not a buckle, but sorta-- pokes downward a bit, enough that he notices it when he's walking around. At first he tended to sorta hop on his front legs, & reach down & worry the strap between his front legs with his teeth. That only lasted a couple days; now he only appears to notice it once or twice a day, & then just sorta glances down there.\n\nAnother reviewer commented that the chest buckle mechanism was very stiff, & this concerned me since I have arthritis/carpal tunnel/something that makes my hands rather wimpy & painful. It hasn't been as much of a problem as I'd worried. It does hurt a bit to open it when my hands are very bad, but it's not so difficult to open that I've had to leave the harness on the pooch or been unable to get it on. On the other hand, if it were too easy to open I'd worry that it'd pop open when he pulled at the leash, so I'd rather have it a bit too stiff than too loose.\n\nOverall, this seems like a very good product. As I'm rather conservative (in a few ways), I'd sorta prefer a more neutral color (black, say) than purple with pink wavy lines & sparkly silver hearts & brand name, but at least the froofy design elements are small, & his hair is long. It works well & is comfortable for my dog, which are the most important things.","Product: Smoked\n\nUSDA and FDA certified.\n\nBraided Bullwrinkles Give Dogs the Meaty Taste They Crave\nAll natural treats we sell at HappyDogPlace come from grass-fed, free-ranging animals.\nOur raw bull sticks have no chemicals or preservatives whatsoever.\nBully sticks are naturally low in fat - even better for your dog than rawhide chews.\n\nAll natural beef braided and roasted to perfection to give dogs a unique, flavorful treat.\n\nHighly palatable Braided Bullwrinkles are easy to digest and become chewy when moistened by dog's saliva.\nNaturally cleans teeth while providing dogs with a satisfying chew.\nThey are a great way to reduce tartar buildup while satisfying your dog's instinct to chew!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: latest batch is defective; dog won't touch 'em! AND they're selling you defective doggy chews!\n\nReview: update on the update on the update (Oct 26). They informed me that they have a 15% restocking fee...which seems to indicate that they're restocking --& reselling-- defective, possibly toxic (who knows??) dog chews. So I spent over $22 on defective, inedible doggy treats for a dog who will eat anything. I called cuss service, & after being argued with by 2 different employees (who kept insisting that there was nothing wrong or different about this batch, despite the fact that my dog won't touch 'em, after inhaling previous batches), they eventually, with much bad grace, agreed to waive the restocking fee. Then she hung up on me as I was in mid-sentence. I won't be buying from this place again, ever.\n\nupdate on the update (Oct 22): I just received notice of my refund for the batch that the dog wouldn't touch. Despite the fact that I returned all the sticks I received, they only refunded $55 of the $65 I paid. I'm waiting for a reply to my query of why I only got a partial refund. At this point I'm out over $22 dollars, return shipping plus the $10 they held back for unknown reasons. I am NOT happy; down another star. Will post if/when I get an explanation &/or the rest of the refund.\n\nupdate, early Oct 2015. Dropped from 5 stars to 3: bought my 3rd batch of these; my dog loved the first 2 batches but this latest he won't touch. Considering what he does eat/chew on, I find this a bit alarming. I've contacted HDP about returning them; will post that experience. I'm very disappointed & more than a little concerned; what could be wrong with these pizzles that even my 'goat dog' won't chew on them??\n\n My American Eskimo may only weigh 17 pounds but has a bite like an alligator, so he goes thru chewies like a buzz saw. The braided bullies are the only kind that last any time with him, except when I have access to bullies in bulk where I can pick thru them to get the very thickest (actually, braided rings last the very longest). This Big Box O' Braided Bullies contains varying sizes, so I wouldn't say they were all \"monstrous.\" Even so, the value of these is pretty good compared to what I have access to locally (which aren't all \"monstrous\" by any means, either). Call me a cynic, but I really didn't expect every one of them to be huge anyway...I have trouble envisioning somebody at the company whose sole job it is to dig through great heaps of pizzles, picking out the humongous ones. My expectations far as size goes weren't overly high to begin with...as in many things in life.\n\nI always expect some level of odor from bully sticks...I mean, consider the source. These weren't too bad, with no \"pee-y\" odor as some have complained. I keep 'em in the freezer --well wrapped in plastic-- which keeps the odor from increasing over time. I don't give him bullies constantly, since I doubt the health value of too much of anything outside his main food (& he gets the runs if he overdoes it on pizzle).","Product: The New York Times Bestseller Arrives In The UK; The Egyptologist is a witty, inventive, brilliantly constructed novel about an archaeologist obsessed with finding the tomb of an apocryphal king. This darkly comic labyrinth of a story opens on the desert plains of Egypt in 1922, then winds its way from the slums of Australia to the ballrooms of Boston by way of Oxford, the battlefields of the First World War, and a royal court in turmoil. Exploring issues of class, greed, ambition, and the very human hunger for eternal life, The Egyptologist is a triumph of narrative bravado.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: worked as an audiobook\n\nReview: I've only listened to this book, which my brain processes differently from reading a print version. It worked well as an audiobook, with different readers for the main characters, all of whom did an excellent job. I think the audio version was more difficult to follow (or perhaps I didn't pay sufficient attention), so the surprises weren't ruined for me the way they appear to have been for others. It was easier to laugh in amazement at Ralph's egotistical nature, which I'm pretty sure would have come to grate on me had I been reading it. I don't know how it worked in print, but the tiger/penguin scene in the circus was one of the funniest things I've heard in a long, long time, & nearly resulted in me getting carried off in a big butterfly net.","Product: ABOUT THE AUTHOR (a.k.a. Join My Alaskan Army) Email me. No, seriously, email me. kingnovel@gmail.com. Go do it. Right now. I love keeping my ear to the very heart of the publishing industrywhich means I have to talk to you. I think entertaining and inspiring others is the most important thing about writing, and if Im doing my job right, people will actually want to tell me what they think. So, dammit, if you were entertained or inspired, I wanna hear from you. Im utterly freakin serious. In case youre still not convinced, consider this: Im a lifelong Alaskan. We do things differently here. With the roving grizzly bears (yes, I live in the Bush, not like those pussies in town) and my closest neighbor a mile away, it gets kinda lonely when its just me and my computer and a big, vast wilderness out my back door. I want to talk to the people who are reading my books, because who the hell else am I going to talk to?! In case youre concerned about writing to a complete stranger, I assure you Im totally approachable, in my random, quirky, too-much-time-without-sun kind of way. Ive spent my entire life (starting at three years old!) working on writing as an art form, and Ive poured my heart and soul into the twenty (ish) books Ive written, so you can be damn sure I want feedback. I mean, putting together these (utterly brilliant, totally awesome) masterpieces and then getting nothing but silence is like building the Eiffel Tower and having people gomeh. So shoot me an email at kingnovel@gmail.com and let me know your thoughts on the book! I respond to every email I get (though sometimes it takes longer than others). Oh, and friend me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kingfiction (authors need friends, too) and check my Author Page https://www.facebook.com/sknovel for the latest writerly news and updates. Or, even better, hop on over to Amazon and check out my other character-driven series, like Outer Bounds: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IO7QAGO/ or Millennium Potion: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007W6RBSE/ or, heck, even my Alaskan Paranormal/Fantasy series Guardians of the First Realm: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0073WZ01C/ to see some of my other compelling characters in action!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: fairly good book, with serious audio issues in the audiobook version\n\nReview: I'm torn on the number of stars to give this book, partly because some of what I didn't like about it is due to one of my own quirks...a quirk which maybe shoulda prevented me from getting the book in the first place.\nThe book is pretty well-written, with a fairly believable setting, overall plot, strong descriptions & vivid characters. The aliens are interesting (tho I wish I had a nickel for every time the descriptive phrase \"sticky eyes\" cropped up; it would darn near pay for my year's credits on Audible...& I never really did figure out what it meant). So overall, I'm describing a good book. And the idea of taking the kids is hardly a new one in world history; groups of people have been stealing rivals' kids for millennia, from long before the Janissaries did their thing, so the basis for the plot is totally believable.\nI'm almost embarrassed to admit that one of the things that annoyed me most was the incessant whining...I suppose I should've expected it, given the age at which the kids were taken, but I think I expected it to taper off as they got inured to their surroundings. It maybe wouldn't have been so bad if I'd read the book in print rather than listened to the audio version, as 'whining' in print isn't so brain-piercing as literal audible whining is --and the narrator does a convincing child whine. And given the dreadful conditions the kids were subjected to, it's no surprise that several of them displayed the very worst characteristics of children and humans in general. One or two characters were so egregiously awful I was hoping the big alien would eat them, and most of the others occasionally behaved so vilely that I nearly put the book down. Maybe I just don't know how young children really act; I spent many years teaching & tutoring and have done thousands of hours leading children on outdoors natural history tours, but I always limited the ages to 5th grade & above...I know my weaknesses.\n\nThe other major downside of the audible version is the dreadful electronic bell-like \"tingalingalingaling\" they stuck in to....I never did figure out exactly what it was supposed to delineate, actually, sections I guess (it wasn't chapters). The volume of the \"ting\"etc was MUCH louder than the text, so it was positively ear-piercing.\nAnother downside was the volume in general; it was very uneven. Some of the effects they used for particular aliens dropped the sound level so far you either had to crank up the volume --and risk getting your ear skewered by that damned tone if the scene changed abruptly-- or just try to intuit what the alien said from human replies and context. I knocked off one star from the review because the volume issues were so spectacularly bad...I really wish audiobook directors (or engineers or whatever they're called) would pay attention to these sorts of very basic things; it's what they're for, isn't it?\n\nSo, anyone who doesn't have considerable patience with small children should probably give this one a pass, especially the audio version.","Product: A Negro Explorer at the North Pole\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent book; why doubt Hensen wrote it?\n\nReview: I started to write this as a comment in response to \"A Customer's\" 3 star review titled \"Editions can differ considerably,\" then decided to make it a full review. I've reviewed this book elsewhere (a different edition); I loved the book, I loved Hensen's understated wit (reminded me of Twain at times), and I have given out quite a few copies of the book as gifts.\nThe doubt concerning whether Hensen actually wrote the book makes me grit my teeth. Why doubt Hensen wrote the book? (aside from the obvious, I mean, which I'm hoping isn't the case since if the reason is simply that a black man couldn't write an intelligent, witty book, then there's no point in further discussion because blind ignorant prejudice is immune to reason of any sort). I've read both the Invisible Cities press w/Counter's intro & Hensen's later article, & the Dodo Press editions of \"A Negro Explorer,\" Allen Counter's \"North Pole Legacy,\" \"Dark Companion\" by Bradley Robinson & Hensen, & \"Onward,\" the photobio of Hensen (yes, okay, that one is mostly photos), so I feel as if I've got some idea of the man. He clearly was a bright, well-read, thoughtful, humane man (he treated the Eskimo like human beings, an extreme rarity at the time...he undoubtedly knew what is was like to be treated otherwise). Equally clearly, he was phenomenally capable and possessed of astounding mental & physical strength. In other words, the sort of man to give white people*, particularly those of the first, oh, of the 20th century, nightmares.\nI have been trying, for the sake of a fully informed response, to find a copy of the Cooper Square edition with the Bryce intro. I have a CS edition, but it doesn't have anything by Bryce. There is a fairly extensive Matthew Hensen site by Bradley Robinson, son of the Bradley Robinson who wrote \"Dark Companion,\" which rather resoundingly attacks Bryce as a non-starter as a researcher who didn't actually talk to anyone who knew Hensen and whose basic premise pretty much boils down to, \"He couldna writ it because Negros are too stupid to write.\" [...]\n\nAdmittedly, \"Dark Companion\" seemed bit sanitized to mask the uglier realities of racism, but a frank account could never have been published during Hensen's lifetime. Which problem also seems (to me, at least) to explain discrepancies between Hensen's book & the later piece which showed less of a storybook relationship between Peary & Hensen. When Hensen's book first came out it was enough of a struggle for a black man to publish a book which implied that he had accomplished much of anything, much less one that indicated that he could in any way be as competent as (white) Peary. That the later article came out with some contradictions also doesn't seem surprising; Hensen watched Peary get lionized & heaped w/medals & awards while he, Hensen, was thunderously ignored or (at best) merely footnoted as a sort of sub-zero spear carrier by everyone including Peary. It is not too much of a stretch to think he got fed up & wanted to try and set the record even a small bit straighter.\nI don't blame him.\n\n*Don't know if it's germaine, but I am one.","Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A very good start to a fun series, with a few caveats\n\nReview: I couldn't decide between 3 & 4 stars on this one, but it was enjoyable enough that I decided not to Scrooge it. The writing was fresh, pretty clever (LOL clever in spots), and pretty well plotted. The characters are fairly 3-D, most seeming like real, believable people. My major complaint is probably with the title character himself; Ceepak really doesn't seem like an actual human to me. He does have a back story which explains his extreme Johnny-Good-GI character, but his behavior & especially his dialogue is just not really human....in a number of places he sounds like Data, too unbending to even use contractions, much less regular human-sounding speech.\n\nMost of the other characters' dialogue sounds pretty believable, so I know Grabenstein can write dialogue that doesn't clang on the ear like a sheet metal guitar. Ceepak sounds like a believable robot, but robot nonetheless.\n\nThe narrator is a likable, believable, rounded human sort of fellow with a good heart, a quirky sense of humor, and quite realistic inner dialogue & conflicts that make him very accessible & fun to read along with. He strikes me as the sort of character that a lot of people would like to hang around with --funny, decent without being a prig, smart without being intimidating.\n\nI liked the book & CG's writing well enough to immediately buy the 2nd book in the series, then #s 3 & 4. Grabenstein's writing matures quite nicely, the occasional amateurish-sounding spots that crop up in Tilt-A-Whirl are greatly reduced in #2 & vanish by #3.\n\nmy main gripe, Ceepak's extremely stilted speech, loosens up more slowly, but he does at least act more human as the books go on, til he actually loosens up enough to indulge in romance & a few jokes 3-4 books down the road. Maybe someday he'll get an emotion chip that'll enable him to use contractions (before anyone screams at me, that wasn't literal; it's a joke, Son. A Trekkie joke. I mean that his dialogue does eventually start sounding --somewhat-- more human).","Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A very good start to a fun series, with a few caveats\n\nReview: I couldn't decide between 3 & 4 stars on this one, but it was enjoyable enough that I decided not to Scrooge it. The writing was fresh, pretty clever (LOL clever in spots), and pretty well plotted. The characters are fairly 3-D, most seeming like real, believable people. My major complaint is probably with the title character himself; Ceepak really doesn't seem like an actual human to me. He does have a back story which explains his extreme Johnny-Good-GI character, but his behavior & especially his dialogue is just not really human....in a number of places he sounds like Data, too unbending to even use contractions, much less regular human-sounding speech.\n\nMost of the other characters' dialogue sounds pretty believable, so I know Grabenstein can write dialogue that doesn't clang on the ear like a sheet metal guitar. Ceepak sounds like a believable robot, but robot nonetheless.\n\nThe narrator is a likable, believable, rounded human sort of fellow with a good heart, a quirky sense of humor, and quite realistic inner dialogue & conflicts that make him very accessible & fun to read along with. He strikes me as the sort of character that a lot of people would like to hang around with --funny, decent without being a prig, smart without being intimidating.\n\nI liked the book & CG's writing well enough to immediately buy the 2nd book in the series, then #s 3 & 4. Grabenstein's writing matures quite nicely, the occasional amateurish-sounding spots that crop up in Tilt-A-Whirl are greatly reduced in #2 & vanish by #3.\n\nmy main gripe, Ceepak's extremely stilted speech, loosens up more slowly, but he does at least act more human as the books go on, til he actually loosens up enough to indulge in romance & a few jokes 3-4 books down the road. Maybe someday he'll get an emotion chip that'll enable him to use contractions (before anyone screams at me, that wasn't literal; it's a joke, Son. A Trekkie joke. I mean that his dialogue does eventually start sounding --somewhat-- more human).","Product: Title: Holiday in Death <>Binding: Prebound <>Author: J.D.Robb <>Publisher: TurtlebackBooks\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Eve is over-the-top & out of control in this one, & not in a good way\n\nReview: As strangely addictive as this book series is, there's a certain amount of \"pass\" one needs to give in order to enjoy them. There's a formula for each book which makes them virtually interchangeable, so one can't expect much in the way of new ideas. Certain basic elements are always there: some aspect of the case will make Eve relive her childhood abuse (tho frankly, she's so hair trigger I can't figure out how she manages to ever eat a steak or anything with tomato sauce without freaking out). Roarke will be involved, probably because he owns an involved site, certainly because he's got \"e skills\" beyond anything the 'e cops' can manage. Eve will probably be in danger from the killer, also one or more of her friends, & Eve will demand her friend(s) go into protective custody & refuse to take any kind of precaution to protect herself, & will get POd at any guff from them. Eve will work herself to the point of breakdown & get furious at anyone who hints that she needs a break, to the point of physically attacking Roarke if he tries to force her.\n\nSo I basically expect most or all of those things, which means not much is going to be a real surprise. What distinguishes the books is how the formula plays itself out, and often little side stories that may be fun &/or interesting.\n\nWhat gets really annoying after a while is, Eve never seems to develop as a person, despite there being about 40 books now. Of course, this is only the 7th book, so I won't say anything else about that, but what really kills this book for me is that Eve's bad tempered nature is so extreme it makes her hubby & friends seem like complete masochists for putting up with her. In most other \"In death\" books, the various aspects of her bad-natured, childish stupidity (or stupid childishness) is on a level where it's just Eve's quirks. One aspect of it is when her dedication swamps what little good 'self-sense' she has (that is, her ability to tell when she's tired and can function with more coffee, versus being so exhausted that she's completely incoherent, brain-dead, and useless). Another aspect of it is her inability to respond to friendship or affection, because of her upbringing. So she awkwardly blows off or even snaps at friendly overtures.\n\nIn this book, however, both these aspects of Eve's personality are so extreme that she's just an obnoxious, mean, abusive b*tch who frankly abuses poor Peabody & everybody else. It's frankly impossible to imagine that there's any reason for these people to hang around her unless they truly are masochists who get off on being emotionally & psychologically pummeled every time they turn around (& physical abuse is not off the table, either).\n\nOne of Eve's riffs that show up in most of the books is how, no matter what kind of abuse you suffered as a child, that's no excuse for abusing or killing others when you become an adult. In this book she needs to give the speech to herself, because she sure doesn't act like an adult, she's extremely abusive, and is as unlikeable as it gets.\n\nI went back & reread the first 3 books in the series --first time since they came out-- & I was really astounded to realize that Eve started out as a reasonable person! I hadn't realized to what extent Robb turned her into a caricature of herself. Early Eve is actually able to say \"thank you,\" can be talked out of an unreasonable stance without Roarke having to resort to physical violence. And Roarke isn't such a doormat, either; when Eve is a witch, he calmly makes it clear he's not happy about it, unlike later when, practically no matter how viciously she abuses him, he just strokes the dent in her chin & says how adorable she is when she's mad. And even more astonishingly, early Eve actually apologizes when she's been a jerk!!! Unbelievable, by the standards of later Eve, when \"strong woman\" translates to \"short-tempered bitch with no manners at all.\" I really don't know if I'll be able to read/listen to the later books again, after being re-introduced to the reason I got hooked on them in the first place. She really didn't start out a nasty, bad-mannered witch, she just turned into one. I think Robb (Roberts) just got lazy.","Product: The people of the Solar System have broken the light-speed barrier, and exploration ships are going out in all directions, manned by---you guessed it!---Men, Martians, and Machines (Robots). This set of linked stories describes a part of the epic voyage of the *Marathon*, powered by the Flettner Drive, seeking new worlds for humanity to spread onto.\n\nOne planet is inhabited by only machines, survivors perhaps of a civilization in which the machine-makers had perished. Another contains a race of master hypnotists, who make the crew see only what they wish to see! Included is the classic, oft-anthologized novella *Jay Score*\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wonderful tales of the crew of the Marathon --just wish there were more!\n\nReview: I first ran across the crew of the Marathon in \"Adventure in Time & Space,\" a massive \"Golden Age\" SF collection first published in '46. It contains \"Symbiotica,\" one of the four stories in this volume. It's truly a shame that EFR didn't write more stories with this crew. He was one of the first writers to populate his stories with \"mixed\" crews --Whites, Blacks, Martians, & a robot. The gang get along great (with a few realistic squabbles) and there are many characters that are fleshed out well enough to be real people, even the somewhat enigmatic Jay Score. From re-reading \"Symbiotica\" and the other 3 stories in this book (\"Jay Score,\" \"Mechanistria,\" and \"Mesmerica\") many times over the decades, I've grown to feel like they're great friends of mine.\n\nRussell allows his sense of humor free rein in this book, and a delightful one it is. There is action and danger as well, and not everyone comes through, so it's not just a Laff Riot romp. Fans of extreme shoot-em-ups and the type of rampant gore &/or sex that often take the place of characterization & plot these days probably will be bored silly; there's no overt gore --the people who die do so rather tidily, with very little of the bloody details-- and there's no sex at all (the Marathon is an all-male ship, & homosexuality wasn't mentioned in those days). There also is no language that would offend prim Aunt Grundy.\n\nOne teeny nit is that in later editions of this collection, they switch to Star Trekkian lingo & the Marathon's \"pinnace\" morphs into a \"shuttlecraft.\" A minor nit, but I know several SF purists who are annoyed by the substitution. There are a few other, very minor changes in \"Symbiotica\" between this & the version that appeared in the collection I mentioned at the beginning, but I doubt anyone would notice unless they'd read the original version enough times to nearly memorize it.","Product: Leonard F. Guttridge was born in Wales and served throughout World War II in Britain?s Royal Air Force. He wrote The Commodores for Naval Institute Press, Icebound, and co-wrote The Great Coalfield War with George S. McGovern.?A gripping story of suspense and adventure?colorful characters abound.??Publisher?s Weekly\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Yet another Polar Exploration book with no maps...but pretty good otherwise.\n\nReview: i'm rereading this book for the umpteenth time --it's part of my \"Polar Exploration\" library, which I periodically go thru whenever the world gets really tedious. This time around, I'm not even halfway through the Intro when i'm reminded about one of the things that seriously annoys me about this & several other \"PE\" books: no maps. I do not understand how anyone could write a book about an exploration anywhere and not include a single map! It's maddening. Even though my knowledge of the geography of both Polar regions is probably better than most from reading so many books on the subject, I still want maps & charts. I first wasn't going to knock off another star because of it, but the more I think about it (& considering how much time I've given over in the past to cursing this lack), I decided to whack off a star because of it. There are a few photos & drawings from the expedition in the middle, which is always nice. With these is one maplike object, a very generic map of just the delta (basically a bunch of squiggly lines) where the Jeanette folks spent a lot of time wandering around, but it does not make up for lack of real maps). What's particularly absurd about the map thing is that the same author wrote another book on Polar Exploration which does have adequate map[s]...in fact I've used his map from my copy of \"The Ghosts of Cape Sabine\" while reading other books dealing with expeditions to the same area, so it's got notes on it about the Peary/Hensen expedition on it, the Polaris, etc.\nBased on my other notes on the book, it does take a while to really get going, but is pretty interesting after it does. I'll probably add other comments when I finish it this time.\n\nFinished. Writing is mostly engaging, but the author does have a rather annoying (to me) habit of putting in portentous sounding sentences that don't really go anywhere, or dropping a factoid or an allusion to something then just leaving it sit there, never filling in background or providing info about the thing just referenced. For example, on pg 261 he says Emma de Long \"entered a privileged liaison with the Navy Department as a first move in a campaign to protect her husband's reputation.\" We see instances where the Navy Dept smooths things over for her, but we really don't see an explanation or background of the \"liaison\" --which phrasing could imply anything from political favor to sympathy for a widow to Emma shacking up with the entire department of the Navy (that'd be rather outre for the era!).\nAll in all a pretty good Polar exploration book, but I prefer his \"Ghosts of Cape Sabine.\"\n\nbtw, anyone interested in polar ex just has to read Matthew Hensen's regrettably brief \"A Negro Explorer at the North Pole.\" It's a contemporary account of his viewpoint of arctic exploration, and he's a great writer with wit about on par with Twain. It becomes even more interesting when you read the other books, more recent, of the Peary/Hensen relations and expeditions, of course; an African-American writing in the first 1/4 of the 20th century was unfortunately severely limited in what he could say. But Hensen is a remarkable person and witty writer, someone who ought to be as much of a household name as Peary and Franklin, Greely and Shackleton and Scott (oh my!)."],"string":"[\n \"Product: 7 Piece Gold Testing Acid Jewelry Test Kit w/ Scratch Stone \\n10k, 14k ,18k ,22K, Platinum, Silver, and Scratch Testing Stone\\n\\nFresh from the Factory This Comes with a large testing stone 2\\\" x 1.5\\\" \\n\\nEach bottle has 1/2 fl oz of acid. The sturdy plastic bottles maximize safety and allow the user to easily squeeze out one drop at a time.\\nAll bottles have different cap colors to help keep acid karats organized easier \\n\\nLatex Gloves are recommended with the use of any testing acids for safety\\nYou will receive:\\n\\n1 bottle of 10k testing acid\\n\\n1 bottle of 14k testing acid\\n\\n1 bottle of 18k testing acid\\n\\n1 bottle of silver testing solution\\n\\n1 bottle of platinum testing solution\\n\\n1 bottle of 22k testing solution\\n\\n1 Scratch Testing Stone 2\\\" x 1.5\\\"\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Didn't come with instructions, but company did email me some after my annoyed query (instructions enlosed herein)\\n\\nReview: EDIT: Increased from 1star to 3 because less than an hour after I sent an angry email to the company about the lack of instructions, I got a reply with some instructions...maybe not the greatest, but certainly better than nothing.\\nI include the instructions here exactly as they were emailed to me (tho my kit did not come with the platinum tester):\\n\\n\\\"Gold:\\n There are 9kt, 14kt, 18kt and 22k testing acids. The process is simple,\\n scratch or rub the metal (jewelry) onto the testing stone.\\n Try to do it in a spot that won't be noticeable.\\n Place app half a drop of the closest acid to the karat you estimate the metal to be.\\n Mostly I like to start with 14kt and move up or down.\\n If the acid dissolves the metal its less then the karats on the bottle and you\\n should try again with lower level acid. If it dissolves the metal slowly,\\n its possible you would have a bit less then the karat of the acid in the bottle.\\n If the metal stays its most likely the karat of the acid in the bottle.\\n Platinum Should stay and not dissolve under the platinum acid.\\n Some platinum is 800 type of platinum and will dissolve a bit.\\n Silver:\\nRub extra metal onto the stone, apply a nice drop and wait for a reaction.\\n 0.999 pure silver will turn bright red color\\n 0.925 sterling silver will turn dark red color\\n 0.800 silver will turn brown color\\n 0.500 silver will turn green\\\"\\n\\nMy original review was 1 star because the blasted thing did not come with any instructions. I haven't had a chance to use the kit, will further edit review as I see how well the kit works. I still find it extremely annoying they don't bother to include clear instructions with the blasted kit, but at least they responded quickly....tho it'd be a lot less work for them to do the job right in the first place.\\n\\n I know the theory is simple; lightly rub the metal in question across the stone that comes with the kit, then add a drop of one (or more) or the solutions to the scraped-off area, & color change (or lack thereof) tells you the metal content. But I have no idea which solution to start with, or what the color changes mean. Given that this is a bit of a specialty item, I find the lack of instructions infuriating. If I bought a screwdriver without instructions, no problemo; this kit, big problemo.\",\n \"Product: Genuine OEM Dryer Heater Thermostat and Fuse Kit 279816. Original thermostat may look different. Read instructions carefully. This is a kit that will update the original thermostat on some models. Used by many makes and models.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: work perfectly, saved me about $150!! Wahoo!!\\n\\nReview: SUCCESS!! And my obnoxious neighbor swore I'd never be able to fix my dryer, because he couldn't figure it out. HA HA HA, pbthbthbththth!! .\\nThese thermostats worked perfectly on my older Whirlpool Gold dryer, and they appeared to be identical to the ones I took out.\\n\\nThe only difficulty I really had was replacing the metal 'tube' which holds the heating element & thermostats. I absolutely refused to disassemble the ENTIRE freaking dryer*, so managed (with difficulty) to get it out. even more difficulty ensued when I tried to put it back, so I ended up bending down the little, semi-circular tab which went into the flange at the back. Since the whole assembly is held in place with 2 screws on the brace in front, it hasn't made a bit of difference.\\n\\n*reminded me of the Fiat Spider I used to have, where you had to pull the engine block to replace the spark plugs.\",\n \"Product: PEPPERELL BRAIDING-Available in a variety of popular colors this strong highly stretchable cord is great for jewelry making and beaded craft projects. Easy to work with and knot comfortable to wear three thicknesses for small or large beads. Size: .5mm Bead and Jewelry Cord. Length: 10 meters per package.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I've not had a problem with this losing stretch or breaking\\n\\nReview: I've used this stretch cord (& the 0.7mm also, same brand) for years without it losing stretchiness or breaking. Even bracelets which I've worn regularly for over 10 years are holding up fine, which I find astonishing, particularly since I prefer stretchy bracelets to fit snugly, which means they get stretched to the max every time I put one on or take it off.\\n\\nYes, it's a pain to get the knot to stay knotted; I stretch out the knot & put on a dab of super glue, let it sit overnight. I plan the bracelet so that there's at least a single bead with larger hole to put the knot into after the glue dries (I sometimes get a very irritating, scratchy/itchy spot from the free ends of the knot if I don't firmly seat it inside a bead, or do a 2-step gluing process; one dab to glue the knot itself, let that dry, then trim the ends & add a dab on the knot & slide the knot inside a bead, thus gluing the knot in place inside the bead).\\n\\nThe sturdiness of this stretch cord is worth the fiddling about with the knots, for me at least. I even have had it work perfectly with semiprecious stone beads which I've had to ream out the hole to enlarge it; none have cut thru the cord yet. knock on wood.\",\n \"Product: PEPPERELL BRAIDING-Available in a variety of popular colors this strong highly stretchable cord is great for jewelry making and beaded craft projects. Easy to work with and knot comfortable to wear three thicknesses for small or large beads. Size: .5mm Bead and Jewelry Cord. Length: 10 meters per package.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I've not had a problem with this losing stretch or breaking\\n\\nReview: I've used this stretch cord (& the 0.7mm also, same brand) for years without it losing stretchiness or breaking. Even bracelets which I've worn regularly for over 10 years are holding up fine, which I find astonishing, particularly since I prefer stretchy bracelets to fit snugly, which means they get stretched to the max every time I put one on or take it off.\\n\\nYes, it's a pain to get the knot to stay knotted; I stretch out the knot & put on a dab of super glue, let it sit overnight. I plan the bracelet so that there's at least a single bead with larger hole to put the knot into after the glue dries (I sometimes get a very irritating, scratchy/itchy spot from the free ends of the knot if I don't firmly seat it inside a bead, or do a 2-step gluing process; one dab to glue the knot itself, let that dry, then trim the ends & add a dab on the knot & slide the knot inside a bead, thus gluing the knot in place inside the bead).\\n\\nThe sturdiness of this stretch cord is worth the fiddling about with the knots, for me at least. I even have had it work perfectly with semiprecious stone beads which I've had to ream out the hole to enlarge it; none have cut thru the cord yet. knock on wood.\",\n \"Product: Use tool magic on tools to prevent scratching or marring your work. Dip the Plier tips into the jar and stand them upright for 2-3 hours to dry. You can apply several coats for thicker coverage. To remove, simply peel it off. Tool magic will not damage your tools.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: didn't work as well as I'd expected or hoped\\n\\nReview: I had high hopes for this product, but unfortunately they didn't pan out. The stuff gets frayed & peels off within an hour of starting to work. I'd have to have numerous duplicate sets of tools, to use one for a few minutes then trade it for an unfrayed one.\\nI tried one coat, dried overnight, and then one coat dried for nearly a week; no difference.\\ntried 2 coats, but that was overly thick, awkward to work with.\\nThought maybe my tools were grubby, so I tried pre-cleaning the tools with soap & water (very well rinsed, dried overnight in warm, dry place). Tried pre-cleaning with alcohol, and with some ether pads I have for other reasons, & with acetone.\\nI dunno...maybe I got a defective jar?\\n(Ironically, the only time it seems to stay really tenaciously is when it's gotten so torn up I can't work with it, and I have to peel the remainder off. THAT sticks on just fine.)\",\n \"Product: *** Run 1/2 Size SMALL *** Enhance your outfit with these casual slouchy ankle boots! Features a faux suede toe with ruched fabric overlay and cross over strap. Materials- Man-made fabric lining. Lightly cushioned man-made foot bed. Man-made sole. Available in Brown, Black, and Gray Sizes 5.5-10\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: VERY cute, slightly small\\n\\nReview: I zipped these right back & ordered a 1/2 size up; I usually wear a 6 1/2 & that's what I bought, but there were slightly too tight. Really, really cute boots, I look forward to getting a slightly larger pair & hitting them with a good suede waterproofer, as I live in an awfully damp climate (I'd probably not get 'em at all, given the climate & suede, if they weren't so cute). If I weren't so financially challenged I'd probably get all 3 colors! Can't wait to wear 'em with leggings & tunic sweaters, my new addiction.\\n\\nI have to wear orthotics due to having no arches at all, & even the too-short boots had enough room in the instep area to put the orthotics in. The side zipper makes 'em easy to get on & off, & the pull tab even has a nice 'ergonomic' curve to fit the finger.\",\n \"Product: A major road accident is nothing more than a split second of panic and confusion; an act of terrible violence that both changes and destroys lives, with a cause and effect quality that can ripple out across the entire world. Beyond the crumpled cars and emergency services are the invisible dramas and when DI John Tolin begins his investigation he finds himself drawn into many different and dangerous worlds.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Another excellent performance by Henshall, well written & interesting\\n\\nReview: Another great performance by Douglas Henshall in another great crime drama (I love \\\"Shetland\\\"). I found the layering & interweaving of the different people's stories & the gradual reveal of the back stories behind the lead-up to the crash intriguing.\\n\\nI do wonder if Henshall has some sort of contractual stipulation that all his characters have dead wives....it's true in this, \\\"Shetland,\\\" & \\\"Primeval\\\" (well, technically she's not really dead in \\\"Primeval\\\" but he thinks she is). If I were an actress I'd be leery of getting a role as his wife in anything...probably would be a short gig.\\n\\nNot a great deal of humor in this (tho the bit about Star Trek was hilarious), but another well acted & well scripted drama from the BBC.\",\n \"Product: Give your lawn a breath of fresh air with lawn aerator sandals. Attach spikes to molded plastic base, strap onto your shoes, and take a walk on your lawn As the spikes of your lawn aerating shoes puncture the ground, they allow air, fertilizer, and water to get down to the roots. An alternative to renting expensive lawn equipment. One size, 5 1/2\\\"x 12\\\" long.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: don't work too well on sun-baked clay but stayed on fine\\n\\nReview: I'm a little surprised at these, as the problems I'm having aren't the problems most everyone else seems to be having. I made sure to have plenty of duct tape, since so many people had such problems with the straps, but the straps have worked great; haven't come undone, haven't broken. Maybe my success with them is connected with one of my problems with the sandals in general: they don't come off, but OTOH, they don't penetrate into the \\\"soil\\\" too well, either. Of course, my yard consists of solid clay that has been baking with no rain for 4 months, & tho I don't think of myself as being particularly thin, I am quite short so I don't weigh very much, so the spikes have insufficient \\\"oomph\\\" behind them. I'm not downgrading the rating for these problems, because I think that someone of normal size on reasonable soil would probably be ok.\\n\\nMy only real problem that stems from the sandals themselves is, the nuts on the spikes keep coming off after I stomp & jump around a while. That too is probably my fault; I have wrist/hand issues so maybe am not tightening them enough.\\n\\nI'm sure my neighbors have gotten a LOT of entertainment from these things, watching me prance & dance, & stomp around like Godzilla on Tokyo, & stagger, & occasionally try to high kick when wads of baked crabgrass roots get stuck on the tines. Even my dog seems to get a good laugh.\",\n \"Product: Expect huge fun with Outward Hound Hedgehogz! These classic toys are made with irresistible squeakers, Molar-Tough shapes and soft faux-fur to keep your pup playing longer! Bound to become your best friends favorites, our lovable toys are durably designed with an engaging array of shapes, sounds and textures so you can have huge fun with your furry friend.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: incredibly cute, dog adores it, doesn't hold up to serious chewing\\n\\nReview: Not for aggressive chewers!\\nMy 17 lb American Eskimo & i have mixed views on these toys....He's absolutely berserk about his 'hedgepigs.' He picked out the first one from a 20-foot-long, snout-level shelf full of dog toys. It was the only toy he identified by name for a long time. He LOVES the squeek & the rattly-oink & the chewyness of it. However. He also loves to rip into the little beast's entrails & drag out the stuffing & chew on it (& maybe swallow it). We have a selection of hedgehogs (large & humongous), in various states of repair & with varying #s of feet. For a while, I was able to have one in play all the time; one being chewed on, one sewed up & ready to dive back into the fray, one in pre-op. But I had to change the rules & only let him have his hedgepig while I was playing with him, ready to steal it back when he wanted to get down to the serious devouring. So now we play fetch the hog, then chase the dog with the hog before he renders it into its component parts.\\n\\n8/2017 (3 years later): he's still nuts about his hedgepigs, & I'm still sewing them up. None of 'em have any feet left.\",\n \"Product: When nature calls, Wee-Wee Pads answer! These dog pee pads are more absorbent than ever, featuring a 6-layer Floor Armor leak-proof system and oversized quilted pads. They also provide 24-hour wetness protection and include a targeted attractant to draw your dog to the pad. One size fits all, so these pads are great for both puppy training and senior dogs. Plus, our refreshed new packaging still allows you to recognize the Four Paws brand you know and love!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: need folded edges to prevent leakage\\n\\nReview: I was buying the 'classic piddle pads' from the website of those 2 probably non-existent web \\\"drs\\\", & frankly I wish I'd stayed with them. They would've been slightly more expensive this time around, but they have one HUGE advantage over these 4-paws brand; folded edges which prevent the piddle from running over the edge & leaking all over everywhere. I don't use the tray, & don't intend to (am just housebreaking a puppy).\\n\\nThey're not terribly absorbent, either: My puppy is sorta housebroken but hasn't figured out how to indicate that he needs to go out*; he basically waits for me to read his mind to know when he needs to pee. If I fail to do so fast enough, sometimes he'll go to the weewee pads (which are right by the door) & tinkle just a little, to take the urgency out of the situation. Then he waits some more. Unless he hits the wwp dead center, it runs over the side even with this small amount. If he can't get my attention, or I'm out of the house, & he lets the whole bladder go, it'll soak & run over 2 of the small pads & run off onto the newspaper underneath.\\n\\nWould not buy again, don't recommend unless you have a leak-proof tray to contain overflows.\\n(edit; I goofed the first time it posted; I meant to actually give it 1 or 2 stars, not 3. I'll stay with 2, since at least I've not run into any with holes in 'em. )\\n\\n*I even bought the little doggie bells (<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/PoochieBells-Solid-Classic-Black-Dog-Potty-Training-Doorbell/dp/B0016IWV02/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">PoochieBells Solid Classic Black Dog Potty Training Doorbell</a>) to hang on the doorknob. He was afraid of them at first, but now he'll bap 'em with his nose & claw at 'em like mad...after I've realized he desperately needs to pee & am at the door with him, trying to put on his harness as he frantically claws at the bells & wriggles like crazy. Dunno how long it's gonna take for him to figure out that we'd all be a lot happier if he'd ring them earlier.\\n** Forever: he never did learn to ring the bells, still won't bark, & will only whine if he's about to rupture a kidney. But I've gotten really good at deciphering reeally subtle doggy body language!\",\n \"Product: Virbac Kitty Korner Komber Self-Grooming Aid for Cats is made of durable, high-impact grade plastic. Attaches easily to wall or corner. Simple to remove and easy to clean. Appeals to cat's natural rubbing instinct.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My cat loves it! Had to buy more after move.\\n\\nReview: I put one of these up for my cat in our old house, then forgot to take it with us when we moved. My fuzzball Maine coon looooves these things, whether or not I've remembered to put fresh catnip in lately.\\n\\nbtw, I've never relied on the stick-em or velcro fasteners they come with; even tho this particular brand didn't come with screw holes already existing, it took moments to buzz a coupla screws through it into the wood/wall (I got 2, one for a big wooden aquarium stand, to make sure I couldn't forget to bring it next move!). I figure if the stick-em was powerful enough to hold the thing in place, it'd rip a big patch of paint off, anyway; easier to spackle over little holes if necessary.\",\n \"Product: Petsport 50010 Biscuit Buddy\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: nice idea, if it didn't fall off all the time\\n\\nReview: This treat holder does have some nice features; drawstring closure for keeping the treats in ( & dog snouts out), little side zipper pocket which can hold a poo bag, small training clicker, & key. Safety clip to snap onto belt loop so you don't lose it when the utterly useless loose, wimpy clip falls off your belt.\\n\\nof course, if you ever walk/work with/train your dog while wearing anything that DOESN'T have belt loops, you are (pardon the expression) screwed, & the Biscuit Buddy becomes ByeBye Buddy...& I'm SO glad I didn't have my car or house key in it when I walked on the beach this afternoon.\\n\\nSo if every single item of clothing you own has belt loops --in the right place-- this is a great treat bag. If not, avoid this thing like the plague. (Ever walk the dog in sweat pants? Buy several replacements.) The clip is incredibly loose & wimpy & strictly for show; the bag falls off every time you bend over, bump it, jog, run, sneeze, or laugh hard.\\n\\nbtw, I just read some of the other reviews. I did not get mine from Amazon, but from a local retailer. I'm fairly certain I had the actual BB pictured here; it had the zip pocket & the fabric seemed fairly heavy duty, & I'm pretty sure the logo looked just like the ones in the pic. I cannot, of course, compare mine with those pictured, since by now either someone picked it up from the beach & is being aggravated by the stupid belt clip, or it's blown into the Pacific & some large fish is happily digesting the organic doggy treats which were in it (including some very expensive freeze dried goat heart....grrr).\\nSo, the brand name \\\"real\\\" one has a lousy clip which (as another reviewer noted) is permanently affixed to the bag. I'm going to try another brand, as a treat pouch is VERY handy to have for teaching purposes.\",\n \"Product: The KONG Squeakair Ball combines two classic dog toys - the tennis ball and the squeaker toy - to create the perfect fetch toy. Our durable, high-quality Squeakair tennis ball will not wear down your dog's teeth. It's made with a special non-abrasive felt, compared to the abrasive material on normal tennis balls.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Eskie adores it, it's survived so far\\n\\nReview: My Eskie destroys toys very quickly, so when I picked out his first Kong ball (at a local store) I chose one that was almost too big for him, figuring he'd have a harder time mangling it. I seem to've lucked out; it's way too big for him to swallow of course, but he has no trouble with the basics; he can pick it up, carry it around, catch it, & make it squeak --oh boy, can he make it squeak!-- but after almost 2 weeks, the ball & it's squeaker is just fine.\\n\\nHe figured out very quickly that he could vary the squeak sound by changing where the air hole was in his mouth. He'll sit around sometimes just noodling around with the squeaks, playing with the tone, speed, delay, etc...maybe he's composing doggy squeak sonatas.\\n\\nI dunno if I lucked out & got an especially tough one, or choosing a slightly bigger one helped, or if he just decided not to destroy it yet (sometimes he'll appear to elect not to mangle a certain toy), but it's held up great so far. l'll add an edit when/if it dies.\\n\\nSize info; he's quite small for a standard Eskie, around 16.5-17 pounds, 14-15 inches at shoulder (not counting hair, of course!), & his muzzle is about 2.5 inches long (tip of nose to inner corner of eye, 'bout where his snoot stops). I bought a medium, which is 2.5 inches in dia).\",\n \"Product: PoochieBells, The Leader in Dog Potty Training & Communication Dog Doorbells Since 2005. PoochieBells are proudly 100% handcrafted in the USA for millions of happy dog families. Each PoochieBell comes complete with easy pet profesionally endorsed training instructions. Choose quality for your home, family & pet, Choose PoochieBells.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: great idea! hope the dog figures it out soon\\n\\nReview: I bought these for my American Eskimo puppy because he refuses to bark or whimper or claw at the door, or anything like that to let me know when he needs to go out. He was afraid of them at first*, but now he'll bap 'em with his nose & claw at 'em like mad...after I've realized he desperately needs to pee & am at the door with him, trying to put on his harness as he claws at the bells & wriggles like crazy. Dunno how long it's gonna take for him to figure out that we'd all be a lot happier if he'd ring them earlier. Or bark. Or do something a bit more obvious than giving me a brief glance, maybe walking a step or two toward the door.\\n\\nI'm reading \\\"The Genius of Dogs\\\" & thinking perhaps my guy isn't a doggy Einstein, but I love him anyway :-)\\n\\nOTOH, my Maine Coon cat (who's 100% indoor) figured out within a coupla days that \\\"ring the bells means we go out\\\" so he spends a lot of time slapping the bells & then giving me the Kitty Death Glare when I won't let him out.\\n\\n*To get him over the fright, I had to do quite a bit of me barely 'tinging' the bells in front of him while giving him treats, then clicker training him to touch them with his nose. He has been a bit fearful of new things but usually gets over it quickly. I think these took longer because it turned out my roommate was jangling them like mad in his face early on, which reinforced the fear until i found out what was going on.\",\n \"Product: Made from inert soft thermoplastic polymer to satisfy the chewing instinct of teething puppies and encourage non-destructive chewing. Bristles raised during chewing will help clean teeth and prevent tartar build up. Designed for teething puppies - Not recommended for adult dogs or puppies with any permanent teeth\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: awfully big & awfully hard\\n\\nReview: Bought one for a 9 1/2 week old American Eskimo standard puppy. He weighs 6 1/2 pounds.\\nOne piece of the toy is just about the size of his front leg, & about as long as his head. It's not so big that he can't get his mouth around it, certainly, but could definitely be smaller; I can't imagine how a youngster of one of the really small breeds could get much use out of this.\\nAlso, I expected the pieces to be softer than the traditional Nylabone, but they don't seem to be (granted, I've never gnawed on this or the old fashioned kind...). I'm somewhat concerned about the puppy chewing on this with his little puppy needle teeth.\\n\\nSo: seems too hard, too big. I don't feel comfortable leaving it with him.\\n\\nedit:\\nby the time he was about 4months old, he'd grown into it & it went into the toy pile. He plays with it as much as the others in the 'bottom half' of his toy collection; the ones that arent' his faves but he drags out every now 'n' then like he just discovered it for the first time. upgraded to 3 stars from 1, but probably still wouldn't recommend for baby teeth; he's got his big-boy fangs now.\",\n \"Product: PoochieBells, The Leader in Dog Potty Training & Communication Dog Doorbells Since 2005. PoochieBells are proudly 100% handcrafted in the USA for millions of happy dog families. Each PoochieBell comes complete with easy pet profesionally endorsed training instructions. Choose quality for your home, family & pet, Choose PoochieBells.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: great idea! hope the dog figures it out soon\\n\\nReview: I bought these for my American Eskimo puppy because he refuses to bark or whimper or claw at the door, or anything like that to let me know when he needs to go out. He was afraid of them at first*, but now he'll bap 'em with his nose & claw at 'em like mad...after I've realized he desperately needs to pee & am at the door with him, trying to put on his harness as he claws at the bells & wriggles like crazy. Dunno how long it's gonna take for him to figure out that we'd all be a lot happier if he'd ring them earlier. Or bark. Or do something a bit more obvious than giving me a brief glance, maybe walking a step or two toward the door.\\n\\nI'm reading \\\"The Genius of Dogs\\\" & thinking perhaps my guy isn't a doggy Einstein, but I love him anyway :-)\\n\\nOTOH, my Maine Coon cat (who's 100% indoor) figured out within a coupla days that \\\"ring the bells means we go out\\\" so he spends a lot of time slapping the bells & then giving me the Kitty Death Glare when I won't let him out.\\n\\n*To get him over the fright, I had to do quite a bit of me barely 'tinging' the bells in front of him while giving him treats, then clicker training him to touch them with his nose. He has been a bit fearful of new things but usually gets over it quickly. I think these took longer because it turned out my roommate was jangling them like mad in his face early on, which reinforced the fear until i found out what was going on.\",\n \"Product: Made from inert soft thermoplastic polymer to satisfy the chewing instinct of teething puppies and encourage non-destructive chewing. Bristles raised during chewing will help clean teeth and prevent tartar build up. Designed for teething puppies - Not recommended for adult dogs or puppies with any permanent teeth\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: awfully big & awfully hard\\n\\nReview: Bought one for a 9 1/2 week old American Eskimo standard puppy. He weighs 6 1/2 pounds.\\nOne piece of the toy is just about the size of his front leg, & about as long as his head. It's not so big that he can't get his mouth around it, certainly, but could definitely be smaller; I can't imagine how a youngster of one of the really small breeds could get much use out of this.\\nAlso, I expected the pieces to be softer than the traditional Nylabone, but they don't seem to be (granted, I've never gnawed on this or the old fashioned kind...). I'm somewhat concerned about the puppy chewing on this with his little puppy needle teeth.\\n\\nSo: seems too hard, too big. I don't feel comfortable leaving it with him.\\n\\nedit:\\nby the time he was about 4months old, he'd grown into it & it went into the toy pile. He plays with it as much as the others in the 'bottom half' of his toy collection; the ones that arent' his faves but he drags out every now 'n' then like he just discovered it for the first time. upgraded to 3 stars from 1, but probably still wouldn't recommend for baby teeth; he's got his big-boy fangs now.\",\n \"Product: Our Healthy Edibles Puppy Chew Treats are the highly digestible, natural puppy treats that growing puppies love. Crafted with wellness in mind, these turkey and sweet potato puppy treats are gentle enough for your puppy's delicate digestive system, made with natural ingredients, and contain no added salt, sugar, or artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. These longer-lasting puppy treats are for puppies 3 months and older.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: great, IF you want an orange dog, house, etc\\n\\nReview: Just got these today, gave one to my 9 1/2 week-old Eskimo puppy. Went to refill water bowl. Came back less than two minutes later to find him chewing happily away, which seemed great until I noticed great spots & smears of deep orange on his bedding towels.\\nThe bone wasn't even visibly marred or wet, but there were also big spots of orange on both his front legs and his face. I'm really glad I didn't leave it in there longer. I tried to take pix of the orange-blotched puppy, but the light in here's lousy. It's too bad; he's adorable (but naturally so; doesn't need a dye job).\\nSo, maybe if you're a rabid Denver Bronco fan* (or maybe U Tennessee), you might be happy with these, but they REALLY need to lay off the annatto. I assume they're trying to make he sweet potato ingredient stand out, but products made with real sweet potato don't bleed radioactive orange all over the place.\\nPuppy gives it many stars (I think); I give it zero for ludicrously overdone coloring.\\n\\n*Actually I am, but not so much I want my house & my dog looking like they got cluster bombed by neon pumpkins.\",\n \"Product: The only dog treat made with organic wheatgrass\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: healthy maybe, but dog won't touch 'em\\n\\nReview: well, nice idea --organic, healthy, eco-friendly, made in USA & all that marvy stuff, but my American Eskimo 'teenager' (17 weeks) won't eat the things if he's starving. He won't even eat his favorite treats if these things have been in the same bag for longer than a minute or two. When I offer him one of these oh-so-wunnerful things, he sniffs it gingerly for a moment, then backs away from it while looking at it only from the corner of his eyes, as if it were violently toxic or explosive or scorching hot. He's not a particularly picky eater, either.\\n\\nbtw, the statements on the package that these are gluten free, & that 'wheat grass contains no wheat gluten' are quite disingenuous: technically, yes, wheat grass contains no gluten --it's in the wheat kernel. However, as any very sensitive celiac will tell you, the likelihood of wheat grass being harvested without any wheat kernels whatsoever are vanishingly small. I haven't encountered data on the prevalence of celiac sprue or gluten sensitivity in dogs, but these would only be really gluten free in a perfect world...& in my 11 years of forced gluten avoidance I have learned repeatedly (to my extreme misery) that perfection does NOT happen in food processing.\",\n \"Product: The PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist 'n Treat is a highly adjustable treat dispensing rubber toy specifically designed for teething puppies younger than 6 months.Twist the two pieces apart for easy access to treats, or twist closer together for more of a challenge. Works with a wide variety of food options. Not recommended for strong chewers; gentle on puppy teeth. Dishwasher safe, top rack only.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: okay idea, lousy execution\\n\\nReview: This is an okay idea, but the execution is seriously lacking. It's a pain to fill; you either unscrew it completely, fill, & screw back together (which is complicated by the fact that the treats get stuck in the threads), or you put it together & sneak the bits in thru the gap, meanwhile sealing the other side with the other hand so they don't fall right through.\\n\\nThen you give it to your dog. If, like my Eskimo, your dog paws at a treat dispenser instead of just nosing it around, it's very easy for the dog to shift the pieces --i.e. screw it in tighter so the little openings shift & nothing comes out, which frustrates my dog like crazy, or loosen it so all the goodies just dump out at once, which obviates the whole idea. It takes very little shift to change the dispensing parameters. Either way, I suppose it provides practice at taking food away from your dog without him biting you, because you have to keep grabbing it away from the dog to re-tighten/-loosen, but in all, it hardly falls under my definition of ideal fun toy or treat dispenser. i got him another, ball-type, dispenser toy which worked great; all I have to do is find the darned thing.\",\n \"Product: The Exo Terra Turtle Bank Magnetic Floating Island is a unique floating basking area for aquatic turtles. Held in place by magnets, the Exo Terra Turtle Bank can be positioned in the corner of the terrarium to maximize swimming area. The submerged ramp auto adjusts to different water levels, allowing turtle's easy access to a dry basking area for maximum exposure to heat and UVB lamps. The Exo Terra Turtle Bank is available in 3 sizes and with its detailed design and neutral colors, it fits into any terrarium.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Made of toxic waste plastic?? Stay away!!\\n\\nReview: I bought one of these for my musk turtle a few months ago. He already had a favorite basking spot (one of the faux rock 'caves') but already outgrew the opening in his first fake cave, so I thought I'd plan ahead. The platform did stay in place, helped by the magnets, but when I took the tank down for a regular cleaning a couple of weeks ago & pulled out this platform I was blasted by a hideous, chemical-ish, toxic-waste-type smell. I was utterly appalled --it smelled AWFUL, and I couldn't imagine that it could be healthy for Sir Edmund to be wallowing in whatever is coming off this thing. I cleaned out his tank really well & rinsed everything. The platform went straight into the trash (tho I worry about the landfill...what could be safe disposal for this thing???).\\n\\nSo far, Sir E seems to be showing no ill effects, thank heavens. I can't imagine what the heck this thing is made of; the faux rock caves look like similar plastic, but after years of use, they have no smell at all besides an occasional algal whiff. I wouldn't use one of these things again around a live animal if you paid me.\",\n \"Product: Bright colors and extreme attention to detail is just what the extrovert in the family need to express themselves. Rogz Fancy Dress Range, 5/8-Inch Scooter fully adjustable H-Harness features super-fashion ribbon stitched onto pure high grade nylon webbing. All joins are box stitched for extra strength and a quality finish. Spoil your dog with a lead and collar to match and they will certainly stand out in the pack. Choose carefully and never spoil only one dog in the family - we do not want things to get out of control! The perfect outfit for those very special occasions.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Mostly a terrific harness\\n\\nReview: I say \\\"mostly\\\" because it's well made, more adjustable than most H harnesses (most others don't have an adjustable strap between the legs*), & because the latest one lasted over 6 months on my exasperating American Eskimo. He's not quite 20 pounds but has a bite like an alligator. I only put the harness on him when he's on leash (or lately running around the yard when I'm there). I check his harness very regularly because he tends to bite thru that between-the-legs strap. This morning he gnawed all the way thru this one in about 5 minutes. I don't really blame the harness, because unless I reinforce that strap with Kevlar or neutronium, his harnesses don't last 6 weeks, much less that many months. I actually did not reinforce this one, so I think it did pretty well, considering. I am buying another one just like it because it fits well & (since I WILL reinforce this one) it should hold up very well.\\n\\n3 years later: a few months after this review, I did get another of the same design & reinforced the chest strap with strips from this one. Kenta is still prancing around in that harness. Tho admittedly, he doesn't chew on his harness as much as he did as a young'un, this type of harness has held up very well.\\n\\n*this is a great feature; I went thru a dozen or more harnesses before I got this type, & this is the only one that fit his adorable but apparently weird shape. I posted pix on the Rogz H Harness small (a size down from this one) to show where he chews, if anyone is interested.\",\n \"Product: When nature calls, Wee-Wee Pads answer! These dog pee pads are more absorbent than ever, featuring a 6-layer Floor Armor leak-proof system and oversized quilted pads. They also provide 24-hour wetness protection and include a targeted attractant to draw your dog to the pad. One size fits all, so these pads are great for both puppy training and senior dogs. Plus, our refreshed new packaging still allows you to recognize the Four Paws brand you know and love!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: need folded edges to prevent leakage\\n\\nReview: I was buying the 'classic piddle pads' from the website of those 2 probably non-existent web \\\"drs\\\", & frankly I wish I'd stayed with them. They would've been slightly more expensive this time around, but they have one HUGE advantage over these 4-paws brand; folded edges which prevent the piddle from running over the edge & leaking all over everywhere. I don't use the tray, & don't intend to (am just housebreaking a puppy).\\n\\nThey're not terribly absorbent, either: My puppy is sorta housebroken but hasn't figured out how to indicate that he needs to go out*; he basically waits for me to read his mind to know when he needs to pee. If I fail to do so fast enough, sometimes he'll go to the weewee pads (which are right by the door) & tinkle just a little, to take the urgency out of the situation. Then he waits some more. Unless he hits the wwp dead center, it runs over the side even with this small amount. If he can't get my attention, or I'm out of the house, & he lets the whole bladder go, it'll soak & run over 2 of the small pads & run off onto the newspaper underneath.\\n\\nWould not buy again, don't recommend unless you have a leak-proof tray to contain overflows.\\n(edit; I goofed the first time it posted; I meant to actually give it 1 or 2 stars, not 3. I'll stay with 2, since at least I've not run into any with holes in 'em. )\\n\\n*I even bought the little doggie bells (<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/PoochieBells-Solid-Classic-Black-Dog-Potty-Training-Doorbell/dp/B0016IWV02/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">PoochieBells Solid Classic Black Dog Potty Training Doorbell</a>) to hang on the doorknob. He was afraid of them at first, but now he'll bap 'em with his nose & claw at 'em like mad...after I've realized he desperately needs to pee & am at the door with him, trying to put on his harness as he frantically claws at the bells & wriggles like crazy. Dunno how long it's gonna take for him to figure out that we'd all be a lot happier if he'd ring them earlier.\\n** Forever: he never did learn to ring the bells, still won't bark, & will only whine if he's about to rupture a kidney. But I've gotten really good at deciphering reeally subtle doggy body language!\",\n \"Product: Healers Booties are designed for protection and healing. The Healers boot provides air flow and moisture wicking properties, decreasing the opportunity for infections and shortening recovery time for injuries to the animal. Healers are manufactured with a High Tech medical grade material that is used in the human market for healing wraps. Its outer surface is loop fabric so the hook can attach anywhere. This provides pet owners the ability to get a snug, secure, fit as they wrap the boot around the paw. The Velcro Hook applied is low profile, high tensile strength hook that enables a strong hold, keeping the boot in its place. Healer's uses the highest quality components available and are made in the USA. They are recommended and used by Veterinarians. Our boots are made to last and are machine washable. Healers Gauze Inserts are designed to fit right inside the boot turning the boot into a non-adhesive bandage. The gauze pads will not stick to the wound while it heals and it has adhesive on the back side so you can place it where you need it. Healers Boots are comfortable, they provide traction on hardwood floors and the synthetic leather sole are perfect for light outdoor use. Best of all they are a bandage that is easy to use and make dressing changes a snap. Healers booties are sold as individual units or in a box set with 2 boots and 2 gauze inserts. They come in 5 sizes from extra small to extra large. Healers Gauze pads can be purchased separately. If you need added protection, check out Healers Leg Wraps. The leg wraps will connect to the boots extending the boot up the leg.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Jury's still out; 1 fell off pretty fast, 1 stayed on... may help his SLO symptoms (?)\\n\\nReview: My American Eskimo was diagnosed with SLO a couple months ago --an auto-immune disorder that attacks the nail beds. The claws may fall off & grow back deformed, it can be very painful during a flare-up, & the toes tend to be tender & easy to bruise all the time. I've been looking for booties to protect his tender tootsies, & what a nightmare it's been. Tho he weighs only 16 pounds, very few brands make small enuff ones. This brand fit him in the XS (Eskimos have little bitty \\\"Arctic fox\\\" feet). We went for our first short walk in them this evening, --it's freezing rain & the weather seems extra hard on his feet. We went with a pair on just the front, as they're so expensive I only bought 1 pair to start.\\n\\n One fell off in 2 blocks. if we do keep using them I DEFINITELY will sew on a bit of reflective tape...duckwalking around in circles in pitch dark freezing rain trying to find a matte black & blue bootie in icy grass with a teeny LED light is not amusing. Either that or make string 'safety holders' like for kids' or 19th century Antarctic explorers' mittens.\\n\\nThe other stayed on the whole walk (4-5 blocks). It didn't seem to bother him, as his stride was even, no limp, with 3 bare feet & 1 bootie.\\n\\nWhen we got back I took off the remaining bootie & gently held his front feet to see if it kept his paw warm, at least. Result; 2 evenly soaking wet, icy cold little paws. So, neither doodly nor squat as to warmth.\\n\\nThey claim to be \\\"water resistant,\\\" a phrase that always makes me cringe. The solid rubber pad on the bottom doesn't actually absorb water, but since the rest of the material acts as a very efficient sponge all the bottom seems to do is prevent any water from draining out. Result: neither squat nor doodly as to keeping paws dry.\\n\\nPost-walkies report: he didn't lick/chew either front paw longer than the other; only enuff to dry them off, with neither apparently more painful than the other. I figured if the extreme cold aggravated his toes and the bootie did something, then the paw that got naked early might seem more painful & thus get more attention. However, we had an active day so he got a pain pill with dinner, so perhaps that wasn't a valid data point. At least the bootie that stayed on didn't seem to make anything worse.\\n\\nThe final analysis is....beats me. They do seem to fall off easily. It is hard to judge how much to crank down on the velcro fastener, since you want it to stay on but it'd be nice not to cut off all circulation to the foot. I find myself thinking of the leg wraps I used to put on my horse prior to trailoring, & wondering if it'd be better to retro-fit a bootie with a cloth (non-velcro) wrap that went higher up & was snug enuff to keep the foot part on without reefing down on the one small area of foot/leg.\\n\\nI've read of other people with SLO dogs who have them wear socks/booties & it helps prevent the easy bruising, which is a common symptom. Of course, all the other breeds I've read/heard about with this rare condition are much bigger, so maybe it's more possible to find booties that fit paws that aren't tiny (?). If I could sew thicker materials (or any material), I'd try & design his own custom booties, maybe with the horse-type leg wrap.\\n\\nI was worried the rubber bottoms would be slippery on ice --the sidewalks were like a skating rink-- but I didn't see a bootied paw slip once. MY vibram lug sole hiking boots darned near landed me on my keister several times, so either the booties are fairly non-skid or 4 feet are vastly better than 2.\\n\\nI'm going to give these a few more trials since I spent $35, can't take 'em back, & at least they didn't exacerbate his problem. I'll update if further data reveals itself.\\n\\nFinal analysis (later revision): they just wouldn't stay on. Again, it may be a problem of Eskmos having little bitty fox feet, or the booties themselves. I've tried nearly every brand on the market & all were either too big or fell off, so maybe it's the feet. On the up side, his SLO has cleared up very well & (cross fingers) no more flare-ups...take hope, those new to the disorder.\\n\\nbtw, if your dog has an open wound: These booties come with optional 'wound pads' (like the absorbent part of a big band-aid) with peel-off adhesive to stick on the inside so the bootie won't stick to the open flesh. I assume you'd have to keep buying new ones. Since the whole thing gets soaked so easily, you'd want to use the Glad self-stick plastic film stuff around the outside to keep a wound dry. I used that when he was first diagnosed & had a claw removed (not the whole mechanism, thank Anubis, just an outer claw that got half-ripped off the first time a quick died back).\",\n \"Product: Our designers took years perfecting this bone! Careful attention was made to ensure it fits naturally in the curvature of the canine mouth. The ridges across the top give your dog the feeling that they are chewing through the toy keeping them interested in it for months! Its unique interior shape provides strength for even the most aggressive chewers. The opening on our bone is designed to be the perfect place to put treats, dog bones and peanut butter. When your dog is done, simply throw the toy in the dishwasher for easy cleaning! Our proprietary \\\"Bionic Rubber\\\" material ensures that your dog will enjoy playing with the Bionic Bone for a long time. Sizing recommendations: Small - 1 to 20 lbs. Medium - 15 to 35 lbs. Large - 30 to 60 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: As chew toy, worthless; as goody dispenser, primo. Great for restricted diets!\\n\\nReview: okay, a couple years after posting a \\\"meh\\\" review, I'm changing my tune. the PB aspect was always handy, but since my Eskimo got diagnosed with SLO & put on a restricted diet --no PB, no pizzles, no chew toys that he wants to chew on-- this thing has gained major importance in the household. It still gets zero stars as a chew toy, but I can fill it with his canned prescription rabbit diet or sweet potatoes, or (for more interest) one at each end-- & freeze. Then it definitely takes up some of the time he used to spend chewing on his beloved pizzles.\\n\\nSo, anyone with a dog on a restricted diet might consider it as something fun & tasty for them to occupy themselves with for a few minutes, since you can fill it with whatever your particular patient can eat.\\n\\ntotally irrelevant, but he makes the most hilarious sucking noises to get the last teeny bits out...sounds like a baby with a bottle.\\nold post:\\nMy dog doesn't show any interest in chewing on this; he just doesn't like plain rubber.\\nThis is very handy as a peanut butter receptacle though; I fill both ends with PB & it keeps him occupied for 5-10 minutes, especially if I pop it in the freezer.\",\n \"Product: Hare of the Dog Rabbit with Sweet Potato Treats are both delicious and healthy to provide your dog with the perfect snack for any occasion These treats are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and contain no preservatives, grains or fillers. The treats only include allnatural rabbit and sweet potato to ensure that your dog receives only the best. Hare of the Dog Rabbit with Sweet Potato is proudly made in the USA with ingredients sourced from American farms. This bag includes 2.5 ounces of treats and is resealable to help preserve their freshness. Don't choose between rewarding your dog and caring for him order these healthy, delectable treats for your pooch today Key Features: Made in USA with ingredients from American farms Allnatural with no preservatives or grains 2.5 oz of treats in resealable bag\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great treat for restricted diets; Eskie love 'em!\\n\\nReview: My American Eskimo is at the end of his first week of a restricted diet, hoping to alleviate his newly diagnosed SLO (an auto-immune disease that attacks the quick of the claws, causes them to shed the nails, & is very painful in the acute stage). He's used to getting all sorts of yummy treats, so it's made me feel very bad that not only is he feeling bad, but he doesn't even get his goodies. Well, we've found some new goodies, & these are one of the hits! He loves these & does his best little \\\"treat dance\\\" celebration when he gets a piece.\\n\\nOne reviewer compared the texture to chik-o-stik candy (I think; maybe it was a Butterfinger without the chocolate); either way, they were spot on. They are rather crumbly, but Kenta loves the taste.\\n\\nThe only thing that bugs me about this is, there's a bit of iffy labeling. On the front it does say \\\"with Sweet Potato.\\\" On the back of the package is a big strip that says \\\"100% rabbit dog treats.\\\" Apparently what this means is, of the rabbit that is in there, it's all rabbit. It used to be that if something said \\\"100% X\\\" it meant that the product contained nothing but X. That seems no longer to be the case; I recently bought a new tub of petroleum jelly for my very hairball-prone cat who also is on a severely restricted diet, so can't use regular kitty hairball remedies. The label says \\\"100% petroleum jelly\\\" in big letters on the front. I got it home, opened it, & a very strong cloud of perfume billowed out. In teeny letters on the back, it mentioned it also contains fragrance. So, I guess of the petroleum jelly in the petroleum jelly, it's all (100%) petroleum jelly. There's just other things in there, too. This labeling trend is VERY annoying. Read carefully!!\\n\\nI do wish I could find a bunny version of something as chewy as the pizzles that he loves so much, to give his jaws something to really work on (sweet potato chewies just aren't sturdy enough), but for tasty rewards & just plain \\\"have a treat you love\\\" moments, these are excellent! And I'm finding it (bizarrely) somewhat of a challenge to seek out treats with NOTHING but rabbit & sweet potato...some add chicken products, which seems idiotic to me since I would think most folks who're giving rabbit & sw potatoes to their dogs are doing so because of dietary restrictions.\\n\\nAnyhow, these are terrific! Nothing but bunny & sw potatoes, & made in the USA. They're not the cheapest treats around, but then, rabbit isn't the cheapest meat around, either, so it's understandable.\",\n \"Product: Bright colors and extreme attention to detail is just what the extrovert in the family need to express themselves. Rogz Fancy Dress Range, 5/8\\\" Scooter fully adjustable H-Harness features super-fashion ribbon stitched onto pure high grade nylon webbing. All joins are box stitched for extra strength and a quality finish. Spoil your dog with a lead and collar to match and they will certainly stand out in the pack. Choose carefully and never spoil only one dog in the family - we do not want things to get out of control! The perfect outfit for those very special occasions. Fully Adjustable from 12-20\\\", 5/8\\\" Scooter H-Harnesses are suitable for Maltese Poodle, Terrier, Jack Russell, Scotty, Pug and similar sized breeds.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: somewhat well made, very adjustable\\n\\nReview: * If you've got a very determined harness-chewer you might want to avoid this product. *\\n\\nEdit, 12/5/13: Down to 3 stars, as the 2nd one tore in the same place the first one did, on the between-the-legs strap (see pix). And I'm sure he didn't chew on this one. I ended up cutting a length off the first one (which I kept for spare parts) & sewing/gluing it along that front strap, thus making it triple thickness. It's a bit stiff, but he got used to it. I continue to use this harness because I can adjust it to fit his hard-to-fit (albeit cute) form better than any other harness we've tried.\\n\\n[Addition, 9/10/13: I just noticed that there's a tear developing in the material just in front of the 'adjustment buckle' (I still don't know what to call it) on the lower strap that runs between neck & chest loops. He does still occasionally reach down, hook his lower jaw under this, & try to gnaw on it at times. Apparently he's managed to put enough strain on it doing that, plus 2 VERY active ~90 minute \\\"play dates\\\" with other ~20 pound puppies, that it's beginning to tear thru.\\n\\nI've down-graded it to 4 stars, as it seems rather fast (~8 weeks) for this to be tearing already, even given that occasionally it gets worried at, briefly.]\\n\\nI had a devil of a time finding a harness to fit my American Eskimo puppy. I don't know if he's got weird proportions or what, but we've tried at least 10 different brands & none have come closer to fitting than this one. The problem I had was, the neck & chest attachments were too short on harnesses that were small enough for his size (apparently he's 'long in the chest'). (I also tried various \\\"step-in\\\" harnesses, but those were worse; he appeared to be VERY uncomfortable in them, & putting them onto his wiggly self was a nightmare...granted, he's a puppy & getting more cooperative, but with a March 17, 2013 birthday it's going to be a good while before he's totally calm & perfectly trained).\\n\\nHi measurements at 17 weeks (july 24, 13), 10.5 pounds, are 32\\\" long (chest to base of tail), 17 1/2\\\" around chest, 11.5\\\" around neck.\\n\\nOne of the great things about this harness is, it's more adjustable than any other I've tried. Not only are the chest & neck 'loops' adjustable, but the strip that connects neck & chest on bottom (goes between front legs) is also adjustable.\\n\\nHere are the possible dimensions, from maximum extension to minimum:\\nNeck: 12-20 inches\\nChest: 14 3/4 - 22 1/2\\\"\\nTop connector: 4 1/2\\\"\\nBottom connector: 4 1/2-6 1/4\\\"\\n\\nThe material is about 5/8\\\" wide as advertised, & doesn't mat down my Eskie's hair (though he only wears it when we're actively out on leash; I never leave it on him). It seems quite sturdy --i've only had it for a coupla weeks, but it has stood up to some chewing when he's gotten hold of it when I wasn't looking...& he's got the bite strength of an alligator.\\n\\nCons: ironically, the only aspect he had trouble adjusting to after switching from his first harness is the feature I like most, the adjustable bottom front-to-back connector. I think the adjustor-thingie (whaddya call them??) --the square piece that allows you to change the length of the strap, not a buckle, but sorta-- pokes downward a bit, enough that he notices it when he's walking around. At first he tended to sorta hop on his front legs, & reach down & worry the strap between his front legs with his teeth. That only lasted a couple days; now he only appears to notice it once or twice a day, & then just sorta glances down there.\\n\\nAnother reviewer commented that the chest buckle mechanism was very stiff, & this concerned me since I have arthritis/carpal tunnel/something that makes my hands rather wimpy & painful. It hasn't been as much of a problem as I'd worried. It does hurt a bit to open it when my hands are very bad, but it's not so difficult to open that I've had to leave the harness on the pooch or been unable to get it on. On the other hand, if it were too easy to open I'd worry that it'd pop open when he pulled at the leash, so I'd rather have it a bit too stiff than too loose.\\n\\nOverall, this seems like a very good product. As I'm rather conservative (in a few ways), I'd sorta prefer a more neutral color (black, say) than purple with pink wavy lines & sparkly silver hearts & brand name, but at least the froofy design elements are small, & his hair is long. It works well & is comfortable for my dog, which are the most important things.\",\n \"Product: Smoked\\n\\nUSDA and FDA certified.\\n\\nBraided Bullwrinkles Give Dogs the Meaty Taste They Crave\\nAll natural treats we sell at HappyDogPlace come from grass-fed, free-ranging animals.\\nOur raw bull sticks have no chemicals or preservatives whatsoever.\\nBully sticks are naturally low in fat - even better for your dog than rawhide chews.\\n\\nAll natural beef braided and roasted to perfection to give dogs a unique, flavorful treat.\\n\\nHighly palatable Braided Bullwrinkles are easy to digest and become chewy when moistened by dog's saliva.\\nNaturally cleans teeth while providing dogs with a satisfying chew.\\nThey are a great way to reduce tartar buildup while satisfying your dog's instinct to chew!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: latest batch is defective; dog won't touch 'em! AND they're selling you defective doggy chews!\\n\\nReview: update on the update on the update (Oct 26). They informed me that they have a 15% restocking fee...which seems to indicate that they're restocking --& reselling-- defective, possibly toxic (who knows??) dog chews. So I spent over $22 on defective, inedible doggy treats for a dog who will eat anything. I called cuss service, & after being argued with by 2 different employees (who kept insisting that there was nothing wrong or different about this batch, despite the fact that my dog won't touch 'em, after inhaling previous batches), they eventually, with much bad grace, agreed to waive the restocking fee. Then she hung up on me as I was in mid-sentence. I won't be buying from this place again, ever.\\n\\nupdate on the update (Oct 22): I just received notice of my refund for the batch that the dog wouldn't touch. Despite the fact that I returned all the sticks I received, they only refunded $55 of the $65 I paid. I'm waiting for a reply to my query of why I only got a partial refund. At this point I'm out over $22 dollars, return shipping plus the $10 they held back for unknown reasons. I am NOT happy; down another star. Will post if/when I get an explanation &/or the rest of the refund.\\n\\nupdate, early Oct 2015. Dropped from 5 stars to 3: bought my 3rd batch of these; my dog loved the first 2 batches but this latest he won't touch. Considering what he does eat/chew on, I find this a bit alarming. I've contacted HDP about returning them; will post that experience. I'm very disappointed & more than a little concerned; what could be wrong with these pizzles that even my 'goat dog' won't chew on them??\\n\\n My American Eskimo may only weigh 17 pounds but has a bite like an alligator, so he goes thru chewies like a buzz saw. The braided bullies are the only kind that last any time with him, except when I have access to bullies in bulk where I can pick thru them to get the very thickest (actually, braided rings last the very longest). This Big Box O' Braided Bullies contains varying sizes, so I wouldn't say they were all \\\"monstrous.\\\" Even so, the value of these is pretty good compared to what I have access to locally (which aren't all \\\"monstrous\\\" by any means, either). Call me a cynic, but I really didn't expect every one of them to be huge anyway...I have trouble envisioning somebody at the company whose sole job it is to dig through great heaps of pizzles, picking out the humongous ones. My expectations far as size goes weren't overly high to begin with...as in many things in life.\\n\\nI always expect some level of odor from bully sticks...I mean, consider the source. These weren't too bad, with no \\\"pee-y\\\" odor as some have complained. I keep 'em in the freezer --well wrapped in plastic-- which keeps the odor from increasing over time. I don't give him bullies constantly, since I doubt the health value of too much of anything outside his main food (& he gets the runs if he overdoes it on pizzle).\",\n \"Product: The New York Times Bestseller Arrives In The UK; The Egyptologist is a witty, inventive, brilliantly constructed novel about an archaeologist obsessed with finding the tomb of an apocryphal king. This darkly comic labyrinth of a story opens on the desert plains of Egypt in 1922, then winds its way from the slums of Australia to the ballrooms of Boston by way of Oxford, the battlefields of the First World War, and a royal court in turmoil. Exploring issues of class, greed, ambition, and the very human hunger for eternal life, The Egyptologist is a triumph of narrative bravado.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: worked as an audiobook\\n\\nReview: I've only listened to this book, which my brain processes differently from reading a print version. It worked well as an audiobook, with different readers for the main characters, all of whom did an excellent job. I think the audio version was more difficult to follow (or perhaps I didn't pay sufficient attention), so the surprises weren't ruined for me the way they appear to have been for others. It was easier to laugh in amazement at Ralph's egotistical nature, which I'm pretty sure would have come to grate on me had I been reading it. I don't know how it worked in print, but the tiger/penguin scene in the circus was one of the funniest things I've heard in a long, long time, & nearly resulted in me getting carried off in a big butterfly net.\",\n \"Product: ABOUT THE AUTHOR (a.k.a. Join My Alaskan Army) Email me. No, seriously, email me. kingnovel@gmail.com. Go do it. Right now. I love keeping my ear to the very heart of the publishing industrywhich means I have to talk to you. I think entertaining and inspiring others is the most important thing about writing, and if Im doing my job right, people will actually want to tell me what they think. So, dammit, if you were entertained or inspired, I wanna hear from you. Im utterly freakin serious. In case youre still not convinced, consider this: Im a lifelong Alaskan. We do things differently here. With the roving grizzly bears (yes, I live in the Bush, not like those pussies in town) and my closest neighbor a mile away, it gets kinda lonely when its just me and my computer and a big, vast wilderness out my back door. I want to talk to the people who are reading my books, because who the hell else am I going to talk to?! In case youre concerned about writing to a complete stranger, I assure you Im totally approachable, in my random, quirky, too-much-time-without-sun kind of way. Ive spent my entire life (starting at three years old!) working on writing as an art form, and Ive poured my heart and soul into the twenty (ish) books Ive written, so you can be damn sure I want feedback. I mean, putting together these (utterly brilliant, totally awesome) masterpieces and then getting nothing but silence is like building the Eiffel Tower and having people gomeh. So shoot me an email at kingnovel@gmail.com and let me know your thoughts on the book! I respond to every email I get (though sometimes it takes longer than others). Oh, and friend me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kingfiction (authors need friends, too) and check my Author Page https://www.facebook.com/sknovel for the latest writerly news and updates. Or, even better, hop on over to Amazon and check out my other character-driven series, like Outer Bounds: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IO7QAGO/ or Millennium Potion: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007W6RBSE/ or, heck, even my Alaskan Paranormal/Fantasy series Guardians of the First Realm: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0073WZ01C/ to see some of my other compelling characters in action!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: fairly good book, with serious audio issues in the audiobook version\\n\\nReview: I'm torn on the number of stars to give this book, partly because some of what I didn't like about it is due to one of my own quirks...a quirk which maybe shoulda prevented me from getting the book in the first place.\\nThe book is pretty well-written, with a fairly believable setting, overall plot, strong descriptions & vivid characters. The aliens are interesting (tho I wish I had a nickel for every time the descriptive phrase \\\"sticky eyes\\\" cropped up; it would darn near pay for my year's credits on Audible...& I never really did figure out what it meant). So overall, I'm describing a good book. And the idea of taking the kids is hardly a new one in world history; groups of people have been stealing rivals' kids for millennia, from long before the Janissaries did their thing, so the basis for the plot is totally believable.\\nI'm almost embarrassed to admit that one of the things that annoyed me most was the incessant whining...I suppose I should've expected it, given the age at which the kids were taken, but I think I expected it to taper off as they got inured to their surroundings. It maybe wouldn't have been so bad if I'd read the book in print rather than listened to the audio version, as 'whining' in print isn't so brain-piercing as literal audible whining is --and the narrator does a convincing child whine. And given the dreadful conditions the kids were subjected to, it's no surprise that several of them displayed the very worst characteristics of children and humans in general. One or two characters were so egregiously awful I was hoping the big alien would eat them, and most of the others occasionally behaved so vilely that I nearly put the book down. Maybe I just don't know how young children really act; I spent many years teaching & tutoring and have done thousands of hours leading children on outdoors natural history tours, but I always limited the ages to 5th grade & above...I know my weaknesses.\\n\\nThe other major downside of the audible version is the dreadful electronic bell-like \\\"tingalingalingaling\\\" they stuck in to....I never did figure out exactly what it was supposed to delineate, actually, sections I guess (it wasn't chapters). The volume of the \\\"ting\\\"etc was MUCH louder than the text, so it was positively ear-piercing.\\nAnother downside was the volume in general; it was very uneven. Some of the effects they used for particular aliens dropped the sound level so far you either had to crank up the volume --and risk getting your ear skewered by that damned tone if the scene changed abruptly-- or just try to intuit what the alien said from human replies and context. I knocked off one star from the review because the volume issues were so spectacularly bad...I really wish audiobook directors (or engineers or whatever they're called) would pay attention to these sorts of very basic things; it's what they're for, isn't it?\\n\\nSo, anyone who doesn't have considerable patience with small children should probably give this one a pass, especially the audio version.\",\n \"Product: A Negro Explorer at the North Pole\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent book; why doubt Hensen wrote it?\\n\\nReview: I started to write this as a comment in response to \\\"A Customer's\\\" 3 star review titled \\\"Editions can differ considerably,\\\" then decided to make it a full review. I've reviewed this book elsewhere (a different edition); I loved the book, I loved Hensen's understated wit (reminded me of Twain at times), and I have given out quite a few copies of the book as gifts.\\nThe doubt concerning whether Hensen actually wrote the book makes me grit my teeth. Why doubt Hensen wrote the book? (aside from the obvious, I mean, which I'm hoping isn't the case since if the reason is simply that a black man couldn't write an intelligent, witty book, then there's no point in further discussion because blind ignorant prejudice is immune to reason of any sort). I've read both the Invisible Cities press w/Counter's intro & Hensen's later article, & the Dodo Press editions of \\\"A Negro Explorer,\\\" Allen Counter's \\\"North Pole Legacy,\\\" \\\"Dark Companion\\\" by Bradley Robinson & Hensen, & \\\"Onward,\\\" the photobio of Hensen (yes, okay, that one is mostly photos), so I feel as if I've got some idea of the man. He clearly was a bright, well-read, thoughtful, humane man (he treated the Eskimo like human beings, an extreme rarity at the time...he undoubtedly knew what is was like to be treated otherwise). Equally clearly, he was phenomenally capable and possessed of astounding mental & physical strength. In other words, the sort of man to give white people*, particularly those of the first, oh, of the 20th century, nightmares.\\nI have been trying, for the sake of a fully informed response, to find a copy of the Cooper Square edition with the Bryce intro. I have a CS edition, but it doesn't have anything by Bryce. There is a fairly extensive Matthew Hensen site by Bradley Robinson, son of the Bradley Robinson who wrote \\\"Dark Companion,\\\" which rather resoundingly attacks Bryce as a non-starter as a researcher who didn't actually talk to anyone who knew Hensen and whose basic premise pretty much boils down to, \\\"He couldna writ it because Negros are too stupid to write.\\\" [...]\\n\\nAdmittedly, \\\"Dark Companion\\\" seemed bit sanitized to mask the uglier realities of racism, but a frank account could never have been published during Hensen's lifetime. Which problem also seems (to me, at least) to explain discrepancies between Hensen's book & the later piece which showed less of a storybook relationship between Peary & Hensen. When Hensen's book first came out it was enough of a struggle for a black man to publish a book which implied that he had accomplished much of anything, much less one that indicated that he could in any way be as competent as (white) Peary. That the later article came out with some contradictions also doesn't seem surprising; Hensen watched Peary get lionized & heaped w/medals & awards while he, Hensen, was thunderously ignored or (at best) merely footnoted as a sort of sub-zero spear carrier by everyone including Peary. It is not too much of a stretch to think he got fed up & wanted to try and set the record even a small bit straighter.\\nI don't blame him.\\n\\n*Don't know if it's germaine, but I am one.\",\n \"Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A very good start to a fun series, with a few caveats\\n\\nReview: I couldn't decide between 3 & 4 stars on this one, but it was enjoyable enough that I decided not to Scrooge it. The writing was fresh, pretty clever (LOL clever in spots), and pretty well plotted. The characters are fairly 3-D, most seeming like real, believable people. My major complaint is probably with the title character himself; Ceepak really doesn't seem like an actual human to me. He does have a back story which explains his extreme Johnny-Good-GI character, but his behavior & especially his dialogue is just not really human....in a number of places he sounds like Data, too unbending to even use contractions, much less regular human-sounding speech.\\n\\nMost of the other characters' dialogue sounds pretty believable, so I know Grabenstein can write dialogue that doesn't clang on the ear like a sheet metal guitar. Ceepak sounds like a believable robot, but robot nonetheless.\\n\\nThe narrator is a likable, believable, rounded human sort of fellow with a good heart, a quirky sense of humor, and quite realistic inner dialogue & conflicts that make him very accessible & fun to read along with. He strikes me as the sort of character that a lot of people would like to hang around with --funny, decent without being a prig, smart without being intimidating.\\n\\nI liked the book & CG's writing well enough to immediately buy the 2nd book in the series, then #s 3 & 4. Grabenstein's writing matures quite nicely, the occasional amateurish-sounding spots that crop up in Tilt-A-Whirl are greatly reduced in #2 & vanish by #3.\\n\\nmy main gripe, Ceepak's extremely stilted speech, loosens up more slowly, but he does at least act more human as the books go on, til he actually loosens up enough to indulge in romance & a few jokes 3-4 books down the road. Maybe someday he'll get an emotion chip that'll enable him to use contractions (before anyone screams at me, that wasn't literal; it's a joke, Son. A Trekkie joke. I mean that his dialogue does eventually start sounding --somewhat-- more human).\",\n \"Product: Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A very good start to a fun series, with a few caveats\\n\\nReview: I couldn't decide between 3 & 4 stars on this one, but it was enjoyable enough that I decided not to Scrooge it. The writing was fresh, pretty clever (LOL clever in spots), and pretty well plotted. The characters are fairly 3-D, most seeming like real, believable people. My major complaint is probably with the title character himself; Ceepak really doesn't seem like an actual human to me. He does have a back story which explains his extreme Johnny-Good-GI character, but his behavior & especially his dialogue is just not really human....in a number of places he sounds like Data, too unbending to even use contractions, much less regular human-sounding speech.\\n\\nMost of the other characters' dialogue sounds pretty believable, so I know Grabenstein can write dialogue that doesn't clang on the ear like a sheet metal guitar. Ceepak sounds like a believable robot, but robot nonetheless.\\n\\nThe narrator is a likable, believable, rounded human sort of fellow with a good heart, a quirky sense of humor, and quite realistic inner dialogue & conflicts that make him very accessible & fun to read along with. He strikes me as the sort of character that a lot of people would like to hang around with --funny, decent without being a prig, smart without being intimidating.\\n\\nI liked the book & CG's writing well enough to immediately buy the 2nd book in the series, then #s 3 & 4. Grabenstein's writing matures quite nicely, the occasional amateurish-sounding spots that crop up in Tilt-A-Whirl are greatly reduced in #2 & vanish by #3.\\n\\nmy main gripe, Ceepak's extremely stilted speech, loosens up more slowly, but he does at least act more human as the books go on, til he actually loosens up enough to indulge in romance & a few jokes 3-4 books down the road. Maybe someday he'll get an emotion chip that'll enable him to use contractions (before anyone screams at me, that wasn't literal; it's a joke, Son. A Trekkie joke. I mean that his dialogue does eventually start sounding --somewhat-- more human).\",\n \"Product: Title: Holiday in Death <>Binding: Prebound <>Author: J.D.Robb <>Publisher: TurtlebackBooks\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Eve is over-the-top & out of control in this one, & not in a good way\\n\\nReview: As strangely addictive as this book series is, there's a certain amount of \\\"pass\\\" one needs to give in order to enjoy them. There's a formula for each book which makes them virtually interchangeable, so one can't expect much in the way of new ideas. Certain basic elements are always there: some aspect of the case will make Eve relive her childhood abuse (tho frankly, she's so hair trigger I can't figure out how she manages to ever eat a steak or anything with tomato sauce without freaking out). Roarke will be involved, probably because he owns an involved site, certainly because he's got \\\"e skills\\\" beyond anything the 'e cops' can manage. Eve will probably be in danger from the killer, also one or more of her friends, & Eve will demand her friend(s) go into protective custody & refuse to take any kind of precaution to protect herself, & will get POd at any guff from them. Eve will work herself to the point of breakdown & get furious at anyone who hints that she needs a break, to the point of physically attacking Roarke if he tries to force her.\\n\\nSo I basically expect most or all of those things, which means not much is going to be a real surprise. What distinguishes the books is how the formula plays itself out, and often little side stories that may be fun &/or interesting.\\n\\nWhat gets really annoying after a while is, Eve never seems to develop as a person, despite there being about 40 books now. Of course, this is only the 7th book, so I won't say anything else about that, but what really kills this book for me is that Eve's bad tempered nature is so extreme it makes her hubby & friends seem like complete masochists for putting up with her. In most other \\\"In death\\\" books, the various aspects of her bad-natured, childish stupidity (or stupid childishness) is on a level where it's just Eve's quirks. One aspect of it is when her dedication swamps what little good 'self-sense' she has (that is, her ability to tell when she's tired and can function with more coffee, versus being so exhausted that she's completely incoherent, brain-dead, and useless). Another aspect of it is her inability to respond to friendship or affection, because of her upbringing. So she awkwardly blows off or even snaps at friendly overtures.\\n\\nIn this book, however, both these aspects of Eve's personality are so extreme that she's just an obnoxious, mean, abusive b*tch who frankly abuses poor Peabody & everybody else. It's frankly impossible to imagine that there's any reason for these people to hang around her unless they truly are masochists who get off on being emotionally & psychologically pummeled every time they turn around (& physical abuse is not off the table, either).\\n\\nOne of Eve's riffs that show up in most of the books is how, no matter what kind of abuse you suffered as a child, that's no excuse for abusing or killing others when you become an adult. In this book she needs to give the speech to herself, because she sure doesn't act like an adult, she's extremely abusive, and is as unlikeable as it gets.\\n\\nI went back & reread the first 3 books in the series --first time since they came out-- & I was really astounded to realize that Eve started out as a reasonable person! I hadn't realized to what extent Robb turned her into a caricature of herself. Early Eve is actually able to say \\\"thank you,\\\" can be talked out of an unreasonable stance without Roarke having to resort to physical violence. And Roarke isn't such a doormat, either; when Eve is a witch, he calmly makes it clear he's not happy about it, unlike later when, practically no matter how viciously she abuses him, he just strokes the dent in her chin & says how adorable she is when she's mad. And even more astonishingly, early Eve actually apologizes when she's been a jerk!!! Unbelievable, by the standards of later Eve, when \\\"strong woman\\\" translates to \\\"short-tempered bitch with no manners at all.\\\" I really don't know if I'll be able to read/listen to the later books again, after being re-introduced to the reason I got hooked on them in the first place. She really didn't start out a nasty, bad-mannered witch, she just turned into one. I think Robb (Roberts) just got lazy.\",\n \"Product: The people of the Solar System have broken the light-speed barrier, and exploration ships are going out in all directions, manned by---you guessed it!---Men, Martians, and Machines (Robots). This set of linked stories describes a part of the epic voyage of the *Marathon*, powered by the Flettner Drive, seeking new worlds for humanity to spread onto.\\n\\nOne planet is inhabited by only machines, survivors perhaps of a civilization in which the machine-makers had perished. Another contains a race of master hypnotists, who make the crew see only what they wish to see! Included is the classic, oft-anthologized novella *Jay Score*\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wonderful tales of the crew of the Marathon --just wish there were more!\\n\\nReview: I first ran across the crew of the Marathon in \\\"Adventure in Time & Space,\\\" a massive \\\"Golden Age\\\" SF collection first published in '46. It contains \\\"Symbiotica,\\\" one of the four stories in this volume. It's truly a shame that EFR didn't write more stories with this crew. He was one of the first writers to populate his stories with \\\"mixed\\\" crews --Whites, Blacks, Martians, & a robot. The gang get along great (with a few realistic squabbles) and there are many characters that are fleshed out well enough to be real people, even the somewhat enigmatic Jay Score. From re-reading \\\"Symbiotica\\\" and the other 3 stories in this book (\\\"Jay Score,\\\" \\\"Mechanistria,\\\" and \\\"Mesmerica\\\") many times over the decades, I've grown to feel like they're great friends of mine.\\n\\nRussell allows his sense of humor free rein in this book, and a delightful one it is. There is action and danger as well, and not everyone comes through, so it's not just a Laff Riot romp. Fans of extreme shoot-em-ups and the type of rampant gore &/or sex that often take the place of characterization & plot these days probably will be bored silly; there's no overt gore --the people who die do so rather tidily, with very little of the bloody details-- and there's no sex at all (the Marathon is an all-male ship, & homosexuality wasn't mentioned in those days). There also is no language that would offend prim Aunt Grundy.\\n\\nOne teeny nit is that in later editions of this collection, they switch to Star Trekkian lingo & the Marathon's \\\"pinnace\\\" morphs into a \\\"shuttlecraft.\\\" A minor nit, but I know several SF purists who are annoyed by the substitution. There are a few other, very minor changes in \\\"Symbiotica\\\" between this & the version that appeared in the collection I mentioned at the beginning, but I doubt anyone would notice unless they'd read the original version enough times to nearly memorize it.\",\n \"Product: Leonard F. Guttridge was born in Wales and served throughout World War II in Britain?s Royal Air Force. He wrote The Commodores for Naval Institute Press, Icebound, and co-wrote The Great Coalfield War with George S. McGovern.?A gripping story of suspense and adventure?colorful characters abound.??Publisher?s Weekly\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Yet another Polar Exploration book with no maps...but pretty good otherwise.\\n\\nReview: i'm rereading this book for the umpteenth time --it's part of my \\\"Polar Exploration\\\" library, which I periodically go thru whenever the world gets really tedious. This time around, I'm not even halfway through the Intro when i'm reminded about one of the things that seriously annoys me about this & several other \\\"PE\\\" books: no maps. I do not understand how anyone could write a book about an exploration anywhere and not include a single map! It's maddening. Even though my knowledge of the geography of both Polar regions is probably better than most from reading so many books on the subject, I still want maps & charts. I first wasn't going to knock off another star because of it, but the more I think about it (& considering how much time I've given over in the past to cursing this lack), I decided to whack off a star because of it. There are a few photos & drawings from the expedition in the middle, which is always nice. With these is one maplike object, a very generic map of just the delta (basically a bunch of squiggly lines) where the Jeanette folks spent a lot of time wandering around, but it does not make up for lack of real maps). What's particularly absurd about the map thing is that the same author wrote another book on Polar Exploration which does have adequate map[s]...in fact I've used his map from my copy of \\\"The Ghosts of Cape Sabine\\\" while reading other books dealing with expeditions to the same area, so it's got notes on it about the Peary/Hensen expedition on it, the Polaris, etc.\\nBased on my other notes on the book, it does take a while to really get going, but is pretty interesting after it does. I'll probably add other comments when I finish it this time.\\n\\nFinished. Writing is mostly engaging, but the author does have a rather annoying (to me) habit of putting in portentous sounding sentences that don't really go anywhere, or dropping a factoid or an allusion to something then just leaving it sit there, never filling in background or providing info about the thing just referenced. For example, on pg 261 he says Emma de Long \\\"entered a privileged liaison with the Navy Department as a first move in a campaign to protect her husband's reputation.\\\" We see instances where the Navy Dept smooths things over for her, but we really don't see an explanation or background of the \\\"liaison\\\" --which phrasing could imply anything from political favor to sympathy for a widow to Emma shacking up with the entire department of the Navy (that'd be rather outre for the era!).\\nAll in all a pretty good Polar exploration book, but I prefer his \\\"Ghosts of Cape Sabine.\\\"\\n\\nbtw, anyone interested in polar ex just has to read Matthew Hensen's regrettably brief \\\"A Negro Explorer at the North Pole.\\\" It's a contemporary account of his viewpoint of arctic exploration, and he's a great writer with wit about on par with Twain. It becomes even more interesting when you read the other books, more recent, of the Peary/Hensen relations and expeditions, of course; an African-American writing in the first 1/4 of the 20th century was unfortunately severely limited in what he could say. But Hensen is a remarkable person and witty writer, someone who ought to be as much of a household name as Peary and Franklin, Greely and Shackleton and Scott (oh my!).\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":36,"string":"36"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":63,"string":"63"}}},{"rowIdx":64,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3ODJACL1KY0YU"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, Stalker Duology, Twenty-One (21), Ultimate Sin, VIKTOR, Bad Teacher, Ruin, and Wicked Bride Games. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.\". The summary of the review text is \"The Twists Just Keep Coming...\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"What can I possibly say about this book or author that hasn't already been said. Clarissa Wild is a freakishly amazing author. Her stories are always fantastically written. They keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The amount of crazy, mystery, and psychotic that she is able to write is scary. Seriously, I don't know how she does it. I'm just glad she does since we all benefit from it.\nTo me, this book isn't nearly as dark as Wicked Bride Games. That book was straight delicious depravity, which I absolutely loved. This book is a lot tamer, but more mysterious. It's told in alternating POVs, that of Hyun and Drake. But there's more to this story than meets the eye. The end of this book was completely unexpected. I was thrown for a loop with this one. I never saw it coming. I sat there just staring at my Kindle when I finished reading it. I couldn't believe what I had just read.\n\n***I received a complimentary advanced reader copy. This review is my honest opinion.***"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"What can I possibly say about this book or author that hasn't already been said. Clarissa Wild is a freakishly amazing author. Her stories are always fantastically written. They keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The amount of crazy, mystery, and psychotic that she is able to write is scary. Seriously, I don't know how she does it. I'm just glad she does since we all benefit from it.\nTo me, this book isn't nearly as dark as Wicked Bride Games. That book was straight delicious depravity, which I absolutely loved. This book is a lot tamer, but more mysterious. It's told in alternating POVs, that of Hyun and Drake. But there's more to this story than meets the eye. The end of this book was completely unexpected. I was thrown for a loop with this one. I never saw it coming. I sat there just staring at my Kindle when I finished reading it. I couldn't believe what I had just read.\n\n***I received a complimentary advanced reader copy. This review is my honest opinion.***"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laurie London lives in the Seattle area with her family.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: What a Way to Meet!!\n\nReview: Steamy kiss in a dark alley, with a complete stranger? I've never met anyone like that, but I'm not adverse to trying, lol. With a meeting like that, who wouldn't want to continue reading this book? And what a book it is!\nThe attraction between Toryn and Keely is scorching hot. Both have trust issues from their pasts and aren't looking for anything serious. Neither of them is in a particularly good situation in their lives when they meet. But that has never stopped love before. But can the overcome all the obstacles in their way?\nAlthough all the books in this series are standalones, I suggest reading them in order. In my opinion, you just get more out of the series. It's true that there are no cliffhangers, but each book picks up where the last book left off. This series just keeps getting better, and I can't wait to see what will happen next\n\n***I received a complimentary copy in return for an honest review***","Product: K.M. Scott writes contemporary romance stories of sexy, intense, and unforgettable love. A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she's been in love with romance since reading her first romance novel in junior high (she was a very curious girl!). She lives in Pennsylvania with her teenage son and a herd of animals and when she's not writing can be found reading or feeding her TV addiction. Be sure to visit K.M.'s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kmscottauthor for all the latest on her books, along with giveaways and other goodies! And to hear all the news on K.M. Scott books first, sign up for her newsletter today and be sure to visit her website at http://www.kmscottbooks.com Other books by K.M. Scott: Crash Into Me (Heart of Stone #1) Fall Into Me (Heart of Stone #2) Give In To Me (Heart of Stone #3) The Heart of Stone Trilogy Box Set Ever After (A Heart of Stone Novella) A Heart of Stone Christmas Temptation (Club X #1) Surrender (Club X #2) Possession (Club X #3) Satisfaction (Club X #4) Silk (Volume One) Silk (Volume Two) Silk (Volume Three) Silk (Volume Four) SILK Box Set Unforgettable (A Heart of Stone Spinoff)-Gage and Jordan's story--COMING FALL 2015! Love sexy paranormal romance? K.M. writes under the name Gabrielle Bisset too! Visit Gabrielle's Facebook page and her website at http://www.gabriellebisset.com/ to find out about her books. Books by Gabrielle Bisset: Vampire Dreams Revamped (A Sons of Navarus Prequel) Blood Avenged (Sons of Navarus #1) Blood Betrayed (Sons of Navarus #2) Longing (A Sons of Navarus Short Story) Blood Spirit (Sons of Navarus #3) The Deepest Cut (A Sons of Navarus Short Story) Blood Prophecy (Sons of Navarus #4) Sons of Navarus Box Set #1 Sons of Navarus Box Set #2 Blood Craving (Sons of Navarus #5) COMING FALL 2015! Loves Master Masquerade The Victorian Erotic Romance Trilogy\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sad to see it end\n\nReview: Oh, where to begin? I have loved and rooted for Nina and Tristan since they met in Crash Into Me. So, the ending of their story is bittersweet for me.\nWith that being said, I think the best way to describe Give In To Me is FANTASTIC!! I laughed, cried and shouted at times. The twists and turns left me dizzy, but in a good way. I never knew what was going to happen from one situation to another. This book was non-stop, knock you down, pick you up, then knock you back down and drag you though the mud action. There is so much pain and heartache, you wonder how there could ever be a HEA. And then you start to see the happy little light at the end of the tunnel. Just when your hope blossoms, thinking you have finally come to that HEA, that light and hope is snuffed out and you are left reeling again.\nEventually, you get to the HEA, but the journey is bumpy, and not always so certain to end up there. But I can tell you one thing with certainty. The destination is definitely worth the bumpy ride.\nI wholeheartedly recommend this series and can't wait to see what the author comes out with next","Product: T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is a USA Today Bestselling author of the Beautiful Mess series, in addition to several other works. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog, and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). In late 2015, she gave birth to her first (and only) baby. When shes not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found training for her next marathon (of which she has run over fifteen fulls and far too many halfs to recall) or humming The Imperial March from Star Wars to her daughter, who giggles every time she hears it. T.K. Leigh is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. All publishing inquiries, including audio, foreign, and film rights, should be directed to her.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One Hilarious Mishap After Another...\n\nReview: I didn't know whether to laugh at or feel sorry for Baylee. I ended up doing both. She's a small town girl trying to make it in the big city. With Baylee, it's just one embarrassing encounter after another. She literally runs into Sebby. She feels like there's a mutual attraction there, but is unsure.\nI really liked Sebby, for the most part. He seems like a really stand up guy. But then there's just something about him. Some way into the book, I started to get annoyed with him. Then I liked him again. And then I really disliked him, lol. In the end, I ended up really liking him.\nThere's also Sophie and Marcel. I hope to read more about those two. They are hilarious.\nI really enjoyed this book. It is completely different from anything I have read by T.K.Leigh before. It still has her amazing writing and story telling style though. I know my review is pretty vague. That's the way I want it. I don't like to put any kind of spoilers in my reviews, on the off chance that someone actually reads it.\n\n***I received a complimentary copy in return for an honest review***","Product: Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, and Stalker. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I NEED Stalker NOW!!\n\nReview: This book is crazy! In the best way possible, of course. I love Clarissa Wild's writing. It is absolutely amazing. The twists and turns that this story takes are ridiculous. Again, only in a good way. I never knew what was going to happen next. Being inside the twisted minds of both main characters was great. I love getting both sides of the story. And just when you think you've figured out what is going on, BAM!!! You're blindsided and left reeling. I seriously need Stalker NOW, so I can see what happens next.\n\nClarissa Wild has a brilliant, twisted mind, and I can't wait to see what she does with Stalker\n\n***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook in return for an honest review***","Product: The “Queen of Hot Romance,” Tia Louise is the Award-Winning, International Bestselling author of the ONE TO HOLD series. From “Readers’ Choice” nominations, to USA Today “Happily Ever After” nods, to winning the 2015 “Favorite Erotica Author” and the 2014 “Lady Boner Award” (LOL!), nothing makes her happier than communicating with fans and weaving new tales into the Alexander-Knight world of stories. A former journalist, Louise lives in the center of the USA with her lovely family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging, hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: You NEED To Read This Amazing Duet\n\nReview: The Prince & The Player\n\nThis is an amazing story, just like everything else written by Tia Louise. She never disappoints. Thus book did take a little for me to get into the story though. It was a little bit slower start than what I'm used to from Tia Louise. But once I got into the book, I couldn't put it down. I really liked all the characters, though Zelda and Cal were my favorites. I love how Zelda does whatever she can for Ava. Their sisterly bond is unbreakable. She always thinks about Ava before herself.\nCal is just yum. I love his personality. And the way he talks to Zelda! Ooh boy! All that dirty talk that comes outta that man's mouth. Ahh, Cal can come talk to me like that anytime.\nAva and Rowan are just so sweet together! Almost to the point of being gag worthy sweet, lol. Not in a bad way though. I really do love them together. They're the perfect match for each other.\nThis story definitely had a lot of big plot twists! I love how Tia Louise kept you guessing what was going to happen throughout the book. And that ending!! When I got to the end, I was stunned! Like, what just happened? Add in a few choice expletives, and that's how I was feeling. I can't believe the book ended like that!\n\nA Player for A Princess\n\nGritty, Intense, and Action Packed! Not words that generally describe a romance, right? But these certainly describe A Player for a Princess. And yet, you still have laughs and a whole lot of steam, along with mystery and intrigue. Seriously, this book is just absolutely amazing.\nAs usual, this is a spoiler free review. I love the internal struggles that both Zee and Cal go through. Tia Louise does such a fantastic job of showing their struggles. You get in their heads and hearts. This story is so emotional. I was going through every emotion they were going through. All the heartache and turmoil, the happiness and good times. You are transported into this story and live it right alongside the characters.\nTia Louise is such a talented author. There is absolutely no reason that you shouldn't one click this book. In fact, everyone should just one click ALL of her books.\n\n***I read these books separately on my Kindle***","Product: Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X and her sexy student-teacher romance Bad Teacher. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, the Indecent Games Series, the Stalker Duology, Twenty-One (21), Ultimate Sin, Viktor, RUIN, FATHER, and CAGED. She is also a writer of various erotic romances. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals. Want four FREE short stories, giveaways, sneak peeks to upcoming books, and more? Sign up here: www.eepurl.com/FdY71 Website: http://clarissawild.blogspot.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/WildClarissa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarissaWildAuthor Join the fan club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FanClubClarissaWild\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This Book is Fantastic!!\n\nReview: Is it crazy that I was jealous of Lock? Not because of his past, but because he was living in solitude, not needing to worry about anything but basic survival necessities. I wish I could run away sometimes, lol. But then his solitude, and his world, are disrupted and turned upside down.\nWhat do you do when you're warring with yourself? When you want two different things and you can't see a way to have both at the same time? This is the struggle that both Lock and Jules face.\nI really loved the back and forth between this book. I loved the dual POV. I enjoyed knowing what both of them were thinking. I may have been PMSing a little, but I cried during this book. This book just hit me in my emotions. And there's plenty ty of adventure and mystery. This is a well rounded, very well written book. I absolutely love Clarissa Wild's writing style and her imagination.\n\n***I voluntarily read an advance reader copy***","Product: Joanne Wadsworth is a Bestselling Author who adores getting lost in the world of romance, no matter what era in time that might be. Hot alpha Highlanders hound her, demanding their stories are told and shes devoted to ensuring they meet their match, whether that be with a feisty lass from the present or far in the past. Living on a tiny island at the bottom of the world, she calls New Zealand home. Big-dreamer, hoarder of chocolate, and addicted to juicy watermelons since the age of five, she chases after her four energetic children and has her own hunky hubby on the side. So come and join in all the fun, because this kiwi girl promises to give you her Hot-Highlander oath, to bring you a heart-pounding, sexy adventure from the moment you turn the first page. This is where romance meets fantasy and adventure To learn more about Joanne and her works, visit: Website: http://www.joannewadsworth.com\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: They Fought So Hard...\n\nReview: I really loved Ella! She was so sassy! I loved her strength and independence. She knows how strong her power is and she's not afraid to use it. She doesn't shy away from the danger. I love when authors write strong female leads, and Joanne Wadsworth didn't disappoint.\nThen you have Duncan. So honorable. So headstrong. Fiercely protective of those under his care. A true alpha male. I wouldn't mind a Duncan of my own, lol.\nWhen Duncan and Ella get together, watch out. Sparks fly and fires are started. They both fight so hard to remain independent and apart from each other. But you can't keep soul bound mates apart easily.\n\n***I received a complimentary copy in return for an honest review***"],"string":"[\n \"Product: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laurie London lives in the Seattle area with her family.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: What a Way to Meet!!\\n\\nReview: Steamy kiss in a dark alley, with a complete stranger? I've never met anyone like that, but I'm not adverse to trying, lol. With a meeting like that, who wouldn't want to continue reading this book? And what a book it is!\\nThe attraction between Toryn and Keely is scorching hot. Both have trust issues from their pasts and aren't looking for anything serious. Neither of them is in a particularly good situation in their lives when they meet. But that has never stopped love before. But can the overcome all the obstacles in their way?\\nAlthough all the books in this series are standalones, I suggest reading them in order. In my opinion, you just get more out of the series. It's true that there are no cliffhangers, but each book picks up where the last book left off. This series just keeps getting better, and I can't wait to see what will happen next\\n\\n***I received a complimentary copy in return for an honest review***\",\n \"Product: K.M. Scott writes contemporary romance stories of sexy, intense, and unforgettable love. A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she's been in love with romance since reading her first romance novel in junior high (she was a very curious girl!). She lives in Pennsylvania with her teenage son and a herd of animals and when she's not writing can be found reading or feeding her TV addiction. Be sure to visit K.M.'s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kmscottauthor for all the latest on her books, along with giveaways and other goodies! And to hear all the news on K.M. Scott books first, sign up for her newsletter today and be sure to visit her website at http://www.kmscottbooks.com Other books by K.M. Scott: Crash Into Me (Heart of Stone #1) Fall Into Me (Heart of Stone #2) Give In To Me (Heart of Stone #3) The Heart of Stone Trilogy Box Set Ever After (A Heart of Stone Novella) A Heart of Stone Christmas Temptation (Club X #1) Surrender (Club X #2) Possession (Club X #3) Satisfaction (Club X #4) Silk (Volume One) Silk (Volume Two) Silk (Volume Three) Silk (Volume Four) SILK Box Set Unforgettable (A Heart of Stone Spinoff)-Gage and Jordan's story--COMING FALL 2015! Love sexy paranormal romance? K.M. writes under the name Gabrielle Bisset too! Visit Gabrielle's Facebook page and her website at http://www.gabriellebisset.com/ to find out about her books. Books by Gabrielle Bisset: Vampire Dreams Revamped (A Sons of Navarus Prequel) Blood Avenged (Sons of Navarus #1) Blood Betrayed (Sons of Navarus #2) Longing (A Sons of Navarus Short Story) Blood Spirit (Sons of Navarus #3) The Deepest Cut (A Sons of Navarus Short Story) Blood Prophecy (Sons of Navarus #4) Sons of Navarus Box Set #1 Sons of Navarus Box Set #2 Blood Craving (Sons of Navarus #5) COMING FALL 2015! Loves Master Masquerade The Victorian Erotic Romance Trilogy\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sad to see it end\\n\\nReview: Oh, where to begin? I have loved and rooted for Nina and Tristan since they met in Crash Into Me. So, the ending of their story is bittersweet for me.\\nWith that being said, I think the best way to describe Give In To Me is FANTASTIC!! I laughed, cried and shouted at times. The twists and turns left me dizzy, but in a good way. I never knew what was going to happen from one situation to another. This book was non-stop, knock you down, pick you up, then knock you back down and drag you though the mud action. There is so much pain and heartache, you wonder how there could ever be a HEA. And then you start to see the happy little light at the end of the tunnel. Just when your hope blossoms, thinking you have finally come to that HEA, that light and hope is snuffed out and you are left reeling again.\\nEventually, you get to the HEA, but the journey is bumpy, and not always so certain to end up there. But I can tell you one thing with certainty. The destination is definitely worth the bumpy ride.\\nI wholeheartedly recommend this series and can't wait to see what the author comes out with next\",\n \"Product: T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is a USA Today Bestselling author of the Beautiful Mess series, in addition to several other works. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog, and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). In late 2015, she gave birth to her first (and only) baby. When shes not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found training for her next marathon (of which she has run over fifteen fulls and far too many halfs to recall) or humming The Imperial March from Star Wars to her daughter, who giggles every time she hears it. T.K. Leigh is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. All publishing inquiries, including audio, foreign, and film rights, should be directed to her.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One Hilarious Mishap After Another...\\n\\nReview: I didn't know whether to laugh at or feel sorry for Baylee. I ended up doing both. She's a small town girl trying to make it in the big city. With Baylee, it's just one embarrassing encounter after another. She literally runs into Sebby. She feels like there's a mutual attraction there, but is unsure.\\nI really liked Sebby, for the most part. He seems like a really stand up guy. But then there's just something about him. Some way into the book, I started to get annoyed with him. Then I liked him again. And then I really disliked him, lol. In the end, I ended up really liking him.\\nThere's also Sophie and Marcel. I hope to read more about those two. They are hilarious.\\nI really enjoyed this book. It is completely different from anything I have read by T.K.Leigh before. It still has her amazing writing and story telling style though. I know my review is pretty vague. That's the way I want it. I don't like to put any kind of spoilers in my reviews, on the off chance that someone actually reads it.\\n\\n***I received a complimentary copy in return for an honest review***\",\n \"Product: Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, and Stalker. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I NEED Stalker NOW!!\\n\\nReview: This book is crazy! In the best way possible, of course. I love Clarissa Wild's writing. It is absolutely amazing. The twists and turns that this story takes are ridiculous. Again, only in a good way. I never knew what was going to happen next. Being inside the twisted minds of both main characters was great. I love getting both sides of the story. And just when you think you've figured out what is going on, BAM!!! You're blindsided and left reeling. I seriously need Stalker NOW, so I can see what happens next.\\n\\nClarissa Wild has a brilliant, twisted mind, and I can't wait to see what she does with Stalker\\n\\n***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook in return for an honest review***\",\n \"Product: The “Queen of Hot Romance,” Tia Louise is the Award-Winning, International Bestselling author of the ONE TO HOLD series. From “Readers’ Choice” nominations, to USA Today “Happily Ever After” nods, to winning the 2015 “Favorite Erotica Author” and the 2014 “Lady Boner Award” (LOL!), nothing makes her happier than communicating with fans and weaving new tales into the Alexander-Knight world of stories. A former journalist, Louise lives in the center of the USA with her lovely family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging, hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: You NEED To Read This Amazing Duet\\n\\nReview: The Prince & The Player\\n\\nThis is an amazing story, just like everything else written by Tia Louise. She never disappoints. Thus book did take a little for me to get into the story though. It was a little bit slower start than what I'm used to from Tia Louise. But once I got into the book, I couldn't put it down. I really liked all the characters, though Zelda and Cal were my favorites. I love how Zelda does whatever she can for Ava. Their sisterly bond is unbreakable. She always thinks about Ava before herself.\\nCal is just yum. I love his personality. And the way he talks to Zelda! Ooh boy! All that dirty talk that comes outta that man's mouth. Ahh, Cal can come talk to me like that anytime.\\nAva and Rowan are just so sweet together! Almost to the point of being gag worthy sweet, lol. Not in a bad way though. I really do love them together. They're the perfect match for each other.\\nThis story definitely had a lot of big plot twists! I love how Tia Louise kept you guessing what was going to happen throughout the book. And that ending!! When I got to the end, I was stunned! Like, what just happened? Add in a few choice expletives, and that's how I was feeling. I can't believe the book ended like that!\\n\\nA Player for A Princess\\n\\nGritty, Intense, and Action Packed! Not words that generally describe a romance, right? But these certainly describe A Player for a Princess. And yet, you still have laughs and a whole lot of steam, along with mystery and intrigue. Seriously, this book is just absolutely amazing.\\nAs usual, this is a spoiler free review. I love the internal struggles that both Zee and Cal go through. Tia Louise does such a fantastic job of showing their struggles. You get in their heads and hearts. This story is so emotional. I was going through every emotion they were going through. All the heartache and turmoil, the happiness and good times. You are transported into this story and live it right alongside the characters.\\nTia Louise is such a talented author. There is absolutely no reason that you shouldn't one click this book. In fact, everyone should just one click ALL of her books.\\n\\n***I read these books separately on my Kindle***\",\n \"Product: Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X and her sexy student-teacher romance Bad Teacher. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, the Indecent Games Series, the Stalker Duology, Twenty-One (21), Ultimate Sin, Viktor, RUIN, FATHER, and CAGED. She is also a writer of various erotic romances. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals. Want four FREE short stories, giveaways, sneak peeks to upcoming books, and more? Sign up here: www.eepurl.com/FdY71 Website: http://clarissawild.blogspot.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/WildClarissa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarissaWildAuthor Join the fan club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FanClubClarissaWild\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This Book is Fantastic!!\\n\\nReview: Is it crazy that I was jealous of Lock? Not because of his past, but because he was living in solitude, not needing to worry about anything but basic survival necessities. I wish I could run away sometimes, lol. But then his solitude, and his world, are disrupted and turned upside down.\\nWhat do you do when you're warring with yourself? When you want two different things and you can't see a way to have both at the same time? This is the struggle that both Lock and Jules face.\\nI really loved the back and forth between this book. I loved the dual POV. I enjoyed knowing what both of them were thinking. I may have been PMSing a little, but I cried during this book. This book just hit me in my emotions. And there's plenty ty of adventure and mystery. This is a well rounded, very well written book. I absolutely love Clarissa Wild's writing style and her imagination.\\n\\n***I voluntarily read an advance reader copy***\",\n \"Product: Joanne Wadsworth is a Bestselling Author who adores getting lost in the world of romance, no matter what era in time that might be. Hot alpha Highlanders hound her, demanding their stories are told and shes devoted to ensuring they meet their match, whether that be with a feisty lass from the present or far in the past. Living on a tiny island at the bottom of the world, she calls New Zealand home. Big-dreamer, hoarder of chocolate, and addicted to juicy watermelons since the age of five, she chases after her four energetic children and has her own hunky hubby on the side. So come and join in all the fun, because this kiwi girl promises to give you her Hot-Highlander oath, to bring you a heart-pounding, sexy adventure from the moment you turn the first page. This is where romance meets fantasy and adventure To learn more about Joanne and her works, visit: Website: http://www.joannewadsworth.com\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: They Fought So Hard...\\n\\nReview: I really loved Ella! She was so sassy! I loved her strength and independence. She knows how strong her power is and she's not afraid to use it. She doesn't shy away from the danger. I love when authors write strong female leads, and Joanne Wadsworth didn't disappoint.\\nThen you have Duncan. So honorable. So headstrong. Fiercely protective of those under his care. A true alpha male. I wouldn't mind a Duncan of my own, lol.\\nWhen Duncan and Ella get together, watch out. Sparks fly and fires are started. They both fight so hard to remain independent and apart from each other. But you can't keep soul bound mates apart easily.\\n\\n***I received a complimentary copy in return for an honest review***\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":7,"string":"7"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":64,"string":"64"}}},{"rowIdx":65,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"ANL3T8RWYIK1L"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"1.0\" for a product with description \"Underrated 1988 album of seamlessly-sequenced carnal funk 'n' pop! Includes \"Alphabet St\" ; \"I Wish U Heaven\" and \"Glam Slam\".\". The summary of the review text is \"One of Prince's worst album ever.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"If this album sold any copies, it must be because of the cover (nude). The follow-up to the best album Prince has ever recorded, SIGN \"O\" THE TIMES, is the worst album Prince has ever recorded. Well, one of the worst, if not thee worst.\n\nPrince was set to release another double-disc epic but I guess Warner Bros. wouldn't allow it so LOVESEXY was released on Warners and THE BLACK ALBUM was released as a bootleg. The better of the two: THE BLACK ALBUM. Reasoning: Funky tracks. Although \"When 2 R In Love\" appears on both albums, (LOVESEXY 9 selections to THE BLACK ALBUM's 8) LOVESEXY just does not shine in a partly cloudy sky. \"Alphabet Street\", \"Anna Stesia\" and \"I Wish U Heaven\" are the only worthwhile selections here and speaking of selections, it was a really stupid move between Prince and Warners to release 9 selections as just 1 selction for the entire album, how annoying is that?\n\nWhat else can I say here? Nothing good. I am a die-hard Prince fans so to all you Prince fans out there who enjoyed LOVESEXY, I don't know. Maybe there's too much wax in my ears to hear what you all have heard."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"If this album sold any copies, it must be because of the cover (nude). The follow-up to the best album Prince has ever recorded, SIGN \"O\" THE TIMES, is the worst album Prince has ever recorded. Well, one of the worst, if not thee worst.\n\nPrince was set to release another double-disc epic but I guess Warner Bros. wouldn't allow it so LOVESEXY was released on Warners and THE BLACK ALBUM was released as a bootleg. The better of the two: THE BLACK ALBUM. Reasoning: Funky tracks. Although \"When 2 R In Love\" appears on both albums, (LOVESEXY 9 selections to THE BLACK ALBUM's 8) LOVESEXY just does not shine in a partly cloudy sky. \"Alphabet Street\", \"Anna Stesia\" and \"I Wish U Heaven\" are the only worthwhile selections here and speaking of selections, it was a really stupid move between Prince and Warners to release 9 selections as just 1 selction for the entire album, how annoying is that?\n\nWhat else can I say here? Nothing good. I am a die-hard Prince fans so to all you Prince fans out there who enjoyed LOVESEXY, I don't know. Maybe there's too much wax in my ears to hear what you all have heard."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: CD 101.I Want You Back02.ABC03.The Love You Save04.Got To Be There05.Rockin' Robin06.Ben07.Blame It On The Boogie08.Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)09.Dont't Stop Til You Get Enough10.Off The Wall11.Rock With You12.She's Out Of My Life13.Can You Feel It14.The Girls Is Mine15.Billie Jean16.Beat It17.Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'18.Human Nature19.P.Y.T(Pretty Young Thing)20.I Just Can't Stop Loving You21.ThrillerCD 201.Bad02.The Way You Make Me Feel03.Man In The Mirror04.Dirty Diana05.Another Part Of Me06.Smooth Criminal07.Leave Me Alone08.Black Or White09.Remember The Time10.In The Closet11.Who Is It12.Heal The World13.Will You Be There14.You Are Not Alone15.Earth Song16.They Dont't Care About Us17.You Rock My World\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The 3rd disc makes this set almost perfect\n\nReview: I am not a fan of Michael Jackson. I am a Prince fan. I am a fan of musicians, not just singers. So I should be a fan of Justin Timberlake and Usher right? Wrong. Getting back to Jacko. Usually BEST OF, GREATEST HITS or ESSENTIAL albums/box sets are filled with their complete hit catalogue. But there is always a song or two that should be on there and one song that is one there that shouldn't be. Who (or whom)ever arranged this hit fulfilled 3.0 package is just a few songs of perfect. Agree or disagree.\n\nFirst of all, The 3rd disc starts with \"Can't Get Outta The Rain\". Now before I continue, here's Amazon's start of their product description of the Essential Limited series. 'Each Essential Limited Edition 3.0 expanded 3-CD set features the biggest hits and best-loved songs from superstar artists'. \"Can't Get Outta The Rain\" Best-loved? This song is awful. It's mocking disco with silly chants and noises. Quincy Jones should hide under a tree if ever asked about producing this one. They should have omitted that one. Secondly, where's songs like \"You Can Win\" from his Scarecrow role in the motion picture THE WIZ? Where's \"Scream\"? The only song that he's ever done a duet on record with his sister, Janet Jackson. Of even The Jacksons \"State Of Shock\" with Mick Jagger? Surely you don't mean to say that there was not enough room on the 3rd disc for those two tracks while disc 1 has 21 and disc 2 has 17 tracks on them, pushing disc 3 to 10 selections from 7, my goodness, would be-pushing it?\n\nNevertheless, this is an awesome set. Remember, I AM NOT A MICHAEL JACKSON FAN. But aside from my complaint, it gets no better than this. Starting with a few Jackson 5/Motown tracks to Michael's Motown solo hits, to shifting to The Jacksons and Epic to Michael doing it alone and never turning back. Questionable 2nd verse lyrics in \"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'\" (lyrics slightly different from the THRILLER album). There's nothin' BAD you can say about this box set, really.","Product: Prince ~ Lotusflow3r\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A 'packaged deal' you won't regret\n\nReview: Prince, forever in demand for creative control, the guy has never heard the Rolling Stones anthem \" You Can't Always Get What You Want\" because Prince gets the deals (Target), gets the creative control (3 discs, 2 of him and 1 of his latest newcomer) and he gives it to you at a price you can't resist ($11.99). Besides his attitude problem, what won't this man do? Fail.\n\nLOTUSFLOW3R (1st) starts out like a sequel of PLANET EARTH, fueled with guitar rock (98% of this disc has guitar solos, some very wicked). Unlike PLANET EARTH, LOTUSFLOW3R gets interesting, with the except of the remaking of \"Crimson And Clover\". Prince hasn't been this rock heavy since PURPLE RAIN. All songs on this disc including the vocal-less \"77 Beverly Park\" will raise eyebrows, this guy has something to prove. Check out the monstrous \"Dreamer\".\n\nMPLSoUND (2nd disc) is where Prince (still solos on the guitar on some tracks) decides to smooth it out with R&B conceited \"(There'll Never B) Another Like Me\" ballads also like \"U're Gonna C Me\" and \"Better With Time\" and synth-rock \"No More Candy 4 U\" and the funk \"Ol' Skool Company\". MPL SoUND sound like the music was recorded over two decades ago. While LOTUSFLOW3R uses a drummer, the majority of MPLSoUND are programmed drum machines patterns like from the albums 1999, PURPLE RAIN & AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY. Regardless, this is another winning disc.\n\nNow, ELIXR (3rd and final disc) has music and maybe all lyrics of Prince but sung by his latest discovery, Bria Valente. Prince is forever trying to put someone on. Remember Tamar? Prince's last discovery? \"Beautiful, Loved & Blessed\"? Where she go? Whatever. Bria Valente kinda hits here, duets with Prince on the title track, goes back in time at the disco with \"2nite\", her flow creeps to a Sade vocal at times but she maneuvers around and finds her way, vocally.\n\nI have nothing more to say. Get this thing. Prince hasn't been this hot in a long time, don't let him cool off here.","Product: 14 songs,1993\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: K.M.D. wasted his solo career tryin' to take out LL COOL J\n\nReview: What do I mean? Come on. Back with THE TREACHEROUS THREE sure they had beef with other equal MC's but the party never stopped when they rocked it. KOOL MOE DEE gave something to LL COOL J to get on his nerves \"How Ya Like Me Now\" (K.M.D. even got SPYDER-D on his 'spit list' with that one),LL answered back \"Jack The Ripper\",K.M.D. serves LL a hyped up jam but fell on \"def\" ears \"Let's Go\",LL could have stopped there but he shot back with a double punch \"Mama Said Knock You Out\",\"To Da Break Of Dawn\" (which also disses M.C. HAMMER & ICE-T). Instead of taking defeat like a real player in the game,K.M.D. shoots LL with the yawning \"Death Blow\",LL finally got the picture,why bother anymore...LL won the battle and the war (and all you fans know it). Oh,sorry,LL did have to mention his champion status in one more diss against 'Moe Dee,Hammer & Ice-T's curls' in \"I Shot Ya\". I forgot 'bout that one.\n\nNon-LL news on this CD,songs like \"Go See The Doctor\",\"Do You Know What Time It Is?\",\"Wild,Wild West\",\"They Want Money\" and \"God Made Me Funke\" puts his lyricism in high gear. Also the songs against LL are great rap tunes by K.M.D. But the listing of \"Rise N' Shine\" (which is NOT on MY CD,how 'bout yours?) and songs like the tired \"No Respect\" are reasons why a 4-star is all I can give him. Yes I know he is a pioneer,but pioneers should not have to worry about some other cat taking their throne on the microphone. We all know who's \"Knowledge Is King\" K.M.D. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Wish you knew that then.","Product: Cool Music\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Welcome to Malcolm McLaren's melting pot, it's hot\n\nReview: Those non-appreciative of world/cultural type music would pass this by except for the hip-hop epic \"Buffalo Gals\" and the too short to enjoy \"World's Famous\". OK, the hip-hop is out of the way here, but it's one of the most importance of this album as Malcolm McLaren takes you through a world safari. You have your Latin, oriental, African and square-dancing hoedown here in the States and much more.\n\nSlight annoyance by the World's Famous Supreme Team (the radio skits), it's still very interesting how it all comes together here. Trevor Horn is a production icon and you won't find his best work on a Yes album of The Art Of Noise because this is it. MM's in this house.","Product: 1981\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Universal album as PRINCE is on the rise!\n\nReview: I was 11 years old,the only PRINCE album I had was the self-titled one. I was afraid retailers would shy me away from buying DIRTY MIND due to the warning sticker,so I waited till 1981 for CONTROVERSY. Mine you,I was only listening to black radio at this time and wasn't into rock or punk yet. This album quickly changed that.\n\nSongs like \"Sexually\",\"Private Joy\",\"Annie Christian\",\"Ronnie,Talk To Russia\" and \"Jack U Off\" will put you in that format for sure. While \"Do Me,Baby\" is the only ballad and \"Controversy\" and \"Let's Work\" are your only R&B/funk tunes,the album grows on you.\n\nCONTROVERSY is a very important album for PRINCE,it's the album that itched him closer to being the rock superstar that the album 1999 finally made him.","Product: New Power Generation Girl 6 US CD single\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Released to help Spike Lee and to help Prince get off of Warners faster\n\nReview: 1996, A Spike Lee Joint called GIRL 6 was released with the soundtrack arranged by Prince, songs mostly performed by Prince (with The Revolution or The New Power Generation) at this time Prince was releasing anything he could to get out of a digusted Warner Bros. Records because of the creative control Prince was losing there. This was one of his anythings.\n\n7 songs you should know of by Prince, \"She Spoke To Me\" and \"Don't Talk To Strangers\" were unreleased at that time. The two shockers out of this disc are the non-Prince performed songs 1982's Vanity 6 \"Nasty Girl\" and 1985's The Family \"The Screams Of Passion\" which maybe anyone's actual reasoning for buying this. These songs fit well for the sexual telemarketing motion picture, just like \"Erotic City\" and \"Hot Thing\" does. Annoying songs by the NPG \"Count The Days\" and the title track, well let's just say those fill ins really does nothing for this soundtrack.\n\nGIRL 6 is like a mini-EP of Prince's hits plus extras by himself, the NPG, Vanity 6 and The Family. Any of theses songs you like? 1 maybe 2? Cool, buy this used. You'll use the skip button on a couple of them, maybe more.","Product: AUDIO CASSETTE TAPE ALBUM\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Only 6 songs but makes a superior album\n\nReview: Funk if you will,Morris Day and the band's second effort kicks booty. Makes you move it too.\n\nLet's start with the funny warm up the party \"Wild And Loose\" where Morris disses a female he somehow talked to on the phone the night before finding out she doesn't 'look like she sounds'. Then there's the beat fancy \"777-9311\" with Jesse Johnson doin' his thang for at least 4 minutes of the ending. Motivating \"Onedayi'mgoingbesomebody\",you know they gotta give you a dance to do \"The Walk\" with Vanity in 'tight jeans' pissing off Morris trying to get her out of them. The ballad from a players' perspective \"Gigolos Get Lonely Too\" and the farewell they wish was not \" I Don't Wanna Leave You\". Only 6 songs,less than 45 minutes long but it packs a punch.\n\nThe rest of the band,Terry Lewis,Jimmy Jam,Jellybean Johnson,Jesse Johnson and Monte Moir sound more professional on this album than their first,which sounds like they recorded in an attic or something.\n\nWHAT TIME IS IT? is a must have if you're lookin' for a funky (but cool) good time!","Product: Meticulous 1985 album of psychedelic pop 'n' sunny funk jams! Includes \"Raspberry Beret\" and \"Paisley Park\".\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Psychadelica PRINCE? Not that close after PURPLE RAIN\n\nReview: Look there are 3 reasons why this album didn't work for PRINCE (and his REVOLUTION).\n\n1. Everyone was still vibin' to the 'PURPLE RAIN' soundtrack.\n\n2. The album came out in less than a year of 'PURPLE RAIN'. He could have done a MICHAEL JACKSON move,released \"Darling Nikki\" as a single and have 6 from that album. ('PURPLE RAIN' June 1984,'AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY' March 1985). Needed more time to record better songs.\n\n3. It wasn't good timing.\n\nWhat do I mean? He's in his heyday. On top of the world. Then he releases merry-go-round music like \"Paisley Park\",dedicates an almost 4-minute song to a \"Tambourine\" and just when you think he abandoned the rock that finally got him fame,he threw in a whack \"Temptation\".\n\n\"Condition Of The Heart\" & \"The Ladder\" is on some personal and spiritual shhh,but songs like the disco bangin' \"America\",the funk again finally \"Pop Life\" and the happy-be-gay (content) \"Raspberry Beret\" and the oriental sounding title track seem to make this album. It's an OK album but I believe that you don't release an experimental album at the height of your career.","Product: Who filled the grooves between Funkadelic and Living Colour? Mother's Finest did, stirring together solid funk beats, hot rock licks and wailing soul vocals on eight records from 1974-1992. The songs featured here include their Top 30 R&B hit Love Changes , a live version of Jefferson Airplane's Somebody to Love , plus Don't Wanna Come Back; Baby Love , and more.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Rock, Funk & Soul, 3 elements equaling 1 great band & CD!\n\nReview: They rock, they gets funky, they's got soul, they are Mother's Finest. One of the many American forgotten great bands, still around and about. Multi-racial. Placed hits in the 70's, more notable for the R&B joints like \"Love Changes\", this greatest hits will move ya, groove ya and soothe ya. It did me.\n\nJoyce \"Baby Jean\" Kennedy dominants the disc with her vocals alone. One woman powerhouse (while the band do they thang)! She doesn't give counterpart Glenn Murdock half the chance here and these are the hits. This is Mother's Finest featuring Joyce \"Baby Jean\" Kennedy. Get it right.\n\nDiscouragements: Just 2, \"Dis Go Dis Way, Dis Go Dat Way\". Is it a joke or an attempt to disco a little? You decide. If it's a joke, it's a very bad one. If it's an attempt, the music is fine but a 3-year old could have made up the lyrics. The cover of Jefferson Airplane (Starship, Jet, Asteroid, Meteor, whatever) \"Somebody To Love\" (Live) wasn't needed to complete this awesome disc.\n\nSo if you like old school funk, Southern hard rock and some powerful soulful vocals all wrapped into one package, then welcome to Mother's Finest's finest.","Product: UK collection from the British R&B outfit. The trio was founded in 1980 by Steve Nichol after he left the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he received extensive classical training. Nichol received the Young Musician Of The Year Award at age 16. Nichol went on to tour with The Jam in 1982 as a trumpet, trombone and keyboard player. He was also a composer for Rakim, Carl Cox, Phyllis Hyman and other various artists. Most of Loose Ends material was also written and supplied by Nichol. The band also featured vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh and vocalist Jane Eugene.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: There's a couple missing strings on this LOOSE ENDS best of.\n\nReview: All I have to say is,it's about time. Damn,so long and the band ended when? 10 years or more ago? Us fans need something to hold on to. Like NOW!\n\nI-ight! 15 songs cool,all hits? I don't think so. I live in New Jersey so my music base is New York City. I have never heard of \"Magic Touch\" or \"Emergency (999)\" on a NYC radio station or by \"word of mouth\" (was these tunes only released in England or something?). But if they are hits,granted. Did they run outta room for classics like \"The Sweetest Pain\" and \"Gonna Make You Mine\" or maybe those two I never heard of before could have been replaced with this classics then maybe we'd be talking about a 5 star mofo here.\n\nTo sum this up,LOOSE ENDS fans should cop this. Enjoy 'em joints we all loved well like \"Hangin' On A String\",\"Choose Me\",\"Stay A Little While,Child\",\"Slow Down\",\"Watching You\",\"Don't Be A Fool\",\"Cheap Talk\" and the rest. It's all we've got now and I think it's all we're gonna get from MAC and the band.","Product: Back to the future -The Very Best Of Jodeci brings together all the hits from three incredible multi-platinum albums that spawned over ten R&B top 10 hits with five singles hitting #1 on the R&B chart. CLEAN VERSION. Universal. 2005.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It's about time for JODECI...and finally their hits!\n\nReview: My wife (girlfriend at the time, pregnant with my daughter) introduced me to Jodeci with the song \"Forever My Lady\". They didn't phase me at all. I was vibin' to groups like Silk and Boyz II Men, know what I mean. Ever \"Stay\" wasn't music to my ears at the time. By the time \"Come And Talk To Me\" hit the airwaves (the radio), I was like I have to give them a listen now.\n\nTo make a long story short and to just stick with this topic at hand. BACK TO THE FUTURE is a dumb title, it's long overdue that they put together a greatest hits album (K-Ci & JoJo had their greatest hits album out before Jodeci, go figure) and the 16 tracks were well selected. Stevie Wonder's \"Lately\" I was highly worried about. Great choice to pick the Uptown MTV Unplugged version of it. Basically all of the hits are here. \"Feenin'\", \"Love U 4 Life\", \"Alone\". You can't go wrong with this one.\n\nI'm not sure what really happened to Jodeci that the foursome stopped recording together. But the New Jack ballad bad boys have you going back...to the future? Let's enjoy goin' back while we can with this one, huh?","Product: 2005 two CD release from the veteran guitarist, vocalist, bandleader, and Washington, DC institution. Chuck Brown was the creator of Go-Go, a Funk subgenre that Rolling Stone called 'so intergalactically funky, and so majestically joyful, it would convince just about any groovy extraterrestrial that humans are indeed a superior species.' This collection contains 16 hits and new tracks including 'We the People', 'Bustin' Loose', 'Misty', 'Back It on Up (Sho' Ya Right)' and more.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"Going to a Go-Go\" with Smokey, no way. This is the go-go king, Chuck Brown\n\nReview: The king of Go-Go music places his stamp on R&B, funk, reggae, cover tunes and even gospel, from the 70's till now, on this 16-track, 2-disc set of nothing short of a good time. For all ages. Just a feel good party time capsule.\n\nSkeptical, usually THE BEST OF... CD with the artist recording on multiple labels, you just might not get the original hits as heard back in the day, well \"Bustin' Loose\" and \"We Need Some Money\" will not disappoint you at all. Turn it up. Never would have thought to hear Barry White's \"Playing Your Game, Baby\" in a go-go stylee. Sounding so smooth, you would think Barry did the vocals himself. Even cartoons get a go-go at it with \"Woody Woodpecker\", R. Kelly's \"Fiesta\" to goin' to church with ya on \"Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus\", Chuck Brown is spreading his positive vibe on anybody and everybody, but he doesn't get you to listen, once you feel his vibe you have no choice but to listen.\n\nThe Godfather of go-go has many sons and daughter followers contributed to go-go. Trouble Funk, E.U., Mass Extension, The Junkyard Band, Salt-N-Pepa and many more. A new style of funk/R&B originated by a multi-talented pioneer. Totally ahead of his time.","Product: The artist who will forever be known as Prince-and could fittingly be known as \"The Artist\"-is one of the most brilliant, versatile and influential musical forces of his, or any, time. Prince took R&B and regally marched it into genre-blurring horizons previously unknown, fusing rock, funk, soul, psychedelia, pop, and singer-songwriter aesthetics into a sound that was mind-bending and booty-shaking. Sensual, literate, explosive, and groundbreaking, his artistry never stopped evolving and the hits and acclaim never stopped coming. His adventurous reinventions, bold experimentation, stellar instrumental and composing skills and genius for showmanship have placed him high in the pantheon of all-time superstars. \"Unique\" doesn't begin to describe his royal powers, showcased herein on the first-ever two-disc compilation of his masterful Warner Bros. years.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Ev'ry greatest hits album has flaws\n\nReview: Die Hard #1 PRINCE fan here can deal with some of the remixes/extended versions on Disc 2 (I have most of them on 12\" singles). Shocked me that Warner Bros. finally did it that way. But all ain't paradise here tho'.\n\nStarting with Disc 1. Why is the album versions on here like \"Controversy\", \"Purple Rain\" and \"Alphabet St.\" (they lied, the video is less than 3:00 long, this is no way a single version)? Shorten those tunes and fill in missing ones like \"Soft And Wet\", \"Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?\" and either \"If I Was Your Girlfriend\" or \"Housequake\" or better yet, how about THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE top 10 hit \"The Most Beautiful Girl In The World\" as the closer. That would have blown PRINCE fans' minds!\n\nNow Disc 2 isn't that bad (as most non-dance PRINCE fans believe). \"Hot Thing\" remix and \"Cream\" remix should be replaced with the \"Gett Off\" remix (but that wouldn't work, \"Gett Off\" remix gets a lil' dirty) or \"Sexy Dancer\" extended (except for a lil' huffin' & puffin', there's nothin' dirty about it). Why is \"She's Always In My Hair\" even on here? Great song, no doubt, but if you want a B-side tune, try one that's not on the \"PRINCE-THE HITS/THE B-SIDES\" set like \"Love Or Money\" (on the flipside of \"Kiss\" U.S. single).\n\nThis double CD is almost perfect, almost. Makes you wonder tho'. Did they think of a 3rd disc, starting off with the almost 22:00 \"America\" extended version? Now that's over doin' it!","Product: PRINCE - HITNRUN PHASE ONE - CD\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: This album has a lot more WHY's than WOWS\n\nReview: Why Prince? Why? On ART OFFICIAL AGE (which is a much better album than this one) you started using outside production (@Joshuaworld) when you were doing production yourself since 1978 (a part of what made you a unique artist), same goes for HITnRUN Phase One. Btw, terrible album title, setting the vibe for failure here. Cheap art direction and jewel case? Looks like an animated ART OFFICIAL AGE (why?). This is NOT a Warner Bros. Records product. Maybe it's because the two albums that came out Sept 30, 2014 ART OFFICIAL AGE and PLECTRUM ELECTRUM both together barely sold 100,000 units. Did Prince get dropped? Wonder why?\n\nI think (now remember I am a die hard Prince fan since 1979), this album is awful. Why? Prince, since when did you need to catch up with the times? Did you forget you are an innovator? You broke all the rules? You were the man no other musician could touch. Not no more. Well.. I'll take that back, but...\n\nMost of the music here sounds like today's crap. The edits, keyboards, etc. Also may I mention the album is less than 37 minutes long. No longer making music for the fans, huh? Only 3 out of 11 tracks get my undivided attention, \"Shut This Down\" (which sounds identical to \"My Name Is Prince\") , \"1000 X's & O's\" and \"X's Face\" and the songs are tighter in continuous space than a Stevie Wonder album. Why remix \"This Could Be Us\" (an ART OFFICIAL AGE hit) and put it on here? What the heck is \"Mr. Nelson\" for? HITnRUN was released less than a year of ART OFFICIAL AGE and PLECTRUM ELECTRUM and if Prince plans on hittin' and runnin' with this and he \"Ain't About 2 Stop\", I think he needs to stop and think before throwing out stuff there like this. Still love ya tho' bro.","Product: Fishbone ~ Fishbone 101: Nuttasaurusmeg Fo\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A summary of Fishbone's Columbia years of hits, outtakes and unreleased\n\nReview: Want to know Fishbone? Look no further. The Fishbone from the start of their zany punk-rock energy (1985) to their hard rock/heavy metal maturity (1993). You will find their Columbia years best hits, outtakes, previously unreleased material and dub/instrumental versions. As for fans of Fishbone, you'll also get IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE/GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME (EP) songs on here also.\n\nYou start this double disc with the hits. We punk out with \"Party At Ground Zero\" one of the band's biggest hits, came out in 1985 so in no way, shape or form is this in any disrespect to the 9/11 (2001) terrorist attacks. \"Modern Industry\", the shout out call lettering jam. We funk out with \"When Problems Arise\", \"Cholly\", \"Bonin' In The Boneyard\" and \"Lemon Meringue\". We rock out with \"Freddie's Dead\" (a Curtis Mayfield cover), \"Fight The Youth\", \"Black Flowers\" and \"Sunless Saturday\". While the ska/reggae tunes are here also \"Ma & Pa\", \"Ugly\", \"It's A Wonderful Life\" and \"Unyielding Conditioning\". The acoustic \"Change\" to the Sly Stone influenced \"Everyday Sunshine\". This is the last of the original members Fishbone as we know it.\n\nThe second disc is not as interesting as the first tho'. It's not bad but...well, let's see, the underground hit \"Skankin' To The Beat\" kicks it in motion. \"And They Prey On You\" gives you a little dance appeal to Fishbone along with \"Fishbone Is Red Hot\". \"The Goose\" is a Parliament-Funkadelic cover, funky in the beginning, mad rock in the end. And shockingly \"Love & Bulls__t\" is here from BONIN' IN THE BONEYARD/SET YOUR BOOTY UPRIGHT (EP). Everything else are like dubs and outtakes like \"Alcoholic\" (which was re-done for Fishbone CHIM CHIM's BAD^SS REVENGE CD, 1996).\n\nOverall, it's close to complete of a fun, zany, energetic and intelligent band whose played dues and never got what they deserved out of it. As Fishbone still tours and records till this day (March 2009), this set is their heyday hits. Bug Out!","Product: Great\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: This album is such garbage, AMAZON.com themselves didn't review it\n\nReview: Anticipation was high as hell, getting a solo vibe from LIVING COLOUR's axeman VERNON REID, I couldn't wait to have my ears blown away by V.R's wicked ways. To make a long story short, I let a friend borrow the CD, I haven't asked for it back.\n\nWhere was the rest of LIVING COLOUR when Vernon attempted this waste of glass? BISCUITS sounds like a JIMI HENDRIX classic compared to this. Go ahead, diss my review. VERNON REID is still the man (one of my favorite axeman next to JIMI (Hendrix), PRINCE, SPACEY T, ROCKY GEORGE, The other JIMI (Hazel), DR. KNOW,etc...). I just don't know where he is going here...do you? Can you tell me?\n\nPrince Paul co-produced the album so guess what. It sounds like one of his own solo albums. Vernon Reid is not a hip-hop artist so why waste Epic Records' time on believing that there's a hip-hop epic here?","Product: RCA 7544437010 FC; RCA - Italia;\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: FISHBONE's most humorous album to date\n\nReview: OK Amazon fans, the ones who dissed this album for various reasons, but let's look at why.\n\n1. The production was done by Dallas Austin and Fishbone. Who is Dallas Austin? He's an R&B producer trying to produce, executive produce and play keyboards (keyboards?) on a Fishbone album.\n\n2. Fishbone just had a major shake up. Kendall Jones and Christopher Dowd left the band. The two serious songwriters of the band has sensed a change after recording GIVE A MONKEY A BRAIN...\n\nWhile Norwood, Angelo, Philip \"Fish\" and Dirty Walt still remain as the founding members, they don't mess a step, whatsoever. That brings me to the 5th memeber of this Nuttsactor 5, John \"J.B.\" Bigham. You really couldn't hear his talents on the axe on THE REALITY OF MY SURROUNDINGS or GIVE A MONKEY A BRAIN... because he and Kendall were the guitarists chopping $h! t up. Here you got J.B. alone.\n\nTo me, while you must open your mind to the metaphoric lyricism here, this is a very funny album, but truthful. Take \"Rock Star\", my favorite jam on the album and the one of the funniest, but still serious, tells of how black rockers don't get equal billing as white rockers when rock was taken from old 'blues singer'. \"Psychologically Overcast\" (without the Busta Rhymes rap would have made this song perfect), the title track, \"Beergut\", \"Alcoholic\" and \"Sourpuss\" are your choice cuts. While \"In The Cube\" and the skits pretty much silly but like I said, open your mind and you'll get it. Kinda like the \"Intro\", a diffult briefing of what you are about to hear in this album narration by John Nelson (no not Prince's fater).\n\nHere, FISHBONE is totally mixing it up. The punk/ska/reggae/funk/rock it's here. Abandoning the metal of GIVE A MONKEY A BRAIN... for some of that Fishbone music we know and love but still you can't outweigh the messed production here. While \"Nuttmeg\" ends the disc with 10 minutes of mad funk in your face, to let you naysayer know that this is NOT the end of Fishbone.","Product: Fantastic R&B\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Another slept on Loud Records epic by a multi-talented diva\n\nReview: Jeopardy answer: Do-it-all diva, including co-mix engineering her debut album.\nJeopardy question: Who is Davina? Correct. Her debut album here BEST OF BOTH WORLDS is an understatement. She carries all worlds within her, two is not enough.\n\nThe woman plays all instruments on most songs, writes or co-writes most songs, the album is produced by her alone. Where did this album go wrong? She touches elements of R&B/soul/jazz/fusion and yes hip-hop (she was signed to Loud Records, a hip-hop label then). The songs? What about them? There are 13 of them that refuse to disappoint the listener. \"So Good\", her introductory hit says enough, must buy. She covers Michael Jackson's \"I Can't Help It\" in a new jack/shuttle swing instead of a ballad. Style. There's more ballads here than dance tracks so be prepared to pump your brakes, she's on a smoove (and smooth) vibe!\n\nBEST OF BOTH WORLDS is not showing attraction to sell her product by exposing body parts by Davina. In fact, a first look at Davina, you may just see this as nothing more than a hip-hop album. Don't judge her book by her cover. Satisfying disc.","Product: Fronted by Jada Pinkett Smith and backed by a live band whose resume displays a weaith of live and recorded projects. Wicked Wisdom has given birth to a sound that cannot be confined in a single genre. This powerful music is the soundtrack to revolutions and pulses with an appeal so broad the typical boundries of our societies fall by the wayside. 100 % Womon. 2006.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The Wisdom gives \"wicked\" vibes\n\nReview: Let me start by saying that as a Fishbone fan, it is great to hear Philip \"Fish\" Fisher hittin' the skins again in his unique, talented fashion (you're great bro'). The other three musicians were also on point, no doubt. A little upset at the fact that neither guitarist (2) did solos in any of the 10 songs here.\n\nNow, you know we have got to get at Jada Koren. She gives a so-so effort of the voice to this 4-male musician backing. She's not a heavy-metal singer. In a couple of the songs like \"Yesterday Don't Mean\" and \"One\", she's torn between rocking or rappin' like Ice-T fronting Body Count. Standout songs are \"Bleed All Over Me\", \"Cruel Intentions\", \"Forgiven\" and \"Set Me Free\".\n\nLike I said, it's a so-so effort. The CD is good for a handful of spins. The music outweighs Jada Koren's singing 2 to 1. But if W.W. gets Sharon Osborne (Ozzy's wife) approval for them rocking at Ozzyfest, Wicked Wisdom should never let that kind of honor down.","Product: The Bus Boys were an R&B group from Los Angeles who in the early 1980s issued two charting albums on Arista Records. American Worker was their second album, originally hitting the Billboard charts in 1982. It is making it's worldwide CD release with this issue.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Impressive sophomore boogie with them BUS BOYS! But the 1st one was better.\n\nReview: AMERICAN WORKER (2nd of 4 albums) is just as awesome as MINIMUM WAGE ROCK & ROLL (debut album), if not better. For some reason, I'm not the only one who feels that way. But the product descrpition according to Amazon.com calls the Bus Boys just an R&B band from L.A. You hardly here just R&B out of this album or MINIMUM. It's a disrespecting diss to this (black) talented rock band.\n\nFresh start, the title track sticks to your brain like Crazy Glue, \"Heart And Soul\" was done before Huey Lewis & The News got to it and did it better than the Bus Boys but still not a bad but slower version of it, \"I Get Lost\" is just awesome, undeniable funk-rock, understandable majority statement 'I get lost, tryin' to find that dream y'all'. This album is slightly different from MINIMUM due to more confidence and chances through different formats of music like the reggae-driven \"Opportunity\", the spiritual \"I Believe\" and the head-boppin' blues-rock \"New Shoes\".\n\nI love this album just like the first one. It is a very slim margin between which one is better. It's not too hard and it's not too soft either but you can feel a more popish connection here than on MINIMUM. Regardless, it's nothing short of a rockin' good time.","Product: I will ship by EMS or SAL items in stock in Japan. It is approximately 7-14days on delivery date. You wholeheartedly support customers as satisfactory. Thank you for you seeing it.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Whack reunion of the once futuristic ULTRAMAGS\n\nReview: Unlike The JUNGLE BROTHERS 2nd album DONE BY THE FORCES OF NATURE where they gave props to past and present rappers, MC's and DJ's in a grouping. They mentioned only one rap group as the FUTURE of hip-hop: Ultramagnetic. Well guess what JB's. Future No More.\n\nThe album is trash. Nothing at all like the 3 studio albums made over a decade ago. But don't take my word for it, sample for yourself.\nOnce ahead of their time. Time zoom past Ultramagnetic and they didn't see it coming. FAITH, NO MORE should be the title of this rubbish. What can I say about this album without my review getting kicked off Amazon.com? I'll use no profanity or content of explicit nature to describe it but this album highly does. 1988's CRITICAL BEATDOWN never, ever gave that kind of deliverance. That maybe one reason why that album is a classic and THE BEST KEPT SECRET is a bargin bin passer-by, by any means (vocally, production, lyrically, concept). Can I get a witness? Please? Aw c'mon!\n\nDJ MOE LUV is the only producer on the album trying to keep that old Ultramagnetic sound alive here on \"Vibrato\" and \"Mechanism Nice (Born Twice)\" the album's 1st single. CED-GEE just wrecks the album in a terrible way, verbally and lyrically, bragging of 16 bars in almsot every track and being very explicit and obscene (never heard that on CRITICAL BEATDOWN by CED). KOOL KEITH does fine on solo track \"Late Nite Rumble\" but KOOL KEITH is goin' nowhere with his lyricism and on most of the other songs, HIS delivery is sounding just like CED's towards the end of the album. T.R. LOVE? M.I.A. You see him in photos, you hear silence from him, he doesn't even produce a track. Production by CED, MOE and 2 others and the other 2 sound like KUTMASTA KURT producing (producer for most of KOOL KEITH solo stuff). I do not mean that in a good way. The beats of \"Nottz\" is bangin', the lyrics by both KEITH and CED should raise eyebrows on what's next to come for THE BEST KEPT SECRET being the B-side to the 1st single \"Mechanism Nice (Born Twice)\".\n\nSongs like \"Ain't It Good 2 U\" (2007) and \"Party Started\" are for gentleman's clubs for the girls to dance to. Now do you see what direction this album is goin'? If you're lookin' for Ultramagnetic to comback with a reunion album with the same spacey super dope production and/or the masterful, brainiac, monkey wrench lyricism as CRITICAL BEATDOWN; FUNK YOUR HEAD UP and THE FOUR HORSEMEN albums gave you over a decade ago, you will not find it here. Maybe in the next 14 years. Right Ultramag? JB's don't count on it."],"string":"[\n \"Product: CD 101.I Want You Back02.ABC03.The Love You Save04.Got To Be There05.Rockin' Robin06.Ben07.Blame It On The Boogie08.Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)09.Dont't Stop Til You Get Enough10.Off The Wall11.Rock With You12.She's Out Of My Life13.Can You Feel It14.The Girls Is Mine15.Billie Jean16.Beat It17.Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'18.Human Nature19.P.Y.T(Pretty Young Thing)20.I Just Can't Stop Loving You21.ThrillerCD 201.Bad02.The Way You Make Me Feel03.Man In The Mirror04.Dirty Diana05.Another Part Of Me06.Smooth Criminal07.Leave Me Alone08.Black Or White09.Remember The Time10.In The Closet11.Who Is It12.Heal The World13.Will You Be There14.You Are Not Alone15.Earth Song16.They Dont't Care About Us17.You Rock My World\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The 3rd disc makes this set almost perfect\\n\\nReview: I am not a fan of Michael Jackson. I am a Prince fan. I am a fan of musicians, not just singers. So I should be a fan of Justin Timberlake and Usher right? Wrong. Getting back to Jacko. Usually BEST OF, GREATEST HITS or ESSENTIAL albums/box sets are filled with their complete hit catalogue. But there is always a song or two that should be on there and one song that is one there that shouldn't be. Who (or whom)ever arranged this hit fulfilled 3.0 package is just a few songs of perfect. Agree or disagree.\\n\\nFirst of all, The 3rd disc starts with \\\"Can't Get Outta The Rain\\\". Now before I continue, here's Amazon's start of their product description of the Essential Limited series. 'Each Essential Limited Edition 3.0 expanded 3-CD set features the biggest hits and best-loved songs from superstar artists'. \\\"Can't Get Outta The Rain\\\" Best-loved? This song is awful. It's mocking disco with silly chants and noises. Quincy Jones should hide under a tree if ever asked about producing this one. They should have omitted that one. Secondly, where's songs like \\\"You Can Win\\\" from his Scarecrow role in the motion picture THE WIZ? Where's \\\"Scream\\\"? The only song that he's ever done a duet on record with his sister, Janet Jackson. Of even The Jacksons \\\"State Of Shock\\\" with Mick Jagger? Surely you don't mean to say that there was not enough room on the 3rd disc for those two tracks while disc 1 has 21 and disc 2 has 17 tracks on them, pushing disc 3 to 10 selections from 7, my goodness, would be-pushing it?\\n\\nNevertheless, this is an awesome set. Remember, I AM NOT A MICHAEL JACKSON FAN. But aside from my complaint, it gets no better than this. Starting with a few Jackson 5/Motown tracks to Michael's Motown solo hits, to shifting to The Jacksons and Epic to Michael doing it alone and never turning back. Questionable 2nd verse lyrics in \\\"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'\\\" (lyrics slightly different from the THRILLER album). There's nothin' BAD you can say about this box set, really.\",\n \"Product: Prince ~ Lotusflow3r\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A 'packaged deal' you won't regret\\n\\nReview: Prince, forever in demand for creative control, the guy has never heard the Rolling Stones anthem \\\" You Can't Always Get What You Want\\\" because Prince gets the deals (Target), gets the creative control (3 discs, 2 of him and 1 of his latest newcomer) and he gives it to you at a price you can't resist ($11.99). Besides his attitude problem, what won't this man do? Fail.\\n\\nLOTUSFLOW3R (1st) starts out like a sequel of PLANET EARTH, fueled with guitar rock (98% of this disc has guitar solos, some very wicked). Unlike PLANET EARTH, LOTUSFLOW3R gets interesting, with the except of the remaking of \\\"Crimson And Clover\\\". Prince hasn't been this rock heavy since PURPLE RAIN. All songs on this disc including the vocal-less \\\"77 Beverly Park\\\" will raise eyebrows, this guy has something to prove. Check out the monstrous \\\"Dreamer\\\".\\n\\nMPLSoUND (2nd disc) is where Prince (still solos on the guitar on some tracks) decides to smooth it out with R&B conceited \\\"(There'll Never B) Another Like Me\\\" ballads also like \\\"U're Gonna C Me\\\" and \\\"Better With Time\\\" and synth-rock \\\"No More Candy 4 U\\\" and the funk \\\"Ol' Skool Company\\\". MPL SoUND sound like the music was recorded over two decades ago. While LOTUSFLOW3R uses a drummer, the majority of MPLSoUND are programmed drum machines patterns like from the albums 1999, PURPLE RAIN & AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY. Regardless, this is another winning disc.\\n\\nNow, ELIXR (3rd and final disc) has music and maybe all lyrics of Prince but sung by his latest discovery, Bria Valente. Prince is forever trying to put someone on. Remember Tamar? Prince's last discovery? \\\"Beautiful, Loved & Blessed\\\"? Where she go? Whatever. Bria Valente kinda hits here, duets with Prince on the title track, goes back in time at the disco with \\\"2nite\\\", her flow creeps to a Sade vocal at times but she maneuvers around and finds her way, vocally.\\n\\nI have nothing more to say. Get this thing. Prince hasn't been this hot in a long time, don't let him cool off here.\",\n \"Product: 14 songs,1993\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: K.M.D. wasted his solo career tryin' to take out LL COOL J\\n\\nReview: What do I mean? Come on. Back with THE TREACHEROUS THREE sure they had beef with other equal MC's but the party never stopped when they rocked it. KOOL MOE DEE gave something to LL COOL J to get on his nerves \\\"How Ya Like Me Now\\\" (K.M.D. even got SPYDER-D on his 'spit list' with that one),LL answered back \\\"Jack The Ripper\\\",K.M.D. serves LL a hyped up jam but fell on \\\"def\\\" ears \\\"Let's Go\\\",LL could have stopped there but he shot back with a double punch \\\"Mama Said Knock You Out\\\",\\\"To Da Break Of Dawn\\\" (which also disses M.C. HAMMER & ICE-T). Instead of taking defeat like a real player in the game,K.M.D. shoots LL with the yawning \\\"Death Blow\\\",LL finally got the picture,why bother anymore...LL won the battle and the war (and all you fans know it). Oh,sorry,LL did have to mention his champion status in one more diss against 'Moe Dee,Hammer & Ice-T's curls' in \\\"I Shot Ya\\\". I forgot 'bout that one.\\n\\nNon-LL news on this CD,songs like \\\"Go See The Doctor\\\",\\\"Do You Know What Time It Is?\\\",\\\"Wild,Wild West\\\",\\\"They Want Money\\\" and \\\"God Made Me Funke\\\" puts his lyricism in high gear. Also the songs against LL are great rap tunes by K.M.D. But the listing of \\\"Rise N' Shine\\\" (which is NOT on MY CD,how 'bout yours?) and songs like the tired \\\"No Respect\\\" are reasons why a 4-star is all I can give him. Yes I know he is a pioneer,but pioneers should not have to worry about some other cat taking their throne on the microphone. We all know who's \\\"Knowledge Is King\\\" K.M.D. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Wish you knew that then.\",\n \"Product: Cool Music\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Welcome to Malcolm McLaren's melting pot, it's hot\\n\\nReview: Those non-appreciative of world/cultural type music would pass this by except for the hip-hop epic \\\"Buffalo Gals\\\" and the too short to enjoy \\\"World's Famous\\\". OK, the hip-hop is out of the way here, but it's one of the most importance of this album as Malcolm McLaren takes you through a world safari. You have your Latin, oriental, African and square-dancing hoedown here in the States and much more.\\n\\nSlight annoyance by the World's Famous Supreme Team (the radio skits), it's still very interesting how it all comes together here. Trevor Horn is a production icon and you won't find his best work on a Yes album of The Art Of Noise because this is it. MM's in this house.\",\n \"Product: 1981\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Universal album as PRINCE is on the rise!\\n\\nReview: I was 11 years old,the only PRINCE album I had was the self-titled one. I was afraid retailers would shy me away from buying DIRTY MIND due to the warning sticker,so I waited till 1981 for CONTROVERSY. Mine you,I was only listening to black radio at this time and wasn't into rock or punk yet. This album quickly changed that.\\n\\nSongs like \\\"Sexually\\\",\\\"Private Joy\\\",\\\"Annie Christian\\\",\\\"Ronnie,Talk To Russia\\\" and \\\"Jack U Off\\\" will put you in that format for sure. While \\\"Do Me,Baby\\\" is the only ballad and \\\"Controversy\\\" and \\\"Let's Work\\\" are your only R&B/funk tunes,the album grows on you.\\n\\nCONTROVERSY is a very important album for PRINCE,it's the album that itched him closer to being the rock superstar that the album 1999 finally made him.\",\n \"Product: New Power Generation Girl 6 US CD single\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Released to help Spike Lee and to help Prince get off of Warners faster\\n\\nReview: 1996, A Spike Lee Joint called GIRL 6 was released with the soundtrack arranged by Prince, songs mostly performed by Prince (with The Revolution or The New Power Generation) at this time Prince was releasing anything he could to get out of a digusted Warner Bros. Records because of the creative control Prince was losing there. This was one of his anythings.\\n\\n7 songs you should know of by Prince, \\\"She Spoke To Me\\\" and \\\"Don't Talk To Strangers\\\" were unreleased at that time. The two shockers out of this disc are the non-Prince performed songs 1982's Vanity 6 \\\"Nasty Girl\\\" and 1985's The Family \\\"The Screams Of Passion\\\" which maybe anyone's actual reasoning for buying this. These songs fit well for the sexual telemarketing motion picture, just like \\\"Erotic City\\\" and \\\"Hot Thing\\\" does. Annoying songs by the NPG \\\"Count The Days\\\" and the title track, well let's just say those fill ins really does nothing for this soundtrack.\\n\\nGIRL 6 is like a mini-EP of Prince's hits plus extras by himself, the NPG, Vanity 6 and The Family. Any of theses songs you like? 1 maybe 2? Cool, buy this used. You'll use the skip button on a couple of them, maybe more.\",\n \"Product: AUDIO CASSETTE TAPE ALBUM\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Only 6 songs but makes a superior album\\n\\nReview: Funk if you will,Morris Day and the band's second effort kicks booty. Makes you move it too.\\n\\nLet's start with the funny warm up the party \\\"Wild And Loose\\\" where Morris disses a female he somehow talked to on the phone the night before finding out she doesn't 'look like she sounds'. Then there's the beat fancy \\\"777-9311\\\" with Jesse Johnson doin' his thang for at least 4 minutes of the ending. Motivating \\\"Onedayi'mgoingbesomebody\\\",you know they gotta give you a dance to do \\\"The Walk\\\" with Vanity in 'tight jeans' pissing off Morris trying to get her out of them. The ballad from a players' perspective \\\"Gigolos Get Lonely Too\\\" and the farewell they wish was not \\\" I Don't Wanna Leave You\\\". Only 6 songs,less than 45 minutes long but it packs a punch.\\n\\nThe rest of the band,Terry Lewis,Jimmy Jam,Jellybean Johnson,Jesse Johnson and Monte Moir sound more professional on this album than their first,which sounds like they recorded in an attic or something.\\n\\nWHAT TIME IS IT? is a must have if you're lookin' for a funky (but cool) good time!\",\n \"Product: Meticulous 1985 album of psychedelic pop 'n' sunny funk jams! Includes \\\"Raspberry Beret\\\" and \\\"Paisley Park\\\".\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Psychadelica PRINCE? Not that close after PURPLE RAIN\\n\\nReview: Look there are 3 reasons why this album didn't work for PRINCE (and his REVOLUTION).\\n\\n1. Everyone was still vibin' to the 'PURPLE RAIN' soundtrack.\\n\\n2. The album came out in less than a year of 'PURPLE RAIN'. He could have done a MICHAEL JACKSON move,released \\\"Darling Nikki\\\" as a single and have 6 from that album. ('PURPLE RAIN' June 1984,'AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY' March 1985). Needed more time to record better songs.\\n\\n3. It wasn't good timing.\\n\\nWhat do I mean? He's in his heyday. On top of the world. Then he releases merry-go-round music like \\\"Paisley Park\\\",dedicates an almost 4-minute song to a \\\"Tambourine\\\" and just when you think he abandoned the rock that finally got him fame,he threw in a whack \\\"Temptation\\\".\\n\\n\\\"Condition Of The Heart\\\" & \\\"The Ladder\\\" is on some personal and spiritual shhh,but songs like the disco bangin' \\\"America\\\",the funk again finally \\\"Pop Life\\\" and the happy-be-gay (content) \\\"Raspberry Beret\\\" and the oriental sounding title track seem to make this album. It's an OK album but I believe that you don't release an experimental album at the height of your career.\",\n \"Product: Who filled the grooves between Funkadelic and Living Colour? Mother's Finest did, stirring together solid funk beats, hot rock licks and wailing soul vocals on eight records from 1974-1992. The songs featured here include their Top 30 R&B hit Love Changes , a live version of Jefferson Airplane's Somebody to Love , plus Don't Wanna Come Back; Baby Love , and more.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Rock, Funk & Soul, 3 elements equaling 1 great band & CD!\\n\\nReview: They rock, they gets funky, they's got soul, they are Mother's Finest. One of the many American forgotten great bands, still around and about. Multi-racial. Placed hits in the 70's, more notable for the R&B joints like \\\"Love Changes\\\", this greatest hits will move ya, groove ya and soothe ya. It did me.\\n\\nJoyce \\\"Baby Jean\\\" Kennedy dominants the disc with her vocals alone. One woman powerhouse (while the band do they thang)! She doesn't give counterpart Glenn Murdock half the chance here and these are the hits. This is Mother's Finest featuring Joyce \\\"Baby Jean\\\" Kennedy. Get it right.\\n\\nDiscouragements: Just 2, \\\"Dis Go Dis Way, Dis Go Dat Way\\\". Is it a joke or an attempt to disco a little? You decide. If it's a joke, it's a very bad one. If it's an attempt, the music is fine but a 3-year old could have made up the lyrics. The cover of Jefferson Airplane (Starship, Jet, Asteroid, Meteor, whatever) \\\"Somebody To Love\\\" (Live) wasn't needed to complete this awesome disc.\\n\\nSo if you like old school funk, Southern hard rock and some powerful soulful vocals all wrapped into one package, then welcome to Mother's Finest's finest.\",\n \"Product: UK collection from the British R&B outfit. The trio was founded in 1980 by Steve Nichol after he left the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he received extensive classical training. Nichol received the Young Musician Of The Year Award at age 16. Nichol went on to tour with The Jam in 1982 as a trumpet, trombone and keyboard player. He was also a composer for Rakim, Carl Cox, Phyllis Hyman and other various artists. Most of Loose Ends material was also written and supplied by Nichol. The band also featured vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh and vocalist Jane Eugene.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: There's a couple missing strings on this LOOSE ENDS best of.\\n\\nReview: All I have to say is,it's about time. Damn,so long and the band ended when? 10 years or more ago? Us fans need something to hold on to. Like NOW!\\n\\nI-ight! 15 songs cool,all hits? I don't think so. I live in New Jersey so my music base is New York City. I have never heard of \\\"Magic Touch\\\" or \\\"Emergency (999)\\\" on a NYC radio station or by \\\"word of mouth\\\" (was these tunes only released in England or something?). But if they are hits,granted. Did they run outta room for classics like \\\"The Sweetest Pain\\\" and \\\"Gonna Make You Mine\\\" or maybe those two I never heard of before could have been replaced with this classics then maybe we'd be talking about a 5 star mofo here.\\n\\nTo sum this up,LOOSE ENDS fans should cop this. Enjoy 'em joints we all loved well like \\\"Hangin' On A String\\\",\\\"Choose Me\\\",\\\"Stay A Little While,Child\\\",\\\"Slow Down\\\",\\\"Watching You\\\",\\\"Don't Be A Fool\\\",\\\"Cheap Talk\\\" and the rest. It's all we've got now and I think it's all we're gonna get from MAC and the band.\",\n \"Product: Back to the future -The Very Best Of Jodeci brings together all the hits from three incredible multi-platinum albums that spawned over ten R&B top 10 hits with five singles hitting #1 on the R&B chart. CLEAN VERSION. Universal. 2005.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It's about time for JODECI...and finally their hits!\\n\\nReview: My wife (girlfriend at the time, pregnant with my daughter) introduced me to Jodeci with the song \\\"Forever My Lady\\\". They didn't phase me at all. I was vibin' to groups like Silk and Boyz II Men, know what I mean. Ever \\\"Stay\\\" wasn't music to my ears at the time. By the time \\\"Come And Talk To Me\\\" hit the airwaves (the radio), I was like I have to give them a listen now.\\n\\nTo make a long story short and to just stick with this topic at hand. BACK TO THE FUTURE is a dumb title, it's long overdue that they put together a greatest hits album (K-Ci & JoJo had their greatest hits album out before Jodeci, go figure) and the 16 tracks were well selected. Stevie Wonder's \\\"Lately\\\" I was highly worried about. Great choice to pick the Uptown MTV Unplugged version of it. Basically all of the hits are here. \\\"Feenin'\\\", \\\"Love U 4 Life\\\", \\\"Alone\\\". You can't go wrong with this one.\\n\\nI'm not sure what really happened to Jodeci that the foursome stopped recording together. But the New Jack ballad bad boys have you going back...to the future? Let's enjoy goin' back while we can with this one, huh?\",\n \"Product: 2005 two CD release from the veteran guitarist, vocalist, bandleader, and Washington, DC institution. Chuck Brown was the creator of Go-Go, a Funk subgenre that Rolling Stone called 'so intergalactically funky, and so majestically joyful, it would convince just about any groovy extraterrestrial that humans are indeed a superior species.' This collection contains 16 hits and new tracks including 'We the People', 'Bustin' Loose', 'Misty', 'Back It on Up (Sho' Ya Right)' and more.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Going to a Go-Go\\\" with Smokey, no way. This is the go-go king, Chuck Brown\\n\\nReview: The king of Go-Go music places his stamp on R&B, funk, reggae, cover tunes and even gospel, from the 70's till now, on this 16-track, 2-disc set of nothing short of a good time. For all ages. Just a feel good party time capsule.\\n\\nSkeptical, usually THE BEST OF... CD with the artist recording on multiple labels, you just might not get the original hits as heard back in the day, well \\\"Bustin' Loose\\\" and \\\"We Need Some Money\\\" will not disappoint you at all. Turn it up. Never would have thought to hear Barry White's \\\"Playing Your Game, Baby\\\" in a go-go stylee. Sounding so smooth, you would think Barry did the vocals himself. Even cartoons get a go-go at it with \\\"Woody Woodpecker\\\", R. Kelly's \\\"Fiesta\\\" to goin' to church with ya on \\\"Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus\\\", Chuck Brown is spreading his positive vibe on anybody and everybody, but he doesn't get you to listen, once you feel his vibe you have no choice but to listen.\\n\\nThe Godfather of go-go has many sons and daughter followers contributed to go-go. Trouble Funk, E.U., Mass Extension, The Junkyard Band, Salt-N-Pepa and many more. A new style of funk/R&B originated by a multi-talented pioneer. Totally ahead of his time.\",\n \"Product: The artist who will forever be known as Prince-and could fittingly be known as \\\"The Artist\\\"-is one of the most brilliant, versatile and influential musical forces of his, or any, time. Prince took R&B and regally marched it into genre-blurring horizons previously unknown, fusing rock, funk, soul, psychedelia, pop, and singer-songwriter aesthetics into a sound that was mind-bending and booty-shaking. Sensual, literate, explosive, and groundbreaking, his artistry never stopped evolving and the hits and acclaim never stopped coming. His adventurous reinventions, bold experimentation, stellar instrumental and composing skills and genius for showmanship have placed him high in the pantheon of all-time superstars. \\\"Unique\\\" doesn't begin to describe his royal powers, showcased herein on the first-ever two-disc compilation of his masterful Warner Bros. years.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Ev'ry greatest hits album has flaws\\n\\nReview: Die Hard #1 PRINCE fan here can deal with some of the remixes/extended versions on Disc 2 (I have most of them on 12\\\" singles). Shocked me that Warner Bros. finally did it that way. But all ain't paradise here tho'.\\n\\nStarting with Disc 1. Why is the album versions on here like \\\"Controversy\\\", \\\"Purple Rain\\\" and \\\"Alphabet St.\\\" (they lied, the video is less than 3:00 long, this is no way a single version)? Shorten those tunes and fill in missing ones like \\\"Soft And Wet\\\", \\\"Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?\\\" and either \\\"If I Was Your Girlfriend\\\" or \\\"Housequake\\\" or better yet, how about THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE top 10 hit \\\"The Most Beautiful Girl In The World\\\" as the closer. That would have blown PRINCE fans' minds!\\n\\nNow Disc 2 isn't that bad (as most non-dance PRINCE fans believe). \\\"Hot Thing\\\" remix and \\\"Cream\\\" remix should be replaced with the \\\"Gett Off\\\" remix (but that wouldn't work, \\\"Gett Off\\\" remix gets a lil' dirty) or \\\"Sexy Dancer\\\" extended (except for a lil' huffin' & puffin', there's nothin' dirty about it). Why is \\\"She's Always In My Hair\\\" even on here? Great song, no doubt, but if you want a B-side tune, try one that's not on the \\\"PRINCE-THE HITS/THE B-SIDES\\\" set like \\\"Love Or Money\\\" (on the flipside of \\\"Kiss\\\" U.S. single).\\n\\nThis double CD is almost perfect, almost. Makes you wonder tho'. Did they think of a 3rd disc, starting off with the almost 22:00 \\\"America\\\" extended version? Now that's over doin' it!\",\n \"Product: PRINCE - HITNRUN PHASE ONE - CD\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: This album has a lot more WHY's than WOWS\\n\\nReview: Why Prince? Why? On ART OFFICIAL AGE (which is a much better album than this one) you started using outside production (@Joshuaworld) when you were doing production yourself since 1978 (a part of what made you a unique artist), same goes for HITnRUN Phase One. Btw, terrible album title, setting the vibe for failure here. Cheap art direction and jewel case? Looks like an animated ART OFFICIAL AGE (why?). This is NOT a Warner Bros. Records product. Maybe it's because the two albums that came out Sept 30, 2014 ART OFFICIAL AGE and PLECTRUM ELECTRUM both together barely sold 100,000 units. Did Prince get dropped? Wonder why?\\n\\nI think (now remember I am a die hard Prince fan since 1979), this album is awful. Why? Prince, since when did you need to catch up with the times? Did you forget you are an innovator? You broke all the rules? You were the man no other musician could touch. Not no more. Well.. I'll take that back, but...\\n\\nMost of the music here sounds like today's crap. The edits, keyboards, etc. Also may I mention the album is less than 37 minutes long. No longer making music for the fans, huh? Only 3 out of 11 tracks get my undivided attention, \\\"Shut This Down\\\" (which sounds identical to \\\"My Name Is Prince\\\") , \\\"1000 X's & O's\\\" and \\\"X's Face\\\" and the songs are tighter in continuous space than a Stevie Wonder album. Why remix \\\"This Could Be Us\\\" (an ART OFFICIAL AGE hit) and put it on here? What the heck is \\\"Mr. Nelson\\\" for? HITnRUN was released less than a year of ART OFFICIAL AGE and PLECTRUM ELECTRUM and if Prince plans on hittin' and runnin' with this and he \\\"Ain't About 2 Stop\\\", I think he needs to stop and think before throwing out stuff there like this. Still love ya tho' bro.\",\n \"Product: Fishbone ~ Fishbone 101: Nuttasaurusmeg Fo\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A summary of Fishbone's Columbia years of hits, outtakes and unreleased\\n\\nReview: Want to know Fishbone? Look no further. The Fishbone from the start of their zany punk-rock energy (1985) to their hard rock/heavy metal maturity (1993). You will find their Columbia years best hits, outtakes, previously unreleased material and dub/instrumental versions. As for fans of Fishbone, you'll also get IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE/GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME (EP) songs on here also.\\n\\nYou start this double disc with the hits. We punk out with \\\"Party At Ground Zero\\\" one of the band's biggest hits, came out in 1985 so in no way, shape or form is this in any disrespect to the 9/11 (2001) terrorist attacks. \\\"Modern Industry\\\", the shout out call lettering jam. We funk out with \\\"When Problems Arise\\\", \\\"Cholly\\\", \\\"Bonin' In The Boneyard\\\" and \\\"Lemon Meringue\\\". We rock out with \\\"Freddie's Dead\\\" (a Curtis Mayfield cover), \\\"Fight The Youth\\\", \\\"Black Flowers\\\" and \\\"Sunless Saturday\\\". While the ska/reggae tunes are here also \\\"Ma & Pa\\\", \\\"Ugly\\\", \\\"It's A Wonderful Life\\\" and \\\"Unyielding Conditioning\\\". The acoustic \\\"Change\\\" to the Sly Stone influenced \\\"Everyday Sunshine\\\". This is the last of the original members Fishbone as we know it.\\n\\nThe second disc is not as interesting as the first tho'. It's not bad but...well, let's see, the underground hit \\\"Skankin' To The Beat\\\" kicks it in motion. \\\"And They Prey On You\\\" gives you a little dance appeal to Fishbone along with \\\"Fishbone Is Red Hot\\\". \\\"The Goose\\\" is a Parliament-Funkadelic cover, funky in the beginning, mad rock in the end. And shockingly \\\"Love & Bulls__t\\\" is here from BONIN' IN THE BONEYARD/SET YOUR BOOTY UPRIGHT (EP). Everything else are like dubs and outtakes like \\\"Alcoholic\\\" (which was re-done for Fishbone CHIM CHIM's BAD^SS REVENGE CD, 1996).\\n\\nOverall, it's close to complete of a fun, zany, energetic and intelligent band whose played dues and never got what they deserved out of it. As Fishbone still tours and records till this day (March 2009), this set is their heyday hits. Bug Out!\",\n \"Product: Great\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: This album is such garbage, AMAZON.com themselves didn't review it\\n\\nReview: Anticipation was high as hell, getting a solo vibe from LIVING COLOUR's axeman VERNON REID, I couldn't wait to have my ears blown away by V.R's wicked ways. To make a long story short, I let a friend borrow the CD, I haven't asked for it back.\\n\\nWhere was the rest of LIVING COLOUR when Vernon attempted this waste of glass? BISCUITS sounds like a JIMI HENDRIX classic compared to this. Go ahead, diss my review. VERNON REID is still the man (one of my favorite axeman next to JIMI (Hendrix), PRINCE, SPACEY T, ROCKY GEORGE, The other JIMI (Hazel), DR. KNOW,etc...). I just don't know where he is going here...do you? Can you tell me?\\n\\nPrince Paul co-produced the album so guess what. It sounds like one of his own solo albums. Vernon Reid is not a hip-hop artist so why waste Epic Records' time on believing that there's a hip-hop epic here?\",\n \"Product: RCA 7544437010 FC; RCA - Italia;\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: FISHBONE's most humorous album to date\\n\\nReview: OK Amazon fans, the ones who dissed this album for various reasons, but let's look at why.\\n\\n1. The production was done by Dallas Austin and Fishbone. Who is Dallas Austin? He's an R&B producer trying to produce, executive produce and play keyboards (keyboards?) on a Fishbone album.\\n\\n2. Fishbone just had a major shake up. Kendall Jones and Christopher Dowd left the band. The two serious songwriters of the band has sensed a change after recording GIVE A MONKEY A BRAIN...\\n\\nWhile Norwood, Angelo, Philip \\\"Fish\\\" and Dirty Walt still remain as the founding members, they don't mess a step, whatsoever. That brings me to the 5th memeber of this Nuttsactor 5, John \\\"J.B.\\\" Bigham. You really couldn't hear his talents on the axe on THE REALITY OF MY SURROUNDINGS or GIVE A MONKEY A BRAIN... because he and Kendall were the guitarists chopping $h! t up. Here you got J.B. alone.\\n\\nTo me, while you must open your mind to the metaphoric lyricism here, this is a very funny album, but truthful. Take \\\"Rock Star\\\", my favorite jam on the album and the one of the funniest, but still serious, tells of how black rockers don't get equal billing as white rockers when rock was taken from old 'blues singer'. \\\"Psychologically Overcast\\\" (without the Busta Rhymes rap would have made this song perfect), the title track, \\\"Beergut\\\", \\\"Alcoholic\\\" and \\\"Sourpuss\\\" are your choice cuts. While \\\"In The Cube\\\" and the skits pretty much silly but like I said, open your mind and you'll get it. Kinda like the \\\"Intro\\\", a diffult briefing of what you are about to hear in this album narration by John Nelson (no not Prince's fater).\\n\\nHere, FISHBONE is totally mixing it up. The punk/ska/reggae/funk/rock it's here. Abandoning the metal of GIVE A MONKEY A BRAIN... for some of that Fishbone music we know and love but still you can't outweigh the messed production here. While \\\"Nuttmeg\\\" ends the disc with 10 minutes of mad funk in your face, to let you naysayer know that this is NOT the end of Fishbone.\",\n \"Product: Fantastic R&B\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Another slept on Loud Records epic by a multi-talented diva\\n\\nReview: Jeopardy answer: Do-it-all diva, including co-mix engineering her debut album.\\nJeopardy question: Who is Davina? Correct. Her debut album here BEST OF BOTH WORLDS is an understatement. She carries all worlds within her, two is not enough.\\n\\nThe woman plays all instruments on most songs, writes or co-writes most songs, the album is produced by her alone. Where did this album go wrong? She touches elements of R&B/soul/jazz/fusion and yes hip-hop (she was signed to Loud Records, a hip-hop label then). The songs? What about them? There are 13 of them that refuse to disappoint the listener. \\\"So Good\\\", her introductory hit says enough, must buy. She covers Michael Jackson's \\\"I Can't Help It\\\" in a new jack/shuttle swing instead of a ballad. Style. There's more ballads here than dance tracks so be prepared to pump your brakes, she's on a smoove (and smooth) vibe!\\n\\nBEST OF BOTH WORLDS is not showing attraction to sell her product by exposing body parts by Davina. In fact, a first look at Davina, you may just see this as nothing more than a hip-hop album. Don't judge her book by her cover. Satisfying disc.\",\n \"Product: Fronted by Jada Pinkett Smith and backed by a live band whose resume displays a weaith of live and recorded projects. Wicked Wisdom has given birth to a sound that cannot be confined in a single genre. This powerful music is the soundtrack to revolutions and pulses with an appeal so broad the typical boundries of our societies fall by the wayside. 100 % Womon. 2006.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The Wisdom gives \\\"wicked\\\" vibes\\n\\nReview: Let me start by saying that as a Fishbone fan, it is great to hear Philip \\\"Fish\\\" Fisher hittin' the skins again in his unique, talented fashion (you're great bro'). The other three musicians were also on point, no doubt. A little upset at the fact that neither guitarist (2) did solos in any of the 10 songs here.\\n\\nNow, you know we have got to get at Jada Koren. She gives a so-so effort of the voice to this 4-male musician backing. She's not a heavy-metal singer. In a couple of the songs like \\\"Yesterday Don't Mean\\\" and \\\"One\\\", she's torn between rocking or rappin' like Ice-T fronting Body Count. Standout songs are \\\"Bleed All Over Me\\\", \\\"Cruel Intentions\\\", \\\"Forgiven\\\" and \\\"Set Me Free\\\".\\n\\nLike I said, it's a so-so effort. The CD is good for a handful of spins. The music outweighs Jada Koren's singing 2 to 1. But if W.W. gets Sharon Osborne (Ozzy's wife) approval for them rocking at Ozzyfest, Wicked Wisdom should never let that kind of honor down.\",\n \"Product: The Bus Boys were an R&B group from Los Angeles who in the early 1980s issued two charting albums on Arista Records. American Worker was their second album, originally hitting the Billboard charts in 1982. It is making it's worldwide CD release with this issue.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Impressive sophomore boogie with them BUS BOYS! But the 1st one was better.\\n\\nReview: AMERICAN WORKER (2nd of 4 albums) is just as awesome as MINIMUM WAGE ROCK & ROLL (debut album), if not better. For some reason, I'm not the only one who feels that way. But the product descrpition according to Amazon.com calls the Bus Boys just an R&B band from L.A. You hardly here just R&B out of this album or MINIMUM. It's a disrespecting diss to this (black) talented rock band.\\n\\nFresh start, the title track sticks to your brain like Crazy Glue, \\\"Heart And Soul\\\" was done before Huey Lewis & The News got to it and did it better than the Bus Boys but still not a bad but slower version of it, \\\"I Get Lost\\\" is just awesome, undeniable funk-rock, understandable majority statement 'I get lost, tryin' to find that dream y'all'. This album is slightly different from MINIMUM due to more confidence and chances through different formats of music like the reggae-driven \\\"Opportunity\\\", the spiritual \\\"I Believe\\\" and the head-boppin' blues-rock \\\"New Shoes\\\".\\n\\nI love this album just like the first one. It is a very slim margin between which one is better. It's not too hard and it's not too soft either but you can feel a more popish connection here than on MINIMUM. Regardless, it's nothing short of a rockin' good time.\",\n \"Product: I will ship by EMS or SAL items in stock in Japan. It is approximately 7-14days on delivery date. You wholeheartedly support customers as satisfactory. Thank you for you seeing it.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Whack reunion of the once futuristic ULTRAMAGS\\n\\nReview: Unlike The JUNGLE BROTHERS 2nd album DONE BY THE FORCES OF NATURE where they gave props to past and present rappers, MC's and DJ's in a grouping. They mentioned only one rap group as the FUTURE of hip-hop: Ultramagnetic. Well guess what JB's. Future No More.\\n\\nThe album is trash. Nothing at all like the 3 studio albums made over a decade ago. But don't take my word for it, sample for yourself.\\nOnce ahead of their time. Time zoom past Ultramagnetic and they didn't see it coming. FAITH, NO MORE should be the title of this rubbish. What can I say about this album without my review getting kicked off Amazon.com? I'll use no profanity or content of explicit nature to describe it but this album highly does. 1988's CRITICAL BEATDOWN never, ever gave that kind of deliverance. That maybe one reason why that album is a classic and THE BEST KEPT SECRET is a bargin bin passer-by, by any means (vocally, production, lyrically, concept). Can I get a witness? Please? Aw c'mon!\\n\\nDJ MOE LUV is the only producer on the album trying to keep that old Ultramagnetic sound alive here on \\\"Vibrato\\\" and \\\"Mechanism Nice (Born Twice)\\\" the album's 1st single. CED-GEE just wrecks the album in a terrible way, verbally and lyrically, bragging of 16 bars in almsot every track and being very explicit and obscene (never heard that on CRITICAL BEATDOWN by CED). KOOL KEITH does fine on solo track \\\"Late Nite Rumble\\\" but KOOL KEITH is goin' nowhere with his lyricism and on most of the other songs, HIS delivery is sounding just like CED's towards the end of the album. T.R. LOVE? M.I.A. You see him in photos, you hear silence from him, he doesn't even produce a track. Production by CED, MOE and 2 others and the other 2 sound like KUTMASTA KURT producing (producer for most of KOOL KEITH solo stuff). I do not mean that in a good way. The beats of \\\"Nottz\\\" is bangin', the lyrics by both KEITH and CED should raise eyebrows on what's next to come for THE BEST KEPT SECRET being the B-side to the 1st single \\\"Mechanism Nice (Born Twice)\\\".\\n\\nSongs like \\\"Ain't It Good 2 U\\\" (2007) and \\\"Party Started\\\" are for gentleman's clubs for the girls to dance to. Now do you see what direction this album is goin'? If you're lookin' for Ultramagnetic to comback with a reunion album with the same spacey super dope production and/or the masterful, brainiac, monkey wrench lyricism as CRITICAL BEATDOWN; FUNK YOUR HEAD UP and THE FOUR HORSEMEN albums gave you over a decade ago, you will not find it here. Maybe in the next 14 years. Right Ultramag? JB's don't count on it.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":21,"string":"21"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":65,"string":"65"}}},{"rowIdx":66,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AQBRMBQ99ESI7"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"JOANNA EBERHART HAS COME TO THE QUAINT LITTLE TOWN OF STEPFORD, CONNECTICUT WITH HER FAMILY, BUT SOON DISCOVERS THERE LIES A SINISTER TRUTH IN THE ALL TOO PERFECT BEHAVIOR OF THE FEMALE RESIDENTS.\". The summary of the review text is \"Much Darker than the Remake\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I had never seen or read any version of the Stepford Wives until the remake a few years ago. At that time, I saw the movie and was somewhat entertained. It was a male chauvinist fantasy gone wrong with plenty of elements of comedy. It was not a great movie but it was fun while it lasted. Now I have seen the original and they have almost nothing in common except the premise of men replacing their wives with alternates who would do their every bidding. As a recently married man, I can see the attraction but it is only a wistful view.\n\nThe story is deceptively simple. A couple from NYC move to the suburb of Stepford Village. The wife, played by Kathryn Harris, is not thrilled with the move but agrees to it for the sake of the children. When the family gets there, they find an apparently nice place, to all appearances. The houses are nice, the kids have plenty to do in a safe place and the women are...strange.\n\nAll of the women keep their appearance wonderfully. Each is a good cook and each positively LIVES for housework. It is not something that would appeal to a professional woman and the heroine finds it a lonely place until she finds a kindred spirit who has also recently arrived. They try to put together a women's support group which quickly degenerates into a group which discusses the best ways to deal with a tough stain or make cookies. Also worrying is the way that all of the newly arrived men seem to be fascinated with the local men's club.\n\nAs time goes on, the women get scared. The local women act more and more like male fantasy robots. When Harris's newfound best friend suddenly changes and also turns into a male fantasy, Harris gets frightened. She has good reason.\n\nThis production has none of the comedic elements of the remake. It has none of the light moments either. It does, however, have a gripping fascination all its own. It is dark and frightening look at the beast that lurks in the hearts of some men."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I had never seen or read any version of the Stepford Wives until the remake a few years ago. At that time, I saw the movie and was somewhat entertained. It was a male chauvinist fantasy gone wrong with plenty of elements of comedy. It was not a great movie but it was fun while it lasted. Now I have seen the original and they have almost nothing in common except the premise of men replacing their wives with alternates who would do their every bidding. As a recently married man, I can see the attraction but it is only a wistful view.\n\nThe story is deceptively simple. A couple from NYC move to the suburb of Stepford Village. The wife, played by Kathryn Harris, is not thrilled with the move but agrees to it for the sake of the children. When the family gets there, they find an apparently nice place, to all appearances. The houses are nice, the kids have plenty to do in a safe place and the women are...strange.\n\nAll of the women keep their appearance wonderfully. Each is a good cook and each positively LIVES for housework. It is not something that would appeal to a professional woman and the heroine finds it a lonely place until she finds a kindred spirit who has also recently arrived. They try to put together a women's support group which quickly degenerates into a group which discusses the best ways to deal with a tough stain or make cookies. Also worrying is the way that all of the newly arrived men seem to be fascinated with the local men's club.\n\nAs time goes on, the women get scared. The local women act more and more like male fantasy robots. When Harris's newfound best friend suddenly changes and also turns into a male fantasy, Harris gets frightened. She has good reason.\n\nThis production has none of the comedic elements of the remake. It has none of the light moments either. It does, however, have a gripping fascination all its own. It is dark and frightening look at the beast that lurks in the hearts of some men."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Round out your hard-disc based rig with the jaw-dropping fidelity of the Delta 1010 PCI Digital Recording Rig. The Delta 1010 combines 8 balanced or unbalanced analog ins and outputs with S/PDIF digital, Word Clock, and MIDI I/O. All channels are capable of 24-bit/96kHz bandwidth for the ultimate in sonic purity.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great Equipment with Quirks\n\nReview: This is a superb \"upper end\" \"sound card\" for PC audio enthusiasts. It produces great sound and works well with other applications. It does, however, have a few unloveable quirks about it.\n\nThe card itself fits into a normal PCI slot in your computer but there is no way to fit all of its outputs onto the back of a PC card. For that reason, this card has a dedicated cable which leads to a rack mounted breakout box where all other connections are made. The bundled software includes an electronic patch bay which makes cabling simpler than it could otherwise be. Once installed, it works well. Getting the thing installed is more difficult. It pays to read the directions.\n\nThe driver has to be installed before the card is put in. If it is not, the diagnostics will show everything fine but you will get no sound. Also, if you should have to do a major re-install of the operating system, you need to make sure the card is out. Otherwise the driver will install and work but then disappear after a reboot.\n\nThe documentation assumes a fair level of technical competence. If you are working at learning about digital audio, the docs are likely to be above your head. The are easily understandable now but that was not the case when I started.\n\nIt's a good box.","Product: MiniDV RecordingOffers up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution, 3X color bandwidth (vs. VHS) and significantly higher S/N ratio, to provide stunning video performance.3CCD Imaging SystemEach 1/3\" CCD has 380,000 pixels for brilliant digital picture-quality.530 Lines of Horizontal Video ResolutionAdvanced HADs for emailing, printing, or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick(R) devices.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Good Piece of Equipment with a few quirks\n\nReview: This camera is easy to use and makes a good quality recording. Since it is an upper end product, it does have a longer learning curve than more simple models but the effort is worth it for the added features. There are, however, a few quirks which could have been fixed to make this a much more usable piece of equipment.\n\nThe provided microphone jack is an 1/8\" stereo. In my camera, at least, it is not mounted very securely. When I have an external mike connected, I had to be very careful to make sure that nothing touched it, otherwise, the sound would drop off. A friend with some tools and expertise fixed this problem but it should never have happened.\n\nThe master switch moves from off to VCR mode (up one), record to tape mode (down one) or record to stick mode (down two). It is intuitive but very easy to overshoot the mark. This can be frustrating and I cannot help but believe there is a better design that could be used.\n\nThe \"VCR\" controls are located on the top surface of the camera. They are intuitive and employ commonly used symbols. They are also backlit and impossible to discern in sunshine. You can see the symbols but there is no way to tell which, if any, of the functions are selected. It is still usable but it is a pain in the backside.\n\nThere are a multitude of things that could be done to make the interface on this camera easier to use but it is usable as it is now.","Product: Show off your team spirit with this NCAA Badge Reel by Aminco. Each badge reel measures approximately 3.25-inches in length and includes a 24-inch heavy duty retractable nylon cord. It features a printed team colored logo and is ideal for business identification purposes.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Suitable for Lightweight Situations\n\nReview: The reel itself seems to be of reasonable quality. I ordered it because of my collegiate logo. Unfortunately, the clip is one of the \"slip-on\" variety instead of having an actual clip with alligator teeth. If this reel is clipped to a horizontal surface such as a pocket top it should serve fine but clipping it to a vertical surface such as a suspender strap virtually guarantees that it will be lost, especially if the assortment of badges suspended has any significant weight.\n\nI see many people at the hospital use this type of reel on a routine basis without any apparent problem. For me, however, it is just a piece of plastic that will sit on my counter unused.","Product: Ben Kingsley(star of 1993's Best Picture, Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List and 1982 Academy Award-winner Best Actor, Gandhi), Paul Mercurio(Strictly Ballroom), Martin Landau(1994 Academy Award-winner Best Supporting Actor, Ed Wood), and Lesley Ann Warren(Victor Victoria) star in the epic adventure of passion and power. \nIn one of the greatest dramas of all time, Joseph(Mercurio) is the favorite son of Jacob(Landau)- and the enemy of his jealous brothers who carry out what is very nearly his death. But Joseph survives and is sold to a powerful Egyptian landowner(Kingsley)...only to face unbearable tests of cruelty and pain.\nWhat starts as a tragedy ends in the greatest triumph of all in this powerful religious epic filled with stunning senery and heart-rending romance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Confusing at First, But Worth It\n\nReview: This is another excellent addition to TNT's Bible collection. It tells the story of Joseph, the son who rose from a slave to the Viceroy of Egypt.\n\nJoseph is the favored son of his father, a fact which causes no small amount of jealousy from his other brothers. It eventually causes so much resentment that they sell him as a slave to a passing caravan and tell his father that he was killed. In slavery, he is taken to Egypt. His intelligence and honest are both a curse to him and a blessing. Through God's favor, and Joseph's steadfastness, he rises to a position of immense power. When his brothers come to him, seeking help, they do not recognize him and the stage is set for either reconciliation or terrible retribution.\n\nThe story is well done and is in keeping with the scriptures. At first, it can be a bit confusing because it relies on flashbacks that are not always immediately apparent but this is soon gotten over. The result is a good story done well.","Product: Clint Eastwood and Geraldine Page star in this tense psychological drama of love and betrayal. During the Civil War a wounded Union soldier is sheltered by the headmistress and students of a girls' academy in the South. As his health returns his desire increases, but can he trust these enemy women not to turn him in? He takes his chances but soon realizes that his benefactress can't be trusted...with his love or with his life! His lustful ambition turns quickly against him and the story follows him through a series of nerve-shattering events, including realistic scenes that are among the boldest, most shocking ever witnessed on film. Directed by Don Siegel, with a sultry score by Lalo Schifrin, this bittersweet thriller of hidden passions is set in one of America's romantic eras.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Bill Clinton as a Union Soldier?\n\nReview: Tagline aside, this film stars Clint Eastwood, not Bill Clinton. He plays a Union soldier wounded in a battle with confederates. He is found by a young girl (apr. 12) who is a student at a southern girls' school run by a strict school mistress with very patriotic (Confederate) sympathies. Eastwood manages to persuade the girl (with a kiss) not to raise an alarm and notify the Confederate soldiers in the area. He further manages to charm the women at the school into helping to heal him and delaying reporting his presence to the authorities.\n\nEastwood manages this feat by telling each of the women and girls what he thinks they want to hear. He can appear pious, loving, patriotic, amorous or any other way that will appeal to whatever woman he comes into contact with ranging from the schoolmistress to the slave woman who helps out around the place. He manages to convince each of them that she is his primary interest. When things begin to go bad, they go very bad indeed and the women realize that they have created a monster. Their method for dealing with the monster is fairly monstrous itself.\n\nThis is an interesting drama that is usually hailed as one of Eastwood's better films but I would not classify it as such. It is worth viewing but is not one of my favorites.","Product: The Prince of Egypt [VHS]\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Children's Version of the Story\n\nReview: Being animated, this is expectedly directed towards a younger audience. That does not keep it from being acceptable to older viewers, however. It generates enough interest to be worthwhile to all viewing ages.\n\nIt tells the story of Moses, born to Hebrew slaves and raised as a prince of Egypt. When he learns of his origins, he flees Egypt only to be called to return. He has been chosen by God to lead his people out of slavery.\n\nWhile this tells the same basic story as the Charlton Heston epic, it focuses on different events and has, of course, a more childish approach. The crossing of the Red Sea is the undoubted climax but other than that, the whole tenor is different. It brings out some parts of the story left out of the classic. Moreover, it emphasizes a friendship between the young Moses and crown prince rather than a rivalry.\n\nThe songs seem a bit out of place but, for me, they always do in a musical. This once has an Academy Award winner, though, so I guess the music is good if you like your characters to break into song at the drop of a hat.\n\nFor those interested in the biblical content, its not too bad. There is not much emphasis on God but there are not any large scale contradictions of scripture either.\n\nI prefer the classic version but the kids seemed to like this one.","Product: In great shape and looks great. VHS tape\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Older Guys have the Right Stuff\n\nReview: This is by no means an action packed war movie. Instead, it is about a group of retirees from the Calcutta Light Horse, a regiment from India, who are recruited to a covert operation to sink German ships passing information to U boats in violation of neutrality. The regiment is one that had not seen action since the Boer War at the turn of the century; now they are called to the colors again during WWII. The subtitle, \"Last Charge of the Calcutta Lighthorse\", conjures up a mental image for me of a bunch of guys on horses charging ships. That is not what happens. They take the James Bond route instead.\n\nThe geriatric commandos are eager to serve and do manage to accomplish their mission. They do encounter setbacks and problems and that is where the movie shines. They are assisted in their mission by Gregory Peck and Roger Moore, two people who are trained in the world of clandestine operations. It sounds silly but it works well.\n\nThis is a fun movie and worth subsequent viewings.","Product: Great movie for all women.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Hell Hath no Fury Like a Woman Scorned...\n\nReview: These women are out for vengeance and they get it.\n\nThree college friends are reunited by the death of another college friend. Though they were incredibly close in school, their lives drifted apart afterwards. One became an actress (Goldie Hawn), one became a timid housewife (Diane Keaton) and the other became a very assertive housewife (Bette Middler). After all these years, there is only one thing that they have in common. All three have been dumped by their husbands in favor of younger women. They're not going to take it laying down and decide to recoup their losses, wreack havoc and have some fun doing it.\n\nThis is a very entertaining film. The characterizations are strong almost to the point of being charactures but there is some depth to it as well. These women are dealing with real pain. In accordance with the old maxim that shared pain is lessened, they share first with each other and then with their ex-husbands. I almost feel sorry for the cretins near the end but not quite.\n\nThis is never going to be considered a great classic but it is thoroughly worthwhile for its entertainment value. It is funny and poignant. It is well worth the price.","Product: Acclaimed director John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven, Bad Day at Black Rock, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral) turns the legends of the West upside down in this rip-roaring western comedy about the year Denver was nearly devastated by a droughtof whiskeyand had to have fortywagonloads imported through very harshand very thirstyterritory! Academy Award(r) winners* Burt Lancaster and Martin Landau team with Oscar(r) nominee** Lee Remick inthis beautifully filmed epic adventure that \"wins both laughs and thrills\" (The Hollywood Reporter)! Also starring Jim Hutton, Brian Keith and Donald Pleasence, this irreverent and literally dry look at frontier life is \"possibly the funniest western ever made\" (Los Angeles Times)!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Women on the Warpath\n\nReview: The time is just after the civil war. The place is in Colorado with winter approaching. Denver is out of booze and booze is needed to survive the winter so the town pools its resources in order to receive a giant shipment. This brings its own set of problems. The booze has to be transported. The Indians will want to hijack the firewater shipment. The miners are afraid that busybodies will divert the shipment. The women's temperance league wants to destroy the shipment. The man with the transport contract want the cavalry to protect the shipment and the teamsters shipping the stuff want to go on strike for better conditions. The whole situation is a farce good for a fair number of laughs.\n\nThis comedy is a bit long and does drag in spots but is worth sitting through. The poor cavalry colonel must put up with a host of competing interests, prevent an Indian war, keep the politicians and business men happy, protect the women suffragettes and keep from alienating his own daughter and his love interest at the same time. Everyone else in the film is devoted to wrecking his sanity. This is particularly true of the women. In short, it is a very realistic comedy.\n\nBuy it for the laughs.","Product: This is the story of Buford Pusser's final days, not only of his life but also as Sheriff. It seems that times are changing and the people of Pusser's town, who once adored him are now fearing him and feel like it's time to make a change. And there are also some officials who feel the same way and are using every means to get rid of Pusser.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: End of the Road\n\nReview: The second Walking Tall ends with a notice that Sheriff Buford was killed in an auto accident. This third one picks up earlier in the story though. He is still adamant about getting the people who killed his wife and the Mob is still bent on getting the sheriff but Buford has a problem. He has lost his job as sheriff.\n\nThe job loss comes about for several reasons. In some cases, Buford is scene as having gone too far outside the legal boundaries. This happens even when his solutions make life easier for everyone, including the perpetrators. The people of his county also seem a bit jaded by continued success. Where they once cheered him, now they are not ready to support him.\n\nThe loss of his job means that Buford has to go after justice as a private citizen and he is well on his way to the poorhouse in pursuing his aims. The new sheriff is suspicious of him and is fearful that Buford might become a problem for him. It begins to look like he might have to move away with his business unfinished when he gets a lucky break.\n\nA Hollywood producer learns of his story and wants to make a movie about him. That brings in money and a chance for achieving his goals. The mob leader with a taste for vengeance finally gets his chance and we learn the story of the end of the former Sheriff of McNairy County.\n\nThis one is better than the second but not as good as the first.","Product: At Christmas, three prisoners - Joseph, Albert and Jules - escape from Devil Island to a French small coastal town. They decide to rob a store, to get some money and clothes and travel by ship to another place. They pretend to be there to fix the roof, but pretty soon they realize that the financial condition of the family Ducotel is not good. Andre Tochard, the selfish and mean owner of the establishment, exploits the family Ducotel. The three convicts spend Christmas night with the Ducotels and are so well treated by the family that they decide to help them. Their pet will help them to fix the situation.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Simple but Fun Comedy\n\nReview: Humphrey Bogart is not known for his comedy roles. This is especially true since he didn't do too many of them but what he did do was good. WE'RE NO ANGELS is a good example of this.\n\nBogart plays a convicted forger on Devil's Island. Along with his buddies, played by Aldo Ray and Peter Ustinov, he is trying to escape. To do that, they concoct a scheme to \"work\" for a while for a merchant family until they can slip onto a departing ship. Their plan is to steal the place blind, murder anyone who gets in the way and get on to the ship. What they did not count on was actually liking the family they are working for. When the family faces problems from distant relatives who scheme to deprive them of everything, the cons get to work with funny results.\n\nThis is not a fist line comedy but it is good. Ustinov particularly makes a good showing. It is dated but still enjoyable.","Product: Silver Bullets Book\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun Romp with Wolves\n\nReview: This is by no means a frightening movie. Instead, it is an entertaining adventure story in which the villain happens to be a werewolf and the hero is a kid with a severe handicap. He may not have the use of his legs but he does have bravery, a sister that takes him seriously and an uncle who is too much fun to be a really good role model.\n\nWhen a town his plagued with sudden a violent murders tensions grow high and neighbors become suspicious of one another. At first no one takes the idea of a werewolf seriously but the bodies continue to pile up. Eventually a young boy confinded to a wheelchair sees the wolf firsthand an escapes on the zouped up wheelchair his uncle built for him. His sister knows that he is a royal pain in the backside but she also knows his character and believes him. She discovers the identity of the lycanthropist. Unfortunately, the wolf also learns theirs. The stage is set for a confrontation.\n\nOne of the things I like about this movie is that it depicts young people able to act well and make good decisions in spite of the attitude of the adults. It does not depict young people only as selfish idiots seeking only their own gratification. Here it is the youngsters that save the day with the help of an uncle with childing tendencies.\n\nIt's a fun movie, not at all serious, just fun.","Product: Actors: Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Martha Hyer, Harry Guardino, Eduardo Ciannelli \nDirectors: Melville Shavelson \nWriters: Melville Shavelson, Jack Rose, Betsy Drake \nProducers: Jack Rose \nFormat: Color, NTSC \nLanguage: English, Italian \nRated: Unrated \nNumber of tapes: 1 \nStudio: Paramount \nVHS Release Date: April 16, 1995 \nRun Time: 110 minutes Cary Grant and Sophia Loren look just swell together in Houseboat, and why shouldn't they? Grant was still at his best, Loren was bewitching Hollywood as an exotic new ingnue, and offscreen they had had a torrid affair a couple of years earlier, during the shooting of The Pride and the Passion. The two tanned stars are the main attraction in this romantic comedy, which installs single dad Cary and his three children on a dilapidated houseboat on the Potomac River. Sophia is the maid, except she's not really a maid but the cultured daughter of a famous musician. Yes, this is one of those situation comedies in which every problem could be cleared up if only one character told the truth about the situation. If that sort of thing drives you crazy, best skip this one. It's no classic, but those two icons are awfully appealing. --Robert Horton\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Fair Romantic Comedy\n\nReview: This is an old one that is still quite enjoyable.\n\nCary Grant is a divorced man whose wife has been raising their children. He loves the kids but doesn't have a clue or a manual. When the ex wife dies, he is left in a position to take care of them. He does the best he can which is none too well.\n\nGrant realizes that he will need to take some time away from his job in DC. He plans to move to the country closer to his ex inlaws. This is done with the idea that they will help with the kids and also because there is a suspicion that he will eventually marry the younger sister of his former wife. (Apparently there is a history.) The aunt gets along well with the kids who are not thrilled with their father.\n\nMeanwhile, Sofia Loren is the daughter of a famous Italian musician on tour. She is chaffing under her father's stern rule and just wants to have some fun. She makes an escape and meets up with one of the kids who helps her to escape from her father's minions. She returns the boy home and is coaxed into serving as a nanny for the kids.\n\nGrant's plans for moving do not work out as expected and the whole family temporarily ends up living on a houseboat. The comedy takes off from there as Loren and Grant find that they have feelings for each other and the kids stir things up.\n\nFor me, this one was on the cusp between 3 and 4 stars but I am in a good mood. I did enjoy it and it is worth seeing.","Product: Train Robbers\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Ann Margaret Gets What Ann Margaret Wants\n\nReview: I must admit that Ann Margaret has always been a favorite of mine. That probably, make that certainly, affects my judgment of this film. It is not one of John Wayne's best. I still like it. Only part of that is because I like Ann Margaret.\n\nJohn Wayne plays the leader of a group of gunfighters. These are not ordinary gunfighters. They are not in it for the \"glory\". They just kind of drifted into it after the civil war. Now, John Wayne and his group find themselves working for a woman, Ann Margaret. She says that her dead husband once robbed a train of half a million dollars. The money was lost and she knows the location. She wants to recover it so that she can turn it in to raise the stigma from her son. She intends to pay the gunfighters with the reward money for turning in the gold.\n\nThe would-be rescuers of stolen gold have some problems. They have to track down the train and they are in turn being tracked by a lot of bad guys who want to steal the gold.\n\nJohn Wayne handles the situation with his typical character. He is honest and protective of those who are with him. He has his own moral code and will not be swayed from it. He would rather do things the hard way if that means maintaining his ideals.\n\nHis biggest challenge comes from Ann Margaret. She is strong willed but sweet. Everyone likes her and wants to protect her. They are even willing to give up their share of the reward to help her. She's got them wrapped around her little finger.\n\nIts fun and action packed but it is not his best. Still, watching Ann is lots of fun.","Product: An American merchant marine captain ferries a group of Chinese refugess down the Yangtze River to escape the Communists.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: John Wayne Takes on the Red Chinese (And Lauren Bacall)\n\nReview: John Wayne has his hands full in this one. He plays an American sea captain captured by the Red Chinese and held for the crime of not being a communist. While he sits rotting in a prison, he gets a mysterious note telling of arrangements made for his escape. He makes good on his escape only to find that his benefactors are the daughter of an American doctor (Lauren Bacall) and a village of Chinese who are less than thrilled with their communist masters. They have arranged to steal a ferry boat and want John Wayne to pilot it 300 miles to Hong Kong and take the entire village with him. The communist gun boats make for dangerous adversaries but navigating the river with a decrepit paddle wheeler, no charts and lack of fuel makes the going even more difficult. Taming Lauren Bacall makes all of that easy in comparison.\n\nAs usual, John Wayne plays himself in this film. He is a tough, uncompromising man who sets out to do a seemingly impossible task. This time it happens to be in China and aboard a ship. The character does not change but no one expects the Duke to be anyone but himself.\n\nBacall plays her part as a feisty American woman. She is, of course, Wayne's love interest in this film and her strong willed nature seems perfect to clash with Wayne's own will of iron. The conflict of wills comes across well. The love story comes across less well. Still, it is an entertaining movie.","Product: VHS tape\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Bit of Amusement\n\nReview: This is a very 60's style comedy. It purports to be risqu, and I suppose it was by the standards of that day, but it is rather tame by today's standards. Much of it is dated but that did not stop it from being a fairly enjoyable romp.\n\nWalter Matthau and Robert Morse are the stars of the show. They play well of men who are friends and office in the same building. Both are reportedly happily married men. What differentiates them is that Matthau's character is a faithful husband while Morse is a philanderer. Matthau's faithfulness, however, does not keep his eyes from wandering and enjoying the bounties of feminine architecture. Morse, advises him that it is his duty to cheat on his wife, if he loves her, so that he does not completely lose it in public one day and embarrass everyone. He offers to train him up in the tactics and strategies to successfully hoodwink the wife and is taken up on his offer.\n\nAlthough Matthau and Morse are the stars, the film is filled with cameo appearances by other big names of the time. These appearances advance the story by presenting various vignettes describes successes and failures of infidelity. These are usually the source of the humor in this film. They are well thought out, often, convoluted or contrived and usually very funny. Jack Benny's penny pinching methods to dump a mistress play particularly well to his public persona.\n\nWhile all the immorality is going on, the film has a surprise ending just as the big goal is a bout to be achieved. It's a fun film but not particularly memorable.","Product: A true television classic, The Homecoming was the second movie (after 1963's Spencer's Mountain) based on Earl Hamner's autobiographical writings about love, pride, faith, and survival in rural America during the Great Depression. The Hom\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Family Christmas Treat\n\nReview: This is a much more relevant precursor to THE WALTONS than SPENCER'S MOUNTAIN. It's a good story and an enjoyable introduction to the TV series. All of the characters from the series are present though the adults are mostly played by different people.\n\nThe time is Christmas of 1929. The country is in the grips of the great depression. John Walton has had to take work out of town in order to support his family in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He is trying to get home for Christmas and is overdue. There is a blizzard and the radio tells of a bus crash. All are worried as they await the return of the father. The oldest son, John-boy, is sent out to try and find him, having several adventures along the way.\n\nThere is nothing particularly exciting but it is wholesome, enjoyable and worth watching. The family comes together to take care of its own and do the best they can in trying circumstances.","Product: vhs\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cold War in the High Arctic\n\nReview: This is a good cold war drama. After a Soviet spy satellite comes down in the wrong place, the race is on to recapture the film. As was pointed out in the film, the Soviets used their German scientists to launch the satellite containing the camera stolen from England's German scientists using a special film developed by the US's German scientists. The film has the location of both side's missile installations and both sides want it. Neither side will give an inch.\n\nThe chase takes place with a US nuclear sub, overcrowded by marines and spies. The problem is that there is a double agent on board who will give up his own life to sabotage the mission. The twists and turns don't stop and neither does the excitement. The film is dated but still a good show. The photography especially is spectacular, especially for that day and age.\n\nRock Hudson leads an all star cast which does a great job across the board.","Product: VHS-VHS- PrVwd;ORIGINAL COVERBOX w shelf wear/minor creases ;PLAYS GREAT;1 STICKER on TAPE; ITNL SALES AVAILABLE! WE SHIP all DOMESTIC w DC\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Could Have Been More\n\nReview: This is not a bad historical drama but it could have been so much more. In a production that strives to be a \"big event\", it falls short. Even so, it does have a little entertainment value.\n\nThe story is of the warrior Cossacks of the Russian steps. They are acknowledged to be the finest cavalry in the world. The Poles seek their help and the Cossacks bring victory, only to be betrayed. The Poles turn on the Cossacks and take their land to create a buffer with Russia. As a result, the Cossacks go into hiding for a time. They emerge when the danger seems past and the Polish universities are opened to the Cossacks. Taras Bulba sends his sons to school to learn all they can in the hope of eventually being able to defeat the Poles. Naturally, a love story and divided loyalties intervene.\n\nYul Brynner plays the title role of the Cossack leader, Taras Bulba. His is the outstanding performance of the film. His exaggerated, larger than life gestures make the character into something more than a wooden figure.\n\nTony Curtis plays the son. Some people seem to be distressed because his New York accent detracts from the character. I did not find this any more distracting than the notion that ancient Romans all spoke with British accents. Curtis does a credible but not stellar job.\n\nI ordered the DVD through Amazon. I was surprised at what I got. It is apparently a pirated Chinese copy. It has Chinese subtitles and the quality of the recording is poor. Still, it was watchable.","Product: Southern Justice\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Vengeance is Mine Sayeth Buford\n\nReview: Near the end of the Original WALKING TALL, Sheriff Pusser's wife is killed while the mob is attempting to kill him. Now it is time for payback. There are a few changes, though.\n\nBo Svenson replaces Joe Don Baker as the likable sheriff. He does a creditable job but, under the circumstances, he is less concerned with the niceties of exactly following the law.\n\nHe's still effective, though. He is so effective that the mob is desperate to get him and hires a variety of hit men to do the job. One of the mob leaders, in particular, is just as obsessed with getting the sheriff as the sheriff is with getting them. That leads to an intense conflict and no concern for niceties. That means violence and mayhem.\n\nEven with his proclivity for violence, the sheriff is concerned for his people. He is still a \"nice\" guy unless you are one of the people who is responsible for the problems. He still manages to get most of the small fry but the big fish still elude him.\n\nThis is not a bad movie as sequels go but it is not as good as the original. Anger can only take you so far in progressing the plot. It cannot make up for a lesser script and lesser story.","Product: Errol Flynn Actioneer\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Good, Poorly Known Swashbuckler\n\nReview: Errol Flynn was the master of swashbucklers and this one is a good example why. He slashes a swath through Scotland, down into the Caribean and back to Scotland again. The action takes place in the highlands, aboard pirate ships and in exotic parts. It involves love lost and lovers scorned. Brother is pitted against brother and treachery plays its part. It has all the elements and makes the most of them.\n\nFlynn plays a Scottish noble. When the Jacobin rebellion reignites for the climax, the noble family hatches a plan for its own security. One son will fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie and the other will remain loyal to German George. That way, whichever way the rebellion goes, the family's title will remain safe. Flynn plays the elder, Jacobite son and his side loses. A personal betrayal makes the situation even more tenuous. Flynn has to flee the country for his life. The rest of the story concerns his ability to return to his love, and seek vengeance for his betrayal.\n\nThe action is pretty constant is this one and well done. The obligatory swooping around on available rigging, drapes etc. is present as is the swordplay. It's a winner.","Product: In 1879 South Africa, the administrators of the British Cape Colony have designs to eliminate the Zulus as a hindrance to their colonial economy. To that end, the British present King Cetshwayo with an impossible ultimatum to provoke a war they are sure they can win easily with their rifles and artillery against native spears. However, that war proves more difficult than the arrogant British commander, Lord Chelmsford, expects as his overburdened army fruitlessly searches for the elusive enemy. However, in the shadow of a hill called Isandlwana, the overconfident British army learns to its sorrow just how badly they have underestimated the tactical skill and might of the Zulu nation.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Well Done but Uninspired\n\nReview: I am a big fan of the old film, ZULU. Unfortunately, this one does not measure up to that standard in terms of entertainment value. It is well done, as accurate as most movie portrayals of historical events and well acted. It's just not very exciting.\n\nWhile ZULU dealt with the siege at Rork's Drift in the aftermath of the battle of Isandlhwanna, this film deals with the battle of Isandlhwanna itself. In the 1870s, the British government of Natal in South Africa feared that the Zulu were growing too strong. They delivered to the Zulu king an ultimatum with which he could not comply. They then invaded. Everyone thought that the best infantry in the world, the British army, would soon put a Zulu notch in the imperial belt. Instead, the 24th regiment of foot was wiped out by Zulu impis at Isandlhwanna. This is the story of that disastrous campaign.\n\nPeter O'Toole plays Lord Chelmsford with all of the arrogance which ultimately led to the destruction of the British expeditionary force. Burt Lancaster plays one of his knowledgeable officers and Bob Hoskins plays the regimental sergeant major. Each does a good job of portraying the character but the whole does not stand together as well as it should. The images of the impis washing over the British positions is frightening in its severity but there is little else in the way of excitement.\n\nAll told, I am glad to have seen it but have no need to see it again.","Product: Two minor characters from the play, \"Hamlet\" stumble around unaware of their scripted lives and unable to deviate from them.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An Insanely Funny Comedy for those with the RIght Background\n\nReview: This is a work of genius. It is creative, original, funny and well done. That being said, it is probably not for everyone.\n\nThis wonderful takes as its starting point a couple of very minor character from Shakespeare's HAMLET. These are the stars of the show. In Hamlet, they are merely a couple of friends of the prince called in to help deal with Hamlet's melancholia. They appear briefly and are gone. The last mention of them comes when the royal court hears a message that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. They are merely there to drive forward the story of the prince.\n\nIn this work, the hapless two are called in for the same purpose but the story centers around them. The spend the entire film trying to figure out what is happening to themselves and to those around them. As they discuss existential questions, the tragedy of Hamlet plays out around them. It is quite funny but some background helps.\n\nIt helps a great deal if you are comfortable with Elizabethan speech. Whole pieces are lifted from Shakespeare and the added dialog is of the same style.\n\nIt helps if you are familiar with Hamlet. That makes understanding the context easier.\n\nIt is great fun if you have some knowledge of physics. Rosencrantz spends the whole film on the verge of making monumental discoveries in basic physics but is thwarted at each turn.\n\nIt's is fun.","Product: Sci-Fi Adventure\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Human Drama at the Outset of the Space Age\n\nReview: This may indeed be though of as a \"space movie\" because much of it takes place in space but to do so is to miss the point. It is a human drama.\n\nAn Apollo capsule has been in space for a while and the crew are tired and worn out. They are finally returning to earth but something goes wrong. Houston, we have a problem. At first, it is treated as just a temporary glitch but the glitch defies resolution. It becomes apparent that the astronauts run a real risk of running out of air.\n\nGregory Peck plays the NASA director. He is a tough man motivated by the best interests of the program. He does not see a real way to rescue the marooned astronauts. It is pointed out to him, however, that failure to even try will spell the doom of the program. Once he gets on board, he does so with every resource he can muster. Unfortunately, there is a hurricane heading for the cape. That makes launching a rescue even more problematical.\n\nMeanwhile, on the stranded ship, the astronauts have their own problems. They realize they are on borrowed time and there is not a thing that they can do to help themselves. Saying goodbye to their families exhausts their capabilities.\n\nIt is a sad tale extremely well done. It does not focus on the machinery, instead it focuses on the people.","Product: A Fool and His Money is a 1988 American comedy film. After losing his job, a young advertising whiz decides to use his talents to make himself a fortune promoting a worthless product. Despite protests from his beautiful lover, his scam starts to work. A bizarre look at love and money in the 90's.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not too good even with beautiful Sandra\n\nReview: I admit it. I bought this one because I think Sandra Bullock is beautiful and she looked nice on the box. I need not have bothered. She is a very minor character with minimal screen time. She does well in her few moments but that is not enough to make this a \"good show\".\n\nThe story revolves around a Madison Avenue type who thinks he has a divine mission to found a new religion. He sets about hsi task with all of the market research tools at his disposal and manages to fleece his flock of much of their disposable income. Near the end, he begins to see the light and reforms himself.\n\nThere are a few brief moments of laughter, a few moments of Sandra in briefs but the the redeeming moments are all too brief.","Product: Desperado [VHS] [VHS Tape] [1995]\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Mariachi\n\nReview: This film is supposedly a sequel to Rodriguez's earlier hit, \"The Mariachi\". As a sequel, it only partially succeeds. Partly this is because Antonio Banderas is just such a different person in terms of physique, drive and tone that the original mariachi. It was hard for me to make the jump that he was supposed to be playing the same person.\n\nAnother failure, from the sequel point of view, is that not enough is brought forward to the current film from the original. We know that Banderas is seeking vengeance for the murder of his girlfriend but not much else. The continuity between the two films is minimal.\n\nThat being said, this is still an effective shoot 'em up flick with lots of action and a few catchy lines. The conflicts are dramatic and you do find yourself wondering how in the world he is going to get out of the situations he finds himself in.\n\nThe plot is minimal and can be summarized succinctly: The bad guys have killed Banderas' girfriend and he is going to kill them all. That pretty much sums it up. Along the way, he faces doubts and searching questions from his friend and his new girlfriend. These do no keep him from blowing away the opposition but they do make him think about it for a little bit. \"What happens when you finally get them all?\" is a question asked more than one.\n\nThere is no doubt that this moive is violent and sexual in nature. If that does not scare you away and you like shoot 'em ups, then this can be an entertaining film. If you're looking for something more cerebral, look elsewhere.","Product: The timeless story of the hero of the Israelites and the beautiful Philistine who tested his faith\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Better than Average Biblical Drama\n\nReview: TNT produced a wonderful series of Old Testament dramas. All are good but some are better than others. This one falls somewhere in the middle.\n\nSamson is a child gifted with superhuman strength. He is an Israelite and his people are under the thumb of the Philistines. He is God's chosen instrument for deliverance.\n\nHe would seem a strange choice. He is not exactly a pious individual. He is fairly faithful to his vows but sees nothing wrong with having a good time. This is especially true when having a good time involves a beautiful girl of the Philistines. Over time, he lets the treacherous beauty in on his secret and the result is terrible. He is deprived of that which makes him great to begin with and winds ups as a blinded slave.\n\nThe redeeming quality of the story is God's ability to take an imperfect individual and use him for great purposes. Nobody is beyond the pale. That is the central message and it is well done.\n\nOn the minus side, there are some non scriptural elements. This is to be expected for a long production of a fairly short biblical story. In my mind, these do not detract from the centrality of the message. Some of the acting is a bit underwhelming but it is by no means bad. All in all, this is a good show.","Product: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, the big screen's original \"odd couple,\" star in this riotously funny high-seas adventure. In search of lonely ladies with big bank accounts, happy-go-lucky Charlie (Matthau) cons his cranky, widower brother-in-law Herb (Lemmon) into joining him on an all-expenses-paid, luxury cruise. But their \"deluxe accommodations\" are deep in the bowels of the ship, and Charlie has signed them on as dance hosts! Under the tyranny of crooning cruise director Gil Godwyn (Brent Spiner), Charlie and Herb are in for rough weather as they romance the luscious Liz (Dyan Cannon) and the lovely Vivian (Gloria De Haven).\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Amusing but not \"The Odd Couple\"\n\nReview: Jack Lemmon and Walter Mathau work well together. They are amusing and seem to be able to sense how to react together without having to think about. That quality is present in \"Out to Sea\" but it is not enough to carry the weight of the entire film.\n\nThe premise is one of two elderly genltemen without wives. One is a batchelor and schemer and the other is a widower who is straight laced. Neither are what could be called wealthy. The schemer cons his friend (and former brother in law) into taking a cruise. The htich is that he has signed them up to work as professional dance partners to dance with the ladies. When this comes to light, Mr. Straight hits the ceiling and is ready to leave. Unfortunately the ship has already left and he is stuck working or paying a huge bill. The schemer has a reason for his deception, however. He is looking to get a wealthy wife. His friend has no such ambitions.\n\nThe plot is one with much potential for comedy. Indeed, there are plenty of moments for smiles and laughs. So too are there more tender moments that can tug at the heartstrings. The problem is that it just doesn't hold together was well as it could. Though each of the stars does a good job, more could have been done with the script.\n\n\"Out to Sea\" is certainly worth the price of admission. The question is whether it is worthy of repeat performances.","Product: George C. Scott returns to the role of General George S. Patton. This darama chronicles the general's controversial last days after he is involved in a car crash at the end of WWII.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The Magic of the Original is Lost\n\nReview: George C. Scott reprised what may be his most famous role as General George S. Patton. Unfortunately, this seems to have been a mistake. The sequel has little of the quality of the original movie and even less interest. As biography, it was fair. As entertainment, it was a bore.\n\nScott still manages to maintain the image of the famous general. His bull headedness is present as is his conviction that he is the only savior of western civilization. So to does the impression that for Patton there is no calling more honorable than that of the soldier, even enemy soldiers. This comes out early in the movie while the general was assigned as the military governor of Bavaria. He dresses down some SS prisoners for thei slovenly ways and even they resond to his leadership style. There is a purpose to it, though, he wants them ready to fight under his command should the need to confront the Soviets arrise.\n\nPatton's nature puts him at loggerheads with his superiors and the press. Eventually, he is to be releived for cause but fate intervenes in the form of an auto accident. The general breaks his neck and is paralyzed THe second half of the movie deals with his reaction, that of his family and friends and also that of politicians and the press.\n\nThere is very little excitment in this production. It relies heavily on dialog that could have been better. It also places some reliance on flashbacks which were inteded to demonstrate what kind of a man the general was. Some of these are effective; most are not. In general, it is a fairly boring movie.\n\nThere is some truth to the argument that the movie has some merit just as a biography. It does a fairly credible job of pointing out the conflicts in play right after the second world war. It aslo depicts the events concerned mostly as they happened. It is still boring.\n\nThe quality of the DVD also leaves much to be desired. Some of this is because this was a made for TV movie but much of the blame can be laid on the transfer itself. It has a tendency to skips and miss frames. Based on other reviews, I was not the only one to have this problem.\n\nIf your are a fan of historical biography, this movie may appeal to you. If you want to capture the excitement of the first one, though, you will be disappointed.","Product: new sealed\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Spaghetti Western with Extra Sauce\n\nReview: This is a delightful comedy spoofing the spaghetti western genre. It does do with a saucy sense of humor.\n\nThe story is of a pair of brothers. One is an outlaw posing as a sherrif to hide from the law. The other is a ne'er do well brother who is fast with a gun and faster with his dry wit. Each brother for his own reasons decides to help a group of Mormon farmers and protect them from the guy who wants their valley. The old brother does so because he wants to steal the rich man's horses. The younger just wants to steal the Mormon's daughters.\n\nNothing is taken too seriously in this film including fancy production values. It comes across as an inexpensively made Italian Wester because that is what it is. That does not prevent it from being entertaining. Unfortunately, the low production values seem to have carried over into the DVD transfer. I don't know is this is due to the poor quality of the original film or if it was just a bad job. Whatever the case, it is still very watchable and enjoyable.\n\nThis one is not particularly edifying but it is fun.","Product: Three VHS Boxed Set about mostly-fictionalized accounts of the life and alternately tragic and triumphant times of Tennessee small-town police chief Bufford Pusser in the `60s and early `70s.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good for the Movies, Not the Frills\n\nReview: This set gives what it promises. It provides videos of the 3 movies from the 70s about Sheriff Buford Pusser. It does little else. There are no special features to speak of; its just the movies.\n\nIf you like the movies and don't care for the frill, you will like this set. If you want more, you will be disappointed.\n\nSynopses of the individual films appear below:\n\nWalking Tall\n\nThe Original is still a Classic\n\nJoe Don Baker plays the part of Buford Pusser, a.k.a. Buford the Bull, a pro wrestler who is disenchanted with the crooked sport and who decides to settle down in his home town in rural Tennessee. Home is not the way he remembers it, though. There is a hint of corruption in the air.\n\nThis does not matter overly much to Buford until it affects him personally. When the local thugs, working for the local moonshiners and madam, work him over and leave him for dead, he decides that he has had enough. He doesn't get a gun, his wife does not like guns. Instead, when he recovers, he gets a big piece of oak, heads over to the roadhouse where all the problems are and proceeds to kick everyone's collective butt. That lands him in jail.\n\nWhen the trial comes about, it's a pretty open and shut case. Even Buford admits that he did the violence. It looks like he is going to be convicted until he fires his lawyer, makes an impassioned plea on his own behalf, shows the jury his scars and promises that if he is acquitted, he will run for sheriff and clean up the town. He gets off and then proceeds to clean things up.\n\nThe problem is that the crooks don't want to be cleaned up. They fight him and even threaten his family. That makes it personal for Buford. He cleans them up anyway but has to endure a fair amount of grief in the process. Throughout it all, he relies only on speaking softly and carrying a BIG stick.\n\nThis is not highbrow. Its just a simple good versus evil story. Buford is the good guy and he is likable.\n\nWalking Tall Part 2\n\nVengeance in Mine Sayeth Buford\n\nNear the end of the Original WALKING TALL, Sheriff Pusser's wife is killed while the mob is attempting to kill him. Now it is time for payback. There are a few changes, though.\n\nBo Svenson replaces Joe Don Baker as the likable sheriff. He does a creditable job but, under the circumstances, he is less concerned with the niceties of exactly following the law.\n\nHe's still effective, though. He is so effective that the mob is desperate to get him and hires a variety of hit men to do the job. One of the mob leaders, in particular, is just as obsessed with getting the sheriff as the sheriff is with getting them. That leads to an intense conflict and no concern for niceties. That means violence and mayhem.\n\nEven with his proclivity for violence, the sheriff is concerned for his people. He is still a \"nice\" guy unless you are one of the people who is responsible for the problems. He still manages to get most of the small fry but the big fish still elude him.\n\nThis is not a bad movie as sequels go but it is not as good as the original. Anger can only take you so far in progressing the plot. It cannot make up for a lesser script and lesser story.\n\nWalking Tall: The Final Chapter\n\nEnd of the Road\n\nThe second Walking Tall ends with a notice that Sheriff Buford was killed in an auto accident. This third one picks up earlier in the story though. He is still adamant about getting the people who killed his wife and the Mob is still bent on getting the sheriff but Buford has a problem. He has lost his job as sheriff.\n\nThe job loss comes about for several reasons. In some cases, Buford is scene as having gone too far outside the legal boundaries. This happens even when his solutions make life easier for everyone, including the perpetrators. The people of his county also seem a bit jaded by continued success. Where they once cheered him, now they are not ready to support him.\n\nThe loss of his job means that Buford has to go after justice as a private citizen and he is well on his way to the poorhouse in pursuing his aims. The new sheriff is suspicious of him and is fearful that Buford might become a problem for him. It begins to look like he might have to move away with his business unfinished when he gets a lucky break.\n\nA Hollywood producer learns of his story and wants to make a movie about him. That brings in money and a chance for achieving his goals. The mob leader with a taste for vengeance finally gets his chance and we learn the story of the end of the former Sheriff of McNairy County.\n\nThis one is better than the second but not as good as the first.","Product: The story of a faked trip to Mars and the astronauts who tried to survive it.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Government Gone Bad Tale\n\nReview: The first manned mission to Mars is ready to go. The astronauts are strapped in and the countdown is proceeding. At the last minute, the capsule is opened up and the astronauts are taken out to a secret location. The rocket then blasts off as scheduled.\n\nIt turns out that a contractor skimped on some parts and the high brass knew the mission would be fatal. Their funding, however, depends on success. They intend to let the rocket go on and mount a hoax with the unwilling participation of the astronauts. Their families are being threatened and they have to play along.\n\nConditions are rough but they get rougher when the astronauts figure out that they are expected to have a fatal accident on re-entry. They know they must escape and the chase is on.\n\nThis is a pretty fair film from the 70s. It is not the best and the cynical view of the government seems harsh but, all too often, it rings true as well.","Product: An action-packed, swashbuckling adventure, Nate and Hayes stars Tommy Lee Jones as the notorious real-life buccaneer, Captain \"Bully\" Hayes, and Michael O'Keefe as the young Reverend Nate. The story takes place in the mid-1800's on the South Pacific islands where murderous raids and bloody battles were not uncommon. A cut-throat gang led by the villainous Ben Pease (Max Phipps) has brutally interrupted the wedding ceremony of Nate and Sophie (Jenny Seagrove). After abducting Sophie, Pease teams up with a German Count (Grant Tilly). Together, they plan to take over the island of King Owatopi using Sophie as the sacrifice. Nate bands together with the infamous Hayes -- a deadly rival of Pease -- to battle their foes.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Relatively Modern B Movie Adventure\n\nReview: This film is not the quality one would expect from a name like Tommy Lee Jones but it does have its moments. Watching it is like watching an old B movie serial with more modern effects like color and scripts.\n\nJones plays Capt. Bully Hayes, a south seas scoundrel with a reputation for piracy. He is hired to transport a young couple to the island where they plan to marry and become missionaries. The young lady on her way to be married is a bit nervous. She does not seem like she is ready to settle down to such a calm life. Even so, she is resigned to it but not without a little act of defiance. She takes some of her money to \"invest\" in the dashing captain's maritime exploits.\n\nAfter dropping the couple off, the couple's island is raided by slavers who think they have killed everyone except the girl, who is naturally taken prisoner. They try to leave evidence implicating Hayes and plan to use the girl to trade to a barbarian king in exchange for basing rights for the expanding German navy. She is to be a human sacrifice in the style right out of the Saturday matinees.\n\nMeanwhile, Capt. Hayes has decided that he has a romantic interest in the girl and turns back to get her. He find a very hacked of fianc who believes that Hayes is the cause of all his woes. Together, this unlikely pair head out to rescue the damsel in distress, take on the Imperial German Navy and clear the Captain's name.\n\nThe film is full of unlikely plot devices and rube Goldberg contraptions but it does have a certain brassiness about it. It was fun to watch but is certainly not worth keeping near at hand. It might be best suited for entertaining some unruly boys on a rainy weekend.","Product: This film has outstanding special effects, excellent cinematography & a wonderful cast.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Third Time's the Charm\n\nReview: As in so many cases, a great movie comes out and the sequel is just mediocre. Then a third sequel comes along and it too is a great movie. This is yet another example of that phenomenon. JURASSIC PARK III is a good movie. I don't think it is a good as the first but it is certainly better than the second and the dinosaur footage might well be considered the best yet.\n\nThis is a straight adventure/rescue story. Sam Neil is hoodwinked into returning to the isle of dinosaurs to act as a \"tour guide\". He is only supposed to narrate what is seen from a plane that will never land. As it turns out, the plane does land and the purpose of landing is to search for a lost boy. The good doctor was shanghaied because the parents of the boy wanted someone with experience running from large carnivores. By the end of the film, everyone has plenty of experience.\n\nIf I had one real complaint about this one it is the suspiciously good timing of the marines who turn up to save the day. That didn't destroy the story, though. By the time that happens, everything is pretty much over.\n\nAs with the second in the series, there are plenty of new dinosaurs at which to marvel. These include some that may pave the way for yet a fourth in the series.","Product: Billy rocks!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: A Hippie Diatribe with Indian Mysticism\n\nReview: BILLY JACK closed with Billy being arrested for manslaughter. This film opens with an extremely long sequence featuring the director of the school Billy was protecting in the last installment, recounting a long list of grievances to a reporter. In this sequence, virtually every hippie stereotype and left wing cause is aired. Intermingled with this retrospective diatribe are flashbacks of Billy Jack's legal trial and prison sentence.\n\nThe \"trial\" referred to in the title does not seem to be the legal one mentioned above. After being released from prison, Billy undergoes a personal trial, replete with Indian mysticism. He is seeking to become a less violent person. This is the backdrop for the real point of the film.\n\nAll events lead up to staging a massacre at the school similar in nature to the historic one at Kent State University. The movie is virtually a tribute to those who lost their lives. Little else is accomplished in terms of story or drama.\n\nThe movie makes some valid and even good points about the politics of the day and indicts justs about everything associated with \"The Establishment\". It also back a few losing points of view. Whether these points of view are agreed with or not, however, the film could have been much stronger and made its point better.\n\nThis is a very long film. That made it proportionally more difficult to sit through. It is propaganda of its time. It has germs of truth within but those germs are lost with the sledgehammer method of delivering the message.","Product: In this OZ adventure Dorothy finds herself \"over the rainbow\" along with her friends the Scarecrow Tin Woodsman and the Cowardly Lion. Our brave friends set out to do battle with the Evil King Krewl and the Wicked Witch Mombi who has placed a spell on the beautiful Princess Gloria. Scarecrow leads the way as our heroes defeat King Krewl and Mombi and return the land of OZ back to a beautiful fun and peaceful place.System Requirements: Running Time 60 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 787364407095 Manufacturer No: 44070-9\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A Curious, Period Piece from Oz's Original Creator\n\nReview: I have been an Oz fan all of my life and usually jump at the opportunity to add something to my Oz collection. So it was that I was glad to find this piece. Watching it, however, was not all I had hoped for.\n\nI was pleasantly surprised to find that it was written and directed by L. Frank Baum, the author of \"The Wizard of Oz\" as well as the later sequel, \"The Scarecrow of Oz\". As such, I expected it to be a very faithful adaptation of the book. In this, I was surpised by two things. The first was that the story was much less like the book that I would have expected from the book's author. The second is how good a job was done in a film dating from 1914.\n\nThe basic story is that of the book. Princess Gloria has her heart frozen by an evil witch to prevent her from marrying a commoner. The Oz characters come to her rescue. The way this comes about, however, deviates significantly from the book and several characters are changed or are missing alltogether. This was a dissapointment to me but may not be to others.\n\nThe state of the art for motion pictures was not all that developed in 1914. With that in mind, this movie does achieve some remarkable things. The \"trick\" are easy to identify but they do not detract from the progession of the story itself. These special effects include an underwater scene with the scarecrow, the actual freezing of the princess's heart and the decaptitation of the evil witch. They do blend well with the story. There is none of the \"how did they do that\" feeling but there is a \"I'm surpriised they managed that\" feeling to replace it.\n\nIn appearance, it seems like Oz is located in the American plains of the midwest. This is particularly apparent when the scarecrow is seen in his cornfield with \"Indians\" dancing around him. So too do the river scenes seem more like a bit of Americana than the fantasy land of Oz. So too do the witches seem to come from Salem as opposed to the fairy land. This is another instance of something that distracted me but may not affect anyone else.\n\nStaple Oz characters making an appearance include Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard, the wooden Sawhorse, Old Mombi, Button Bright (as a girl instead of a boy!) as well as those specific to this story line like Gloria, Pon, King Krewl and Googly Goo. Notably absent are Trot, Captain Bill and Betsy Bobbin. It is possible that Hank the mule makes an appearance but I don't know if that is intentional or a coincidence and the character is not named.\n\nThis film is well worth buying for serious Oz fanatics. It does provide a diverting hour of entertainment and follows the basics of the story. So too might it appeal to silent movie fans who like silent movies for their own sake. The Little Rascals short is a nice additional touch as well.","Product: Renee Zellweger (Chicago) and Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge) are the toast of the town in the most stylish romantic comedy of the year! From the producers of American Beauty and the director of Bring It On comes a teasing, tantalizing battle of the sexes that is \"pure enchantment\" (Daily News). When best-selling feminist author Barbara Novak (Zellweger) becomes the target of dashing playboy Catcher Block (McGregor), these sparring, would-be lovers generate enough sparks to fly you to the moon and back. In other words, the ultimate catch has just met his match!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Women are Evil; So are Men\n\nReview: This is a romantic comedy done just a few years ago but done in the style of those from the sixties. This is more often attempted than achieved but this one achieves it. It capitalizes on what passed for risqué back then and pushes the envelope just a tad further. It is done with style and good taste which is really the only way the battle of the sexes can be portrayed well. More, it actually does capture the feel of the time in the same way that Hollywood did back then. It is surreal and appropriate to the film.\n\nThe story involves a womanizing man who writes for a New York magazine and an up and coming woman who has just written a hit book promoting free love for women. Early on, he manages to hack her off which does not bother him because he assumes she is a plain spinster. When he finally catches a glimpse of her, his hormones are thoroughly enraged. By then, it would seem that he has burned all his bridges. It gets worse for him when all of his regular girls get on the \"Down with Love\" bandwagon. Then he plots revenge.\n\nHe is convinced that he can pose as a different person and make her fall in love with him. That will give him the ammunition to write an article exposing her as a fraud. His plan seems to be going well but she has her own ulterior motives.\n\nThis really is a fun piece. It bring back memories. Having Tony Randall put in an appearance just strengthened the sense of nostalgia.","Product: You'll dodge, duck, dip, dive. . . and laugh out loud watching Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller settle their differences in a winner-take-all dodgeball competition. Under the painful tutelage of legendary ADAA champ, Patches O'Houlihan (Rip Torn), Peter LaFle\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Mindless but Fun Comedy\n\nReview: Peter owns and operates a neighborhood gym. He is a nice guy but a lousy business man. In fact, he is practically broke. Still, his is the only place accessible to the \"average Joe\". It does not cater to the \"beautiful people\". Frankly, it caters to losers. They are nice losers but losers all the same.\n\nThe problem occurs when a big, corporate gym wants to buy his facility. He doesn't want to sell but does not have the cash to pay off the delinquent note. The only hope is to enter a dodgeball tournament. Nobody from the gym really knows anything about dodgeball but it is their only hope. They are lucky in that they find a former \"professional\" to act as coach. As predictable as it seems, the underdogs manage to triumph after a lot of unexpected traumas along the way.\n\nThis film is utterly predictable and uses all the traditional sports clichés but that does not matter because it is fun. Enjoy it for what it is: a mindless but fun comedy.","Product: Take a journey back to prehistoric America when mighty dinosaurs ruled the continent. From New York to New Mexico, these powerful animals lived, hunted and died in the very place you call home. Watch millions of years of violent evolution unfold before your eyes. By combining state-of-the-art computer animation with beautiful live-action landscapes, youll witness these fearsome creatures roar to life. Faster, stronger and fiercer than ever, these dinosaurs are based on the most recent and scientifically accurate research ever assembled. Faithfully recreated, these dinosaurs move, look and sound like youve gone back in time. Youll meet the never-before-seen Zuniceratops, a uniquely North American creature that was first of its kind to have horns over its eyes. Youll also visit all your favorites including the T-Rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and the ferocious Raptor, with a startling new appearance that ll surprise you. You wont see more authentic and terrifying dinosaurs anywhere...except buried in your own backyard.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Inane and Sometimes Cartoonish but Otherwise Inoffensive\n\nReview: The subject of this program is a shallow survey of the great age of dinosaurs in North America. It begins with the Triassic and proceeds through the Cretaceous and a few types are examined in each period. Nothing is presented with much depth and the narration is the type expected of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. You merely follow the critters around and see what they are doing.\n\nCompared to the state of the art when I was a kid, the dinosaurs depicted in this program are a miracle. Compared to recent programs, however, they are somewhat lacking. This is not the high budget animation of Jurassic Park or some of the higher end documentaries but it is still a miracle compared to the Claymation things I saw as a kid. Along with the quality of the animation, I had a few problems with some of the depictions of the creatures themselves. Late in the Cretaceous, some are shown with primordial feathers. That makes sense but the furry looking dinosaurs from early in the Cretaceous do not. Hair is a trait of mammals, not raptors. Furry raptors indeed!\n\nThe narration is provided by John Goodman whose voice was pleasant in that role. Unfortunately, his script was rather inane and rarely added anything worthwhile to the program. Most of the statements presented as wonderful revelations are merely common sense. \"Plant eating dinosaurs have learned to get along with their environment by eating plants.\" One would suppose that meat eating dinosaurs learned to get along with their environment by eating meat.\n\nIt may seem that I have panned this program but that is not my intention. It is shallow compared to many others and the presentation was lacking but that did not detract from the wonder of seeing the dinosaurs roam the earth. To me, it was worth it.","Product: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Bates. One of the greatest but most complex military geniuses ever is depicted in Oscar-winning form by Scott who won and abruptly refused the coveted Best Actor Award for his extraordinary performance. DVD released 11/6/2001.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the finest war movies ever made\n\nReview: Gen. George S. Patton was an @$$hole. He was also one of the finest combat commanders the US ever produced. He could be extremely loyal, mourn the wounds of his men and at the same time shamelessly spend the lives of those men in pursuit of his own glory. He had a myriad of faults and quirks but he also had some really fine, almost anachronistic qualities. In short, he was a very complex individual. This film depiction does a magnificent job of bringing all of that out.\n\nGeorge C. Scott earned his oscar in this role. He captured the complexity of the man who was George Patton and does so with style and vigor. The warts are there but so is the genius, the charismatic leadership and the thirst for glory.\n\nCarl Malden does no less a job in his portrayal of Omar Bradley, a vastly different type of character than Patton. The two film personalities complement each other as well as the historical ones ever did.\n\nThis movie was rightly hailed as a masterpiece. It did not just portray Patton's real achievments. Those were spectacular enough for a movie without all the character study. This film provides more, however. It gives the character study. It gives a glimpse of understanding of the complexities that made up the historical figure. Even more remarkable, it does so in an entertaining manner.","Product: Hailed as \"the most imaginative Sci-Fi since 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy'\" (New York Daily News), \"Lexx\" follows the nomadic existence of four misfit characters who have inadvertently stolen the most powerful weapon of destruction ever made: a Manhattan-sized, genetically-modified insect-ship. In its debut season, the \"Lexx's\" quirky crew - former security guard, Captain Stanley Tweedle; the luscious love slave Zev; the dead-but-deadly assassin Kai; and the robot head 790 - comes together in four, full-length features: \"I Worship His Shadow\", \"Super Nova\", \"Eating Pattern\", and \"Giga Shadow\".\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A Silly but Somewhat Entertaining Show\n\nReview: The Lexx universe is a somewhat depressing, Orwellian creation of mindless bureaucracy and an underlying sense of evil. His Divine Shadow, the supreme ruler, exists to rule through order. That makes for a fairly dreary and miserable existence. It is a universe of bread and circuses. There are a few alternatives, however.\n\nThere is a parallel shadow world about which little is known except that it is chaotic. There is also an active resistance within the realm of His Divine Shadow. The story begins to come together with the confluence of several events.\n\nA minor bureaucrat faces \"reprogramming\" or possibly extinction for his minor personal failings. His failure to face his problems leads him to get into deeper trouble.\n\nA frumpy woman makes the disorderly mistake of slugging her fianc when he is disappointed with her appearance. She is sentenced to a new, very attractive body and life as a sex slave.\n\nA leader of the resistance is caught and about to be sentence to death in an arena. He has a plan of escape that goes slightly off plan when one of his gizmos is unwittingly damaged by the bureaucrat mentioned above. He still manages to wreak some havoc and escape in the confusion. He takes with him these previous two characters.\n\nThe last member of a long dead race is revived to track down these fugitives. He is utilized by His Divine Shadow as an assassin. He is really dead but his body and mind are utilized (against his will) by means of advanced technology. He goes after the fleeing escapees but defects. He helps them to capture the Lexx, an immensely powerful ship. Together, they flee into the shadow zone.\n\nThe story doesn't hang together too well but it does manage to maintain interest. Partly, this is because of Zev, the very decorative sex slave character. Partly it is because of the hapless bureaucrat who manages to be amusing. Partly it is to see what silliness will occur next. It's certainly not great but I am willing to give it a chance and see what develops.","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Still A Good Show\n\nReview: The fourth season continues to weave as series of complex subplots in an interesting series. Richard Dean Anderson continues to develop both his comedic personality and his sarcastic wit. His playing the comedian to Christopher Judge's Teal'c character's straight man is a delight to watch. The English first crowd should continue to be glad that North American English is the galactic standard.\n\nEpisode Synopses appear below:\n\nSmall Victories - The season opens with an old Soviet sub infested with one of the Replicators which were causing havoc in last season's cliffhanging finale. That one replicator manages to reproduce and take over the sub. That is the small problem. The big problem becomes apparent when Thor comes through the Stargate. He comes seeking help. His planet is about to be overrun by replicators and their high-tech has done nothing to help them. They think the Earthlings might be able to help because old fashioned bullets seemed to be able to destroy the spiders. The concept is so primitive that it never would have occurred to them. They hope that more such primitive thinking will help them pull their collective chestnuts out of the fire. The solution to both problems seems to be the same and is summed up in the old human adage, \"you are what you eat.\"\n\nThe Other Side - This is a dark one. Contact comes through the Stargate from a human civilization seeking help. They are involved in a war and are desperately seeking help from any source they can find. It is a fairly advanced civilization and, in return for heavy water to fuel their reactors, they will give of their technology. Col. O'Neill is quick to jump on the offer but something seems wrong. They are very reticent to talk about their enemy or to describe the cause of the war. As time goes on, they begin to show an increasingly ugly side. The team must decide if the technological advances are worth the moral price.\n\nUpgrades - A Tok'ra who is haughtier than normal comes through the Stargate seeking help. They have some armbands that came from an extinct civilization which are reputed to give superhuman strength and speed. They want to test them out and learn more about them. They do not use themselves because their ghoul parasites render them immune. It turns out that the armbands do work. They confer phenomenal speed and strength but they have some problems as well. They are addictive, they won't come off and they screw up normal bodily metabolism. This does not seem to bother the Tok'ra scientist who is not only insufferably arrogant and oblivious to the health of the SG1 team. She has a hidden agenda. She wants to use the enhanced powers to carry out a raid against Apothis.\n\nCrossroads - A Jaffa priestess comes through the Stargate with strange news. She claims to have learned how to communicate with her larval symbiote. She wants to get in touch with the Tok'Ra so she can transfer the larva. It is past her time to \"deliver\". Without a new host, she will die soon. Everyone is skeptical. Communication with larval symbiotes is supposed to be impossible. The payoff is can be large as well. They ghoul will have valuable knowledge. The new defector to the Tok'ra turns out to be less than trustworthy but, then again, the Tok'ra are not particularly trustworthy themselves.\n\nDivide and Conquer - A delegation from Earth is negotiating a formal treaty with the Tok'ra. As the negotiations draw to a close, one of the humans goes crazy, pulls a weapon and tries to assassinate the Tok'ra leader. The attempt is foiled but the human manages to turn his weapon on himself. It turns out that he had been the victim of some sort of Ghoul mind control technology. Now, all of the humans are suspect. Testing reveals one more agent from the other SG teams and then it reveals Col. O'Neill and Maj. Carter as two more. They flunked the test and there is reason to believe that they are part of a plot to assassinate the President or the Tok'ra leader. The truth proves more complex. The detection device is actually a glorified lie detector and they failed the test because of something they refuse to admit even to themselves. That does not stop the assassination attempt, however.\n\nWindow of Opportunity - It's GROUNDHOG DAY for Col. O'Neill and Teal'c. While the team is investigating an artifact of the ancients on a distant planet in the company of an off-world archeologist, they notice he is acting a bit squirrelly but don't pay much attention due to the big magnetic storm going on all around them. Suddenly, some strange rays shoot out, hit the Stargate and the colonel and Teal'c find themselves back on earth...the day before. They keep reliving the same day over and over again as they try to make sense of the time loop that only they seem to be stuck in. They work hard and also take some time off for pranks they know they can get away with. No Consequences! It's a fun episode.\n\nWatergate - When the Stargate fails to lock on to a destination, SGC realizes that it is because another gate is open on earth. They come to realize that the gate they thought had been destroyed on Thor's ship survived reentry and was recovered by the Russians. Now, it is stuck in the \"on\" position and the Russians want help. They seem to know way too much about the super secret Stargate program. The reason turns out to be surprising but not as surprising as what is on the other side of the open gate. It opens under water and the inhabitants of that world are quite...fluid.\n\nThe First Ones - Daniel and one of his archeologist buddies are on a dig on a planet. They are uncovering fossils of primordial ghouls. Suddenly, the dig crew is attacked by an Unas. It is a very primitive unas. Some of the crew are killed but Daniel is dragged off alive. A rescue mission is sent to find out what happened. The survivors seem dazed. Daniel is terrified. He thinks he is about to become a ritual \"coming of age\" feast for an aboriginal Unas. While he is being transported, however, he begins to develop a relationship with the brute. Now, if the rescue team can just figure out what is making the first wave act funny, they might catch up to Daniel and the Unas before he becomes Purina Unas Chow.\n\nScorched Earth - In a humanitarian gesture, the SG Command endeavors to relocate an entire civilization to a new planet. It is a fairly primitive civilization but they are nice folk. Their previous home had become uninhabitable. The planet to which they are relocated is a rare one which can accommodate them. Just as the people are celebrating their new home, word comes of a great disaster. A gigantic machine is destroying the planet. Actually, it is terraforming the place into an environment suitable for the race that built the machine. That would make it fatal for the humanoids. Actually, they would not have to worry about it because they will not survive the terraforming process. The terra formers can't just pack up and leave because their ship had the capability to restore their civilization on exactly one planet. There are not enough resources to start again. It's a nasty little moral dilemma. Seemingly, one of the two civilization has a chance to survive and the other one is doomed.\n\nBeneath the Surface - The crew of SG1 are acting strangely. They are laboring in a subterranean power plant under appalling conditions. Except for Teal'c, they don't even realize who they are. They think they belong working as \"slave labor\". Even Teal'c is not remembering things clearly. A little mind control touch up and the Teal'c problem seems to go away. Meanwhile, back at SGC, everyone is organizing search parties. Nobody can believe that the team could just disappear that way. The government on the planet where they disappeared is not being too cooperative either. It looks like the members of SG1 are condemned to eternal slavery, at least for as long as they live.\n\nPoint of no Return - The people of the SGC are surprised to get a crank phone call asking for Col. O'Neill. They are even more surprised when the guy shows knowledge of the Stargate. They have no idea who this clown is but they decide they need to check him out. He turns out to be the biggest dweeb/nerd/weirdo ever to grace the small screen. Every clich is invoked. He also turns out to be right most of the time. His memory, though, is very faulty. It seems to get things wrong at just the right moments. Oh...and the undercover agents with the drugs, hidden spaceships and black helicopters really out to get him.\n\nTangent - The SG program is starting to bear some technological fruit. They have managed to cobble together some captured parts along with some new fabrications and build a fair copy of a ghoul assault glider. The pilots are having a ball with it until they take it out for a live fire test flight. Teal'c is piloting and O'Neill is in the second seat. Suddenly, the plane heads straight up and just keeps on going. Because of Teal'c's rebellion, Apothis had installed retrieval devices on later gliders. The parts incorporated into the earth design have these recall devices. The earth glider is heading back to Apothis and should get there in a few hundred years...long after they run out of trivial things like air, food and water. The only hope is a rescue mission. The only people available to help are the Tok'ra but they have another mission in mind.\n\nThe Curse - Daniel learns that his old professor and mentor has died in a strange accident. He goes to the funeral and encounters an old flame and an old rival. He learns that they have been messing around with some artifacts that are of the ghoul variety rather than the Egyptian kind and they have no idea what they have really found. It is dangerous and threatens to unleash two more of the old \"gods\" on earth. Academic rivalries just make matters worse.\n\nThe Serpent's Venom - While trying to foment revolt among the Jaffa on Chulak, Teal'c is betrayed into the hands of the Ghoul, Herorar. That is not good for anyone concerned especially Teal'c, who face some unpleasant bouts of torture. Herorar has a plan. He want to trade Teal'c to Apothis in the hope of gaining a privileged position in the Apothis regime; Apothis is trying to expand his forces to take over the entire ghoul hierarchy of System Lords. Apothis has his own plans. He want to get Teal'c, betray Herorar and take his army anyway. SG1, needless to say, has plans of their own. They want to prevent an alliance and save Teal'c. The Tok'ra's plans coincide with Stargate Commands in the first part but they consider the Teal'c part optional and unworkable. Everyone has his own idea as to how to proceed. Meanwhile, Teal'c is having a very unpleasant holiday.\n\nChain Reaction - As the SG1 team returns from a dangerous mission, General Hammond informs them that he is retiring. He declines to give any reason. His replacement has all of the warm and fuzzy qualities of George Patton but none of his common sense. When Col. O'Neill starts investigating why Hammond retired, he learns that his grandchildren had been threatened. Some shadowy types want more access and control over the SGC agenda. They only way to get rid of the idiot who is commanding SGC and who is, incidentally, about to get the earth blown up, is to get the goods on some of the slimy politicians that exerted the pressure. This require some deals with the devil.\n\n2010 - This is a strange episode that does not fit in too well with the rest of the series. It takes place in 2010. The SG1 team are featured but they are their future selves. They inhabit a nice world in which all is pleasant except for a few minor things. The slimy politician who has caused them so much trouble is now the president. Col. O'Neill retired under a cloud. Maj. Carter is married to somebody else. Humanity is allied with an advanced civilization which has given them longevity drugs. The ghouls are no longer menace. Human fertility is essentially zero. It seems that the advanced race has a plot afoot to extinguish humanity so they can have Earth. When the SG1 team finds out what is happening, they come up with a plan to fix the situation. It involves send a note back through time to themselves.\n\nAbsolute Power - On a trip to Abydos, Daniel finally meets the harsesis, the son of his dead wife and Apothis. This is the child with the accumulated genetic wisdom of the ghouls and who was taken into the care of an glowing alien some episodes back. He has aged a great deal since then, though he is still a small boy. He has been sent to Daniel to learn of his true mother. The SGC team wants to tap into his knowledge. While conversing with Daniel, the boy imparts a large store of that knowledge directly to him and the result knocks Daniel unconscious. A year later, Daniel is a power mad despot who willingly kills millions just for his own personal purposes. All is not as it seems, however. The boy is just trying to teach his step-dad a BIG lesson.\n\nThe Light - The members of SG5 begin acting strangely after visiting a new planet. They show signs of depression and their brain chemistry is messed up for no apparent reason. One commits suicide. The others seem heading that way. So does Daniel who had accompanied SG5. They are getting worse and are heading for death. The SG1 team heads back to the planet to try and find out what is happening. There, they find a strange adolescent and an alien device that puts out a strange light show. When the Doc figures out some of what happens, she determines that they are suffering from withdrawal symptoms something like those from narcotics. O'Neill gets hooked and so do Carter and Teal'c. If they leave the planet for too long, they die. The answers to the reasons like with the boy. Who doesn't know much and doesn't want to reveal what he does know.\n\nProdigy - O'Neill is sent to evaluate a planet for possible use as a permanent research station. It doesn't sound too exciting but he tries to make the best of it. His big problem is with the leader of the scientists who is contemptuous of everything military and jealous of his own authority. The guy seems to think that the Colonel is deliberately trying to sabotage his research when things don't go his own way. Meanwhile, Maj. Carter is giving a lecture at the Air Force Academy. While there, she meets a girl who is possibly the brightest human in a generation. The girl is smart but has an attitude problem. Many think she is not cut out to be an officer. The Major thinks her biggest problem is boredom and a failure to come to grips with the sad fact that not everyone is as bright as she. To solve this problem, she gets permission to take the cadet on a visit to the world where the Colonel is doing his thing. The hope is that she will see an actual goal for all of her disciplined study. It works well until a dangerous alien life form is encountered. Both the cadet and the Major have ideas on how to handle the situation but they are mutually exclusive and the colonel has to make a dangerous choice. It may be that the young lady learns the real meaning of leadership and sacrifice.\n\nEntity - A probe sent to a new world goes haywire. It ceases to act under the command of SGC and starts to act independently. It feeds back huge power spikes to the SGC and, as they are attempting to shut things down, it blows the computers there. An alien electronic entity has traveled back to the SGC and all attempts to isolate it are thwarted. Finally, the entity takes over Maj. Carter and uses her mind. It is trying to preserve itself and protect its homeworld. It knows that nobody will willingly hurt Carter. For a while it looks like SGC face the choice of Carter or Earth.\n\nDouble Jeopardy - The SG1 team returns to a planet they have been to before but they find they are not welcomed. Instead, the locals turn them in to the Ghoul, Chronos. Chronos is glad to have the prisoners; he had in the past vowed vengeance against the SG1 team. He proceeds to have Daniel Jackson killed. That is when we learn that it is not a real Daniel Jackson. It is a robot. In fact, none of these SG1 team members are the real ones. Instead, they are the robots created some episodes back and which promised not to leave their own world. The boredom got to be too much for them and they had to go exploring on their own. It is up to the real SG1 team to save the day.\n\nExodus - As the last episode closed, the SG1 team had managed to capture a ghoul mother ship. In this one, they rendezvous with the Tok'ra. Several episodes ago, Apothis managed to slip an agent into the ranks of the Tok'ra. They were aware of this deception and used him to feed Apothis disinformation. Now, they are evacuating the Tok'ra planet and are suckering Apothis in. They have an ambitious plan to destroy Apothis and his fleet by blowing up the star. They don't think small! The plan seems to work except that Tanis, the ghoul agent manages to escape and Teal'c feels honor bound to go after him. This happens while the clock is ticking on the star to be blown up. As the season comes to its cliffhanger end, the captured mother ship just barely manages to escape the exploding star. Apothis escapes also and he has an SG1 prisoner.","Product: Imagine a world far, far into the future. A world very different than our own where people have been wiped out by massive climatic and geological changes, nearly destroying the Earth. What would the world be like, and what kinds of creatures could survive? An international team of eminent scientists was formed to predict the future and its new life forms in five million, 100 million and 200 million years. The scientists predicted that the Earth would go through several phases, including Ice World after five million years, Hothouse World at 100 million years and New World at 200 million years. To portray the scenery as accurately as possible, a camera crew traveled to remote locations around the world. State-of-the-art animation helped bring to life such freakish beings as Flishes combining the characteristics of birds and fish, the giant slimemold known as the Slithersucker, the Toraton tortoise bigger than any dinosaur, tree-dwelling squids called Squibbons, the spewing Spitfire Bird and many more!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not as Silly as I Had Supposed!\n\nReview: I did not have high hopes for this series. I assumed it would be rather silly and was looking to be entertained by the strange and the bizarre. I did find those aspects but I found more as well.\n\nThese programs look at the possible evolution of life in the future without humans and in radically different environments. These speculative life forms are interesting but I expected nothing beyond wild, \"artists' conceptions\". The results are wild but they are based on informed speculation. However bizarre the hypothetical creature presented is, it is compared to current fauna with similar or analogous features. Those features are just taken further and the results are interesting to watch.\n\nThis program could be looked upon as a way to teach the fundamental ideas of natural selection in a new and different manner; looking to the future instead of the past.\n\nEpisode synopses appear below:\n\nDisc One: 5 Million Years - Ice Age World\n\nWelcome to the Future - This first episode sets out the suppositions. It postulates a world without humans in which natural selection has had free reign to produce bizarre new life forms. Three time periods are posited. The first is about 5 million years from now. The earth is in the grip of a terrible ice age and the life forms are adapted accordingly. The next scenario takes the opposite extreme. It takes place 100 million years in the future and is a hothouse world. To change things even more dramatically, the third epoch conceived is 200 million years in the future and takes place after a mass extinction event in which most species are killed and the few survivors adapt and radiate into the strangest life forms of all. Each period provides brief glances at some to the imaginary life forms of the future but none is examined in any real depth. This episode serves to set the stage for what is to come by giving the background.\n\nReturn of the Ice - This episode concentrate on an arctic environment about 5 million years in the future. Some of the life forms presented include a large rodent which travels in herds, a bird evolved to take the place of toothed whales and a large carnivore that preys on both of them.\n\nThe Vanished Sea - Taking place in the same ice age of the previous episode, this episode examines a completely different environment. The locus is the Mediterranean Sea with a big difference from the present day. It is all dried up and is now a salt desert supporting only specifically adapted animals. The ones examined closely in this episode are a large frilled lizard living on the salt flats, a descendant of the martin which is now a major predator and a highly evolved pig.\n\nThe Prairies of Amazonia - In this episode we visit yet another biome of the ice age of the future. This one is the vast grassland that occupies most of the continent of South America. It has replaced the Amazon and there are some new and different creatures but, by and large, these creatures face the same challenges that confront today's inhabitants of savannahs. We are introduced to a tool making monkey that bears some resemblance to a baboon, a large flightless bird which has become a top predator and a large rodent which has evolved defensive armor.\n\nCold Kansas Desert - The climate this time is the great desert of the North American Midwest. This desert, though, is frigid owing to the great ice fields. Here, we encounter a large rodent related to the ones of the grasslands of the previous episode. They feed on the same tubers as a small, burrowing descendant of the quail; one with a hive oriented social structure. These flightless birds are the principal prey of gigantic, carnivorous bats which roam the skies looking for easy pickings; they are the evolutionary successors to the buzzards.\n\nDisc Two: 100 Million Years - Hothouse World\n\nWaterland - An additional 95 million years has passed since the time of the previous disk and the world has changed a lot. It is a very hot and very moist world and life has had to adapt. This first episode takes place in a swamp environment. Huge descendants of turtles, the largest land animal ever to walk the earth, stalk the swamps looking for vegetation to eat. Trying to keep out of the way are terrestrial (amphibious) octopi. These mollusks have colonized the land seeking safety from large, predatory fish which use electricity on a scale not envisioned by our modern eels.\n\nFlooded World - I like coelenterates as much as the next guy but this episode didn't do much for me. It focuses on the shallow seas of the hothouse earth. The major critters are a huge jellyfish that actually consists of a variety of creatures working together for the common good, a sea slug that has become as mobile as your average fish and a sea spider that exists to protect the big jellyfish.\n\nTropical Antarctica - Antarctica has migrated from its position over the southern pole and has become a lush, tropical jungle. Many of the depicted life forms are evolved from petrels. Some take the role of a hummingbird and another has evolved a noxious chemical weapon system. Very large insects are a major predator but smaller insects get their licks in as well. This was a pretty good episode.\n\nThe Great Plateau - This episode takes place on a mountain plateau that makes the Himalayas look like minor foothills. Its inhabitants include giant, blue birds with four wings, large spiders that build webs across canyons and which farm mammals and these curious mammals which are the last ones left on earth. It's another really good episode.\n\nDisc Three: 200 Million Years - New World\n\nThe Endless Desert - It's a new world. Vulcanism and an asteroid strike have changed the planet immensely. The continents coming together to form a super-continent has also had an effect. Most of the earth is a vast desert. The wiping out of most species has provided new opportunities for a few. A termite has evolved to be adapted to hunting, agriculture and mining. Worms have it good as well and demonstrate both agrarian and hunting varieties.\n\nThe Global Ocean - One continent means that there is once ocean as well and this ocean has seen some major changes. Fish are virtually gone. Their multitudinous places in the ecosystems have been taken over by arthropods. Fish are not completely gone, however. Some have become real flying creatures that can breath air. Cephalopods are around as well and they have evolved. Their intelligence is greater and their camouflage is more effective. They can also get huge. Some things remain the same, however. Sharks are still efficient killers; they have just further refined their methods.\n\nGraveyard Desert - More troubles in the desert are the theme of this one as we learn about scavenging beetles, scavenging worms, hopping snails and some carnivorous plants that feed on larger life forms than small bugs. This has been the only episode thus far where a plant is a significant part of the show.\n\nThe Tentacled Forest - Although most of the land is a great desert, there is a magnificent rainforest along the coast. In this environment there are more fish turned to land dwelling flying creatures, giant lichens which resemble trees, slime molds that hunt and a gigantic, walking terrestrial squid. To top things off, there is another squid which dwells in the trees and swings around like an ape. These are intelligent squids and the possibility is left open that they will further involve and become...civilized.","Product: The Gospel of John, the best-loved of the four Gospels,vividly comes to life in a faithful and powerful dramatization of the Biblical text. The Gospel of John meticulously re-creates the era of Jesus during a tumultuous period that changed the course of history. Starring Henry Ian Cusick as Jesus, and narrated by Christopher Plummer, and with a cast of over 2500, The Gospel of John has been adapted for the screen, word for word, base on the American Bible Society's Good News Bible, by Emmy-nominated John Goldsmith and is directed by acclaimed British director Philip Saville.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Tells the Story without the Excitement\n\nReview: I suppose this production does what it sets out to do. It is supposed to be a dramatization of the Gospel according to St. John. It is fairly accurate in this respect. The parts of the Gospel that consist of narrative are narrated. Where speech is pout into peoples' mouth in the gospel, so to do those parts appear that way in the film. Throughout it all, the scenes are re-enacted fairly well. With all of this attention to detail, it is a shame that it can be fairly boring.\n\nThe parts are often portrayed with excitement and enthusiasm by the actors but that same excitement does not translate itself to the viewer. This is a sad fate for the \"Greatest Story Ever Told\".\n\nThough it is not particularly exciting, it does a fair job of conveying the story. It is relevant and the story is timeless. As a pastor, I would wish that in addition to the story it would have conveyed the passion of the Passion story. To me, it did not.","Product: APOCALYPSE\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A Fair Result From A Difficult Text\n\nReview: TNT hit a home run with their BIBLE COLLECTION, based exclusively on the Old Testament. This was their first attempt at a New Testament book, the Revelation of John. That is a tough one to attempt the first time out but I can imagine while it would be appealing. There is much imagery that would be a natural for the screen. This film, however, falls short of that.\n\nThe early church is facing a time of persectution. That is the official policy of the Roman Empire. People of faith are worried and are encouraged on receiving letters from John, one of the original 12 disciples. John himself is in hiding, in a Roman prison. The story is one of keeping the faith in the face of sever hardships.\n\nThe film takes some liberties but they seem reasonable. It is not as tight an effort as the OT film but it is respectable. One can learn from it but do not expect any great joy.","Product: A retired soldier returns to his hometown to make a new life for himself, but finds that the town has changed for the worse. The town mill has closed and the criminal elements have moved in. With the help of an old pal, the ex-soldier gets elected sheriff and vows to clean up the town at the expense of putting his and his family's safety at risk.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Violent Pursuit of Justice\n\nReview: The basic story outline is the same as the original movie about Buford Pusser. It is a story of a man who sees corruption running rampant in his home town and sets out to do something about it. Along the way, he pays a hefty price. After that point, though, the story is different. It has been modernized and made to fit in a current setting.\n\nThe violence is profligate but justified. It is used to defeat bad guys who have no qualms against using violence to achieve their means. The police can't help because they are part of the corruption. That leaves the hero to take on the system almost single handedly. He kicks butt and has his own kicked a few times as well.\n\nIts nice to see the good guys win.","Product: Vin Diesel (XXX, The Fast and the Furious) stars in this electrifying special-effects-fueled action spectacular! After years of outrunning ruthless bounty hunters, escaped convict Riddick suddenly finds himself caught between opposing forces in a fight for the future of the human race. Now, waging incredible battles on fantastic and deadly worlds, this lone, reluctant hero will emerge as humanity's champion - and the last hope for a universe on the edge of annihilation. Powered by groundbreaking visual effects and pulse-pounding, thrill-a-minute action, The Chronicles of Riddick is \"a roller coaster ride that leaves you kicking and screaming for more!\" (Hollywood Hotwire)\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not for the uninitiated\n\nReview: I had never heard of this movie before I saw it in a store. I already had a handfull of choices and I was stocking up for travel. I saw the cover and thought I might enjoy a sci-fi action movie so I bought it.\n\nIt was a mistake FOR ME. Apparently this is a sequel and I was missing out on the origins of the story. The definitely handicapped my understanding and enjoyment of the events protrayed. What I did see was a fairly lavish action movie with some great lines and some great stunts. It meant very little to me, however. I think I need to see the prequel to fully appreciate it.\n\nYou may want this movie but you should want its predecessor first.","Product: This is an exploration of guilt-free voyeurism and sexuality as Juliette Marquis, in her debut, stars as a young woman whose life is part of the world of internet porn webcams. As seen through her eyes, her relationships unveil a world unraveling as she tests all boundaries.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A Sad Cautionary Tale\n\nReview: I did not find this film to be particularly erotic. I only found it to be sad. It did, however, have a few redeeming qualities.\n\nThe story is of a beautiful young woman in the porn business. She was not forced into it. The money is only part of it. She does it because she likes sex. She works on the internet and makes a good living. She also takes care of her father who suffers from Parkinson's disease.\n\nThrough the course of the film, she undergoes a character change. She decides to go into the PI business investigating men for infidelity and that takes her to some even uglier parts of life. She seems amoral but there is some character in there. The problem is she is not sure what she wants. She thinks she may have found a boyfriend but is not sure. The factors in her life, stress, taking care of Pops, an aides scare, physical danger and such prompt an even stronger character change. Most people would consider it to be for the better.\n\nThe end is ambiguous. You know she has cleaned up some aspects of her life but we are not really sure how thorough the cleaning is.\n\nThe film is well acted and well done. The drama is real and some of the action is graphic. It does what a drama should do in terms of generating character development and change. Still, sitting through it was a trial for me. I am glad to have seen it but I don't need to do it again.","Product: Kiefer Sutherland, 24 (Twenty Four), Season Four DVD Collection.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great but not the Best\n\nReview: This is another great season of 24 but it is not the best one. That is no surprise since it has set such a high standard for television drama. So instead of being superlative, it is merely great.\n\nThere are new characters and new leaders in this season along with some old standbys. There are also some old villains making surprise appearances. With the new cast, they combine for a powerful season and, as always, it is a season full of plot twists and unexpected surprises.\n\nThere are many out there who condemn 24 as a show that marginalizes Muslims. This season indeed has some nasty Muslim villains. I wonder if those same detractors noticed that some of the real heroes of this season are Muslims as well...and some of the worst villains are Anglo-American males. The point this series makes over and over again is that people who do bad things are bad and their religion has nothing to do with it.\n\nEpisode synopses appear below:\n\n7-8 AM The season starts of with a whimper that quickly develops into a bang. Jack Bauer has not been back to CTU since he was fired. Today, he is supposed to go there with the Secretary of Defense to meet with the current director about the budget. The Secretary is unable to go and sends Jack in his stead. The new director does NOT like having him around and is more interested in turf control than in anything useful. While there, Jack gets to witness the takedown of some suspects in the bombing of a train. He recognizes one of them and suspects more is in store. The director will not listen to him, however. Jack takes matters into his own hands and extracts the information violently. The train was a diversion. The real target is the father of his lover, the Secretary of Defense. Jack is just placing the call when the man and the girl are kidnapped.\n\n8-9 AM The new director at CTU is still more worried about protecting her turf than in doing her job. She wants to do her job but doing it in a way that reflects well on her is more important. As such, she arrests Jack because he did not follow the rules. He gets a break from Chloe who still trusts him more than her. He learns that a friend of hers has stumbled onto a possible link involving an Internet virus. She had told the director about it earlier but had been shuffled aside. Now, her source's family have been killed and Jack gets the OK to try and bring him in. He's too late. Other people are in trouble too. The terrorist leader has his teenaged son act as a courier to take a briefcase to a meet. He is followed by his suspicious American girlfriend. As a result, the boy is in trouble and the girl is probably going to be eliminated. It is apparent that there are lots of leaks and that the bad guys are getting their information from the inside but nobody knows where yet. As the hour closes, an internet broadcast shows the Secretary of Defense. The bad guys are preparing to execute him live on the web.\n\n9-10 AM Jack is following the guy who kidnapped the web geek but is doing so without authorization. In fact, CTU wants him brought in. He manages to rescue the guy in the nick of time and heads off after the terrorist who leaves him for dead. He is still having trouble getting the resources he needs and only Chloe is serving as a sort of go between for him and officialdom. Meanwhile, the teenage terrorist is torn up with angst about his American girlfriend. His father wants he dead. He goes to his mom for help only to learn that she has lured the girl over in order to do the whacking herself. Jack is still trying to follow his terrorist but he has to find a way to delay him while Chloe get satellite coverage set up. He is running out of time so he does the only thing he can to slow the guy down without arousing suspicion. He knocks over (robs) the convenience store the terrorist is using to get something to drink. It's LA. Its believable.\n\n10-11 AM It's a tense standoff as Jack tries to rob a convenience store. He is doing it only to buy time until a satellite can be tasked to follow the terrorist. It seems, though, that just about everyone wants to visit that convenience store at that time. Finally, he learns that the satellite has been set up and he breaks out with the terrorist as his hostage. He lets the terrorist go in the hopes that he will lead him to the missing Secretary. Unfortunately the CTU director has found out about the scheme and sends the police to home in on Jack. She is about to pick up the terrorist too but it is pointed out to her that too many people already know that Jack was right and she was wrong. She's a bit distracted, though. She learns that her schizophrenic daughter is busy having a breakdown and she reroutes resources to prevent her daughter from being arrested. The teen terrorist makes a big decision to go with the girlfriend rather than the parents but his mom has anticipated him. She solves the problem herself. Jack is hot on the trail until he is taken into custody by the police.\n\n11-Noon Jack manages to get the CTU director to vouch for him and put him in command of a team going after the Secretary. He is closing in when a traffic stop blows the program. The terrorist is let go too easily so he gets suspicious and kills himself before he can be captured and questioned. Jack still has a hint of where they are going. He is ready to lead a strike team but is called off because the \"trial\" is getting too close. In order to avoid embarrassment, the President has decided to send in a missile to take out the whole site. The pres is not the only untrustworthy character. The CTU director is still too worried about turf and uses this instance to begin a purge; a contract laborer in CTU is clearly out to advance herself at everyone else's expense; a psychotic daughter is distracting the CTU director and, just to keep things tense, the terror kid who was having second thoughts is apparently over them.\n\n12-1 PM Jack's one man assault is successful is rescuing the Secretary and his daughter but a few get away. They learn that the train wreck from the first episode was just a diversion for the kidnapping. Worse, they have reason to believe that the kidnapping is just a diversion for worse things to come. They need information but those who can provide it are reticent about doing so. Among these is the estranged son of the Secretary. With great pain, the Secretary authorizes more serious questioning techniques. Leaks are still plaguing the CTU. The contract hacker is apparently working for someone else. The Terror teen learns that his own father considered him to be a risk and has authorized his execution. This pleases neither the teen nor the mom.\n\n1-2 PM The Secretary's daughter needs to be taken to a private security firm to try and ID one of the terrorists who took her; she remembers seeing him at a party they both attended and the firm has the tapes. Unfortunately, the mole in CTU sets them up for a hit. They barely make it out because Jack realizes the he can no longer trust CTU. He calls somebody he can trust, Tony, from the previous seasons. The terror mom decides to try and save the terror teen but the terror dad suspects. He ambushes them and now they are fugitives. From this we learn that the terror dad is reporting to somebody even higher up who is not happy. Also not happy is the CTU director. Her daughter goes into cardiac arrest when the wrong drugs are given. To ease the tension some, one of CTU's programmers manages to find a way to shut down the nuclear power plants that are threatened. Unfortunately, he is not able to get them all.\n\n2-3 PM Jack finally has a lead as to who can shut down the nuclear disaster. The Secretary also manages to use his assets to track down the mole in CTU. Unfortunately, it is the wrong person. This is not found out before some...aggressive questioning takes place. Luckily, they do manage to find the right mole and she tries to make her escape. She is apprehended just as she learns her controller wants her dead. That seems to be the case for Jack's prisoner to. Just as they get him, he is assassinated. Terror mom and terror teen are not having much better luck. Because of her wounds, they head for an ER but there the police are called because she has a gunshot wound. They too get away.\n\n3-4 PM CTU has had its biggest leads assassinated out from under them but they get lucky when they manage to trace the location of the cell phone of Terror Mom and Terror Teen. They break in and take the mom into custody and just barely manage to keep her from killing herself. Unfortunately, Terror Teen is out at a hospital trying to get some pain medication for mom. He is talking to his uncle, a pharmacist at the hospital. The uncle is suspicious and not a terrorist. He calls Terror Dad who tells him that jr. is a druggie. CTU heads to pick the boy up but gets there only in time to wind up in a standoff. Dad has his gun pointed at the boy. The mother, who has brokered a clemency deal for the boy, refuses to talk unless the boy is safe. With that, the episode is over.\n\n4-5 PM Jack manages to take both the terror teen and the terror dad alive. His plans break apart, though, on two fronts. Terror teen is still hacked off about dad ordering him to be killed so he takes an opportunistic shot and settles dad for good. Unfortunately, terror mom does not really no a whole lot. All she is able to give them is an address. When it is investigated, they find a new lead that leads right back to the Secretary of Defense and his daughter. Another lead comes from the interrogation of the mole captured at CTU. She is still trying to slime her way into a better position and reveals the existence of a computer where she might get some useful data. The catch is that she has to be present to give her thumbprint to the security program. Against many people's better judgment, she is taken to the site under escort. What they find is surprising and quite unhealthy. The CTU director is coming to grips with not being in Jack Bauer's league. She compensates by getting even more protective and devious about her turf.\n\n5-6 PM CTU finally homes in on where the nuclear gizmo is located. To do so, they have had to violate lots and lots of civil rights. These include the rights of such persons as the husband of Jack's girlfriend. She is beginning to believe him and he MAY be innocent, but that is still up in the air. As they close in, the CTU director's daughter becomes more and more of a distraction with terrible consequences for everyone. CTU manages to shut down the nuclear meltdowns. They do so at the cost of letting the ostensible mastermind escape. The season is only half over. More is definitely to come.\n\n6-7 PM CTU is trying to get things sorted out after averting a nuclear meltdown but the situation is chaos. The director is incapacitated by the apparent suicide of her daughter and Tony is tasked to fill in. Jack and the soon-to-be ex hubby of the Secretary head for the company that unknowingly employed the head terrorist. They want to track him down and see if he has anything else up his sleeve. The problem is that the company is paranoid that they will somehow be blamed for the fiasco. They undertake to try and deceive CTU and destroy any data on the premises. Taking out several square miles of downtown LA does not seem to bother them.\n\n7-8 PM The plot has certainly thickened. The EMP bomb has meant chaos in downtown LA. Most of the episode is concerned with Jack and his romantic rival trying to get extricated while mercenaries from the company that set off the bomb try and track them down. The get help from the young, middle eastern gun store owners whose store they hole up in. (Anyone claiming that middle eastern=terrorist should see this episode to set the record straight.) Since CTU is working blind, Jack knows that his only hope is to attract their attention. He does so by engaging the mercs in a firefight. They survive and are rescued and have a vital printout to get back to CTU for decoding when one of the bad guys, (Anglo male) makes a last effort to kill Jack. He gets the jilted husband instead. This is a shame since he has shown himself to be a good guy and since the girlfriend will probably be really hacked. The episode closes with the revelation of what might be the real target. There is none bigger.\n\n8-9 PM CTU still does not know what the big plan is but they know that there is one. In a desperate attempt to get information, Jack comes up with a scheme to get himself turned over to the bad guys by the terror mom. He talks her into it by promising to get her and her son into the witness protection program. She does her job and gets him to the head honcho but he is suspicious. When she fails his loyalty test, she and Jack are in big trouble. Meanwhile, a fake fighter pilot is getting ready to take to the air.\n\n9-10 PM Jack is a prisoner and CTU still does not know what the big picture is. The terror plot continues, though as an infiltrated pilot prepares to go airborne with a stolen F-117. Because of a few glitches, a diversion is needed so that CTU will not notice the missing pilot. The head terrorist contrives a plot in which the terror teen is exchanged for Jack. Seeing nothing else to do, they go through with it but nothing goes as it should. Jack is recovered but the boy is taken. The pilot is about to launch and they still don't know what the plot is.\n\n10-11 PM The pilot is in the air and his target is a big one but CTU does not know what it is. They head to his apartment to find clues and encounter a woman posing as an FBI agent. They think she is legit but she is hunting for the same information they are. When Jack figures out what is going on, he notifies the target but not before it is hit. It is unsure whether the target survived.\n\n11 - Midnight The president is alive but in no condition to lead the country. That puts the succession on the vice president which poses 2 problems. He seems to be a weak man to begin with and his chief of staff is the slimeball who caused so much trouble for the last administration. Meanwhile, Jack is sent out to rescue the football, the briefcase containing the nuclear codes. It has been found by some innocent campers but the head terrorist wants them. It seems knocking off Air Force One was just a pretext to get the codes. Jack manages to rescue the football but there is something missing.\n\n12-1 AM A lucky lead gives CTU the identity of an associate of the mastermind. They manage to close in just as the suspect is meeting with another unsavory character. Mr. Unsavory kills the terrorist as CTU closes in and claims to have been an innocent citizen defending himself. Everyone knows this is wrong so they get ready to do some intensive interrogation. That is just what the mastermind is afraid of and he places a discreet call to the ACLU types who get a court order to stop the interrogation. Since a nuclear warhead has been stolen, time is of the essence but the weak VP does not want to cloud the first act of his paranoid presidency. Jack decides to take the interrogation into his own hands by resigning from CTU and acting as a private citizen. He gets his information but it is doubtful whether it is enough.\n\n1-2 AM Chloe become a field agent!...but that comes later. The president is hacked about Jack doing things independently and orders the Secret Service to pick him up immediately, even though he is warned that Jack is about to get the mastermind. He has been tracked to a club where he is running his operation. The Secret Service shows up at the worse possible time and tips off the terrorists to police presence. He gets away. This leads the president to realize that he may not be the best man for the job. His chief of staff advises him to call in the previous president to run the situation. (Maybe the guy did learn his lesson.) Chloe gets a tip from the suspicious girlfriend of one of the terrorists. Because they are shorthanded, CTU sends her out with a team to decode the information on the computer. Real agents are supposed to protect her but the bad guys eliminate them. Chloe has to take matters into her own hands with deadly results.\n\n2-3 AM From Chloe's lead, CTU finds a connection to a Chinese national who has holed up in the consulate. The Chinese are willing to cooperate but diplomatic niceties take time...longer that the timetable for detonation of the warhead. The former president authorizes a clandestine operation to go into the consulate and take the man by force. This happens but the \"Chinese Fire Drill\" of the guards causes problems. In their wild shooting, they not only put a bullet into the terror suspect, they manage to kill their own consul. The diplomatic consequences are going to be grim. For Jack, it gets grimmer still. The suspect is dying and needs immediate surgery. Unfortunately, the surgeon is currently working on the husband of his girlfriend. Since the information is vital to many lives, Jack pulls his gun and forces the surgeon to work on the suspect with fatal consequences for the husband...and Jack's love life.\n\n3-4 AM The Chinese are furious over the break in of their consulate and they want blood. Unfortunately, their cameras reveal the possible face of one of the CTU agents and the Chinese head of security demands an interview at CTU. CTU does a fair job of stonewalling but is hampered by the acting president, who no longer trusts former president Palmer, and by the need to appease the Chinese. Just when it looks like the Chinese will get no further information, an analyst lets something slip. While this is going on, Jack is in the field. Interrogation has at last yielded the location of the terror mastermind. They bring him down only learn that the stolen warhead had been mounted on a missile and the missile has just launched.\n\n4-5 AM While going through the mastermind's cell phone, CTU finds a connection. His phone contains the number of the son of the Secretary of Defense, who has not been heard from since the first few episodes. They bring the boy in blubbering about his rights but he will not say what he knows; only that he is not a terrorist. His sister pleads with him and tell him that he will be tortured but that does not work. Finally, dad gets him to put out. He is gay and had an assignation with a guy who tapped his phone. Now, CTU is after the guy (part of a couple). They find him but he is dead and his accomplice has taken off with Tony as a hostage.\n\n5-6 AM In an emotional roller coaster, the female terrorist plays upon the emotions at CTU bargaining with Tony's life. In the end, his estranged wife sees her responsibility to the millions who may be impacted by the missile so she shares the relevant information. Jack is ready to take her down when she apparently blows up herself and Tony it a fit over having been betrayed. Everyone thinks Tony and the terrorist are dead but Jack has doubts. He refuses to pull out, contrary to While House orders, and does manage to rescue Tony and take down the terrorist. It seems they will finally get the clue they need but the Chinese have other ideas. They are still hacked about the death of their consul and manage to kidnap the CTU agent who was identified but they want bigger fish. Under threat, they get him to talk and implicate Jack.\n\n6-7 AM Jack does the impossible. He captures the mastermind, gets the information that lets the nuclear missile be destroyed and actually survives to tell the tale. His survival is inconvenient for the acting president, though. To placate the Chinese, he agrees to hand Jack over to them. Some are worried that puts sensitive information at risk but the president forbids any assassination attempt, he just doesn't do so very convincingly. One of his aides decides to take matters into his own hands and the former president, Palmer, gets wind of the situation. The only way out for everyone is for Jack to cease to exist. Jack agrees and, conveniently dies.\n\nSeason 5 Prequel Jack has been dead for a year. Now somebody has hacked into Chloe's files and learned that he is alive. That same person wants him dead. It's a long car chase as Jack leaves a clandestine meeting with Chloe meant to inform him of what is going on.","Product: From Michael Radford, the Academy Award(r)-nominated director of Il Postino, comes the critically-acclaimed screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's controversial classic, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. Antonio (Jeremy Irons), a successful but cash-poor merchant, approaches Shylock (Al Pacino), a wealthymoneylender, for a loan to help his young friend Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes, Shakespeare in Love) woothe fair Portia (Lynn Collins, 13 Going on 30). Despite being longtime enemies, Shylock grants therequest, but demands one pound of Antonio's flesh if the debt is not repaid on time. When Antonio defaults on the loan, Shylock seeks what is legally owed to him but soon learns that those to whom evil is done, do evil in return.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It's Hard to Like Anyone\n\nReview: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is a sad and wicked tale; it is a difficult to watch and difficult to comprehend in its cruelty; it is also an excellent story and this is an excellent production. This is not a filming of a stage production; this was filmed as movie throughout and has all of the production values that would be expected of a high end movie.\n\nThe story takes place in Venice. A rich man borrows a large some of money from a Jew. His friend puts up a bond for surety of the debt but there is a cruel twist. The friend has long despised all Jews and Shylock, the moneylender, has been on the receiving end of his insults way too often. Shylock demands a curious bond. He will charge no interest. Only the principal must be repaid. The price of default, however, is a pound of flesh to be cut from the living body. Naturally enough, the trading ships upon which this transaction depended were sunk and Shylock wants to claim his pound of flesh.\n\nThere are plenty of subplots. Shylock's daughter runs off to marry a Christian. The purpose of the loan to begin with is to help arrange a marriage with a rich noblewoman. That same noblewoman takes up a surreptitious career in law. All of these an others lead back to the central issue, though. Shylock wants his pound of flesh as vengeance.\n\nThis film is a difficult one because it was written when sensibilities were different. The anti-Semitism is blatant and is, by necessity, an integral part of the film. The part of Shylock can be played without any sympathy whatever but in this case, his railing against the injustice done to all Jews comes across well and leads, just for a moment, to our seeing him in a sympathetic light. The noble who must forfeit the pound of flesh (and thus his life) also comes across as a dislikable character. His racism is blatant and he offers no apologies for it. He too becomes more sympathetic and the moment of his impending death grows near but that sympathy diminishes rapidly as he takes his own revenge. All in all, there is no one who is really likable but that does not stop this from being a compelling bit of theater.\n\nOther MERCHANT OF VENICE productions have been better. Some are more complete. Some are more easy to empathize with. Some are just plain more engaging to watch but this one, on the whole, is very good. It is the best Hollywood style production of this work to date.","Product: Its the third and final season of the far-out tales of TVs most lovable space crew! Complete your mission with these intergalactic adventures! Join in as the Jupiter 2 crew attempts to finally return home to Earth, with more help from the wily Robot B-9, more antics from master meddler Dr. Zachary Smith, and of course, more \"Danger, Will Robinson!\" Along with out-of-this-world extras not available anywhere else, this collectable DVD installment of Irwin Allens LOST IN SPACE presents the final 9 episodes of Americas favorite space family.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: End of the Line\n\nReview: This is the last of the series. Over the course of its three seasons it degenerated from a semi-serious science fiction show into a comic farce. It worked. The show was so silly that it could not be taken seriously but it could be taken with lots of fun. The main reason for this is Jonathan Harris playing Zachary Smith. The comic evil villain was always good for a few laughs.\n\nSynopses for the episodes appear below:\n\nTarget Earth - This one is less campy and more in the vein of regular science fiction than most, but that's not saying much. As usual, Smith sets the trouble in motion when he accidentally jettisons the pod with part of the robot aboard. The pod lands on a planet and the crew of the Jupiter II head down to retrieve their belongings. That, of course, causes more trouble. The aliens on this particular planet are all identical and are intrigued by the differences between the humans. They are an old race failing because of their lack of diversity. That is the given reason but I think it has more to do with looking like a heap of mud. The aliens come up with a plan to \"replicate\" the Jupiter II crew and conquer earth.\n\nPrincess of Space - It's been a while since I have viewed the previous set but I think this episode sets a new standard for silliness. It's basically the Anastasia story without the Russians, pomp or grandeur. In its place, we get spaceships decked out with a model of the Cutty Sark, air funnels from early steam ships, navigating lanterns (on the inside) and an army of advanced computers which resemble filing cabinets with arms. The cutlass in the hands of the captain is a nice touch also. Basically, the aliens are looking for a lost princess hidden on Earth. They grab Penny instead and try to pass her off to the royal auntie. In short, Penny is mistaken for Princess Alpha from the planet Beta and must fool Aunt Gamma with her knowledge of cousins Iota, Kappa and Sylvia. Complete silliness!\n\nTime Merchant - this time it is Will who unwittingly starts the trouble but, as always, Smith manages to make it worse. While running an experiment, Will accidentally captures a \"time merchant\". Said merchant is a bit peeved and takes Will as a slave to make up for his troubles. Naturally, Dr. Robinson, Dr. Smith and the Robot follow to get him back. From there, things get more complicated. It seems that Chronos, the time merchant, has a function something like the Greek fates. When a person's \"time tape\" runs out, Chronos snips it. While all of this is being explained, Smith manages to actually get himself back to Earth with Chronos's equipment but the catch is he is there just before the original Jupiter II takes off. He is not about the get on again but his failure to do so will mean that the ship gets destroyed by an uncharted asteroid. To fix things, the robot is sent back to Shanghai Smith and set things right. The big surprise and what makes this possibly the least believable episode is that Smith has an altruistic moment. It doesn't last but even having it is beyond belief.\n\nThe Promised Planet - The Robinson family finally makes it to Alpha Centauri. We don't really know how; there is just an announcement from the robot that they are coming into the Alpha Centauri system. Everyone seems surprised but pleased. They are greeted like heroes by a bunch of teenagers wearing West Point style uniforms and then told that they must be indoctrinated. The older folk are to be processed separately from Will and Penny. From there, things get weirder. The clean cut cadet types become hippies and seem to want to do nothing but turn Will and Penny into hippies as well, get them to deny their family and get the family to leave. Penny falls for it and becomes a go-go dancer but will resists. Dr. Smith falls for it as well and becomes the worst of the delinquents. It turns out they are not on Alpha Centauri at all and their hosts are aliens who cannot age. They want to extract something from the kids to let them grow up. It is all enough to make me shudder with my own memories of being a teenager and, even worse, the 60s.\n\nFugitives in Space - When a prisoner escapes from the Prison Planet Destructon (that's really the name), said prisoner runs into Smith and trades jackets with him. That leads the guards to suspect Smith and, by association, Maj. West. After a quick and dirty trial, both are condemned to Destructon for life sentences. No sooner are they incarcerated than Smith starts scheming with the prisoner who caused his problems in the first place in an escape attempt. West tries to be a restraining influence but Smith's greed is, as always, the ultimate determiner. This one is not as funny as some episodes nor is it as silly.\n\nSpace Beauty - Judy finally takes center stage...kind of. Mr. Farnum, the celestial zookeeper from some episodes back makes another appearance. This time he is the producer for the Miss Galaxy Beauty Contest. He has a mysterious backer who is very particular about who is in the contest. The backer takes a liking for Judy, can't fault his tastes there, but Judy doesn't want to play. It's a good thing she doesn't because the fine print of the contract calls for her soul. Smith, however, is more interested in the big payoff for the winner and he doesn't play fair. After being caught out trying to forge her name, he relies on getting her mad at MAJ West by implying that he has forbidden her to take part. Naturally, that means that Judy must sign up. Like so many episodes, this one can seem very silly...unless you have actually seen the workings of a beauty contest, then all too much is familiar. It should be noted that although Judy nominally takes center stage, it is mostly for display purposes. Her role is minimal and the usual suspects have most of the lines.\n\nThe Flaming Planet - Smith smuggles what he believes to be an orange tree aboard the Jupiter II. It is not an orange tree, of course, but is instead a plant with limited locomotion and intelligence. It thinks Smith is its \"mother\". When the plant is disposed of, it causes some damage to the ship and it is forced to orbit a planet while it makes repairs. As it turns out, the planet belonged to a warrior race with one member left. His price for not destroying the ship is to have a member of the crew fight one last war game with him; at the end, the entire planet will be destroyed. The robot gets selected and Smith's baby plant monster is enlisted to save the day.\n\nThe Great Vegetable Rebellion - This one is quite possibly the silliest episode of them all. The crew of the Jupiter II wishes to throw a birthday party for the robot. Smith decides to go down to a nearby planet to find a gift. While picking some flowers, he gets arrested by a giant carrot. Don't worry, the carrot speaks English. He doesn't like animal life. Eventually, he tries to turn everyone into vegetables. I don't think I can go on... Jungle Warfare was never so bad.\n\nJunkyard in Space - Just as the Jupiter II has some mechanical problems, they happen by an intergalactic junkyard. When the robot goes to investigate in the pod, he gets captured by the junkman. The main ship heads off to retrieve him. The junkman likes what he sees and wants to purchase the ship for salvage. Needless to say, the crew doesn't want to sell. In order to pressure them, the junkman contaminates all their food. He offers Smith food for various parts, beginning with the some from the robot, and eventually trick Smith into letting him steal the Jupiter II. In the end, however, love conquers all.\n\nSpecial Features: most of the special features are minimal, as are the menus but there are 2 that are especially worth while. These are the interviews with Billy Mummy and Jonathan Harris. These two actors, playing Will Robinson and Dr. Smith were the two central characters and helped make the show a success. They are worth watching.","Product: vhs\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: More Macabre than SG1\n\nReview: It looks like it is not just the Milky Way galaxy where English is the universal language. It looks to be pretty common in the Pegasus galaxy as well.\n\nStargate Command decides to send an expedition to Atlantis. This is a dicey proposition because if the expedition cannot find more of the ZPM crystals, they will not have the energy to return. It could well be a one way mission. That sets up this spin-off series with its main premise. An expedition from Earth is stranded in a high tech environment.\n\nThe series needs more than that, of course and it has it. Instead of the Goa'uld, they find a new adversary even nastier. These are the Wraith, a race which feeds on the life force of humans. They are a constant threat and the danger is that they may get access to Earth's home galaxy. That would not be good.\n\nThis series is not as much fun as the original Stargate. The chemistry between the main cast members is not as good as in the original. There is also something of the macabre about it all. Still, it is interesting enough and it is watchable.\n\nEpisode synopses appear below:\n\nRising Parts 1 and 2 - Daniel Jackson thinks he has finally figured out the location of the Ancient's city of Atlantis. It is in another galaxy. To get there will require using up the last ZPM crystal the earth has left. Because the potential payoff is so great, BG O'Neill is willing to take the risk and send a large group through. It is a one way trip but the hope is that power crystals will be found on the other side. They find Atlantis and it is indeed located under the sea. Their arrival, though, drains most of the power left in the local crystals and the city is in danger of imminent drowning. Now the Atlantis team must use the local gate to find another world to inhabit. The Ancients are gone. They were wiped out by a terrible enemy. Unfortunately, the planet visited by the expedition is being attacked by these new bad guys. They are called the Wraiths. These same wraiths captured a part of the expedition. Now, the SG Atlantis team needs only to learn to use the Ancient technology and rescue their compatriots from the wraiths who would eat them. Eat might not be the exact right word. They \"eat\" the life force, aging the victim. Even worse, they are not even the main threat.\n\nHide and Seek - The Atlantis crew is still trying to settle in to their new city but they have some problems in that many of the gadgets need to be activated by a person with a rare gene. Dr. McKay finds a device he believes to be a personal shield and agrees to try an experimental gene therapy treatment to see if he can use the device. It works but there is a problem. He is invulnerable but nothing can get through the shield. That includes food and water and even his own hand. He cannot turn the device off. Meanwhile, some of the kids get themselves into trouble when playing hide and seek. One disappears. Not long after, people start seeing strange shadows and rumors of hauntings and general spookiness. The kid playing hide and seek has unwittingly let loose an energy being imprisoned since the time of the Ancients. Now it is feeding on the energy of the base and all are in trouble. Defeating it will take some uncharacteristic bravery on the part of McKay.\n\nThirty Eight Minutes - The Atlantis team carries out another recon of the Wraith planet. While there, they are ambushed and barely make it back to their shuttle. The shuttle sustains some damage and Maj. Sheppard is not much better off. He has been attacked by a giant, parasitic bug which has attached itself to his neck. Nothing they can do will make it dislodge itself and it is feeding off of his life force. The shuttle team has problems too. One of the engines didn't retract all the way and, as the ship tries to transit the wormhole, it gets stuck, part in and part out. Now time is running out. The wormhole will only be stable for 38 minutes. After that point, it shuts off and kills everyone.\n\nSuspicion - Atlantis recon teams continue to encounter Wraiths on most of their missions. This happens even in the most unlikely and uninhabited places. Suspicion grows that there is a traitor or an agent among the refugees they have living with them. They are restricted in their movements and barred from use of the Stargate. Naturally, they resent this. Eventually, they move on to settle a land mass on the Atlantis planet. Still, the Wraiths seem to be getting information of the movement of the Atlantis teams. There is someone giving info to the enemy but it is not a traitor.\n\nChildhood's End - While on a recon mission, the puddle jumper crashes and all electronic equipment ceases to operate. The team is then captured by a bunch of children. None of the locals is over 25 years of age. They believe that by killing themselves on their 25 birthday, the Wraiths are not attracted to their people. It is human sacrifice. The actual reason that the Wraiths do not return is more complex. There is a hidden device which messes up the electronics and keeps the Wraiths away. The device is powered by a ZPM crystal, the same type of crystal the team originally set out to find and which powers everything needed. Taking the crystal dooms the kids. Hotheads among the kids want to kill everyone just to be on the safe side. It is a nasty moral dilemma.\n\nPoisoning the Well - The Atlantis team finds a planet with a fairly high level of technology. It is still behind the Earth's but it shows some promise. The people of the planet store their knowledge in huge libraries to help them rebuild after each harvest by the Wraiths. They are on the verge of developing a vaccine that will render victims immune from the wraith feeding. With the help of the Atlantis team, they actually make a viable vaccine. When it is tested on the wraith prisoner, it does more than expected. It also poisons the Wraith. This sounds good but the Atlantis crew fears that when the Wraiths learn of this, they will wipe out the entire planet to keep the knowledge of the vaccine from spreading. The politicians are adamant, though that the populace must be inoculated. Things get ugly when those inoculated start dying also.\n\nUnderground - The Atlantis team heads out on a trade mission to a planet known to Kayla as simple, Amish style farmers. These guys drive a hard bargain and Shepherd has to go back to get authorization from Dr. Weir. When he comes back, he stumbles into a great secret. These are not the simple farmers they pretend to be. They have a hidden, underground civilization secretly working on a plan to fight the Wraiths. They think they can get an edge by getting more Atlantis technology. The problems, however, are multiple. The plans count on hibernating wraiths and the locals are unaware that the sleeping Wraiths have been wakened. A bigger problem, though, is that neither side really trusts the other. The biggest problem, however, is that these people are NOT trustworthy.\n\nHome - Dr. McKay is an obnoxious and arrogant @$$ but he is a smart one. While the Atlantis team is investigating a new planet, they find a Stargate that is drawing an incredible amount of power right from the atmosphere. He thinks he can establish a wormhole back to earth with it. He is right and all of the leading characters report back to Earth to let the home folk know what is going on. They intend to return on the Prometheus but a problem develops. There is an accident on the ship and the leadership seems to be stuck on earth. The problems are worse than that, though. Each of the leadership seems to be having differing experiences that don't mesh with the others. It is quite confusing to the viewer for a while but it seems that each one is being thwarted in all attempts to get back to Atlantis base. The reason for this is simple. They are not on earth. Someone has a vested interest in keeping them from getting back.\n\nThe Storm - An incredibly huge storm threatens Atlantis. This is the type that only occurs every few centuries. It is so bad that Dr. Weir decides to evacuate temporarily to another planet. Finding a planet, though, proves difficult. Most people don't like to have well armed, technologically superior people running around in large numbers. A deal is struck, though, and it looks like everyone will make it to safety. The problem is that the \"hosts\" betray the problem to the Genii, the planet of untrustworthy humans who wanted A Bomb technology 2 episodes ago. They put together a strike team and seize control of Atlantis while most of the people are gone. They manage to capture most of the senior officers except for Maj. Sheppard. The episode ends with a hostile and tense standoff needing to be resolved in the next episode.\n\nThe Eye -Most of Atlantis has been evacuated because of a killer storm. A Genii strike force has seized the Atlantis and holds most of the command team from Atlantis hostage. Atlantis looks to be completely wiped out by the storm unless McKay and Weir, two of the hostages, can use lightning from the storm to power the city's shields. Maj. Sheppard is on the loose playing commando and trying to take back the critical functions while saving the lives of the hostages. A few people caught on the mainland in a puddle jumper during the storm are all the allies he has. It's a race against the clock and killer waves. It's an exciting episode.\n\nThe Defiant One - An Atlantis scientist discovers something interesting at one of the Lagrange points. It is a satellite and a moon. They also hear a distress signal...a wraith distress signal. When they go to investigate, they find a wraith supply ship. They assume that after 10,000 years, there must be no survivors. They are wrong. The Wraiths are a hardy and persistent species. The Wraith survivor is also very hungry. That means a bad day for the expedition. The last news that the Wraith has heard was that the Wraiths had Atlantis under siege. Now, Maj. Sheppard tells him that the Wraith lost the war. That does not stop him from trying to steal the ship though. It's another race against time as the Wraith tries to eat everyone and escape and the Major tries to kill the wraith and hold out for the relief force.\n\nHot Zone - After the big storm the Atlantis crew is looking the city over to ascertain damage. While a ways of from the HQ, a few of one of the survey teams starts having terrifying visions. After a few such visions, the affected person dies of a cerebral hemorrhage. When others start to be affected, a quarantine and lockdown is instituted. An Ancient virus has been accidentally released. Unfortunately, one of the party got away in his panic and has affected lots of others. Now panic is running rampant as some people are frightened of the virus and others are frightened of the visions. Now McKay, who is infected himself, must figure out a cure. He has a few hints but its going to mean some risks.\n\nSanctuary - While on a survey in a Puddlejumper, Maj. Sheppard and his team come under fire from Wraith ships. It doesn't look like they are going to make it but, suddenly, all the Wraith ships are destroyed by some weapon from the planet below them. That sounds like technology, or at least some energy crystals, which Atlantis desperately needs. When they get to the planet surface, they find a peaceful and pastoral culture with little sophistication and no high technology. They all share a common religion, though. In an effort to learn more, Sheppard seeks out a \"priestess\". She is intriguing but declines to offer sanctuary. She does come back to Atlantis for a visit, however. There, she seems too perfect and too good to be true. That is because she is not what she seems. Without knowing it, the Atlantis crew has found someone for whom they have been desperately seeking. They have found her but she will not help.\n\nBefore I Sleep - While exploring new parts of the city, a team stumbles onto a stasis chamber with a live but extremely old inhabitant. They believe this to be one of the Ancients. When the sleeper is revived, however, the crew of Atlantis is in for a shock. The sleeper is Dr. Weir, another version of Dr. Weir who has been asleep for 10000 years. She is in frail health and not expected to last to long but she has information to impart. In her reality, the arrival of the Atlantis crew started a fatal series of events that destroyed the city. In a last ditch effort to escape, she and a few others got aboard one of the puddlejumper ships and found themselves in a battle with the wraiths. As they desperately tried to figure out the controls, they activated one which sent them back in time 10000 years to the Ancients. There the battle with the Wraiths was raging also and all are killed but her. The Atlantians are about to evacuate to Earth and they invite her to go with them. Instead, she chooses to enter stasis so that she can replace the power crystals of the city as needed over her long sleep.\n\nThe Brotherhood - It looks like the information on ZPM energy crystals brought back by the alternate Dr. Weir in the previous episode might bear some fruit. They find a planet where one of the ZPMs was venerated by an ancient religious brotherhood who regarded the Ancients as gods. The brotherhood was destroyed by a Wraith culling. Now, the Atlantis team must figure out where the brotherhood hid the ZPM. They can do it but there are a few problems. The Genii commando leader who captured Atlantis a few episodes back is aware of what they are doing and he has his own plans to capture the device. The plans do not take into consideration the wishes of the current occupants of the planet. Worst of all, a Wraith fleet is headed towards Atlantis.\n\nLetters from Pegasus - It looks like the entire Wraith fleet is on its way to wipe out Atlantis. Things are looking grim and the leadership team decides to risk using every available amount of power they have in order to open a wormhole back to earth for a few seconds and send a message warning about the Wraiths. They are able to compress all of their data into a small burst. There is still some time left over for people to send personal messages. So it is that we have a retrospective episode with flashbacks. There is a little bit of story, however. Maj. Sheppard heads out in a puddlejumper to do a recon on the Wraith route of advance. They encounter the Wraith on a feeding expedition at a planet and it seems they have a new weapon which Sheppard goes out to investigate. That gives Kayla the opportunity to try and save a few people and thereby endanger the entire expedition when there is not enough room to take a whole planet.\n\nThe Gift - As the Wraith fleet draws ever closer, the Atlantis crew continues to seek other locations to which they can evacuate. While this is going on, Tayla is experiencing terrible nightmares of the Wraiths. She has the ability to sense their presence and she believe these nightmares are somehow connected to that ability. Matters get worse when the dreams begin to star her as the wraith. This experience leads her to investigate why she has this ability that so few of her people have. She learns that it is because of a genetic experiment conducted by the Wraith long ago. She has some wraith DNA. This gives Atlantis some advantage. If she can channel this ability, she should be able to gather invaluable intelligence. Unfortunately, the link works both ways. The Wraith have a much bigger goal than Atlantis.\n\nSiege Part 1 - The episode is about contingencies as Atlantis awaits the coming of the Wraith fleet. Part of the crew keeps looking for sites on which to evacuate. Part searches for a way to destroy Atlantis to keep it from falling into the hands of the Wraith. Part tries to salvage as much information as possible. Dr. McKay, the arrogant ass, comes up with a possible solution. He thinks he can use a naquada generator to power up the old defense satellite from earlier in the season and heads out to try and power it up. Things are not going smoothly. Dr. Weir cannot decide what she wants to save. The local evacuees don't want Atlantis to be destroyed because it is an artifact of the Ancients they venerate; they don't care about earth. The Wraiths have a hidden agent aboard Atlantis and suspicion turns towards Kayla. McKay manages to get the weapon working partially but it is not as effective as would be wished. The Wraith are still closing in.\n\nSiege Part 2 - Just as Atlantis is about to be evacuated, help arrives from Earth. An arrogant marine colonel shows up with some techno toys and relieves Dr. Weir. He also manages to alienate just about everyone with whom he comes in contact. The toys brought with them are not enough to defeat the Wraith but they are enough to (probably) hold them off for a while. This is helpful because more help is on the way. The Daedelus is on its way from earth with a newly discovered ZPM crystal to power the first line defenses. It's a near run thing. The new toys work but they don't work as well as hoped. The Wraith are still closing in and they manage to land some troops on Atlantis itself. There is a possible way to hold out but it involves the cooperation of the Genii. They have never been known for their ability work and play well with others. The plan looks like it might work until power levels drop too low. The solution is a suicide mission with Maj. Sheppard as the star performer. The season ends with the outcome of the battle in doubt.","Product: Battlestar Galactica's season 2.5 (i.e., the final 10 episodes of the second season) picks up where season 2.0 (the first 10 episodes) left off: Galactica's giddy reunion with the Pegasus had taken a sour turn when Admiral Cain (Mich\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Still on the Dark Side\n\nReview: This second half of the second Battlestar Galactica season is still a bit on the dark side. The fleet is still running but it is also bedeviled not only by Cylons but also by civilians with radically differing agendas. Having the Cylons be experts at playing mind games does not help matters.\n\nThis season picks up a few of the story ideas from the original series, The PEGASUS and Adm. Cain are examples, but takes the basics of the ideas and goes in completely new directions. The Cylons still seem implacable enemies but occasionally there seem to be defectors...or are they merely fifth columnists?\n\nEpisode synopses follow:\n\nPegasus - The Galactica crew gets readings of a large ship approaching and launch a response in their belief that it is a Cylon basestar. Instead, it turns out to be the Battlestar Pegasus commanded by the legendary Adm. Cain. At first all rejoice to learn of this additional surviving (and potent) ship of humanity but things get tense quickly. As an admiral, the new arrival takes precedence over Adama. The admiral is a hard case also, who brooks no arguments and tolerates nothing not to her liking. She believes Adama has been too soft and orders the crews of the two battlestars to be integrated. This leads to friction and worse. The Admiral has her own cylon interrogator and rape is one of the preferred methods. When the crew chief learns of this, he and a lieutenant intervene with deadly results. The resulting summary court martial pushes Adama over the edge and he is willing to use force to get his people back. The episode ends with the fighters of the two ships headed for the opposite ship with blood in the eyes. This was the cliffhanger that ended the previous set. It is presented here with some small additions that do nothing to change or enhance the story line.\n\nResurrection Ship part 1 - As the last cliffhanger ended, the Pegasus and Galactica had launched vipers at each other in a very tense standoff. As this episode opens, all is confusion as the fighters on each side wait for instructions as to whether they are to attack the opposing Battlestar. When an unknown ship shows up on the screens and is presumed to be Cylon, the differences are temporarily put aside as all go for the intruder. The intruder turns out to be Starbuck who is back with vital intelligence about the mysterious Cylon ship. Upon interrogation of the prisoners, it turns out to be a Resurrection ship, used to recycle the consciousness of Cylons who have been killed. Adama and Cain temporarily put aside their differences to put together a joint strike but neither trusts the other. When Adama learns that Cain killed or abandoned the civilians who were with her, he is even more set against her. As the episode closes, the joint strike is being planned but each is planning to use the victory celebration to bring about the downfall of the other.\n\nResurrection Ship part 2 - The battle plans are made and each of the human commanders has made arrangements for the assassination of the other commander after the battle with the Cylons. Now it is time for the battle plan to unfold and take the fight to the enemy. The plans against the Cylons go well but the aftermath is not what is expected with the assassination plots. Things get messier when Baltar, the arch-traitor, reverts to type and lets loose a menace.\n\nEpiphanies - The president finally seems to be on her death bed with the cancer ravaging her body. She is distrustful of Baltar and of the Cylon prisoner and orders the foetus she is carrying to be aborted. The Cylon present in Baltar's mind wants to stop this, of course. Meanwhile, there is a growing element within the fleet which wants to negotiate with the Cylons and looks to the military as the enemy. They conduct sabotage and acts of terrorism. As the president is about to die, the phantom Cylon tries to talk Baltar into further betrayals of humanity but, surprisingly, he refuses. He even manages to save the president and the Cylon foetus. He also manages to set humanity up for yet another betrayal.\n\nBlack Market - Shortages in the colonial fleet have led to a thriving black market operation. That such a market would evolve is inevitable but the situation is getting out of control. The president and the fleet finally step in when the commander of the Pegasus is murdered over a black market deal and Capt. Apollo is tasked to investigate the matter. In doing so, he endangers a woman he has become close to and learns more about her that he wishes.\n\nScar - The fleet finds itself desperately in need of strategic minerals in order to manufacture replacements for losses to the Cylons and is fortunate enough to find a system where those minerals can be mined. It means staying put for a while but the following Cylon fleet has been decimated and that gives them a bit of breathing room. There are still some to contend with in the local system, however. One of them is called Scar. He has a reputation for killing Viper pilots. The pilots must confront him, though, in order to protect mining operations. Much of this story is taken up with Starbuck engaged in a clash of wills with another pilot. Each considers herself to be the best and wants to prove it. Starbuck is facing memories of all of those who have been killed before and the up and coming hotshot is overfilled with bravado. Their personalities clash. Meanwhile, Scar is racking up more kills.\n\nSacrifice - When word gets out to the civilian part of the fleet that there is a Cylon prisoner aboard the Galactica, people are disturbed. One group, seeking vengeance, decides to turn to terror. They take hostages on one of the recreational ships and threaten to kill them all unless the Cylon is turned over to them. The hostages include several notables included Capt. Apollo, the President's aide and the wife of Col. Tigh. Everyone knows that negotiating with terrorists just causes more problems but things seem less clear cut when loved ones are the hostages. It's a mess and friendly fire makes things worse.\n\nThe Captain's Hand - The death of Admiral Cain and the Commander of the Pegasus have left a hole in the command structure of that ship. Admiral Adama appoints the senior surviving officer to command but he is an engineer, not a combat leader. He is good with machines but not people. This causes friction and problems that only get worse when two of the Pegasus's raptors go missing. When the new commander goes looking for them, they get bushwhacked. All of this takes place during the midst of a political crisis in which Baltar shows that he is able not only to betray all of humanity but also close associates as well.\n\nDownloaded - This is a confusing episode. It has become time for the Cylon prisoner to deliver her baby. It's a bit premature but the modified aspects apparently make it quite hardy. This poses some ethical problems. What should be done with a newborn which is only half human and whose other half is of a species trying to wipe out humanity? How will the Cylon sympathizer react? How will the Cylon haters react? Is there a danger to the fleet? This little drama takes placed interposed with another taking place back on Cylon held Caprica. Number 6 and Number 8 are both downloaded and inhabiting new bodies. Both seem to be showing some sympathy for humanity. In a reversal that never gets explained, Number 6 has Baltar flashing into her head making snide remarks instead of the other way around. Both are view with suspicion by the other Cylons who have not been contaminated by close contact with humanity especially when they show some sympathy for the human resistance movement.\n\nLay Down Your Burdens Part 1 - Starbuck finally gets what she has been wanting. A rescue mission is sent to Caprica and she is the leader. It's a daring plan but they are counting on some help from Sharon, the Cylon prisoner. They face many jumps and expect to lose some raptors along the way and they manage to lose one on the very first jump. That divides the story line. Starbuck and her rescue team manage to find the last free humans but are attacked by Cylons before they can get back to their ships. Therein hangs the first story line until the next episode but, just as important, the wayward ship has found a planet. It is habitable, barely, and it is hard to find by virtue of being hidden in a nebula. This has big political implications. Much of the civilian part of the fleet is weary of life aboard ship. They want to be on a planet. Safety does not register in their minds. This gives Baltar's faltering campaign for the presidency a new boost when he comes out in opposition to the president and in support of settling \"New Caprica\".\n\nLay Down Your Burdens Part 2 - As the last episode ended, Starbuck and her rescue team are in a standoff with Cylons. It is just a matter of time until they are overrun. Miraculously, the Cylons just seem to give up. One of the rescuees declares a miracle and all head back to the fleet. Baltar's position on settlement has boosted his campaign. Now it looks like he might win even though all sane people know that would be a disaster. The situation is so grave that the powers that be even consider trying to steal the election. The bad guy, however, wins and settlement proceeds. Then comes a long blank of almost a year. The people on New Caprica are barely surviving while Baltar lives a life of luxury. The fleet barely has enough people aboard the ships to keep them running. That's when the Cylons show up. The fleet jumps, leaving most of the people behind, and Baltar is left to surrender. So ends the season with a cliffhanger.","Product: VHS\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great on Several Levels\n\nReview: This is a nice little film on several levels. It is from Jamie Uys, who also directed THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY and ANIMALS ARE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. This film is not the comedy that those were. Instead, it is a drama taking place in Southern Africa.\n\nThe primary story concerns a tribesman who learns that the heart of his daughter has been eaten by another member of the tribe on the advice of the local witch doctor. This deed was done to secure powerful magic and increase the bad guy's prowess as a fighter. When the crime comes to light, however, he flees and the outraged father takes off after him. He is followed to the city of the white man where both are in unfamiliar environments. This leads to the father being taken advantage of and eventually having to find mining work to support himself while he seeks his foe. When he is found, he attempts to kill him and that gets him tangled up in the legal system he does not understand.\n\nThe secondary story is of the lawyer assigned to defend the gallant tribesman. He is cynical and no one, even his wife, seems to like him. He was not always thus but has become bitter and disillusioned. In taking this case, however, he begins to change back into a real human being. Eventually it is learned that the one ultimately responsible for all of the evil in the tribe's life is the witch doctor who uses his position and reputation to extort the other tribesman. The stage is set for a final conflict.\n\nThe film works as an examination of culture clash. It works equally well in its depiction of honor and character change. What will stay with me the longest, however, is the haunting music sung by the tribesmen and women. It is magnificent.","Product: As things settle down on the Lexx, the crew realizes Kai needs a constant supply of proto-blood to continue to function in the real world. Stanley and the others undertake a desperate mission to Kai's wrecked home world in search of a way to extend Kai's existence.\n- Written by Chapman_glen@yahoo.com\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The Silliness Factor Increases\n\nReview: The first installment of Lexx was silly but had its entertaining moments. This one does too but the silliness factor has increased dramatically. Often, it is more of a comedy than an action or science fiction show, even with some creditable visual effects to watch. Eva Habermann is, of course, the most stunning visual effect.\n\nIn this episode, the Crew of the Lexx has managed to flee into the shadow zone but they are not sure where to go. Kai has only enough proto blood to last a little while longer. Zev decides to try and find Kai's home planet in the hope that something there will help. They do find the planet but it is deserted. It had been abandoned millennia ago because the sun was unstable. Some things are still working, however. There is a great library, the machines which keep the sun from exploding are buzzing along nicely and some electronic \"ghosts\" are available to guide them through the library. The problem is, the ghost has its own agenda and that seems to include dismembering some of the crew and appropriating the body of another. They have a few allies, though. These include the sun, a cannibal woman and the brains of a bunch of former Shadows. It is silliness run amuck but Habermann is still terribly cute.","Product: If you enjoy \"America's Funniest Home Videos\", you'll love Jamie Uys' indiscretions of a camera! After the infamous \"The Gods Must Be Crazy I & II\", Jamie Uys is back with his outrageous comedy about the indiscretions of a camera...people filmed without t\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Candid Camera from South Africa\n\nReview: I had no idea what this film was about. All I knew was that it was from Jamie Uys and I liked his other works. I ordered it.\n\nI won't say it was awful but it wasn't great either. It turned out to be a compendium of scenes from a South African show called FUNNY PEOPLE. It seems that is the South African analog of CANDID CAMERA. The gags are similar in style and the results are as well. If you liked CANDID CAMERA, you might well like this. If you aren't a fan, then you had best steer clear.\n\nThere are a few funny bits but you have to sit through a lot to get to them. Its hardly worth the effort.\n\nSomething else that should be noted is that this dates back to the 70's. The styles are from that era and the quality of the videography is evocative of that time as well.","Product: Tony Bennett ~ Here's To The Ladies\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Evocative of the Smoky Old Barroom\n\nReview: This one is called \"Here's to the Ladies\" and the name fits but it could just as well have been called \"Smoky old Barrooms\" for the music evokes images of being in just such a setting and listening to the musician. All of the songs do indeed make some reference to women and therein lies much of the appeal. These songs tug at the heartstrings.\n\nThe style is pure Tony. These are not the big arrangements with large bands but are instead more intimate pieces with minimal but sufficient accompaniment. At times I thought the bass was too high but that was easily changed with the settings on my system. Except for the possible preponderance of bass, the quality of the recordings is excellent.","Product: 73342\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Pleasant Voice from the Past\n\nReview: I remember Jim Croce not as a great singer but as a guy who used to have his records advertised on special TV offers. The only work of his I could have named was \"Jeremiah was a Bullfrog\". Recently, however, a very close fried mentioned listening to one of his CDs on a long road trip. I decided to investigate further and it was a pleasant surprise.\n\nThere turned out to be more songs that I recognized that I had heard before than just \"Jeremiah\". Mostly, though, it was the one that were completely unknown to me that I enjoyed the most. This collection consists of 2 CDs. There are 24 songs on the first and 25 on the second. The second also has a short spoken piece by Croce describing his love for his work. With this many to choose from there were bound to be some that I liked. There were. For me, these consisted mainly on the ballads. But I enjoyed some of the more humorous pieces as well. The one thing that really struck me is that they all tended to be fairly short.\n\nThe quality of the recordings is good and matches the quality of the performances.\n\nIf you are looking for a large collection of Jim Croce pieces, this is a good choice. So too is it a good choice if you want to sample his work as I did","Product: Pulled from recordings made prior to his Decca years, this compilation of archival material shows what made Rafael Mendez the World's Greatest Trumpeter.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Superb except for the Sound Quality!\n\nReview: I both love and detest this album. The title is correct. Mendez's virtuosity is legendary and the playing is great. The problem is with the quality of the recording. I don't know if that is an artifact of the originals or if it is an artifact of sloppy production for this release. In any event, it is disappointing.\n\nThe selections somewhat varied in style but ultimately all scream \"Latin Trumpet\". This is as true of LA VIRGIN DE LA MACARENA as it is of the selections from the opera, CARMEN. In all of them, the skill is superb. I just wish the recordings were as well.\n\nI give it 5 stars for the art and 2 stars for the sound. I compromise with 4 because, deep down, I love it.","Product: Limited Special Edition with Six Extra Dvd Tracks, However, They Will Not Play on USA Players.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: It Grew on Me\n\nReview: This is not what I was expecting. I ordered the CD because of one member of the band who had appeared as a cast member in the TV miniseries SHARPE'S RIFLES. In the series, he occasionally sang songs from the Napoleonic era. One of them was \"Over the Hills and Far Away\". I learned that he was a member of this band and this CD is titled OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY. I don't think they listened to anything like this in Wellington's army.\n\nThis is much more towards the heavy end of the rock spectrum. At first, I didn't like it too much. It didn't bother me but it held no attraction either. Over time, though, it grew on me. I noticed the quality of both the vocals and instrumentation. I can appreciate that even if I do not care for the style. The lead singer could sing and do a creditable job with any opera in the country.\n\nFans of heavy rock who appreciate great skill may well enjoy this one a lot. For me, it was not a waste but neither was it to my taste.","Product: Renee is a multi-dimensional entertainer with a unique style and emotional energy that produces an extra-ordinary entertainment experience. She has been singing and entertaining for over half of her life. She spends her time with live vocal appearances and playing the violin. Her credits are many. Just to mention a few of her performances, she has performed at: The Pasadena Jazz Institute Series, The Derby, The Madison Supper Club, Suzie Q' Swing Club, The Satin Ballroom, Hollywood Palace, Hollywood and Highland, NASA, Six Flag, Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo, Continental Airlines, The Dick Clark Production of the YoungStar Awards in Hollywood, U.S. Space and Rocket Center, National Stage @ The Pasadena Rodeo, A Night At the Oscars, The Audrey Hepburn Foundation, numerous festivals around the State of Texas and California. She has performed the Naional Anthem numerous times at different sporting events including the prestigious Inaugural Opening Night for the W! NBA, Houston Comets. Her incredible vocal prowess, passion and unique style are sure to reach countless new fans in the new millennium.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid Oldies from a Bright Young Lady\n\nReview: This is not what would be called an original album. It consists of Olstead's renditions of works from the WWII era. She does a very creditable job. Her voice is strong and clear and the accompaniment is modest in size (not big band) but perfect. In general, this means a laid back tempo and easy swing.\n\nI didn't think I would ever be able to favorably recognize a rendition of \"What a Wonderful World\" that did not have Satchmo's unique styling but this one is superb. So too does she manage to snatch \"Georgia on My Mind\" from Ray Charles and make it her own. This is what she accomplishes all through the album.\n\nNone of these qualifies as my favorites but I have no regrets. It is a solid piece of work.","Product: Nature, romance and love encase the most stunning voice found within the modern rock scene: Welcome to the fantastic world of Leaves' Eyes! Lovelorn, the debut release by former Theatre of Tragedy vocalist Liv Kristine and musicians of Atrocity, captivates with wonderful harmonies, epic atmospheres and varied arrangements that embark the listener on a journey through the soundscapes of rock.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: And Now for Something Different\n\nReview: I often find myself with recordings by unfamiliar artists and expecting something quite different than what I get. Sometimes it's a disappointment and sometimes it's a pleasant surprise. This was neither. I was expecting a different style and did not care overmuch for the style I heard but I did recognize skill in vocals, instrumentation and arranging. This band is good at what they do; I just don't care overmuch for what it is that they do.\n\nThe lead singer does have a beautiful voice. Every so often, just as I was beginning to enjoy her voice, another one would superimpose itself. I can't describe the second voice as much more than a berserk roar. It reminded me of old drill sergeants excepts that it was less intelligible. From the context, it seemed to be planed that way but I did not care for it.","Product: With Allan Shermans Warner Bros. albums currently off limits, we were combing the vaults looking for something else by Allan to license when we stumbled across this gem. Deemed by Sherman himself as \"the most exciting night of my life,\" this 1964 performance at Tanglewood with the Boston Pops indeed may have represented the zenith of his career, as Sherman, with the help of orchestrator Jerry Fielding, entertained 13,000 fans with dead-on skewerings of sacred cows, musical and otherwise. 'Peter and the Commissar', for example, rewrites 'Peter and the Wolf' to depict the travails of a young songwriter whose work is rejected by authorities who think they know what the public wants, a theme that had resonance (and still does!) on both sides of the Iron Curtain. 'Variations on \"How Dry I Am\"', meanwhile, twists that familiar, four-note theme into endless permutations, and 'The End of a Symphony' beats P.D.Q. Bach to the punch by sending up the repetitious codas used by Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart and other great composers. This album has never been reissued on LP or CD, and for Allan Sherman fans fixated on his more famous work, its likely to be a revelation. A 'Collectors Choice Music' exclusive!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Parodies of Music as well as Lyrics\n\nReview: Allan Sherman was known for making great parodies of songs. Sometimes he even added lyrics to tunes that never had lyrics to begin with. Much of his work is dated now due to changing cultural reference but many of the gags can be understood by anyone. Unfortunately, most of his work is no longer available. There is a \"Greatest Hits\" album that is well worth the money and now there is this album, an album very different from his other works.\n\nThis was recorded with the Boston Pops Symphony during its heyday under the baton of Arthur Fiedler. The longest single piece is PETER AND THE COMMISSAR which runs for over 20 minutes. Instead of adding his own lyrics to the tune from the classic PETER AND THE WOLF, he substitutes his own narration for the original. The orchestra does its own part by parodying famous works from great composers. Beethoven's 5th Symphony done as a blues piece is but one example.\n\nAnother example of this type of parody is the VARIATIONS ON A THEME FROM \"HOW DRY I AM\". Again, different music is taken from out of context and played in counterintuitive styles. All the while, the tune from \"How Dry I am\" keeps appearing. In this respect this work is a direct ancestor of Peter Shickle and his PDQ Bach albums.\n\nThe final piece is called END OF A SYMPHONY. It is a parody of the bombastic and grandiose endings that symphonies tend to have. Sherman narrates and the Pops plays...and plays...and plays.\n\nA great piece for lovers of classical music!","Product: This is the classic reissue of Ann Hampton Callaway 1996 album TO ELLA WITH LOVE. This gorgeous tribute to Ella Fitzgerald features guest appearances by: Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut and Christian McBride.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I changed my tune\n\nReview: I did not think I would care all that much for this album. I bought it only because I really like Ann Hampton Callaway and wanted to give it a chance. I'm glad I did and it was worth it!\n\nAs the title implies, this is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. These were Ella songs but Ann has made them hew own. A few, like \"I got it bad\", evoke the original but for the most part, these are done in Callaway's own impressive style. It is a product that she can be proud of and which Ella Fitzgerald can be proud of as well. For the most part, the tempos a slowed down a bit from those which Fitzgerald would have used but that fits Callaway's style. In short, it works.","Product: Thomas of Hookton is one of those archers. When his village is sacked by French raiders, he makes a promise to God: to retrieve the relic stolen from Hookton's church. Escaping his father's ambitions, he becomes a wild youth who delights in the life of an army on the warpath. Driven by his conscience and protected by his fearsome skills, he enters a world where lovers become enemies and enemies become friends, where his only certainty is that somewhere, beyond a horizon smeared with the smoke of fires set by the rampaging English army, a terrible enemy awaits him. This enemy would harness the power of Chistendom's greatest relic: the Grail itself. Here, in the first book of a new series, the quest begins. It leads him through the fields of France, to the village of Crecy where two great armies meet on the hillside to do battle.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I Wish I had Started Here\n\nReview: I read THE HERETIC first. I didn't not realize that it was part of this series. It was a good book and stands well on its own. This one does likewise. This volume is supposed to be the first in the series dealing with a quest for the Holy Grail.\n\nYou would not realize how the Grail features in the story from this book. It centers around an effort during the Hundred Years War to recover the lance of St. George. It grail comes up only very peripherally. All this stuff about lances and grails is just window dressing, though. The real story is a human one.\n\nThomas of Hookton is an archer. He is a fighting man embroiled in a war. In short, he is the kind of character that Cornwell handles so well. It is an interesting read and will most likely teach you some vocabulary a well.","Product: `A virtuoso of historical fiction' Sunday Telegraph\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Historical Romance with Military Overtones\n\nReview: Bernard Cornwell is known for his historical military fiction so it is not surprising to find this book set in the time of the English Civil War. What is surprising is that the military aspects are secondary. It is an adventure story but it is first and foremost a love story. It is also well done.\n\nDorcas Slythe is the unloved and ill treated daughter of a Puritan family. She is a beautiful girl and Puritans, as a class, tend to be distrustful of beauty but one gets the impression that it is not only for her beauty that Dorcas is ill used. There is something else going on.\n\nWhen her father dies, Dorcas learns that she is the subject of a mysterious Covenant. She realizes that there is some money involved but she doesn't really understand very much about it except that her family is eager to marry her off to an oaf. She wants none of it. She is in love with a boy from a nearby castle and resolves to run away and try to learn about this covenant.\n\nDuring the course of her adventures, she gets embroiled in the Civil War and finds love. She also finds loss, betrayal and adventure in spades. It is hard to know who to trust in this one. It's a good book and worth reading.","Product: This is a How To Use An Airbrush Book from Kalmbach Books. FEATURES: Glossy softcover 96 page book with 215 full-color photographs. This book presents 11 dynamic projects to help you achieve creative, colorful and ultra-realistic finishes for your plastic models. Techniques covered include a variety of camouflage, weathering, high- gloos, \"\"vinyl\"\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: More About How to Paint A Model\n\nReview: This is an excellent book but the title is a bit deceptive. It spends a little bit of time at the beginning describing airbrushes but does not go into much depth. There is not much on how to select a great tool. Instead it details techniques for painting models. In this, it does a very good job.\n\nI bought this book because I wanted to learn about airbrushing for painting model railroad cars and structures but I know absolutely nothing about them. I still know very little. I did learn some fascinating ways to paint model cars, airplanes and figurines, though.\n\nIf you want to learn techniques for doing the actual painting, especially on hobby models, this is a great book. Its illustrations are lavish and clear as are the explanations. If, on the other hand, you want to learn about the brush itself in terms of choosing one and maintaining it, look elsewhere.","Product: Lyman \"L.\" Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 May 6, 1919) was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He wrote thirteen novel sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and a host of other works (55 novels in total, plus four \"lost\" novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, an unknown number of scripts, and many miscellaneous writings), and made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Different Tone than Oz\n\nReview: While this is indeed a fairy tale, it's tone is much different than the Oz books for which L. Frank Baum is best known. It is a very good children's book.\n\nOne gets the impression that this book was written independently of the Oz canon. It is not mentioned anywhere in the Oz books. As a child, my only knowledge of it came from the maps found at the beginning of some of that series. The book was also listed in the other works of Baum. The maps kindled my interest as did the references to it in the \"By\" columns but I was unable to get a copy for 30 years. It was worth the wait.\n\nThe story involves a fairy on the enchanted island of Yew. She is tired of being immortal and the sameness of everything and enlists the aid of some girls to aid her in an adventure. She gets transformed into a \"mortal\" prince for the space of a year and sets out to explore the island and have a good time. In doing so, he comes across several different kingdoms, each with its own peculiarity, rights some wrongs and has a good time.\n\nYew seems directed at a slightly older audience than Oz but it is still meant for young people and people young at heart. It was worth waiting for.","Product: Make your railroad more true to life and interesting, by adopting realistic operation principles. Covers the history, practice, terminology, and benefits of operating realistically. Guides you through the steps leading to realistic operation, and includes pictorial examples of working model railroads and realistic operating sessions.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fills a Needed Niche\n\nReview: Many people find themselves fascinated by railroads and get caught up in the hobby of building model railroads but are hampered by one big problem. They don't know how the real thing operates. If the act of building is the fascination, then this poses no problem but if you actually want to do anything with the trains besides watch them go around and around, you need to learn something about the real thing. That's where this book comes in handy.\n\nIt explains various aspects of how railroads operate in the real world and then explains how enthusiasts have modeled those operations. The book is readable and clearly written. Even so, so material may take a few readings to properly understand. It is a worthwhile investment.","Product: This book covers simple techniques needed to make realistic scenery for a layout of any size or scale. Each chapter includes step-by-step color photos, illustrations, and diagrams that demonstrate the basic steps to adding prototypical scenery elements to a layout. It includes many one-evening projects.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Very Good Introduction\n\nReview: There are two main approaches to model RR scenery. One is to rely on commercial systems and the other is to make things from scratch. While this might be intuitive for something like a model of a barn, it is much less so for the modeling the white water of a mill stream or the detritus of a forest floor. This book looks at both approaches, but does not do so from the perspective of either/or. Instead a situation is postulated and then the author explains how he would handle the situation. Sometimes this means mixing chemicals and installing commercial products and sometimes this means going out and getting a bunch of dead leaves to put in a blender. The approaches are mixed together and the result is an easy to read and easy to understand explanation that can be extrapolated for many situations.\n\nThe book is well illustrated and the actual construction steps are presented step by step. It is easy to follow.\n\nI tend to distrust the natural approach, fearing that in time, organic matter will decay. I am less distrustful of it now and have some new ideas to try.","Product: Very Good/Good Dust Jacket; Copyright 1930 later printing no color plates. belongs to section is blank not filled in. All four corners of book slightly are bumped. small name inscrition at the front endpaper. the actual book is nearly as new condition. the dust jacket has small tears and is missing small fragments at the outer edges. at least 90% of the jacket is present. price clipped dust jacket.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The best since Baum\n\nReview: Like so many others, I was captivated as a child by the OZ series of L. Frank Baum. I had all of his books and knew that others had been written after his death because they were always listed on the end leaves. Unfortunately, they were out of print. No longer.\n\nAs a general rule, Ruth Plumly Thompson's Oz books are nowhere near as good as Baums. This volume is no exception but is her best work so far. She does a good job of evoking the magic of Oz in her books but, too often, the stories are rather simplistic and fraught with coincidence. They are enjoyable but pale in comparison to the original. This work, \"The Yellow Knight of Oz\", is good enough to be ranked with Baum's books.\n\nThompson frequently alludes to many of Baum's characters and they often appear in her works but she has created some new characters of her own as well. Judging by how often Sir Hokes of Pokes appears, he must have been one of her favorites. In this volume he takes center stage. In fact, all of the Baum characters are just peripherals. It may be that working entirely with her own creations has improved the quality of her work. This story is certainly the best of hers so far.\n\nSir Hokus goes off on a quest. He is joined by an American boy. After a number of adventures, he clears up some early history of Oz and restores 2 kingdoms. He finds a nice wife for himself along the way.\n\nLike all of Thompson's books, this one satisfies a need for more things Ozzian. In this case, it does so with a refreshing flair and is an ejoyable read."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Round out your hard-disc based rig with the jaw-dropping fidelity of the Delta 1010 PCI Digital Recording Rig. The Delta 1010 combines 8 balanced or unbalanced analog ins and outputs with S/PDIF digital, Word Clock, and MIDI I/O. All channels are capable of 24-bit/96kHz bandwidth for the ultimate in sonic purity.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Equipment with Quirks\\n\\nReview: This is a superb \\\"upper end\\\" \\\"sound card\\\" for PC audio enthusiasts. It produces great sound and works well with other applications. It does, however, have a few unloveable quirks about it.\\n\\nThe card itself fits into a normal PCI slot in your computer but there is no way to fit all of its outputs onto the back of a PC card. For that reason, this card has a dedicated cable which leads to a rack mounted breakout box where all other connections are made. The bundled software includes an electronic patch bay which makes cabling simpler than it could otherwise be. Once installed, it works well. Getting the thing installed is more difficult. It pays to read the directions.\\n\\nThe driver has to be installed before the card is put in. If it is not, the diagnostics will show everything fine but you will get no sound. Also, if you should have to do a major re-install of the operating system, you need to make sure the card is out. Otherwise the driver will install and work but then disappear after a reboot.\\n\\nThe documentation assumes a fair level of technical competence. If you are working at learning about digital audio, the docs are likely to be above your head. The are easily understandable now but that was not the case when I started.\\n\\nIt's a good box.\",\n \"Product: MiniDV RecordingOffers up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution, 3X color bandwidth (vs. VHS) and significantly higher S/N ratio, to provide stunning video performance.3CCD Imaging SystemEach 1/3\\\" CCD has 380,000 pixels for brilliant digital picture-quality.530 Lines of Horizontal Video ResolutionAdvanced HADs for emailing, printing, or sharing with other compatible Memory Stick(R) devices.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Good Piece of Equipment with a few quirks\\n\\nReview: This camera is easy to use and makes a good quality recording. Since it is an upper end product, it does have a longer learning curve than more simple models but the effort is worth it for the added features. There are, however, a few quirks which could have been fixed to make this a much more usable piece of equipment.\\n\\nThe provided microphone jack is an 1/8\\\" stereo. In my camera, at least, it is not mounted very securely. When I have an external mike connected, I had to be very careful to make sure that nothing touched it, otherwise, the sound would drop off. A friend with some tools and expertise fixed this problem but it should never have happened.\\n\\nThe master switch moves from off to VCR mode (up one), record to tape mode (down one) or record to stick mode (down two). It is intuitive but very easy to overshoot the mark. This can be frustrating and I cannot help but believe there is a better design that could be used.\\n\\nThe \\\"VCR\\\" controls are located on the top surface of the camera. They are intuitive and employ commonly used symbols. They are also backlit and impossible to discern in sunshine. You can see the symbols but there is no way to tell which, if any, of the functions are selected. It is still usable but it is a pain in the backside.\\n\\nThere are a multitude of things that could be done to make the interface on this camera easier to use but it is usable as it is now.\",\n \"Product: Show off your team spirit with this NCAA Badge Reel by Aminco. Each badge reel measures approximately 3.25-inches in length and includes a 24-inch heavy duty retractable nylon cord. It features a printed team colored logo and is ideal for business identification purposes.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Suitable for Lightweight Situations\\n\\nReview: The reel itself seems to be of reasonable quality. I ordered it because of my collegiate logo. Unfortunately, the clip is one of the \\\"slip-on\\\" variety instead of having an actual clip with alligator teeth. If this reel is clipped to a horizontal surface such as a pocket top it should serve fine but clipping it to a vertical surface such as a suspender strap virtually guarantees that it will be lost, especially if the assortment of badges suspended has any significant weight.\\n\\nI see many people at the hospital use this type of reel on a routine basis without any apparent problem. For me, however, it is just a piece of plastic that will sit on my counter unused.\",\n \"Product: Ben Kingsley(star of 1993's Best Picture, Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List and 1982 Academy Award-winner Best Actor, Gandhi), Paul Mercurio(Strictly Ballroom), Martin Landau(1994 Academy Award-winner Best Supporting Actor, Ed Wood), and Lesley Ann Warren(Victor Victoria) star in the epic adventure of passion and power. \\nIn one of the greatest dramas of all time, Joseph(Mercurio) is the favorite son of Jacob(Landau)- and the enemy of his jealous brothers who carry out what is very nearly his death. But Joseph survives and is sold to a powerful Egyptian landowner(Kingsley)...only to face unbearable tests of cruelty and pain.\\nWhat starts as a tragedy ends in the greatest triumph of all in this powerful religious epic filled with stunning senery and heart-rending romance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Confusing at First, But Worth It\\n\\nReview: This is another excellent addition to TNT's Bible collection. It tells the story of Joseph, the son who rose from a slave to the Viceroy of Egypt.\\n\\nJoseph is the favored son of his father, a fact which causes no small amount of jealousy from his other brothers. It eventually causes so much resentment that they sell him as a slave to a passing caravan and tell his father that he was killed. In slavery, he is taken to Egypt. His intelligence and honest are both a curse to him and a blessing. Through God's favor, and Joseph's steadfastness, he rises to a position of immense power. When his brothers come to him, seeking help, they do not recognize him and the stage is set for either reconciliation or terrible retribution.\\n\\nThe story is well done and is in keeping with the scriptures. At first, it can be a bit confusing because it relies on flashbacks that are not always immediately apparent but this is soon gotten over. The result is a good story done well.\",\n \"Product: Clint Eastwood and Geraldine Page star in this tense psychological drama of love and betrayal. During the Civil War a wounded Union soldier is sheltered by the headmistress and students of a girls' academy in the South. As his health returns his desire increases, but can he trust these enemy women not to turn him in? He takes his chances but soon realizes that his benefactress can't be trusted...with his love or with his life! His lustful ambition turns quickly against him and the story follows him through a series of nerve-shattering events, including realistic scenes that are among the boldest, most shocking ever witnessed on film. Directed by Don Siegel, with a sultry score by Lalo Schifrin, this bittersweet thriller of hidden passions is set in one of America's romantic eras.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Bill Clinton as a Union Soldier?\\n\\nReview: Tagline aside, this film stars Clint Eastwood, not Bill Clinton. He plays a Union soldier wounded in a battle with confederates. He is found by a young girl (apr. 12) who is a student at a southern girls' school run by a strict school mistress with very patriotic (Confederate) sympathies. Eastwood manages to persuade the girl (with a kiss) not to raise an alarm and notify the Confederate soldiers in the area. He further manages to charm the women at the school into helping to heal him and delaying reporting his presence to the authorities.\\n\\nEastwood manages this feat by telling each of the women and girls what he thinks they want to hear. He can appear pious, loving, patriotic, amorous or any other way that will appeal to whatever woman he comes into contact with ranging from the schoolmistress to the slave woman who helps out around the place. He manages to convince each of them that she is his primary interest. When things begin to go bad, they go very bad indeed and the women realize that they have created a monster. Their method for dealing with the monster is fairly monstrous itself.\\n\\nThis is an interesting drama that is usually hailed as one of Eastwood's better films but I would not classify it as such. It is worth viewing but is not one of my favorites.\",\n \"Product: The Prince of Egypt [VHS]\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Children's Version of the Story\\n\\nReview: Being animated, this is expectedly directed towards a younger audience. That does not keep it from being acceptable to older viewers, however. It generates enough interest to be worthwhile to all viewing ages.\\n\\nIt tells the story of Moses, born to Hebrew slaves and raised as a prince of Egypt. When he learns of his origins, he flees Egypt only to be called to return. He has been chosen by God to lead his people out of slavery.\\n\\nWhile this tells the same basic story as the Charlton Heston epic, it focuses on different events and has, of course, a more childish approach. The crossing of the Red Sea is the undoubted climax but other than that, the whole tenor is different. It brings out some parts of the story left out of the classic. Moreover, it emphasizes a friendship between the young Moses and crown prince rather than a rivalry.\\n\\nThe songs seem a bit out of place but, for me, they always do in a musical. This once has an Academy Award winner, though, so I guess the music is good if you like your characters to break into song at the drop of a hat.\\n\\nFor those interested in the biblical content, its not too bad. There is not much emphasis on God but there are not any large scale contradictions of scripture either.\\n\\nI prefer the classic version but the kids seemed to like this one.\",\n \"Product: In great shape and looks great. VHS tape\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Older Guys have the Right Stuff\\n\\nReview: This is by no means an action packed war movie. Instead, it is about a group of retirees from the Calcutta Light Horse, a regiment from India, who are recruited to a covert operation to sink German ships passing information to U boats in violation of neutrality. The regiment is one that had not seen action since the Boer War at the turn of the century; now they are called to the colors again during WWII. The subtitle, \\\"Last Charge of the Calcutta Lighthorse\\\", conjures up a mental image for me of a bunch of guys on horses charging ships. That is not what happens. They take the James Bond route instead.\\n\\nThe geriatric commandos are eager to serve and do manage to accomplish their mission. They do encounter setbacks and problems and that is where the movie shines. They are assisted in their mission by Gregory Peck and Roger Moore, two people who are trained in the world of clandestine operations. It sounds silly but it works well.\\n\\nThis is a fun movie and worth subsequent viewings.\",\n \"Product: Great movie for all women.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Hell Hath no Fury Like a Woman Scorned...\\n\\nReview: These women are out for vengeance and they get it.\\n\\nThree college friends are reunited by the death of another college friend. Though they were incredibly close in school, their lives drifted apart afterwards. One became an actress (Goldie Hawn), one became a timid housewife (Diane Keaton) and the other became a very assertive housewife (Bette Middler). After all these years, there is only one thing that they have in common. All three have been dumped by their husbands in favor of younger women. They're not going to take it laying down and decide to recoup their losses, wreack havoc and have some fun doing it.\\n\\nThis is a very entertaining film. The characterizations are strong almost to the point of being charactures but there is some depth to it as well. These women are dealing with real pain. In accordance with the old maxim that shared pain is lessened, they share first with each other and then with their ex-husbands. I almost feel sorry for the cretins near the end but not quite.\\n\\nThis is never going to be considered a great classic but it is thoroughly worthwhile for its entertainment value. It is funny and poignant. It is well worth the price.\",\n \"Product: Acclaimed director John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven, Bad Day at Black Rock, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral) turns the legends of the West upside down in this rip-roaring western comedy about the year Denver was nearly devastated by a droughtof whiskeyand had to have fortywagonloads imported through very harshand very thirstyterritory! Academy Award(r) winners* Burt Lancaster and Martin Landau team with Oscar(r) nominee** Lee Remick inthis beautifully filmed epic adventure that \\\"wins both laughs and thrills\\\" (The Hollywood Reporter)! Also starring Jim Hutton, Brian Keith and Donald Pleasence, this irreverent and literally dry look at frontier life is \\\"possibly the funniest western ever made\\\" (Los Angeles Times)!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Women on the Warpath\\n\\nReview: The time is just after the civil war. The place is in Colorado with winter approaching. Denver is out of booze and booze is needed to survive the winter so the town pools its resources in order to receive a giant shipment. This brings its own set of problems. The booze has to be transported. The Indians will want to hijack the firewater shipment. The miners are afraid that busybodies will divert the shipment. The women's temperance league wants to destroy the shipment. The man with the transport contract want the cavalry to protect the shipment and the teamsters shipping the stuff want to go on strike for better conditions. The whole situation is a farce good for a fair number of laughs.\\n\\nThis comedy is a bit long and does drag in spots but is worth sitting through. The poor cavalry colonel must put up with a host of competing interests, prevent an Indian war, keep the politicians and business men happy, protect the women suffragettes and keep from alienating his own daughter and his love interest at the same time. Everyone else in the film is devoted to wrecking his sanity. This is particularly true of the women. In short, it is a very realistic comedy.\\n\\nBuy it for the laughs.\",\n \"Product: This is the story of Buford Pusser's final days, not only of his life but also as Sheriff. It seems that times are changing and the people of Pusser's town, who once adored him are now fearing him and feel like it's time to make a change. And there are also some officials who feel the same way and are using every means to get rid of Pusser.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: End of the Road\\n\\nReview: The second Walking Tall ends with a notice that Sheriff Buford was killed in an auto accident. This third one picks up earlier in the story though. He is still adamant about getting the people who killed his wife and the Mob is still bent on getting the sheriff but Buford has a problem. He has lost his job as sheriff.\\n\\nThe job loss comes about for several reasons. In some cases, Buford is scene as having gone too far outside the legal boundaries. This happens even when his solutions make life easier for everyone, including the perpetrators. The people of his county also seem a bit jaded by continued success. Where they once cheered him, now they are not ready to support him.\\n\\nThe loss of his job means that Buford has to go after justice as a private citizen and he is well on his way to the poorhouse in pursuing his aims. The new sheriff is suspicious of him and is fearful that Buford might become a problem for him. It begins to look like he might have to move away with his business unfinished when he gets a lucky break.\\n\\nA Hollywood producer learns of his story and wants to make a movie about him. That brings in money and a chance for achieving his goals. The mob leader with a taste for vengeance finally gets his chance and we learn the story of the end of the former Sheriff of McNairy County.\\n\\nThis one is better than the second but not as good as the first.\",\n \"Product: At Christmas, three prisoners - Joseph, Albert and Jules - escape from Devil Island to a French small coastal town. They decide to rob a store, to get some money and clothes and travel by ship to another place. They pretend to be there to fix the roof, but pretty soon they realize that the financial condition of the family Ducotel is not good. Andre Tochard, the selfish and mean owner of the establishment, exploits the family Ducotel. The three convicts spend Christmas night with the Ducotels and are so well treated by the family that they decide to help them. Their pet will help them to fix the situation.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Simple but Fun Comedy\\n\\nReview: Humphrey Bogart is not known for his comedy roles. This is especially true since he didn't do too many of them but what he did do was good. WE'RE NO ANGELS is a good example of this.\\n\\nBogart plays a convicted forger on Devil's Island. Along with his buddies, played by Aldo Ray and Peter Ustinov, he is trying to escape. To do that, they concoct a scheme to \\\"work\\\" for a while for a merchant family until they can slip onto a departing ship. Their plan is to steal the place blind, murder anyone who gets in the way and get on to the ship. What they did not count on was actually liking the family they are working for. When the family faces problems from distant relatives who scheme to deprive them of everything, the cons get to work with funny results.\\n\\nThis is not a fist line comedy but it is good. Ustinov particularly makes a good showing. It is dated but still enjoyable.\",\n \"Product: Silver Bullets Book\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Romp with Wolves\\n\\nReview: This is by no means a frightening movie. Instead, it is an entertaining adventure story in which the villain happens to be a werewolf and the hero is a kid with a severe handicap. He may not have the use of his legs but he does have bravery, a sister that takes him seriously and an uncle who is too much fun to be a really good role model.\\n\\nWhen a town his plagued with sudden a violent murders tensions grow high and neighbors become suspicious of one another. At first no one takes the idea of a werewolf seriously but the bodies continue to pile up. Eventually a young boy confinded to a wheelchair sees the wolf firsthand an escapes on the zouped up wheelchair his uncle built for him. His sister knows that he is a royal pain in the backside but she also knows his character and believes him. She discovers the identity of the lycanthropist. Unfortunately, the wolf also learns theirs. The stage is set for a confrontation.\\n\\nOne of the things I like about this movie is that it depicts young people able to act well and make good decisions in spite of the attitude of the adults. It does not depict young people only as selfish idiots seeking only their own gratification. Here it is the youngsters that save the day with the help of an uncle with childing tendencies.\\n\\nIt's a fun movie, not at all serious, just fun.\",\n \"Product: Actors: Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Martha Hyer, Harry Guardino, Eduardo Ciannelli \\nDirectors: Melville Shavelson \\nWriters: Melville Shavelson, Jack Rose, Betsy Drake \\nProducers: Jack Rose \\nFormat: Color, NTSC \\nLanguage: English, Italian \\nRated: Unrated \\nNumber of tapes: 1 \\nStudio: Paramount \\nVHS Release Date: April 16, 1995 \\nRun Time: 110 minutes Cary Grant and Sophia Loren look just swell together in Houseboat, and why shouldn't they? Grant was still at his best, Loren was bewitching Hollywood as an exotic new ingnue, and offscreen they had had a torrid affair a couple of years earlier, during the shooting of The Pride and the Passion. The two tanned stars are the main attraction in this romantic comedy, which installs single dad Cary and his three children on a dilapidated houseboat on the Potomac River. Sophia is the maid, except she's not really a maid but the cultured daughter of a famous musician. Yes, this is one of those situation comedies in which every problem could be cleared up if only one character told the truth about the situation. If that sort of thing drives you crazy, best skip this one. It's no classic, but those two icons are awfully appealing. --Robert Horton\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Fair Romantic Comedy\\n\\nReview: This is an old one that is still quite enjoyable.\\n\\nCary Grant is a divorced man whose wife has been raising their children. He loves the kids but doesn't have a clue or a manual. When the ex wife dies, he is left in a position to take care of them. He does the best he can which is none too well.\\n\\nGrant realizes that he will need to take some time away from his job in DC. He plans to move to the country closer to his ex inlaws. This is done with the idea that they will help with the kids and also because there is a suspicion that he will eventually marry the younger sister of his former wife. (Apparently there is a history.) The aunt gets along well with the kids who are not thrilled with their father.\\n\\nMeanwhile, Sofia Loren is the daughter of a famous Italian musician on tour. She is chaffing under her father's stern rule and just wants to have some fun. She makes an escape and meets up with one of the kids who helps her to escape from her father's minions. She returns the boy home and is coaxed into serving as a nanny for the kids.\\n\\nGrant's plans for moving do not work out as expected and the whole family temporarily ends up living on a houseboat. The comedy takes off from there as Loren and Grant find that they have feelings for each other and the kids stir things up.\\n\\nFor me, this one was on the cusp between 3 and 4 stars but I am in a good mood. I did enjoy it and it is worth seeing.\",\n \"Product: Train Robbers\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Ann Margaret Gets What Ann Margaret Wants\\n\\nReview: I must admit that Ann Margaret has always been a favorite of mine. That probably, make that certainly, affects my judgment of this film. It is not one of John Wayne's best. I still like it. Only part of that is because I like Ann Margaret.\\n\\nJohn Wayne plays the leader of a group of gunfighters. These are not ordinary gunfighters. They are not in it for the \\\"glory\\\". They just kind of drifted into it after the civil war. Now, John Wayne and his group find themselves working for a woman, Ann Margaret. She says that her dead husband once robbed a train of half a million dollars. The money was lost and she knows the location. She wants to recover it so that she can turn it in to raise the stigma from her son. She intends to pay the gunfighters with the reward money for turning in the gold.\\n\\nThe would-be rescuers of stolen gold have some problems. They have to track down the train and they are in turn being tracked by a lot of bad guys who want to steal the gold.\\n\\nJohn Wayne handles the situation with his typical character. He is honest and protective of those who are with him. He has his own moral code and will not be swayed from it. He would rather do things the hard way if that means maintaining his ideals.\\n\\nHis biggest challenge comes from Ann Margaret. She is strong willed but sweet. Everyone likes her and wants to protect her. They are even willing to give up their share of the reward to help her. She's got them wrapped around her little finger.\\n\\nIts fun and action packed but it is not his best. Still, watching Ann is lots of fun.\",\n \"Product: An American merchant marine captain ferries a group of Chinese refugess down the Yangtze River to escape the Communists.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: John Wayne Takes on the Red Chinese (And Lauren Bacall)\\n\\nReview: John Wayne has his hands full in this one. He plays an American sea captain captured by the Red Chinese and held for the crime of not being a communist. While he sits rotting in a prison, he gets a mysterious note telling of arrangements made for his escape. He makes good on his escape only to find that his benefactors are the daughter of an American doctor (Lauren Bacall) and a village of Chinese who are less than thrilled with their communist masters. They have arranged to steal a ferry boat and want John Wayne to pilot it 300 miles to Hong Kong and take the entire village with him. The communist gun boats make for dangerous adversaries but navigating the river with a decrepit paddle wheeler, no charts and lack of fuel makes the going even more difficult. Taming Lauren Bacall makes all of that easy in comparison.\\n\\nAs usual, John Wayne plays himself in this film. He is a tough, uncompromising man who sets out to do a seemingly impossible task. This time it happens to be in China and aboard a ship. The character does not change but no one expects the Duke to be anyone but himself.\\n\\nBacall plays her part as a feisty American woman. She is, of course, Wayne's love interest in this film and her strong willed nature seems perfect to clash with Wayne's own will of iron. The conflict of wills comes across well. The love story comes across less well. Still, it is an entertaining movie.\",\n \"Product: VHS tape\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Bit of Amusement\\n\\nReview: This is a very 60's style comedy. It purports to be risqu, and I suppose it was by the standards of that day, but it is rather tame by today's standards. Much of it is dated but that did not stop it from being a fairly enjoyable romp.\\n\\nWalter Matthau and Robert Morse are the stars of the show. They play well of men who are friends and office in the same building. Both are reportedly happily married men. What differentiates them is that Matthau's character is a faithful husband while Morse is a philanderer. Matthau's faithfulness, however, does not keep his eyes from wandering and enjoying the bounties of feminine architecture. Morse, advises him that it is his duty to cheat on his wife, if he loves her, so that he does not completely lose it in public one day and embarrass everyone. He offers to train him up in the tactics and strategies to successfully hoodwink the wife and is taken up on his offer.\\n\\nAlthough Matthau and Morse are the stars, the film is filled with cameo appearances by other big names of the time. These appearances advance the story by presenting various vignettes describes successes and failures of infidelity. These are usually the source of the humor in this film. They are well thought out, often, convoluted or contrived and usually very funny. Jack Benny's penny pinching methods to dump a mistress play particularly well to his public persona.\\n\\nWhile all the immorality is going on, the film has a surprise ending just as the big goal is a bout to be achieved. It's a fun film but not particularly memorable.\",\n \"Product: A true television classic, The Homecoming was the second movie (after 1963's Spencer's Mountain) based on Earl Hamner's autobiographical writings about love, pride, faith, and survival in rural America during the Great Depression. The Hom\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Family Christmas Treat\\n\\nReview: This is a much more relevant precursor to THE WALTONS than SPENCER'S MOUNTAIN. It's a good story and an enjoyable introduction to the TV series. All of the characters from the series are present though the adults are mostly played by different people.\\n\\nThe time is Christmas of 1929. The country is in the grips of the great depression. John Walton has had to take work out of town in order to support his family in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He is trying to get home for Christmas and is overdue. There is a blizzard and the radio tells of a bus crash. All are worried as they await the return of the father. The oldest son, John-boy, is sent out to try and find him, having several adventures along the way.\\n\\nThere is nothing particularly exciting but it is wholesome, enjoyable and worth watching. The family comes together to take care of its own and do the best they can in trying circumstances.\",\n \"Product: vhs\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cold War in the High Arctic\\n\\nReview: This is a good cold war drama. After a Soviet spy satellite comes down in the wrong place, the race is on to recapture the film. As was pointed out in the film, the Soviets used their German scientists to launch the satellite containing the camera stolen from England's German scientists using a special film developed by the US's German scientists. The film has the location of both side's missile installations and both sides want it. Neither side will give an inch.\\n\\nThe chase takes place with a US nuclear sub, overcrowded by marines and spies. The problem is that there is a double agent on board who will give up his own life to sabotage the mission. The twists and turns don't stop and neither does the excitement. The film is dated but still a good show. The photography especially is spectacular, especially for that day and age.\\n\\nRock Hudson leads an all star cast which does a great job across the board.\",\n \"Product: VHS-VHS- PrVwd;ORIGINAL COVERBOX w shelf wear/minor creases ;PLAYS GREAT;1 STICKER on TAPE; ITNL SALES AVAILABLE! WE SHIP all DOMESTIC w DC\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Could Have Been More\\n\\nReview: This is not a bad historical drama but it could have been so much more. In a production that strives to be a \\\"big event\\\", it falls short. Even so, it does have a little entertainment value.\\n\\nThe story is of the warrior Cossacks of the Russian steps. They are acknowledged to be the finest cavalry in the world. The Poles seek their help and the Cossacks bring victory, only to be betrayed. The Poles turn on the Cossacks and take their land to create a buffer with Russia. As a result, the Cossacks go into hiding for a time. They emerge when the danger seems past and the Polish universities are opened to the Cossacks. Taras Bulba sends his sons to school to learn all they can in the hope of eventually being able to defeat the Poles. Naturally, a love story and divided loyalties intervene.\\n\\nYul Brynner plays the title role of the Cossack leader, Taras Bulba. His is the outstanding performance of the film. His exaggerated, larger than life gestures make the character into something more than a wooden figure.\\n\\nTony Curtis plays the son. Some people seem to be distressed because his New York accent detracts from the character. I did not find this any more distracting than the notion that ancient Romans all spoke with British accents. Curtis does a credible but not stellar job.\\n\\nI ordered the DVD through Amazon. I was surprised at what I got. It is apparently a pirated Chinese copy. It has Chinese subtitles and the quality of the recording is poor. Still, it was watchable.\",\n \"Product: Southern Justice\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Vengeance is Mine Sayeth Buford\\n\\nReview: Near the end of the Original WALKING TALL, Sheriff Pusser's wife is killed while the mob is attempting to kill him. Now it is time for payback. There are a few changes, though.\\n\\nBo Svenson replaces Joe Don Baker as the likable sheriff. He does a creditable job but, under the circumstances, he is less concerned with the niceties of exactly following the law.\\n\\nHe's still effective, though. He is so effective that the mob is desperate to get him and hires a variety of hit men to do the job. One of the mob leaders, in particular, is just as obsessed with getting the sheriff as the sheriff is with getting them. That leads to an intense conflict and no concern for niceties. That means violence and mayhem.\\n\\nEven with his proclivity for violence, the sheriff is concerned for his people. He is still a \\\"nice\\\" guy unless you are one of the people who is responsible for the problems. He still manages to get most of the small fry but the big fish still elude him.\\n\\nThis is not a bad movie as sequels go but it is not as good as the original. Anger can only take you so far in progressing the plot. It cannot make up for a lesser script and lesser story.\",\n \"Product: Errol Flynn Actioneer\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Good, Poorly Known Swashbuckler\\n\\nReview: Errol Flynn was the master of swashbucklers and this one is a good example why. He slashes a swath through Scotland, down into the Caribean and back to Scotland again. The action takes place in the highlands, aboard pirate ships and in exotic parts. It involves love lost and lovers scorned. Brother is pitted against brother and treachery plays its part. It has all the elements and makes the most of them.\\n\\nFlynn plays a Scottish noble. When the Jacobin rebellion reignites for the climax, the noble family hatches a plan for its own security. One son will fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie and the other will remain loyal to German George. That way, whichever way the rebellion goes, the family's title will remain safe. Flynn plays the elder, Jacobite son and his side loses. A personal betrayal makes the situation even more tenuous. Flynn has to flee the country for his life. The rest of the story concerns his ability to return to his love, and seek vengeance for his betrayal.\\n\\nThe action is pretty constant is this one and well done. The obligatory swooping around on available rigging, drapes etc. is present as is the swordplay. It's a winner.\",\n \"Product: In 1879 South Africa, the administrators of the British Cape Colony have designs to eliminate the Zulus as a hindrance to their colonial economy. To that end, the British present King Cetshwayo with an impossible ultimatum to provoke a war they are sure they can win easily with their rifles and artillery against native spears. However, that war proves more difficult than the arrogant British commander, Lord Chelmsford, expects as his overburdened army fruitlessly searches for the elusive enemy. However, in the shadow of a hill called Isandlwana, the overconfident British army learns to its sorrow just how badly they have underestimated the tactical skill and might of the Zulu nation.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Well Done but Uninspired\\n\\nReview: I am a big fan of the old film, ZULU. Unfortunately, this one does not measure up to that standard in terms of entertainment value. It is well done, as accurate as most movie portrayals of historical events and well acted. It's just not very exciting.\\n\\nWhile ZULU dealt with the siege at Rork's Drift in the aftermath of the battle of Isandlhwanna, this film deals with the battle of Isandlhwanna itself. In the 1870s, the British government of Natal in South Africa feared that the Zulu were growing too strong. They delivered to the Zulu king an ultimatum with which he could not comply. They then invaded. Everyone thought that the best infantry in the world, the British army, would soon put a Zulu notch in the imperial belt. Instead, the 24th regiment of foot was wiped out by Zulu impis at Isandlhwanna. This is the story of that disastrous campaign.\\n\\nPeter O'Toole plays Lord Chelmsford with all of the arrogance which ultimately led to the destruction of the British expeditionary force. Burt Lancaster plays one of his knowledgeable officers and Bob Hoskins plays the regimental sergeant major. Each does a good job of portraying the character but the whole does not stand together as well as it should. The images of the impis washing over the British positions is frightening in its severity but there is little else in the way of excitement.\\n\\nAll told, I am glad to have seen it but have no need to see it again.\",\n \"Product: Two minor characters from the play, \\\"Hamlet\\\" stumble around unaware of their scripted lives and unable to deviate from them.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An Insanely Funny Comedy for those with the RIght Background\\n\\nReview: This is a work of genius. It is creative, original, funny and well done. That being said, it is probably not for everyone.\\n\\nThis wonderful takes as its starting point a couple of very minor character from Shakespeare's HAMLET. These are the stars of the show. In Hamlet, they are merely a couple of friends of the prince called in to help deal with Hamlet's melancholia. They appear briefly and are gone. The last mention of them comes when the royal court hears a message that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. They are merely there to drive forward the story of the prince.\\n\\nIn this work, the hapless two are called in for the same purpose but the story centers around them. The spend the entire film trying to figure out what is happening to themselves and to those around them. As they discuss existential questions, the tragedy of Hamlet plays out around them. It is quite funny but some background helps.\\n\\nIt helps a great deal if you are comfortable with Elizabethan speech. Whole pieces are lifted from Shakespeare and the added dialog is of the same style.\\n\\nIt helps if you are familiar with Hamlet. That makes understanding the context easier.\\n\\nIt is great fun if you have some knowledge of physics. Rosencrantz spends the whole film on the verge of making monumental discoveries in basic physics but is thwarted at each turn.\\n\\nIt's is fun.\",\n \"Product: Sci-Fi Adventure\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Human Drama at the Outset of the Space Age\\n\\nReview: This may indeed be though of as a \\\"space movie\\\" because much of it takes place in space but to do so is to miss the point. It is a human drama.\\n\\nAn Apollo capsule has been in space for a while and the crew are tired and worn out. They are finally returning to earth but something goes wrong. Houston, we have a problem. At first, it is treated as just a temporary glitch but the glitch defies resolution. It becomes apparent that the astronauts run a real risk of running out of air.\\n\\nGregory Peck plays the NASA director. He is a tough man motivated by the best interests of the program. He does not see a real way to rescue the marooned astronauts. It is pointed out to him, however, that failure to even try will spell the doom of the program. Once he gets on board, he does so with every resource he can muster. Unfortunately, there is a hurricane heading for the cape. That makes launching a rescue even more problematical.\\n\\nMeanwhile, on the stranded ship, the astronauts have their own problems. They realize they are on borrowed time and there is not a thing that they can do to help themselves. Saying goodbye to their families exhausts their capabilities.\\n\\nIt is a sad tale extremely well done. It does not focus on the machinery, instead it focuses on the people.\",\n \"Product: A Fool and His Money is a 1988 American comedy film. After losing his job, a young advertising whiz decides to use his talents to make himself a fortune promoting a worthless product. Despite protests from his beautiful lover, his scam starts to work. A bizarre look at love and money in the 90's.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not too good even with beautiful Sandra\\n\\nReview: I admit it. I bought this one because I think Sandra Bullock is beautiful and she looked nice on the box. I need not have bothered. She is a very minor character with minimal screen time. She does well in her few moments but that is not enough to make this a \\\"good show\\\".\\n\\nThe story revolves around a Madison Avenue type who thinks he has a divine mission to found a new religion. He sets about hsi task with all of the market research tools at his disposal and manages to fleece his flock of much of their disposable income. Near the end, he begins to see the light and reforms himself.\\n\\nThere are a few brief moments of laughter, a few moments of Sandra in briefs but the the redeeming moments are all too brief.\",\n \"Product: Desperado [VHS] [VHS Tape] [1995]\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Mariachi\\n\\nReview: This film is supposedly a sequel to Rodriguez's earlier hit, \\\"The Mariachi\\\". As a sequel, it only partially succeeds. Partly this is because Antonio Banderas is just such a different person in terms of physique, drive and tone that the original mariachi. It was hard for me to make the jump that he was supposed to be playing the same person.\\n\\nAnother failure, from the sequel point of view, is that not enough is brought forward to the current film from the original. We know that Banderas is seeking vengeance for the murder of his girlfriend but not much else. The continuity between the two films is minimal.\\n\\nThat being said, this is still an effective shoot 'em up flick with lots of action and a few catchy lines. The conflicts are dramatic and you do find yourself wondering how in the world he is going to get out of the situations he finds himself in.\\n\\nThe plot is minimal and can be summarized succinctly: The bad guys have killed Banderas' girfriend and he is going to kill them all. That pretty much sums it up. Along the way, he faces doubts and searching questions from his friend and his new girlfriend. These do no keep him from blowing away the opposition but they do make him think about it for a little bit. \\\"What happens when you finally get them all?\\\" is a question asked more than one.\\n\\nThere is no doubt that this moive is violent and sexual in nature. If that does not scare you away and you like shoot 'em ups, then this can be an entertaining film. If you're looking for something more cerebral, look elsewhere.\",\n \"Product: The timeless story of the hero of the Israelites and the beautiful Philistine who tested his faith\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Better than Average Biblical Drama\\n\\nReview: TNT produced a wonderful series of Old Testament dramas. All are good but some are better than others. This one falls somewhere in the middle.\\n\\nSamson is a child gifted with superhuman strength. He is an Israelite and his people are under the thumb of the Philistines. He is God's chosen instrument for deliverance.\\n\\nHe would seem a strange choice. He is not exactly a pious individual. He is fairly faithful to his vows but sees nothing wrong with having a good time. This is especially true when having a good time involves a beautiful girl of the Philistines. Over time, he lets the treacherous beauty in on his secret and the result is terrible. He is deprived of that which makes him great to begin with and winds ups as a blinded slave.\\n\\nThe redeeming quality of the story is God's ability to take an imperfect individual and use him for great purposes. Nobody is beyond the pale. That is the central message and it is well done.\\n\\nOn the minus side, there are some non scriptural elements. This is to be expected for a long production of a fairly short biblical story. In my mind, these do not detract from the centrality of the message. Some of the acting is a bit underwhelming but it is by no means bad. All in all, this is a good show.\",\n \"Product: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, the big screen's original \\\"odd couple,\\\" star in this riotously funny high-seas adventure. In search of lonely ladies with big bank accounts, happy-go-lucky Charlie (Matthau) cons his cranky, widower brother-in-law Herb (Lemmon) into joining him on an all-expenses-paid, luxury cruise. But their \\\"deluxe accommodations\\\" are deep in the bowels of the ship, and Charlie has signed them on as dance hosts! Under the tyranny of crooning cruise director Gil Godwyn (Brent Spiner), Charlie and Herb are in for rough weather as they romance the luscious Liz (Dyan Cannon) and the lovely Vivian (Gloria De Haven).\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Amusing but not \\\"The Odd Couple\\\"\\n\\nReview: Jack Lemmon and Walter Mathau work well together. They are amusing and seem to be able to sense how to react together without having to think about. That quality is present in \\\"Out to Sea\\\" but it is not enough to carry the weight of the entire film.\\n\\nThe premise is one of two elderly genltemen without wives. One is a batchelor and schemer and the other is a widower who is straight laced. Neither are what could be called wealthy. The schemer cons his friend (and former brother in law) into taking a cruise. The htich is that he has signed them up to work as professional dance partners to dance with the ladies. When this comes to light, Mr. Straight hits the ceiling and is ready to leave. Unfortunately the ship has already left and he is stuck working or paying a huge bill. The schemer has a reason for his deception, however. He is looking to get a wealthy wife. His friend has no such ambitions.\\n\\nThe plot is one with much potential for comedy. Indeed, there are plenty of moments for smiles and laughs. So too are there more tender moments that can tug at the heartstrings. The problem is that it just doesn't hold together was well as it could. Though each of the stars does a good job, more could have been done with the script.\\n\\n\\\"Out to Sea\\\" is certainly worth the price of admission. The question is whether it is worthy of repeat performances.\",\n \"Product: George C. Scott returns to the role of General George S. Patton. This darama chronicles the general's controversial last days after he is involved in a car crash at the end of WWII.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The Magic of the Original is Lost\\n\\nReview: George C. Scott reprised what may be his most famous role as General George S. Patton. Unfortunately, this seems to have been a mistake. The sequel has little of the quality of the original movie and even less interest. As biography, it was fair. As entertainment, it was a bore.\\n\\nScott still manages to maintain the image of the famous general. His bull headedness is present as is his conviction that he is the only savior of western civilization. So to does the impression that for Patton there is no calling more honorable than that of the soldier, even enemy soldiers. This comes out early in the movie while the general was assigned as the military governor of Bavaria. He dresses down some SS prisoners for thei slovenly ways and even they resond to his leadership style. There is a purpose to it, though, he wants them ready to fight under his command should the need to confront the Soviets arrise.\\n\\nPatton's nature puts him at loggerheads with his superiors and the press. Eventually, he is to be releived for cause but fate intervenes in the form of an auto accident. The general breaks his neck and is paralyzed THe second half of the movie deals with his reaction, that of his family and friends and also that of politicians and the press.\\n\\nThere is very little excitment in this production. It relies heavily on dialog that could have been better. It also places some reliance on flashbacks which were inteded to demonstrate what kind of a man the general was. Some of these are effective; most are not. In general, it is a fairly boring movie.\\n\\nThere is some truth to the argument that the movie has some merit just as a biography. It does a fairly credible job of pointing out the conflicts in play right after the second world war. It aslo depicts the events concerned mostly as they happened. It is still boring.\\n\\nThe quality of the DVD also leaves much to be desired. Some of this is because this was a made for TV movie but much of the blame can be laid on the transfer itself. It has a tendency to skips and miss frames. Based on other reviews, I was not the only one to have this problem.\\n\\nIf your are a fan of historical biography, this movie may appeal to you. If you want to capture the excitement of the first one, though, you will be disappointed.\",\n \"Product: new sealed\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Spaghetti Western with Extra Sauce\\n\\nReview: This is a delightful comedy spoofing the spaghetti western genre. It does do with a saucy sense of humor.\\n\\nThe story is of a pair of brothers. One is an outlaw posing as a sherrif to hide from the law. The other is a ne'er do well brother who is fast with a gun and faster with his dry wit. Each brother for his own reasons decides to help a group of Mormon farmers and protect them from the guy who wants their valley. The old brother does so because he wants to steal the rich man's horses. The younger just wants to steal the Mormon's daughters.\\n\\nNothing is taken too seriously in this film including fancy production values. It comes across as an inexpensively made Italian Wester because that is what it is. That does not prevent it from being entertaining. Unfortunately, the low production values seem to have carried over into the DVD transfer. I don't know is this is due to the poor quality of the original film or if it was just a bad job. Whatever the case, it is still very watchable and enjoyable.\\n\\nThis one is not particularly edifying but it is fun.\",\n \"Product: Three VHS Boxed Set about mostly-fictionalized accounts of the life and alternately tragic and triumphant times of Tennessee small-town police chief Bufford Pusser in the `60s and early `70s.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good for the Movies, Not the Frills\\n\\nReview: This set gives what it promises. It provides videos of the 3 movies from the 70s about Sheriff Buford Pusser. It does little else. There are no special features to speak of; its just the movies.\\n\\nIf you like the movies and don't care for the frill, you will like this set. If you want more, you will be disappointed.\\n\\nSynopses of the individual films appear below:\\n\\nWalking Tall\\n\\nThe Original is still a Classic\\n\\nJoe Don Baker plays the part of Buford Pusser, a.k.a. Buford the Bull, a pro wrestler who is disenchanted with the crooked sport and who decides to settle down in his home town in rural Tennessee. Home is not the way he remembers it, though. There is a hint of corruption in the air.\\n\\nThis does not matter overly much to Buford until it affects him personally. When the local thugs, working for the local moonshiners and madam, work him over and leave him for dead, he decides that he has had enough. He doesn't get a gun, his wife does not like guns. Instead, when he recovers, he gets a big piece of oak, heads over to the roadhouse where all the problems are and proceeds to kick everyone's collective butt. That lands him in jail.\\n\\nWhen the trial comes about, it's a pretty open and shut case. Even Buford admits that he did the violence. It looks like he is going to be convicted until he fires his lawyer, makes an impassioned plea on his own behalf, shows the jury his scars and promises that if he is acquitted, he will run for sheriff and clean up the town. He gets off and then proceeds to clean things up.\\n\\nThe problem is that the crooks don't want to be cleaned up. They fight him and even threaten his family. That makes it personal for Buford. He cleans them up anyway but has to endure a fair amount of grief in the process. Throughout it all, he relies only on speaking softly and carrying a BIG stick.\\n\\nThis is not highbrow. Its just a simple good versus evil story. Buford is the good guy and he is likable.\\n\\nWalking Tall Part 2\\n\\nVengeance in Mine Sayeth Buford\\n\\nNear the end of the Original WALKING TALL, Sheriff Pusser's wife is killed while the mob is attempting to kill him. Now it is time for payback. There are a few changes, though.\\n\\nBo Svenson replaces Joe Don Baker as the likable sheriff. He does a creditable job but, under the circumstances, he is less concerned with the niceties of exactly following the law.\\n\\nHe's still effective, though. He is so effective that the mob is desperate to get him and hires a variety of hit men to do the job. One of the mob leaders, in particular, is just as obsessed with getting the sheriff as the sheriff is with getting them. That leads to an intense conflict and no concern for niceties. That means violence and mayhem.\\n\\nEven with his proclivity for violence, the sheriff is concerned for his people. He is still a \\\"nice\\\" guy unless you are one of the people who is responsible for the problems. He still manages to get most of the small fry but the big fish still elude him.\\n\\nThis is not a bad movie as sequels go but it is not as good as the original. Anger can only take you so far in progressing the plot. It cannot make up for a lesser script and lesser story.\\n\\nWalking Tall: The Final Chapter\\n\\nEnd of the Road\\n\\nThe second Walking Tall ends with a notice that Sheriff Buford was killed in an auto accident. This third one picks up earlier in the story though. He is still adamant about getting the people who killed his wife and the Mob is still bent on getting the sheriff but Buford has a problem. He has lost his job as sheriff.\\n\\nThe job loss comes about for several reasons. In some cases, Buford is scene as having gone too far outside the legal boundaries. This happens even when his solutions make life easier for everyone, including the perpetrators. The people of his county also seem a bit jaded by continued success. Where they once cheered him, now they are not ready to support him.\\n\\nThe loss of his job means that Buford has to go after justice as a private citizen and he is well on his way to the poorhouse in pursuing his aims. The new sheriff is suspicious of him and is fearful that Buford might become a problem for him. It begins to look like he might have to move away with his business unfinished when he gets a lucky break.\\n\\nA Hollywood producer learns of his story and wants to make a movie about him. That brings in money and a chance for achieving his goals. The mob leader with a taste for vengeance finally gets his chance and we learn the story of the end of the former Sheriff of McNairy County.\\n\\nThis one is better than the second but not as good as the first.\",\n \"Product: The story of a faked trip to Mars and the astronauts who tried to survive it.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Government Gone Bad Tale\\n\\nReview: The first manned mission to Mars is ready to go. The astronauts are strapped in and the countdown is proceeding. At the last minute, the capsule is opened up and the astronauts are taken out to a secret location. The rocket then blasts off as scheduled.\\n\\nIt turns out that a contractor skimped on some parts and the high brass knew the mission would be fatal. Their funding, however, depends on success. They intend to let the rocket go on and mount a hoax with the unwilling participation of the astronauts. Their families are being threatened and they have to play along.\\n\\nConditions are rough but they get rougher when the astronauts figure out that they are expected to have a fatal accident on re-entry. They know they must escape and the chase is on.\\n\\nThis is a pretty fair film from the 70s. It is not the best and the cynical view of the government seems harsh but, all too often, it rings true as well.\",\n \"Product: An action-packed, swashbuckling adventure, Nate and Hayes stars Tommy Lee Jones as the notorious real-life buccaneer, Captain \\\"Bully\\\" Hayes, and Michael O'Keefe as the young Reverend Nate. The story takes place in the mid-1800's on the South Pacific islands where murderous raids and bloody battles were not uncommon. A cut-throat gang led by the villainous Ben Pease (Max Phipps) has brutally interrupted the wedding ceremony of Nate and Sophie (Jenny Seagrove). After abducting Sophie, Pease teams up with a German Count (Grant Tilly). Together, they plan to take over the island of King Owatopi using Sophie as the sacrifice. Nate bands together with the infamous Hayes -- a deadly rival of Pease -- to battle their foes.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Relatively Modern B Movie Adventure\\n\\nReview: This film is not the quality one would expect from a name like Tommy Lee Jones but it does have its moments. Watching it is like watching an old B movie serial with more modern effects like color and scripts.\\n\\nJones plays Capt. Bully Hayes, a south seas scoundrel with a reputation for piracy. He is hired to transport a young couple to the island where they plan to marry and become missionaries. The young lady on her way to be married is a bit nervous. She does not seem like she is ready to settle down to such a calm life. Even so, she is resigned to it but not without a little act of defiance. She takes some of her money to \\\"invest\\\" in the dashing captain's maritime exploits.\\n\\nAfter dropping the couple off, the couple's island is raided by slavers who think they have killed everyone except the girl, who is naturally taken prisoner. They try to leave evidence implicating Hayes and plan to use the girl to trade to a barbarian king in exchange for basing rights for the expanding German navy. She is to be a human sacrifice in the style right out of the Saturday matinees.\\n\\nMeanwhile, Capt. Hayes has decided that he has a romantic interest in the girl and turns back to get her. He find a very hacked of fianc who believes that Hayes is the cause of all his woes. Together, this unlikely pair head out to rescue the damsel in distress, take on the Imperial German Navy and clear the Captain's name.\\n\\nThe film is full of unlikely plot devices and rube Goldberg contraptions but it does have a certain brassiness about it. It was fun to watch but is certainly not worth keeping near at hand. It might be best suited for entertaining some unruly boys on a rainy weekend.\",\n \"Product: This film has outstanding special effects, excellent cinematography & a wonderful cast.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Third Time's the Charm\\n\\nReview: As in so many cases, a great movie comes out and the sequel is just mediocre. Then a third sequel comes along and it too is a great movie. This is yet another example of that phenomenon. JURASSIC PARK III is a good movie. I don't think it is a good as the first but it is certainly better than the second and the dinosaur footage might well be considered the best yet.\\n\\nThis is a straight adventure/rescue story. Sam Neil is hoodwinked into returning to the isle of dinosaurs to act as a \\\"tour guide\\\". He is only supposed to narrate what is seen from a plane that will never land. As it turns out, the plane does land and the purpose of landing is to search for a lost boy. The good doctor was shanghaied because the parents of the boy wanted someone with experience running from large carnivores. By the end of the film, everyone has plenty of experience.\\n\\nIf I had one real complaint about this one it is the suspiciously good timing of the marines who turn up to save the day. That didn't destroy the story, though. By the time that happens, everything is pretty much over.\\n\\nAs with the second in the series, there are plenty of new dinosaurs at which to marvel. These include some that may pave the way for yet a fourth in the series.\",\n \"Product: Billy rocks!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: A Hippie Diatribe with Indian Mysticism\\n\\nReview: BILLY JACK closed with Billy being arrested for manslaughter. This film opens with an extremely long sequence featuring the director of the school Billy was protecting in the last installment, recounting a long list of grievances to a reporter. In this sequence, virtually every hippie stereotype and left wing cause is aired. Intermingled with this retrospective diatribe are flashbacks of Billy Jack's legal trial and prison sentence.\\n\\nThe \\\"trial\\\" referred to in the title does not seem to be the legal one mentioned above. After being released from prison, Billy undergoes a personal trial, replete with Indian mysticism. He is seeking to become a less violent person. This is the backdrop for the real point of the film.\\n\\nAll events lead up to staging a massacre at the school similar in nature to the historic one at Kent State University. The movie is virtually a tribute to those who lost their lives. Little else is accomplished in terms of story or drama.\\n\\nThe movie makes some valid and even good points about the politics of the day and indicts justs about everything associated with \\\"The Establishment\\\". It also back a few losing points of view. Whether these points of view are agreed with or not, however, the film could have been much stronger and made its point better.\\n\\nThis is a very long film. That made it proportionally more difficult to sit through. It is propaganda of its time. It has germs of truth within but those germs are lost with the sledgehammer method of delivering the message.\",\n \"Product: In this OZ adventure Dorothy finds herself \\\"over the rainbow\\\" along with her friends the Scarecrow Tin Woodsman and the Cowardly Lion. Our brave friends set out to do battle with the Evil King Krewl and the Wicked Witch Mombi who has placed a spell on the beautiful Princess Gloria. Scarecrow leads the way as our heroes defeat King Krewl and Mombi and return the land of OZ back to a beautiful fun and peaceful place.System Requirements: Running Time 60 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 787364407095 Manufacturer No: 44070-9\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A Curious, Period Piece from Oz's Original Creator\\n\\nReview: I have been an Oz fan all of my life and usually jump at the opportunity to add something to my Oz collection. So it was that I was glad to find this piece. Watching it, however, was not all I had hoped for.\\n\\nI was pleasantly surprised to find that it was written and directed by L. Frank Baum, the author of \\\"The Wizard of Oz\\\" as well as the later sequel, \\\"The Scarecrow of Oz\\\". As such, I expected it to be a very faithful adaptation of the book. In this, I was surpised by two things. The first was that the story was much less like the book that I would have expected from the book's author. The second is how good a job was done in a film dating from 1914.\\n\\nThe basic story is that of the book. Princess Gloria has her heart frozen by an evil witch to prevent her from marrying a commoner. The Oz characters come to her rescue. The way this comes about, however, deviates significantly from the book and several characters are changed or are missing alltogether. This was a dissapointment to me but may not be to others.\\n\\nThe state of the art for motion pictures was not all that developed in 1914. With that in mind, this movie does achieve some remarkable things. The \\\"trick\\\" are easy to identify but they do not detract from the progession of the story itself. These special effects include an underwater scene with the scarecrow, the actual freezing of the princess's heart and the decaptitation of the evil witch. They do blend well with the story. There is none of the \\\"how did they do that\\\" feeling but there is a \\\"I'm surpriised they managed that\\\" feeling to replace it.\\n\\nIn appearance, it seems like Oz is located in the American plains of the midwest. This is particularly apparent when the scarecrow is seen in his cornfield with \\\"Indians\\\" dancing around him. So too do the river scenes seem more like a bit of Americana than the fantasy land of Oz. So too do the witches seem to come from Salem as opposed to the fairy land. This is another instance of something that distracted me but may not affect anyone else.\\n\\nStaple Oz characters making an appearance include Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard, the wooden Sawhorse, Old Mombi, Button Bright (as a girl instead of a boy!) as well as those specific to this story line like Gloria, Pon, King Krewl and Googly Goo. Notably absent are Trot, Captain Bill and Betsy Bobbin. It is possible that Hank the mule makes an appearance but I don't know if that is intentional or a coincidence and the character is not named.\\n\\nThis film is well worth buying for serious Oz fanatics. It does provide a diverting hour of entertainment and follows the basics of the story. So too might it appeal to silent movie fans who like silent movies for their own sake. The Little Rascals short is a nice additional touch as well.\",\n \"Product: Renee Zellweger (Chicago) and Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge) are the toast of the town in the most stylish romantic comedy of the year! From the producers of American Beauty and the director of Bring It On comes a teasing, tantalizing battle of the sexes that is \\\"pure enchantment\\\" (Daily News). When best-selling feminist author Barbara Novak (Zellweger) becomes the target of dashing playboy Catcher Block (McGregor), these sparring, would-be lovers generate enough sparks to fly you to the moon and back. In other words, the ultimate catch has just met his match!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Women are Evil; So are Men\\n\\nReview: This is a romantic comedy done just a few years ago but done in the style of those from the sixties. This is more often attempted than achieved but this one achieves it. It capitalizes on what passed for risqué back then and pushes the envelope just a tad further. It is done with style and good taste which is really the only way the battle of the sexes can be portrayed well. More, it actually does capture the feel of the time in the same way that Hollywood did back then. It is surreal and appropriate to the film.\\n\\nThe story involves a womanizing man who writes for a New York magazine and an up and coming woman who has just written a hit book promoting free love for women. Early on, he manages to hack her off which does not bother him because he assumes she is a plain spinster. When he finally catches a glimpse of her, his hormones are thoroughly enraged. By then, it would seem that he has burned all his bridges. It gets worse for him when all of his regular girls get on the \\\"Down with Love\\\" bandwagon. Then he plots revenge.\\n\\nHe is convinced that he can pose as a different person and make her fall in love with him. That will give him the ammunition to write an article exposing her as a fraud. His plan seems to be going well but she has her own ulterior motives.\\n\\nThis really is a fun piece. It bring back memories. Having Tony Randall put in an appearance just strengthened the sense of nostalgia.\",\n \"Product: You'll dodge, duck, dip, dive. . . and laugh out loud watching Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller settle their differences in a winner-take-all dodgeball competition. Under the painful tutelage of legendary ADAA champ, Patches O'Houlihan (Rip Torn), Peter LaFle\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Mindless but Fun Comedy\\n\\nReview: Peter owns and operates a neighborhood gym. He is a nice guy but a lousy business man. In fact, he is practically broke. Still, his is the only place accessible to the \\\"average Joe\\\". It does not cater to the \\\"beautiful people\\\". Frankly, it caters to losers. They are nice losers but losers all the same.\\n\\nThe problem occurs when a big, corporate gym wants to buy his facility. He doesn't want to sell but does not have the cash to pay off the delinquent note. The only hope is to enter a dodgeball tournament. Nobody from the gym really knows anything about dodgeball but it is their only hope. They are lucky in that they find a former \\\"professional\\\" to act as coach. As predictable as it seems, the underdogs manage to triumph after a lot of unexpected traumas along the way.\\n\\nThis film is utterly predictable and uses all the traditional sports clichés but that does not matter because it is fun. Enjoy it for what it is: a mindless but fun comedy.\",\n \"Product: Take a journey back to prehistoric America when mighty dinosaurs ruled the continent. From New York to New Mexico, these powerful animals lived, hunted and died in the very place you call home. Watch millions of years of violent evolution unfold before your eyes. By combining state-of-the-art computer animation with beautiful live-action landscapes, youll witness these fearsome creatures roar to life. Faster, stronger and fiercer than ever, these dinosaurs are based on the most recent and scientifically accurate research ever assembled. Faithfully recreated, these dinosaurs move, look and sound like youve gone back in time. Youll meet the never-before-seen Zuniceratops, a uniquely North American creature that was first of its kind to have horns over its eyes. Youll also visit all your favorites including the T-Rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and the ferocious Raptor, with a startling new appearance that ll surprise you. You wont see more authentic and terrifying dinosaurs anywhere...except buried in your own backyard.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Inane and Sometimes Cartoonish but Otherwise Inoffensive\\n\\nReview: The subject of this program is a shallow survey of the great age of dinosaurs in North America. It begins with the Triassic and proceeds through the Cretaceous and a few types are examined in each period. Nothing is presented with much depth and the narration is the type expected of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. You merely follow the critters around and see what they are doing.\\n\\nCompared to the state of the art when I was a kid, the dinosaurs depicted in this program are a miracle. Compared to recent programs, however, they are somewhat lacking. This is not the high budget animation of Jurassic Park or some of the higher end documentaries but it is still a miracle compared to the Claymation things I saw as a kid. Along with the quality of the animation, I had a few problems with some of the depictions of the creatures themselves. Late in the Cretaceous, some are shown with primordial feathers. That makes sense but the furry looking dinosaurs from early in the Cretaceous do not. Hair is a trait of mammals, not raptors. Furry raptors indeed!\\n\\nThe narration is provided by John Goodman whose voice was pleasant in that role. Unfortunately, his script was rather inane and rarely added anything worthwhile to the program. Most of the statements presented as wonderful revelations are merely common sense. \\\"Plant eating dinosaurs have learned to get along with their environment by eating plants.\\\" One would suppose that meat eating dinosaurs learned to get along with their environment by eating meat.\\n\\nIt may seem that I have panned this program but that is not my intention. It is shallow compared to many others and the presentation was lacking but that did not detract from the wonder of seeing the dinosaurs roam the earth. To me, it was worth it.\",\n \"Product: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Michael Bates. One of the greatest but most complex military geniuses ever is depicted in Oscar-winning form by Scott who won and abruptly refused the coveted Best Actor Award for his extraordinary performance. DVD released 11/6/2001.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of the finest war movies ever made\\n\\nReview: Gen. George S. Patton was an @$$hole. He was also one of the finest combat commanders the US ever produced. He could be extremely loyal, mourn the wounds of his men and at the same time shamelessly spend the lives of those men in pursuit of his own glory. He had a myriad of faults and quirks but he also had some really fine, almost anachronistic qualities. In short, he was a very complex individual. This film depiction does a magnificent job of bringing all of that out.\\n\\nGeorge C. Scott earned his oscar in this role. He captured the complexity of the man who was George Patton and does so with style and vigor. The warts are there but so is the genius, the charismatic leadership and the thirst for glory.\\n\\nCarl Malden does no less a job in his portrayal of Omar Bradley, a vastly different type of character than Patton. The two film personalities complement each other as well as the historical ones ever did.\\n\\nThis movie was rightly hailed as a masterpiece. It did not just portray Patton's real achievments. Those were spectacular enough for a movie without all the character study. This film provides more, however. It gives the character study. It gives a glimpse of understanding of the complexities that made up the historical figure. Even more remarkable, it does so in an entertaining manner.\",\n \"Product: Hailed as \\\"the most imaginative Sci-Fi since 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy'\\\" (New York Daily News), \\\"Lexx\\\" follows the nomadic existence of four misfit characters who have inadvertently stolen the most powerful weapon of destruction ever made: a Manhattan-sized, genetically-modified insect-ship. In its debut season, the \\\"Lexx's\\\" quirky crew - former security guard, Captain Stanley Tweedle; the luscious love slave Zev; the dead-but-deadly assassin Kai; and the robot head 790 - comes together in four, full-length features: \\\"I Worship His Shadow\\\", \\\"Super Nova\\\", \\\"Eating Pattern\\\", and \\\"Giga Shadow\\\".\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A Silly but Somewhat Entertaining Show\\n\\nReview: The Lexx universe is a somewhat depressing, Orwellian creation of mindless bureaucracy and an underlying sense of evil. His Divine Shadow, the supreme ruler, exists to rule through order. That makes for a fairly dreary and miserable existence. It is a universe of bread and circuses. There are a few alternatives, however.\\n\\nThere is a parallel shadow world about which little is known except that it is chaotic. There is also an active resistance within the realm of His Divine Shadow. The story begins to come together with the confluence of several events.\\n\\nA minor bureaucrat faces \\\"reprogramming\\\" or possibly extinction for his minor personal failings. His failure to face his problems leads him to get into deeper trouble.\\n\\nA frumpy woman makes the disorderly mistake of slugging her fianc when he is disappointed with her appearance. She is sentenced to a new, very attractive body and life as a sex slave.\\n\\nA leader of the resistance is caught and about to be sentence to death in an arena. He has a plan of escape that goes slightly off plan when one of his gizmos is unwittingly damaged by the bureaucrat mentioned above. He still manages to wreak some havoc and escape in the confusion. He takes with him these previous two characters.\\n\\nThe last member of a long dead race is revived to track down these fugitives. He is utilized by His Divine Shadow as an assassin. He is really dead but his body and mind are utilized (against his will) by means of advanced technology. He goes after the fleeing escapees but defects. He helps them to capture the Lexx, an immensely powerful ship. Together, they flee into the shadow zone.\\n\\nThe story doesn't hang together too well but it does manage to maintain interest. Partly, this is because of Zev, the very decorative sex slave character. Partly it is because of the hapless bureaucrat who manages to be amusing. Partly it is to see what silliness will occur next. It's certainly not great but I am willing to give it a chance and see what develops.\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Still A Good Show\\n\\nReview: The fourth season continues to weave as series of complex subplots in an interesting series. Richard Dean Anderson continues to develop both his comedic personality and his sarcastic wit. His playing the comedian to Christopher Judge's Teal'c character's straight man is a delight to watch. The English first crowd should continue to be glad that North American English is the galactic standard.\\n\\nEpisode Synopses appear below:\\n\\nSmall Victories - The season opens with an old Soviet sub infested with one of the Replicators which were causing havoc in last season's cliffhanging finale. That one replicator manages to reproduce and take over the sub. That is the small problem. The big problem becomes apparent when Thor comes through the Stargate. He comes seeking help. His planet is about to be overrun by replicators and their high-tech has done nothing to help them. They think the Earthlings might be able to help because old fashioned bullets seemed to be able to destroy the spiders. The concept is so primitive that it never would have occurred to them. They hope that more such primitive thinking will help them pull their collective chestnuts out of the fire. The solution to both problems seems to be the same and is summed up in the old human adage, \\\"you are what you eat.\\\"\\n\\nThe Other Side - This is a dark one. Contact comes through the Stargate from a human civilization seeking help. They are involved in a war and are desperately seeking help from any source they can find. It is a fairly advanced civilization and, in return for heavy water to fuel their reactors, they will give of their technology. Col. O'Neill is quick to jump on the offer but something seems wrong. They are very reticent to talk about their enemy or to describe the cause of the war. As time goes on, they begin to show an increasingly ugly side. The team must decide if the technological advances are worth the moral price.\\n\\nUpgrades - A Tok'ra who is haughtier than normal comes through the Stargate seeking help. They have some armbands that came from an extinct civilization which are reputed to give superhuman strength and speed. They want to test them out and learn more about them. They do not use themselves because their ghoul parasites render them immune. It turns out that the armbands do work. They confer phenomenal speed and strength but they have some problems as well. They are addictive, they won't come off and they screw up normal bodily metabolism. This does not seem to bother the Tok'ra scientist who is not only insufferably arrogant and oblivious to the health of the SG1 team. She has a hidden agenda. She wants to use the enhanced powers to carry out a raid against Apothis.\\n\\nCrossroads - A Jaffa priestess comes through the Stargate with strange news. She claims to have learned how to communicate with her larval symbiote. She wants to get in touch with the Tok'Ra so she can transfer the larva. It is past her time to \\\"deliver\\\". Without a new host, she will die soon. Everyone is skeptical. Communication with larval symbiotes is supposed to be impossible. The payoff is can be large as well. They ghoul will have valuable knowledge. The new defector to the Tok'ra turns out to be less than trustworthy but, then again, the Tok'ra are not particularly trustworthy themselves.\\n\\nDivide and Conquer - A delegation from Earth is negotiating a formal treaty with the Tok'ra. As the negotiations draw to a close, one of the humans goes crazy, pulls a weapon and tries to assassinate the Tok'ra leader. The attempt is foiled but the human manages to turn his weapon on himself. It turns out that he had been the victim of some sort of Ghoul mind control technology. Now, all of the humans are suspect. Testing reveals one more agent from the other SG teams and then it reveals Col. O'Neill and Maj. Carter as two more. They flunked the test and there is reason to believe that they are part of a plot to assassinate the President or the Tok'ra leader. The truth proves more complex. The detection device is actually a glorified lie detector and they failed the test because of something they refuse to admit even to themselves. That does not stop the assassination attempt, however.\\n\\nWindow of Opportunity - It's GROUNDHOG DAY for Col. O'Neill and Teal'c. While the team is investigating an artifact of the ancients on a distant planet in the company of an off-world archeologist, they notice he is acting a bit squirrelly but don't pay much attention due to the big magnetic storm going on all around them. Suddenly, some strange rays shoot out, hit the Stargate and the colonel and Teal'c find themselves back on earth...the day before. They keep reliving the same day over and over again as they try to make sense of the time loop that only they seem to be stuck in. They work hard and also take some time off for pranks they know they can get away with. No Consequences! It's a fun episode.\\n\\nWatergate - When the Stargate fails to lock on to a destination, SGC realizes that it is because another gate is open on earth. They come to realize that the gate they thought had been destroyed on Thor's ship survived reentry and was recovered by the Russians. Now, it is stuck in the \\\"on\\\" position and the Russians want help. They seem to know way too much about the super secret Stargate program. The reason turns out to be surprising but not as surprising as what is on the other side of the open gate. It opens under water and the inhabitants of that world are quite...fluid.\\n\\nThe First Ones - Daniel and one of his archeologist buddies are on a dig on a planet. They are uncovering fossils of primordial ghouls. Suddenly, the dig crew is attacked by an Unas. It is a very primitive unas. Some of the crew are killed but Daniel is dragged off alive. A rescue mission is sent to find out what happened. The survivors seem dazed. Daniel is terrified. He thinks he is about to become a ritual \\\"coming of age\\\" feast for an aboriginal Unas. While he is being transported, however, he begins to develop a relationship with the brute. Now, if the rescue team can just figure out what is making the first wave act funny, they might catch up to Daniel and the Unas before he becomes Purina Unas Chow.\\n\\nScorched Earth - In a humanitarian gesture, the SG Command endeavors to relocate an entire civilization to a new planet. It is a fairly primitive civilization but they are nice folk. Their previous home had become uninhabitable. The planet to which they are relocated is a rare one which can accommodate them. Just as the people are celebrating their new home, word comes of a great disaster. A gigantic machine is destroying the planet. Actually, it is terraforming the place into an environment suitable for the race that built the machine. That would make it fatal for the humanoids. Actually, they would not have to worry about it because they will not survive the terraforming process. The terra formers can't just pack up and leave because their ship had the capability to restore their civilization on exactly one planet. There are not enough resources to start again. It's a nasty little moral dilemma. Seemingly, one of the two civilization has a chance to survive and the other one is doomed.\\n\\nBeneath the Surface - The crew of SG1 are acting strangely. They are laboring in a subterranean power plant under appalling conditions. Except for Teal'c, they don't even realize who they are. They think they belong working as \\\"slave labor\\\". Even Teal'c is not remembering things clearly. A little mind control touch up and the Teal'c problem seems to go away. Meanwhile, back at SGC, everyone is organizing search parties. Nobody can believe that the team could just disappear that way. The government on the planet where they disappeared is not being too cooperative either. It looks like the members of SG1 are condemned to eternal slavery, at least for as long as they live.\\n\\nPoint of no Return - The people of the SGC are surprised to get a crank phone call asking for Col. O'Neill. They are even more surprised when the guy shows knowledge of the Stargate. They have no idea who this clown is but they decide they need to check him out. He turns out to be the biggest dweeb/nerd/weirdo ever to grace the small screen. Every clich is invoked. He also turns out to be right most of the time. His memory, though, is very faulty. It seems to get things wrong at just the right moments. Oh...and the undercover agents with the drugs, hidden spaceships and black helicopters really out to get him.\\n\\nTangent - The SG program is starting to bear some technological fruit. They have managed to cobble together some captured parts along with some new fabrications and build a fair copy of a ghoul assault glider. The pilots are having a ball with it until they take it out for a live fire test flight. Teal'c is piloting and O'Neill is in the second seat. Suddenly, the plane heads straight up and just keeps on going. Because of Teal'c's rebellion, Apothis had installed retrieval devices on later gliders. The parts incorporated into the earth design have these recall devices. The earth glider is heading back to Apothis and should get there in a few hundred years...long after they run out of trivial things like air, food and water. The only hope is a rescue mission. The only people available to help are the Tok'ra but they have another mission in mind.\\n\\nThe Curse - Daniel learns that his old professor and mentor has died in a strange accident. He goes to the funeral and encounters an old flame and an old rival. He learns that they have been messing around with some artifacts that are of the ghoul variety rather than the Egyptian kind and they have no idea what they have really found. It is dangerous and threatens to unleash two more of the old \\\"gods\\\" on earth. Academic rivalries just make matters worse.\\n\\nThe Serpent's Venom - While trying to foment revolt among the Jaffa on Chulak, Teal'c is betrayed into the hands of the Ghoul, Herorar. That is not good for anyone concerned especially Teal'c, who face some unpleasant bouts of torture. Herorar has a plan. He want to trade Teal'c to Apothis in the hope of gaining a privileged position in the Apothis regime; Apothis is trying to expand his forces to take over the entire ghoul hierarchy of System Lords. Apothis has his own plans. He want to get Teal'c, betray Herorar and take his army anyway. SG1, needless to say, has plans of their own. They want to prevent an alliance and save Teal'c. The Tok'ra's plans coincide with Stargate Commands in the first part but they consider the Teal'c part optional and unworkable. Everyone has his own idea as to how to proceed. Meanwhile, Teal'c is having a very unpleasant holiday.\\n\\nChain Reaction - As the SG1 team returns from a dangerous mission, General Hammond informs them that he is retiring. He declines to give any reason. His replacement has all of the warm and fuzzy qualities of George Patton but none of his common sense. When Col. O'Neill starts investigating why Hammond retired, he learns that his grandchildren had been threatened. Some shadowy types want more access and control over the SGC agenda. They only way to get rid of the idiot who is commanding SGC and who is, incidentally, about to get the earth blown up, is to get the goods on some of the slimy politicians that exerted the pressure. This require some deals with the devil.\\n\\n2010 - This is a strange episode that does not fit in too well with the rest of the series. It takes place in 2010. The SG1 team are featured but they are their future selves. They inhabit a nice world in which all is pleasant except for a few minor things. The slimy politician who has caused them so much trouble is now the president. Col. O'Neill retired under a cloud. Maj. Carter is married to somebody else. Humanity is allied with an advanced civilization which has given them longevity drugs. The ghouls are no longer menace. Human fertility is essentially zero. It seems that the advanced race has a plot afoot to extinguish humanity so they can have Earth. When the SG1 team finds out what is happening, they come up with a plan to fix the situation. It involves send a note back through time to themselves.\\n\\nAbsolute Power - On a trip to Abydos, Daniel finally meets the harsesis, the son of his dead wife and Apothis. This is the child with the accumulated genetic wisdom of the ghouls and who was taken into the care of an glowing alien some episodes back. He has aged a great deal since then, though he is still a small boy. He has been sent to Daniel to learn of his true mother. The SGC team wants to tap into his knowledge. While conversing with Daniel, the boy imparts a large store of that knowledge directly to him and the result knocks Daniel unconscious. A year later, Daniel is a power mad despot who willingly kills millions just for his own personal purposes. All is not as it seems, however. The boy is just trying to teach his step-dad a BIG lesson.\\n\\nThe Light - The members of SG5 begin acting strangely after visiting a new planet. They show signs of depression and their brain chemistry is messed up for no apparent reason. One commits suicide. The others seem heading that way. So does Daniel who had accompanied SG5. They are getting worse and are heading for death. The SG1 team heads back to the planet to try and find out what is happening. There, they find a strange adolescent and an alien device that puts out a strange light show. When the Doc figures out some of what happens, she determines that they are suffering from withdrawal symptoms something like those from narcotics. O'Neill gets hooked and so do Carter and Teal'c. If they leave the planet for too long, they die. The answers to the reasons like with the boy. Who doesn't know much and doesn't want to reveal what he does know.\\n\\nProdigy - O'Neill is sent to evaluate a planet for possible use as a permanent research station. It doesn't sound too exciting but he tries to make the best of it. His big problem is with the leader of the scientists who is contemptuous of everything military and jealous of his own authority. The guy seems to think that the Colonel is deliberately trying to sabotage his research when things don't go his own way. Meanwhile, Maj. Carter is giving a lecture at the Air Force Academy. While there, she meets a girl who is possibly the brightest human in a generation. The girl is smart but has an attitude problem. Many think she is not cut out to be an officer. The Major thinks her biggest problem is boredom and a failure to come to grips with the sad fact that not everyone is as bright as she. To solve this problem, she gets permission to take the cadet on a visit to the world where the Colonel is doing his thing. The hope is that she will see an actual goal for all of her disciplined study. It works well until a dangerous alien life form is encountered. Both the cadet and the Major have ideas on how to handle the situation but they are mutually exclusive and the colonel has to make a dangerous choice. It may be that the young lady learns the real meaning of leadership and sacrifice.\\n\\nEntity - A probe sent to a new world goes haywire. It ceases to act under the command of SGC and starts to act independently. It feeds back huge power spikes to the SGC and, as they are attempting to shut things down, it blows the computers there. An alien electronic entity has traveled back to the SGC and all attempts to isolate it are thwarted. Finally, the entity takes over Maj. Carter and uses her mind. It is trying to preserve itself and protect its homeworld. It knows that nobody will willingly hurt Carter. For a while it looks like SGC face the choice of Carter or Earth.\\n\\nDouble Jeopardy - The SG1 team returns to a planet they have been to before but they find they are not welcomed. Instead, the locals turn them in to the Ghoul, Chronos. Chronos is glad to have the prisoners; he had in the past vowed vengeance against the SG1 team. He proceeds to have Daniel Jackson killed. That is when we learn that it is not a real Daniel Jackson. It is a robot. In fact, none of these SG1 team members are the real ones. Instead, they are the robots created some episodes back and which promised not to leave their own world. The boredom got to be too much for them and they had to go exploring on their own. It is up to the real SG1 team to save the day.\\n\\nExodus - As the last episode closed, the SG1 team had managed to capture a ghoul mother ship. In this one, they rendezvous with the Tok'ra. Several episodes ago, Apothis managed to slip an agent into the ranks of the Tok'ra. They were aware of this deception and used him to feed Apothis disinformation. Now, they are evacuating the Tok'ra planet and are suckering Apothis in. They have an ambitious plan to destroy Apothis and his fleet by blowing up the star. They don't think small! The plan seems to work except that Tanis, the ghoul agent manages to escape and Teal'c feels honor bound to go after him. This happens while the clock is ticking on the star to be blown up. As the season comes to its cliffhanger end, the captured mother ship just barely manages to escape the exploding star. Apothis escapes also and he has an SG1 prisoner.\",\n \"Product: Imagine a world far, far into the future. A world very different than our own where people have been wiped out by massive climatic and geological changes, nearly destroying the Earth. What would the world be like, and what kinds of creatures could survive? An international team of eminent scientists was formed to predict the future and its new life forms in five million, 100 million and 200 million years. The scientists predicted that the Earth would go through several phases, including Ice World after five million years, Hothouse World at 100 million years and New World at 200 million years. To portray the scenery as accurately as possible, a camera crew traveled to remote locations around the world. State-of-the-art animation helped bring to life such freakish beings as Flishes combining the characteristics of birds and fish, the giant slimemold known as the Slithersucker, the Toraton tortoise bigger than any dinosaur, tree-dwelling squids called Squibbons, the spewing Spitfire Bird and many more!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not as Silly as I Had Supposed!\\n\\nReview: I did not have high hopes for this series. I assumed it would be rather silly and was looking to be entertained by the strange and the bizarre. I did find those aspects but I found more as well.\\n\\nThese programs look at the possible evolution of life in the future without humans and in radically different environments. These speculative life forms are interesting but I expected nothing beyond wild, \\\"artists' conceptions\\\". The results are wild but they are based on informed speculation. However bizarre the hypothetical creature presented is, it is compared to current fauna with similar or analogous features. Those features are just taken further and the results are interesting to watch.\\n\\nThis program could be looked upon as a way to teach the fundamental ideas of natural selection in a new and different manner; looking to the future instead of the past.\\n\\nEpisode synopses appear below:\\n\\nDisc One: 5 Million Years - Ice Age World\\n\\nWelcome to the Future - This first episode sets out the suppositions. It postulates a world without humans in which natural selection has had free reign to produce bizarre new life forms. Three time periods are posited. The first is about 5 million years from now. The earth is in the grip of a terrible ice age and the life forms are adapted accordingly. The next scenario takes the opposite extreme. It takes place 100 million years in the future and is a hothouse world. To change things even more dramatically, the third epoch conceived is 200 million years in the future and takes place after a mass extinction event in which most species are killed and the few survivors adapt and radiate into the strangest life forms of all. Each period provides brief glances at some to the imaginary life forms of the future but none is examined in any real depth. This episode serves to set the stage for what is to come by giving the background.\\n\\nReturn of the Ice - This episode concentrate on an arctic environment about 5 million years in the future. Some of the life forms presented include a large rodent which travels in herds, a bird evolved to take the place of toothed whales and a large carnivore that preys on both of them.\\n\\nThe Vanished Sea - Taking place in the same ice age of the previous episode, this episode examines a completely different environment. The locus is the Mediterranean Sea with a big difference from the present day. It is all dried up and is now a salt desert supporting only specifically adapted animals. The ones examined closely in this episode are a large frilled lizard living on the salt flats, a descendant of the martin which is now a major predator and a highly evolved pig.\\n\\nThe Prairies of Amazonia - In this episode we visit yet another biome of the ice age of the future. This one is the vast grassland that occupies most of the continent of South America. It has replaced the Amazon and there are some new and different creatures but, by and large, these creatures face the same challenges that confront today's inhabitants of savannahs. We are introduced to a tool making monkey that bears some resemblance to a baboon, a large flightless bird which has become a top predator and a large rodent which has evolved defensive armor.\\n\\nCold Kansas Desert - The climate this time is the great desert of the North American Midwest. This desert, though, is frigid owing to the great ice fields. Here, we encounter a large rodent related to the ones of the grasslands of the previous episode. They feed on the same tubers as a small, burrowing descendant of the quail; one with a hive oriented social structure. These flightless birds are the principal prey of gigantic, carnivorous bats which roam the skies looking for easy pickings; they are the evolutionary successors to the buzzards.\\n\\nDisc Two: 100 Million Years - Hothouse World\\n\\nWaterland - An additional 95 million years has passed since the time of the previous disk and the world has changed a lot. It is a very hot and very moist world and life has had to adapt. This first episode takes place in a swamp environment. Huge descendants of turtles, the largest land animal ever to walk the earth, stalk the swamps looking for vegetation to eat. Trying to keep out of the way are terrestrial (amphibious) octopi. These mollusks have colonized the land seeking safety from large, predatory fish which use electricity on a scale not envisioned by our modern eels.\\n\\nFlooded World - I like coelenterates as much as the next guy but this episode didn't do much for me. It focuses on the shallow seas of the hothouse earth. The major critters are a huge jellyfish that actually consists of a variety of creatures working together for the common good, a sea slug that has become as mobile as your average fish and a sea spider that exists to protect the big jellyfish.\\n\\nTropical Antarctica - Antarctica has migrated from its position over the southern pole and has become a lush, tropical jungle. Many of the depicted life forms are evolved from petrels. Some take the role of a hummingbird and another has evolved a noxious chemical weapon system. Very large insects are a major predator but smaller insects get their licks in as well. This was a pretty good episode.\\n\\nThe Great Plateau - This episode takes place on a mountain plateau that makes the Himalayas look like minor foothills. Its inhabitants include giant, blue birds with four wings, large spiders that build webs across canyons and which farm mammals and these curious mammals which are the last ones left on earth. It's another really good episode.\\n\\nDisc Three: 200 Million Years - New World\\n\\nThe Endless Desert - It's a new world. Vulcanism and an asteroid strike have changed the planet immensely. The continents coming together to form a super-continent has also had an effect. Most of the earth is a vast desert. The wiping out of most species has provided new opportunities for a few. A termite has evolved to be adapted to hunting, agriculture and mining. Worms have it good as well and demonstrate both agrarian and hunting varieties.\\n\\nThe Global Ocean - One continent means that there is once ocean as well and this ocean has seen some major changes. Fish are virtually gone. Their multitudinous places in the ecosystems have been taken over by arthropods. Fish are not completely gone, however. Some have become real flying creatures that can breath air. Cephalopods are around as well and they have evolved. Their intelligence is greater and their camouflage is more effective. They can also get huge. Some things remain the same, however. Sharks are still efficient killers; they have just further refined their methods.\\n\\nGraveyard Desert - More troubles in the desert are the theme of this one as we learn about scavenging beetles, scavenging worms, hopping snails and some carnivorous plants that feed on larger life forms than small bugs. This has been the only episode thus far where a plant is a significant part of the show.\\n\\nThe Tentacled Forest - Although most of the land is a great desert, there is a magnificent rainforest along the coast. In this environment there are more fish turned to land dwelling flying creatures, giant lichens which resemble trees, slime molds that hunt and a gigantic, walking terrestrial squid. To top things off, there is another squid which dwells in the trees and swings around like an ape. These are intelligent squids and the possibility is left open that they will further involve and become...civilized.\",\n \"Product: The Gospel of John, the best-loved of the four Gospels,vividly comes to life in a faithful and powerful dramatization of the Biblical text. The Gospel of John meticulously re-creates the era of Jesus during a tumultuous period that changed the course of history. Starring Henry Ian Cusick as Jesus, and narrated by Christopher Plummer, and with a cast of over 2500, The Gospel of John has been adapted for the screen, word for word, base on the American Bible Society's Good News Bible, by Emmy-nominated John Goldsmith and is directed by acclaimed British director Philip Saville.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Tells the Story without the Excitement\\n\\nReview: I suppose this production does what it sets out to do. It is supposed to be a dramatization of the Gospel according to St. John. It is fairly accurate in this respect. The parts of the Gospel that consist of narrative are narrated. Where speech is pout into peoples' mouth in the gospel, so to do those parts appear that way in the film. Throughout it all, the scenes are re-enacted fairly well. With all of this attention to detail, it is a shame that it can be fairly boring.\\n\\nThe parts are often portrayed with excitement and enthusiasm by the actors but that same excitement does not translate itself to the viewer. This is a sad fate for the \\\"Greatest Story Ever Told\\\".\\n\\nThough it is not particularly exciting, it does a fair job of conveying the story. It is relevant and the story is timeless. As a pastor, I would wish that in addition to the story it would have conveyed the passion of the Passion story. To me, it did not.\",\n \"Product: APOCALYPSE\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A Fair Result From A Difficult Text\\n\\nReview: TNT hit a home run with their BIBLE COLLECTION, based exclusively on the Old Testament. This was their first attempt at a New Testament book, the Revelation of John. That is a tough one to attempt the first time out but I can imagine while it would be appealing. There is much imagery that would be a natural for the screen. This film, however, falls short of that.\\n\\nThe early church is facing a time of persectution. That is the official policy of the Roman Empire. People of faith are worried and are encouraged on receiving letters from John, one of the original 12 disciples. John himself is in hiding, in a Roman prison. The story is one of keeping the faith in the face of sever hardships.\\n\\nThe film takes some liberties but they seem reasonable. It is not as tight an effort as the OT film but it is respectable. One can learn from it but do not expect any great joy.\",\n \"Product: A retired soldier returns to his hometown to make a new life for himself, but finds that the town has changed for the worse. The town mill has closed and the criminal elements have moved in. With the help of an old pal, the ex-soldier gets elected sheriff and vows to clean up the town at the expense of putting his and his family's safety at risk.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Violent Pursuit of Justice\\n\\nReview: The basic story outline is the same as the original movie about Buford Pusser. It is a story of a man who sees corruption running rampant in his home town and sets out to do something about it. Along the way, he pays a hefty price. After that point, though, the story is different. It has been modernized and made to fit in a current setting.\\n\\nThe violence is profligate but justified. It is used to defeat bad guys who have no qualms against using violence to achieve their means. The police can't help because they are part of the corruption. That leaves the hero to take on the system almost single handedly. He kicks butt and has his own kicked a few times as well.\\n\\nIts nice to see the good guys win.\",\n \"Product: Vin Diesel (XXX, The Fast and the Furious) stars in this electrifying special-effects-fueled action spectacular! After years of outrunning ruthless bounty hunters, escaped convict Riddick suddenly finds himself caught between opposing forces in a fight for the future of the human race. Now, waging incredible battles on fantastic and deadly worlds, this lone, reluctant hero will emerge as humanity's champion - and the last hope for a universe on the edge of annihilation. Powered by groundbreaking visual effects and pulse-pounding, thrill-a-minute action, The Chronicles of Riddick is \\\"a roller coaster ride that leaves you kicking and screaming for more!\\\" (Hollywood Hotwire)\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not for the uninitiated\\n\\nReview: I had never heard of this movie before I saw it in a store. I already had a handfull of choices and I was stocking up for travel. I saw the cover and thought I might enjoy a sci-fi action movie so I bought it.\\n\\nIt was a mistake FOR ME. Apparently this is a sequel and I was missing out on the origins of the story. The definitely handicapped my understanding and enjoyment of the events protrayed. What I did see was a fairly lavish action movie with some great lines and some great stunts. It meant very little to me, however. I think I need to see the prequel to fully appreciate it.\\n\\nYou may want this movie but you should want its predecessor first.\",\n \"Product: This is an exploration of guilt-free voyeurism and sexuality as Juliette Marquis, in her debut, stars as a young woman whose life is part of the world of internet porn webcams. As seen through her eyes, her relationships unveil a world unraveling as she tests all boundaries.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A Sad Cautionary Tale\\n\\nReview: I did not find this film to be particularly erotic. I only found it to be sad. It did, however, have a few redeeming qualities.\\n\\nThe story is of a beautiful young woman in the porn business. She was not forced into it. The money is only part of it. She does it because she likes sex. She works on the internet and makes a good living. She also takes care of her father who suffers from Parkinson's disease.\\n\\nThrough the course of the film, she undergoes a character change. She decides to go into the PI business investigating men for infidelity and that takes her to some even uglier parts of life. She seems amoral but there is some character in there. The problem is she is not sure what she wants. She thinks she may have found a boyfriend but is not sure. The factors in her life, stress, taking care of Pops, an aides scare, physical danger and such prompt an even stronger character change. Most people would consider it to be for the better.\\n\\nThe end is ambiguous. You know she has cleaned up some aspects of her life but we are not really sure how thorough the cleaning is.\\n\\nThe film is well acted and well done. The drama is real and some of the action is graphic. It does what a drama should do in terms of generating character development and change. Still, sitting through it was a trial for me. I am glad to have seen it but I don't need to do it again.\",\n \"Product: Kiefer Sutherland, 24 (Twenty Four), Season Four DVD Collection.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great but not the Best\\n\\nReview: This is another great season of 24 but it is not the best one. That is no surprise since it has set such a high standard for television drama. So instead of being superlative, it is merely great.\\n\\nThere are new characters and new leaders in this season along with some old standbys. There are also some old villains making surprise appearances. With the new cast, they combine for a powerful season and, as always, it is a season full of plot twists and unexpected surprises.\\n\\nThere are many out there who condemn 24 as a show that marginalizes Muslims. This season indeed has some nasty Muslim villains. I wonder if those same detractors noticed that some of the real heroes of this season are Muslims as well...and some of the worst villains are Anglo-American males. The point this series makes over and over again is that people who do bad things are bad and their religion has nothing to do with it.\\n\\nEpisode synopses appear below:\\n\\n7-8 AM The season starts of with a whimper that quickly develops into a bang. Jack Bauer has not been back to CTU since he was fired. Today, he is supposed to go there with the Secretary of Defense to meet with the current director about the budget. The Secretary is unable to go and sends Jack in his stead. The new director does NOT like having him around and is more interested in turf control than in anything useful. While there, Jack gets to witness the takedown of some suspects in the bombing of a train. He recognizes one of them and suspects more is in store. The director will not listen to him, however. Jack takes matters into his own hands and extracts the information violently. The train was a diversion. The real target is the father of his lover, the Secretary of Defense. Jack is just placing the call when the man and the girl are kidnapped.\\n\\n8-9 AM The new director at CTU is still more worried about protecting her turf than in doing her job. She wants to do her job but doing it in a way that reflects well on her is more important. As such, she arrests Jack because he did not follow the rules. He gets a break from Chloe who still trusts him more than her. He learns that a friend of hers has stumbled onto a possible link involving an Internet virus. She had told the director about it earlier but had been shuffled aside. Now, her source's family have been killed and Jack gets the OK to try and bring him in. He's too late. Other people are in trouble too. The terrorist leader has his teenaged son act as a courier to take a briefcase to a meet. He is followed by his suspicious American girlfriend. As a result, the boy is in trouble and the girl is probably going to be eliminated. It is apparent that there are lots of leaks and that the bad guys are getting their information from the inside but nobody knows where yet. As the hour closes, an internet broadcast shows the Secretary of Defense. The bad guys are preparing to execute him live on the web.\\n\\n9-10 AM Jack is following the guy who kidnapped the web geek but is doing so without authorization. In fact, CTU wants him brought in. He manages to rescue the guy in the nick of time and heads off after the terrorist who leaves him for dead. He is still having trouble getting the resources he needs and only Chloe is serving as a sort of go between for him and officialdom. Meanwhile, the teenage terrorist is torn up with angst about his American girlfriend. His father wants he dead. He goes to his mom for help only to learn that she has lured the girl over in order to do the whacking herself. Jack is still trying to follow his terrorist but he has to find a way to delay him while Chloe get satellite coverage set up. He is running out of time so he does the only thing he can to slow the guy down without arousing suspicion. He knocks over (robs) the convenience store the terrorist is using to get something to drink. It's LA. Its believable.\\n\\n10-11 AM It's a tense standoff as Jack tries to rob a convenience store. He is doing it only to buy time until a satellite can be tasked to follow the terrorist. It seems, though, that just about everyone wants to visit that convenience store at that time. Finally, he learns that the satellite has been set up and he breaks out with the terrorist as his hostage. He lets the terrorist go in the hopes that he will lead him to the missing Secretary. Unfortunately the CTU director has found out about the scheme and sends the police to home in on Jack. She is about to pick up the terrorist too but it is pointed out to her that too many people already know that Jack was right and she was wrong. She's a bit distracted, though. She learns that her schizophrenic daughter is busy having a breakdown and she reroutes resources to prevent her daughter from being arrested. The teen terrorist makes a big decision to go with the girlfriend rather than the parents but his mom has anticipated him. She solves the problem herself. Jack is hot on the trail until he is taken into custody by the police.\\n\\n11-Noon Jack manages to get the CTU director to vouch for him and put him in command of a team going after the Secretary. He is closing in when a traffic stop blows the program. The terrorist is let go too easily so he gets suspicious and kills himself before he can be captured and questioned. Jack still has a hint of where they are going. He is ready to lead a strike team but is called off because the \\\"trial\\\" is getting too close. In order to avoid embarrassment, the President has decided to send in a missile to take out the whole site. The pres is not the only untrustworthy character. The CTU director is still too worried about turf and uses this instance to begin a purge; a contract laborer in CTU is clearly out to advance herself at everyone else's expense; a psychotic daughter is distracting the CTU director and, just to keep things tense, the terror kid who was having second thoughts is apparently over them.\\n\\n12-1 PM Jack's one man assault is successful is rescuing the Secretary and his daughter but a few get away. They learn that the train wreck from the first episode was just a diversion for the kidnapping. Worse, they have reason to believe that the kidnapping is just a diversion for worse things to come. They need information but those who can provide it are reticent about doing so. Among these is the estranged son of the Secretary. With great pain, the Secretary authorizes more serious questioning techniques. Leaks are still plaguing the CTU. The contract hacker is apparently working for someone else. The Terror teen learns that his own father considered him to be a risk and has authorized his execution. This pleases neither the teen nor the mom.\\n\\n1-2 PM The Secretary's daughter needs to be taken to a private security firm to try and ID one of the terrorists who took her; she remembers seeing him at a party they both attended and the firm has the tapes. Unfortunately, the mole in CTU sets them up for a hit. They barely make it out because Jack realizes the he can no longer trust CTU. He calls somebody he can trust, Tony, from the previous seasons. The terror mom decides to try and save the terror teen but the terror dad suspects. He ambushes them and now they are fugitives. From this we learn that the terror dad is reporting to somebody even higher up who is not happy. Also not happy is the CTU director. Her daughter goes into cardiac arrest when the wrong drugs are given. To ease the tension some, one of CTU's programmers manages to find a way to shut down the nuclear power plants that are threatened. Unfortunately, he is not able to get them all.\\n\\n2-3 PM Jack finally has a lead as to who can shut down the nuclear disaster. The Secretary also manages to use his assets to track down the mole in CTU. Unfortunately, it is the wrong person. This is not found out before some...aggressive questioning takes place. Luckily, they do manage to find the right mole and she tries to make her escape. She is apprehended just as she learns her controller wants her dead. That seems to be the case for Jack's prisoner to. Just as they get him, he is assassinated. Terror mom and terror teen are not having much better luck. Because of her wounds, they head for an ER but there the police are called because she has a gunshot wound. They too get away.\\n\\n3-4 PM CTU has had its biggest leads assassinated out from under them but they get lucky when they manage to trace the location of the cell phone of Terror Mom and Terror Teen. They break in and take the mom into custody and just barely manage to keep her from killing herself. Unfortunately, Terror Teen is out at a hospital trying to get some pain medication for mom. He is talking to his uncle, a pharmacist at the hospital. The uncle is suspicious and not a terrorist. He calls Terror Dad who tells him that jr. is a druggie. CTU heads to pick the boy up but gets there only in time to wind up in a standoff. Dad has his gun pointed at the boy. The mother, who has brokered a clemency deal for the boy, refuses to talk unless the boy is safe. With that, the episode is over.\\n\\n4-5 PM Jack manages to take both the terror teen and the terror dad alive. His plans break apart, though, on two fronts. Terror teen is still hacked off about dad ordering him to be killed so he takes an opportunistic shot and settles dad for good. Unfortunately, terror mom does not really no a whole lot. All she is able to give them is an address. When it is investigated, they find a new lead that leads right back to the Secretary of Defense and his daughter. Another lead comes from the interrogation of the mole captured at CTU. She is still trying to slime her way into a better position and reveals the existence of a computer where she might get some useful data. The catch is that she has to be present to give her thumbprint to the security program. Against many people's better judgment, she is taken to the site under escort. What they find is surprising and quite unhealthy. The CTU director is coming to grips with not being in Jack Bauer's league. She compensates by getting even more protective and devious about her turf.\\n\\n5-6 PM CTU finally homes in on where the nuclear gizmo is located. To do so, they have had to violate lots and lots of civil rights. These include the rights of such persons as the husband of Jack's girlfriend. She is beginning to believe him and he MAY be innocent, but that is still up in the air. As they close in, the CTU director's daughter becomes more and more of a distraction with terrible consequences for everyone. CTU manages to shut down the nuclear meltdowns. They do so at the cost of letting the ostensible mastermind escape. The season is only half over. More is definitely to come.\\n\\n6-7 PM CTU is trying to get things sorted out after averting a nuclear meltdown but the situation is chaos. The director is incapacitated by the apparent suicide of her daughter and Tony is tasked to fill in. Jack and the soon-to-be ex hubby of the Secretary head for the company that unknowingly employed the head terrorist. They want to track him down and see if he has anything else up his sleeve. The problem is that the company is paranoid that they will somehow be blamed for the fiasco. They undertake to try and deceive CTU and destroy any data on the premises. Taking out several square miles of downtown LA does not seem to bother them.\\n\\n7-8 PM The plot has certainly thickened. The EMP bomb has meant chaos in downtown LA. Most of the episode is concerned with Jack and his romantic rival trying to get extricated while mercenaries from the company that set off the bomb try and track them down. The get help from the young, middle eastern gun store owners whose store they hole up in. (Anyone claiming that middle eastern=terrorist should see this episode to set the record straight.) Since CTU is working blind, Jack knows that his only hope is to attract their attention. He does so by engaging the mercs in a firefight. They survive and are rescued and have a vital printout to get back to CTU for decoding when one of the bad guys, (Anglo male) makes a last effort to kill Jack. He gets the jilted husband instead. This is a shame since he has shown himself to be a good guy and since the girlfriend will probably be really hacked. The episode closes with the revelation of what might be the real target. There is none bigger.\\n\\n8-9 PM CTU still does not know what the big plan is but they know that there is one. In a desperate attempt to get information, Jack comes up with a scheme to get himself turned over to the bad guys by the terror mom. He talks her into it by promising to get her and her son into the witness protection program. She does her job and gets him to the head honcho but he is suspicious. When she fails his loyalty test, she and Jack are in big trouble. Meanwhile, a fake fighter pilot is getting ready to take to the air.\\n\\n9-10 PM Jack is a prisoner and CTU still does not know what the big picture is. The terror plot continues, though as an infiltrated pilot prepares to go airborne with a stolen F-117. Because of a few glitches, a diversion is needed so that CTU will not notice the missing pilot. The head terrorist contrives a plot in which the terror teen is exchanged for Jack. Seeing nothing else to do, they go through with it but nothing goes as it should. Jack is recovered but the boy is taken. The pilot is about to launch and they still don't know what the plot is.\\n\\n10-11 PM The pilot is in the air and his target is a big one but CTU does not know what it is. They head to his apartment to find clues and encounter a woman posing as an FBI agent. They think she is legit but she is hunting for the same information they are. When Jack figures out what is going on, he notifies the target but not before it is hit. It is unsure whether the target survived.\\n\\n11 - Midnight The president is alive but in no condition to lead the country. That puts the succession on the vice president which poses 2 problems. He seems to be a weak man to begin with and his chief of staff is the slimeball who caused so much trouble for the last administration. Meanwhile, Jack is sent out to rescue the football, the briefcase containing the nuclear codes. It has been found by some innocent campers but the head terrorist wants them. It seems knocking off Air Force One was just a pretext to get the codes. Jack manages to rescue the football but there is something missing.\\n\\n12-1 AM A lucky lead gives CTU the identity of an associate of the mastermind. They manage to close in just as the suspect is meeting with another unsavory character. Mr. Unsavory kills the terrorist as CTU closes in and claims to have been an innocent citizen defending himself. Everyone knows this is wrong so they get ready to do some intensive interrogation. That is just what the mastermind is afraid of and he places a discreet call to the ACLU types who get a court order to stop the interrogation. Since a nuclear warhead has been stolen, time is of the essence but the weak VP does not want to cloud the first act of his paranoid presidency. Jack decides to take the interrogation into his own hands by resigning from CTU and acting as a private citizen. He gets his information but it is doubtful whether it is enough.\\n\\n1-2 AM Chloe become a field agent!...but that comes later. The president is hacked about Jack doing things independently and orders the Secret Service to pick him up immediately, even though he is warned that Jack is about to get the mastermind. He has been tracked to a club where he is running his operation. The Secret Service shows up at the worse possible time and tips off the terrorists to police presence. He gets away. This leads the president to realize that he may not be the best man for the job. His chief of staff advises him to call in the previous president to run the situation. (Maybe the guy did learn his lesson.) Chloe gets a tip from the suspicious girlfriend of one of the terrorists. Because they are shorthanded, CTU sends her out with a team to decode the information on the computer. Real agents are supposed to protect her but the bad guys eliminate them. Chloe has to take matters into her own hands with deadly results.\\n\\n2-3 AM From Chloe's lead, CTU finds a connection to a Chinese national who has holed up in the consulate. The Chinese are willing to cooperate but diplomatic niceties take time...longer that the timetable for detonation of the warhead. The former president authorizes a clandestine operation to go into the consulate and take the man by force. This happens but the \\\"Chinese Fire Drill\\\" of the guards causes problems. In their wild shooting, they not only put a bullet into the terror suspect, they manage to kill their own consul. The diplomatic consequences are going to be grim. For Jack, it gets grimmer still. The suspect is dying and needs immediate surgery. Unfortunately, the surgeon is currently working on the husband of his girlfriend. Since the information is vital to many lives, Jack pulls his gun and forces the surgeon to work on the suspect with fatal consequences for the husband...and Jack's love life.\\n\\n3-4 AM The Chinese are furious over the break in of their consulate and they want blood. Unfortunately, their cameras reveal the possible face of one of the CTU agents and the Chinese head of security demands an interview at CTU. CTU does a fair job of stonewalling but is hampered by the acting president, who no longer trusts former president Palmer, and by the need to appease the Chinese. Just when it looks like the Chinese will get no further information, an analyst lets something slip. While this is going on, Jack is in the field. Interrogation has at last yielded the location of the terror mastermind. They bring him down only learn that the stolen warhead had been mounted on a missile and the missile has just launched.\\n\\n4-5 AM While going through the mastermind's cell phone, CTU finds a connection. His phone contains the number of the son of the Secretary of Defense, who has not been heard from since the first few episodes. They bring the boy in blubbering about his rights but he will not say what he knows; only that he is not a terrorist. His sister pleads with him and tell him that he will be tortured but that does not work. Finally, dad gets him to put out. He is gay and had an assignation with a guy who tapped his phone. Now, CTU is after the guy (part of a couple). They find him but he is dead and his accomplice has taken off with Tony as a hostage.\\n\\n5-6 AM In an emotional roller coaster, the female terrorist plays upon the emotions at CTU bargaining with Tony's life. In the end, his estranged wife sees her responsibility to the millions who may be impacted by the missile so she shares the relevant information. Jack is ready to take her down when she apparently blows up herself and Tony it a fit over having been betrayed. Everyone thinks Tony and the terrorist are dead but Jack has doubts. He refuses to pull out, contrary to While House orders, and does manage to rescue Tony and take down the terrorist. It seems they will finally get the clue they need but the Chinese have other ideas. They are still hacked about the death of their consul and manage to kidnap the CTU agent who was identified but they want bigger fish. Under threat, they get him to talk and implicate Jack.\\n\\n6-7 AM Jack does the impossible. He captures the mastermind, gets the information that lets the nuclear missile be destroyed and actually survives to tell the tale. His survival is inconvenient for the acting president, though. To placate the Chinese, he agrees to hand Jack over to them. Some are worried that puts sensitive information at risk but the president forbids any assassination attempt, he just doesn't do so very convincingly. One of his aides decides to take matters into his own hands and the former president, Palmer, gets wind of the situation. The only way out for everyone is for Jack to cease to exist. Jack agrees and, conveniently dies.\\n\\nSeason 5 Prequel Jack has been dead for a year. Now somebody has hacked into Chloe's files and learned that he is alive. That same person wants him dead. It's a long car chase as Jack leaves a clandestine meeting with Chloe meant to inform him of what is going on.\",\n \"Product: From Michael Radford, the Academy Award(r)-nominated director of Il Postino, comes the critically-acclaimed screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's controversial classic, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. Antonio (Jeremy Irons), a successful but cash-poor merchant, approaches Shylock (Al Pacino), a wealthymoneylender, for a loan to help his young friend Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes, Shakespeare in Love) woothe fair Portia (Lynn Collins, 13 Going on 30). Despite being longtime enemies, Shylock grants therequest, but demands one pound of Antonio's flesh if the debt is not repaid on time. When Antonio defaults on the loan, Shylock seeks what is legally owed to him but soon learns that those to whom evil is done, do evil in return.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It's Hard to Like Anyone\\n\\nReview: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is a sad and wicked tale; it is a difficult to watch and difficult to comprehend in its cruelty; it is also an excellent story and this is an excellent production. This is not a filming of a stage production; this was filmed as movie throughout and has all of the production values that would be expected of a high end movie.\\n\\nThe story takes place in Venice. A rich man borrows a large some of money from a Jew. His friend puts up a bond for surety of the debt but there is a cruel twist. The friend has long despised all Jews and Shylock, the moneylender, has been on the receiving end of his insults way too often. Shylock demands a curious bond. He will charge no interest. Only the principal must be repaid. The price of default, however, is a pound of flesh to be cut from the living body. Naturally enough, the trading ships upon which this transaction depended were sunk and Shylock wants to claim his pound of flesh.\\n\\nThere are plenty of subplots. Shylock's daughter runs off to marry a Christian. The purpose of the loan to begin with is to help arrange a marriage with a rich noblewoman. That same noblewoman takes up a surreptitious career in law. All of these an others lead back to the central issue, though. Shylock wants his pound of flesh as vengeance.\\n\\nThis film is a difficult one because it was written when sensibilities were different. The anti-Semitism is blatant and is, by necessity, an integral part of the film. The part of Shylock can be played without any sympathy whatever but in this case, his railing against the injustice done to all Jews comes across well and leads, just for a moment, to our seeing him in a sympathetic light. The noble who must forfeit the pound of flesh (and thus his life) also comes across as a dislikable character. His racism is blatant and he offers no apologies for it. He too becomes more sympathetic and the moment of his impending death grows near but that sympathy diminishes rapidly as he takes his own revenge. All in all, there is no one who is really likable but that does not stop this from being a compelling bit of theater.\\n\\nOther MERCHANT OF VENICE productions have been better. Some are more complete. Some are more easy to empathize with. Some are just plain more engaging to watch but this one, on the whole, is very good. It is the best Hollywood style production of this work to date.\",\n \"Product: Its the third and final season of the far-out tales of TVs most lovable space crew! Complete your mission with these intergalactic adventures! Join in as the Jupiter 2 crew attempts to finally return home to Earth, with more help from the wily Robot B-9, more antics from master meddler Dr. Zachary Smith, and of course, more \\\"Danger, Will Robinson!\\\" Along with out-of-this-world extras not available anywhere else, this collectable DVD installment of Irwin Allens LOST IN SPACE presents the final 9 episodes of Americas favorite space family.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: End of the Line\\n\\nReview: This is the last of the series. Over the course of its three seasons it degenerated from a semi-serious science fiction show into a comic farce. It worked. The show was so silly that it could not be taken seriously but it could be taken with lots of fun. The main reason for this is Jonathan Harris playing Zachary Smith. The comic evil villain was always good for a few laughs.\\n\\nSynopses for the episodes appear below:\\n\\nTarget Earth - This one is less campy and more in the vein of regular science fiction than most, but that's not saying much. As usual, Smith sets the trouble in motion when he accidentally jettisons the pod with part of the robot aboard. The pod lands on a planet and the crew of the Jupiter II head down to retrieve their belongings. That, of course, causes more trouble. The aliens on this particular planet are all identical and are intrigued by the differences between the humans. They are an old race failing because of their lack of diversity. That is the given reason but I think it has more to do with looking like a heap of mud. The aliens come up with a plan to \\\"replicate\\\" the Jupiter II crew and conquer earth.\\n\\nPrincess of Space - It's been a while since I have viewed the previous set but I think this episode sets a new standard for silliness. It's basically the Anastasia story without the Russians, pomp or grandeur. In its place, we get spaceships decked out with a model of the Cutty Sark, air funnels from early steam ships, navigating lanterns (on the inside) and an army of advanced computers which resemble filing cabinets with arms. The cutlass in the hands of the captain is a nice touch also. Basically, the aliens are looking for a lost princess hidden on Earth. They grab Penny instead and try to pass her off to the royal auntie. In short, Penny is mistaken for Princess Alpha from the planet Beta and must fool Aunt Gamma with her knowledge of cousins Iota, Kappa and Sylvia. Complete silliness!\\n\\nTime Merchant - this time it is Will who unwittingly starts the trouble but, as always, Smith manages to make it worse. While running an experiment, Will accidentally captures a \\\"time merchant\\\". Said merchant is a bit peeved and takes Will as a slave to make up for his troubles. Naturally, Dr. Robinson, Dr. Smith and the Robot follow to get him back. From there, things get more complicated. It seems that Chronos, the time merchant, has a function something like the Greek fates. When a person's \\\"time tape\\\" runs out, Chronos snips it. While all of this is being explained, Smith manages to actually get himself back to Earth with Chronos's equipment but the catch is he is there just before the original Jupiter II takes off. He is not about the get on again but his failure to do so will mean that the ship gets destroyed by an uncharted asteroid. To fix things, the robot is sent back to Shanghai Smith and set things right. The big surprise and what makes this possibly the least believable episode is that Smith has an altruistic moment. It doesn't last but even having it is beyond belief.\\n\\nThe Promised Planet - The Robinson family finally makes it to Alpha Centauri. We don't really know how; there is just an announcement from the robot that they are coming into the Alpha Centauri system. Everyone seems surprised but pleased. They are greeted like heroes by a bunch of teenagers wearing West Point style uniforms and then told that they must be indoctrinated. The older folk are to be processed separately from Will and Penny. From there, things get weirder. The clean cut cadet types become hippies and seem to want to do nothing but turn Will and Penny into hippies as well, get them to deny their family and get the family to leave. Penny falls for it and becomes a go-go dancer but will resists. Dr. Smith falls for it as well and becomes the worst of the delinquents. It turns out they are not on Alpha Centauri at all and their hosts are aliens who cannot age. They want to extract something from the kids to let them grow up. It is all enough to make me shudder with my own memories of being a teenager and, even worse, the 60s.\\n\\nFugitives in Space - When a prisoner escapes from the Prison Planet Destructon (that's really the name), said prisoner runs into Smith and trades jackets with him. That leads the guards to suspect Smith and, by association, Maj. West. After a quick and dirty trial, both are condemned to Destructon for life sentences. No sooner are they incarcerated than Smith starts scheming with the prisoner who caused his problems in the first place in an escape attempt. West tries to be a restraining influence but Smith's greed is, as always, the ultimate determiner. This one is not as funny as some episodes nor is it as silly.\\n\\nSpace Beauty - Judy finally takes center stage...kind of. Mr. Farnum, the celestial zookeeper from some episodes back makes another appearance. This time he is the producer for the Miss Galaxy Beauty Contest. He has a mysterious backer who is very particular about who is in the contest. The backer takes a liking for Judy, can't fault his tastes there, but Judy doesn't want to play. It's a good thing she doesn't because the fine print of the contract calls for her soul. Smith, however, is more interested in the big payoff for the winner and he doesn't play fair. After being caught out trying to forge her name, he relies on getting her mad at MAJ West by implying that he has forbidden her to take part. Naturally, that means that Judy must sign up. Like so many episodes, this one can seem very silly...unless you have actually seen the workings of a beauty contest, then all too much is familiar. It should be noted that although Judy nominally takes center stage, it is mostly for display purposes. Her role is minimal and the usual suspects have most of the lines.\\n\\nThe Flaming Planet - Smith smuggles what he believes to be an orange tree aboard the Jupiter II. It is not an orange tree, of course, but is instead a plant with limited locomotion and intelligence. It thinks Smith is its \\\"mother\\\". When the plant is disposed of, it causes some damage to the ship and it is forced to orbit a planet while it makes repairs. As it turns out, the planet belonged to a warrior race with one member left. His price for not destroying the ship is to have a member of the crew fight one last war game with him; at the end, the entire planet will be destroyed. The robot gets selected and Smith's baby plant monster is enlisted to save the day.\\n\\nThe Great Vegetable Rebellion - This one is quite possibly the silliest episode of them all. The crew of the Jupiter II wishes to throw a birthday party for the robot. Smith decides to go down to a nearby planet to find a gift. While picking some flowers, he gets arrested by a giant carrot. Don't worry, the carrot speaks English. He doesn't like animal life. Eventually, he tries to turn everyone into vegetables. I don't think I can go on... Jungle Warfare was never so bad.\\n\\nJunkyard in Space - Just as the Jupiter II has some mechanical problems, they happen by an intergalactic junkyard. When the robot goes to investigate in the pod, he gets captured by the junkman. The main ship heads off to retrieve him. The junkman likes what he sees and wants to purchase the ship for salvage. Needless to say, the crew doesn't want to sell. In order to pressure them, the junkman contaminates all their food. He offers Smith food for various parts, beginning with the some from the robot, and eventually trick Smith into letting him steal the Jupiter II. In the end, however, love conquers all.\\n\\nSpecial Features: most of the special features are minimal, as are the menus but there are 2 that are especially worth while. These are the interviews with Billy Mummy and Jonathan Harris. These two actors, playing Will Robinson and Dr. Smith were the two central characters and helped make the show a success. They are worth watching.\",\n \"Product: vhs\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: More Macabre than SG1\\n\\nReview: It looks like it is not just the Milky Way galaxy where English is the universal language. It looks to be pretty common in the Pegasus galaxy as well.\\n\\nStargate Command decides to send an expedition to Atlantis. This is a dicey proposition because if the expedition cannot find more of the ZPM crystals, they will not have the energy to return. It could well be a one way mission. That sets up this spin-off series with its main premise. An expedition from Earth is stranded in a high tech environment.\\n\\nThe series needs more than that, of course and it has it. Instead of the Goa'uld, they find a new adversary even nastier. These are the Wraith, a race which feeds on the life force of humans. They are a constant threat and the danger is that they may get access to Earth's home galaxy. That would not be good.\\n\\nThis series is not as much fun as the original Stargate. The chemistry between the main cast members is not as good as in the original. There is also something of the macabre about it all. Still, it is interesting enough and it is watchable.\\n\\nEpisode synopses appear below:\\n\\nRising Parts 1 and 2 - Daniel Jackson thinks he has finally figured out the location of the Ancient's city of Atlantis. It is in another galaxy. To get there will require using up the last ZPM crystal the earth has left. Because the potential payoff is so great, BG O'Neill is willing to take the risk and send a large group through. It is a one way trip but the hope is that power crystals will be found on the other side. They find Atlantis and it is indeed located under the sea. Their arrival, though, drains most of the power left in the local crystals and the city is in danger of imminent drowning. Now the Atlantis team must use the local gate to find another world to inhabit. The Ancients are gone. They were wiped out by a terrible enemy. Unfortunately, the planet visited by the expedition is being attacked by these new bad guys. They are called the Wraiths. These same wraiths captured a part of the expedition. Now, the SG Atlantis team needs only to learn to use the Ancient technology and rescue their compatriots from the wraiths who would eat them. Eat might not be the exact right word. They \\\"eat\\\" the life force, aging the victim. Even worse, they are not even the main threat.\\n\\nHide and Seek - The Atlantis crew is still trying to settle in to their new city but they have some problems in that many of the gadgets need to be activated by a person with a rare gene. Dr. McKay finds a device he believes to be a personal shield and agrees to try an experimental gene therapy treatment to see if he can use the device. It works but there is a problem. He is invulnerable but nothing can get through the shield. That includes food and water and even his own hand. He cannot turn the device off. Meanwhile, some of the kids get themselves into trouble when playing hide and seek. One disappears. Not long after, people start seeing strange shadows and rumors of hauntings and general spookiness. The kid playing hide and seek has unwittingly let loose an energy being imprisoned since the time of the Ancients. Now it is feeding on the energy of the base and all are in trouble. Defeating it will take some uncharacteristic bravery on the part of McKay.\\n\\nThirty Eight Minutes - The Atlantis team carries out another recon of the Wraith planet. While there, they are ambushed and barely make it back to their shuttle. The shuttle sustains some damage and Maj. Sheppard is not much better off. He has been attacked by a giant, parasitic bug which has attached itself to his neck. Nothing they can do will make it dislodge itself and it is feeding off of his life force. The shuttle team has problems too. One of the engines didn't retract all the way and, as the ship tries to transit the wormhole, it gets stuck, part in and part out. Now time is running out. The wormhole will only be stable for 38 minutes. After that point, it shuts off and kills everyone.\\n\\nSuspicion - Atlantis recon teams continue to encounter Wraiths on most of their missions. This happens even in the most unlikely and uninhabited places. Suspicion grows that there is a traitor or an agent among the refugees they have living with them. They are restricted in their movements and barred from use of the Stargate. Naturally, they resent this. Eventually, they move on to settle a land mass on the Atlantis planet. Still, the Wraiths seem to be getting information of the movement of the Atlantis teams. There is someone giving info to the enemy but it is not a traitor.\\n\\nChildhood's End - While on a recon mission, the puddle jumper crashes and all electronic equipment ceases to operate. The team is then captured by a bunch of children. None of the locals is over 25 years of age. They believe that by killing themselves on their 25 birthday, the Wraiths are not attracted to their people. It is human sacrifice. The actual reason that the Wraiths do not return is more complex. There is a hidden device which messes up the electronics and keeps the Wraiths away. The device is powered by a ZPM crystal, the same type of crystal the team originally set out to find and which powers everything needed. Taking the crystal dooms the kids. Hotheads among the kids want to kill everyone just to be on the safe side. It is a nasty moral dilemma.\\n\\nPoisoning the Well - The Atlantis team finds a planet with a fairly high level of technology. It is still behind the Earth's but it shows some promise. The people of the planet store their knowledge in huge libraries to help them rebuild after each harvest by the Wraiths. They are on the verge of developing a vaccine that will render victims immune from the wraith feeding. With the help of the Atlantis team, they actually make a viable vaccine. When it is tested on the wraith prisoner, it does more than expected. It also poisons the Wraith. This sounds good but the Atlantis crew fears that when the Wraiths learn of this, they will wipe out the entire planet to keep the knowledge of the vaccine from spreading. The politicians are adamant, though that the populace must be inoculated. Things get ugly when those inoculated start dying also.\\n\\nUnderground - The Atlantis team heads out on a trade mission to a planet known to Kayla as simple, Amish style farmers. These guys drive a hard bargain and Shepherd has to go back to get authorization from Dr. Weir. When he comes back, he stumbles into a great secret. These are not the simple farmers they pretend to be. They have a hidden, underground civilization secretly working on a plan to fight the Wraiths. They think they can get an edge by getting more Atlantis technology. The problems, however, are multiple. The plans count on hibernating wraiths and the locals are unaware that the sleeping Wraiths have been wakened. A bigger problem, though, is that neither side really trusts the other. The biggest problem, however, is that these people are NOT trustworthy.\\n\\nHome - Dr. McKay is an obnoxious and arrogant @$$ but he is a smart one. While the Atlantis team is investigating a new planet, they find a Stargate that is drawing an incredible amount of power right from the atmosphere. He thinks he can establish a wormhole back to earth with it. He is right and all of the leading characters report back to Earth to let the home folk know what is going on. They intend to return on the Prometheus but a problem develops. There is an accident on the ship and the leadership seems to be stuck on earth. The problems are worse than that, though. Each of the leadership seems to be having differing experiences that don't mesh with the others. It is quite confusing to the viewer for a while but it seems that each one is being thwarted in all attempts to get back to Atlantis base. The reason for this is simple. They are not on earth. Someone has a vested interest in keeping them from getting back.\\n\\nThe Storm - An incredibly huge storm threatens Atlantis. This is the type that only occurs every few centuries. It is so bad that Dr. Weir decides to evacuate temporarily to another planet. Finding a planet, though, proves difficult. Most people don't like to have well armed, technologically superior people running around in large numbers. A deal is struck, though, and it looks like everyone will make it to safety. The problem is that the \\\"hosts\\\" betray the problem to the Genii, the planet of untrustworthy humans who wanted A Bomb technology 2 episodes ago. They put together a strike team and seize control of Atlantis while most of the people are gone. They manage to capture most of the senior officers except for Maj. Sheppard. The episode ends with a hostile and tense standoff needing to be resolved in the next episode.\\n\\nThe Eye -Most of Atlantis has been evacuated because of a killer storm. A Genii strike force has seized the Atlantis and holds most of the command team from Atlantis hostage. Atlantis looks to be completely wiped out by the storm unless McKay and Weir, two of the hostages, can use lightning from the storm to power the city's shields. Maj. Sheppard is on the loose playing commando and trying to take back the critical functions while saving the lives of the hostages. A few people caught on the mainland in a puddle jumper during the storm are all the allies he has. It's a race against the clock and killer waves. It's an exciting episode.\\n\\nThe Defiant One - An Atlantis scientist discovers something interesting at one of the Lagrange points. It is a satellite and a moon. They also hear a distress signal...a wraith distress signal. When they go to investigate, they find a wraith supply ship. They assume that after 10,000 years, there must be no survivors. They are wrong. The Wraiths are a hardy and persistent species. The Wraith survivor is also very hungry. That means a bad day for the expedition. The last news that the Wraith has heard was that the Wraiths had Atlantis under siege. Now, Maj. Sheppard tells him that the Wraith lost the war. That does not stop him from trying to steal the ship though. It's another race against time as the Wraith tries to eat everyone and escape and the Major tries to kill the wraith and hold out for the relief force.\\n\\nHot Zone - After the big storm the Atlantis crew is looking the city over to ascertain damage. While a ways of from the HQ, a few of one of the survey teams starts having terrifying visions. After a few such visions, the affected person dies of a cerebral hemorrhage. When others start to be affected, a quarantine and lockdown is instituted. An Ancient virus has been accidentally released. Unfortunately, one of the party got away in his panic and has affected lots of others. Now panic is running rampant as some people are frightened of the virus and others are frightened of the visions. Now McKay, who is infected himself, must figure out a cure. He has a few hints but its going to mean some risks.\\n\\nSanctuary - While on a survey in a Puddlejumper, Maj. Sheppard and his team come under fire from Wraith ships. It doesn't look like they are going to make it but, suddenly, all the Wraith ships are destroyed by some weapon from the planet below them. That sounds like technology, or at least some energy crystals, which Atlantis desperately needs. When they get to the planet surface, they find a peaceful and pastoral culture with little sophistication and no high technology. They all share a common religion, though. In an effort to learn more, Sheppard seeks out a \\\"priestess\\\". She is intriguing but declines to offer sanctuary. She does come back to Atlantis for a visit, however. There, she seems too perfect and too good to be true. That is because she is not what she seems. Without knowing it, the Atlantis crew has found someone for whom they have been desperately seeking. They have found her but she will not help.\\n\\nBefore I Sleep - While exploring new parts of the city, a team stumbles onto a stasis chamber with a live but extremely old inhabitant. They believe this to be one of the Ancients. When the sleeper is revived, however, the crew of Atlantis is in for a shock. The sleeper is Dr. Weir, another version of Dr. Weir who has been asleep for 10000 years. She is in frail health and not expected to last to long but she has information to impart. In her reality, the arrival of the Atlantis crew started a fatal series of events that destroyed the city. In a last ditch effort to escape, she and a few others got aboard one of the puddlejumper ships and found themselves in a battle with the wraiths. As they desperately tried to figure out the controls, they activated one which sent them back in time 10000 years to the Ancients. There the battle with the Wraiths was raging also and all are killed but her. The Atlantians are about to evacuate to Earth and they invite her to go with them. Instead, she chooses to enter stasis so that she can replace the power crystals of the city as needed over her long sleep.\\n\\nThe Brotherhood - It looks like the information on ZPM energy crystals brought back by the alternate Dr. Weir in the previous episode might bear some fruit. They find a planet where one of the ZPMs was venerated by an ancient religious brotherhood who regarded the Ancients as gods. The brotherhood was destroyed by a Wraith culling. Now, the Atlantis team must figure out where the brotherhood hid the ZPM. They can do it but there are a few problems. The Genii commando leader who captured Atlantis a few episodes back is aware of what they are doing and he has his own plans to capture the device. The plans do not take into consideration the wishes of the current occupants of the planet. Worst of all, a Wraith fleet is headed towards Atlantis.\\n\\nLetters from Pegasus - It looks like the entire Wraith fleet is on its way to wipe out Atlantis. Things are looking grim and the leadership team decides to risk using every available amount of power they have in order to open a wormhole back to earth for a few seconds and send a message warning about the Wraiths. They are able to compress all of their data into a small burst. There is still some time left over for people to send personal messages. So it is that we have a retrospective episode with flashbacks. There is a little bit of story, however. Maj. Sheppard heads out in a puddlejumper to do a recon on the Wraith route of advance. They encounter the Wraith on a feeding expedition at a planet and it seems they have a new weapon which Sheppard goes out to investigate. That gives Kayla the opportunity to try and save a few people and thereby endanger the entire expedition when there is not enough room to take a whole planet.\\n\\nThe Gift - As the Wraith fleet draws ever closer, the Atlantis crew continues to seek other locations to which they can evacuate. While this is going on, Tayla is experiencing terrible nightmares of the Wraiths. She has the ability to sense their presence and she believe these nightmares are somehow connected to that ability. Matters get worse when the dreams begin to star her as the wraith. This experience leads her to investigate why she has this ability that so few of her people have. She learns that it is because of a genetic experiment conducted by the Wraith long ago. She has some wraith DNA. This gives Atlantis some advantage. If she can channel this ability, she should be able to gather invaluable intelligence. Unfortunately, the link works both ways. The Wraith have a much bigger goal than Atlantis.\\n\\nSiege Part 1 - The episode is about contingencies as Atlantis awaits the coming of the Wraith fleet. Part of the crew keeps looking for sites on which to evacuate. Part searches for a way to destroy Atlantis to keep it from falling into the hands of the Wraith. Part tries to salvage as much information as possible. Dr. McKay, the arrogant ass, comes up with a possible solution. He thinks he can use a naquada generator to power up the old defense satellite from earlier in the season and heads out to try and power it up. Things are not going smoothly. Dr. Weir cannot decide what she wants to save. The local evacuees don't want Atlantis to be destroyed because it is an artifact of the Ancients they venerate; they don't care about earth. The Wraiths have a hidden agent aboard Atlantis and suspicion turns towards Kayla. McKay manages to get the weapon working partially but it is not as effective as would be wished. The Wraith are still closing in.\\n\\nSiege Part 2 - Just as Atlantis is about to be evacuated, help arrives from Earth. An arrogant marine colonel shows up with some techno toys and relieves Dr. Weir. He also manages to alienate just about everyone with whom he comes in contact. The toys brought with them are not enough to defeat the Wraith but they are enough to (probably) hold them off for a while. This is helpful because more help is on the way. The Daedelus is on its way from earth with a newly discovered ZPM crystal to power the first line defenses. It's a near run thing. The new toys work but they don't work as well as hoped. The Wraith are still closing in and they manage to land some troops on Atlantis itself. There is a possible way to hold out but it involves the cooperation of the Genii. They have never been known for their ability work and play well with others. The plan looks like it might work until power levels drop too low. The solution is a suicide mission with Maj. Sheppard as the star performer. The season ends with the outcome of the battle in doubt.\",\n \"Product: Battlestar Galactica's season 2.5 (i.e., the final 10 episodes of the second season) picks up where season 2.0 (the first 10 episodes) left off: Galactica's giddy reunion with the Pegasus had taken a sour turn when Admiral Cain (Mich\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Still on the Dark Side\\n\\nReview: This second half of the second Battlestar Galactica season is still a bit on the dark side. The fleet is still running but it is also bedeviled not only by Cylons but also by civilians with radically differing agendas. Having the Cylons be experts at playing mind games does not help matters.\\n\\nThis season picks up a few of the story ideas from the original series, The PEGASUS and Adm. Cain are examples, but takes the basics of the ideas and goes in completely new directions. The Cylons still seem implacable enemies but occasionally there seem to be defectors...or are they merely fifth columnists?\\n\\nEpisode synopses follow:\\n\\nPegasus - The Galactica crew gets readings of a large ship approaching and launch a response in their belief that it is a Cylon basestar. Instead, it turns out to be the Battlestar Pegasus commanded by the legendary Adm. Cain. At first all rejoice to learn of this additional surviving (and potent) ship of humanity but things get tense quickly. As an admiral, the new arrival takes precedence over Adama. The admiral is a hard case also, who brooks no arguments and tolerates nothing not to her liking. She believes Adama has been too soft and orders the crews of the two battlestars to be integrated. This leads to friction and worse. The Admiral has her own cylon interrogator and rape is one of the preferred methods. When the crew chief learns of this, he and a lieutenant intervene with deadly results. The resulting summary court martial pushes Adama over the edge and he is willing to use force to get his people back. The episode ends with the fighters of the two ships headed for the opposite ship with blood in the eyes. This was the cliffhanger that ended the previous set. It is presented here with some small additions that do nothing to change or enhance the story line.\\n\\nResurrection Ship part 1 - As the last cliffhanger ended, the Pegasus and Galactica had launched vipers at each other in a very tense standoff. As this episode opens, all is confusion as the fighters on each side wait for instructions as to whether they are to attack the opposing Battlestar. When an unknown ship shows up on the screens and is presumed to be Cylon, the differences are temporarily put aside as all go for the intruder. The intruder turns out to be Starbuck who is back with vital intelligence about the mysterious Cylon ship. Upon interrogation of the prisoners, it turns out to be a Resurrection ship, used to recycle the consciousness of Cylons who have been killed. Adama and Cain temporarily put aside their differences to put together a joint strike but neither trusts the other. When Adama learns that Cain killed or abandoned the civilians who were with her, he is even more set against her. As the episode closes, the joint strike is being planned but each is planning to use the victory celebration to bring about the downfall of the other.\\n\\nResurrection Ship part 2 - The battle plans are made and each of the human commanders has made arrangements for the assassination of the other commander after the battle with the Cylons. Now it is time for the battle plan to unfold and take the fight to the enemy. The plans against the Cylons go well but the aftermath is not what is expected with the assassination plots. Things get messier when Baltar, the arch-traitor, reverts to type and lets loose a menace.\\n\\nEpiphanies - The president finally seems to be on her death bed with the cancer ravaging her body. She is distrustful of Baltar and of the Cylon prisoner and orders the foetus she is carrying to be aborted. The Cylon present in Baltar's mind wants to stop this, of course. Meanwhile, there is a growing element within the fleet which wants to negotiate with the Cylons and looks to the military as the enemy. They conduct sabotage and acts of terrorism. As the president is about to die, the phantom Cylon tries to talk Baltar into further betrayals of humanity but, surprisingly, he refuses. He even manages to save the president and the Cylon foetus. He also manages to set humanity up for yet another betrayal.\\n\\nBlack Market - Shortages in the colonial fleet have led to a thriving black market operation. That such a market would evolve is inevitable but the situation is getting out of control. The president and the fleet finally step in when the commander of the Pegasus is murdered over a black market deal and Capt. Apollo is tasked to investigate the matter. In doing so, he endangers a woman he has become close to and learns more about her that he wishes.\\n\\nScar - The fleet finds itself desperately in need of strategic minerals in order to manufacture replacements for losses to the Cylons and is fortunate enough to find a system where those minerals can be mined. It means staying put for a while but the following Cylon fleet has been decimated and that gives them a bit of breathing room. There are still some to contend with in the local system, however. One of them is called Scar. He has a reputation for killing Viper pilots. The pilots must confront him, though, in order to protect mining operations. Much of this story is taken up with Starbuck engaged in a clash of wills with another pilot. Each considers herself to be the best and wants to prove it. Starbuck is facing memories of all of those who have been killed before and the up and coming hotshot is overfilled with bravado. Their personalities clash. Meanwhile, Scar is racking up more kills.\\n\\nSacrifice - When word gets out to the civilian part of the fleet that there is a Cylon prisoner aboard the Galactica, people are disturbed. One group, seeking vengeance, decides to turn to terror. They take hostages on one of the recreational ships and threaten to kill them all unless the Cylon is turned over to them. The hostages include several notables included Capt. Apollo, the President's aide and the wife of Col. Tigh. Everyone knows that negotiating with terrorists just causes more problems but things seem less clear cut when loved ones are the hostages. It's a mess and friendly fire makes things worse.\\n\\nThe Captain's Hand - The death of Admiral Cain and the Commander of the Pegasus have left a hole in the command structure of that ship. Admiral Adama appoints the senior surviving officer to command but he is an engineer, not a combat leader. He is good with machines but not people. This causes friction and problems that only get worse when two of the Pegasus's raptors go missing. When the new commander goes looking for them, they get bushwhacked. All of this takes place during the midst of a political crisis in which Baltar shows that he is able not only to betray all of humanity but also close associates as well.\\n\\nDownloaded - This is a confusing episode. It has become time for the Cylon prisoner to deliver her baby. It's a bit premature but the modified aspects apparently make it quite hardy. This poses some ethical problems. What should be done with a newborn which is only half human and whose other half is of a species trying to wipe out humanity? How will the Cylon sympathizer react? How will the Cylon haters react? Is there a danger to the fleet? This little drama takes placed interposed with another taking place back on Cylon held Caprica. Number 6 and Number 8 are both downloaded and inhabiting new bodies. Both seem to be showing some sympathy for humanity. In a reversal that never gets explained, Number 6 has Baltar flashing into her head making snide remarks instead of the other way around. Both are view with suspicion by the other Cylons who have not been contaminated by close contact with humanity especially when they show some sympathy for the human resistance movement.\\n\\nLay Down Your Burdens Part 1 - Starbuck finally gets what she has been wanting. A rescue mission is sent to Caprica and she is the leader. It's a daring plan but they are counting on some help from Sharon, the Cylon prisoner. They face many jumps and expect to lose some raptors along the way and they manage to lose one on the very first jump. That divides the story line. Starbuck and her rescue team manage to find the last free humans but are attacked by Cylons before they can get back to their ships. Therein hangs the first story line until the next episode but, just as important, the wayward ship has found a planet. It is habitable, barely, and it is hard to find by virtue of being hidden in a nebula. This has big political implications. Much of the civilian part of the fleet is weary of life aboard ship. They want to be on a planet. Safety does not register in their minds. This gives Baltar's faltering campaign for the presidency a new boost when he comes out in opposition to the president and in support of settling \\\"New Caprica\\\".\\n\\nLay Down Your Burdens Part 2 - As the last episode ended, Starbuck and her rescue team are in a standoff with Cylons. It is just a matter of time until they are overrun. Miraculously, the Cylons just seem to give up. One of the rescuees declares a miracle and all head back to the fleet. Baltar's position on settlement has boosted his campaign. Now it looks like he might win even though all sane people know that would be a disaster. The situation is so grave that the powers that be even consider trying to steal the election. The bad guy, however, wins and settlement proceeds. Then comes a long blank of almost a year. The people on New Caprica are barely surviving while Baltar lives a life of luxury. The fleet barely has enough people aboard the ships to keep them running. That's when the Cylons show up. The fleet jumps, leaving most of the people behind, and Baltar is left to surrender. So ends the season with a cliffhanger.\",\n \"Product: VHS\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great on Several Levels\\n\\nReview: This is a nice little film on several levels. It is from Jamie Uys, who also directed THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY and ANIMALS ARE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. This film is not the comedy that those were. Instead, it is a drama taking place in Southern Africa.\\n\\nThe primary story concerns a tribesman who learns that the heart of his daughter has been eaten by another member of the tribe on the advice of the local witch doctor. This deed was done to secure powerful magic and increase the bad guy's prowess as a fighter. When the crime comes to light, however, he flees and the outraged father takes off after him. He is followed to the city of the white man where both are in unfamiliar environments. This leads to the father being taken advantage of and eventually having to find mining work to support himself while he seeks his foe. When he is found, he attempts to kill him and that gets him tangled up in the legal system he does not understand.\\n\\nThe secondary story is of the lawyer assigned to defend the gallant tribesman. He is cynical and no one, even his wife, seems to like him. He was not always thus but has become bitter and disillusioned. In taking this case, however, he begins to change back into a real human being. Eventually it is learned that the one ultimately responsible for all of the evil in the tribe's life is the witch doctor who uses his position and reputation to extort the other tribesman. The stage is set for a final conflict.\\n\\nThe film works as an examination of culture clash. It works equally well in its depiction of honor and character change. What will stay with me the longest, however, is the haunting music sung by the tribesmen and women. It is magnificent.\",\n \"Product: As things settle down on the Lexx, the crew realizes Kai needs a constant supply of proto-blood to continue to function in the real world. Stanley and the others undertake a desperate mission to Kai's wrecked home world in search of a way to extend Kai's existence.\\n- Written by Chapman_glen@yahoo.com\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The Silliness Factor Increases\\n\\nReview: The first installment of Lexx was silly but had its entertaining moments. This one does too but the silliness factor has increased dramatically. Often, it is more of a comedy than an action or science fiction show, even with some creditable visual effects to watch. Eva Habermann is, of course, the most stunning visual effect.\\n\\nIn this episode, the Crew of the Lexx has managed to flee into the shadow zone but they are not sure where to go. Kai has only enough proto blood to last a little while longer. Zev decides to try and find Kai's home planet in the hope that something there will help. They do find the planet but it is deserted. It had been abandoned millennia ago because the sun was unstable. Some things are still working, however. There is a great library, the machines which keep the sun from exploding are buzzing along nicely and some electronic \\\"ghosts\\\" are available to guide them through the library. The problem is, the ghost has its own agenda and that seems to include dismembering some of the crew and appropriating the body of another. They have a few allies, though. These include the sun, a cannibal woman and the brains of a bunch of former Shadows. It is silliness run amuck but Habermann is still terribly cute.\",\n \"Product: If you enjoy \\\"America's Funniest Home Videos\\\", you'll love Jamie Uys' indiscretions of a camera! After the infamous \\\"The Gods Must Be Crazy I & II\\\", Jamie Uys is back with his outrageous comedy about the indiscretions of a camera...people filmed without t\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Candid Camera from South Africa\\n\\nReview: I had no idea what this film was about. All I knew was that it was from Jamie Uys and I liked his other works. I ordered it.\\n\\nI won't say it was awful but it wasn't great either. It turned out to be a compendium of scenes from a South African show called FUNNY PEOPLE. It seems that is the South African analog of CANDID CAMERA. The gags are similar in style and the results are as well. If you liked CANDID CAMERA, you might well like this. If you aren't a fan, then you had best steer clear.\\n\\nThere are a few funny bits but you have to sit through a lot to get to them. Its hardly worth the effort.\\n\\nSomething else that should be noted is that this dates back to the 70's. The styles are from that era and the quality of the videography is evocative of that time as well.\",\n \"Product: Tony Bennett ~ Here's To The Ladies\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Evocative of the Smoky Old Barroom\\n\\nReview: This one is called \\\"Here's to the Ladies\\\" and the name fits but it could just as well have been called \\\"Smoky old Barrooms\\\" for the music evokes images of being in just such a setting and listening to the musician. All of the songs do indeed make some reference to women and therein lies much of the appeal. These songs tug at the heartstrings.\\n\\nThe style is pure Tony. These are not the big arrangements with large bands but are instead more intimate pieces with minimal but sufficient accompaniment. At times I thought the bass was too high but that was easily changed with the settings on my system. Except for the possible preponderance of bass, the quality of the recordings is excellent.\",\n \"Product: 73342\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Pleasant Voice from the Past\\n\\nReview: I remember Jim Croce not as a great singer but as a guy who used to have his records advertised on special TV offers. The only work of his I could have named was \\\"Jeremiah was a Bullfrog\\\". Recently, however, a very close fried mentioned listening to one of his CDs on a long road trip. I decided to investigate further and it was a pleasant surprise.\\n\\nThere turned out to be more songs that I recognized that I had heard before than just \\\"Jeremiah\\\". Mostly, though, it was the one that were completely unknown to me that I enjoyed the most. This collection consists of 2 CDs. There are 24 songs on the first and 25 on the second. The second also has a short spoken piece by Croce describing his love for his work. With this many to choose from there were bound to be some that I liked. There were. For me, these consisted mainly on the ballads. But I enjoyed some of the more humorous pieces as well. The one thing that really struck me is that they all tended to be fairly short.\\n\\nThe quality of the recordings is good and matches the quality of the performances.\\n\\nIf you are looking for a large collection of Jim Croce pieces, this is a good choice. So too is it a good choice if you want to sample his work as I did\",\n \"Product: Pulled from recordings made prior to his Decca years, this compilation of archival material shows what made Rafael Mendez the World's Greatest Trumpeter.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Superb except for the Sound Quality!\\n\\nReview: I both love and detest this album. The title is correct. Mendez's virtuosity is legendary and the playing is great. The problem is with the quality of the recording. I don't know if that is an artifact of the originals or if it is an artifact of sloppy production for this release. In any event, it is disappointing.\\n\\nThe selections somewhat varied in style but ultimately all scream \\\"Latin Trumpet\\\". This is as true of LA VIRGIN DE LA MACARENA as it is of the selections from the opera, CARMEN. In all of them, the skill is superb. I just wish the recordings were as well.\\n\\nI give it 5 stars for the art and 2 stars for the sound. I compromise with 4 because, deep down, I love it.\",\n \"Product: Limited Special Edition with Six Extra Dvd Tracks, However, They Will Not Play on USA Players.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: It Grew on Me\\n\\nReview: This is not what I was expecting. I ordered the CD because of one member of the band who had appeared as a cast member in the TV miniseries SHARPE'S RIFLES. In the series, he occasionally sang songs from the Napoleonic era. One of them was \\\"Over the Hills and Far Away\\\". I learned that he was a member of this band and this CD is titled OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY. I don't think they listened to anything like this in Wellington's army.\\n\\nThis is much more towards the heavy end of the rock spectrum. At first, I didn't like it too much. It didn't bother me but it held no attraction either. Over time, though, it grew on me. I noticed the quality of both the vocals and instrumentation. I can appreciate that even if I do not care for the style. The lead singer could sing and do a creditable job with any opera in the country.\\n\\nFans of heavy rock who appreciate great skill may well enjoy this one a lot. For me, it was not a waste but neither was it to my taste.\",\n \"Product: Renee is a multi-dimensional entertainer with a unique style and emotional energy that produces an extra-ordinary entertainment experience. She has been singing and entertaining for over half of her life. She spends her time with live vocal appearances and playing the violin. Her credits are many. Just to mention a few of her performances, she has performed at: The Pasadena Jazz Institute Series, The Derby, The Madison Supper Club, Suzie Q' Swing Club, The Satin Ballroom, Hollywood Palace, Hollywood and Highland, NASA, Six Flag, Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo, Continental Airlines, The Dick Clark Production of the YoungStar Awards in Hollywood, U.S. Space and Rocket Center, National Stage @ The Pasadena Rodeo, A Night At the Oscars, The Audrey Hepburn Foundation, numerous festivals around the State of Texas and California. She has performed the Naional Anthem numerous times at different sporting events including the prestigious Inaugural Opening Night for the W! NBA, Houston Comets. Her incredible vocal prowess, passion and unique style are sure to reach countless new fans in the new millennium.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid Oldies from a Bright Young Lady\\n\\nReview: This is not what would be called an original album. It consists of Olstead's renditions of works from the WWII era. She does a very creditable job. Her voice is strong and clear and the accompaniment is modest in size (not big band) but perfect. In general, this means a laid back tempo and easy swing.\\n\\nI didn't think I would ever be able to favorably recognize a rendition of \\\"What a Wonderful World\\\" that did not have Satchmo's unique styling but this one is superb. So too does she manage to snatch \\\"Georgia on My Mind\\\" from Ray Charles and make it her own. This is what she accomplishes all through the album.\\n\\nNone of these qualifies as my favorites but I have no regrets. It is a solid piece of work.\",\n \"Product: Nature, romance and love encase the most stunning voice found within the modern rock scene: Welcome to the fantastic world of Leaves' Eyes! Lovelorn, the debut release by former Theatre of Tragedy vocalist Liv Kristine and musicians of Atrocity, captivates with wonderful harmonies, epic atmospheres and varied arrangements that embark the listener on a journey through the soundscapes of rock.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: And Now for Something Different\\n\\nReview: I often find myself with recordings by unfamiliar artists and expecting something quite different than what I get. Sometimes it's a disappointment and sometimes it's a pleasant surprise. This was neither. I was expecting a different style and did not care overmuch for the style I heard but I did recognize skill in vocals, instrumentation and arranging. This band is good at what they do; I just don't care overmuch for what it is that they do.\\n\\nThe lead singer does have a beautiful voice. Every so often, just as I was beginning to enjoy her voice, another one would superimpose itself. I can't describe the second voice as much more than a berserk roar. It reminded me of old drill sergeants excepts that it was less intelligible. From the context, it seemed to be planed that way but I did not care for it.\",\n \"Product: With Allan Shermans Warner Bros. albums currently off limits, we were combing the vaults looking for something else by Allan to license when we stumbled across this gem. Deemed by Sherman himself as \\\"the most exciting night of my life,\\\" this 1964 performance at Tanglewood with the Boston Pops indeed may have represented the zenith of his career, as Sherman, with the help of orchestrator Jerry Fielding, entertained 13,000 fans with dead-on skewerings of sacred cows, musical and otherwise. 'Peter and the Commissar', for example, rewrites 'Peter and the Wolf' to depict the travails of a young songwriter whose work is rejected by authorities who think they know what the public wants, a theme that had resonance (and still does!) on both sides of the Iron Curtain. 'Variations on \\\"How Dry I Am\\\"', meanwhile, twists that familiar, four-note theme into endless permutations, and 'The End of a Symphony' beats P.D.Q. Bach to the punch by sending up the repetitious codas used by Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart and other great composers. This album has never been reissued on LP or CD, and for Allan Sherman fans fixated on his more famous work, its likely to be a revelation. A 'Collectors Choice Music' exclusive!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Parodies of Music as well as Lyrics\\n\\nReview: Allan Sherman was known for making great parodies of songs. Sometimes he even added lyrics to tunes that never had lyrics to begin with. Much of his work is dated now due to changing cultural reference but many of the gags can be understood by anyone. Unfortunately, most of his work is no longer available. There is a \\\"Greatest Hits\\\" album that is well worth the money and now there is this album, an album very different from his other works.\\n\\nThis was recorded with the Boston Pops Symphony during its heyday under the baton of Arthur Fiedler. The longest single piece is PETER AND THE COMMISSAR which runs for over 20 minutes. Instead of adding his own lyrics to the tune from the classic PETER AND THE WOLF, he substitutes his own narration for the original. The orchestra does its own part by parodying famous works from great composers. Beethoven's 5th Symphony done as a blues piece is but one example.\\n\\nAnother example of this type of parody is the VARIATIONS ON A THEME FROM \\\"HOW DRY I AM\\\". Again, different music is taken from out of context and played in counterintuitive styles. All the while, the tune from \\\"How Dry I am\\\" keeps appearing. In this respect this work is a direct ancestor of Peter Shickle and his PDQ Bach albums.\\n\\nThe final piece is called END OF A SYMPHONY. It is a parody of the bombastic and grandiose endings that symphonies tend to have. Sherman narrates and the Pops plays...and plays...and plays.\\n\\nA great piece for lovers of classical music!\",\n \"Product: This is the classic reissue of Ann Hampton Callaway 1996 album TO ELLA WITH LOVE. This gorgeous tribute to Ella Fitzgerald features guest appearances by: Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut and Christian McBride.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I changed my tune\\n\\nReview: I did not think I would care all that much for this album. I bought it only because I really like Ann Hampton Callaway and wanted to give it a chance. I'm glad I did and it was worth it!\\n\\nAs the title implies, this is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. These were Ella songs but Ann has made them hew own. A few, like \\\"I got it bad\\\", evoke the original but for the most part, these are done in Callaway's own impressive style. It is a product that she can be proud of and which Ella Fitzgerald can be proud of as well. For the most part, the tempos a slowed down a bit from those which Fitzgerald would have used but that fits Callaway's style. In short, it works.\",\n \"Product: Thomas of Hookton is one of those archers. When his village is sacked by French raiders, he makes a promise to God: to retrieve the relic stolen from Hookton's church. Escaping his father's ambitions, he becomes a wild youth who delights in the life of an army on the warpath. Driven by his conscience and protected by his fearsome skills, he enters a world where lovers become enemies and enemies become friends, where his only certainty is that somewhere, beyond a horizon smeared with the smoke of fires set by the rampaging English army, a terrible enemy awaits him. This enemy would harness the power of Chistendom's greatest relic: the Grail itself. Here, in the first book of a new series, the quest begins. It leads him through the fields of France, to the village of Crecy where two great armies meet on the hillside to do battle.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I Wish I had Started Here\\n\\nReview: I read THE HERETIC first. I didn't not realize that it was part of this series. It was a good book and stands well on its own. This one does likewise. This volume is supposed to be the first in the series dealing with a quest for the Holy Grail.\\n\\nYou would not realize how the Grail features in the story from this book. It centers around an effort during the Hundred Years War to recover the lance of St. George. It grail comes up only very peripherally. All this stuff about lances and grails is just window dressing, though. The real story is a human one.\\n\\nThomas of Hookton is an archer. He is a fighting man embroiled in a war. In short, he is the kind of character that Cornwell handles so well. It is an interesting read and will most likely teach you some vocabulary a well.\",\n \"Product: `A virtuoso of historical fiction' Sunday Telegraph\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Historical Romance with Military Overtones\\n\\nReview: Bernard Cornwell is known for his historical military fiction so it is not surprising to find this book set in the time of the English Civil War. What is surprising is that the military aspects are secondary. It is an adventure story but it is first and foremost a love story. It is also well done.\\n\\nDorcas Slythe is the unloved and ill treated daughter of a Puritan family. She is a beautiful girl and Puritans, as a class, tend to be distrustful of beauty but one gets the impression that it is not only for her beauty that Dorcas is ill used. There is something else going on.\\n\\nWhen her father dies, Dorcas learns that she is the subject of a mysterious Covenant. She realizes that there is some money involved but she doesn't really understand very much about it except that her family is eager to marry her off to an oaf. She wants none of it. She is in love with a boy from a nearby castle and resolves to run away and try to learn about this covenant.\\n\\nDuring the course of her adventures, she gets embroiled in the Civil War and finds love. She also finds loss, betrayal and adventure in spades. It is hard to know who to trust in this one. It's a good book and worth reading.\",\n \"Product: This is a How To Use An Airbrush Book from Kalmbach Books. FEATURES: Glossy softcover 96 page book with 215 full-color photographs. This book presents 11 dynamic projects to help you achieve creative, colorful and ultra-realistic finishes for your plastic models. Techniques covered include a variety of camouflage, weathering, high- gloos, \\\"\\\"vinyl\\\"\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: More About How to Paint A Model\\n\\nReview: This is an excellent book but the title is a bit deceptive. It spends a little bit of time at the beginning describing airbrushes but does not go into much depth. There is not much on how to select a great tool. Instead it details techniques for painting models. In this, it does a very good job.\\n\\nI bought this book because I wanted to learn about airbrushing for painting model railroad cars and structures but I know absolutely nothing about them. I still know very little. I did learn some fascinating ways to paint model cars, airplanes and figurines, though.\\n\\nIf you want to learn techniques for doing the actual painting, especially on hobby models, this is a great book. Its illustrations are lavish and clear as are the explanations. If, on the other hand, you want to learn about the brush itself in terms of choosing one and maintaining it, look elsewhere.\",\n \"Product: Lyman \\\"L.\\\" Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 May 6, 1919) was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He wrote thirteen novel sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and a host of other works (55 novels in total, plus four \\\"lost\\\" novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, an unknown number of scripts, and many miscellaneous writings), and made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Different Tone than Oz\\n\\nReview: While this is indeed a fairy tale, it's tone is much different than the Oz books for which L. Frank Baum is best known. It is a very good children's book.\\n\\nOne gets the impression that this book was written independently of the Oz canon. It is not mentioned anywhere in the Oz books. As a child, my only knowledge of it came from the maps found at the beginning of some of that series. The book was also listed in the other works of Baum. The maps kindled my interest as did the references to it in the \\\"By\\\" columns but I was unable to get a copy for 30 years. It was worth the wait.\\n\\nThe story involves a fairy on the enchanted island of Yew. She is tired of being immortal and the sameness of everything and enlists the aid of some girls to aid her in an adventure. She gets transformed into a \\\"mortal\\\" prince for the space of a year and sets out to explore the island and have a good time. In doing so, he comes across several different kingdoms, each with its own peculiarity, rights some wrongs and has a good time.\\n\\nYew seems directed at a slightly older audience than Oz but it is still meant for young people and people young at heart. It was worth waiting for.\",\n \"Product: Make your railroad more true to life and interesting, by adopting realistic operation principles. Covers the history, practice, terminology, and benefits of operating realistically. Guides you through the steps leading to realistic operation, and includes pictorial examples of working model railroads and realistic operating sessions.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fills a Needed Niche\\n\\nReview: Many people find themselves fascinated by railroads and get caught up in the hobby of building model railroads but are hampered by one big problem. They don't know how the real thing operates. If the act of building is the fascination, then this poses no problem but if you actually want to do anything with the trains besides watch them go around and around, you need to learn something about the real thing. That's where this book comes in handy.\\n\\nIt explains various aspects of how railroads operate in the real world and then explains how enthusiasts have modeled those operations. The book is readable and clearly written. Even so, so material may take a few readings to properly understand. It is a worthwhile investment.\",\n \"Product: This book covers simple techniques needed to make realistic scenery for a layout of any size or scale. Each chapter includes step-by-step color photos, illustrations, and diagrams that demonstrate the basic steps to adding prototypical scenery elements to a layout. It includes many one-evening projects.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Very Good Introduction\\n\\nReview: There are two main approaches to model RR scenery. One is to rely on commercial systems and the other is to make things from scratch. While this might be intuitive for something like a model of a barn, it is much less so for the modeling the white water of a mill stream or the detritus of a forest floor. This book looks at both approaches, but does not do so from the perspective of either/or. Instead a situation is postulated and then the author explains how he would handle the situation. Sometimes this means mixing chemicals and installing commercial products and sometimes this means going out and getting a bunch of dead leaves to put in a blender. The approaches are mixed together and the result is an easy to read and easy to understand explanation that can be extrapolated for many situations.\\n\\nThe book is well illustrated and the actual construction steps are presented step by step. It is easy to follow.\\n\\nI tend to distrust the natural approach, fearing that in time, organic matter will decay. I am less distrustful of it now and have some new ideas to try.\",\n \"Product: Very Good/Good Dust Jacket; Copyright 1930 later printing no color plates. belongs to section is blank not filled in. All four corners of book slightly are bumped. small name inscrition at the front endpaper. the actual book is nearly as new condition. the dust jacket has small tears and is missing small fragments at the outer edges. at least 90% of the jacket is present. price clipped dust jacket.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The best since Baum\\n\\nReview: Like so many others, I was captivated as a child by the OZ series of L. Frank Baum. I had all of his books and knew that others had been written after his death because they were always listed on the end leaves. Unfortunately, they were out of print. No longer.\\n\\nAs a general rule, Ruth Plumly Thompson's Oz books are nowhere near as good as Baums. This volume is no exception but is her best work so far. She does a good job of evoking the magic of Oz in her books but, too often, the stories are rather simplistic and fraught with coincidence. They are enjoyable but pale in comparison to the original. This work, \\\"The Yellow Knight of Oz\\\", is good enough to be ranked with Baum's books.\\n\\nThompson frequently alludes to many of Baum's characters and they often appear in her works but she has created some new characters of her own as well. Judging by how often Sir Hokes of Pokes appears, he must have been one of her favorites. In this volume he takes center stage. In fact, all of the Baum characters are just peripherals. It may be that working entirely with her own creations has improved the quality of her work. This story is certainly the best of hers so far.\\n\\nSir Hokus goes off on a quest. He is joined by an American boy. After a number of adventures, he clears up some early history of Oz and restores 2 kingdoms. He finds a nice wife for himself along the way.\\n\\nLike all of Thompson's books, this one satisfies a need for more things Ozzian. In this case, it does so with a refreshing flair and is an ejoyable read.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":71,"string":"71"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":66,"string":"66"}}},{"rowIdx":67,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AS5WZV6SBZAAK"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"A small Maori village faces a crisis when the heir to the leadership of the Ngati Konohi dies at birth and is survived only by his twin sister, Pai. Although disregarded by her grandfather and shunned by the village people, twelve-year-old Pai remains certain of her calling and trains herself in the ways and customs of her people. With remarkable grace, Pai finds the strength to challenge her family and embraces a thousand years of tradition in order to fulfill her destiny.\". The summary of the review text is \"I had NO desire to see it... thank goodness I DID!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I never liked and still do not care for the cover art of this movie. Even the title turned me off... it looked like \"Free Willy\" or some kid/animal movie which I had no interest in.\n\nSomehow this movie made it to my DVD player, and it has become one of my top 10 movies of all time, and I'll tell you why.\n\nPowerful Drama.\n\nIncredible Story.\n\nStunning Performances.\n\nCultural Experience.\n\nIt's that simple, really. Without getting into the plot and all that has already been written, understand that Whale Rider is a deep, powerful story (I'd say for ages 12 and up) and is NOT a \"kid's movie\"; it just happens to center around a child. Whale Rider is about familial relationships, trust, respect and honor. As composer Lisa Gerrard put so well, \"A sometimes dark but self effacing world of young Pai's (the main character) beautiful and difficult relationship with her grandfather that is heart rendingly defined by her awareness of her own identity, the depth of which we so often underestimate in our own children.\"\n\nThe cinematography is incredible... beautifully shot, and CGI-free. Lisa Gerrard's score is not just an added layer or an underscore, but it becomes an integral part of the movie's power.\n\nTake a journey into this magical adventure you'll never forget. Congrats to Niki Caro on taking a story I had never heard of, and bringing this fascinating cultural history to life. Thanks also to all the people involved in the movie (the majority of the cast were the actual people from New Zealand with no acting experience). Hats off to Keisha Castle-Hughes, the new young actress who truly made the picture believable.\n\nThe DVD has an informative behind-the-scenes documentary worth seeing as well."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I never liked and still do not care for the cover art of this movie. Even the title turned me off... it looked like \"Free Willy\" or some kid/animal movie which I had no interest in.\n\nSomehow this movie made it to my DVD player, and it has become one of my top 10 movies of all time, and I'll tell you why.\n\nPowerful Drama.\n\nIncredible Story.\n\nStunning Performances.\n\nCultural Experience.\n\nIt's that simple, really. Without getting into the plot and all that has already been written, understand that Whale Rider is a deep, powerful story (I'd say for ages 12 and up) and is NOT a \"kid's movie\"; it just happens to center around a child. Whale Rider is about familial relationships, trust, respect and honor. As composer Lisa Gerrard put so well, \"A sometimes dark but self effacing world of young Pai's (the main character) beautiful and difficult relationship with her grandfather that is heart rendingly defined by her awareness of her own identity, the depth of which we so often underestimate in our own children.\"\n\nThe cinematography is incredible... beautifully shot, and CGI-free. Lisa Gerrard's score is not just an added layer or an underscore, but it becomes an integral part of the movie's power.\n\nTake a journey into this magical adventure you'll never forget. Congrats to Niki Caro on taking a story I had never heard of, and bringing this fascinating cultural history to life. Thanks also to all the people involved in the movie (the majority of the cast were the actual people from New Zealand with no acting experience). Hats off to Keisha Castle-Hughes, the new young actress who truly made the picture believable.\n\nThe DVD has an informative behind-the-scenes documentary worth seeing as well."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Gator Cases GE-SHLF-SLD-1U 1U Sliding Shelf, 13.8\" Deep, Black\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy, but as others say, doesn't fit well.\n\nReview: Sturdy shelf? YES.\nDifficult to install? YES.\nImpossible? NO, but it may depend on your Gator rack case.\n\nIf you haven't read other reviews, be forewarned that this shelf is poorly measured. I actually measured the depth of both sides (between the front & back rack ears) and they were a full inch of a difference. That's just crazy.\nBut I'll tell you the trick to get it into your case that should save you lots of agony and time.\nOn each side of the drawer are two bolts that can be easily loosened. Unfortunately I didn't own a tool that would fit them, so I just used needle-nosed pliers. Once you loosen them, you can expand or contract the length of each side. Sadly since I have no thin bolt-tightening tool (flat wrench?) it's near impossible to tighten those bolts once they are inside the rack case, other than slightly with my fingers, but the ears attached to the rack grills give plenty of support.\nBut even in doing so, the un-adjustable WIDTH of this shelf is a tad too wide, causing such a TIGHT fit, I had to shimmy it downward into my rack case, expanding the side grills as much as possible. In doing so, there is extreme tension on the sides, which makes the drawer extremely tight and almost not usable to pull open & closed. I haven't decided if I'll keep it or not yet, but if I am ok with having it FIXED open, then I'll be ok. Other retractable shelves are either more expensive, or considerably cheaper in build quality. I CAN shove it back in but with serious force and needing to hold the entire rack. Very bad design.","Product: Coaster 5-Piece Dining Set, Table Top with 4 Chairs, Cappuccino Wood\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Look at the average star ratings, not the reviews\n\nReview: As usual the reviews on here range from \"best thing ever\" to \"terrible junk - avoid at all costs!\" I was a bit concerned by some of the scathing reviews on this dining set, but considering at the time of purchase it had an average 4-star rating from 49 customers I decided to give it a shot. Many of the complaints were also about shipping issues or how the items happened to arrive damaged which can happen in any situation with any product and typically people are more prone to post a complaint than a praise. One person spent more than one paragraph complaining about some spray foam it was packaged in and how that made a mess of their place... a fair warning, and yet mine arrived with regular Styrofoam of which I simply vacuumed up some crumb-like pieces and it was no big deal.\n\nI got this set for my apartment and found it to be a perfect size and have a beautiful, classy contemporary look, especially for the price. Will it last 10+ years and endure heavy wear? Probably not, but you just can't expect too much for under three hundred dollars for an entire set, folks. This isn't solid oak. It's a functional, attractive set at an affordable price. Putting it together was pretty easy, just time consuming and for those who may have complained about requiring additional tools/skills, all you need is an additional screw driver and a little bit of effort (no power drill required). I do feel the chairs could be designed a tad sturdier (only 3 screws hold the actual seat plate on the frame), but I suppose you could always add your own reinforcements if so inclined.\n\nI was torn between a 4-star and 5-star review, but I guess since there was so much negativity about this set I rounded up to help balance the scales. I'm very happy with this set, and if you have Amazon Prime, it is delivered to your door free of charge which means no delivery costs from a furniture store, and no having to pick something up that might not fit into your car.\n\nI would buy this gain. All of the parts arrived flawless.","Product: Dynamic Type: Stereo Headphones\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid, quality slightly above price range - recommend if you're on a budget.\n\nReview: Inner earphones are always tricky because you pretty much have to rely on consumer reviews, and then there's everyone's slightly skewed perception of what the 'right' sound is, and finally everyone's ear shape is slightly different which can also vary comfort, fit and even sound when it comes to these types of headphones. That aside, I'd just like to share that I find the JVC HA-FXD80-Z quite decent. I actually wanted to replace my wooden HP-FX500 ones, but needed these quick and didn't have time to wait for import shipping. I feel the HP-FX500's sound a bit better than these, but these are very nice. It is important that you try EACH rubber cup size! I typically use the medium, and so by default I was using the medium size for two days and I started to get annoyed because I felt like I had to keep pushing these into my ears deeper to maintain proper bass, and that was followed by some irritation. Then on a whim I decided to try the small and large sized cups, and to my surprise the large ones work perfectly, give the right amount of bass, and don't slide out. I think these rubber tips are a tad smaller than ones I've had in the past, so the \"large\" is actually closer to a medium that I'm used to. At any rate, these headphones perform decently all together. I'm not blown away by them, but then they certainly are not like cheaper end inner headphones. I've had crisper highs, and richer lows, but then they've also cost a hundred dollars more. I needed a quick replacement and so I didn't have time or money to get more expensive ones, but certainly couldn't stoop to entry level, $30-$50 headphones. But for just under $80, these perform more on a $100-$130 range of headphones. I know it sounds strange that I'm talking about quality in dollar signs rather than frequency response, but trust me, I've gone through a huge amount of inner earphones over the years and I've found that price actually is a pretty good gauge for what you're going to get.\nMy only complaints about these are the cable length could be a bit longer, and I prefer the kind that have one side longer than the other so you can drape one cable behind your neck, versus the typical \"V\" shape cable that resets in front of you, but that's just me.","Product: Combining portability, aesthetics, and comfort, the IE-FC300 In-Ear Headphones offer an engaging listening experience on the go. Detachable flat elastomer cable with gold-plated MMCX connectors ensures a noise-free link to your media player, and best of all, won't tangle when stored in your bag. With 65-plus years 'audio experience Onkyo delivers the sort of full-bodied sound you'd expect from a high-end stereo setup in a pair of portable IEMs. Noted for throwing a pleasingly deep soundstage, the newly designed 14.3 mm (9/16-Inch ) drivers produce clear midst, crisp highs, and punchy bass to enrich all kinds of music. Form-fitting ear pads are angled comfortably to provide a good seal against ambient noise, and won't cause fatigue during longer listening sessions. An ideal launching pad into the world of personal hi-fi, these stylish headphones are perfect for the active music lover.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Stylish, robust sound, and unique cable make this a good choice\n\nReview: Onkyo, a trusted name in the world of HiFi audio has released a unique pair of earphones. What stands out immediately is the tangle-free flat cable. To be honest at first I thought the cable was rather flimsy and had a cheap feeling to it, but I now recognize this material is becoming more common, and is actually quite durable, and cutting edge. The three things that matter most for me with earphones is sound quality, comfort, and durability.\n\nSound quality - These earphones pack a good punch. If you normally don't go above $40 for a pair of earphones then you will be pleasantly blown away. If you normally spend around the $200 range or more then you'll find these earphones to be just ok. If your priority is bass, you will not be disappointed. I actually love crisp highs, as much as low end is important and the I E-FC300s don't seem to really shine in the high end. The mid is fine, and the bass is great, but finding that perfect mix for headphones in this price range is not an easy feat. Just as a reference, my favorite earphones around this price range are JVC Victor In-ear Stereo Headphones | HP-FX500 (Japan import).\n\nComfort - In the discussion of earphones comfort must be factored in, especially for prolonged use. For inner-ear phones these are a bit on the heavy side, though the clever design manages to spread the weight a bit. These don't feel like invisible featherweight ear buds that many people are accustomed to, so realize you'll feel a presence in each ear when wearing these. However, if you're going to go jogging or any significant movement, one plus for these headphones is the super-light cable, as with many other inner earphones I've dealt with, the phones start to come out of the ears slowly with every slight bounce / tug of the cable as you run or even walk. If your primary use for headphones is during exercise, you still may prefer a lighter set.\n\nUPDATE: Now that I've had some more time with these headphones I have to confess that I don't find them very comfortable over time. Although I didn't try the smallest size rubber cups, I use medium size on every other pair I've had, and don't see how that would make a difference, but basically there seems to be more pressure in my ears when I put them in with a tight seal, than with other headphones, which leads to a general, light soreness over prolonged use, and I'm not even talking about over an hour. This brings my review to a 3.5 stars, but since that can't be done manually I'll just leave it at 4.\n\nDurability - This is always a difficult category to review shortly after purchase, but these seem to be well built, and the innovative cable looks like it may very well mark the end of the infamous crackle/signal loss you get from so many headphones at the neck of the connector where the cable bends. Only time will tell though.\n\nOverall, these are decent headphones, but if you want a wider soundscape and crisper highs, or the kind of canal phones where you don't even feel them at all or want to lay your ear against a pillow while still listening, you may need to look elsewhere.\n\nBy the way, I don't know if it is just my computer screen, but the photo on Amazon makes the \"violet\" pair look more blue than purple.","Product: Academy Award winning actor Timothy Hutton makes his directorial debut with this heartwarming and uplifting story of an unlikely friendship between a young girl and a mentally challenged man who help each other escape the despair of their everyday lives.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Break out the tissue box for this emotional, realistic tale.\n\nReview: I may shed a tear every now and then during a dramatic movie scene, but this film really kept the tears flowing... I'm torn between recommending this movie and protecting people from seeing it because it's so sad.\nI've read many critics rip up this movie, also claiming Kevin Bacon's performance as being inconsistent, or perfunctory. All I have to say to that is they were watching KEVIN BACON PLAY A DISABLED PERSON, and did not accept the character for who he was and let the story roll. I'm sure if DiCaprio played Arnie in Gilbert Grape today after his established fame people would be more critical and see him as the known actor.\nThis slice-of-life picture may seem slow at times, but it adds to the realism of a non-Hollywood blockbuster that tries to cram everything down your throat. It has a simple calmness to it, a child-like aura. And speaking of children, Evan Rachel Wood's performance is solid, believable and promises an incredible acting career for her future. She was a great casting call; not an over-dramatized, rag-dressed victim, but a believable 10-year-old in a small American town.\nThis movie captures the innocent friendship that can exist between an adult and a child, much like Mel Gibson's \"Man without a face,\" as his character was accused and judged for spending time with his student. \"Digging to China\" will always remain a small film with dust on the sleeve at the video rental store, but I think it surpasses many Hollywood blockbusters that explode special effects and violence for the viewing public that just screams for more. Some may compare Bacon's character (Ricky) to Hoffman's in \"Rain Man,\" but my heart goes out to Ricky in \"Digging to China,\" for he was conscious of his problem, and was hoping for a miracle.","Product: Adventure Drama\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Outstanding story, character development & cinematography!\n\nReview: This movie contains all the elements that make a great story, and best of all, includes a great cast and wonderful cinematography. Harrison Ford plays a very dynamic character who fits the mold of the misguided husband who downplays his pernicious acts with a \"I'm doing this for you\" speech. Incredible! Part of you loves him for his genius, part of you hates him for his hazardous ambition. I would classify this movie as a tragedy, but what better way to learn from the ideal human experience of survival, hope and trial. The DVD looks sharp (for an older movie!) and has a nice trailer on it, but that's really it. I noticed the Amazon comment of \"Fine film grain is revealed throughout,\" and I quote Allie Fox, \"Sounds perfect!\" - I love the sharp film look! This movie is a keeper, and an excellent chapter in Harrison Ford's hall of fame! Peter Weir too! SEE IT!","Product: VHS TAPE\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Brings out the kid in you!\n\nReview: Who says you have to be a kid to like a movie generally made for kids? My daughter has liked this movie for years and I think I like it even more than her. Nickelodeon has produced something special here. Before SPY KIDS there was HARRIET! This is a great adventure with some emotional themes (peer pressure, honesty) for youngsters. Through hip hand-held style camera shooting and a festive funky soundtrack to boot, I like the movie simply for the execution. The fact that Rosie O'Donnel was pregnant (in disquise) during the making is also an interesting obstacle they had to work with. At any rate, Harriet the Spy is a fun, and rather different movie. When I say different I mean not like typical movies today filled with special effects and scenes so crammed with action and expository dialog that you can't even enjoy a scene. Harriet the Spy has some calm moments that cinematically shine (unique camera angles, color choices). The subtle sound effects and many humorous moments make this story fun for everyone.\nThe only reason I give this movie 4 and not 5 stars is because the DVD version the Paramount has put together offers a FALSE widescreen representation of the movie. If you compare to the earlier VHS edition, you'll notice that they actually CROPPED this movie for DVD to give it the APPEARANCE of widescreen, rather, you're actually seeing LESS of the picture which was originally cropped on the VHS version for full-screen adaptation to begin with! That and NO bonus features to speak for whatsoever (is it so hard to add at least the original TRAILER?) I found that rather disappointing.","Product: Charmed by his peaceful life in Tokyo, Kenshin's thoughts linger on the past. A former member of the Shinsen-gumi, Saitou Hajime was more than a match for the Battosai during the days of the Revolu-tion. Now, Saitou's plot requires the help of a full-strength Kenshin. Therefore, he will attack Kenshin and his loved ones until the violent killer within resurfaces.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Battousai The Manslayer Returns!!\n\nReview: The Kenshin TV series fluctuates from some cheesy filler episodes to major, intense ones. \"Shadow of the Wolf\" is, what I believe, the most intense of the series up to this point! The battle w/ Jinei way back in DVD vol. 2 was also incredible, but this one is the closest to the ever-popular OVAs of Samurai X; Very dark, intense, and heated action.\nThe DVD also stands out to the earlier releases as it's the first to have an animated menu, the slickest CD-face print, different menu layout, and a darker mood overall. This truly fits this, what I feel to be, motion picture, as this DVD is all one story though it encompasses 4 \"episodes.\"\nIf you've dabbled into Kenshin a little but don't wish to purchase all of the series, GET THIS ONE, along w/ the OVAs \"Trust\" and \"Betrayal.\" Being the Kenshin fanatic, I'm collecting all of the TV series :-)","Product: He knows no fear. He knows no danger. He knows... nothing! When the priceless Crown Jewels are stolen, bumbling Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is the only Secret Agent in the country (literally!) who can solve the crime. His prime suspects: a sinister businessman (John Malkovich) and a beautiful woman (Natalie Imbruglia) with a mysterious interest in Johnny's top-secret mission. Can the clueless super spy save the day without denting the nation's pride... or his super-cool Aston Martin spy car? Your whole family will howl with laughter as the clumsiest secret agent ever unleashes an onslaught of outlandish stunts, hair-brained heroics and outrageous goof-ups in this hilarious spy spoof!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The right man for the job... I give it double-o-SEVEN stars!\n\nReview: Johnny English is definitely one of those movies where you just can't imagine any other actor playing the lead role than the one chosen. Rowan Atkinson plays a character who is as adorable and driven as he is a pathetic idiot, which actually somehow makes it believable that a female character could fall for him. Between Johnny English's charm, his joie de vivre, one cannot help but fall in love with this character whose determination constantly leads him to ruin every mission he takes on. Despite the obvious blunders, it is the subtle moments that cause the greatest laughs. Atkinson's remarkable timing and his subtle physical actions will bring on the laughs regardless of what script is thrown his way. I had seen some of his earlier works (Bean) and I actually enjoyed this movie equally, if not more. Though die hard fans seem to complain this movie does not live up to the Bean legacy, I see this film as a great introduction to Rowan Atkinson for those who have not seen Bean.\n\nNo credit seems to go to Johnny English's partner, Bough (pronounced \"Buff\" and brilliantly played by Ben Miller). Bough is the straight man who can actually get the job done, but due to his rank he must ride in the dangerous wake of his mentor, English. The way Atkinson and Miller play off each other is astonishing. Bough seems to recognize English's errors, but cannot admit them either out of respect to his superior, or possibly even sympathy.\n\nThis movie contains the perfect balance of slapstick and spy action/adventure. Certainly there is a moment here or there that I find forced or not as funny as it could have been, but all is forgiven since most of the film leaves me laughing more each time I watch it.","Product: JUANA DE ARCO\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great performances, captivating story, low budget effects.\n\nReview: I chose this movie over renting \"The Messenger\" ( due to Messenger's graphic violence, actress choice for the part of Joan, and some of the reviews I read on Amazon). Leelee Sobieski fits the role much better, and did a terrific job all the way through.\nIt wasn't obvious this was a TV movie until some of the action sequences... it was one of those deals where all they had to do was CUT out a few shots and they could have fooled you better. The fast-motion editing to speed up the sequence looked terrible. It was like going from film to video, back and forth during the battles... I also agree with a previous viewer about the effects (the spiritual conversations) -- showing LESS is better, and when it was beams of light, that was perfect (we didn't need to see the angel). The costumes and lighting were excellent, the DVD looks very crisp and clean.\nThis was a great adaptation of a classic story. It could have been a tad shorter, but it kept me going anyway. At least an excellent rental.","Product: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE meets SIN CITY in this high-concept visual thriller. John and Emma, father and daughter, are thrust into a fantastical dream-world battle between forces of good and evil in this allegorical tale of love, loss and the search for redemption.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A new definition for \"breathtaking\"\n\nReview: I had no idea what a huge impact this film would make on me. When a movie manages to scare you, wow you, excite you and bring you to tears then there's definitely great story telling happening. Please check out \"Trailer #1\" online, you should know where to look. Words sometimes can't do it justice. I still get chills even watching the trailer. I'd classify this movie as a fantasy/drama/sci-fi but as you may have read already, there really is nothing like this movie, and that's another strong point. So many movies these days are so big-budget and CGI-based that all you are left with is hollow, flash in the pan entertainment. Certainly the low budget for this independent film is obvious, but with a clever use of some simple effects, lighting and unique costumes & sets - you are still blown away due to the creativity and powerful story.\n\nI also have never noticed such an incredible use of sound effects in a movie before. Most note worthy is the metal cigarette lighter flick sound when the beings appear in our world. Amazing choice. I don't just hit 5 stars because I like a movie. Ink deserves every one. Please do not miss out on such an amazing piece of work, a true art form in itself rooted deep with emotions we can relate to.","Product: International funnyman Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English, Mr. Bean) returns as the accidental secret agent who doesnt know fear -- or danger -- in this hilarious spy film spoof thats outrageous fun for the whole family! In his latest mission, Johnny English must stop a group of international assassins before they eliminate a world leader and cause global chaos. With just one shot at redemption, he will use (or misuse) the latest high-tech gadgets and every trick in his playbook to protect us all. Critics cheer, Youll get a kick out of Johnny English Reborn! (Scott Bowles, USA Today)\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Nowhere near as good as the first film, such a shame\n\nReview: Don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE fan of the original Johnny English movie, and also a fan of Atkinson... all I can ask is WHAT HAPPENED?? This was a movie that I WANTED to like so much and it almost felt awkward watching scenes that you could tell were SUPPOSED to be funny but fell short rather terribly. This is a case where I blame the writers completely, as I had no issues with Rowan Atkinson's performance, and I thought Gillian Anderson was a neat casting choice but there are just too many weak moments to save this film. Sure, we've got a bigger budget this time so they upped the scale of action sequences, etc. - but that's not what you watch this movie for.\n\nThere were TWO scenes that brought me to the floor laughing, so I didn't regret seeing it completely, and sure enough they happened to be somewhat minimal moments where Atkinson commanded the screen. If your a fan of the original feel free to take a rental peek, but by no means don't purchase this film blindly. I can't imagine them even attempting a 3rd film after this, such a shame. They should have brought his talented and hilarious side kick Bough (Ben Miller) back.","Product: With an impoverished world plunged into a Cold War with a new enemy, Britain's Ministry of Defence is on the brink of developing a game-changing weapon. Lead scientist Vincent McCarthy (Toby Stephens) provides the answer with his creation, The Machine - an android with unrivalled physical and processing skills. When a programming glitch causes an early prototype to destroy his lab, McCarthy enlists artificial intelligence expert Ava (Caity Lotz) to help him harness the full potential of a truly conscious fighting machine.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent, but there are better AI movies out there.\n\nReview: If this was the first AI based film I had seen in the last few years I probably would have given it a higher rating. But after seeing films like Ex-Machina, Eva (foreign film), and Automata, I can't help but compare, and the first two I mentioned are tough acts to follow. As some other reviews here alluded to, The Machine is a bit like Ex-Machina, but on a tighter budget and with a bit more action and much less depth. Toby Stephens is great, but I found Caity Lotz's character a bit predictable and typical. The music score is a nice touch, and for an independent film it's not bad, but I highly recommend Eva if you haven't seen that, and of course Ex-Machina.","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Black and Chrome... not a gimmick, but an entirely different film in its own right.\n\nReview: This review is for the Black & Chrome version only. If you've already sampled clips via YouTube let it be known that shot by shot comparisons are one thing, witnessing the entire film in stark black and white is another. Honestly the first time I watched the B&C (Black & Chrome) edition I thought it looked cool but I decided I liked the color version better since I knew it was originally shot to be in color and felt I was looking at an afterthought idea. I was also analyzing shot composition constantly and not immersing myself into the film itself. A few days later I decided to watch some of the B&C version again, then I put in the color disc in to compare and suddenly I realized I actually like the B&C version better. Yes, even the director admitted some shots don't translate very well in black and white (especially the dark scenes at night) but what you gain with black and white is a complete different feel overall. When I went back to the color version it felt more like a typical Hollywood blockbuster action film... when you watch the B&C version you feel like you're being drawn into another world... bleak, gritty and steampunk apocalyptic. Sounds strange when we're talking about the same film with the same visuals, but believe me there is a perceptive difference. I'm one of the suckers who bought the initial blu ray release when the first version was released, but fortunately the B&C edition is fairly priced and I have no regrets owning it in addition to the original. The Black and Chrome edition is the version I'll watch more often. What may seem like a gimmick is actually a masterful idea. On a final note if you think they simply de-saturated the picture that's not the case. Each shot was enhanced / reformatted with a true black and white representation.","Product: Extends iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 battery life almost a full charge\n\n\nPre-charged and ready to use\n\n\n\n1700mAh lithium-polymer battery provides reusable and rechargeable power\n\n\n\nMicro USB Cable included for syncing device and recharging case\n\n\n\nLED Battery Life and Charging Indicator\n\n\n\nOn/off button allows user to control charging\n\n\n\nFlexible case fits securely around your phone and has an optimized opening for camera flash\n\n\nRecharges in 2 hours at 5 watts\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: When longevity of your portable is the primary need...\n\nReview: This is not my first charging case for an iPhone (I used to have one for the 3Gs by New Trent) so I had some idea of what to expect from it, but for those who've never had one let me share a few pros and cons of this device. But in a nutshell the Energizer PP-IP4SB case is sturdy, reliable, and does the job. Here's the breakdown.\n\nPROS:\n--> Basically this case doubles the life of your iPhone, so if you're on the go and don't have access or time to charge, this is obviously the primary bonus to this case.\n--> Sturdy housing. Although the front of your iPhone and front edges could be protected better, the back sure would need to take a serious beating for anything to go wrong.\n--> High tech battery life display. I couldn't believe how cool the soft blue circles illuminating THROUGH the case at the bottom (rather Tron-like) are. Very neat way to have LEDs. A previous case I had came with lights on the back so bright that they had shown through pants pockets.\n--> ONE-piece! This is not at half top/half bottom snap case of any kind, you basically slide the phone into the housing and BAM, it's done, so there will be no loose connections over time or any weak point. A previous case of mine had a tiny upper snap part that was extremely weak and was the first part to always break.\n--> iPhone controls are easily accessed. Sometimes cases make the power or volume +/- buttons difficult to use, this has a soft, thin rubber housing that works perfectly.\n\nCONS:\n--> Once again we are forced to use a different somewhat proprietary connector; MICRO-USB. So that means no more easy docking into a speaker/boombox bay, and for computer sync you'll always need your micro USB connector and not the typical Apple connector. I've also found the computer to be a bit temperamental with this connector on a previous case, so a PRO in this CON section is actually the Energizer had no issues with my Windows computer connection.\n--> BULKY. Let's face it, this case makes your iPhone look pregnant. There has to be some cost for the battery life, right? Well, this is mainly it. Granted if you're used to some fat Otterbox, then it won't be an issue, but if you like to keep your iPhone as sleek as possible with a thin, body tight case, beware that this case adds at least another 1/3 thickness to the back of the unit. Because it has a beveled edge and is black, it's not terrible looking though.\n--> Protection around the edges of the iPhone screen could be a bit better (it's just a soft rubber barely covering it. But honestly many iPhone cases fall short in this area, so I'd say it's not a huge issue, and I'm not about to drop my phone on concrete to test it out.\n--> After reading other reviews now apparently it is difficult to get your phone OUT of the case once it is in... I'm beginning to see why. After a significant struggle, I found that if you push from the camera lens hole on the back, that really helps... though obviously that's not the best place to be pressing your finger or whatever. This issue would actually bring my review down to 3.5 stars.\n\nSo for a solid case that prolongs your battery life, this is a good choice, just be aware of the cons and see if those are big issues for you. Luckily it does at least come WITH one micro USB cable (no longer than 3ft) but if you dock your iPhone at more than one location you may need to invest in another chord.","Product: The Hives Veni Vidi Vicious Swedish CD album\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hate to say I told you it's worth getting, but it IS!\n\nReview: I felt compelled to write a brief review of this album based on some other reviews I read here at Amazon. To start off, if someone is going to judge an album for it's length, then I think they have NO merit whatsoever. I'd rather have a strong & tight 30 minutes of great music versus some long 2 disc set of GARBAGE. Not to mention successful punk rock bands of the past like The Ramones also had short song lengths.\nAre they original? No. Has it been done before? Yes. Should we care? NO! I don't understand why people poke at artists for stealing ideas, when that's really all the entertainment world is FILLED with. Come on, everything has been pretty much done, and those things that work are worth revisiting. Look at the motion picture industry. How many of the blockbuster films are rehashed material? Retro sells. And personally I find the return refreshing. If the Beatles were great, they can't entertain youth on stage today, so why not bring them back? Look at the Squirrel Nut Zippers for example. They write in a style of a completely different time period, but they expose a new crowd to a sound that once worked. I think most people that are complaining about \"they sound like The Rolling Stones\" or what have you, are just bitter because they have a personal attachment to something from their youth, and feel like they are being cheated, or they're jealous that today's youth is giving credit to the \"new sound\". Personally when I first saw The Hives' music video for \"Hate to say I told you so\" I noticed the white ties tucked in and thought, \"wow,\" Duran Duran did that in the early 80s. Cool. Then I was hooked instantly by the catchy riffs and high energy. I also enjoyed the fact that all the band members aren't some corporate creation of pretty pop boys, but rather they are an odd mix of sizes and heights.\nBut enough of that, how about the music? If you've heard ANY of their singles, then you can expect MORE of the same on the album. And I mean that in a GOOD way. High energy, catchy, and fun. Lead vocalist Pelle Almqvist is not the greatest singer in the world, but I think that's part of the appeal. It's like the neighborhood rock band jamming in their garage; edgy, playful, and promising. If you're debating if the album is worth your money, it IS. Especially the enhanced version which contains 3 spectacular music videos on it (\"Hate To Say I Told You So,\" \"Die All Right!,\" and \"Main Offender\") gives you great bang for the buck, as The Hives have a strong image presence. A great surprise track is track 8 \"Find another girl,\" which contains the swooning percussion and sound of a 1950s song. Sweden has won me over again.","Product: The Click Five's sophomore album, MODERN MINDS AND PASTIMES is already garnering attention at radio with their first single \"Jenny\". with the announcement of a new singer, 20 year-old Kyle Patrick, the Click Five is poised to make it's much-anticipated return with a fresh sound that is sure to please fans and bring the band to new heights. [Note: This product is an authorized CD-R and is manufactured on demand]\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Imrie house days are over... so change the band name\n\nReview: This is a very biased review, I'll admit that. The debut album by The Click Five (Greetings from Imrie House) was magic in a bottle. The power-pop formula backed by the innocent-yet-powerful lead voice was fresh and exciting. Those of you who own it know what I'm talking about. They were The Beatles of this generation. If you are a fan of the first album and want more of that, do NOT expect to find that here. I bought this album not even realizing they replaced the lead singer, and while I felt open-minded enough to accept a more mature sound in the music style, leaving the staple voice behind is what makes The Click Five no longer the act they were at all.\n\nIt is not fair for me to give this album a poor rating since I am strictly tainting it because of the extreme difference from the first, but I'm just so disappointed that The Click Five I loved no longer exists. From the two times I listened to this album, it is not a bad pop/rock album, and perhaps if it was some new act with a different name I would have liked it but the electrified, infectious magic of the Imrie House days are truly over.\n\nREVIEW EDIT: Ok, its weeks later and now that I've gotten OVER the fact that the band has a new singer and some time has passed, I decided to give this album another shot. I regret the star rating I gave it originally. It's a super-tight well-written pop album. The new singer has an EXCELLENT voice, its just not what I had expected and I just happen to like the previous singer more. Check out the samples, if you like what you hear, its an excellent album.","Product: Japanese pressing of the 2007 release from the outrageous Pop diva features four bonus tracks: 'Outta This World', 'Everybody', 'Get Back' and 'Gimme More' (Paul Oakenfold Remix). Britney has earned every global award possible, made every major TV appearance, appeared on every magazine cover and truly defines Pop stardom. After an absence of four years, she is back doing what she does best...making great Pop music. Oh, and she's pretty controversial, too! Features 16 new Britney boombastic bombshells including the first single 'Gimme More'. Jive.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Britney's BEST that no one knows about\n\nReview: Years later, I can now say that this is the best Britney Spears album of all time. It's buried in history, mostly forgotten, and hardly successful compared to her other releases, but it's everyone else's loss if they don't listen to it. It's actually considered to be a mix of RnB/Swing, Europop, and Euro House. A stellar, consistent album of edgy club tracks.\n\nI still have a copy of underground demos that leaked out before the official version, and I still like the raw versions better, but have grown used to the official as well. Amazing album all the way through. Don't miss out on the bonus tracks like \"Everybody\" and \"Get Back\" that appear on special versions of the album, so if you never got those, check them out. I even like the sappy, mellow bonus cut called \"Outta This World.\" It's Britney, b*tch.","Product: Japanese pressing of the 2007 release from the outrageous Pop diva features four bonus tracks: 'Outta This World', 'Everybody', 'Get Back' and 'Gimme More' (Paul Oakenfold Remix). Britney has earned every global award possible, made every major TV appearance, appeared on every magazine cover and truly defines Pop stardom. After an absence of four years, she is back doing what she does best...making great Pop music. Oh, and she's pretty controversial, too! Features 16 new Britney boombastic bombshells including the first single 'Gimme More'. Jive.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Britney's BEST that no one knows about\n\nReview: Years later, I can now say that this is the best Britney Spears album of all time. It's buried in history, mostly forgotten, and hardly successful compared to her other releases, but it's everyone else's loss if they don't listen to it. It's actually considered to be a mix of RnB/Swing, Europop, and Euro House. A stellar, consistent album of edgy club tracks.\n\nI still have a copy of underground demos that leaked out before the official version, and I still like the raw versions better, but have grown used to the official as well. Amazing album all the way through. Don't miss out on the bonus tracks like \"Everybody\" and \"Get Back\" that appear on special versions of the album, so if you never got those, check them out. I even like the sappy, mellow bonus cut called \"Outta This World.\" It's Britney, b*tch.","Product: HQ 180 gram vinyl in gatefold sleeve. 2014 studio album of newly completed, previously unreleased tracks from the archives, finished in the studio with the assistance of top contemporary producers\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best MJ material in many years\n\nReview: I've been a Michael Jackson fan since the Thriller days and have followed his musical career ever since, and was sad that nothing substantial was released after \"Invincible.\" The 2010 posthumous release of \"Michael\" was decent, but somewhat felt \"too soon\" or rushed to be released, and had too many ballads for my taste, and didn't feel very cohesive. Well look out, because Xscape truly feels like what MJ would release today. If you watch the deluxe edition DVD you'll see Timbaland profess how despite his cutting edge production techniques, he backed off from making his signature come through, rather focusing on making it sound like what Michael Jackson would release today. The result (other significant producers involved as well) is an in your face contemporary explosion of what we finally wanted; NEW MICHAEL JACKSON!\nMichael never would settle for anything but greatness and each track on this album is top notch... the funky grooves make you want to dance, his voice sounds spectacular as always, and best of all even though the tracks are from various time periods they all come together sounding like they were recorded in the same session. If you think this was pulled off strictly as a cash cow for the corporate machine, of course there could be some truth to that as it is the music business after all, but make no mistake, the producers had MJ in mind and worked as hard as they could to be his mouthpiece in 2014. The deluxe edition also includes the Justin Timberlake 'duet' which is a sweet touch, and since this whole album has a similar vibe to JT's recent 20/20 series, seems quite appropriate.\nI see this album both as Michael Jackson's TRUE next release, but also his LAST, official out with a bang album. The 2010 \"Michael\" felt like a thrown together album to help fans through the loss, remind the public of his relevance, and of course cash in some for the record label. \"Xscape\" feels like true new Michael Jackson through and through. 5 Stars!","Product: The second session recorded for John Peels' radio one show in the UK. The track titles on this release were invented bylisteners while the tracks were playing. Four tracks in all, the titles are, 'Gelk', 'Blifil, 'Gaekwad' and '19 Headaches'. Standard jew\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Is it worth the money for just a single?\n\nReview: I was purchasing the \"ep7\" album when I noticed the peel session release (I've just discovered Autechre, so pardon me), and I thought, I love the artwork, or lack thereof :P, and said for a few bucks more I'll take the risk without sampling. To my surprise, I actually like the content on this \"peel session\" CD more than the ep7 album! The ep7 album is great, but there's pure quality, for lack of a better description, to this release that I think is special and reminds me more of their LP5 album which is my favorite.\nGelk is definitely my favorite track, it has nice dynamics between the brooding bassline and the light upper melody, followed by a surprising funky rhythm that comes out of nowhere, but still works. Is it worth the money for just a single? YOU BET. It actually has a run time of 30 minutes, which I've seen some full albums hit, so if you're worried about bang for the buck, Autechre will not let you down. Great stuff!","Product: Amanda ~ Everybody Doesn`T\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sue her manager for the zero publicity.\n\nReview: How an artist like Amanda can release an album this strong, then disappear is beyond me. What's more insulting is how this album sits in the Amazon Marketplace for under a dollar.\n\nThis is a strong pop/R&B album from start to finish. I suppose there can only be one Britney Spears, but that does not mean there aren't other artists that aren't writing material just as good, and even better. Just sample track 8 right now (\"no pressure\")... it has the emphatic Britney-esque stabs. Fans of all the female acts others mentioned in reviews will like Amanda, and even if you like Backstreet Boys or N'SYNC you should also enjoy this album. It's not about the fame, the proof is in the music.","Product: The first Rhythm & Sound CD is a compilation of the first 5 releases from the electronic dub-oriented label and features their very own signature sound of spacey echoes and techy rhythms.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I'm in it just for the dubby techno...\n\nReview: No offense to any Reggae fans, but I bought this CD strictly for the dubby tracks, and I was VERY pleased to discover that only two tracks (1 and 5) were raggae-styled. If you've ever heard of the 10\" vinyl \"burial mix\" releases, they typically had a vocal version on one side, and a 'dubby' dub version b-side which appeals to my deep techno cravings, and this CD just gave me the fix I needed. Though I'm not clear on the true connection between Rhythm & Sound and Basic Channel, the brooding bass line in \"Outward\" suggests some form of connection that seems blatantly clear when compared with Moritz Von Oswald's \"Quadrant.\" At any rate, I categorize this Rhythm & Sound CD as POLE meets BASIC CHANNEL. Rhythm & Sound marries the hissy and crackling static sounds & ultra-low frequency bass movements of POLE (a great IDM/minimal techno artist) and the dubby chord echoes & synth arrangements of BASIC CHANNEL (EFA dubby techno release) into an excellent work worth every penny.\nDon't let the Reggae thing fool you, this is dubby techno at it's best! If you love reggae, then it's just a little bonus for you."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Gator Cases GE-SHLF-SLD-1U 1U Sliding Shelf, 13.8\\\" Deep, Black\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy, but as others say, doesn't fit well.\\n\\nReview: Sturdy shelf? YES.\\nDifficult to install? YES.\\nImpossible? NO, but it may depend on your Gator rack case.\\n\\nIf you haven't read other reviews, be forewarned that this shelf is poorly measured. I actually measured the depth of both sides (between the front & back rack ears) and they were a full inch of a difference. That's just crazy.\\nBut I'll tell you the trick to get it into your case that should save you lots of agony and time.\\nOn each side of the drawer are two bolts that can be easily loosened. Unfortunately I didn't own a tool that would fit them, so I just used needle-nosed pliers. Once you loosen them, you can expand or contract the length of each side. Sadly since I have no thin bolt-tightening tool (flat wrench?) it's near impossible to tighten those bolts once they are inside the rack case, other than slightly with my fingers, but the ears attached to the rack grills give plenty of support.\\nBut even in doing so, the un-adjustable WIDTH of this shelf is a tad too wide, causing such a TIGHT fit, I had to shimmy it downward into my rack case, expanding the side grills as much as possible. In doing so, there is extreme tension on the sides, which makes the drawer extremely tight and almost not usable to pull open & closed. I haven't decided if I'll keep it or not yet, but if I am ok with having it FIXED open, then I'll be ok. Other retractable shelves are either more expensive, or considerably cheaper in build quality. I CAN shove it back in but with serious force and needing to hold the entire rack. Very bad design.\",\n \"Product: Coaster 5-Piece Dining Set, Table Top with 4 Chairs, Cappuccino Wood\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Look at the average star ratings, not the reviews\\n\\nReview: As usual the reviews on here range from \\\"best thing ever\\\" to \\\"terrible junk - avoid at all costs!\\\" I was a bit concerned by some of the scathing reviews on this dining set, but considering at the time of purchase it had an average 4-star rating from 49 customers I decided to give it a shot. Many of the complaints were also about shipping issues or how the items happened to arrive damaged which can happen in any situation with any product and typically people are more prone to post a complaint than a praise. One person spent more than one paragraph complaining about some spray foam it was packaged in and how that made a mess of their place... a fair warning, and yet mine arrived with regular Styrofoam of which I simply vacuumed up some crumb-like pieces and it was no big deal.\\n\\nI got this set for my apartment and found it to be a perfect size and have a beautiful, classy contemporary look, especially for the price. Will it last 10+ years and endure heavy wear? Probably not, but you just can't expect too much for under three hundred dollars for an entire set, folks. This isn't solid oak. It's a functional, attractive set at an affordable price. Putting it together was pretty easy, just time consuming and for those who may have complained about requiring additional tools/skills, all you need is an additional screw driver and a little bit of effort (no power drill required). I do feel the chairs could be designed a tad sturdier (only 3 screws hold the actual seat plate on the frame), but I suppose you could always add your own reinforcements if so inclined.\\n\\nI was torn between a 4-star and 5-star review, but I guess since there was so much negativity about this set I rounded up to help balance the scales. I'm very happy with this set, and if you have Amazon Prime, it is delivered to your door free of charge which means no delivery costs from a furniture store, and no having to pick something up that might not fit into your car.\\n\\nI would buy this gain. All of the parts arrived flawless.\",\n \"Product: Dynamic Type: Stereo Headphones\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid, quality slightly above price range - recommend if you're on a budget.\\n\\nReview: Inner earphones are always tricky because you pretty much have to rely on consumer reviews, and then there's everyone's slightly skewed perception of what the 'right' sound is, and finally everyone's ear shape is slightly different which can also vary comfort, fit and even sound when it comes to these types of headphones. That aside, I'd just like to share that I find the JVC HA-FXD80-Z quite decent. I actually wanted to replace my wooden HP-FX500 ones, but needed these quick and didn't have time to wait for import shipping. I feel the HP-FX500's sound a bit better than these, but these are very nice. It is important that you try EACH rubber cup size! I typically use the medium, and so by default I was using the medium size for two days and I started to get annoyed because I felt like I had to keep pushing these into my ears deeper to maintain proper bass, and that was followed by some irritation. Then on a whim I decided to try the small and large sized cups, and to my surprise the large ones work perfectly, give the right amount of bass, and don't slide out. I think these rubber tips are a tad smaller than ones I've had in the past, so the \\\"large\\\" is actually closer to a medium that I'm used to. At any rate, these headphones perform decently all together. I'm not blown away by them, but then they certainly are not like cheaper end inner headphones. I've had crisper highs, and richer lows, but then they've also cost a hundred dollars more. I needed a quick replacement and so I didn't have time or money to get more expensive ones, but certainly couldn't stoop to entry level, $30-$50 headphones. But for just under $80, these perform more on a $100-$130 range of headphones. I know it sounds strange that I'm talking about quality in dollar signs rather than frequency response, but trust me, I've gone through a huge amount of inner earphones over the years and I've found that price actually is a pretty good gauge for what you're going to get.\\nMy only complaints about these are the cable length could be a bit longer, and I prefer the kind that have one side longer than the other so you can drape one cable behind your neck, versus the typical \\\"V\\\" shape cable that resets in front of you, but that's just me.\",\n \"Product: Combining portability, aesthetics, and comfort, the IE-FC300 In-Ear Headphones offer an engaging listening experience on the go. Detachable flat elastomer cable with gold-plated MMCX connectors ensures a noise-free link to your media player, and best of all, won't tangle when stored in your bag. With 65-plus years 'audio experience Onkyo delivers the sort of full-bodied sound you'd expect from a high-end stereo setup in a pair of portable IEMs. Noted for throwing a pleasingly deep soundstage, the newly designed 14.3 mm (9/16-Inch ) drivers produce clear midst, crisp highs, and punchy bass to enrich all kinds of music. Form-fitting ear pads are angled comfortably to provide a good seal against ambient noise, and won't cause fatigue during longer listening sessions. An ideal launching pad into the world of personal hi-fi, these stylish headphones are perfect for the active music lover.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Stylish, robust sound, and unique cable make this a good choice\\n\\nReview: Onkyo, a trusted name in the world of HiFi audio has released a unique pair of earphones. What stands out immediately is the tangle-free flat cable. To be honest at first I thought the cable was rather flimsy and had a cheap feeling to it, but I now recognize this material is becoming more common, and is actually quite durable, and cutting edge. The three things that matter most for me with earphones is sound quality, comfort, and durability.\\n\\nSound quality - These earphones pack a good punch. If you normally don't go above $40 for a pair of earphones then you will be pleasantly blown away. If you normally spend around the $200 range or more then you'll find these earphones to be just ok. If your priority is bass, you will not be disappointed. I actually love crisp highs, as much as low end is important and the I E-FC300s don't seem to really shine in the high end. The mid is fine, and the bass is great, but finding that perfect mix for headphones in this price range is not an easy feat. Just as a reference, my favorite earphones around this price range are JVC Victor In-ear Stereo Headphones | HP-FX500 (Japan import).\\n\\nComfort - In the discussion of earphones comfort must be factored in, especially for prolonged use. For inner-ear phones these are a bit on the heavy side, though the clever design manages to spread the weight a bit. These don't feel like invisible featherweight ear buds that many people are accustomed to, so realize you'll feel a presence in each ear when wearing these. However, if you're going to go jogging or any significant movement, one plus for these headphones is the super-light cable, as with many other inner earphones I've dealt with, the phones start to come out of the ears slowly with every slight bounce / tug of the cable as you run or even walk. If your primary use for headphones is during exercise, you still may prefer a lighter set.\\n\\nUPDATE: Now that I've had some more time with these headphones I have to confess that I don't find them very comfortable over time. Although I didn't try the smallest size rubber cups, I use medium size on every other pair I've had, and don't see how that would make a difference, but basically there seems to be more pressure in my ears when I put them in with a tight seal, than with other headphones, which leads to a general, light soreness over prolonged use, and I'm not even talking about over an hour. This brings my review to a 3.5 stars, but since that can't be done manually I'll just leave it at 4.\\n\\nDurability - This is always a difficult category to review shortly after purchase, but these seem to be well built, and the innovative cable looks like it may very well mark the end of the infamous crackle/signal loss you get from so many headphones at the neck of the connector where the cable bends. Only time will tell though.\\n\\nOverall, these are decent headphones, but if you want a wider soundscape and crisper highs, or the kind of canal phones where you don't even feel them at all or want to lay your ear against a pillow while still listening, you may need to look elsewhere.\\n\\nBy the way, I don't know if it is just my computer screen, but the photo on Amazon makes the \\\"violet\\\" pair look more blue than purple.\",\n \"Product: Academy Award winning actor Timothy Hutton makes his directorial debut with this heartwarming and uplifting story of an unlikely friendship between a young girl and a mentally challenged man who help each other escape the despair of their everyday lives.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Break out the tissue box for this emotional, realistic tale.\\n\\nReview: I may shed a tear every now and then during a dramatic movie scene, but this film really kept the tears flowing... I'm torn between recommending this movie and protecting people from seeing it because it's so sad.\\nI've read many critics rip up this movie, also claiming Kevin Bacon's performance as being inconsistent, or perfunctory. All I have to say to that is they were watching KEVIN BACON PLAY A DISABLED PERSON, and did not accept the character for who he was and let the story roll. I'm sure if DiCaprio played Arnie in Gilbert Grape today after his established fame people would be more critical and see him as the known actor.\\nThis slice-of-life picture may seem slow at times, but it adds to the realism of a non-Hollywood blockbuster that tries to cram everything down your throat. It has a simple calmness to it, a child-like aura. And speaking of children, Evan Rachel Wood's performance is solid, believable and promises an incredible acting career for her future. She was a great casting call; not an over-dramatized, rag-dressed victim, but a believable 10-year-old in a small American town.\\nThis movie captures the innocent friendship that can exist between an adult and a child, much like Mel Gibson's \\\"Man without a face,\\\" as his character was accused and judged for spending time with his student. \\\"Digging to China\\\" will always remain a small film with dust on the sleeve at the video rental store, but I think it surpasses many Hollywood blockbusters that explode special effects and violence for the viewing public that just screams for more. Some may compare Bacon's character (Ricky) to Hoffman's in \\\"Rain Man,\\\" but my heart goes out to Ricky in \\\"Digging to China,\\\" for he was conscious of his problem, and was hoping for a miracle.\",\n \"Product: Adventure Drama\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Outstanding story, character development & cinematography!\\n\\nReview: This movie contains all the elements that make a great story, and best of all, includes a great cast and wonderful cinematography. Harrison Ford plays a very dynamic character who fits the mold of the misguided husband who downplays his pernicious acts with a \\\"I'm doing this for you\\\" speech. Incredible! Part of you loves him for his genius, part of you hates him for his hazardous ambition. I would classify this movie as a tragedy, but what better way to learn from the ideal human experience of survival, hope and trial. The DVD looks sharp (for an older movie!) and has a nice trailer on it, but that's really it. I noticed the Amazon comment of \\\"Fine film grain is revealed throughout,\\\" and I quote Allie Fox, \\\"Sounds perfect!\\\" - I love the sharp film look! This movie is a keeper, and an excellent chapter in Harrison Ford's hall of fame! Peter Weir too! SEE IT!\",\n \"Product: VHS TAPE\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Brings out the kid in you!\\n\\nReview: Who says you have to be a kid to like a movie generally made for kids? My daughter has liked this movie for years and I think I like it even more than her. Nickelodeon has produced something special here. Before SPY KIDS there was HARRIET! This is a great adventure with some emotional themes (peer pressure, honesty) for youngsters. Through hip hand-held style camera shooting and a festive funky soundtrack to boot, I like the movie simply for the execution. The fact that Rosie O'Donnel was pregnant (in disquise) during the making is also an interesting obstacle they had to work with. At any rate, Harriet the Spy is a fun, and rather different movie. When I say different I mean not like typical movies today filled with special effects and scenes so crammed with action and expository dialog that you can't even enjoy a scene. Harriet the Spy has some calm moments that cinematically shine (unique camera angles, color choices). The subtle sound effects and many humorous moments make this story fun for everyone.\\nThe only reason I give this movie 4 and not 5 stars is because the DVD version the Paramount has put together offers a FALSE widescreen representation of the movie. If you compare to the earlier VHS edition, you'll notice that they actually CROPPED this movie for DVD to give it the APPEARANCE of widescreen, rather, you're actually seeing LESS of the picture which was originally cropped on the VHS version for full-screen adaptation to begin with! That and NO bonus features to speak for whatsoever (is it so hard to add at least the original TRAILER?) I found that rather disappointing.\",\n \"Product: Charmed by his peaceful life in Tokyo, Kenshin's thoughts linger on the past. A former member of the Shinsen-gumi, Saitou Hajime was more than a match for the Battosai during the days of the Revolu-tion. Now, Saitou's plot requires the help of a full-strength Kenshin. Therefore, he will attack Kenshin and his loved ones until the violent killer within resurfaces.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Battousai The Manslayer Returns!!\\n\\nReview: The Kenshin TV series fluctuates from some cheesy filler episodes to major, intense ones. \\\"Shadow of the Wolf\\\" is, what I believe, the most intense of the series up to this point! The battle w/ Jinei way back in DVD vol. 2 was also incredible, but this one is the closest to the ever-popular OVAs of Samurai X; Very dark, intense, and heated action.\\nThe DVD also stands out to the earlier releases as it's the first to have an animated menu, the slickest CD-face print, different menu layout, and a darker mood overall. This truly fits this, what I feel to be, motion picture, as this DVD is all one story though it encompasses 4 \\\"episodes.\\\"\\nIf you've dabbled into Kenshin a little but don't wish to purchase all of the series, GET THIS ONE, along w/ the OVAs \\\"Trust\\\" and \\\"Betrayal.\\\" Being the Kenshin fanatic, I'm collecting all of the TV series :-)\",\n \"Product: He knows no fear. He knows no danger. He knows... nothing! When the priceless Crown Jewels are stolen, bumbling Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is the only Secret Agent in the country (literally!) who can solve the crime. His prime suspects: a sinister businessman (John Malkovich) and a beautiful woman (Natalie Imbruglia) with a mysterious interest in Johnny's top-secret mission. Can the clueless super spy save the day without denting the nation's pride... or his super-cool Aston Martin spy car? Your whole family will howl with laughter as the clumsiest secret agent ever unleashes an onslaught of outlandish stunts, hair-brained heroics and outrageous goof-ups in this hilarious spy spoof!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The right man for the job... I give it double-o-SEVEN stars!\\n\\nReview: Johnny English is definitely one of those movies where you just can't imagine any other actor playing the lead role than the one chosen. Rowan Atkinson plays a character who is as adorable and driven as he is a pathetic idiot, which actually somehow makes it believable that a female character could fall for him. Between Johnny English's charm, his joie de vivre, one cannot help but fall in love with this character whose determination constantly leads him to ruin every mission he takes on. Despite the obvious blunders, it is the subtle moments that cause the greatest laughs. Atkinson's remarkable timing and his subtle physical actions will bring on the laughs regardless of what script is thrown his way. I had seen some of his earlier works (Bean) and I actually enjoyed this movie equally, if not more. Though die hard fans seem to complain this movie does not live up to the Bean legacy, I see this film as a great introduction to Rowan Atkinson for those who have not seen Bean.\\n\\nNo credit seems to go to Johnny English's partner, Bough (pronounced \\\"Buff\\\" and brilliantly played by Ben Miller). Bough is the straight man who can actually get the job done, but due to his rank he must ride in the dangerous wake of his mentor, English. The way Atkinson and Miller play off each other is astonishing. Bough seems to recognize English's errors, but cannot admit them either out of respect to his superior, or possibly even sympathy.\\n\\nThis movie contains the perfect balance of slapstick and spy action/adventure. Certainly there is a moment here or there that I find forced or not as funny as it could have been, but all is forgiven since most of the film leaves me laughing more each time I watch it.\",\n \"Product: JUANA DE ARCO\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great performances, captivating story, low budget effects.\\n\\nReview: I chose this movie over renting \\\"The Messenger\\\" ( due to Messenger's graphic violence, actress choice for the part of Joan, and some of the reviews I read on Amazon). Leelee Sobieski fits the role much better, and did a terrific job all the way through.\\nIt wasn't obvious this was a TV movie until some of the action sequences... it was one of those deals where all they had to do was CUT out a few shots and they could have fooled you better. The fast-motion editing to speed up the sequence looked terrible. It was like going from film to video, back and forth during the battles... I also agree with a previous viewer about the effects (the spiritual conversations) -- showing LESS is better, and when it was beams of light, that was perfect (we didn't need to see the angel). The costumes and lighting were excellent, the DVD looks very crisp and clean.\\nThis was a great adaptation of a classic story. It could have been a tad shorter, but it kept me going anyway. At least an excellent rental.\",\n \"Product: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE meets SIN CITY in this high-concept visual thriller. John and Emma, father and daughter, are thrust into a fantastical dream-world battle between forces of good and evil in this allegorical tale of love, loss and the search for redemption.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A new definition for \\\"breathtaking\\\"\\n\\nReview: I had no idea what a huge impact this film would make on me. When a movie manages to scare you, wow you, excite you and bring you to tears then there's definitely great story telling happening. Please check out \\\"Trailer #1\\\" online, you should know where to look. Words sometimes can't do it justice. I still get chills even watching the trailer. I'd classify this movie as a fantasy/drama/sci-fi but as you may have read already, there really is nothing like this movie, and that's another strong point. So many movies these days are so big-budget and CGI-based that all you are left with is hollow, flash in the pan entertainment. Certainly the low budget for this independent film is obvious, but with a clever use of some simple effects, lighting and unique costumes & sets - you are still blown away due to the creativity and powerful story.\\n\\nI also have never noticed such an incredible use of sound effects in a movie before. Most note worthy is the metal cigarette lighter flick sound when the beings appear in our world. Amazing choice. I don't just hit 5 stars because I like a movie. Ink deserves every one. Please do not miss out on such an amazing piece of work, a true art form in itself rooted deep with emotions we can relate to.\",\n \"Product: International funnyman Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English, Mr. Bean) returns as the accidental secret agent who doesnt know fear -- or danger -- in this hilarious spy film spoof thats outrageous fun for the whole family! In his latest mission, Johnny English must stop a group of international assassins before they eliminate a world leader and cause global chaos. With just one shot at redemption, he will use (or misuse) the latest high-tech gadgets and every trick in his playbook to protect us all. Critics cheer, Youll get a kick out of Johnny English Reborn! (Scott Bowles, USA Today)\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Nowhere near as good as the first film, such a shame\\n\\nReview: Don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE fan of the original Johnny English movie, and also a fan of Atkinson... all I can ask is WHAT HAPPENED?? This was a movie that I WANTED to like so much and it almost felt awkward watching scenes that you could tell were SUPPOSED to be funny but fell short rather terribly. This is a case where I blame the writers completely, as I had no issues with Rowan Atkinson's performance, and I thought Gillian Anderson was a neat casting choice but there are just too many weak moments to save this film. Sure, we've got a bigger budget this time so they upped the scale of action sequences, etc. - but that's not what you watch this movie for.\\n\\nThere were TWO scenes that brought me to the floor laughing, so I didn't regret seeing it completely, and sure enough they happened to be somewhat minimal moments where Atkinson commanded the screen. If your a fan of the original feel free to take a rental peek, but by no means don't purchase this film blindly. I can't imagine them even attempting a 3rd film after this, such a shame. They should have brought his talented and hilarious side kick Bough (Ben Miller) back.\",\n \"Product: With an impoverished world plunged into a Cold War with a new enemy, Britain's Ministry of Defence is on the brink of developing a game-changing weapon. Lead scientist Vincent McCarthy (Toby Stephens) provides the answer with his creation, The Machine - an android with unrivalled physical and processing skills. When a programming glitch causes an early prototype to destroy his lab, McCarthy enlists artificial intelligence expert Ava (Caity Lotz) to help him harness the full potential of a truly conscious fighting machine.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent, but there are better AI movies out there.\\n\\nReview: If this was the first AI based film I had seen in the last few years I probably would have given it a higher rating. But after seeing films like Ex-Machina, Eva (foreign film), and Automata, I can't help but compare, and the first two I mentioned are tough acts to follow. As some other reviews here alluded to, The Machine is a bit like Ex-Machina, but on a tighter budget and with a bit more action and much less depth. Toby Stephens is great, but I found Caity Lotz's character a bit predictable and typical. The music score is a nice touch, and for an independent film it's not bad, but I highly recommend Eva if you haven't seen that, and of course Ex-Machina.\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Black and Chrome... not a gimmick, but an entirely different film in its own right.\\n\\nReview: This review is for the Black & Chrome version only. If you've already sampled clips via YouTube let it be known that shot by shot comparisons are one thing, witnessing the entire film in stark black and white is another. Honestly the first time I watched the B&C (Black & Chrome) edition I thought it looked cool but I decided I liked the color version better since I knew it was originally shot to be in color and felt I was looking at an afterthought idea. I was also analyzing shot composition constantly and not immersing myself into the film itself. A few days later I decided to watch some of the B&C version again, then I put in the color disc in to compare and suddenly I realized I actually like the B&C version better. Yes, even the director admitted some shots don't translate very well in black and white (especially the dark scenes at night) but what you gain with black and white is a complete different feel overall. When I went back to the color version it felt more like a typical Hollywood blockbuster action film... when you watch the B&C version you feel like you're being drawn into another world... bleak, gritty and steampunk apocalyptic. Sounds strange when we're talking about the same film with the same visuals, but believe me there is a perceptive difference. I'm one of the suckers who bought the initial blu ray release when the first version was released, but fortunately the B&C edition is fairly priced and I have no regrets owning it in addition to the original. The Black and Chrome edition is the version I'll watch more often. What may seem like a gimmick is actually a masterful idea. On a final note if you think they simply de-saturated the picture that's not the case. Each shot was enhanced / reformatted with a true black and white representation.\",\n \"Product: Extends iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 battery life almost a full charge\\n\\n\\nPre-charged and ready to use\\n\\n\\n\\n1700mAh lithium-polymer battery provides reusable and rechargeable power\\n\\n\\n\\nMicro USB Cable included for syncing device and recharging case\\n\\n\\n\\nLED Battery Life and Charging Indicator\\n\\n\\n\\nOn/off button allows user to control charging\\n\\n\\n\\nFlexible case fits securely around your phone and has an optimized opening for camera flash\\n\\n\\nRecharges in 2 hours at 5 watts\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: When longevity of your portable is the primary need...\\n\\nReview: This is not my first charging case for an iPhone (I used to have one for the 3Gs by New Trent) so I had some idea of what to expect from it, but for those who've never had one let me share a few pros and cons of this device. But in a nutshell the Energizer PP-IP4SB case is sturdy, reliable, and does the job. Here's the breakdown.\\n\\nPROS:\\n--> Basically this case doubles the life of your iPhone, so if you're on the go and don't have access or time to charge, this is obviously the primary bonus to this case.\\n--> Sturdy housing. Although the front of your iPhone and front edges could be protected better, the back sure would need to take a serious beating for anything to go wrong.\\n--> High tech battery life display. I couldn't believe how cool the soft blue circles illuminating THROUGH the case at the bottom (rather Tron-like) are. Very neat way to have LEDs. A previous case I had came with lights on the back so bright that they had shown through pants pockets.\\n--> ONE-piece! This is not at half top/half bottom snap case of any kind, you basically slide the phone into the housing and BAM, it's done, so there will be no loose connections over time or any weak point. A previous case of mine had a tiny upper snap part that was extremely weak and was the first part to always break.\\n--> iPhone controls are easily accessed. Sometimes cases make the power or volume +/- buttons difficult to use, this has a soft, thin rubber housing that works perfectly.\\n\\nCONS:\\n--> Once again we are forced to use a different somewhat proprietary connector; MICRO-USB. So that means no more easy docking into a speaker/boombox bay, and for computer sync you'll always need your micro USB connector and not the typical Apple connector. I've also found the computer to be a bit temperamental with this connector on a previous case, so a PRO in this CON section is actually the Energizer had no issues with my Windows computer connection.\\n--> BULKY. Let's face it, this case makes your iPhone look pregnant. There has to be some cost for the battery life, right? Well, this is mainly it. Granted if you're used to some fat Otterbox, then it won't be an issue, but if you like to keep your iPhone as sleek as possible with a thin, body tight case, beware that this case adds at least another 1/3 thickness to the back of the unit. Because it has a beveled edge and is black, it's not terrible looking though.\\n--> Protection around the edges of the iPhone screen could be a bit better (it's just a soft rubber barely covering it. But honestly many iPhone cases fall short in this area, so I'd say it's not a huge issue, and I'm not about to drop my phone on concrete to test it out.\\n--> After reading other reviews now apparently it is difficult to get your phone OUT of the case once it is in... I'm beginning to see why. After a significant struggle, I found that if you push from the camera lens hole on the back, that really helps... though obviously that's not the best place to be pressing your finger or whatever. This issue would actually bring my review down to 3.5 stars.\\n\\nSo for a solid case that prolongs your battery life, this is a good choice, just be aware of the cons and see if those are big issues for you. Luckily it does at least come WITH one micro USB cable (no longer than 3ft) but if you dock your iPhone at more than one location you may need to invest in another chord.\",\n \"Product: The Hives Veni Vidi Vicious Swedish CD album\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hate to say I told you it's worth getting, but it IS!\\n\\nReview: I felt compelled to write a brief review of this album based on some other reviews I read here at Amazon. To start off, if someone is going to judge an album for it's length, then I think they have NO merit whatsoever. I'd rather have a strong & tight 30 minutes of great music versus some long 2 disc set of GARBAGE. Not to mention successful punk rock bands of the past like The Ramones also had short song lengths.\\nAre they original? No. Has it been done before? Yes. Should we care? NO! I don't understand why people poke at artists for stealing ideas, when that's really all the entertainment world is FILLED with. Come on, everything has been pretty much done, and those things that work are worth revisiting. Look at the motion picture industry. How many of the blockbuster films are rehashed material? Retro sells. And personally I find the return refreshing. If the Beatles were great, they can't entertain youth on stage today, so why not bring them back? Look at the Squirrel Nut Zippers for example. They write in a style of a completely different time period, but they expose a new crowd to a sound that once worked. I think most people that are complaining about \\\"they sound like The Rolling Stones\\\" or what have you, are just bitter because they have a personal attachment to something from their youth, and feel like they are being cheated, or they're jealous that today's youth is giving credit to the \\\"new sound\\\". Personally when I first saw The Hives' music video for \\\"Hate to say I told you so\\\" I noticed the white ties tucked in and thought, \\\"wow,\\\" Duran Duran did that in the early 80s. Cool. Then I was hooked instantly by the catchy riffs and high energy. I also enjoyed the fact that all the band members aren't some corporate creation of pretty pop boys, but rather they are an odd mix of sizes and heights.\\nBut enough of that, how about the music? If you've heard ANY of their singles, then you can expect MORE of the same on the album. And I mean that in a GOOD way. High energy, catchy, and fun. Lead vocalist Pelle Almqvist is not the greatest singer in the world, but I think that's part of the appeal. It's like the neighborhood rock band jamming in their garage; edgy, playful, and promising. If you're debating if the album is worth your money, it IS. Especially the enhanced version which contains 3 spectacular music videos on it (\\\"Hate To Say I Told You So,\\\" \\\"Die All Right!,\\\" and \\\"Main Offender\\\") gives you great bang for the buck, as The Hives have a strong image presence. A great surprise track is track 8 \\\"Find another girl,\\\" which contains the swooning percussion and sound of a 1950s song. Sweden has won me over again.\",\n \"Product: The Click Five's sophomore album, MODERN MINDS AND PASTIMES is already garnering attention at radio with their first single \\\"Jenny\\\". with the announcement of a new singer, 20 year-old Kyle Patrick, the Click Five is poised to make it's much-anticipated return with a fresh sound that is sure to please fans and bring the band to new heights. [Note: This product is an authorized CD-R and is manufactured on demand]\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Imrie house days are over... so change the band name\\n\\nReview: This is a very biased review, I'll admit that. The debut album by The Click Five (Greetings from Imrie House) was magic in a bottle. The power-pop formula backed by the innocent-yet-powerful lead voice was fresh and exciting. Those of you who own it know what I'm talking about. They were The Beatles of this generation. If you are a fan of the first album and want more of that, do NOT expect to find that here. I bought this album not even realizing they replaced the lead singer, and while I felt open-minded enough to accept a more mature sound in the music style, leaving the staple voice behind is what makes The Click Five no longer the act they were at all.\\n\\nIt is not fair for me to give this album a poor rating since I am strictly tainting it because of the extreme difference from the first, but I'm just so disappointed that The Click Five I loved no longer exists. From the two times I listened to this album, it is not a bad pop/rock album, and perhaps if it was some new act with a different name I would have liked it but the electrified, infectious magic of the Imrie House days are truly over.\\n\\nREVIEW EDIT: Ok, its weeks later and now that I've gotten OVER the fact that the band has a new singer and some time has passed, I decided to give this album another shot. I regret the star rating I gave it originally. It's a super-tight well-written pop album. The new singer has an EXCELLENT voice, its just not what I had expected and I just happen to like the previous singer more. Check out the samples, if you like what you hear, its an excellent album.\",\n \"Product: Japanese pressing of the 2007 release from the outrageous Pop diva features four bonus tracks: 'Outta This World', 'Everybody', 'Get Back' and 'Gimme More' (Paul Oakenfold Remix). Britney has earned every global award possible, made every major TV appearance, appeared on every magazine cover and truly defines Pop stardom. After an absence of four years, she is back doing what she does best...making great Pop music. Oh, and she's pretty controversial, too! Features 16 new Britney boombastic bombshells including the first single 'Gimme More'. Jive.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Britney's BEST that no one knows about\\n\\nReview: Years later, I can now say that this is the best Britney Spears album of all time. It's buried in history, mostly forgotten, and hardly successful compared to her other releases, but it's everyone else's loss if they don't listen to it. It's actually considered to be a mix of RnB/Swing, Europop, and Euro House. A stellar, consistent album of edgy club tracks.\\n\\nI still have a copy of underground demos that leaked out before the official version, and I still like the raw versions better, but have grown used to the official as well. Amazing album all the way through. Don't miss out on the bonus tracks like \\\"Everybody\\\" and \\\"Get Back\\\" that appear on special versions of the album, so if you never got those, check them out. I even like the sappy, mellow bonus cut called \\\"Outta This World.\\\" It's Britney, b*tch.\",\n \"Product: Japanese pressing of the 2007 release from the outrageous Pop diva features four bonus tracks: 'Outta This World', 'Everybody', 'Get Back' and 'Gimme More' (Paul Oakenfold Remix). Britney has earned every global award possible, made every major TV appearance, appeared on every magazine cover and truly defines Pop stardom. After an absence of four years, she is back doing what she does best...making great Pop music. Oh, and she's pretty controversial, too! Features 16 new Britney boombastic bombshells including the first single 'Gimme More'. Jive.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Britney's BEST that no one knows about\\n\\nReview: Years later, I can now say that this is the best Britney Spears album of all time. It's buried in history, mostly forgotten, and hardly successful compared to her other releases, but it's everyone else's loss if they don't listen to it. It's actually considered to be a mix of RnB/Swing, Europop, and Euro House. A stellar, consistent album of edgy club tracks.\\n\\nI still have a copy of underground demos that leaked out before the official version, and I still like the raw versions better, but have grown used to the official as well. Amazing album all the way through. Don't miss out on the bonus tracks like \\\"Everybody\\\" and \\\"Get Back\\\" that appear on special versions of the album, so if you never got those, check them out. I even like the sappy, mellow bonus cut called \\\"Outta This World.\\\" It's Britney, b*tch.\",\n \"Product: HQ 180 gram vinyl in gatefold sleeve. 2014 studio album of newly completed, previously unreleased tracks from the archives, finished in the studio with the assistance of top contemporary producers\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best MJ material in many years\\n\\nReview: I've been a Michael Jackson fan since the Thriller days and have followed his musical career ever since, and was sad that nothing substantial was released after \\\"Invincible.\\\" The 2010 posthumous release of \\\"Michael\\\" was decent, but somewhat felt \\\"too soon\\\" or rushed to be released, and had too many ballads for my taste, and didn't feel very cohesive. Well look out, because Xscape truly feels like what MJ would release today. If you watch the deluxe edition DVD you'll see Timbaland profess how despite his cutting edge production techniques, he backed off from making his signature come through, rather focusing on making it sound like what Michael Jackson would release today. The result (other significant producers involved as well) is an in your face contemporary explosion of what we finally wanted; NEW MICHAEL JACKSON!\\nMichael never would settle for anything but greatness and each track on this album is top notch... the funky grooves make you want to dance, his voice sounds spectacular as always, and best of all even though the tracks are from various time periods they all come together sounding like they were recorded in the same session. If you think this was pulled off strictly as a cash cow for the corporate machine, of course there could be some truth to that as it is the music business after all, but make no mistake, the producers had MJ in mind and worked as hard as they could to be his mouthpiece in 2014. The deluxe edition also includes the Justin Timberlake 'duet' which is a sweet touch, and since this whole album has a similar vibe to JT's recent 20/20 series, seems quite appropriate.\\nI see this album both as Michael Jackson's TRUE next release, but also his LAST, official out with a bang album. The 2010 \\\"Michael\\\" felt like a thrown together album to help fans through the loss, remind the public of his relevance, and of course cash in some for the record label. \\\"Xscape\\\" feels like true new Michael Jackson through and through. 5 Stars!\",\n \"Product: The second session recorded for John Peels' radio one show in the UK. The track titles on this release were invented bylisteners while the tracks were playing. Four tracks in all, the titles are, 'Gelk', 'Blifil, 'Gaekwad' and '19 Headaches'. Standard jew\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Is it worth the money for just a single?\\n\\nReview: I was purchasing the \\\"ep7\\\" album when I noticed the peel session release (I've just discovered Autechre, so pardon me), and I thought, I love the artwork, or lack thereof :P, and said for a few bucks more I'll take the risk without sampling. To my surprise, I actually like the content on this \\\"peel session\\\" CD more than the ep7 album! The ep7 album is great, but there's pure quality, for lack of a better description, to this release that I think is special and reminds me more of their LP5 album which is my favorite.\\nGelk is definitely my favorite track, it has nice dynamics between the brooding bassline and the light upper melody, followed by a surprising funky rhythm that comes out of nowhere, but still works. Is it worth the money for just a single? YOU BET. It actually has a run time of 30 minutes, which I've seen some full albums hit, so if you're worried about bang for the buck, Autechre will not let you down. Great stuff!\",\n \"Product: Amanda ~ Everybody Doesn`T\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sue her manager for the zero publicity.\\n\\nReview: How an artist like Amanda can release an album this strong, then disappear is beyond me. What's more insulting is how this album sits in the Amazon Marketplace for under a dollar.\\n\\nThis is a strong pop/R&B album from start to finish. I suppose there can only be one Britney Spears, but that does not mean there aren't other artists that aren't writing material just as good, and even better. Just sample track 8 right now (\\\"no pressure\\\")... it has the emphatic Britney-esque stabs. Fans of all the female acts others mentioned in reviews will like Amanda, and even if you like Backstreet Boys or N'SYNC you should also enjoy this album. It's not about the fame, the proof is in the music.\",\n \"Product: The first Rhythm & Sound CD is a compilation of the first 5 releases from the electronic dub-oriented label and features their very own signature sound of spacey echoes and techy rhythms.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I'm in it just for the dubby techno...\\n\\nReview: No offense to any Reggae fans, but I bought this CD strictly for the dubby tracks, and I was VERY pleased to discover that only two tracks (1 and 5) were raggae-styled. If you've ever heard of the 10\\\" vinyl \\\"burial mix\\\" releases, they typically had a vocal version on one side, and a 'dubby' dub version b-side which appeals to my deep techno cravings, and this CD just gave me the fix I needed. Though I'm not clear on the true connection between Rhythm & Sound and Basic Channel, the brooding bass line in \\\"Outward\\\" suggests some form of connection that seems blatantly clear when compared with Moritz Von Oswald's \\\"Quadrant.\\\" At any rate, I categorize this Rhythm & Sound CD as POLE meets BASIC CHANNEL. Rhythm & Sound marries the hissy and crackling static sounds & ultra-low frequency bass movements of POLE (a great IDM/minimal techno artist) and the dubby chord echoes & synth arrangements of BASIC CHANNEL (EFA dubby techno release) into an excellent work worth every penny.\\nDon't let the Reggae thing fool you, this is dubby techno at it's best! If you love reggae, then it's just a little bonus for you.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":23,"string":"23"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":67,"string":"67"}}},{"rowIdx":68,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2SDYWB9LB1LYI"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Benvenuto Cellini tells the story of his life as a hot-tempered rebel and outstanding sculptor in Renaissance Italy.\". The summary of the review text is \"One of the all-time greats\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Benvenuto Cellini was a leading figure of the Italian Renaissance. He was close to the Florentine court and participated in royal intrigues. He was a major artist in a period of major artists, creating numerous works of beauty that can still be seen today. (His most famous work is the statue of Perseus holding the head of the Medusa, which stands in the piazza outside the Palazzo Vecchio. His description of the making of this work is one of the highlights of the book.) He had numerous love affairs with titled women and numerous feuds with powerful men. He was also a murderer and an unconscious sadist. And he wrote it all in what is one of the great autobiographies of all time. Parts of the book are chilling, such as when he regrets having beaten his beautiful model, not out of guilt or remorse, but because the beating had left her so swollen and bruised that she was no good to him as a model now. Other parts are disgusting, such as when he describes a parasite he vomited. At other times one wonders if he really thought he could get away with such tall tales as swearing that while under the protection of a necromancer he saw the Colosseum full of dancing devils. Cellini was a complex man and a great artist and a great writer. His autobiography is essential reading if one wishes to understand the Renaissance. I consider Cellini's autobiography to be almost as essential as Homer and Shakespeare. Five stars, of course."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Benvenuto Cellini was a leading figure of the Italian Renaissance. He was close to the Florentine court and participated in royal intrigues. He was a major artist in a period of major artists, creating numerous works of beauty that can still be seen today. (His most famous work is the statue of Perseus holding the head of the Medusa, which stands in the piazza outside the Palazzo Vecchio. His description of the making of this work is one of the highlights of the book.) He had numerous love affairs with titled women and numerous feuds with powerful men. He was also a murderer and an unconscious sadist. And he wrote it all in what is one of the great autobiographies of all time. Parts of the book are chilling, such as when he regrets having beaten his beautiful model, not out of guilt or remorse, but because the beating had left her so swollen and bruised that she was no good to him as a model now. Other parts are disgusting, such as when he describes a parasite he vomited. At other times one wonders if he really thought he could get away with such tall tales as swearing that while under the protection of a necromancer he saw the Colosseum full of dancing devils. Cellini was a complex man and a great artist and a great writer. His autobiography is essential reading if one wishes to understand the Renaissance. I consider Cellini's autobiography to be almost as essential as Homer and Shakespeare. Five stars, of course."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, already the director of almost twenty films by the age of 29, paid homage to his cinematic hero, Douglas Sirk, with this updated version of Sirk's All That Heaven Allows. Lonely widow Emmi Kurowsky (Brigitte Mira) meets Arab worker Ali (El Hedi ben Salem) in a bar during a rainstorm. To their own surprise (and to the shock of family, colleagues, and drinking buddies) they fall in love. In Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (Angst essen seele auf), Fassbinder expertly uses the emotional power of the melodrama to underscore the racial tensions threatening German culture.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Harold and Maude with an Ex-Nazi and a Moroccan\n\nReview: FEAR EATS THE SOUL is an offbeat film. Its premise is preposterous, but nonetheless the viewer is drawn into the story and comes to care about characters who are not glamorous or very exceptional on any level. But somehow Emmy, this sixty-ish, somewhat dumpy cleaning woman, who had been a member of the Nazi party in her youth, and a very fit Moroccan \"guest worker\" named Ali, who is more than twenty years her junior, meet, fall in love, and marry. They are reviled by the society in which they live. As long as other people are against them, their relationship is strong. But gradually those who rejected them realize that they need the couple for economic reasons and (at least on the surface) accept them. Then the couple's relationship falls apart. The camera is objective and rather coldly observes the characters and the world in which they live. The characters inhabit the German petit bourgeois, where kitsch is the reality. Emmy's wardrobe consists primarily of jersey dresses with bold colorful patterns. The pictures on her walls are seascapes that are perhaps \"Paint-by-number.\" But there is nothing campy about the point of view. characters are respected. Their feelings are real. The film is in many ways like a play. Some scenes look as if the characters were placed upon a stage while the stationary camera filmed them from the audience. There are a lot of tableaux. The whole story is told very simply and straightforwardly. But the whole effect is compelling and somewhat disquieting. I've seen it many times in theatres, television, and recorded video, so I was blown away by this DVD's fabulous quality. You can really appreciate the clean, crisp photography of this film that was not evident on the VCR or the worn-out prints shown in revival houses. I'll say the same for the soundtrack, which is a revelation after decades of hearing warped soundtracks. The wonderfully restored film alone is worth the price of the DVD, but a second DVD is included that gave even me, a long time fan of this film, some new insights. I was surprised that I was impressed by Todd Haynes' introduction because I do not like his films. Based on this short film, I think he is a much better critic than director. I especially loved the interview with 93-year old Brigitta Mira, as well as the short film \"Fear Eat Soul,\" in which she also appears. Also included is a British television documentary, \"Signs of Vigorous Life: New German Cinema from the 1980s which features Fassbinder, Volker Schlondorf, and Werner Herzog. In addition there is an interview with the film's editor, who says she had a nervous breakdown over it, and an excerpt from Fassbinder's film THE AMERICAN SOLDIER, in which the story of Emmy first appeared as the subject of a monologue related by Margarethe von Trotta. In addition, a 16-page booklet is included in this Criterion Collection package that features essays \"One Love, Two Oppressions\" by Chris Fujiwara and \"All that Fassbinder Allows\" by Michael Toteberg. Five stars.","Product: From the creator of \"Weeds\" comes a heartbreaking and hilarious new series set in a women's prison. Based on Piper Kerman's acclaimed memoir, \"Orange Is the New Black\" follows engaged Brooklynite Piper Chapman, whose wild past comes back to haunt her and results in her arrest and detention in a federal penitentiary. To pay her debt to society, Piper trades her comfortable New York life for an orange prison jumpsuit and finds unexpected conflict and camaraderie amidst an eccentric group of inmates.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sensational. In every sense of the word!\n\nReview: I don't watch a lot of TV and had no interest in getting hooked on a TV series. However, the womens prison genre has always held a certain fascination for me from CAGED to PRISONER: CELL BLOCK H. Knowing this, some friends showed me this series when I visited over a long weekend. I was blown away and have since given the DVD to two people as gifts. This is not the usual womens prison film. This story of an affluent white girl going to prison (primarily for choosing bad companions who involved her in a drug scheme) is quite graphic and deals openly with lesbian sex and masturbation among the array of prison life issues. I was very impressed by the quality of the writing and the great acting by a fearless New York-based cast. It is not campy, but it is not without a heavy dose of irony, either. Every episode gives one a lot to ponder. Id recommend this show wholeheartedly to intelligent adults with a certain caveat: While this is not hardcore pornography, there is nudity and the sex scenes leave little to the imagination. The language is extremely graphic. This is not for the squeamish and it is definitely not for those young people under 18. But I loved it.","Product: Accoring to the London Times, translater, Richmond Lattimer has come about as near as any man could to conveying, in English, the utterly alien movment and structure of Homer's poetry...\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Makes it seem brand new\n\nReview: Over my relatively long life I've read several translations of Homer, from the prose retellings to the flowery verse versions, and not one of them approaches the fiery beauty of this translation. The story of Odysseus's harrowing and fantastic voyage home from the Trojan War after an absence of 20 years is thrillingly told. The Odyssey is more than an adventure story with its hero battling both nature and the supernatural, or a tale of revenge and redemption. Like all great works of literature, The Odyssey forces us to ponder what it is to be human, and what separates us from the gods and from the monsters. Raw, gritty, and rhythmic, this translation makes me think that this is what it must have been like in the original. What I especially like about this translation is that Fagles manages to keep the traditions of the Epic without using clichés. Fagles makes it all seem immediate and fire-new. There are many English translations of THE ODYSSEY available, but this is the great one. Five Stars.","Product: Frank Youngclaims that the few simple, almost effortless exercises contained in this book can help to dramatically improve and rejuvenate the physical and mental processes of any man--from 18 to 80. One of the few men trained in both Western chiropractic methods and Yoga lore, he documents his program with actual case histories of men who have reached a new plateau in vitality, strength, razor-sharp mental processes, and robust health! (from book cover)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: On the whole, excellent, but...\n\nReview: This is not traditional yoga as I have studied it, but it is nonetheless an excellent book of advice and exercise for men. It was written in the late 60s and the writing is very much of its time. The slant is vaguely be a real man through yoga. If it had been written today the slant would probably be about longevity or sex. But Dr. Young presents several case histories of men he has helped to a happier life. One is Richard, whom Dr. Young describes as tired of being an insignificant nobody with a typical job, typical prospects, typical appearance, and of being less than extraordinary with women. But Dr. Young says, I taught him a Yoga secret. After practicing it only twice he felt so differently that he could hardly believe he was the same person. The result was that Richard successfully wooed the woman of his dreams and married her five and a half months later. Its hard not to smile at prose like that. But the actual exercises are really excellent and I have not encountered them anywhere else. I wish Dr. Young had gone into detail about the Yogi Bench. He says it should be low and then another time he says it's half the height of a chair. That seems high for some of the exercises. I have other quibbles, too. ...","Product: 300p grey paperback with illustrated card cover, minor traces of use, pages clean\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Moving philosophical novel of great psychological insight\n\nReview: Hesse was a favorite of the baby boomers when they were in their teens and twenties. Hes out of fashion today, which is too bad, because Hesse was a writer who actually had something to say. I tried to read SIDDHARTHA in the late 60s, but I didn't relate to it at all then. I just found it simplistic and boring. I think I was simply too young to understand it. Perhaps Ill read it again someday. Now, nearly 50 years later I finally read NARCISSUS AND GOLDMUND. I was ready for it. This is a beautiful novel about love, death, art, life, and the spirit. It basically deals with the same issues as SIDDHARTHA, but it is set in a different time and place, demonstrating the universality of Hesses vision. In Medieval Germany two young men meet when they are students in a cloister. They develop a deep friendship which lasts for the rest of their lives. It is not expressed physically, but they have a deep love for each other. Narcissus is wise beyond his years and has a knack for knowing peoples destinies. He is deeply devout and knows that he is destined for a life in the clergy. Goldmund, his new friend admires him and wants to be a successful cleric, too, but Narcissus prophesies that his destiny is elsewhere. After much resistance, Goldmund finally realizes that Narcissus is right and runs away from the abbey. He learns the ways of the flesh and survives by his wits in the wilderness, becoming an unwilling murderer in the process. At the same time, the Plague is decimating the population of Europe. Everywhere he goes there is death and dying. Eventually he learns to carve and becomes an artist, through which he achieves a kind of salvation, but even that is not enough.\n\nThis is a beautiful work of great psychological depth, replete with both Freudian and Jungian insights. At the same time, it is a strongly emotional work that resonates long afterward. Im sure Ill think about this book the rest of my life. Five stars.","Product: In what the General Practitioner called 'this intelligent searching work', the author of \"Stigma\" and \"Asylums\" presents an analysis of the structures of social encounters from the perspective of the dramatic performance. He shows us exactly how people use such 'fixed props' as houses, clothes, and job situations; how they combine in teams resembling secret societies; and, how they adopt discrepant roles and communicate out of character. Professor Goffman takes us 'backstage' too, into the regions where people both prepare their images and relax from them; and he demonstrates in painful detail what can happen when a performance falls flat.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: All the world's a stage...\n\nReview: All the worlds a stage, says one of Shakespeares characters, and Erving Goffman explains just how that works in this landmark work of sociological scholarship. Using the analogy of a theatrical performance, Goffman examines societal behavior. Virtually every aspect of life is a show and as long as we play our roles well, all goes smoothly. School is one kind of show, the family is another, the job is another. Each of these performance spaces has a clearly defined front and a backstage and an audience. Sometimes we are leading players, sometimes we are the audience, but regardless of which role we play, we must play it correctly. One has to stick to the script. You cannot make up your own lines or not follow direction, and you cannot allow the audience to glimpse backstage. These are the rules. People get fired from their jobs when they do not perform their roles appropriately, such as when they break character, forget lines, or try to upstage the star. Actors putting on a show are a team. For the show to be a success, the team has to work together.\nGoffman writes clearly and gives lots of examples. This is not difficult to understand, even if ones previous study of sociology has been minimal. I found this really fascinating and quite a valuable analytical tool that has unlimited application. Five stars","Product: Lawrence Durrell's series of four novels set in Alexandria, Egypt during the 1940s. The lush and sensuous series consists of Justine (1957) Balthazar (1958) Mountolive (1958) Clea (1960).\nJustine, Balthazar and Mountolive use varied viewpoints to relate a series of events in Alexandria before World War II. In Clea, the story continues into the years during the war. \nOne L.G. Darley is the primary observer of the events, which include events in the lives of those he loves and those he knows. In Justine, Darley attempts to recover from and put into perspective his recently ended affair with a woman. Balthazar reinterprets the romantic perspective he placed on the affair and its aftermath in Justine, in more philosophical and intellectual terms. \n\nMountolive tells a story minus interpretation, and Clea reveals Darley's healing, and coming to love another woman.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A frightening new facet of THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET\n\nReview: This third book of The Alexandria Quartet is quite different from the first two, in that it is primarily a spy story told from the point of view of a British diplomat serving in Egypt. As a young man, the diplomat Mountolive had an affair with an older woman who was the mother of the brothers Hosnani (Nessim and Narouz). But after serving in other parts of the world, he finds himself once again stationed in Egypt. As in the previous volume, with the shift in perspective, new facts and motivations are revealed. Characters who were scoffed at as fools in the previous volumes are revealed to be dangerous and unstable in this one.\nI enjoyed the book as part of a continuing saga, but unlike its two predecessors it doesnt really stand alone. There are too many loose ends at the conclusion of MOUNTOLIVE, despite the first-rate entertainment it provides. But Im still interested, so now its on to CLEA!","Product: Lawrence Durrell's series of four novels set in Alexandria, Egypt during the 1940s. The lush and sensuous series consists of Justine (1957) Balthazar (1958) Mountolive (1958) Clea (1960).\nJustine, Balthazar and Mountolive use varied viewpoints to relate a series of events in Alexandria before World War II. In Clea, the story continues into the years during the war. \nOne L.G. Darley is the primary observer of the events, which include events in the lives of those he loves and those he knows. In Justine, Darley attempts to recover from and put into perspective his recently ended affair with a woman. Balthazar reinterprets the romantic perspective he placed on the affair and its aftermath in Justine, in more philosophical and intellectual terms. \n\nMountolive tells a story minus interpretation, and Clea reveals Darley's healing, and coming to love another woman.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Justine and Alexandria from a different perspective\n\nReview: It turns out that the mysterious Justine of Volume I of THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET had even more secrets than we knew. First of all, did we really know Justine at all, considering that her story was told by a man who was under her spell and that he relied heavily upon a roman-a-clef written about her by her first husband for background information? Not really, as it turns out. The author of Volume I had given his manuscript to the doctor, Balthasar, who then extensively annotated it with the additional information that he knew, writing between the lines. The author refers to this document as the interlinear. This book was allegedly based on the interlinear. Events that were peripheral in JUSTINE take center stage in this volume and we learn the motivations for the actions of certain characters, which were not at all what they seemed. Several mysteries get solved and some things become even murkier. Characters who were peripheral, like Nessims younger brother Narouz, become major players in this volume. Although this is the second book of the Quartet, it is not a sequel to the first, but a companion. (A friend read BALTHASAR before reading JUSTINE and had no trouble understanding it.) I was enthralled by the story and by the exotic location itself. Im not sure if I would describe the technique as looking at a situation through different planes of a prism, or through a kaleidoscope. Events look different, depending on whos telling the story. Every narrator has his own agenda, too. This is fascinating storytelling. Im looking forward to the next volume. Five stars.","Product: Lawrence Durrell's series of four novels set in Alexandria, Egypt during the 1940s. The lush and sensuous series consists of Justine (1957) Balthazar (1958) Mountolive (1958) Clea (1960).\nJustine, Balthazar and Mountolive use varied viewpoints to relate a series of events in Alexandria before World War II. In Clea, the story continues into the years during the war. \nOne L.G. Darley is the primary observer of the events, which include events in the lives of those he loves and those he knows. In Justine, Darley attempts to recover from and put into perspective his recently ended affair with a woman. Balthazar reinterprets the romantic perspective he placed on the affair and its aftermath in Justine, in more philosophical and intellectual terms. \n\nMountolive tells a story minus interpretation, and Clea reveals Darley's healing, and coming to love another woman.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Challenging at times, but worth it\n\nReview: Ive been hearing about The Alexandria Quartet ever since I was a teenager in the 60s. When it was published in the late 1950s it was immediately hailed as a great intellectual achievement. It was a very popular book among the generation just older than mine, but by the time I came along Durrell was a bit passé and the new intellectual darlings were the freewheeling satirists Joseph Heller and Terry Southern. However, THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET always had a devoted following and has never been out-of-print. Jan Morris, in this editions superb introduction, opines that it is unlikely to ever be. I don't think I could state anything here that could be more helpful than Morriss Introduction. She praises the book, but also warns the reader that Durrell can be outrageously pretentious at times. (She hits the nail on the head when she writes about Durrells flashily arcane vocabulary.)\n\nI had difficulty getting into the book, but I kept reading. Im glad I did. It seems at first to be a lot of poetic stream-of-conscious meanderings, but gradually the pieces start to fit together and the reader sees how the characters are interrelated. Most of what happens is beneath the surface, with characters trying figure out what the other characters are thinking; there are few real events in the novel, and the major ones take place offstage.\n\nI was reluctant to begin a multi-volume work. This one is different. JUSTINE easily stands alone. It is complete within itself. I never had the feeling that it was a prequel. According to Lawrences introduction of the second volume, of the four books, only the last volume CLEA is a sequel. He compares the first three volumes to siblings, rather than sequels. The first three all deal with the same characters at the same time, but are told from different points of view. JUSTINE is pretty dazzling. Im eager to find out whether Durrell can sustain this level of writing. Five stars.","Product: THIS IS BRAND NEW BOOK.WE PROVIDE 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Ambition and talent in need of an editor\n\nReview: I basically enjoyed this book, but after finishing it I slightly resented having spent so much time reading it. Like MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN, RED EARTH AND POURING RAIN is a sprawling, ambitious novel with strong exotic elements depicted in vivid prose. However, like MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN, it is also FAR too long and could have easily been pruned of at least a hundred pages. The story of Kyrie, for example, despite taking up many pages, added nothing to the main story and could easily have been dispensed with. I also think that knowledge of Indian history, Hindu mythology and the rules of cricket would be helpful to properly appreciate this book. My knowledge of these subjects is very vague, so I'm sure there's a lot I missed. There are several stories going at once and not all of them have logical ties to each other. There are a lot of loose ends. I also feel that the whole tone of the book shifted right around the time the glowing child was born. The supernatural and allegorical elements came to the forefront and the story became tedious. (A character I liked changed his personality and chopped off his own head!) What was the point of continuing reading if everything I had read before didn't matter any more? This happened at about 400 pages into the book, so I felt obligated to finish the final 142 pages. It was a chore. I hope that the author will someday revise this book and get rid of all the extraneous and inconsistent elements. There's an excellent novel buried in this stack of words somewhere. I think Chandra is talented and I look forward to reading his short stories in LOVE AND LONGING IN BOMBAY. Perhaps in the shorter form he can be a more disciplined writer.","Product: This is a classic account by one of the officers who took part in one of the great escapades of WWII. In 1943 W. Stanley Moss and Patrick Leigh-Fermor, both serving with Special Forces in the Middle East, decided on a plan to kidnap General Kreipe, Commander of the Sevastopol Division in Crete, and bring him back to Allied occupied Cairo. This is the story of their adventures, working with a fearsome band of partisans, as they daringly capture the General in an ambush and struggle to evade pursuing German troops in the mountainous Cretan landscape to reach their rendezvous for evacuation to safety.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Gentleman at War\n\nReview: W. Stanley Moss's World War II memoir, ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT is an exciting, thoughtful and surprisingly beautiful book. Most of it is taken directly from Moss's diary during a campaign in which he, Patrick Leigh-Fermor (Paddy) and a small band of Cretans kidnap the Nazi General Kreipe and abduct him to British-occupied Egypt. A great deal of the book tells of hiding in caves and slogging up and down mountains. But what made this story especially interesting for me was the character of the men involved. Moss and Leigh-Fermor are extraordinary young men who speak several languages fluently (Paddy passes as a German among Germans). They are athletic and have strategic and intellectual minds. But Moss basically comes across as unexpectedly humble and rather sweet. Here's a short passage from Moss's diary written on the morning of the day of the abduction. He and his comrades have just spent the night in a cave.\n\n\"Paddy and I spent the morning reading short stories aloud to each other-this because we have only one book left between the two of us. Stevenson's Markheim, King Arthur and the Green Knight, Saki's wonderful The Interlopers...it was all rather fun. Then Paddy recited snippets from Shakespeare in German, at which he is adept; and we talked of mythology and lore and wondered if General Kreipe would look anything like Erich von Stroheim. Minotaurs, bull-men, nymphs of Ariadne, kings of Minos, and German generals-a splendid cocktail!\"\n\nThey are civilized men engaged in that most uncivilized act of all. There is violence in this book. Then there's the terrible (and uncommented upon) knowledge that the blow on the head that Moss gave to the General's chauffeur during the abduction later caused his death. Moss is not unaware of this. That knowledge colors what he has written.\n\nMoss was a fine writer. He manages to make the book suspenseful even though one knows at the outset that the mission was successful. The book is also poetic with sensual descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells of Crete. His character sketches of the Cretans, the escaped Russian POWs, and especially of General Kreipe are exceptionally vivid. The portrait of Kreipe, once-powerful, but now a prisoner, as he silently assesses his life and career and questions choices he has made is really fascinating. Moss feels compassion for the mental anguish the general is going through. The contrast between the Cretans' reaction to the Germans and to the Allies is really well done, as General Kreipe is amazed to see what mutual respect that the Allies and the Cretans have for each other. The Germans had only contempt for the Cretans. Moss's book is a paean to what the Allies were fighting for. I had a lump in my throat at the end.","Product: Lawrence George Durrell (Jalandhar India 27 de febrero de 1912 Sommieres Francia 7 de noviembre de 1990) fue un escritor britanico hermano del tambien escritor y zoologo Gerald Durrell. Escribio biografias poesia obras de teatro de viaje y novelas. Durrell se resistio a que lo asociasen con el Reino Unido y prefirio ser considerado cosmopolita. Postumamente se descubrio que en realidad nunca tuvo la ciudadania britanica1 . Se considera que su obra maestra es la tetralogia El cuarteto de Alejandria\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A frightening new facet of THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET\n\nReview: This third book of The Alexandria Quartet is quite different from the first two, in that it is primarily a spy story told from the point of view of a British diplomat serving in Egypt. As a young man, the diplomat Mountolive had an affair with an older woman who was the mother of the brothers Hosnani (Nessim and Narouz). But after serving in other parts of the world, he finds himself once again stationed in Egypt. As in the previous volume, with the shift in perspective, new facts and motivations are revealed. Characters who were scoffed at as fools in the previous volumes are revealed to be dangerous and unstable in this one.\nI enjoyed the book as part of a continuing saga, but unlike its two predecessors it doesnt really stand alone. There are too many loose ends at the conclusion of MOUNTOLIVE, despite the first-rate entertainment it provides. But Im still interested, so now its on to CLEA!","Product: Lawrence George Durrell (Jalandhar India 27 de febrero de 1912 Sommieres Francia 7 de noviembre de 1990) fue un escritor britanico hermano del tambien escritor y zoologo Gerald Durrell. Escribio biografias poesia obras de teatro de viaje y novelas. Durrell se resistio a que lo asociasen con el Reino Unido y prefirio ser considerado cosmopolita. Postumamente se descubrio que en realidad nunca tuvo la ciudadania britanica1 . Se considera que su obra maestra es la tetralogia El cuarteto de Alejandria\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Justine and Alexandria from a different perspective\n\nReview: It turns out that the mysterious Justine of Volume I of THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET had even more secrets than we knew. First of all, did we really know Justine at all, considering that her story was told by a man who was under her spell and that he relied heavily upon a roman-a-clef written about her by her first husband for background information? Not really, as it turns out. The author of Volume I had given his manuscript to the doctor, Balthasar, who then extensively annotated it with the additional information that he knew, writing between the lines. The author refers to this document as the interlinear. This book was allegedly based on the interlinear. Events that were peripheral in JUSTINE take center stage in this volume and we learn the motivations for the actions of certain characters, which were not at all what they seemed. Several mysteries get solved and some things become even murkier. Characters who were peripheral, like Nessims younger brother Narouz, become major players in this volume. Although this is the second book of the Quartet, it is not a sequel to the first, but a companion. (A friend read BALTHASAR before reading JUSTINE and had no trouble understanding it.) I was enthralled by the story and by the exotic location itself. Im not sure if I would describe the technique as looking at a situation through different planes of a prism, or through a kaleidoscope. Events look different, depending on whos telling the story. Every narrator has his own agenda, too. This is fascinating storytelling. Im looking forward to the next volume. Five stars.","Product: Lawrence George Durrell (Jalandhar India 27 de febrero de 1912 Sommieres Francia 7 de noviembre de 1990) fue un escritor britanico hermano del tambien escritor y zoologo Gerald Durrell. Escribio biografias poesia obras de teatro de viaje y novelas. Durrell se resistio a que lo asociasen con el Reino Unido y prefirio ser considerado cosmopolita. Postumamente se descubrio que en realidad nunca tuvo la ciudadania britanica1 . Se considera que su obra maestra es la tetralogia El cuarteto de Alejandria\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Challenging at times, but worth it\n\nReview: Ive been hearing about The Alexandria Quartet ever since I was a teenager in the 60s. When it was published in the late 1950s it was immediately hailed as a great intellectual achievement. It was a very popular book among the generation just older than mine, but by the time I came along Durrell was a bit passé and the new intellectual darlings were the freewheeling satirists Joseph Heller and Terry Southern. However, THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET always had a devoted following and has never been out-of-print. Jan Morris, in this editions superb introduction, opines that it is unlikely to ever be. I don't think I could state anything here that could be more helpful than Morriss Introduction. She praises the book, but also warns the reader that Durrell can be outrageously pretentious at times. (She hits the nail on the head when she writes about Durrells flashily arcane vocabulary.)\n\nI had difficulty getting into the book, but I kept reading. Im glad I did. It seems at first to be a lot of poetic stream-of-conscious meanderings, but gradually the pieces start to fit together and the reader sees how the characters are interrelated. Most of what happens is beneath the surface, with characters trying figure out what the other characters are thinking; there are few real events in the novel, and the major ones take place offstage.\n\nI was reluctant to begin a multi-volume work. This one is different. JUSTINE easily stands alone. It is complete within itself. I never had the feeling that it was a prequel. According to Lawrences introduction of the second volume, of the four books, only the last volume CLEA is a sequel. He compares the first three volumes to siblings, rather than sequels. The first three all deal with the same characters at the same time, but are told from different points of view. JUSTINE is pretty dazzling. Im eager to find out whether Durrell can sustain this level of writing. Five stars.","Product: First Edition published by International Collectors Library, Garden City, New York. Nicholas-Denis Derome replica binding. Leatherlike covers with 24K gold decorations stamped on cover and spine, gold to page tops, deckle edges, and silk marker ribbon bound in. No dust jacket as published. Includes Publisher's Booklet laid in (describing the author, the book and the international collectors series).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: What's it all about?\n\nReview: I was reminded very much of George Orwells early novels A CLERGYMANS DAUGHTER and KEEP THE ASPIDISTRA FLYING (both of which I love) when reading OF HUMAN BONDAGE. After finishing the novel, I saw a quote by Orwell saying that Maugham was the writer who had the biggest influence on him. I had never read anything by Maugham before and I can see why he appealed to Orwell. OF HUMAN BONDAGE is a strongly emotional novel. It deals with the question, What am I going to do with my life? It also deals with the loss of faith, the fear of mediocrity, the betrayal of friends and lovers, and the acceptance of the inevitable.\n\nOF HUMAN BONDAGE was published in the same year that D.H. Lawrences THE RAINBOW was published. Both frankly depicted women who wanted and enjoyed sex. They are not sluts. Well, one is, I suppose, and that is the notorious Mildred. Phillip, the young protagonist, becomes obsessed with her despite his better judgment, and pays the price. The disastrous relationship between a man and a lower-caste woman is a popular theme in literature demonstrated by such diverse works as SWANNS WAY, SISTER CARRIE, and AS A MAN GROWS OLDER. But Mildred is the toughest cookie of them all. However, even though this relationship is an important part of the book, it is only a part of a bigger story. Phillip was born with a club foot and walks with a limp. Growing up in the cold home of his religious old uncle, he prays for his foot to be healed. This unanswered prayer always looms in the background of the book as Phillip interacts with members of all rungs of society, especially when he finds himself penniless and friendless and must beg for a menial job and be grateful for it.\n\nI thought this was a powerful novel. There are scenes that I will never forget, especially the scene in which he asks his art teachers honest opinion of his work. Five stars.","Product: Of Human Bondage, Twentieth Century Classics, Immitation Leather, Hardcover.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: What's it all about?\n\nReview: I was reminded very much of George Orwells early novels A CLERGYMANS DAUGHTER and KEEP THE ASPIDISTRA FLYING (both of which I love) when reading OF HUMAN BONDAGE. After finishing the novel, I saw a quote by Orwell saying that Maugham was the writer who had the biggest influence on him. I had never read anything by Maugham before and I can see why he appealed to Orwell. OF HUMAN BONDAGE is a strongly emotional novel. It deals with the question, What am I going to do with my life? It also deals with the loss of faith, the fear of mediocrity, the betrayal of friends and lovers, and the acceptance of the inevitable.\n\nOF HUMAN BONDAGE was published in the same year that D.H. Lawrences THE RAINBOW was published. Both frankly depicted women who wanted and enjoyed sex. They are not sluts. Well, one is, I suppose, and that is the notorious Mildred. Phillip, the young protagonist, becomes obsessed with her despite his better judgment, and pays the price. The disastrous relationship between a man and a lower-caste woman is a popular theme in literature demonstrated by such diverse works as SWANNS WAY, SISTER CARRIE, and AS A MAN GROWS OLDER. But Mildred is the toughest cookie of them all. However, even though this relationship is an important part of the book, it is only a part of a bigger story. Phillip was born with a club foot and walks with a limp. Growing up in the cold home of his religious old uncle, he prays for his foot to be healed. This unanswered prayer always looms in the background of the book as Phillip interacts with members of all rungs of society, especially when he finds himself penniless and friendless and must beg for a menial job and be grateful for it.\n\nI thought this was a powerful novel. There are scenes that I will never forget, especially the scene in which he asks his art teachers honest opinion of his work. Five stars."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, already the director of almost twenty films by the age of 29, paid homage to his cinematic hero, Douglas Sirk, with this updated version of Sirk's All That Heaven Allows. Lonely widow Emmi Kurowsky (Brigitte Mira) meets Arab worker Ali (El Hedi ben Salem) in a bar during a rainstorm. To their own surprise (and to the shock of family, colleagues, and drinking buddies) they fall in love. In Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (Angst essen seele auf), Fassbinder expertly uses the emotional power of the melodrama to underscore the racial tensions threatening German culture.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Harold and Maude with an Ex-Nazi and a Moroccan\\n\\nReview: FEAR EATS THE SOUL is an offbeat film. Its premise is preposterous, but nonetheless the viewer is drawn into the story and comes to care about characters who are not glamorous or very exceptional on any level. But somehow Emmy, this sixty-ish, somewhat dumpy cleaning woman, who had been a member of the Nazi party in her youth, and a very fit Moroccan \\\"guest worker\\\" named Ali, who is more than twenty years her junior, meet, fall in love, and marry. They are reviled by the society in which they live. As long as other people are against them, their relationship is strong. But gradually those who rejected them realize that they need the couple for economic reasons and (at least on the surface) accept them. Then the couple's relationship falls apart. The camera is objective and rather coldly observes the characters and the world in which they live. The characters inhabit the German petit bourgeois, where kitsch is the reality. Emmy's wardrobe consists primarily of jersey dresses with bold colorful patterns. The pictures on her walls are seascapes that are perhaps \\\"Paint-by-number.\\\" But there is nothing campy about the point of view. characters are respected. Their feelings are real. The film is in many ways like a play. Some scenes look as if the characters were placed upon a stage while the stationary camera filmed them from the audience. There are a lot of tableaux. The whole story is told very simply and straightforwardly. But the whole effect is compelling and somewhat disquieting. I've seen it many times in theatres, television, and recorded video, so I was blown away by this DVD's fabulous quality. You can really appreciate the clean, crisp photography of this film that was not evident on the VCR or the worn-out prints shown in revival houses. I'll say the same for the soundtrack, which is a revelation after decades of hearing warped soundtracks. The wonderfully restored film alone is worth the price of the DVD, but a second DVD is included that gave even me, a long time fan of this film, some new insights. I was surprised that I was impressed by Todd Haynes' introduction because I do not like his films. Based on this short film, I think he is a much better critic than director. I especially loved the interview with 93-year old Brigitta Mira, as well as the short film \\\"Fear Eat Soul,\\\" in which she also appears. Also included is a British television documentary, \\\"Signs of Vigorous Life: New German Cinema from the 1980s which features Fassbinder, Volker Schlondorf, and Werner Herzog. In addition there is an interview with the film's editor, who says she had a nervous breakdown over it, and an excerpt from Fassbinder's film THE AMERICAN SOLDIER, in which the story of Emmy first appeared as the subject of a monologue related by Margarethe von Trotta. In addition, a 16-page booklet is included in this Criterion Collection package that features essays \\\"One Love, Two Oppressions\\\" by Chris Fujiwara and \\\"All that Fassbinder Allows\\\" by Michael Toteberg. Five stars.\",\n \"Product: From the creator of \\\"Weeds\\\" comes a heartbreaking and hilarious new series set in a women's prison. Based on Piper Kerman's acclaimed memoir, \\\"Orange Is the New Black\\\" follows engaged Brooklynite Piper Chapman, whose wild past comes back to haunt her and results in her arrest and detention in a federal penitentiary. To pay her debt to society, Piper trades her comfortable New York life for an orange prison jumpsuit and finds unexpected conflict and camaraderie amidst an eccentric group of inmates.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sensational. In every sense of the word!\\n\\nReview: I don't watch a lot of TV and had no interest in getting hooked on a TV series. However, the womens prison genre has always held a certain fascination for me from CAGED to PRISONER: CELL BLOCK H. Knowing this, some friends showed me this series when I visited over a long weekend. I was blown away and have since given the DVD to two people as gifts. This is not the usual womens prison film. This story of an affluent white girl going to prison (primarily for choosing bad companions who involved her in a drug scheme) is quite graphic and deals openly with lesbian sex and masturbation among the array of prison life issues. I was very impressed by the quality of the writing and the great acting by a fearless New York-based cast. It is not campy, but it is not without a heavy dose of irony, either. Every episode gives one a lot to ponder. Id recommend this show wholeheartedly to intelligent adults with a certain caveat: While this is not hardcore pornography, there is nudity and the sex scenes leave little to the imagination. The language is extremely graphic. This is not for the squeamish and it is definitely not for those young people under 18. But I loved it.\",\n \"Product: Accoring to the London Times, translater, Richmond Lattimer has come about as near as any man could to conveying, in English, the utterly alien movment and structure of Homer's poetry...\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Makes it seem brand new\\n\\nReview: Over my relatively long life I've read several translations of Homer, from the prose retellings to the flowery verse versions, and not one of them approaches the fiery beauty of this translation. The story of Odysseus's harrowing and fantastic voyage home from the Trojan War after an absence of 20 years is thrillingly told. The Odyssey is more than an adventure story with its hero battling both nature and the supernatural, or a tale of revenge and redemption. Like all great works of literature, The Odyssey forces us to ponder what it is to be human, and what separates us from the gods and from the monsters. Raw, gritty, and rhythmic, this translation makes me think that this is what it must have been like in the original. What I especially like about this translation is that Fagles manages to keep the traditions of the Epic without using clichés. Fagles makes it all seem immediate and fire-new. There are many English translations of THE ODYSSEY available, but this is the great one. Five Stars.\",\n \"Product: Frank Youngclaims that the few simple, almost effortless exercises contained in this book can help to dramatically improve and rejuvenate the physical and mental processes of any man--from 18 to 80. One of the few men trained in both Western chiropractic methods and Yoga lore, he documents his program with actual case histories of men who have reached a new plateau in vitality, strength, razor-sharp mental processes, and robust health! (from book cover)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: On the whole, excellent, but...\\n\\nReview: This is not traditional yoga as I have studied it, but it is nonetheless an excellent book of advice and exercise for men. It was written in the late 60s and the writing is very much of its time. The slant is vaguely be a real man through yoga. If it had been written today the slant would probably be about longevity or sex. But Dr. Young presents several case histories of men he has helped to a happier life. One is Richard, whom Dr. Young describes as tired of being an insignificant nobody with a typical job, typical prospects, typical appearance, and of being less than extraordinary with women. But Dr. Young says, I taught him a Yoga secret. After practicing it only twice he felt so differently that he could hardly believe he was the same person. The result was that Richard successfully wooed the woman of his dreams and married her five and a half months later. Its hard not to smile at prose like that. But the actual exercises are really excellent and I have not encountered them anywhere else. I wish Dr. Young had gone into detail about the Yogi Bench. He says it should be low and then another time he says it's half the height of a chair. That seems high for some of the exercises. I have other quibbles, too. ...\",\n \"Product: 300p grey paperback with illustrated card cover, minor traces of use, pages clean\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Moving philosophical novel of great psychological insight\\n\\nReview: Hesse was a favorite of the baby boomers when they were in their teens and twenties. Hes out of fashion today, which is too bad, because Hesse was a writer who actually had something to say. I tried to read SIDDHARTHA in the late 60s, but I didn't relate to it at all then. I just found it simplistic and boring. I think I was simply too young to understand it. Perhaps Ill read it again someday. Now, nearly 50 years later I finally read NARCISSUS AND GOLDMUND. I was ready for it. This is a beautiful novel about love, death, art, life, and the spirit. It basically deals with the same issues as SIDDHARTHA, but it is set in a different time and place, demonstrating the universality of Hesses vision. In Medieval Germany two young men meet when they are students in a cloister. They develop a deep friendship which lasts for the rest of their lives. It is not expressed physically, but they have a deep love for each other. Narcissus is wise beyond his years and has a knack for knowing peoples destinies. He is deeply devout and knows that he is destined for a life in the clergy. Goldmund, his new friend admires him and wants to be a successful cleric, too, but Narcissus prophesies that his destiny is elsewhere. After much resistance, Goldmund finally realizes that Narcissus is right and runs away from the abbey. He learns the ways of the flesh and survives by his wits in the wilderness, becoming an unwilling murderer in the process. At the same time, the Plague is decimating the population of Europe. Everywhere he goes there is death and dying. Eventually he learns to carve and becomes an artist, through which he achieves a kind of salvation, but even that is not enough.\\n\\nThis is a beautiful work of great psychological depth, replete with both Freudian and Jungian insights. At the same time, it is a strongly emotional work that resonates long afterward. Im sure Ill think about this book the rest of my life. Five stars.\",\n \"Product: In what the General Practitioner called 'this intelligent searching work', the author of \\\"Stigma\\\" and \\\"Asylums\\\" presents an analysis of the structures of social encounters from the perspective of the dramatic performance. He shows us exactly how people use such 'fixed props' as houses, clothes, and job situations; how they combine in teams resembling secret societies; and, how they adopt discrepant roles and communicate out of character. Professor Goffman takes us 'backstage' too, into the regions where people both prepare their images and relax from them; and he demonstrates in painful detail what can happen when a performance falls flat.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: All the world's a stage...\\n\\nReview: All the worlds a stage, says one of Shakespeares characters, and Erving Goffman explains just how that works in this landmark work of sociological scholarship. Using the analogy of a theatrical performance, Goffman examines societal behavior. Virtually every aspect of life is a show and as long as we play our roles well, all goes smoothly. School is one kind of show, the family is another, the job is another. Each of these performance spaces has a clearly defined front and a backstage and an audience. Sometimes we are leading players, sometimes we are the audience, but regardless of which role we play, we must play it correctly. One has to stick to the script. You cannot make up your own lines or not follow direction, and you cannot allow the audience to glimpse backstage. These are the rules. People get fired from their jobs when they do not perform their roles appropriately, such as when they break character, forget lines, or try to upstage the star. Actors putting on a show are a team. For the show to be a success, the team has to work together.\\nGoffman writes clearly and gives lots of examples. This is not difficult to understand, even if ones previous study of sociology has been minimal. I found this really fascinating and quite a valuable analytical tool that has unlimited application. Five stars\",\n \"Product: Lawrence Durrell's series of four novels set in Alexandria, Egypt during the 1940s. The lush and sensuous series consists of Justine (1957) Balthazar (1958) Mountolive (1958) Clea (1960).\\nJustine, Balthazar and Mountolive use varied viewpoints to relate a series of events in Alexandria before World War II. In Clea, the story continues into the years during the war. \\nOne L.G. Darley is the primary observer of the events, which include events in the lives of those he loves and those he knows. In Justine, Darley attempts to recover from and put into perspective his recently ended affair with a woman. Balthazar reinterprets the romantic perspective he placed on the affair and its aftermath in Justine, in more philosophical and intellectual terms. \\n\\nMountolive tells a story minus interpretation, and Clea reveals Darley's healing, and coming to love another woman.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A frightening new facet of THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET\\n\\nReview: This third book of The Alexandria Quartet is quite different from the first two, in that it is primarily a spy story told from the point of view of a British diplomat serving in Egypt. As a young man, the diplomat Mountolive had an affair with an older woman who was the mother of the brothers Hosnani (Nessim and Narouz). But after serving in other parts of the world, he finds himself once again stationed in Egypt. As in the previous volume, with the shift in perspective, new facts and motivations are revealed. Characters who were scoffed at as fools in the previous volumes are revealed to be dangerous and unstable in this one.\\nI enjoyed the book as part of a continuing saga, but unlike its two predecessors it doesnt really stand alone. There are too many loose ends at the conclusion of MOUNTOLIVE, despite the first-rate entertainment it provides. But Im still interested, so now its on to CLEA!\",\n \"Product: Lawrence Durrell's series of four novels set in Alexandria, Egypt during the 1940s. The lush and sensuous series consists of Justine (1957) Balthazar (1958) Mountolive (1958) Clea (1960).\\nJustine, Balthazar and Mountolive use varied viewpoints to relate a series of events in Alexandria before World War II. In Clea, the story continues into the years during the war. \\nOne L.G. Darley is the primary observer of the events, which include events in the lives of those he loves and those he knows. In Justine, Darley attempts to recover from and put into perspective his recently ended affair with a woman. Balthazar reinterprets the romantic perspective he placed on the affair and its aftermath in Justine, in more philosophical and intellectual terms. \\n\\nMountolive tells a story minus interpretation, and Clea reveals Darley's healing, and coming to love another woman.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Justine and Alexandria from a different perspective\\n\\nReview: It turns out that the mysterious Justine of Volume I of THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET had even more secrets than we knew. First of all, did we really know Justine at all, considering that her story was told by a man who was under her spell and that he relied heavily upon a roman-a-clef written about her by her first husband for background information? Not really, as it turns out. The author of Volume I had given his manuscript to the doctor, Balthasar, who then extensively annotated it with the additional information that he knew, writing between the lines. The author refers to this document as the interlinear. This book was allegedly based on the interlinear. Events that were peripheral in JUSTINE take center stage in this volume and we learn the motivations for the actions of certain characters, which were not at all what they seemed. Several mysteries get solved and some things become even murkier. Characters who were peripheral, like Nessims younger brother Narouz, become major players in this volume. Although this is the second book of the Quartet, it is not a sequel to the first, but a companion. (A friend read BALTHASAR before reading JUSTINE and had no trouble understanding it.) I was enthralled by the story and by the exotic location itself. Im not sure if I would describe the technique as looking at a situation through different planes of a prism, or through a kaleidoscope. Events look different, depending on whos telling the story. Every narrator has his own agenda, too. This is fascinating storytelling. Im looking forward to the next volume. Five stars.\",\n \"Product: Lawrence Durrell's series of four novels set in Alexandria, Egypt during the 1940s. The lush and sensuous series consists of Justine (1957) Balthazar (1958) Mountolive (1958) Clea (1960).\\nJustine, Balthazar and Mountolive use varied viewpoints to relate a series of events in Alexandria before World War II. In Clea, the story continues into the years during the war. \\nOne L.G. Darley is the primary observer of the events, which include events in the lives of those he loves and those he knows. In Justine, Darley attempts to recover from and put into perspective his recently ended affair with a woman. Balthazar reinterprets the romantic perspective he placed on the affair and its aftermath in Justine, in more philosophical and intellectual terms. \\n\\nMountolive tells a story minus interpretation, and Clea reveals Darley's healing, and coming to love another woman.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Challenging at times, but worth it\\n\\nReview: Ive been hearing about The Alexandria Quartet ever since I was a teenager in the 60s. When it was published in the late 1950s it was immediately hailed as a great intellectual achievement. It was a very popular book among the generation just older than mine, but by the time I came along Durrell was a bit passé and the new intellectual darlings were the freewheeling satirists Joseph Heller and Terry Southern. However, THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET always had a devoted following and has never been out-of-print. Jan Morris, in this editions superb introduction, opines that it is unlikely to ever be. I don't think I could state anything here that could be more helpful than Morriss Introduction. She praises the book, but also warns the reader that Durrell can be outrageously pretentious at times. (She hits the nail on the head when she writes about Durrells flashily arcane vocabulary.)\\n\\nI had difficulty getting into the book, but I kept reading. Im glad I did. It seems at first to be a lot of poetic stream-of-conscious meanderings, but gradually the pieces start to fit together and the reader sees how the characters are interrelated. Most of what happens is beneath the surface, with characters trying figure out what the other characters are thinking; there are few real events in the novel, and the major ones take place offstage.\\n\\nI was reluctant to begin a multi-volume work. This one is different. JUSTINE easily stands alone. It is complete within itself. I never had the feeling that it was a prequel. According to Lawrences introduction of the second volume, of the four books, only the last volume CLEA is a sequel. He compares the first three volumes to siblings, rather than sequels. The first three all deal with the same characters at the same time, but are told from different points of view. JUSTINE is pretty dazzling. Im eager to find out whether Durrell can sustain this level of writing. Five stars.\",\n \"Product: THIS IS BRAND NEW BOOK.WE PROVIDE 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Ambition and talent in need of an editor\\n\\nReview: I basically enjoyed this book, but after finishing it I slightly resented having spent so much time reading it. Like MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN, RED EARTH AND POURING RAIN is a sprawling, ambitious novel with strong exotic elements depicted in vivid prose. However, like MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN, it is also FAR too long and could have easily been pruned of at least a hundred pages. The story of Kyrie, for example, despite taking up many pages, added nothing to the main story and could easily have been dispensed with. I also think that knowledge of Indian history, Hindu mythology and the rules of cricket would be helpful to properly appreciate this book. My knowledge of these subjects is very vague, so I'm sure there's a lot I missed. There are several stories going at once and not all of them have logical ties to each other. There are a lot of loose ends. I also feel that the whole tone of the book shifted right around the time the glowing child was born. The supernatural and allegorical elements came to the forefront and the story became tedious. (A character I liked changed his personality and chopped off his own head!) What was the point of continuing reading if everything I had read before didn't matter any more? This happened at about 400 pages into the book, so I felt obligated to finish the final 142 pages. It was a chore. I hope that the author will someday revise this book and get rid of all the extraneous and inconsistent elements. There's an excellent novel buried in this stack of words somewhere. I think Chandra is talented and I look forward to reading his short stories in LOVE AND LONGING IN BOMBAY. Perhaps in the shorter form he can be a more disciplined writer.\",\n \"Product: This is a classic account by one of the officers who took part in one of the great escapades of WWII. In 1943 W. Stanley Moss and Patrick Leigh-Fermor, both serving with Special Forces in the Middle East, decided on a plan to kidnap General Kreipe, Commander of the Sevastopol Division in Crete, and bring him back to Allied occupied Cairo. This is the story of their adventures, working with a fearsome band of partisans, as they daringly capture the General in an ambush and struggle to evade pursuing German troops in the mountainous Cretan landscape to reach their rendezvous for evacuation to safety.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Gentleman at War\\n\\nReview: W. Stanley Moss's World War II memoir, ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT is an exciting, thoughtful and surprisingly beautiful book. Most of it is taken directly from Moss's diary during a campaign in which he, Patrick Leigh-Fermor (Paddy) and a small band of Cretans kidnap the Nazi General Kreipe and abduct him to British-occupied Egypt. A great deal of the book tells of hiding in caves and slogging up and down mountains. But what made this story especially interesting for me was the character of the men involved. Moss and Leigh-Fermor are extraordinary young men who speak several languages fluently (Paddy passes as a German among Germans). They are athletic and have strategic and intellectual minds. But Moss basically comes across as unexpectedly humble and rather sweet. Here's a short passage from Moss's diary written on the morning of the day of the abduction. He and his comrades have just spent the night in a cave.\\n\\n\\\"Paddy and I spent the morning reading short stories aloud to each other-this because we have only one book left between the two of us. Stevenson's Markheim, King Arthur and the Green Knight, Saki's wonderful The Interlopers...it was all rather fun. Then Paddy recited snippets from Shakespeare in German, at which he is adept; and we talked of mythology and lore and wondered if General Kreipe would look anything like Erich von Stroheim. Minotaurs, bull-men, nymphs of Ariadne, kings of Minos, and German generals-a splendid cocktail!\\\"\\n\\nThey are civilized men engaged in that most uncivilized act of all. There is violence in this book. Then there's the terrible (and uncommented upon) knowledge that the blow on the head that Moss gave to the General's chauffeur during the abduction later caused his death. Moss is not unaware of this. That knowledge colors what he has written.\\n\\nMoss was a fine writer. He manages to make the book suspenseful even though one knows at the outset that the mission was successful. The book is also poetic with sensual descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells of Crete. His character sketches of the Cretans, the escaped Russian POWs, and especially of General Kreipe are exceptionally vivid. The portrait of Kreipe, once-powerful, but now a prisoner, as he silently assesses his life and career and questions choices he has made is really fascinating. Moss feels compassion for the mental anguish the general is going through. The contrast between the Cretans' reaction to the Germans and to the Allies is really well done, as General Kreipe is amazed to see what mutual respect that the Allies and the Cretans have for each other. The Germans had only contempt for the Cretans. Moss's book is a paean to what the Allies were fighting for. I had a lump in my throat at the end.\",\n \"Product: Lawrence George Durrell (Jalandhar India 27 de febrero de 1912 Sommieres Francia 7 de noviembre de 1990) fue un escritor britanico hermano del tambien escritor y zoologo Gerald Durrell. Escribio biografias poesia obras de teatro de viaje y novelas. Durrell se resistio a que lo asociasen con el Reino Unido y prefirio ser considerado cosmopolita. Postumamente se descubrio que en realidad nunca tuvo la ciudadania britanica1 . Se considera que su obra maestra es la tetralogia El cuarteto de Alejandria\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A frightening new facet of THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET\\n\\nReview: This third book of The Alexandria Quartet is quite different from the first two, in that it is primarily a spy story told from the point of view of a British diplomat serving in Egypt. As a young man, the diplomat Mountolive had an affair with an older woman who was the mother of the brothers Hosnani (Nessim and Narouz). But after serving in other parts of the world, he finds himself once again stationed in Egypt. As in the previous volume, with the shift in perspective, new facts and motivations are revealed. Characters who were scoffed at as fools in the previous volumes are revealed to be dangerous and unstable in this one.\\nI enjoyed the book as part of a continuing saga, but unlike its two predecessors it doesnt really stand alone. There are too many loose ends at the conclusion of MOUNTOLIVE, despite the first-rate entertainment it provides. But Im still interested, so now its on to CLEA!\",\n \"Product: Lawrence George Durrell (Jalandhar India 27 de febrero de 1912 Sommieres Francia 7 de noviembre de 1990) fue un escritor britanico hermano del tambien escritor y zoologo Gerald Durrell. Escribio biografias poesia obras de teatro de viaje y novelas. Durrell se resistio a que lo asociasen con el Reino Unido y prefirio ser considerado cosmopolita. Postumamente se descubrio que en realidad nunca tuvo la ciudadania britanica1 . Se considera que su obra maestra es la tetralogia El cuarteto de Alejandria\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Justine and Alexandria from a different perspective\\n\\nReview: It turns out that the mysterious Justine of Volume I of THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET had even more secrets than we knew. First of all, did we really know Justine at all, considering that her story was told by a man who was under her spell and that he relied heavily upon a roman-a-clef written about her by her first husband for background information? Not really, as it turns out. The author of Volume I had given his manuscript to the doctor, Balthasar, who then extensively annotated it with the additional information that he knew, writing between the lines. The author refers to this document as the interlinear. This book was allegedly based on the interlinear. Events that were peripheral in JUSTINE take center stage in this volume and we learn the motivations for the actions of certain characters, which were not at all what they seemed. Several mysteries get solved and some things become even murkier. Characters who were peripheral, like Nessims younger brother Narouz, become major players in this volume. Although this is the second book of the Quartet, it is not a sequel to the first, but a companion. (A friend read BALTHASAR before reading JUSTINE and had no trouble understanding it.) I was enthralled by the story and by the exotic location itself. Im not sure if I would describe the technique as looking at a situation through different planes of a prism, or through a kaleidoscope. Events look different, depending on whos telling the story. Every narrator has his own agenda, too. This is fascinating storytelling. Im looking forward to the next volume. Five stars.\",\n \"Product: Lawrence George Durrell (Jalandhar India 27 de febrero de 1912 Sommieres Francia 7 de noviembre de 1990) fue un escritor britanico hermano del tambien escritor y zoologo Gerald Durrell. Escribio biografias poesia obras de teatro de viaje y novelas. Durrell se resistio a que lo asociasen con el Reino Unido y prefirio ser considerado cosmopolita. Postumamente se descubrio que en realidad nunca tuvo la ciudadania britanica1 . Se considera que su obra maestra es la tetralogia El cuarteto de Alejandria\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Challenging at times, but worth it\\n\\nReview: Ive been hearing about The Alexandria Quartet ever since I was a teenager in the 60s. When it was published in the late 1950s it was immediately hailed as a great intellectual achievement. It was a very popular book among the generation just older than mine, but by the time I came along Durrell was a bit passé and the new intellectual darlings were the freewheeling satirists Joseph Heller and Terry Southern. However, THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET always had a devoted following and has never been out-of-print. Jan Morris, in this editions superb introduction, opines that it is unlikely to ever be. I don't think I could state anything here that could be more helpful than Morriss Introduction. She praises the book, but also warns the reader that Durrell can be outrageously pretentious at times. (She hits the nail on the head when she writes about Durrells flashily arcane vocabulary.)\\n\\nI had difficulty getting into the book, but I kept reading. Im glad I did. It seems at first to be a lot of poetic stream-of-conscious meanderings, but gradually the pieces start to fit together and the reader sees how the characters are interrelated. Most of what happens is beneath the surface, with characters trying figure out what the other characters are thinking; there are few real events in the novel, and the major ones take place offstage.\\n\\nI was reluctant to begin a multi-volume work. This one is different. JUSTINE easily stands alone. It is complete within itself. I never had the feeling that it was a prequel. According to Lawrences introduction of the second volume, of the four books, only the last volume CLEA is a sequel. He compares the first three volumes to siblings, rather than sequels. The first three all deal with the same characters at the same time, but are told from different points of view. JUSTINE is pretty dazzling. Im eager to find out whether Durrell can sustain this level of writing. Five stars.\",\n \"Product: First Edition published by International Collectors Library, Garden City, New York. Nicholas-Denis Derome replica binding. Leatherlike covers with 24K gold decorations stamped on cover and spine, gold to page tops, deckle edges, and silk marker ribbon bound in. No dust jacket as published. Includes Publisher's Booklet laid in (describing the author, the book and the international collectors series).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: What's it all about?\\n\\nReview: I was reminded very much of George Orwells early novels A CLERGYMANS DAUGHTER and KEEP THE ASPIDISTRA FLYING (both of which I love) when reading OF HUMAN BONDAGE. After finishing the novel, I saw a quote by Orwell saying that Maugham was the writer who had the biggest influence on him. I had never read anything by Maugham before and I can see why he appealed to Orwell. OF HUMAN BONDAGE is a strongly emotional novel. It deals with the question, What am I going to do with my life? It also deals with the loss of faith, the fear of mediocrity, the betrayal of friends and lovers, and the acceptance of the inevitable.\\n\\nOF HUMAN BONDAGE was published in the same year that D.H. Lawrences THE RAINBOW was published. Both frankly depicted women who wanted and enjoyed sex. They are not sluts. Well, one is, I suppose, and that is the notorious Mildred. Phillip, the young protagonist, becomes obsessed with her despite his better judgment, and pays the price. The disastrous relationship between a man and a lower-caste woman is a popular theme in literature demonstrated by such diverse works as SWANNS WAY, SISTER CARRIE, and AS A MAN GROWS OLDER. But Mildred is the toughest cookie of them all. However, even though this relationship is an important part of the book, it is only a part of a bigger story. Phillip was born with a club foot and walks with a limp. Growing up in the cold home of his religious old uncle, he prays for his foot to be healed. This unanswered prayer always looms in the background of the book as Phillip interacts with members of all rungs of society, especially when he finds himself penniless and friendless and must beg for a menial job and be grateful for it.\\n\\nI thought this was a powerful novel. There are scenes that I will never forget, especially the scene in which he asks his art teachers honest opinion of his work. Five stars.\",\n \"Product: Of Human Bondage, Twentieth Century Classics, Immitation Leather, Hardcover.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: What's it all about?\\n\\nReview: I was reminded very much of George Orwells early novels A CLERGYMANS DAUGHTER and KEEP THE ASPIDISTRA FLYING (both of which I love) when reading OF HUMAN BONDAGE. After finishing the novel, I saw a quote by Orwell saying that Maugham was the writer who had the biggest influence on him. I had never read anything by Maugham before and I can see why he appealed to Orwell. OF HUMAN BONDAGE is a strongly emotional novel. It deals with the question, What am I going to do with my life? It also deals with the loss of faith, the fear of mediocrity, the betrayal of friends and lovers, and the acceptance of the inevitable.\\n\\nOF HUMAN BONDAGE was published in the same year that D.H. Lawrences THE RAINBOW was published. Both frankly depicted women who wanted and enjoyed sex. They are not sluts. Well, one is, I suppose, and that is the notorious Mildred. Phillip, the young protagonist, becomes obsessed with her despite his better judgment, and pays the price. The disastrous relationship between a man and a lower-caste woman is a popular theme in literature demonstrated by such diverse works as SWANNS WAY, SISTER CARRIE, and AS A MAN GROWS OLDER. But Mildred is the toughest cookie of them all. However, even though this relationship is an important part of the book, it is only a part of a bigger story. Phillip was born with a club foot and walks with a limp. Growing up in the cold home of his religious old uncle, he prays for his foot to be healed. This unanswered prayer always looms in the background of the book as Phillip interacts with members of all rungs of society, especially when he finds himself penniless and friendless and must beg for a menial job and be grateful for it.\\n\\nI thought this was a powerful novel. There are scenes that I will never forget, especially the scene in which he asks his art teachers honest opinion of his work. Five stars.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":16,"string":"16"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":68,"string":"68"}}},{"rowIdx":69,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1JG3Z0ZRRAKLT"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"The Marciano & Co. house brand M&c offers customers superior value in an increasingly competitive market. The M&c product lines draw inspiration from the most popular designs and are available at a fraction of designer prices. The Marciano & Co. mission remains consistent; to provide customers with products that are novel in design and affordable without compromising quality.\". The summary of the review text is \"Perfectly Decent. Nice dispoable for Healthcare Workers like Nurses & Technicians\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"It's Ok and keeps time. Fashon-wize, I think it would be ideal as a disposable watch for a health care professional (nurse, doctor, technitian) who wants an inexpensive watch that they would be afraid to ruin. Although the item that arrived looks EXACTLY like the picture, the reality wasn't quite as cool as the concept for us. My wife wanted a white watch. For $10, we didn't get hurt... but it's not so attractive that a woman would want to wear it as a fashion statement. I think it looks better on my wrist than hers. My wife and I had a bit of a laugh, and we agreed to only buy watches we see in person from now on. Because was a present, she's worn it a couple times when we've gone out just to make me roll my eyes. She's 5'2 and 100lbs... and this is a little big for her. It's a bit of an inside joke with us now."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"It's Ok and keeps time. Fashon-wize, I think it would be ideal as a disposable watch for a health care professional (nurse, doctor, technitian) who wants an inexpensive watch that they would be afraid to ruin. Although the item that arrived looks EXACTLY like the picture, the reality wasn't quite as cool as the concept for us. My wife wanted a white watch. For $10, we didn't get hurt... but it's not so attractive that a woman would want to wear it as a fashion statement. I think it looks better on my wrist than hers. My wife and I had a bit of a laugh, and we agreed to only buy watches we see in person from now on. Because was a present, she's worn it a couple times when we've gone out just to make me roll my eyes. She's 5'2 and 100lbs... and this is a little big for her. It's a bit of an inside joke with us now."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: At Vater, our goal is simple...to produce the very best drumsticks and percussion accessories in the world.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Built like a tank. Does sit up and out from where it mounts, though.\n\nReview: I purchased several of these for my mom (who is in a wheelchair). I got this Vater and the Crescendo CR-20 Cup Cady. By comparison, this thing is built like a tank. The Vater is indestructible. Because of the tight fit of her wheel chair in my parent's car, the CR-20 fits the arm of her i-drive better because it sits lower. Their car has about 0.25\" clerance, and the lift on the Vater won't let us fold the wheelchair in the back. If their ceiling was 2\" higher, there would be no contest. We still found a use for this though. I bought an el-cheapo Pile mike stand, and latched the Vater onto it so she can have a cup holder beside her bed. (BTW - She broke the Creschendo CR-20 Cup Cady after about 3 months, and we've already replaced it with another CR-20. We need the form factor even if it won't hold up to time!).","Product: Experience the action like never before with the Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows. Redesigned thumb sticks and an all new D-pad provide greater precision. Enjoy the reliable wired connection to your PC - and forget about replacing batteries. The Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows can be used as wired or wireless on your Xbox One.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Prefer over Xbox 360 for PC Games (but, only if you can afford it!)\n\nReview: Got this for PC games. Was using an xbox 350 controller. Heard lots of folks say this was better. Honestly, I do prefer it. Does it change the entire experience? Ehh... maybe. I wouldn't go broke if the cost was a hardship, you are using your allowance or don't have regular income. If you don't have \"ANY CONTROLLER\" yet and can afford $20-30 the difference over a 360 controller, you might be wise to jump straight to this. Also, if you are likely to spend at least a 100 hours using it, then... yeah... go for it. (Justify the cost by waiting a while and buying a few games on sale. If you buy $59.95 games, just wait for four to drop to $39.95 and you'll have paid for the controller).","Product: Hamilton Beach - Toastation? II Toaster & Oven Top slot works like a traditional 2 slice toaster Removable crumb tray and automatic toaster shutoff for convenience 1 1/2 inch toasting slot fits thick breads Oven fits two 16\" pizza slices or two personal pizzas Electronic toast shade and oven temperature controls for consistency Compact 2 in 1 appliance\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Had this everal months - Very Happy!\n\nReview: We bought this when our $0.50, 1950's yard sale toaster bit the dust. We didn't want a HUGE toaster oven, but I missed making hot sandwiches.\n\nThe inside of the grill area has a surface area slightly larger than two big pieces of bread side by side. I frequently cover the tray with tin-foil, and its large enough for 3 slices of lunch-meat (if they overlap a little) and cheese. I tend to cook the ham and cheese before I assemble the sandwich. The grill doesn't have a \"Great\" deal of clearance though. If you assemble a sandwich heavily stacked with lunch meat (say 6 thick slices of meat and 3 of cheese), it almost brushes the heating elements on the top.\n\nRegardless, I like it. It toasts well and has wide slots on the top. It doesn't have an excessively deep profile, so we don't loose the counter space in front of it.","Product: Hamilton Beach - Toastation? II Toaster & Oven Top slot works like a traditional 2 slice toaster Removable crumb tray and automatic toaster shutoff for convenience 1 1/2 inch toasting slot fits thick breads Oven fits two 16\" pizza slices or two personal pizzas Electronic toast shade and oven temperature controls for consistency Compact 2 in 1 appliance\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Had this everal months - Very Happy!\n\nReview: We bought this when our $0.50, 1950's yard sale toaster bit the dust. We didn't want a HUGE toaster oven, but I missed making hot sandwiches.\n\nThe inside of the grill area has a surface area slightly larger than two big pieces of bread side by side. I frequently cover the tray with tin-foil, and its large enough for 3 slices of lunch-meat (if they overlap a little) and cheese. I tend to cook the ham and cheese before I assemble the sandwich. The grill doesn't have a \"Great\" deal of clearance though. If you assemble a sandwich heavily stacked with lunch meat (say 6 thick slices of meat and 3 of cheese), it almost brushes the heating elements on the top.\n\nRegardless, I like it. It toasts well and has wide slots on the top. It doesn't have an excessively deep profile, so we don't loose the counter space in front of it.","Product: Your shower curtain is the largest decorative element in your bathroom, so we put extra care into the design and craftsmanship of each piece. Choose from a wide variety of solids, prints and textures in colorful fabric or waterproof PEVA. Whats best, you wont need to purchase separate hooks because of our all-in-one Hookless curtain system\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I prefer PEVA over the Fabric -- And get 4-6 months from these with CleanShower.\n\nReview: I've been using the same curtain with new liners for about 4 years now. I have one fabric liner (that I wash with woolite and vinegar between uses), but I prefer these PEVA liners. I seem to get about 4-6 months out of these PEVA liners when I use clean-shower every day. Eventually, they get the pink slime (which I assume is a type of mold). When that happens, I try to clean it once or twice and sterilize the bathtub with scrubbing bubbles and mold/mildew remover. When it becomes obvious that the curtain is dead, I throw on the fabric version and order a new PEVA replacement. I could probably live with the fabric permanently, but I still prefer the PEVA.","Product: Product Features: Color: red bulbs / green wire Number of bulbs on string: 25 Bulb size: C7 light covers over wide angle bulbs Spacing between each bulb: 8 inches Lighted string length: 15.5 feet Total string length: 16 feet Wire gauge: 22 Additional Product Features: LED lights use 90% less energy Lights are equipped with a clamp on the base of each bulb so that you can easily attach the lights to trees, bushes and more! Super bright bulbs If one bulb burns out, the rest will stay lit Durable non-glass replaceable bulbs Cool to the touch Contains 1 end connector which allows you to connect multiple sets together (not to exceed 210 watts) These lights are made to commercial specifications Comes with replacement bulbs and fuse UL listed for indoor/outdoor use 120 volts, 60 Hertz, 0.02 amps, 2.4 watts Material(s): plastic bulbs/wire\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Bulbs not as picture - Not Screw-in C7's / Bare Copper\n\nReview: I purchased this string to obtain replacement C7 Screw-in LED Bulbs. The picture showed a C7 bulb, so I assumed the string would contain C7 bulbs compatible with incandescent strings and night-lights. It doesn't. It has those little \"Fairy Christmas Bulbs\" with the bare copper wires covered with a C7-shaped cap. Not usable for my purposes. I'll post a picture.\n\nPerhaps the C7 specification is more about wattage or lumens, so I can't say the the package is accurate or a misrepresentation. I can, however, say that the product photo is completely inaccurate... and I'll have to go back to buying the individual bulbs at $0.90 each + $0.30 shipping!\n\nI do know that if you go to google images and type \"C7 Bulb\", you don't get anything that looks like what these have.","Product: This ready to hang, gallery wrapped art piece features Maho Beach. Preston discovered a passion for photography at the age of 18 and is an international award winning photographer. He categorizes himself as a point-and-shoot photographer; capturing the world in its original state. Preston enjoys the challenge of photographing natural elements, things that he cannot direct or change. Giclee (jee-clay) is an advanced printmaking process for creating high quality fine art reproductions. The attainable excellence that Giclee printmaking affords makes the reproduction virtually indistinguishable from the original piece. The result is wide acceptance of Giclee by galleries, museums, and private collectors. Gallery wrap is a method of stretching an artist's canvas so that the canvas wraps around the sides and is secured a hidden, wooden frame. This method of stretching and preparing a canvas allows for a frameless presentation of the finished painting.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Perfectly Nice -- Good Color -- No focal point (If you think about it)\n\nReview: It looks good, and the colors are fairly vivid. I ordered about 7 pieces of artwork to rework my office with a \"Tropical Paradise\" theme. This was one of 3 canvas pieces I got from three different vendors. I also purchased some vinyl pieces and a wall-paper mural. This turned out to be my 3rd favorite piece. The colors are the 2nd best of everything I bought (in terms of being Vivid). I ended up moving this to my bathroom because it lacks a focal point. The beach, water and sky are beautiful but it feels like something got cropped out when you have it right in front of you. I probably should have thought of that before I got it, but it's otherwise really nice. My only other comment is that I wish canvas art places would take 2-3 seconds to \"Rubber Stamp\" away the 2-3 black dots for a bird in the sky (so far away that it looks like a fly spec) and pieces of seaweed on the sand. It's just my sense of esthetic, but I'd invest the 30-seconds to touch up the source if I were selling these commercially. Some details are too fine to transfer to the canvas/ink process, so you might as well airbrush them out.","Product: Dreamsweet Memory Foam Contour FIRM Pillows are crafted from solid blocks of high density US made CertiPUR-US certified memory foam infused with cooling gel. The contour of the pillow tugs perfectly under the neck area, providing soft and cushy support around the neck and head area. Those pillows alleviate neck and shoulder pain and help reduce snoring and other sinus problems. Dreamsweet US made memory foam is naturally resistant to dust mites and is antimicrobial. The pillow cases are 100% Cotton, and are removable and washable.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Firm. Seriously Firm. No... really... this is FIRM!\n\nReview: Truth in advertising. No joke. This is firm. I don't doubt this is memory foam because of how, but nothing like I've ever seen anywhere else. This ain't your marshmellow-like Tempurpedic or copycat. Most memory foam gives a few inches with body heat. This seems to give less than an inch on your back, or 1/2 on your side. It molds, but only just enough... and it requires heat and weight.\n\nI got this over a month ago. As I've experimented, I've learned that there is a difference between what I \"Think feels comfortable\" and \"What works to wake up pain free\". I never woke up sore or with pain after I started to use this, but I also never when \"Oh, this is incredibly soft and comfortable\". It's Perfect for a 5'7\" guy side sleeping and does well as a back sleeper. I thought it felt a little high as a back sleeper (only seems to give about 1\" as you heat it up), but honestly the alignment is good and I wake up pain free. I guess you have to reconcile \"this this feels odd\" with \"wow, I don't hurt when I wake up\". If I hadn't given this a chance, I'd have missed out.\n\nAs background, I've used a variety of 5-6in high density Memory Foam Pillows over the years. This is nothing like them. This might be memory foam, but nothing like I've ever seen or encountered. The density is off the scale. It does give a little with body heat, but continues to hold up and offer support. Most pillows tend to break down over 2-3 years, and need replacing. And, I can never find the same one twice. I gave this a chance because I wanted support. I got it -- in spades.\n\nDon't be afraid, but be sure this is what you want. And, consider if you can reconcile \"feeling comfortable\" with \"being pain free\"... until you can reassess what \"comfort\" feels like.","Product: Madison Park Vanessa 7 piece comforter set.This is highly durable.This is manufactured in China. This are bedding.This are easy to use.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful and Ellegant with Quality Embroidered off-white Fabric\n\nReview: This looked even more amazing in person. High quality fabric with embroidery. The base color is off-white (AKA: Antique Lace, vanilla, eggshell, creme, light taupe... whatever... I'm a guy not a fashionista!). We have two cats with their claws, and amazingly we have no snags after two months. Brightens up the room. Pillow treatments are tasteful. The touch of gold (versus excessive gold fabric) is very elegant. This is a very nice comforter for the price. The picture is a fair representation from the distant view, but the photo is in direct sunlight and slightly over exposed. If you are looking for neon-Clorox bright white, look elsewhere. I believe the details look even better close-up. The wife and I both agree this was the best offering for a gold-toned set. |\n\nThe included sheet's are decent. We're 1000 thread-count sheet snobs, so we'll treat them as extras. The sheets are perfectly good, but on the mediocre side of luxurious. Sheets are a guilty indulgence for us. However, let's be honest... you are buying this set for the comforter and pillow treatments, right? And, the sheets are good unless you are a \"Princess and the Pea\" kind'a sleeper!\n\nNOTE: From the reviews I almost think there are two versions of this. I'm trying to reconcile the problems and concerns stated by some folks with what we got. We like and appreciate nice things, but we aren't incredibly picky. For this price point ($115ish) this is a value. We've had some $380-499 bed-in-a-bag sets on clearance from home stores that compare favorably to this. If you are a slightly-above average, middle class person who likes off-white embroidered comforters with a few frills... this set is really attractive for the price. You get upscale Homestore quality for Target/Walmart cost. I can't speak to stains, tears, or the other complaints. I can't relate to that experience. Just my $0.02","Product: Smartwrap, winner of ID magazine's Design Distinction award, is a cord manager for headphone cables. No more fussing with too much cable hanging between your music player and your earphones - just wind up the slack and lock it in. Smartwrap is easy to use. All that is required is to snap the cord into place at one of two places, then wrap and snap into place again. Clear, White and Black\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Wow. I was skeptical, but these are great!\n\nReview: I listen to audiobooks and carry my MP3 player with me everywhere. I used to wrap my cord around my player, but it would often tangle and knot if I didn't carefully unwind the cord.\n\nWith the Sumajin Smartwraps,. all my problems are gone. I put off using a cord management device for years, because of their size and the absurdity of the idea of using one. I was so wrong.\n\nThe device is actually about the same size as my MP3 player, but I can leave enough slack so that it folds to rest beside it. I wear dress shirts, and usually carry my MP3 player in my front pocket when I listen. The device allowed me to shorten the cord.\n\nYou can carefully (and tightly) wrap the first half of your ear-bud cord if you never need the full length. It's easy to slide the cord in and out of the notches, so you can easily change the length wrapped around it.\n\nThe shape is perfect to keep the cord from sliding off the ends. And the size is also perfect. (Any smaller, and you'd overlapping the cord too much when you wrap. Any bigger, and it would be cumbersome). The concavity is perfect for a 6ft pair of ear buds.\n\nI'll post some pictures. The 3-pack I picked up is great. It's an excellent way to compactly store your earbuds to keep them from tangling. I highly recommend these... and I wish that I hadn't waited so long.","Product: IOGear's DVI KVMP Switch GCS1104 charts a revolutionary new direction in KVM switch functionality by providing an interface for today's digital monitors while integrating a 4-port USB KVM switch with USB 2.0 peripheral sharing capabilities. As a KVM switch, the unit allows the user to access four computers from a single USB keyboard, USB mouse, and monitor, and also share among the computers USB 2.0 peripherals such as external hard drives, printers and scanners. This Switch is backed up by IOGear's 3 Year Limited Warranty\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Almost Perfect out of the Box\n\nReview: I just relocated and began working full-time out of my home. My employer offered me the choice of a tiny monitor or a KVMP switch to use my existing monitors and mouse. This was the ideal choice because it uses DVI connections for my 27\" Monitors.\n\n4 stars becaues there is a minor problem that I haven't been able to troubleshoot yet. I have an HP Workstation(XP SP3), a Dell XPS 8500 (Win7), Dell Latitude Notebook (XP), and Dell Latitude Notebook (Win7) hooked up. It works perfectly on 3 of 4 of the devices. The Dell XPS 8500 does not pass though mouse movements or clicks when the mouse is plugged into the Mouse Port. The \"Device Manager\" shows the presence of the KVMP mouse passthough, but the PC doesn't respond to any movement or action. I tried several mice, and attempt to plug-and-unplug while switched to the XPS to see if it was a hot-swap detection issue. I even tried rebooting the XPS with the switch turned to it.\n\nSince I had to start work yesterday, I haven't had time to troubleshoot more. My ultimate \"work around\" was to plug the mouse into one of the generic \"USB Ports\" instead of the KVMP's dedicated mouse port so that the mouse is detected as if it was \"Just plugged in\" every time I switch screens. That means my speakers play the tone for \"Device Disconnected\" and \"Device Added\" every time I switch. I've only invested about 30 minutes toward resolving. (20 minutes with google searches for a fix, and 10 trying different ports.)\n\nI'm sure there's some simple explanation or solution. I'll figure it out later.\n\nOther thoughts: I have dual monitors, but the only 4-device switch available was for a single monitor. As a result, my right monitor is hard-wired as my \"Work Email\" screen. All things equal, I wish I had a 4-device - dual monitor switching K(2v)MP.\n\nUPDATE - 6/27/2013\n\nUsing one of the switches \"Generic USB Ports\" instead of the \"Dedicated Mouse Port\" has been working so well as a Work-Around, I never bothered to figure out why my DellXPS doesn't receive the passthough input when I use the \"Dedicated Mouse Port\". I don't even really mind the Speakers playing the USB Connect/Disconnect sounds, as it tells me which device I've switched to.\n\nAnother handy bit of info... my employer provided work PC's have my home-networking sharing locked out. The work PC can copy off of USB-Thumb drives but not outbound onto USB-Thumb drives. I've discovered that if I keep an old 4GB drive in another one of the KVPM Switches, the drive unmounts and remounts to whichever PC I switch to. That makes it a convenient way to transfer files onto my Work PC. (Usually from a Scanner or Digitizer on one of my personal machines). I just switch to a personal machine, scan, copy to USB, Switch to my Work PC and Retrieve from USB. No Plugging or Unplugging is necessary.\n\nI added a powered USB Hub to the switch because there are only two Generic USB ports (One Front, one Back...) and I didn't want to risk frying the power bus. I've done that a few times on PC's by hooking up too many USB Powered devices to a port only designed for 1 device. I have a WebCam, a USB HD, and some other things that switch with the keys. I don't know that I needed a powered hub, but Better safe than sorry!","Product: EverCool Dual 5.25 in. Drive Bay to Triple 3.5 in. HDD Cooling Box\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for a SSD and two 3.5in Drives\n\nReview: I purchased this to add 3 more hard drives to a case that was only designed to hold two 3.5\" hard drives.\n\nThis mount fits well into two 5.25\" bays. If you were to stack three full-sized 3.5\" hard drives in this mount, they fit so closely that that there would be little to no airflow between the drives themselves. There is no helping this, since that is how much space is available in a double-height 5.25\" bay.\n\nThis wasn't a problem for me because I was adding two 3.5\" drives and a 2.5\" SSD. I simply put the 2.5\" SSD in the middle of my two 3.5\" HD's and that gaps allowed enough airflow to assure me of long HD Life. This would be perfect to add a bunch of Solid State Disks (SSD) with 2.5 or 3.5\" profiles to a PC. (You'd just need to pickup some mounting brackets for the smaller drives).\n\nHonestly, I don't know if airflow is a concern for modern 5200RPM Green HD's. Maybe heat isn't a major concern.\n\nPros: Got 3 more HD's into my PC. Fan is reasonably quiet. Fits Securely. Great for building or converting an old PC into a NAS file server. Perfect for two HD's.\n\nCons: HD's are seated closely together if you try to fit three into the space. Would have concerns about putting three high RPM drives that generate heat into a Gaming PC. Broke one of the face-plate fasteners (tabs) off during installation (still holds and I later figured out that I there was the install didn't require me to remove the faceplate so it's my own darn fault).","Product: Kingstons SSDNow S100 solid-state drives increase performance and speed and are designed for small capacity hard drive replacements and upgrades, making them a perfect match for system integrators and white box builders. More reliable than traditional hard drives, they withstand higher shock and vibrations. With commercial grade components, theyre ideal for non-PC applications from gaming and casinos to highway tollbooths and digital signage. SSDNow S100 drives are backed by a three-year warranty, live technical support and legendary Kingston reliability.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Update: XP on an old P4 File Server (Failed at 7mo)\n\nReview: UPDATE: This SSD failed on me yesterday after 7 months of use. I am disappointed because I only had my OS on this, and I'd only rebooted about 12 times over this period. I had also set this up so that my Swap Disk, Windows TEMP directory, Desktop and My Document file paths were re-routed to a traditional Hard-Drive Raid Array. I'd done this to avoid excessive Reads and Writes to the SSD because I'd heard that some SSD's would die early if you wrote excessively to them. I'd essentially configured the SSD as a small, compact, defragmented OS with little to no I/O usage, and it still failed. It appears that the device won't even power up anymore. I'm going back to old fashioned HD's after this. SSD does not appear to be any more reliable, and the cost isn't even remotely competitive. The idea that \"No Moving Parts\" means that a SSD is \"Bulletproof\" is a falsehood.\n\nOrigional Post:\n---\nAlthough this is the version of the HD geared toward non-windows OEM devices and Kiosks, I didn't have any problems getting Windows XP Pro-64 bit on it.\n\nI purchased this to use as my Boot Disk on a file server at my home. I purchased an off-lease HP Workstation Tower and used this SSD along with four Samsung 2tb Green Hard Drives. Since the green drives spin down when not in use, this SSD makes the perfect (Fault-proof) boot drive. I also have a couple of raid controllers in this PC, and had no problems getting this SSD configured.\n\nI honestly can't tell if it's faster than a normal HD or not. I suspect it is, but the bios load-cycle on this HP (with 8Gb of EEC ram and Win XP Pro 64-bit) takes about 35 seconds, so it isn't worth trying to figure out how quickly windows boots.\n\nIt's stable, and it works. Obviously, 16Gb is somewhat tight fit unless you move the paging file off of the SSD partition. (But that would defeat the spin-down feature of the green drive).\n\nEither way, it was inexpensive and meets my need. I don't think I'll ever buy another SSD this small again, but that's not the product's fault.","Product: SANOXY Remote Controlled Switch Socket - 3-Pack. 3 Outlets with 1 Remote Operates on radio frequency--will perform through walls, doors, and floors up to 60' away Plugs into any standard wall outlet, Power status indicator LEDs No line of sight needed, Remote & manual operation Use this remote control switch to control any lamps or small appliances plugged into an AC outlet\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works for Halogens in my Home Theater Room\n\nReview: I was looking for some light switching options for a couple of rooms. The device works perfectly for switching the halogens light poles in our rooms.\n\nOther thoughts: The plug receivers have a big foot print. Don't expect to share an outlet with one of these receivers and a square power adapter, PC plug or game system. Unless you have a power strip that with the plugs spread far apart, expect this receivers to block 2-4 other plugs. It only leaves enough space for a some ungrounded (2 pin / not 3 pin) plugs to fit below it.\n\n6/26/11 - Just an update: These are still working after 6 months. No complaints. I started using the 3rd outlet to turn an old Fan on and off.","Product: Panasonic Lumix 10x Optical Zoom with 14-140mm (28-280mm), Power OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer), HD Video Support\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great versitility for an enthusist's road-trips, street and travel.\n\nReview: I have a number of lenses for my Panasonic G3. This is my 5th. I have some primes. This is really the only lens I need for travel and general use. I love it. I'll keep my 14mm f1 for certain indoor portraits, but this is my road-trip and vacation traveler. I'm an enthusiast, but this cost almost as much as the camera. It was a scary step to buy this and take the plunge. This was designed to get all the shots in all the situations that I need. I'm not a pro, but the stablization is great and helps with freehand shutter speeds in the 20-40ms range. The switch on the lens lets me preserve battery life (when I remember to flip it). Light is good in almost all outdoor situations. Zoom is wide enough for all common situations. What more could I want? I love taking pictures. This is a nice tool to help me. Even if you are the type of user who usually goes full \"AI\" (Auto Intelligence), this is a great lens.","Product: 24 Pack Foam Earbud Earpad Ear Bud Pad Replacement Sponge Covers for Ipod Iphone Itouch Ipad Headsets\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best of whats currently avilable. Above Average (Nobody makes excellent anymoe)\n\nReview: I horded about 12 pairs of a particular model of Philips Earbuds manufactured in the early 2000's. They are prefect for audiobooks and sandisk MP3 players. However, the covers tend to rip and deteriorate over time. The covers that came with the origional buds were high quality, fine foam. This is the closest that I've been able to come to the OEM earbud covers. These don't have the really course, porous foam. I've tried other replacement pads from various sources from the \"Dollar Store\" and Amazon. This is the only set (Other than an 4-pack in assorted colors by Belkin that was discontinued about 6 years ago) that is of any particular quality. These are Good to Above-Average, and I don't think anyone makes Excellent anymore.","Product: Garantie L'étroite collaboration entre High-Tech Place et ses fournisseurs nous permet de vous proposer une garantie commerciale de 1 an.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Lost \"Genere\" and playing recursive/nested \"Folder\" contents\n\nReview: Missing some useful features from Clip, Clip Plus and Clip Zip. Two big ones that I noticed off the top:\n1) The menu to select music by \"Genre\" is gone. No more playing all your \"Top 40\" or \"Jazz\" wherever they are stored.\n2) The \"Folder\" option no longer lets you play nested contents. If you create a folder called \"Favorite songs\" and throw several folders in it, there isn't an option to Shuffle everything in and below the \"Favorite Songs\" folder anymore.\n\nI suppose I could build playlists work around these limitations. I just happened to use the options above as a different way to slice and dice my music lists. Maybe SanDisk will bring them back with a firmware upgrade.\n\nI'm neutral on the removal of the power button. I'd prefer to keep it on the top (discrete for blind use or reseting when device crashes/locks), but that's more of a preference than a complaint.\n\nIt seems much faster rebuilding library contents and reading media.","Product: The E10K USB DAC high resolution Headphone Amplifier from Fiio is customizable and designed to improve your laptop's audio output quality via its PCM5102 DAC chip and is capable of handling PCM files in up to 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution. It features a selectable bass boost and low-pass filter, both with circuitry optimized for a low noise floor when engaged, allowing you to customize the sound of your audio to your tastes.The unit connects to your laptop via its Micro USB connection, which also provides it with power. It offers a variety of connections, including a front-panel 1/8\\\" headphone jack, a rear-panel 1/8\\\" line output, and a rear-panel coaxial digital output, which allows you to send your digital audio to another destination. DAC ChipThe internal DAC chip is a PCM5102 and can handle PCM files up to 24-bit/96 kHz while improving audio quality through via a linear internal filter, reduced delay and internal silence on changing tracks, and no phase shifts.Low Noise Floor The unit has an optimized low-pass filter and selectable bass boost circuit that are designed for a low noise floor in all states.Amplification Stage The E10K features a LMH6643 op amp, which is designed for transient response and driving power.Portable DesignA brushed aluminum shell and chassis allow for durable portable use.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great when paired with Freware AudioSwitch from Google.\n\nReview: This is a great little Amp, if you are always at your PC or laptop. It is very light and small and light. The device is about the size of your palm. The weight my headphone cord is enough to drag it off my Desktop, so I had to tie my USB cable into a square-knot around the base of my monitor. With only an inch of slack, the knot work actually works remarkably well to keep the volume control at hand. For Win 7, 8 or 10 users who frequently toggle between headphones and speakers, I also recommend the Freeware \"AudioSwitch\" application available at code.google.com/p/audioswitch/ With it, you can toggle audio sources with a hotkey or a single click. Without it, you have to fight with the mixer or sound control panels.","Product: Brand New\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Using a MP3 Player with EQ Options, compariable to larger $499+ boombox players\n\nReview: The JBL Xtreme is good as or better than the other Bluetooth players of a similar size and price. If you have an MP3 Player that supports equalization (like a wired Sandisk Sansa Clip, Jam, Sport etc) or an Android Phone with PowerAmp Player (with 12-band equalization) you can achieve about any sound you desire. I tried several similar classed devices, and this is the closest to the larger boombox style players that run in the $499 range. I was looking something smaller than my old Logitech UE 984-000304 Boombox (Silver and blue chrome player) because it's battery life is starting to dwindle. The JBL Xtreme sounds good at normal EQ. With a little tweaking to my preferences using the playback device, I can't imagine anything better. I would say this is a bargain if you can pick up a refurbished or Like-new (full warranty) version for $149 (+/- $12). It's easily worth $199+.","Product: Jabra Halo smart wireless earbuds provide an industry leading talk time of 17 hours and outstanding sound quality for clear calls and full spectrum music. It's flexible Neckband design and IP54 Rated water resistance provides all day comfort that can be used for workouts or wherever your day takes you. To optimize your time, it features a voice button that will instantly connect to sir or Google now, allowing you to quickly get the information you need on-the-go. Designed by Jabra comfort experts, Halo smart has bendable Flex zones that allow you to shape the Neckband and ensure maximum comfort for long term use\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Best of it's kind for Talking, but still not up to fidelity of a wired Headset (earbuds) with mic.\n\nReview: I favor wired earbuds with a microphone for talking, but I recently got an iPhone7 through work. I wanted something with a dedicated mute button, and this seemed the best. Compared to a wired headset, this sounds very hollow (even though it is the best of the stereo headsets). I also found that the type of earbuds caused my ears to get very hot and weep after several hours. The style of earbud also floats and anything brushing against the wires telegraphed to the earpieces. I think this is probably common to all blue-tooth style headsets. In the end, I elected to return it and simply use the Apple Adapter. I don't get a dedicated mute button (apple doesn't allow for that unless you jailbreak and remap buttons), but I like the fidelity and comfort of the old wired headests with Microphones.","Product: Bring your car to life with a mods4cars module that enhances the existing functionality of your vehicle. The mods4cars product line allows for electronic integration of additional features such as opening/closing the convertible top using the vehicle factory remote, operating the convertible top while driving or TV/DVD playback while driving.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: If it doesn't work at 1st, press FIRMLY to seat end of locking Y-cable the last 1/8in.\n\nReview: If you are wondering: Yes, it was worth the coast and won the Wife's Approval. Unless you own a MX5 and have had to use it the park a few times, it's hard to appreciate why this is worth the cost!\n\nWhen I first installed... it didn't work and my \"Traction Control Light\" was on. The problem? I hadn't fully seated the cable into the car.\n\nWith a little more force, I pressed REALLY HARD to slide the locking end of the cable the last 1/8th of an inch to make the connection. Of all the troubleshooting suggestions on the website, none of them said the obvious \"Check your cables and press firmly to ensure they are fully seated. You will feel a firm snap when they fall into place\".\n\nI think they should probably tell folks, \"If you see the Traction control indicator displayed on the dashboard and the top doesn't work, check your cable connections!\".\n\nAs a \"PC Builder\" I expected this cable to be more like a 12v power coupler. It' actually a sturdy locking plastic clip. I assume this is so it never gets knocked out of place.\n\nThe install took me 30 minutes, but only because I figured i was smart enough to install the patch without removing the 10mm bolt. After 20 minutes of \"trying my own way\", I took out the 10mm bolt and completed the install. Use of a small mirror (like from a wife's compact or camping shave kit) is recommended. That lock on the cable is interesting. Give yourself the benefit of a mirror and 5-6 minutes to figure out how to release it. Don't try to do it by feel. ;-)","Product: Panasonic Lithium-ion Battery Pack for Lumix Digital Cameras\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: OEM Replacment for 2011 Wasabi that are Swelling\n\nReview: I purchased this for my G3 because the two Wasabi Power battries that I purchased in Aug 2011 started to swell about year ago. They still hold a charge, but they jam in my G3. I looped electrical tape around the the bodies to use a bootstraps so I could pull them back out... but they are now too swollen to use. My origional Lumix batteru is still doing pretty good, so I decided to get another OEM battery as a replacement. I'm not a \"Battery Snob\". I have some Canon Elph and Panasonic ZS20 point and shot with Wasabi batteries. My G3 is still a nice camera though, and I really don't want to risk damaging it just to save $15. Plus, Its nice to know how much power is REALLY remaining.","Product: Arkon's GPSCM117 features a rigid extendable windshield mount that goes from 14.5\" to 18.5\" length and is directly compatible with Garmin Nuvi and TomTom GPS devices. The mount kit includes a direct ball connection compatible with the Garmin Nuvi and custom fit adapter plates for TomTom Easyport found on TomTom One and One XL models, TomTom START and EASE and the new TomTom Via series. This mount is perfect for trucks or vans with long dashboard or freight big rig truck drivers. The suction base has a large suction cup and rigid construction. The extension arm is made of an aluminum shaft that can be locked into position for the perfect length between 14.5\" and 18.5\". This is a great mount for customers that need a long telescoping style suction mount with a rigid base.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Metal Constrcution - Easy to shorten with Metal Hacksaw and 5min work.\n\nReview: Ridiculously long for a Car or Rav4 Compact SUV.... BUT with a Metal Hacksaw and the removal of two screws you can convert it to a 7.5-11.5\" extension. I'm not handy, but I have a hacksaw. You just remove the two screws at the suction cup base. Leaving it collapsed at it's shortest length, Cut through both the base and extension at the same time. Replace the cap with the suction cup on the shortened section and tighten the screws. If you cut off about 4 inches, it's perfect for a Rav4. If you cut of 5 inches, it works for a Miata MX-5. This is one of the sturdiest mounts that I've ever seen. On a normal car, your GPS would be floating 6 inches in front of the edge of your dashboard without modification. With some simple McGuyver, it can be dramatically shorted.","Product: Listen to music, audiobooks, podcasts, and other digital audio files while you're working out with the SanDisk Clip Sport MP3 Player. Great for athletes or fitness enthusiasts, this lightweight MP3 player clips to your shirt or wristband, allowing you to enjoy music while keeping your hands and pockets free. It features a large LCD screen for easy navigation, along with an FM tuner for listening to your favorite radio stations. The SanDisk Clip Sport MP3 Player is available in a wide range of bright colors, and it also contains a memory card slot for additional storage.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good battery Life. Does what I need. I've owned every generation. Not my fav, but works!\n\nReview: I've owned all of the Sansa Clip, Clip+, Clip Zip, Clip Jam, etc. I'm an audio book enthusiast and my personal favorite is the Clip+. I still have have several unopened that I bought off ebay as backups, but we recently picked up a JBL XTreme portable speaker. I needed a durable (disposable) corded MP3 player, so I thought I'd see what the new generation had to offer. It's bigger, and different from the old zip. The screen resolution is higher. It has a much longer battery life. The design makes it FEEL much bigger, but it's only marginally bigger (like 1/16th of an inch on every side). It still has a MicroSD Card, and it is really fast to rescan cards. I prefer the old monocrome OLED Screens (mostly because I find them more readable) and lower power consumption, but this screen is ok. If you need this style of MP3 player, this would be my choice if you like to see album art. If not, My order of preference would be a Clip Jam (or an old Clip+ from ebay though they are so expensive). I actually have 3 Clip+ with broken clips/springs that I use to play looping nature sounds in several rooms, and they've been powered on continuously for as long as 5 years without failing. I also have 2 Clip+ that completely died after several years -- one that would no longer power on, and one that powers on to the Sansa Logo and can't be mounted, reset, or used even if fully discharged. For New Comers, the Clip Jam and Clip Sport are about as good as it gets. I'd recommend them over the no-name Chinese Knock-off's. For $27-35, they are handy devices to bring your books or audio with you wherever you go.","Product: Keeping you comfortable and on-the-GO! Designed from body scanning research, you'll love the fit and feel of Go Stretch. The stretch cotton blend is soft and light, perfect for your active lifestyle. This style extends down to your mid-thigh to reduce chaffing; plus, the leg openings have 3-dimensional stretch for a customized fit without restriction or riding up! Offering extra support where you need it most is the 1x1 ribbed construction at the fly. Enjoy the plush microfiber waistband for your added comfort. Stock-up with 2-pack savings! Fabric Content: 90% cotton/10% spandex jersey. Machine wash & dry. Imported.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best underware to prevent mid thigh friction!\n\nReview: These shorts are long enough to reduce or prevent friction on your inner thighs and legs during normal or extreme activities.\n\nI buy these here, because my local department store is always out of \"Mediums\". These have more spandex than normal underwear, but aren't up to the \"Bicycle Shorts\" standard.\n\nThese have a good deal of support, and the right combination of cotton and spandex. I started off with 8 pairs, and two years later they are still wearable. The material near the center of cross seams is starting to develop small holes (size of a cigarette burn) on some pairs after aproximately 73 wash cycles. (365 days * 2 Years)/10 Pairs = 73 washes.\n\nThe elasticity of my oldest pairs is almost identical to the new pairs I just purchased. I'm amazed that these hold up so well!\n\nMy oldest pairs are still wearable, but my mama would have made me throw them out by now 'coz I might get hit by a car (and what would the Doctor at the hospital think if I had holes in underware!) I'd also recommend going with \"Black\" for the obvious \"Stain\" reasons.\n\nIf your thighs are getting bigger (from gaining weight or muscle mass), and they are staring to rub in places that didn't used to make contact, these are an excellent solution.\n\nPros: Reduce Thigh Friction. Have a fly. Fairly Durable (Survive 75 Wash cycles and are still wearable). Reasonable amount of support and Spandex.\n\nCons: 10 pairs will set you back $100 (if you wear these exclusively -- but they'll last you 2 years if you do laundry once a week).","Product: Keeping you comfortable and on-the-GO! Designed from body scanning research, you'll love the fit and feel of Go Stretch. The stretch cotton blend is soft and light, perfect for your active lifestyle. This style extends down to your mid-thigh to reduce chaffing; plus, the leg openings have 3-dimensional stretch for a customized fit without restriction or riding up! Offering extra support where you need it most is the 1x1 ribbed construction at the fly. Enjoy the plush microfiber waistband for your added comfort. Stock-up with 2-pack savings! Fabric Content: 90% cotton/10% spandex jersey. Machine wash & dry. Imported.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best underware to prevent mid thigh friction!\n\nReview: These shorts are long enough to reduce or prevent friction on your inner thighs and legs during normal or extreme activities.\n\nI buy these here, because my local department store is always out of \"Mediums\". These have more spandex than normal underwear, but aren't up to the \"Bicycle Shorts\" standard.\n\nThese have a good deal of support, and the right combination of cotton and spandex. I started off with 8 pairs, and two years later they are still wearable. The material near the center of cross seams is starting to develop small holes (size of a cigarette burn) on some pairs after aproximately 73 wash cycles. (365 days * 2 Years)/10 Pairs = 73 washes.\n\nThe elasticity of my oldest pairs is almost identical to the new pairs I just purchased. I'm amazed that these hold up so well!\n\nMy oldest pairs are still wearable, but my mama would have made me throw them out by now 'coz I might get hit by a car (and what would the Doctor at the hospital think if I had holes in underware!) I'd also recommend going with \"Black\" for the obvious \"Stain\" reasons.\n\nIf your thighs are getting bigger (from gaining weight or muscle mass), and they are staring to rub in places that didn't used to make contact, these are an excellent solution.\n\nPros: Reduce Thigh Friction. Have a fly. Fairly Durable (Survive 75 Wash cycles and are still wearable). Reasonable amount of support and Spandex.\n\nCons: 10 pairs will set you back $100 (if you wear these exclusively -- but they'll last you 2 years if you do laundry once a week).","Product: Now you can finally say no to single-use plastic dry-cleaning bags. The Green Garmento is a 4-in-1 garment bag that helps you organize and green your laundry & dry-cleaning routine. It is the perfect solution for pesky plastic, annoying twist-ties and cluttering paper garment covers. 4-Bags-in-1. Heres how it works at home your Green Garmento serves as a hanging or standard hamper, on your trip to the drycleaner it functions as a duffel bag, and at pick-up your dry-cleaned clothes will be hanging and protected inside your Green Garmento, without a single-use plastic bag in sight. The Green Garmento is 4-in-1 laundry, duffel and hanging garment bag created to help eliminate the estimated three hundred million pounds of single-use dry cleaning plastic that annually clog US landfills and waterways, threatening marine and wildlife. Each Green Garmento is recyclable, durable, washable, breathable & water-resistant. They are like grocery bagsbut for your clothes! Stylish, practical and affordable, The Green Garmento finally presents a viable alternative to single-use plastic laundry and garment bags. Use The Green Garmento for a cleaner closet and a cleaner planet! Specifications: 48 Black Night 4-in-1 Green Garmento bag: Made from recyclable non-woven polypropylene. Breathable & water-resistant. Side zipper allows easy access to hanging garments. Drawstring closure at bottom. Sturdy loop fits over any hook for use as a hanging hamper. Durable shoulder strap for convenient carrying as a duffel bag. Reinforced handles for compressed carrying. Wide gussets allow cleaned clothes to hang gently at all times. See-through front pocket for dry cleaning ticket or other customer ID. Bags Hold 10-14 garments. Machine washable (short cycle - cold) hang dry quickly. Measures 48\" x 25\" wide x 5\" deep (122 x 63.5 x 13cm). Recommended use: two bags to rotate between home and dry cleaner.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very cool garment bag...\n\nReview: I was looking for an inexpensive bag to use vacations so I didn't have to use suitcases or fold clothes. I really wasn't expecting so many features.\n\nIt's made of a fairly think \"Market Bag\" type weave. There's a long zipper on the side so you can slip your stuff in. There are handles on the back to lift and carry it. There is a draw string on the bottom to keep things from dragging.\n\nAnd... (I think by design), you can flip it completely upside down (with the hanger hole at the bottom), and use it as a laundry bag. I think the drawstring at the bottom, doubles as a \"draw string at the top\" when you flip it over... so you can carry dirty close in it as well.","Product: From boulder hopping to fjord fording, this multi-talented cargo works overtime to keep you cool and comfortable. It's lightweight yet rugged, with an uber-comfy cut featuring a gusset detail for ultimate freedom of movement. How to measure- 1. Neck: Measure at the base or thickest part of your neck. 2. Sleeves: Start at the center back of your neck and measure across the shoulder and down to the wrist. Round up to the next even number. 3. Chest/Bust: Measure at the fullest part of the chest, under the armpits and over the shoulder blades, keeping the tape measure firm and level. 4. Waist: Measure around the natural waistline, allowing the tape measure to sit comfortably. 5. Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips. 6. Inseam: Measure from the top of the interior leg to the bottom of the ankle.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Black dresses up or down -- worth adding to your Silver Ridge collection!\n\nReview: This is my (don't laugh) 12th pair of Silver Ridge Cargo pants since moving to Florida. Black is the last color to collect, and I was surprised how good these look... and how resistant these are to pet hair. They can bridge casual and dressy. I've taken to wearing these to church with a polo and Sperry boat shoes. Same fit as the Tusk, Fossil, Delta, Blue with Green zipper, Bright Blue, and Bright Red/orange, and dark gray Handy pockets, and tasteful cargo pants. It dresses down with a t-shirt and sandals, and up with a polo and boat shoes. My wife encouraged me to get these, and I thought \"dark gray\" was enough. The black ones really are nice enough that they are worth adding to your collection if you love Columiba Shorts.","Product: Haggar men's polo short sleeve high performance textured microfiber woven shirt\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Go for Medium if you are typically on the edge between Med/Lg in most brands.\n\nReview: I was looking for white button-up shirts to wear around Florida. I'm 5'6\" and just between a med or large in most brands. I bought one of each, and kept both. These are big enough that the Medium fits and looks better. But, the large wasn't \"so big\" that it was worth the hastle of returning. The sleeves are cut with enough space that you don't have to worry about a tight fit if you go down a size. The material of the white shirt is good, and looks like it will be more stain resistant than pure cotton or rayon versions offered by other vendors. You really can't go wrong with this. It's lightly textured but its white-on-white so it doesn't really matter. You could wear it with or without an undershirt... though I typically wear a low v-neck with these to avoid discoloring the arm-pits with deodorant over time. (Most white shirts tend to yellow over 15-25 washes for me, so I don't risk it). I think this is more stain resistant than my banana republic 100% cotton variants.","Product: The Speedo Neo Fin Sock is the answer to sore feet due to extensive fin use. The neoprene construction is soft and will prevent blistering and chafing while also supplying warmth.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for beaches and Snorkeling - with or without fins!\n\nReview: Protect your feet from chaffing, blisters, scrapes and hot sand with these socks.\n\nI can't stress how important your feet are when you are on a vacation. Nothing ruins a trip faster than a blister or scrape on your feet or ankles.\n\nI wore these many days during an All-Inclusive trip to Mexico. These were great to walk out on the rocks carrying my fins, so I could get into the water. I've tried various fins (rented, provided by day-trip outfitters, and owned) with and without these socks. I will never go back to \"bare feet\" in fins ever again. I consider these to be as essential as sunscreen now.\n\nThese are thick enough to protect you from hot sand and minor sharp rock in beaches and tide pools. I found that I even like to wear them as an alternative to water-shoes and sandals on some beaches when I don't even bring fins along.\n\nIf you own fins or plan to rent them on a snorkeling trip, I strongly encourage you to keep a pair of these swim socks. Even the best fins rub somewhere, some time. If you intend to be out more than a few minutes get swim socks, dive booties, or neoprene socks to go with any fins.","Product: Performance oriented, easy to use recreational snorkel that features US Divers Pivot Dry Technology, which keeps water out above and below the surface by closing when submerged.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Bought Two for a Mexico Trip - One Worked / One Defective\n\nReview: Don't be discouraged by this -- This is a great snorkel if you don't get a defective unit.\n\nI bought a pair of these for a trip to Mexico with my wife. I should have tested them at the local pool before we left. One was defective and slowly filled with water, and the other worked perfectly. Because they looked the same, it took me a while to figure it out. My wife is only 5'2\", and I suspected that her mouth didn't seal in it well. When I figured out one had a leak, I tried various things to troubleshoot. The defect was in the area where the flexible tubing met the blue pipe. After about 45-90 seconds, the reservoir would fill enough that you could hear the air bubbling. 5 seconds after that, you'd be drinking ocean water.\n\nAs a dry snorkel, the functioning one worked wonderfully. Waves weren't any problem, and the purge valve worked as advertised. I could easily dive down below the water surface down to about 15ft for 30-45 seconds with no water leaking into the snorkel.\n\nFor reference, the point of failure wasn't the purge valve. I put the flat of my palm against it several times to seal it completely (and test if that was the source of the leakage). I suspect I could have fixed this if I'd had some electrical or duct tape with me.\n\nAnyway, I'd have given this a 5-star if they both had worked. If you order a few weeks before a trip, and have a chance to test out your equipment (so you can exchange if you find a problem), I'd recommend these. They work wonderfully if you get one that isn't defective. I'd even consider buying another to try and replace our defective one.","Product: Our Ground Blind Stakes are made from high-grade steel with a sharp point which will help break through tough ground. They come with a loop in the top to tie off your blind and a foot press that allows for easy installation. Keep your blind flap free in strong winds with our well-made ground blind stakes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great to stake down a Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot\n\nReview: I picked up four of these to ground my Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot (think of a combination Lawn-Chair, cot & tent) from wind. I picked this 4-pack of \"Double Bull Blind Stakes\" for the large large flat brace designed to \"stomp\" the stakes into the ground with a boot. I don't like carrying the weight of a hammer, and I typically bend normal stakes when I get in a hurry and try to set them with my body weight. I also like the fact that the The swing out doubles as a handle to pull these back out. They were longer than expected (because I went by the picture and didn't look at a measuring tape), but that shouldn't be a problem. You can't tell the scale from the photo, but these are scaled about 25-50% bigger than a normal \"tent\" stake. That also means that the gauge of the spiked metal end is QUITE a bit stronger than you will be expecting.\n\nI don't know that these were ever intended for \"General use\" as tent stake replacements, but they serve the purpose well. I was looking for an alternative to \"Ground Hog Stakes\" and a \"Stake Puller\", and this fit the bill.\n\nThese stakes also feature a large loop at the top. I'm using that loop in combination with four 90mm Large Gate Aluminum Carabiner Snap-Rings.\n\nI'm using the Carabiners to go through the loop of the stake and around the metal rests (tubing about the diameter of a quarter) at the bottom of the tent cot. I didn't want to mess with nylon ties, ropes, or anything that could get wet or dirty between the stakes and the tent... so the combination of the Priomos Double Bull Blind Stakes and the Carbiners is PERFECT.\n\nDownsides? They are a couple inches longer than normal tent stakes. If I was and a rocky area, I'm not sure my boot would be enough to stamp these all the way in.\n\nUpsides? Easy to Sink (set). Easy to Pull (remove). They are so long, I'm not sure they'd \"HAVE\" to go all the way in. Plus, they could double as Ninja Sai's if you are attacked by mutant turtles in the field. ;-)","Product: Polar Balance Scale :: The Polar Balance scale is a sleek, modern and very attractive device that can help you revolutionize how you track your weight and make progress towards your goals. Connect it via Bluetooth Smart to your Polar device (see below for compatible models) and get a great insight with lots of useful information and detail into your daily activities, nutrition and lifestyle. Set a goal on the Polar Flow app or web service and get personalized guidance to encourage and motivate you on your way to hitting it. Its a strong, durable set of scales with a splash-proof glass top, a clear display with digits that are easy to read, and a memory that will store data for up to 10 people so the whole family can use it.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good complement to H7 Strap or A360 (or other Polar ...\n\nReview: Accurate. Has Blueooth. Integrates into Polar flow app/website. Good complement to H7 Strap or A360 (or other Polar watch) if you want to go all out and track your weight. Seems accurate to 1/10th of a pound. Fast measurement. It's a really good scale. Premium price, but accurate with a geek factor if you like to track your weight.\n\n If you can afford it without hardship and your existing scale is looking nasty from years of use, I'd say, \"Pull the Trigger\".\n\nIf money is tight but you really need the statistics to stay motivated, keep your eye out for a used/refurbished one.\n\nOtherwise, consider alternatives. You can manually enter your weight on polar flow. This is a great convenience and I love mine, but it falls short of a necessity. (IE: If you are married, this isn't worth a fight over, \"You paid how much for a scale?\")","Product: Includes an un gimmicked box of mints. Used for Movement by Darryl Vanamburg. High quality magic items designed to amaze your friends and family!.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Mint - Hard to Find\n\nReview: These are great ice-cool mints with a sweet peppermint flavor. They don't sting or assault your senses, but they do freshen your breath. They are a little stronger than the generic white and red peppermint hard-candies that restaurants set out in bowls, and these give you a nice cool sensation like a york or junior mint. As these mints age (say a year), they also mellow.\n\nWith so much mint gum, it's hard to find a good mint tablet. Many alternatives have caffeine, crunchy shells, or are uncomfortably intense. Not these. They are just perfectly balanced.\n\nI stumbled across these mints about two years ago on a 3000 mile road trip. Since then, I've purchased several 9-pack boxes. I've never seen these at stores since my original purchase. Dentyne has a companion flavor to these \"ICE\" mints, called Fire. I have seen the fire mints in stores.\n\nAs far as use, I keep these between my bed and bathroom. I used to have a habit of waking up hungry and \"sleep-eating\" when I'd get up to use the bathroom. I've retrained myself to grab a mint instead. Since they are sugar free, they don't rot my teeth. And, since they aren't too strong... they don't wake me up too much. I just suck on the mint until I fall back to sleep.","Product: All-in-one 6.0-inch premium navigator with built-in dash cam and driver awareness features Detailed maps of North America with free lifetime map updates and HD Digital Traffic, the best traffic avoidance solution available from Garmin Integrated dash cam continuously records your drive and automatically saves files on impact Forward Collision Warning alerts if you drive too close to the car ahead Lane Departure Warning alerts if you drift off the road or into oncoming traffic Garmin Real Vision displays camera view when approaching select destinations\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lane suggestion and other improvements over Premier 35xx series\n\nReview: I had a top of the line 35xxLMT series, and decided to pull the trigger on this for an upcoming road trip. I didn't expect many improvements (short of the camera) . The NuviCam adds a number of lane warnings that were not perviously present. As we drove through areas like Orlando, Fort Luderdale, and Miami the directions for toll roads and which lanes to be in (with pictures) were superior to the top-of-the-line Garmin from 2 years ago. I was torn between getting this (with a big screen) and the DriveAssist version. This is pretty big for our Miata. The DriveAssist might have been a wiser choice, but I really love this thing. I have a Pioneer NEX-8100 navigation package in one car, and a Kenwood Excellon Garmin head hunit in another. I also have a Nuve 885% and a 750. Nothing beats the new stand alone devices. The variants in head units (even the garmin's in Kenwood units) don't get map updates very often and charge you $65-99 per map update. These stand alone devices are still the best value that anyone could hope for. The addition of 4-Square POI's is also quite nice.","Product: Reflect your style with the red reflector frame made from official SAE DOT Certified reflective material. Cruiser Accessories is a family owned business that has been manufacturing and selling license plate frames for over 30 years. Through innovation, attention to detail and many patented designs, Cruiser has evolved into the largest supplier of license plate frames, novelty plate shields and mounting hardware in the automotive aftermarket. Cruiser's product line also includes both standard and exclusive Star Pin locking hardware, designer fastener caps, mounting accessories, motorcycle frames and 3d-Cals decals. Let Cruiser Accessories complete your rides look today!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Looks great during day, and as bright as \"Brake Lights\" at night. Great match to Bright red convertible!\n\nReview: Looks amazing on a bright red sports car (when paired with the screw/nut covers). Is REALLY reflective. When following or pulling up on this, it looks like it's lighted like a tail light. I followed my car with my wife's, and this looks great during day and backlit at night. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that the end caps (sold seperately) are as reflective as this border. Being so small, I was skeptical. I bought two sets of the ends so I'd have spares if they fell off. I've had this on for over 3 months, and it looks like they'll all hold. You'll probalby need an optional mounting frame if you want to use all for holes. No regrets. Looks great.","Product: Put the final touch on a novelty/license plate frame with a set of Red Reflective fastener caps. Cruiser Accessories is a family owned business that has been manufacturing and selling license plate frames for over 30 years. Through innovation, attention to detail and many patented designs, Cruiser has evolved into the largest supplier of license plate frames, novelty plate shields and mounting hardware in the automotive aftermarket. Cruiser's product line also includes both standard and exclusive Star Pin locking hardware, designer fastener caps, mounting accessories, motorcycle frames and 3d-Cals decals. Let Cruiser Accessories complete your rides look today!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice and these are really reflective!\n\nReview: I got this to go along with a reflective border. I honestly didn't expect these to be overly refelective (as they are small caps), but I was really surprised. These are as good as bike or vehicle reflectors. I've had them on for about 3 months now. I purchased two packs, because I expected that a few ends would ultimately fall off. I haven't lost any so far, so the spares are just sitting in a hidden nook inside my trunk. They fit over any existing bolts or screws, but don't come with any. For what I wanted, they look great!\nUpdate: It's almost 2 years later. They are still attached, and I haven't lost any to carwashes. I actually bought two sets so I'd have some spares, and I haven't needed them. When people have their headlights on behind us, they think we have LED lighting.","Product: APS Auto Parts Specialist Inc. is a professional grille manufacturer located in Ontario, CA, USA. Since 2008, we are ranked as No.1 in the grille industry as we have the most complete application (over 6,500 applications). These grilles are manufactured in an ISO-9001 certified factory. Every month we have over 15-20 new grilles released in the market. From 2007, we have expanded our product line to Chrome accessories, Fender Trims, Door Mirrors, Bull bars, Side bars (Nerf Bar), Hitch Receivers, and Tonneau Covers in order to fill our customers demand. We have also just introduced our new Fender Flares, which is a very popular item with customers. Currently, we stock over 50,000 sets of grilles and over 4,300 applications of auto parts in our 100,000 square feet warehouse.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to install & looks great. (As others say, you need two screws!)\n\nReview: Wow. This looks great on my Red MX5 Touring hard top. Fit in side the existing chrome boarder. As noted, I needed screws for the top. I'd recommend black screws so you don't see the ends. And, I had to think for about a minute to realize how the fasteners at the bottom worked. (Pass though the honey comb, rotate 90 degrees, lock in place as you tighten... as long as you are careful to keep tension on them so they can't spin. They are a little like the metal hinged drywall anchors). There is nothing to remove. I wondered how \"good\" it would look... just bolted to the front of the existing plastic grille. No worries there. It looks OEM.\n\nP.S. I give 5 stars because I knew about the bad assembly instructions noted by the folks who gave it 3 stars. If I hadn't come into this knowing what they shared, I'd have docked it. It really deserves the 5 stars for appearance. Their \"-2 star\" deduction is likely just a penalty for \"installation annoyance\" because they were the early adopters that realized and solved the problem for the rest of us!","Product: Conserve desk space by suspending two flat panels on a single base. Easily view multiple screens at once to increase productivity\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Solid - Holds two 29\" Ultrawides perfectly!\n\nReview: I bought this to mountTwo Ultrawide 2560x1080 ASUS PB298 IPS+ monitors above each other.\n\nThe Ergotron DS100 Vertical Mounting Bracket is stable and lets me align them almost seamlessly. These monitors have virtually no bezel, and is this stand is awesome for multasking. Plus, my total cost is still about 500 less than a 4k monitor, and the result is a Result is a 29X42 monitor space with IPS+ Color and clarity.\n\nI posted a photo. The mounting pole was 5\" taller than the inset on the hutch where I moutned it, so I took of 5in using a hacksaw. I did it from the uncapped end, and the metal was so solid it took a LONG time to get through it. I didn't really want to cut it, but it wouldn't have fit in my space if I didn't.\n\nThis was ultra solid, ultra stable, and was fairly easy to align the monitors with poinpoint accuracy to minimize the gap between the monitors. I'm VERY happy.","Product: Using the 2x4basics Flip Top BenchTable Picnic Table and Bench, Sand and your 2x4s, build a bench that also converts into a table. Make a comfortable and sturdy bench and table any size up to 8 feet (2.4m) long. Its easy! With just a flick of the wrist, your bench flips into a table. The patented slide lock safely secures your Flip Top BenchTable Picnic Table and Bench in the table position in seconds, without tools. The Flip Top BenchTable Picnic Table and Bench is both an outdoor bench and a picnic table. Purchase 2 for a full-size picnic table. Theres plenty of room for the whole family. Slide two together to seat 8 or more adults comfortably. You can use just one for smaller families, individuals or for tight areas like balconies. Its space saving. When you are finished, the table is easily converted back to a bench and can be placed along the railing of your deck or against a wall. Simple assembly with only a powered screwdriver, wrench, and a saw. Only straight, 90 degree cuts are required no miters or angles. Stain, paint, or finish the wood to fit your style and application or use treated lumber. All hardware is included. Made of durable structural resin, the all-weather frame is built to last. The assembled unit stands 34 inches high (86cm) in the bench position and 31 inches (78cm) in the table position, both with a 17.5 inch (44cm) seat height. Sand in color. Also available in green and white.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Drill Pilot Holes and use a good Titanium Bit!\n\nReview: We purchased this, and it does look great. One caution: My Wife overlooked the recommendation to drill the Pilot holes using a 1/4\" bit.\n\nWithout drilling pilot holes for your screws, the screws will take so much torque during the last quarter of an inch that you'll likely strip the heads.\n\nAlso, we had to get a little creative to get a couple of screws in (due to the angles and such). You may need a short stubby screwdriver or a ratchet wrench with a screwdriver head attached for the inside screws in a couple of spots. If you drive them in perpendicular (instead of angled) there's only about 3-4\" of clearance on two of the inside, screws in the middle of one brace.\n\nWe aren't mechanically inclined. After my wife called me in to help, I realized that our dollarstor drill bits weren't up to the tasks. We ran to the hardware store to get a titanium that wouldn't break... and, it only took about 20 minutes to assemble after that. She had all the wood-precut at lumberyard, and she'd stained it several days before.\n\nIt was a fairly easy build with the right tools. It could probably be done with less... but not by me!","Product: The heavy-duty Myth Ratcheting Pruner makes perfect sense for the avid hunter who seeks to clear the area for easy sight lines with minimal effort, so as not to hit exhaustion before the wait for game begins. The pruner's ratcheting system makes it a cinch to use, and its hardened, precision-ground blades stay sharp through regular heavy use. Low friction coating on the blades keeps them smooth and doesn't allow tree sap to adhere and cause the pruner to grow sticky and useless. A lock situated between the handles opens smoothly but keeps the Myth Ratcheting Pruner safely closed while carrying it to and from the field, or when stored away. Gerber limited lifetime warranty.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Previous Generation Shattered upon first use (Carried for 12 years).\n\nReview: Previous Generation shattered upon first use in the bush. So, I've been carrying this set with me for 12 years and never used it. While fishing, I needed to clear some branches out of my path. This is the first time that I've \"EVER\" attempted to use them, and they shattered. Now, I realize that it could be because they became brittle from the heat of 12 summers. However, how many of us might carry survival gear for years that we won't need until a specific time in the future? I don't know why it failed. I don't know if this future model resolved the quality issue. I just know that I was shocked, and they no longer list the variant that I purchased -- so I have to tag to this review to the most recent variation.","Product: The USI Electric MDS107 Hardwired 2-in-1 Universal Smoke Sensing (IoPhic) Smoke and Fire Alarm with Battery Backup brings together the best technologies available and puts them to work to better protect your home. IoPhic Universal Sensing Technology responds quickly to fast-flaming fires and is also 87% faster at responding to slow smoldering fires. The microprocessor intelligence virtually eliminates nuisance alarms through auto sensitivity calibration, ambient condition compensation, and self-diagnostics. This alarm is also easily installed and connected to all USI and Universal brand 120V alarms, with Quick Find alarm origination to easily identify the first alarm to sound in a connected system. It comes with a ten-year limited warranty. USI Electric is a subsidiary of Universal Security Instruments Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of high-quality, easy-to-install home safety products. Founded in 1969, Universal Security Instruments has over 40 years of heritage in providing home safety products for families. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, Universal Security Instruments continues to launch revolutionary new products and innovative technologies with the mission of always working to keep families protected.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good replacement for the Natural Gas/Carbon Dioxide versions if they go wonky\n\nReview: I bought a newly constructed home, and I'm slowly replacing the malfunctioning USI smoke detectors with these. The house came with the more expensive ones that detect Carbon Dioxide and Natural Gas. Our house (heck our block) doesn't even have natrual gas lines. And, I doubt we'll ever leave the car running in the garage by mistake. The expensive units have slowly been going haywire saying \"Natural Gas\" at random, so I\"m replanting them with these \"Smoke Only\" variants. These plug into the same network of alarms that came with the house. These use the same adapters and brackets as the variants that feature more types of detection. I've replaced two of the other models with these so far... and these seem to be more stable. I want to preserve the networked smoke alarms, so this seems like the best option."],"string":"[\n \"Product: At Vater, our goal is simple...to produce the very best drumsticks and percussion accessories in the world.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Built like a tank. Does sit up and out from where it mounts, though.\\n\\nReview: I purchased several of these for my mom (who is in a wheelchair). I got this Vater and the Crescendo CR-20 Cup Cady. By comparison, this thing is built like a tank. The Vater is indestructible. Because of the tight fit of her wheel chair in my parent's car, the CR-20 fits the arm of her i-drive better because it sits lower. Their car has about 0.25\\\" clerance, and the lift on the Vater won't let us fold the wheelchair in the back. If their ceiling was 2\\\" higher, there would be no contest. We still found a use for this though. I bought an el-cheapo Pile mike stand, and latched the Vater onto it so she can have a cup holder beside her bed. (BTW - She broke the Creschendo CR-20 Cup Cady after about 3 months, and we've already replaced it with another CR-20. We need the form factor even if it won't hold up to time!).\",\n \"Product: Experience the action like never before with the Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows. Redesigned thumb sticks and an all new D-pad provide greater precision. Enjoy the reliable wired connection to your PC - and forget about replacing batteries. The Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows can be used as wired or wireless on your Xbox One.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Prefer over Xbox 360 for PC Games (but, only if you can afford it!)\\n\\nReview: Got this for PC games. Was using an xbox 350 controller. Heard lots of folks say this was better. Honestly, I do prefer it. Does it change the entire experience? Ehh... maybe. I wouldn't go broke if the cost was a hardship, you are using your allowance or don't have regular income. If you don't have \\\"ANY CONTROLLER\\\" yet and can afford $20-30 the difference over a 360 controller, you might be wise to jump straight to this. Also, if you are likely to spend at least a 100 hours using it, then... yeah... go for it. (Justify the cost by waiting a while and buying a few games on sale. If you buy $59.95 games, just wait for four to drop to $39.95 and you'll have paid for the controller).\",\n \"Product: Hamilton Beach - Toastation? II Toaster & Oven Top slot works like a traditional 2 slice toaster Removable crumb tray and automatic toaster shutoff for convenience 1 1/2 inch toasting slot fits thick breads Oven fits two 16\\\" pizza slices or two personal pizzas Electronic toast shade and oven temperature controls for consistency Compact 2 in 1 appliance\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Had this everal months - Very Happy!\\n\\nReview: We bought this when our $0.50, 1950's yard sale toaster bit the dust. We didn't want a HUGE toaster oven, but I missed making hot sandwiches.\\n\\nThe inside of the grill area has a surface area slightly larger than two big pieces of bread side by side. I frequently cover the tray with tin-foil, and its large enough for 3 slices of lunch-meat (if they overlap a little) and cheese. I tend to cook the ham and cheese before I assemble the sandwich. The grill doesn't have a \\\"Great\\\" deal of clearance though. If you assemble a sandwich heavily stacked with lunch meat (say 6 thick slices of meat and 3 of cheese), it almost brushes the heating elements on the top.\\n\\nRegardless, I like it. It toasts well and has wide slots on the top. It doesn't have an excessively deep profile, so we don't loose the counter space in front of it.\",\n \"Product: Hamilton Beach - Toastation? II Toaster & Oven Top slot works like a traditional 2 slice toaster Removable crumb tray and automatic toaster shutoff for convenience 1 1/2 inch toasting slot fits thick breads Oven fits two 16\\\" pizza slices or two personal pizzas Electronic toast shade and oven temperature controls for consistency Compact 2 in 1 appliance\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Had this everal months - Very Happy!\\n\\nReview: We bought this when our $0.50, 1950's yard sale toaster bit the dust. We didn't want a HUGE toaster oven, but I missed making hot sandwiches.\\n\\nThe inside of the grill area has a surface area slightly larger than two big pieces of bread side by side. I frequently cover the tray with tin-foil, and its large enough for 3 slices of lunch-meat (if they overlap a little) and cheese. I tend to cook the ham and cheese before I assemble the sandwich. The grill doesn't have a \\\"Great\\\" deal of clearance though. If you assemble a sandwich heavily stacked with lunch meat (say 6 thick slices of meat and 3 of cheese), it almost brushes the heating elements on the top.\\n\\nRegardless, I like it. It toasts well and has wide slots on the top. It doesn't have an excessively deep profile, so we don't loose the counter space in front of it.\",\n \"Product: Your shower curtain is the largest decorative element in your bathroom, so we put extra care into the design and craftsmanship of each piece. Choose from a wide variety of solids, prints and textures in colorful fabric or waterproof PEVA. Whats best, you wont need to purchase separate hooks because of our all-in-one Hookless curtain system\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I prefer PEVA over the Fabric -- And get 4-6 months from these with CleanShower.\\n\\nReview: I've been using the same curtain with new liners for about 4 years now. I have one fabric liner (that I wash with woolite and vinegar between uses), but I prefer these PEVA liners. I seem to get about 4-6 months out of these PEVA liners when I use clean-shower every day. Eventually, they get the pink slime (which I assume is a type of mold). When that happens, I try to clean it once or twice and sterilize the bathtub with scrubbing bubbles and mold/mildew remover. When it becomes obvious that the curtain is dead, I throw on the fabric version and order a new PEVA replacement. I could probably live with the fabric permanently, but I still prefer the PEVA.\",\n \"Product: Product Features: Color: red bulbs / green wire Number of bulbs on string: 25 Bulb size: C7 light covers over wide angle bulbs Spacing between each bulb: 8 inches Lighted string length: 15.5 feet Total string length: 16 feet Wire gauge: 22 Additional Product Features: LED lights use 90% less energy Lights are equipped with a clamp on the base of each bulb so that you can easily attach the lights to trees, bushes and more! Super bright bulbs If one bulb burns out, the rest will stay lit Durable non-glass replaceable bulbs Cool to the touch Contains 1 end connector which allows you to connect multiple sets together (not to exceed 210 watts) These lights are made to commercial specifications Comes with replacement bulbs and fuse UL listed for indoor/outdoor use 120 volts, 60 Hertz, 0.02 amps, 2.4 watts Material(s): plastic bulbs/wire\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Bulbs not as picture - Not Screw-in C7's / Bare Copper\\n\\nReview: I purchased this string to obtain replacement C7 Screw-in LED Bulbs. The picture showed a C7 bulb, so I assumed the string would contain C7 bulbs compatible with incandescent strings and night-lights. It doesn't. It has those little \\\"Fairy Christmas Bulbs\\\" with the bare copper wires covered with a C7-shaped cap. Not usable for my purposes. I'll post a picture.\\n\\nPerhaps the C7 specification is more about wattage or lumens, so I can't say the the package is accurate or a misrepresentation. I can, however, say that the product photo is completely inaccurate... and I'll have to go back to buying the individual bulbs at $0.90 each + $0.30 shipping!\\n\\nI do know that if you go to google images and type \\\"C7 Bulb\\\", you don't get anything that looks like what these have.\",\n \"Product: This ready to hang, gallery wrapped art piece features Maho Beach. Preston discovered a passion for photography at the age of 18 and is an international award winning photographer. He categorizes himself as a point-and-shoot photographer; capturing the world in its original state. Preston enjoys the challenge of photographing natural elements, things that he cannot direct or change. Giclee (jee-clay) is an advanced printmaking process for creating high quality fine art reproductions. The attainable excellence that Giclee printmaking affords makes the reproduction virtually indistinguishable from the original piece. The result is wide acceptance of Giclee by galleries, museums, and private collectors. Gallery wrap is a method of stretching an artist's canvas so that the canvas wraps around the sides and is secured a hidden, wooden frame. This method of stretching and preparing a canvas allows for a frameless presentation of the finished painting.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfectly Nice -- Good Color -- No focal point (If you think about it)\\n\\nReview: It looks good, and the colors are fairly vivid. I ordered about 7 pieces of artwork to rework my office with a \\\"Tropical Paradise\\\" theme. This was one of 3 canvas pieces I got from three different vendors. I also purchased some vinyl pieces and a wall-paper mural. This turned out to be my 3rd favorite piece. The colors are the 2nd best of everything I bought (in terms of being Vivid). I ended up moving this to my bathroom because it lacks a focal point. The beach, water and sky are beautiful but it feels like something got cropped out when you have it right in front of you. I probably should have thought of that before I got it, but it's otherwise really nice. My only other comment is that I wish canvas art places would take 2-3 seconds to \\\"Rubber Stamp\\\" away the 2-3 black dots for a bird in the sky (so far away that it looks like a fly spec) and pieces of seaweed on the sand. It's just my sense of esthetic, but I'd invest the 30-seconds to touch up the source if I were selling these commercially. Some details are too fine to transfer to the canvas/ink process, so you might as well airbrush them out.\",\n \"Product: Dreamsweet Memory Foam Contour FIRM Pillows are crafted from solid blocks of high density US made CertiPUR-US certified memory foam infused with cooling gel. The contour of the pillow tugs perfectly under the neck area, providing soft and cushy support around the neck and head area. Those pillows alleviate neck and shoulder pain and help reduce snoring and other sinus problems. Dreamsweet US made memory foam is naturally resistant to dust mites and is antimicrobial. The pillow cases are 100% Cotton, and are removable and washable.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Firm. Seriously Firm. No... really... this is FIRM!\\n\\nReview: Truth in advertising. No joke. This is firm. I don't doubt this is memory foam because of how, but nothing like I've ever seen anywhere else. This ain't your marshmellow-like Tempurpedic or copycat. Most memory foam gives a few inches with body heat. This seems to give less than an inch on your back, or 1/2 on your side. It molds, but only just enough... and it requires heat and weight.\\n\\nI got this over a month ago. As I've experimented, I've learned that there is a difference between what I \\\"Think feels comfortable\\\" and \\\"What works to wake up pain free\\\". I never woke up sore or with pain after I started to use this, but I also never when \\\"Oh, this is incredibly soft and comfortable\\\". It's Perfect for a 5'7\\\" guy side sleeping and does well as a back sleeper. I thought it felt a little high as a back sleeper (only seems to give about 1\\\" as you heat it up), but honestly the alignment is good and I wake up pain free. I guess you have to reconcile \\\"this this feels odd\\\" with \\\"wow, I don't hurt when I wake up\\\". If I hadn't given this a chance, I'd have missed out.\\n\\nAs background, I've used a variety of 5-6in high density Memory Foam Pillows over the years. This is nothing like them. This might be memory foam, but nothing like I've ever seen or encountered. The density is off the scale. It does give a little with body heat, but continues to hold up and offer support. Most pillows tend to break down over 2-3 years, and need replacing. And, I can never find the same one twice. I gave this a chance because I wanted support. I got it -- in spades.\\n\\nDon't be afraid, but be sure this is what you want. And, consider if you can reconcile \\\"feeling comfortable\\\" with \\\"being pain free\\\"... until you can reassess what \\\"comfort\\\" feels like.\",\n \"Product: Madison Park Vanessa 7 piece comforter set.This is highly durable.This is manufactured in China. This are bedding.This are easy to use.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful and Ellegant with Quality Embroidered off-white Fabric\\n\\nReview: This looked even more amazing in person. High quality fabric with embroidery. The base color is off-white (AKA: Antique Lace, vanilla, eggshell, creme, light taupe... whatever... I'm a guy not a fashionista!). We have two cats with their claws, and amazingly we have no snags after two months. Brightens up the room. Pillow treatments are tasteful. The touch of gold (versus excessive gold fabric) is very elegant. This is a very nice comforter for the price. The picture is a fair representation from the distant view, but the photo is in direct sunlight and slightly over exposed. If you are looking for neon-Clorox bright white, look elsewhere. I believe the details look even better close-up. The wife and I both agree this was the best offering for a gold-toned set. |\\n\\nThe included sheet's are decent. We're 1000 thread-count sheet snobs, so we'll treat them as extras. The sheets are perfectly good, but on the mediocre side of luxurious. Sheets are a guilty indulgence for us. However, let's be honest... you are buying this set for the comforter and pillow treatments, right? And, the sheets are good unless you are a \\\"Princess and the Pea\\\" kind'a sleeper!\\n\\nNOTE: From the reviews I almost think there are two versions of this. I'm trying to reconcile the problems and concerns stated by some folks with what we got. We like and appreciate nice things, but we aren't incredibly picky. For this price point ($115ish) this is a value. We've had some $380-499 bed-in-a-bag sets on clearance from home stores that compare favorably to this. If you are a slightly-above average, middle class person who likes off-white embroidered comforters with a few frills... this set is really attractive for the price. You get upscale Homestore quality for Target/Walmart cost. I can't speak to stains, tears, or the other complaints. I can't relate to that experience. Just my $0.02\",\n \"Product: Smartwrap, winner of ID magazine's Design Distinction award, is a cord manager for headphone cables. No more fussing with too much cable hanging between your music player and your earphones - just wind up the slack and lock it in. Smartwrap is easy to use. All that is required is to snap the cord into place at one of two places, then wrap and snap into place again. Clear, White and Black\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Wow. I was skeptical, but these are great!\\n\\nReview: I listen to audiobooks and carry my MP3 player with me everywhere. I used to wrap my cord around my player, but it would often tangle and knot if I didn't carefully unwind the cord.\\n\\nWith the Sumajin Smartwraps,. all my problems are gone. I put off using a cord management device for years, because of their size and the absurdity of the idea of using one. I was so wrong.\\n\\nThe device is actually about the same size as my MP3 player, but I can leave enough slack so that it folds to rest beside it. I wear dress shirts, and usually carry my MP3 player in my front pocket when I listen. The device allowed me to shorten the cord.\\n\\nYou can carefully (and tightly) wrap the first half of your ear-bud cord if you never need the full length. It's easy to slide the cord in and out of the notches, so you can easily change the length wrapped around it.\\n\\nThe shape is perfect to keep the cord from sliding off the ends. And the size is also perfect. (Any smaller, and you'd overlapping the cord too much when you wrap. Any bigger, and it would be cumbersome). The concavity is perfect for a 6ft pair of ear buds.\\n\\nI'll post some pictures. The 3-pack I picked up is great. It's an excellent way to compactly store your earbuds to keep them from tangling. I highly recommend these... and I wish that I hadn't waited so long.\",\n \"Product: IOGear's DVI KVMP Switch GCS1104 charts a revolutionary new direction in KVM switch functionality by providing an interface for today's digital monitors while integrating a 4-port USB KVM switch with USB 2.0 peripheral sharing capabilities. As a KVM switch, the unit allows the user to access four computers from a single USB keyboard, USB mouse, and monitor, and also share among the computers USB 2.0 peripherals such as external hard drives, printers and scanners. This Switch is backed up by IOGear's 3 Year Limited Warranty\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Almost Perfect out of the Box\\n\\nReview: I just relocated and began working full-time out of my home. My employer offered me the choice of a tiny monitor or a KVMP switch to use my existing monitors and mouse. This was the ideal choice because it uses DVI connections for my 27\\\" Monitors.\\n\\n4 stars becaues there is a minor problem that I haven't been able to troubleshoot yet. I have an HP Workstation(XP SP3), a Dell XPS 8500 (Win7), Dell Latitude Notebook (XP), and Dell Latitude Notebook (Win7) hooked up. It works perfectly on 3 of 4 of the devices. The Dell XPS 8500 does not pass though mouse movements or clicks when the mouse is plugged into the Mouse Port. The \\\"Device Manager\\\" shows the presence of the KVMP mouse passthough, but the PC doesn't respond to any movement or action. I tried several mice, and attempt to plug-and-unplug while switched to the XPS to see if it was a hot-swap detection issue. I even tried rebooting the XPS with the switch turned to it.\\n\\nSince I had to start work yesterday, I haven't had time to troubleshoot more. My ultimate \\\"work around\\\" was to plug the mouse into one of the generic \\\"USB Ports\\\" instead of the KVMP's dedicated mouse port so that the mouse is detected as if it was \\\"Just plugged in\\\" every time I switch screens. That means my speakers play the tone for \\\"Device Disconnected\\\" and \\\"Device Added\\\" every time I switch. I've only invested about 30 minutes toward resolving. (20 minutes with google searches for a fix, and 10 trying different ports.)\\n\\nI'm sure there's some simple explanation or solution. I'll figure it out later.\\n\\nOther thoughts: I have dual monitors, but the only 4-device switch available was for a single monitor. As a result, my right monitor is hard-wired as my \\\"Work Email\\\" screen. All things equal, I wish I had a 4-device - dual monitor switching K(2v)MP.\\n\\nUPDATE - 6/27/2013\\n\\nUsing one of the switches \\\"Generic USB Ports\\\" instead of the \\\"Dedicated Mouse Port\\\" has been working so well as a Work-Around, I never bothered to figure out why my DellXPS doesn't receive the passthough input when I use the \\\"Dedicated Mouse Port\\\". I don't even really mind the Speakers playing the USB Connect/Disconnect sounds, as it tells me which device I've switched to.\\n\\nAnother handy bit of info... my employer provided work PC's have my home-networking sharing locked out. The work PC can copy off of USB-Thumb drives but not outbound onto USB-Thumb drives. I've discovered that if I keep an old 4GB drive in another one of the KVPM Switches, the drive unmounts and remounts to whichever PC I switch to. That makes it a convenient way to transfer files onto my Work PC. (Usually from a Scanner or Digitizer on one of my personal machines). I just switch to a personal machine, scan, copy to USB, Switch to my Work PC and Retrieve from USB. No Plugging or Unplugging is necessary.\\n\\nI added a powered USB Hub to the switch because there are only two Generic USB ports (One Front, one Back...) and I didn't want to risk frying the power bus. I've done that a few times on PC's by hooking up too many USB Powered devices to a port only designed for 1 device. I have a WebCam, a USB HD, and some other things that switch with the keys. I don't know that I needed a powered hub, but Better safe than sorry!\",\n \"Product: EverCool Dual 5.25 in. Drive Bay to Triple 3.5 in. HDD Cooling Box\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for a SSD and two 3.5in Drives\\n\\nReview: I purchased this to add 3 more hard drives to a case that was only designed to hold two 3.5\\\" hard drives.\\n\\nThis mount fits well into two 5.25\\\" bays. If you were to stack three full-sized 3.5\\\" hard drives in this mount, they fit so closely that that there would be little to no airflow between the drives themselves. There is no helping this, since that is how much space is available in a double-height 5.25\\\" bay.\\n\\nThis wasn't a problem for me because I was adding two 3.5\\\" drives and a 2.5\\\" SSD. I simply put the 2.5\\\" SSD in the middle of my two 3.5\\\" HD's and that gaps allowed enough airflow to assure me of long HD Life. This would be perfect to add a bunch of Solid State Disks (SSD) with 2.5 or 3.5\\\" profiles to a PC. (You'd just need to pickup some mounting brackets for the smaller drives).\\n\\nHonestly, I don't know if airflow is a concern for modern 5200RPM Green HD's. Maybe heat isn't a major concern.\\n\\nPros: Got 3 more HD's into my PC. Fan is reasonably quiet. Fits Securely. Great for building or converting an old PC into a NAS file server. Perfect for two HD's.\\n\\nCons: HD's are seated closely together if you try to fit three into the space. Would have concerns about putting three high RPM drives that generate heat into a Gaming PC. Broke one of the face-plate fasteners (tabs) off during installation (still holds and I later figured out that I there was the install didn't require me to remove the faceplate so it's my own darn fault).\",\n \"Product: Kingstons SSDNow S100 solid-state drives increase performance and speed and are designed for small capacity hard drive replacements and upgrades, making them a perfect match for system integrators and white box builders. More reliable than traditional hard drives, they withstand higher shock and vibrations. With commercial grade components, theyre ideal for non-PC applications from gaming and casinos to highway tollbooths and digital signage. SSDNow S100 drives are backed by a three-year warranty, live technical support and legendary Kingston reliability.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Update: XP on an old P4 File Server (Failed at 7mo)\\n\\nReview: UPDATE: This SSD failed on me yesterday after 7 months of use. I am disappointed because I only had my OS on this, and I'd only rebooted about 12 times over this period. I had also set this up so that my Swap Disk, Windows TEMP directory, Desktop and My Document file paths were re-routed to a traditional Hard-Drive Raid Array. I'd done this to avoid excessive Reads and Writes to the SSD because I'd heard that some SSD's would die early if you wrote excessively to them. I'd essentially configured the SSD as a small, compact, defragmented OS with little to no I/O usage, and it still failed. It appears that the device won't even power up anymore. I'm going back to old fashioned HD's after this. SSD does not appear to be any more reliable, and the cost isn't even remotely competitive. The idea that \\\"No Moving Parts\\\" means that a SSD is \\\"Bulletproof\\\" is a falsehood.\\n\\nOrigional Post:\\n---\\nAlthough this is the version of the HD geared toward non-windows OEM devices and Kiosks, I didn't have any problems getting Windows XP Pro-64 bit on it.\\n\\nI purchased this to use as my Boot Disk on a file server at my home. I purchased an off-lease HP Workstation Tower and used this SSD along with four Samsung 2tb Green Hard Drives. Since the green drives spin down when not in use, this SSD makes the perfect (Fault-proof) boot drive. I also have a couple of raid controllers in this PC, and had no problems getting this SSD configured.\\n\\nI honestly can't tell if it's faster than a normal HD or not. I suspect it is, but the bios load-cycle on this HP (with 8Gb of EEC ram and Win XP Pro 64-bit) takes about 35 seconds, so it isn't worth trying to figure out how quickly windows boots.\\n\\nIt's stable, and it works. Obviously, 16Gb is somewhat tight fit unless you move the paging file off of the SSD partition. (But that would defeat the spin-down feature of the green drive).\\n\\nEither way, it was inexpensive and meets my need. I don't think I'll ever buy another SSD this small again, but that's not the product's fault.\",\n \"Product: SANOXY Remote Controlled Switch Socket - 3-Pack. 3 Outlets with 1 Remote Operates on radio frequency--will perform through walls, doors, and floors up to 60' away Plugs into any standard wall outlet, Power status indicator LEDs No line of sight needed, Remote & manual operation Use this remote control switch to control any lamps or small appliances plugged into an AC outlet\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works for Halogens in my Home Theater Room\\n\\nReview: I was looking for some light switching options for a couple of rooms. The device works perfectly for switching the halogens light poles in our rooms.\\n\\nOther thoughts: The plug receivers have a big foot print. Don't expect to share an outlet with one of these receivers and a square power adapter, PC plug or game system. Unless you have a power strip that with the plugs spread far apart, expect this receivers to block 2-4 other plugs. It only leaves enough space for a some ungrounded (2 pin / not 3 pin) plugs to fit below it.\\n\\n6/26/11 - Just an update: These are still working after 6 months. No complaints. I started using the 3rd outlet to turn an old Fan on and off.\",\n \"Product: Panasonic Lumix 10x Optical Zoom with 14-140mm (28-280mm), Power OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer), HD Video Support\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great versitility for an enthusist's road-trips, street and travel.\\n\\nReview: I have a number of lenses for my Panasonic G3. This is my 5th. I have some primes. This is really the only lens I need for travel and general use. I love it. I'll keep my 14mm f1 for certain indoor portraits, but this is my road-trip and vacation traveler. I'm an enthusiast, but this cost almost as much as the camera. It was a scary step to buy this and take the plunge. This was designed to get all the shots in all the situations that I need. I'm not a pro, but the stablization is great and helps with freehand shutter speeds in the 20-40ms range. The switch on the lens lets me preserve battery life (when I remember to flip it). Light is good in almost all outdoor situations. Zoom is wide enough for all common situations. What more could I want? I love taking pictures. This is a nice tool to help me. Even if you are the type of user who usually goes full \\\"AI\\\" (Auto Intelligence), this is a great lens.\",\n \"Product: 24 Pack Foam Earbud Earpad Ear Bud Pad Replacement Sponge Covers for Ipod Iphone Itouch Ipad Headsets\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best of whats currently avilable. Above Average (Nobody makes excellent anymoe)\\n\\nReview: I horded about 12 pairs of a particular model of Philips Earbuds manufactured in the early 2000's. They are prefect for audiobooks and sandisk MP3 players. However, the covers tend to rip and deteriorate over time. The covers that came with the origional buds were high quality, fine foam. This is the closest that I've been able to come to the OEM earbud covers. These don't have the really course, porous foam. I've tried other replacement pads from various sources from the \\\"Dollar Store\\\" and Amazon. This is the only set (Other than an 4-pack in assorted colors by Belkin that was discontinued about 6 years ago) that is of any particular quality. These are Good to Above-Average, and I don't think anyone makes Excellent anymore.\",\n \"Product: Garantie L'étroite collaboration entre High-Tech Place et ses fournisseurs nous permet de vous proposer une garantie commerciale de 1 an.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Lost \\\"Genere\\\" and playing recursive/nested \\\"Folder\\\" contents\\n\\nReview: Missing some useful features from Clip, Clip Plus and Clip Zip. Two big ones that I noticed off the top:\\n1) The menu to select music by \\\"Genre\\\" is gone. No more playing all your \\\"Top 40\\\" or \\\"Jazz\\\" wherever they are stored.\\n2) The \\\"Folder\\\" option no longer lets you play nested contents. If you create a folder called \\\"Favorite songs\\\" and throw several folders in it, there isn't an option to Shuffle everything in and below the \\\"Favorite Songs\\\" folder anymore.\\n\\nI suppose I could build playlists work around these limitations. I just happened to use the options above as a different way to slice and dice my music lists. Maybe SanDisk will bring them back with a firmware upgrade.\\n\\nI'm neutral on the removal of the power button. I'd prefer to keep it on the top (discrete for blind use or reseting when device crashes/locks), but that's more of a preference than a complaint.\\n\\nIt seems much faster rebuilding library contents and reading media.\",\n \"Product: The E10K USB DAC high resolution Headphone Amplifier from Fiio is customizable and designed to improve your laptop's audio output quality via its PCM5102 DAC chip and is capable of handling PCM files in up to 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution. It features a selectable bass boost and low-pass filter, both with circuitry optimized for a low noise floor when engaged, allowing you to customize the sound of your audio to your tastes.The unit connects to your laptop via its Micro USB connection, which also provides it with power. It offers a variety of connections, including a front-panel 1/8\\\\\\\" headphone jack, a rear-panel 1/8\\\\\\\" line output, and a rear-panel coaxial digital output, which allows you to send your digital audio to another destination. DAC ChipThe internal DAC chip is a PCM5102 and can handle PCM files up to 24-bit/96 kHz while improving audio quality through via a linear internal filter, reduced delay and internal silence on changing tracks, and no phase shifts.Low Noise Floor The unit has an optimized low-pass filter and selectable bass boost circuit that are designed for a low noise floor in all states.Amplification Stage The E10K features a LMH6643 op amp, which is designed for transient response and driving power.Portable DesignA brushed aluminum shell and chassis allow for durable portable use.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great when paired with Freware AudioSwitch from Google.\\n\\nReview: This is a great little Amp, if you are always at your PC or laptop. It is very light and small and light. The device is about the size of your palm. The weight my headphone cord is enough to drag it off my Desktop, so I had to tie my USB cable into a square-knot around the base of my monitor. With only an inch of slack, the knot work actually works remarkably well to keep the volume control at hand. For Win 7, 8 or 10 users who frequently toggle between headphones and speakers, I also recommend the Freeware \\\"AudioSwitch\\\" application available at code.google.com/p/audioswitch/ With it, you can toggle audio sources with a hotkey or a single click. Without it, you have to fight with the mixer or sound control panels.\",\n \"Product: Brand New\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Using a MP3 Player with EQ Options, compariable to larger $499+ boombox players\\n\\nReview: The JBL Xtreme is good as or better than the other Bluetooth players of a similar size and price. If you have an MP3 Player that supports equalization (like a wired Sandisk Sansa Clip, Jam, Sport etc) or an Android Phone with PowerAmp Player (with 12-band equalization) you can achieve about any sound you desire. I tried several similar classed devices, and this is the closest to the larger boombox style players that run in the $499 range. I was looking something smaller than my old Logitech UE 984-000304 Boombox (Silver and blue chrome player) because it's battery life is starting to dwindle. The JBL Xtreme sounds good at normal EQ. With a little tweaking to my preferences using the playback device, I can't imagine anything better. I would say this is a bargain if you can pick up a refurbished or Like-new (full warranty) version for $149 (+/- $12). It's easily worth $199+.\",\n \"Product: Jabra Halo smart wireless earbuds provide an industry leading talk time of 17 hours and outstanding sound quality for clear calls and full spectrum music. It's flexible Neckband design and IP54 Rated water resistance provides all day comfort that can be used for workouts or wherever your day takes you. To optimize your time, it features a voice button that will instantly connect to sir or Google now, allowing you to quickly get the information you need on-the-go. Designed by Jabra comfort experts, Halo smart has bendable Flex zones that allow you to shape the Neckband and ensure maximum comfort for long term use\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Best of it's kind for Talking, but still not up to fidelity of a wired Headset (earbuds) with mic.\\n\\nReview: I favor wired earbuds with a microphone for talking, but I recently got an iPhone7 through work. I wanted something with a dedicated mute button, and this seemed the best. Compared to a wired headset, this sounds very hollow (even though it is the best of the stereo headsets). I also found that the type of earbuds caused my ears to get very hot and weep after several hours. The style of earbud also floats and anything brushing against the wires telegraphed to the earpieces. I think this is probably common to all blue-tooth style headsets. In the end, I elected to return it and simply use the Apple Adapter. I don't get a dedicated mute button (apple doesn't allow for that unless you jailbreak and remap buttons), but I like the fidelity and comfort of the old wired headests with Microphones.\",\n \"Product: Bring your car to life with a mods4cars module that enhances the existing functionality of your vehicle. The mods4cars product line allows for electronic integration of additional features such as opening/closing the convertible top using the vehicle factory remote, operating the convertible top while driving or TV/DVD playback while driving.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: If it doesn't work at 1st, press FIRMLY to seat end of locking Y-cable the last 1/8in.\\n\\nReview: If you are wondering: Yes, it was worth the coast and won the Wife's Approval. Unless you own a MX5 and have had to use it the park a few times, it's hard to appreciate why this is worth the cost!\\n\\nWhen I first installed... it didn't work and my \\\"Traction Control Light\\\" was on. The problem? I hadn't fully seated the cable into the car.\\n\\nWith a little more force, I pressed REALLY HARD to slide the locking end of the cable the last 1/8th of an inch to make the connection. Of all the troubleshooting suggestions on the website, none of them said the obvious \\\"Check your cables and press firmly to ensure they are fully seated. You will feel a firm snap when they fall into place\\\".\\n\\nI think they should probably tell folks, \\\"If you see the Traction control indicator displayed on the dashboard and the top doesn't work, check your cable connections!\\\".\\n\\nAs a \\\"PC Builder\\\" I expected this cable to be more like a 12v power coupler. It' actually a sturdy locking plastic clip. I assume this is so it never gets knocked out of place.\\n\\nThe install took me 30 minutes, but only because I figured i was smart enough to install the patch without removing the 10mm bolt. After 20 minutes of \\\"trying my own way\\\", I took out the 10mm bolt and completed the install. Use of a small mirror (like from a wife's compact or camping shave kit) is recommended. That lock on the cable is interesting. Give yourself the benefit of a mirror and 5-6 minutes to figure out how to release it. Don't try to do it by feel. ;-)\",\n \"Product: Panasonic Lithium-ion Battery Pack for Lumix Digital Cameras\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: OEM Replacment for 2011 Wasabi that are Swelling\\n\\nReview: I purchased this for my G3 because the two Wasabi Power battries that I purchased in Aug 2011 started to swell about year ago. They still hold a charge, but they jam in my G3. I looped electrical tape around the the bodies to use a bootstraps so I could pull them back out... but they are now too swollen to use. My origional Lumix batteru is still doing pretty good, so I decided to get another OEM battery as a replacement. I'm not a \\\"Battery Snob\\\". I have some Canon Elph and Panasonic ZS20 point and shot with Wasabi batteries. My G3 is still a nice camera though, and I really don't want to risk damaging it just to save $15. Plus, Its nice to know how much power is REALLY remaining.\",\n \"Product: Arkon's GPSCM117 features a rigid extendable windshield mount that goes from 14.5\\\" to 18.5\\\" length and is directly compatible with Garmin Nuvi and TomTom GPS devices. The mount kit includes a direct ball connection compatible with the Garmin Nuvi and custom fit adapter plates for TomTom Easyport found on TomTom One and One XL models, TomTom START and EASE and the new TomTom Via series. This mount is perfect for trucks or vans with long dashboard or freight big rig truck drivers. The suction base has a large suction cup and rigid construction. The extension arm is made of an aluminum shaft that can be locked into position for the perfect length between 14.5\\\" and 18.5\\\". This is a great mount for customers that need a long telescoping style suction mount with a rigid base.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Metal Constrcution - Easy to shorten with Metal Hacksaw and 5min work.\\n\\nReview: Ridiculously long for a Car or Rav4 Compact SUV.... BUT with a Metal Hacksaw and the removal of two screws you can convert it to a 7.5-11.5\\\" extension. I'm not handy, but I have a hacksaw. You just remove the two screws at the suction cup base. Leaving it collapsed at it's shortest length, Cut through both the base and extension at the same time. Replace the cap with the suction cup on the shortened section and tighten the screws. If you cut off about 4 inches, it's perfect for a Rav4. If you cut of 5 inches, it works for a Miata MX-5. This is one of the sturdiest mounts that I've ever seen. On a normal car, your GPS would be floating 6 inches in front of the edge of your dashboard without modification. With some simple McGuyver, it can be dramatically shorted.\",\n \"Product: Listen to music, audiobooks, podcasts, and other digital audio files while you're working out with the SanDisk Clip Sport MP3 Player. Great for athletes or fitness enthusiasts, this lightweight MP3 player clips to your shirt or wristband, allowing you to enjoy music while keeping your hands and pockets free. It features a large LCD screen for easy navigation, along with an FM tuner for listening to your favorite radio stations. The SanDisk Clip Sport MP3 Player is available in a wide range of bright colors, and it also contains a memory card slot for additional storage.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good battery Life. Does what I need. I've owned every generation. Not my fav, but works!\\n\\nReview: I've owned all of the Sansa Clip, Clip+, Clip Zip, Clip Jam, etc. I'm an audio book enthusiast and my personal favorite is the Clip+. I still have have several unopened that I bought off ebay as backups, but we recently picked up a JBL XTreme portable speaker. I needed a durable (disposable) corded MP3 player, so I thought I'd see what the new generation had to offer. It's bigger, and different from the old zip. The screen resolution is higher. It has a much longer battery life. The design makes it FEEL much bigger, but it's only marginally bigger (like 1/16th of an inch on every side). It still has a MicroSD Card, and it is really fast to rescan cards. I prefer the old monocrome OLED Screens (mostly because I find them more readable) and lower power consumption, but this screen is ok. If you need this style of MP3 player, this would be my choice if you like to see album art. If not, My order of preference would be a Clip Jam (or an old Clip+ from ebay though they are so expensive). I actually have 3 Clip+ with broken clips/springs that I use to play looping nature sounds in several rooms, and they've been powered on continuously for as long as 5 years without failing. I also have 2 Clip+ that completely died after several years -- one that would no longer power on, and one that powers on to the Sansa Logo and can't be mounted, reset, or used even if fully discharged. For New Comers, the Clip Jam and Clip Sport are about as good as it gets. I'd recommend them over the no-name Chinese Knock-off's. For $27-35, they are handy devices to bring your books or audio with you wherever you go.\",\n \"Product: Keeping you comfortable and on-the-GO! Designed from body scanning research, you'll love the fit and feel of Go Stretch. The stretch cotton blend is soft and light, perfect for your active lifestyle. This style extends down to your mid-thigh to reduce chaffing; plus, the leg openings have 3-dimensional stretch for a customized fit without restriction or riding up! Offering extra support where you need it most is the 1x1 ribbed construction at the fly. Enjoy the plush microfiber waistband for your added comfort. Stock-up with 2-pack savings! Fabric Content: 90% cotton/10% spandex jersey. Machine wash & dry. Imported.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best underware to prevent mid thigh friction!\\n\\nReview: These shorts are long enough to reduce or prevent friction on your inner thighs and legs during normal or extreme activities.\\n\\nI buy these here, because my local department store is always out of \\\"Mediums\\\". These have more spandex than normal underwear, but aren't up to the \\\"Bicycle Shorts\\\" standard.\\n\\nThese have a good deal of support, and the right combination of cotton and spandex. I started off with 8 pairs, and two years later they are still wearable. The material near the center of cross seams is starting to develop small holes (size of a cigarette burn) on some pairs after aproximately 73 wash cycles. (365 days * 2 Years)/10 Pairs = 73 washes.\\n\\nThe elasticity of my oldest pairs is almost identical to the new pairs I just purchased. I'm amazed that these hold up so well!\\n\\nMy oldest pairs are still wearable, but my mama would have made me throw them out by now 'coz I might get hit by a car (and what would the Doctor at the hospital think if I had holes in underware!) I'd also recommend going with \\\"Black\\\" for the obvious \\\"Stain\\\" reasons.\\n\\nIf your thighs are getting bigger (from gaining weight or muscle mass), and they are staring to rub in places that didn't used to make contact, these are an excellent solution.\\n\\nPros: Reduce Thigh Friction. Have a fly. Fairly Durable (Survive 75 Wash cycles and are still wearable). Reasonable amount of support and Spandex.\\n\\nCons: 10 pairs will set you back $100 (if you wear these exclusively -- but they'll last you 2 years if you do laundry once a week).\",\n \"Product: Keeping you comfortable and on-the-GO! Designed from body scanning research, you'll love the fit and feel of Go Stretch. The stretch cotton blend is soft and light, perfect for your active lifestyle. This style extends down to your mid-thigh to reduce chaffing; plus, the leg openings have 3-dimensional stretch for a customized fit without restriction or riding up! Offering extra support where you need it most is the 1x1 ribbed construction at the fly. Enjoy the plush microfiber waistband for your added comfort. Stock-up with 2-pack savings! Fabric Content: 90% cotton/10% spandex jersey. Machine wash & dry. Imported.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best underware to prevent mid thigh friction!\\n\\nReview: These shorts are long enough to reduce or prevent friction on your inner thighs and legs during normal or extreme activities.\\n\\nI buy these here, because my local department store is always out of \\\"Mediums\\\". These have more spandex than normal underwear, but aren't up to the \\\"Bicycle Shorts\\\" standard.\\n\\nThese have a good deal of support, and the right combination of cotton and spandex. I started off with 8 pairs, and two years later they are still wearable. The material near the center of cross seams is starting to develop small holes (size of a cigarette burn) on some pairs after aproximately 73 wash cycles. (365 days * 2 Years)/10 Pairs = 73 washes.\\n\\nThe elasticity of my oldest pairs is almost identical to the new pairs I just purchased. I'm amazed that these hold up so well!\\n\\nMy oldest pairs are still wearable, but my mama would have made me throw them out by now 'coz I might get hit by a car (and what would the Doctor at the hospital think if I had holes in underware!) I'd also recommend going with \\\"Black\\\" for the obvious \\\"Stain\\\" reasons.\\n\\nIf your thighs are getting bigger (from gaining weight or muscle mass), and they are staring to rub in places that didn't used to make contact, these are an excellent solution.\\n\\nPros: Reduce Thigh Friction. Have a fly. Fairly Durable (Survive 75 Wash cycles and are still wearable). Reasonable amount of support and Spandex.\\n\\nCons: 10 pairs will set you back $100 (if you wear these exclusively -- but they'll last you 2 years if you do laundry once a week).\",\n \"Product: Now you can finally say no to single-use plastic dry-cleaning bags. The Green Garmento is a 4-in-1 garment bag that helps you organize and green your laundry & dry-cleaning routine. It is the perfect solution for pesky plastic, annoying twist-ties and cluttering paper garment covers. 4-Bags-in-1. Heres how it works at home your Green Garmento serves as a hanging or standard hamper, on your trip to the drycleaner it functions as a duffel bag, and at pick-up your dry-cleaned clothes will be hanging and protected inside your Green Garmento, without a single-use plastic bag in sight. The Green Garmento is 4-in-1 laundry, duffel and hanging garment bag created to help eliminate the estimated three hundred million pounds of single-use dry cleaning plastic that annually clog US landfills and waterways, threatening marine and wildlife. Each Green Garmento is recyclable, durable, washable, breathable & water-resistant. They are like grocery bagsbut for your clothes! Stylish, practical and affordable, The Green Garmento finally presents a viable alternative to single-use plastic laundry and garment bags. Use The Green Garmento for a cleaner closet and a cleaner planet! Specifications: 48 Black Night 4-in-1 Green Garmento bag: Made from recyclable non-woven polypropylene. Breathable & water-resistant. Side zipper allows easy access to hanging garments. Drawstring closure at bottom. Sturdy loop fits over any hook for use as a hanging hamper. Durable shoulder strap for convenient carrying as a duffel bag. Reinforced handles for compressed carrying. Wide gussets allow cleaned clothes to hang gently at all times. See-through front pocket for dry cleaning ticket or other customer ID. Bags Hold 10-14 garments. Machine washable (short cycle - cold) hang dry quickly. Measures 48\\\" x 25\\\" wide x 5\\\" deep (122 x 63.5 x 13cm). Recommended use: two bags to rotate between home and dry cleaner.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very cool garment bag...\\n\\nReview: I was looking for an inexpensive bag to use vacations so I didn't have to use suitcases or fold clothes. I really wasn't expecting so many features.\\n\\nIt's made of a fairly think \\\"Market Bag\\\" type weave. There's a long zipper on the side so you can slip your stuff in. There are handles on the back to lift and carry it. There is a draw string on the bottom to keep things from dragging.\\n\\nAnd... (I think by design), you can flip it completely upside down (with the hanger hole at the bottom), and use it as a laundry bag. I think the drawstring at the bottom, doubles as a \\\"draw string at the top\\\" when you flip it over... so you can carry dirty close in it as well.\",\n \"Product: From boulder hopping to fjord fording, this multi-talented cargo works overtime to keep you cool and comfortable. It's lightweight yet rugged, with an uber-comfy cut featuring a gusset detail for ultimate freedom of movement. How to measure- 1. Neck: Measure at the base or thickest part of your neck. 2. Sleeves: Start at the center back of your neck and measure across the shoulder and down to the wrist. Round up to the next even number. 3. Chest/Bust: Measure at the fullest part of the chest, under the armpits and over the shoulder blades, keeping the tape measure firm and level. 4. Waist: Measure around the natural waistline, allowing the tape measure to sit comfortably. 5. Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips. 6. Inseam: Measure from the top of the interior leg to the bottom of the ankle.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Black dresses up or down -- worth adding to your Silver Ridge collection!\\n\\nReview: This is my (don't laugh) 12th pair of Silver Ridge Cargo pants since moving to Florida. Black is the last color to collect, and I was surprised how good these look... and how resistant these are to pet hair. They can bridge casual and dressy. I've taken to wearing these to church with a polo and Sperry boat shoes. Same fit as the Tusk, Fossil, Delta, Blue with Green zipper, Bright Blue, and Bright Red/orange, and dark gray Handy pockets, and tasteful cargo pants. It dresses down with a t-shirt and sandals, and up with a polo and boat shoes. My wife encouraged me to get these, and I thought \\\"dark gray\\\" was enough. The black ones really are nice enough that they are worth adding to your collection if you love Columiba Shorts.\",\n \"Product: Haggar men's polo short sleeve high performance textured microfiber woven shirt\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Go for Medium if you are typically on the edge between Med/Lg in most brands.\\n\\nReview: I was looking for white button-up shirts to wear around Florida. I'm 5'6\\\" and just between a med or large in most brands. I bought one of each, and kept both. These are big enough that the Medium fits and looks better. But, the large wasn't \\\"so big\\\" that it was worth the hastle of returning. The sleeves are cut with enough space that you don't have to worry about a tight fit if you go down a size. The material of the white shirt is good, and looks like it will be more stain resistant than pure cotton or rayon versions offered by other vendors. You really can't go wrong with this. It's lightly textured but its white-on-white so it doesn't really matter. You could wear it with or without an undershirt... though I typically wear a low v-neck with these to avoid discoloring the arm-pits with deodorant over time. (Most white shirts tend to yellow over 15-25 washes for me, so I don't risk it). I think this is more stain resistant than my banana republic 100% cotton variants.\",\n \"Product: The Speedo Neo Fin Sock is the answer to sore feet due to extensive fin use. The neoprene construction is soft and will prevent blistering and chafing while also supplying warmth.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for beaches and Snorkeling - with or without fins!\\n\\nReview: Protect your feet from chaffing, blisters, scrapes and hot sand with these socks.\\n\\nI can't stress how important your feet are when you are on a vacation. Nothing ruins a trip faster than a blister or scrape on your feet or ankles.\\n\\nI wore these many days during an All-Inclusive trip to Mexico. These were great to walk out on the rocks carrying my fins, so I could get into the water. I've tried various fins (rented, provided by day-trip outfitters, and owned) with and without these socks. I will never go back to \\\"bare feet\\\" in fins ever again. I consider these to be as essential as sunscreen now.\\n\\nThese are thick enough to protect you from hot sand and minor sharp rock in beaches and tide pools. I found that I even like to wear them as an alternative to water-shoes and sandals on some beaches when I don't even bring fins along.\\n\\nIf you own fins or plan to rent them on a snorkeling trip, I strongly encourage you to keep a pair of these swim socks. Even the best fins rub somewhere, some time. If you intend to be out more than a few minutes get swim socks, dive booties, or neoprene socks to go with any fins.\",\n \"Product: Performance oriented, easy to use recreational snorkel that features US Divers Pivot Dry Technology, which keeps water out above and below the surface by closing when submerged.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Bought Two for a Mexico Trip - One Worked / One Defective\\n\\nReview: Don't be discouraged by this -- This is a great snorkel if you don't get a defective unit.\\n\\nI bought a pair of these for a trip to Mexico with my wife. I should have tested them at the local pool before we left. One was defective and slowly filled with water, and the other worked perfectly. Because they looked the same, it took me a while to figure it out. My wife is only 5'2\\\", and I suspected that her mouth didn't seal in it well. When I figured out one had a leak, I tried various things to troubleshoot. The defect was in the area where the flexible tubing met the blue pipe. After about 45-90 seconds, the reservoir would fill enough that you could hear the air bubbling. 5 seconds after that, you'd be drinking ocean water.\\n\\nAs a dry snorkel, the functioning one worked wonderfully. Waves weren't any problem, and the purge valve worked as advertised. I could easily dive down below the water surface down to about 15ft for 30-45 seconds with no water leaking into the snorkel.\\n\\nFor reference, the point of failure wasn't the purge valve. I put the flat of my palm against it several times to seal it completely (and test if that was the source of the leakage). I suspect I could have fixed this if I'd had some electrical or duct tape with me.\\n\\nAnyway, I'd have given this a 5-star if they both had worked. If you order a few weeks before a trip, and have a chance to test out your equipment (so you can exchange if you find a problem), I'd recommend these. They work wonderfully if you get one that isn't defective. I'd even consider buying another to try and replace our defective one.\",\n \"Product: Our Ground Blind Stakes are made from high-grade steel with a sharp point which will help break through tough ground. They come with a loop in the top to tie off your blind and a foot press that allows for easy installation. Keep your blind flap free in strong winds with our well-made ground blind stakes.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great to stake down a Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot\\n\\nReview: I picked up four of these to ground my Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot (think of a combination Lawn-Chair, cot & tent) from wind. I picked this 4-pack of \\\"Double Bull Blind Stakes\\\" for the large large flat brace designed to \\\"stomp\\\" the stakes into the ground with a boot. I don't like carrying the weight of a hammer, and I typically bend normal stakes when I get in a hurry and try to set them with my body weight. I also like the fact that the The swing out doubles as a handle to pull these back out. They were longer than expected (because I went by the picture and didn't look at a measuring tape), but that shouldn't be a problem. You can't tell the scale from the photo, but these are scaled about 25-50% bigger than a normal \\\"tent\\\" stake. That also means that the gauge of the spiked metal end is QUITE a bit stronger than you will be expecting.\\n\\nI don't know that these were ever intended for \\\"General use\\\" as tent stake replacements, but they serve the purpose well. I was looking for an alternative to \\\"Ground Hog Stakes\\\" and a \\\"Stake Puller\\\", and this fit the bill.\\n\\nThese stakes also feature a large loop at the top. I'm using that loop in combination with four 90mm Large Gate Aluminum Carabiner Snap-Rings.\\n\\nI'm using the Carabiners to go through the loop of the stake and around the metal rests (tubing about the diameter of a quarter) at the bottom of the tent cot. I didn't want to mess with nylon ties, ropes, or anything that could get wet or dirty between the stakes and the tent... so the combination of the Priomos Double Bull Blind Stakes and the Carbiners is PERFECT.\\n\\nDownsides? They are a couple inches longer than normal tent stakes. If I was and a rocky area, I'm not sure my boot would be enough to stamp these all the way in.\\n\\nUpsides? Easy to Sink (set). Easy to Pull (remove). They are so long, I'm not sure they'd \\\"HAVE\\\" to go all the way in. Plus, they could double as Ninja Sai's if you are attacked by mutant turtles in the field. ;-)\",\n \"Product: Polar Balance Scale :: The Polar Balance scale is a sleek, modern and very attractive device that can help you revolutionize how you track your weight and make progress towards your goals. Connect it via Bluetooth Smart to your Polar device (see below for compatible models) and get a great insight with lots of useful information and detail into your daily activities, nutrition and lifestyle. Set a goal on the Polar Flow app or web service and get personalized guidance to encourage and motivate you on your way to hitting it. Its a strong, durable set of scales with a splash-proof glass top, a clear display with digits that are easy to read, and a memory that will store data for up to 10 people so the whole family can use it.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good complement to H7 Strap or A360 (or other Polar ...\\n\\nReview: Accurate. Has Blueooth. Integrates into Polar flow app/website. Good complement to H7 Strap or A360 (or other Polar watch) if you want to go all out and track your weight. Seems accurate to 1/10th of a pound. Fast measurement. It's a really good scale. Premium price, but accurate with a geek factor if you like to track your weight.\\n\\n If you can afford it without hardship and your existing scale is looking nasty from years of use, I'd say, \\\"Pull the Trigger\\\".\\n\\nIf money is tight but you really need the statistics to stay motivated, keep your eye out for a used/refurbished one.\\n\\nOtherwise, consider alternatives. You can manually enter your weight on polar flow. This is a great convenience and I love mine, but it falls short of a necessity. (IE: If you are married, this isn't worth a fight over, \\\"You paid how much for a scale?\\\")\",\n \"Product: Includes an un gimmicked box of mints. Used for Movement by Darryl Vanamburg. High quality magic items designed to amaze your friends and family!.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Mint - Hard to Find\\n\\nReview: These are great ice-cool mints with a sweet peppermint flavor. They don't sting or assault your senses, but they do freshen your breath. They are a little stronger than the generic white and red peppermint hard-candies that restaurants set out in bowls, and these give you a nice cool sensation like a york or junior mint. As these mints age (say a year), they also mellow.\\n\\nWith so much mint gum, it's hard to find a good mint tablet. Many alternatives have caffeine, crunchy shells, or are uncomfortably intense. Not these. They are just perfectly balanced.\\n\\nI stumbled across these mints about two years ago on a 3000 mile road trip. Since then, I've purchased several 9-pack boxes. I've never seen these at stores since my original purchase. Dentyne has a companion flavor to these \\\"ICE\\\" mints, called Fire. I have seen the fire mints in stores.\\n\\nAs far as use, I keep these between my bed and bathroom. I used to have a habit of waking up hungry and \\\"sleep-eating\\\" when I'd get up to use the bathroom. I've retrained myself to grab a mint instead. Since they are sugar free, they don't rot my teeth. And, since they aren't too strong... they don't wake me up too much. I just suck on the mint until I fall back to sleep.\",\n \"Product: All-in-one 6.0-inch premium navigator with built-in dash cam and driver awareness features Detailed maps of North America with free lifetime map updates and HD Digital Traffic, the best traffic avoidance solution available from Garmin Integrated dash cam continuously records your drive and automatically saves files on impact Forward Collision Warning alerts if you drive too close to the car ahead Lane Departure Warning alerts if you drift off the road or into oncoming traffic Garmin Real Vision displays camera view when approaching select destinations\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lane suggestion and other improvements over Premier 35xx series\\n\\nReview: I had a top of the line 35xxLMT series, and decided to pull the trigger on this for an upcoming road trip. I didn't expect many improvements (short of the camera) . The NuviCam adds a number of lane warnings that were not perviously present. As we drove through areas like Orlando, Fort Luderdale, and Miami the directions for toll roads and which lanes to be in (with pictures) were superior to the top-of-the-line Garmin from 2 years ago. I was torn between getting this (with a big screen) and the DriveAssist version. This is pretty big for our Miata. The DriveAssist might have been a wiser choice, but I really love this thing. I have a Pioneer NEX-8100 navigation package in one car, and a Kenwood Excellon Garmin head hunit in another. I also have a Nuve 885% and a 750. Nothing beats the new stand alone devices. The variants in head units (even the garmin's in Kenwood units) don't get map updates very often and charge you $65-99 per map update. These stand alone devices are still the best value that anyone could hope for. The addition of 4-Square POI's is also quite nice.\",\n \"Product: Reflect your style with the red reflector frame made from official SAE DOT Certified reflective material. Cruiser Accessories is a family owned business that has been manufacturing and selling license plate frames for over 30 years. Through innovation, attention to detail and many patented designs, Cruiser has evolved into the largest supplier of license plate frames, novelty plate shields and mounting hardware in the automotive aftermarket. Cruiser's product line also includes both standard and exclusive Star Pin locking hardware, designer fastener caps, mounting accessories, motorcycle frames and 3d-Cals decals. Let Cruiser Accessories complete your rides look today!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Looks great during day, and as bright as \\\"Brake Lights\\\" at night. Great match to Bright red convertible!\\n\\nReview: Looks amazing on a bright red sports car (when paired with the screw/nut covers). Is REALLY reflective. When following or pulling up on this, it looks like it's lighted like a tail light. I followed my car with my wife's, and this looks great during day and backlit at night. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that the end caps (sold seperately) are as reflective as this border. Being so small, I was skeptical. I bought two sets of the ends so I'd have spares if they fell off. I've had this on for over 3 months, and it looks like they'll all hold. You'll probalby need an optional mounting frame if you want to use all for holes. No regrets. Looks great.\",\n \"Product: Put the final touch on a novelty/license plate frame with a set of Red Reflective fastener caps. Cruiser Accessories is a family owned business that has been manufacturing and selling license plate frames for over 30 years. Through innovation, attention to detail and many patented designs, Cruiser has evolved into the largest supplier of license plate frames, novelty plate shields and mounting hardware in the automotive aftermarket. Cruiser's product line also includes both standard and exclusive Star Pin locking hardware, designer fastener caps, mounting accessories, motorcycle frames and 3d-Cals decals. Let Cruiser Accessories complete your rides look today!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice and these are really reflective!\\n\\nReview: I got this to go along with a reflective border. I honestly didn't expect these to be overly refelective (as they are small caps), but I was really surprised. These are as good as bike or vehicle reflectors. I've had them on for about 3 months now. I purchased two packs, because I expected that a few ends would ultimately fall off. I haven't lost any so far, so the spares are just sitting in a hidden nook inside my trunk. They fit over any existing bolts or screws, but don't come with any. For what I wanted, they look great!\\nUpdate: It's almost 2 years later. They are still attached, and I haven't lost any to carwashes. I actually bought two sets so I'd have some spares, and I haven't needed them. When people have their headlights on behind us, they think we have LED lighting.\",\n \"Product: APS Auto Parts Specialist Inc. is a professional grille manufacturer located in Ontario, CA, USA. Since 2008, we are ranked as No.1 in the grille industry as we have the most complete application (over 6,500 applications). These grilles are manufactured in an ISO-9001 certified factory. Every month we have over 15-20 new grilles released in the market. From 2007, we have expanded our product line to Chrome accessories, Fender Trims, Door Mirrors, Bull bars, Side bars (Nerf Bar), Hitch Receivers, and Tonneau Covers in order to fill our customers demand. We have also just introduced our new Fender Flares, which is a very popular item with customers. Currently, we stock over 50,000 sets of grilles and over 4,300 applications of auto parts in our 100,000 square feet warehouse.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to install & looks great. (As others say, you need two screws!)\\n\\nReview: Wow. This looks great on my Red MX5 Touring hard top. Fit in side the existing chrome boarder. As noted, I needed screws for the top. I'd recommend black screws so you don't see the ends. And, I had to think for about a minute to realize how the fasteners at the bottom worked. (Pass though the honey comb, rotate 90 degrees, lock in place as you tighten... as long as you are careful to keep tension on them so they can't spin. They are a little like the metal hinged drywall anchors). There is nothing to remove. I wondered how \\\"good\\\" it would look... just bolted to the front of the existing plastic grille. No worries there. It looks OEM.\\n\\nP.S. I give 5 stars because I knew about the bad assembly instructions noted by the folks who gave it 3 stars. If I hadn't come into this knowing what they shared, I'd have docked it. It really deserves the 5 stars for appearance. Their \\\"-2 star\\\" deduction is likely just a penalty for \\\"installation annoyance\\\" because they were the early adopters that realized and solved the problem for the rest of us!\",\n \"Product: Conserve desk space by suspending two flat panels on a single base. Easily view multiple screens at once to increase productivity\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Solid - Holds two 29\\\" Ultrawides perfectly!\\n\\nReview: I bought this to mountTwo Ultrawide 2560x1080 ASUS PB298 IPS+ monitors above each other.\\n\\nThe Ergotron DS100 Vertical Mounting Bracket is stable and lets me align them almost seamlessly. These monitors have virtually no bezel, and is this stand is awesome for multasking. Plus, my total cost is still about 500 less than a 4k monitor, and the result is a Result is a 29X42 monitor space with IPS+ Color and clarity.\\n\\nI posted a photo. The mounting pole was 5\\\" taller than the inset on the hutch where I moutned it, so I took of 5in using a hacksaw. I did it from the uncapped end, and the metal was so solid it took a LONG time to get through it. I didn't really want to cut it, but it wouldn't have fit in my space if I didn't.\\n\\nThis was ultra solid, ultra stable, and was fairly easy to align the monitors with poinpoint accuracy to minimize the gap between the monitors. I'm VERY happy.\",\n \"Product: Using the 2x4basics Flip Top BenchTable Picnic Table and Bench, Sand and your 2x4s, build a bench that also converts into a table. Make a comfortable and sturdy bench and table any size up to 8 feet (2.4m) long. Its easy! With just a flick of the wrist, your bench flips into a table. The patented slide lock safely secures your Flip Top BenchTable Picnic Table and Bench in the table position in seconds, without tools. The Flip Top BenchTable Picnic Table and Bench is both an outdoor bench and a picnic table. Purchase 2 for a full-size picnic table. Theres plenty of room for the whole family. Slide two together to seat 8 or more adults comfortably. You can use just one for smaller families, individuals or for tight areas like balconies. Its space saving. When you are finished, the table is easily converted back to a bench and can be placed along the railing of your deck or against a wall. Simple assembly with only a powered screwdriver, wrench, and a saw. Only straight, 90 degree cuts are required no miters or angles. Stain, paint, or finish the wood to fit your style and application or use treated lumber. All hardware is included. Made of durable structural resin, the all-weather frame is built to last. The assembled unit stands 34 inches high (86cm) in the bench position and 31 inches (78cm) in the table position, both with a 17.5 inch (44cm) seat height. Sand in color. Also available in green and white.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Drill Pilot Holes and use a good Titanium Bit!\\n\\nReview: We purchased this, and it does look great. One caution: My Wife overlooked the recommendation to drill the Pilot holes using a 1/4\\\" bit.\\n\\nWithout drilling pilot holes for your screws, the screws will take so much torque during the last quarter of an inch that you'll likely strip the heads.\\n\\nAlso, we had to get a little creative to get a couple of screws in (due to the angles and such). You may need a short stubby screwdriver or a ratchet wrench with a screwdriver head attached for the inside screws in a couple of spots. If you drive them in perpendicular (instead of angled) there's only about 3-4\\\" of clearance on two of the inside, screws in the middle of one brace.\\n\\nWe aren't mechanically inclined. After my wife called me in to help, I realized that our dollarstor drill bits weren't up to the tasks. We ran to the hardware store to get a titanium that wouldn't break... and, it only took about 20 minutes to assemble after that. She had all the wood-precut at lumberyard, and she'd stained it several days before.\\n\\nIt was a fairly easy build with the right tools. It could probably be done with less... but not by me!\",\n \"Product: The heavy-duty Myth Ratcheting Pruner makes perfect sense for the avid hunter who seeks to clear the area for easy sight lines with minimal effort, so as not to hit exhaustion before the wait for game begins. The pruner's ratcheting system makes it a cinch to use, and its hardened, precision-ground blades stay sharp through regular heavy use. Low friction coating on the blades keeps them smooth and doesn't allow tree sap to adhere and cause the pruner to grow sticky and useless. A lock situated between the handles opens smoothly but keeps the Myth Ratcheting Pruner safely closed while carrying it to and from the field, or when stored away. Gerber limited lifetime warranty.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Previous Generation Shattered upon first use (Carried for 12 years).\\n\\nReview: Previous Generation shattered upon first use in the bush. So, I've been carrying this set with me for 12 years and never used it. While fishing, I needed to clear some branches out of my path. This is the first time that I've \\\"EVER\\\" attempted to use them, and they shattered. Now, I realize that it could be because they became brittle from the heat of 12 summers. However, how many of us might carry survival gear for years that we won't need until a specific time in the future? I don't know why it failed. I don't know if this future model resolved the quality issue. I just know that I was shocked, and they no longer list the variant that I purchased -- so I have to tag to this review to the most recent variation.\",\n \"Product: The USI Electric MDS107 Hardwired 2-in-1 Universal Smoke Sensing (IoPhic) Smoke and Fire Alarm with Battery Backup brings together the best technologies available and puts them to work to better protect your home. IoPhic Universal Sensing Technology responds quickly to fast-flaming fires and is also 87% faster at responding to slow smoldering fires. The microprocessor intelligence virtually eliminates nuisance alarms through auto sensitivity calibration, ambient condition compensation, and self-diagnostics. This alarm is also easily installed and connected to all USI and Universal brand 120V alarms, with Quick Find alarm origination to easily identify the first alarm to sound in a connected system. It comes with a ten-year limited warranty. USI Electric is a subsidiary of Universal Security Instruments Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of high-quality, easy-to-install home safety products. Founded in 1969, Universal Security Instruments has over 40 years of heritage in providing home safety products for families. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, Universal Security Instruments continues to launch revolutionary new products and innovative technologies with the mission of always working to keep families protected.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good replacement for the Natural Gas/Carbon Dioxide versions if they go wonky\\n\\nReview: I bought a newly constructed home, and I'm slowly replacing the malfunctioning USI smoke detectors with these. The house came with the more expensive ones that detect Carbon Dioxide and Natural Gas. Our house (heck our block) doesn't even have natrual gas lines. And, I doubt we'll ever leave the car running in the garage by mistake. The expensive units have slowly been going haywire saying \\\"Natural Gas\\\" at random, so I\\\"m replanting them with these \\\"Smoke Only\\\" variants. These plug into the same network of alarms that came with the house. These use the same adapters and brackets as the variants that feature more types of detection. I've replaced two of the other models with these so far... and these seem to be more stable. I want to preserve the networked smoke alarms, so this seems like the best option.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":42,"string":"42"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":69,"string":"69"}}},{"rowIdx":70,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2G6GO4O7EVCPF"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"1.0\" for a product with description \"Some people are willing to die for their friends. How many would die at their hands? Unleash the horror in this terrifying tale of seven friends reuniting at a graveyard to honor the memory of their fallen friend. In the cemetary, death wears a familiar f\". The summary of the review text is \"This should of stayed in the Graveyard\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"A group of friends go to a graveyard for a game of hide and seek but something happens that night when their friend Eric is accidently killed. Their friend Bobby takes the wrap and is sent in lock up for 5 years. Now 5 years later Bobby is sprung out and the gang all go to remember their friend Eric. They all camp up at this camping resort with cabins and what not. Suddenly someone is starting to kill everyone off one by one. No logic in this brain dead thriller killer movie. The whole movie is one big pile of crizap with lame acting and terrible dialouge. Nudity yes but it's nothing special. Divert this BOMB while you still can. Forgettable stupidity fails bigtime"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"A group of friends go to a graveyard for a game of hide and seek but something happens that night when their friend Eric is accidently killed. Their friend Bobby takes the wrap and is sent in lock up for 5 years. Now 5 years later Bobby is sprung out and the gang all go to remember their friend Eric. They all camp up at this camping resort with cabins and what not. Suddenly someone is starting to kill everyone off one by one. No logic in this brain dead thriller killer movie. The whole movie is one big pile of crizap with lame acting and terrible dialouge. Nudity yes but it's nothing special. Divert this BOMB while you still can. Forgettable stupidity fails bigtime"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: VHS\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: If only they let Santa use a machine gun.....\n\nReview: Martians travel to Earth to find the man called Santa Claus played by John Call (The Anderson Tapes, Cinderella) because their Martian children are watching the Earth TV programs. While landing in a city 2 Earth children are found and they eventually hide on the ship. They are found and the children lead the Martian's to the North Pole as they Martians find Santa Claus and take him and the kids away. Vincent Beck (Vigilante, The Bamboo Saucer) plays Voldar, a rouge Martian who doesnt like Santa Claus and wants to get rid of him and the children for good. Soon the awesome powers of Santa fight back at the Martians and save Christmas. Harmless cheesy Christmas movie is really bad but I didn't mind it at all. The music was groovy. Wasnt the greatest thing ever. Also starring Pia Zadora (Hairspray, Pajama Tops) and Leonard Hicks (Guns of the Trees)","Product: Phantom Planet [VHS]\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: It's not the size that matters.....\n\nReview: Dan Fredericks stars as Capt. Frank Chapman is launched away into space when Earth discovers an undiscovered planet which appears in the solar system. Chapman crash lands his ship on the surface of the planet, gets out and falls unconsious. A race of tiny people who find Chapman lying there on the ground. He wakes up sees them and eventually shrinks to tiny form. He is taken into the place where they all live. He's giving tests of strength and so forth. They tiny people possess the technology to move their planet from galaxy to galaxy to evade their enemies. Soon their enemies the Solarites, Chapman helps them in their aid to help them save the day. 'Twas an interesting watch. The Solarite was hilarious and hey Richard Kiel (Eegah!, The Longest Yard) plays the part...whooo! Fredericks wasn't that bad actually in his role and ze women were lovely to look at. A terribly silly hokey pokey adventure. Also starring Coleen Gary, Anthony Dexter, Francis X. Bushman, Richard Weber and Al Jarvis","Product: Great example of a low-budget Sci Fi movie from the 1950s. Scared me good when I saw it as a kid!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Fear the Giant Lobsters!\n\nReview: David Love stars as Derek a Martian who winds up coming to Earth since he finds out that there is intelligent life on the planet. His fellow Martians are coming to Earth to raise the Gargon Herd which is a bunch of giant lobsters. Derek comes to town and winds up meeting Betty played by the lovely Dawn Bender (Island in the Sky, The Actress). She takes interest in Derek right away. Thor played by Bryan Grant comes to town looking for Derek and to bring him back so that they can unleash the Giant Lobsters. Derek has to make a sacrifice to try to stop the oncoming monsters and save Earth from what's about to happen. I would of given this a star but this was too much fun. Grant it's a horrible movie with bad acting, script etc.... but I just love it. The giant lobster was awesome. Also starring Harvey B. Dunn (My Fair Lady as Grandpa Morgan, King Moody (Nutt House, Sweet November) and the director Tom Graeff. He edited, produced, wrote and did all the things. Classic campy fun.","Product: Used but in great condition. Contains both discs, case and contents\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Spielberg's Munich is a powerful film...one of the best movies of 2005\n\nReview: Eric Bana (Troy, Chopper) in a dynamic performance stars as Avner,a man who is assembled to a team of agents who are sent to eliminated 11 people who were involved in the kidnapping of athletes in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Bana's team consists of Daniel Craig (Layer Cake, Enduring Love), Ciaran Hinds (Rome, Veronica Guerin) and Mathieu Kassovitz (Birthday Girl, The 5th Element), plus others. Their information is giving by the guy who started it all played by the always great Geoffrey Rush (Finding Nemo, Lantana). Soon Bana and his team are off to eliminate them all and also Bana's family could be in danger in the process. It's a powerful film with superb performances all around. Spielberg shows the horror and the chaos of what happened with bloody, brutal results. It's one of the best films that came last year and all I gotta say is bravo. Not for all tastes but I think if someone went threw what happened it would of been a horrible experience to go threw. Also starring Yvan Attal (The Interpreter, At Dawning) and Ayelet Zurerl (Maktub, A Night Without Lola).","Product: Before Johnny Cash was the Man in Black, he was just another musician struggling to make something of himself. 'Walk the Line' chronicles the extraordinary rise to fame of a musical legend. Overcoming early hardships such as the accidental death of his brother, Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) stormed Nashville with his innovative blend of rock, folk, blues, gospel and country. But even as his creativity blossomed, his heavy drug use took a toll, leading to a period of destructive behavior and the failure of his first marriage. It was June Carter (Reese Witherspoon), daughter of the first family of country music, who lifted Cash out of his emotional chaos and helped him to become the man and the musician he was meant to be.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Joaquin Phoenix follows in Jamie Foxx's footsteps, only Phoenix is Johnny Cash\n\nReview: Joaquin (Leaf) Phoenix (Ladder 49, Clay Pigeons) blazes and exlpodes emotionally and terrifically as the man in black, Johnny Cash, just as Jamie Foxx did last year when he played legendary Ray Charles. Phoenix had to learn how to play the guitar and know 26 Cash songs, along with Reese Witherspoon (Just Like Heaven, Vanity Fair) in her best performance so far in her career as the woman Cash fell deeply in love with, June Carter. Witherspoon gives a flawlessly performance...its really fabulous. It begins with Cash and his band at the Folsom Prison but then goes into flashbacks when Cash was a little boy and a tradgic death shook his family. Cash never got along with his father, played by Robert Patrick (Tv's The X-Files, Terminator 2: Judgment Day) and they had a shaky relationship. Then, they show how Mr. Cash married his first wife, played by Ginnifer Goodwin and Cash had 2 kids and how he started his band and his music career making his first record, to breaking in at 14 on the top charts and growing more and more famous. He also had a pill and booze addiction, sometimes too much and he'd get angry, wreck things or look really sick....they show how he collapsed one time performing on stage. It also shows how he grew more and more in love with June Carter but she wouldnt take him, but she couldn't help but come back into his life and eventually she accepted to marry him during one of their performances. One of the best movies of the year without a doubt and Phoenix is a masterwork here almost coming close to sounding like the man himself. A truly great achievement and two great unforgettable performances. \"Hello....I'm Johnny Cash!!!!\"","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Audition is an intense rush\n\nReview: Ryo Ishibashi stars as Aoyama, a man who decides he will cast an Audition for a part as a ballet dancer to find the perfect woman. Him and his friends go threw a ton of girls and he narrows the list down to the top 30. He eventually finds the \"right girl\" in Asami played by Eihi Shiina but his friend doesnt like her. Aoyama then starts to get to know this woman and goes on dates with her but then he finds out that she may be lying about herself as he tries to figure out who she really is and once he finds out it isn't pretty. The movie builds up so much with this guy liking this girl and builds, builds up to the last 20-25 minutes with great disturbing intensity which left me glued and looking away all at the same time. The piano wire! The acting is great especially by the creepy Shiina who I would've stayed clear from in the first place. Fantastic direction from Takashi Miike (Ichi The Killer).","Product: A man who killed 13 years before goes out on the loose to kill his victims' children.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Lover's Lane......another horrible wannabe slasher movie to add to the pile\n\nReview: Lover's Lane....another no brainer slasher movie straight to video and its really horrible. Lover's Lane is the hot spot to where you wanna go to make out but 15 years ago some people were murdered up at that joint and 15 years later, some relatives of the people who were murdered up there (always is) Are tormented in the present but the \"Hook Man\" from the Urban Legend. Pretty much a snoozer with bad acting (who calls this acting good?). How many screaming teenaged girls have we seen in movies? It only works if the movie is good and this is not a good movie. The plot twists and turns aren't even that great....idiotic writing. Starring: Riley Smith (Radio, 8 Legged Freaks), Erin J. Dean (Lolita, A Pig's Tale), Suzanne Bouchard (Joyful Partaking), Sarah Lancaster (Four Kings, Dr. Vegas), Diedre Kilgore (Good Luck, The Falls), Billy O'Sullivan (A Change Of Heart, Rites), Matt Reidy (Hit and Run, Carried Away) and Anna Faris (Scary Movie 1-4, Just Friends) in one of her earlier movies. Nothing can save this from being thrown over a cliff....it's ridiculous.","Product: Douglas Kennedy, Marguerite Chapman. A scientist makes a criminal invisible so he can steal radioactive materials, but the subject decides he prefers banks. 1959/b&w/58 min/NR/fullscreen.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Who's afraid of the big bad Amazing Transparent Man?\n\nReview: James Griffith stars as crazed ex-military officer Paul Krenner who has dreams of world domination whe he forces scientist Peter Ulof played by Ivan Trisquif to do his bidding. Ulof develops the process of invisibility through atomic-radiation in wich Krenner plans to make an army of invisible military force and sell it to the highest bidder. Douglas Kennedy plays Joey Faust a safecracker who has just gotten outta jail and they make him invisble so that he can steal more radium. After he does this things start to take a unexpected turn. Laura played by the beautiful Marguerite Chapman is thrown into the mix. The showdown at the end boosted this up. It was great seeing Griffith and Kennedy duke it out with one another. It's still a hokey movie but an enjoyable one. The Invisible Man & Hollow Man shouldget together with The Amazing Transparent Man and make a 3 invisible men movie extraviganza. I'd watch it. Also starrng Edward Erwin and the adorable Carmel Daniel. Carmel & Marguerite are sexy names","Product: AT THE HEIGHT IF HITLER'S NOTORIOUS U-BOAT WAR, THE CREW OF THE USS SWORDFISH IS TAKEN PRISONER. HOWEVER, MENANGITIS STRIKES MORE THAN HALF THE GERMAN CREW & THERE AREN'T ENOUGH GERMANS TO RUN THE SUB. AVOIDING BOTH THE CONTAGION & POW PROTOCOL CREW MEMBERS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO SURVIVE.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent Submarine movie with a great cast which makes this movie worth the watch\n\nReview: In 2000's U571, the Americans attacked a German UBoat and eventually their boat got destroyed and so they had to us the German boat. In this one, the German's attack the American sub when it was doing pratice dives and eventually the German's take the remaining American survives aboard and hold them hostage. Things happen when some German soldiers get out of hand attacking the Americans and some of the German's actually try to blow up the ship after the German captain has the American's help them get back home. Not bad submarine movie has its moments and the cast has some excellent stars and young stars which gives this movie the power it needs. There are some cheesy moments (actress Lauren Holly (Dumb & Dumber, Down Periscope) for one thing) but it was a decent enough ride. I would say in a different style then U571, not like it (but it did feel like it sorta). The excellent cast includes the superb William H. Macy (The Cooler, Stealing Sinatra), Scott Caan (A Boy Named Hate, Into The Blue), Til Schweiger (Driven, Barefoot), a solid Thomas Kretschmann (Immortal, King Kong), Clark Gregg (We Were Soldiers), Ian Somerhalder (Tv's LOST, upcoming Pulse), Jeremy Sisto (Wrong Turn, Suicide Kings), AJ Buckley (Wishcraft, The Forsaken), Chris Ellis (Con Air, Crimson Tide), Sam Huntington (Rolling Kansas, Detroit Rock City) and Xander Berkeley (North Country, Fox's 24).","Product: In ENDURING LOVE, a Joe (Craig) and Claire's (Morton) romantic picnic is disrupted after a hot air balloon drifts into a field, appearing to be in trouble. Inside the balloon is a young boy and the pilot whose leg gets tangles in the anchor rope. After three men, including Joe, rush to secure the basket and try to save the two passengers, it seems they cannot rescue the pilot, who eventually falls to his death and the young boy remains unscathed. When Joe and one of the other men, Jed, go to retrieve the body of the fallen man, Jed feels an instant connection with Joe--one that, as the weeks go by, becomes ever more intense.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Daniel Craig gets stalked by Rhys Ifans in Enduring Love\n\nReview: Joe, played by Daniel Craig (Layer Cake, Munich) is picnicking with his girlfriend Claire, played by Samantha Morton (In America, Minority Report), out in an open field but suddenly a red hot air balloon comes out of nowhere as he sees someone trying to help a little boy out of it. Craig and some others rush to go help as they are lifted up in the air. But then Craig and some others let go but one man remains. The man eventually slips off and falls to his death (we see a gruesome scene of him sitting up and all of that). Rhys Ifans (Danny Deckchair, Little Nicky) plays Jed who was also at the scene, him and Craig share a little prayer. Much later Ifans starts to pop out of nowhere, stalking Craig, following him around when he has lunch with a friend, going where he goes and that sort of thing. The ballooning incident and Ifans scratches at Craig tearing into his great relationship with Morton making it hard for her. Craig is always good despite some roles he has done in his past, but here he shows he can go the distance with such a spiraling down character, I mean he doesnt spiral, sometimes but he eventually gets back up on his feet in the end and everything is alright. Ifans is the quiet creepy until towards the end where he says he \"loves\" Craig and yeah, what do you expect from a creepy stalker guy (hanging pictures of yourself on his wall, plus your girlfriends eyes cut out in a picture...of course!) Morton does an excellent job here to as she tries to love him and I jumped out of my seat at the end where Ifans visits Morton and Craig rushes over and it had the realistic feel to it, I wasn't expecting Ifans to do that to her. But when it went into slow motion after Ifans did that it wasn't effective, kinda disappointing. Also starring the always wonderful Bill Nighy (Constant Gardener, Underworld 1 + 2) and Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually).","Product: For months, Jake Gray (Jensen Ackles, TV's \"Smallville\") has been haunted by disturbing premonitions of murder and self-mutilation he can't explain -that is, until two high school friends, Dakota (Dominique Swain, Lolita) and Conrad, introduce him to a mysterious online computer game called The Pathway. Suddenly, Jake's violent visions are brought to life as the game begins transforming his terrifying daydreams into gruesome reality. Hoping to escape his waking nightmare, Jake turns to Marisol (Shannyn Sossamon, A Knight's Tale), a seductive new friend who dabbles in the mystic occult. Instead, the two find themselves confronting even greater horrors, including the terrifying secrets ofJake's dark family past, in this chilling psychological thriller.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Devour is one for the skeet shoot. Pull, release and shoot it!!!!\n\nReview: On his birthday, Jensen Ackles (Smallville, Supernatural) gets a surprising birthday gift. His friends hook him up into a website called \"The Pathway\" a game where they call you and you tell them what to do and they get it done for you. Suddenly, bodies pile up and nothing is what it seems for Mr. Ackles as he goes down a path which leads to the end where of course for me it was obvious who it was predictable. Sad sad horror wanna be delivers no goods and a wast of a perfectly good cast, well Shannyn Sossoman (40 Days and 40 Nights, The Order) and Dominique Swain (Face/Off, Lolita) aren't that good of actresses anyway. Also starring William Sadler (Demon Knight, Die Hard 2), Teach (Limp, Fierce People), Martin Cummins (Ice Men, Just Candy), Alan Ackles (Hexed, Walker, Texas Ranger) and Rob Stewart (Two of Hearts, The Pawn). No fun to be had here only mind numbing boredom.","Product: Set in back woods and gritty bar rooms, CHRYSTAL not only transports you into the deep South, but also plugs you into its pulse. Sixteen years after Joe (Academy Award Winner, Billy Bob Thornton) plunged the family car off the road with his wife Chrystal and their young son inside, Joe returns from prison seeking what was lost on that night. The thing he needs the most is the hardest to ask for\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Thornton and especially Blount fuel this movie with outstanding performances\n\nReview: Billy Bob Thornton (Armageddon, The Bad News Bears) plays Joe who has sprung out of prison after 15 years. He was put in there from selling marijuana all those years ago. Also years ago there was a horrible car crash involving him, his wife Chrystal played by Lisa Blount (Box of Moon Light) and their kid. Their kid eventually wasn't found which meant he died. Chrystal was left with a broken neck. Nowadays she gives herself away for sex to some of the guys and boys in town. Joe comes back to Chrystal. Ray McKinnon the director plays Snake (annoying performance by the way) and some of the supporting cast weighs it down but the others like Harry Lennix (The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions) as a blind musician and Johnny Galecki (Rosanne, Suicide Kings) as his helper add some spark. Also starring Grace Zabriskie (RSVP), Harry Dean Stanton (Paris Texas, She's So Lovely) and Walton Goggins (The Shield, The Crow: Salvation). Thornton adds another great performance to his bundle (he looked like Grizzly Adams towards the end) but whats best about this movie is Blount's performance as Chrystal. It's shattering to see this woman go threw all of that even in the trashy south...makes you wanna go rescue her from it all...you know, give her a better life. That slapping fight scene between Thornton and McKinnon wasn't necessary I thought. Peace out.","Product: Passion, murder, and revenge collide in this powerful crime thriller with an intriguing cast! After Detective John Traveller (Peter Coyote -- ET THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, A WALK TO REMEMBER) is incarcerated for the murder of his wife and her lover, he suggests that his ex-partner, Matthew Ransom (Michael T. Weiss -- TV's THE PRETENDER, BONES), look for clues in the pages of Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The last thing Ransom then expects is to be attracted to Traveller's sexy daughter (Maureen Flannigan - TV's 7TH HEAVEN) ... or for all fingers to begin pointing to her as the prime suspect! With a riveting story and a great cast of stars, WRITTEN IN BLOOD is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Written In Blood shouldnt of been written at all....\n\nReview: Michael T. Weiss (The Pretender & Bones) stars as Matt Ransom, a detective who's marriage to his wife Mary, played by Nancy Valen is going down the shoot. Worse, his partner John Traveller, played by Peter Coyote (The 4400, Sphere), is being convicted of murdering the son of detective Luke Williams, played by Steven Rankin (The One, Blue Streak). This lands John in jail which leaves Matt in a rut. His wife splits up with him after this and his boss played by Gwen McGee (The Clearing, Frailty) doesnt think he can handle his cases. Soon there happens to be multiple murders happen which just so happen to interconnect with the other case that the police are investigating. Matt goes to John in prison to help him find out who this \"Sherlock Holmes\" killer (which is corny all by itself) is because the killer leaves passages from some of the books. Matt also starts to get involved with John's daugher Jude Traveller played by Maureen Flannigan (At Any Cost, Tv's Starved). Soon, this case leads Matt down twists and turns at every corner and eventually ending up to finding out who the real killer is. Intriguing and suspenseful? No! Not the least. Weiss' acting in this is pure stupidity. He renders in on stiff and completely wooden and dull grunting and stuff, it gets irritating. He's not like his character in The Prender series. He's really bad. Coyote is wasted along with all the other supporting actors in their roles. Save your money, avoid this at all costs. Also starring Dan Gauthier (One Life To Live, Groom Lake) and Jennifer Jostyn (Dr. Benny, Deep Impact). To end, Written In Blood shouldnt of been written at all.","Product: In this action-packed sequel to the box-office smash xXx, Ice Cube stars as Darius Stone, a thrill-seeking troublemaker whose criminal record and extreme sports obsession make him the perfect candidate to be the newest xXx agent. He must save the U.S. government from a deadly conspiracy led by five-star general and Secretary of Defense George Deckert (played by Willem Dafoe). Only a renegade xXx agent like Stone has the Xtreme skills to stop Deckert's dangerous military splinter group from taking over the government in America's capital.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Is it me or is Ice Cube's career starting to melt as we speak?\n\nReview: Darius Stone, played by Ice Cube (Barbershop, Three Kings) is the new XXX and of course who is the guy who brings him in? Gibbons, played by none other then Samuel L. Jackson (Freedomland, Pulp Fiction). Stone breaks out of prison and what not and some FBI guy Kyle Steele, played by Scott Speedman (My Life Without Me, Dark Blue) is hot on his trail. They find out that Secretary of State Deckert, played by of course, Willem Dafoe (The Clearing, The Reckoning) is making his move on the president. This is his plan....he wants to kill the president and some other figures of office so that he can become the new president...sad, sad premise and an even sad, sad ending...I'm not saying tear jerker said where you blow your nose into a tissue, I'm talking about sad, lame, pathetic sad. Unless they actually killed off Ice \"Doughboy\" Cube, I would of used a tissue but they didn't so I didnt. The CGI in this is horrid especially with the end when Ice Cube is riding on the train tracks (come on) and whole thing with Scott Speedman repelling down from the helicopter, I could of done a much better frickin' ending without the train, helicopter or the fancy car. Also starring Xzibit (Pimp My Ride, Derailed) and Peter Strauss (he's like Sam Shepard's twin brother I swear to god) and a cameo by Todd Louiso (High Fidelity, 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag). Vin Diesel said that he wouldnt do sequels to his movies but he did Chronicles of Riddick which was a little better then this but that was dreadful also....I guess that's why he did\n\nThe Pacifier. In Conclusion....oh who cares...lame movie is all I have to say.","Product: 1999 Sundance Film Festival Offical Selection. \"One mistake can change everything, especially when you're working for the mob.\"\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Heath Ledger is fantastic in a great Aussie flick....\n\nReview: Heath Ledger (Casanova, Ned Kelly) is fantastic as Jimmy who is supposed to do a clean in and out job for Pando, played by Bryan Brown (Tai-Pan, F/X movies) and delivery 10,000 dollars but he eventually loses it to some kids. Now, Pando is out to get Jimmy so he can kill him for screaming the job up. Jimmy falls in love with Alex, played by the cute Rose Byrne (The Tenants, Wicker Park) who gets caught up with Jimmy's problem. Jimmy's dead brother Michael, played by Steven Vidler (Blonde, Dog Watch) watches over him, narrates sometimes, protects his brother. The characters intertwin with one another at some point. It's Australian, yes! But this crime caper, comedy/drama, whatever you wanna call it is a scrorcher, a blazer. The direction itself is awesome and the performances are great. The best parts and the highlights would have to the the whole Bank Robbery scene and the getaway....comical and brilliant. One of the movies Heath Ledger was in before he became famous. Brown is a great badguy and Byrne, like I said is cute and that accent is adorable. Also starring David Field (Black Jack '03, Chopper), Susie Porter (Better Than Sex, Feeling Sexy) and Tom Long (The Dish, Echo Point). I recommend this highly to anyone in the crime caper genre...it's great!","Product: When Holly Parker (Kristen Miller) moves into her new apartment, she thinks she has found the perfect roommate: Tess Kositch (Allison Lange), a sweet and shy young woman who desperately wants to be her friend. But underneath Tess' shy exterior lies a killer, a woman who believes there is nothing sweeter in life than murdering a friend in pain. And Holly is feeling a lot of pain lately, what with her boyfriend cheating on her and her co-worker undermining any chance she has for promotion. But Holly need not worry. Tess will take care of her. For Holly is her friend. And for a killer like Tess, there is no greater reward than putting her friends out of their misery.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Single White Female 2.........uuuhhhhhh\n\nReview: Holly played by Kristen Miller (She Spies, Man of the Year) has a nice career as a journalist with her friend played by Brooke Burns (Baywatch, Death of the Supermodels). The 2 of them fight over the owner of a restaurant named Zucas (I think thats close enough) runned by actor Tod Babcock (Guard Dogs, Poor White Trash). When Holly gets pissed off at her friend because she slept with Mr. Babcock she tries to find a new place to live and low and behold she finds a new shy roommate Tess, played by Allison Lange (The Hillside Strangler, Roswell). Holly becomes close to Tess and they seem to hit it off real well, until Holly finds out some things about Tess that makes her think that maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Well, in 1992, Jennifer Jason Leigh did this to Bridget Fonda and now they make a sequel about it, wow, they must of went threw tons of scripts just to get to this one. Pretty much the young girls on screen are eye candy and the acting is pretty bad plus the twists and thrills aren't that great. This can go down with Basic Instinct 2....in the trash can or the skeet shoot, one of the two. Also starring Francois Giroday (Carpool Guy, Framed), Tracey McCall (Not Another Teen Movie, Second Degree), Rif Hutton (Osmosis Jones, Halfway Decent) and Kyme (School Daze, Geppetto).","Product: An American Pie-style teen comedy in which a high school senior tries to become the first student to complete the coveted \"10 Dirty Deeds\" an outrageous series of challenges that must be completed between dusk and dawn on the Friday night of Homecoming weekend. The mild-mannered Zach, (Milo Ventimiglia) shows he is no pushover when he takes on the deeds to protect the younger brother of the girl of his dreams (Lacey Chabert).\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Not Another Teen Movie!!!\n\nReview: Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls, The Bedford Diaries) stars as Zack Harper, a kid who helps out his friend Kyle who is in a bit of a rut. Kyle was challenged by a senior to do the Dirty Deeds. The Dirty Deeds (there's 10 of them) are just random things on a piece of paper the person has to accomplish. There's also a record that has never been beating before. So, Milo sets out to do the Dirty Deeds and there's also a party being thrown at a house where they keep a scoreboard of how many Milo has done. Not Another Teen Movie!! Just had to say that but its bascially what it is. In American Pie you had Jason Biggs doing the pie and in this, well Milo Ventimigla enters a bag of whole wheat bread (if you know what I mean). Milo helps the film but nothing is special about this movie. More moronic characters. My advice is watch it (Unrated or not) once and the decisions are up to you. Also starring Lacey Chabert (Not Another Teen Movie, Mean Girls) of course, Mark Derwin (One Life To Live, Heist), Zoe Saldana (Drumline, Pirates of the Caribbean), Panso Gorson (South of Nowhere, Dear Wendy), Billy L. Sullivan (My Life, Little Big League), Ray Santiago (Meet The Fockers, Pinero), Todd Zeile (King of Queens, SNL), Michael Milhoan (American Gun, Pearl Harbor), Erin Torpey (Crescendo, One Life To Live), Arielle Kebbel (Aquamarine, Be Cool), Dave Power (Frailty, Boston Public) and Charles Durning (The Final Countdown, Rescue Me) for some odd reason that I don't know why. What does the Unrated version have to offer? Female Nudity what else?!!","Product: This charming romantic comedy, starring Michael Showalter (Signs, TV's \"Stella\"), Michelle Willaims (TV's \"Dawson's Creek\"), Elizabeth Banks (Spider-Man, Heights) and Michael Ian Black (TV's \"Ed\" and \"I Love the '80s\"), is the story of Elliot Sherman, a conservative, risk-averse guy who is the quintessential \"Baxter\" - the guy who never actually gets the girl. More anxious than ever before his wedding to Caroline, the girl of his dreams, the arrival of her hunky ex-boyfriend does nothing to ease his fears. But, this time Elliot meets someone who can help. His eccentric temp is wild at heart and full of romantic advice. Maybe this time, Elliot will allude being \"The Baxter,\" and even end up with the girl of his dreams.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Michael Showalter gets dumped in The Baxter\n\nReview: The brilliant Michael Showalter (Stella) stars as Elliot Sherman, who tells the story about how he became \"The Baxter\". He met a woman named Caroline, played by the ever so lovely Elizabeth Banks (Daltry Calhoun, The 40 Year Old Virgin) and how he fell in love with her. He also proposed to her. The scene stealer in the movie would have to go to Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain, Dawson's Creek) playing Cecil Mills....she was the best in this. Elliot hears about Caroline's old boyfriend named Bradley, played by Justin Theroux (Mulholland Dr., Charlies Angels: Full Throttle) and who comes back into town and is also getting married but Elliot thinks that Bradley wants to steal Caroline away from her. He even gets advice from his friend played by awesome Michael Ian Black (Tv's ED, Partner(s) )...this guy rocks. Showalter even has the 3rd member of Stella, David Wain (Along Came Polly) who plays Elliot soon to be brother in law. It's extremely low key funniness...someone pointed out Napoleon Dynamnite and I agree but Elliot is no Dynamite, he's just Elliot. Peter Dinklage (Elf, The Station Agent) has an extremely funny small (whiched it was a bigger part) role as the wedding planner Hedges. Of course Paul Rudd (Anchorman, The Oject of My Affections) shows up as Cecil's boyfriend...Pauly Rudd and Zak Orth (Prime)....mostly a lot of the cast from Wet Hot American Summer is in this...which was directed by David Wain. Now all Michael Ian Black needs to do is make a movie and all 3 Stella members have directed movies each. Also starring Ken Marino (Hoodwinked, Reno 911) and Catherine Llyod Burns (Keeping The Faith, Malcolm in the Middle). Baxter is a groomsman who is left at the alter.","Product: RACHEL CARSON IS A SUCCESSFUL MYSTERY WRITER WHOSE LIFE IS SHATTERED FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENTAL DROWNING OF HER 5 YEAR OLD SON. TO GET SOME REST, SHE GOES TO A SECLUDED COTTAGE. BUT INSTEAD OF A PEACEFUL RETREAT, RACHEL FINDS HERSELF CAUGHT UP IN A SUPERNATURAL MURDER THAT THREATENS HER SANITY & HER LIFE.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Demi returns in a muddled, weak and predictable mystery/thriller...\n\nReview: Demi Moore (Disclosure, Idecent Proposal) plays Rachel, who has a son and a husband Brian, played by the always great Henry Ian Cusick (Tv's LOST, The Gospel Of John). She is also a accomplished author. When her son dies her and her husband split and she goes off to Scotland where she spends time out at a lighthouse and there she encounters Angus McCulloch, played by Hans Matheson (Deathwatch, Bodywork). Soon, they spend time with one another and eventually sleep with each other one night. But weird things start to happen when Demi stars to had weird dreams of herself drowning, seeing her son...etc. Plus, the big shocker is when Demi finds out from all the towns people that Angus McCulloch died in 1998 when he took a nose dive off the light house to the rocks below. Half Light doesnt give off any engergy whatsoever it's muddled in some areas plus Demi Moore doesnt do a good job. Henry Ian Cusick is OK but he's done much better then this. It gets predictable especially towards the last half hour and the secrets and mysteries aren't that actually shocking or haunting or chilling. A big miss. Also starring James Cosmo (Troy, To End All Wars), Kate Isitt (Coupling, The Saint) and Therese Bradley (Young Adam, Out of the Cold).","Product: FOR 20 YEARS GARY RIDGEWAY, KNOWN ONLY AS THE 'GREEN RIVER KILLER' TERRORIZED SEATTLE & TOOK 48 VICTOMS. NOW, GO INSIDE THE MIND OG ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST DEMENTED SERIAL KILLERS. BASED ON THE TRUE STORY.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Annoying Waste of Time Killer\n\nReview: George Kiseleff stars as Gary Ridgway or The Greeennnn Rivverrrr Killeerrrr. Anyways he is married and has a son and goes out to bars, picks up some prostitutes and either brings them back to his place when his wife is gone and makes his son hide in the bathroom when he kills them or somewhere else. Then after he kills his victims he brings the bodies of the women and stashes them alongside the Green River...um, yeah. They also have actually footage of the real Ridgway sprinkled in. Also during this boring piece of crud he narrates the women's names. Gloria, Pamela, Betty, Veronica, Dolly, Molly...whatever. The acting is beyond awful and it's direction is sloppy. The writing is idiotic as well as the dialouge. It seemed like it would never end when I was watching it. I wasn't actually screaming for it to end, I was just annoyed. BLAH!!","Product: A waiter for four years since high school, Dean (Justin Long) has never questioned his job at Shenanigan\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: When will Ryan Reynolds stop playing the same character?\n\nReview: At Shenanigan's, don't mess with the people who serve you food. John Francis Daley (Freeks and Geeks) has just been employeed to the place and he starts to meet the crazy crew that works there. There's, of course, Ryan Reynolds (Blade: Trinity, Just Friends), Anna Farris (Scary Movies, Lover's Lane), a sometimes funny Luis Guzman (Boogie Nights, Magnolia), a funny Chi McBride (Boston Public, NARC), the annoying Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers, Dodgeball), Kaitlyn Doubleday (Home of Phobia, Cold Case), the annoying Andy Milonakis (Andy Milonakis Show), the always reliable Dane Cook (London, Stuck On You), David Koechner (Dukes of Hazzard, Anchorman),a crazy Alanna Ubach (Legally Blonde, Johns), Skyler Stone (Comedy Central's Con), Emmanuelle Chriqui (In The Mix, Wrong Turn), Vanessa Lengies (American Drea,s, Perfect Man), Wendie Malick (Just Shoot Me) and Robert Patrick Benedict (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Tequila Body Shots). The Comedy is shattershot, the gross out factor is just plan dumb and Reynolds needs to stop playing the same character over and over again...gets tedious after awhile.","Product: A woman's paintings of blood-thirsty clowns begin to manifest themselves in reality.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Shiver me timbers this movie isn't that good\n\nReview: Jacky Reres plays a painter woman who's assigned to paint a picture of a grandfather of some guy and he'll give her lots of money if she does it right for him. She meets Rick Ganz (Life 101, Hunting Humans) at an art gallery and they hit it off nicely in which they become more and more closer to each other until she finds magazines in his place with articles on her and what not. Meanwhile a sadistic dude named Shivers The Clown played by Mark Lassise (Vampire Sisters, The Watcher) is after her killing people left and right, flexing his muscles whilst swinging his axe. It is an Indie Horror movie but it's bad. Sorry for the lame summary (forgot names) but still this movie is beyond boring. Shivers is trying to be scary when in actuality he looks dumb, retarded and to add it all on a not so good actor is playing him. Kevin Kangas is a horrible screenplay writer....bad dialouge down the middle man, sorry buddy. Skip this and watch Jeepers Creepers or something. I said my words and I'm sticking to them","Product: Set in 1972 Brooklyn, Henry Lesser (Dylan McDermott) is the sole tenant in a rundown tenement struggling to finish a novel. His solitary pursuit of the sublime grows complicated when Willie Spearmint (Snoop Dogg), a black militant writer, moves into the building. Henry and Willie are artistic rivals and unwilling neighbors, and their uneasy peace is disturbed by the presence of Willie's white girlfriend and the landlord's attempt to evict both men and demolish the building.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Clash Of The Tenants...\n\nReview: Dylan McDermott (The Practice, Where Sleeping Dogs Lie) plays Harry Lesser a novelist who is the only person living in an abandoned tenant building. His last novel flopped big time but people say his first one was a classic. So, he's in his apartment, writing a new novel which he thinks will boost his career back up and become a big success. The landlord Levenspiel, played by Seymour Cassel (Royal Tenenbaums, The Crew) is letting him complete his novel, then he is out so they can demolish the tenant buildins to the ground. While doing his novel, Lesser comes upon another man in the building typing his own novel as well.....Willie Spearmint, played by Snoop Dogg (Starsky & Hutch, Bones). Willie goes to Lesser for inspiration on his novel usually which ends up with the 2 of them clashing at one each other. Willie has a white woman for a girlfriend named Irene, played by Rose Byrne (Troy, Wicker Park). Lesser becomes romantically involved with Irene and Lesser plans to complete his novel and leave with Irene. This only complicates more when Lesser tells Willie about the 2 of them. Then it gets crazier with the 2 of ruining each others lives. McDermott & Snoop are OK, so's the movie and most of the time the situations are predictable and I knew what was going to happen which leaves you bored but it's still pretty interesting and watchable. Snooooop!","Product: IN A HIDDEN BEACH HOUSE ON THE MALIBU SHORE, WHEN INFIDELITY IS DISCOVERED IN A 20-SOMETHING COUPLE, HORRIBLE VIOLENCE ENSUES. 17 MONTHS LATER, MORE 20-SOMETHINGS MOVE INTO THE BEACH HOUSE. ONE BY ONE, TEMPTATION SEDUCES THEM & THEY ARE PUNISHED FOR THIER INFIDELITIES BY AN AVENGING ANGEL OF DEATH.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: A movie with Reality stars being killed.....um, I want my money and time back please.....\n\nReview: I did see the show Kill Reality which aired last year from like August till September and then I waited for this to come out on DVD and here it is and it's BAD!! Basically it's about a woman (Trish Schneider) who finds her boyfriend (Bob Guiney) in bed with another chick (Trishelle Cannatella) and winds up in the hospital in a coma like state. Years later she is still in there and a new couple (Jenna Lewis and Steven Hill) have just moved into the old house. People start to die by the spirit of Trish because their all lying and cheating on the ones they love. What will happen? Well, if you wanna find out be my guest but I do not recommend this movie, it's not campy fun it's just utter stupidity. Rent Cube or something, at least that was more intelligent then this. Bad acting? Hell yes but there was Ethan Zohn who I thought was the best one out of the whole bunch. If you wanna skip the acting and just watch the nudity, well go right ahead I'm not stopping you. I hate reality TV but I watched Kill Reality to see what kind of movie they were making and gee willikers it was horrible. Mostly all the deaths are retarded and corny...I mean a f**king lava lamp! Plus the eyes appearing on the doors was down right idiotic. Also starring Jonny \"Fairplay\" Dalton, Reichen Lehmkuhl, Tonya Cooley, Toni Ferrari, Stacie Jones UpChurch anbd Jenna Morasca. The director appears (forgot his name, lame director anyway) appears as that ponytailed cop who calls Bob Guiney. ARGHHHHHHH!!!","Product: Journey into the heart of black magic in this riveting horror-thriller full of edge-of-your seat suspense, startling twistsand dead bodies. Following a car accident, Michelle wakes up with amnesia and bandages over her face. Her nightmares hint that she's done something very bad. Now, as people around her are murdered, she must piece together her past...before it kills her.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Dumb as dumb can get\n\nReview: Annie Sorell (Man of the Year) stars as a young girl named Michelle who has woken up from a car accident in which she doesnt remember what she was doing at the time. She is brought into a home with a group of people where she'll stay for the duration. Soon Michelle finds a book in which she tries to remember what happened during the car accident. Then when things become clear all the pieces come together and Michelle has to stop what's going on since everyone around her starts to die. Can someone say boring? Sorell needs to take acting lessons bad. She gives one pretty empty performance as does everyone else. What a waste of Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator, The Frighteners)....AGAIN!! That goes for Angus Scrimm (Phantasm) too. The end fight scene and hopefully you'll make it to the end is one of the dumbest things you'll ever see. Also starring James Russo, Diane Ayala Goldner (Feast), Brett Erickson (Scarecrow: Resurrection), Alecia Loren (Coyote Ugly) and Eliza Swenson (Candy Stripers).","Product: An updated re-telling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. The satire begins where the fable last left off, as there's always more to every tale than meets the eye! Furry and feathered cops from the animal world, Chief Grizzly and Detective Bill Stork, investigate a domestic disturbance at Granny's cottage, involving a girl, a wolf and an axe. The charges are many: breaking and entering, disturbing the peace, intent to eat, and wielding an axe without a license. Not to mention, this case might be tied to the elusive Goody Bandit who has been stealing the recipes of goody shops everywhere.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Twitchy The Squirrel........One of the best characters of all time? Think about it\n\nReview: Little Red, played by Anne Hathaway (Havoc, Princess Diaries) comes to her Grandma's house when she finds out that her Grandma kinda looks funny. Her teeth are too big, her breath smells, her nose is too big and also her ears. Well, you know the story right? Well this is totally different as we get 4 seperate stories told by 4 different characters. Little Red, The Wolf played by Patrick Warburton (News Radio, Scream 3), The Woodsman played by Jim Belushi (According To Jim, The Principal) and Grandma played by Glenn Close (The Shield, Air Force One). It seems someone has been stealing Grannie Puckett's goodies and wants their hands on her recepies as well and Mr. Flippers played by David Ogden Stiers (MASH, Curse of the Jade Scorpion), is trying to figure out who is the Goodie Bandit. Fun for kids, fun is doses but it's nothing special. Cory Edwards one of the directors voices Twitchy the Squirrel which is the highlight of the film. Boingo the Bunny voiced by Andy Dick (Road Trip, Best Men) and the singing Goat are the other two best things as well. Chazz Palminteri (The Usual Suspects, A Bronx Tale), Anthony Anderson (Hustle & Flow, Malibu's Most Wanted) and Xzibit (Derailed, XXX: State of the Union) also contribute voices. Granny's little \"secret\" is just totally uncool (cheesy).","Product: Match Point is \"a winning combination of sex, mystery, brilliant writing and first-rate acting that all adds up to one of the most erotic and exhilarating movies in years.\" (Maxim). Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is being torn apart by his desire for two very different women. Marrying Chloe (Emily Mortimer) will bring him a life of wealth and success, but his true passion lies with his brother-in-law's fiancee, the stunningly sensuous but unpredictable Nola (Scarlett Johansson). Pulsing with tension, Match Point rides the dangerous line between ambition and obsession to an ending as surprising as it is chilling.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Woody Allen scores with Match Point\n\nReview: Woody Allen (Zelig, Melinda and Melinda) writes and directs but doesnt star anywhere in this fantastic thriller/drama/romance whatever you wanna call it about a tennis pro named Chris Wilton played by the superb Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Tangled, Elvis) who gives involved and married Chloe Hewett played by the lovely Emily Mortimer (The Pink Panther, Scream 3). She has a brother named Tom Hewett played by the great Matthew Goode (Imagaine Me & You, Chasing Liberty) who is engaged to his fiancee Nola Rice played by the gorgeous Scarlett Johansson who is an American Actress. Chris soon begins to find an interest in Nola Rice and well he winds up having a tryst with her. Soon Nola wants more from Chris and he cant handle this because their passtionate relationship might cause the downfall of his family, career etc and so he then thinks of the unthinkable to solve the matter. Allen manages to give one of his best (since Anything Else & Jade Scorpion were horrible) and also a different route for him which he pulls off wonderfully I might add. Not everyone is gonna like this but I did very much. Meyers and Johansson give dynamite performances. Also starring Brian Cox (X2: X-Men United, 25th Hour), Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting, Black Hawk Down), Penelope Wilton (Doctor Who, Shaun of the Dead), Colin Salmon (The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day), Rupert Penry-Jones (Casanova, Spooks) and James Nesbitt (Millions, Jude).","Product: Christine Taylor stars as Amy, a young schoolteacher with a lifelong fear of hospitals. But when her boyfriend is injured in a car crash and taken to a hospital that no longer exists, Amy and a concerned stranger enter a nightmare where demons walk among us, hallucinations run rampant, and sultry nurses engage in lesbian blood rites. What is the shocking secret of St. Rosemary\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Room with nothing at all....or should I say movie\n\nReview: Christine Taylor (Zoolander, Dodgeball) stars as Amy who with her boyfriend Nick played by Shane Brolly (Underworld 1 & 2, Sin's Kitchen) get into a car accident with Lucas played by Jerry O'Connell (Sliders, Crossing Jordan) and his girlfriend. The paramedics come and take Nick and O'Connell's girlfriend in seperate ambulances to the St. Rosemary's Hospital. Taylor figures out that whoever took her boyfriend didn't take her to the hospital that they sent her to. Same thing goes for O'Connell with his girlfriend. So, they team up to try to find out where they are. Meanwhile at St. Rosemary's the doctors and the naughty nurses act weird and Brolly finds out some pretty horrible things. Seems like Brolly is in a place he shouldnt be. Taylor, Brolly and O'Connell are wasted bigtime here. No scares, no thrills, no nothing. A pretty forgettable horror movie. Since its from the prodcuers of All Soul's Day and House of the Dead you know its gonna be horrible and it is. Also starring Ellie Cornell (Halloween 4 & 5, House of the Dead), Kane Hodder (Jason X, DarkWolf), Mary Pat Gleason (The Island, 13 Going on 30), Andrew Davoli (Spartan, Knockaround Guys), Chloe Moretz (The Amityville Horror, Big Momma's House 2), John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise, Out of Time) and Marshall Bell (Identity, Starship Troopers)","Product: From two of the six twisted minds who brought you Scary Movie, and starring crowd favorite Alyson Hannigan (the American Pie series), comes this laugh-a-minute, no-holds-barred send-up of big love, high passion, and other uncontrollable bodily functions! Julia Jones (Alyson Hannigan from the American Pie series) is looking for love in ALL the wrong movies, until she snags her the man of her dreams! But now, a devious ex, a farting feline and eccentric in-laws threaten her perfect Hollywood wedding!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Date Movie just sucks\n\nReview: Date Movie stars Alyson Hannigan (American Pie, Buffy The Vampire Slayer) as Julia Jones who is overweight at first but then she wants to change her image so she goes to Hitch the date doctor, played by Tony Cox (Me, Myself & Irene, Bad Santa) and he \"pimps\" her out and changes her into a vuluptous being and Adam Campbell falls in love with her and they get together, plan to get married but Adam Campbell's friend Andy, played by Sophie Monk who cant act worth s**t comes back to ruin the wedding. Spoofs movies like Meet The Fockers, Meet The Parents, Lord Of The Rings, King Kong, Wedding Crashers, Napoleon Dynamite, Kill Bill, Bridget Jones, Wedding Planner and so forth...who cares?!!! 2 writers of the Scary Movies wrote this piece of crap? Appaently they don't have any intelligence at all. The scenes where we are supposed to laugh left me yawning for the doors but I stayed throughout and I cheered when it ended. Go see Dave Chappelle's Black Party, I recommend you see that then this....at least it was funny and watchable. This just wasted the talents of a lot of actors that I like. Also starring Eddie Griffin (Double Take, The New Guy), Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde, Best In Show), Fred Willard (A Mighty Wind, Idle Hands), Judah Friedlander (American Splendor, Feast), Marie Matiko, Tom Lenk (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel), Lil Jon and Josh Meyers (MADTv).","Product: Based on the original film by fright master Wes Craven, The Hills Have Eyes is the story of a family road trip that goes terrifyingly awry when the travelers become stranded in a government atomic zone. Miles from nowhere, the Carter family soon realizes the seemingly uninhabited wasteland is actually the breeding ground of a blood-thirsty mutant family... and they are the prey.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Just another throwaway remake\n\nReview: This time Wes Craven's 1977 horror flick The Hills Have Eyes is remade by High Tension director Alexandre Aja. Family and a couple with a baby are on the road and are given directions by a gas station attendant. They soon get stranded in the middle of the hot desert. So, a few of them go off to see if they can find any help. Doug, played by Aaron Stanford (X-Men: The Last Stand, 25th Hour) finds a huge crater in the middle of the desert filled with abandoned cars and what not. Terror soon strikes as the family are attacked by the mutated people. Aja has great visuals especially the gory kind but even that gets tiresome after awhile. It's not that good. I tend to see reviews giving it high ratings. Meh, I'm not one of those people. Twas just another throwaway remake. I do recommend it only to the die hard horror junkies. Not for all people. Stanford, Emilie de Ravin (Tv's LOST, Roswell) and Dan Byrd (Salem's Lot, 28 Days) are the only cast members that actually accomplish some good acting. Mostly all the other actors are wasted. Also starring Vinessa Shaw (Eyes Wide Shut, 40 Days and 40 Nights), a wasted Kathleen Quinlan (Event Horizon, Breakdown), a wasted Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs, Tv's Monk), Tom Bower (Die Hard 2, Nixon), Michael Bailey Smith (Monster Man, In Hell), Robert Joy (Joe Somebody, Land of the Dead), Desmond Askew (GO, Repli-Kate) and Billy Drago (Cyborg 2, Drifting School).","Product: Based on the best-selling novel by Richard Price, this explosive thriller stars Academy Award(r) nominees Samuel L. Jackson (1994, Best Supporting Actor, Pulp Fiction) and Julianne Moore (2002, Best Actress, Far From Heaven) and Golden Globe(r) winner Edie Falco (\"The Sopranos\"). When Brenda Martin (Moore) claims her car was stolen with her son in the backseat, the chilling accusation sparks an intense investigation led by Detective Lorenzo Council (Jackson). The frenzy to find her son escalates into an explosive nightmare of suspicion and accusation, and the search for the truth leads to riveting action, disturbing revelations, and a shocking ending.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Jackson is left holding the film at bay....Freedomland is forgettable\n\nReview: Julianne Moore (The Forgotten, Magnolia) stars as Brenda Martin who tells Det. Lorenzo Council played by Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Coach Carter) that she was carjacked and that her son was in the backseat. This sets in motion a big series of events as Jackson tries to find out who took the boy and where he is. There is also an uproar when the cops start dragging in people who are responsible for the kidnapping and also the people are outraged at Moore for what she has done. Julianne Moore is miscast big time in her role. I know people will disagree with me but thats how I feel and Jackson is left holding up the film. He'll go from this to doing Snakes on a Plane...wow, great jump there Samuel. Love ya but come on man. Ron Eldard (Mystery Alaska, The Runner) is good in here too but nothing special. Also starring Edie Falco (The Sopranos, OZ), William Forsythe (The Devil's Rejects, The Waterdance), Aunjanue Ellis (Ray, Undercover Brother), Anthony Mackie (The Manchurian Candidate, She Hate Me), Clarke Peters (The Wire, Head of State), Peter Friedman (Paycheck, Single White Female) and Samuel Jackson's wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Lone Star). I recommend it for Jackson fans.","Product: Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil, The Fifth Element), Cameron Bright (X-Men 3), Nick Chinlund (The Legend of Zorro) and William Fichtner (The Longest Yard) star in this theatrical set in the late 21st century, a subculture of humans have emerged who have been modified genetically by a vampire-like disease (Hemophagia), giving them enhanced speed, incredible stamina and acute intelligence, and as they are set apart from \"normal\" and \"healthy\" humans, the world is pushed to the brink of worldwide civil war (a war between humans and hemophages) aimed at the destruction of the \"diseased\" population. In the middle of this crossed-fire is - an infected woman - Ultraviolet, who finds herself protecting a nine-year-old boy who has been marked for death by the human government as he is believed to be a threat to humans.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: UNRATED or not this movie is still Ultralame\n\nReview: Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element, The Messenger) plays Alice...oh I mean Violet, a half human and half vampire fanged fighter of her people. Nick Chinlund (Con Air, Tears of the Sun) plays Daxus, a human with ridiculous noseplugs who wants to destory the race that Jovovich belongs to. Jovovich then helps out a little boy clonse of Daxus named Six played by Cameron Bright (Running Scared, Godsend) who may be a cure to cure Jovovich's fang problem. William Fichtner (Tv's Invasion, Armageddon) also stars as Garth, a friend of Violet's. Kurt Wimmer who directed the much better Equilibrium fails in Ultraviolet resulting in a BOMB and beyond. Jovovich plays the same performance here that she does in the Resident Evil movies which is really annoying. It's too bad you're doing this spit Jovovich...too bad. Fichtner and Chinlund are wasted and Bright plays the same performance like so many of his other films. That kid needs a break. All the acting with the dialouge is dense and the action scenes are pretty weak. Also starring a seriously horrible Sebastien Andrieu (Look at Me).","Product: Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. \"Measuring their lives in love,\" these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic. RENT is based on Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical, one of the longest running shows on Broadway. The raw and riveting musical stars Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Tracie Thoms and is directed by Chris Columbus.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Rent Is A Winner!\n\nReview: Rent is of course the broadway musical thats been around for a long time because its the longest running musical on Broadway. Anthony Rapp (Dazed & Confused, Winder Passing) stars as Mark, who documents the events all throughout the movie with his camera and who just got dumped by Maureen, played by Idina Menzel (Ask The Dust, Kissing Jessica Stein) who is now dating Joanne, played by Tracie Thoms (Everyone's Depressed, Porn N' Chicken). Adam Pascal (School of Rock, SLC Punk!) plays Roger who's a struggling musician who falls in love with stripper/drug junkie Mimi, played by Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Alexander). Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order, Restaurant) plays Collins who falls in love with Angel, played by Wilson Jermaine Heredio (Flawless, Johnny Was) and Taye Diggs (Equilirium, Way of the Gun) plays Benny the landlord of the building to kick everyone out. Fantastic shots of New York, streets, underground etc. etc. and the performances are great especially by Rapp, Heredio and Menzel...the protest rally scene with her was great. Dawson and Thoms weren't in the regular broadway shows and they take the places of other people but they both do wonderful jobs here. The songs are great, sometimes cornish which is basically in the musical vein. \"The Tango Maureen\" sequence was one of the best and so was \"La Vie Boheme\". This one won't disappoing Rent fans. I've never seen Rent on Broadway but the movie was a winner all on its own. I just want to point this out...it seemed like they put Bon Jovi in the movie (Adam Pascal) heh heh. Also starring Daniel London (Minority Report, Patch Adams), Aaron Lohr (D 2 & D 3: The Mighty Ducks), Mackenzie Firgens (Nail Polish, Groove), Jason Foster (Voices Carry) and of course Sarah Silverman (Jesus Is Magic, Say It Isnt So). No Day But Today.","Product: Pre-recorded VHS video tape\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Stephen Baldwin to the rescue!\n\nReview: Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects, Bio-Dome) stars as SCAR team member John who gets mixed up with nice hooker Candy played by the beautiful Tia Carrere (Relic Hunter, True Lies) when his SCAR team members invade a place and kill thugs along with two of Carrere's hookers friends. Baldwin helps Carrere escape before she is found and killed. Carerre tells her boss about what happened and her boss tells Baldwin's boss Laine played by Chazz Palminteri (The Usual Suspects, Running Scared) about what Baldwin did. So, he has a couple of SCAR members try to take out Baldwin but Baldwin eventually escapes and grabs Carrere as both him and her are on the run. Carrere is sexy and she has a wonderful singing voice and keeps this movie alive. Baldwin plays this performance in many of his other movies but here and there he has good moments but nothing special. Some of the action is good but it's not that great of an action/thriller. Also starring DB Woodside (Tv's 24, Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Michael Rispoli (Snake Eyes, Angie), Andrew Davoli (Room 6, Knockaround Guys) and Gary Dourdan (CSI, Playing God)","Product: A convicted strangler, studying the paranormal in his cell, learns to make himself invisible. As an invisible man, he escapes from prison to stalk and strangle the five women who testified against him in his trial. A police lieutenant is assigned to protect them and catch the brutal convict. MYSTERY/SCIENCE FICTION\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Hollow Man in the 70's\n\nReview: Frank Ashmore (Airplane!, V) stars as Roger Sands who is a convicted man who winds up making himself invisible and escape his jail cell. Robert Foxworth (Syriana, Beyond The Stars) plays the Lieutenant on the case. He has to protect several women who testified against Sands. One by one Sands goes after the women and Foxworth wants to find The Astral Inisible Factor and stop him for good. Badly acted, horrible directed and executed thriller has bloodless chills and thrills. The effects are dumber then dirt. Nothing can save this bottom of the barrel mess. Its simply dreadful. The editing is bad as well. I saw LOOP pop on the screen a couple of times. Also starring Stefanie Powers (Deceptions, Hart to Hart), Sue Lyon (Alligator, End of the World) and Mark Slade (Flashpoint, Waikiki)","Product: What do you get when you combine three inexperienced criminals, a rented house in Los Angeles and the son of one of Americas greatest legends? You get the 1963 kidnapping of Frank Sinatra, Jr. Featuring an excellent soundtrack of period music, this madcap caper is more outlandish than fiction!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Stealing Sinatra has a weak pulse\n\nReview: David Arquette (Scream Trilogy, Stephen King's Riding The Bullet) stars as Barry who has the perfect plan. He wants to kidnap Frank Sinatra Jr., played by Thomas Ian Nicholas (American Pie 1-3, L.A. D.J.) , for ransom of a large amount of money. Coming along for the ride is Barry's friend Joe, played by Ryan Browning (The Smokers, Extreme Days) and Mr. John Irwin, played by the always masterful William H. Macy (Cellular, The Cooler). Macy doesnt think this a brilliant plan but he goes along with it. They kidnap Sinatra Jr. while he was staying in a hotel and bring them back to the place where their gonna keep him. Arquette has Macy take all the phone calls from Frank Sinatra, Sr., played by James Russo so that way they can ask for the ransom money and then when they get it, Jr. will be released. Stealing Sinatra has it moments, it's a TV movie people. Nicholas does a fine job as Sinatra Jr., he sings good too and of course Macy is wonderful but Arquette and Browning are way miscast for their roles. Also starring Evangeline Lilly (Tv's LOST), who was one of those bikini models in that one commercial shoot. Doesnt feel like their was much oomph in this \"supposed\" comedy...I didn't laugh that much.","Product: After a run in with a hot exotic dancer one wintry night, straight-laced prep school student James will find himself on the ride of his life. Risking his future, he follows this mysterious woman to New York City - ditching school, dodging cops and partying at hot nightclubs along the way. Based on a true story, Whirlygirl, is Risky Business for the 21st century; a fast paced, sexy, adventure about trusting your instincts and pushing life to the limit.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Nothing to Whirl about\n\nReview: Julian Morris (Cry Wolf, Young Arthur) stars as James a young boy who hires a Whirlygirl (Exotic Dancer) one night to entertain him and a bunch of his friends in a secret little place since it's prohibited on school grounds. Once the Whirlygirl played by Monet Mazur (Torque, 40 Days & 40 Nights) leaves James soon finds out that she has taken a valuable watch from him. So, he asks the head of the school if he can leave to go get the watch and he'll return before curfew. James tracks down the Whirlygirl at her apartment in which he soon starts to fall for her (as usual). Interesting look but there's nothing really here to get excited about. Mazur is beautiful and Morris gives a dull performance. Also starring Daniel Franzese (Bully, Mean Girls) and a surprising appearance by David Garrison (Married With Children, Op Center) as one of Mazur's customers. Well it was surprising to see him but he didn't have that much to do really. This gets a ** out of ****"],"string":"[\n \"Product: VHS\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: If only they let Santa use a machine gun.....\\n\\nReview: Martians travel to Earth to find the man called Santa Claus played by John Call (The Anderson Tapes, Cinderella) because their Martian children are watching the Earth TV programs. While landing in a city 2 Earth children are found and they eventually hide on the ship. They are found and the children lead the Martian's to the North Pole as they Martians find Santa Claus and take him and the kids away. Vincent Beck (Vigilante, The Bamboo Saucer) plays Voldar, a rouge Martian who doesnt like Santa Claus and wants to get rid of him and the children for good. Soon the awesome powers of Santa fight back at the Martians and save Christmas. Harmless cheesy Christmas movie is really bad but I didn't mind it at all. The music was groovy. Wasnt the greatest thing ever. Also starring Pia Zadora (Hairspray, Pajama Tops) and Leonard Hicks (Guns of the Trees)\",\n \"Product: Phantom Planet [VHS]\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: It's not the size that matters.....\\n\\nReview: Dan Fredericks stars as Capt. Frank Chapman is launched away into space when Earth discovers an undiscovered planet which appears in the solar system. Chapman crash lands his ship on the surface of the planet, gets out and falls unconsious. A race of tiny people who find Chapman lying there on the ground. He wakes up sees them and eventually shrinks to tiny form. He is taken into the place where they all live. He's giving tests of strength and so forth. They tiny people possess the technology to move their planet from galaxy to galaxy to evade their enemies. Soon their enemies the Solarites, Chapman helps them in their aid to help them save the day. 'Twas an interesting watch. The Solarite was hilarious and hey Richard Kiel (Eegah!, The Longest Yard) plays the part...whooo! Fredericks wasn't that bad actually in his role and ze women were lovely to look at. A terribly silly hokey pokey adventure. Also starring Coleen Gary, Anthony Dexter, Francis X. Bushman, Richard Weber and Al Jarvis\",\n \"Product: Great example of a low-budget Sci Fi movie from the 1950s. Scared me good when I saw it as a kid!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Fear the Giant Lobsters!\\n\\nReview: David Love stars as Derek a Martian who winds up coming to Earth since he finds out that there is intelligent life on the planet. His fellow Martians are coming to Earth to raise the Gargon Herd which is a bunch of giant lobsters. Derek comes to town and winds up meeting Betty played by the lovely Dawn Bender (Island in the Sky, The Actress). She takes interest in Derek right away. Thor played by Bryan Grant comes to town looking for Derek and to bring him back so that they can unleash the Giant Lobsters. Derek has to make a sacrifice to try to stop the oncoming monsters and save Earth from what's about to happen. I would of given this a star but this was too much fun. Grant it's a horrible movie with bad acting, script etc.... but I just love it. The giant lobster was awesome. Also starring Harvey B. Dunn (My Fair Lady as Grandpa Morgan, King Moody (Nutt House, Sweet November) and the director Tom Graeff. He edited, produced, wrote and did all the things. Classic campy fun.\",\n \"Product: Used but in great condition. Contains both discs, case and contents\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Spielberg's Munich is a powerful film...one of the best movies of 2005\\n\\nReview: Eric Bana (Troy, Chopper) in a dynamic performance stars as Avner,a man who is assembled to a team of agents who are sent to eliminated 11 people who were involved in the kidnapping of athletes in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Bana's team consists of Daniel Craig (Layer Cake, Enduring Love), Ciaran Hinds (Rome, Veronica Guerin) and Mathieu Kassovitz (Birthday Girl, The 5th Element), plus others. Their information is giving by the guy who started it all played by the always great Geoffrey Rush (Finding Nemo, Lantana). Soon Bana and his team are off to eliminate them all and also Bana's family could be in danger in the process. It's a powerful film with superb performances all around. Spielberg shows the horror and the chaos of what happened with bloody, brutal results. It's one of the best films that came last year and all I gotta say is bravo. Not for all tastes but I think if someone went threw what happened it would of been a horrible experience to go threw. Also starring Yvan Attal (The Interpreter, At Dawning) and Ayelet Zurerl (Maktub, A Night Without Lola).\",\n \"Product: Before Johnny Cash was the Man in Black, he was just another musician struggling to make something of himself. 'Walk the Line' chronicles the extraordinary rise to fame of a musical legend. Overcoming early hardships such as the accidental death of his brother, Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) stormed Nashville with his innovative blend of rock, folk, blues, gospel and country. But even as his creativity blossomed, his heavy drug use took a toll, leading to a period of destructive behavior and the failure of his first marriage. It was June Carter (Reese Witherspoon), daughter of the first family of country music, who lifted Cash out of his emotional chaos and helped him to become the man and the musician he was meant to be.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Joaquin Phoenix follows in Jamie Foxx's footsteps, only Phoenix is Johnny Cash\\n\\nReview: Joaquin (Leaf) Phoenix (Ladder 49, Clay Pigeons) blazes and exlpodes emotionally and terrifically as the man in black, Johnny Cash, just as Jamie Foxx did last year when he played legendary Ray Charles. Phoenix had to learn how to play the guitar and know 26 Cash songs, along with Reese Witherspoon (Just Like Heaven, Vanity Fair) in her best performance so far in her career as the woman Cash fell deeply in love with, June Carter. Witherspoon gives a flawlessly performance...its really fabulous. It begins with Cash and his band at the Folsom Prison but then goes into flashbacks when Cash was a little boy and a tradgic death shook his family. Cash never got along with his father, played by Robert Patrick (Tv's The X-Files, Terminator 2: Judgment Day) and they had a shaky relationship. Then, they show how Mr. Cash married his first wife, played by Ginnifer Goodwin and Cash had 2 kids and how he started his band and his music career making his first record, to breaking in at 14 on the top charts and growing more and more famous. He also had a pill and booze addiction, sometimes too much and he'd get angry, wreck things or look really sick....they show how he collapsed one time performing on stage. It also shows how he grew more and more in love with June Carter but she wouldnt take him, but she couldn't help but come back into his life and eventually she accepted to marry him during one of their performances. One of the best movies of the year without a doubt and Phoenix is a masterwork here almost coming close to sounding like the man himself. A truly great achievement and two great unforgettable performances. \\\"Hello....I'm Johnny Cash!!!!\\\"\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Audition is an intense rush\\n\\nReview: Ryo Ishibashi stars as Aoyama, a man who decides he will cast an Audition for a part as a ballet dancer to find the perfect woman. Him and his friends go threw a ton of girls and he narrows the list down to the top 30. He eventually finds the \\\"right girl\\\" in Asami played by Eihi Shiina but his friend doesnt like her. Aoyama then starts to get to know this woman and goes on dates with her but then he finds out that she may be lying about herself as he tries to figure out who she really is and once he finds out it isn't pretty. The movie builds up so much with this guy liking this girl and builds, builds up to the last 20-25 minutes with great disturbing intensity which left me glued and looking away all at the same time. The piano wire! The acting is great especially by the creepy Shiina who I would've stayed clear from in the first place. Fantastic direction from Takashi Miike (Ichi The Killer).\",\n \"Product: A man who killed 13 years before goes out on the loose to kill his victims' children.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Lover's Lane......another horrible wannabe slasher movie to add to the pile\\n\\nReview: Lover's Lane....another no brainer slasher movie straight to video and its really horrible. Lover's Lane is the hot spot to where you wanna go to make out but 15 years ago some people were murdered up at that joint and 15 years later, some relatives of the people who were murdered up there (always is) Are tormented in the present but the \\\"Hook Man\\\" from the Urban Legend. Pretty much a snoozer with bad acting (who calls this acting good?). How many screaming teenaged girls have we seen in movies? It only works if the movie is good and this is not a good movie. The plot twists and turns aren't even that great....idiotic writing. Starring: Riley Smith (Radio, 8 Legged Freaks), Erin J. Dean (Lolita, A Pig's Tale), Suzanne Bouchard (Joyful Partaking), Sarah Lancaster (Four Kings, Dr. Vegas), Diedre Kilgore (Good Luck, The Falls), Billy O'Sullivan (A Change Of Heart, Rites), Matt Reidy (Hit and Run, Carried Away) and Anna Faris (Scary Movie 1-4, Just Friends) in one of her earlier movies. Nothing can save this from being thrown over a cliff....it's ridiculous.\",\n \"Product: Douglas Kennedy, Marguerite Chapman. A scientist makes a criminal invisible so he can steal radioactive materials, but the subject decides he prefers banks. 1959/b&w/58 min/NR/fullscreen.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Who's afraid of the big bad Amazing Transparent Man?\\n\\nReview: James Griffith stars as crazed ex-military officer Paul Krenner who has dreams of world domination whe he forces scientist Peter Ulof played by Ivan Trisquif to do his bidding. Ulof develops the process of invisibility through atomic-radiation in wich Krenner plans to make an army of invisible military force and sell it to the highest bidder. Douglas Kennedy plays Joey Faust a safecracker who has just gotten outta jail and they make him invisble so that he can steal more radium. After he does this things start to take a unexpected turn. Laura played by the beautiful Marguerite Chapman is thrown into the mix. The showdown at the end boosted this up. It was great seeing Griffith and Kennedy duke it out with one another. It's still a hokey movie but an enjoyable one. The Invisible Man & Hollow Man shouldget together with The Amazing Transparent Man and make a 3 invisible men movie extraviganza. I'd watch it. Also starrng Edward Erwin and the adorable Carmel Daniel. Carmel & Marguerite are sexy names\",\n \"Product: AT THE HEIGHT IF HITLER'S NOTORIOUS U-BOAT WAR, THE CREW OF THE USS SWORDFISH IS TAKEN PRISONER. HOWEVER, MENANGITIS STRIKES MORE THAN HALF THE GERMAN CREW & THERE AREN'T ENOUGH GERMANS TO RUN THE SUB. AVOIDING BOTH THE CONTAGION & POW PROTOCOL CREW MEMBERS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO SURVIVE.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent Submarine movie with a great cast which makes this movie worth the watch\\n\\nReview: In 2000's U571, the Americans attacked a German UBoat and eventually their boat got destroyed and so they had to us the German boat. In this one, the German's attack the American sub when it was doing pratice dives and eventually the German's take the remaining American survives aboard and hold them hostage. Things happen when some German soldiers get out of hand attacking the Americans and some of the German's actually try to blow up the ship after the German captain has the American's help them get back home. Not bad submarine movie has its moments and the cast has some excellent stars and young stars which gives this movie the power it needs. There are some cheesy moments (actress Lauren Holly (Dumb & Dumber, Down Periscope) for one thing) but it was a decent enough ride. I would say in a different style then U571, not like it (but it did feel like it sorta). The excellent cast includes the superb William H. Macy (The Cooler, Stealing Sinatra), Scott Caan (A Boy Named Hate, Into The Blue), Til Schweiger (Driven, Barefoot), a solid Thomas Kretschmann (Immortal, King Kong), Clark Gregg (We Were Soldiers), Ian Somerhalder (Tv's LOST, upcoming Pulse), Jeremy Sisto (Wrong Turn, Suicide Kings), AJ Buckley (Wishcraft, The Forsaken), Chris Ellis (Con Air, Crimson Tide), Sam Huntington (Rolling Kansas, Detroit Rock City) and Xander Berkeley (North Country, Fox's 24).\",\n \"Product: In ENDURING LOVE, a Joe (Craig) and Claire's (Morton) romantic picnic is disrupted after a hot air balloon drifts into a field, appearing to be in trouble. Inside the balloon is a young boy and the pilot whose leg gets tangles in the anchor rope. After three men, including Joe, rush to secure the basket and try to save the two passengers, it seems they cannot rescue the pilot, who eventually falls to his death and the young boy remains unscathed. When Joe and one of the other men, Jed, go to retrieve the body of the fallen man, Jed feels an instant connection with Joe--one that, as the weeks go by, becomes ever more intense.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Daniel Craig gets stalked by Rhys Ifans in Enduring Love\\n\\nReview: Joe, played by Daniel Craig (Layer Cake, Munich) is picnicking with his girlfriend Claire, played by Samantha Morton (In America, Minority Report), out in an open field but suddenly a red hot air balloon comes out of nowhere as he sees someone trying to help a little boy out of it. Craig and some others rush to go help as they are lifted up in the air. But then Craig and some others let go but one man remains. The man eventually slips off and falls to his death (we see a gruesome scene of him sitting up and all of that). Rhys Ifans (Danny Deckchair, Little Nicky) plays Jed who was also at the scene, him and Craig share a little prayer. Much later Ifans starts to pop out of nowhere, stalking Craig, following him around when he has lunch with a friend, going where he goes and that sort of thing. The ballooning incident and Ifans scratches at Craig tearing into his great relationship with Morton making it hard for her. Craig is always good despite some roles he has done in his past, but here he shows he can go the distance with such a spiraling down character, I mean he doesnt spiral, sometimes but he eventually gets back up on his feet in the end and everything is alright. Ifans is the quiet creepy until towards the end where he says he \\\"loves\\\" Craig and yeah, what do you expect from a creepy stalker guy (hanging pictures of yourself on his wall, plus your girlfriends eyes cut out in a picture...of course!) Morton does an excellent job here to as she tries to love him and I jumped out of my seat at the end where Ifans visits Morton and Craig rushes over and it had the realistic feel to it, I wasn't expecting Ifans to do that to her. But when it went into slow motion after Ifans did that it wasn't effective, kinda disappointing. Also starring the always wonderful Bill Nighy (Constant Gardener, Underworld 1 + 2) and Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually).\",\n \"Product: For months, Jake Gray (Jensen Ackles, TV's \\\"Smallville\\\") has been haunted by disturbing premonitions of murder and self-mutilation he can't explain -that is, until two high school friends, Dakota (Dominique Swain, Lolita) and Conrad, introduce him to a mysterious online computer game called The Pathway. Suddenly, Jake's violent visions are brought to life as the game begins transforming his terrifying daydreams into gruesome reality. Hoping to escape his waking nightmare, Jake turns to Marisol (Shannyn Sossamon, A Knight's Tale), a seductive new friend who dabbles in the mystic occult. Instead, the two find themselves confronting even greater horrors, including the terrifying secrets ofJake's dark family past, in this chilling psychological thriller.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Devour is one for the skeet shoot. Pull, release and shoot it!!!!\\n\\nReview: On his birthday, Jensen Ackles (Smallville, Supernatural) gets a surprising birthday gift. His friends hook him up into a website called \\\"The Pathway\\\" a game where they call you and you tell them what to do and they get it done for you. Suddenly, bodies pile up and nothing is what it seems for Mr. Ackles as he goes down a path which leads to the end where of course for me it was obvious who it was predictable. Sad sad horror wanna be delivers no goods and a wast of a perfectly good cast, well Shannyn Sossoman (40 Days and 40 Nights, The Order) and Dominique Swain (Face/Off, Lolita) aren't that good of actresses anyway. Also starring William Sadler (Demon Knight, Die Hard 2), Teach (Limp, Fierce People), Martin Cummins (Ice Men, Just Candy), Alan Ackles (Hexed, Walker, Texas Ranger) and Rob Stewart (Two of Hearts, The Pawn). No fun to be had here only mind numbing boredom.\",\n \"Product: Set in back woods and gritty bar rooms, CHRYSTAL not only transports you into the deep South, but also plugs you into its pulse. Sixteen years after Joe (Academy Award Winner, Billy Bob Thornton) plunged the family car off the road with his wife Chrystal and their young son inside, Joe returns from prison seeking what was lost on that night. The thing he needs the most is the hardest to ask for\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Thornton and especially Blount fuel this movie with outstanding performances\\n\\nReview: Billy Bob Thornton (Armageddon, The Bad News Bears) plays Joe who has sprung out of prison after 15 years. He was put in there from selling marijuana all those years ago. Also years ago there was a horrible car crash involving him, his wife Chrystal played by Lisa Blount (Box of Moon Light) and their kid. Their kid eventually wasn't found which meant he died. Chrystal was left with a broken neck. Nowadays she gives herself away for sex to some of the guys and boys in town. Joe comes back to Chrystal. Ray McKinnon the director plays Snake (annoying performance by the way) and some of the supporting cast weighs it down but the others like Harry Lennix (The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions) as a blind musician and Johnny Galecki (Rosanne, Suicide Kings) as his helper add some spark. Also starring Grace Zabriskie (RSVP), Harry Dean Stanton (Paris Texas, She's So Lovely) and Walton Goggins (The Shield, The Crow: Salvation). Thornton adds another great performance to his bundle (he looked like Grizzly Adams towards the end) but whats best about this movie is Blount's performance as Chrystal. It's shattering to see this woman go threw all of that even in the trashy south...makes you wanna go rescue her from it all...you know, give her a better life. That slapping fight scene between Thornton and McKinnon wasn't necessary I thought. Peace out.\",\n \"Product: Passion, murder, and revenge collide in this powerful crime thriller with an intriguing cast! After Detective John Traveller (Peter Coyote -- ET THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, A WALK TO REMEMBER) is incarcerated for the murder of his wife and her lover, he suggests that his ex-partner, Matthew Ransom (Michael T. Weiss -- TV's THE PRETENDER, BONES), look for clues in the pages of Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The last thing Ransom then expects is to be attracted to Traveller's sexy daughter (Maureen Flannigan - TV's 7TH HEAVEN) ... or for all fingers to begin pointing to her as the prime suspect! With a riveting story and a great cast of stars, WRITTEN IN BLOOD is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Written In Blood shouldnt of been written at all....\\n\\nReview: Michael T. Weiss (The Pretender & Bones) stars as Matt Ransom, a detective who's marriage to his wife Mary, played by Nancy Valen is going down the shoot. Worse, his partner John Traveller, played by Peter Coyote (The 4400, Sphere), is being convicted of murdering the son of detective Luke Williams, played by Steven Rankin (The One, Blue Streak). This lands John in jail which leaves Matt in a rut. His wife splits up with him after this and his boss played by Gwen McGee (The Clearing, Frailty) doesnt think he can handle his cases. Soon there happens to be multiple murders happen which just so happen to interconnect with the other case that the police are investigating. Matt goes to John in prison to help him find out who this \\\"Sherlock Holmes\\\" killer (which is corny all by itself) is because the killer leaves passages from some of the books. Matt also starts to get involved with John's daugher Jude Traveller played by Maureen Flannigan (At Any Cost, Tv's Starved). Soon, this case leads Matt down twists and turns at every corner and eventually ending up to finding out who the real killer is. Intriguing and suspenseful? No! Not the least. Weiss' acting in this is pure stupidity. He renders in on stiff and completely wooden and dull grunting and stuff, it gets irritating. He's not like his character in The Prender series. He's really bad. Coyote is wasted along with all the other supporting actors in their roles. Save your money, avoid this at all costs. Also starring Dan Gauthier (One Life To Live, Groom Lake) and Jennifer Jostyn (Dr. Benny, Deep Impact). To end, Written In Blood shouldnt of been written at all.\",\n \"Product: In this action-packed sequel to the box-office smash xXx, Ice Cube stars as Darius Stone, a thrill-seeking troublemaker whose criminal record and extreme sports obsession make him the perfect candidate to be the newest xXx agent. He must save the U.S. government from a deadly conspiracy led by five-star general and Secretary of Defense George Deckert (played by Willem Dafoe). Only a renegade xXx agent like Stone has the Xtreme skills to stop Deckert's dangerous military splinter group from taking over the government in America's capital.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Is it me or is Ice Cube's career starting to melt as we speak?\\n\\nReview: Darius Stone, played by Ice Cube (Barbershop, Three Kings) is the new XXX and of course who is the guy who brings him in? Gibbons, played by none other then Samuel L. Jackson (Freedomland, Pulp Fiction). Stone breaks out of prison and what not and some FBI guy Kyle Steele, played by Scott Speedman (My Life Without Me, Dark Blue) is hot on his trail. They find out that Secretary of State Deckert, played by of course, Willem Dafoe (The Clearing, The Reckoning) is making his move on the president. This is his plan....he wants to kill the president and some other figures of office so that he can become the new president...sad, sad premise and an even sad, sad ending...I'm not saying tear jerker said where you blow your nose into a tissue, I'm talking about sad, lame, pathetic sad. Unless they actually killed off Ice \\\"Doughboy\\\" Cube, I would of used a tissue but they didn't so I didnt. The CGI in this is horrid especially with the end when Ice Cube is riding on the train tracks (come on) and whole thing with Scott Speedman repelling down from the helicopter, I could of done a much better frickin' ending without the train, helicopter or the fancy car. Also starring Xzibit (Pimp My Ride, Derailed) and Peter Strauss (he's like Sam Shepard's twin brother I swear to god) and a cameo by Todd Louiso (High Fidelity, 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag). Vin Diesel said that he wouldnt do sequels to his movies but he did Chronicles of Riddick which was a little better then this but that was dreadful also....I guess that's why he did\\n\\nThe Pacifier. In Conclusion....oh who cares...lame movie is all I have to say.\",\n \"Product: 1999 Sundance Film Festival Offical Selection. \\\"One mistake can change everything, especially when you're working for the mob.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Heath Ledger is fantastic in a great Aussie flick....\\n\\nReview: Heath Ledger (Casanova, Ned Kelly) is fantastic as Jimmy who is supposed to do a clean in and out job for Pando, played by Bryan Brown (Tai-Pan, F/X movies) and delivery 10,000 dollars but he eventually loses it to some kids. Now, Pando is out to get Jimmy so he can kill him for screaming the job up. Jimmy falls in love with Alex, played by the cute Rose Byrne (The Tenants, Wicker Park) who gets caught up with Jimmy's problem. Jimmy's dead brother Michael, played by Steven Vidler (Blonde, Dog Watch) watches over him, narrates sometimes, protects his brother. The characters intertwin with one another at some point. It's Australian, yes! But this crime caper, comedy/drama, whatever you wanna call it is a scrorcher, a blazer. The direction itself is awesome and the performances are great. The best parts and the highlights would have to the the whole Bank Robbery scene and the getaway....comical and brilliant. One of the movies Heath Ledger was in before he became famous. Brown is a great badguy and Byrne, like I said is cute and that accent is adorable. Also starring David Field (Black Jack '03, Chopper), Susie Porter (Better Than Sex, Feeling Sexy) and Tom Long (The Dish, Echo Point). I recommend this highly to anyone in the crime caper genre...it's great!\",\n \"Product: When Holly Parker (Kristen Miller) moves into her new apartment, she thinks she has found the perfect roommate: Tess Kositch (Allison Lange), a sweet and shy young woman who desperately wants to be her friend. But underneath Tess' shy exterior lies a killer, a woman who believes there is nothing sweeter in life than murdering a friend in pain. And Holly is feeling a lot of pain lately, what with her boyfriend cheating on her and her co-worker undermining any chance she has for promotion. But Holly need not worry. Tess will take care of her. For Holly is her friend. And for a killer like Tess, there is no greater reward than putting her friends out of their misery.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Single White Female 2.........uuuhhhhhh\\n\\nReview: Holly played by Kristen Miller (She Spies, Man of the Year) has a nice career as a journalist with her friend played by Brooke Burns (Baywatch, Death of the Supermodels). The 2 of them fight over the owner of a restaurant named Zucas (I think thats close enough) runned by actor Tod Babcock (Guard Dogs, Poor White Trash). When Holly gets pissed off at her friend because she slept with Mr. Babcock she tries to find a new place to live and low and behold she finds a new shy roommate Tess, played by Allison Lange (The Hillside Strangler, Roswell). Holly becomes close to Tess and they seem to hit it off real well, until Holly finds out some things about Tess that makes her think that maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Well, in 1992, Jennifer Jason Leigh did this to Bridget Fonda and now they make a sequel about it, wow, they must of went threw tons of scripts just to get to this one. Pretty much the young girls on screen are eye candy and the acting is pretty bad plus the twists and thrills aren't that great. This can go down with Basic Instinct 2....in the trash can or the skeet shoot, one of the two. Also starring Francois Giroday (Carpool Guy, Framed), Tracey McCall (Not Another Teen Movie, Second Degree), Rif Hutton (Osmosis Jones, Halfway Decent) and Kyme (School Daze, Geppetto).\",\n \"Product: An American Pie-style teen comedy in which a high school senior tries to become the first student to complete the coveted \\\"10 Dirty Deeds\\\" an outrageous series of challenges that must be completed between dusk and dawn on the Friday night of Homecoming weekend. The mild-mannered Zach, (Milo Ventimiglia) shows he is no pushover when he takes on the deeds to protect the younger brother of the girl of his dreams (Lacey Chabert).\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Another Teen Movie!!!\\n\\nReview: Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls, The Bedford Diaries) stars as Zack Harper, a kid who helps out his friend Kyle who is in a bit of a rut. Kyle was challenged by a senior to do the Dirty Deeds. The Dirty Deeds (there's 10 of them) are just random things on a piece of paper the person has to accomplish. There's also a record that has never been beating before. So, Milo sets out to do the Dirty Deeds and there's also a party being thrown at a house where they keep a scoreboard of how many Milo has done. Not Another Teen Movie!! Just had to say that but its bascially what it is. In American Pie you had Jason Biggs doing the pie and in this, well Milo Ventimigla enters a bag of whole wheat bread (if you know what I mean). Milo helps the film but nothing is special about this movie. More moronic characters. My advice is watch it (Unrated or not) once and the decisions are up to you. Also starring Lacey Chabert (Not Another Teen Movie, Mean Girls) of course, Mark Derwin (One Life To Live, Heist), Zoe Saldana (Drumline, Pirates of the Caribbean), Panso Gorson (South of Nowhere, Dear Wendy), Billy L. Sullivan (My Life, Little Big League), Ray Santiago (Meet The Fockers, Pinero), Todd Zeile (King of Queens, SNL), Michael Milhoan (American Gun, Pearl Harbor), Erin Torpey (Crescendo, One Life To Live), Arielle Kebbel (Aquamarine, Be Cool), Dave Power (Frailty, Boston Public) and Charles Durning (The Final Countdown, Rescue Me) for some odd reason that I don't know why. What does the Unrated version have to offer? Female Nudity what else?!!\",\n \"Product: This charming romantic comedy, starring Michael Showalter (Signs, TV's \\\"Stella\\\"), Michelle Willaims (TV's \\\"Dawson's Creek\\\"), Elizabeth Banks (Spider-Man, Heights) and Michael Ian Black (TV's \\\"Ed\\\" and \\\"I Love the '80s\\\"), is the story of Elliot Sherman, a conservative, risk-averse guy who is the quintessential \\\"Baxter\\\" - the guy who never actually gets the girl. More anxious than ever before his wedding to Caroline, the girl of his dreams, the arrival of her hunky ex-boyfriend does nothing to ease his fears. But, this time Elliot meets someone who can help. His eccentric temp is wild at heart and full of romantic advice. Maybe this time, Elliot will allude being \\\"The Baxter,\\\" and even end up with the girl of his dreams.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Michael Showalter gets dumped in The Baxter\\n\\nReview: The brilliant Michael Showalter (Stella) stars as Elliot Sherman, who tells the story about how he became \\\"The Baxter\\\". He met a woman named Caroline, played by the ever so lovely Elizabeth Banks (Daltry Calhoun, The 40 Year Old Virgin) and how he fell in love with her. He also proposed to her. The scene stealer in the movie would have to go to Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain, Dawson's Creek) playing Cecil Mills....she was the best in this. Elliot hears about Caroline's old boyfriend named Bradley, played by Justin Theroux (Mulholland Dr., Charlies Angels: Full Throttle) and who comes back into town and is also getting married but Elliot thinks that Bradley wants to steal Caroline away from her. He even gets advice from his friend played by awesome Michael Ian Black (Tv's ED, Partner(s) )...this guy rocks. Showalter even has the 3rd member of Stella, David Wain (Along Came Polly) who plays Elliot soon to be brother in law. It's extremely low key funniness...someone pointed out Napoleon Dynamnite and I agree but Elliot is no Dynamite, he's just Elliot. Peter Dinklage (Elf, The Station Agent) has an extremely funny small (whiched it was a bigger part) role as the wedding planner Hedges. Of course Paul Rudd (Anchorman, The Oject of My Affections) shows up as Cecil's boyfriend...Pauly Rudd and Zak Orth (Prime)....mostly a lot of the cast from Wet Hot American Summer is in this...which was directed by David Wain. Now all Michael Ian Black needs to do is make a movie and all 3 Stella members have directed movies each. Also starring Ken Marino (Hoodwinked, Reno 911) and Catherine Llyod Burns (Keeping The Faith, Malcolm in the Middle). Baxter is a groomsman who is left at the alter.\",\n \"Product: RACHEL CARSON IS A SUCCESSFUL MYSTERY WRITER WHOSE LIFE IS SHATTERED FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENTAL DROWNING OF HER 5 YEAR OLD SON. TO GET SOME REST, SHE GOES TO A SECLUDED COTTAGE. BUT INSTEAD OF A PEACEFUL RETREAT, RACHEL FINDS HERSELF CAUGHT UP IN A SUPERNATURAL MURDER THAT THREATENS HER SANITY & HER LIFE.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Demi returns in a muddled, weak and predictable mystery/thriller...\\n\\nReview: Demi Moore (Disclosure, Idecent Proposal) plays Rachel, who has a son and a husband Brian, played by the always great Henry Ian Cusick (Tv's LOST, The Gospel Of John). She is also a accomplished author. When her son dies her and her husband split and she goes off to Scotland where she spends time out at a lighthouse and there she encounters Angus McCulloch, played by Hans Matheson (Deathwatch, Bodywork). Soon, they spend time with one another and eventually sleep with each other one night. But weird things start to happen when Demi stars to had weird dreams of herself drowning, seeing her son...etc. Plus, the big shocker is when Demi finds out from all the towns people that Angus McCulloch died in 1998 when he took a nose dive off the light house to the rocks below. Half Light doesnt give off any engergy whatsoever it's muddled in some areas plus Demi Moore doesnt do a good job. Henry Ian Cusick is OK but he's done much better then this. It gets predictable especially towards the last half hour and the secrets and mysteries aren't that actually shocking or haunting or chilling. A big miss. Also starring James Cosmo (Troy, To End All Wars), Kate Isitt (Coupling, The Saint) and Therese Bradley (Young Adam, Out of the Cold).\",\n \"Product: FOR 20 YEARS GARY RIDGEWAY, KNOWN ONLY AS THE 'GREEN RIVER KILLER' TERRORIZED SEATTLE & TOOK 48 VICTOMS. NOW, GO INSIDE THE MIND OG ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST DEMENTED SERIAL KILLERS. BASED ON THE TRUE STORY.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Annoying Waste of Time Killer\\n\\nReview: George Kiseleff stars as Gary Ridgway or The Greeennnn Rivverrrr Killeerrrr. Anyways he is married and has a son and goes out to bars, picks up some prostitutes and either brings them back to his place when his wife is gone and makes his son hide in the bathroom when he kills them or somewhere else. Then after he kills his victims he brings the bodies of the women and stashes them alongside the Green River...um, yeah. They also have actually footage of the real Ridgway sprinkled in. Also during this boring piece of crud he narrates the women's names. Gloria, Pamela, Betty, Veronica, Dolly, Molly...whatever. The acting is beyond awful and it's direction is sloppy. The writing is idiotic as well as the dialouge. It seemed like it would never end when I was watching it. I wasn't actually screaming for it to end, I was just annoyed. BLAH!!\",\n \"Product: A waiter for four years since high school, Dean (Justin Long) has never questioned his job at Shenanigan\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: When will Ryan Reynolds stop playing the same character?\\n\\nReview: At Shenanigan's, don't mess with the people who serve you food. John Francis Daley (Freeks and Geeks) has just been employeed to the place and he starts to meet the crazy crew that works there. There's, of course, Ryan Reynolds (Blade: Trinity, Just Friends), Anna Farris (Scary Movies, Lover's Lane), a sometimes funny Luis Guzman (Boogie Nights, Magnolia), a funny Chi McBride (Boston Public, NARC), the annoying Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers, Dodgeball), Kaitlyn Doubleday (Home of Phobia, Cold Case), the annoying Andy Milonakis (Andy Milonakis Show), the always reliable Dane Cook (London, Stuck On You), David Koechner (Dukes of Hazzard, Anchorman),a crazy Alanna Ubach (Legally Blonde, Johns), Skyler Stone (Comedy Central's Con), Emmanuelle Chriqui (In The Mix, Wrong Turn), Vanessa Lengies (American Drea,s, Perfect Man), Wendie Malick (Just Shoot Me) and Robert Patrick Benedict (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Tequila Body Shots). The Comedy is shattershot, the gross out factor is just plan dumb and Reynolds needs to stop playing the same character over and over again...gets tedious after awhile.\",\n \"Product: A woman's paintings of blood-thirsty clowns begin to manifest themselves in reality.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Shiver me timbers this movie isn't that good\\n\\nReview: Jacky Reres plays a painter woman who's assigned to paint a picture of a grandfather of some guy and he'll give her lots of money if she does it right for him. She meets Rick Ganz (Life 101, Hunting Humans) at an art gallery and they hit it off nicely in which they become more and more closer to each other until she finds magazines in his place with articles on her and what not. Meanwhile a sadistic dude named Shivers The Clown played by Mark Lassise (Vampire Sisters, The Watcher) is after her killing people left and right, flexing his muscles whilst swinging his axe. It is an Indie Horror movie but it's bad. Sorry for the lame summary (forgot names) but still this movie is beyond boring. Shivers is trying to be scary when in actuality he looks dumb, retarded and to add it all on a not so good actor is playing him. Kevin Kangas is a horrible screenplay writer....bad dialouge down the middle man, sorry buddy. Skip this and watch Jeepers Creepers or something. I said my words and I'm sticking to them\",\n \"Product: Set in 1972 Brooklyn, Henry Lesser (Dylan McDermott) is the sole tenant in a rundown tenement struggling to finish a novel. His solitary pursuit of the sublime grows complicated when Willie Spearmint (Snoop Dogg), a black militant writer, moves into the building. Henry and Willie are artistic rivals and unwilling neighbors, and their uneasy peace is disturbed by the presence of Willie's white girlfriend and the landlord's attempt to evict both men and demolish the building.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Clash Of The Tenants...\\n\\nReview: Dylan McDermott (The Practice, Where Sleeping Dogs Lie) plays Harry Lesser a novelist who is the only person living in an abandoned tenant building. His last novel flopped big time but people say his first one was a classic. So, he's in his apartment, writing a new novel which he thinks will boost his career back up and become a big success. The landlord Levenspiel, played by Seymour Cassel (Royal Tenenbaums, The Crew) is letting him complete his novel, then he is out so they can demolish the tenant buildins to the ground. While doing his novel, Lesser comes upon another man in the building typing his own novel as well.....Willie Spearmint, played by Snoop Dogg (Starsky & Hutch, Bones). Willie goes to Lesser for inspiration on his novel usually which ends up with the 2 of them clashing at one each other. Willie has a white woman for a girlfriend named Irene, played by Rose Byrne (Troy, Wicker Park). Lesser becomes romantically involved with Irene and Lesser plans to complete his novel and leave with Irene. This only complicates more when Lesser tells Willie about the 2 of them. Then it gets crazier with the 2 of ruining each others lives. McDermott & Snoop are OK, so's the movie and most of the time the situations are predictable and I knew what was going to happen which leaves you bored but it's still pretty interesting and watchable. Snooooop!\",\n \"Product: IN A HIDDEN BEACH HOUSE ON THE MALIBU SHORE, WHEN INFIDELITY IS DISCOVERED IN A 20-SOMETHING COUPLE, HORRIBLE VIOLENCE ENSUES. 17 MONTHS LATER, MORE 20-SOMETHINGS MOVE INTO THE BEACH HOUSE. ONE BY ONE, TEMPTATION SEDUCES THEM & THEY ARE PUNISHED FOR THIER INFIDELITIES BY AN AVENGING ANGEL OF DEATH.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: A movie with Reality stars being killed.....um, I want my money and time back please.....\\n\\nReview: I did see the show Kill Reality which aired last year from like August till September and then I waited for this to come out on DVD and here it is and it's BAD!! Basically it's about a woman (Trish Schneider) who finds her boyfriend (Bob Guiney) in bed with another chick (Trishelle Cannatella) and winds up in the hospital in a coma like state. Years later she is still in there and a new couple (Jenna Lewis and Steven Hill) have just moved into the old house. People start to die by the spirit of Trish because their all lying and cheating on the ones they love. What will happen? Well, if you wanna find out be my guest but I do not recommend this movie, it's not campy fun it's just utter stupidity. Rent Cube or something, at least that was more intelligent then this. Bad acting? Hell yes but there was Ethan Zohn who I thought was the best one out of the whole bunch. If you wanna skip the acting and just watch the nudity, well go right ahead I'm not stopping you. I hate reality TV but I watched Kill Reality to see what kind of movie they were making and gee willikers it was horrible. Mostly all the deaths are retarded and corny...I mean a f**king lava lamp! Plus the eyes appearing on the doors was down right idiotic. Also starring Jonny \\\"Fairplay\\\" Dalton, Reichen Lehmkuhl, Tonya Cooley, Toni Ferrari, Stacie Jones UpChurch anbd Jenna Morasca. The director appears (forgot his name, lame director anyway) appears as that ponytailed cop who calls Bob Guiney. ARGHHHHHHH!!!\",\n \"Product: Journey into the heart of black magic in this riveting horror-thriller full of edge-of-your seat suspense, startling twistsand dead bodies. Following a car accident, Michelle wakes up with amnesia and bandages over her face. Her nightmares hint that she's done something very bad. Now, as people around her are murdered, she must piece together her past...before it kills her.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Dumb as dumb can get\\n\\nReview: Annie Sorell (Man of the Year) stars as a young girl named Michelle who has woken up from a car accident in which she doesnt remember what she was doing at the time. She is brought into a home with a group of people where she'll stay for the duration. Soon Michelle finds a book in which she tries to remember what happened during the car accident. Then when things become clear all the pieces come together and Michelle has to stop what's going on since everyone around her starts to die. Can someone say boring? Sorell needs to take acting lessons bad. She gives one pretty empty performance as does everyone else. What a waste of Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator, The Frighteners)....AGAIN!! That goes for Angus Scrimm (Phantasm) too. The end fight scene and hopefully you'll make it to the end is one of the dumbest things you'll ever see. Also starring James Russo, Diane Ayala Goldner (Feast), Brett Erickson (Scarecrow: Resurrection), Alecia Loren (Coyote Ugly) and Eliza Swenson (Candy Stripers).\",\n \"Product: An updated re-telling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. The satire begins where the fable last left off, as there's always more to every tale than meets the eye! Furry and feathered cops from the animal world, Chief Grizzly and Detective Bill Stork, investigate a domestic disturbance at Granny's cottage, involving a girl, a wolf and an axe. The charges are many: breaking and entering, disturbing the peace, intent to eat, and wielding an axe without a license. Not to mention, this case might be tied to the elusive Goody Bandit who has been stealing the recipes of goody shops everywhere.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Twitchy The Squirrel........One of the best characters of all time? Think about it\\n\\nReview: Little Red, played by Anne Hathaway (Havoc, Princess Diaries) comes to her Grandma's house when she finds out that her Grandma kinda looks funny. Her teeth are too big, her breath smells, her nose is too big and also her ears. Well, you know the story right? Well this is totally different as we get 4 seperate stories told by 4 different characters. Little Red, The Wolf played by Patrick Warburton (News Radio, Scream 3), The Woodsman played by Jim Belushi (According To Jim, The Principal) and Grandma played by Glenn Close (The Shield, Air Force One). It seems someone has been stealing Grannie Puckett's goodies and wants their hands on her recepies as well and Mr. Flippers played by David Ogden Stiers (MASH, Curse of the Jade Scorpion), is trying to figure out who is the Goodie Bandit. Fun for kids, fun is doses but it's nothing special. Cory Edwards one of the directors voices Twitchy the Squirrel which is the highlight of the film. Boingo the Bunny voiced by Andy Dick (Road Trip, Best Men) and the singing Goat are the other two best things as well. Chazz Palminteri (The Usual Suspects, A Bronx Tale), Anthony Anderson (Hustle & Flow, Malibu's Most Wanted) and Xzibit (Derailed, XXX: State of the Union) also contribute voices. Granny's little \\\"secret\\\" is just totally uncool (cheesy).\",\n \"Product: Match Point is \\\"a winning combination of sex, mystery, brilliant writing and first-rate acting that all adds up to one of the most erotic and exhilarating movies in years.\\\" (Maxim). Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is being torn apart by his desire for two very different women. Marrying Chloe (Emily Mortimer) will bring him a life of wealth and success, but his true passion lies with his brother-in-law's fiancee, the stunningly sensuous but unpredictable Nola (Scarlett Johansson). Pulsing with tension, Match Point rides the dangerous line between ambition and obsession to an ending as surprising as it is chilling.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Woody Allen scores with Match Point\\n\\nReview: Woody Allen (Zelig, Melinda and Melinda) writes and directs but doesnt star anywhere in this fantastic thriller/drama/romance whatever you wanna call it about a tennis pro named Chris Wilton played by the superb Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Tangled, Elvis) who gives involved and married Chloe Hewett played by the lovely Emily Mortimer (The Pink Panther, Scream 3). She has a brother named Tom Hewett played by the great Matthew Goode (Imagaine Me & You, Chasing Liberty) who is engaged to his fiancee Nola Rice played by the gorgeous Scarlett Johansson who is an American Actress. Chris soon begins to find an interest in Nola Rice and well he winds up having a tryst with her. Soon Nola wants more from Chris and he cant handle this because their passtionate relationship might cause the downfall of his family, career etc and so he then thinks of the unthinkable to solve the matter. Allen manages to give one of his best (since Anything Else & Jade Scorpion were horrible) and also a different route for him which he pulls off wonderfully I might add. Not everyone is gonna like this but I did very much. Meyers and Johansson give dynamite performances. Also starring Brian Cox (X2: X-Men United, 25th Hour), Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting, Black Hawk Down), Penelope Wilton (Doctor Who, Shaun of the Dead), Colin Salmon (The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day), Rupert Penry-Jones (Casanova, Spooks) and James Nesbitt (Millions, Jude).\",\n \"Product: Christine Taylor stars as Amy, a young schoolteacher with a lifelong fear of hospitals. But when her boyfriend is injured in a car crash and taken to a hospital that no longer exists, Amy and a concerned stranger enter a nightmare where demons walk among us, hallucinations run rampant, and sultry nurses engage in lesbian blood rites. What is the shocking secret of St. Rosemary\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Room with nothing at all....or should I say movie\\n\\nReview: Christine Taylor (Zoolander, Dodgeball) stars as Amy who with her boyfriend Nick played by Shane Brolly (Underworld 1 & 2, Sin's Kitchen) get into a car accident with Lucas played by Jerry O'Connell (Sliders, Crossing Jordan) and his girlfriend. The paramedics come and take Nick and O'Connell's girlfriend in seperate ambulances to the St. Rosemary's Hospital. Taylor figures out that whoever took her boyfriend didn't take her to the hospital that they sent her to. Same thing goes for O'Connell with his girlfriend. So, they team up to try to find out where they are. Meanwhile at St. Rosemary's the doctors and the naughty nurses act weird and Brolly finds out some pretty horrible things. Seems like Brolly is in a place he shouldnt be. Taylor, Brolly and O'Connell are wasted bigtime here. No scares, no thrills, no nothing. A pretty forgettable horror movie. Since its from the prodcuers of All Soul's Day and House of the Dead you know its gonna be horrible and it is. Also starring Ellie Cornell (Halloween 4 & 5, House of the Dead), Kane Hodder (Jason X, DarkWolf), Mary Pat Gleason (The Island, 13 Going on 30), Andrew Davoli (Spartan, Knockaround Guys), Chloe Moretz (The Amityville Horror, Big Momma's House 2), John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise, Out of Time) and Marshall Bell (Identity, Starship Troopers)\",\n \"Product: From two of the six twisted minds who brought you Scary Movie, and starring crowd favorite Alyson Hannigan (the American Pie series), comes this laugh-a-minute, no-holds-barred send-up of big love, high passion, and other uncontrollable bodily functions! Julia Jones (Alyson Hannigan from the American Pie series) is looking for love in ALL the wrong movies, until she snags her the man of her dreams! But now, a devious ex, a farting feline and eccentric in-laws threaten her perfect Hollywood wedding!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Date Movie just sucks\\n\\nReview: Date Movie stars Alyson Hannigan (American Pie, Buffy The Vampire Slayer) as Julia Jones who is overweight at first but then she wants to change her image so she goes to Hitch the date doctor, played by Tony Cox (Me, Myself & Irene, Bad Santa) and he \\\"pimps\\\" her out and changes her into a vuluptous being and Adam Campbell falls in love with her and they get together, plan to get married but Adam Campbell's friend Andy, played by Sophie Monk who cant act worth s**t comes back to ruin the wedding. Spoofs movies like Meet The Fockers, Meet The Parents, Lord Of The Rings, King Kong, Wedding Crashers, Napoleon Dynamite, Kill Bill, Bridget Jones, Wedding Planner and so forth...who cares?!!! 2 writers of the Scary Movies wrote this piece of crap? Appaently they don't have any intelligence at all. The scenes where we are supposed to laugh left me yawning for the doors but I stayed throughout and I cheered when it ended. Go see Dave Chappelle's Black Party, I recommend you see that then this....at least it was funny and watchable. This just wasted the talents of a lot of actors that I like. Also starring Eddie Griffin (Double Take, The New Guy), Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde, Best In Show), Fred Willard (A Mighty Wind, Idle Hands), Judah Friedlander (American Splendor, Feast), Marie Matiko, Tom Lenk (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel), Lil Jon and Josh Meyers (MADTv).\",\n \"Product: Based on the original film by fright master Wes Craven, The Hills Have Eyes is the story of a family road trip that goes terrifyingly awry when the travelers become stranded in a government atomic zone. Miles from nowhere, the Carter family soon realizes the seemingly uninhabited wasteland is actually the breeding ground of a blood-thirsty mutant family... and they are the prey.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Just another throwaway remake\\n\\nReview: This time Wes Craven's 1977 horror flick The Hills Have Eyes is remade by High Tension director Alexandre Aja. Family and a couple with a baby are on the road and are given directions by a gas station attendant. They soon get stranded in the middle of the hot desert. So, a few of them go off to see if they can find any help. Doug, played by Aaron Stanford (X-Men: The Last Stand, 25th Hour) finds a huge crater in the middle of the desert filled with abandoned cars and what not. Terror soon strikes as the family are attacked by the mutated people. Aja has great visuals especially the gory kind but even that gets tiresome after awhile. It's not that good. I tend to see reviews giving it high ratings. Meh, I'm not one of those people. Twas just another throwaway remake. I do recommend it only to the die hard horror junkies. Not for all people. Stanford, Emilie de Ravin (Tv's LOST, Roswell) and Dan Byrd (Salem's Lot, 28 Days) are the only cast members that actually accomplish some good acting. Mostly all the other actors are wasted. Also starring Vinessa Shaw (Eyes Wide Shut, 40 Days and 40 Nights), a wasted Kathleen Quinlan (Event Horizon, Breakdown), a wasted Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs, Tv's Monk), Tom Bower (Die Hard 2, Nixon), Michael Bailey Smith (Monster Man, In Hell), Robert Joy (Joe Somebody, Land of the Dead), Desmond Askew (GO, Repli-Kate) and Billy Drago (Cyborg 2, Drifting School).\",\n \"Product: Based on the best-selling novel by Richard Price, this explosive thriller stars Academy Award(r) nominees Samuel L. Jackson (1994, Best Supporting Actor, Pulp Fiction) and Julianne Moore (2002, Best Actress, Far From Heaven) and Golden Globe(r) winner Edie Falco (\\\"The Sopranos\\\"). When Brenda Martin (Moore) claims her car was stolen with her son in the backseat, the chilling accusation sparks an intense investigation led by Detective Lorenzo Council (Jackson). The frenzy to find her son escalates into an explosive nightmare of suspicion and accusation, and the search for the truth leads to riveting action, disturbing revelations, and a shocking ending.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Jackson is left holding the film at bay....Freedomland is forgettable\\n\\nReview: Julianne Moore (The Forgotten, Magnolia) stars as Brenda Martin who tells Det. Lorenzo Council played by Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Coach Carter) that she was carjacked and that her son was in the backseat. This sets in motion a big series of events as Jackson tries to find out who took the boy and where he is. There is also an uproar when the cops start dragging in people who are responsible for the kidnapping and also the people are outraged at Moore for what she has done. Julianne Moore is miscast big time in her role. I know people will disagree with me but thats how I feel and Jackson is left holding up the film. He'll go from this to doing Snakes on a Plane...wow, great jump there Samuel. Love ya but come on man. Ron Eldard (Mystery Alaska, The Runner) is good in here too but nothing special. Also starring Edie Falco (The Sopranos, OZ), William Forsythe (The Devil's Rejects, The Waterdance), Aunjanue Ellis (Ray, Undercover Brother), Anthony Mackie (The Manchurian Candidate, She Hate Me), Clarke Peters (The Wire, Head of State), Peter Friedman (Paycheck, Single White Female) and Samuel Jackson's wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Lone Star). I recommend it for Jackson fans.\",\n \"Product: Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil, The Fifth Element), Cameron Bright (X-Men 3), Nick Chinlund (The Legend of Zorro) and William Fichtner (The Longest Yard) star in this theatrical set in the late 21st century, a subculture of humans have emerged who have been modified genetically by a vampire-like disease (Hemophagia), giving them enhanced speed, incredible stamina and acute intelligence, and as they are set apart from \\\"normal\\\" and \\\"healthy\\\" humans, the world is pushed to the brink of worldwide civil war (a war between humans and hemophages) aimed at the destruction of the \\\"diseased\\\" population. In the middle of this crossed-fire is - an infected woman - Ultraviolet, who finds herself protecting a nine-year-old boy who has been marked for death by the human government as he is believed to be a threat to humans.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: UNRATED or not this movie is still Ultralame\\n\\nReview: Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element, The Messenger) plays Alice...oh I mean Violet, a half human and half vampire fanged fighter of her people. Nick Chinlund (Con Air, Tears of the Sun) plays Daxus, a human with ridiculous noseplugs who wants to destory the race that Jovovich belongs to. Jovovich then helps out a little boy clonse of Daxus named Six played by Cameron Bright (Running Scared, Godsend) who may be a cure to cure Jovovich's fang problem. William Fichtner (Tv's Invasion, Armageddon) also stars as Garth, a friend of Violet's. Kurt Wimmer who directed the much better Equilibrium fails in Ultraviolet resulting in a BOMB and beyond. Jovovich plays the same performance here that she does in the Resident Evil movies which is really annoying. It's too bad you're doing this spit Jovovich...too bad. Fichtner and Chinlund are wasted and Bright plays the same performance like so many of his other films. That kid needs a break. All the acting with the dialouge is dense and the action scenes are pretty weak. Also starring a seriously horrible Sebastien Andrieu (Look at Me).\",\n \"Product: Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. \\\"Measuring their lives in love,\\\" these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic. RENT is based on Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical, one of the longest running shows on Broadway. The raw and riveting musical stars Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Tracie Thoms and is directed by Chris Columbus.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Rent Is A Winner!\\n\\nReview: Rent is of course the broadway musical thats been around for a long time because its the longest running musical on Broadway. Anthony Rapp (Dazed & Confused, Winder Passing) stars as Mark, who documents the events all throughout the movie with his camera and who just got dumped by Maureen, played by Idina Menzel (Ask The Dust, Kissing Jessica Stein) who is now dating Joanne, played by Tracie Thoms (Everyone's Depressed, Porn N' Chicken). Adam Pascal (School of Rock, SLC Punk!) plays Roger who's a struggling musician who falls in love with stripper/drug junkie Mimi, played by Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Alexander). Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order, Restaurant) plays Collins who falls in love with Angel, played by Wilson Jermaine Heredio (Flawless, Johnny Was) and Taye Diggs (Equilirium, Way of the Gun) plays Benny the landlord of the building to kick everyone out. Fantastic shots of New York, streets, underground etc. etc. and the performances are great especially by Rapp, Heredio and Menzel...the protest rally scene with her was great. Dawson and Thoms weren't in the regular broadway shows and they take the places of other people but they both do wonderful jobs here. The songs are great, sometimes cornish which is basically in the musical vein. \\\"The Tango Maureen\\\" sequence was one of the best and so was \\\"La Vie Boheme\\\". This one won't disappoing Rent fans. I've never seen Rent on Broadway but the movie was a winner all on its own. I just want to point this out...it seemed like they put Bon Jovi in the movie (Adam Pascal) heh heh. Also starring Daniel London (Minority Report, Patch Adams), Aaron Lohr (D 2 & D 3: The Mighty Ducks), Mackenzie Firgens (Nail Polish, Groove), Jason Foster (Voices Carry) and of course Sarah Silverman (Jesus Is Magic, Say It Isnt So). No Day But Today.\",\n \"Product: Pre-recorded VHS video tape\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Stephen Baldwin to the rescue!\\n\\nReview: Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects, Bio-Dome) stars as SCAR team member John who gets mixed up with nice hooker Candy played by the beautiful Tia Carrere (Relic Hunter, True Lies) when his SCAR team members invade a place and kill thugs along with two of Carrere's hookers friends. Baldwin helps Carrere escape before she is found and killed. Carerre tells her boss about what happened and her boss tells Baldwin's boss Laine played by Chazz Palminteri (The Usual Suspects, Running Scared) about what Baldwin did. So, he has a couple of SCAR members try to take out Baldwin but Baldwin eventually escapes and grabs Carrere as both him and her are on the run. Carrere is sexy and she has a wonderful singing voice and keeps this movie alive. Baldwin plays this performance in many of his other movies but here and there he has good moments but nothing special. Some of the action is good but it's not that great of an action/thriller. Also starring DB Woodside (Tv's 24, Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Michael Rispoli (Snake Eyes, Angie), Andrew Davoli (Room 6, Knockaround Guys) and Gary Dourdan (CSI, Playing God)\",\n \"Product: A convicted strangler, studying the paranormal in his cell, learns to make himself invisible. As an invisible man, he escapes from prison to stalk and strangle the five women who testified against him in his trial. A police lieutenant is assigned to protect them and catch the brutal convict. MYSTERY/SCIENCE FICTION\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Hollow Man in the 70's\\n\\nReview: Frank Ashmore (Airplane!, V) stars as Roger Sands who is a convicted man who winds up making himself invisible and escape his jail cell. Robert Foxworth (Syriana, Beyond The Stars) plays the Lieutenant on the case. He has to protect several women who testified against Sands. One by one Sands goes after the women and Foxworth wants to find The Astral Inisible Factor and stop him for good. Badly acted, horrible directed and executed thriller has bloodless chills and thrills. The effects are dumber then dirt. Nothing can save this bottom of the barrel mess. Its simply dreadful. The editing is bad as well. I saw LOOP pop on the screen a couple of times. Also starring Stefanie Powers (Deceptions, Hart to Hart), Sue Lyon (Alligator, End of the World) and Mark Slade (Flashpoint, Waikiki)\",\n \"Product: What do you get when you combine three inexperienced criminals, a rented house in Los Angeles and the son of one of Americas greatest legends? You get the 1963 kidnapping of Frank Sinatra, Jr. Featuring an excellent soundtrack of period music, this madcap caper is more outlandish than fiction!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Stealing Sinatra has a weak pulse\\n\\nReview: David Arquette (Scream Trilogy, Stephen King's Riding The Bullet) stars as Barry who has the perfect plan. He wants to kidnap Frank Sinatra Jr., played by Thomas Ian Nicholas (American Pie 1-3, L.A. D.J.) , for ransom of a large amount of money. Coming along for the ride is Barry's friend Joe, played by Ryan Browning (The Smokers, Extreme Days) and Mr. John Irwin, played by the always masterful William H. Macy (Cellular, The Cooler). Macy doesnt think this a brilliant plan but he goes along with it. They kidnap Sinatra Jr. while he was staying in a hotel and bring them back to the place where their gonna keep him. Arquette has Macy take all the phone calls from Frank Sinatra, Sr., played by James Russo so that way they can ask for the ransom money and then when they get it, Jr. will be released. Stealing Sinatra has it moments, it's a TV movie people. Nicholas does a fine job as Sinatra Jr., he sings good too and of course Macy is wonderful but Arquette and Browning are way miscast for their roles. Also starring Evangeline Lilly (Tv's LOST), who was one of those bikini models in that one commercial shoot. Doesnt feel like their was much oomph in this \\\"supposed\\\" comedy...I didn't laugh that much.\",\n \"Product: After a run in with a hot exotic dancer one wintry night, straight-laced prep school student James will find himself on the ride of his life. Risking his future, he follows this mysterious woman to New York City - ditching school, dodging cops and partying at hot nightclubs along the way. Based on a true story, Whirlygirl, is Risky Business for the 21st century; a fast paced, sexy, adventure about trusting your instincts and pushing life to the limit.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Nothing to Whirl about\\n\\nReview: Julian Morris (Cry Wolf, Young Arthur) stars as James a young boy who hires a Whirlygirl (Exotic Dancer) one night to entertain him and a bunch of his friends in a secret little place since it's prohibited on school grounds. Once the Whirlygirl played by Monet Mazur (Torque, 40 Days & 40 Nights) leaves James soon finds out that she has taken a valuable watch from him. So, he asks the head of the school if he can leave to go get the watch and he'll return before curfew. James tracks down the Whirlygirl at her apartment in which he soon starts to fall for her (as usual). Interesting look but there's nothing really here to get excited about. Mazur is beautiful and Morris gives a dull performance. Also starring Daniel Franzese (Bully, Mean Girls) and a surprising appearance by David Garrison (Married With Children, Op Center) as one of Mazur's customers. Well it was surprising to see him but he didn't have that much to do really. This gets a ** out of ****\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":37,"string":"37"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":70,"string":"70"}}},{"rowIdx":71,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2M4U0ZK4R3ZXW"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Rope King ST-300 Sisal Twine - 300 feet - is perfect for shipping departments, industrial packaging, bundling, recycling, handyman, arts and crafts and gardening applications. Natural fibers grip tightly for exceptional knot strength. All natural - biodegradable; packed on a coil.\". The summary of the review text is \"Worked well in the garden\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I used this twine in a Florida Weave (tomato support system) I created in my garden this summer. I would like it if the twine were a bit thicker, but it was hard to find that online, and this was a good price, so I went with it instead and hoped it would work. It was very easy to cut and tie. I used it to support 9 indeterminate tomatoes and had no problems all summer until one string recently either broke or came untied--this could have been my fault, but it held up for months before otherwise and was pretty easy to fix.\n\nThe only disadvantage might be that the twine is just wrapped around itself without a spool, so as the roll of twine gets thinner, there's less there to support it, and I expect that one of these times it will become a shapeless mass of twine (hopefully not too tangled).\n\nI still have quite a bit left over, but if I run out next summer I wouldn't hesitate to order this one again."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I used this twine in a Florida Weave (tomato support system) I created in my garden this summer. I would like it if the twine were a bit thicker, but it was hard to find that online, and this was a good price, so I went with it instead and hoped it would work. It was very easy to cut and tie. I used it to support 9 indeterminate tomatoes and had no problems all summer until one string recently either broke or came untied--this could have been my fault, but it held up for months before otherwise and was pretty easy to fix.\n\nThe only disadvantage might be that the twine is just wrapped around itself without a spool, so as the roll of twine gets thinner, there's less there to support it, and I expect that one of these times it will become a shapeless mass of twine (hopefully not too tangled).\n\nI still have quite a bit left over, but if I run out next summer I wouldn't hesitate to order this one again."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: A professional keyboard cover to keep your keys free of harmful dust and debris. Dust free spandex material stretches to fit 61, 76 or 88-key keyboards. Comes complete with a built-in bag, plastic cord and locking clasp. Locking clasp secures dust cover over keyboard and also fastens bag shut. Entire dust cover fits in storage bag when not in use.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Gray, not black, but works well\n\nReview: First, I want to point out two things you should know in case you're buying this product based on the picture:\n* the cover is actually a medium, maybe slightly dark, gray--not black as the picture appears to be.\n* the cover is not nearly as snug as the pictures may make it seem (more on this below).\n\nThat being said, the cover works well in terms of protecting the keyboard from dust. It should at least be clear from the pictures that this is NOT a form-fitting plastic cover that is pre-made contoured to the corners and height of your keyboard. Even for a full-size keyboard, it may actually be a bit loose, but I use this fact to my advantage. My keyboard has a music rest I can attach to keyboard, as I am assuming most do. Ideally, I'd like a fitted cover that has a slit for this, but since Casio doesn't seem to make one for my keyboard, I went for this instead. This cover is big and stretchy enough that I can fit it over both the keyboard *and* the music rest without needing to take the music rest off, and now they're both protected from dust. It doesn't look that weird.\n\nI'll try to upload a photo later if I can, but while a bit different from the pictures, this product isn't nearly as bad as I might have expected based on some reviews.","Product: A professional keyboard cover to keep your keys free of harmful dust and debris. Dust free spandex material stretches to fit 61, 76 or 88-key keyboards. Comes complete with a built-in bag, plastic cord and locking clasp. Locking clasp secures dust cover over keyboard and also fastens bag shut. Entire dust cover fits in storage bag when not in use.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Gray, not black, but works well\n\nReview: First, I want to point out two things you should know in case you're buying this product based on the picture:\n* the cover is actually a medium, maybe slightly dark, gray--not black as the picture appears to be.\n* the cover is not nearly as snug as the pictures may make it seem (more on this below).\n\nThat being said, the cover works well in terms of protecting the keyboard from dust. It should at least be clear from the pictures that this is NOT a form-fitting plastic cover that is pre-made contoured to the corners and height of your keyboard. Even for a full-size keyboard, it may actually be a bit loose, but I use this fact to my advantage. My keyboard has a music rest I can attach to keyboard, as I am assuming most do. Ideally, I'd like a fitted cover that has a slit for this, but since Casio doesn't seem to make one for my keyboard, I went for this instead. This cover is big and stretchy enough that I can fit it over both the keyboard *and* the music rest without needing to take the music rest off, and now they're both protected from dust. It doesn't look that weird.\n\nI'll try to upload a photo later if I can, but while a bit different from the pictures, this product isn't nearly as bad as I might have expected based on some reviews.","Product: Clean doesnt have to be complicated. Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes clean and disinfect in one easy step, killing 99.99% of household germs including cold and flu viruses* Our one-step disinfecting formula is designed for the hard, non-porous surfaces in every room in the house and does not require a rinse, even on food contact surfaces. The convenient wipes can be used for daily touch-ups or tough cleaning jobs. Our Lemongrass Citrus Scent Disinfecting Wipes are scented with essential oils and botanical ingredients and leave your home smelling fresh and clean. This EPA registered disinfectant can be used around kids and pets and is suitable for use on all hard non-porous surfaces including childrens toys, pacifiers, gym equipment, food contact surfaces, doorknobs, bathroom surfaces, and more. Seventh Generation is committed to being a brand of environmentally conscious and effective household and personal-care products. Our disinfectant wipes, sprays, and cleaners are solutions for the hard non-porous surfaces within your home. A partnership with the CleanWell Company, makers of the disinfectant formula based on an essential oil, brings you a line of Seventh Generation Disinfecting wipes with CleanWell Inside. * Kills over 99.99% of household germs, specifically: Influenza A virus, H1N1, Rhinovirus type 37, Methicilin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on hard, non-porous surfaces.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good; very wet (some may mind smell, I don't)\n\nReview: First off, I have no real complaints about these wipes: they do a good job cleaning and they stay moist for fairly long. However, perhaps a tradeoff for how long they stay moist is that they seem a little soapy (the cloths themselves are actually very wet), and they tend to leave a bubbly trail wherever I use them. Despite this, it doesn't leave a residue or anything, but it is a bit unusual.\n\nDo note the directions, which are typical for all such cleaners/disinfectants: to clean, just wipe the surface down as you wish; to disinfect, wipe the surface down so it stays wet for 10 minutes, then allow it to dry naturally. Rinse direct food contact surfaces with water--I actually do this with almost all of my surfaces in the kitchen, even though they aren't all food contact surfaces. (Again, this is standard procedure for most products.)\n\nI find the rinsing also lessens the smell, which some people may find disagreeble. Personally, I don't mind it, but you might want to smell these in a store or buy a smaller container first before committing youself to a larger volume. The scent, lemongrass and thyme, isn't really intentional: it's a result of the cleaning product itself. Thymol is the disinfecting agent, and it smells like thyme; lemongrass oil is not listed as an active ingredient but may have antifungal or other beneficial properties, and I suspect that its inclusion (assuming the product does actually contain it) makes the scent a bit more agreeable. I would much rather have this smell than use other, harsher products.\n\nThe smell, by the way, is the same as in the lemongrass and thyme disinfecting spray cleaner, <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Disinfecting-Multi-Surface-Cleaner-26-oz-Trigger-Lemongrass-SEV22810-Category-All-Purpose-Cleaners/dp/B0033UJ5QO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner,26 oz. Trigger,Lemongrass (SEV22810) Category: All Purpose Cleaners</a>. I suspect the products are actually nearly the same, and I think in the future I'll actually just use the spray cleaner; that way don't need to use a disposable wipe if I don't need to. These are probably mostly useful if you need something on the go; for most uses, I suspect a regular spray cleaner may be better (coupled with a paper towel, you have the same thing; coupled with a reusable cloth, you've got an even more eco-friendly solution).","Product: - 100 transfer pipettes - made of polyethylene, which has good resistance to acetone. They would work fine unless you are actually immersing them in acetone for extended periods.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Inexpensive disposable pipettes work well\n\nReview: These pipettes are good for the price. They're about 6 inches long, including a \"bulb\" on the top that's about 3/4 in. long. They hold quite a bit and are not small droppers if you are expecting those. They're a bit flimsy, but most disposable plastic pipettes I've used are. I mostly use them for transferring essential oils for scented bath/body products that I make, but I also use them for other soapmaking tasks (e.g., as a dropper to add citric acid when doing titration on almost-finished liquid soap). If you're planning on using the bag the pipettes come in to store the pipettes, note that it doesn't zip closed, but I find folding the top over and keeping the bag in a box (as I do anyway) works well. You can probably store them in a ziplock-type bag yourself if you want; I'm only pointing this out because I've purchased packs before that did come in such a bag.","Product: AMMEX Vinyl Exam disposable gloves are FDA approved for medical use and offer an affordable and effective barrier protection, against bloodborne pathogens. These premium vinyl gloves are latex free and are perfect for those concerned with latex sensitivities. Vinyl is less elastic than nitrile and latex, giving it a looser fit and smooth, comfortable feel, with excellent sensitivity in the palm and fingertips. They offer a bead at the base of the cuff that is 4 times thicker to prevent ripping or tearing at the wrist AMMEX Vinyl Exam disposable gloves are also less expensive than both latex and nitrile, making them a popular, cost effective option. They are powder free, so in medical applications, you wont have to worry about messy powder residue. Vinyl exam grade gloves are commonly used for medical, dental, child care and senior care. Around the home, these vinyl gloves can be used for personal care, first aid, child care, senior care, pet care, arts and crafts. The best exam grade vinyl gloves for the price on Amazon prime.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good tight-fitting vinyl gloves\n\nReview: I've used a couple different types of vinyl gloves before and most either fit very loosely (making it difficult to use my fingers) or were very tight but not as flexible and easy to tear. These can still be torn if you try hard enough, but I've found they're better than most other vinyl gloves I've used--and actually harder to tear than a box of thin, cheap latex gloves I had for a while. I'm not saying I wouldn't get nitrile if I were willing to pay a little more, but these work fine for what I use them for, which is mostly cleaning around the house and cleaning my bikes, where I want to avoid getting my hands dirty or greasy.\n\nMy biggest problem is actually with the way they are packaged: my box just had a bunch of gloves stuffed in it, and pulling out one also pulled out a wad of a bunch of other gloves all stuck together (could have ripped the top of the box apart had I not been careful). In other words, they do not dispense nicely compared to other boxes of gloves I've used. I assume this will get better as I start using and removing more gloves from the box, but it's definitely an annoyance and the reason I took off one star.","Product: Designed to mop floors quickly and efficiently, the new iRobot Braava Floor Mopping Robot systematically covers your entire floor in a single pass. Braava uses disposable or microfiber cleaning cloths to pick up dirt, hair and dust from all your hardsurface floors including tile, vinyl, hardwood and laminate. Just attach a cloth, set Braava down, press a button and off it goes, using advanced robotic technology to track where it's been and where it needs to go. It's whisper-quiet too, so you can go about your daily activities without disruption. The included Turbo Charge Cradle is a convenient, one-stop charging and storage space, charging Braava 380t in as fast as two hours. Braava uses either disposable cleaning cloths, including Swiffer brand, or reusable microfiber cloths to remove dirt, dust and hair from your floors so you don't have to. Braava has two cleaning modes to choose from depending on the job you need done. In sweep mode, Braava dry mops your floors moving in straight lines using dry cleaning cloths. In mop mode, Braava uses a special back-and-forth mopping action and damp cleaning cloths to lift surface dirt and grime off your floors. With the Pro-Clean System included in Braava 380t, a special Reservoir Cleaning Pad dispenses liquid throughout the cleaning cycle to keep the cloth damp. Cleaning cloths are easy to attach and remove with Braava's removable magnetic multi-purpose cleaning pad. The NorthStar Navigation System 2 works like an indoor GPS that helps Braava keep track of where it has been and where it needs to go. The NorthStar Navigation Cube projects a signal that Braava uses to determine its location. Additional NorthStar Navigation Cubes can be purchased for the Braava 380t to expand the robot's dry mopping capabilities for bigger homes. As Braava cleans, it builds a map of the area, mapping walls, obstacles and drop-offs as it encounters them. Troubleshooting tips-Make sure Cube is not placed within 5 feet of a Plasma or LCD television and that the Cube is not in a room with fluorescent lighting turned on\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Like a robotic Swiffer Sweeper: The 380 from the eyes a former 320 owner\n\nReview: I previously owned a Braava 320, which was previously the \"low-end\" Braava but very similar to this one (they've since discontinued it and began offering the new Braava Jet 240). When my 320 died after three years, customer service agreed to give me a discount on a new Braava, which when coupled with a June-long Father's Day sale this year, ended up being a pretty good deal (less than the MSRP of both the 320 and Braava jet, though I could have gotten the latter on sale as well; see below for more on my choice). This is why you won't see me as a \"veriifed purchase,\" by the way; I bought the 320 on Amazon but the 380 though iRobot customer service since that's the only way I could get the discount.\n\nThe Braava is not a vacuum; it's basically a robotic Swiffer Sweeper, right down to even being compatible with Swiffer Sweeper cloths. It's pretty good at sweeping, which is also what I think of Swiffer (I'll get the floor clean with a broom but the Swiffer always seems to catch more afterwards). In dry/sweep mode, the Braava will go in more or less straight lines, adjusting as it discovers corners and obstacles like furntuture. In mop/wet mode, it will go in a \"Y\" pattern: forward and to one side, then back, then forward and to the other side, repeating as it moves across the floor. Like a Swiffer Sweeper with a wet mopping cloth, it's not an excessively great mopper but will definite suffice for light cleaning. What it lacks in power, I think it makes up for in convenience. I'll still sweep my hardwood floors once in a while myself but find that this is pretty good for routine cleaning of them (I only use dry mode here). In my kitchen, I still have to sweep and mop myself, but this is good for light cleaning in between those (I use it in both wet and dry mode here). One advantage the Braava has over me, even with a Swiffer, is that it can get places I can't get as easily, like under my bed and dressers, so it keeps those areas cleaner than I'd probably do on my own.\n\nBefore using it, the instructions recommend making sure there are no large objects/pieces of debris on your floor. I normally do a quick, not-very-careful sweep just to get anything large (this makes sense since the Braava would otherwise just catch and push these objects around; again, it's like a Swiffer, not a vacuum). You can use either the included clothes (it comes with one dry cloth and one mopping cloth that you can wet with water), but it's also compatible with Swiffer dry or wet cloths or generic equivalents (I'm normally all about generics but don't think any of them clean quite as well as name-brand Swiffer Sweeper dry clothes, by the way, and I don't use the wet ones since I'm picky about what chemicals I'll use and doubt I'd like what is in those). The disposable cloths (it doesn't come with any but, again, it's compatible with Swiffer Sweeper-style ones) are obviously very convenient. I like the idea of being able to reuse cloths, but if the floor is really bad they can be hard to clean (and when I do clean them, I think hand is better than machine), especially the dry cloths, so I'll alternate between the two depending on how I feel about the floor. I tried saving money by cutting my own microfiber cloths down to size, but none worked as well as the included cloths; iRobot's official reusable cloths are somewhat pricey, but I've bought third-party wet and dry reusable cloths for much less (marketed specifically for the Braava; third-party Swiffer-compatible cloths should work too, but I'd stay away from ones that aren't fully rectangular since the Braava pads are supposed to attach in all the way down the length of the machine on both sides, whereas the Swiffer Sweeper just needs the cloth to tuck into one hole in each of the four corners). The 380 includes a \"Pro Clean pad\" intended for wet mopping; you can fill this with water and it will wick out into the attached cloth during the cycle. I've found that for small spaces this isn't really necessary since (like a Swiffer, again), the cloth will stay wet enough to work. For bigger spaces, I actually think it's easier to squirt mopping solution on the floor myself (like I would if I were mopping) then leave the room, since the pad is hard to clean/empty after use and after repeated use the wick doesn't seem to let water down into the pad anymore (they sell replacement wicks); the \"regular\" pad otherwise works fine for both wet and dry modes.\n\nI see two major downsides to this unit. The first is its propensity to get stuck. It is slightly tapered in that (even ignoring slim front section where the pad attaches) the front is slightly less tall than the back, which is the ideal shape for wedging itself under my fridge or stove at my old place (my new stove is closer to the ground and not prone to this). Perhaps they tested other designs first, but it seems to me that if it were a uniform height, it would simply hit the fridge or stove before it even tried to jam itself underneath, then continue with cleaning as normal. I advise you to watch the Braava on the first couple sweeping and mopping cycles. If you have any problematic areas, consider blocking them off, or simply make sure you're around to hear it beep and set it free if it gets stuck. The second downside is that I'm worried about its longevity. You may recall that I previously owned a Braava 320, which is very similar to this model. The 320 needed new tire treads after about a year, and after a bit less than three years it stopped working completely (not sure why--just the distress tone when I tried to start it--but suspect it may have been another wheel problem, as one felt much looser than the other). I had to send in the 320 at my cost for the tire issue and about a $30 repair charge (it was just past warranty) the first time; the second time, they offered me a discount on a new robot, apparently a common practice given other reviews. If you're hoping for a repair, it's not ideal, but if you're looking to replace it anyway as I was, it's nice they at least reward your loyalty somehow. I just hope this one lasts longer than my last but wouldn't be surprised if it fails after a few years again; you'll have to decide for yourself if you think the convenience is worth the price.\n\nAll things considered, it's a good time saver, despite a few problems. I clean my floors \"by hand\" a lot less than I used to, but I still need to sweep and mop myself in the dirtier areas like the kitchen (I probably *should* do it more myself elsewhere too, but it actually does a pretty good job on its own on the hardwood). Again, just think of a Swiffer Sweeper--that's the level of cleaning you'll expect from this. Speaking of Swiffer, that's actually one of the reasons I chose the Braava 380 over the Braava Jet 240: it's compatible with Swiffer cloths, even the name-brand variety of which are cheaper than iRobot's proprietary Braava Jet cloths (and their reusable Jet cloths aren't cheap, either), plus I already had some reusable ones and compatible accessories left over from my Braava 320. The 380 also covers more space than the Jet, and having a mostly hardwood home now, I figured that would come in handy. The 380 is a bit bigger than the Jet, however, so for small spaces like bathrooms the Jet might actually be able to get in and clean more nooks, and has some potential in being able to be controlled via Bluetooth and iRobot's app (but not to very good reviews at the moment). If you can afford it, I think the 380 (or a used 320) is the better choice--and you might even save money on consumables in the long run.","Product: Durable polyethylene construction withstands subzero cold and extreme summer heat. Great for high traffic areas such as: warehouses, fairs, ball parks, schools, etc. Each container includes two wheels for easy portability. Hinged lip keeps rain out. Keep your waste out of eyesight in our heavy-duty and easy to move refuse containers. 22\" Width by 37\" height by 22\" depth. Available in green color.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good can with wheels and attached lid\n\nReview: I bought this can because a curbside pickup program my city offers requires a container of up to 35 gallons, and this one was just about perfect at 32 gallons, plus it has a smaller profile (while being a bit taller) than most round cans/bins I would otherwise have to use. When it arrived, all I had to do was put the lid on. The directions weren't incredibly clear for this, but I figured out after the \"pins\" kept coming loose that not only do you need to align them with the cutout during insertion, you have to push them in all the way so the part that sticks out a little bit sits in the part that is cut out on the can to hold them in place. In my case, the wheels were already on, though there were also instructions for those. It is nice to have a lid that flips open and cannot be detached or lost in the wind, and the wheels are nice if you have heavy contents (though mine is usually far from full and easy enough to just carry with my hands).\n\nI've only had the can for a few weeks now, but it seems study, and I hope it lasts for a while. The lid is a little lightweight and a particularly strong wind *might* be able to blow it open if the angle is right. Additionally, it's not quite tight enough to be waterproof, or at least after a strong thunderstorm the inside of my can got wet (unlike my city's larger trash container, this lid might not be heavy enough to nearly completely seal the container). Other than this, it's pretty good. Do note that, while colors may certainly vary from how they appear on a monitor versus real life, my can as received definitely seems much darker than I would have expected. It is more of a medium green, as opposed to the medium-light green I'd say it appears to be here.\n\nIf you have money to spend on a high-quality \"can\" (with the wheels and square shape you might also call it a \"cart\"), I wouldn't hesitate to go with this one. It seems pretty good except for the lightweight lid, but at least it's attached and won't disappear. If you are looking for a similar-sized container and don't mind something with a bit wider footprint, you can probably find round cans with removable lids at your local hardware store for several times less, but this one works well for me due to its size, appearance, and difficult-to-lose lid.","Product: Handles feature anti-microbial product protection to inhibit the growth of bacterial odors. 5 Inch blunt scissors are most suitable for ages 5+; 5 Inch pointed scissors are most suitable for ages 6+. Safety Blades. Assorted Colors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works well; somewhat small (but they're for kids!)\n\nReview: First, I'm an adult, but I bought these scissors marketed \"for kids\" because they were cheap and I needed another pair. I've been using them for general office tasks, and they work well--I've used them to cut paper, open boxes, and other small tasks. They are a bit small for my average hands, but I wouldn't expect anything else from a kid's product. The thumb hole is fine, and I can fit two fingers in the other handle just fine, but I could see if people with big hands might have problems here.\n\nUnlike another reviewer, I did receive the a light blue (blue-green?) pair as in the picture. The only difference is that the larger handle looks like it has ridges on the inside on one side in this picture, but my pair does not. That difference does not bother me at all.\n\nNext time, I'll probably go for larger scissors, but these are good for being cheap and not taking up much space. They fit well into my corner desk organizer without falling over like a larger pair may do, so I am still happy with this purchase.","Product: Our large aluminum pouring pitcher holds up to 4 lbs. Of melted wax. The plastic handle stays cool even in a double boiler. The spout makes pouring even small candles a breeze. 8 inch tall by 5 1/2 inch in diameter.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for making candles\n\nReview: I bought this pitcher to (no surprise) use for melting wax to make candles. I usually melt 1 or 2 lb of wax at a time, but I've done as little as 8 oz, and you can definitely melt a little more, though maybe not a full 4 lb unless it's all melted (just guessing; I haven't tried to put in 4 lb of wax chips myself). It's aluminum, so it's lightweight, but the handle is *not* aluminum, which makes it cool and safe to touch even when the wax is being heated. The spout also makes pouring into containers or molds very easy, though sometimes I get a bit of wax dripping over the side, because the metal cools very easily, the very last bit of wax usually seems to get solidified on the inside of the pitcher before it can pour out. To clean, I fill the pitcher 1/2 or more full with water, then use a large squirt of dish soap and heat it until the wax residue melts and dissolves, paying particular attention to the spout area. I usually also wipe down the outside, but in general, it's very easy.\n\nThe pitcher seems reasonably well constructed, though I've only had it for a few months now. I plan to keep using it for a while and don't see any signs of how it wouldn't last; if I had to guess at the first point of failure, maybe it would be the handle falling off. But it's definitely OK now.\n\nPS - For those who care, Candlescience sells this item on their website as well for a bit less than it is on Amazon as of the time of my writing. If you're ordering other things from them on their site anyway, it may be cheaper, even including the cost of shipping. However, if you are not and have Amazon Prime (or super saver), it's better from Amazon. They also claim on their website that it is now made in the US, whereas the pitcher I got from Amazon several months ago said \"made in China.\" I'm assuming they will all be US-made, as Candlescience's site said, as the old inventory is run out of (or if you order directly from them).","Product: Our Small aluminum pouring pitcher easily holds up to 1 lb. Of unmelted wax and up to 2 lbs. Of melted wax and is a perfect pitcher for making Small candle batches. This wax melting pot features a plastic handle that stays cool for easy handling, and a tapered spout for precise pouring.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for small batches of candles\n\nReview: This small pitcher is great for making small batches of candles (they say 2 lb, but I usually only do about half of that, which is perfect for making two 8-oz candles at a time as I often do when trying new fragrances or wicks--but you could certainly do 2 lb). I have the large pitcher as well, but this one works better for small batches because it's much easier to work with when you have less wax (e.g., measuring the temperature of the wax is much easier when you don't need to stick your hand with the thermometer halfway down a pitcher).\n\nBoth this and the large one appear to be similarly constructed, with the exception that this one is, of course, about half the size. I've had the large one longer and it's already lasted for years of use without any problems, and I expect this one to do the same.","Product: Stylish cotton canvas portfolio to hold a variety of business essentials\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good, inepxensive bag--for light usage\n\nReview: This \"briefcase\" is really more like a messenger bag in that it is made of canvas and is, therefore, quite flexible and not rigid (except on the bottom to help maintain the general shape of the bag). This shouldn't be surprising from the product's description, but I just wanted to point it out. This also makes it look a bit more casual, but it's a step up from an actual messenger bag and costs significantly less than more typical briefcases.\n\nI've had the bag for five months, and it has held up decently well. It works great for lighter items (portfolios/folders, papers, paperback books, etc), and I've carried heavier items (eight-year-old laptop that feels like it's solid lead, a couple hardcover textbooks, and so on) without much problem, although the shoulder strap seems to be slowly detaching from the bag on one end. I imagine I wouldn't have had this problem if I stuck to lighter loads. (Be warned, loading too much can also make it puff out at the sides and lose the \"briefcase\" shape.) I'll summarize the pros and cons from my experience:\n\nPROS\n* Price: probably among the least expensive \"briefcases\" you'll find, although keep in mind that it might look more like a bag.\n* Three divided compartments inside (including holders for pens and pencils) and an outside pocket provide plenty of space and organization\n* Includes detachable shoulder strap in addition to handles, so you can carry it or wear it however you prefer.\n\nCONS\n* Given my strap-detachment issue, this might not stand the test of repeated heavy loads. I'm concerned. (Papers and whatnot should be fine.)\n* The zippers extend all the way down both sides (not just the top). This might be just a personal preference, but it's easy to open the bag too far and have everything fall out or to forget to check that both sides are fully zipped and not open before taking off with the bag.\n\nOTHER\n* It's black with brown leather (or fake leather?) \"pads\" on the corners and handle. I'm not a fan of this black-and-brown combination. Your opinion may differ.\n\nTo summarize, it's certainly not bad for the price and should withstand at least moderate use. I'd be careful about heavy books and avoid it if you want something that looks a bit more professional or rigid. If you think the pros outweigh the cons, it's certainly not a bad option.\n\nEDIT: After about six months of use, one of the shoulder strap hooks snapped off the bag after the fabric had been wearing down (as I described above). I'd give the product three and a half stars if I could; I wouldn't be surprised if the occasional heavy load of books or the old laptop was too much, plus the \"handles\" are still working fine (I just preferred the shoulder strap because it was easier to carry when commuting)--but other bags (not this style) have held up to similar loads before.","Product: Cuisinart CSB-76BC Smart Stick Hand Blender - Brushed Chrome\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Works well but gears will eventually strip\n\nReview: I've used various CSB-75 and CSB-76 blenders (the difference being, apparently, just that the 75 has two speeds and the 76 only one). The longest I managed to use one was about 4 years of daily use. If the price isn't that different, I'd recommend the two-speed model over this one. I got that because I couldn't find this one anymore and figured it was discontinued, though I see some sellers here still have it. But having two speeds is much nicer than having one; on my old one-speed, when blending liquids, the high speed would sometimes push the liquid up over the top of the container. Using the low speed, which I find adequate now for most tasks, helps reduce this problem. Skip this one if you can--or skip the Cuisinart stick blenders altogether if you read the rest of the review.\n\nIn addition to the blender itself, both blenders come with a 2-cup dishwasher- and microwave-safe plastic measuring cup that is perfectly sized for the blender shaft (the whole shaft fits the width of the bottom of the container). I usually use this cup to make smoothies. It can also double as a liquid measuring cup because they include markings on the side. Another notable feature is that the shaft (the bottom part with the blade) detaches from the actual blender/motor unit (the top), which makes it easy to clean without needing to worry about avoiding getting the top part wet. Some cheap stick blenders can't do this; I couldn't imagine trying to wash one of those.\n\nUnfortunately, there are a few negatives. First--a minor issue some may care about--if you're ordering the \"brushed chrome\" color, the picture online makes it appear metallic. It is not; it is simply gray/silver-colored plastic (as is every other similarly colored Cuisinart product I own). Second--another minor issue--the blade/shaft portion tends to hold water in the inside portion when you wash it (I think water gets in through the part where it attaches at the top). To fix this, I usually dry it upside down so it drains. A third--much more significant--is that both this unit and the CSB-75 use the same gear design, which has failed me in the past. With my first CSB-76, it took about four years of daily use for the problem to appear. On a later unit, it took less than one year. I can't see inside to know what the issue is for sure, but I'm guessing the gears are getting stripped and thus not turning the blade much, if at all (which is the problem I have: it won't actually blend anything). I've also had one where the blades broke off, but that may have been my fault for soaking them in water for too long and encouraging rust, which I've been careful to avoid since then.\n\nThe final negative aspect is their warranty. They have a three-year warranty, which sounds great. I actually forgot about this at first when I had one break inside the warranty period, so I bought a replacement shaft from Cuisinart online (less than the cost of a whole new unit, as long as you know whether it was the motor or the shaft half that you need). By the time the whole thing broke on me, I remembered this and decided to try it. I contacted them via e-mail, and they explained my only option: they can ship me a new unit at my expense, and I must send them back my old unit, also at my expense. Their shipping charge is $10, and the total cost will be that plus however much it costs me (probably something pretty similar) to return mine, which is about 1/2 to 2/3 the price of just buying a new unit. Good retailers will cover the cost of shipping both ways, or at least one way; Cuisinart does neither. They are also slow to process these requests. While customer service themselves were quick and always responded with a business day, I had to wait an entire week between the time that they told me a new unit would ship and the time it actually shipped to me, plus transit time (almost two weeks total). Don't count on the warranty to help you out in a hurry or without notable expense on your end; on the bright side, three years is fairly long and might be enough time for the \"gear problem\" to pop up if it's as widespread as it seems to be based on my experience.\n\nI do use my blender a lot--every day--which may be more than most people. I'm still giving it two stars because it does work well for as long as it remains usable (seems to be about a year for me with daily use, probably longer if you use it less frequently). Additionally, it's easy to wash (because the top and bottom halves come apart), reasonably priced, and comes with a long warranty even though it is not as consumer-friendly as it could be. If you only use your blender from time to time, I'm sure it will last a long time. Personally, I've switched to the KitchenAid KHB2351CU, which seems nice and has a slightly different, possibly more durable mechanism to attach the motor unit (this one costs more, but and they make a few closer in price to the Cuisinart that might also use the more durable mechanism), but there's a reason I kept purchasing these despite having a few problems.","Product: Command Refill Strips, Small, White, 20-Strips (17022-ES)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Generally works well if you follow the directions\n\nReview: I first used Command strips in college, as my college only allowed these strips to be used to hang things on walls. I remember them working well at the time, and so I later used them when I lived in apartments. Where I live now allows nails, but I still use a few of these for places where nails won't work well or that I suspect will be more temporary than long-term. (A note on the \"working well\" part: you need to remove these as directed. Pull the tab to stretch the strip and keep it as close to the wall as possible--don't just tear it off the wall.)\n\nThis package is sold as \"refill strips\" (more on that in a second), and they can be used to re-use existing \"medium\"-size Command products you may already have. For example, when I moved, I used these to re-hang previously used cord clips and picture hanging strips (basically a Velcro-type material you can use to hang a lot of different things--the Velcro part comes off and you can put a new strip underneath). However, you don't have to necessarily use them as \"refills.\" They work well on their own for places where you might use double-sided tape. The picture hanging strips are a bit nicer for this because you can remove and put back objects you've mounted very easily, but if you don't think you'll need to take the object down much *and* it's made of metal, plastic, or some non-paper-like material (which will rip when you try to remove it--or take the paint off your wall while sparing your object), this strip can also work for that.\n\nHaving used a lot of these over the years, I can offer a couple tips. First, the white strips do hold better than the clear ones. I think the clear ones were new as of a few years ago, probably a new offering they created because they may look nicer if you have dark walls or somewhere where the white strips and other products might draw too much attention. However, if you're not too concerned about color, go with the white ones. Second, I ended up using these at a place that I happened to live in for about 5 years. I wasn't sure how long I'd stay there, and some of these strips had been there almost the whole time. Let me tell you, they do not remove easily after several years. Either I'd take the strip off but also some paint, or the strip wouldn't come completely off the wall. Sometimes the tab would break off as I was trying to stretch/pull the strip off. If you can control it at all, leaving some of the strip on the wall is probably here because you can use a knife to scrape the rest off without damaging the wall too much (or at all, probably, if you're really careful). That being said, I'd probably just avoid this fate entirely by pre-emptively replacing the strips about every year or so if you plan on using them for a long time. Obviously, nails might be better in many of these cases, but now everyone can do that where they live. The packaging doesn't seem to mention this, but ones that I had put on within the last year removed without many problems (aside from one painted wall that apparently had wallpaper underneath at one point--not sure this product is recommended for that situation, but I didn't know).\n\nAll in all, the entire family of Command products works pretty well when used--and removed--as instructed. If you plan on using them long-term, I'd replace the strips every year or so, or the adhesive doesn't seem to remove as well (this doesn't appear to be documented in the instructions, so minus one star because clean removal is the main reason most people use these). Otherwise, these are great, especially for people who can't use nails or even for those who can but want something more temporary.","Product: The Boss Black Fabric Steno Chair by Boss Office Products offers ease of use with its one touch lever that adjusts the seat to your height. The chair measures 22\" W x 22\" D x 29.5-33.5\" H and is on the smaller side weighing just 16 pounds with a weight capacity of 150 pounds. Created with a 5-star nylon base, users will love the stability of the unit, as well as its ability to quickly roll from one side of the room to the other. The black crepe upholstery is stylish, while the plastic seat back and bottom offer practicality.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice, inexpensive office chair\n\nReview: I've ordered two of these chairs and have been pleased with them both. They are easy to put together, seem reasonably sturdy, and come with a good warranty (I had a part break a couple years after I ordered my first one, so I contacted the company to see if I could order a replacement part--instead they looked up my warranty and sent me one at no charge!). Unlike some other reviewers, I have never had a problem with the chair sinking. I did have a second problem with my first chair, which was about four years old at this point: the back fell off, and broke a bit of the bottom part of the chair with it (making me think I couldn't just replace the back and that it would probably be easiest just to replace the whole chair). I like to lean back a lot in my chairs and think that the force of me frequently leaning back may have been too much for it to handle. If you sit up straight--as I probably *should* do--I don't think you'll have this problem.\n\nThis doesn't feel like an expensive office chair--it's a bit smaller, for one, and overall probably a bit less sturdy. But it's a step up from the cheap chair I replaced with this one (those would always break after a year or so for me), looks nice, and works well for usage at my computer a few hours a night--and even the one I broke lives on as a makeshift piano bench.\n\nIf you want something fancy or anticipate heavy usage, you might want to go with something more durable. But this one is certainly fine for the price and not bad at all regardless.","Product: Everybody loves homemade bread, but not everybody has time to make it. Now Cuisinart does it for you! Our versatile Bread Maker offers a variety of crust colors and loaf sizes, and 12 preprogrammed menu options. Foolproof recipes include low carb and gluten-free breads, as well as jams and sauces. With a convenient 13-hour Delay Start Timer, that wonderful aroma of just-baked bread can be waiting for you when you walk in the door.\n--PLUS-- Bamboo Cutting Board\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works well with a few small possibilities for improvement\n\nReview: I've had this bread machine for almost 5 years now and I've used it anywhere from a few times a month to a few times a week. I'm mostly quite happy with it, aside from a few minor issues that I think could be better.\n\nThe things I like include: it (1) includes several different cycles with different options (I've mostly used the whole wheat cycle), (2) works well with whole wheat bread (the whole wheat cycle adds a 30-ish minute \"warm up\" phase to the cycle to slightly warm the ingredients before mixing, and the cycle as a whole is a bit longer due to extra time during the rises and probably other phases), (3) is fairly easy to use (select the program, then change options for loaf size or crust color if desired; then press Start, optionally adding a delay by adjusting the timer up before doing so), (4) makes decent bread (but I don't think any machine compares to making it by hand--but I often cheat; see below), and (5) seems pretty durable, given that I've had it for almost 5 years now.\n\nThings that could be better: (1) the manual lacks a time table. You can find a time table in the manual for the CBK-200, but the CBK-100 is slightly different. The main thing I care about is that on the whole wheat cycle, you'll want to be around when there's about 1:35-1:40 left in the cycle in order to remove the paddle and reshape the dough, if desired. I don't usually use other cycles so can't comment on their times, but I'd imagine they're similar or less. Customer service was, unfortunately, not able to help when I asked; (2) I think there is a typo in the recipe book. Lots of 1 lb loafs call for 1 cup + 1 Tbl water, then the 1.5 lb loaves call for just 1 cup water. I think they meant 1 1/4 cup for the latter, as the 2 lb loaves are then 1 1/2 cups and this progression doesn't make sense otherwise. (3) You can't use the delay/timer feature on the dough cycle. Why?! (I can only imagine it's because they're trying to prevent you from not being home when the cycle ends, forgetting about it, and accidentally letting the dough rise to its doom. The manual says it doesn't \"recommend\" using the timer for the Dough cycle, but unless I'm missing something, you literally can't); instead, I use a bread cycle and plan on being home well before it would start the baking phase based on what I've figured about the timing of the cycle; (4) The paddle sometimes gets grease/oil onto the bottom of the loaf. I remove this before baking, and it doesn't usually happen; it's also not a unique problem to this breadmaker; (5) The seal in the bottom of the pan failed for me after a few years of use (shortly after I wrote this review)--the shaft eventually started to fall out, and I could usually put everything back together enough to make it not leak, but if water were to come out inside the breadmaker, you'd probably be in trouble. Cuisinart sells replacement pans, but I got a refurbished machine on Amazon for not much more. I tried to buy a CBK-100 pan on eBay but don't know if it was mislabeled (the CBK-200 looks similar), but it didn't fit; ordering directly from Cuisinart might have given me more recourse if it didn't fit, though I was able to make a return in any case. Just be careful if you do this. Third parties also sell replacement seals, which could be all you need, but I didn't want to mess with that.\n\nNow, for some \"neutral\" issues that aren't inherently good or bad but that some people may care about: (1) The appliance looks like stainless steel or aluminum in the picture, but it's actually a layer of a gray vinyl or plastic-like material (as are most \"silver\" Cuisinart products I own)--not a big deal for me but may be to some people. [UPDATE: I later bought a refurbished model with \"SS\" in the name and it really *is* stainless steel! It looks much better and probably won't stain like this grey vinyl/plastic has after lots of use]; (2) People say it beeps a lot or beeps loudly. It does, but I don't find it annoying--and the final sets of 6 beeps are nice to know because that's when you should remove the paddle and re-shape the dough if you care to do so; (3) There is no indication of how long is left in each phase of the cycle, though it does tell you what phase it is currently in. I've never seen a breadmaker give any information more detailed than this, but I see some other reviewers mentioned it, so maybe some people care (I do care but wouldn't mind if it were in the manual, which it's also not--but once you use a cycle enough you'll figure out the times that are important to you, like the one I mentioned for the whole wheat cycle above).\n\nI do have some tips that I use on most breadmakers: after the initial mixing is complete, I try to check the moisture level in the dough. I like to make sure it's moist but not sticky. Ideally, careful measuring will eliminate most of this concern, but I find it depends on the flour (whole wheat flour seems particularly variable) I'm using and possibly the humidity if legend is to believed. Second, I highly recommend removing the paddle and reshaping the dough (into a flat-ish even loaf shape) at the final set of 6 beeps, especially if you're making one of the smaller loaf sizes. Unless it's the dog days of summer, I actually like to take it a step further and just turn off the bread machine at that point and let it rise in a loaf pan and bake in my regular oven. This gives you a more typical loaf shape, whereas the bread machine pan is a bit wider that I prefer (but it's still a much more conventional shape than a lot of other breadmakers). In fact, sometimes I cheat a bit more and do my own kneading for at least a few minutes sometime during the first kneading phase--I'll let the machine do the work of warming and mixing the ingredients, then I'll knead it for a few minutes by hand (because I'm still not convinced a machine can do this as well as a human) and put it back in for the machine to finish the rest of the kneading phase and the remainder of the cycle (until they very end where I may again take it out). This sounds like a lot of work, but it's really easy (the machine really does all the hard and messy stuff), and I think it improves the final result a lot--but it's all optional and you'll still get a decent loaf if you just let the machine do everything on its own (though I'd still recommend removing the paddle if you're there when it prompts).\n\nI have never used the jam, pasta, or sweet bread cycles, so I cannot vouch for them. With other breadmakers, I've found the pasta dough doesn't always mix well (ends up crumbly until I start using my hands) and the jam settings turned out more of a coulis, which is not bad but perhaps unexpected for some people. I can't imagine this machine would be different and certainly wouldn't buy any bread machine if that's all you plan on doing with it, though some people may find the additional options nice.\n\nAll things considered, I'm fairly happy with this machine. There are a few improvements I'd hope they consider making (publishing a time table and enabling delayed start for dough, for example), but I'm pretty happy with it as is and have recommended this machine to friends and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to other Amazon customers, either.","Product: This sturdy bed frame is the perfect platform to hold your standard king size mattress and eliminates the need for a box spring. The steel bed frame features wood slats providing solid support for the mattress as well as even body distribution for a restful nights sleep. The advantage of wooden slats is that they do have some give and can curve downwards and adjust to fit your body and your sleeping position. To evenly distribute weight, 2-inch wide birch laminated wood slats run horizontally from the sides to the middle support beam. The standard height is suitable for a standard size bed skirts plus it offers an amazing full 13\" under bed clearance which is perfect for storing things out of site. The bed frame benefits from a strong steel frame, seven steel legs including extra side legs and a middle support beam. Holds up to 300 pounds per side. Each frame ships in one (1) box to eliminate excess packaging. Assembly required. Takes less than 60 minutes to assemble. Imported.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Weak legs and a bit fragile, but an acceptable cheap frame\n\nReview: I'm giving this frame three stars because, as the Amazon guideline for three stars says, \"It's okay.\" I've had the frame three years and have used it (almost) daily, so unlike other reviewers who are just commenting on the assembly or how it feels after a night or two, I think I can give some feedback about how it holds up in the long term.\n\nWithin a few months of first using this bed, I had a wooden slat break. These slats hold up the mattress and are there to provide some suspension in lieu of a box spring, which you don't need for this frame (and probably can't use unless you want the mattress to be exceptionally high). I contacted the manufacturer under the 1-year warranty, and they sent me two replacement slats for free. That was nice, but it wasn't reassuring to have two break, especially when you're around 180 lb and the only person on the bed.\n\nWithin a few months, however, I noticed the four corner legs start to bend. I know I assembled the bed correctly because I read the directions and followed them closely (took me well over an hour alone, by the way--not sure why some reviewers feel it necessary to put down other purchasers about either of these things). I think the problem has to do with how thin/flexible the flat metal part that supports the frame over the legs is. I was able to bend them back to being straight/in line with my bare hands, but that doesn't stop them from wanting to keep bending back in. They're still there but don't look or feel particularly sturdy. If you ever move the bed (even a few inches), I think it would be best to have two people, one on each end, to lift it completely off the ground so you avoid putting stress on the legs, which might have also contributed to their demise for me.\n\nI did move into a new place with this bed and, unlike some others, didn't find it particularly difficult to disassemble or reassemble--as long as you're OK with just taking the legs off and leaving the large, rectangular part of the frame in place. (I didn't bother removing the slats, either. They're pretty hard to remove.) This wasn't a problem for me and shouldn't be for most people since if you're moving this, you're probably also moving a mattress that is around the same size. So, this was not a negative for me. There are also other positive aspects about this bed: when everything is assembled tightly, it's very quiet, even if you might be moving around on it. (I would avoid jumping on it, or any excessive force, for fear of breaking the slats.) It's also very reasonably priced, one of the cheapest bed frames I could find that didn't look terrible. Further, the assembly instructions are clear, and it comes with everything you need, including small tools. I also find it about as comfortable as a typical box-spring bed when I use my regular mattress on it. Additionally, not needing a box spring, it sits fairly high off the ground had has a bit over a foot of clearance underneath, which I used to use for storage--this is nice to have in small spaces.\n\nAnyway, at three years out, I'm still using this bed, but I'm looking to replace it because I don't see the legs holding up much longer (it was originally just one leg but now looks like it's all the corners), and it makes funny creaking noises now that it never did before, which I suspect is some parts coming loose. I have re-tightened what I can and I recommend periodically checking everything (I think the manufacturer does too, but it's been a while since I've read the instructions). It's probably OK if you only want to use it on occasion--e.g., for a guest bed (at least for guests who you don't think would be too hard on the frame)--or if you only plan on using it for a year or two. If you want something to last for years of nightly usage, this is probably not the frame for you. I'd still probably go for something a little higher quality, which will likely cost more, but as long as your expectations are set for this price point, it's at least a usable bed.","Product: Stay Fit And Healthy - Enjoy Nutritious Homemade Meals Everywhere With The #1 Meal Prep Containers By Freshware! Are you sick and tired of spending money on buying readymade unhealthy food?Meet The Ultimate Meal Prep Containers, Your New Best Friend In The Kitchen! With1 spacious compartment, you can use this set of15 smart lunch containers for various food or snacks without them mixing all together. Your meal will look and taste good all day long.Provide yourself and your kids with a decent meal prep of controlled portions with main courses, proteins, veggie, carbs, fruit, and healthy snacks, all nicely packed in this super convenient bento lunch box container. These food savers can also be used as school lunch box or last nights dinner.Supreme Quality and Premium Design Combined!These food storage containers for meal prepping are made from 100% food-safe material. Airtight and leak-proof when closed, these lunch boxes can be easily opened using the convenient flaps on the lids.Healthy Lifestyle Starts with Freshware: - Prepare more meals in advance and freeze them for the busy days when you wont have time to cook. - Microwave them to enjoy a delicious hot meal. - Clean them hassle free in the dishwasher top rack.Box Size: 9 x 6.3 x 1.6 inch. Cavity Size: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.6 inch. Volume: 28 oz. Lid Size: 9 x 6.3 x 0.6 inch.These Meal Prep/ Portion Control/ 21 Day Fix/ Food Storage Containers are a great new alternative to expensive plastic containers. Perfect lunch boxes for kids or bento box for work, while they are highly recommended by most fitness experts.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works great for soap\n\nReview: Like a surprisingly large number of other people, I bought this mold to use for making soap. It works great. You can really see the sunflower pattern on the \"bars\" of soap. Because this mold is made of thin, flexible silicone, it's also very easy to release the soap from the mold. Because the mold is so flimsy, however, I would recommend using this on top of a metal pan or something similar, especially if you plan on moving it at all before the soap has solidified. You can fill the cups in the mold all the way to the top, or you can fill them up only part way (I do maybe 2/3 or 3/4 of the way if I don't have much soap left to pour), and they still look great. I have several other Freshware molds like this one with different patterns (the daisy and sunflower ones are my favorites for soap) and wouldn't hesitate to purchase more for this purpose.","Product: The 3-Speed Hand Blender let's you blend, crush, chop, puree and whisk. Simply choose the appropriate speed for your ingredients. The chopper attachment is great for processing harder cheeses, nuts and creating graham cracker crusts. The included whisk attachment whips creams and egg whites to fluffy peaks. Refer page 15 in the user manual for troubleshooting steps.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works well and seems more durable that the Cuisinart SmartStick\n\nReview: After owning several Cusinart SmartStick blenders (all of which inevitably broke due to a gear-stripping problem that you can read about in several reviews of its various models), I decided to look for something else. I can't believe I didn't find this KitchenAid hand blender before: it's reasonably priced (in the same range as the SmartStick when I bought it, plus as I found out later they have other models of the KitchenAid that cost less and don't include some of the \"extras\" but presumably share the KitchenAid's better design) and works quite well. If you're familiar with the SmartStick, it has everything I like about that. Most importantly, it blends well. Additionally, the blade shaft comes off for easy cleaning. It also includes a mixing/blending cup that is sized well to fit the blade shaft, though I happen to like the design of Cuisinart's better (which, given the \"lip,\" also works well for serving or pouring, unlike this one, plus it's wider and a bit less tall which I think works better for blending larger chunks of food). Finally, it has adjustable speed (three in this case, though I got by with even a 1-speed Cuisinart--who also makes at least a 2-speed model I've used as well--just fine).\n\nThe KitchenAid blender also includes some \"extras\" besides just the stick blender. Besides the blade shaft (which you'll use for regular stick blending, likely with the included cup), they include a small chopper as well as a whisk attachment. I've never used the whisk but assume it would work well; I have tried to use the chopper but don't recommend buying it just for that purpose. In my case, the lid is very hard to remove afterwards because it seems to create a vacuum inside (or at least a pressure difference) that makes the lid very difficult to remove, a problem that is exaggerated if you have liquid ingredients that might get stuck in the seal. I ended up having to throw mine out after the lid got stuck on so tight I couldn't get it off and accidentally broke it trying. It also includes a carrying bag for some of these accessories, which may be nice if you move yours around a lot (but mine just stays in the kitchen).\n\nMy favorite thing about this blender is that the place where the blade attaches appears to be metal, which I assume will last much longer than the plastic on the Cuisinarts that kept getting destroyed on me after a few months to a couple years (quite variable) of daily use. The KitchenAid is holding up well for me so far after almost a year, still with nearly daily use, and I hope it continues to do the same.\n\nIf you use your stick blender frequently like I do, I'd highly recommend this one (or a similar KitchenAid) over the Cuisinart SmartStick. If you use yours infrequently, either one should work well, so you may want to factor in other criteria like purchase price (though they weren't that different when I wrote this) or aesthetics (the Cusinart is mostly plastic, but the KitchenAid only has plastic on the motor section; the Cuisinart is available in more colors, but it appears this one is only silver/gray).","Product: All natural, biodegradable paper sourced from sustainably managed forests and infused to the core with a pure fragrance. Offers a greener way to scent the home.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent but become weak after short time\n\nReview: I bought a six-pack of the spruce scent, but I had the opportunity to smell the fir, pine, and cinnamon scents in store. All were good, but I prefer spruce because it reminds me most of the real trees my family once used. I was surprised that the directions recommend hanging \"4 or more\" at a time. I put two on my tree, one on the other side of the room, and one in the middle. I noticed the smell for a day or so after I hung them and could smell them again when I stepped out of the house and back in for the next several days after that, but by now (day six) the smell is so faint I can't sense it anymore unless I smell the ornament itself.\n\nBut they do work well, even if the effect is short-lived. I don't recommend using the entire pack at once unless you have a large room or house--I'm glad I saved a couple so I could put them out now and have them (hopefully) still smelling on Christmas. But you'll probably want to hang a few at first. I wanted to try these because I didn't want to mess with candles or artificial fragrance oils (although I still have no idea what's in ScentSicles) and an essential oil diffuser or something similar was more expensive than I wanted to mess with at the moment but I think I may go that route in the future. In any case, it worked better than my homemade reed diffuser with fir oil, and they're great because they're effortless to \"use\" after you hang them.\n\nI must say, however, that a lot of these raving five-star reviews CLEARLY sound like they're written by the company itself (or shills). These are good, but they're not *that* great. I might get them again next year (shopping tip: they were cheaper in stores for me), but I might also look into other options like some sort of diffuser or maybe a real evergreen wreath. These lasted a very short time, and they require a few to be effective. I can't imagine how much it would cost to continually replenish them over the holiday season. I'd give them 3.5 stars if I could, but I'm going with 3 because I'm not sure it quite lives up to its claims (and I wouldn't mind balancing out the fake reviews a little bit).","Product: Simple, functional, and good looking. This TV stand from the Beginnings collection will take game day and movie night to another level! It accommodates up to a 42\" TV, and features two large adjustable shelves and two small adjustable shelves to hold video and gaming consoles, movies, games, and more. With its Highland Oak finish, this TV stand is sure to dazzle in any room.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice-looking inexpensive TV stand\n\nReview: I purchased this TV stand to replace a smaller one now that I have more equipment I'd like to use at my TV (HTPC, external storage, as well as some networking equipment I also keep by the TV) and my old two-shelf unit with no sides shelves wasn't cutting it. I bought the \"Highland Oak\" color, and it is very nice and natural looking. The stand was easy to put together. Two of us did it in less than an hour, and the directions were easy to follow. Since I've only had it for a little while now, I'm not sure how long it will last, but for being marketed as a low-end product I am pleasantly surprised so far. If I had any wishes, I wish it came with more shelves--if you have a lot of small equipment you want to put on it like I do (modem, router, FireTV, network TV tuner device, etc.), they don't take up as much vertical space, and having more places to stack them would be nice. That being said, often Sauder will sell you additional parts if they believe the furniture can safely accommodate it (I discovered this when I broke something during assembly on a piece of store-branded furniture that was actually manufactured by Sauder--you can also order replacement parts from them), so I may ask if I decide it's worth it.","Product: CSB-75PK Color: Pink Features: -Motor wattage: 200. -Easy to use and one touch control. -Includes 16 ounces mixing beaker. -Dishwasher safe and stain-resistant blending shaft. -BPA free. -2 Speeds for all your blending tasks. Product Type: -Hand Blender. Jar Material: -Metal. Dishwasher Safe: -Yes. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -14\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -2.63\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -2.13\". Overall Product Weight: -2.2 lbs.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Good blender but dies quickly with daily use\n\nReview: I purchased this CSB-75 to replace a CSB-76 that died after about 4 years of daily use, since they apparently do not make that model anymore. They are very similar except that this model has two speeds, whereas the old one only had one (which seems equivalent to this model's \"high\" speed). They are so similar, in fact, that I tried the shaft from my old CSB-75 on this blender, and it fit! I assume the two-speed capability is the only major change between the two. Having two speeds is much nicer than having one; on my old one-speed, when blending liquids, the high speed would sometimes push the liquid up over the top of the container. Using the low speed, which I find adequate now for most tasks, helps reduce this problem.\n\nIn addition to the blender itself, the package comes with a 2-cup dishwasher- and microwave-safe plastic measuring cup that is perfectly sized for the blender shaft (the whole shaft fits the width of the bottom of the container). I usually use this cup to make smoothies. It can also double as a liquid measuring cup because they include markings on the side. Another notable feature is that the shaft (the bottom part with the blade) detaches from the actual blender/motor unit (the top), which makes it easy to clean without needing to worry about avoiding getting the top part wet. Some cheap stick blenders can't do this; I couldn't imagine trying to wash one of those.\n\nUnfortunately, there are a few negatives. First--a minor issue some may care about--if you're ordering the \"brushed chrome\" color, the picture online makes it appear metallic. It is not; it is simply gray/silver-colored plastic (as is every other similarly colored Cuisinart product I own). Second--another minor issue--the blade/shaft portion tends to hold water in the inside portion when you wash it (I think water gets in through the part where it attaches at the top). To fix this, I usually dry it upside down so it drains. A third--much more significant--is that both this unit and the CSB-76 use the same gear design, which has failed me in the past. As I said before, with the CSB-76 it took about four years of daily use for the problem to appear. On this unit, it took less than one year. I can't see inside to know what the issue is for sure, but I'm guessing the gears are getting stripped and thus not turning the blade much, if at all (which is the problem I have: it won't actually blend anything). This is actually my second CSB-75. My previous one broke when (as a few other posters here mentioned) the blades broke off. Figuring that might be my fault for letting them soak too long and possibly rusting, I was very careful with my second blender to not do that.\n\nThe final negative aspect is their warranty. They have a three-year warranty, which sounds great. I actually forgot about this when my first motor broke, so I bought a replacement online (not a whole new unit; I purchased the replacement part from Cuisinart for less). By the time the whole thing broke on me, I remembered this and decided to try it. I contacted them via e-mail, and they explained my only option: they can ship me a new unit at my expense, and I must send them back my old unit, also at my expense. Their shipping charge is $10, and the total cost will be that plus however much it costs me (probably something pretty similar) to return mine, which is about 1/2 to 2/3 the price of just buying a new unit. Good retailers will cover the cost of shipping both ways, or at least one way; Cuisinart does neither. They are also slow to process these requests. While customer service themselves were quick and always responded with a business day, I had to wait an entire week between the time that they told me a new unit would ship and the time it actually shipped to me, plus transit time (almost two weeks total). Don't count on the warranty to help you out in a hurry or without notable expense on your end; on the bright side, three years is fairly long and might be enough time for the \"gear problem\" to pop up if it's as widespread as it seems to be based on my experience.\n\nI do use my blender a lot--every day--which may be more than most people. I'm still giving it two stars because it does work well for as long as it does work. Additionally, it's easy to wash, nice to have two speeds, reasonably priced, and comes with a long warranty even though it is not as consumer-friendly as it could be. If you only use your blender from time to time, I'm sure it will last a long time. I'm on the lookout for a more durable blender (just bought a KitchenAid KHB2351CU, which seems nice and has a slightly different, possibly more durable mechanism to attach the motor unit--and they make a few cheaper units that look similar and may also function similarly), but there's a reason I kept purchasing these despite having a few problems.","Product: This sleek, high-performance smart stick hand blender comes in four great colors to fit into any kitchen - funky to sophisticated. With its 200-watt motor, two speeds, and deep reach, it makes quick work of pureeing soup in a pot or blending a pitcher of frothy hot chocolate. And it can whip up lemonade and fruit smoothies in seconds, too. It's one smart stick!; Cuisinart 2-speed series smart stick hand blender, Peridot.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Good blender but dies quickly with daily use\n\nReview: I purchased this CSB-75 to replace a CSB-76 that died after about 4 years of daily use, since they apparently do not make that model anymore. They are very similar except that this model has two speeds, whereas the old one only had one (which seems equivalent to this model's \"high\" speed). They are so similar, in fact, that I tried the shaft from my old CSB-75 on this blender, and it fit! I assume the two-speed capability is the only major change between the two. Having two speeds is much nicer than having one; on my old one-speed, when blending liquids, the high speed would sometimes push the liquid up over the top of the container. Using the low speed, which I find adequate now for most tasks, helps reduce this problem.\n\nIn addition to the blender itself, the package comes with a 2-cup dishwasher- and microwave-safe plastic measuring cup that is perfectly sized for the blender shaft (the whole shaft fits the width of the bottom of the container). I usually use this cup to make smoothies. It can also double as a liquid measuring cup because they include markings on the side. Another notable feature is that the shaft (the bottom part with the blade) detaches from the actual blender/motor unit (the top), which makes it easy to clean without needing to worry about avoiding getting the top part wet. Some cheap stick blenders can't do this; I couldn't imagine trying to wash one of those.\n\nUnfortunately, there are a few negatives. First--a minor issue some may care about--if you're ordering the \"brushed chrome\" color, the picture online makes it appear metallic. It is not; it is simply gray/silver-colored plastic (as is every other similarly colored Cuisinart product I own). Second--another minor issue--the blade/shaft portion tends to hold water in the inside portion when you wash it (I think water gets in through the part where it attaches at the top). To fix this, I usually dry it upside down so it drains. A third--much more significant--is that both this unit and the CSB-76 use the same gear design, which has failed me in the past. As I said before, with the CSB-76 it took about four years of daily use for the problem to appear. On this unit, it took less than one year. I can't see inside to know what the issue is for sure, but I'm guessing the gears are getting stripped and thus not turning the blade much, if at all (which is the problem I have: it won't actually blend anything). This is actually my second CSB-75. My previous one broke when (as a few other posters here mentioned) the blades broke off. Figuring that might be my fault for letting them soak too long and possibly rusting, I was very careful with my second blender to not do that.\n\nThe final negative aspect is their warranty. They have a three-year warranty, which sounds great. I actually forgot about this when my first motor broke, so I bought a replacement online (not a whole new unit; I purchased the replacement part from Cuisinart for less). By the time the whole thing broke on me, I remembered this and decided to try it. I contacted them via e-mail, and they explained my only option: they can ship me a new unit at my expense, and I must send them back my old unit, also at my expense. Their shipping charge is $10, and the total cost will be that plus however much it costs me (probably something pretty similar) to return mine, which is about 1/2 to 2/3 the price of just buying a new unit. Good retailers will cover the cost of shipping both ways, or at least one way; Cuisinart does neither. They are also slow to process these requests. While customer service themselves were quick and always responded with a business day, I had to wait an entire week between the time that they told me a new unit would ship and the time it actually shipped to me, plus transit time (almost two weeks total). Don't count on the warranty to help you out in a hurry or without notable expense on your end; on the bright side, three years is fairly long and might be enough time for the \"gear problem\" to pop up if it's as widespread as it seems to be based on my experience.\n\nI do use my blender a lot--every day--which may be more than most people. I'm still giving it two stars because it does work well for as long as it does work. Additionally, it's easy to wash, nice to have two speeds, reasonably priced, and comes with a long warranty even though it is not as consumer-friendly as it could be. If you only use your blender from time to time, I'm sure it will last a long time. I'm on the lookout for a more durable blender (just bought a KitchenAid KHB2351CU, which seems nice and has a slightly different, possibly more durable mechanism to attach the motor unit--and they make a few cheaper units that look similar and may also function similarly), but there's a reason I kept purchasing these despite having a few problems.","Product: We hope you like what you see. Sauder designers travel the world and bring back the best and latest in style, finish, and color trends. This inspiring world travel is evident in the cutting edge and innovative furniture solutions we offer to you!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A bit small but does the job\n\nReview: This nightstand is cheap and doesn't look terrible, which is probably its main draw if you're looking at something in this price range. It also doesn't look fancy, but if you're looking at Sauder Beginnings, that's something you should expect. What I like is that it's functional--you can put stuff on top, in the drawer, or on the shelf at the bottom, which is what I was looking for (my previous nightstand was just an endtable that didn't have a drawer). What I don't like is that it's a bit smaller and shorter than you might expect, though the listed dimensions appear to be correct. It isn't miniature by any means, but just a couple more inches in height and either width or length would make it comparable to others I've seen. I purchased the white finish, which looks pretty good to me; I see others have various opinions on the wood-colored finishes. The handle is indeed plastic, but it doesn't bother me that much, and you can replace it with another if you want.\n\nAssembly took me alone a bit more than an hour; it would probably go faster if you had someone helping. All pieces were included (Sauder is pretty helpful if they're not--I'd know from previous purchases) and the directions were pretty clear once you figure out what all the pieces are. The \"skirt\" in the bottom of the front did not line up exactly on mine after assembly, with there being a small gap on one side. I made sure all the other pieces were as even and tight as I could get them, but the gap remained. It doesn't bother me that much, especially when the the furniture is actually standing upright in place, but I believe this is a slight inconsistency with the product. I'm sure others will be OK (and others possibly less OK).\n\nIf you can afford something better, by all means, go for it; otherwise, this is great for temporary usage (like me--trying to use for a couple years or so before I probably move and replace it with something better) or kids' rooms, etc. It won't look or feel like an expensive wood nightstand, but it works well if you keep everything I mentioned in mind.","Product: Ipow Brew-in-mug Teapot Extra Fine Mesh Tea Strainer Infuser Steeper with Lid and Handle for Loose Leaf Grain Tea Cups, Mugs, and Pots\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Goldilocks of tea infusers?\n\nReview: I was looking for a \"tea ball\" or similar to use to steep herbal teas and almost bought one of the cheap ones, despite a few reviews on some saying that the holes were so big it let the tea/herb/etc. itself out (or sometimes that the holes were so small that water could barely get in--sometimes for the same product!). This one costs a bit more, but I'm glad I went with it instead. The holes are so small that all but the most finely ground teas should stay inside, and the holes are so numerous that water should have no problem getting in or out. It's a bit different than a ball in that I use this infuser by first filling it with my desired amount of tea, then resting it on the lip/edge of my cup as (or after, depending on the tea) I fill the cip with water. When done steeping, I can discard/compost the contents, wash this infuser, and use it again.\n\nAs others have noted, the lid is borderline non-functional--it just sits on top of the infuser but doesn't latch on or securely connect in any way. I do use it as a tray to set the infuser on before or after use, for which it works fine--maybe that was its intent (?). The infuser is also larger than most ball-style (or any) infusers I've seen, which should be nice if you have tea that expands when in warm water or like to make really strong teas. Personally, mine is barely full when I use it, but the large size is still nice since it ensures the tea sits low enough in the cup to make contact with the water if the cup isn't near 100% full.\n\nAll things considered, I've had no problems with this infuser and think I found the \"Goldilocks\" of tea infusers: big enough in total but with holes that are both small (to keep tea in) but also numerous (to let the infused water out) enough. I paid a bit more, but I think it was worth it (and the price is still not insane).","Product: The USBEXTAA_6 6ft USB Extension Cable (A-A) features 1 USB A male connector and 1 USB A female connector, extending the connection between USB 2.0 devices by up to 6 feet - an ideal solution for better placement of peripheral devices, or adding flexibility to existing USB ports. This high quality USB extension cable is fully rated for use with USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 devices, and is backed by StarTech.com's Lifetime Warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Short and good (also: black)\n\nReview: This is a 6-inch extension cable for USB 2.0 devices, which I bought because one of my cables was just a tad too short but I didn't want a ton of excess cable; this fit that bill nicely. I'm sure a more common application is connecting things like USB flash drives or larger devices that don't have a cable and might block adjacent ports on some computers.\n\nAs with any extension cable, one end of this is male (the end you connect to a computer) and the other is female (the end you plug the device/cable into). Most USB extension cables I've seen have the female end enclosed in plastic, but as you can see from the pictures of this cable, the female end is *not* enclosed, so you just have the bare metal outer part showing. This was actually desirable for me and is one of the reasons I chose this cable--it needed to fit inside my CordMate II, and I couldn't find an enclosed end that would fit. This one worked nicely for that. If you are just running extending a USB cable for normal purposes, this shouldn't matter--though you may actually wish to get one that *is* enclosed since it's less susceptible to damange. I actually had to return the first one of these I got to Amazon for a replacement because the female end was smashed in a bit and damaged.\n\nOne final note: as I write this, Amazon's picture is beige. My cable was actually black. It didn't matter for me, but if that's important to you, keep that in mind.\n\nAll in all, I've had no problems with this cable so far (after getting the damaged one replaced, of course), so I'd recommend if if you have a specific need for a 6-inch USB extension cable. There are certainly longer ones if you need those (be aware of maximum length restrictions, though: about 10-16 ft from device to port unless you use active repeaters or hubs), but this one works fine for what it is.","Product: Network Cable Tester\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cheap and good for testing cables\n\nReview: This product is very inexpensive and useful if you make your own patch cables or do your own punchdowns. Here's how it works: (1) connect one end of the patch cable to the jack in the main part of the unit, (2) connect the other end to the \"remote\" unit (detachable from the main unit), then (3) slide the switch on the main unit to \"On\" and verify that the LEDs for all the pins you're using light up the same on both the main and remote units. You can also turn it to \"S\" if you'd like the LEDs to cycle more slowly. This is intended for testing cables; you *can't* use it to test, for example, whether a jack is live. In fact, if if that jack *is* connected to something (e.g., a switch or other equipment), you might damage it. The main unit needs a 9V battery, which was not included with mine, which presumably tries to electrify each wire and lights an LED at both ends on success.\n\nAs for the output of this device, if you're making a Cat 5 (or 5e or 6) cable with RJ45 connectors, for example, you'll need all pins 1-8 in order. (I assume the \"G\" pin is ground for shielded cable, which the significantly more common UTP does not have.) You can also test RJ11 (telephone) cables, which will use fewer pins. You can use it to test cables you've bought if you suspect they're bad, or cables you've made to determine if they were crimped successfully.\n\nI've used it for the above purpose in addition to testing punchdown (RJ45 jack) installations I've done on my walls. This tester can't directly test those, but it's easy to do with two known-good patch cables. For example, if you want to test a punchdown wall jack that's connected to a (punchdown) patch panel, jjust use the patch cable to connect the main unit to the wall (or panel) jack you're trying to test with, and use the remote unit at the other end of the run, connecting it again there with a patch cable. (The only thing you can't do is test cable that where one end has been cut but not crimped or punched down--as you can probably guess since there'd be no way to connect that end of the cable.)\n\nThe only bad thing about this unit is that it's all visual, so if your cables are long in-wall runs, for example, you won't be able to see both the main and remote unit LEDs at the same time since they must be connected to opposite ends of the run. However, if all necessary LEDs light up in the correct order on both and you don't think you did some improbable mistake like crimping wire 1 to pin 2, wire 2 to pin 3, and so on on exactly one end of the cable, you're probably good. I mostly use it to make sure all my crimps or punchdowns worked successfully. This device is cheap and it--or another tester--is a must-have when doing projects like I described.","Product: Bits small energy saving smart strip. 2175 joules - 7 outlets manufacturer : bits upc : 855883000100\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Adjustable and works great\n\nReview: First, if you can't tell from the description, here's how this works: one outlet (blue in the picture) is the \"master\" outlet. If something plugged into this outlet is turned on, it will activate the automatically switched outlets (green in this picture). If not, they will be switched off. The idea is to help you save energy by effectively turning off power to things that might draw a phantom load just by being plugged in, even when you don't need them (and sometimes even when they're turned off) like computer monitors, speakers, DVD players, or pretty much anything with an AC adapter. Finally, there are two always-on (red in the picture) outlets that are never automatically switched off (but, of course, you still turn off them and the entire power strip with the physical switch).\n\nI have two of these, one for my computer and one for my other computer that I use in place of a TV. Both have the computer in the \"master\" outlet and the monitor and speakers in the automatically switched outlets. I have a floor lamp in the always-on outlet in one so I can use it without my computer, and I have my wireless router in an always-on outlet of the other. Both have worked wonderfully, exactly as expected, by switching off the desired peripherals when the computer is off or sleeping. I've both for over a year now, in constant use, and they're holding up fine.\n\nA key feature of this power strip that I couldn't find on similar products (like the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Belkin-Conserve/dp/B003P2UMQ2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Belkin Conserve</a> strip) is that you can adjust the sensitivity of the master outlet with a screw on the side of this power strip. This is important because, for example, my MacBook often uses so little power when it's *on* that the power strip didn't initially detect it and turn on the switched outlets. I had to adjust the screw a bit to make it switch on and off as expected. You can also do the same if your device uses more power than expected when off (or sleeping or whatever) in order to make the power strip still turn off the extra devices. Reviews I've read for other strips without this feature seem to indicate that some people have problems that could be resolved if they were able to do this.\n\nFinally, I've noticed this same company makes similar power strips in different sizes with different features (7 or 10 outlets; just power or power plus phone or phone and coaxial cable protection). Until I rearranged my equipment, I almost wish I would have purchased a larger one, but this one works fine for me now and it's also the least expensive.\n\nIn summary, this product has worked as expected for me and held up to my usage for over a year so far. If you're looking for a product like this, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one, especially on account of its adjustable sensitivity, a feature that appears to be lacking in most other \"green\" power strips.","Product: The Actiontec M1000 is top tier when it comes to reliable DSL modems supported by Centurylink (and other) internet service providers. With the attachable W1000 wifi adapter (sold separately) you can turn your M1000 into a high speed modem/router combo device! If you're looking for an ADSL 2 or ADSL 2+ modem, get this highly rated Actiontec M1000. Get online and STAY online!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: No problems with Qwest (now CenturyLink)\n\nReview: I bought this modem because it was listed as an approved device for my Qwest (now CenturyLink) DSL service. I've been using it for almost four months (EDIT: now more than 2 years) with no problems at all.\n\nIf you've ever configured one before, there won't be too many surprises. The default IP address of the device is 192.168.0.1, so navigate to that in a Web browser after you plug it in; then the easiest option is probably to click the \"Quick Setup\" link on the side and configure as needed. (Most notably, you'll need your username and password from the ISP.)\n\nHowever, I already have my own router with configuration I wanted to keep (port forwarding, etc.). In my case, I turned off the routing feature on this modem by putting it into \"RF1483 bridge mode\" (available in its configuration). Then, after configuring my own router with my PPPoE settings, this modem acts more like my old cable modem, and I need only worry about the configuration of my own router. However, if you don't already have a router or don't care to use your own, this modem works fine with its default configuration, though you get only one Ethernet port. There is space for a Wi-Fi add-on module (not included) on the top of the unit, but I haven't used that--again, because I have my own, so I set it up to work with that instead.\n\nAt least in bridge mode (and for the brief period I used it in its default state), I've had no problems with this modem and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone looking to buy one, assuming it's compatible with your ISP. If you plan to have DSL for any significant period of time, it's probably cheaper in the long run--especially if you buy a used one--than paying the rental fee your ISP will probably charge you if you don't.","Product: This tape features our exclusive laminated tape process and our standard adhesive. Perfect for everyday applications. These labels stay on under normal indoor and outdoor use, including hot and cold environments. Best suited for smooth flat surfaces. For Use With: PT-1300, PT-1400, PT-1400, PT-1500PC, PT-1600, PT-1600, PT-1650, PT-1650, PT-1700, PT-1750, PT-1760, PT-1800, PT-1810, PT-1830, PT-1830C, PT-1830SC, PT-1830VP, PT-1880, PT-1880, PT-18R, PT-18R, PT-1900, PT-1950, PT-1960, PT-2030, PT-2030AD, PT-2030VP, PT-2100, PT-2100, PT-2110, PT-2110, PT-2200, PT-2210, PT-2300, PT-2310, PT-2400, PT-2410, PT-2430PC, PT-2430PC, PT-2500PC, PT-2600, PT-2610, PT-2700, PT-2710, PT-2710, PT-2730, PT-2730VP, PT-300, PT-300B, PT-310, PT-310B, PT-320, PT-330, PT-340, PT-350, PT-3600, PT-520, PT-530, PT-540, PT-550, PT-580C, PT-7500, PT-7600, PT-9200DX, PT-9200PC, PT-9400, PT-9500PC, PT-9500PC, PT-9600, PT-9600, PT-9700PC, PT-9800PCN, ST-5\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just what you'd expect\n\nReview: You don't really have much of a choice when it comes this, since as far as I know nobody makes compatible, cheaper \"generic\" labelmaker tape. The price might be a bit steep, but that's probably my only complaint--and not a very strong one at that since Amazon has it at least a little cheaper than most other stores.\n\nIt holds up as claimed (I've had a label outside for a while now with no yellowing, peeling, or other problems), and it's compatible with my labelmaker. I can't ask for much more.\n\nBy the way, don't be confused by the product's name: the \"e\" in \"TZe\" indicates \"environmental friendliness\" compared to an older package that used more plastic. It doesn't indicate a different product line from the \"TZ\" tapes which they are identical to in all other respects. So, don't be confused if your labelmaker calls for \"TZ\" and you can only find \"TZe\" tape--they're the same and are interchangeable since it's only the box itself that's affected. (Just don't get an incompatible size!)","Product: The Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-930L) is a complete surveillance solution for your home or small office. It can connect to your network using Wireless N, so you can place it anywhere in your home, and it even includes motion detection. The DCS-930L is a standalone surveillance camera that requires no special hardware or software, and can run independently even without a PC. Send e-mail notifications with snapshots whenever motion is detected using just the DCS-930L and an Internet connection. You can even customize areas of the video to monitor for motion to keep watch over entryways or sensitive areas of a room.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Could be nice but works horribly\n\nReview: First, it's possible that maybe I just got a dud. However, from reading other reviews, it seems I'm not alone. I could replace this camera with another, but instead, I'll get a refund and search for another model. Still, the features I could see looked nice, even if they weren't able to actually work. Here are some problems I faced.\n * After being on for a few minutes, the camera would lose network connectivity, forcing me to restart it (by unplugging the power) to make it usable again. I'm not sure if this depends on what type of scene it is aimed at or not, but it definitely wasn't going to work for me.\n* The device was never able to find my wireless network--or any others, for that matter. I had to use the wired connection. This was not a configuration issue on either end. Even after a reset and making sure my network was in the 2.4 GHz bands of 802.11n (and b/g), this camera could not find it--or any of my neighbors' that my computer can also see. My SSID contained only letters, no spaces or symbols.\n\nThe above made it pretty useless for me. However, here are a few good things about it that I was able to discover:\n* You do not need to use D-Link's software to set up or manage the camera. There is a Web interface. You'll just need to find the camera's IP address and view it in a Web browser (you can do the same with most network printers, for example). If you don't know how to do this, however, you might be better just using their software. The one on the CD only works with Windows. Some of their cameras have Mac versions available on their website; I didn't care enough to look since you don't need it.\n* You don't *have* to use D-Link's cloud/MyD-Link service. However, again, if you're not comfortable setting up your own alternative, you might want to. What I did (with great difficulty given how finicky the camera was) was set up an FTP server on my home LAN for a file share I could access with a username and password I used just for this purpose. You can configure the camera to upload images via FTP. (You can also do e-mail if you provide SMTP server info.) I didn't want to expose this publicly, which is fine for the camera itself since it's also on my LAN. To view when I was away, I VPNed (via a separate service I configured) into my home LAN and then connected to the file share. Obviously, an off-site solution would be better, but this is the best I could do. And of course, the average person will not want to do this--but I just wanted to note that you don't *need* D-Link's offerings. You can save either on a timer (every 'x' seconds) or via motion detection. I was never able to get motion detection to work before the camera crashed.\n* For remote viewing of the camera live, I'd rather go via the previous method of images the camera saved (not quite live but close), but I could also use the camera's Web interface and view either a still image (refreshing as needed) or launch a Java applet that would give real-time video (and audio, though of questionable quality). Sometimes starting the Java applet crashed the camera, however, and made me reboot it.\n\nBesides the things i mentioned first, there are a couple more bad things:\n* As far as I can tell, the camera can't actually save video, only images. You can configure how many/how often, but this still caught me off guard that I could only get a folder full of JPEGs.\n* Reset button is very hard to press (paper clip was too big; I needed to use SIM card tool), and WPS button is very easy to press. I suspect most people won't need to reset as much as I did, and WPS wasn't a big deal for me because WiFi didn't work for me on it anyway (though I'd rather set it up manually in any case), but I did accidentally press it a few times.\n\nThe camera itself is fairly lightweight, and the base should mount (bring your own adhesive or whatnot) to flat surfaces if you want. You can manually move the camera a bit on the stand, but there is no pan or tilt functionality in the software.\n\nThis camera could at least be decent if it worked better--the feature set isn't bad, and the hardware, while light, feels good. Importantly, image quality was also good enough for security purposes as far as I was able to tell. Unfortunately, the unstable firmware on the device itself made it unusable for me, and I am looking into other options.","Product: The TuneBand for iPod touch 4th Generation provides a comfortable way to wear your device while running, working out, working in the yard, or walking around the block. It features a protective silicone skin that allows access to all ports and buttons (including the front and rear cameras), and a soft, elastic strap that fits most arms. We also include a screen protector that covers the front of the iPod touch. NOTE: If you are unsure which iPod touch model you own, then please look for a model number on the back of the device. It starts with \"A\", like \"A1234\", and appears in very small print. The iPod touch 4th Generation has a model number of A1367\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Slim, protective, and versatile\n\nReview: This iPod touch protector is great. The flexible silcone skin slips on and off easily and protects the iPod. I take my iPod almost everywhere, and this case has enabled it to survive not one but TWO drops on the sidewalk without a crack in the screen or any other damage. There is just a slight \"lip\" on the front of the skin that I assume is responsible for this. I also use mine at the gym, so I wanted an armband, and the one that comes with this works nicely. While they recommend putting it on the skin before you slip the skin on the iPod, you can really put it on or take it off at any time, and that's exactly what I want since sometimes I just want to use the iPod (for things like FaceTime) with just the skin and not the then-unnecessary armband. With other cases/protectors, it was easier to just take the whole case off, but then I'm taking the risk that I won't drop it on a hard surface. I'm so happy that this case is so easy to use with OR without the arbmand and that there's enough of a lip to help clumsy people like me.\n\nAdditionally, it includes one screen protector, which should protect the glass from minor scratches and whatnot. I'm using that, as well, but I think the skin itself is responsible for most of the protection. Of the three iPod touches I've owned, this is the first one that hasn't yet shattered. It's no Otterbox, but for the price and versatility, I don't think you can beat this case (plus it can still fit in your pocket!).","Product: Packing 5 drive bays, 4 expansion slots, a 90mm rear fan and 2 USB ports as well as 2 audio ports into a slender steel case, Rosewill's R363-M-BK gives you a powerful platform for building a solid MicroATX system. Bearing a 400W PSU that acts as a second exhaust fan, this compact case has many of the features you'd expect from a larger box, all orderly arranged to do the job neatly and efficiently. The two front 5.25\" bays are equipped with optical drive covers, to keep things clean and equipment hidden. The drive bays are designed for tool-free installation, to make adding drives easy and quick. CPU air ducts and video card vents on the side panel enhance air flow for system stability. Rosewill gives you the box to put it all together, but lets you have the joy of customizing your own private little powerhouse!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cheap case with PSU\n\nReview: This is a relatively inexpensive, good-looking MicroATX case. It includes a built-in PSU, making the price even more appealing (wasn't sure how good the PSU would be at this price, but I've had it almost a year and half now and haven't had any major problems--but I'm only using it for a no-frills budget build). In terms of looks, the case is piano black, which looks nice but picks up fingerprints easily--and scuffs too, as I've noticed, and since I used this for an HTPC, it's not like I'm moving it around a lot. Still, they are mostly on the sides, which are less visible and don't bother me.\n\nI've only had two problems: first, the optical drive was difficult to install in the 5.25 external bay. My screws seemed like they were too big. However, I made it work and it could have just been me doing something wrong (or my optical drive--it was very cheap). Second, after about 15 months, the blue power LED on the front stopped working. It wasn't my motherboard (which I replaced later for other reasons), and I was able to replace it with a StarTech power LED later to fix the problem. It was hot-glue-gunned in, so I used a heat gun to loosen up the glue a bit to be able to pull the original out. Also, while I'm talking about the power LED, I found the built-in blue one to be quite bright, though I may have cared more than the average person since, as I said, it was an HTPC. I'm not devastated about having replaced it.\n\nThere are other nice things about the case, including two USB 2.0 ports and 3.5mm audio ports on the front. Additionally, screws and cable ties were included. The front bezel also pops off quite easily, which is good if you like to take it off before working on the inside, or are like me and need to replace an LED. There are some disadvantages like the PSU having only 2 SATA power connectors (and yet a floppy power connector), but if you're planning on more drives than that you may want to reconsider the PSU or case anyway (only one internal 3.5\" bay, for example, though there is also an external bay you could probably usurp for something else).\n\nMinor issues aside, this is a good case. If you're using it for a simple build like me, you'll probably be fine as-is. If you're planning on adding power-hungry components, a better PSU may be desirable (in which case you might just want a different case so you can buy your own).","Product: The IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 USB Micro Adapter offers Bluetooth connectivity at a fraction of the size of normal Bluetooth USB adapters. About the size of an adult fingernail, the IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 USB Micro Adapter allows users to connect to all the latest Bluetooth devices like cell phones, PDAs, mice, keyboards and more. Because the IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 Micro Adapter is so small you can easily plug it into your computer without blocking any surrounding USB ports. The IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 Micro Adapter allows users to connect up to three Bluetooth devices together and transfer even the largest files quickly and easily. With the Micro Adapter's lower power consumption, you can enjoy longer battery life on your notebook computer and other devices. This Bluetooth Class 2 adapter is compatible with PC computers, and offers a wireless range of 30 feet (10 meter). It is great for a wide range of applications and smaller form factor devices in the healthcare, fitness, security and home entertainment industries. Features: Wirelessly communicates with Bluetooth-enabled computers, printers, PDAs, cell phones, headsets, and more; Allows any computer with a USB port to become a Bluetooth enabled computer; Ultra-low power consumption; Supports dual-mode and Bluetooth Low Energy; Supports maximum asynchronous transfer rate of 3Mbps; Wideband audio support: provides clear perception of voice when using a Bluetooth headset, and enhances the functionality of echo cancellation and noise reduction; 2.4GHz ~ 2.4835GHz ISM Band; Ultra portable - tiny enough to stay with your laptop; Supports A2DP stereo audio wireless streaming; p to 30ft (10m) maximum wireless range; Built-in security to assure the privacy of your communication-pairing, encryption, and authentication\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works well on Windows and Mac\n\nReview: I bought this device so I could use a small Bluetooth keyboard as a remote for my media center running Windows 7. It worked well. Apparently others installed the drivers from the CD and received a load of bloatware along with it. To avoid this problem, I'd simply extract the driver files to a folder (or use 7zip or similar if the software doesn't tell you where it puts it), but NOT run the supplied installer. Instead, go to Device Manager, right-click the Bluetooth adpater, click \"Update driver software,\" and choose the folder you extracted the .INF files to earlier. This is how I recommend installing pretty much any driver on Windows unless you really need whatever else the manufacturer wants to throw at you. (It's also possible Windows 7 or Windows Update now has these drivers, as I don't specifically remember having to do this, but, like I said, it's what I normally do anyway, so I wouldn't have remembered it as anything special.)\n\nIt worked as expected on Windows. I also am now using it on an older Mac in order to use a Bluetooth 4.0 peripheral with it since my Mac is old enough not to have come with built-in support. It's working very well on the Mac, and because I think it uses the same chipset as some of Apple's own Bluetooth controllers, I didn't even need drivers. Between the two of these systems, I've been using it for almost a year now with no problems, and I would recommend this adapter, especially for how little money it costs, to anyone looking to add Bluetooth support to a system that lacks it.","Product: An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works good for 15\" MBP with room to spare\n\nReview: I bought the 15\" version of this sleeve to fit my 15\" MacBook Pro because I was looking for an inexpensive sleeve to use in the rare event that I traveled with the laptop. The MacBook Pro fits into this sleeve with ease--in fact, with so much extra room that the laptop can slide around a bit inside, which isn't a problem for me (I just want something to protect it a little when it's in my bag) but may be for some people. If you want something more form-fitting to this particular computer, you may want to get one designed specifically for it, but you will probably pay a lot more, and this one works well enough for me that I wouldn't find that worth it.","Product: The Smart Sense Motion sensor is an infrared motion detector that can be wall mounted or placed on a shelf. It generates notifications to your smartphone when motion is detected within 10 feet. The Smart Sense Motion is a great home security tool. Use it to receive a smartphone alert when someone approaches your door or to trigger security lights when someone walks by. Or, use the device to automatically turn on a light when your child gets out of bed at night.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: No problems, works well with SmartThings\n\nReview: I got this as part of a SmartThings Know Your Home bundle, and it is working well so far. I've checked the \"Activity\" log in the SmartThings app, and it seems to detect every time I walk into the room and, just as importantly, *not* mis-fire and think I walked into the room when I didn't. After about a minute of inactivity, it will log motion as having stopped. That doesn't mean any action you want to take place upon motion ceasing has to take place then; I have my lights in this room configured in SmartThings Dashboard to turn off a few minutes after this, just in case I'm in the room but not moving enough for it to detect me, for example.\n\nThe device itself is a bit over 2.5-in. wide and tall and maybe a bit under 1 in. deep at its widest point (it's not perfectly rectangular). It sits nicely on a shelf, but it looks like the hole in the back would also allow you to hang or mount it. It runs on 2 AA batteries, and they seem to last long: in the 5 or 6 months I've had this, the batteries still report over 60% of capacity remaining (the SmartThings app estimates this, presumably based on voltage). There is also a Micro USB port on the side you can use to power the device instead of using batteries. For those curious, my Kill-A-Watt reads about 0.3-0.5 W from the wall adapter when I do this--much less than a WeMo Motion Sensor I previously had (1.5 W; WiFi is more power-hungry than ZigBee or Z-Wave tends to be).\n\nAll things considered, this is working very well for me, and if I need additional motion sensors, I would not hesitate to buy another one of these. I tried the Aeon Labs multi-sensor, but it threw false positives all the time. I find this one to work much better.","Product: PowerMate Bluetooth is the wireless programmable controller that replaces extra keystrokes with a simple twist or a click. It scrolls. It scrubs. It clicks like a mouse. And it's user-configurable, so it can control practically any Mac application out there. PowerMate Bluetooth connects to your compatible Mac wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.0, so there are no messy wires to get in the way. Once connected, use the included PowerMate app to add your own actions and replace an app's repetitive keyboard commands. And if you already use a corded PowerMate, PowerMate Bluetooth works just fine alongside its older sibling. Does Almost Everything Better, Faster, Smoother Right out of the box, PowerMate Bluetooth is ready to handle your Mac's volume and track control. A new, totally redesigned PowerMate configuration app makes it quick and easy to program PowerMate to do so much more: Shuttle through music or movies Scroll through long spreadsheets or text files Pan and zoom in your creative applications Resize and reconfigure tools and brushes in illustration and photo re-touching programs Use multiple PowerMate Bluetooth units and assign specific functions to each Praise for Powermate Bluetooth \"Here's how smitten we are with the Griffin Powermate Bluetooth: it's on our desk, it's connected to our Mac and we're using it constantly yet we still lust after it as if it were something Apple had just announced.\" -MaccNN, Sept. 2, 2015 PowerMate Bluetooth is compatible with Mac laptops or desktops. See Features and Specs for details. Download PowerMate Bluetooth 1.2.5\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nice product with some flaws\n\nReview: I own two USB PowerMates and bought the Bluetooth version because I thought it would be more convenient (especially because I'm one of those people who does really weird things with it, like putting it on a USB repeater cable and mounting it on my wall to control my Philips Hue light bulbs, but I digress). Here are a few things you should know:\n\n1) The knob is slightly larger than the USB one (probably because it has to fit two AAs in the base) but not huge by any means. I think the design actually looks better than the USB version, but both are fine. As you can see, this one is like a tall hockey puck; the USB version has a tapered base and smaller knob. Both include a customizable LED ring (pulse at a certain rate, solid at a certain brightness, or the default of mirroring the system's volume level with its brightness, among other options) at the bottom.\n\n2) As documented, you need a Mac with Bluetooth 4.0 to connect the PowerMate--but I've actually found you can use a Bluetooth 4.0 adapter (e.g., the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/IOGEAR-GBU521/dp/B007GFX0PY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">IOGEAR GBU521</a>) on *any* Mac and make this work (some effort required if your Mac has Bluetooth already and you want to use this adapter instead, however).\n\n3) As others have noted, the surface of the PowerMate is very rough, somewhat like a cross between sandpaper and a microfiber cloth. If you grab the PowerMate by the sides to turn, the sides are smooth and you'll be fine; if you like to turn it with your finger on the top, you may find it uncomfortable.\n\n4) I find it much easier to \"click\" (press the button) with the USB version than this one; some of my presses do not register. I have to deliberately and firmly press near the center, and it feels less responsive to me in terms of letting me know that I've done it.\n\n5) To conserve battery power, the PowerMate goes to sleep after a period of inactivity. If the LED is normally on, you can tell because the LED turns off. To wake it, you have to press the button, then wait a few seconds for it to connect (the LED will pulse during this time and turn solid or whatever you have configured when it's done). While I understand that this is probably necessary to save battery power, it is more frustrating than I thought it would be, both because you can't always know that pressing the button *will* actually press the button (it could just be waking it from sleep, and then you have to press again later) and because the delay is occasionally frustrating (though it does connect very fast compared to some other Bluetooth peripherals I've used).\n\n6) I figured Griffin had updated the old (3.x) PowerMate software to work with the Bluetooth version. This is not correct. You need the new PowerMate software (confusingly also called PowerMate but versioned 1.x) to make this work. You pair the PowerMate to the computer using the (new) software, not with anything built into OS X as I had imagined.\n\n7) Did I mention there is new software? THE NEW SOFTWARE IS HORRIBLE. Here are a list of problems:\n * You can't use more than one USB PowerMate with the new software. The old one supported up to 127, limited only by USB specifications. I don't need that many, but I did prefer having two. You also can't use both the old and new software at the same time, so I'm stuck using either USB PowerMates with the old software, or the Bluetooth PowerMate but only one USB PowerMate with the new one. I contacted Griffin about this problem and the rep told me he was not aware of any plans to add this feature back but that they are always looking to improve their software. I hope they take this into consideration.\n * The new software does not import anything (e.g., .PMSET files) from the old software. You have to create everything again if you're trying to upgrade and want to use your old actions with either the new PowerMate or even your old one in the new software (though hopefully not more than one of your old ones; see above).\n * Unlike in the old software, there is no option to register only one turning event when the knob is turned or pressed-and-turned. It continually fires at a specified rate, although that rate is at least customizable. This is a problem for me because I want my press-and-turn events to happen only once for each time I do that action. The old software could do this.\n * In the old software, PowerMate actions could run AppleScript to do things on the computer. This is still possible, but you can no longer type the AppleScript code directly into PowerMate. You need to save it to an external file and then select that file as the AppleScript to run. This is less convenient if you are only using very small scripts like I was. (I'm not taking about AppleScript automation of the PowerMate itself here, just AppleScript as something you can do in response to presses/turns/etc. from the PowerMate. That being said, if you did use this other kind of AppleScript in the old PowerMate software, you will undoubtedly have to re-do it for the new one, and I'm also not sure that it's possible to control the LED this way like it used to be).\n * You can no longer use modifier keys (Cmd, Shift, Ctrl, Opt, and any combination thereof) with the PowerMate to run different actions like you could with the old software. Thus, you're limited to just the 6 actions the PowerMate itself can perform, which some people may find quite limiting.\n\nMost of these limitations (particularly the fact that the new software only supports one USB PowerMate and that you can't use the new and old software simultaneously to overcome this) were not disclosed before buying this device. I am hopeful they will fix the many problems with the software, at which point my rating for this product will improve. The PowerMate itself, including the USB version, is a nice and convenient device, and I remain hopeful that most of these problems can be solved with software or firmware updates (they've already issued one to correct jerky scrolling that some people mentioned--the PowerMate software offered to update the PowerMate automatically for me).","Product: Oregon Scientific Weather@Home Bluetooth Monitor with Indoor Outdoor Thermometer Hygrometer Atomic Clock\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good unit but some problems with the app\n\nReview: This is a decent clock and basic weather station; it can report indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, as well as the time. There is supposedly an \"Optional BTH Sensor\" that will enable it to also report weather forecasts, but that does not come with the device and I can't even find it online right now, either (it may be new). The station must run on AA batteries, which are helpfully included; there is no AC adapter. Setup was easy with the instruction manual, but this is definitely one you'll want to read and keep since I don't think I'll remember how to do this next time without it. The only difficult I encountered was that it said to press the \"reset\" button on the remote sensor when installing new batteries. I had problems locating this button despite a clearly visible \"Reset\" label inside the remote unit's battery compartment; all I saw was a slider that I couldn't \"press\" and which had no obvious neutral position. Turns out, that slider is the channel selector for the remote, and you can use up to 3 if you put them on different channels (EDIT: Oregon Scientific says 5, so perhaps there are more positions on this switch than I remember). Also, the reset button is there, but it's very small and will require something incredibly small like a SIM card ejector to press it.\n\nAs for the station itself, most parts of the display are large and easy to read from far away (especially the outdoor temperature, which I am usually most interested in). The unit also has Bluetooth capability and is capable of reporting the same information on a smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android) with their app, Weather@Home. (Note that because the app is Bluetooth, you must be within range of the device to view it on your phone; it will not work from WiFi when you are away from home.) The app can also sync the weather station's clock with that of your mobile device, which is nice since unlike some other units, the time here doesn't sync to radio-transmitted atomic time, and you must set it manually otherwise. Finally, the humidity and temperature readings seem accurate enough compared with other thermometers that I own.\n\nHowever, don't buy this if you're only doing it for the \"smart app\" capability: the app is supposed to be able to show you a 7-day history of temperature and humidity, but instead, it freezes for several seconds then displays nothing (except the current readings). I assume this is a bug they will work out, but it's not very useful now because of this problem. You can, however, use it to display the current readings, though I usually find it easier just to look at the weather station itself for that. I'm taking off one star for that because that's not too important to me and I'm sure they'll eventually fix it, and it is otherwise a nice, inexpensive unit. (UPDATE, 11/14: a recent app update has made this much better, but every once in a while the app still freezes as it tries to load temperature or humidity history, plus it frequently \"forgets\" its pairing with my unit, and I have to pair it again.)","Product: KHOMO DUAL SERIES Case KHOMO Introduces its best seller case for Apple iPad Air 2nd Generation. The DUAL Series Case continues to be an NUMBER ONE Seller! The Ultra Slim KHOMO DUAL Case is the perfect choice for those who want a stylish and affordable way to protect their tablet. This chic, lightweight case has a Polyurethane FRONT cover and a hard rubberized Poly-Carbonate BACK Protector. The rubberized Poly-Carbonate Back ensures a firm grip while holding your tablet. The KHOMO DUAL Case offers your Apple iPad great protection from scratches, fingerprints, dust, small impacts and many other everyday happenings. It also offers you multiple viewing angles: Fold back to comfortably watch movies and videos or place it in a lower, more ergonomic angle for typing. It's easy to always get the right view. Warranty 2 Year KHOMO Warranty with quick and easy KHOMO service. Check out the KHOMO Accessories Collection Known as The Mobile & Tablet Accessories Experts, KHOMO takes great pride in developing high quality, innovative designs that enhance and protect your valuable devices. Protect what you love with KHOMO top of the line accessories. We Got You Covered.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Affordable alternative to Smart Case\n\nReview: Having just bought an iPad Air 2, I was looking for a case and thought I'd give this affordably-priced case a try. I am impressed: it protects the back of the iPad well and has a folding front cover for the screen, which can also be folded over and used as a stand for a horizontal iPad. The whole thing looks vaguely like Apple's Smart Cover, but for a fraction of the price. The notable differences are that the buttons are accessed via cutouts in the case, whereas on Apple's the buttons are covered by the case, and the case has \"outdents\" for the buttons you can press on the case itself. Additionally, this case has one large cutout for each of the speakers on the left and right side of the Lightning port, whereas the Smart Case has individual holes cut for each hole in the speaker grille. Finally, the Smart Case has smaller cutouts than this case for the rear camera and microphones because they're cut to line up almost exactly with the edges of these components, but the cutouts on this case are still reasonable. Finally, this case is not real leather, and it of course lacks the Apple logo on the back.\n\nThe only thing I wish were different is that I wish the folding side that protects the screen was a little thicker, but despite frequently taking my iPad places, it's protected it well so far, and I don't think it's that different from many other cases. I haven't had any problems with this case so far: the cover stays closed even if I turn the iPad upside down, for example. I've only had it for a few weeks but it seems sturdy enough, so I'll see how it is after a few years or however long I keep the iPad. (Note: I bought the \"carbon fiber\" version of this case. I'm not sure if this is simply a color difference or if the other varieties of this case are made differently.)\n\nHaving seen both cases in action, I was surprised at how similar this case was to the Smart Cover and how much less it cost. I would not hesitate to buy this case again.","Product: The most versatile device in the Samsung SmartThings family, this sleek ZigBee device acts as a movement, vibration, orientation and temperature sensor all in one. The SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor can detect whether an object like a door or drawer is open or closed; sense when valuable or off-limits items have been moved or tampered with; offer temperature readings; and feel vibration. It requires the SmartThings Hub. SmartThings offers a one-year limited warranty on this product. TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS: > If your device doesnt connect after removing the \"Remove to Pair\" tab, hold the Connect button while inserting the battery. > Release the button when the LED is lit. > The LED will blink blue while attempting to connect. > Then select Connect New Device in the SmartThings app.NOTE: Check User Manual in Technical Specification before use.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Smaller than first generation; works well with SmartThings\n\nReview: I have both this and the first-generation SmartThings Multi sensor, and they both work well. I have to say that I prefer the look and technical aspects of the first generation better, but there is at least one advantage to this generation: it's much smaller and can fit more easily and less obtrusively in spaces like door and window frames where the previous, bulkier generation might look awkward. Perhaps as a necessary compromise, it no longer uses standard batteries and instead uses a hard-to-find CR-2450. That being said, the battery life seems good to me so far. The two pieces are also different sizes, but there is a long line on both showing where they should line up to indicate that the door/window/whatever is closed. The old generation had two pieces of equal width, so it was easy to see. The old generation also \"snapped\" together magnetically when the pieces were close enough, which means you didn't have to use them mounted anywhere. I'm sure most people do, but I did keep one on my desk that I could open and close by hand to trigger various actions in my SmartThings system, but the new pieces don't really come together as strongly as the old ones, so I wouldn't do that anymore.\n\nChanges from previous generations aside, I find this sensor to work well, and it was easy to set up in SmartThings. I assume it would also work with other ZigBee HA 1.2 systems as well.","Product: The SmartThings Motion sensor is a ZigBee device that lets you know when movement is detected in a certain area of your home and can trigger different actions in response to that movement. Set lights to turn on and off as you come and go and protect your home by triggering lights, sirens and other electronics to turn on if there's unexpected motion in your home. The sensor can also detect temperature and trigger smart thermostats, window A/C units and portable heaters to automatically adjust as people come and go. Place the motion sensor on a table or shelf, or use the included adhesive or mounting bracket and screws to place it on a wall. The Motion requires the SmartThings Hub and has a range of approximately 50-130 feet, depending on your home's construction. SmartThings offers a one year limited warranty on this product.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works great! (Be warned of battery if you need to replace it)\n\nReview: I've had SmartThings for almost a couple years now and am still using a first-generation motion sensor that came with my kit. I wanted to add another and so I got this one (the third-generation, I think--2015 version). I've had good experiences with previous SmartThings motion sensors, and this one is no exception. It detects motion when present and (unlike some others I've tried) does not trigger a lot of false alarms for me. Unlike my first-generation sensor, this one has the added benefit of also measuring temperature, which I previously used a multisensor to do. The only disadvantage is that unlike my first-gen sensor, this one does not use a common household battery size. However, the lithium coin-size battery (CR2450) it does use lasts longer than most alkalines have for me--mine just died after 16 months of use, which is much longer than any other sensor I've used (though the Iris sensors I haven't had for that long yet are still going strong and I'd expect a similar life from them). Note that, unlike the first gen sensor, this one only has the option of battery power; there is no USB power option. This model is also much thinner and a little smaller than the first generation, but neither is particularly large. All things considered, this is still a good sensor and works well with SmartThings (and presumably any ZigBee HA system).\n\nOne note: when the battery dies, you'll need to be careful about what *kind* of CR2450 you replace it with. SmartThings says Panasonic or Duracell is required, but you can't see this until you remove the existing battery and see it printed inside the battery compartment itself (it is on their website also, but it is *not* in the manual). Not knowing this before it died, I purchased two Energizer batteries, which do not work. The reason is, apparently, that the edge of the positive side of these batteries is a bit shorter than those on the Panasonic one that came with the device, and so the small metal part in the sensor that is supposed to make contact with it doesn't actually make contact. They must have tested Panasonic and Duracell and found that they fit correctly. This would have been an easy fix for them during manufacturing--make the tab a bit taller to accommodate most other brands of CR2450 batteries, but it's frustrating that any standard CR2450 won't fit (and that it's not clearly stated elsewhere).\n\nIn general, these work well. The slight problem with the battery compartment and the lack of external/USB power options are a bit disappointing, but I'm otherwise happy with this sensor. They seem to have discontinued it, however, in favor of a newer model that has less than stellar reviews (though there are some of those for this model too, which I don't understand). My new favorite motion sensor is the second-gen (purple box) Iris motion sensor, which works with SmartThings or any ZigBee HA 1.2-compatible system--they're the least costly sensors I can find and they work great.","Product: Doorbell from aeotec makes your front door a part of your connected home. A two piece package, it offers an 80Db speaker for inside your home along with a wireless button for outside of it. Both LED lights and tones will alert you to someone being at your door, and you can personalize your doorbell with up to 100 different tones. Doorbell is easy to install. Its speaker simply plugs into a power outlet, and its button can be easily installed beside your front door with double-sided tape or small screws. You'll find those easy installation methods provided in doorbells box, along with the USB cable thatll allow you change its alert tones.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works well with SmartThings, but the chime is not very loud\n\nReview: I bought this to use with SmartThings as a doorbell and (given a few cusotmizable audio files) possibly for other alerts/notifications. It works decently well, but there are some issues to be aware of. First, to work with SmartThings, you need a custom device type handler. There are a a couple available that you can search for in the SmartThings Community forums. This isn't too difficult to do (it's practically routine for any but a small number of well-supported devices in ST), but it's something to be aware of if you're not comfortable doing that. I did not have any problems pairing, and, unlike others, it seems to work reliably when the button is pressed (note if you're trying this out before installing, the button doesn't always press down if you're holding it; it seems to need a flat surface or a wall underneath/behind it to actually press--maybe that's the problem some are having).\n\nMy biggest problem is that the \"chime\" unit is NOT loud at all. Since it's moderately sized (but not huge) and must be plugged in, I figured it might at least rival typical digital chimes (or my old mechanical one, which I wish still worked) in terms of volume, but it's nowhere close, even with the volume up all the way. In fact, my previous solution, a Fire HD8 tablet with LANnouncer, is almost louder. I was hoping to replace that with something I could hear from another room, but instead I guess I'm just going to have to supplement one with the other and hope for the best when someone rings the bell. I've also got SmartThings set to send me a push notification when the bell is rung, so hopefully between all of this there's something I'll actually see or hear when the button is pressed.","Product: Change the way you control light at home with the Philips Hue Tap Switch. Remotely recall your four favorite Philips Hue light scenes at the press of a button. Select from your own scenes, scenes created by Philips, or program a button to switch all lights on/off. Requiring the Philips Hue Bridge (sold separately) for the full Hue experience, this switch does not need batteries. It uses kinetic energy and is powered by your touch. Mount the Hue Tap anywhere with the included mounting plate, or detach it and carry it with you as you move through your home. Add up to 12 other Hue accessories (sold separately) such as the Hue Dimmer Switch or Hue Motion Sensor. Control by voice with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. Connect it with your Nest or Samsung SmartThings system. This box includes a Hue Tap with wall plate and two-year warranty.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Convenient and long overdue, but somewhat limited\n\nReview: This product is something that would have made Hue much better had it existed from the beginning. While light switches still work to turn the bulbs on and off, you then lose the \"smart\" capability when they're off. And while smartphones and tablets (as well as other apps and the Hue website) work to turn bulbs on and off, they're not as convenient when you need to do something quickly. I've worked around this problem by using a Griffin PowerMate, an always-on computer that I already had, and a custom script to send HTTP commands to the Hue Bridge via the API, but this is a little awkward and of course not something everyone would be able to do for themselves. Thus, I find the Hue Tap a welcome addition.\n\nHere's what the Hue Tap can do: it has four buttons (one large button, three small ones), labeled with one to four dots. Each of these buttons can be configured via the Hue app to change to one of the scenes you have configured in the Hue app when you press that button. (Note that if you change the settings for a scene in the app after you configure Tap to use it, you'll have to re-configure Tap to use that scene. The Tap remembers the scene as it was when you originally set it. The app lets you know, but I didn't think to check and thought something was wrong the first time I noticed this.) A button on the Tap can also be assigned to turn any number of lights off. Personally, I have three of my frequently used scenes on the small buttons and all bulbs in the room set to off on the large one, though I may change my mind and make the large button turn on my most frequently used scene since it's much easier to find that button in the dark.\n\nI do find the device limited for how expensive it is since all it can do is active one of four settings you've defined (a way to dim without using the app would be great, for example). If they added the ability to do something different on, say, a \"regular\" tap versus a long tap, then there would be twice as many actions, which would greatly increase the device's functionality. Or, if you could use the same button to toggle the same scene on or off, you wouldn't have to waste one or more buttons just to turn bulbs off. Finally, it's worth pointing out that the name \"Tap\" is a bit misleading. You have to press these buttons hard. If you have arthritis, I could actually see this being difficult, particularly for the smaller buttons. With the three small buttons, they register an audible and tactile click before you actually press hard enough for them to be activated (at which point a much stronger click can be heard and felt and the outer button actually pushes itself down along with the smaller button); the large button is a bit more intuitive. In any case, this is something you'll quickly realize, but again, it might be worth explaining to guests--something you'll undoubtedly need to do anyway to explain what the buttons do in the first place.\n\nDespite these shortcomings, there are other good things about this product: first, as mentioned above, it makes using Hue much more convenient. This alone makes it worth it for me, even if I wish it either cost less or had more functionality. Second, it doesn't use batteries, so you don't ever have to worry about replacing those (and I suspect that's why the buttons have to be pressed down as far as they do). Finally, the device can be used either as-is kind of like a remote control, or you can mount it to the wall. Philips includes 3M Command strips on the back to do this (as an added bonus, the Command strips won't damage most surfaces when you remove them *if* you follow the instructions). The tap also unscrews from a backplate, much like, for example, some smoke detectors, so if you *do* mount it to a wall, you can still take it off as desired.\n\nPerhaps Philips will be able to add more functionality via software updates in the future. At the very least, it was originally reported that this device's functionality was to be exposed for developers via the Hue API (though this doesn't appear to be officially documented yet as of summer 2014), so even if Philips doesn't do anything themselves, it's possible that developers could at least work around some of these limitations on their own to whatever extent the API permits. Still, even as-is, this is a usable device that greatly increases the convenience of using Hue, even if it is a bit expensive for how limited it is.\n\nPS - As of the time I wrote this (August 2014), Amazon does not sell the Tap directly. It is instead a third party, who is charging *way* more for this device than you could find it at any of Philips' official outlets (e.g., physical or online Apple Store). There is no reason to pay more than list price (plus possibly shipping) for this device.","Product: Use the Iris Contact Sensor anywhere you want to monitor if something has been opened or closed. Flexible mounting options mean they are easy to install and can be relocated with ease. Use them also to monitor temperature wherever they are installed and know if windows, basements and attics are properly insulated. Or mount them at key entry points to your home and receive notifications if doors and windows are opened unexpectedly. The Iris Smart Hub is required to connect the Contact Sensor with the Iris app. Premium service may be required for some features.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cheap, works well, compatible with SmartThings\n\nReview: These Iris Contact sensors are great--they're small, easy to mount, and relatively inexpensive (like most Iris devices, the cheapest in their category that I can find). Like all-second generation (ZigBee HA 1.2) Iris devices, these also work with SmartThings or any compatible system, and that's exactly how I'm using them. They pair to SmartThings without any additional requirements needed. To put the device into pairing mode for the first time, all you need to do is tear out a plastic tab covering the battery (no need to open the device) labeled \"Remove to pair.\"\n\nIn addition to contact (open/close), this sensor reports temperature. I wouldn't necessarily trust if if you're going to use this on a door or window that is very close to outside, but some people may find this feature useful. As for the sensor itself, it is quite small--about 2.5 inches long and 0.8 inches wide. A small green LED blinks once when the sensor's state changes from open to closed, which is nice for testing to ensure the two halves are close enough to register these changes when you expect them to. The manual doesn't specify how close they need to be, but in my testing, the sensor triggers with a little under half an inch of space between the two parts. Personally, I make sure the two parts are as close as I can get them, but you've got some leeway if they don't line up exactly (e.g., on my door, the part I have mounted to the frame sticks out a little more than the part I have mounted to the door itself, but it still works well).\n\nFor mounting, the sensor comes with two options: adhesive strips (for both halves of the sensor), or a combination of a screw-in mounting bracket (for the smaller half) and adhesive strips (for the larger half--apparently there isn't a bracket for this). 3M Command strips, which I've used for similar products in the past, may work well if you want something more temporary than either of these options--or even if you want something permanent but no longer have the included tape.\n\nThis device, as do most Iris devices, operates on a CR2 battery (housed in the larger half of the sensor), which is not incredibly common but not all that rare. CR2 batteries are often marketed for use in photography, and they are a 3V lithium battery that seems to last quite a while in these devices--longer than most devices I've used with 1.5 V alkalines--so I think I'm OK with this, despite it not being a more common type/size. I've had several Iris devices and have only had to replace the batteries in two so far, both motion detectors which I think just shipped with bad batteries (they might put in a cheap battery with occasional questionable quality, but even with the cost of having to replace one or two, the price of the Iris device will still probably be less than a comparable device from another manufacturer, e.g., the SmartThings Mutli I had previously purchased).\n\nAll things considered, like most Iris devices I've used, this device works well and is priced less than most (all?) similar devices on the market, and Iris is quickly becoming my favorite product line to use with SmartThings. (EDIT: Regarding pricing, some Xiaomi \"Smart\" devices are priced considerably less but not officially supported, difficult to pair and sometimes keep paired [and can only pair to the v2 hub], and ship very slowly from China, so I'll still stick with these or any officially compatible or well supported devices for most uses.)","Product: QuickStick Combo ZigBee/Z-Wave USB Controller-Hub (PC-based)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works great for my Home Assistant server\n\nReview: I'm trying to convert from SmartThings to Home Assistant (on a Raspberry Pi 3) and had many ZigBee devices that I wanted to use on Home Assistant if possible--that's why I chose this over the Aeon Z-Stick, which I also ordered and did use for a while. Both worked well, but I stuck with this one since I wanted Z-Wave and ZigBee support, preferably without needing two adapters. This one works great for both! Which devices it works with (especially on the ZigBee side) is ultimately mostly up to the software side of things, but Home Assistant (and the underlying library, bellows, it uses for ZHA support, which is the only profile I've used this with) works well with my second-gen Iris motion sensors and many re-branded Centralite (mostly post-first-generation SmartThings sensors) I have, as well as all of my Z-Wave devices (unsurprising given that Z-Wave is more standard and there is really only one manufacturer for the chips). Despite its size, I haven't had any ZigBee or Z-Wave range issues so far, though I will probably plan on putting a couple powered devices as repeaters somewhere in my network to help it out if needed. I'd recommend this if you're looking to build an home-automation controller of some sort unless you know you only want Z-Wave, in which case the Aeon would also work (but so would this--and you don't have to jump through hoops to disable the annoying lights on the Aeon, though this stick lacks battery power and some other niceties the other has for pairing and whatnot).","Product: The balaclava with extended neck is a classic design that covers your full face and ensures your neck is protected. Soft interior provides a comfortable experience every time.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Cheap, but thin and tight\n\nReview: I bought this balaclava to replace one I lost towards the end of winter. I use it primarily on winter bike rides to protect my ears, face neck, and (on really cold days or long rides) nose. My previous balaclava was a C9 by Champion one from Target, which I liked much better because it was thicker (thus warmer) and more comfortable, but apparently stores don't feel like selling winter clothing in February anymore, so I had to look elsewhere. That's where this one came in.\n\nWhen I first got it, I was immediately surprised by how thin it is. I don't think I could use this in the middle of winter; I'd need something thicker and warmer. However, for short rides or warmer temperatures (say, 20s or 30s) I've found it acceptable. It is very tight, so I could see people with larger heads having problems with this. There is some stitching down the middle that other people noticed and I thought might concern me. If I wear it only around the perimeter of my face, it's fine, but if I pull it up over my mouth or nose, is is noticeable (not quite irritating in my opinion). The \"neck\" portion is also very long, which I find nice on this one because I thought it was actually too short on my old one. Like my old one, it's also fairly \"adjustable\" in that I can wear it to cover just my neck, my chin, my mouth, or my nose and whole face except the eyes.\n\nOn the bright side, it's cheap. It's not horribly constructed from the looks of things, but within weeks a thread from the middle stitching came loose. Nothing else has happened since cutting that off, and I don't even notice much if any damage from this. I just wish it was a bit warmer, but for this price I can hardly complain. I do know that I'll go back to my old brand next winter when they are hopefully in stores again, but I'll definitely keep this one around, perhaps a second under-layer to use on particularly cold days.\n\nUPDATE: Lasted through the rest of that winter and the first part of this one with no problems. I did replace it with my thicker one once stores started selling them again. Unfortunately, I lost it but really want a second layer (this) under my thicker balaclava for the sub-zero days we've been having lately, so I think I'll order one of these again. Again, it's thin, and maybe a tad tight, which is the primary reason for my rating, but it's cheap enough that I'm not sure you can expect much more.","Product: - 210-denier - Color-matched DUROcord drawstring - Size: 14\" x 18\"\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: OK for light objects--beware of books, folders, etc.\n\nReview: This is a thin nylon drawstring bag and would work well for transporting items like light gym clothes. It wont' do so well with folders, books, tablets, etc., as I found out. These items will wear a hole in the nylon, as mine did after only two months of use a few times per week with just gym clothes and an iPad. It was fairly cheap when I bought it, so I can't say I'm surprised, but even other cheap drawstring bags I've had usually manage to last longer than a couple months. There are a lot of similar bags available on Amazon, and the pricing and selection seem to continually change (this one isn't even available from the same seller anymore as I write this review) but you may wish to consider spending a few more dollars more (still not very expensive) on one that's a bit more durable. I just purchased the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Runetz-NAVY-BLUE-Gym-Sack-Bag-Drawstring-Backpack-Sport-Bag/dp/B00NTE8ZME/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Runetz - NAVY BLUE Gym Sack Bag Drawstring Backpack Sport Bag</a> for just a little more and it appears like it will hold up better. Still, this bag may be fine for light objects.","Product: - 210-denier - Color-matched DUROcord drawstring - Size: 14\" x 18\"\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: OK for light objects--beware of books, folders, etc.\n\nReview: This is a thin nylon drawstring bag and would work well for transporting items like light gym clothes. It wont' do so well with folders, books, tablets, etc., as I found out. These items will wear a hole in the nylon, as mine did after only two months of use a few times per week with just gym clothes and an iPad. It was fairly cheap when I bought it, so I can't say I'm surprised, but even other cheap drawstring bags I've had usually manage to last longer than a couple months. There are a lot of similar bags available on Amazon, and the pricing and selection seem to continually change (this one isn't even available from the same seller anymore as I write this review) but you may wish to consider spending a few more dollars more (still not very expensive) on one that's a bit more durable. I just purchased the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Runetz-NAVY-BLUE-Gym-Sack-Bag-Drawstring-Backpack-Sport-Bag/dp/B00NTE8ZME/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Runetz - NAVY BLUE Gym Sack Bag Drawstring Backpack Sport Bag</a> for just a little more and it appears like it will hold up better. Still, this bag may be fine for light objects.","Product: Always stay dry with Travel Smart by Conair Mini Umbrella! It opens to a comfortable 36-inch diamater and folds to an ultra-compact 9 1/2 inches. It is perfect for travel because it easily fits into your purse, briefcase or backback. Constructed of durable water-resistant nylon, this mini umbrella is a travel essential on rainy days.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good for an unexpected sprinkle\n\nReview: PROS:\n * Compact\n * Lightweight\n * Cheap\nCONS:\n * Somewhat flimsy\n * Suitable for light or moderate rain, but probably not windy storms\n\nAs I summarized above, I think this umbrella is suitable for light-to-moderate rain. Its small size when compacted also helps it fit nicely in my bag as a \"backup\" umbrella in case of unexpected rain (or days where I don't want to bring a larger, sturdier umbrella for whatever reason). I think that is the best use for it--I would *not* want to rely on this in case of heavy rain (you'd probably want a wider umbrella) or windy days (it will flip inside out; get a sturdier one for those days).\n\nBesides the size and weight advantages, the other advantage is the price--but at this price point you should know you're not getting the best quality. One of the metal \"arms\" that supports the umbrella has already bent for me in what I'd consider average storm wind, and I suspect a few other bends or breakages won't be far behind. Still, this may be acceptable for you if you think you'll use it rarely, need a small umbrella, don't have much wind, and don't mind the umbrella occasionally flipping the wrong way. I don't think you can expect much more at this price.","Product: The Jansport Superbreak Backpack's proven design and not-too-huge sizing will make it the big bag on campus...again. With plenty of space for books, workout clothes, or the day's provisions (and no extra clutter), the Superbreak works as nicely in the commuter circuit as it does on campus. Jansport designed this simple, durable daypack with 2/3-length back panel padding for cushioning while you navigate a sea of students. The front accessory pocket includes a built in media sleeve, so you can rock out from point A to point B.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good bag, zipper design oddity\n\nReview: I've had two of these bags after getting tired of going through several cheap department-store offerings that developed holes or where the straps tore off from the bag. I never had any such problem with this bag, at least within a comparable period of time. I have, however, had problems with the design of the zipper on these bags. The fabric the bag is made from is designed to cover the zipper, possibly to make the bag look nicer. However, I find that this frequently causes the zipper to get stuck in this fabric. I ruined one zipper on my first bag within weeks of having it by doing this. After finally managing to get it un-stuck from the fabric, the zipper didn't work anymore; luckily, there are two, so the bag was fine for a while after this until the other one met the same fate.\n\nI bought a second bag to replace that one, and I've also gotten its zippers stuck in this fabric a couple times, too. You can avoid this fate by either zipping very slowly and carefully, or by folding back this fabric, thus fully exposing the zipper track, and then zipping, before (optionally, I guess) folding the fabric back over the zipper area. Obviously, this problem didn't bother me enough to stop me from buying a second identical bag, but if it happens again I will look for another bag without this design issue. Other than that, this bag seems sturdy and is big enough for what I want to carry (though not huge, by any means).","Product: Large guage plus extra long swiveling hose makes inflating easy while molded foot pedal and padded feet provide comfort and stability, Nozzle can inflate Schrader valves and includes adapters for Presta valves, inflatables and sports balls\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good for what it does, but only at low pressures\n\nReview: I bought this pump for my bike, and it works about as I had expected. The pump has a Schrader head (the kind you find on cars and many bikes), but includes a Presta adapter (much thinner--you'll know if you have these valves, often found on road bikes). It also includes a \"pin\" adapter for things like basketballs and small plastic nozzle-type thing for some inflatables. I have not used these last two adapters, so I cannot vouch for them, but I have used the pump on both Schrader and Presta valves.\n\nThe gauge goes up to 120 psi, but the box claims it can only do 100 psi (although the product description here claims 120 as of my writing this). Having used it, I suspect that even 100 psi is a bit generous for the max. Despite this claim, I still have an incredibly difficult time getting above about 70 psi (even when I use both my legs to press, or even my whole body--but be careful since the pump is slightly fragile); it tends to \"leak\" air out the valve with the pump attached. However, even at lower pressures it becomes increasingly difficult to pump. This probably won't be a problem for balls or mountain bikes, but for higher-pressure tires like road bikes and some hybrids, it might be a lot of work or even impossible to go as high as it claims.\n\nAlso, this was my first time using Presta valves, and I had never used a Presta adapter before. Everybody besides me probably knows this, but there are no directions, and I was confused at first. The proper way is to screw the Presta adapter onto the Presta valve first, then attach the pump to *the adapter on the valve* just as if it were a Schrader valve. (I thought the adapter was for the pump. It is easy to attach it to the pump fist but difficult or impossible to then attach it to the valve.) Again, everyone probably knows this, but I thought I'd say it in case it helps out anyone else.\n\nIn summary: this pump is OK, but don't expect road-bike-like high pressures with ease. It's easier to pump than a frame/hand pump but less portable (so probably not something you'd take with for emergencies). If you're using a road bike or even a hybrid, you'll probably be better off with a floor pump. I'm sure it's fine for balls and such and probably many mountain bikes, but pumping my hybrid was rarely an easy experience, and I'm sure my road bike would have been impossible--and the manufacturer's claims about pressure are clearly inflated.\n\nEDIT: After having this pump for several months and trying to inflate tires on my hybrid bike, the pump broke. The metal pieces connecting the pedal to the pump are a bit thin, and they are what broke. I suspect it was the high pressure. I want to reiterate that this pump cannot handle high pressures, and I would probably recommend a floor pump instead. Still, this pump may be OK for mountain bikes or low-pressure needs like balls.","Product: Compared to the original Blaze 2 watt, the Micro shares the high/low and Superflash strobe but comes in a more compact case, longer run times, and a more value-driven price point.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bright light, reasonbly priced, easy to install/remove\n\nReview: For its size (it's about the same size as similar-looking but less bright Planet Bike headlights if you've ever used them), this light is very bright. I frequently get comments from others about how bright it is, and it is enough to reflect off street signs several blocks away. In flashing mode, you can't be missed, especially at night. In either low or high \"steady\" mode, it's bright enough to give you enough light to see if you're on a trail or side street or somewhere without a lot of ambient light, though not as much as something larger and heavier would, but it works well enough for me.\n\nYou will need an area of your handlebars that has a uniform diameter--easy for me to find on my road bike, harder on my hybrid--in order for the mount to work well. The mount and light are both easy to install--or remove, as I found when someone stole the headlight from my bike, mount and all, when I left it out once. (I liked it so much I'm ordering this again to replace it.) As with other Planet Bike light with the same mount (by the way, all of their lights that look like this--Blaze, Beamer, and 1200, at least--use the same mount, so you can switch between them at will), I do find that the mounting system wears down after a couple years or so, and the light doesn't \"snap\" on as firmly as it once did. I lost another Planet Bike light this way after it fell off and cracked on the pavement when I hit a bump. They do sell the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/mounting-bracket/dp/B001AYOOHU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">mounting bracket</a> separately, so if you notice yours wearing down it might be wise to replace it or be careful.\n\nBesides its good price, brightness, and ease of installation/removal, I also like that this light uses standard AA batteries. While it's true that units with built-in rechargeable batteries can use a battery chemistry that is able to hold more of a charge for longer, the convenience of being able to simply replace the batteries when you notice the light getting dim is worth it for me since popping in another pair is easier than finding a micro USB charger and waiting. I normally use rechargeable AAs myself, occasionally switching to Energizer lithium batteries when the weather gets extremely cold (they maintain a higher voltage and thus greater brightness than NiMH or alkaline batteries in sub-freezing or even sub-zero F temperatures).\n\nIf you're looking for a bright light to be seen, this will definitely work. If you want to see, I find this light adequate for that as well, at least for the occasional poorly lit area (if most of your ride consists of areas away from towns or other lighting, you may want to look for something bigger). This is my favorite headlight, and I would not hesitate to purchase it again--in fact, as I said before, I just did to replace one that was stolen. If you don't need something this bright, the Planet Bike Beamer is also a good choice and works with the same mount. I use that on my other bike and like that I can switch between then if I happen to want the brighter light for where I'm going.","Product: Our solid color headbands are unisex, 100% American Made and perfect to be worn on their own or under other hats, helmets and visors. Using stretchy, breathable material, allows them to fit virtually every head size and shape. Indoors and in warm weather outdoors, our moisture wicking headbands are great to wick away sweat and in colder weather they are also great to keep ears warm, along with keeping hair back.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Thin but works well\n\nReview: These are a little thin, but they work well for my purposes of holding my hair back while I'm at the gym (usually with it also tied back). I got this headband in gray first and then bought the blue one since I liked them enough. I like them a bit better than the typical headbands that are thick but an inch or two wide. This one seems to do a better job than those of helping keep my hair back, though it gets saturated with sweat much more quickly. It's very wide in the front (about 4 inches) and tapers to a smaller width in the back, and it stretches a bit to fit my head (which \"one size fits all\" hats have a hard time fitting). As others have noted, the headband does look like it's just cut fabric, with no seams/hems along the edges, and the picture makes it look like the fabric might be bit thicker than it is--it is, again, very thin. However, all things considered, I'm happy with this and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.","Product: PUR Gum is vegan, Non gluten, non-gmo, No nut, diabetic friendly and No dairy. It is made in Switzerland and offers consumers the highest quality ingredients available. Made without chemicals or artificial sweeteners, PUR Gum is sweetened with xylitol, a natural sweetener derived from corn fibers grown in Europe. Each Variety Pack contains 1 bag each of Peppermint, Pomegranate Mint, Spearmint and Wintergreen. Each bag is 2.82 ounces and contains approximately 55 pieces.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good \"natural\" gum with minor issues\n\nReview: After trying a couple individual packs of this gum, I decided to buy this 4-pack because it was a little cheaper per piece. I was looking for gum that didn't contain, artificial colors/flavors, sugar, or artificial sweeteners (but that preferably did contain xylitol) and settled on this one since it was reasonably priced given my criteria and had good reviews.\n\nMost of the flavors I've tried taste good--even pomegranate mint, which sounds a bit odd. I have to main issues with this gum, the reason for my one-star deduction on an otherwise good product. First, the pieces are small. You'll need about two to get enough to really chew on, so even though a bag contains about 60 pieces each, you definitely won't get 60 \"chewing sessions\" out of each--more like 30. Second, with most flavors, the flavor doesn't last very long before the gum just starts tasting like nothing or even becomes a bit unappealing--and I mean maybe 10-15 minutes, though in the best cases there is usually at least some redeeming residual mint aroma. This is something I'm willing to tolerate for gum that has pretty good ingredients (and perhaps the natural flavors and sweeteners inherently just can't last as long as others), but it's something you should be aware of in any case. I mostly like to use it to help clean my teeth after having a snack or while driving (or sometimes just while bored and vaguely hungry) or at other times where brushing my teeth would be impractical, and for that purpose they work well.","Product: Panasonic Retail Blister Package. Panasonic 3 Volt Lithium coin batteries are used in a wide variety of applications, including personal watches, clocks, electronic organizers, PDA's, portable electronics, keyless door entry remotes, cell phones, computer motherboards, heart monitors, backup power sources for IC memories, and more. Lithium 3V provide 2x the nominal voltage compared to other chemistry makeup of batteries such as Silver Oxide and Alkaline button cells.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Worked well, retail packaging\n\nReview: I needed this size of battery for a car remote, and these worked perfectly. Unlike lots of other odd size batteries you can find on Amazon, mine arrived in retail packaging (and were branded as expected), although it was blue instead of red as pictured. Note that I got the 2-pack; several sizes appear to be under the same listing here, so your experience may vary (especially depending on seller; mine was BD Supply). They also tested at the expected voltage with my multimeter and had an expiration date of slightly more than 9 years in the future (though I had to remove an Amazon barcode sticker from the back of the package before I could see that). If you're looking for a CR1616 battery and these seem reasonably priced compared to what you can find locally or elsewhere, I wouldn't hesitate to order them despite my usual hesitation to order batteries from (especially third-party) Amazon sellers.","Product: Motorcraft MERCON V is manufactured with high-viscosity index, premium-quality, hydro processed base oils and specially designed performance additives, which provide excellent shifting characteristics at high and low ambient temperatures, excellent thermal and oxidation resistance and good low temperature fluidity. It provides wear protection and inhibits the formation of gum, sludge, lacquer and foam. It also provides protection against rust and corrosion. It is dyed red for ease of leak detection.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Recommended fluid for my vehicle\n\nReview: There isn't much to say about transmission fluid: unless you really think you know better, you should probably use the exact type specified in your car's manual. Mercon V is what Ford recommended for my vehicle, and it was easy to find on Amazon and shipped fast with Prime. I could have found it for about two-thirds of the cost of the current price here (note that it may change over time online) locally, but driving would have been the easiest way to do that and I didn't want to risk doing so on low fluid. If you've never added transmission fluid before, note that you'll also need a funnel, probably one with a long, flexible spout. I used the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Lumax-LX-1603-Plastic-Transmission-Funnel/dp/B00GD2HYQW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Lumax LX-1603 Plastic Transmission Funnel</a>. I'd also recommend having disposable gloves latex or similar gloves handy, as well as paper towels and a clean surface to set the dipstick on, but those are things many people are likely to have already.\n\nThe bottle shipped well packaged (including wrapped in its own plastic bag to limit damage to other items in case the bottle were damaged in transit) as expected, and I have no problems with this item. Note again that you can probably find it cheaper locally, but the convenience of Amazon delivery was worth it for me.","Product: This clear vinyl, commercial grade chair mat is designed to help your chair roll easily on carpeted floors and prevent carpet wear caused by chair casters. It features a scuff and slip resistant top surface for durability and safety. The underside has a gripper back to firmly anchor the chair mat on low pile carpet, protecting your carpet from spills and damage. The mat includes a protruding lip to protect the carpet under the desk and allow the chair to roll even when it's all the way under the desk.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Appears OK for light usage\n\nReview: I was worried about the quality of this mat based on other reviews, but the price was good. Fortunately, it has been working well for me for the couple months I've had it. I bought the version designed for carpet, which has plastic \"studs\" on the bottom to prevent slipping (some people seem to have bought the hard floor version or perhaps intended to buy this version but ended up with the wrong one; in any case, mine was correct). This works well for me, at least on my low-pile carpet. Others have commended that the material is a bit thin. It's certainly not as thick as ones I've seen in offices, but I think it will do for a light rolling chair I use at home. The wheels do leave small dents in the mat for me. but so far that has never been a problem for me (and I'm not sure if they're permanent or not). Finally, the mat does come rolled up. They provide instructions for unrolling before use, which I followed and it seems to have flattened out well enough for me. While this isn't the thickest or highest quality floor mat you can find, I anticipate that will work well for my light usage.","Product: Command Cord Clips, Flat, Clear, 4-Clips (17305CLR-ES)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Work well for me\n\nReview: I bought these clips to hold a long DVI cable that I ran along a couple walls. While the small-size clips were enough for an Ethernet cable, they could not hold a DVI cable, so I went up to this medium size instead. For those who are curious, while it may depend slightly on the exact cable, in my case, I don't have a lot of extra room in these hooks after the DVI cable has been fastened in it. I could maybe fit a very thin cable like a 3.5mm audio cable if I needed to, but I'm not sure about much else.\n\nApplication is just like other Command strips. (I've used the white ones before but wanted clear this time to not stick out so much on my non-white wall.) Clean the area with alcohol, let it try, then apply, and hold for so many seconds as suggested and wait before using. Unlike other reviewers, I haven't had any problems with the clear strips not sticking. However, I was simply sticking this to a wood panel wall and another nearly perfectly flat wall, so maybe I didn't have as much texture as these people did. The strips are definitely thinner than the white ones, so you may want to consider whether you value the extra sticking power or the unobtrusive colorlessness and transparency of these strips (and clips).\n\nI haven't had to remove them yet, but I've never had any problems before. However, make sure you follow the directions for removal rather than just ripping them off the wall; that seems to be where most people run into problems. I would not hesitate to order these again if I need them, although on a white wall I might opt for the more time-tested white strips. In any case, the price here was much better than I could find locally for either one.","Product: California Plastics Ultomato with Display Ultomato tomato plant cage has been designed specifically for growing tomato plants and other climbing fruits and vegetables. Each cage is comprised of three 5' heavy-duty Sturdy Stakes and nine fully-adjustable support clips for continuous support throughout the plant's growth. The stakes of this cage have a strong steel core and tough, thick plastic coating.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: OK for light plants, maybe not tomatoes\n\nReview: I've used these cages for two seasons now and just got around to writing a review. I'll probably use them next season, too, but I think potential buyers should be aware of some things.\n\nThe \"cage\" comes as a set of three stakes and nine plastic bars; both ends of the bar snap onto a stake, usually assembled as you see in pictures (three groups of three bars, although you can really space them however you want). I've lost a couple plastic bars over the years, but I notice some local garden centers sell replacement bars, probably for this reason. I suppose you could also get them to add another set of bars to the cage. The stakes are 5 ft tall, but you'll have to put them into the ground a bit, making the effective height a bit less.\n\nThe stakes are also somewhat thin, and the bars are easily removable. This is good because it makes for easy storage but can be bad because heavy plants--like tomatoes--can easily push the bars off the stakes (probably why I've lost a couple). Together with the thin stakes, this makes the whole cage somewhat light and definitely NOT suitable for indeterminate tomatoes. You may have better luck with determinates, but I've never grown any true determinates in these to test. I've given up on using these for tomatoes and have stuck to using them with bell peppers, jalapenos (probably could have done without any cage on those, but I had some extra), and cucumbers, which I more or less successfully tried to make climb up the cage. The removable--and movable--plastic bars on the cage were very helpful for this. I didn't have an issue with the weight of the cucumber fruit weighing down the cage, toppling it over, or breaking the bars off, but everything was much lighter here than my tomatoes. I suspect other plants like peas would also work well (maybe spread it out instead of putting it like a cage, depending on how you plant them). I'd hate to try it with melons or squash, but if I was desperate for space and had nothing else I might see how it works.\n\nIn summary, these cages are OK, but you'll need to stick to lighter plants: *maybe* determinate tomatoes, definitely *not* indeterminates, and besides tomatoes otherwise lighter plants like cucumbers or peppers. If they didn't market these for tomatoes (including the name of the cage itself!), I might rate them a little higher. They aren't horrible, but you'll have to be careful how you use them. For tomatoes themselves, after having used a variety of tomato support methods, I decided to make a \"Florida weave\" last season with not much more than metal T-posts and twine. (There are also a few other \"homemade\" solutions out there.\") Do a Web search for this if you're interested--it worked out well for me and was much less expensive than buying cages. They're also easy to store, and I suspect the metal posts will last me much, much longer than these cages.","Product: Monitor outdoor weather conditions from multiple locations of a yard by adding an extra wireless temperature sensor to a household La Crosse Technology weather system. The TX37U-IT wireless sensor transmits outdoor temperature readings to a base unit to enable users to plan appropriately for brisk or hot weather. With any La Crosse 915 MHz weather receivers, the sensor communicates from a distance of up to 330 feet. Outdoor temperature measurement capabilities range from –31.9 to +139 degrees F. To ensure the most accurate readings, install the sensor out of direct rain and sunlight. NOTE: Below is the proper troubleshooting 1. Start with a complete restart using new alkaline batteries dated 2024 or newer And have the indoor station and outdoor remote 3 to 5 feet apart. 2. Batteries should be out of both units for 10 minutes. 3. Place the batteries into the outdoor remote first then into the indoor station. (All outdoor remotes must be started before the indoor station) 4. DO NOT PRESS ANY BUTTONS FOR 10 MINUTES. In this time the display and sensor will start to talk to each other and the display will show both the indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature. If the station does not display both temperatures after the 10 minutes please retry the setup as stated above. After both indoor and outdoor temperatures are displayed for 10 minutes you can place your sensor outdoors and set your time. The remote sensor should be placed in a dry, shaded area. The transmitter should not be more than 330 feet / 100 meters. Note Metal siding, stucco, and some types of glass can reduce signal range. It is possible to receive a signal through these materials, however maximum range will much less due to their tendency to absorb or reflect a much larger portion of the transmitters signal.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works fine with my WT-5220U-IT\n\nReview: I got a La Crosse WT-5220U-IT alarm clock with indoor/outdoor temperature as a gift a while back and had my outdoor temperature sensor placed, as you might expect, outside. One day I discovered my outdoor temperature reading was blank, so I went outside to try to find the sensor, thinking maybe my batteries had died. Turns out, the sensor was nowhere to be found. Maybe it got stolen, or maybe it got blown away in the winds that I'm pretty sure we weren't actually having that day. Who knows.\n\nAnyway, I was relieved to find that I didn't need to buy an entirely new alarm clock just replace my missing sensor. I went to La Crosse's website to see what sensor I needed for my model (WT-5220U-IT), and this is the one they said. Note that there are multiple sensor models, so if you're looking for a replacement, make sure you get the right one. I followed the instructions for setting it up, and everything has been fine since then (almost a year now).","Product: Monitor outdoor weather conditions from multiple locations of a yard by adding an extra wireless temperature sensor to a household La Crosse Technology weather system. The TX37U-IT wireless sensor transmits outdoor temperature readings to a base unit to enable users to plan appropriately for brisk or hot weather. With any La Crosse 915 MHz weather receivers, the sensor communicates from a distance of up to 330 feet. Outdoor temperature measurement capabilities range from –31.9 to +139 degrees F. To ensure the most accurate readings, install the sensor out of direct rain and sunlight. NOTE: Below is the proper troubleshooting 1. Start with a complete restart using new alkaline batteries dated 2024 or newer And have the indoor station and outdoor remote 3 to 5 feet apart. 2. Batteries should be out of both units for 10 minutes. 3. Place the batteries into the outdoor remote first then into the indoor station. (All outdoor remotes must be started before the indoor station) 4. DO NOT PRESS ANY BUTTONS FOR 10 MINUTES. In this time the display and sensor will start to talk to each other and the display will show both the indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature. If the station does not display both temperatures after the 10 minutes please retry the setup as stated above. After both indoor and outdoor temperatures are displayed for 10 minutes you can place your sensor outdoors and set your time. The remote sensor should be placed in a dry, shaded area. The transmitter should not be more than 330 feet / 100 meters. Note Metal siding, stucco, and some types of glass can reduce signal range. It is possible to receive a signal through these materials, however maximum range will much less due to their tendency to absorb or reflect a much larger portion of the transmitters signal.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works fine with my WT-5220U-IT\n\nReview: I got a La Crosse WT-5220U-IT alarm clock with indoor/outdoor temperature as a gift a while back and had my outdoor temperature sensor placed, as you might expect, outside. One day I discovered my outdoor temperature reading was blank, so I went outside to try to find the sensor, thinking maybe my batteries had died. Turns out, the sensor was nowhere to be found. Maybe it got stolen, or maybe it got blown away in the winds that I'm pretty sure we weren't actually having that day. Who knows.\n\nAnyway, I was relieved to find that I didn't need to buy an entirely new alarm clock just replace my missing sensor. I went to La Crosse's website to see what sensor I needed for my model (WT-5220U-IT), and this is the one they said. Note that there are multiple sensor models, so if you're looking for a replacement, make sure you get the right one. I followed the instructions for setting it up, and everything has been fine since then (almost a year now).","Product: GlowPanel LED grow lights provide your plants with a balanced spectrum of light for healthy & vigorous plant growth. GlowPanels consume 80% less energy than HPS or Metal Halide grow lights and produce virtually no heat. They're great for growing plants and with today's skyrocketing energy costs, they're also good for your wallet. GlowPanels are economical. Less energy used means less of an impact on the environment. The GlowPanel LED grow light lasts 10 times longer than an HPS or Metal Halide lamp and will operate for up to 50,000 hours without the need for costly replacement bulbs. Because GlowPanels do not contain mercury or other hazardous materials they can be safely recycled after 50,000 hours of use.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good light; bring your own stand/tent\n\nReview: I used this light last spring and a bit this summer and fall to start a variety of seeds and seedlings for transplanting into my garden. I have had very few problems so far, and I plan to use it again this spring.\n\nPROS\n* Because the lights are LEDs, they demand less power than comparable incandescents and fluorescents. (14 W for this one.)\n* While the base may get a bit warm, the lights themselves (and the base) are never hot, so there's much less danger of burning delicate leaves.\n* The square shape works better for my application than the skinny rectangular shape of most fluorescents, but your luck my vary.\n* Two-pronged plug works well with lamp timers.\n\nCONS\n* The lights are red and blue, giving the whole thing a sort of purple-ish glow. Not a problem per se, but keep this in mind if it's in a visible location--like your bedroom, as it had to be in my small apartment.\n* It does not come with a stand or any equipment on which to hang it. (The \"hanging equipment\" it comes with is just hooks and string. Don't be fooled.) You must figure out a way to make this work yourself (I used an old wire shelf, but if you have a tent with hanging capabilities, that would work, too).\n* Sometimes I can hear a humming noise from the unit. Not loud, but just odd.\n\nLike most other reviewers, my plants responded well to this light. As I said, they were all seeds I started and transplanted later, so I'm not sure this would be bright or large enough if your plants are bigger than seedlings, like if you wanted to keep plants indoors permanently. Also, keep in mind the area this light can cover. The unit is maybe 1 sq foot and claims to be able to cover up to 2 sq ft (for the mathematically challenged, this means about 1.4 ft per side of the square).\n\nUPDATE: I'm using it for my fourth spring gardening season right now and it's still going. I do rotate my plants between this and two other grow lights (one LED, one fluorescent) just because I'm worried that this is too weak for larger plants, but I don't notice any obvious problems with the plants themselves. Every once in a while, one or two LEDs goes out on me, but jiggling it a bit usually works to get it back on. It's obviously not the highest quality construction, but it's hard to complain for the price unless you want to go with fluorescents instead. I had slightly better luck with this than with the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/LEDwholesalers-2501MX-Blue-Red-225-LED-13-8-Watt-Square-Grow-Light-Panel/dp/B001MVWYZA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">LEDwholesalers 2501MX Blue/Red 225 LED 13.8 Watt Square Grow Light Panel</a> in which three entire rows stopped working on me (despite the unit itself appearing slightly more solidly built), but they were similar prices when I purchased them and I suspect the average luck is about equal between the two.","Product: The Jiffy-7 pellet is made from sphagnum peat from specially selected peat bogs. Lime and a special fertilizer with a low ammonium content are added to the peat in order to stimulate growth.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Work great, but no size specified\n\nReview: First, let me start by pointing out a glaring omission and large problem with the current description of the product: there is NO SIZE SPECIFIED. Jiffy makes this in at least 30mm, 36mm, 42mm, and 50mm varieties. One recent reviewer claims to have received the 30mm version; another the 42mm version. Personally, I received the 36mm version, so I don't know if it's that different sellers offer different, unspecified sizes (I see toolboxsupply, Root. Naturally, and others, some Fulfilled by Amazon, but Amazon itself does not appear to offer these; for the record, I bought from toolboxsupply) or that each shipment regardless of seller is a random, unspecified, size. I would NOT BUY this product from this listing for that reason.\n\nLet me state that I have, however, used these pellets for the last couple years with great luck. They are very easy to use: pour warm water on, per the directions, for the pellets to expand, then start seeds per seed instructions. A plastic cover is included (with the flats, not this product here) as a dome for the flats during germination. I have good luck with germination rates, plus it's less messy than working with \"loose\" seed starting mix. Additionally, because I grow many of my transplants under lights for a period of time, I like that it's very easy to rearrange these, which is harder in peat or plastic flats where they are all stuck together. They're also very easy to transplant without much disturbance, since the netted \"lining\" around the expanded pellet is easy to remove (some people say they just leave it on, but it doesn't seem to disintegrate by the end of the season and I don't like dealing with it then). The only problem is that if you let seedlings get too big that the roots start poking through the net, it will be difficult to remove without disturbing them.\n\nUnfortunately, the kit I was using was the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Jiffy-5032-25-Plant-Starter-Kit/dp/B00004RA48/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Jiffy 5032 25-Plant Starter Kit</a>, which accepts 42mm pellets. These 36mm pellets were a bit too small and I was worried they would tip over, so I had to return them. I wasn't even aware that they were so many sizes before this mismatch prompted me to do my research. By the way, the refill part number for the Jiffy 5032 is Jiffy 5777, a 25-pack of 42mm pellets. There is also an Amazon listing <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/200-Count-Jiffy-7-Peat-Soil-42mm-Pellets-Seeds-Starting-Plugs/dp/B000EHJN7K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">200 Count- Jiffy 7 Peat Soil 42mm Pellets Seeds Starting Plugs</a> that very clearly specifies 42mm. I suspect the 36mm pellets would fit a 36- or 72-plant kit, though perhaps that is the 30mm ones instead (or maybe one for one and another for the other). I think the 50mm ones are just used for the tomato kits. Part of this seems like it would be easy for Jiffy to fix by clearly specifying the sizes on both the trays and the refills, but there is obviously an important problem with this particular product listing in that not only does it not specify, but different buyers seem to be getting different products based on the seller, chance, or some other unknown factor.\n\nIn summary: these pellets are great, as is the system in general--but don't buy from this particular listing unless you don't actually care what size you get. I'd give the products five stars, but only if you get the right ones. Due to problems with this listing (which does not seem localized to a particular seller and seems to stem from the lack of size specification in the listing), I'm lowering my rating.","Product: Hydrofarm heat mats is perfect for veteran growers, beginners, and children too. They improve germination by warming the root area 10-20F over ambient temperature. By warming the roots, you increase your growing success! Bottom heat is one of the most important and effective ways to improve germination and rooting. The seedling heat mats have been re-engineered for better performance and greater durability! The new, stronger heating wire and thicker multi-layer construction offer more uniform heating and the durability to withstand rugged greenhouse environments. Hydrofarm heat mats allow you to maintain desired fermentation temperatures in carboys and controllable heating for other hobbies, including homebrewing, Kombucha and Kefir. Measures 6\" x 14\", Inches\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works great for seeds; may need thermometer and insulation\n\nReview: I used to germinate seeds in flats on top of my refrigerator, but after moving to a new place where this didn't work anymore, I needed something else. I tried germinating some seeds last year without anything special, and while I still had good luck, some took a while to come up, and I knew I could do better with some gentle bottom heat. That's why I bought this mat (the 9-by-19.5-in. version, in my case) for this year.\n\nMy germination rates seem to have improved from last year, but I was expecting that. If one of the cheaper options (e.g., warm place or top of fridge) doesn't work for you or you want more control, you may want to try this. Being new to heat mats, I wasn't sure exactly what I needed, so I bought a thermostat, the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Hydrofarm MTPRTC</a>, just in case. The mat will only raise the temperature about 10-20 degrees above the room, so with my cool apartment, I probably didn't need this (until I discovered the next trick), but I'm glad I bought it anyway. If you're as unfamiliar with it as I was, here's how it works: the thermostat plugs into the wall, then the heat mat plugs into the thermostat. The thermostat has a probe you insert into the soil, and it will turn the outlet on the thermostat (into which the heat mat is plugged) on or off as needed to maintain the temperature you set on the thermostat. So, it's a lot like a timer, but based on temperature instead of time. If you plug the heat mat directly into the wall, it will just stay on all the time, since the mat itself includes no \"regulator\" like this. This isn't inherently bad, but I'd at least monitor the temperature and compare it to what you want if you do this instead.\n\nThe \"trick\" I learned, which is also mentioned in the instructions: insulating under the mat helps. My thermostat is now able to keep the mat off for longer than before. I used to have the mat set directly on my counter under the assumption that it wouldn't dissipate that much heat, but I think I was wrong. Even after the simple step of setting the mat on top of a folded towel, the soil has had an easier time staying warmer, and I'm saving electricity by not keeping the mat on as much. You may have better luck if you use a sheet of actual insulation, but even a towel underneath showed improvement for me.\n\nAs a final note, I measured the electricity usage of this with my Kill A Watt meter. As stated, it uses about 17 Watts when on (which is, in fact, any time it's plugged in to a live outlet, since there is no switch on the mat itself). It's also UL listed. In summary, I'm glad I bought this product. It's working well so far. I haven't had it for that long yet so I can't comment on its longevity, but I'll update this review if it dies unexpectedly.","Product: Highland 12 piece Bungee Cords Assortments are designed to secure objects to the vehicle. Made from multi-strand top quality rubber cords to ensure superior strength, these cords feature extra wide hook openings for improved fit and performance. This 12 piece assortment include (3) 18, (2) 24, (1) 32, (1) 40, (3) mini cords and (2) canopy ties. Conveniently color coded for length selection, these bungees are UV resistant and can withstand the harshest outdoor elements. Cequent Consumer Products is the leader for cargo securing products with its Highland brand of products. Highland is dedicated to helping you safely load, anchor, secure, carry, trailer and organize cargo. From aluminum ramps to fat strap bungees and cargo securing products, Highland products are manufactured to quality standards designed to meet, and exceed, every expectation. Highlands special line of products for campers called \"Rugged Camping Design includes tie downs, bungees, straps, clips and other products that are designed for the camping enthusiast. For heavy industrial use, check out Highland's \"Industrial Grade\" line of ratchets, cambuckles and other cargo securing items for heavier loads. NEW from Reese Power Sports brand, is a line of securing products designed especially for boaters called Reese Power Sports Marine that includes Transom, Gunwale and Bow tie downs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not all useful but still a good price\n\nReview: First, you can see this on the container if you zoom in on the Amazon product image, but just to be clear, here are the number and sizes of the cords included, according to the label:\n * three mini\n * three 18\" x 8 mm\n * two 24\" x 8 mm\n * one 32\" x 9 mm\n * one 40\" x 10 mm\n * two canopy ties\n\nLike many others, I find the \"mini\" cords to short to be useful. The canopy ties are looped cords with a ball on one end, and I also haven't found a use for those (I guess I don't have any canopies to tie). However, that still leaves 7 useful cords, which I have used for securing boxes to the rear rack of my bicycle (though a bungee cord net would work better for other things) and other tasks around the house (like securing a plastic cover onto my soapmaking pan as in Catherine Failor's transparent bar and liquid soapmaking books). Even excluding the less useful cords, this is still a good price for the more useful ones. The hooks are definitely metal (they get very hot when I make soap) but coated with plastic. They've held up well for my usage so far.\n\n I've saved the plastic \"can\" they came in to store them when they're not in use. (One of the smaller cables can actually be useful here to hold them all together.) It's a bit of a tight squeeze, but there probably isnt' a better compact way to store them, so I'll deal with it. Again, I think this is a nice price for an array of variously sized cords, and I'm happy with the purchase.","Product: This panel has no ballasts to burn out like other plant lights. It does not run hot, just warm. You will not experience unsightly brown burned leaves when they accidentally touch the LEDs. This is common with most other lights that get very hot. This more controlled running temperature reduces the need to water so often and keeps rooms with plants from getting uncomfortably hot in the summer months requiring additional air conditioning. Extreme energy efficiency permits this new LED panel to pay for itself many times over each year in electricity savings. It saves 50% to 90% in energy consumption compared to incandescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes. Wide angle projection insures uniform leaf coverage. Scientifically calculated even blending of red and blue LEDs eliminates the time consuming task of repositioning separate colored lights back and forth trying to achieve uniform exposure. 14 to 16 hours per day is all that is necessary for maximum plant health with this wave blended lighting system. This allows distances 6-Inch and less between the LEDs and the plants accelerating photosynthesis. Red and blue wavelengths are for growing and flowering of plants. The typical white plant lights that are very hot is unnecessary and just consume excessive electricity. The purity of the LED generated light lengthens flowering periods. These LEDs turn on instantly and can be turned on by hand each day or work well with all standard lamp timers. Color: Red + Blue = Purple looking to the eyes Working Voltage: 12V or 110V-220V Power: 13.8 Watts Dimensions: 12 inches (30.5cm) square Thickness: Low profile 1.25-Inch Power cord length: 48 inches Recommended coverage: one panel per 18 inches square LED life: Approx. 15 years used all year long. (60 years for spring starting of seedlings)\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Worked well for one season\n\nReview: I bought this light in the spring of 2012 because I had the apparently similar <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Sunshine-Systems-LEDGP14-GlowPanel-14-Watt-LED-Grow-Light/dp/B001N4K2QE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Sunshine Systems LEDGP14 GlowPanel 14 Watt LED Grow Light</a> (in addition to fluorescents) but needed just a bit more square-footage of light for some extra plants. So, I bought this one in order to try out them both. To compare the two, the Sunshine panel has a 14x14 grid of large red and blue LEDs, whereas this one has a 15x15 grid of small red and blue LEDs. Both use about 14 W, and I assume their resulting light output is about equal.\n\nI use these for seedlings I plan to use for transplants (peppers, tomatoes, etc.). I do *not* use them to grow full-size plants inside year round. Based on other reviews, I'm not sure how well that would work. For seedlings grown for transplants, however, this light has been fine for me.\n\nMy only problem has been that after my first year (and not a complete year of constant usage--just a few months in the spring and summer), three rows of LEDs completely stopped working. Then, two more did. That makes 5 rows now, or over 1/3 of the entire panel. I suspect this is due to poor construction, and based on the other reviews it doesn't look like I'm the only one this happened to. (I was hoping I lucked out when it was fine for my first \"year\" of use. As you can see, I did not.) However, the the light isn't completely useless because the lit sections are contiguous (I assume some connection is broken somewhere inside) and I can still use the lit sections for seedlings. I am doing now in my second year of using this product. I just wish it would have stayed wholly functional longer (or had a longer warranty).\n\nI also use fluorescents, which are obviously a much more reliable technology. However, as an advantage for LED panels like these, the square shape is much easier to use on a flat of seedlings, and it also uses less power. As another advantage, this panel is also relatively cheap compared to other LED options (although most are are not panel styles like these). However, I don't plan on buying this exact product again myself. I'll either spring for a better-reviewed LED product--if I can find one similar--or add another fluorescent to my setup instead.\n\nUPDATE: At the end of my second season, this product had pretty much completely quit working. All LEDs failed to light, though the device itself was still drawing 14 W of power. I sold it for parts on eBay and will look around on Amazon for better grow light solutions if I need more this year. I don't want to use fluorescents because of their greater energy consumption, (generally) shorter life, and the hassle of disposing of their mercury-containing bulbs, but my experience the last few years strongly suggests to me that fluorescents may be the better option for now (I'm ignoring incandescent/halogen solutions).","Product: Premium Safety Vest meets ANSI/ISEA Standard. Construct with breathable mesh fabric with front zipper. Height visibility neon yellow color. Size selection from Medium to XXX-Large\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very reflective, reasonably well made\n\nReview: As a commuter cyclist, I bought this vest to be more visible on the roads, particularly at night. It seems to be quite reflective and good in that regard. The tag also says that it meets ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Class 2 standards (intended for certain types of workers who deal with traffic or heavy machinery, with class 2 being the middle of three progressively more visible/reflective classes--not that you'd need to know this unless you're purchasing for a specific requirement).\n\nI normally wear size small shirts, with occasional mediums. I bought a medium vest and it is fine for me--it even fits over my black winter jacket (which is probably like most people's fall/spring jacket, but the cycling keeps me warm--so maybe go up if you're trying to fit it over a winter coat). In that regard, I suppose my experience with the sizing is different from others'--it seems more or less true to size, but I went larger anyway because I can sometimes get away with that size and expected to occasionally wear it over a jacket.\n\nI've had it for a few months now, and it's holding up well. It's very lightweight (100% polyester) but the zipper (my typical point of failure) is still going strong, and I've only had to deal with one slightly loose thread (which I've cut and has since been fine, though it had me worried about the quality for a while). It's inexpensive enough that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.","Product: Limitless possibilities for extraordinary experiences. The Philips Hue white and color ambiance contains 3 bulbs and a hub. It can transform your lighting into an extraordinary experience with colored and white light. Sync lights to your music, TV and games for immersive effects.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good system with a few minor problems\n\nReview: I'm no stranger to LED bulbs, having lit most of my house with them for the last several years. However, this was my first foray into home automation (to which I am also now no stranger, but that's another story). Overall, I am satisfied with Hue, though there are some things you should be aware of.\n\nFirst, if you've never used LED lighting before, some bulbs have a directionality problem. Specifically, they do not put out light in more or less all directions like an incandescent. They are usually more suited for down- or side-pointing fixtures than, say, floor lamps. Many LEDs solve this problem with interesting bulb designs. I would say Hue is somewhere in between these two extremes (though for the record, the official specs say the A19 and BR30 Hue bulbs both have the same beam angle, and it's not because the BR30 is particularly wide). In any case, I haven't experienced any problems with this, but I did take them out of my floor lamp.\n\nSecond, some LEDs have a problem with brightness. This is less true now than it was several years ago when I first tried LEDs, but LEDs equivalent to 60 W or brighter incandescents are still a bit harder to find and more costly. Most bulbs I wanted to replace with Hue were equivalent to 60 W incandescents. Unfortunately, the current Hue bulbs are a bit less bright, maybe equivalent to 50 W. This is good enough for most purposes, but I still have problems getting Hue alone to make my living room bright enough to read in. (I say \"current Hue\" because Philips just announced the Hue Lux, which will be brighter at the expense of producing white light only. I'm looking forward to that.)\n\nFinally, to get the most out of these bulbs, you really need to use the smartphone app. That means you will need to use your phone (or tablet) to turn your bulbs on or off. You can use the light switch like normal and the bulbs will behave more or less like normal, warm white bulbs, but you'll lose the ability to turn them on remotely if you turn them off in this way (obviously, since you cut their power), and the bulbs don't remember their last state, so when you turn them back on they will always default to a warm white light at full brightness. I can understand why they did this (if you don't have your phone but need to turn the lights on, you can turn the switch off then back on), but it is somewhat annoying to need to have to use your phone. This would be much easier if Philips made Hue-compatible switches, but they mysteriously don't at the moment. (EDIT: I said \"at the moment\" because they hadn't yet when I wrote this, but they had announced the Hue Tap; the Hue Tap is now out and is a four-button \"switch\" that, while somewhat expensive for what it does, makes Hue much more convenient to use.)\n\nBesides these minor problems, Hue works great, and Philips is finally working on addressing some of my few problems with the system. It is also worth noting that they have a very good API (exposed via HTTP on the Hue Bridge that is connected to your wired network), so if you're capable of doing any programming, it's pretty easy to write something that will let you tinker with the bulbs to your liking. For example, since Philips hand't yet released any physical switches yet when I got Hue, I made on with a Griffin PowerMate connected to my computer and had the different actions on the PowerMate trigger Python scrips that would send commands to Hue for me via HTTP to do things like turn on or off bulbs on certain rooms, or dim/brighten them.\n\nI haven't even mentioned these bulbs' ability to change to almost any color because I rarely use it. I do, however, like the ability to switch between warm and cool white, the ability to dim the bulbs (app only; these don't dim on dimmer switches), as well as the ability to turn them on and off from any room--or anywhere with an Internet connection, really. I also have them integrated into some other home automation products (mostly motion sensors) now thanks to the well documented API. And, of course, I love them for the same reasons I've loved all my other LED bulbs: (presumably) long life, low power consumption, no \"warmup\" time to full brightness, no mercury, and so on.\n\nFor most of my purposes, I think the upcoming Hue Lux will suit me fine, but I don't regret buying the current bulbs at all. While they are a bit pricey, considering their features, I don't think it's that bad, and I look forward to the Hue Tap (EDIT: now released) and whatever other improvements Philips might be working on.","Product: The WeMo Insight Switch works with the free WeMo app to give you wireless control of your appliances and electronics; turn on a space heater to get the room nice and cozy before you get there, be at ease that you turned off the hair straightener or iron after the morning rush or bring on the holiday cheer and turn on the holiday lights! Put your little ones to bed and turn off the reading lamp and turn on the nightlight as you tuck them in. Modular system. Users can add additional switches easily any time. Control as much or as little of the home as desired. Plugs into any regular 120V wall outlet.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Worked well, somewhat limited\n\nReview: I bought the WeMo Insight Switch on a whim when it was on sale, then a Motion Sensor + Switch bundle later, so these are the products I'm writing about (the Amazon page appears to mix reviews for all WeMo products).\n\nPROS\n * Works entirely with WiFi; does not require a special hub like some home-automation systems do\n * Aesthetically pleasing hardware design\n * Easy to integreate with other WeMo products (e.g., make Motion Sensor control a Switch)\n * App can be configured for remote access to control of devices when you are away from your home network\n * Does not rely on Internet connection\n\n CONS\n * Somewhat high (~1.5W) power usage per WeMo device when idle, presumably to keep WiFi radio powered\n * No API (except via Android and iOS SDKs)\n * Sometimes difficult to integreate with other products\n\nI ended up returning the Switch+Motion combo, followed closely by the Insight Switch. My biggest reason for returning the Switch+Motion bundle is that I couldn't make the Motion product do much besides control the Switch. This is fine if your house is entirely WeMo, but I was hoping to integrate it with my Philips Hue bulbs and couldn't. (I could, actually, with some third-party help: plug in a Switch for nothing, just to be there, then tell Motion to turn on or off the Switch with motion or after a certain period of inactivity, then use IFTTT with a trigger that fires when the Switch is turned off and an action that turns off Hue. This could be simplified a bit if IFTTT had a trigger for lack of motion like the WeMo app does, but it doesn't, and the whole setup is still a bit convoluted.)\n\nFor developers or others who may want to tinker, this product lacks an easily accessible API (Hue, by contrast, is exposed via HTTP and controllable via REST commands). They offer SDKs for Android and iOS, so it appears the only option for customization is writing your own app. There is also not a Web interface, so the app (theirs or a third-party one made with the SDK) is really the only way to control these. This won't matter much to most people, but I like to customize some things have depended on this with other products before.\n\nAs previously stated, all WeMo products use WiFi to communicate, which is an advantage in that you do not need a special hub like you do with, for example, Hue (execpt Belkin's recently announced light bulbs need a hub, too); you can just use your existing WiFi network. However, it has a couple disadvantages: first, all devices need to be within range of your WiFi signal to be controllable, which was never a problem for me but may be for other people. Second, WiFi is more power-hungry than other wireless technologies typically used for home automation (e.g., ZigBee or Z-Wave). I suspect we'll never have battery-powered WeMo devices for this reason. My Switch, Insight Switch, and Motion Detector each ate up about 1.5 W just sitting there idle, which is 3-5 times higher than similar ZigBee and Z-Wave devices I've tried (and ZigBee and Z-Wave devices that take batteries usually use even less power in that case beacuse they don't extend the network they're on, which is something they usually do and exposes another one of their advantages: a possibly greater range).\n\nMy suggestions:\n * If you only want a couple WeMo devices, WeMo may work well. I'd be hesitant to fill a house with them because they use significantly more power than comparable alternatives, but with only a couple it's (a) probably not a big difference, and (b) probably cheaper in that all you need is the WeMo device and a WiFi network (and the Android or iOS app), so you won't have to buy or configure a special hub.\n * If you don't already have a lot of WeMo products but think you might want a lot, I'd suggest another solution that may lend itself to less power consumption and better integration with other systems. Personally, I've returned all my WeMo products and switched over to SmartThings, which offers compatiblity with many ZigBee and Z-Wave controllable switches and sensors. (It does require a hub, but I think the tradeoff is worth it. Unfortunately, SmartThings is also heavily relaint on the Internet at the moment, but they claim to be working on that.) SmartThings can integrate with WeMo, but I swapped my devices (switch and motion sensor, at least) anyway because I wanted the ZigBee advantages I've mentioned.\n* If you only want the Insight Switch and you only want it to know the power consumption of your devices, consider a Kill-A-Watt instead (that's how I determined the surprising amount of power WeMo devices consume even when idle).\n\nMy luck with the products I've used hasn't been as bad as others', and everything seemed to work well when I tried. My biggest problem was the lack of customization options, but there are other minor issues as well as I mentioned that also fueled my desire to seek alternatives. Still, for the average user who only wants maybe one or a few WeMo devices, I think it may work well.","Product: Hue Bloom 2-Pack Dimmable LED Smart Table Lamp Starter Kit (Older Model, 2 Blooms and 1 Bridge, Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good system with a few minor problems\n\nReview: I'm no stranger to LED bulbs, having lit most of my house with them for the last several years. However, this was my first foray into home automation (to which I am also now no stranger, but that's another story). Overall, I am satisfied with Hue, though there are some things you should be aware of.\n\nFirst, if you've never used LED lighting before, some bulbs have a directionality problem. Specifically, they do not put out light in more or less all directions like an incandescent. They are usually more suited for down- or side-pointing fixtures than, say, floor lamps. Many LEDs solve this problem with interesting bulb designs. I would say Hue is somewhere in between these two extremes (though for the record, the official specs say the A19 and BR30 Hue bulbs both have the same beam angle, and it's not because the BR30 is particularly wide). In any case, I haven't experienced any problems with this, but I did take them out of my floor lamp.\n\nSecond, some LEDs have a problem with brightness. This is less true now than it was several years ago when I first tried LEDs, but LEDs equivalent to 60 W or brighter incandescents are still a bit harder to find and more costly. Most bulbs I wanted to replace with Hue were equivalent to 60 W incandescents. Unfortunately, the current Hue bulbs are a bit less bright, maybe equivalent to 50 W. This is good enough for most purposes, but I still have problems getting Hue alone to make my living room bright enough to read in. (I say \"current Hue\" because Philips just announced the Hue Lux, which will be brighter at the expense of producing white light only. I'm looking forward to that.)\n\nFinally, to get the most out of these bulbs, you really need to use the smartphone app. That means you will need to use your phone (or tablet) to turn your bulbs on or off. You can use the light switch like normal and the bulbs will behave more or less like normal, warm white bulbs, but you'll lose the ability to turn them on remotely if you turn them off in this way (obviously, since you cut their power), and the bulbs don't remember their last state, so when you turn them back on they will always default to a warm white light at full brightness. I can understand why they did this (if you don't have your phone but need to turn the lights on, you can turn the switch off then back on), but it is somewhat annoying to need to have to use your phone. This would be much easier if Philips made Hue-compatible switches, but they mysteriously don't at the moment. (EDIT: I said \"at the moment\" because they hadn't yet when I wrote this, but they had announced the Hue Tap; the Hue Tap is now out and is a four-button \"switch\" that, while somewhat expensive for what it does, makes Hue much more convenient to use.)\n\nBesides these minor problems, Hue works great, and Philips is finally working on addressing some of my few problems with the system. It is also worth noting that they have a very good API (exposed via HTTP on the Hue Bridge that is connected to your wired network), so if you're capable of doing any programming, it's pretty easy to write something that will let you tinker with the bulbs to your liking. For example, since Philips hand't yet released any physical switches yet when I got Hue, I made on with a Griffin PowerMate connected to my computer and had the different actions on the PowerMate trigger Python scrips that would send commands to Hue for me via HTTP to do things like turn on or off bulbs on certain rooms, or dim/brighten them.\n\nI haven't even mentioned these bulbs' ability to change to almost any color because I rarely use it. I do, however, like the ability to switch between warm and cool white, the ability to dim the bulbs (app only; these don't dim on dimmer switches), as well as the ability to turn them on and off from any room--or anywhere with an Internet connection, really. I also have them integrated into some other home automation products (mostly motion sensors) now thanks to the well documented API. And, of course, I love them for the same reasons I've loved all my other LED bulbs: (presumably) long life, low power consumption, no \"warmup\" time to full brightness, no mercury, and so on.\n\nFor most of my purposes, I think the upcoming Hue Lux will suit me fine, but I don't regret buying the current bulbs at all. While they are a bit pricey, considering their features, I don't think it's that bad, and I look forward to the Hue Tap (EDIT: now released) and whatever other improvements Philips might be working on.","Product: Accent LED clear A15 fan bulb, 150 lumens, 2-Watt, medium base, cool running, lights up instantly, mercury free, withstands shock and vibration, 15,000 average hour life, uses up to 92-Percent less energy compared to standard incandescent bulbs, non-dimmable.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good relatively dim light with low power consumption\n\nReview: I bought this bulb with hopes of using it in my fridge, despite the fact that my fridge had a 40 W incandescent bulb, while this one is estimated at a 25 W incandescent equivalent. Other reviews made it seem like it might be almost bright enough, but personally I found it too dim. Nothing against the bulb, though, since that's exactly what they claim. (It was the perfect size, however, both the A15 bulb shape and the \"neck\" of the bulb just above the screw; some larger bulbs have a hard time reaching the bottom terminal of my fridge's light socket if smaller bulbs like these have pushed the metal flap down too far, though you can very carefully but easily fix that problem.)\n\nI instead found a use for it in a bedside lamp that I only use at might. I used another LED in my fridge (the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Miracle-LED-605006-400-Lumen-Daylight-White/dp/B0058DHVDS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Miracle LED 605006 400 Lumen Daylight White</a> bulb, though that may be too cool/blue for many people's tastes). The Feit has been working fine in my lamp, and I appreciate the ridiculously low power consumption. The light is listed around 3000K, which I find perfectly acceptable despite some comments that it's not as yellow as some would prefer, and I find the brightness level acceptable for my usage. If you're looking for something brighter, you'll want to look elsewhere, but this bulb is good for what it is and practically free at this price as far as LEDs go.","Product: The First Alert ZCOMBO-G is a z-wave protocol smoke and carbon monoxide combination alarm. This battery operated alarm will operate with 3Rd party, certified z-wave Devices enabled with the First Alert protocol and the basic Command class required by all z-wave Devices. By the requirements of the device class Spec, this Command class does not have to be mapped to any particular functionality for this device. The alarm supports one association group with up to 1 node, and sends its alarms to that group. Note: this alarm is not compatible with onelink.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fairly standard smoke/CO detector; works well with SmartThings; photoelectric sensor only\n\nReview: I bought this smoke/CO detector to pair with SmartThings and get notifications if I'm away from home. I haven't gotten to test the product in real-life situations but can tell you that the \"test\" function works well and it paired very easily with SmartThings for me. Others weren't so lucky with pairing, but it seems there is a way to help it along if you \"exclude\" it first. It is worth nothing that SmartThings appears to be unable to tell the difference between smoke and CO and will just report an alarm when either happens (the detector itself will still indicate which alarm is which). Other Z-Wave systems you integrate this with may be different. This is not a problem for me and could be fix-able in the future if SmartThings decides to do so.\n\nIf you're not using SmartThings or another home-automation system, the alarm itself actually looks and works much like a \"standard\" smoke/CO detector. You don't *need* a smart home system for this to work, but if you don't want one that ties in with a home automation system, you can find regular smoke/CO detectors for much less. Like many newer detectors, this one takes AA batteries (not 9 V; also, notably no hard-wiring option), and the batteries are easy to replace. And all necessary mounting hardware is included\n\nThe only feature you might want but this one doesn't have is a dual smoke sensor. This one has a photoelectric sensor only; even cheap smoke detectors usually have dual photoelectric and ionization sensors. You can read about this differences elsewhere, but basically, ionization is quicker at detecting \"fast fires\" like grease, gas, or paper, where as photoelectric is quicker at detecting \"smoldering\" fires from slower burning materials like wood. You'll probably want combination detectors in most areas to maximize detection, so that is an unfortunate downfall of this product. (In my case, it's less important because I'm using mine in the kitchen where my local regulations don't require a smoke detector but I want one for CO but figure smoke can't hurt, and photoelectric is less likely to respond to \"nuisance\" scenarios like cooking--and, more importantly, I have another combination detector nearby in the next room.)","Product: The Philips Hue White and Color Light strip Plus provides limitless possibilities for an extraordinary experience. Add a Light Strip Plus to your Philips Hue system and create an immersive experience under bars or cabinets and behind entertainment systems. The Light strip Plus gives the flexibility to bend, cut and extend for the application of your choice.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good for primary light and also works well with Hue features\n\nReview: I've been using the Lightstrip Plus as the primary source of light in my living room (which lacks any built-in overhead lighting--I have this attached to a wall near the ceiling on one side), and it is great. I occasionally supplement the light with a floor lamp (a \"regular\" A19 Hue bulb), but if I had to pick one, the Lightstrip Plus lights the room much better because it's a bit brighter--and you can extend it to make it longer and brighter if needed. As with most Hue products, I like that I can change the color of the light. I can do a cool white during the day and warm white at night. This product produces all shades of white light very well, and it has much better color capabilities than the first- and second-generation A19 Hue bulbs in terms of being able to make more saturated blues and greens (which the third-generation \"richer colors\" bulbs have more or less caught up to now). I liked it so much I bought a second one for my bathroom and am using it with a motion detector (via SmartThings, but you could do this with Hue itself now) to turn the light on to a medium white during the day (and most of the morning and evening) and a very dim light in the middle of the night if needed. It is able to dim quite low.\n\nIf you have a fist-generation Lightstrip (the second-generation was renamed \"Lightstrip Plus\"), you'll notice a lot of differences. First, this one is much brighter. Second, it is capable of producing not just colors but also white light in typical color temperatures (like the regular Hue bulbs), so, like me, you can use it as the primary source of lighting in a room if needed. Like the first generation, you can also cut these smaller if needed, though you will then lose the ability to do anything with the part of the strip you've cut off (adventurous solderers aside).\n\nAs with many Hue products, unless you always have your phone handy, there are a few Hue accessories that might enhance your experience, such as the Tap or Dimmer if you want to be able to have some sort of physical switch you can use to turn on/off the light or activate any of various \"scenes\" you can set up in the Hue app. (But note that, like the bulbs, the strip will \"reset\" itself to a default of warm white light at full brightness if unplugged and plugged back in, or if it loses power. So, if you have an outlet controlled by a switch--as living rooms built during certain decades often do--you can probably get by with using your existing switch for everyday lighting and using the app or other methods for special occasions.) If you have a second-generation Hue Hub and an iOS device, you can use Siri to change the lights via HomeKit as well. If you have an Echo, you can turn on/off lights with Alexa as well (first generation hub is fine for this), and enabling the Hue skill will let you activate scenes or turn on/off rooms as well. Philips now makes Hue motion detectors which you may find useful as well, though I am doing something similar myself via SmartThings and have been for long before Philips announced these products.\n\nPerhaps the only con of this product is the price: it's much more expensive than the Hue bulbs and more expensive than most other LED lightstrips I can find, but if you need a strip as opposed to a bulb and value the features of Hue, this is still a good option. (I tried the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/SYLVANIA-LIGHTIFY-by-Osram-LED-Flex-Light-Strip-RGBW/dp/B00R1PB80I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">SYLVANIA LIGHTIFY by Osram LED Flex Light Strip RGBW</a> at first because it was cheaper, but it wasn't bright enough for me and would have exceeded the Hue price if I bought an extension to try to help, though it's not a bad product and has a few advantages like different connectors for the extension strips compared to Hue; see my review there for more.) I also didn't find the built-in adhesive useful, but it's easy enough to come up with your own solution--maybe mounting tape or cable clips. Other than that, this is basically all of the nice things about Hue--plus a little more brightness than their standard bulbs--in a different form, which I really like and wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone.","Product: Wireless dimmingkit works out of the box. Get started with Philips Hue wireless dimming kit and enjoy smooth wireless dimming. Control the bulb with the included dimmer switch, or connect everything to a Philips Hue hub for control from your smart device.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good standalone switch for Hue\n\nReview: I got this product first as a gift to a friend before buying one to use myself. My friend had no existing Hue setup, and out of the box the bulb and remote work together without needing to do anything else. (You don't need anything else to make this work--no Starter Kit, no Bridge, etc.) I, on the other hand, have an existing Hue setup and the bulb and remote worked together out of the box, as expected, but I wanted to make both work with my existing system too. To do this, I had to manually add the bulb in the Hue app by serial number (not sure if that's the way it's supposed to work or if I did something wrong, but it was still easy to do after I noticed automatic detection failed). I also had to add the remote as a \"Device\" in the app and then assign either a scene or a bulb to the remote. If you assign it to a bulb, the on and off buttons will turn on and off that bulb and the dimming buttons will dim/brighten that bulb; if you assign it to a scene, the on/off buttons will turn on and off that scene and the dimming buttons will dim/brighten all bulbs in that scene.\n\nI've had Hue since before they made standalone switches. I was happy when Hue Tap came out, but that was mostly good for setting scenes or turning bulbs off. I'm glad to see another standalone switch that works well for dimming--and, unlike Tap, it's battery powered and the buttons are very easy to press. An added bonus is that the switch is very intuitive to use (after it's set up, or out of the box if you only want to use it on the provided bulb), which means that--unlike with Hue Tap--you won't need to explain to guests how it works.","Product: The Cree connected LED bulb looks and lights even more like a light bulb and can be controlled from anywhere. It is an easy-to-use and cost-effective way to customize lighting in your home. Simply install your bulbs and compatible hub, sync with the applicable app and begin to control your light settings using your iOS or Android device. Compatible with multiple home automation systems, the Cree connected LED bulb works with either wink or a ZigBee certified hub. Once installed, you can easily dim or brighten to the perfect setting, Schedule lights to come on automatically at the start of the day, or turn on lights for added security when you are away from home, all from the Palm of your hand.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Pairs with Hue and works well!\n\nReview: I was looking for a cool white smart bulb and found this. There are a lot of warm/soft white smart bulbs but few with this color temperature, and I didn't want to spend the money on a full-color/RGBW bulb (or just a tuneable-white one) only for cool white. (So in case it isn't clear, I bought the cool white/5000K version of this bulb. This is a medium, perhaps slightly blue-ish white, rather than the yellow-ish white you'll get in the 2700K temperature. The Amazon listing combines them and probably shows all the reviews together.)\n\nI have SmartThings, Home Assistant (with a Liner HUSBZB-1), and Philips Hue, but my preference would be to put the bulb on Hue if it's supported since it can integrate with those other two systems via that while also supporting Hue scenes and accessories if I choose to use them. I've also found Hue to be incredibly reliable. I had to manually add the bulb by serial number rather than letting the Hue discovery process work, but with that, it paired easily and has been working fine ever since. (The \"serial\" number was printed near the base of the bulb as \"E330248,\" except I'm pretty sure that's the same for every bulb. Hue needs the numbers without the leading \"E.\") Both dimming and on/off work for me, though I really only wanted on/off for this application (closet with a pull-chain and no switch).\n\nI'm thinking about getting a a few more, and I'm happy I was able to find a cool white smart bulb! I wouldn't hesitate about the other color temperatures if I wanted one, but Hue also makes soft white bulbs that don't cost much more, so they might be better if you care about \"official\" support.","Product: The TCP RLG254050D is an energy efficient Replacement for a standard incandescent G25 globe light bulb. This bulb is equivalent to a 40 watt bulb but uses only 4 watts! it emits a bright daylight color of 5000K color temperature when lit which mimics the natural illumination of daylight. This bulb is suitable for indoor and outdoor protected use. The TCP RLG254050D is a great for use in vanity and pendant fixture.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great--make sure you get the right color temperature\n\nReview: I bought four of these bulbs to replace the incandescent bulbs that I had in a bathroom vanity. I wanted to both save energy and brighten up the room a little with a cooler color temperature. I also wanted bulbs that were UL listed or similar and sold by a brand I was at least familiar with. These were the cheapest I could find that met these criteria. I chose LED bulbs because they should last longer than CFLs (and use a little less energy to boot--though both use much less than incandescents) and should better withstand the frequent switching on/off they'll take in this location.\n\nI bought the 5000K (\"daylight\") color temperature and chose a 40 W bulb because I figured that with four of them, the room would be bright enough (it is). Do pay attention to the color temperature when you buy these. The product page lists two temperatures, 2700K (soft white or \"warm\") and 5000K (daylight or \"cool\"). The soft white variety, which I did not purchase, will more closely resemble the yellowish hue of a typical incandescent bulb. The daylight variety I purchased will remind you of typical fluorescent lighting in offices and the like, which will appear blue-ish when compared to warmer lighting. Many people don't want this--and I see some reviewers who apparently accidentally purchased it--but I actually prefer it in the bathroom. (Actually, I'd prefer something more like 4000K, but the only ones I could find were online from a manufacturer I've never heard of and didn't appear to have been UL listed or anything similar. Turns out, 5000K still works well in this room.)\n\nSo far these bulbs are working well. They use much less energy than the incandescents they replaced, the bulbs don't get hot to the touch, and they should last a long time, though only time will tell. I would not hesitate to purchase these bulbs again and would recommend them to anyone looking for a G25 (globe-shaped) bulb.","Product: Light for your moments, from sunrise to sunset. Add a Philips Hue white ambiance bulb to your system and enhance your home with shades of white lights. With a range from warm white to cool daylight, this bulb helps you to wake up, relax, read, concentrate or energize.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: More affordable Hue bulb that can do different shades of white (but no color)\n\nReview: My favorite part about Hue is the ability to change white light to different color temperatures--e.g., a cool/medium white if I'm working in the kitchen, but a warm white light if I'm dining, and maybe a very warm light in the evening. This light is able to do all of that, and so it's able to do about 90% of what I like about Hue. If you want different colors (e.g., red, blue, pink, etc.) you'll need the full-fledged \"Hue White and Color\" bulb, which can do everything this one can plus actual other colors, but the White Ambiance bulb is good enough for most of my applications. If you only want warm white light, the plain Hue White can do that (and do so with a bit more brightness than either White Ambiance or White and Color--and at a lower price). I have a few different styles of Hue bulbs scattered throughout the house and they each have their advantages and disadvantages, but this one will probably be my go-to for places where I don't think I'll need non-white colors and where the extra brightness of the warm-only Hue White isn't necessary.","Product: Monitor movement and comfort of your home and family members with the motion and temperature sensing Iris Motion Sensor. Install the discrete and flexible Iris Motion Sensor on a wall, shelf or in a corner and receive notifications when there is unexpected movement in your home. Combine with other devices and set rules to control other smart devices when motion is detected. The Iris Smart Hub is required to connect the Motion Sensor with the Iris app and premium service may be required for advanced functionality.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My new favorite motion sensor (works with SmartThings)\n\nReview: I have SmartThings and was looking for a motion sensor to use with it. I had previously used both the first- and second-generation SmartThings-branded motion sensors, which work well. I later tried an Aeon Mutli and was not impressed, so I was hesitant to try another third-party solution, but then I saw this. The Iris Motion sensor is now my favorite for several reasons: first, it has a quick response time. My SmartApps respond almost instantly to turn on my lights, and it reports \"no motion\" rather quickly (within a minute) of motion stopping--some sensors take longer. Second, it works just as well as the first- and second-generation SmartThings motion sensors I'm using, which have produced very few false positives for me while always sensing me when I walk into a room. Third, these things are tiny--by far the smallest I've used. This isn't apparent from the picture if you don't have anything to compare it to, but the sensor is barely 1.5 inches wide and not much taller. Finally, the price on this--and actually a lot of other Iris products--is great: this is the cheapest natively supported motion sensor I can find. I'm not sure if Lowes is willing to take a smaller margin on the devices in hopes you'll spend money on their hub, but you don't need to--any of the \"ZigBee HA 1.2\" Iris devices (second generation in purple boxes, not the original Iris-only devices) are compatible with standard ZigBee HA controllers, including SmartThings.\n\nThe only downsides are mostly non-technical aspects: first, there are no mounting holes on the device, so you cannot nail or screw it into a wall. The edges have small surfaces on the corners that are designed to be used with adhesives and stuck in the corner of a room. The box includes custom-cut adhesives for either mounting in a corner or flat on the wall. However, the sensors are so small that I find they work well sitting on top of door frames or on a shelf if I don't want to mount them. Second, it takes a CR2 battery rather than a more common size, but I understand why they did this--the device is so small that a common household size can't fit, plus they are lithium batteries that will hopefully last a little longer. I've had some of mine on the same battery for over a year. (By the way, CR2 batteries aren't *that* hard to find, as they are one of a few kinds often used for flash cameras, and a lot of stores do carry them--but I think you'll have better luck locally or at a dedicated online battery store like Battery Junction; I've had bad luck with sellers listing the wrong size or other problems on Amazon.) Third, there is an LED behind the motion sensor that blinks green when motion is detected, which none of my other sensors do. I found this odd at first but am actually used to it now, and it's nice to know when you've walked in range, but there is no option to disable this if you don't want it.\n\nI've used at least 5 of these now, some purchased directly from Lowes and some from Amazon and have had slight problems with two. One got very hot and smelled of burning plastic. I think it was the battery that overheated, which I noticed because the sensor stopped responding and was very hot to the touch when I went to investigate. I suspect this was just a faulty battery and not the sensor's fault per se, but I returned the whole thing to Lowes (where I purchased it) and received a replacement per their generous return policy. I'm sure Amazon would do the same if purchased from them. My second sensor just had the battery suddenly die within the first month of its use, which is well below how long the CR2 battery should have lasted. I then replaced it with another battery, and it again died within a couple weeks. I tried again with a new battery from an additional Iris device I purchased (because apparently I never learn), and--you guessed it--it happened again. I think the most reasonable conclusion to draw is that this one device is defective and keeps draining the battery (I even switched its location with another motion sensor that was holding up well). I initiated a return for this item on Amazon (where I purchased this particular sensor) and had no problems with their return policy, but if I had to level another criticism against these sensors, it would be the apparently low-quality (or at least inconsistent quality) batteries and perhaps the occasional faulty device. However, both Lowes and Amazon have good return policies, and if it's just a bad battery (which it probably was for one of mine), even needing to buy a CR2 along with the sensor will still cost you less than a just sensor from most other manufacturers.\n\nUPDATE (summer 2018): This also works great with the new Hubitat Elevation hub, where I'm using them now.","Product: Automate your lights for peace of mind. Add a Philips Hue white bulb to your system and enhance your home with soft white lighting that you can dim and control remotely. Automate your lights to make it seem like youre home when youre not or set timers.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Still good, but get the Hue White instead unless you find this for cheap\n\nReview: First, some reviews here seem to be about different products--perhaps the Hue system in general, rather than this specific bulb. To be clear, I am reviewing the Philips Hue Lux bulb. (I'm guessing some people who were angry about a previous software update copied and pasted their feedback to various product pages, or maybe Amazon split this from the regular Hue product page at some point and took some reviews with it.)\n\nThe Hue Lux is a perfectly fine light bulb that (obviously) integrates with the Hue system. It looks similar to the regular (white and color) Hue bulbs, but there are two differences. First, and most notably, it emits only white light and cannot change colors like the \"regular\" bulbs can. Second, it is a bit brighter. The regular bulbs aren't dim by any means, but they're maybe a 50 W incandescent equivalent, whereas this is more like 60 W. Other than that, they are dimmable via the Hue app (or third-party apps), the Hue tap, the Hue dimmer remote, and whatever other mechanisms you can use with any Hue bulb.\n\nHowever, there is a newer product called the Hue White. The Hue White does basically everything this bulb can do: emit white light and be compatible with the Hue system. However, the Hue white is shaped a bit differently and looks like it might give more omnidirectional light distribution. It is also a bit brighter. Notably, it is cheaper than the Lux and you can get them in either 2-packs or as part of a light plus remote combination, which will save money compared to doing either alone. The White is essentially a newer version of the Lux, which Philips doesn't appear to sell anymore (at least in the US) but is still available on Amazon. If you can find it for cheap, it's still good, but otherwise a new Hue White will likely cost you less and you'll get a better bulb to boot."],"string":"[\n \"Product: A professional keyboard cover to keep your keys free of harmful dust and debris. Dust free spandex material stretches to fit 61, 76 or 88-key keyboards. Comes complete with a built-in bag, plastic cord and locking clasp. Locking clasp secures dust cover over keyboard and also fastens bag shut. Entire dust cover fits in storage bag when not in use.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Gray, not black, but works well\\n\\nReview: First, I want to point out two things you should know in case you're buying this product based on the picture:\\n* the cover is actually a medium, maybe slightly dark, gray--not black as the picture appears to be.\\n* the cover is not nearly as snug as the pictures may make it seem (more on this below).\\n\\nThat being said, the cover works well in terms of protecting the keyboard from dust. It should at least be clear from the pictures that this is NOT a form-fitting plastic cover that is pre-made contoured to the corners and height of your keyboard. Even for a full-size keyboard, it may actually be a bit loose, but I use this fact to my advantage. My keyboard has a music rest I can attach to keyboard, as I am assuming most do. Ideally, I'd like a fitted cover that has a slit for this, but since Casio doesn't seem to make one for my keyboard, I went for this instead. This cover is big and stretchy enough that I can fit it over both the keyboard *and* the music rest without needing to take the music rest off, and now they're both protected from dust. It doesn't look that weird.\\n\\nI'll try to upload a photo later if I can, but while a bit different from the pictures, this product isn't nearly as bad as I might have expected based on some reviews.\",\n \"Product: A professional keyboard cover to keep your keys free of harmful dust and debris. Dust free spandex material stretches to fit 61, 76 or 88-key keyboards. Comes complete with a built-in bag, plastic cord and locking clasp. Locking clasp secures dust cover over keyboard and also fastens bag shut. Entire dust cover fits in storage bag when not in use.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Gray, not black, but works well\\n\\nReview: First, I want to point out two things you should know in case you're buying this product based on the picture:\\n* the cover is actually a medium, maybe slightly dark, gray--not black as the picture appears to be.\\n* the cover is not nearly as snug as the pictures may make it seem (more on this below).\\n\\nThat being said, the cover works well in terms of protecting the keyboard from dust. It should at least be clear from the pictures that this is NOT a form-fitting plastic cover that is pre-made contoured to the corners and height of your keyboard. Even for a full-size keyboard, it may actually be a bit loose, but I use this fact to my advantage. My keyboard has a music rest I can attach to keyboard, as I am assuming most do. Ideally, I'd like a fitted cover that has a slit for this, but since Casio doesn't seem to make one for my keyboard, I went for this instead. This cover is big and stretchy enough that I can fit it over both the keyboard *and* the music rest without needing to take the music rest off, and now they're both protected from dust. It doesn't look that weird.\\n\\nI'll try to upload a photo later if I can, but while a bit different from the pictures, this product isn't nearly as bad as I might have expected based on some reviews.\",\n \"Product: Clean doesnt have to be complicated. Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes clean and disinfect in one easy step, killing 99.99% of household germs including cold and flu viruses* Our one-step disinfecting formula is designed for the hard, non-porous surfaces in every room in the house and does not require a rinse, even on food contact surfaces. The convenient wipes can be used for daily touch-ups or tough cleaning jobs. Our Lemongrass Citrus Scent Disinfecting Wipes are scented with essential oils and botanical ingredients and leave your home smelling fresh and clean. This EPA registered disinfectant can be used around kids and pets and is suitable for use on all hard non-porous surfaces including childrens toys, pacifiers, gym equipment, food contact surfaces, doorknobs, bathroom surfaces, and more. Seventh Generation is committed to being a brand of environmentally conscious and effective household and personal-care products. Our disinfectant wipes, sprays, and cleaners are solutions for the hard non-porous surfaces within your home. A partnership with the CleanWell Company, makers of the disinfectant formula based on an essential oil, brings you a line of Seventh Generation Disinfecting wipes with CleanWell Inside. * Kills over 99.99% of household germs, specifically: Influenza A virus, H1N1, Rhinovirus type 37, Methicilin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on hard, non-porous surfaces.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good; very wet (some may mind smell, I don't)\\n\\nReview: First off, I have no real complaints about these wipes: they do a good job cleaning and they stay moist for fairly long. However, perhaps a tradeoff for how long they stay moist is that they seem a little soapy (the cloths themselves are actually very wet), and they tend to leave a bubbly trail wherever I use them. Despite this, it doesn't leave a residue or anything, but it is a bit unusual.\\n\\nDo note the directions, which are typical for all such cleaners/disinfectants: to clean, just wipe the surface down as you wish; to disinfect, wipe the surface down so it stays wet for 10 minutes, then allow it to dry naturally. Rinse direct food contact surfaces with water--I actually do this with almost all of my surfaces in the kitchen, even though they aren't all food contact surfaces. (Again, this is standard procedure for most products.)\\n\\nI find the rinsing also lessens the smell, which some people may find disagreeble. Personally, I don't mind it, but you might want to smell these in a store or buy a smaller container first before committing youself to a larger volume. The scent, lemongrass and thyme, isn't really intentional: it's a result of the cleaning product itself. Thymol is the disinfecting agent, and it smells like thyme; lemongrass oil is not listed as an active ingredient but may have antifungal or other beneficial properties, and I suspect that its inclusion (assuming the product does actually contain it) makes the scent a bit more agreeable. I would much rather have this smell than use other, harsher products.\\n\\nThe smell, by the way, is the same as in the lemongrass and thyme disinfecting spray cleaner, <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Disinfecting-Multi-Surface-Cleaner-26-oz-Trigger-Lemongrass-SEV22810-Category-All-Purpose-Cleaners/dp/B0033UJ5QO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner,26 oz. Trigger,Lemongrass (SEV22810) Category: All Purpose Cleaners</a>. I suspect the products are actually nearly the same, and I think in the future I'll actually just use the spray cleaner; that way don't need to use a disposable wipe if I don't need to. These are probably mostly useful if you need something on the go; for most uses, I suspect a regular spray cleaner may be better (coupled with a paper towel, you have the same thing; coupled with a reusable cloth, you've got an even more eco-friendly solution).\",\n \"Product: - 100 transfer pipettes - made of polyethylene, which has good resistance to acetone. They would work fine unless you are actually immersing them in acetone for extended periods.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Inexpensive disposable pipettes work well\\n\\nReview: These pipettes are good for the price. They're about 6 inches long, including a \\\"bulb\\\" on the top that's about 3/4 in. long. They hold quite a bit and are not small droppers if you are expecting those. They're a bit flimsy, but most disposable plastic pipettes I've used are. I mostly use them for transferring essential oils for scented bath/body products that I make, but I also use them for other soapmaking tasks (e.g., as a dropper to add citric acid when doing titration on almost-finished liquid soap). If you're planning on using the bag the pipettes come in to store the pipettes, note that it doesn't zip closed, but I find folding the top over and keeping the bag in a box (as I do anyway) works well. You can probably store them in a ziplock-type bag yourself if you want; I'm only pointing this out because I've purchased packs before that did come in such a bag.\",\n \"Product: AMMEX Vinyl Exam disposable gloves are FDA approved for medical use and offer an affordable and effective barrier protection, against bloodborne pathogens. These premium vinyl gloves are latex free and are perfect for those concerned with latex sensitivities. Vinyl is less elastic than nitrile and latex, giving it a looser fit and smooth, comfortable feel, with excellent sensitivity in the palm and fingertips. They offer a bead at the base of the cuff that is 4 times thicker to prevent ripping or tearing at the wrist AMMEX Vinyl Exam disposable gloves are also less expensive than both latex and nitrile, making them a popular, cost effective option. They are powder free, so in medical applications, you wont have to worry about messy powder residue. Vinyl exam grade gloves are commonly used for medical, dental, child care and senior care. Around the home, these vinyl gloves can be used for personal care, first aid, child care, senior care, pet care, arts and crafts. The best exam grade vinyl gloves for the price on Amazon prime.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good tight-fitting vinyl gloves\\n\\nReview: I've used a couple different types of vinyl gloves before and most either fit very loosely (making it difficult to use my fingers) or were very tight but not as flexible and easy to tear. These can still be torn if you try hard enough, but I've found they're better than most other vinyl gloves I've used--and actually harder to tear than a box of thin, cheap latex gloves I had for a while. I'm not saying I wouldn't get nitrile if I were willing to pay a little more, but these work fine for what I use them for, which is mostly cleaning around the house and cleaning my bikes, where I want to avoid getting my hands dirty or greasy.\\n\\nMy biggest problem is actually with the way they are packaged: my box just had a bunch of gloves stuffed in it, and pulling out one also pulled out a wad of a bunch of other gloves all stuck together (could have ripped the top of the box apart had I not been careful). In other words, they do not dispense nicely compared to other boxes of gloves I've used. I assume this will get better as I start using and removing more gloves from the box, but it's definitely an annoyance and the reason I took off one star.\",\n \"Product: Designed to mop floors quickly and efficiently, the new iRobot Braava Floor Mopping Robot systematically covers your entire floor in a single pass. Braava uses disposable or microfiber cleaning cloths to pick up dirt, hair and dust from all your hardsurface floors including tile, vinyl, hardwood and laminate. Just attach a cloth, set Braava down, press a button and off it goes, using advanced robotic technology to track where it's been and where it needs to go. It's whisper-quiet too, so you can go about your daily activities without disruption. The included Turbo Charge Cradle is a convenient, one-stop charging and storage space, charging Braava 380t in as fast as two hours. Braava uses either disposable cleaning cloths, including Swiffer brand, or reusable microfiber cloths to remove dirt, dust and hair from your floors so you don't have to. Braava has two cleaning modes to choose from depending on the job you need done. In sweep mode, Braava dry mops your floors moving in straight lines using dry cleaning cloths. In mop mode, Braava uses a special back-and-forth mopping action and damp cleaning cloths to lift surface dirt and grime off your floors. With the Pro-Clean System included in Braava 380t, a special Reservoir Cleaning Pad dispenses liquid throughout the cleaning cycle to keep the cloth damp. Cleaning cloths are easy to attach and remove with Braava's removable magnetic multi-purpose cleaning pad. The NorthStar Navigation System 2 works like an indoor GPS that helps Braava keep track of where it has been and where it needs to go. The NorthStar Navigation Cube projects a signal that Braava uses to determine its location. Additional NorthStar Navigation Cubes can be purchased for the Braava 380t to expand the robot's dry mopping capabilities for bigger homes. As Braava cleans, it builds a map of the area, mapping walls, obstacles and drop-offs as it encounters them. Troubleshooting tips-Make sure Cube is not placed within 5 feet of a Plasma or LCD television and that the Cube is not in a room with fluorescent lighting turned on\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Like a robotic Swiffer Sweeper: The 380 from the eyes a former 320 owner\\n\\nReview: I previously owned a Braava 320, which was previously the \\\"low-end\\\" Braava but very similar to this one (they've since discontinued it and began offering the new Braava Jet 240). When my 320 died after three years, customer service agreed to give me a discount on a new Braava, which when coupled with a June-long Father's Day sale this year, ended up being a pretty good deal (less than the MSRP of both the 320 and Braava jet, though I could have gotten the latter on sale as well; see below for more on my choice). This is why you won't see me as a \\\"veriifed purchase,\\\" by the way; I bought the 320 on Amazon but the 380 though iRobot customer service since that's the only way I could get the discount.\\n\\nThe Braava is not a vacuum; it's basically a robotic Swiffer Sweeper, right down to even being compatible with Swiffer Sweeper cloths. It's pretty good at sweeping, which is also what I think of Swiffer (I'll get the floor clean with a broom but the Swiffer always seems to catch more afterwards). In dry/sweep mode, the Braava will go in more or less straight lines, adjusting as it discovers corners and obstacles like furntuture. In mop/wet mode, it will go in a \\\"Y\\\" pattern: forward and to one side, then back, then forward and to the other side, repeating as it moves across the floor. Like a Swiffer Sweeper with a wet mopping cloth, it's not an excessively great mopper but will definite suffice for light cleaning. What it lacks in power, I think it makes up for in convenience. I'll still sweep my hardwood floors once in a while myself but find that this is pretty good for routine cleaning of them (I only use dry mode here). In my kitchen, I still have to sweep and mop myself, but this is good for light cleaning in between those (I use it in both wet and dry mode here). One advantage the Braava has over me, even with a Swiffer, is that it can get places I can't get as easily, like under my bed and dressers, so it keeps those areas cleaner than I'd probably do on my own.\\n\\nBefore using it, the instructions recommend making sure there are no large objects/pieces of debris on your floor. I normally do a quick, not-very-careful sweep just to get anything large (this makes sense since the Braava would otherwise just catch and push these objects around; again, it's like a Swiffer, not a vacuum). You can use either the included clothes (it comes with one dry cloth and one mopping cloth that you can wet with water), but it's also compatible with Swiffer dry or wet cloths or generic equivalents (I'm normally all about generics but don't think any of them clean quite as well as name-brand Swiffer Sweeper dry clothes, by the way, and I don't use the wet ones since I'm picky about what chemicals I'll use and doubt I'd like what is in those). The disposable cloths (it doesn't come with any but, again, it's compatible with Swiffer Sweeper-style ones) are obviously very convenient. I like the idea of being able to reuse cloths, but if the floor is really bad they can be hard to clean (and when I do clean them, I think hand is better than machine), especially the dry cloths, so I'll alternate between the two depending on how I feel about the floor. I tried saving money by cutting my own microfiber cloths down to size, but none worked as well as the included cloths; iRobot's official reusable cloths are somewhat pricey, but I've bought third-party wet and dry reusable cloths for much less (marketed specifically for the Braava; third-party Swiffer-compatible cloths should work too, but I'd stay away from ones that aren't fully rectangular since the Braava pads are supposed to attach in all the way down the length of the machine on both sides, whereas the Swiffer Sweeper just needs the cloth to tuck into one hole in each of the four corners). The 380 includes a \\\"Pro Clean pad\\\" intended for wet mopping; you can fill this with water and it will wick out into the attached cloth during the cycle. I've found that for small spaces this isn't really necessary since (like a Swiffer, again), the cloth will stay wet enough to work. For bigger spaces, I actually think it's easier to squirt mopping solution on the floor myself (like I would if I were mopping) then leave the room, since the pad is hard to clean/empty after use and after repeated use the wick doesn't seem to let water down into the pad anymore (they sell replacement wicks); the \\\"regular\\\" pad otherwise works fine for both wet and dry modes.\\n\\nI see two major downsides to this unit. The first is its propensity to get stuck. It is slightly tapered in that (even ignoring slim front section where the pad attaches) the front is slightly less tall than the back, which is the ideal shape for wedging itself under my fridge or stove at my old place (my new stove is closer to the ground and not prone to this). Perhaps they tested other designs first, but it seems to me that if it were a uniform height, it would simply hit the fridge or stove before it even tried to jam itself underneath, then continue with cleaning as normal. I advise you to watch the Braava on the first couple sweeping and mopping cycles. If you have any problematic areas, consider blocking them off, or simply make sure you're around to hear it beep and set it free if it gets stuck. The second downside is that I'm worried about its longevity. You may recall that I previously owned a Braava 320, which is very similar to this model. The 320 needed new tire treads after about a year, and after a bit less than three years it stopped working completely (not sure why--just the distress tone when I tried to start it--but suspect it may have been another wheel problem, as one felt much looser than the other). I had to send in the 320 at my cost for the tire issue and about a $30 repair charge (it was just past warranty) the first time; the second time, they offered me a discount on a new robot, apparently a common practice given other reviews. If you're hoping for a repair, it's not ideal, but if you're looking to replace it anyway as I was, it's nice they at least reward your loyalty somehow. I just hope this one lasts longer than my last but wouldn't be surprised if it fails after a few years again; you'll have to decide for yourself if you think the convenience is worth the price.\\n\\nAll things considered, it's a good time saver, despite a few problems. I clean my floors \\\"by hand\\\" a lot less than I used to, but I still need to sweep and mop myself in the dirtier areas like the kitchen (I probably *should* do it more myself elsewhere too, but it actually does a pretty good job on its own on the hardwood). Again, just think of a Swiffer Sweeper--that's the level of cleaning you'll expect from this. Speaking of Swiffer, that's actually one of the reasons I chose the Braava 380 over the Braava Jet 240: it's compatible with Swiffer cloths, even the name-brand variety of which are cheaper than iRobot's proprietary Braava Jet cloths (and their reusable Jet cloths aren't cheap, either), plus I already had some reusable ones and compatible accessories left over from my Braava 320. The 380 also covers more space than the Jet, and having a mostly hardwood home now, I figured that would come in handy. The 380 is a bit bigger than the Jet, however, so for small spaces like bathrooms the Jet might actually be able to get in and clean more nooks, and has some potential in being able to be controlled via Bluetooth and iRobot's app (but not to very good reviews at the moment). If you can afford it, I think the 380 (or a used 320) is the better choice--and you might even save money on consumables in the long run.\",\n \"Product: Durable polyethylene construction withstands subzero cold and extreme summer heat. Great for high traffic areas such as: warehouses, fairs, ball parks, schools, etc. Each container includes two wheels for easy portability. Hinged lip keeps rain out. Keep your waste out of eyesight in our heavy-duty and easy to move refuse containers. 22\\\" Width by 37\\\" height by 22\\\" depth. Available in green color.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good can with wheels and attached lid\\n\\nReview: I bought this can because a curbside pickup program my city offers requires a container of up to 35 gallons, and this one was just about perfect at 32 gallons, plus it has a smaller profile (while being a bit taller) than most round cans/bins I would otherwise have to use. When it arrived, all I had to do was put the lid on. The directions weren't incredibly clear for this, but I figured out after the \\\"pins\\\" kept coming loose that not only do you need to align them with the cutout during insertion, you have to push them in all the way so the part that sticks out a little bit sits in the part that is cut out on the can to hold them in place. In my case, the wheels were already on, though there were also instructions for those. It is nice to have a lid that flips open and cannot be detached or lost in the wind, and the wheels are nice if you have heavy contents (though mine is usually far from full and easy enough to just carry with my hands).\\n\\nI've only had the can for a few weeks now, but it seems study, and I hope it lasts for a while. The lid is a little lightweight and a particularly strong wind *might* be able to blow it open if the angle is right. Additionally, it's not quite tight enough to be waterproof, or at least after a strong thunderstorm the inside of my can got wet (unlike my city's larger trash container, this lid might not be heavy enough to nearly completely seal the container). Other than this, it's pretty good. Do note that, while colors may certainly vary from how they appear on a monitor versus real life, my can as received definitely seems much darker than I would have expected. It is more of a medium green, as opposed to the medium-light green I'd say it appears to be here.\\n\\nIf you have money to spend on a high-quality \\\"can\\\" (with the wheels and square shape you might also call it a \\\"cart\\\"), I wouldn't hesitate to go with this one. It seems pretty good except for the lightweight lid, but at least it's attached and won't disappear. If you are looking for a similar-sized container and don't mind something with a bit wider footprint, you can probably find round cans with removable lids at your local hardware store for several times less, but this one works well for me due to its size, appearance, and difficult-to-lose lid.\",\n \"Product: Handles feature anti-microbial product protection to inhibit the growth of bacterial odors. 5 Inch blunt scissors are most suitable for ages 5+; 5 Inch pointed scissors are most suitable for ages 6+. Safety Blades. Assorted Colors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well; somewhat small (but they're for kids!)\\n\\nReview: First, I'm an adult, but I bought these scissors marketed \\\"for kids\\\" because they were cheap and I needed another pair. I've been using them for general office tasks, and they work well--I've used them to cut paper, open boxes, and other small tasks. They are a bit small for my average hands, but I wouldn't expect anything else from a kid's product. The thumb hole is fine, and I can fit two fingers in the other handle just fine, but I could see if people with big hands might have problems here.\\n\\nUnlike another reviewer, I did receive the a light blue (blue-green?) pair as in the picture. The only difference is that the larger handle looks like it has ridges on the inside on one side in this picture, but my pair does not. That difference does not bother me at all.\\n\\nNext time, I'll probably go for larger scissors, but these are good for being cheap and not taking up much space. They fit well into my corner desk organizer without falling over like a larger pair may do, so I am still happy with this purchase.\",\n \"Product: Our large aluminum pouring pitcher holds up to 4 lbs. Of melted wax. The plastic handle stays cool even in a double boiler. The spout makes pouring even small candles a breeze. 8 inch tall by 5 1/2 inch in diameter.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for making candles\\n\\nReview: I bought this pitcher to (no surprise) use for melting wax to make candles. I usually melt 1 or 2 lb of wax at a time, but I've done as little as 8 oz, and you can definitely melt a little more, though maybe not a full 4 lb unless it's all melted (just guessing; I haven't tried to put in 4 lb of wax chips myself). It's aluminum, so it's lightweight, but the handle is *not* aluminum, which makes it cool and safe to touch even when the wax is being heated. The spout also makes pouring into containers or molds very easy, though sometimes I get a bit of wax dripping over the side, because the metal cools very easily, the very last bit of wax usually seems to get solidified on the inside of the pitcher before it can pour out. To clean, I fill the pitcher 1/2 or more full with water, then use a large squirt of dish soap and heat it until the wax residue melts and dissolves, paying particular attention to the spout area. I usually also wipe down the outside, but in general, it's very easy.\\n\\nThe pitcher seems reasonably well constructed, though I've only had it for a few months now. I plan to keep using it for a while and don't see any signs of how it wouldn't last; if I had to guess at the first point of failure, maybe it would be the handle falling off. But it's definitely OK now.\\n\\nPS - For those who care, Candlescience sells this item on their website as well for a bit less than it is on Amazon as of the time of my writing. If you're ordering other things from them on their site anyway, it may be cheaper, even including the cost of shipping. However, if you are not and have Amazon Prime (or super saver), it's better from Amazon. They also claim on their website that it is now made in the US, whereas the pitcher I got from Amazon several months ago said \\\"made in China.\\\" I'm assuming they will all be US-made, as Candlescience's site said, as the old inventory is run out of (or if you order directly from them).\",\n \"Product: Our Small aluminum pouring pitcher easily holds up to 1 lb. Of unmelted wax and up to 2 lbs. Of melted wax and is a perfect pitcher for making Small candle batches. This wax melting pot features a plastic handle that stays cool for easy handling, and a tapered spout for precise pouring.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for small batches of candles\\n\\nReview: This small pitcher is great for making small batches of candles (they say 2 lb, but I usually only do about half of that, which is perfect for making two 8-oz candles at a time as I often do when trying new fragrances or wicks--but you could certainly do 2 lb). I have the large pitcher as well, but this one works better for small batches because it's much easier to work with when you have less wax (e.g., measuring the temperature of the wax is much easier when you don't need to stick your hand with the thermometer halfway down a pitcher).\\n\\nBoth this and the large one appear to be similarly constructed, with the exception that this one is, of course, about half the size. I've had the large one longer and it's already lasted for years of use without any problems, and I expect this one to do the same.\",\n \"Product: Stylish cotton canvas portfolio to hold a variety of business essentials\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good, inepxensive bag--for light usage\\n\\nReview: This \\\"briefcase\\\" is really more like a messenger bag in that it is made of canvas and is, therefore, quite flexible and not rigid (except on the bottom to help maintain the general shape of the bag). This shouldn't be surprising from the product's description, but I just wanted to point it out. This also makes it look a bit more casual, but it's a step up from an actual messenger bag and costs significantly less than more typical briefcases.\\n\\nI've had the bag for five months, and it has held up decently well. It works great for lighter items (portfolios/folders, papers, paperback books, etc), and I've carried heavier items (eight-year-old laptop that feels like it's solid lead, a couple hardcover textbooks, and so on) without much problem, although the shoulder strap seems to be slowly detaching from the bag on one end. I imagine I wouldn't have had this problem if I stuck to lighter loads. (Be warned, loading too much can also make it puff out at the sides and lose the \\\"briefcase\\\" shape.) I'll summarize the pros and cons from my experience:\\n\\nPROS\\n* Price: probably among the least expensive \\\"briefcases\\\" you'll find, although keep in mind that it might look more like a bag.\\n* Three divided compartments inside (including holders for pens and pencils) and an outside pocket provide plenty of space and organization\\n* Includes detachable shoulder strap in addition to handles, so you can carry it or wear it however you prefer.\\n\\nCONS\\n* Given my strap-detachment issue, this might not stand the test of repeated heavy loads. I'm concerned. (Papers and whatnot should be fine.)\\n* The zippers extend all the way down both sides (not just the top). This might be just a personal preference, but it's easy to open the bag too far and have everything fall out or to forget to check that both sides are fully zipped and not open before taking off with the bag.\\n\\nOTHER\\n* It's black with brown leather (or fake leather?) \\\"pads\\\" on the corners and handle. I'm not a fan of this black-and-brown combination. Your opinion may differ.\\n\\nTo summarize, it's certainly not bad for the price and should withstand at least moderate use. I'd be careful about heavy books and avoid it if you want something that looks a bit more professional or rigid. If you think the pros outweigh the cons, it's certainly not a bad option.\\n\\nEDIT: After about six months of use, one of the shoulder strap hooks snapped off the bag after the fabric had been wearing down (as I described above). I'd give the product three and a half stars if I could; I wouldn't be surprised if the occasional heavy load of books or the old laptop was too much, plus the \\\"handles\\\" are still working fine (I just preferred the shoulder strap because it was easier to carry when commuting)--but other bags (not this style) have held up to similar loads before.\",\n \"Product: Cuisinart CSB-76BC Smart Stick Hand Blender - Brushed Chrome\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well but gears will eventually strip\\n\\nReview: I've used various CSB-75 and CSB-76 blenders (the difference being, apparently, just that the 75 has two speeds and the 76 only one). The longest I managed to use one was about 4 years of daily use. If the price isn't that different, I'd recommend the two-speed model over this one. I got that because I couldn't find this one anymore and figured it was discontinued, though I see some sellers here still have it. But having two speeds is much nicer than having one; on my old one-speed, when blending liquids, the high speed would sometimes push the liquid up over the top of the container. Using the low speed, which I find adequate now for most tasks, helps reduce this problem. Skip this one if you can--or skip the Cuisinart stick blenders altogether if you read the rest of the review.\\n\\nIn addition to the blender itself, both blenders come with a 2-cup dishwasher- and microwave-safe plastic measuring cup that is perfectly sized for the blender shaft (the whole shaft fits the width of the bottom of the container). I usually use this cup to make smoothies. It can also double as a liquid measuring cup because they include markings on the side. Another notable feature is that the shaft (the bottom part with the blade) detaches from the actual blender/motor unit (the top), which makes it easy to clean without needing to worry about avoiding getting the top part wet. Some cheap stick blenders can't do this; I couldn't imagine trying to wash one of those.\\n\\nUnfortunately, there are a few negatives. First--a minor issue some may care about--if you're ordering the \\\"brushed chrome\\\" color, the picture online makes it appear metallic. It is not; it is simply gray/silver-colored plastic (as is every other similarly colored Cuisinart product I own). Second--another minor issue--the blade/shaft portion tends to hold water in the inside portion when you wash it (I think water gets in through the part where it attaches at the top). To fix this, I usually dry it upside down so it drains. A third--much more significant--is that both this unit and the CSB-75 use the same gear design, which has failed me in the past. With my first CSB-76, it took about four years of daily use for the problem to appear. On a later unit, it took less than one year. I can't see inside to know what the issue is for sure, but I'm guessing the gears are getting stripped and thus not turning the blade much, if at all (which is the problem I have: it won't actually blend anything). I've also had one where the blades broke off, but that may have been my fault for soaking them in water for too long and encouraging rust, which I've been careful to avoid since then.\\n\\nThe final negative aspect is their warranty. They have a three-year warranty, which sounds great. I actually forgot about this at first when I had one break inside the warranty period, so I bought a replacement shaft from Cuisinart online (less than the cost of a whole new unit, as long as you know whether it was the motor or the shaft half that you need). By the time the whole thing broke on me, I remembered this and decided to try it. I contacted them via e-mail, and they explained my only option: they can ship me a new unit at my expense, and I must send them back my old unit, also at my expense. Their shipping charge is $10, and the total cost will be that plus however much it costs me (probably something pretty similar) to return mine, which is about 1/2 to 2/3 the price of just buying a new unit. Good retailers will cover the cost of shipping both ways, or at least one way; Cuisinart does neither. They are also slow to process these requests. While customer service themselves were quick and always responded with a business day, I had to wait an entire week between the time that they told me a new unit would ship and the time it actually shipped to me, plus transit time (almost two weeks total). Don't count on the warranty to help you out in a hurry or without notable expense on your end; on the bright side, three years is fairly long and might be enough time for the \\\"gear problem\\\" to pop up if it's as widespread as it seems to be based on my experience.\\n\\nI do use my blender a lot--every day--which may be more than most people. I'm still giving it two stars because it does work well for as long as it remains usable (seems to be about a year for me with daily use, probably longer if you use it less frequently). Additionally, it's easy to wash (because the top and bottom halves come apart), reasonably priced, and comes with a long warranty even though it is not as consumer-friendly as it could be. If you only use your blender from time to time, I'm sure it will last a long time. Personally, I've switched to the KitchenAid KHB2351CU, which seems nice and has a slightly different, possibly more durable mechanism to attach the motor unit (this one costs more, but and they make a few closer in price to the Cuisinart that might also use the more durable mechanism), but there's a reason I kept purchasing these despite having a few problems.\",\n \"Product: Command Refill Strips, Small, White, 20-Strips (17022-ES)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Generally works well if you follow the directions\\n\\nReview: I first used Command strips in college, as my college only allowed these strips to be used to hang things on walls. I remember them working well at the time, and so I later used them when I lived in apartments. Where I live now allows nails, but I still use a few of these for places where nails won't work well or that I suspect will be more temporary than long-term. (A note on the \\\"working well\\\" part: you need to remove these as directed. Pull the tab to stretch the strip and keep it as close to the wall as possible--don't just tear it off the wall.)\\n\\nThis package is sold as \\\"refill strips\\\" (more on that in a second), and they can be used to re-use existing \\\"medium\\\"-size Command products you may already have. For example, when I moved, I used these to re-hang previously used cord clips and picture hanging strips (basically a Velcro-type material you can use to hang a lot of different things--the Velcro part comes off and you can put a new strip underneath). However, you don't have to necessarily use them as \\\"refills.\\\" They work well on their own for places where you might use double-sided tape. The picture hanging strips are a bit nicer for this because you can remove and put back objects you've mounted very easily, but if you don't think you'll need to take the object down much *and* it's made of metal, plastic, or some non-paper-like material (which will rip when you try to remove it--or take the paint off your wall while sparing your object), this strip can also work for that.\\n\\nHaving used a lot of these over the years, I can offer a couple tips. First, the white strips do hold better than the clear ones. I think the clear ones were new as of a few years ago, probably a new offering they created because they may look nicer if you have dark walls or somewhere where the white strips and other products might draw too much attention. However, if you're not too concerned about color, go with the white ones. Second, I ended up using these at a place that I happened to live in for about 5 years. I wasn't sure how long I'd stay there, and some of these strips had been there almost the whole time. Let me tell you, they do not remove easily after several years. Either I'd take the strip off but also some paint, or the strip wouldn't come completely off the wall. Sometimes the tab would break off as I was trying to stretch/pull the strip off. If you can control it at all, leaving some of the strip on the wall is probably here because you can use a knife to scrape the rest off without damaging the wall too much (or at all, probably, if you're really careful). That being said, I'd probably just avoid this fate entirely by pre-emptively replacing the strips about every year or so if you plan on using them for a long time. Obviously, nails might be better in many of these cases, but now everyone can do that where they live. The packaging doesn't seem to mention this, but ones that I had put on within the last year removed without many problems (aside from one painted wall that apparently had wallpaper underneath at one point--not sure this product is recommended for that situation, but I didn't know).\\n\\nAll in all, the entire family of Command products works pretty well when used--and removed--as instructed. If you plan on using them long-term, I'd replace the strips every year or so, or the adhesive doesn't seem to remove as well (this doesn't appear to be documented in the instructions, so minus one star because clean removal is the main reason most people use these). Otherwise, these are great, especially for people who can't use nails or even for those who can but want something more temporary.\",\n \"Product: The Boss Black Fabric Steno Chair by Boss Office Products offers ease of use with its one touch lever that adjusts the seat to your height. The chair measures 22\\\" W x 22\\\" D x 29.5-33.5\\\" H and is on the smaller side weighing just 16 pounds with a weight capacity of 150 pounds. Created with a 5-star nylon base, users will love the stability of the unit, as well as its ability to quickly roll from one side of the room to the other. The black crepe upholstery is stylish, while the plastic seat back and bottom offer practicality.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice, inexpensive office chair\\n\\nReview: I've ordered two of these chairs and have been pleased with them both. They are easy to put together, seem reasonably sturdy, and come with a good warranty (I had a part break a couple years after I ordered my first one, so I contacted the company to see if I could order a replacement part--instead they looked up my warranty and sent me one at no charge!). Unlike some other reviewers, I have never had a problem with the chair sinking. I did have a second problem with my first chair, which was about four years old at this point: the back fell off, and broke a bit of the bottom part of the chair with it (making me think I couldn't just replace the back and that it would probably be easiest just to replace the whole chair). I like to lean back a lot in my chairs and think that the force of me frequently leaning back may have been too much for it to handle. If you sit up straight--as I probably *should* do--I don't think you'll have this problem.\\n\\nThis doesn't feel like an expensive office chair--it's a bit smaller, for one, and overall probably a bit less sturdy. But it's a step up from the cheap chair I replaced with this one (those would always break after a year or so for me), looks nice, and works well for usage at my computer a few hours a night--and even the one I broke lives on as a makeshift piano bench.\\n\\nIf you want something fancy or anticipate heavy usage, you might want to go with something more durable. But this one is certainly fine for the price and not bad at all regardless.\",\n \"Product: Everybody loves homemade bread, but not everybody has time to make it. Now Cuisinart does it for you! Our versatile Bread Maker offers a variety of crust colors and loaf sizes, and 12 preprogrammed menu options. Foolproof recipes include low carb and gluten-free breads, as well as jams and sauces. With a convenient 13-hour Delay Start Timer, that wonderful aroma of just-baked bread can be waiting for you when you walk in the door.\\n--PLUS-- Bamboo Cutting Board\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well with a few small possibilities for improvement\\n\\nReview: I've had this bread machine for almost 5 years now and I've used it anywhere from a few times a month to a few times a week. I'm mostly quite happy with it, aside from a few minor issues that I think could be better.\\n\\nThe things I like include: it (1) includes several different cycles with different options (I've mostly used the whole wheat cycle), (2) works well with whole wheat bread (the whole wheat cycle adds a 30-ish minute \\\"warm up\\\" phase to the cycle to slightly warm the ingredients before mixing, and the cycle as a whole is a bit longer due to extra time during the rises and probably other phases), (3) is fairly easy to use (select the program, then change options for loaf size or crust color if desired; then press Start, optionally adding a delay by adjusting the timer up before doing so), (4) makes decent bread (but I don't think any machine compares to making it by hand--but I often cheat; see below), and (5) seems pretty durable, given that I've had it for almost 5 years now.\\n\\nThings that could be better: (1) the manual lacks a time table. You can find a time table in the manual for the CBK-200, but the CBK-100 is slightly different. The main thing I care about is that on the whole wheat cycle, you'll want to be around when there's about 1:35-1:40 left in the cycle in order to remove the paddle and reshape the dough, if desired. I don't usually use other cycles so can't comment on their times, but I'd imagine they're similar or less. Customer service was, unfortunately, not able to help when I asked; (2) I think there is a typo in the recipe book. Lots of 1 lb loafs call for 1 cup + 1 Tbl water, then the 1.5 lb loaves call for just 1 cup water. I think they meant 1 1/4 cup for the latter, as the 2 lb loaves are then 1 1/2 cups and this progression doesn't make sense otherwise. (3) You can't use the delay/timer feature on the dough cycle. Why?! (I can only imagine it's because they're trying to prevent you from not being home when the cycle ends, forgetting about it, and accidentally letting the dough rise to its doom. The manual says it doesn't \\\"recommend\\\" using the timer for the Dough cycle, but unless I'm missing something, you literally can't); instead, I use a bread cycle and plan on being home well before it would start the baking phase based on what I've figured about the timing of the cycle; (4) The paddle sometimes gets grease/oil onto the bottom of the loaf. I remove this before baking, and it doesn't usually happen; it's also not a unique problem to this breadmaker; (5) The seal in the bottom of the pan failed for me after a few years of use (shortly after I wrote this review)--the shaft eventually started to fall out, and I could usually put everything back together enough to make it not leak, but if water were to come out inside the breadmaker, you'd probably be in trouble. Cuisinart sells replacement pans, but I got a refurbished machine on Amazon for not much more. I tried to buy a CBK-100 pan on eBay but don't know if it was mislabeled (the CBK-200 looks similar), but it didn't fit; ordering directly from Cuisinart might have given me more recourse if it didn't fit, though I was able to make a return in any case. Just be careful if you do this. Third parties also sell replacement seals, which could be all you need, but I didn't want to mess with that.\\n\\nNow, for some \\\"neutral\\\" issues that aren't inherently good or bad but that some people may care about: (1) The appliance looks like stainless steel or aluminum in the picture, but it's actually a layer of a gray vinyl or plastic-like material (as are most \\\"silver\\\" Cuisinart products I own)--not a big deal for me but may be to some people. [UPDATE: I later bought a refurbished model with \\\"SS\\\" in the name and it really *is* stainless steel! It looks much better and probably won't stain like this grey vinyl/plastic has after lots of use]; (2) People say it beeps a lot or beeps loudly. It does, but I don't find it annoying--and the final sets of 6 beeps are nice to know because that's when you should remove the paddle and re-shape the dough if you care to do so; (3) There is no indication of how long is left in each phase of the cycle, though it does tell you what phase it is currently in. I've never seen a breadmaker give any information more detailed than this, but I see some other reviewers mentioned it, so maybe some people care (I do care but wouldn't mind if it were in the manual, which it's also not--but once you use a cycle enough you'll figure out the times that are important to you, like the one I mentioned for the whole wheat cycle above).\\n\\nI do have some tips that I use on most breadmakers: after the initial mixing is complete, I try to check the moisture level in the dough. I like to make sure it's moist but not sticky. Ideally, careful measuring will eliminate most of this concern, but I find it depends on the flour (whole wheat flour seems particularly variable) I'm using and possibly the humidity if legend is to believed. Second, I highly recommend removing the paddle and reshaping the dough (into a flat-ish even loaf shape) at the final set of 6 beeps, especially if you're making one of the smaller loaf sizes. Unless it's the dog days of summer, I actually like to take it a step further and just turn off the bread machine at that point and let it rise in a loaf pan and bake in my regular oven. This gives you a more typical loaf shape, whereas the bread machine pan is a bit wider that I prefer (but it's still a much more conventional shape than a lot of other breadmakers). In fact, sometimes I cheat a bit more and do my own kneading for at least a few minutes sometime during the first kneading phase--I'll let the machine do the work of warming and mixing the ingredients, then I'll knead it for a few minutes by hand (because I'm still not convinced a machine can do this as well as a human) and put it back in for the machine to finish the rest of the kneading phase and the remainder of the cycle (until they very end where I may again take it out). This sounds like a lot of work, but it's really easy (the machine really does all the hard and messy stuff), and I think it improves the final result a lot--but it's all optional and you'll still get a decent loaf if you just let the machine do everything on its own (though I'd still recommend removing the paddle if you're there when it prompts).\\n\\nI have never used the jam, pasta, or sweet bread cycles, so I cannot vouch for them. With other breadmakers, I've found the pasta dough doesn't always mix well (ends up crumbly until I start using my hands) and the jam settings turned out more of a coulis, which is not bad but perhaps unexpected for some people. I can't imagine this machine would be different and certainly wouldn't buy any bread machine if that's all you plan on doing with it, though some people may find the additional options nice.\\n\\nAll things considered, I'm fairly happy with this machine. There are a few improvements I'd hope they consider making (publishing a time table and enabling delayed start for dough, for example), but I'm pretty happy with it as is and have recommended this machine to friends and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to other Amazon customers, either.\",\n \"Product: This sturdy bed frame is the perfect platform to hold your standard king size mattress and eliminates the need for a box spring. The steel bed frame features wood slats providing solid support for the mattress as well as even body distribution for a restful nights sleep. The advantage of wooden slats is that they do have some give and can curve downwards and adjust to fit your body and your sleeping position. To evenly distribute weight, 2-inch wide birch laminated wood slats run horizontally from the sides to the middle support beam. The standard height is suitable for a standard size bed skirts plus it offers an amazing full 13\\\" under bed clearance which is perfect for storing things out of site. The bed frame benefits from a strong steel frame, seven steel legs including extra side legs and a middle support beam. Holds up to 300 pounds per side. Each frame ships in one (1) box to eliminate excess packaging. Assembly required. Takes less than 60 minutes to assemble. Imported.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Weak legs and a bit fragile, but an acceptable cheap frame\\n\\nReview: I'm giving this frame three stars because, as the Amazon guideline for three stars says, \\\"It's okay.\\\" I've had the frame three years and have used it (almost) daily, so unlike other reviewers who are just commenting on the assembly or how it feels after a night or two, I think I can give some feedback about how it holds up in the long term.\\n\\nWithin a few months of first using this bed, I had a wooden slat break. These slats hold up the mattress and are there to provide some suspension in lieu of a box spring, which you don't need for this frame (and probably can't use unless you want the mattress to be exceptionally high). I contacted the manufacturer under the 1-year warranty, and they sent me two replacement slats for free. That was nice, but it wasn't reassuring to have two break, especially when you're around 180 lb and the only person on the bed.\\n\\nWithin a few months, however, I noticed the four corner legs start to bend. I know I assembled the bed correctly because I read the directions and followed them closely (took me well over an hour alone, by the way--not sure why some reviewers feel it necessary to put down other purchasers about either of these things). I think the problem has to do with how thin/flexible the flat metal part that supports the frame over the legs is. I was able to bend them back to being straight/in line with my bare hands, but that doesn't stop them from wanting to keep bending back in. They're still there but don't look or feel particularly sturdy. If you ever move the bed (even a few inches), I think it would be best to have two people, one on each end, to lift it completely off the ground so you avoid putting stress on the legs, which might have also contributed to their demise for me.\\n\\nI did move into a new place with this bed and, unlike some others, didn't find it particularly difficult to disassemble or reassemble--as long as you're OK with just taking the legs off and leaving the large, rectangular part of the frame in place. (I didn't bother removing the slats, either. They're pretty hard to remove.) This wasn't a problem for me and shouldn't be for most people since if you're moving this, you're probably also moving a mattress that is around the same size. So, this was not a negative for me. There are also other positive aspects about this bed: when everything is assembled tightly, it's very quiet, even if you might be moving around on it. (I would avoid jumping on it, or any excessive force, for fear of breaking the slats.) It's also very reasonably priced, one of the cheapest bed frames I could find that didn't look terrible. Further, the assembly instructions are clear, and it comes with everything you need, including small tools. I also find it about as comfortable as a typical box-spring bed when I use my regular mattress on it. Additionally, not needing a box spring, it sits fairly high off the ground had has a bit over a foot of clearance underneath, which I used to use for storage--this is nice to have in small spaces.\\n\\nAnyway, at three years out, I'm still using this bed, but I'm looking to replace it because I don't see the legs holding up much longer (it was originally just one leg but now looks like it's all the corners), and it makes funny creaking noises now that it never did before, which I suspect is some parts coming loose. I have re-tightened what I can and I recommend periodically checking everything (I think the manufacturer does too, but it's been a while since I've read the instructions). It's probably OK if you only want to use it on occasion--e.g., for a guest bed (at least for guests who you don't think would be too hard on the frame)--or if you only plan on using it for a year or two. If you want something to last for years of nightly usage, this is probably not the frame for you. I'd still probably go for something a little higher quality, which will likely cost more, but as long as your expectations are set for this price point, it's at least a usable bed.\",\n \"Product: Stay Fit And Healthy - Enjoy Nutritious Homemade Meals Everywhere With The #1 Meal Prep Containers By Freshware! Are you sick and tired of spending money on buying readymade unhealthy food?Meet The Ultimate Meal Prep Containers, Your New Best Friend In The Kitchen! With1 spacious compartment, you can use this set of15 smart lunch containers for various food or snacks without them mixing all together. Your meal will look and taste good all day long.Provide yourself and your kids with a decent meal prep of controlled portions with main courses, proteins, veggie, carbs, fruit, and healthy snacks, all nicely packed in this super convenient bento lunch box container. These food savers can also be used as school lunch box or last nights dinner.Supreme Quality and Premium Design Combined!These food storage containers for meal prepping are made from 100% food-safe material. Airtight and leak-proof when closed, these lunch boxes can be easily opened using the convenient flaps on the lids.Healthy Lifestyle Starts with Freshware: - Prepare more meals in advance and freeze them for the busy days when you wont have time to cook. - Microwave them to enjoy a delicious hot meal. - Clean them hassle free in the dishwasher top rack.Box Size: 9 x 6.3 x 1.6 inch. Cavity Size: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.6 inch. Volume: 28 oz. Lid Size: 9 x 6.3 x 0.6 inch.These Meal Prep/ Portion Control/ 21 Day Fix/ Food Storage Containers are a great new alternative to expensive plastic containers. Perfect lunch boxes for kids or bento box for work, while they are highly recommended by most fitness experts.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works great for soap\\n\\nReview: Like a surprisingly large number of other people, I bought this mold to use for making soap. It works great. You can really see the sunflower pattern on the \\\"bars\\\" of soap. Because this mold is made of thin, flexible silicone, it's also very easy to release the soap from the mold. Because the mold is so flimsy, however, I would recommend using this on top of a metal pan or something similar, especially if you plan on moving it at all before the soap has solidified. You can fill the cups in the mold all the way to the top, or you can fill them up only part way (I do maybe 2/3 or 3/4 of the way if I don't have much soap left to pour), and they still look great. I have several other Freshware molds like this one with different patterns (the daisy and sunflower ones are my favorites for soap) and wouldn't hesitate to purchase more for this purpose.\",\n \"Product: The 3-Speed Hand Blender let's you blend, crush, chop, puree and whisk. Simply choose the appropriate speed for your ingredients. The chopper attachment is great for processing harder cheeses, nuts and creating graham cracker crusts. The included whisk attachment whips creams and egg whites to fluffy peaks. Refer page 15 in the user manual for troubleshooting steps.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well and seems more durable that the Cuisinart SmartStick\\n\\nReview: After owning several Cusinart SmartStick blenders (all of which inevitably broke due to a gear-stripping problem that you can read about in several reviews of its various models), I decided to look for something else. I can't believe I didn't find this KitchenAid hand blender before: it's reasonably priced (in the same range as the SmartStick when I bought it, plus as I found out later they have other models of the KitchenAid that cost less and don't include some of the \\\"extras\\\" but presumably share the KitchenAid's better design) and works quite well. If you're familiar with the SmartStick, it has everything I like about that. Most importantly, it blends well. Additionally, the blade shaft comes off for easy cleaning. It also includes a mixing/blending cup that is sized well to fit the blade shaft, though I happen to like the design of Cuisinart's better (which, given the \\\"lip,\\\" also works well for serving or pouring, unlike this one, plus it's wider and a bit less tall which I think works better for blending larger chunks of food). Finally, it has adjustable speed (three in this case, though I got by with even a 1-speed Cuisinart--who also makes at least a 2-speed model I've used as well--just fine).\\n\\nThe KitchenAid blender also includes some \\\"extras\\\" besides just the stick blender. Besides the blade shaft (which you'll use for regular stick blending, likely with the included cup), they include a small chopper as well as a whisk attachment. I've never used the whisk but assume it would work well; I have tried to use the chopper but don't recommend buying it just for that purpose. In my case, the lid is very hard to remove afterwards because it seems to create a vacuum inside (or at least a pressure difference) that makes the lid very difficult to remove, a problem that is exaggerated if you have liquid ingredients that might get stuck in the seal. I ended up having to throw mine out after the lid got stuck on so tight I couldn't get it off and accidentally broke it trying. It also includes a carrying bag for some of these accessories, which may be nice if you move yours around a lot (but mine just stays in the kitchen).\\n\\nMy favorite thing about this blender is that the place where the blade attaches appears to be metal, which I assume will last much longer than the plastic on the Cuisinarts that kept getting destroyed on me after a few months to a couple years (quite variable) of daily use. The KitchenAid is holding up well for me so far after almost a year, still with nearly daily use, and I hope it continues to do the same.\\n\\nIf you use your stick blender frequently like I do, I'd highly recommend this one (or a similar KitchenAid) over the Cuisinart SmartStick. If you use yours infrequently, either one should work well, so you may want to factor in other criteria like purchase price (though they weren't that different when I wrote this) or aesthetics (the Cusinart is mostly plastic, but the KitchenAid only has plastic on the motor section; the Cuisinart is available in more colors, but it appears this one is only silver/gray).\",\n \"Product: All natural, biodegradable paper sourced from sustainably managed forests and infused to the core with a pure fragrance. Offers a greener way to scent the home.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent but become weak after short time\\n\\nReview: I bought a six-pack of the spruce scent, but I had the opportunity to smell the fir, pine, and cinnamon scents in store. All were good, but I prefer spruce because it reminds me most of the real trees my family once used. I was surprised that the directions recommend hanging \\\"4 or more\\\" at a time. I put two on my tree, one on the other side of the room, and one in the middle. I noticed the smell for a day or so after I hung them and could smell them again when I stepped out of the house and back in for the next several days after that, but by now (day six) the smell is so faint I can't sense it anymore unless I smell the ornament itself.\\n\\nBut they do work well, even if the effect is short-lived. I don't recommend using the entire pack at once unless you have a large room or house--I'm glad I saved a couple so I could put them out now and have them (hopefully) still smelling on Christmas. But you'll probably want to hang a few at first. I wanted to try these because I didn't want to mess with candles or artificial fragrance oils (although I still have no idea what's in ScentSicles) and an essential oil diffuser or something similar was more expensive than I wanted to mess with at the moment but I think I may go that route in the future. In any case, it worked better than my homemade reed diffuser with fir oil, and they're great because they're effortless to \\\"use\\\" after you hang them.\\n\\nI must say, however, that a lot of these raving five-star reviews CLEARLY sound like they're written by the company itself (or shills). These are good, but they're not *that* great. I might get them again next year (shopping tip: they were cheaper in stores for me), but I might also look into other options like some sort of diffuser or maybe a real evergreen wreath. These lasted a very short time, and they require a few to be effective. I can't imagine how much it would cost to continually replenish them over the holiday season. I'd give them 3.5 stars if I could, but I'm going with 3 because I'm not sure it quite lives up to its claims (and I wouldn't mind balancing out the fake reviews a little bit).\",\n \"Product: Simple, functional, and good looking. This TV stand from the Beginnings collection will take game day and movie night to another level! It accommodates up to a 42\\\" TV, and features two large adjustable shelves and two small adjustable shelves to hold video and gaming consoles, movies, games, and more. With its Highland Oak finish, this TV stand is sure to dazzle in any room.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice-looking inexpensive TV stand\\n\\nReview: I purchased this TV stand to replace a smaller one now that I have more equipment I'd like to use at my TV (HTPC, external storage, as well as some networking equipment I also keep by the TV) and my old two-shelf unit with no sides shelves wasn't cutting it. I bought the \\\"Highland Oak\\\" color, and it is very nice and natural looking. The stand was easy to put together. Two of us did it in less than an hour, and the directions were easy to follow. Since I've only had it for a little while now, I'm not sure how long it will last, but for being marketed as a low-end product I am pleasantly surprised so far. If I had any wishes, I wish it came with more shelves--if you have a lot of small equipment you want to put on it like I do (modem, router, FireTV, network TV tuner device, etc.), they don't take up as much vertical space, and having more places to stack them would be nice. That being said, often Sauder will sell you additional parts if they believe the furniture can safely accommodate it (I discovered this when I broke something during assembly on a piece of store-branded furniture that was actually manufactured by Sauder--you can also order replacement parts from them), so I may ask if I decide it's worth it.\",\n \"Product: CSB-75PK Color: Pink Features: -Motor wattage: 200. -Easy to use and one touch control. -Includes 16 ounces mixing beaker. -Dishwasher safe and stain-resistant blending shaft. -BPA free. -2 Speeds for all your blending tasks. Product Type: -Hand Blender. Jar Material: -Metal. Dishwasher Safe: -Yes. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -14\\\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -2.63\\\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -2.13\\\". Overall Product Weight: -2.2 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Good blender but dies quickly with daily use\\n\\nReview: I purchased this CSB-75 to replace a CSB-76 that died after about 4 years of daily use, since they apparently do not make that model anymore. They are very similar except that this model has two speeds, whereas the old one only had one (which seems equivalent to this model's \\\"high\\\" speed). They are so similar, in fact, that I tried the shaft from my old CSB-75 on this blender, and it fit! I assume the two-speed capability is the only major change between the two. Having two speeds is much nicer than having one; on my old one-speed, when blending liquids, the high speed would sometimes push the liquid up over the top of the container. Using the low speed, which I find adequate now for most tasks, helps reduce this problem.\\n\\nIn addition to the blender itself, the package comes with a 2-cup dishwasher- and microwave-safe plastic measuring cup that is perfectly sized for the blender shaft (the whole shaft fits the width of the bottom of the container). I usually use this cup to make smoothies. It can also double as a liquid measuring cup because they include markings on the side. Another notable feature is that the shaft (the bottom part with the blade) detaches from the actual blender/motor unit (the top), which makes it easy to clean without needing to worry about avoiding getting the top part wet. Some cheap stick blenders can't do this; I couldn't imagine trying to wash one of those.\\n\\nUnfortunately, there are a few negatives. First--a minor issue some may care about--if you're ordering the \\\"brushed chrome\\\" color, the picture online makes it appear metallic. It is not; it is simply gray/silver-colored plastic (as is every other similarly colored Cuisinart product I own). Second--another minor issue--the blade/shaft portion tends to hold water in the inside portion when you wash it (I think water gets in through the part where it attaches at the top). To fix this, I usually dry it upside down so it drains. A third--much more significant--is that both this unit and the CSB-76 use the same gear design, which has failed me in the past. As I said before, with the CSB-76 it took about four years of daily use for the problem to appear. On this unit, it took less than one year. I can't see inside to know what the issue is for sure, but I'm guessing the gears are getting stripped and thus not turning the blade much, if at all (which is the problem I have: it won't actually blend anything). This is actually my second CSB-75. My previous one broke when (as a few other posters here mentioned) the blades broke off. Figuring that might be my fault for letting them soak too long and possibly rusting, I was very careful with my second blender to not do that.\\n\\nThe final negative aspect is their warranty. They have a three-year warranty, which sounds great. I actually forgot about this when my first motor broke, so I bought a replacement online (not a whole new unit; I purchased the replacement part from Cuisinart for less). By the time the whole thing broke on me, I remembered this and decided to try it. I contacted them via e-mail, and they explained my only option: they can ship me a new unit at my expense, and I must send them back my old unit, also at my expense. Their shipping charge is $10, and the total cost will be that plus however much it costs me (probably something pretty similar) to return mine, which is about 1/2 to 2/3 the price of just buying a new unit. Good retailers will cover the cost of shipping both ways, or at least one way; Cuisinart does neither. They are also slow to process these requests. While customer service themselves were quick and always responded with a business day, I had to wait an entire week between the time that they told me a new unit would ship and the time it actually shipped to me, plus transit time (almost two weeks total). Don't count on the warranty to help you out in a hurry or without notable expense on your end; on the bright side, three years is fairly long and might be enough time for the \\\"gear problem\\\" to pop up if it's as widespread as it seems to be based on my experience.\\n\\nI do use my blender a lot--every day--which may be more than most people. I'm still giving it two stars because it does work well for as long as it does work. Additionally, it's easy to wash, nice to have two speeds, reasonably priced, and comes with a long warranty even though it is not as consumer-friendly as it could be. If you only use your blender from time to time, I'm sure it will last a long time. I'm on the lookout for a more durable blender (just bought a KitchenAid KHB2351CU, which seems nice and has a slightly different, possibly more durable mechanism to attach the motor unit--and they make a few cheaper units that look similar and may also function similarly), but there's a reason I kept purchasing these despite having a few problems.\",\n \"Product: This sleek, high-performance smart stick hand blender comes in four great colors to fit into any kitchen - funky to sophisticated. With its 200-watt motor, two speeds, and deep reach, it makes quick work of pureeing soup in a pot or blending a pitcher of frothy hot chocolate. And it can whip up lemonade and fruit smoothies in seconds, too. It's one smart stick!; Cuisinart 2-speed series smart stick hand blender, Peridot.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Good blender but dies quickly with daily use\\n\\nReview: I purchased this CSB-75 to replace a CSB-76 that died after about 4 years of daily use, since they apparently do not make that model anymore. They are very similar except that this model has two speeds, whereas the old one only had one (which seems equivalent to this model's \\\"high\\\" speed). They are so similar, in fact, that I tried the shaft from my old CSB-75 on this blender, and it fit! I assume the two-speed capability is the only major change between the two. Having two speeds is much nicer than having one; on my old one-speed, when blending liquids, the high speed would sometimes push the liquid up over the top of the container. Using the low speed, which I find adequate now for most tasks, helps reduce this problem.\\n\\nIn addition to the blender itself, the package comes with a 2-cup dishwasher- and microwave-safe plastic measuring cup that is perfectly sized for the blender shaft (the whole shaft fits the width of the bottom of the container). I usually use this cup to make smoothies. It can also double as a liquid measuring cup because they include markings on the side. Another notable feature is that the shaft (the bottom part with the blade) detaches from the actual blender/motor unit (the top), which makes it easy to clean without needing to worry about avoiding getting the top part wet. Some cheap stick blenders can't do this; I couldn't imagine trying to wash one of those.\\n\\nUnfortunately, there are a few negatives. First--a minor issue some may care about--if you're ordering the \\\"brushed chrome\\\" color, the picture online makes it appear metallic. It is not; it is simply gray/silver-colored plastic (as is every other similarly colored Cuisinart product I own). Second--another minor issue--the blade/shaft portion tends to hold water in the inside portion when you wash it (I think water gets in through the part where it attaches at the top). To fix this, I usually dry it upside down so it drains. A third--much more significant--is that both this unit and the CSB-76 use the same gear design, which has failed me in the past. As I said before, with the CSB-76 it took about four years of daily use for the problem to appear. On this unit, it took less than one year. I can't see inside to know what the issue is for sure, but I'm guessing the gears are getting stripped and thus not turning the blade much, if at all (which is the problem I have: it won't actually blend anything). This is actually my second CSB-75. My previous one broke when (as a few other posters here mentioned) the blades broke off. Figuring that might be my fault for letting them soak too long and possibly rusting, I was very careful with my second blender to not do that.\\n\\nThe final negative aspect is their warranty. They have a three-year warranty, which sounds great. I actually forgot about this when my first motor broke, so I bought a replacement online (not a whole new unit; I purchased the replacement part from Cuisinart for less). By the time the whole thing broke on me, I remembered this and decided to try it. I contacted them via e-mail, and they explained my only option: they can ship me a new unit at my expense, and I must send them back my old unit, also at my expense. Their shipping charge is $10, and the total cost will be that plus however much it costs me (probably something pretty similar) to return mine, which is about 1/2 to 2/3 the price of just buying a new unit. Good retailers will cover the cost of shipping both ways, or at least one way; Cuisinart does neither. They are also slow to process these requests. While customer service themselves were quick and always responded with a business day, I had to wait an entire week between the time that they told me a new unit would ship and the time it actually shipped to me, plus transit time (almost two weeks total). Don't count on the warranty to help you out in a hurry or without notable expense on your end; on the bright side, three years is fairly long and might be enough time for the \\\"gear problem\\\" to pop up if it's as widespread as it seems to be based on my experience.\\n\\nI do use my blender a lot--every day--which may be more than most people. I'm still giving it two stars because it does work well for as long as it does work. Additionally, it's easy to wash, nice to have two speeds, reasonably priced, and comes with a long warranty even though it is not as consumer-friendly as it could be. If you only use your blender from time to time, I'm sure it will last a long time. I'm on the lookout for a more durable blender (just bought a KitchenAid KHB2351CU, which seems nice and has a slightly different, possibly more durable mechanism to attach the motor unit--and they make a few cheaper units that look similar and may also function similarly), but there's a reason I kept purchasing these despite having a few problems.\",\n \"Product: We hope you like what you see. Sauder designers travel the world and bring back the best and latest in style, finish, and color trends. This inspiring world travel is evident in the cutting edge and innovative furniture solutions we offer to you!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A bit small but does the job\\n\\nReview: This nightstand is cheap and doesn't look terrible, which is probably its main draw if you're looking at something in this price range. It also doesn't look fancy, but if you're looking at Sauder Beginnings, that's something you should expect. What I like is that it's functional--you can put stuff on top, in the drawer, or on the shelf at the bottom, which is what I was looking for (my previous nightstand was just an endtable that didn't have a drawer). What I don't like is that it's a bit smaller and shorter than you might expect, though the listed dimensions appear to be correct. It isn't miniature by any means, but just a couple more inches in height and either width or length would make it comparable to others I've seen. I purchased the white finish, which looks pretty good to me; I see others have various opinions on the wood-colored finishes. The handle is indeed plastic, but it doesn't bother me that much, and you can replace it with another if you want.\\n\\nAssembly took me alone a bit more than an hour; it would probably go faster if you had someone helping. All pieces were included (Sauder is pretty helpful if they're not--I'd know from previous purchases) and the directions were pretty clear once you figure out what all the pieces are. The \\\"skirt\\\" in the bottom of the front did not line up exactly on mine after assembly, with there being a small gap on one side. I made sure all the other pieces were as even and tight as I could get them, but the gap remained. It doesn't bother me that much, especially when the the furniture is actually standing upright in place, but I believe this is a slight inconsistency with the product. I'm sure others will be OK (and others possibly less OK).\\n\\nIf you can afford something better, by all means, go for it; otherwise, this is great for temporary usage (like me--trying to use for a couple years or so before I probably move and replace it with something better) or kids' rooms, etc. It won't look or feel like an expensive wood nightstand, but it works well if you keep everything I mentioned in mind.\",\n \"Product: Ipow Brew-in-mug Teapot Extra Fine Mesh Tea Strainer Infuser Steeper with Lid and Handle for Loose Leaf Grain Tea Cups, Mugs, and Pots\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Goldilocks of tea infusers?\\n\\nReview: I was looking for a \\\"tea ball\\\" or similar to use to steep herbal teas and almost bought one of the cheap ones, despite a few reviews on some saying that the holes were so big it let the tea/herb/etc. itself out (or sometimes that the holes were so small that water could barely get in--sometimes for the same product!). This one costs a bit more, but I'm glad I went with it instead. The holes are so small that all but the most finely ground teas should stay inside, and the holes are so numerous that water should have no problem getting in or out. It's a bit different than a ball in that I use this infuser by first filling it with my desired amount of tea, then resting it on the lip/edge of my cup as (or after, depending on the tea) I fill the cip with water. When done steeping, I can discard/compost the contents, wash this infuser, and use it again.\\n\\nAs others have noted, the lid is borderline non-functional--it just sits on top of the infuser but doesn't latch on or securely connect in any way. I do use it as a tray to set the infuser on before or after use, for which it works fine--maybe that was its intent (?). The infuser is also larger than most ball-style (or any) infusers I've seen, which should be nice if you have tea that expands when in warm water or like to make really strong teas. Personally, mine is barely full when I use it, but the large size is still nice since it ensures the tea sits low enough in the cup to make contact with the water if the cup isn't near 100% full.\\n\\nAll things considered, I've had no problems with this infuser and think I found the \\\"Goldilocks\\\" of tea infusers: big enough in total but with holes that are both small (to keep tea in) but also numerous (to let the infused water out) enough. I paid a bit more, but I think it was worth it (and the price is still not insane).\",\n \"Product: The USBEXTAA_6 6ft USB Extension Cable (A-A) features 1 USB A male connector and 1 USB A female connector, extending the connection between USB 2.0 devices by up to 6 feet - an ideal solution for better placement of peripheral devices, or adding flexibility to existing USB ports. This high quality USB extension cable is fully rated for use with USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 devices, and is backed by StarTech.com's Lifetime Warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Short and good (also: black)\\n\\nReview: This is a 6-inch extension cable for USB 2.0 devices, which I bought because one of my cables was just a tad too short but I didn't want a ton of excess cable; this fit that bill nicely. I'm sure a more common application is connecting things like USB flash drives or larger devices that don't have a cable and might block adjacent ports on some computers.\\n\\nAs with any extension cable, one end of this is male (the end you connect to a computer) and the other is female (the end you plug the device/cable into). Most USB extension cables I've seen have the female end enclosed in plastic, but as you can see from the pictures of this cable, the female end is *not* enclosed, so you just have the bare metal outer part showing. This was actually desirable for me and is one of the reasons I chose this cable--it needed to fit inside my CordMate II, and I couldn't find an enclosed end that would fit. This one worked nicely for that. If you are just running extending a USB cable for normal purposes, this shouldn't matter--though you may actually wish to get one that *is* enclosed since it's less susceptible to damange. I actually had to return the first one of these I got to Amazon for a replacement because the female end was smashed in a bit and damaged.\\n\\nOne final note: as I write this, Amazon's picture is beige. My cable was actually black. It didn't matter for me, but if that's important to you, keep that in mind.\\n\\nAll in all, I've had no problems with this cable so far (after getting the damaged one replaced, of course), so I'd recommend if if you have a specific need for a 6-inch USB extension cable. There are certainly longer ones if you need those (be aware of maximum length restrictions, though: about 10-16 ft from device to port unless you use active repeaters or hubs), but this one works fine for what it is.\",\n \"Product: Network Cable Tester\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheap and good for testing cables\\n\\nReview: This product is very inexpensive and useful if you make your own patch cables or do your own punchdowns. Here's how it works: (1) connect one end of the patch cable to the jack in the main part of the unit, (2) connect the other end to the \\\"remote\\\" unit (detachable from the main unit), then (3) slide the switch on the main unit to \\\"On\\\" and verify that the LEDs for all the pins you're using light up the same on both the main and remote units. You can also turn it to \\\"S\\\" if you'd like the LEDs to cycle more slowly. This is intended for testing cables; you *can't* use it to test, for example, whether a jack is live. In fact, if if that jack *is* connected to something (e.g., a switch or other equipment), you might damage it. The main unit needs a 9V battery, which was not included with mine, which presumably tries to electrify each wire and lights an LED at both ends on success.\\n\\nAs for the output of this device, if you're making a Cat 5 (or 5e or 6) cable with RJ45 connectors, for example, you'll need all pins 1-8 in order. (I assume the \\\"G\\\" pin is ground for shielded cable, which the significantly more common UTP does not have.) You can also test RJ11 (telephone) cables, which will use fewer pins. You can use it to test cables you've bought if you suspect they're bad, or cables you've made to determine if they were crimped successfully.\\n\\nI've used it for the above purpose in addition to testing punchdown (RJ45 jack) installations I've done on my walls. This tester can't directly test those, but it's easy to do with two known-good patch cables. For example, if you want to test a punchdown wall jack that's connected to a (punchdown) patch panel, jjust use the patch cable to connect the main unit to the wall (or panel) jack you're trying to test with, and use the remote unit at the other end of the run, connecting it again there with a patch cable. (The only thing you can't do is test cable that where one end has been cut but not crimped or punched down--as you can probably guess since there'd be no way to connect that end of the cable.)\\n\\nThe only bad thing about this unit is that it's all visual, so if your cables are long in-wall runs, for example, you won't be able to see both the main and remote unit LEDs at the same time since they must be connected to opposite ends of the run. However, if all necessary LEDs light up in the correct order on both and you don't think you did some improbable mistake like crimping wire 1 to pin 2, wire 2 to pin 3, and so on on exactly one end of the cable, you're probably good. I mostly use it to make sure all my crimps or punchdowns worked successfully. This device is cheap and it--or another tester--is a must-have when doing projects like I described.\",\n \"Product: Bits small energy saving smart strip. 2175 joules - 7 outlets manufacturer : bits upc : 855883000100\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Adjustable and works great\\n\\nReview: First, if you can't tell from the description, here's how this works: one outlet (blue in the picture) is the \\\"master\\\" outlet. If something plugged into this outlet is turned on, it will activate the automatically switched outlets (green in this picture). If not, they will be switched off. The idea is to help you save energy by effectively turning off power to things that might draw a phantom load just by being plugged in, even when you don't need them (and sometimes even when they're turned off) like computer monitors, speakers, DVD players, or pretty much anything with an AC adapter. Finally, there are two always-on (red in the picture) outlets that are never automatically switched off (but, of course, you still turn off them and the entire power strip with the physical switch).\\n\\nI have two of these, one for my computer and one for my other computer that I use in place of a TV. Both have the computer in the \\\"master\\\" outlet and the monitor and speakers in the automatically switched outlets. I have a floor lamp in the always-on outlet in one so I can use it without my computer, and I have my wireless router in an always-on outlet of the other. Both have worked wonderfully, exactly as expected, by switching off the desired peripherals when the computer is off or sleeping. I've both for over a year now, in constant use, and they're holding up fine.\\n\\nA key feature of this power strip that I couldn't find on similar products (like the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Belkin-Conserve/dp/B003P2UMQ2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Belkin Conserve</a> strip) is that you can adjust the sensitivity of the master outlet with a screw on the side of this power strip. This is important because, for example, my MacBook often uses so little power when it's *on* that the power strip didn't initially detect it and turn on the switched outlets. I had to adjust the screw a bit to make it switch on and off as expected. You can also do the same if your device uses more power than expected when off (or sleeping or whatever) in order to make the power strip still turn off the extra devices. Reviews I've read for other strips without this feature seem to indicate that some people have problems that could be resolved if they were able to do this.\\n\\nFinally, I've noticed this same company makes similar power strips in different sizes with different features (7 or 10 outlets; just power or power plus phone or phone and coaxial cable protection). Until I rearranged my equipment, I almost wish I would have purchased a larger one, but this one works fine for me now and it's also the least expensive.\\n\\nIn summary, this product has worked as expected for me and held up to my usage for over a year so far. If you're looking for a product like this, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one, especially on account of its adjustable sensitivity, a feature that appears to be lacking in most other \\\"green\\\" power strips.\",\n \"Product: The Actiontec M1000 is top tier when it comes to reliable DSL modems supported by Centurylink (and other) internet service providers. With the attachable W1000 wifi adapter (sold separately) you can turn your M1000 into a high speed modem/router combo device! If you're looking for an ADSL 2 or ADSL 2+ modem, get this highly rated Actiontec M1000. Get online and STAY online!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: No problems with Qwest (now CenturyLink)\\n\\nReview: I bought this modem because it was listed as an approved device for my Qwest (now CenturyLink) DSL service. I've been using it for almost four months (EDIT: now more than 2 years) with no problems at all.\\n\\nIf you've ever configured one before, there won't be too many surprises. The default IP address of the device is 192.168.0.1, so navigate to that in a Web browser after you plug it in; then the easiest option is probably to click the \\\"Quick Setup\\\" link on the side and configure as needed. (Most notably, you'll need your username and password from the ISP.)\\n\\nHowever, I already have my own router with configuration I wanted to keep (port forwarding, etc.). In my case, I turned off the routing feature on this modem by putting it into \\\"RF1483 bridge mode\\\" (available in its configuration). Then, after configuring my own router with my PPPoE settings, this modem acts more like my old cable modem, and I need only worry about the configuration of my own router. However, if you don't already have a router or don't care to use your own, this modem works fine with its default configuration, though you get only one Ethernet port. There is space for a Wi-Fi add-on module (not included) on the top of the unit, but I haven't used that--again, because I have my own, so I set it up to work with that instead.\\n\\nAt least in bridge mode (and for the brief period I used it in its default state), I've had no problems with this modem and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone looking to buy one, assuming it's compatible with your ISP. If you plan to have DSL for any significant period of time, it's probably cheaper in the long run--especially if you buy a used one--than paying the rental fee your ISP will probably charge you if you don't.\",\n \"Product: This tape features our exclusive laminated tape process and our standard adhesive. Perfect for everyday applications. These labels stay on under normal indoor and outdoor use, including hot and cold environments. Best suited for smooth flat surfaces. For Use With: PT-1300, PT-1400, PT-1400, PT-1500PC, PT-1600, PT-1600, PT-1650, PT-1650, PT-1700, PT-1750, PT-1760, PT-1800, PT-1810, PT-1830, PT-1830C, PT-1830SC, PT-1830VP, PT-1880, PT-1880, PT-18R, PT-18R, PT-1900, PT-1950, PT-1960, PT-2030, PT-2030AD, PT-2030VP, PT-2100, PT-2100, PT-2110, PT-2110, PT-2200, PT-2210, PT-2300, PT-2310, PT-2400, PT-2410, PT-2430PC, PT-2430PC, PT-2500PC, PT-2600, PT-2610, PT-2700, PT-2710, PT-2710, PT-2730, PT-2730VP, PT-300, PT-300B, PT-310, PT-310B, PT-320, PT-330, PT-340, PT-350, PT-3600, PT-520, PT-530, PT-540, PT-550, PT-580C, PT-7500, PT-7600, PT-9200DX, PT-9200PC, PT-9400, PT-9500PC, PT-9500PC, PT-9600, PT-9600, PT-9700PC, PT-9800PCN, ST-5\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just what you'd expect\\n\\nReview: You don't really have much of a choice when it comes this, since as far as I know nobody makes compatible, cheaper \\\"generic\\\" labelmaker tape. The price might be a bit steep, but that's probably my only complaint--and not a very strong one at that since Amazon has it at least a little cheaper than most other stores.\\n\\nIt holds up as claimed (I've had a label outside for a while now with no yellowing, peeling, or other problems), and it's compatible with my labelmaker. I can't ask for much more.\\n\\nBy the way, don't be confused by the product's name: the \\\"e\\\" in \\\"TZe\\\" indicates \\\"environmental friendliness\\\" compared to an older package that used more plastic. It doesn't indicate a different product line from the \\\"TZ\\\" tapes which they are identical to in all other respects. So, don't be confused if your labelmaker calls for \\\"TZ\\\" and you can only find \\\"TZe\\\" tape--they're the same and are interchangeable since it's only the box itself that's affected. (Just don't get an incompatible size!)\",\n \"Product: The Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-930L) is a complete surveillance solution for your home or small office. It can connect to your network using Wireless N, so you can place it anywhere in your home, and it even includes motion detection. The DCS-930L is a standalone surveillance camera that requires no special hardware or software, and can run independently even without a PC. Send e-mail notifications with snapshots whenever motion is detected using just the DCS-930L and an Internet connection. You can even customize areas of the video to monitor for motion to keep watch over entryways or sensitive areas of a room.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Could be nice but works horribly\\n\\nReview: First, it's possible that maybe I just got a dud. However, from reading other reviews, it seems I'm not alone. I could replace this camera with another, but instead, I'll get a refund and search for another model. Still, the features I could see looked nice, even if they weren't able to actually work. Here are some problems I faced.\\n * After being on for a few minutes, the camera would lose network connectivity, forcing me to restart it (by unplugging the power) to make it usable again. I'm not sure if this depends on what type of scene it is aimed at or not, but it definitely wasn't going to work for me.\\n* The device was never able to find my wireless network--or any others, for that matter. I had to use the wired connection. This was not a configuration issue on either end. Even after a reset and making sure my network was in the 2.4 GHz bands of 802.11n (and b/g), this camera could not find it--or any of my neighbors' that my computer can also see. My SSID contained only letters, no spaces or symbols.\\n\\nThe above made it pretty useless for me. However, here are a few good things about it that I was able to discover:\\n* You do not need to use D-Link's software to set up or manage the camera. There is a Web interface. You'll just need to find the camera's IP address and view it in a Web browser (you can do the same with most network printers, for example). If you don't know how to do this, however, you might be better just using their software. The one on the CD only works with Windows. Some of their cameras have Mac versions available on their website; I didn't care enough to look since you don't need it.\\n* You don't *have* to use D-Link's cloud/MyD-Link service. However, again, if you're not comfortable setting up your own alternative, you might want to. What I did (with great difficulty given how finicky the camera was) was set up an FTP server on my home LAN for a file share I could access with a username and password I used just for this purpose. You can configure the camera to upload images via FTP. (You can also do e-mail if you provide SMTP server info.) I didn't want to expose this publicly, which is fine for the camera itself since it's also on my LAN. To view when I was away, I VPNed (via a separate service I configured) into my home LAN and then connected to the file share. Obviously, an off-site solution would be better, but this is the best I could do. And of course, the average person will not want to do this--but I just wanted to note that you don't *need* D-Link's offerings. You can save either on a timer (every 'x' seconds) or via motion detection. I was never able to get motion detection to work before the camera crashed.\\n* For remote viewing of the camera live, I'd rather go via the previous method of images the camera saved (not quite live but close), but I could also use the camera's Web interface and view either a still image (refreshing as needed) or launch a Java applet that would give real-time video (and audio, though of questionable quality). Sometimes starting the Java applet crashed the camera, however, and made me reboot it.\\n\\nBesides the things i mentioned first, there are a couple more bad things:\\n* As far as I can tell, the camera can't actually save video, only images. You can configure how many/how often, but this still caught me off guard that I could only get a folder full of JPEGs.\\n* Reset button is very hard to press (paper clip was too big; I needed to use SIM card tool), and WPS button is very easy to press. I suspect most people won't need to reset as much as I did, and WPS wasn't a big deal for me because WiFi didn't work for me on it anyway (though I'd rather set it up manually in any case), but I did accidentally press it a few times.\\n\\nThe camera itself is fairly lightweight, and the base should mount (bring your own adhesive or whatnot) to flat surfaces if you want. You can manually move the camera a bit on the stand, but there is no pan or tilt functionality in the software.\\n\\nThis camera could at least be decent if it worked better--the feature set isn't bad, and the hardware, while light, feels good. Importantly, image quality was also good enough for security purposes as far as I was able to tell. Unfortunately, the unstable firmware on the device itself made it unusable for me, and I am looking into other options.\",\n \"Product: The TuneBand for iPod touch 4th Generation provides a comfortable way to wear your device while running, working out, working in the yard, or walking around the block. It features a protective silicone skin that allows access to all ports and buttons (including the front and rear cameras), and a soft, elastic strap that fits most arms. We also include a screen protector that covers the front of the iPod touch. NOTE: If you are unsure which iPod touch model you own, then please look for a model number on the back of the device. It starts with \\\"A\\\", like \\\"A1234\\\", and appears in very small print. The iPod touch 4th Generation has a model number of A1367\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Slim, protective, and versatile\\n\\nReview: This iPod touch protector is great. The flexible silcone skin slips on and off easily and protects the iPod. I take my iPod almost everywhere, and this case has enabled it to survive not one but TWO drops on the sidewalk without a crack in the screen or any other damage. There is just a slight \\\"lip\\\" on the front of the skin that I assume is responsible for this. I also use mine at the gym, so I wanted an armband, and the one that comes with this works nicely. While they recommend putting it on the skin before you slip the skin on the iPod, you can really put it on or take it off at any time, and that's exactly what I want since sometimes I just want to use the iPod (for things like FaceTime) with just the skin and not the then-unnecessary armband. With other cases/protectors, it was easier to just take the whole case off, but then I'm taking the risk that I won't drop it on a hard surface. I'm so happy that this case is so easy to use with OR without the arbmand and that there's enough of a lip to help clumsy people like me.\\n\\nAdditionally, it includes one screen protector, which should protect the glass from minor scratches and whatnot. I'm using that, as well, but I think the skin itself is responsible for most of the protection. Of the three iPod touches I've owned, this is the first one that hasn't yet shattered. It's no Otterbox, but for the price and versatility, I don't think you can beat this case (plus it can still fit in your pocket!).\",\n \"Product: Packing 5 drive bays, 4 expansion slots, a 90mm rear fan and 2 USB ports as well as 2 audio ports into a slender steel case, Rosewill's R363-M-BK gives you a powerful platform for building a solid MicroATX system. Bearing a 400W PSU that acts as a second exhaust fan, this compact case has many of the features you'd expect from a larger box, all orderly arranged to do the job neatly and efficiently. The two front 5.25\\\" bays are equipped with optical drive covers, to keep things clean and equipment hidden. The drive bays are designed for tool-free installation, to make adding drives easy and quick. CPU air ducts and video card vents on the side panel enhance air flow for system stability. Rosewill gives you the box to put it all together, but lets you have the joy of customizing your own private little powerhouse!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheap case with PSU\\n\\nReview: This is a relatively inexpensive, good-looking MicroATX case. It includes a built-in PSU, making the price even more appealing (wasn't sure how good the PSU would be at this price, but I've had it almost a year and half now and haven't had any major problems--but I'm only using it for a no-frills budget build). In terms of looks, the case is piano black, which looks nice but picks up fingerprints easily--and scuffs too, as I've noticed, and since I used this for an HTPC, it's not like I'm moving it around a lot. Still, they are mostly on the sides, which are less visible and don't bother me.\\n\\nI've only had two problems: first, the optical drive was difficult to install in the 5.25 external bay. My screws seemed like they were too big. However, I made it work and it could have just been me doing something wrong (or my optical drive--it was very cheap). Second, after about 15 months, the blue power LED on the front stopped working. It wasn't my motherboard (which I replaced later for other reasons), and I was able to replace it with a StarTech power LED later to fix the problem. It was hot-glue-gunned in, so I used a heat gun to loosen up the glue a bit to be able to pull the original out. Also, while I'm talking about the power LED, I found the built-in blue one to be quite bright, though I may have cared more than the average person since, as I said, it was an HTPC. I'm not devastated about having replaced it.\\n\\nThere are other nice things about the case, including two USB 2.0 ports and 3.5mm audio ports on the front. Additionally, screws and cable ties were included. The front bezel also pops off quite easily, which is good if you like to take it off before working on the inside, or are like me and need to replace an LED. There are some disadvantages like the PSU having only 2 SATA power connectors (and yet a floppy power connector), but if you're planning on more drives than that you may want to reconsider the PSU or case anyway (only one internal 3.5\\\" bay, for example, though there is also an external bay you could probably usurp for something else).\\n\\nMinor issues aside, this is a good case. If you're using it for a simple build like me, you'll probably be fine as-is. If you're planning on adding power-hungry components, a better PSU may be desirable (in which case you might just want a different case so you can buy your own).\",\n \"Product: The IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 USB Micro Adapter offers Bluetooth connectivity at a fraction of the size of normal Bluetooth USB adapters. About the size of an adult fingernail, the IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 USB Micro Adapter allows users to connect to all the latest Bluetooth devices like cell phones, PDAs, mice, keyboards and more. Because the IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 Micro Adapter is so small you can easily plug it into your computer without blocking any surrounding USB ports. The IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 Micro Adapter allows users to connect up to three Bluetooth devices together and transfer even the largest files quickly and easily. With the Micro Adapter's lower power consumption, you can enjoy longer battery life on your notebook computer and other devices. This Bluetooth Class 2 adapter is compatible with PC computers, and offers a wireless range of 30 feet (10 meter). It is great for a wide range of applications and smaller form factor devices in the healthcare, fitness, security and home entertainment industries. Features: Wirelessly communicates with Bluetooth-enabled computers, printers, PDAs, cell phones, headsets, and more; Allows any computer with a USB port to become a Bluetooth enabled computer; Ultra-low power consumption; Supports dual-mode and Bluetooth Low Energy; Supports maximum asynchronous transfer rate of 3Mbps; Wideband audio support: provides clear perception of voice when using a Bluetooth headset, and enhances the functionality of echo cancellation and noise reduction; 2.4GHz ~ 2.4835GHz ISM Band; Ultra portable - tiny enough to stay with your laptop; Supports A2DP stereo audio wireless streaming; p to 30ft (10m) maximum wireless range; Built-in security to assure the privacy of your communication-pairing, encryption, and authentication\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well on Windows and Mac\\n\\nReview: I bought this device so I could use a small Bluetooth keyboard as a remote for my media center running Windows 7. It worked well. Apparently others installed the drivers from the CD and received a load of bloatware along with it. To avoid this problem, I'd simply extract the driver files to a folder (or use 7zip or similar if the software doesn't tell you where it puts it), but NOT run the supplied installer. Instead, go to Device Manager, right-click the Bluetooth adpater, click \\\"Update driver software,\\\" and choose the folder you extracted the .INF files to earlier. This is how I recommend installing pretty much any driver on Windows unless you really need whatever else the manufacturer wants to throw at you. (It's also possible Windows 7 or Windows Update now has these drivers, as I don't specifically remember having to do this, but, like I said, it's what I normally do anyway, so I wouldn't have remembered it as anything special.)\\n\\nIt worked as expected on Windows. I also am now using it on an older Mac in order to use a Bluetooth 4.0 peripheral with it since my Mac is old enough not to have come with built-in support. It's working very well on the Mac, and because I think it uses the same chipset as some of Apple's own Bluetooth controllers, I didn't even need drivers. Between the two of these systems, I've been using it for almost a year now with no problems, and I would recommend this adapter, especially for how little money it costs, to anyone looking to add Bluetooth support to a system that lacks it.\",\n \"Product: An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works good for 15\\\" MBP with room to spare\\n\\nReview: I bought the 15\\\" version of this sleeve to fit my 15\\\" MacBook Pro because I was looking for an inexpensive sleeve to use in the rare event that I traveled with the laptop. The MacBook Pro fits into this sleeve with ease--in fact, with so much extra room that the laptop can slide around a bit inside, which isn't a problem for me (I just want something to protect it a little when it's in my bag) but may be for some people. If you want something more form-fitting to this particular computer, you may want to get one designed specifically for it, but you will probably pay a lot more, and this one works well enough for me that I wouldn't find that worth it.\",\n \"Product: The Smart Sense Motion sensor is an infrared motion detector that can be wall mounted or placed on a shelf. It generates notifications to your smartphone when motion is detected within 10 feet. The Smart Sense Motion is a great home security tool. Use it to receive a smartphone alert when someone approaches your door or to trigger security lights when someone walks by. Or, use the device to automatically turn on a light when your child gets out of bed at night.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: No problems, works well with SmartThings\\n\\nReview: I got this as part of a SmartThings Know Your Home bundle, and it is working well so far. I've checked the \\\"Activity\\\" log in the SmartThings app, and it seems to detect every time I walk into the room and, just as importantly, *not* mis-fire and think I walked into the room when I didn't. After about a minute of inactivity, it will log motion as having stopped. That doesn't mean any action you want to take place upon motion ceasing has to take place then; I have my lights in this room configured in SmartThings Dashboard to turn off a few minutes after this, just in case I'm in the room but not moving enough for it to detect me, for example.\\n\\nThe device itself is a bit over 2.5-in. wide and tall and maybe a bit under 1 in. deep at its widest point (it's not perfectly rectangular). It sits nicely on a shelf, but it looks like the hole in the back would also allow you to hang or mount it. It runs on 2 AA batteries, and they seem to last long: in the 5 or 6 months I've had this, the batteries still report over 60% of capacity remaining (the SmartThings app estimates this, presumably based on voltage). There is also a Micro USB port on the side you can use to power the device instead of using batteries. For those curious, my Kill-A-Watt reads about 0.3-0.5 W from the wall adapter when I do this--much less than a WeMo Motion Sensor I previously had (1.5 W; WiFi is more power-hungry than ZigBee or Z-Wave tends to be).\\n\\nAll things considered, this is working very well for me, and if I need additional motion sensors, I would not hesitate to buy another one of these. I tried the Aeon Labs multi-sensor, but it threw false positives all the time. I find this one to work much better.\",\n \"Product: PowerMate Bluetooth is the wireless programmable controller that replaces extra keystrokes with a simple twist or a click. It scrolls. It scrubs. It clicks like a mouse. And it's user-configurable, so it can control practically any Mac application out there. PowerMate Bluetooth connects to your compatible Mac wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.0, so there are no messy wires to get in the way. Once connected, use the included PowerMate app to add your own actions and replace an app's repetitive keyboard commands. And if you already use a corded PowerMate, PowerMate Bluetooth works just fine alongside its older sibling. Does Almost Everything Better, Faster, Smoother Right out of the box, PowerMate Bluetooth is ready to handle your Mac's volume and track control. A new, totally redesigned PowerMate configuration app makes it quick and easy to program PowerMate to do so much more: Shuttle through music or movies Scroll through long spreadsheets or text files Pan and zoom in your creative applications Resize and reconfigure tools and brushes in illustration and photo re-touching programs Use multiple PowerMate Bluetooth units and assign specific functions to each Praise for Powermate Bluetooth \\\"Here's how smitten we are with the Griffin Powermate Bluetooth: it's on our desk, it's connected to our Mac and we're using it constantly yet we still lust after it as if it were something Apple had just announced.\\\" -MaccNN, Sept. 2, 2015 PowerMate Bluetooth is compatible with Mac laptops or desktops. See Features and Specs for details. Download PowerMate Bluetooth 1.2.5\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice product with some flaws\\n\\nReview: I own two USB PowerMates and bought the Bluetooth version because I thought it would be more convenient (especially because I'm one of those people who does really weird things with it, like putting it on a USB repeater cable and mounting it on my wall to control my Philips Hue light bulbs, but I digress). Here are a few things you should know:\\n\\n1) The knob is slightly larger than the USB one (probably because it has to fit two AAs in the base) but not huge by any means. I think the design actually looks better than the USB version, but both are fine. As you can see, this one is like a tall hockey puck; the USB version has a tapered base and smaller knob. Both include a customizable LED ring (pulse at a certain rate, solid at a certain brightness, or the default of mirroring the system's volume level with its brightness, among other options) at the bottom.\\n\\n2) As documented, you need a Mac with Bluetooth 4.0 to connect the PowerMate--but I've actually found you can use a Bluetooth 4.0 adapter (e.g., the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/IOGEAR-GBU521/dp/B007GFX0PY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">IOGEAR GBU521</a>) on *any* Mac and make this work (some effort required if your Mac has Bluetooth already and you want to use this adapter instead, however).\\n\\n3) As others have noted, the surface of the PowerMate is very rough, somewhat like a cross between sandpaper and a microfiber cloth. If you grab the PowerMate by the sides to turn, the sides are smooth and you'll be fine; if you like to turn it with your finger on the top, you may find it uncomfortable.\\n\\n4) I find it much easier to \\\"click\\\" (press the button) with the USB version than this one; some of my presses do not register. I have to deliberately and firmly press near the center, and it feels less responsive to me in terms of letting me know that I've done it.\\n\\n5) To conserve battery power, the PowerMate goes to sleep after a period of inactivity. If the LED is normally on, you can tell because the LED turns off. To wake it, you have to press the button, then wait a few seconds for it to connect (the LED will pulse during this time and turn solid or whatever you have configured when it's done). While I understand that this is probably necessary to save battery power, it is more frustrating than I thought it would be, both because you can't always know that pressing the button *will* actually press the button (it could just be waking it from sleep, and then you have to press again later) and because the delay is occasionally frustrating (though it does connect very fast compared to some other Bluetooth peripherals I've used).\\n\\n6) I figured Griffin had updated the old (3.x) PowerMate software to work with the Bluetooth version. This is not correct. You need the new PowerMate software (confusingly also called PowerMate but versioned 1.x) to make this work. You pair the PowerMate to the computer using the (new) software, not with anything built into OS X as I had imagined.\\n\\n7) Did I mention there is new software? THE NEW SOFTWARE IS HORRIBLE. Here are a list of problems:\\n * You can't use more than one USB PowerMate with the new software. The old one supported up to 127, limited only by USB specifications. I don't need that many, but I did prefer having two. You also can't use both the old and new software at the same time, so I'm stuck using either USB PowerMates with the old software, or the Bluetooth PowerMate but only one USB PowerMate with the new one. I contacted Griffin about this problem and the rep told me he was not aware of any plans to add this feature back but that they are always looking to improve their software. I hope they take this into consideration.\\n * The new software does not import anything (e.g., .PMSET files) from the old software. You have to create everything again if you're trying to upgrade and want to use your old actions with either the new PowerMate or even your old one in the new software (though hopefully not more than one of your old ones; see above).\\n * Unlike in the old software, there is no option to register only one turning event when the knob is turned or pressed-and-turned. It continually fires at a specified rate, although that rate is at least customizable. This is a problem for me because I want my press-and-turn events to happen only once for each time I do that action. The old software could do this.\\n * In the old software, PowerMate actions could run AppleScript to do things on the computer. This is still possible, but you can no longer type the AppleScript code directly into PowerMate. You need to save it to an external file and then select that file as the AppleScript to run. This is less convenient if you are only using very small scripts like I was. (I'm not taking about AppleScript automation of the PowerMate itself here, just AppleScript as something you can do in response to presses/turns/etc. from the PowerMate. That being said, if you did use this other kind of AppleScript in the old PowerMate software, you will undoubtedly have to re-do it for the new one, and I'm also not sure that it's possible to control the LED this way like it used to be).\\n * You can no longer use modifier keys (Cmd, Shift, Ctrl, Opt, and any combination thereof) with the PowerMate to run different actions like you could with the old software. Thus, you're limited to just the 6 actions the PowerMate itself can perform, which some people may find quite limiting.\\n\\nMost of these limitations (particularly the fact that the new software only supports one USB PowerMate and that you can't use the new and old software simultaneously to overcome this) were not disclosed before buying this device. I am hopeful they will fix the many problems with the software, at which point my rating for this product will improve. The PowerMate itself, including the USB version, is a nice and convenient device, and I remain hopeful that most of these problems can be solved with software or firmware updates (they've already issued one to correct jerky scrolling that some people mentioned--the PowerMate software offered to update the PowerMate automatically for me).\",\n \"Product: Oregon Scientific Weather@Home Bluetooth Monitor with Indoor Outdoor Thermometer Hygrometer Atomic Clock\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good unit but some problems with the app\\n\\nReview: This is a decent clock and basic weather station; it can report indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, as well as the time. There is supposedly an \\\"Optional BTH Sensor\\\" that will enable it to also report weather forecasts, but that does not come with the device and I can't even find it online right now, either (it may be new). The station must run on AA batteries, which are helpfully included; there is no AC adapter. Setup was easy with the instruction manual, but this is definitely one you'll want to read and keep since I don't think I'll remember how to do this next time without it. The only difficult I encountered was that it said to press the \\\"reset\\\" button on the remote sensor when installing new batteries. I had problems locating this button despite a clearly visible \\\"Reset\\\" label inside the remote unit's battery compartment; all I saw was a slider that I couldn't \\\"press\\\" and which had no obvious neutral position. Turns out, that slider is the channel selector for the remote, and you can use up to 3 if you put them on different channels (EDIT: Oregon Scientific says 5, so perhaps there are more positions on this switch than I remember). Also, the reset button is there, but it's very small and will require something incredibly small like a SIM card ejector to press it.\\n\\nAs for the station itself, most parts of the display are large and easy to read from far away (especially the outdoor temperature, which I am usually most interested in). The unit also has Bluetooth capability and is capable of reporting the same information on a smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android) with their app, Weather@Home. (Note that because the app is Bluetooth, you must be within range of the device to view it on your phone; it will not work from WiFi when you are away from home.) The app can also sync the weather station's clock with that of your mobile device, which is nice since unlike some other units, the time here doesn't sync to radio-transmitted atomic time, and you must set it manually otherwise. Finally, the humidity and temperature readings seem accurate enough compared with other thermometers that I own.\\n\\nHowever, don't buy this if you're only doing it for the \\\"smart app\\\" capability: the app is supposed to be able to show you a 7-day history of temperature and humidity, but instead, it freezes for several seconds then displays nothing (except the current readings). I assume this is a bug they will work out, but it's not very useful now because of this problem. You can, however, use it to display the current readings, though I usually find it easier just to look at the weather station itself for that. I'm taking off one star for that because that's not too important to me and I'm sure they'll eventually fix it, and it is otherwise a nice, inexpensive unit. (UPDATE, 11/14: a recent app update has made this much better, but every once in a while the app still freezes as it tries to load temperature or humidity history, plus it frequently \\\"forgets\\\" its pairing with my unit, and I have to pair it again.)\",\n \"Product: KHOMO DUAL SERIES Case KHOMO Introduces its best seller case for Apple iPad Air 2nd Generation. The DUAL Series Case continues to be an NUMBER ONE Seller! The Ultra Slim KHOMO DUAL Case is the perfect choice for those who want a stylish and affordable way to protect their tablet. This chic, lightweight case has a Polyurethane FRONT cover and a hard rubberized Poly-Carbonate BACK Protector. The rubberized Poly-Carbonate Back ensures a firm grip while holding your tablet. The KHOMO DUAL Case offers your Apple iPad great protection from scratches, fingerprints, dust, small impacts and many other everyday happenings. It also offers you multiple viewing angles: Fold back to comfortably watch movies and videos or place it in a lower, more ergonomic angle for typing. It's easy to always get the right view. Warranty 2 Year KHOMO Warranty with quick and easy KHOMO service. Check out the KHOMO Accessories Collection Known as The Mobile & Tablet Accessories Experts, KHOMO takes great pride in developing high quality, innovative designs that enhance and protect your valuable devices. Protect what you love with KHOMO top of the line accessories. We Got You Covered.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Affordable alternative to Smart Case\\n\\nReview: Having just bought an iPad Air 2, I was looking for a case and thought I'd give this affordably-priced case a try. I am impressed: it protects the back of the iPad well and has a folding front cover for the screen, which can also be folded over and used as a stand for a horizontal iPad. The whole thing looks vaguely like Apple's Smart Cover, but for a fraction of the price. The notable differences are that the buttons are accessed via cutouts in the case, whereas on Apple's the buttons are covered by the case, and the case has \\\"outdents\\\" for the buttons you can press on the case itself. Additionally, this case has one large cutout for each of the speakers on the left and right side of the Lightning port, whereas the Smart Case has individual holes cut for each hole in the speaker grille. Finally, the Smart Case has smaller cutouts than this case for the rear camera and microphones because they're cut to line up almost exactly with the edges of these components, but the cutouts on this case are still reasonable. Finally, this case is not real leather, and it of course lacks the Apple logo on the back.\\n\\nThe only thing I wish were different is that I wish the folding side that protects the screen was a little thicker, but despite frequently taking my iPad places, it's protected it well so far, and I don't think it's that different from many other cases. I haven't had any problems with this case so far: the cover stays closed even if I turn the iPad upside down, for example. I've only had it for a few weeks but it seems sturdy enough, so I'll see how it is after a few years or however long I keep the iPad. (Note: I bought the \\\"carbon fiber\\\" version of this case. I'm not sure if this is simply a color difference or if the other varieties of this case are made differently.)\\n\\nHaving seen both cases in action, I was surprised at how similar this case was to the Smart Cover and how much less it cost. I would not hesitate to buy this case again.\",\n \"Product: The most versatile device in the Samsung SmartThings family, this sleek ZigBee device acts as a movement, vibration, orientation and temperature sensor all in one. The SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor can detect whether an object like a door or drawer is open or closed; sense when valuable or off-limits items have been moved or tampered with; offer temperature readings; and feel vibration. It requires the SmartThings Hub. SmartThings offers a one-year limited warranty on this product. TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS: > If your device doesnt connect after removing the \\\"Remove to Pair\\\" tab, hold the Connect button while inserting the battery. > Release the button when the LED is lit. > The LED will blink blue while attempting to connect. > Then select Connect New Device in the SmartThings app.NOTE: Check User Manual in Technical Specification before use.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Smaller than first generation; works well with SmartThings\\n\\nReview: I have both this and the first-generation SmartThings Multi sensor, and they both work well. I have to say that I prefer the look and technical aspects of the first generation better, but there is at least one advantage to this generation: it's much smaller and can fit more easily and less obtrusively in spaces like door and window frames where the previous, bulkier generation might look awkward. Perhaps as a necessary compromise, it no longer uses standard batteries and instead uses a hard-to-find CR-2450. That being said, the battery life seems good to me so far. The two pieces are also different sizes, but there is a long line on both showing where they should line up to indicate that the door/window/whatever is closed. The old generation had two pieces of equal width, so it was easy to see. The old generation also \\\"snapped\\\" together magnetically when the pieces were close enough, which means you didn't have to use them mounted anywhere. I'm sure most people do, but I did keep one on my desk that I could open and close by hand to trigger various actions in my SmartThings system, but the new pieces don't really come together as strongly as the old ones, so I wouldn't do that anymore.\\n\\nChanges from previous generations aside, I find this sensor to work well, and it was easy to set up in SmartThings. I assume it would also work with other ZigBee HA 1.2 systems as well.\",\n \"Product: The SmartThings Motion sensor is a ZigBee device that lets you know when movement is detected in a certain area of your home and can trigger different actions in response to that movement. Set lights to turn on and off as you come and go and protect your home by triggering lights, sirens and other electronics to turn on if there's unexpected motion in your home. The sensor can also detect temperature and trigger smart thermostats, window A/C units and portable heaters to automatically adjust as people come and go. Place the motion sensor on a table or shelf, or use the included adhesive or mounting bracket and screws to place it on a wall. The Motion requires the SmartThings Hub and has a range of approximately 50-130 feet, depending on your home's construction. SmartThings offers a one year limited warranty on this product.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works great! (Be warned of battery if you need to replace it)\\n\\nReview: I've had SmartThings for almost a couple years now and am still using a first-generation motion sensor that came with my kit. I wanted to add another and so I got this one (the third-generation, I think--2015 version). I've had good experiences with previous SmartThings motion sensors, and this one is no exception. It detects motion when present and (unlike some others I've tried) does not trigger a lot of false alarms for me. Unlike my first-generation sensor, this one has the added benefit of also measuring temperature, which I previously used a multisensor to do. The only disadvantage is that unlike my first-gen sensor, this one does not use a common household battery size. However, the lithium coin-size battery (CR2450) it does use lasts longer than most alkalines have for me--mine just died after 16 months of use, which is much longer than any other sensor I've used (though the Iris sensors I haven't had for that long yet are still going strong and I'd expect a similar life from them). Note that, unlike the first gen sensor, this one only has the option of battery power; there is no USB power option. This model is also much thinner and a little smaller than the first generation, but neither is particularly large. All things considered, this is still a good sensor and works well with SmartThings (and presumably any ZigBee HA system).\\n\\nOne note: when the battery dies, you'll need to be careful about what *kind* of CR2450 you replace it with. SmartThings says Panasonic or Duracell is required, but you can't see this until you remove the existing battery and see it printed inside the battery compartment itself (it is on their website also, but it is *not* in the manual). Not knowing this before it died, I purchased two Energizer batteries, which do not work. The reason is, apparently, that the edge of the positive side of these batteries is a bit shorter than those on the Panasonic one that came with the device, and so the small metal part in the sensor that is supposed to make contact with it doesn't actually make contact. They must have tested Panasonic and Duracell and found that they fit correctly. This would have been an easy fix for them during manufacturing--make the tab a bit taller to accommodate most other brands of CR2450 batteries, but it's frustrating that any standard CR2450 won't fit (and that it's not clearly stated elsewhere).\\n\\nIn general, these work well. The slight problem with the battery compartment and the lack of external/USB power options are a bit disappointing, but I'm otherwise happy with this sensor. They seem to have discontinued it, however, in favor of a newer model that has less than stellar reviews (though there are some of those for this model too, which I don't understand). My new favorite motion sensor is the second-gen (purple box) Iris motion sensor, which works with SmartThings or any ZigBee HA 1.2-compatible system--they're the least costly sensors I can find and they work great.\",\n \"Product: Doorbell from aeotec makes your front door a part of your connected home. A two piece package, it offers an 80Db speaker for inside your home along with a wireless button for outside of it. Both LED lights and tones will alert you to someone being at your door, and you can personalize your doorbell with up to 100 different tones. Doorbell is easy to install. Its speaker simply plugs into a power outlet, and its button can be easily installed beside your front door with double-sided tape or small screws. You'll find those easy installation methods provided in doorbells box, along with the USB cable thatll allow you change its alert tones.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well with SmartThings, but the chime is not very loud\\n\\nReview: I bought this to use with SmartThings as a doorbell and (given a few cusotmizable audio files) possibly for other alerts/notifications. It works decently well, but there are some issues to be aware of. First, to work with SmartThings, you need a custom device type handler. There are a a couple available that you can search for in the SmartThings Community forums. This isn't too difficult to do (it's practically routine for any but a small number of well-supported devices in ST), but it's something to be aware of if you're not comfortable doing that. I did not have any problems pairing, and, unlike others, it seems to work reliably when the button is pressed (note if you're trying this out before installing, the button doesn't always press down if you're holding it; it seems to need a flat surface or a wall underneath/behind it to actually press--maybe that's the problem some are having).\\n\\nMy biggest problem is that the \\\"chime\\\" unit is NOT loud at all. Since it's moderately sized (but not huge) and must be plugged in, I figured it might at least rival typical digital chimes (or my old mechanical one, which I wish still worked) in terms of volume, but it's nowhere close, even with the volume up all the way. In fact, my previous solution, a Fire HD8 tablet with LANnouncer, is almost louder. I was hoping to replace that with something I could hear from another room, but instead I guess I'm just going to have to supplement one with the other and hope for the best when someone rings the bell. I've also got SmartThings set to send me a push notification when the bell is rung, so hopefully between all of this there's something I'll actually see or hear when the button is pressed.\",\n \"Product: Change the way you control light at home with the Philips Hue Tap Switch. Remotely recall your four favorite Philips Hue light scenes at the press of a button. Select from your own scenes, scenes created by Philips, or program a button to switch all lights on/off. Requiring the Philips Hue Bridge (sold separately) for the full Hue experience, this switch does not need batteries. It uses kinetic energy and is powered by your touch. Mount the Hue Tap anywhere with the included mounting plate, or detach it and carry it with you as you move through your home. Add up to 12 other Hue accessories (sold separately) such as the Hue Dimmer Switch or Hue Motion Sensor. Control by voice with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant. Connect it with your Nest or Samsung SmartThings system. This box includes a Hue Tap with wall plate and two-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Convenient and long overdue, but somewhat limited\\n\\nReview: This product is something that would have made Hue much better had it existed from the beginning. While light switches still work to turn the bulbs on and off, you then lose the \\\"smart\\\" capability when they're off. And while smartphones and tablets (as well as other apps and the Hue website) work to turn bulbs on and off, they're not as convenient when you need to do something quickly. I've worked around this problem by using a Griffin PowerMate, an always-on computer that I already had, and a custom script to send HTTP commands to the Hue Bridge via the API, but this is a little awkward and of course not something everyone would be able to do for themselves. Thus, I find the Hue Tap a welcome addition.\\n\\nHere's what the Hue Tap can do: it has four buttons (one large button, three small ones), labeled with one to four dots. Each of these buttons can be configured via the Hue app to change to one of the scenes you have configured in the Hue app when you press that button. (Note that if you change the settings for a scene in the app after you configure Tap to use it, you'll have to re-configure Tap to use that scene. The Tap remembers the scene as it was when you originally set it. The app lets you know, but I didn't think to check and thought something was wrong the first time I noticed this.) A button on the Tap can also be assigned to turn any number of lights off. Personally, I have three of my frequently used scenes on the small buttons and all bulbs in the room set to off on the large one, though I may change my mind and make the large button turn on my most frequently used scene since it's much easier to find that button in the dark.\\n\\nI do find the device limited for how expensive it is since all it can do is active one of four settings you've defined (a way to dim without using the app would be great, for example). If they added the ability to do something different on, say, a \\\"regular\\\" tap versus a long tap, then there would be twice as many actions, which would greatly increase the device's functionality. Or, if you could use the same button to toggle the same scene on or off, you wouldn't have to waste one or more buttons just to turn bulbs off. Finally, it's worth pointing out that the name \\\"Tap\\\" is a bit misleading. You have to press these buttons hard. If you have arthritis, I could actually see this being difficult, particularly for the smaller buttons. With the three small buttons, they register an audible and tactile click before you actually press hard enough for them to be activated (at which point a much stronger click can be heard and felt and the outer button actually pushes itself down along with the smaller button); the large button is a bit more intuitive. In any case, this is something you'll quickly realize, but again, it might be worth explaining to guests--something you'll undoubtedly need to do anyway to explain what the buttons do in the first place.\\n\\nDespite these shortcomings, there are other good things about this product: first, as mentioned above, it makes using Hue much more convenient. This alone makes it worth it for me, even if I wish it either cost less or had more functionality. Second, it doesn't use batteries, so you don't ever have to worry about replacing those (and I suspect that's why the buttons have to be pressed down as far as they do). Finally, the device can be used either as-is kind of like a remote control, or you can mount it to the wall. Philips includes 3M Command strips on the back to do this (as an added bonus, the Command strips won't damage most surfaces when you remove them *if* you follow the instructions). The tap also unscrews from a backplate, much like, for example, some smoke detectors, so if you *do* mount it to a wall, you can still take it off as desired.\\n\\nPerhaps Philips will be able to add more functionality via software updates in the future. At the very least, it was originally reported that this device's functionality was to be exposed for developers via the Hue API (though this doesn't appear to be officially documented yet as of summer 2014), so even if Philips doesn't do anything themselves, it's possible that developers could at least work around some of these limitations on their own to whatever extent the API permits. Still, even as-is, this is a usable device that greatly increases the convenience of using Hue, even if it is a bit expensive for how limited it is.\\n\\nPS - As of the time I wrote this (August 2014), Amazon does not sell the Tap directly. It is instead a third party, who is charging *way* more for this device than you could find it at any of Philips' official outlets (e.g., physical or online Apple Store). There is no reason to pay more than list price (plus possibly shipping) for this device.\",\n \"Product: Use the Iris Contact Sensor anywhere you want to monitor if something has been opened or closed. Flexible mounting options mean they are easy to install and can be relocated with ease. Use them also to monitor temperature wherever they are installed and know if windows, basements and attics are properly insulated. Or mount them at key entry points to your home and receive notifications if doors and windows are opened unexpectedly. The Iris Smart Hub is required to connect the Contact Sensor with the Iris app. Premium service may be required for some features.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheap, works well, compatible with SmartThings\\n\\nReview: These Iris Contact sensors are great--they're small, easy to mount, and relatively inexpensive (like most Iris devices, the cheapest in their category that I can find). Like all-second generation (ZigBee HA 1.2) Iris devices, these also work with SmartThings or any compatible system, and that's exactly how I'm using them. They pair to SmartThings without any additional requirements needed. To put the device into pairing mode for the first time, all you need to do is tear out a plastic tab covering the battery (no need to open the device) labeled \\\"Remove to pair.\\\"\\n\\nIn addition to contact (open/close), this sensor reports temperature. I wouldn't necessarily trust if if you're going to use this on a door or window that is very close to outside, but some people may find this feature useful. As for the sensor itself, it is quite small--about 2.5 inches long and 0.8 inches wide. A small green LED blinks once when the sensor's state changes from open to closed, which is nice for testing to ensure the two halves are close enough to register these changes when you expect them to. The manual doesn't specify how close they need to be, but in my testing, the sensor triggers with a little under half an inch of space between the two parts. Personally, I make sure the two parts are as close as I can get them, but you've got some leeway if they don't line up exactly (e.g., on my door, the part I have mounted to the frame sticks out a little more than the part I have mounted to the door itself, but it still works well).\\n\\nFor mounting, the sensor comes with two options: adhesive strips (for both halves of the sensor), or a combination of a screw-in mounting bracket (for the smaller half) and adhesive strips (for the larger half--apparently there isn't a bracket for this). 3M Command strips, which I've used for similar products in the past, may work well if you want something more temporary than either of these options--or even if you want something permanent but no longer have the included tape.\\n\\nThis device, as do most Iris devices, operates on a CR2 battery (housed in the larger half of the sensor), which is not incredibly common but not all that rare. CR2 batteries are often marketed for use in photography, and they are a 3V lithium battery that seems to last quite a while in these devices--longer than most devices I've used with 1.5 V alkalines--so I think I'm OK with this, despite it not being a more common type/size. I've had several Iris devices and have only had to replace the batteries in two so far, both motion detectors which I think just shipped with bad batteries (they might put in a cheap battery with occasional questionable quality, but even with the cost of having to replace one or two, the price of the Iris device will still probably be less than a comparable device from another manufacturer, e.g., the SmartThings Mutli I had previously purchased).\\n\\nAll things considered, like most Iris devices I've used, this device works well and is priced less than most (all?) similar devices on the market, and Iris is quickly becoming my favorite product line to use with SmartThings. (EDIT: Regarding pricing, some Xiaomi \\\"Smart\\\" devices are priced considerably less but not officially supported, difficult to pair and sometimes keep paired [and can only pair to the v2 hub], and ship very slowly from China, so I'll still stick with these or any officially compatible or well supported devices for most uses.)\",\n \"Product: QuickStick Combo ZigBee/Z-Wave USB Controller-Hub (PC-based)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works great for my Home Assistant server\\n\\nReview: I'm trying to convert from SmartThings to Home Assistant (on a Raspberry Pi 3) and had many ZigBee devices that I wanted to use on Home Assistant if possible--that's why I chose this over the Aeon Z-Stick, which I also ordered and did use for a while. Both worked well, but I stuck with this one since I wanted Z-Wave and ZigBee support, preferably without needing two adapters. This one works great for both! Which devices it works with (especially on the ZigBee side) is ultimately mostly up to the software side of things, but Home Assistant (and the underlying library, bellows, it uses for ZHA support, which is the only profile I've used this with) works well with my second-gen Iris motion sensors and many re-branded Centralite (mostly post-first-generation SmartThings sensors) I have, as well as all of my Z-Wave devices (unsurprising given that Z-Wave is more standard and there is really only one manufacturer for the chips). Despite its size, I haven't had any ZigBee or Z-Wave range issues so far, though I will probably plan on putting a couple powered devices as repeaters somewhere in my network to help it out if needed. I'd recommend this if you're looking to build an home-automation controller of some sort unless you know you only want Z-Wave, in which case the Aeon would also work (but so would this--and you don't have to jump through hoops to disable the annoying lights on the Aeon, though this stick lacks battery power and some other niceties the other has for pairing and whatnot).\",\n \"Product: The balaclava with extended neck is a classic design that covers your full face and ensures your neck is protected. Soft interior provides a comfortable experience every time.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheap, but thin and tight\\n\\nReview: I bought this balaclava to replace one I lost towards the end of winter. I use it primarily on winter bike rides to protect my ears, face neck, and (on really cold days or long rides) nose. My previous balaclava was a C9 by Champion one from Target, which I liked much better because it was thicker (thus warmer) and more comfortable, but apparently stores don't feel like selling winter clothing in February anymore, so I had to look elsewhere. That's where this one came in.\\n\\nWhen I first got it, I was immediately surprised by how thin it is. I don't think I could use this in the middle of winter; I'd need something thicker and warmer. However, for short rides or warmer temperatures (say, 20s or 30s) I've found it acceptable. It is very tight, so I could see people with larger heads having problems with this. There is some stitching down the middle that other people noticed and I thought might concern me. If I wear it only around the perimeter of my face, it's fine, but if I pull it up over my mouth or nose, is is noticeable (not quite irritating in my opinion). The \\\"neck\\\" portion is also very long, which I find nice on this one because I thought it was actually too short on my old one. Like my old one, it's also fairly \\\"adjustable\\\" in that I can wear it to cover just my neck, my chin, my mouth, or my nose and whole face except the eyes.\\n\\nOn the bright side, it's cheap. It's not horribly constructed from the looks of things, but within weeks a thread from the middle stitching came loose. Nothing else has happened since cutting that off, and I don't even notice much if any damage from this. I just wish it was a bit warmer, but for this price I can hardly complain. I do know that I'll go back to my old brand next winter when they are hopefully in stores again, but I'll definitely keep this one around, perhaps a second under-layer to use on particularly cold days.\\n\\nUPDATE: Lasted through the rest of that winter and the first part of this one with no problems. I did replace it with my thicker one once stores started selling them again. Unfortunately, I lost it but really want a second layer (this) under my thicker balaclava for the sub-zero days we've been having lately, so I think I'll order one of these again. Again, it's thin, and maybe a tad tight, which is the primary reason for my rating, but it's cheap enough that I'm not sure you can expect much more.\",\n \"Product: - 210-denier - Color-matched DUROcord drawstring - Size: 14\\\" x 18\\\"\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: OK for light objects--beware of books, folders, etc.\\n\\nReview: This is a thin nylon drawstring bag and would work well for transporting items like light gym clothes. It wont' do so well with folders, books, tablets, etc., as I found out. These items will wear a hole in the nylon, as mine did after only two months of use a few times per week with just gym clothes and an iPad. It was fairly cheap when I bought it, so I can't say I'm surprised, but even other cheap drawstring bags I've had usually manage to last longer than a couple months. There are a lot of similar bags available on Amazon, and the pricing and selection seem to continually change (this one isn't even available from the same seller anymore as I write this review) but you may wish to consider spending a few more dollars more (still not very expensive) on one that's a bit more durable. I just purchased the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Runetz-NAVY-BLUE-Gym-Sack-Bag-Drawstring-Backpack-Sport-Bag/dp/B00NTE8ZME/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Runetz - NAVY BLUE Gym Sack Bag Drawstring Backpack Sport Bag</a> for just a little more and it appears like it will hold up better. Still, this bag may be fine for light objects.\",\n \"Product: - 210-denier - Color-matched DUROcord drawstring - Size: 14\\\" x 18\\\"\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: OK for light objects--beware of books, folders, etc.\\n\\nReview: This is a thin nylon drawstring bag and would work well for transporting items like light gym clothes. It wont' do so well with folders, books, tablets, etc., as I found out. These items will wear a hole in the nylon, as mine did after only two months of use a few times per week with just gym clothes and an iPad. It was fairly cheap when I bought it, so I can't say I'm surprised, but even other cheap drawstring bags I've had usually manage to last longer than a couple months. There are a lot of similar bags available on Amazon, and the pricing and selection seem to continually change (this one isn't even available from the same seller anymore as I write this review) but you may wish to consider spending a few more dollars more (still not very expensive) on one that's a bit more durable. I just purchased the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Runetz-NAVY-BLUE-Gym-Sack-Bag-Drawstring-Backpack-Sport-Bag/dp/B00NTE8ZME/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Runetz - NAVY BLUE Gym Sack Bag Drawstring Backpack Sport Bag</a> for just a little more and it appears like it will hold up better. Still, this bag may be fine for light objects.\",\n \"Product: Always stay dry with Travel Smart by Conair Mini Umbrella! It opens to a comfortable 36-inch diamater and folds to an ultra-compact 9 1/2 inches. It is perfect for travel because it easily fits into your purse, briefcase or backback. Constructed of durable water-resistant nylon, this mini umbrella is a travel essential on rainy days.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good for an unexpected sprinkle\\n\\nReview: PROS:\\n * Compact\\n * Lightweight\\n * Cheap\\nCONS:\\n * Somewhat flimsy\\n * Suitable for light or moderate rain, but probably not windy storms\\n\\nAs I summarized above, I think this umbrella is suitable for light-to-moderate rain. Its small size when compacted also helps it fit nicely in my bag as a \\\"backup\\\" umbrella in case of unexpected rain (or days where I don't want to bring a larger, sturdier umbrella for whatever reason). I think that is the best use for it--I would *not* want to rely on this in case of heavy rain (you'd probably want a wider umbrella) or windy days (it will flip inside out; get a sturdier one for those days).\\n\\nBesides the size and weight advantages, the other advantage is the price--but at this price point you should know you're not getting the best quality. One of the metal \\\"arms\\\" that supports the umbrella has already bent for me in what I'd consider average storm wind, and I suspect a few other bends or breakages won't be far behind. Still, this may be acceptable for you if you think you'll use it rarely, need a small umbrella, don't have much wind, and don't mind the umbrella occasionally flipping the wrong way. I don't think you can expect much more at this price.\",\n \"Product: The Jansport Superbreak Backpack's proven design and not-too-huge sizing will make it the big bag on campus...again. With plenty of space for books, workout clothes, or the day's provisions (and no extra clutter), the Superbreak works as nicely in the commuter circuit as it does on campus. Jansport designed this simple, durable daypack with 2/3-length back panel padding for cushioning while you navigate a sea of students. The front accessory pocket includes a built in media sleeve, so you can rock out from point A to point B.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good bag, zipper design oddity\\n\\nReview: I've had two of these bags after getting tired of going through several cheap department-store offerings that developed holes or where the straps tore off from the bag. I never had any such problem with this bag, at least within a comparable period of time. I have, however, had problems with the design of the zipper on these bags. The fabric the bag is made from is designed to cover the zipper, possibly to make the bag look nicer. However, I find that this frequently causes the zipper to get stuck in this fabric. I ruined one zipper on my first bag within weeks of having it by doing this. After finally managing to get it un-stuck from the fabric, the zipper didn't work anymore; luckily, there are two, so the bag was fine for a while after this until the other one met the same fate.\\n\\nI bought a second bag to replace that one, and I've also gotten its zippers stuck in this fabric a couple times, too. You can avoid this fate by either zipping very slowly and carefully, or by folding back this fabric, thus fully exposing the zipper track, and then zipping, before (optionally, I guess) folding the fabric back over the zipper area. Obviously, this problem didn't bother me enough to stop me from buying a second identical bag, but if it happens again I will look for another bag without this design issue. Other than that, this bag seems sturdy and is big enough for what I want to carry (though not huge, by any means).\",\n \"Product: Large guage plus extra long swiveling hose makes inflating easy while molded foot pedal and padded feet provide comfort and stability, Nozzle can inflate Schrader valves and includes adapters for Presta valves, inflatables and sports balls\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good for what it does, but only at low pressures\\n\\nReview: I bought this pump for my bike, and it works about as I had expected. The pump has a Schrader head (the kind you find on cars and many bikes), but includes a Presta adapter (much thinner--you'll know if you have these valves, often found on road bikes). It also includes a \\\"pin\\\" adapter for things like basketballs and small plastic nozzle-type thing for some inflatables. I have not used these last two adapters, so I cannot vouch for them, but I have used the pump on both Schrader and Presta valves.\\n\\nThe gauge goes up to 120 psi, but the box claims it can only do 100 psi (although the product description here claims 120 as of my writing this). Having used it, I suspect that even 100 psi is a bit generous for the max. Despite this claim, I still have an incredibly difficult time getting above about 70 psi (even when I use both my legs to press, or even my whole body--but be careful since the pump is slightly fragile); it tends to \\\"leak\\\" air out the valve with the pump attached. However, even at lower pressures it becomes increasingly difficult to pump. This probably won't be a problem for balls or mountain bikes, but for higher-pressure tires like road bikes and some hybrids, it might be a lot of work or even impossible to go as high as it claims.\\n\\nAlso, this was my first time using Presta valves, and I had never used a Presta adapter before. Everybody besides me probably knows this, but there are no directions, and I was confused at first. The proper way is to screw the Presta adapter onto the Presta valve first, then attach the pump to *the adapter on the valve* just as if it were a Schrader valve. (I thought the adapter was for the pump. It is easy to attach it to the pump fist but difficult or impossible to then attach it to the valve.) Again, everyone probably knows this, but I thought I'd say it in case it helps out anyone else.\\n\\nIn summary: this pump is OK, but don't expect road-bike-like high pressures with ease. It's easier to pump than a frame/hand pump but less portable (so probably not something you'd take with for emergencies). If you're using a road bike or even a hybrid, you'll probably be better off with a floor pump. I'm sure it's fine for balls and such and probably many mountain bikes, but pumping my hybrid was rarely an easy experience, and I'm sure my road bike would have been impossible--and the manufacturer's claims about pressure are clearly inflated.\\n\\nEDIT: After having this pump for several months and trying to inflate tires on my hybrid bike, the pump broke. The metal pieces connecting the pedal to the pump are a bit thin, and they are what broke. I suspect it was the high pressure. I want to reiterate that this pump cannot handle high pressures, and I would probably recommend a floor pump instead. Still, this pump may be OK for mountain bikes or low-pressure needs like balls.\",\n \"Product: Compared to the original Blaze 2 watt, the Micro shares the high/low and Superflash strobe but comes in a more compact case, longer run times, and a more value-driven price point.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bright light, reasonbly priced, easy to install/remove\\n\\nReview: For its size (it's about the same size as similar-looking but less bright Planet Bike headlights if you've ever used them), this light is very bright. I frequently get comments from others about how bright it is, and it is enough to reflect off street signs several blocks away. In flashing mode, you can't be missed, especially at night. In either low or high \\\"steady\\\" mode, it's bright enough to give you enough light to see if you're on a trail or side street or somewhere without a lot of ambient light, though not as much as something larger and heavier would, but it works well enough for me.\\n\\nYou will need an area of your handlebars that has a uniform diameter--easy for me to find on my road bike, harder on my hybrid--in order for the mount to work well. The mount and light are both easy to install--or remove, as I found when someone stole the headlight from my bike, mount and all, when I left it out once. (I liked it so much I'm ordering this again to replace it.) As with other Planet Bike light with the same mount (by the way, all of their lights that look like this--Blaze, Beamer, and 1200, at least--use the same mount, so you can switch between them at will), I do find that the mounting system wears down after a couple years or so, and the light doesn't \\\"snap\\\" on as firmly as it once did. I lost another Planet Bike light this way after it fell off and cracked on the pavement when I hit a bump. They do sell the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/mounting-bracket/dp/B001AYOOHU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">mounting bracket</a> separately, so if you notice yours wearing down it might be wise to replace it or be careful.\\n\\nBesides its good price, brightness, and ease of installation/removal, I also like that this light uses standard AA batteries. While it's true that units with built-in rechargeable batteries can use a battery chemistry that is able to hold more of a charge for longer, the convenience of being able to simply replace the batteries when you notice the light getting dim is worth it for me since popping in another pair is easier than finding a micro USB charger and waiting. I normally use rechargeable AAs myself, occasionally switching to Energizer lithium batteries when the weather gets extremely cold (they maintain a higher voltage and thus greater brightness than NiMH or alkaline batteries in sub-freezing or even sub-zero F temperatures).\\n\\nIf you're looking for a bright light to be seen, this will definitely work. If you want to see, I find this light adequate for that as well, at least for the occasional poorly lit area (if most of your ride consists of areas away from towns or other lighting, you may want to look for something bigger). This is my favorite headlight, and I would not hesitate to purchase it again--in fact, as I said before, I just did to replace one that was stolen. If you don't need something this bright, the Planet Bike Beamer is also a good choice and works with the same mount. I use that on my other bike and like that I can switch between then if I happen to want the brighter light for where I'm going.\",\n \"Product: Our solid color headbands are unisex, 100% American Made and perfect to be worn on their own or under other hats, helmets and visors. Using stretchy, breathable material, allows them to fit virtually every head size and shape. Indoors and in warm weather outdoors, our moisture wicking headbands are great to wick away sweat and in colder weather they are also great to keep ears warm, along with keeping hair back.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Thin but works well\\n\\nReview: These are a little thin, but they work well for my purposes of holding my hair back while I'm at the gym (usually with it also tied back). I got this headband in gray first and then bought the blue one since I liked them enough. I like them a bit better than the typical headbands that are thick but an inch or two wide. This one seems to do a better job than those of helping keep my hair back, though it gets saturated with sweat much more quickly. It's very wide in the front (about 4 inches) and tapers to a smaller width in the back, and it stretches a bit to fit my head (which \\\"one size fits all\\\" hats have a hard time fitting). As others have noted, the headband does look like it's just cut fabric, with no seams/hems along the edges, and the picture makes it look like the fabric might be bit thicker than it is--it is, again, very thin. However, all things considered, I'm happy with this and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.\",\n \"Product: PUR Gum is vegan, Non gluten, non-gmo, No nut, diabetic friendly and No dairy. It is made in Switzerland and offers consumers the highest quality ingredients available. Made without chemicals or artificial sweeteners, PUR Gum is sweetened with xylitol, a natural sweetener derived from corn fibers grown in Europe. Each Variety Pack contains 1 bag each of Peppermint, Pomegranate Mint, Spearmint and Wintergreen. Each bag is 2.82 ounces and contains approximately 55 pieces.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good \\\"natural\\\" gum with minor issues\\n\\nReview: After trying a couple individual packs of this gum, I decided to buy this 4-pack because it was a little cheaper per piece. I was looking for gum that didn't contain, artificial colors/flavors, sugar, or artificial sweeteners (but that preferably did contain xylitol) and settled on this one since it was reasonably priced given my criteria and had good reviews.\\n\\nMost of the flavors I've tried taste good--even pomegranate mint, which sounds a bit odd. I have to main issues with this gum, the reason for my one-star deduction on an otherwise good product. First, the pieces are small. You'll need about two to get enough to really chew on, so even though a bag contains about 60 pieces each, you definitely won't get 60 \\\"chewing sessions\\\" out of each--more like 30. Second, with most flavors, the flavor doesn't last very long before the gum just starts tasting like nothing or even becomes a bit unappealing--and I mean maybe 10-15 minutes, though in the best cases there is usually at least some redeeming residual mint aroma. This is something I'm willing to tolerate for gum that has pretty good ingredients (and perhaps the natural flavors and sweeteners inherently just can't last as long as others), but it's something you should be aware of in any case. I mostly like to use it to help clean my teeth after having a snack or while driving (or sometimes just while bored and vaguely hungry) or at other times where brushing my teeth would be impractical, and for that purpose they work well.\",\n \"Product: Panasonic Retail Blister Package. Panasonic 3 Volt Lithium coin batteries are used in a wide variety of applications, including personal watches, clocks, electronic organizers, PDA's, portable electronics, keyless door entry remotes, cell phones, computer motherboards, heart monitors, backup power sources for IC memories, and more. Lithium 3V provide 2x the nominal voltage compared to other chemistry makeup of batteries such as Silver Oxide and Alkaline button cells.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Worked well, retail packaging\\n\\nReview: I needed this size of battery for a car remote, and these worked perfectly. Unlike lots of other odd size batteries you can find on Amazon, mine arrived in retail packaging (and were branded as expected), although it was blue instead of red as pictured. Note that I got the 2-pack; several sizes appear to be under the same listing here, so your experience may vary (especially depending on seller; mine was BD Supply). They also tested at the expected voltage with my multimeter and had an expiration date of slightly more than 9 years in the future (though I had to remove an Amazon barcode sticker from the back of the package before I could see that). If you're looking for a CR1616 battery and these seem reasonably priced compared to what you can find locally or elsewhere, I wouldn't hesitate to order them despite my usual hesitation to order batteries from (especially third-party) Amazon sellers.\",\n \"Product: Motorcraft MERCON V is manufactured with high-viscosity index, premium-quality, hydro processed base oils and specially designed performance additives, which provide excellent shifting characteristics at high and low ambient temperatures, excellent thermal and oxidation resistance and good low temperature fluidity. It provides wear protection and inhibits the formation of gum, sludge, lacquer and foam. It also provides protection against rust and corrosion. It is dyed red for ease of leak detection.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Recommended fluid for my vehicle\\n\\nReview: There isn't much to say about transmission fluid: unless you really think you know better, you should probably use the exact type specified in your car's manual. Mercon V is what Ford recommended for my vehicle, and it was easy to find on Amazon and shipped fast with Prime. I could have found it for about two-thirds of the cost of the current price here (note that it may change over time online) locally, but driving would have been the easiest way to do that and I didn't want to risk doing so on low fluid. If you've never added transmission fluid before, note that you'll also need a funnel, probably one with a long, flexible spout. I used the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Lumax-LX-1603-Plastic-Transmission-Funnel/dp/B00GD2HYQW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Lumax LX-1603 Plastic Transmission Funnel</a>. I'd also recommend having disposable gloves latex or similar gloves handy, as well as paper towels and a clean surface to set the dipstick on, but those are things many people are likely to have already.\\n\\nThe bottle shipped well packaged (including wrapped in its own plastic bag to limit damage to other items in case the bottle were damaged in transit) as expected, and I have no problems with this item. Note again that you can probably find it cheaper locally, but the convenience of Amazon delivery was worth it for me.\",\n \"Product: This clear vinyl, commercial grade chair mat is designed to help your chair roll easily on carpeted floors and prevent carpet wear caused by chair casters. It features a scuff and slip resistant top surface for durability and safety. The underside has a gripper back to firmly anchor the chair mat on low pile carpet, protecting your carpet from spills and damage. The mat includes a protruding lip to protect the carpet under the desk and allow the chair to roll even when it's all the way under the desk.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Appears OK for light usage\\n\\nReview: I was worried about the quality of this mat based on other reviews, but the price was good. Fortunately, it has been working well for me for the couple months I've had it. I bought the version designed for carpet, which has plastic \\\"studs\\\" on the bottom to prevent slipping (some people seem to have bought the hard floor version or perhaps intended to buy this version but ended up with the wrong one; in any case, mine was correct). This works well for me, at least on my low-pile carpet. Others have commended that the material is a bit thin. It's certainly not as thick as ones I've seen in offices, but I think it will do for a light rolling chair I use at home. The wheels do leave small dents in the mat for me. but so far that has never been a problem for me (and I'm not sure if they're permanent or not). Finally, the mat does come rolled up. They provide instructions for unrolling before use, which I followed and it seems to have flattened out well enough for me. While this isn't the thickest or highest quality floor mat you can find, I anticipate that will work well for my light usage.\",\n \"Product: Command Cord Clips, Flat, Clear, 4-Clips (17305CLR-ES)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Work well for me\\n\\nReview: I bought these clips to hold a long DVI cable that I ran along a couple walls. While the small-size clips were enough for an Ethernet cable, they could not hold a DVI cable, so I went up to this medium size instead. For those who are curious, while it may depend slightly on the exact cable, in my case, I don't have a lot of extra room in these hooks after the DVI cable has been fastened in it. I could maybe fit a very thin cable like a 3.5mm audio cable if I needed to, but I'm not sure about much else.\\n\\nApplication is just like other Command strips. (I've used the white ones before but wanted clear this time to not stick out so much on my non-white wall.) Clean the area with alcohol, let it try, then apply, and hold for so many seconds as suggested and wait before using. Unlike other reviewers, I haven't had any problems with the clear strips not sticking. However, I was simply sticking this to a wood panel wall and another nearly perfectly flat wall, so maybe I didn't have as much texture as these people did. The strips are definitely thinner than the white ones, so you may want to consider whether you value the extra sticking power or the unobtrusive colorlessness and transparency of these strips (and clips).\\n\\nI haven't had to remove them yet, but I've never had any problems before. However, make sure you follow the directions for removal rather than just ripping them off the wall; that seems to be where most people run into problems. I would not hesitate to order these again if I need them, although on a white wall I might opt for the more time-tested white strips. In any case, the price here was much better than I could find locally for either one.\",\n \"Product: California Plastics Ultomato with Display Ultomato tomato plant cage has been designed specifically for growing tomato plants and other climbing fruits and vegetables. Each cage is comprised of three 5' heavy-duty Sturdy Stakes and nine fully-adjustable support clips for continuous support throughout the plant's growth. The stakes of this cage have a strong steel core and tough, thick plastic coating.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: OK for light plants, maybe not tomatoes\\n\\nReview: I've used these cages for two seasons now and just got around to writing a review. I'll probably use them next season, too, but I think potential buyers should be aware of some things.\\n\\nThe \\\"cage\\\" comes as a set of three stakes and nine plastic bars; both ends of the bar snap onto a stake, usually assembled as you see in pictures (three groups of three bars, although you can really space them however you want). I've lost a couple plastic bars over the years, but I notice some local garden centers sell replacement bars, probably for this reason. I suppose you could also get them to add another set of bars to the cage. The stakes are 5 ft tall, but you'll have to put them into the ground a bit, making the effective height a bit less.\\n\\nThe stakes are also somewhat thin, and the bars are easily removable. This is good because it makes for easy storage but can be bad because heavy plants--like tomatoes--can easily push the bars off the stakes (probably why I've lost a couple). Together with the thin stakes, this makes the whole cage somewhat light and definitely NOT suitable for indeterminate tomatoes. You may have better luck with determinates, but I've never grown any true determinates in these to test. I've given up on using these for tomatoes and have stuck to using them with bell peppers, jalapenos (probably could have done without any cage on those, but I had some extra), and cucumbers, which I more or less successfully tried to make climb up the cage. The removable--and movable--plastic bars on the cage were very helpful for this. I didn't have an issue with the weight of the cucumber fruit weighing down the cage, toppling it over, or breaking the bars off, but everything was much lighter here than my tomatoes. I suspect other plants like peas would also work well (maybe spread it out instead of putting it like a cage, depending on how you plant them). I'd hate to try it with melons or squash, but if I was desperate for space and had nothing else I might see how it works.\\n\\nIn summary, these cages are OK, but you'll need to stick to lighter plants: *maybe* determinate tomatoes, definitely *not* indeterminates, and besides tomatoes otherwise lighter plants like cucumbers or peppers. If they didn't market these for tomatoes (including the name of the cage itself!), I might rate them a little higher. They aren't horrible, but you'll have to be careful how you use them. For tomatoes themselves, after having used a variety of tomato support methods, I decided to make a \\\"Florida weave\\\" last season with not much more than metal T-posts and twine. (There are also a few other \\\"homemade\\\" solutions out there.\\\") Do a Web search for this if you're interested--it worked out well for me and was much less expensive than buying cages. They're also easy to store, and I suspect the metal posts will last me much, much longer than these cages.\",\n \"Product: Monitor outdoor weather conditions from multiple locations of a yard by adding an extra wireless temperature sensor to a household La Crosse Technology weather system. The TX37U-IT wireless sensor transmits outdoor temperature readings to a base unit to enable users to plan appropriately for brisk or hot weather. With any La Crosse 915 MHz weather receivers, the sensor communicates from a distance of up to 330 feet. Outdoor temperature measurement capabilities range from –31.9 to +139 degrees F. To ensure the most accurate readings, install the sensor out of direct rain and sunlight. NOTE: Below is the proper troubleshooting 1. Start with a complete restart using new alkaline batteries dated 2024 or newer And have the indoor station and outdoor remote 3 to 5 feet apart. 2. Batteries should be out of both units for 10 minutes. 3. Place the batteries into the outdoor remote first then into the indoor station. (All outdoor remotes must be started before the indoor station) 4. DO NOT PRESS ANY BUTTONS FOR 10 MINUTES. In this time the display and sensor will start to talk to each other and the display will show both the indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature. If the station does not display both temperatures after the 10 minutes please retry the setup as stated above. After both indoor and outdoor temperatures are displayed for 10 minutes you can place your sensor outdoors and set your time. The remote sensor should be placed in a dry, shaded area. The transmitter should not be more than 330 feet / 100 meters. Note Metal siding, stucco, and some types of glass can reduce signal range. It is possible to receive a signal through these materials, however maximum range will much less due to their tendency to absorb or reflect a much larger portion of the transmitters signal.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works fine with my WT-5220U-IT\\n\\nReview: I got a La Crosse WT-5220U-IT alarm clock with indoor/outdoor temperature as a gift a while back and had my outdoor temperature sensor placed, as you might expect, outside. One day I discovered my outdoor temperature reading was blank, so I went outside to try to find the sensor, thinking maybe my batteries had died. Turns out, the sensor was nowhere to be found. Maybe it got stolen, or maybe it got blown away in the winds that I'm pretty sure we weren't actually having that day. Who knows.\\n\\nAnyway, I was relieved to find that I didn't need to buy an entirely new alarm clock just replace my missing sensor. I went to La Crosse's website to see what sensor I needed for my model (WT-5220U-IT), and this is the one they said. Note that there are multiple sensor models, so if you're looking for a replacement, make sure you get the right one. I followed the instructions for setting it up, and everything has been fine since then (almost a year now).\",\n \"Product: Monitor outdoor weather conditions from multiple locations of a yard by adding an extra wireless temperature sensor to a household La Crosse Technology weather system. The TX37U-IT wireless sensor transmits outdoor temperature readings to a base unit to enable users to plan appropriately for brisk or hot weather. With any La Crosse 915 MHz weather receivers, the sensor communicates from a distance of up to 330 feet. Outdoor temperature measurement capabilities range from –31.9 to +139 degrees F. To ensure the most accurate readings, install the sensor out of direct rain and sunlight. NOTE: Below is the proper troubleshooting 1. Start with a complete restart using new alkaline batteries dated 2024 or newer And have the indoor station and outdoor remote 3 to 5 feet apart. 2. Batteries should be out of both units for 10 minutes. 3. Place the batteries into the outdoor remote first then into the indoor station. (All outdoor remotes must be started before the indoor station) 4. DO NOT PRESS ANY BUTTONS FOR 10 MINUTES. In this time the display and sensor will start to talk to each other and the display will show both the indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature. If the station does not display both temperatures after the 10 minutes please retry the setup as stated above. After both indoor and outdoor temperatures are displayed for 10 minutes you can place your sensor outdoors and set your time. The remote sensor should be placed in a dry, shaded area. The transmitter should not be more than 330 feet / 100 meters. Note Metal siding, stucco, and some types of glass can reduce signal range. It is possible to receive a signal through these materials, however maximum range will much less due to their tendency to absorb or reflect a much larger portion of the transmitters signal.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works fine with my WT-5220U-IT\\n\\nReview: I got a La Crosse WT-5220U-IT alarm clock with indoor/outdoor temperature as a gift a while back and had my outdoor temperature sensor placed, as you might expect, outside. One day I discovered my outdoor temperature reading was blank, so I went outside to try to find the sensor, thinking maybe my batteries had died. Turns out, the sensor was nowhere to be found. Maybe it got stolen, or maybe it got blown away in the winds that I'm pretty sure we weren't actually having that day. Who knows.\\n\\nAnyway, I was relieved to find that I didn't need to buy an entirely new alarm clock just replace my missing sensor. I went to La Crosse's website to see what sensor I needed for my model (WT-5220U-IT), and this is the one they said. Note that there are multiple sensor models, so if you're looking for a replacement, make sure you get the right one. I followed the instructions for setting it up, and everything has been fine since then (almost a year now).\",\n \"Product: GlowPanel LED grow lights provide your plants with a balanced spectrum of light for healthy & vigorous plant growth. GlowPanels consume 80% less energy than HPS or Metal Halide grow lights and produce virtually no heat. They're great for growing plants and with today's skyrocketing energy costs, they're also good for your wallet. GlowPanels are economical. Less energy used means less of an impact on the environment. The GlowPanel LED grow light lasts 10 times longer than an HPS or Metal Halide lamp and will operate for up to 50,000 hours without the need for costly replacement bulbs. Because GlowPanels do not contain mercury or other hazardous materials they can be safely recycled after 50,000 hours of use.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good light; bring your own stand/tent\\n\\nReview: I used this light last spring and a bit this summer and fall to start a variety of seeds and seedlings for transplanting into my garden. I have had very few problems so far, and I plan to use it again this spring.\\n\\nPROS\\n* Because the lights are LEDs, they demand less power than comparable incandescents and fluorescents. (14 W for this one.)\\n* While the base may get a bit warm, the lights themselves (and the base) are never hot, so there's much less danger of burning delicate leaves.\\n* The square shape works better for my application than the skinny rectangular shape of most fluorescents, but your luck my vary.\\n* Two-pronged plug works well with lamp timers.\\n\\nCONS\\n* The lights are red and blue, giving the whole thing a sort of purple-ish glow. Not a problem per se, but keep this in mind if it's in a visible location--like your bedroom, as it had to be in my small apartment.\\n* It does not come with a stand or any equipment on which to hang it. (The \\\"hanging equipment\\\" it comes with is just hooks and string. Don't be fooled.) You must figure out a way to make this work yourself (I used an old wire shelf, but if you have a tent with hanging capabilities, that would work, too).\\n* Sometimes I can hear a humming noise from the unit. Not loud, but just odd.\\n\\nLike most other reviewers, my plants responded well to this light. As I said, they were all seeds I started and transplanted later, so I'm not sure this would be bright or large enough if your plants are bigger than seedlings, like if you wanted to keep plants indoors permanently. Also, keep in mind the area this light can cover. The unit is maybe 1 sq foot and claims to be able to cover up to 2 sq ft (for the mathematically challenged, this means about 1.4 ft per side of the square).\\n\\nUPDATE: I'm using it for my fourth spring gardening season right now and it's still going. I do rotate my plants between this and two other grow lights (one LED, one fluorescent) just because I'm worried that this is too weak for larger plants, but I don't notice any obvious problems with the plants themselves. Every once in a while, one or two LEDs goes out on me, but jiggling it a bit usually works to get it back on. It's obviously not the highest quality construction, but it's hard to complain for the price unless you want to go with fluorescents instead. I had slightly better luck with this than with the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/LEDwholesalers-2501MX-Blue-Red-225-LED-13-8-Watt-Square-Grow-Light-Panel/dp/B001MVWYZA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">LEDwholesalers 2501MX Blue/Red 225 LED 13.8 Watt Square Grow Light Panel</a> in which three entire rows stopped working on me (despite the unit itself appearing slightly more solidly built), but they were similar prices when I purchased them and I suspect the average luck is about equal between the two.\",\n \"Product: The Jiffy-7 pellet is made from sphagnum peat from specially selected peat bogs. Lime and a special fertilizer with a low ammonium content are added to the peat in order to stimulate growth.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Work great, but no size specified\\n\\nReview: First, let me start by pointing out a glaring omission and large problem with the current description of the product: there is NO SIZE SPECIFIED. Jiffy makes this in at least 30mm, 36mm, 42mm, and 50mm varieties. One recent reviewer claims to have received the 30mm version; another the 42mm version. Personally, I received the 36mm version, so I don't know if it's that different sellers offer different, unspecified sizes (I see toolboxsupply, Root. Naturally, and others, some Fulfilled by Amazon, but Amazon itself does not appear to offer these; for the record, I bought from toolboxsupply) or that each shipment regardless of seller is a random, unspecified, size. I would NOT BUY this product from this listing for that reason.\\n\\nLet me state that I have, however, used these pellets for the last couple years with great luck. They are very easy to use: pour warm water on, per the directions, for the pellets to expand, then start seeds per seed instructions. A plastic cover is included (with the flats, not this product here) as a dome for the flats during germination. I have good luck with germination rates, plus it's less messy than working with \\\"loose\\\" seed starting mix. Additionally, because I grow many of my transplants under lights for a period of time, I like that it's very easy to rearrange these, which is harder in peat or plastic flats where they are all stuck together. They're also very easy to transplant without much disturbance, since the netted \\\"lining\\\" around the expanded pellet is easy to remove (some people say they just leave it on, but it doesn't seem to disintegrate by the end of the season and I don't like dealing with it then). The only problem is that if you let seedlings get too big that the roots start poking through the net, it will be difficult to remove without disturbing them.\\n\\nUnfortunately, the kit I was using was the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Jiffy-5032-25-Plant-Starter-Kit/dp/B00004RA48/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Jiffy 5032 25-Plant Starter Kit</a>, which accepts 42mm pellets. These 36mm pellets were a bit too small and I was worried they would tip over, so I had to return them. I wasn't even aware that they were so many sizes before this mismatch prompted me to do my research. By the way, the refill part number for the Jiffy 5032 is Jiffy 5777, a 25-pack of 42mm pellets. There is also an Amazon listing <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/200-Count-Jiffy-7-Peat-Soil-42mm-Pellets-Seeds-Starting-Plugs/dp/B000EHJN7K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">200 Count- Jiffy 7 Peat Soil 42mm Pellets Seeds Starting Plugs</a> that very clearly specifies 42mm. I suspect the 36mm pellets would fit a 36- or 72-plant kit, though perhaps that is the 30mm ones instead (or maybe one for one and another for the other). I think the 50mm ones are just used for the tomato kits. Part of this seems like it would be easy for Jiffy to fix by clearly specifying the sizes on both the trays and the refills, but there is obviously an important problem with this particular product listing in that not only does it not specify, but different buyers seem to be getting different products based on the seller, chance, or some other unknown factor.\\n\\nIn summary: these pellets are great, as is the system in general--but don't buy from this particular listing unless you don't actually care what size you get. I'd give the products five stars, but only if you get the right ones. Due to problems with this listing (which does not seem localized to a particular seller and seems to stem from the lack of size specification in the listing), I'm lowering my rating.\",\n \"Product: Hydrofarm heat mats is perfect for veteran growers, beginners, and children too. They improve germination by warming the root area 10-20F over ambient temperature. By warming the roots, you increase your growing success! Bottom heat is one of the most important and effective ways to improve germination and rooting. The seedling heat mats have been re-engineered for better performance and greater durability! The new, stronger heating wire and thicker multi-layer construction offer more uniform heating and the durability to withstand rugged greenhouse environments. Hydrofarm heat mats allow you to maintain desired fermentation temperatures in carboys and controllable heating for other hobbies, including homebrewing, Kombucha and Kefir. Measures 6\\\" x 14\\\", Inches\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works great for seeds; may need thermometer and insulation\\n\\nReview: I used to germinate seeds in flats on top of my refrigerator, but after moving to a new place where this didn't work anymore, I needed something else. I tried germinating some seeds last year without anything special, and while I still had good luck, some took a while to come up, and I knew I could do better with some gentle bottom heat. That's why I bought this mat (the 9-by-19.5-in. version, in my case) for this year.\\n\\nMy germination rates seem to have improved from last year, but I was expecting that. If one of the cheaper options (e.g., warm place or top of fridge) doesn't work for you or you want more control, you may want to try this. Being new to heat mats, I wasn't sure exactly what I needed, so I bought a thermostat, the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Hydrofarm MTPRTC</a>, just in case. The mat will only raise the temperature about 10-20 degrees above the room, so with my cool apartment, I probably didn't need this (until I discovered the next trick), but I'm glad I bought it anyway. If you're as unfamiliar with it as I was, here's how it works: the thermostat plugs into the wall, then the heat mat plugs into the thermostat. The thermostat has a probe you insert into the soil, and it will turn the outlet on the thermostat (into which the heat mat is plugged) on or off as needed to maintain the temperature you set on the thermostat. So, it's a lot like a timer, but based on temperature instead of time. If you plug the heat mat directly into the wall, it will just stay on all the time, since the mat itself includes no \\\"regulator\\\" like this. This isn't inherently bad, but I'd at least monitor the temperature and compare it to what you want if you do this instead.\\n\\nThe \\\"trick\\\" I learned, which is also mentioned in the instructions: insulating under the mat helps. My thermostat is now able to keep the mat off for longer than before. I used to have the mat set directly on my counter under the assumption that it wouldn't dissipate that much heat, but I think I was wrong. Even after the simple step of setting the mat on top of a folded towel, the soil has had an easier time staying warmer, and I'm saving electricity by not keeping the mat on as much. You may have better luck if you use a sheet of actual insulation, but even a towel underneath showed improvement for me.\\n\\nAs a final note, I measured the electricity usage of this with my Kill A Watt meter. As stated, it uses about 17 Watts when on (which is, in fact, any time it's plugged in to a live outlet, since there is no switch on the mat itself). It's also UL listed. In summary, I'm glad I bought this product. It's working well so far. I haven't had it for that long yet so I can't comment on its longevity, but I'll update this review if it dies unexpectedly.\",\n \"Product: Highland 12 piece Bungee Cords Assortments are designed to secure objects to the vehicle. Made from multi-strand top quality rubber cords to ensure superior strength, these cords feature extra wide hook openings for improved fit and performance. This 12 piece assortment include (3) 18, (2) 24, (1) 32, (1) 40, (3) mini cords and (2) canopy ties. Conveniently color coded for length selection, these bungees are UV resistant and can withstand the harshest outdoor elements. Cequent Consumer Products is the leader for cargo securing products with its Highland brand of products. Highland is dedicated to helping you safely load, anchor, secure, carry, trailer and organize cargo. From aluminum ramps to fat strap bungees and cargo securing products, Highland products are manufactured to quality standards designed to meet, and exceed, every expectation. Highlands special line of products for campers called \\\"Rugged Camping Design includes tie downs, bungees, straps, clips and other products that are designed for the camping enthusiast. For heavy industrial use, check out Highland's \\\"Industrial Grade\\\" line of ratchets, cambuckles and other cargo securing items for heavier loads. NEW from Reese Power Sports brand, is a line of securing products designed especially for boaters called Reese Power Sports Marine that includes Transom, Gunwale and Bow tie downs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not all useful but still a good price\\n\\nReview: First, you can see this on the container if you zoom in on the Amazon product image, but just to be clear, here are the number and sizes of the cords included, according to the label:\\n * three mini\\n * three 18\\\" x 8 mm\\n * two 24\\\" x 8 mm\\n * one 32\\\" x 9 mm\\n * one 40\\\" x 10 mm\\n * two canopy ties\\n\\nLike many others, I find the \\\"mini\\\" cords to short to be useful. The canopy ties are looped cords with a ball on one end, and I also haven't found a use for those (I guess I don't have any canopies to tie). However, that still leaves 7 useful cords, which I have used for securing boxes to the rear rack of my bicycle (though a bungee cord net would work better for other things) and other tasks around the house (like securing a plastic cover onto my soapmaking pan as in Catherine Failor's transparent bar and liquid soapmaking books). Even excluding the less useful cords, this is still a good price for the more useful ones. The hooks are definitely metal (they get very hot when I make soap) but coated with plastic. They've held up well for my usage so far.\\n\\n I've saved the plastic \\\"can\\\" they came in to store them when they're not in use. (One of the smaller cables can actually be useful here to hold them all together.) It's a bit of a tight squeeze, but there probably isnt' a better compact way to store them, so I'll deal with it. Again, I think this is a nice price for an array of variously sized cords, and I'm happy with the purchase.\",\n \"Product: This panel has no ballasts to burn out like other plant lights. It does not run hot, just warm. You will not experience unsightly brown burned leaves when they accidentally touch the LEDs. This is common with most other lights that get very hot. This more controlled running temperature reduces the need to water so often and keeps rooms with plants from getting uncomfortably hot in the summer months requiring additional air conditioning. Extreme energy efficiency permits this new LED panel to pay for itself many times over each year in electricity savings. It saves 50% to 90% in energy consumption compared to incandescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes. Wide angle projection insures uniform leaf coverage. Scientifically calculated even blending of red and blue LEDs eliminates the time consuming task of repositioning separate colored lights back and forth trying to achieve uniform exposure. 14 to 16 hours per day is all that is necessary for maximum plant health with this wave blended lighting system. This allows distances 6-Inch and less between the LEDs and the plants accelerating photosynthesis. Red and blue wavelengths are for growing and flowering of plants. The typical white plant lights that are very hot is unnecessary and just consume excessive electricity. The purity of the LED generated light lengthens flowering periods. These LEDs turn on instantly and can be turned on by hand each day or work well with all standard lamp timers. Color: Red + Blue = Purple looking to the eyes Working Voltage: 12V or 110V-220V Power: 13.8 Watts Dimensions: 12 inches (30.5cm) square Thickness: Low profile 1.25-Inch Power cord length: 48 inches Recommended coverage: one panel per 18 inches square LED life: Approx. 15 years used all year long. (60 years for spring starting of seedlings)\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Worked well for one season\\n\\nReview: I bought this light in the spring of 2012 because I had the apparently similar <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Sunshine-Systems-LEDGP14-GlowPanel-14-Watt-LED-Grow-Light/dp/B001N4K2QE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Sunshine Systems LEDGP14 GlowPanel 14 Watt LED Grow Light</a> (in addition to fluorescents) but needed just a bit more square-footage of light for some extra plants. So, I bought this one in order to try out them both. To compare the two, the Sunshine panel has a 14x14 grid of large red and blue LEDs, whereas this one has a 15x15 grid of small red and blue LEDs. Both use about 14 W, and I assume their resulting light output is about equal.\\n\\nI use these for seedlings I plan to use for transplants (peppers, tomatoes, etc.). I do *not* use them to grow full-size plants inside year round. Based on other reviews, I'm not sure how well that would work. For seedlings grown for transplants, however, this light has been fine for me.\\n\\nMy only problem has been that after my first year (and not a complete year of constant usage--just a few months in the spring and summer), three rows of LEDs completely stopped working. Then, two more did. That makes 5 rows now, or over 1/3 of the entire panel. I suspect this is due to poor construction, and based on the other reviews it doesn't look like I'm the only one this happened to. (I was hoping I lucked out when it was fine for my first \\\"year\\\" of use. As you can see, I did not.) However, the the light isn't completely useless because the lit sections are contiguous (I assume some connection is broken somewhere inside) and I can still use the lit sections for seedlings. I am doing now in my second year of using this product. I just wish it would have stayed wholly functional longer (or had a longer warranty).\\n\\nI also use fluorescents, which are obviously a much more reliable technology. However, as an advantage for LED panels like these, the square shape is much easier to use on a flat of seedlings, and it also uses less power. As another advantage, this panel is also relatively cheap compared to other LED options (although most are are not panel styles like these). However, I don't plan on buying this exact product again myself. I'll either spring for a better-reviewed LED product--if I can find one similar--or add another fluorescent to my setup instead.\\n\\nUPDATE: At the end of my second season, this product had pretty much completely quit working. All LEDs failed to light, though the device itself was still drawing 14 W of power. I sold it for parts on eBay and will look around on Amazon for better grow light solutions if I need more this year. I don't want to use fluorescents because of their greater energy consumption, (generally) shorter life, and the hassle of disposing of their mercury-containing bulbs, but my experience the last few years strongly suggests to me that fluorescents may be the better option for now (I'm ignoring incandescent/halogen solutions).\",\n \"Product: Premium Safety Vest meets ANSI/ISEA Standard. Construct with breathable mesh fabric with front zipper. Height visibility neon yellow color. Size selection from Medium to XXX-Large\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very reflective, reasonably well made\\n\\nReview: As a commuter cyclist, I bought this vest to be more visible on the roads, particularly at night. It seems to be quite reflective and good in that regard. The tag also says that it meets ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Class 2 standards (intended for certain types of workers who deal with traffic or heavy machinery, with class 2 being the middle of three progressively more visible/reflective classes--not that you'd need to know this unless you're purchasing for a specific requirement).\\n\\nI normally wear size small shirts, with occasional mediums. I bought a medium vest and it is fine for me--it even fits over my black winter jacket (which is probably like most people's fall/spring jacket, but the cycling keeps me warm--so maybe go up if you're trying to fit it over a winter coat). In that regard, I suppose my experience with the sizing is different from others'--it seems more or less true to size, but I went larger anyway because I can sometimes get away with that size and expected to occasionally wear it over a jacket.\\n\\nI've had it for a few months now, and it's holding up well. It's very lightweight (100% polyester) but the zipper (my typical point of failure) is still going strong, and I've only had to deal with one slightly loose thread (which I've cut and has since been fine, though it had me worried about the quality for a while). It's inexpensive enough that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.\",\n \"Product: Limitless possibilities for extraordinary experiences. The Philips Hue white and color ambiance contains 3 bulbs and a hub. It can transform your lighting into an extraordinary experience with colored and white light. Sync lights to your music, TV and games for immersive effects.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good system with a few minor problems\\n\\nReview: I'm no stranger to LED bulbs, having lit most of my house with them for the last several years. However, this was my first foray into home automation (to which I am also now no stranger, but that's another story). Overall, I am satisfied with Hue, though there are some things you should be aware of.\\n\\nFirst, if you've never used LED lighting before, some bulbs have a directionality problem. Specifically, they do not put out light in more or less all directions like an incandescent. They are usually more suited for down- or side-pointing fixtures than, say, floor lamps. Many LEDs solve this problem with interesting bulb designs. I would say Hue is somewhere in between these two extremes (though for the record, the official specs say the A19 and BR30 Hue bulbs both have the same beam angle, and it's not because the BR30 is particularly wide). In any case, I haven't experienced any problems with this, but I did take them out of my floor lamp.\\n\\nSecond, some LEDs have a problem with brightness. This is less true now than it was several years ago when I first tried LEDs, but LEDs equivalent to 60 W or brighter incandescents are still a bit harder to find and more costly. Most bulbs I wanted to replace with Hue were equivalent to 60 W incandescents. Unfortunately, the current Hue bulbs are a bit less bright, maybe equivalent to 50 W. This is good enough for most purposes, but I still have problems getting Hue alone to make my living room bright enough to read in. (I say \\\"current Hue\\\" because Philips just announced the Hue Lux, which will be brighter at the expense of producing white light only. I'm looking forward to that.)\\n\\nFinally, to get the most out of these bulbs, you really need to use the smartphone app. That means you will need to use your phone (or tablet) to turn your bulbs on or off. You can use the light switch like normal and the bulbs will behave more or less like normal, warm white bulbs, but you'll lose the ability to turn them on remotely if you turn them off in this way (obviously, since you cut their power), and the bulbs don't remember their last state, so when you turn them back on they will always default to a warm white light at full brightness. I can understand why they did this (if you don't have your phone but need to turn the lights on, you can turn the switch off then back on), but it is somewhat annoying to need to have to use your phone. This would be much easier if Philips made Hue-compatible switches, but they mysteriously don't at the moment. (EDIT: I said \\\"at the moment\\\" because they hadn't yet when I wrote this, but they had announced the Hue Tap; the Hue Tap is now out and is a four-button \\\"switch\\\" that, while somewhat expensive for what it does, makes Hue much more convenient to use.)\\n\\nBesides these minor problems, Hue works great, and Philips is finally working on addressing some of my few problems with the system. It is also worth noting that they have a very good API (exposed via HTTP on the Hue Bridge that is connected to your wired network), so if you're capable of doing any programming, it's pretty easy to write something that will let you tinker with the bulbs to your liking. For example, since Philips hand't yet released any physical switches yet when I got Hue, I made on with a Griffin PowerMate connected to my computer and had the different actions on the PowerMate trigger Python scrips that would send commands to Hue for me via HTTP to do things like turn on or off bulbs on certain rooms, or dim/brighten them.\\n\\nI haven't even mentioned these bulbs' ability to change to almost any color because I rarely use it. I do, however, like the ability to switch between warm and cool white, the ability to dim the bulbs (app only; these don't dim on dimmer switches), as well as the ability to turn them on and off from any room--or anywhere with an Internet connection, really. I also have them integrated into some other home automation products (mostly motion sensors) now thanks to the well documented API. And, of course, I love them for the same reasons I've loved all my other LED bulbs: (presumably) long life, low power consumption, no \\\"warmup\\\" time to full brightness, no mercury, and so on.\\n\\nFor most of my purposes, I think the upcoming Hue Lux will suit me fine, but I don't regret buying the current bulbs at all. While they are a bit pricey, considering their features, I don't think it's that bad, and I look forward to the Hue Tap (EDIT: now released) and whatever other improvements Philips might be working on.\",\n \"Product: The WeMo Insight Switch works with the free WeMo app to give you wireless control of your appliances and electronics; turn on a space heater to get the room nice and cozy before you get there, be at ease that you turned off the hair straightener or iron after the morning rush or bring on the holiday cheer and turn on the holiday lights! Put your little ones to bed and turn off the reading lamp and turn on the nightlight as you tuck them in. Modular system. Users can add additional switches easily any time. Control as much or as little of the home as desired. Plugs into any regular 120V wall outlet.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Worked well, somewhat limited\\n\\nReview: I bought the WeMo Insight Switch on a whim when it was on sale, then a Motion Sensor + Switch bundle later, so these are the products I'm writing about (the Amazon page appears to mix reviews for all WeMo products).\\n\\nPROS\\n * Works entirely with WiFi; does not require a special hub like some home-automation systems do\\n * Aesthetically pleasing hardware design\\n * Easy to integreate with other WeMo products (e.g., make Motion Sensor control a Switch)\\n * App can be configured for remote access to control of devices when you are away from your home network\\n * Does not rely on Internet connection\\n\\n CONS\\n * Somewhat high (~1.5W) power usage per WeMo device when idle, presumably to keep WiFi radio powered\\n * No API (except via Android and iOS SDKs)\\n * Sometimes difficult to integreate with other products\\n\\nI ended up returning the Switch+Motion combo, followed closely by the Insight Switch. My biggest reason for returning the Switch+Motion bundle is that I couldn't make the Motion product do much besides control the Switch. This is fine if your house is entirely WeMo, but I was hoping to integrate it with my Philips Hue bulbs and couldn't. (I could, actually, with some third-party help: plug in a Switch for nothing, just to be there, then tell Motion to turn on or off the Switch with motion or after a certain period of inactivity, then use IFTTT with a trigger that fires when the Switch is turned off and an action that turns off Hue. This could be simplified a bit if IFTTT had a trigger for lack of motion like the WeMo app does, but it doesn't, and the whole setup is still a bit convoluted.)\\n\\nFor developers or others who may want to tinker, this product lacks an easily accessible API (Hue, by contrast, is exposed via HTTP and controllable via REST commands). They offer SDKs for Android and iOS, so it appears the only option for customization is writing your own app. There is also not a Web interface, so the app (theirs or a third-party one made with the SDK) is really the only way to control these. This won't matter much to most people, but I like to customize some things have depended on this with other products before.\\n\\nAs previously stated, all WeMo products use WiFi to communicate, which is an advantage in that you do not need a special hub like you do with, for example, Hue (execpt Belkin's recently announced light bulbs need a hub, too); you can just use your existing WiFi network. However, it has a couple disadvantages: first, all devices need to be within range of your WiFi signal to be controllable, which was never a problem for me but may be for other people. Second, WiFi is more power-hungry than other wireless technologies typically used for home automation (e.g., ZigBee or Z-Wave). I suspect we'll never have battery-powered WeMo devices for this reason. My Switch, Insight Switch, and Motion Detector each ate up about 1.5 W just sitting there idle, which is 3-5 times higher than similar ZigBee and Z-Wave devices I've tried (and ZigBee and Z-Wave devices that take batteries usually use even less power in that case beacuse they don't extend the network they're on, which is something they usually do and exposes another one of their advantages: a possibly greater range).\\n\\nMy suggestions:\\n * If you only want a couple WeMo devices, WeMo may work well. I'd be hesitant to fill a house with them because they use significantly more power than comparable alternatives, but with only a couple it's (a) probably not a big difference, and (b) probably cheaper in that all you need is the WeMo device and a WiFi network (and the Android or iOS app), so you won't have to buy or configure a special hub.\\n * If you don't already have a lot of WeMo products but think you might want a lot, I'd suggest another solution that may lend itself to less power consumption and better integration with other systems. Personally, I've returned all my WeMo products and switched over to SmartThings, which offers compatiblity with many ZigBee and Z-Wave controllable switches and sensors. (It does require a hub, but I think the tradeoff is worth it. Unfortunately, SmartThings is also heavily relaint on the Internet at the moment, but they claim to be working on that.) SmartThings can integrate with WeMo, but I swapped my devices (switch and motion sensor, at least) anyway because I wanted the ZigBee advantages I've mentioned.\\n* If you only want the Insight Switch and you only want it to know the power consumption of your devices, consider a Kill-A-Watt instead (that's how I determined the surprising amount of power WeMo devices consume even when idle).\\n\\nMy luck with the products I've used hasn't been as bad as others', and everything seemed to work well when I tried. My biggest problem was the lack of customization options, but there are other minor issues as well as I mentioned that also fueled my desire to seek alternatives. Still, for the average user who only wants maybe one or a few WeMo devices, I think it may work well.\",\n \"Product: Hue Bloom 2-Pack Dimmable LED Smart Table Lamp Starter Kit (Older Model, 2 Blooms and 1 Bridge, Works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good system with a few minor problems\\n\\nReview: I'm no stranger to LED bulbs, having lit most of my house with them for the last several years. However, this was my first foray into home automation (to which I am also now no stranger, but that's another story). Overall, I am satisfied with Hue, though there are some things you should be aware of.\\n\\nFirst, if you've never used LED lighting before, some bulbs have a directionality problem. Specifically, they do not put out light in more or less all directions like an incandescent. They are usually more suited for down- or side-pointing fixtures than, say, floor lamps. Many LEDs solve this problem with interesting bulb designs. I would say Hue is somewhere in between these two extremes (though for the record, the official specs say the A19 and BR30 Hue bulbs both have the same beam angle, and it's not because the BR30 is particularly wide). In any case, I haven't experienced any problems with this, but I did take them out of my floor lamp.\\n\\nSecond, some LEDs have a problem with brightness. This is less true now than it was several years ago when I first tried LEDs, but LEDs equivalent to 60 W or brighter incandescents are still a bit harder to find and more costly. Most bulbs I wanted to replace with Hue were equivalent to 60 W incandescents. Unfortunately, the current Hue bulbs are a bit less bright, maybe equivalent to 50 W. This is good enough for most purposes, but I still have problems getting Hue alone to make my living room bright enough to read in. (I say \\\"current Hue\\\" because Philips just announced the Hue Lux, which will be brighter at the expense of producing white light only. I'm looking forward to that.)\\n\\nFinally, to get the most out of these bulbs, you really need to use the smartphone app. That means you will need to use your phone (or tablet) to turn your bulbs on or off. You can use the light switch like normal and the bulbs will behave more or less like normal, warm white bulbs, but you'll lose the ability to turn them on remotely if you turn them off in this way (obviously, since you cut their power), and the bulbs don't remember their last state, so when you turn them back on they will always default to a warm white light at full brightness. I can understand why they did this (if you don't have your phone but need to turn the lights on, you can turn the switch off then back on), but it is somewhat annoying to need to have to use your phone. This would be much easier if Philips made Hue-compatible switches, but they mysteriously don't at the moment. (EDIT: I said \\\"at the moment\\\" because they hadn't yet when I wrote this, but they had announced the Hue Tap; the Hue Tap is now out and is a four-button \\\"switch\\\" that, while somewhat expensive for what it does, makes Hue much more convenient to use.)\\n\\nBesides these minor problems, Hue works great, and Philips is finally working on addressing some of my few problems with the system. It is also worth noting that they have a very good API (exposed via HTTP on the Hue Bridge that is connected to your wired network), so if you're capable of doing any programming, it's pretty easy to write something that will let you tinker with the bulbs to your liking. For example, since Philips hand't yet released any physical switches yet when I got Hue, I made on with a Griffin PowerMate connected to my computer and had the different actions on the PowerMate trigger Python scrips that would send commands to Hue for me via HTTP to do things like turn on or off bulbs on certain rooms, or dim/brighten them.\\n\\nI haven't even mentioned these bulbs' ability to change to almost any color because I rarely use it. I do, however, like the ability to switch between warm and cool white, the ability to dim the bulbs (app only; these don't dim on dimmer switches), as well as the ability to turn them on and off from any room--or anywhere with an Internet connection, really. I also have them integrated into some other home automation products (mostly motion sensors) now thanks to the well documented API. And, of course, I love them for the same reasons I've loved all my other LED bulbs: (presumably) long life, low power consumption, no \\\"warmup\\\" time to full brightness, no mercury, and so on.\\n\\nFor most of my purposes, I think the upcoming Hue Lux will suit me fine, but I don't regret buying the current bulbs at all. While they are a bit pricey, considering their features, I don't think it's that bad, and I look forward to the Hue Tap (EDIT: now released) and whatever other improvements Philips might be working on.\",\n \"Product: Accent LED clear A15 fan bulb, 150 lumens, 2-Watt, medium base, cool running, lights up instantly, mercury free, withstands shock and vibration, 15,000 average hour life, uses up to 92-Percent less energy compared to standard incandescent bulbs, non-dimmable.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good relatively dim light with low power consumption\\n\\nReview: I bought this bulb with hopes of using it in my fridge, despite the fact that my fridge had a 40 W incandescent bulb, while this one is estimated at a 25 W incandescent equivalent. Other reviews made it seem like it might be almost bright enough, but personally I found it too dim. Nothing against the bulb, though, since that's exactly what they claim. (It was the perfect size, however, both the A15 bulb shape and the \\\"neck\\\" of the bulb just above the screw; some larger bulbs have a hard time reaching the bottom terminal of my fridge's light socket if smaller bulbs like these have pushed the metal flap down too far, though you can very carefully but easily fix that problem.)\\n\\nI instead found a use for it in a bedside lamp that I only use at might. I used another LED in my fridge (the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Miracle-LED-605006-400-Lumen-Daylight-White/dp/B0058DHVDS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Miracle LED 605006 400 Lumen Daylight White</a> bulb, though that may be too cool/blue for many people's tastes). The Feit has been working fine in my lamp, and I appreciate the ridiculously low power consumption. The light is listed around 3000K, which I find perfectly acceptable despite some comments that it's not as yellow as some would prefer, and I find the brightness level acceptable for my usage. If you're looking for something brighter, you'll want to look elsewhere, but this bulb is good for what it is and practically free at this price as far as LEDs go.\",\n \"Product: The First Alert ZCOMBO-G is a z-wave protocol smoke and carbon monoxide combination alarm. This battery operated alarm will operate with 3Rd party, certified z-wave Devices enabled with the First Alert protocol and the basic Command class required by all z-wave Devices. By the requirements of the device class Spec, this Command class does not have to be mapped to any particular functionality for this device. The alarm supports one association group with up to 1 node, and sends its alarms to that group. Note: this alarm is not compatible with onelink.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fairly standard smoke/CO detector; works well with SmartThings; photoelectric sensor only\\n\\nReview: I bought this smoke/CO detector to pair with SmartThings and get notifications if I'm away from home. I haven't gotten to test the product in real-life situations but can tell you that the \\\"test\\\" function works well and it paired very easily with SmartThings for me. Others weren't so lucky with pairing, but it seems there is a way to help it along if you \\\"exclude\\\" it first. It is worth nothing that SmartThings appears to be unable to tell the difference between smoke and CO and will just report an alarm when either happens (the detector itself will still indicate which alarm is which). Other Z-Wave systems you integrate this with may be different. This is not a problem for me and could be fix-able in the future if SmartThings decides to do so.\\n\\nIf you're not using SmartThings or another home-automation system, the alarm itself actually looks and works much like a \\\"standard\\\" smoke/CO detector. You don't *need* a smart home system for this to work, but if you don't want one that ties in with a home automation system, you can find regular smoke/CO detectors for much less. Like many newer detectors, this one takes AA batteries (not 9 V; also, notably no hard-wiring option), and the batteries are easy to replace. And all necessary mounting hardware is included\\n\\nThe only feature you might want but this one doesn't have is a dual smoke sensor. This one has a photoelectric sensor only; even cheap smoke detectors usually have dual photoelectric and ionization sensors. You can read about this differences elsewhere, but basically, ionization is quicker at detecting \\\"fast fires\\\" like grease, gas, or paper, where as photoelectric is quicker at detecting \\\"smoldering\\\" fires from slower burning materials like wood. You'll probably want combination detectors in most areas to maximize detection, so that is an unfortunate downfall of this product. (In my case, it's less important because I'm using mine in the kitchen where my local regulations don't require a smoke detector but I want one for CO but figure smoke can't hurt, and photoelectric is less likely to respond to \\\"nuisance\\\" scenarios like cooking--and, more importantly, I have another combination detector nearby in the next room.)\",\n \"Product: The Philips Hue White and Color Light strip Plus provides limitless possibilities for an extraordinary experience. Add a Light Strip Plus to your Philips Hue system and create an immersive experience under bars or cabinets and behind entertainment systems. The Light strip Plus gives the flexibility to bend, cut and extend for the application of your choice.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good for primary light and also works well with Hue features\\n\\nReview: I've been using the Lightstrip Plus as the primary source of light in my living room (which lacks any built-in overhead lighting--I have this attached to a wall near the ceiling on one side), and it is great. I occasionally supplement the light with a floor lamp (a \\\"regular\\\" A19 Hue bulb), but if I had to pick one, the Lightstrip Plus lights the room much better because it's a bit brighter--and you can extend it to make it longer and brighter if needed. As with most Hue products, I like that I can change the color of the light. I can do a cool white during the day and warm white at night. This product produces all shades of white light very well, and it has much better color capabilities than the first- and second-generation A19 Hue bulbs in terms of being able to make more saturated blues and greens (which the third-generation \\\"richer colors\\\" bulbs have more or less caught up to now). I liked it so much I bought a second one for my bathroom and am using it with a motion detector (via SmartThings, but you could do this with Hue itself now) to turn the light on to a medium white during the day (and most of the morning and evening) and a very dim light in the middle of the night if needed. It is able to dim quite low.\\n\\nIf you have a fist-generation Lightstrip (the second-generation was renamed \\\"Lightstrip Plus\\\"), you'll notice a lot of differences. First, this one is much brighter. Second, it is capable of producing not just colors but also white light in typical color temperatures (like the regular Hue bulbs), so, like me, you can use it as the primary source of lighting in a room if needed. Like the first generation, you can also cut these smaller if needed, though you will then lose the ability to do anything with the part of the strip you've cut off (adventurous solderers aside).\\n\\nAs with many Hue products, unless you always have your phone handy, there are a few Hue accessories that might enhance your experience, such as the Tap or Dimmer if you want to be able to have some sort of physical switch you can use to turn on/off the light or activate any of various \\\"scenes\\\" you can set up in the Hue app. (But note that, like the bulbs, the strip will \\\"reset\\\" itself to a default of warm white light at full brightness if unplugged and plugged back in, or if it loses power. So, if you have an outlet controlled by a switch--as living rooms built during certain decades often do--you can probably get by with using your existing switch for everyday lighting and using the app or other methods for special occasions.) If you have a second-generation Hue Hub and an iOS device, you can use Siri to change the lights via HomeKit as well. If you have an Echo, you can turn on/off lights with Alexa as well (first generation hub is fine for this), and enabling the Hue skill will let you activate scenes or turn on/off rooms as well. Philips now makes Hue motion detectors which you may find useful as well, though I am doing something similar myself via SmartThings and have been for long before Philips announced these products.\\n\\nPerhaps the only con of this product is the price: it's much more expensive than the Hue bulbs and more expensive than most other LED lightstrips I can find, but if you need a strip as opposed to a bulb and value the features of Hue, this is still a good option. (I tried the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/SYLVANIA-LIGHTIFY-by-Osram-LED-Flex-Light-Strip-RGBW/dp/B00R1PB80I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">SYLVANIA LIGHTIFY by Osram LED Flex Light Strip RGBW</a> at first because it was cheaper, but it wasn't bright enough for me and would have exceeded the Hue price if I bought an extension to try to help, though it's not a bad product and has a few advantages like different connectors for the extension strips compared to Hue; see my review there for more.) I also didn't find the built-in adhesive useful, but it's easy enough to come up with your own solution--maybe mounting tape or cable clips. Other than that, this is basically all of the nice things about Hue--plus a little more brightness than their standard bulbs--in a different form, which I really like and wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone.\",\n \"Product: Wireless dimmingkit works out of the box. Get started with Philips Hue wireless dimming kit and enjoy smooth wireless dimming. Control the bulb with the included dimmer switch, or connect everything to a Philips Hue hub for control from your smart device.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good standalone switch for Hue\\n\\nReview: I got this product first as a gift to a friend before buying one to use myself. My friend had no existing Hue setup, and out of the box the bulb and remote work together without needing to do anything else. (You don't need anything else to make this work--no Starter Kit, no Bridge, etc.) I, on the other hand, have an existing Hue setup and the bulb and remote worked together out of the box, as expected, but I wanted to make both work with my existing system too. To do this, I had to manually add the bulb in the Hue app by serial number (not sure if that's the way it's supposed to work or if I did something wrong, but it was still easy to do after I noticed automatic detection failed). I also had to add the remote as a \\\"Device\\\" in the app and then assign either a scene or a bulb to the remote. If you assign it to a bulb, the on and off buttons will turn on and off that bulb and the dimming buttons will dim/brighten that bulb; if you assign it to a scene, the on/off buttons will turn on and off that scene and the dimming buttons will dim/brighten all bulbs in that scene.\\n\\nI've had Hue since before they made standalone switches. I was happy when Hue Tap came out, but that was mostly good for setting scenes or turning bulbs off. I'm glad to see another standalone switch that works well for dimming--and, unlike Tap, it's battery powered and the buttons are very easy to press. An added bonus is that the switch is very intuitive to use (after it's set up, or out of the box if you only want to use it on the provided bulb), which means that--unlike with Hue Tap--you won't need to explain to guests how it works.\",\n \"Product: The Cree connected LED bulb looks and lights even more like a light bulb and can be controlled from anywhere. It is an easy-to-use and cost-effective way to customize lighting in your home. Simply install your bulbs and compatible hub, sync with the applicable app and begin to control your light settings using your iOS or Android device. Compatible with multiple home automation systems, the Cree connected LED bulb works with either wink or a ZigBee certified hub. Once installed, you can easily dim or brighten to the perfect setting, Schedule lights to come on automatically at the start of the day, or turn on lights for added security when you are away from home, all from the Palm of your hand.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Pairs with Hue and works well!\\n\\nReview: I was looking for a cool white smart bulb and found this. There are a lot of warm/soft white smart bulbs but few with this color temperature, and I didn't want to spend the money on a full-color/RGBW bulb (or just a tuneable-white one) only for cool white. (So in case it isn't clear, I bought the cool white/5000K version of this bulb. This is a medium, perhaps slightly blue-ish white, rather than the yellow-ish white you'll get in the 2700K temperature. The Amazon listing combines them and probably shows all the reviews together.)\\n\\nI have SmartThings, Home Assistant (with a Liner HUSBZB-1), and Philips Hue, but my preference would be to put the bulb on Hue if it's supported since it can integrate with those other two systems via that while also supporting Hue scenes and accessories if I choose to use them. I've also found Hue to be incredibly reliable. I had to manually add the bulb by serial number rather than letting the Hue discovery process work, but with that, it paired easily and has been working fine ever since. (The \\\"serial\\\" number was printed near the base of the bulb as \\\"E330248,\\\" except I'm pretty sure that's the same for every bulb. Hue needs the numbers without the leading \\\"E.\\\") Both dimming and on/off work for me, though I really only wanted on/off for this application (closet with a pull-chain and no switch).\\n\\nI'm thinking about getting a a few more, and I'm happy I was able to find a cool white smart bulb! I wouldn't hesitate about the other color temperatures if I wanted one, but Hue also makes soft white bulbs that don't cost much more, so they might be better if you care about \\\"official\\\" support.\",\n \"Product: The TCP RLG254050D is an energy efficient Replacement for a standard incandescent G25 globe light bulb. This bulb is equivalent to a 40 watt bulb but uses only 4 watts! it emits a bright daylight color of 5000K color temperature when lit which mimics the natural illumination of daylight. This bulb is suitable for indoor and outdoor protected use. The TCP RLG254050D is a great for use in vanity and pendant fixture.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great--make sure you get the right color temperature\\n\\nReview: I bought four of these bulbs to replace the incandescent bulbs that I had in a bathroom vanity. I wanted to both save energy and brighten up the room a little with a cooler color temperature. I also wanted bulbs that were UL listed or similar and sold by a brand I was at least familiar with. These were the cheapest I could find that met these criteria. I chose LED bulbs because they should last longer than CFLs (and use a little less energy to boot--though both use much less than incandescents) and should better withstand the frequent switching on/off they'll take in this location.\\n\\nI bought the 5000K (\\\"daylight\\\") color temperature and chose a 40 W bulb because I figured that with four of them, the room would be bright enough (it is). Do pay attention to the color temperature when you buy these. The product page lists two temperatures, 2700K (soft white or \\\"warm\\\") and 5000K (daylight or \\\"cool\\\"). The soft white variety, which I did not purchase, will more closely resemble the yellowish hue of a typical incandescent bulb. The daylight variety I purchased will remind you of typical fluorescent lighting in offices and the like, which will appear blue-ish when compared to warmer lighting. Many people don't want this--and I see some reviewers who apparently accidentally purchased it--but I actually prefer it in the bathroom. (Actually, I'd prefer something more like 4000K, but the only ones I could find were online from a manufacturer I've never heard of and didn't appear to have been UL listed or anything similar. Turns out, 5000K still works well in this room.)\\n\\nSo far these bulbs are working well. They use much less energy than the incandescents they replaced, the bulbs don't get hot to the touch, and they should last a long time, though only time will tell. I would not hesitate to purchase these bulbs again and would recommend them to anyone looking for a G25 (globe-shaped) bulb.\",\n \"Product: Light for your moments, from sunrise to sunset. Add a Philips Hue white ambiance bulb to your system and enhance your home with shades of white lights. With a range from warm white to cool daylight, this bulb helps you to wake up, relax, read, concentrate or energize.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: More affordable Hue bulb that can do different shades of white (but no color)\\n\\nReview: My favorite part about Hue is the ability to change white light to different color temperatures--e.g., a cool/medium white if I'm working in the kitchen, but a warm white light if I'm dining, and maybe a very warm light in the evening. This light is able to do all of that, and so it's able to do about 90% of what I like about Hue. If you want different colors (e.g., red, blue, pink, etc.) you'll need the full-fledged \\\"Hue White and Color\\\" bulb, which can do everything this one can plus actual other colors, but the White Ambiance bulb is good enough for most of my applications. If you only want warm white light, the plain Hue White can do that (and do so with a bit more brightness than either White Ambiance or White and Color--and at a lower price). I have a few different styles of Hue bulbs scattered throughout the house and they each have their advantages and disadvantages, but this one will probably be my go-to for places where I don't think I'll need non-white colors and where the extra brightness of the warm-only Hue White isn't necessary.\",\n \"Product: Monitor movement and comfort of your home and family members with the motion and temperature sensing Iris Motion Sensor. Install the discrete and flexible Iris Motion Sensor on a wall, shelf or in a corner and receive notifications when there is unexpected movement in your home. Combine with other devices and set rules to control other smart devices when motion is detected. The Iris Smart Hub is required to connect the Motion Sensor with the Iris app and premium service may be required for advanced functionality.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My new favorite motion sensor (works with SmartThings)\\n\\nReview: I have SmartThings and was looking for a motion sensor to use with it. I had previously used both the first- and second-generation SmartThings-branded motion sensors, which work well. I later tried an Aeon Mutli and was not impressed, so I was hesitant to try another third-party solution, but then I saw this. The Iris Motion sensor is now my favorite for several reasons: first, it has a quick response time. My SmartApps respond almost instantly to turn on my lights, and it reports \\\"no motion\\\" rather quickly (within a minute) of motion stopping--some sensors take longer. Second, it works just as well as the first- and second-generation SmartThings motion sensors I'm using, which have produced very few false positives for me while always sensing me when I walk into a room. Third, these things are tiny--by far the smallest I've used. This isn't apparent from the picture if you don't have anything to compare it to, but the sensor is barely 1.5 inches wide and not much taller. Finally, the price on this--and actually a lot of other Iris products--is great: this is the cheapest natively supported motion sensor I can find. I'm not sure if Lowes is willing to take a smaller margin on the devices in hopes you'll spend money on their hub, but you don't need to--any of the \\\"ZigBee HA 1.2\\\" Iris devices (second generation in purple boxes, not the original Iris-only devices) are compatible with standard ZigBee HA controllers, including SmartThings.\\n\\nThe only downsides are mostly non-technical aspects: first, there are no mounting holes on the device, so you cannot nail or screw it into a wall. The edges have small surfaces on the corners that are designed to be used with adhesives and stuck in the corner of a room. The box includes custom-cut adhesives for either mounting in a corner or flat on the wall. However, the sensors are so small that I find they work well sitting on top of door frames or on a shelf if I don't want to mount them. Second, it takes a CR2 battery rather than a more common size, but I understand why they did this--the device is so small that a common household size can't fit, plus they are lithium batteries that will hopefully last a little longer. I've had some of mine on the same battery for over a year. (By the way, CR2 batteries aren't *that* hard to find, as they are one of a few kinds often used for flash cameras, and a lot of stores do carry them--but I think you'll have better luck locally or at a dedicated online battery store like Battery Junction; I've had bad luck with sellers listing the wrong size or other problems on Amazon.) Third, there is an LED behind the motion sensor that blinks green when motion is detected, which none of my other sensors do. I found this odd at first but am actually used to it now, and it's nice to know when you've walked in range, but there is no option to disable this if you don't want it.\\n\\nI've used at least 5 of these now, some purchased directly from Lowes and some from Amazon and have had slight problems with two. One got very hot and smelled of burning plastic. I think it was the battery that overheated, which I noticed because the sensor stopped responding and was very hot to the touch when I went to investigate. I suspect this was just a faulty battery and not the sensor's fault per se, but I returned the whole thing to Lowes (where I purchased it) and received a replacement per their generous return policy. I'm sure Amazon would do the same if purchased from them. My second sensor just had the battery suddenly die within the first month of its use, which is well below how long the CR2 battery should have lasted. I then replaced it with another battery, and it again died within a couple weeks. I tried again with a new battery from an additional Iris device I purchased (because apparently I never learn), and--you guessed it--it happened again. I think the most reasonable conclusion to draw is that this one device is defective and keeps draining the battery (I even switched its location with another motion sensor that was holding up well). I initiated a return for this item on Amazon (where I purchased this particular sensor) and had no problems with their return policy, but if I had to level another criticism against these sensors, it would be the apparently low-quality (or at least inconsistent quality) batteries and perhaps the occasional faulty device. However, both Lowes and Amazon have good return policies, and if it's just a bad battery (which it probably was for one of mine), even needing to buy a CR2 along with the sensor will still cost you less than a just sensor from most other manufacturers.\\n\\nUPDATE (summer 2018): This also works great with the new Hubitat Elevation hub, where I'm using them now.\",\n \"Product: Automate your lights for peace of mind. Add a Philips Hue white bulb to your system and enhance your home with soft white lighting that you can dim and control remotely. Automate your lights to make it seem like youre home when youre not or set timers.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Still good, but get the Hue White instead unless you find this for cheap\\n\\nReview: First, some reviews here seem to be about different products--perhaps the Hue system in general, rather than this specific bulb. To be clear, I am reviewing the Philips Hue Lux bulb. (I'm guessing some people who were angry about a previous software update copied and pasted their feedback to various product pages, or maybe Amazon split this from the regular Hue product page at some point and took some reviews with it.)\\n\\nThe Hue Lux is a perfectly fine light bulb that (obviously) integrates with the Hue system. It looks similar to the regular (white and color) Hue bulbs, but there are two differences. First, and most notably, it emits only white light and cannot change colors like the \\\"regular\\\" bulbs can. Second, it is a bit brighter. The regular bulbs aren't dim by any means, but they're maybe a 50 W incandescent equivalent, whereas this is more like 60 W. Other than that, they are dimmable via the Hue app (or third-party apps), the Hue tap, the Hue dimmer remote, and whatever other mechanisms you can use with any Hue bulb.\\n\\nHowever, there is a newer product called the Hue White. The Hue White does basically everything this bulb can do: emit white light and be compatible with the Hue system. However, the Hue white is shaped a bit differently and looks like it might give more omnidirectional light distribution. It is also a bit brighter. Notably, it is cheaper than the Lux and you can get them in either 2-packs or as part of a light plus remote combination, which will save money compared to doing either alone. The White is essentially a newer version of the Lux, which Philips doesn't appear to sell anymore (at least in the US) but is still available on Amazon. If you can find it for cheap, it's still good, but otherwise a new Hue White will likely cost you less and you'll get a better bulb to boot.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":78,"string":"78"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":71,"string":"71"}}},{"rowIdx":72,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"ABOM48ZPQGJ9K"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"How to survive good on just working 4 hours a week\". The summary of the review text is \"Specific Guidance for Startup Entrepreneurs\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This book is an operations manual for people who want more options in life. More options come from having an adequate income stream that is largely independent of your daily involvement. This review is of the original edition published in 2007. The new version is on order and I plan to update this review once read.\n\n\"Adequate income\" in this case means covering your total monthly income needs given an unreasonable goal, such as an international travel lifestyle, or a lot of free time to volunteer, or whatever you want. \"Independent\" means that you build a business around a product, not a service, and create a complete system to manage production, distribution and customer service using third party vendors. \"Begin with the end in mind,\" says Ferriss.\n\nYour job as business owner is to manage the vendors and collect cash flow. Ferriss makes no claims that this is easy, or that the startup process (particularly the first six months to year) will not take a major time commitment way over four hours per week, but he does provide a great deal of detail on every step of the process, plus real-life examples. There will be months of hard work to identify a problem that you yourself experience, can conceive a product to solve it, bring it to market and implement the management systems that will eventually allow you to exit day-to-day management and live that 4-hour workweek lifestyle. If it is a service you have in mind, Ferriss gives you specific ideas about how to productize that service. He goes into the steps involved in developing the distribution channel alternatives, testing one or more ideas against market demand using a variety of methods, contract (outsourced) manufacturing, and more. He then talks about how you can manage your life once the business starts clicking. He does not go into the things that can go wrong. Instead, he focuses on how to do each stage right.\n\nI wish this book had been around when I started my first business some 30 years ago. This book will help any entrepreneur save a lot of time, avoid mistakes and point the way to available resources that one might never discover otherwise. I highly recommend this book to anyone starting a business. Five stars."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This book is an operations manual for people who want more options in life. More options come from having an adequate income stream that is largely independent of your daily involvement. This review is of the original edition published in 2007. The new version is on order and I plan to update this review once read.\n\n\"Adequate income\" in this case means covering your total monthly income needs given an unreasonable goal, such as an international travel lifestyle, or a lot of free time to volunteer, or whatever you want. \"Independent\" means that you build a business around a product, not a service, and create a complete system to manage production, distribution and customer service using third party vendors. \"Begin with the end in mind,\" says Ferriss.\n\nYour job as business owner is to manage the vendors and collect cash flow. Ferriss makes no claims that this is easy, or that the startup process (particularly the first six months to year) will not take a major time commitment way over four hours per week, but he does provide a great deal of detail on every step of the process, plus real-life examples. There will be months of hard work to identify a problem that you yourself experience, can conceive a product to solve it, bring it to market and implement the management systems that will eventually allow you to exit day-to-day management and live that 4-hour workweek lifestyle. If it is a service you have in mind, Ferriss gives you specific ideas about how to productize that service. He goes into the steps involved in developing the distribution channel alternatives, testing one or more ideas against market demand using a variety of methods, contract (outsourced) manufacturing, and more. He then talks about how you can manage your life once the business starts clicking. He does not go into the things that can go wrong. Instead, he focuses on how to do each stage right.\n\nI wish this book had been around when I started my first business some 30 years ago. This book will help any entrepreneur save a lot of time, avoid mistakes and point the way to available resources that one might never discover otherwise. I highly recommend this book to anyone starting a business. Five stars."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Totally different from your dad's old needle scale, the Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale uses advanced technology to track weight, lean mass, body fat percentage, and body mass index, allowing you to see all the numbers you need to start living a healthier lifestyle. With room for the storage of up to eight users, this scale recognizes who you are, displays your data, and sends your stats straight to your Fitbit account through your home's WiFi while remaining totally private to you. The sleek polished glass surface looks classy while resisting the condensation from steamy hot showers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Proves What Gets Measured Gets Managed\n\nReview: This scale is both accurate and fun! Coupled with my Fitbit Flex and iPhone App \"MyFitnessPal\" my exercise motivation has never been higher. I feel great!\n\nThe wireless setup process was not easy using the scale-to-home network method. It took several tries and about 45 minutes to get the correct sequence and handshake. The problem is a switchover from PC-to-home wireless network communications, to Aria-to-PC, and back. In hindsight, the instructions did explain the process correctly, but following them is subject to handshake delays and other factors that interfered with a smooth hookup. Eventually it worked and there have been no problems since. I was not able to use the smartphone app method.\n\nOverall, I am very satisfied with the Aria. Five stars.","Product: The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein, Harper 2008, 1st edition (0508), 321 numbered pages. Description: Book; Blue boards and spine with yellow lettering to spine only, publisher's motif on front board. Dust jacket; Blue with yellow and red lettering and photo of dog on both covers, three blurbs on back, not price clipped. First hard cover edition of author's breakout book, book has been on the NYTimes Best Seller's list for 112+ weeks. Condition: Book; near fine. Clean and bright boards and pages, no marks, read board and bottom of spine slightly rubbed, top edge of front board has slight stain. Dust jacket; near fine. Bright and clean, no tears or chips or rubs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Gripping Story With A Four-Legged Narrator\n\nReview: I have to admit I love dogs and therefore am biased to like a story told from the canine perspective. The Art of Racing in the Rain is told from Enzo the dog's perspective. Enzo, owned by the key character Denny, an aspiring race car driver, is nearly human in his mental capacity and of course exceeds us in sensory abilities. His narration is moving, humorous and a bit scattered as one might expect from an energetic and playful dog's mind. Enzo at times is just a bit too smart to believe, which detracts from the otherwise real-life feel of the plot.\n\nWhat I liked most is the racing metaphor that crops up frequently in Enzo's narration. Apparently you can find a life lesson for just about any situation on the race track. Denny, who becomes a single parent during the story, is framed and manipulated by relatives who want custody of his daughter. The story draws you in completely, triggering feelings of anger, resentment and compassion in a surprisingly powerful way. It is so moving that one sometimes wants to put the book down to avoid discovery of what comes next. Just like life. It is really a great story.\n\nEnzo the dog becomes your friend. He has his own parallel story that also draws you in and moves you. I read the book aloud to my wife in the evenings and, I can't believe I'm writing this, near the end his narrative choked me up to the point that I could barely keep speaking. First time. Amazing.\n\nI rate this book five stars based on an engaging plot, well-developed characters, believable situations and excellent use of the racing metaphor to tie the book together from cover to cover. The issue of a too-smart dog is minor and at most rates a 1/2 star reduction in the rating, not possible on Amazon's rating scale.","Product: \"Six Thinking Hats\" is a de Bono classic, used by businessmen worldwide to develop techniques of creative thinking in the boardroom. \"The Six Hats\" method aims to make the fullest use of everyone's intelligence, experience and information. De Bono has comprehensively updated his bestselling text for this new edition.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Power of Parallel Thinking\n\nReview: Six Thinking Hats is an expansion of Edward deBono's original approach to solving problems through creative thinking using a method he devised in 1967 called Lateral Thinking. The Hats represent six facets of the thinking process as applied to decision-making: information, feelings, risk, benefits, alternatives and process. The concept is useful for individuals as well as groups, but is most powerful as a tool to encourage \"parallel thinking\" in a team setting.\n\nParallel Thinking encourages all present in a meeting to consider the topic under discussion from one \"Hats\" perspective at a time, without judgement, until all views have been expressed and all perspectives considered. The process honors individual personality differences while defusing confrontational exchanges. It reduces cultural barriers to self-expression, such as the reluctance to express deeply-held feelings, by authorizing each person present to express himself or herself under authority of the Hat-of-the-moment (e.g. the Red or \"Emotional\" Hat encourages people to express their feelings about a given alternative). DeBono says that often the best decision quickly rises to the top when participants are able to see all facets of everyone's thinking side-by-side. He cites numerous testamonials of dramatic productivity improvements by business and government organizations that have incorporated the six hats methodology into their decision processes.\n\nThe Six Hats process requires training and leadership. It may be used in at least two different manners. One would be a formal process of addressing an issue in a structured Six Hats meeting. The other and more common implementation, according to deBono, is to use the Hats metaphor when expressing opinions during a traditional business meeting for the purpose of clearly identifying \"where you are coming from.\" In the typical business meeting participants do not communicate in parallel, meaning they do not address a subject from one vantage point at a time. Listeners are free to misinterpret a speaker's intentions and misunderstand his or her full assessment of a topic, leading to protracted discussions even when everyone basically agrees on most points. The Six Hats method helps to organize thinking into a more manageable process that has the added benefits of sparking creativity and improving productivity.\n\nThe one area of this book that I find wanting is implementation. There is minimal discussion of how to use the method and what is given is somewhat contradictory, as early in the book he advocates the formal method where only the discussion leader may change the group's Hat, while later in the book he discusses using the Six Hats method as an accessory for people to use at will in traditional meetings. This is a bit confusing. Understanding the alternatives for implementation and use is vital information for anyone planning to introduce the Six Hats into an existing organization.\n\nThe Six Hats methodology is a significant contribution to the decision sciences. I have studied and used many quantitative decision tools in my career (decision trees, uncertainty analysis, Analytic Hierarachy and so on). All lack a strategic organizing structure. Late in the book deBono notes that the Six Hats does not replace such methods, but often reduces the necessity of using these time-consuming and often costly techniques. I rate this book 5 stars for excellent concept, content and execution.","Product: Publisher's Weekly Starred Review. Best-selling author Gladwell (The Tipping Point) has a dazzling ability to find commonality in disparate fields of study. As he displays again in this entertaining and illuminating look at how we make snap judgmentsabout people's intentions, the authenticity of a work of art, even military strategyhe can parse for general readers the intricacies of fascinating but little-known fields like professional food tasting (why does Coke taste different from Pepsi?). Gladwell's conclusion, after studying how people make instant decisions in a wide range of fields from psychology to police work, is that we can make better instant judgments by training our mind and senses to focus on the most relevant factsand that less input (as long as it's the right input) is better than more. Perhaps the most stunning example he gives of this counterintuitive truth is the most expensive war game ever conducted by the Pentagon, in which a wily marine officer, playing \"a rogue military commander\" in the Persian Gulf and unencumbered by hierarchy, bureaucracy and too much technology, humiliated American forces whose chiefs were bogged down in matrixes, systems for decision making and information overload. But if one sets aside Gladwell's dazzle, some questions and apparent inconsistencies emerge. If doctors are given an algorithm, or formula, in which only four facts are needed to determine if a patient is having a heart attack, is that really educating the doctor's decision-making abilityor is it taking the decision out of the doctor's hands altogether and handing it over to the algorithm? Still, each case study is satisfying, and Gladwell imparts his own evident pleasure in delving into a wide range of fields and seeking an underlying truth.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: More Here Than Meets the Eye\n\nReview: \"Blink\" is an excellent compilation of the psychological research into the science of snap judgments. It is filled with concrete examples of how our brains filter vast amounts of information to arrive at decisions in the blink of an eye. Often these occurrences have surprisingly positive results. Occasionally, sometimes in patterns of behavior, such decisions are biased, unwise or harmful. Malcom Gladwell does a fine job of examining many sides of this phenomenon. This book may be the first of its kind to aggregate so many independent studies and real-world examples. As is typical with first anythings, it triggers many thoughts and questions in one's mind, and you tend to want more information and further conclusions or \"take-aways\" as soon as you finish the book.\n\nThe examples make clear that the research conducted in this area is substantial. True experts in facial recognition, for example, have an ability to read human emotion that is astronomically beyond the average person. In one example, two psychologists categorize the facial muscle movements we all use to express emotions. They developed a system to fundamentally recognize intentions from expressions. It reminds me of \"The Machine\" in the TV series \"Person of Interest\" that monitors security cameras worldwide to interpret crimes about to happen via the facial expressions of the people involved. Other examples of deep expertise include the quantitative analysis of married couples' relationships based on keyword or \"key attitude\" analysis and the finely detailed categorization of tastes by two food experts. All three of these examples show the rigor required to explain the basis for one's rapid cognition and the benefits, in terms of high-quality decisions, that result from acquiring such expertise. One may assume that only a few people in any field of endeavor hold such expertise making them extremely competitive and valuable. The resulting lesson for Blink readers, not stated in the book, is that specialization is essential; otherwise, proceed with caution.\n\nThe discussion about human instinctive reactions is just enough to pique interest without going deep enough to be satisfying. Examples from the book are basketball player Larry Byrd's slow-motion vision of fast play and a policeman's tunnel vision in life-or-death confrontation. Other types of instinctive reactions are not discussed (e.g. touching a hot stove; lightning-fast retreat upon encountering a snake face-to-face; a baby's startle reaction). The majority of Gladwell's examples relate to behaviors distilled to their essence from experience combined with an individual's natural talents. I suspect there is some degree of overlap or interplay between experience and instinct and would like to learn more about it.\n\nI rate this book four stars. It is worth reading for the interesting examples, yet leaves a something to be desired in the area of weaving the examples together into a coherent framework and drawing useful conclusions.","Product: 'Here we drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything - even die' - Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, Karakoram mountains, Pakistan. In 1993, after a terrifying and disastrous attempt to climb K2, a mountaineer called Greg Mortenson drifted, cold and dehydrated, into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram Mountains. Moved by the inhabitants' kindness, he promised to return and build a school. \"Three Cups of Tea\" is the story of that promise and its extraordinary outcome. Over the next decade Mortenson built not just one but fifty-five schools - especially for girls - in remote villages across the forbidding and breathtaking landscape of Pakistan and Afghanistan, just as the Taliban rose to power. His story is at once a riveting adventure and a testament to the power of the humanitarian spirit.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Season With Three Pinches of Salt\n\nReview: This book brings to life some of the remote peoples, geography and customs of northern Pakistan and Afganistan through the eyes of a former American mountaineer who has spent 20 years promoting literacy and education in the region. It is a narrative of his challenging journey as told to author David Oliver Relin.\n\nThree Cups of Tea asserts that education is a powerful force for change, especially to assist young people in underdeveloped regions understand how to improve their situation. In particular it focuses on the education of village women (to at least 5th grade level) as a critical element in all aspects of community development. To us in the west this makes pefect sense. Over there it is a very risky proposition.\n\nAt the time I first wrote this review I was unaware of controversial nature of the book and rated it four stars. On its face it is an engaging and compelling story. Seeking more information, I discovered that credible people and organizations have raised troubling questions that appear to have merit. I also found that some accusations have since been discredited. It's quite a mess. The issues raised concern the basic truth of several events related in the book that are critical to building reader sympathy for the protagonist (co-author Greg Mortenson) and his cause. Upon reflection, these revelations call into question many other anecdotes in the book to the point that it is impossible to know what is fact and what is fiction.\n\nFor example, a scholar on Northern Pakistan at UC Berkeley has taken issue with the book's descriptions of the people and politics of the region as misleading. My own limited research via Internet searches on the tragedy of co-author David Relin's suicide in November 2012, the mismanagement of the Central Asia Institute's (CAI's) finances, and the alleged corruption within CAI's overseas operations (as reported in the media) further serve only to confuse this reader about this book and its message.\n\nAs we all know from reading the news, this region of the world is very difficult to understand for us in the west. At first glance, Three Cups of Tea appears to offer a unique glimpse into the region's peoples and culture. Likely there is some degree of truth and value to the tale, if you take it with a pinch or three of salt. After considering all of the information, I cannot recommend this book. I rate it two stars, on the basis that it purports to tell interesting true-life stories that later turn out to be at least partially fictional to a degree that discredits the central message of the book.","Product: Using a step-by-step photographic approach, this book offers proven, easy to follow techniques for installing of sturdy trackwork, including fitting the roadbed, laying sectional or flexible track, and finishing the track with lineside details. Also covers installing turnouts, cleaning and maintaining trackwork, and other special techniques suitable for a layout of any size or scale.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very Informative With Excellent Photos\n\nReview: This book is a photo-illustrated introduction to selecting, laying, and otherwise enhancing commercial model railroad track. It is aimed at beginning to intermediate modelers and fills a gap between very elementary instructions and more advanced books like Kalmbach's <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Trackwork-and-Lineside-Detail-for-Your-Model-Railroad-Model-Railroader-Ser/dp/0890245711/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Trackwork and Lineside Detail for Your Model Railroad (Model Railroader Ser.)</a>.\n\nIt starts by comparing real (prototype) railroad track to model track in terms of roadbed profile, ties, rail material, code (size) and the types of model track that are commercially available. There are detail sections on roadbed, sectional track, laying flextrack, selecting and modifying turnouts (including automatic controls and electrical basics), crossings and special trackwork, painting and ballasting, track cleaning, and some basic ideas for detailing trackwork and lineside detail. Everything in the text is illustrated using over 250 high-definition color photographs.\n\nSidebars in each chapter provide a very basic introduction to more advanced topics like track planning, the NMRA standards gauge, joining track of different codes, handlaying track, tie spacing and superelevation. These sidebars are only a very basic introduction to those topics. It might have been helpful to include references for readers to get more information on these advanced topics, but that is readily available at hobby store bookshelves or online.\n\nAlthough I have built one small N-scale model railroad in the past, and read more advanced books on trackwork, this book contained useful information and is definitely a reference (especially the photos) for my next layout."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Totally different from your dad's old needle scale, the Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale uses advanced technology to track weight, lean mass, body fat percentage, and body mass index, allowing you to see all the numbers you need to start living a healthier lifestyle. With room for the storage of up to eight users, this scale recognizes who you are, displays your data, and sends your stats straight to your Fitbit account through your home's WiFi while remaining totally private to you. The sleek polished glass surface looks classy while resisting the condensation from steamy hot showers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Proves What Gets Measured Gets Managed\\n\\nReview: This scale is both accurate and fun! Coupled with my Fitbit Flex and iPhone App \\\"MyFitnessPal\\\" my exercise motivation has never been higher. I feel great!\\n\\nThe wireless setup process was not easy using the scale-to-home network method. It took several tries and about 45 minutes to get the correct sequence and handshake. The problem is a switchover from PC-to-home wireless network communications, to Aria-to-PC, and back. In hindsight, the instructions did explain the process correctly, but following them is subject to handshake delays and other factors that interfered with a smooth hookup. Eventually it worked and there have been no problems since. I was not able to use the smartphone app method.\\n\\nOverall, I am very satisfied with the Aria. Five stars.\",\n \"Product: The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein, Harper 2008, 1st edition (0508), 321 numbered pages. Description: Book; Blue boards and spine with yellow lettering to spine only, publisher's motif on front board. Dust jacket; Blue with yellow and red lettering and photo of dog on both covers, three blurbs on back, not price clipped. First hard cover edition of author's breakout book, book has been on the NYTimes Best Seller's list for 112+ weeks. Condition: Book; near fine. Clean and bright boards and pages, no marks, read board and bottom of spine slightly rubbed, top edge of front board has slight stain. Dust jacket; near fine. Bright and clean, no tears or chips or rubs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Gripping Story With A Four-Legged Narrator\\n\\nReview: I have to admit I love dogs and therefore am biased to like a story told from the canine perspective. The Art of Racing in the Rain is told from Enzo the dog's perspective. Enzo, owned by the key character Denny, an aspiring race car driver, is nearly human in his mental capacity and of course exceeds us in sensory abilities. His narration is moving, humorous and a bit scattered as one might expect from an energetic and playful dog's mind. Enzo at times is just a bit too smart to believe, which detracts from the otherwise real-life feel of the plot.\\n\\nWhat I liked most is the racing metaphor that crops up frequently in Enzo's narration. Apparently you can find a life lesson for just about any situation on the race track. Denny, who becomes a single parent during the story, is framed and manipulated by relatives who want custody of his daughter. The story draws you in completely, triggering feelings of anger, resentment and compassion in a surprisingly powerful way. It is so moving that one sometimes wants to put the book down to avoid discovery of what comes next. Just like life. It is really a great story.\\n\\nEnzo the dog becomes your friend. He has his own parallel story that also draws you in and moves you. I read the book aloud to my wife in the evenings and, I can't believe I'm writing this, near the end his narrative choked me up to the point that I could barely keep speaking. First time. Amazing.\\n\\nI rate this book five stars based on an engaging plot, well-developed characters, believable situations and excellent use of the racing metaphor to tie the book together from cover to cover. The issue of a too-smart dog is minor and at most rates a 1/2 star reduction in the rating, not possible on Amazon's rating scale.\",\n \"Product: \\\"Six Thinking Hats\\\" is a de Bono classic, used by businessmen worldwide to develop techniques of creative thinking in the boardroom. \\\"The Six Hats\\\" method aims to make the fullest use of everyone's intelligence, experience and information. De Bono has comprehensively updated his bestselling text for this new edition.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Power of Parallel Thinking\\n\\nReview: Six Thinking Hats is an expansion of Edward deBono's original approach to solving problems through creative thinking using a method he devised in 1967 called Lateral Thinking. The Hats represent six facets of the thinking process as applied to decision-making: information, feelings, risk, benefits, alternatives and process. The concept is useful for individuals as well as groups, but is most powerful as a tool to encourage \\\"parallel thinking\\\" in a team setting.\\n\\nParallel Thinking encourages all present in a meeting to consider the topic under discussion from one \\\"Hats\\\" perspective at a time, without judgement, until all views have been expressed and all perspectives considered. The process honors individual personality differences while defusing confrontational exchanges. It reduces cultural barriers to self-expression, such as the reluctance to express deeply-held feelings, by authorizing each person present to express himself or herself under authority of the Hat-of-the-moment (e.g. the Red or \\\"Emotional\\\" Hat encourages people to express their feelings about a given alternative). DeBono says that often the best decision quickly rises to the top when participants are able to see all facets of everyone's thinking side-by-side. He cites numerous testamonials of dramatic productivity improvements by business and government organizations that have incorporated the six hats methodology into their decision processes.\\n\\nThe Six Hats process requires training and leadership. It may be used in at least two different manners. One would be a formal process of addressing an issue in a structured Six Hats meeting. The other and more common implementation, according to deBono, is to use the Hats metaphor when expressing opinions during a traditional business meeting for the purpose of clearly identifying \\\"where you are coming from.\\\" In the typical business meeting participants do not communicate in parallel, meaning they do not address a subject from one vantage point at a time. Listeners are free to misinterpret a speaker's intentions and misunderstand his or her full assessment of a topic, leading to protracted discussions even when everyone basically agrees on most points. The Six Hats method helps to organize thinking into a more manageable process that has the added benefits of sparking creativity and improving productivity.\\n\\nThe one area of this book that I find wanting is implementation. There is minimal discussion of how to use the method and what is given is somewhat contradictory, as early in the book he advocates the formal method where only the discussion leader may change the group's Hat, while later in the book he discusses using the Six Hats method as an accessory for people to use at will in traditional meetings. This is a bit confusing. Understanding the alternatives for implementation and use is vital information for anyone planning to introduce the Six Hats into an existing organization.\\n\\nThe Six Hats methodology is a significant contribution to the decision sciences. I have studied and used many quantitative decision tools in my career (decision trees, uncertainty analysis, Analytic Hierarachy and so on). All lack a strategic organizing structure. Late in the book deBono notes that the Six Hats does not replace such methods, but often reduces the necessity of using these time-consuming and often costly techniques. I rate this book 5 stars for excellent concept, content and execution.\",\n \"Product: Publisher's Weekly Starred Review. Best-selling author Gladwell (The Tipping Point) has a dazzling ability to find commonality in disparate fields of study. As he displays again in this entertaining and illuminating look at how we make snap judgmentsabout people's intentions, the authenticity of a work of art, even military strategyhe can parse for general readers the intricacies of fascinating but little-known fields like professional food tasting (why does Coke taste different from Pepsi?). Gladwell's conclusion, after studying how people make instant decisions in a wide range of fields from psychology to police work, is that we can make better instant judgments by training our mind and senses to focus on the most relevant factsand that less input (as long as it's the right input) is better than more. Perhaps the most stunning example he gives of this counterintuitive truth is the most expensive war game ever conducted by the Pentagon, in which a wily marine officer, playing \\\"a rogue military commander\\\" in the Persian Gulf and unencumbered by hierarchy, bureaucracy and too much technology, humiliated American forces whose chiefs were bogged down in matrixes, systems for decision making and information overload. But if one sets aside Gladwell's dazzle, some questions and apparent inconsistencies emerge. If doctors are given an algorithm, or formula, in which only four facts are needed to determine if a patient is having a heart attack, is that really educating the doctor's decision-making abilityor is it taking the decision out of the doctor's hands altogether and handing it over to the algorithm? Still, each case study is satisfying, and Gladwell imparts his own evident pleasure in delving into a wide range of fields and seeking an underlying truth.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: More Here Than Meets the Eye\\n\\nReview: \\\"Blink\\\" is an excellent compilation of the psychological research into the science of snap judgments. It is filled with concrete examples of how our brains filter vast amounts of information to arrive at decisions in the blink of an eye. Often these occurrences have surprisingly positive results. Occasionally, sometimes in patterns of behavior, such decisions are biased, unwise or harmful. Malcom Gladwell does a fine job of examining many sides of this phenomenon. This book may be the first of its kind to aggregate so many independent studies and real-world examples. As is typical with first anythings, it triggers many thoughts and questions in one's mind, and you tend to want more information and further conclusions or \\\"take-aways\\\" as soon as you finish the book.\\n\\nThe examples make clear that the research conducted in this area is substantial. True experts in facial recognition, for example, have an ability to read human emotion that is astronomically beyond the average person. In one example, two psychologists categorize the facial muscle movements we all use to express emotions. They developed a system to fundamentally recognize intentions from expressions. It reminds me of \\\"The Machine\\\" in the TV series \\\"Person of Interest\\\" that monitors security cameras worldwide to interpret crimes about to happen via the facial expressions of the people involved. Other examples of deep expertise include the quantitative analysis of married couples' relationships based on keyword or \\\"key attitude\\\" analysis and the finely detailed categorization of tastes by two food experts. All three of these examples show the rigor required to explain the basis for one's rapid cognition and the benefits, in terms of high-quality decisions, that result from acquiring such expertise. One may assume that only a few people in any field of endeavor hold such expertise making them extremely competitive and valuable. The resulting lesson for Blink readers, not stated in the book, is that specialization is essential; otherwise, proceed with caution.\\n\\nThe discussion about human instinctive reactions is just enough to pique interest without going deep enough to be satisfying. Examples from the book are basketball player Larry Byrd's slow-motion vision of fast play and a policeman's tunnel vision in life-or-death confrontation. Other types of instinctive reactions are not discussed (e.g. touching a hot stove; lightning-fast retreat upon encountering a snake face-to-face; a baby's startle reaction). The majority of Gladwell's examples relate to behaviors distilled to their essence from experience combined with an individual's natural talents. I suspect there is some degree of overlap or interplay between experience and instinct and would like to learn more about it.\\n\\nI rate this book four stars. It is worth reading for the interesting examples, yet leaves a something to be desired in the area of weaving the examples together into a coherent framework and drawing useful conclusions.\",\n \"Product: 'Here we drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything - even die' - Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, Karakoram mountains, Pakistan. In 1993, after a terrifying and disastrous attempt to climb K2, a mountaineer called Greg Mortenson drifted, cold and dehydrated, into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram Mountains. Moved by the inhabitants' kindness, he promised to return and build a school. \\\"Three Cups of Tea\\\" is the story of that promise and its extraordinary outcome. Over the next decade Mortenson built not just one but fifty-five schools - especially for girls - in remote villages across the forbidding and breathtaking landscape of Pakistan and Afghanistan, just as the Taliban rose to power. His story is at once a riveting adventure and a testament to the power of the humanitarian spirit.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Season With Three Pinches of Salt\\n\\nReview: This book brings to life some of the remote peoples, geography and customs of northern Pakistan and Afganistan through the eyes of a former American mountaineer who has spent 20 years promoting literacy and education in the region. It is a narrative of his challenging journey as told to author David Oliver Relin.\\n\\nThree Cups of Tea asserts that education is a powerful force for change, especially to assist young people in underdeveloped regions understand how to improve their situation. In particular it focuses on the education of village women (to at least 5th grade level) as a critical element in all aspects of community development. To us in the west this makes pefect sense. Over there it is a very risky proposition.\\n\\nAt the time I first wrote this review I was unaware of controversial nature of the book and rated it four stars. On its face it is an engaging and compelling story. Seeking more information, I discovered that credible people and organizations have raised troubling questions that appear to have merit. I also found that some accusations have since been discredited. It's quite a mess. The issues raised concern the basic truth of several events related in the book that are critical to building reader sympathy for the protagonist (co-author Greg Mortenson) and his cause. Upon reflection, these revelations call into question many other anecdotes in the book to the point that it is impossible to know what is fact and what is fiction.\\n\\nFor example, a scholar on Northern Pakistan at UC Berkeley has taken issue with the book's descriptions of the people and politics of the region as misleading. My own limited research via Internet searches on the tragedy of co-author David Relin's suicide in November 2012, the mismanagement of the Central Asia Institute's (CAI's) finances, and the alleged corruption within CAI's overseas operations (as reported in the media) further serve only to confuse this reader about this book and its message.\\n\\nAs we all know from reading the news, this region of the world is very difficult to understand for us in the west. At first glance, Three Cups of Tea appears to offer a unique glimpse into the region's peoples and culture. Likely there is some degree of truth and value to the tale, if you take it with a pinch or three of salt. After considering all of the information, I cannot recommend this book. I rate it two stars, on the basis that it purports to tell interesting true-life stories that later turn out to be at least partially fictional to a degree that discredits the central message of the book.\",\n \"Product: Using a step-by-step photographic approach, this book offers proven, easy to follow techniques for installing of sturdy trackwork, including fitting the roadbed, laying sectional or flexible track, and finishing the track with lineside details. Also covers installing turnouts, cleaning and maintaining trackwork, and other special techniques suitable for a layout of any size or scale.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Informative With Excellent Photos\\n\\nReview: This book is a photo-illustrated introduction to selecting, laying, and otherwise enhancing commercial model railroad track. It is aimed at beginning to intermediate modelers and fills a gap between very elementary instructions and more advanced books like Kalmbach's <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Trackwork-and-Lineside-Detail-for-Your-Model-Railroad-Model-Railroader-Ser/dp/0890245711/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Trackwork and Lineside Detail for Your Model Railroad (Model Railroader Ser.)</a>.\\n\\nIt starts by comparing real (prototype) railroad track to model track in terms of roadbed profile, ties, rail material, code (size) and the types of model track that are commercially available. There are detail sections on roadbed, sectional track, laying flextrack, selecting and modifying turnouts (including automatic controls and electrical basics), crossings and special trackwork, painting and ballasting, track cleaning, and some basic ideas for detailing trackwork and lineside detail. Everything in the text is illustrated using over 250 high-definition color photographs.\\n\\nSidebars in each chapter provide a very basic introduction to more advanced topics like track planning, the NMRA standards gauge, joining track of different codes, handlaying track, tie spacing and superelevation. These sidebars are only a very basic introduction to those topics. It might have been helpful to include references for readers to get more information on these advanced topics, but that is readily available at hobby store bookshelves or online.\\n\\nAlthough I have built one small N-scale model railroad in the past, and read more advanced books on trackwork, this book contained useful information and is definitely a reference (especially the photos) for my next layout.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":6,"string":"6"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":72,"string":"72"}}},{"rowIdx":73,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AL5OEDM8TPTKV"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"1.0\" for a product with description \"Paul is completing his last year of Bible College but is struggling with some desires that may get him thrown out of school.\". The summary of the review text is \"The Last Year Lasted Five Minutes...\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"... in my DVD player before my boyfriend and I hit the \"eject\" button. As a fan and appreciator of independent films, I'm more than generous when granting filmmakers a pass on quality if the story and acting is quality. Unfortunately, this film quickly showed a lack of acting ability and quality.\n\nNormally in my reviews, I start off by offering a brief summation of the plot of the movie. However, since this stinker only played for ten minutes, I don't know much of the plot. Apparently, it's about a religious college student struggling with his sexuality.\n\nIn the scene that I saw, the dorm room set looked like it was filmed on a stage, and the acting so wooden that it was unbelievable at best.\n\nMy suggestion for an independent gay film that is of HIGH quality: check out Brother to Brother. Done by another new filmmaker, this film offers wonderful acting, great character development, and a plot that compels you.\n\nSave your money and pass over this one. as quickly as you can."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"... in my DVD player before my boyfriend and I hit the \"eject\" button. As a fan and appreciator of independent films, I'm more than generous when granting filmmakers a pass on quality if the story and acting is quality. Unfortunately, this film quickly showed a lack of acting ability and quality.\n\nNormally in my reviews, I start off by offering a brief summation of the plot of the movie. However, since this stinker only played for ten minutes, I don't know much of the plot. Apparently, it's about a religious college student struggling with his sexuality.\n\nIn the scene that I saw, the dorm room set looked like it was filmed on a stage, and the acting so wooden that it was unbelievable at best.\n\nMy suggestion for an independent gay film that is of HIGH quality: check out Brother to Brother. Done by another new filmmaker, this film offers wonderful acting, great character development, and a plot that compels you.\n\nSave your money and pass over this one. as quickly as you can."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Ultimate Edition is an Action Adventure game, published by Infogrames, which was released in 2002\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Big Step Forward\n\nReview: I was one of the reviewers who slammed the first release of the Survivor computer game. Unbelievably boring challenges, tedious camp time that just didn't go anywhere, and apparent lack of alliances, it was a major disaster that didn't warrant more than two playings. I hesitated to purchase Survivor Ultimate, thinking that it would be just a re-release of the bad with new Survivors added.\nFortunately, this version is NOT a rehash of the first horrible game, but a big step forward in the right direction. You bascially jump from challenge to challenge, many of them truly fun and enjoyable. A couple of them I just didn't even understand, but did better in them upon repeat plays. My favorites are a tower game, a slot machine game, and a game based on minesweeper.\nThis game totally eliminates the ineffective camp time with an opportunity to form real alliances. These aliiances only last one episode, but at least you can form them which have impilcations at Tribal Council. Both times I've played, my character's popularity plunged, and I was at fault about what to do. However, my alliances saved me at Tribal Council, and I made it to the final Tribal council, winning one and losing one. Sure the people look fakey, but you have to give some leeway for a 20 dollar computer program!\nOverall, I imagine I'm going to play this game repeatedly, but not all the time. It certainly is leagues better than the first release. If you are a Survivor fan, or shopping for one, this may be just the gift for you. See you at Tribal Council!\nP.S. The realty game that's really held up, even after two YEARS of playing, is \"The Weakest Link\". I still whole heartedly recommend that program. I want a new release!","Product: In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts. The wizarding community is in denial about his recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort. The Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, appoints a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to keep watch over Dumbledore and the Hogwarts students. The young wizards are woefully unprepared to defend themselves against the dark forces threatening them, leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione to handles things themselves. Harry prepares a group of young wizards calling themselves \"Dumbledore's Army\" for the extraordinary battle that lies ahead.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Just like being at Hogwarts!\n\nReview: I'm a casual gamer, playing games that might interest me only, not really on the lookout for the latest and greatest. I'm also a big Harry Potter fan. In past years, I avoided the Harry Potter games merely because of some of the other movie tie-in games that I've played were basically on the intelligence level of an eight year old and rather silly indeed. But with the new book coming out this week, and the movie as well, I was sucked into purchasing this game, and have been pleasantly surprised.\n\nOrder of the Phoenix follows very closely the book and the movie, starting with a quick Dementor attach, to learning spells in Grimmauld Place, to quickly landing at Hogwarts. In the game, you are required to assemble the new D.A. by performing tasks, and to train the army with Defence spells. Along throughout the castle, you are asked to use your wand to repair things, clean up things, and discover many secrets hidden in the castle to earn more magical power for Harry.\n\nNow, as a serious, challenging game, this isn't it. I've been finding it fairly easy to complete the tasks. In some occasions which the game required magic to complete a task, I found it easier to hold the controller with one hand while operating my wand with another. It was great fun to use spells to make things fly across the room, make carpets shake, and set lights on fire. Again, not challenging, but fun.\n\nLet me say that the visual representation of Hogwarts is magnificent. It really is very complex, many leveled and layered. The details put into each room is just like being on the movie sets. The Grand Hall is beautiful, the Gryffindor Common Room has lots of little details, and even the journey to Hagrid's Hut is long and breathtaking. It really does simulate Hogwarts beautifully, and with the amazing ability of having NO load times between rooms, you really feel like you are there!\n\nThe pitfalls I've found are thus. You do bump into Ron and Hermione frequently., especially if you are in a small room and need to get out. In several of the rooms. In one occasion, a student was stuck partially through the ground. The biggest issue is the sound. In several rooms, I keep hearing this grating, grinding noise that doesn't seem to have any part in the story. In some cases, it is so loud, I cannot hear the characters speak. Occasionally, characters voices would cut out or sound fuzzy or buzzy. I would restart the game, and most of the problems were solved.\n\nBut overall, I do feel like I'm really getting my money's worth. Just by feeling like you are in Hogwarts is an amazing feat. This will be one game, after I've finished the tasks, that whenever I feel like visited the old magical school, I'll return to time and time again.","Product: Red Dead Redemption is a Western epic, set at the turn of the 20th century when the lawless and chaotic badlands began to give way to the expanding reach of government and the spread of the Industrial Age. The story of former outlaw, John Marston, Red Dead Redemption takes players on a great adventure across the American frontier.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Return to the Old West: A Casual Gamer's Review\n\nReview: The last great game that I played on my PS3 was <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Batman-Arkham-Asylum/dp/B001E8VB6O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Batman: Arkham Asylum</a>. In fact, thinking about it I still smile a bit. I loved every minute of the adventure, and still recall climbing to the top of the clock tower, leaping off, and seeing how long I could soar. I didn't think that another game could come close to this adventure, but it turns out, I was wrong. I'm enjoying \"Red Dead Redemption\" just as much as Batman; for the graphic quality the shear adventure of the game, the ability to roam, the mini-games, and the total submersion of life in a Western town.\n\nThe first time you get a chance to head out into the wilderness, you'll be impressed with the high quality realism of the game. Animals roam freely and are ripe for the hunting, but be careful of some angrier animals. I've been attacked by a cougar (and survived the tale) but didn't after a wolf pack attack. The missions John goes on are of the usual caliber, but they are fun, if not a bit repetitive. The bounty hunting pays a good price, especially if you get to lasso the criminal and hogtie him to carry him back alive. You can play a variety of western games , my favorite is poker where, with the right clothes, you get to cheat.\n\nOverall, I found this game to be very easy to use. The design of the game is very intuitive, and you don't have to learn a bunch of fancy button moves to make things happen. Most importantly, it's just a lot of fun to slip into the old west for a hour a day, and ride my horse into the sunset, or rope a wild horse, or even chat it up with the saloon ladies.","Product: This isn't just another peeler set. Proprietary technology from Switzerland has given our Swiss Classic peelers a few new edges. These blades are scalpel sharp - this means less effort to peel and a thinner peel with every stroke. Swissmar's peeler set of three includes: one serrated peeler, one julienne peeler, one scalper peeler. Use the scalpel blade peeler for hard fruits and vegetables such as apples and potatoes. It can also be used to shave hard cheeses and chocolate. The serrated blade peeler is great for more delicate fruits and vegetables such as kiwis, mangoes and tomatoes. Use the julienne blade to create thin julienne sticks on carrots, zucchini, cucumbers and more. Side cutter on each peeler removes eyes and blemishes from produce or can cut grooves in fruits and vegetables. Suitable for left and right handed use, dishwasher safe, Made in Switzerland.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great for an Eggplant!\n\nReview: So I was making eggplant parmesean the other day, and the recipe called for the eggplant to be \"pealed\". Having never made this dish before, and in fact, never having cooked with eggplants ever, it was going to be quite the learning curve. I used my new \"Swissmar Swiss Trio Peeler Set\", which I received from Vine with great results.\n\nAt first glance, this set of peelers looks a little on the cheaper side. They are made of plastic and appear a little flimsy. The set comes with three different peelers, and I used the one that I thought would work best on the eggplant. It was actually a breeze with this peeler that I used. The skin came off of the eggplant with very little force. The job was done much quicker than I thought. From that experience, I can surmise the ease of use of these tools. While I haven't used the two other peelers yet, I can't wait.","Product: Ideal for the office or loft, the Braven 770 Bluetooth Speaker delivers high definition sound wrapped in a sleek aircraft grade aluminum frame. Equipped with outbound smartphone charging, built-in speakerphone and 12 hours of audio play, this IPX5 splash proof speaker can also pair with a second Braven 7-series speaker for left and right stereo listening.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Easy to use for the technophobes!\n\nReview: This is my first adventure into the land of wireless speakers. Normally, old fashioned me wants to stick with hooking up into a speaker, or just listening to music with headphones. When a wireless speaker came up in Vine, I thought I'd give it a try. I was glad that I did. I'm immensely enjoying my speaker.\n\nThe speaker is built extremely well. The ease of use is what sold me immediately. I had the device operational very quickly out of the box, which is a winning proposition in my book. The sound quality is excellent, and the speaker is highly totable, so that I can bring it around with me to different locations.\n\nIf you are new to this technology, and interested in exploring wireless speakers, I'd have to give this one a thumbs up.","Product: Noise Isolating In-Ear - Neon Green\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great sound with an odd initial fit!\n\nReview: I normally use either my iPod earbuds when I'm running, or my Bose headphones when I'm out and about in the world. I wanted to try these headphones as sort of a happy medium between the two. I'm happy to report that despite some odd fit issues, these headphones were pretty great. The sound was clear, crisp, and just as good as my Bose. However, as other reviewers have indicated, the shape of the headphones fit oddly. A couple of times, they fell out because they weren't snug enough inside my ear canal. My doctor once told me that I have small ear canals, so that could be the issue. I imagine with continued use, the shape of the outside will form more comfortably in the ear. I do recommend these!","Product: Chamois Buttr GoStik is our solid stick skin lubricant. The 2.5 ounce dispenser allows for easy, no-mess application of skin lubricant precisely to select skin areas. GoStik is excellent for swimming, running, cycling, triathlons, hiking, construction, military, and more. Apply liberally to skin before activity. Apply to any skin areas that rub together or against clothing. GoStik has multiple applications for chafing prevention during any physical activity. This product is safe to use with neoprene wet suits and other technical fabrics. GoStik is gluten free, fragrance free, and washes off skin and clothing with soap and water. For external use only.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I wanna be like Paulie Bleeker\n\nReview: The first time I ever saw a product like this was in the movie \"Juno\". Paulie put something on his legs that looked like deodorant. What it turned out to be was something similar to this product. When it popped up in my Vine account, I was excited to try it.\n\nSo on the last few runs, I liberally applied this product to the sides of my legs. My running shorts tend to \"ride up with wear\" (yes, that's an 'Are You Being Served' references for us fans out there!) and I'm always yanking them down. However, on my last set of runs, that wasn't an issue after using this product. It is odorless and easy to use.\n\nConsider me a fan of this too.","Product: This tenderly romantic film tells the story of Steve, a young man in a British prep school, as he struggles with coming out and falling in love with the class jock, John... who, amazingly, falls in love with him as well.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Get \"Get Real\" - NOW!\n\nReview: \"Get Real\" is an impressive, quiet film about the angst of adolescence and the pain and pride of being gay. Rarely does a film capture essences and moments of perfection; this brilliant flick is jeweled with them. The performances are outstanding from everyone involved, especially a tour de force job from Ben Silverstone as the outwardly, inwardly gay lead character. Banished from this English production are the sadly hallmarks of most gay films today: drag queens, bar life, and drugs. Inside is a wonderfully told quiet story ready to reach for your heart in less than five minutes.\nI rarely buy films without seeing them first, but this one came highly recommended. I can honestly say I got every cent of my money's worth!","Product: When a would-be psychologist, curiously named Dr. Mumford, comes to town, the quirkiest citizens scramble for a seat on his couch. As he lightens hearts darkened by old secrets, no one realizes he's hiding his own.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Why can't we all be Mumford?\n\nReview: In the absolutely charming and touching film \"Mumford\", Lawrence Kasdan manages to do something uncommon in most films today. He creates a troupe of characters which are complex, dynamic, and full. In today's mainstream slop, where chatacters sometimes rate third underneath facades of plots and special effects, it was so nice to sit back, relax, and get to know the inhabitants of Mumford.\nThe story itself is never out of control or totally unbelievable. That's because you fall in love with the town and its inhabitants almost from the start. Mumford becomes the community we all want to live in, and not because its a quiet little town, but the people that make up that town. You are drawn in to Mumford's reality, and even in the town's imperfections, you find the happiness that undercurrents everything. Quite amazing feeling tone for a film to create.\nLoren Dean pulls off his role as the town's new psychologist with such ease and grace, you yourself wish you could be on his couch. Hope Davis is aboslutely radiant as well, complementing but never outshining her counterpart. A favorite and underappreciated actress of mine, Alfre Woodard, shine and glows in her small but pivotal role.\nI highly recommend Mumford. I watched it on DVD and longed for the usual treats that DVD brings, but no director's commentary and very few extra features here. Still, rent or buy Mumford today!","Product: Pixar genius reigns in this funny romantic comedy, which stars a robot who says absolutely nothing for a full 25 minutes yet somehow completely transfixes and endears himself to the audience within the first few minutes of the film. As the last robot left on earth, Wall-E (voiced by Ben Burtt) is one small robot--with a big, big heart--who holds the future of earth and mankind squarely in the palm of his metal hand. He's outlasted all the \"Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class\" robots that were assigned some 700 years ago to clean up the environmental mess that man made of earth while man vacationed aboard the luxury spaceship Axiom. Wall-E has dutifully gone about his job compacting trash, the extreme solitude broken only by his pet cockroach, but he's developed some oddly human habits and ideas. When the Axiom sends its regularly scheduled robotic EVE probe (Elissa Knight) to earth, Wall-E is instantly smitten and proceeds to try to impress EVE with his collection of human memorabilia. EVE's directive compels her to bring Wall-E's newly collected plant sprout to the captain of the Axiom and Wall-E follows in hot pursuit. Suddenly, the human world is turned upside down and the Captain (Jeff Garlin) joins forces with Wall-E and a cast of other misfit robots to lead the now lethargic people back home to earth. Wall-E is a great family film with the most impressive aspect being the depth of emotion conveyed by a simple robot--a machine typically considered devoid of emotion, but made so absolutely touching by the magic of Pixar animation. Also well-worth admiring are the sweeping views from space, the creative yet disturbing vision of what strange luxuries a future space vacation might offer, and the innovative use of trash in a future cityscape. Underneath the slapstick comedy and touching love story is a poignant message about the folly of human greed and its potential effects on earth and the entire human race.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A vision of post- apocalyptic love\n\nReview: Pixar can do so many things, and do them so well. They can take children's toys and bring them to magical life. They can take a fish with a gimpy fin and make him a superhero. They can take a souped up automobile and make him take the easy road. And they can take a mouse and make him the top chef. How they ever managed to take two machines, one which is a glorified garbageman, and make them fall in love is simply beyond me. They are the true magic makers of our time, and paired with Disney, they are in the business of making a series of movies that, 50 years from now, will be considered classics.\n\nWall-E spins the tale of a plucky, musical loving robot whose only job in this world, literally, is to rake up garbage and make them into little square boxes. Spending his days doing that, Wall-E works until sunset when he gets to go home, remove his treads, and watch a little Hello, Dolly. That is, until he meets another robot, a svelte white examination robot named Eve. She's there on a mission, which unfolds very delicately, allowing time for the scared and timid Wall-E to approach her and try to woo her with his life.\n\nWhat follows absolutely blew my mind, both in it's complexity of messages and its shear entertainment value. Wall-E takes us into a future that may seem ridiculous on the screen, but you question, after only watching for a few minutes, how close we are to seeing that future here on Earth. I won't write any spoilers here, but as you laugh at some of the funny sights you see halfway through this remarkable film, you also are half-wondering at what point will this be us ... and is it already?\n\nThe brilliance of the animation is a sight to behold. Pixar grows with every picture it makes, and Wall-E is a technical achievement of the highest order. The attention to detail is phenomenal, and literally awe-inspiring. As Wall-E shovels piles of trash around, the dirt and dust and filth look real. In fact, that is the beautiful irony of this film. In a movie about robots, we find some essence of what it is to be human, what makes us tick, and what makes our planet more real than we know. We should be better people to heed the message of Wall-E, and learn from it.\n\nI highly recommend taking everyone in your family to see this film. It's the cinematic event of the summer.","Product: Julio and Tenoch are two teens ruled by raging hormonesand a mission to consume exotic substances. But one summer, the boys learn more about life than they bargain for when they set off on a wild, cross-country road trip with seductive, 28-year-old Luisa. Both boys taste forbidden fruit as Luisa schools them in the finer points of passion, but will their mutual desire for her destroy their friendship forever?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: It's so much more....\n\nReview: There is a moment in \"Y Tu Mama Tambien\" where the film arcs from being merely great to classic. It's a scene towards the end of the film, when the three prinicpal characters let loose in a beachside bar with copious amounts of alcohol. Luisa, leaving the raunchy conversation, slides over to a jukebox, selects a song, and then turns to look directly into the camera. She stares momentarily, and the begins an enticing dance, beckoning us into the story, her story, their story. Suddenly, everything transcends the real, and we, the audience, become one with the film. For me, that will be a cinematic moment never to forget.\nAs I will never forget \"Y Tu Mama Tambien\". Part teenage sex comedy, part slice of life, part wonderful delve into the deeper sides of life, somehow it all melds into one amazing film. We first meet two late teen boys, Julio and Tenoch, who come from two different worlds, who manage to forge a complex friendship. They are crass, disgusting, drug abusing boys who are so full of themselves, so full of life, you fall in love with them immediately.\nTogether they schmooze the innocent Luisa, who, after discovering her husband had an affair while away, decides to take the boys up on their offer of a trip to an ocean. The three of them have a road trip of a lifetime, full of revelation, self-disclosure and real human moments. The film soon becomes more, so much more than a sex romp through the Mexican countryside, but slices of life that only this film has presented. It is bold, and real.\nBold and real, which may scare people away. The unrated version, which showed across the country, is the masterpiece which you should see. For once, theaters dared to carry an unrated film, and thus prove that the American public is willing to see movies that aren't cowtowed to a rating system that's marginally effective for parents trying to make judgments for their families, but the rest of adult American completely ignores. The fact that this film did so well, and is critically a sucecss, should bode well for the entertainment industry.\nThat issue aside, this film is life, and its real. If seeing life in all of its raw and uncensored moments bothers you, I suggest moving along and skipping this film. However, if you want to see a film I know is the best film of 2002, then check out Y Tu Mama. It's tagline gives us some more mental food to chew on:\n\"Life has its ways to teach us. Life has its ways to confuse us. Life has its ways to change us. Life has its ways to astonish us. Life has its ways to hurt us. Life has its ways to cure us. Life has its ways to inspire us.\"\nThanks for inspring us with \"Y Tu Mama Tambien\".","Product: Academy Award(R)-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, Best Actress, 1998; SHALLOW HAL) stars in this hilarious comedy hit about a small-town girl who's about to get a taste of the big-time world! No one thought Donna (Paltrow) would go very far. But when she sets her sights on becoming a first-class international flight attendant, Donna throws caution to the wind and takes off in pursuit of her dream! The ride is anything but smooth, however, and Donna's laugh-packed journey of a lifetime is rocked by more turbulence than she bargained for! Also starring Christina Applegate (TV's MARRIED WITH CHILDREN), Rob Lowe (AUSTIN POWERS Trilogy, TOMMY BOY), Kelly Preston (WHAT A GIRL WANTS, JERRY MAGUIRE), and Candice Bergen (SWEET HOME ALAMBAMA, MISS CONGENIALITY), this charmingly funny treat will send your spirits soaring!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Shhh, don't tell anyone\n\nReview: I read a review of this movie when it came to the theaters that just completely tore it apart from oepning frame to closing. Thus, I avoided seeing it for all of the right reasons. However, the genre of film is one of my boyfriend's favorites, and as a favor to him, rented this little movie for a quick Saturday afternoon's entertainment. What I found was a quirky, fun, funny movie that, if you don't take it all too seriously, you can seriously warm to.\nGwyneth Paltrow plays Donna, a girl with stars and the skies in her eyes. Donna longs for a better life than her small town girlhood in Silver Springs. Hooking up with a small commuter airline, Donna starts her career in the air. In one short but pivotal scene, she is dissed by a trio of snooty flight atttendants, which fires her upward. Soon, she moves up to a major airlines, but first, has to endure the training process, run by the ever funny Mike Meyers.\nComplication besets complication, but no worries, this is a film whose plot is secondary to the likabillity of its characters. You know about the ending, but the time spent with these people is entertaining. Turning in great performances is the hugely underused Kelly Preston, Christina Applegate as a ditsy coworker, wonderful Candice Bergan as a flight attendant extraordinaire, and the lovable Mark Ruffalo, playing a has-it-together guy, finally.\nMuch disdain has been heaped on this movie, perhaps by people intending to take it much more seriously than was its intention. Citizen Kane its not, but a lighthearted time spent in the skies. As we follow Donna on her journey of self-revelation, we root for her and all of her friends as well. So sit back, make sure your tray table is locked, and this time, you don't have to locate your nearest exits, with a View from the Top.","Product: After ten years of being away from home, a young man returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral. A young woman from his past helps him to reconnect with his family and his roots.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: State of Being Perfect in the Garden State\n\nReview: Who knew within the confines of Zach Braff's mind rested such a beautiful, moving script as Garden State. And who knew he had within him the directing skills to pull off such a powerfully quiet performance and movie. Garden State takes off with a vision of quirkiness, and lands nearly perfectly on its two feet at the end.\n\nBraff, who wrote, directed, and starred in this movie, plays Andrew Largeman, a one time California actor who's forced to return to his childhood home after the untimely death of his mother. Landing in New Jersey, zombie-like Largeman is placed in the middle of his many issues, having at once to begin to deal with them. In the mix, Natalie Portman plays Samantha, a seemingly bizarre girl who's the most refreshing wind in Largeman's stale life. They meet, and a fairly predictable story ensues.\n\nHowever, the beauty of this script lies not in the story, but the quiet craziness that Braff inhabits in the movie. Nearly every scene revels in something bizarre, be it a shirt that matches wallpaper, or Samantha's hamster-loving house. Never once is this quirkiness exploited, but unfolds as naturally as Braff's performance as Largeman. You can trust Braff's unpredictability throughout the movie, because it's rich and gentle at the same time. There are too many moments in this film that are memorable, and visually stunning.\n\nIt's only the ending of the film, which I shall not reveal, that somewhat betrays the rest of the tone of the film. Sure I was pleased with it, but it all in all felt somewhat false and forced on us. Many people I'm sure love the ending, but I wasn't convinced with it. That being said, it wasn't enough to ruin any part of the rest of this film.\n\nIf this is the world that Braff inhabits in his imagination, the world is in store for more beauty from him in the near future. In the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy spending time with the oddness of New Jersey in Garden State.","Product: Mistaken identity carried to lovely, ludicrous extremes. This crisp adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic comedy stars Colin Firth (The Turn of the Screw) as an English dandy who pretends to be his own brother, Earnest. Enter his best friend, played by Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding), who's also being Earnest for effect. Embellish the elegant country estate with two saucy—not to mention confused—young ladies and Dame Judi Dench as formidable Lady Bracknell. The results: a fluffy soufflé of wit and Wildean wisdom. 1-1/2 hours.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Brilliant Adapation of a Brilliant Play\n\nReview: Imagine the challenge of tackling adapting a near perfect play for the screen, one known and adored across the world as the pinnacle of comedy. Oliver Parker undertook such a challenge in making \"The Importance of Being Earnest\" into cinematic fare, and the end result is, a new view of brilliance!\n\nStarring Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Dame Judi Dench, and Reese Witherspoon, Earnest spins the tale of comical deceit of two friends, Jack and Algernon. Each conspire through the film to woo girls of their choosing by nearly any means possible. The end result is reminiscient of some of Shakespeare's best comedies, one of implausibilities that are so absurb that you believe them all of the more. Perhaps Wilde, in his genuis of paradox, intended for that to happen all along.\n\nParker's adaptation of the play is brilliant in its own right. Taking much from the source text, and translating it to a visual medium, such as film, must have been quite daunting. Parker succeeded quite well, creating a film that doesn't ever work to subsume the originial, but complement it in its own unique way. I think perhaps that Wilde would love this adaptation himself!\n\nThe acting in this film is superb. First, how can anyone go wrong with Firth, Everett, Witherspoon, and the incomperable Dench, who seethes with her role with an intensity that only she can muster. They handle the comedy with aplomb and naturalness; it sparkles delightful. Reese Witherspoon pulls off her English accent quite well, playing Cicely as young and delightful as she is.\n\nAnother aspect of this film that is remarkable is the soundtrack. Normally, a soundtrack blends in to accompany the larger piece. In this movie, the soundtrack stands out as a wild, fun accourement to the film. I quite enjoyed the jazzy feel to it, and the scene where Algy and Jack serenade the girls is so bubbly fun that it inspires intense hilarity. I just purchased the soundtrack and look forward it its many hours playing on my computer.\n\nThe Importance of Being Earnest may be a forgotten gem, but once you unearth it, it sparkles like nothing you've seen on your screen in months. I highly recommend you purchasing this movie for your collection, and you may surprise yourself upon how much you actually watch this jewel yourself!","Product: A young wife (Aniston) gets bored with her marriage and life and falls into an iliicit affair with a teenage stock boy (Gyllenhaal) at the discount store where they both work.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: A Good Girl in a Mediocre Movie\n\nReview: Jennifer Aniston, rapidly becoming one of America's darlings of the cinema, makes a great performance in a movie that simply doesn't add up to much.\nShe plays Justine, a girl who's life has become an unbearable trap, from a dead-end job at Retail Rodeo, and a marriage that is dysfunctional at best. Offering a ticket out of this despair is Holden, a young 22 year old confused stallion recently employed at the Retail Rodeo. Through an ill-thought out affair, Justine begins to experience a possible glimpse of the \"other side\".\nHowever, much of what happens in this movie is ill-thought out. Jennifer's dead-end marriage to wonderful character actor John C. Reilly is unexplained; there is no obvioius attraction between the two and much of the movie was spent wondering why they were together. While it helps to propel the reason for the affair, it still doesn't help resolve issues at the end of the movie. The plot is ill-thought out, meandering through event after event, as we watch Justine react to one thing and another. A boring life doesn't not a good movie make.\nWhile the \"Good Girl\" had some good intentions, the end result isn't very.","Product: Many movies strive to capture the confused, yearning spirit of The Graduate or The Catcher in the Rye; Igby Goes Down succeeds. Igby (Kieran Culkin) is a teen struggling to find any purpose or meaning to his life; surrounding him are his tyrant mother Mimi (Susan Sarandon), schizophrenic father Jason (Bill Pullman), wealthy and deceitful godfather D.H. (Jeff Goldblum), and cold brother Oliver (Ryan Phillippe)--all of whom have their own problems. While evading being sent to yet another boarding school, Igby seeks solace with two women: Rachel (Amanda Peet), a drug-addicted dancer who's D.H.'s mistress, and Sookie (Claire Danes), a college student who becomes perhaps his only friend. Culkin carries the film, ably supported by the superb cast; script, direction, and performances are razor sharp. Igby Goes Down doesn't let anyone--including Igby--off the hook for their cruelty, hypocrisy, or lack of empathy. --Bret Fetzer\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Directionless Spoiled Rich Kid, Redux\n\nReview: \"Igby Goes Down\", in the tradition of many \"teenage boy coming of age\" movie, bearing fair comparison to \"The Graduate\" and \"Catcher in the Rye\", with moments of the blackest comedy thrown in. It is an enjoyable film, mainly for the sharpness of the performances, as well as an equally sharp script that leaves no stone unturned, nor protects anyone.\nIt's the story of \"Igby\", so aptly nicknamed, as you will discover, whom cannot seem to get his feet firmly planted in his life. Yes, we've seen this story a thousand times, and a thousand times more. He wanders through his life, questioning everything, and everyone, under the sun; his pill-popping mother, distant brother, suspicious godfather and his trampy girlfriend, and even an odd love interest who is bitter yet reachable.\nFearing falling into the cliche trap, the script bops all over the place, making for some wonderfully surprising moments. Gore Vidal as a priest! Cynthia Nixon as a [substance] abusing former teacher! Were it not so believable, you'd be spending time waiting for the next celeb cameo. However, the strength of the writing is absurdly clear, both realistic and character illuminating.\nSecondly, the performances stun and wonder. Kieran Culkin carries the film, making his angst believable but not overdramatic. Susan Sarandon can do no wrong, and makes the mother believable but not overdramatic. Ryan Phillipe irritates appropriately, Amanda Peet flutters through the film, and Claire Danes shines. Hook a film with a strong script and performances and you have a winner.\nMy only worries: we've seen the angst-ridden teenager before. It seems the beginning of the film flounders a bit as Igby flounders. It was distracting, but perhaps purposefully so. I found myself fighting to get into the movie, to even care about Igby, which I so wanted to do. He eventually comes around, and you do care, but it was like climbing walls.\nCheers to the filmmaker for this gutsy script, and cheers to Igby, hopefully by the end of the film, finding himself amongst the angst.","Product: An irreverent look at how a fertile imagination and 21st century technology can turn the most unlikely business into and exciting--and profitable--undertaking. The Young and The Dead tells the story of how the Hollywood Memorial Cemetary became Hollywood Forever. A metamorphosis from decrepit burial ground to a modern, interactive, state-of-the-art facility, with touch-screen kiosks and a gift shop complete with souvenirs. And how a cemetary became, according to LA magazine, one of the sexiest places in LA!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Life in Death\n\nReview: \"The Young and the Dead\", part of the HBO series \"america undercover\", shows a twist to a side of life all of us have yet to deal with. Very reminiscent of the quirky \"Six Feet Under\" which would follow a year or so after,\nOnce in disrepair, forgotten, and ready for the scrap heap, Hollywood Memorial Park gets a wonderful chance at life again with the resurrection powers of Tyler Cassity, wunderkind of the funeral business. Bringing on a team of visionaries, they not only save the cemetery, but create new ways for loved ones to remember their dearly departed.\nYou get from watching this DVD the sense of honor and pride that the staff at the cemetery has at their missions in life. It honors the history of the place, while helping to bring it into the twenty-first century. Featuring people's stories brings to life the video, especially the internment of Hattie McDaniel,who was denied a spot their fifty years ago because of the color of her skin.\nI wouldn't recommend purchasing this DVD. It wouldn't be something I'd watch again and again. But I would recommend a viewing of this simple, kind documentary.","Product: A group of gay friends (men & women) lives out their day-to-day lives in Pittsburgh, PA. A groundbreaking series set in a work-a-day blue-collar world. Queer as Folk is the first TV drama that treats gay people simply as real people. This TV series continues to be hailed by critics around the country as astonishingly frank, refreshing, wonderful, bitterly witty, and \"Must-See TV.\"\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Season Three - Both Brilliant and Mundane\n\nReview: A long time QAF fan, who is not priviledged enough to have premium channels, eagerly await the release of the latest season on DVD to find out what happens with some of the most cutting edge characters on television. It's hard to not find out tidbits of that season's developments, from reading messages boards to friend's gossip. Finally, after viewing all episodes of season three, I must admit to be both stunned and somewhat disappointed in this season.\nFirst, the disappointments. Without going into specifics, season three starts out very strong with the amazing ending of season two, yet the promises made at the end weren't necessarily fulfilled in this season. There is somewhat of a let down with two major stories, and another one, involving Ben and Michael, that seemed very out of place with the series.\nAlso, both season one and two had \"big episodes\" where everything seemed to soar above the series, for example Michael's birthday party, season two's wedding and Rage party. Season three offered nothing of that caliber, which was sorely missed.\nBut, that is also part of the brilliance of season three. First, the direction of the episodes is nothing short of brilliant. I suppose you aren't supposed to notice the directing if you are involved with the story, but I simply couldn't resist seeing these episodes as mini-movies. The direction is cutting edge and astounding. Each episode seemed tailored to match the directing with the plot, and the effect mesmerized me.\nBased on the plot of the story, many of the actors soared in their performances too. Scott Lowell as Ted should be recongized ans awarded for his amazing turn as Ted's decends into darkness this season. It wasn't easy to watch, but Lowell nailed it. His compatriot, Peter Paige plays Emmett both with strength and compassion, giving his character a new and much needed edge than we've ever seen before. And add new character \"Hunter\", newcomer Harris Allen gives an edge to the show, who is extremely convincing.\nIn watching this season, I was mixed on my feelings about it, up until the amazing final episode where it finally seems that the gang on Liberty Avenue seems to be back. I suggest giving season three a chance, watch it, let the great directing and acting wash over you, and spend some time with some amazing characters played by equally amazing actors.","Product: The 16th president and his wife are portrayed from their first days in Washington to 1865.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Backstairs in the Lincoln's White House\n\nReview: Much of Abraham Lincoln's life has been accounted for and reaccounted for a thousand times over. The facts play around in our minds, much without emotional anchors to hold them down. Prolific and outspoken writer Gore vidal penned a \"fictional\" account of Lincoln in his marvelous book, which a few years later, adapted into a made-for-TV movie. The result, then as now, is an intriguing insights into the personality of the Lincoln family.\n\nThe movie starts with Lincoln slinking into Washington DC, for fear of a secessionist uprising in Balitmore, under disguise, for which he was much aligned. Constrasted with Mary's arrival, with hoopla and a thousand suitcases, shows the underlying dichotomy in the famous first couple. Jumping from historical event to historical event, the drama digs a bit deeper into the effects of the events on the family. By the time you've finished the movie, you felt like you've not only have a deeper understanding of the Civil War, but of the Lincolns as well.\n\nSam Waterson nails, absolutely nails, Lincoln. We see all sides of him. It must have been a daunting role to play. We have solely deified Lincoln, almost erasing his humanity. Waterson brings it back in full force, with all the humor and sadness needed. At first, hearing that Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Todd Lincoln seems like a joke. Who would ever thought that Mary Richards could play someone Hay and Nicolette called \"Hell Cat?\". But she does. Her decent into madness at the death of Willie is heartbreaking. Richard Mulligan's performance as Sweard is canny, and the ever stalwart Ruby Dee plays Mary Lincoln's dressmaker Mrs. Keckley with all of the sassiness and care required.\n\nI rated this movie four stars, not for content or for acting, but for the DVD transfer. It's simply on the verge of being terrible. The picture quality lacks any quality at all. It appears fuzzy and smoky on my screen quite a bit. As for any special features, forget it. This wasn't ever enough to detract from my enjoyment in watching the show, but this DVD looks like a hack job for sure.\n\nHowever, Gore Vidal's Lincoln deserves a place in my video library as an interesting examination of a well-known time; well-acted, and tells a great story. I recommend this to anyone wanting an insider's look of a fascinating man and family.","Product: PAL/Region 0. Double-disc German edition of the film known as 'Downfall' in the US. It's the last days of Adolf Hitler, April 1945, and Hitler's personal secretary Traudl Junge finds herself in the Der Fuhrer's bunker. Facing inevitable defeat, Hilter's moods range from defiance to fight or flee, remain loyal or opt for self-preservation. Eva Braun parties while Magda Goebbels kills her children. The movie goes on to show how Hitler and Eva lived their last hours in the Bunker.Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. Written by Bernd Eichinger. Based on the book Inside Hitler's Bunker by Joachim Fest; and the book Bis zur letzten Stunde by Traudl Junge and Melissa Muller. In German, with English subtitles. Running time: 155 minutes. Includes a bonus DVD with nearly 3 hours of extras! No US DVD release until late 2005 * Please note you will need an All Code DVD player to view. Full Specs; DISC ONE, The movie (theatrical version), DISC TWO, Audio description in German Hitler's Last Days -documentary (58 mins), Making of 'The Downfall -featurette (50 mins), Melissa Mller (author of the book 'Bis zur letzten Stunde') speaks about Traudl Junge (9 mins), 'The bunker' - A virtual tour, Interviews with: - Bruno Ganz, - Alexandra Maria Lara, - Corinna Harfouch, - Ullirch Matthes, - Julianne Khler, - Heino Ferch, - Bernd Eichinger (producer), - Joachim Fest (writer), - Oliver Hirschbiegel (director), Cast and crew biographies, Biographies of the historic figures, Subtitles: English and German HoH, Picture format: 1.78:1 Anamorphic PAL ,Soundtrack(s): German DTS 5.1 , German Dolby Digital 5.1 Case type: 2-Disc Digi-Pack Notes: Packaged in a slipcase.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A True Horror Film\n\nReview: In 1945, the remnants of the Third Reich were in the final hours of its death. The Russians were pounding Berlin from the land and air, as the once strong German Army scrambled to avoid annihilation. Adolph Hitler retreats into the confines of a bunker to spend his last few days with his mistress, generals, soldiers, fellow cabinent members and their families, and one Traudl Junge, his personal secretary. What follows is a fascinating, and what I consider to be a true horror story, about insanity, desparation, and the end result of hatred.\n\nThis movie is based on the works of two books, one of them authored by Traudl Junge, which gives this film an air of authenticity and realism that is haunting. Junge spoke as a witness to these events, and in fact, the real Junge bookends the film. Chosen out of five women to be Hitler's personal secretary, she was thrilled to be employed by the Furher, and worked very closely with him, even going so far as to enter the bunker with him and refusing to leave. Junge is never in conflict during the film about her role in the Nazi regime, nor ever questions anyone about the possible horrors that would surface; she claimed innocence. With the Russians pounding Berlin with artilery, and Hitler descending into insanity (ordering armies around that don't exist and talking about a great comeback), Junge realizes all is lost, and her decision is when to save herself.\n\nThe tour de force performance in this film is Bruno Ganz, who plays Hitler with such realism that you cannot believe this is an actor. He captures Hitler when he is screaming at his generals is that is lifted right out of old films of Hitler speaking at large Nazi rallies, and captures a different man when dealing with people close to him. It's his realism that is eerie; definitely a complex man so successful portrayed.\n\nThe other horrifying element in this film occurs later on, with Josef Goebbel's wife Magda's poisoning of her five children in the bunker after Hitler's suicide. After making her children drink a sleeping substance, she methodically and ruthlessly kills all of her children by making them bite glass capsules of poison. The scene was so amazingly powerful that I wanted to weep yet no tears came. It became an incredible image for the heartlessness of a regime so bent on perfection and courage, in a final act of desparation and weakness.\n\nAnd don't worry: there is nothing in this film that attempts to glorify Hitler, or make him out to be anything that he wasn't. Even in moments that he treats Junge with compassion, the six million people he murdered are never far out of your mind. In fact, when his beloved dog Blondi is killed in the bunker, and Hitler tears up, you wonder how a man could feel so badly for a pet when he ordered the deaths of so many others. His wedding to Eva Braun is not touching or romantic, but a mere formality. It's amazing, to say the least, to watch someone unfold to frightening effects.\n\nJunge went on to escape the bunker, and into a life of hiding, until coming out publicly about her role before her death in 2002. A documentary film was made about her life, in which she was interviewed about what she witnessed. I found Downfall to be the better movie, more thrilling, and ultimately more terrifying, than the documentary. I highly recommend Downfall.","Product: Partnered with a hard-line officer Tony Stone (Academy AwardA Nominee Woody Harrelson), Ben Foster (3: 10 to Yuma) plays a battle-scarred war hero home from Iraq and newly assigned to the Armyas Casualty Notification service. He faces this formidable mission while seeking comfort and healing back on the home front when he falls for the wife of a fallen soldier (2-Time Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Small Heartbreak of a Film\n\nReview: War films usually concentrate on the exploits of the war hero, charging into battle, guns ablaze, mowing down enemies without so much as a care in the world, and come out with nary a band-aid on their forehead. Occasionally, the best friend dies, in order to get the hero back on track and advance the plot. One never thinks of the people at home, waiting for the best friend to return. And one certainly never thinks of the people who have to notify those loved ones. This film centers on two such soldiers, who live to bring news and grief, as they deal with their own grief, in this quiet film \"The Messenger\".\n\nWoody Harrelson turns in another award worthy performance as Captain Tony Stone, who teams up with just out of combat Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) to deliver news of combat deaths. Foster is dealing with an severe eye injury and an injury of the soul as he learns the details of this terrible job. On the heels of an unrequited love, Montgomery struggles with the tenets of the job as the two become a harbinger of death to those they meet. One particular widow strikes Mongomery's fancy, Olivia, who deals with the death of her husband as well as the growing attraction to the soldier who told her of it. The dichotomy between the two is delicious.\n\nYet, the film rests squarely on the shoulders of Harrelson and Foster, and together, the two make an intimidating and formidable pair. When either is alone, the film loses a bit of its luster, and you long for the two anti-heroes to come back together again. Kudos must be given to all of the actors who performed those loved ones receiving the news. There isn't a dishonest one in the bunch, starting with a small cameo by Steve Buscemi as an angry, irate father.\n\nThis isn't an easy film to watch. War isn't ever easy, and so it follows that the aftermath of it is even less so. This film celebrates all of that messiness, and honor, and valor, and realism with a honesty that is not often seen in movies now.","Product: A gritty, life-affirming tale of an abused African-American teenager's struggle to change her life in 1980s Harlem. 16-year-old Clareece 'Precious' Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) has been abused from an early age by her now absent father, and is pregnant with his second child. With a venomous mother Mary (Mo'Nique) who treats her like a servant and her school life blighted by her illiteracy, Precious struggles to cope with her seemingly hopeless life. But the offer of a place in an alternative school and the nurturing of literacy teacher Ms. Rain (Paula Patton) soon begin to transform the teenager, offering her a path to a brighter future. Mo'Nique won the Best Supporting Actress awards at both the 2010 BAFTAs and the Academy Awards for her portrayal of Mary.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Science of Emerging\n\nReview: On the cover of the Blu-Ray disc, it shows a heavy, African-American girl walking, and behind her, the hint of a butterfly just starting to come into focus. No image sums up this moving, challenging film better, for as you watch it, you are seeing a person go from larva to stunning butterfly over the course of two hard, painful, and ultimately, joyfilled hours.\n\nPrecious, based o the novel \"Push\" by Sapphire, is the story of a forgotten segment of our society, a young, inner-city black girl, living a life of hell. Sexually abused by her father, physically and emotionally abused by her mother, Precious finds the strength to get up from her bed and face her bleak life, mostly by a fiery imagination. When she is discovered to be pregnant for a second time, Precious is expelled from her school and is offered a spot in an alternative school. The teacher at the school, Ms. Rain, does something amazing: she sees Precious. That act alone begins to crack the protective cocoon that Precious has built around herself to survive.\n\nNot enough can be said about Gabourey Sidibe, who takes Precious, fully realizes her, and makes her soar. Also equally as stunning is the comedian Mo'Nique, who portrays the mother with such intensity that her performance leaps off the screen and grabs you by the throat. There were scene between these two actresses that literally left me gasping for air, I was holding my breath for so long.\n\nAs Precious begins to find herself, begins to find who she is, she also discovers her place in life, and her strength. Towards the end of the movie, Precious reflects on this strength, and says, about her teacher:\n\n\"Some folks got a light around them that shine for other peoples. I think maybe some of them was in a long tunnel before. And in that tunnel, maybe the only light they had was one that was inside of them and then -even long after they escaped that tunnel, they still be shining for everybody else.\"\n\nPrecious could also be talking about herself.\n\nLee Daniels has given us a gift. It's not an easy gift to watch. It's not an easy story to tell. But it's real. As she emerges from her cocoon, we see Precious' face for the first time, with glimmers of hope, glimmers of optimism, glimmers of tomorrow. She is finding her wings, she is learning to fly.\n\nEvery child in America should have that hope.","Product: With this astonishing concert film, audiences who missed this off-Broadway smash can get to see the supremely talented David Drake in his captivating one-man show. This semi-autobiographical performance piece contains several poignant stories about growing up gay in the '90s. From his brilliant opening monologue describing the impact playwright Larry Kramer's \"The Normal Heart\" had on him to his amusing riff on \"Why I Go to the Gym,\" Drake give a fierce, full-bodied multi-character performance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Thousand Nights of Enjoyment...\n\nReview: ...for this amazing artist piece of wonder, written and acted by the amazing star himself, David Drake.\nI'd heard about this performance piece for years, but never had the pleasure of seeing it until it's recent release on DVD. Drake plays a multitude of gay characters through the show, from an innocent child, to lovestruck teenager, to a happy half of a couple in an long term relationship. The dexterity to which he switches roles at a moment's notice is startling and honest. He plays the range of characters, not only to make a statement, but to also include us in the piece as well. Drake is at his finest in this piece, and thankfully, forever captured on this DVD.\nThe piece itself builds from the development of a gay man around his birthdays, to the end, which paints a lovely, if not fantastical, vision of the future. Steeped in history, honoring those who have fallen before us in the great early-ignored plague of the 80's and 90's, introspective, we see roots, and we see the wings of probably one of the most important times in our history. Such things shall not be forgotten. If anything good will come out of the turmoils we suffered and continue to suffer, it's quite possibly the wonderful quality of art that it has inspired us to produce. This DVD testifies to that.\nA must have for any DVD collector, I highly recommend this artsy, gutsy, wonderful piece of writing and acting for your collection. You'll watch it again and again.","Product: collection of songs sung by Judy Garland, Mel Torme, Jack Jones, Liza Minelli and others\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Judy at her best\n\nReview: The Judy Garland Show was a television staple in the early 1960's, featuring one of America's foremost talents in the singing biz. Able to garner some fabulous stars via hr celebrity icon status, Judy's shows were a potpourri of old and the new, the standards and the innovative, merging together for one enjoyable ride. This is clearly evident in her \"The Christmas Show\" episode from the series, released on DVD.\n\nGuest stars of Jack Jones and Mel Torme spotlight the various numbers that inhabit this 50 minute special of song and dance. Jack's number with Judy and Liza is priceless, even though it was clearly evident he was looking at cue cards constantly. Mel's rendition of his song with Judy \"The Christmas Song\", is quite touching, with Judy making a small error in the lyrics and Mel playfully pointing it out. Great television!\n\nLisa's \"Steam Heat\" dance number still rocks the house, with her partner \"and beau\" Tracy Everitt, and her pairing with her mother made for a terrific combo whenever the two sang together. Judy's youngest kids, Lorna and Joey, each get their own spotlight as well, although Joey's life as a singer was clearly at odds with his somewhat painful rendition of \"Where is Love?\". God bless him for trying that song as a seven year old!\n\nHowever, it's Judy that steals her own show. Every time the camera land on her, she a delight to watch. Equally at ease singing a solo, or handing the scene over to another performer, Judy's joy of music is evident. Just watch her as her kids sing, or as Mel or Jacks sings; she's positively, genuinely radiant. Which is even more of a feat considering the country was reeling from the assassination of JFK just a week before.\n\nJudy's Christmas special is one that I'll watch every season, once, twice, and even three times. We all miss Judy, but we can have a little piece of her, in our living rooms, every holiday season.","Product: Michael Cunningham was raised in Los Angeles and now lives in New York. His first novel 'A Home at the End of the World' was published in 1990, and his second 'Flesh and Blood' in 1995. 'The Hours' was awarded both the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 1999 PEN/Faulkner Award.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A masterpiece of the highest order\n\nReview: After eavesdropping on a conversation in a bookstore (sneaky, I know, but one way to learn about gifted talent!)I picked up Michael Cunningham's \"The Hours\" and prepared myself to be transformed. The lofty challenge was met by this stunning work of verbal artistry. Never before has a book so entirely captured me, refusing to let go; allowing me to wander through the words as if tasting a fine wine or a rich banquet prepared for my convienience. Michael Cunningham has produced a complex, thoroughly wonderful narrative that challenges the formulaic writing so prevalient today. His gift to literature shall never be, as Clarissa fears about Richard's poetry, forgotten, but a benchmark of the highest order for any author to aspire to meet. \"The Hours\" is a gift to the world, and any reader destined to cross its path.","Product: The hauntingly prophetic classic novel set in a not-too-distant future where books are burned by a special task force of firemen. Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Even so, Montag is unhappy; there is discord in his marriage. Are books hidden in his house? The Mechanical Hound of the Fire Department, armed with a lethal hypodermic, escorted by helicopters, is ready to track down those dissidents who defy society to preserve and read books. The classic novel of a post-literate future, 'Fahrenheit 451' stands alongside Orwell's '1984' and Huxley's 'Brave New World' as a prophetic account of Western civilization's enslavement by the media, drugs and conformity. Bradbury's powerful and poetic prose combines with uncanny insight into the potential of technology to create a novel which over fifty years from first publication, still has the power to dazzle and shock.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Threat of Free Thought\n\nReview: A time honored classic, once a scary prophetic vision, and quite possibly, now a reality. Ray Bradbury's futuristic thriller, \"Fahrenheit 451\" reads as both analogy and warning, and a dire one at that.\nThis book has been on my \"let's read it in the near future\" list for some time. But it wasn't until the city of Portland, Oregon selected this book for their \"Everyone Reads\" campaign that I found the incentive to read it.\nThis story spins a tale in the near future where reading is considered outlaw, that books are contraband, and any attempt of thinking outside the box is handled by extinguishing the threat. Guy Montag is a fireman, but not in the common sense; he starts fires instead of putting them out. He's \"married\" to Mildred, in a passionless marriage of convenience; Mildred who prefers to spend time in front of the television and listening to the radio in her life of hopelessness. Early on, he meets the fair Clarisse who boldly suggests to him that life is much more than starting fires. It is the tipping point of his decline, as his life begins to rush closer and closer to the incinerator itself.\nWhat impressed me about this book is that it was written in the early 1950's, and yet it reads as well as a modern novel. Bradbury would refute any attempts of suggesting he was forecasting the future, but so much of what he saw the future becoming has transpired. How many hours do our children spend in front of the television? And in these times, when our libraries are being threatened to track patron's records or monitor internet use, how far away are we from Bradbury's 451?\nIt's both chilling and reflecting. As a dour warning for what might happen, we can take heed to this warning to ensure that we celebrate divergent thought and reading as a gift for our citizens and not something to fear. Whereas people would refute the claim that we would never burn books in America, why is it that this book so often has actually been banned from some libraries and schools across this country?\nWe need to listen, and learn, lest we suffer the fate of Montag and start to live in a country and world so brilliantly premonitioned in \"Fahrenheit 451\".","Product: After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: We're off to Believe in the Wizard\n\nReview: Michael Patrick Hearn really has done a grand service to the American literary world. While the book Wizard of Oz in itself will be a classic of all time, Hearn's annotations breathes life into this book like nothing else I've ever read.\nHis exhaustive, extensive research illuminates this classic, and brings us into the life of L. Frank Baum in connection with his writing of this story. I also loved the reproductions of the the original color plates from the first printing, which Baum painstakingly wanted.\nAs a true devotee of the film, and a casual devotee of the book, I now considered myself converted and find joy equally in both, due to the reading of this new classic.\nTake advantage of this low price while you can still get it!","Product: HARDBACK BOOK\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Go see the movie\n\nReview: The recently released movie \"Breach\" tells the \"inside\" story of the sting operation to capture Soviet spy Robert Hannsen. Expertly acted, wonderfully disrected, the film examines how the FBI managed to capture one of its own by planting it's own mole to work with Hannsen, and how that investigation ensued. Naturally, upon leaving the movie, my curiosity was peaked by the incident, so I purchased this book to fill in the gaps and connect the dots even more.\n\nWhat I ended up reading was a mere recount of Hannsen's life, the life of Louis Freeh, one-time FBI director, and a few e-mails and smutty stories Hannsen wrote about his wife. The book disappoints by mainly rehashing information already known, and failing to present much, if anything, of the FBI investigation that brought Hannsen down. Hannsen comes across neither interesting nor threatening, but moreso an angry employee looking to seek vengence on his employer, the US Government, by selling top secret documents to a country on the verge of falling apart.\n\nOkay, so we knew that. It took you 9/10 of the book to get to the investigation itself, and the pages that discussed it were minimal indeed. I learned more about this event from listening to an NPR story on the movie than reading this book.\n\nThe author seemingly sets up a dichotomy between Hannsen and Freeh early on in the book, but there really is no payoff to both of those stories as Freeh ends up in an incompetent mess, leaving the FBI, and working for a credit card company. It left me asking, what in the heck was he featured so prominently in this book? Probably to fill out the pages on an initially sketchy story.\n\nDon't believe the review on the back. Pass this book up, buy a ticket at your local movie theater, and spend two hours with Ryan Phillipe, Chris Cooper, and Laura Linney. THAT will be a great use of your time!","Product: Hardcover\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Man Behind the Myth\n\nReview: How many times has \"A Christmas Carol\" been portrayed in film and on television? How many spinoffs and spoofs have we seen with this deceptively simple yet compelling story of redemption and renewal? Polled today, I'm sure an amazing plurality of Americans know this story, it's characters, and its joyous resolution. But how many of us know the author behind the story, or his story, as a matter of fact? \"The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits\" is a wonderful journey into the mind and imagination of Charles Dickens, and the life events that went into making this oft-told tale.\n\nLes Standiford's book serves as a brief look into the life of Charles Dickens, who, like many of his characters, came from the grime and soot of poor England, to his unlikely rise into literary stardom in the making of some of English's most unforgettable characters. It starts with a brief look into his childhood and meteoric rise as he wrote tales of London's most overlooked citizens. Dickens, through his serial writing, realized the power of appealing to the masses in London, many of whom could easily relate to Twist and Little Nell, oh, more so than relate but identify with these hardscrabble heroes.\n\nDue to some literary missteps, and a fateful trip to America which didn't garner him much more success, Dickens travels to Manchester, England to make a speech in which his vision of society and people as a whole are articulated. Standiford's book suggests (although the connections between the two seem somewhat more coincidental than purposeful) that the speech led Dickens to produce \"A Christmas Carol\", in addition to trying to rectify his finances, which were starting to decline.\n\nStill, Standiford's recounting of Dickens's writing the novel is interesting and insightful. By the time he gets to the middle of the book, where he starts that story, he's painted a good portrait of 1800's London, and of the author himself, making it interesting and a pleasurable read all the same. You find yourself cheering for the author to succeed (although, obviously, he does), and marvel at how quickly he spins this timeless tale. Does great need and little time produce some of our best work? Standiford seems to suggest so; would Dickens disagree?\n\nI devoured this book quickly, as will anyone on your Christmas list who enjoys books about reading, literature, biography, or the simple tale of \"A Christmas Carol\". This would make a fine gift for the holiday season, and perhaps, along with an edition of the novel itself? You won't go wrong!"],"string":"[\n \"Product: Ultimate Edition is an Action Adventure game, published by Infogrames, which was released in 2002\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Big Step Forward\\n\\nReview: I was one of the reviewers who slammed the first release of the Survivor computer game. Unbelievably boring challenges, tedious camp time that just didn't go anywhere, and apparent lack of alliances, it was a major disaster that didn't warrant more than two playings. I hesitated to purchase Survivor Ultimate, thinking that it would be just a re-release of the bad with new Survivors added.\\nFortunately, this version is NOT a rehash of the first horrible game, but a big step forward in the right direction. You bascially jump from challenge to challenge, many of them truly fun and enjoyable. A couple of them I just didn't even understand, but did better in them upon repeat plays. My favorites are a tower game, a slot machine game, and a game based on minesweeper.\\nThis game totally eliminates the ineffective camp time with an opportunity to form real alliances. These aliiances only last one episode, but at least you can form them which have impilcations at Tribal Council. Both times I've played, my character's popularity plunged, and I was at fault about what to do. However, my alliances saved me at Tribal Council, and I made it to the final Tribal council, winning one and losing one. Sure the people look fakey, but you have to give some leeway for a 20 dollar computer program!\\nOverall, I imagine I'm going to play this game repeatedly, but not all the time. It certainly is leagues better than the first release. If you are a Survivor fan, or shopping for one, this may be just the gift for you. See you at Tribal Council!\\nP.S. The realty game that's really held up, even after two YEARS of playing, is \\\"The Weakest Link\\\". I still whole heartedly recommend that program. I want a new release!\",\n \"Product: In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts. The wizarding community is in denial about his recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort. The Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, appoints a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to keep watch over Dumbledore and the Hogwarts students. The young wizards are woefully unprepared to defend themselves against the dark forces threatening them, leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione to handles things themselves. Harry prepares a group of young wizards calling themselves \\\"Dumbledore's Army\\\" for the extraordinary battle that lies ahead.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Just like being at Hogwarts!\\n\\nReview: I'm a casual gamer, playing games that might interest me only, not really on the lookout for the latest and greatest. I'm also a big Harry Potter fan. In past years, I avoided the Harry Potter games merely because of some of the other movie tie-in games that I've played were basically on the intelligence level of an eight year old and rather silly indeed. But with the new book coming out this week, and the movie as well, I was sucked into purchasing this game, and have been pleasantly surprised.\\n\\nOrder of the Phoenix follows very closely the book and the movie, starting with a quick Dementor attach, to learning spells in Grimmauld Place, to quickly landing at Hogwarts. In the game, you are required to assemble the new D.A. by performing tasks, and to train the army with Defence spells. Along throughout the castle, you are asked to use your wand to repair things, clean up things, and discover many secrets hidden in the castle to earn more magical power for Harry.\\n\\nNow, as a serious, challenging game, this isn't it. I've been finding it fairly easy to complete the tasks. In some occasions which the game required magic to complete a task, I found it easier to hold the controller with one hand while operating my wand with another. It was great fun to use spells to make things fly across the room, make carpets shake, and set lights on fire. Again, not challenging, but fun.\\n\\nLet me say that the visual representation of Hogwarts is magnificent. It really is very complex, many leveled and layered. The details put into each room is just like being on the movie sets. The Grand Hall is beautiful, the Gryffindor Common Room has lots of little details, and even the journey to Hagrid's Hut is long and breathtaking. It really does simulate Hogwarts beautifully, and with the amazing ability of having NO load times between rooms, you really feel like you are there!\\n\\nThe pitfalls I've found are thus. You do bump into Ron and Hermione frequently., especially if you are in a small room and need to get out. In several of the rooms. In one occasion, a student was stuck partially through the ground. The biggest issue is the sound. In several rooms, I keep hearing this grating, grinding noise that doesn't seem to have any part in the story. In some cases, it is so loud, I cannot hear the characters speak. Occasionally, characters voices would cut out or sound fuzzy or buzzy. I would restart the game, and most of the problems were solved.\\n\\nBut overall, I do feel like I'm really getting my money's worth. Just by feeling like you are in Hogwarts is an amazing feat. This will be one game, after I've finished the tasks, that whenever I feel like visited the old magical school, I'll return to time and time again.\",\n \"Product: Red Dead Redemption is a Western epic, set at the turn of the 20th century when the lawless and chaotic badlands began to give way to the expanding reach of government and the spread of the Industrial Age. The story of former outlaw, John Marston, Red Dead Redemption takes players on a great adventure across the American frontier.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Return to the Old West: A Casual Gamer's Review\\n\\nReview: The last great game that I played on my PS3 was <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Batman-Arkham-Asylum/dp/B001E8VB6O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Batman: Arkham Asylum</a>. In fact, thinking about it I still smile a bit. I loved every minute of the adventure, and still recall climbing to the top of the clock tower, leaping off, and seeing how long I could soar. I didn't think that another game could come close to this adventure, but it turns out, I was wrong. I'm enjoying \\\"Red Dead Redemption\\\" just as much as Batman; for the graphic quality the shear adventure of the game, the ability to roam, the mini-games, and the total submersion of life in a Western town.\\n\\nThe first time you get a chance to head out into the wilderness, you'll be impressed with the high quality realism of the game. Animals roam freely and are ripe for the hunting, but be careful of some angrier animals. I've been attacked by a cougar (and survived the tale) but didn't after a wolf pack attack. The missions John goes on are of the usual caliber, but they are fun, if not a bit repetitive. The bounty hunting pays a good price, especially if you get to lasso the criminal and hogtie him to carry him back alive. You can play a variety of western games , my favorite is poker where, with the right clothes, you get to cheat.\\n\\nOverall, I found this game to be very easy to use. The design of the game is very intuitive, and you don't have to learn a bunch of fancy button moves to make things happen. Most importantly, it's just a lot of fun to slip into the old west for a hour a day, and ride my horse into the sunset, or rope a wild horse, or even chat it up with the saloon ladies.\",\n \"Product: This isn't just another peeler set. Proprietary technology from Switzerland has given our Swiss Classic peelers a few new edges. These blades are scalpel sharp - this means less effort to peel and a thinner peel with every stroke. Swissmar's peeler set of three includes: one serrated peeler, one julienne peeler, one scalper peeler. Use the scalpel blade peeler for hard fruits and vegetables such as apples and potatoes. It can also be used to shave hard cheeses and chocolate. The serrated blade peeler is great for more delicate fruits and vegetables such as kiwis, mangoes and tomatoes. Use the julienne blade to create thin julienne sticks on carrots, zucchini, cucumbers and more. Side cutter on each peeler removes eyes and blemishes from produce or can cut grooves in fruits and vegetables. Suitable for left and right handed use, dishwasher safe, Made in Switzerland.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for an Eggplant!\\n\\nReview: So I was making eggplant parmesean the other day, and the recipe called for the eggplant to be \\\"pealed\\\". Having never made this dish before, and in fact, never having cooked with eggplants ever, it was going to be quite the learning curve. I used my new \\\"Swissmar Swiss Trio Peeler Set\\\", which I received from Vine with great results.\\n\\nAt first glance, this set of peelers looks a little on the cheaper side. They are made of plastic and appear a little flimsy. The set comes with three different peelers, and I used the one that I thought would work best on the eggplant. It was actually a breeze with this peeler that I used. The skin came off of the eggplant with very little force. The job was done much quicker than I thought. From that experience, I can surmise the ease of use of these tools. While I haven't used the two other peelers yet, I can't wait.\",\n \"Product: Ideal for the office or loft, the Braven 770 Bluetooth Speaker delivers high definition sound wrapped in a sleek aircraft grade aluminum frame. Equipped with outbound smartphone charging, built-in speakerphone and 12 hours of audio play, this IPX5 splash proof speaker can also pair with a second Braven 7-series speaker for left and right stereo listening.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to use for the technophobes!\\n\\nReview: This is my first adventure into the land of wireless speakers. Normally, old fashioned me wants to stick with hooking up into a speaker, or just listening to music with headphones. When a wireless speaker came up in Vine, I thought I'd give it a try. I was glad that I did. I'm immensely enjoying my speaker.\\n\\nThe speaker is built extremely well. The ease of use is what sold me immediately. I had the device operational very quickly out of the box, which is a winning proposition in my book. The sound quality is excellent, and the speaker is highly totable, so that I can bring it around with me to different locations.\\n\\nIf you are new to this technology, and interested in exploring wireless speakers, I'd have to give this one a thumbs up.\",\n \"Product: Noise Isolating In-Ear - Neon Green\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great sound with an odd initial fit!\\n\\nReview: I normally use either my iPod earbuds when I'm running, or my Bose headphones when I'm out and about in the world. I wanted to try these headphones as sort of a happy medium between the two. I'm happy to report that despite some odd fit issues, these headphones were pretty great. The sound was clear, crisp, and just as good as my Bose. However, as other reviewers have indicated, the shape of the headphones fit oddly. A couple of times, they fell out because they weren't snug enough inside my ear canal. My doctor once told me that I have small ear canals, so that could be the issue. I imagine with continued use, the shape of the outside will form more comfortably in the ear. I do recommend these!\",\n \"Product: Chamois Buttr GoStik is our solid stick skin lubricant. The 2.5 ounce dispenser allows for easy, no-mess application of skin lubricant precisely to select skin areas. GoStik is excellent for swimming, running, cycling, triathlons, hiking, construction, military, and more. Apply liberally to skin before activity. Apply to any skin areas that rub together or against clothing. GoStik has multiple applications for chafing prevention during any physical activity. This product is safe to use with neoprene wet suits and other technical fabrics. GoStik is gluten free, fragrance free, and washes off skin and clothing with soap and water. For external use only.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I wanna be like Paulie Bleeker\\n\\nReview: The first time I ever saw a product like this was in the movie \\\"Juno\\\". Paulie put something on his legs that looked like deodorant. What it turned out to be was something similar to this product. When it popped up in my Vine account, I was excited to try it.\\n\\nSo on the last few runs, I liberally applied this product to the sides of my legs. My running shorts tend to \\\"ride up with wear\\\" (yes, that's an 'Are You Being Served' references for us fans out there!) and I'm always yanking them down. However, on my last set of runs, that wasn't an issue after using this product. It is odorless and easy to use.\\n\\nConsider me a fan of this too.\",\n \"Product: This tenderly romantic film tells the story of Steve, a young man in a British prep school, as he struggles with coming out and falling in love with the class jock, John... who, amazingly, falls in love with him as well.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Get \\\"Get Real\\\" - NOW!\\n\\nReview: \\\"Get Real\\\" is an impressive, quiet film about the angst of adolescence and the pain and pride of being gay. Rarely does a film capture essences and moments of perfection; this brilliant flick is jeweled with them. The performances are outstanding from everyone involved, especially a tour de force job from Ben Silverstone as the outwardly, inwardly gay lead character. Banished from this English production are the sadly hallmarks of most gay films today: drag queens, bar life, and drugs. Inside is a wonderfully told quiet story ready to reach for your heart in less than five minutes.\\nI rarely buy films without seeing them first, but this one came highly recommended. I can honestly say I got every cent of my money's worth!\",\n \"Product: When a would-be psychologist, curiously named Dr. Mumford, comes to town, the quirkiest citizens scramble for a seat on his couch. As he lightens hearts darkened by old secrets, no one realizes he's hiding his own.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Why can't we all be Mumford?\\n\\nReview: In the absolutely charming and touching film \\\"Mumford\\\", Lawrence Kasdan manages to do something uncommon in most films today. He creates a troupe of characters which are complex, dynamic, and full. In today's mainstream slop, where chatacters sometimes rate third underneath facades of plots and special effects, it was so nice to sit back, relax, and get to know the inhabitants of Mumford.\\nThe story itself is never out of control or totally unbelievable. That's because you fall in love with the town and its inhabitants almost from the start. Mumford becomes the community we all want to live in, and not because its a quiet little town, but the people that make up that town. You are drawn in to Mumford's reality, and even in the town's imperfections, you find the happiness that undercurrents everything. Quite amazing feeling tone for a film to create.\\nLoren Dean pulls off his role as the town's new psychologist with such ease and grace, you yourself wish you could be on his couch. Hope Davis is aboslutely radiant as well, complementing but never outshining her counterpart. A favorite and underappreciated actress of mine, Alfre Woodard, shine and glows in her small but pivotal role.\\nI highly recommend Mumford. I watched it on DVD and longed for the usual treats that DVD brings, but no director's commentary and very few extra features here. Still, rent or buy Mumford today!\",\n \"Product: Pixar genius reigns in this funny romantic comedy, which stars a robot who says absolutely nothing for a full 25 minutes yet somehow completely transfixes and endears himself to the audience within the first few minutes of the film. As the last robot left on earth, Wall-E (voiced by Ben Burtt) is one small robot--with a big, big heart--who holds the future of earth and mankind squarely in the palm of his metal hand. He's outlasted all the \\\"Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class\\\" robots that were assigned some 700 years ago to clean up the environmental mess that man made of earth while man vacationed aboard the luxury spaceship Axiom. Wall-E has dutifully gone about his job compacting trash, the extreme solitude broken only by his pet cockroach, but he's developed some oddly human habits and ideas. When the Axiom sends its regularly scheduled robotic EVE probe (Elissa Knight) to earth, Wall-E is instantly smitten and proceeds to try to impress EVE with his collection of human memorabilia. EVE's directive compels her to bring Wall-E's newly collected plant sprout to the captain of the Axiom and Wall-E follows in hot pursuit. Suddenly, the human world is turned upside down and the Captain (Jeff Garlin) joins forces with Wall-E and a cast of other misfit robots to lead the now lethargic people back home to earth. Wall-E is a great family film with the most impressive aspect being the depth of emotion conveyed by a simple robot--a machine typically considered devoid of emotion, but made so absolutely touching by the magic of Pixar animation. Also well-worth admiring are the sweeping views from space, the creative yet disturbing vision of what strange luxuries a future space vacation might offer, and the innovative use of trash in a future cityscape. Underneath the slapstick comedy and touching love story is a poignant message about the folly of human greed and its potential effects on earth and the entire human race.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A vision of post- apocalyptic love\\n\\nReview: Pixar can do so many things, and do them so well. They can take children's toys and bring them to magical life. They can take a fish with a gimpy fin and make him a superhero. They can take a souped up automobile and make him take the easy road. And they can take a mouse and make him the top chef. How they ever managed to take two machines, one which is a glorified garbageman, and make them fall in love is simply beyond me. They are the true magic makers of our time, and paired with Disney, they are in the business of making a series of movies that, 50 years from now, will be considered classics.\\n\\nWall-E spins the tale of a plucky, musical loving robot whose only job in this world, literally, is to rake up garbage and make them into little square boxes. Spending his days doing that, Wall-E works until sunset when he gets to go home, remove his treads, and watch a little Hello, Dolly. That is, until he meets another robot, a svelte white examination robot named Eve. She's there on a mission, which unfolds very delicately, allowing time for the scared and timid Wall-E to approach her and try to woo her with his life.\\n\\nWhat follows absolutely blew my mind, both in it's complexity of messages and its shear entertainment value. Wall-E takes us into a future that may seem ridiculous on the screen, but you question, after only watching for a few minutes, how close we are to seeing that future here on Earth. I won't write any spoilers here, but as you laugh at some of the funny sights you see halfway through this remarkable film, you also are half-wondering at what point will this be us ... and is it already?\\n\\nThe brilliance of the animation is a sight to behold. Pixar grows with every picture it makes, and Wall-E is a technical achievement of the highest order. The attention to detail is phenomenal, and literally awe-inspiring. As Wall-E shovels piles of trash around, the dirt and dust and filth look real. In fact, that is the beautiful irony of this film. In a movie about robots, we find some essence of what it is to be human, what makes us tick, and what makes our planet more real than we know. We should be better people to heed the message of Wall-E, and learn from it.\\n\\nI highly recommend taking everyone in your family to see this film. It's the cinematic event of the summer.\",\n \"Product: Julio and Tenoch are two teens ruled by raging hormonesand a mission to consume exotic substances. But one summer, the boys learn more about life than they bargain for when they set off on a wild, cross-country road trip with seductive, 28-year-old Luisa. Both boys taste forbidden fruit as Luisa schools them in the finer points of passion, but will their mutual desire for her destroy their friendship forever?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: It's so much more....\\n\\nReview: There is a moment in \\\"Y Tu Mama Tambien\\\" where the film arcs from being merely great to classic. It's a scene towards the end of the film, when the three prinicpal characters let loose in a beachside bar with copious amounts of alcohol. Luisa, leaving the raunchy conversation, slides over to a jukebox, selects a song, and then turns to look directly into the camera. She stares momentarily, and the begins an enticing dance, beckoning us into the story, her story, their story. Suddenly, everything transcends the real, and we, the audience, become one with the film. For me, that will be a cinematic moment never to forget.\\nAs I will never forget \\\"Y Tu Mama Tambien\\\". Part teenage sex comedy, part slice of life, part wonderful delve into the deeper sides of life, somehow it all melds into one amazing film. We first meet two late teen boys, Julio and Tenoch, who come from two different worlds, who manage to forge a complex friendship. They are crass, disgusting, drug abusing boys who are so full of themselves, so full of life, you fall in love with them immediately.\\nTogether they schmooze the innocent Luisa, who, after discovering her husband had an affair while away, decides to take the boys up on their offer of a trip to an ocean. The three of them have a road trip of a lifetime, full of revelation, self-disclosure and real human moments. The film soon becomes more, so much more than a sex romp through the Mexican countryside, but slices of life that only this film has presented. It is bold, and real.\\nBold and real, which may scare people away. The unrated version, which showed across the country, is the masterpiece which you should see. For once, theaters dared to carry an unrated film, and thus prove that the American public is willing to see movies that aren't cowtowed to a rating system that's marginally effective for parents trying to make judgments for their families, but the rest of adult American completely ignores. The fact that this film did so well, and is critically a sucecss, should bode well for the entertainment industry.\\nThat issue aside, this film is life, and its real. If seeing life in all of its raw and uncensored moments bothers you, I suggest moving along and skipping this film. However, if you want to see a film I know is the best film of 2002, then check out Y Tu Mama. It's tagline gives us some more mental food to chew on:\\n\\\"Life has its ways to teach us. Life has its ways to confuse us. Life has its ways to change us. Life has its ways to astonish us. Life has its ways to hurt us. Life has its ways to cure us. Life has its ways to inspire us.\\\"\\nThanks for inspring us with \\\"Y Tu Mama Tambien\\\".\",\n \"Product: Academy Award(R)-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, Best Actress, 1998; SHALLOW HAL) stars in this hilarious comedy hit about a small-town girl who's about to get a taste of the big-time world! No one thought Donna (Paltrow) would go very far. But when she sets her sights on becoming a first-class international flight attendant, Donna throws caution to the wind and takes off in pursuit of her dream! The ride is anything but smooth, however, and Donna's laugh-packed journey of a lifetime is rocked by more turbulence than she bargained for! Also starring Christina Applegate (TV's MARRIED WITH CHILDREN), Rob Lowe (AUSTIN POWERS Trilogy, TOMMY BOY), Kelly Preston (WHAT A GIRL WANTS, JERRY MAGUIRE), and Candice Bergen (SWEET HOME ALAMBAMA, MISS CONGENIALITY), this charmingly funny treat will send your spirits soaring!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Shhh, don't tell anyone\\n\\nReview: I read a review of this movie when it came to the theaters that just completely tore it apart from oepning frame to closing. Thus, I avoided seeing it for all of the right reasons. However, the genre of film is one of my boyfriend's favorites, and as a favor to him, rented this little movie for a quick Saturday afternoon's entertainment. What I found was a quirky, fun, funny movie that, if you don't take it all too seriously, you can seriously warm to.\\nGwyneth Paltrow plays Donna, a girl with stars and the skies in her eyes. Donna longs for a better life than her small town girlhood in Silver Springs. Hooking up with a small commuter airline, Donna starts her career in the air. In one short but pivotal scene, she is dissed by a trio of snooty flight atttendants, which fires her upward. Soon, she moves up to a major airlines, but first, has to endure the training process, run by the ever funny Mike Meyers.\\nComplication besets complication, but no worries, this is a film whose plot is secondary to the likabillity of its characters. You know about the ending, but the time spent with these people is entertaining. Turning in great performances is the hugely underused Kelly Preston, Christina Applegate as a ditsy coworker, wonderful Candice Bergan as a flight attendant extraordinaire, and the lovable Mark Ruffalo, playing a has-it-together guy, finally.\\nMuch disdain has been heaped on this movie, perhaps by people intending to take it much more seriously than was its intention. Citizen Kane its not, but a lighthearted time spent in the skies. As we follow Donna on her journey of self-revelation, we root for her and all of her friends as well. So sit back, make sure your tray table is locked, and this time, you don't have to locate your nearest exits, with a View from the Top.\",\n \"Product: After ten years of being away from home, a young man returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral. A young woman from his past helps him to reconnect with his family and his roots.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: State of Being Perfect in the Garden State\\n\\nReview: Who knew within the confines of Zach Braff's mind rested such a beautiful, moving script as Garden State. And who knew he had within him the directing skills to pull off such a powerfully quiet performance and movie. Garden State takes off with a vision of quirkiness, and lands nearly perfectly on its two feet at the end.\\n\\nBraff, who wrote, directed, and starred in this movie, plays Andrew Largeman, a one time California actor who's forced to return to his childhood home after the untimely death of his mother. Landing in New Jersey, zombie-like Largeman is placed in the middle of his many issues, having at once to begin to deal with them. In the mix, Natalie Portman plays Samantha, a seemingly bizarre girl who's the most refreshing wind in Largeman's stale life. They meet, and a fairly predictable story ensues.\\n\\nHowever, the beauty of this script lies not in the story, but the quiet craziness that Braff inhabits in the movie. Nearly every scene revels in something bizarre, be it a shirt that matches wallpaper, or Samantha's hamster-loving house. Never once is this quirkiness exploited, but unfolds as naturally as Braff's performance as Largeman. You can trust Braff's unpredictability throughout the movie, because it's rich and gentle at the same time. There are too many moments in this film that are memorable, and visually stunning.\\n\\nIt's only the ending of the film, which I shall not reveal, that somewhat betrays the rest of the tone of the film. Sure I was pleased with it, but it all in all felt somewhat false and forced on us. Many people I'm sure love the ending, but I wasn't convinced with it. That being said, it wasn't enough to ruin any part of the rest of this film.\\n\\nIf this is the world that Braff inhabits in his imagination, the world is in store for more beauty from him in the near future. In the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy spending time with the oddness of New Jersey in Garden State.\",\n \"Product: Mistaken identity carried to lovely, ludicrous extremes. This crisp adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic comedy stars Colin Firth (The Turn of the Screw) as an English dandy who pretends to be his own brother, Earnest. Enter his best friend, played by Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding), who's also being Earnest for effect. Embellish the elegant country estate with two saucy—not to mention confused—young ladies and Dame Judi Dench as formidable Lady Bracknell. The results: a fluffy soufflé of wit and Wildean wisdom. 1-1/2 hours.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Brilliant Adapation of a Brilliant Play\\n\\nReview: Imagine the challenge of tackling adapting a near perfect play for the screen, one known and adored across the world as the pinnacle of comedy. Oliver Parker undertook such a challenge in making \\\"The Importance of Being Earnest\\\" into cinematic fare, and the end result is, a new view of brilliance!\\n\\nStarring Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Dame Judi Dench, and Reese Witherspoon, Earnest spins the tale of comical deceit of two friends, Jack and Algernon. Each conspire through the film to woo girls of their choosing by nearly any means possible. The end result is reminiscient of some of Shakespeare's best comedies, one of implausibilities that are so absurb that you believe them all of the more. Perhaps Wilde, in his genuis of paradox, intended for that to happen all along.\\n\\nParker's adaptation of the play is brilliant in its own right. Taking much from the source text, and translating it to a visual medium, such as film, must have been quite daunting. Parker succeeded quite well, creating a film that doesn't ever work to subsume the originial, but complement it in its own unique way. I think perhaps that Wilde would love this adaptation himself!\\n\\nThe acting in this film is superb. First, how can anyone go wrong with Firth, Everett, Witherspoon, and the incomperable Dench, who seethes with her role with an intensity that only she can muster. They handle the comedy with aplomb and naturalness; it sparkles delightful. Reese Witherspoon pulls off her English accent quite well, playing Cicely as young and delightful as she is.\\n\\nAnother aspect of this film that is remarkable is the soundtrack. Normally, a soundtrack blends in to accompany the larger piece. In this movie, the soundtrack stands out as a wild, fun accourement to the film. I quite enjoyed the jazzy feel to it, and the scene where Algy and Jack serenade the girls is so bubbly fun that it inspires intense hilarity. I just purchased the soundtrack and look forward it its many hours playing on my computer.\\n\\nThe Importance of Being Earnest may be a forgotten gem, but once you unearth it, it sparkles like nothing you've seen on your screen in months. I highly recommend you purchasing this movie for your collection, and you may surprise yourself upon how much you actually watch this jewel yourself!\",\n \"Product: A young wife (Aniston) gets bored with her marriage and life and falls into an iliicit affair with a teenage stock boy (Gyllenhaal) at the discount store where they both work.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: A Good Girl in a Mediocre Movie\\n\\nReview: Jennifer Aniston, rapidly becoming one of America's darlings of the cinema, makes a great performance in a movie that simply doesn't add up to much.\\nShe plays Justine, a girl who's life has become an unbearable trap, from a dead-end job at Retail Rodeo, and a marriage that is dysfunctional at best. Offering a ticket out of this despair is Holden, a young 22 year old confused stallion recently employed at the Retail Rodeo. Through an ill-thought out affair, Justine begins to experience a possible glimpse of the \\\"other side\\\".\\nHowever, much of what happens in this movie is ill-thought out. Jennifer's dead-end marriage to wonderful character actor John C. Reilly is unexplained; there is no obvioius attraction between the two and much of the movie was spent wondering why they were together. While it helps to propel the reason for the affair, it still doesn't help resolve issues at the end of the movie. The plot is ill-thought out, meandering through event after event, as we watch Justine react to one thing and another. A boring life doesn't not a good movie make.\\nWhile the \\\"Good Girl\\\" had some good intentions, the end result isn't very.\",\n \"Product: Many movies strive to capture the confused, yearning spirit of The Graduate or The Catcher in the Rye; Igby Goes Down succeeds. Igby (Kieran Culkin) is a teen struggling to find any purpose or meaning to his life; surrounding him are his tyrant mother Mimi (Susan Sarandon), schizophrenic father Jason (Bill Pullman), wealthy and deceitful godfather D.H. (Jeff Goldblum), and cold brother Oliver (Ryan Phillippe)--all of whom have their own problems. While evading being sent to yet another boarding school, Igby seeks solace with two women: Rachel (Amanda Peet), a drug-addicted dancer who's D.H.'s mistress, and Sookie (Claire Danes), a college student who becomes perhaps his only friend. Culkin carries the film, ably supported by the superb cast; script, direction, and performances are razor sharp. Igby Goes Down doesn't let anyone--including Igby--off the hook for their cruelty, hypocrisy, or lack of empathy. --Bret Fetzer\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Directionless Spoiled Rich Kid, Redux\\n\\nReview: \\\"Igby Goes Down\\\", in the tradition of many \\\"teenage boy coming of age\\\" movie, bearing fair comparison to \\\"The Graduate\\\" and \\\"Catcher in the Rye\\\", with moments of the blackest comedy thrown in. It is an enjoyable film, mainly for the sharpness of the performances, as well as an equally sharp script that leaves no stone unturned, nor protects anyone.\\nIt's the story of \\\"Igby\\\", so aptly nicknamed, as you will discover, whom cannot seem to get his feet firmly planted in his life. Yes, we've seen this story a thousand times, and a thousand times more. He wanders through his life, questioning everything, and everyone, under the sun; his pill-popping mother, distant brother, suspicious godfather and his trampy girlfriend, and even an odd love interest who is bitter yet reachable.\\nFearing falling into the cliche trap, the script bops all over the place, making for some wonderfully surprising moments. Gore Vidal as a priest! Cynthia Nixon as a [substance] abusing former teacher! Were it not so believable, you'd be spending time waiting for the next celeb cameo. However, the strength of the writing is absurdly clear, both realistic and character illuminating.\\nSecondly, the performances stun and wonder. Kieran Culkin carries the film, making his angst believable but not overdramatic. Susan Sarandon can do no wrong, and makes the mother believable but not overdramatic. Ryan Phillipe irritates appropriately, Amanda Peet flutters through the film, and Claire Danes shines. Hook a film with a strong script and performances and you have a winner.\\nMy only worries: we've seen the angst-ridden teenager before. It seems the beginning of the film flounders a bit as Igby flounders. It was distracting, but perhaps purposefully so. I found myself fighting to get into the movie, to even care about Igby, which I so wanted to do. He eventually comes around, and you do care, but it was like climbing walls.\\nCheers to the filmmaker for this gutsy script, and cheers to Igby, hopefully by the end of the film, finding himself amongst the angst.\",\n \"Product: An irreverent look at how a fertile imagination and 21st century technology can turn the most unlikely business into and exciting--and profitable--undertaking. The Young and The Dead tells the story of how the Hollywood Memorial Cemetary became Hollywood Forever. A metamorphosis from decrepit burial ground to a modern, interactive, state-of-the-art facility, with touch-screen kiosks and a gift shop complete with souvenirs. And how a cemetary became, according to LA magazine, one of the sexiest places in LA!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Life in Death\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Young and the Dead\\\", part of the HBO series \\\"america undercover\\\", shows a twist to a side of life all of us have yet to deal with. Very reminiscent of the quirky \\\"Six Feet Under\\\" which would follow a year or so after,\\nOnce in disrepair, forgotten, and ready for the scrap heap, Hollywood Memorial Park gets a wonderful chance at life again with the resurrection powers of Tyler Cassity, wunderkind of the funeral business. Bringing on a team of visionaries, they not only save the cemetery, but create new ways for loved ones to remember their dearly departed.\\nYou get from watching this DVD the sense of honor and pride that the staff at the cemetery has at their missions in life. It honors the history of the place, while helping to bring it into the twenty-first century. Featuring people's stories brings to life the video, especially the internment of Hattie McDaniel,who was denied a spot their fifty years ago because of the color of her skin.\\nI wouldn't recommend purchasing this DVD. It wouldn't be something I'd watch again and again. But I would recommend a viewing of this simple, kind documentary.\",\n \"Product: A group of gay friends (men & women) lives out their day-to-day lives in Pittsburgh, PA. A groundbreaking series set in a work-a-day blue-collar world. Queer as Folk is the first TV drama that treats gay people simply as real people. This TV series continues to be hailed by critics around the country as astonishingly frank, refreshing, wonderful, bitterly witty, and \\\"Must-See TV.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Season Three - Both Brilliant and Mundane\\n\\nReview: A long time QAF fan, who is not priviledged enough to have premium channels, eagerly await the release of the latest season on DVD to find out what happens with some of the most cutting edge characters on television. It's hard to not find out tidbits of that season's developments, from reading messages boards to friend's gossip. Finally, after viewing all episodes of season three, I must admit to be both stunned and somewhat disappointed in this season.\\nFirst, the disappointments. Without going into specifics, season three starts out very strong with the amazing ending of season two, yet the promises made at the end weren't necessarily fulfilled in this season. There is somewhat of a let down with two major stories, and another one, involving Ben and Michael, that seemed very out of place with the series.\\nAlso, both season one and two had \\\"big episodes\\\" where everything seemed to soar above the series, for example Michael's birthday party, season two's wedding and Rage party. Season three offered nothing of that caliber, which was sorely missed.\\nBut, that is also part of the brilliance of season three. First, the direction of the episodes is nothing short of brilliant. I suppose you aren't supposed to notice the directing if you are involved with the story, but I simply couldn't resist seeing these episodes as mini-movies. The direction is cutting edge and astounding. Each episode seemed tailored to match the directing with the plot, and the effect mesmerized me.\\nBased on the plot of the story, many of the actors soared in their performances too. Scott Lowell as Ted should be recongized ans awarded for his amazing turn as Ted's decends into darkness this season. It wasn't easy to watch, but Lowell nailed it. His compatriot, Peter Paige plays Emmett both with strength and compassion, giving his character a new and much needed edge than we've ever seen before. And add new character \\\"Hunter\\\", newcomer Harris Allen gives an edge to the show, who is extremely convincing.\\nIn watching this season, I was mixed on my feelings about it, up until the amazing final episode where it finally seems that the gang on Liberty Avenue seems to be back. I suggest giving season three a chance, watch it, let the great directing and acting wash over you, and spend some time with some amazing characters played by equally amazing actors.\",\n \"Product: The 16th president and his wife are portrayed from their first days in Washington to 1865.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Backstairs in the Lincoln's White House\\n\\nReview: Much of Abraham Lincoln's life has been accounted for and reaccounted for a thousand times over. The facts play around in our minds, much without emotional anchors to hold them down. Prolific and outspoken writer Gore vidal penned a \\\"fictional\\\" account of Lincoln in his marvelous book, which a few years later, adapted into a made-for-TV movie. The result, then as now, is an intriguing insights into the personality of the Lincoln family.\\n\\nThe movie starts with Lincoln slinking into Washington DC, for fear of a secessionist uprising in Balitmore, under disguise, for which he was much aligned. Constrasted with Mary's arrival, with hoopla and a thousand suitcases, shows the underlying dichotomy in the famous first couple. Jumping from historical event to historical event, the drama digs a bit deeper into the effects of the events on the family. By the time you've finished the movie, you felt like you've not only have a deeper understanding of the Civil War, but of the Lincolns as well.\\n\\nSam Waterson nails, absolutely nails, Lincoln. We see all sides of him. It must have been a daunting role to play. We have solely deified Lincoln, almost erasing his humanity. Waterson brings it back in full force, with all the humor and sadness needed. At first, hearing that Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Todd Lincoln seems like a joke. Who would ever thought that Mary Richards could play someone Hay and Nicolette called \\\"Hell Cat?\\\". But she does. Her decent into madness at the death of Willie is heartbreaking. Richard Mulligan's performance as Sweard is canny, and the ever stalwart Ruby Dee plays Mary Lincoln's dressmaker Mrs. Keckley with all of the sassiness and care required.\\n\\nI rated this movie four stars, not for content or for acting, but for the DVD transfer. It's simply on the verge of being terrible. The picture quality lacks any quality at all. It appears fuzzy and smoky on my screen quite a bit. As for any special features, forget it. This wasn't ever enough to detract from my enjoyment in watching the show, but this DVD looks like a hack job for sure.\\n\\nHowever, Gore Vidal's Lincoln deserves a place in my video library as an interesting examination of a well-known time; well-acted, and tells a great story. I recommend this to anyone wanting an insider's look of a fascinating man and family.\",\n \"Product: PAL/Region 0. Double-disc German edition of the film known as 'Downfall' in the US. It's the last days of Adolf Hitler, April 1945, and Hitler's personal secretary Traudl Junge finds herself in the Der Fuhrer's bunker. Facing inevitable defeat, Hilter's moods range from defiance to fight or flee, remain loyal or opt for self-preservation. Eva Braun parties while Magda Goebbels kills her children. The movie goes on to show how Hitler and Eva lived their last hours in the Bunker.Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. Written by Bernd Eichinger. Based on the book Inside Hitler's Bunker by Joachim Fest; and the book Bis zur letzten Stunde by Traudl Junge and Melissa Muller. In German, with English subtitles. Running time: 155 minutes. Includes a bonus DVD with nearly 3 hours of extras! No US DVD release until late 2005 * Please note you will need an All Code DVD player to view. Full Specs; DISC ONE, The movie (theatrical version), DISC TWO, Audio description in German Hitler's Last Days -documentary (58 mins), Making of 'The Downfall -featurette (50 mins), Melissa Mller (author of the book 'Bis zur letzten Stunde') speaks about Traudl Junge (9 mins), 'The bunker' - A virtual tour, Interviews with: - Bruno Ganz, - Alexandra Maria Lara, - Corinna Harfouch, - Ullirch Matthes, - Julianne Khler, - Heino Ferch, - Bernd Eichinger (producer), - Joachim Fest (writer), - Oliver Hirschbiegel (director), Cast and crew biographies, Biographies of the historic figures, Subtitles: English and German HoH, Picture format: 1.78:1 Anamorphic PAL ,Soundtrack(s): German DTS 5.1 , German Dolby Digital 5.1 Case type: 2-Disc Digi-Pack Notes: Packaged in a slipcase.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A True Horror Film\\n\\nReview: In 1945, the remnants of the Third Reich were in the final hours of its death. The Russians were pounding Berlin from the land and air, as the once strong German Army scrambled to avoid annihilation. Adolph Hitler retreats into the confines of a bunker to spend his last few days with his mistress, generals, soldiers, fellow cabinent members and their families, and one Traudl Junge, his personal secretary. What follows is a fascinating, and what I consider to be a true horror story, about insanity, desparation, and the end result of hatred.\\n\\nThis movie is based on the works of two books, one of them authored by Traudl Junge, which gives this film an air of authenticity and realism that is haunting. Junge spoke as a witness to these events, and in fact, the real Junge bookends the film. Chosen out of five women to be Hitler's personal secretary, she was thrilled to be employed by the Furher, and worked very closely with him, even going so far as to enter the bunker with him and refusing to leave. Junge is never in conflict during the film about her role in the Nazi regime, nor ever questions anyone about the possible horrors that would surface; she claimed innocence. With the Russians pounding Berlin with artilery, and Hitler descending into insanity (ordering armies around that don't exist and talking about a great comeback), Junge realizes all is lost, and her decision is when to save herself.\\n\\nThe tour de force performance in this film is Bruno Ganz, who plays Hitler with such realism that you cannot believe this is an actor. He captures Hitler when he is screaming at his generals is that is lifted right out of old films of Hitler speaking at large Nazi rallies, and captures a different man when dealing with people close to him. It's his realism that is eerie; definitely a complex man so successful portrayed.\\n\\nThe other horrifying element in this film occurs later on, with Josef Goebbel's wife Magda's poisoning of her five children in the bunker after Hitler's suicide. After making her children drink a sleeping substance, she methodically and ruthlessly kills all of her children by making them bite glass capsules of poison. The scene was so amazingly powerful that I wanted to weep yet no tears came. It became an incredible image for the heartlessness of a regime so bent on perfection and courage, in a final act of desparation and weakness.\\n\\nAnd don't worry: there is nothing in this film that attempts to glorify Hitler, or make him out to be anything that he wasn't. Even in moments that he treats Junge with compassion, the six million people he murdered are never far out of your mind. In fact, when his beloved dog Blondi is killed in the bunker, and Hitler tears up, you wonder how a man could feel so badly for a pet when he ordered the deaths of so many others. His wedding to Eva Braun is not touching or romantic, but a mere formality. It's amazing, to say the least, to watch someone unfold to frightening effects.\\n\\nJunge went on to escape the bunker, and into a life of hiding, until coming out publicly about her role before her death in 2002. A documentary film was made about her life, in which she was interviewed about what she witnessed. I found Downfall to be the better movie, more thrilling, and ultimately more terrifying, than the documentary. I highly recommend Downfall.\",\n \"Product: Partnered with a hard-line officer Tony Stone (Academy AwardA Nominee Woody Harrelson), Ben Foster (3: 10 to Yuma) plays a battle-scarred war hero home from Iraq and newly assigned to the Armyas Casualty Notification service. He faces this formidable mission while seeking comfort and healing back on the home front when he falls for the wife of a fallen soldier (2-Time Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Small Heartbreak of a Film\\n\\nReview: War films usually concentrate on the exploits of the war hero, charging into battle, guns ablaze, mowing down enemies without so much as a care in the world, and come out with nary a band-aid on their forehead. Occasionally, the best friend dies, in order to get the hero back on track and advance the plot. One never thinks of the people at home, waiting for the best friend to return. And one certainly never thinks of the people who have to notify those loved ones. This film centers on two such soldiers, who live to bring news and grief, as they deal with their own grief, in this quiet film \\\"The Messenger\\\".\\n\\nWoody Harrelson turns in another award worthy performance as Captain Tony Stone, who teams up with just out of combat Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) to deliver news of combat deaths. Foster is dealing with an severe eye injury and an injury of the soul as he learns the details of this terrible job. On the heels of an unrequited love, Montgomery struggles with the tenets of the job as the two become a harbinger of death to those they meet. One particular widow strikes Mongomery's fancy, Olivia, who deals with the death of her husband as well as the growing attraction to the soldier who told her of it. The dichotomy between the two is delicious.\\n\\nYet, the film rests squarely on the shoulders of Harrelson and Foster, and together, the two make an intimidating and formidable pair. When either is alone, the film loses a bit of its luster, and you long for the two anti-heroes to come back together again. Kudos must be given to all of the actors who performed those loved ones receiving the news. There isn't a dishonest one in the bunch, starting with a small cameo by Steve Buscemi as an angry, irate father.\\n\\nThis isn't an easy film to watch. War isn't ever easy, and so it follows that the aftermath of it is even less so. This film celebrates all of that messiness, and honor, and valor, and realism with a honesty that is not often seen in movies now.\",\n \"Product: A gritty, life-affirming tale of an abused African-American teenager's struggle to change her life in 1980s Harlem. 16-year-old Clareece 'Precious' Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) has been abused from an early age by her now absent father, and is pregnant with his second child. With a venomous mother Mary (Mo'Nique) who treats her like a servant and her school life blighted by her illiteracy, Precious struggles to cope with her seemingly hopeless life. But the offer of a place in an alternative school and the nurturing of literacy teacher Ms. Rain (Paula Patton) soon begin to transform the teenager, offering her a path to a brighter future. Mo'Nique won the Best Supporting Actress awards at both the 2010 BAFTAs and the Academy Awards for her portrayal of Mary.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Science of Emerging\\n\\nReview: On the cover of the Blu-Ray disc, it shows a heavy, African-American girl walking, and behind her, the hint of a butterfly just starting to come into focus. No image sums up this moving, challenging film better, for as you watch it, you are seeing a person go from larva to stunning butterfly over the course of two hard, painful, and ultimately, joyfilled hours.\\n\\nPrecious, based o the novel \\\"Push\\\" by Sapphire, is the story of a forgotten segment of our society, a young, inner-city black girl, living a life of hell. Sexually abused by her father, physically and emotionally abused by her mother, Precious finds the strength to get up from her bed and face her bleak life, mostly by a fiery imagination. When she is discovered to be pregnant for a second time, Precious is expelled from her school and is offered a spot in an alternative school. The teacher at the school, Ms. Rain, does something amazing: she sees Precious. That act alone begins to crack the protective cocoon that Precious has built around herself to survive.\\n\\nNot enough can be said about Gabourey Sidibe, who takes Precious, fully realizes her, and makes her soar. Also equally as stunning is the comedian Mo'Nique, who portrays the mother with such intensity that her performance leaps off the screen and grabs you by the throat. There were scene between these two actresses that literally left me gasping for air, I was holding my breath for so long.\\n\\nAs Precious begins to find herself, begins to find who she is, she also discovers her place in life, and her strength. Towards the end of the movie, Precious reflects on this strength, and says, about her teacher:\\n\\n\\\"Some folks got a light around them that shine for other peoples. I think maybe some of them was in a long tunnel before. And in that tunnel, maybe the only light they had was one that was inside of them and then -even long after they escaped that tunnel, they still be shining for everybody else.\\\"\\n\\nPrecious could also be talking about herself.\\n\\nLee Daniels has given us a gift. It's not an easy gift to watch. It's not an easy story to tell. But it's real. As she emerges from her cocoon, we see Precious' face for the first time, with glimmers of hope, glimmers of optimism, glimmers of tomorrow. She is finding her wings, she is learning to fly.\\n\\nEvery child in America should have that hope.\",\n \"Product: With this astonishing concert film, audiences who missed this off-Broadway smash can get to see the supremely talented David Drake in his captivating one-man show. This semi-autobiographical performance piece contains several poignant stories about growing up gay in the '90s. From his brilliant opening monologue describing the impact playwright Larry Kramer's \\\"The Normal Heart\\\" had on him to his amusing riff on \\\"Why I Go to the Gym,\\\" Drake give a fierce, full-bodied multi-character performance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Thousand Nights of Enjoyment...\\n\\nReview: ...for this amazing artist piece of wonder, written and acted by the amazing star himself, David Drake.\\nI'd heard about this performance piece for years, but never had the pleasure of seeing it until it's recent release on DVD. Drake plays a multitude of gay characters through the show, from an innocent child, to lovestruck teenager, to a happy half of a couple in an long term relationship. The dexterity to which he switches roles at a moment's notice is startling and honest. He plays the range of characters, not only to make a statement, but to also include us in the piece as well. Drake is at his finest in this piece, and thankfully, forever captured on this DVD.\\nThe piece itself builds from the development of a gay man around his birthdays, to the end, which paints a lovely, if not fantastical, vision of the future. Steeped in history, honoring those who have fallen before us in the great early-ignored plague of the 80's and 90's, introspective, we see roots, and we see the wings of probably one of the most important times in our history. Such things shall not be forgotten. If anything good will come out of the turmoils we suffered and continue to suffer, it's quite possibly the wonderful quality of art that it has inspired us to produce. This DVD testifies to that.\\nA must have for any DVD collector, I highly recommend this artsy, gutsy, wonderful piece of writing and acting for your collection. You'll watch it again and again.\",\n \"Product: collection of songs sung by Judy Garland, Mel Torme, Jack Jones, Liza Minelli and others\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Judy at her best\\n\\nReview: The Judy Garland Show was a television staple in the early 1960's, featuring one of America's foremost talents in the singing biz. Able to garner some fabulous stars via hr celebrity icon status, Judy's shows were a potpourri of old and the new, the standards and the innovative, merging together for one enjoyable ride. This is clearly evident in her \\\"The Christmas Show\\\" episode from the series, released on DVD.\\n\\nGuest stars of Jack Jones and Mel Torme spotlight the various numbers that inhabit this 50 minute special of song and dance. Jack's number with Judy and Liza is priceless, even though it was clearly evident he was looking at cue cards constantly. Mel's rendition of his song with Judy \\\"The Christmas Song\\\", is quite touching, with Judy making a small error in the lyrics and Mel playfully pointing it out. Great television!\\n\\nLisa's \\\"Steam Heat\\\" dance number still rocks the house, with her partner \\\"and beau\\\" Tracy Everitt, and her pairing with her mother made for a terrific combo whenever the two sang together. Judy's youngest kids, Lorna and Joey, each get their own spotlight as well, although Joey's life as a singer was clearly at odds with his somewhat painful rendition of \\\"Where is Love?\\\". God bless him for trying that song as a seven year old!\\n\\nHowever, it's Judy that steals her own show. Every time the camera land on her, she a delight to watch. Equally at ease singing a solo, or handing the scene over to another performer, Judy's joy of music is evident. Just watch her as her kids sing, or as Mel or Jacks sings; she's positively, genuinely radiant. Which is even more of a feat considering the country was reeling from the assassination of JFK just a week before.\\n\\nJudy's Christmas special is one that I'll watch every season, once, twice, and even three times. We all miss Judy, but we can have a little piece of her, in our living rooms, every holiday season.\",\n \"Product: Michael Cunningham was raised in Los Angeles and now lives in New York. His first novel 'A Home at the End of the World' was published in 1990, and his second 'Flesh and Blood' in 1995. 'The Hours' was awarded both the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 1999 PEN/Faulkner Award.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A masterpiece of the highest order\\n\\nReview: After eavesdropping on a conversation in a bookstore (sneaky, I know, but one way to learn about gifted talent!)I picked up Michael Cunningham's \\\"The Hours\\\" and prepared myself to be transformed. The lofty challenge was met by this stunning work of verbal artistry. Never before has a book so entirely captured me, refusing to let go; allowing me to wander through the words as if tasting a fine wine or a rich banquet prepared for my convienience. Michael Cunningham has produced a complex, thoroughly wonderful narrative that challenges the formulaic writing so prevalient today. His gift to literature shall never be, as Clarissa fears about Richard's poetry, forgotten, but a benchmark of the highest order for any author to aspire to meet. \\\"The Hours\\\" is a gift to the world, and any reader destined to cross its path.\",\n \"Product: The hauntingly prophetic classic novel set in a not-too-distant future where books are burned by a special task force of firemen. Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Even so, Montag is unhappy; there is discord in his marriage. Are books hidden in his house? The Mechanical Hound of the Fire Department, armed with a lethal hypodermic, escorted by helicopters, is ready to track down those dissidents who defy society to preserve and read books. The classic novel of a post-literate future, 'Fahrenheit 451' stands alongside Orwell's '1984' and Huxley's 'Brave New World' as a prophetic account of Western civilization's enslavement by the media, drugs and conformity. Bradbury's powerful and poetic prose combines with uncanny insight into the potential of technology to create a novel which over fifty years from first publication, still has the power to dazzle and shock.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Threat of Free Thought\\n\\nReview: A time honored classic, once a scary prophetic vision, and quite possibly, now a reality. Ray Bradbury's futuristic thriller, \\\"Fahrenheit 451\\\" reads as both analogy and warning, and a dire one at that.\\nThis book has been on my \\\"let's read it in the near future\\\" list for some time. But it wasn't until the city of Portland, Oregon selected this book for their \\\"Everyone Reads\\\" campaign that I found the incentive to read it.\\nThis story spins a tale in the near future where reading is considered outlaw, that books are contraband, and any attempt of thinking outside the box is handled by extinguishing the threat. Guy Montag is a fireman, but not in the common sense; he starts fires instead of putting them out. He's \\\"married\\\" to Mildred, in a passionless marriage of convenience; Mildred who prefers to spend time in front of the television and listening to the radio in her life of hopelessness. Early on, he meets the fair Clarisse who boldly suggests to him that life is much more than starting fires. It is the tipping point of his decline, as his life begins to rush closer and closer to the incinerator itself.\\nWhat impressed me about this book is that it was written in the early 1950's, and yet it reads as well as a modern novel. Bradbury would refute any attempts of suggesting he was forecasting the future, but so much of what he saw the future becoming has transpired. How many hours do our children spend in front of the television? And in these times, when our libraries are being threatened to track patron's records or monitor internet use, how far away are we from Bradbury's 451?\\nIt's both chilling and reflecting. As a dour warning for what might happen, we can take heed to this warning to ensure that we celebrate divergent thought and reading as a gift for our citizens and not something to fear. Whereas people would refute the claim that we would never burn books in America, why is it that this book so often has actually been banned from some libraries and schools across this country?\\nWe need to listen, and learn, lest we suffer the fate of Montag and start to live in a country and world so brilliantly premonitioned in \\\"Fahrenheit 451\\\".\",\n \"Product: After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: We're off to Believe in the Wizard\\n\\nReview: Michael Patrick Hearn really has done a grand service to the American literary world. While the book Wizard of Oz in itself will be a classic of all time, Hearn's annotations breathes life into this book like nothing else I've ever read.\\nHis exhaustive, extensive research illuminates this classic, and brings us into the life of L. Frank Baum in connection with his writing of this story. I also loved the reproductions of the the original color plates from the first printing, which Baum painstakingly wanted.\\nAs a true devotee of the film, and a casual devotee of the book, I now considered myself converted and find joy equally in both, due to the reading of this new classic.\\nTake advantage of this low price while you can still get it!\",\n \"Product: HARDBACK BOOK\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Go see the movie\\n\\nReview: The recently released movie \\\"Breach\\\" tells the \\\"inside\\\" story of the sting operation to capture Soviet spy Robert Hannsen. Expertly acted, wonderfully disrected, the film examines how the FBI managed to capture one of its own by planting it's own mole to work with Hannsen, and how that investigation ensued. Naturally, upon leaving the movie, my curiosity was peaked by the incident, so I purchased this book to fill in the gaps and connect the dots even more.\\n\\nWhat I ended up reading was a mere recount of Hannsen's life, the life of Louis Freeh, one-time FBI director, and a few e-mails and smutty stories Hannsen wrote about his wife. The book disappoints by mainly rehashing information already known, and failing to present much, if anything, of the FBI investigation that brought Hannsen down. Hannsen comes across neither interesting nor threatening, but moreso an angry employee looking to seek vengence on his employer, the US Government, by selling top secret documents to a country on the verge of falling apart.\\n\\nOkay, so we knew that. It took you 9/10 of the book to get to the investigation itself, and the pages that discussed it were minimal indeed. I learned more about this event from listening to an NPR story on the movie than reading this book.\\n\\nThe author seemingly sets up a dichotomy between Hannsen and Freeh early on in the book, but there really is no payoff to both of those stories as Freeh ends up in an incompetent mess, leaving the FBI, and working for a credit card company. It left me asking, what in the heck was he featured so prominently in this book? Probably to fill out the pages on an initially sketchy story.\\n\\nDon't believe the review on the back. Pass this book up, buy a ticket at your local movie theater, and spend two hours with Ryan Phillipe, Chris Cooper, and Laura Linney. THAT will be a great use of your time!\",\n \"Product: Hardcover\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Man Behind the Myth\\n\\nReview: How many times has \\\"A Christmas Carol\\\" been portrayed in film and on television? How many spinoffs and spoofs have we seen with this deceptively simple yet compelling story of redemption and renewal? Polled today, I'm sure an amazing plurality of Americans know this story, it's characters, and its joyous resolution. But how many of us know the author behind the story, or his story, as a matter of fact? \\\"The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits\\\" is a wonderful journey into the mind and imagination of Charles Dickens, and the life events that went into making this oft-told tale.\\n\\nLes Standiford's book serves as a brief look into the life of Charles Dickens, who, like many of his characters, came from the grime and soot of poor England, to his unlikely rise into literary stardom in the making of some of English's most unforgettable characters. It starts with a brief look into his childhood and meteoric rise as he wrote tales of London's most overlooked citizens. Dickens, through his serial writing, realized the power of appealing to the masses in London, many of whom could easily relate to Twist and Little Nell, oh, more so than relate but identify with these hardscrabble heroes.\\n\\nDue to some literary missteps, and a fateful trip to America which didn't garner him much more success, Dickens travels to Manchester, England to make a speech in which his vision of society and people as a whole are articulated. Standiford's book suggests (although the connections between the two seem somewhat more coincidental than purposeful) that the speech led Dickens to produce \\\"A Christmas Carol\\\", in addition to trying to rectify his finances, which were starting to decline.\\n\\nStill, Standiford's recounting of Dickens's writing the novel is interesting and insightful. By the time he gets to the middle of the book, where he starts that story, he's painted a good portrait of 1800's London, and of the author himself, making it interesting and a pleasurable read all the same. You find yourself cheering for the author to succeed (although, obviously, he does), and marvel at how quickly he spins this timeless tale. Does great need and little time produce some of our best work? Standiford seems to suggest so; would Dickens disagree?\\n\\nI devoured this book quickly, as will anyone on your Christmas list who enjoys books about reading, literature, biography, or the simple tale of \\\"A Christmas Carol\\\". This would make a fine gift for the holiday season, and perhaps, along with an edition of the novel itself? You won't go wrong!\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":29,"string":"29"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":73,"string":"73"}}},{"rowIdx":74,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A11BZ39QSLERNI"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Set in England during a world-wide viral infection, this documentary-style frightfest records the rise of the undead from the videocams of several survivor groups. As each struggles against the flesh-eating hordes, an even more horrifying fate lurks among them.\". The summary of the review text is \"By far the best Zombie movie ever made. Romero, take note!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Scattered groups of survivors try to stay alive at the time of a terrible, fast-spreading zombie plague. The movie has us follow their demise in a documentary, shoulder-held camera fashion.\n\nCritics for this low budget, low publicity, UK-made movie have been black and white. People either love it or reject it, there is seldom any middle-of-the-road standpoint. Those who did not like it might have either overlooked it or been too keen on special FX, which aren't numerous in this movie. They might also have been turned off by the absence of any strong, leading character, or even the realistic, saddening turn of events.\n\nWhat I loved in it though was its authenticity. Characters are believable. None is a hero, they are \"everyday-people\" that, in different times, you would not have met. They get to group for better protection. Most of the time, they are ill-fitted, disorganized, poorly trained, overwhelmed and emotionally shattered by what's happening around them. The movie's overall objective seems to be a simple description of an end-of-the-world event seen through the eyes of ordinary people. Some of them die stupidly of benign causes, some are reckless, some are selfish, some care for others. Also noteworthy is that there is no stereotype whatsoever on the zombies: they are neither bad nor good, they are just a nuisance that must be disposed of. But the icing on the cake is found in this horrible \"story-inside-the-story\" plot twist which only serves one goal: showing us, once more, that mankind's worse enemy has always been, is and will always be mankind."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Scattered groups of survivors try to stay alive at the time of a terrible, fast-spreading zombie plague. The movie has us follow their demise in a documentary, shoulder-held camera fashion.\n\nCritics for this low budget, low publicity, UK-made movie have been black and white. People either love it or reject it, there is seldom any middle-of-the-road standpoint. Those who did not like it might have either overlooked it or been too keen on special FX, which aren't numerous in this movie. They might also have been turned off by the absence of any strong, leading character, or even the realistic, saddening turn of events.\n\nWhat I loved in it though was its authenticity. Characters are believable. None is a hero, they are \"everyday-people\" that, in different times, you would not have met. They get to group for better protection. Most of the time, they are ill-fitted, disorganized, poorly trained, overwhelmed and emotionally shattered by what's happening around them. The movie's overall objective seems to be a simple description of an end-of-the-world event seen through the eyes of ordinary people. Some of them die stupidly of benign causes, some are reckless, some are selfish, some care for others. Also noteworthy is that there is no stereotype whatsoever on the zombies: they are neither bad nor good, they are just a nuisance that must be disposed of. But the icing on the cake is found in this horrible \"story-inside-the-story\" plot twist which only serves one goal: showing us, once more, that mankind's worse enemy has always been, is and will always be mankind."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: You don't have to be a professional pilot to experience the thrill of ultra-realistic flight combat simulation in this technologically advanced game.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A \"must-have sim\" for any aviation enthusiast!\n\nReview: In spite of its age, Lock-On remains one of the key references in military simulation games. Graphics are very good -the higher you climb, the more real-life the landscape gets-, A/C's behaviors -and related flaws- are quite realistic, the number of parameters that can be fine-tuned adds to the overall realism of the game.\n\nA few question marks remain on my side, though. For example, some of the F-15 campaign missions are almost unplayable, like the one in which a Russian A-50 AWACS must be destroyed: this is straight out of another world, with a flight of 2x F-15's scrambling to get this A50 out of the skies, as well as its Su-27 escort, with only the onboard gun! Where did the designers of Lock-On got this idea from???\n\nThat aside, Lock-On is a very good game which seems to be the last of its kind (when was a good military combat sim game last released??)","Product: Walking with Dinosaurs (Dbl DVD)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very educational, beautifully and professionnally made\n\nReview: If you're looking for a visual, all-encompassing, overall understanding of the world of dinosaurs, then look no further, as you've just found one such a document. This video covers the whole era of the \"mighty lizards\" with a timeline spanning over hundreds of millions of years, from the Triassic up until 60 millions years ago with the sudden and massive extinction of this world of giant. It is amazingly punching, with very well rendered CGI scenes, both on the ground, under the sea and in the air. This documentary is both educative and entertaining. The Allosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, Diplodocus, Plesiosaur, Ichthyosaur, (etc.) will have no more secrets once you finish viewing the DVD.\n\nMajor preys and predators of each era is covered graphically. Sequences are linked with one another in chronological order. Explanatory comments are clear, to the fact, based on scientific facts rather than on extrapolations, and are provided throughout the documentary to help understand the physical evolution of the flora and fauna of the world. Rationales, although sometimes tentative, are given about the reason why some species became extinct at times. Also, a special focus is given on the emergence of a very small, second tiers species, somewhat out of place is a world of \"giant lizards\": mammals. It is rather moving to see what we owe in today's world to such a \"negligible\" mammal ancestor.\n\nIt is also a fascinating testimony to the vanity of our civilization today, built on a few thousand years (taking the invention of writing as its start), when Dinosaurs roamed and ruled the world for HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of years.\n\nBritish TV animal documentaries are renowned worldwide for their utmost qualities. They have no equivalent anywhere. This is yet another example of their unequaled superiority.","Product: Lucie, a little 10-year old girl, disappears and is discovered a few months later wandering along the side of a road. The reason for her abduction remains a mystery. Traumatized and mute, she is put in a hospital where she is befriended by Anna, a girl of her own age. 15 years later and somebody rings the doorbell of an ordinary family home. A man opens the door to find Lucie standing there with a shotgun. Convinced she has found her tormentor, she pulls the trigger.\n\nMartyrs is a stylish revenge thriller that has been wowing audiences at festivals across the world. Already being touted for a remake, writer/director Pascal Laugier has also recently signed on to direct a remake of Hellraiser whilst one of the two beautiful female stars of the film: Mylne Jampano, is currently filming the new Serge Gainsbourg biopic in which she stars as Bambou.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An excellent film... that nobody can possibly like (watch it, and you'll know why)\n\nReview: (Basic) story: a young girl is imprisoned and tortured somewhere underground. She unexpectedly escapes. Placed in a specialized institution later on, she grows up troubled but relates to another girl, the two of them forming a solid, mutually supportive tandem which quickly focuses on retrieving the family of kidnappers and taking matters in their own hands. What none of them could imagine, though, is that by getting too close to fire, they could get burnt...\n\nIn Martyrs, horror and shock don't come primarily from blood, although there is some, or first-degree violence but from the fact that, like Inside, the movie dares attacking what's normally off limits, in this case innocence, the thirst for revenge, love, womanhood, religion and more.\n\nAlso, the theme's simplicity enables the film-makers to focus and avoid the dispersion of the narrative: it's about torture as a way to reach a \"higher plane\" of human consciousness, the rationalizing of torture (by some) as a justifiable means to a (superior, mystic) end with complete disregard for human free will.\n\nOn top of it, the theme benefits from a flabbergasting final twist. For most of its duration, the movie looks very much like a colder, less gory, more intimate version of Hostel... until something turns it upside down, revealing the disturbing aim of the whole horror and giving it a totally unexpected, mad-like-hell, that-can't-be-true, \"higher plane\" conclusion.\n\nFinally, the theme is supported by impeccable acting and filming that together shade a powerful and clinical light onto the movie, conveying a desperate sense of isolation: cold colours, cold characters dressed in dark clothes, cold materials such as shiny (marble?) floors, concrete walls, steel, glass... there's no warmth and no hope here except when the camera occasionally depicts naked human bodies.\n\nIn short, a very powerful, jaw-dropping, eye-opening horror movie and another top-notch proof that good ideas, creativity and risk-taking, which are -and have ALWAYS been- at the core of all forms of arts will always get the upper hand on big bucks, brainless, risk-adverse creation.","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Less sophisticated version of Aguirre, the wrath of God\n\nReview: A violent, dehumanized, mute, one-eyed warrior finds himself linked to a group of early Christian Vikings who depart to Jerusalem as Crusaders. On their way, something happens, they reach an unfamiliar place vibrant with beauty and dread. The film is, in the end, about salvation and redemption.\n\nWith that description, the scenario doesn't quite stand out as breathtaking and the interest of the movie is elsewhere. As starters, picture quality is outstandingly beautiful and several shots come close to modern art painting. Acting is solid, great performance from Mads Mikkelsen in the solitary, brutal, mysterious stranger role. But more than anything else, it is the impeccable rendering of the thick atmosphere of individual isolation and mental degradation, the slow yet deep and inexorable drift of humans towards insanity and violent climax in the face of the unknown, the constant opposition between early Christian beliefs and ancestral, animalistic fears that make this movie a good experience.\n\nFor those familiar with this other gem of the movie industry, \"Aguirre, the wrath of God\", Valhalla Rising conveys the same mix of madness, violence and unpredictability. Those interested in fast action might be disappointed as the pace is quite slow. An unsettling but damn enjoyable movie overall.","Product: Paperback. Pub Date :2011-04-29 Pages: 496 Language: English Publisher: HARPER Jurassic Park meets Lost in this electrifying new adventure thriller.When the cast and crew of reality TV show 'SeaLife' land on picturesque. unexplored Henders Island it's a ratings bonanza.But they're blissfully unaware that the decisions they make there will shape the fate of mankind ... if they can only survive.For they quickly discover that the island is seething with danger.Having evolved in total isolation from the rest of the planet for millennia. Henders is home to host of vicious and exotic predators. terrifying creatures who live in a lightning fast blur of kill or be killed.A team of crack scientists is sent in to assess the situation and they are astounded by what they find.It soon becomes clear that if even the smallest bug ever made it off Henders island. life on earth as we know it...\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Promising stream of horror science\n\nReview: The story's about a group of people and scientists that come across an isolated island in the Pacific... inhabited by a world of lethal creatures that have evolved separately from us. Of course, the rest of the plot evolves around the confrontation of both worlds.\n\nThe book's a fast turner. Well written, interesting in the theme(s) it tackles and the imaginative world it depicts, it definitely has the stuff of future movies.\n\nThe book's not without flaws, though, which I'd like to mention not for the sake of criticizing but rather as food for thought for the author. The narrative is not harmonious: entire sections of debates bring interesting ideas and hypothesis... but they don't add a lot to the plot. Also, the end of the book goes through unnecessary lengths as if Warren wanted to keep the action for as long as possible. After a while, though, the reader starts skimming through the text as 1- he knows what's going to happen and 2- he knows that what is going to happen won't be that important anyway. Get my point?\n\nAlso, the use of established brands, makes, product names... for God's sake! Fiction is about fiction, not about promoting commercial stuff!! These names might convey a sense of known environment to readers -but hey, there are other means to do that! Who cares to know, in a science-fiction novel, that this watch is an Omega? That that shirt is Ralph Lauren's?\n\nOther than that, go ahead, readers, it's well worth your time and money. And Warren, keep on the good work! Soon enough, Hollywood producers will start knocking at your door."],"string":"[\n \"Product: You don't have to be a professional pilot to experience the thrill of ultra-realistic flight combat simulation in this technologically advanced game.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A \\\"must-have sim\\\" for any aviation enthusiast!\\n\\nReview: In spite of its age, Lock-On remains one of the key references in military simulation games. Graphics are very good -the higher you climb, the more real-life the landscape gets-, A/C's behaviors -and related flaws- are quite realistic, the number of parameters that can be fine-tuned adds to the overall realism of the game.\\n\\nA few question marks remain on my side, though. For example, some of the F-15 campaign missions are almost unplayable, like the one in which a Russian A-50 AWACS must be destroyed: this is straight out of another world, with a flight of 2x F-15's scrambling to get this A50 out of the skies, as well as its Su-27 escort, with only the onboard gun! Where did the designers of Lock-On got this idea from???\\n\\nThat aside, Lock-On is a very good game which seems to be the last of its kind (when was a good military combat sim game last released??)\",\n \"Product: Walking with Dinosaurs (Dbl DVD)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very educational, beautifully and professionnally made\\n\\nReview: If you're looking for a visual, all-encompassing, overall understanding of the world of dinosaurs, then look no further, as you've just found one such a document. This video covers the whole era of the \\\"mighty lizards\\\" with a timeline spanning over hundreds of millions of years, from the Triassic up until 60 millions years ago with the sudden and massive extinction of this world of giant. It is amazingly punching, with very well rendered CGI scenes, both on the ground, under the sea and in the air. This documentary is both educative and entertaining. The Allosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, Diplodocus, Plesiosaur, Ichthyosaur, (etc.) will have no more secrets once you finish viewing the DVD.\\n\\nMajor preys and predators of each era is covered graphically. Sequences are linked with one another in chronological order. Explanatory comments are clear, to the fact, based on scientific facts rather than on extrapolations, and are provided throughout the documentary to help understand the physical evolution of the flora and fauna of the world. Rationales, although sometimes tentative, are given about the reason why some species became extinct at times. Also, a special focus is given on the emergence of a very small, second tiers species, somewhat out of place is a world of \\\"giant lizards\\\": mammals. It is rather moving to see what we owe in today's world to such a \\\"negligible\\\" mammal ancestor.\\n\\nIt is also a fascinating testimony to the vanity of our civilization today, built on a few thousand years (taking the invention of writing as its start), when Dinosaurs roamed and ruled the world for HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of years.\\n\\nBritish TV animal documentaries are renowned worldwide for their utmost qualities. They have no equivalent anywhere. This is yet another example of their unequaled superiority.\",\n \"Product: Lucie, a little 10-year old girl, disappears and is discovered a few months later wandering along the side of a road. The reason for her abduction remains a mystery. Traumatized and mute, she is put in a hospital where she is befriended by Anna, a girl of her own age. 15 years later and somebody rings the doorbell of an ordinary family home. A man opens the door to find Lucie standing there with a shotgun. Convinced she has found her tormentor, she pulls the trigger.\\n\\nMartyrs is a stylish revenge thriller that has been wowing audiences at festivals across the world. Already being touted for a remake, writer/director Pascal Laugier has also recently signed on to direct a remake of Hellraiser whilst one of the two beautiful female stars of the film: Mylne Jampano, is currently filming the new Serge Gainsbourg biopic in which she stars as Bambou.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An excellent film... that nobody can possibly like (watch it, and you'll know why)\\n\\nReview: (Basic) story: a young girl is imprisoned and tortured somewhere underground. She unexpectedly escapes. Placed in a specialized institution later on, she grows up troubled but relates to another girl, the two of them forming a solid, mutually supportive tandem which quickly focuses on retrieving the family of kidnappers and taking matters in their own hands. What none of them could imagine, though, is that by getting too close to fire, they could get burnt...\\n\\nIn Martyrs, horror and shock don't come primarily from blood, although there is some, or first-degree violence but from the fact that, like Inside, the movie dares attacking what's normally off limits, in this case innocence, the thirst for revenge, love, womanhood, religion and more.\\n\\nAlso, the theme's simplicity enables the film-makers to focus and avoid the dispersion of the narrative: it's about torture as a way to reach a \\\"higher plane\\\" of human consciousness, the rationalizing of torture (by some) as a justifiable means to a (superior, mystic) end with complete disregard for human free will.\\n\\nOn top of it, the theme benefits from a flabbergasting final twist. For most of its duration, the movie looks very much like a colder, less gory, more intimate version of Hostel... until something turns it upside down, revealing the disturbing aim of the whole horror and giving it a totally unexpected, mad-like-hell, that-can't-be-true, \\\"higher plane\\\" conclusion.\\n\\nFinally, the theme is supported by impeccable acting and filming that together shade a powerful and clinical light onto the movie, conveying a desperate sense of isolation: cold colours, cold characters dressed in dark clothes, cold materials such as shiny (marble?) floors, concrete walls, steel, glass... there's no warmth and no hope here except when the camera occasionally depicts naked human bodies.\\n\\nIn short, a very powerful, jaw-dropping, eye-opening horror movie and another top-notch proof that good ideas, creativity and risk-taking, which are -and have ALWAYS been- at the core of all forms of arts will always get the upper hand on big bucks, brainless, risk-adverse creation.\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Less sophisticated version of Aguirre, the wrath of God\\n\\nReview: A violent, dehumanized, mute, one-eyed warrior finds himself linked to a group of early Christian Vikings who depart to Jerusalem as Crusaders. On their way, something happens, they reach an unfamiliar place vibrant with beauty and dread. The film is, in the end, about salvation and redemption.\\n\\nWith that description, the scenario doesn't quite stand out as breathtaking and the interest of the movie is elsewhere. As starters, picture quality is outstandingly beautiful and several shots come close to modern art painting. Acting is solid, great performance from Mads Mikkelsen in the solitary, brutal, mysterious stranger role. But more than anything else, it is the impeccable rendering of the thick atmosphere of individual isolation and mental degradation, the slow yet deep and inexorable drift of humans towards insanity and violent climax in the face of the unknown, the constant opposition between early Christian beliefs and ancestral, animalistic fears that make this movie a good experience.\\n\\nFor those familiar with this other gem of the movie industry, \\\"Aguirre, the wrath of God\\\", Valhalla Rising conveys the same mix of madness, violence and unpredictability. Those interested in fast action might be disappointed as the pace is quite slow. An unsettling but damn enjoyable movie overall.\",\n \"Product: Paperback. Pub Date :2011-04-29 Pages: 496 Language: English Publisher: HARPER Jurassic Park meets Lost in this electrifying new adventure thriller.When the cast and crew of reality TV show 'SeaLife' land on picturesque. unexplored Henders Island it's a ratings bonanza.But they're blissfully unaware that the decisions they make there will shape the fate of mankind ... if they can only survive.For they quickly discover that the island is seething with danger.Having evolved in total isolation from the rest of the planet for millennia. Henders is home to host of vicious and exotic predators. terrifying creatures who live in a lightning fast blur of kill or be killed.A team of crack scientists is sent in to assess the situation and they are astounded by what they find.It soon becomes clear that if even the smallest bug ever made it off Henders island. life on earth as we know it...\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Promising stream of horror science\\n\\nReview: The story's about a group of people and scientists that come across an isolated island in the Pacific... inhabited by a world of lethal creatures that have evolved separately from us. Of course, the rest of the plot evolves around the confrontation of both worlds.\\n\\nThe book's a fast turner. Well written, interesting in the theme(s) it tackles and the imaginative world it depicts, it definitely has the stuff of future movies.\\n\\nThe book's not without flaws, though, which I'd like to mention not for the sake of criticizing but rather as food for thought for the author. The narrative is not harmonious: entire sections of debates bring interesting ideas and hypothesis... but they don't add a lot to the plot. Also, the end of the book goes through unnecessary lengths as if Warren wanted to keep the action for as long as possible. After a while, though, the reader starts skimming through the text as 1- he knows what's going to happen and 2- he knows that what is going to happen won't be that important anyway. Get my point?\\n\\nAlso, the use of established brands, makes, product names... for God's sake! Fiction is about fiction, not about promoting commercial stuff!! These names might convey a sense of known environment to readers -but hey, there are other means to do that! Who cares to know, in a science-fiction novel, that this watch is an Omega? That that shirt is Ralph Lauren's?\\n\\nOther than that, go ahead, readers, it's well worth your time and money. And Warren, keep on the good work! Soon enough, Hollywood producers will start knocking at your door.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":5,"string":"5"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":74,"string":"74"}}},{"rowIdx":75,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3B086LGMBTXEI"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Title: Dune, Frank Herbert (Hardcover)\nBinding: Hardcover\nClassics of Modern Literature\". The summary of the review text is \"Good, but it didn't \"grab\" me\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"After seeing part of the movie (as much as I could stand to watch), I've always avoided this book, but after reading some reviews of it, I decided it was probably just the movie that stunk and gave it a try.\nI liked the book. I thought the plot was good, and the characters were solid, and I was always interested to find out what happened. But the plot never really grabbed me, I never had to keep reading to find out what happened, so it went a litt;e slow for me. But I think that may just be a personal preference more than any shortcoming of the story. I thought it got a little too involved in the ritual and the customs of the Fremen, but what I was more interested in were the characters of Maud'dib and Jessica and the Atriedes and Harkonnen families.\nI'll probably at leat read the next book to see if I get any more interested, but if I don't I probably won't go any farther with the series. Overall, though, I thought this book was interesting and well-written if not the best thing for me personally."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"After seeing part of the movie (as much as I could stand to watch), I've always avoided this book, but after reading some reviews of it, I decided it was probably just the movie that stunk and gave it a try.\nI liked the book. I thought the plot was good, and the characters were solid, and I was always interested to find out what happened. But the plot never really grabbed me, I never had to keep reading to find out what happened, so it went a litt;e slow for me. But I think that may just be a personal preference more than any shortcoming of the story. I thought it got a little too involved in the ritual and the customs of the Fremen, but what I was more interested in were the characters of Maud'dib and Jessica and the Atriedes and Harkonnen families.\nI'll probably at leat read the next book to see if I get any more interested, but if I don't I probably won't go any farther with the series. Overall, though, I thought this book was interesting and well-written if not the best thing for me personally."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Three slender, yet sturdy layers offer tough protection in a sleek package. With a slim form factor and smooth outer layer, this case slides easily in and out of a pocket, purse or bag.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not worth the money\n\nReview: I wanted to get a quality case that would protect my phone, and also feel and look nice. At first, this case seemed to fit the bill. Everything looks good and feels well made. Once I put it on the phone, everything seemed solid. After a few days, I noticed that when the phone is on the kickstand, the case throws off the balance, so it wobbles, which is an annoying flaw for such an expensive case, but something I could live with. The biggest problem I've found, is that after about a month, the thin strip of the inner shell that's at the bottom front of the case seems to be loosening up, and doesn't stay in place. This makes using the phone more of a hassle, and makes the case look a lot worse, and it seems like it's only a matter of time before this part gets caught on something and breaks.","Product: London. 27cm. 174p. : ill,some col. Encuadernacin en tapa blanda de editorial ilustrada. Idioma Ingls. C. S. Lewis ; illustrations by Pauline Baynes. [Chronicles of Narnia ][The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. ]. Narnia novels. Chronicles of Narnia 1. Chronicles of Narnia. Ill. on lining papers. First published : Geoffrey Bles, 1950 .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y seales de su anterior propietario. ISBN: 0001831526; 9780001831520\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beginning of a great series\n\nReview: I watched the animated version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe when I was a kid, and really liked it. At the time, I didn't realize that it was a book, or that there were other stories. Once I ofund out, I read the entire series, and re-read it several times as a kid. I have meant to read them again for quite a while, but the movie coming out soon finally motivated me to get to it.\n\nThe book was as good as I remember, but it did read like a kid's book. If didn't have such great memories of reading it while I was a kid, this might have bothered me more, but as it is, it didn't matter to me. It was also very short, but despite that, Lewis does a great job of introducting us to the world of Narnia and to some great characters.\n\nIf you're an adult who hasn't read these before, there probably isn't much point, as the movie will probably do a good job of telling the story on a higher level, but if you're a kid, you should definitely read this series. Although, make sure you start with this book first, even though they are currently being marketed in chronological order with this book second. This is the first book in the series (it says as much at the end of the book), and reading them first in a different order is a great disservice to the story and the reader.","Product: The hauntingly prophetic classic novel set in a not-too-distant future where books are burned by a special task force of firemen. Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Even so, Montag is unhappy; there is discord in his marriage. Are books hidden in his house? The Mechanical Hound of the Fire Department, armed with a lethal hypodermic, escorted by helicopters, is ready to track down those dissidents who defy society to preserve and read books. The classic novel of a post-literate future, 'Fahrenheit 451' stands alongside Orwell's '1984' and Huxley's 'Brave New World' as a prophetic account of Western civilization's enslavement by the media, drugs and conformity. Bradbury's powerful and poetic prose combines with uncanny insight into the potential of technology to create a novel which over fifty years from first publication, still has the power to dazzle and shock.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: I know it's a classic, but I was not impressed.\n\nReview: Haing missed this book in school, somehow, I've always meant to read it since I keep hearing great things about it. I don't know if my expectations were too high or I'm just missing something that everyone else sees, but I didn't like it.\n\nThe idea that political correctness grows into something so ridiculous that not only are books burned, but the houses that they occupy are burned also was just impossible for me to swallow. Add to that only a single character that was likeable at all (and she was killed off pretty early), then a pretty boring story to go along with it, and the only reason I was able to finish it was because it was so short.\n\nI don't see any reason why anyone would want to read this book, but I'm clearly in the minority on this one, so maybe you'll like it better than I did.","Product: Book by Feist, Raymond E.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Who the heck is Raymond Feist?\n\nReview: That's what I was thinking as I began reading this book about 10 years ago, as I had never heard of him before. Despite my reservations because I hadn't heard anything about the book or the author, I was quickly hooked.\nThe world of Midkemia that Feist creates in this book is very well done, I really got a good sense of how life was there through the eyes of Pug, the young magician's apprentice. Just as I was getting comfortable with this new world and the characters in it, the book gets very exciting when a war breaks out between the Midkemians and the Tsurani who have been transported to Midkemia through a rift that connects the two worlds.\nThis was a very interesting and engrossing book, and I would recommend it to any fans of good epic fantasy.","Product: Tom Sullivan is about to graduate from Princeton. He's intelligent and popular, but haunted by the violent death several years earlier of his father, an academic who devoted his life to studying one of the rarest, most complex and most valuable books in the world. Since its publication in 1499, \"The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili\" has baffled scholars who have tried to understand its many mysteries. Coded in seven languages, the text is at once a passionate love story, an intricate mathematical labyrinth, and a tale of arcane brutality. Paul Harris, Tom's room-mate, has deeply personal reasons of his own for wanting to unveil the secrets the book hides. When a long-lost diary surfaces, it seems the two friends have found the key to the labyrinth - but when a fellow researcher is murdered only hours later, they suddenly find themselves in great danger. And what they discover embedded in the text stuns them: a narrative detailing the passion of a Renaissance prince, a hidden crypt, and a secret worth dying to protect.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: All that fuss, over what?\n\nReview: This book seemed to want to be like The DaVinci Code with mysteries hidden that would reveal great secrets if only they could be figured out. However it lacks the excitement of that book, and also the subject seems a bit too obscure to cause all the drama that took place in the plot, anyway.\n\nThe characters are pretty good, and the story isn't too bad, but it's just hard to believe that so much would go on surrounding such an obscure uninteresting (to most people) subject. Also, the authors jump around too much with the timeline and at some points it isn't clear if you are reading past or present events in the story. It also seems like the same information is presented over and over again as Tom looks back on his father's struggles.\n\nNot a bad book, but not one I would recommend very highly.","Product: Tiny tear bottom DJ. Pages are clean and bright and binding is tight. Solid Book.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not a great story, but a very intriguing concept\n\nReview: I had read the Rama series by Arthur C. Clarke, and liked the sequels which had been co-authored with Gentry Lee than the original which Clarke wrote himself, as well as Manifold: Time, by Stephen Baxter, which I hated, so I wasn't sure I would like this book. But it was highly recommended by a co-worker and the subject sounded interesting enough that I gave it a try.\nThe concept was everything that I had hoped for with the invention of the WormCam and the fall-out from their use. The implications regarding privacy, honesty, history and religion were all very intersting to consider and were presented well in the book. Where I thought the story was lacking was in the more focused plot involving the inventor of the WormCam and his family. That story wasn't terribly interesting, and the characters were all fairly shallow and I didn't care too much about what happened to them. I was also a little annoyed that the authors didn't seem to know when the Colosseum was built, as it appears in the story around 40 years before it existed. There were also some othe minor things that annoyed me, such as how quickly the breakthroughs were made in the WormCam development, and also some of the more practical aspects of using the WormCam that weren't explained well. Like, for example, if someone is walking around \"in the past\" using his WormCam, how does he avoid walking into walls in the present? Overall, however, I thought the concept of the WormCam was interesting enough to overshadow the other problems, and it's capped off with a very well done ending that ties everything up pretty well.\nI would recommend this book even if you don't necessarily like the authors because of the interesting subject, and if you are a fan of Clarke or Baxter, then you will probably enjoy it that much more."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Three slender, yet sturdy layers offer tough protection in a sleek package. With a slim form factor and smooth outer layer, this case slides easily in and out of a pocket, purse or bag.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not worth the money\\n\\nReview: I wanted to get a quality case that would protect my phone, and also feel and look nice. At first, this case seemed to fit the bill. Everything looks good and feels well made. Once I put it on the phone, everything seemed solid. After a few days, I noticed that when the phone is on the kickstand, the case throws off the balance, so it wobbles, which is an annoying flaw for such an expensive case, but something I could live with. The biggest problem I've found, is that after about a month, the thin strip of the inner shell that's at the bottom front of the case seems to be loosening up, and doesn't stay in place. This makes using the phone more of a hassle, and makes the case look a lot worse, and it seems like it's only a matter of time before this part gets caught on something and breaks.\",\n \"Product: London. 27cm. 174p. : ill,some col. Encuadernacin en tapa blanda de editorial ilustrada. Idioma Ingls. C. S. Lewis ; illustrations by Pauline Baynes. [Chronicles of Narnia ][The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. ]. Narnia novels. Chronicles of Narnia 1. Chronicles of Narnia. Ill. on lining papers. First published : Geoffrey Bles, 1950 .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y seales de su anterior propietario. ISBN: 0001831526; 9780001831520\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beginning of a great series\\n\\nReview: I watched the animated version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe when I was a kid, and really liked it. At the time, I didn't realize that it was a book, or that there were other stories. Once I ofund out, I read the entire series, and re-read it several times as a kid. I have meant to read them again for quite a while, but the movie coming out soon finally motivated me to get to it.\\n\\nThe book was as good as I remember, but it did read like a kid's book. If didn't have such great memories of reading it while I was a kid, this might have bothered me more, but as it is, it didn't matter to me. It was also very short, but despite that, Lewis does a great job of introducting us to the world of Narnia and to some great characters.\\n\\nIf you're an adult who hasn't read these before, there probably isn't much point, as the movie will probably do a good job of telling the story on a higher level, but if you're a kid, you should definitely read this series. Although, make sure you start with this book first, even though they are currently being marketed in chronological order with this book second. This is the first book in the series (it says as much at the end of the book), and reading them first in a different order is a great disservice to the story and the reader.\",\n \"Product: The hauntingly prophetic classic novel set in a not-too-distant future where books are burned by a special task force of firemen. Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Even so, Montag is unhappy; there is discord in his marriage. Are books hidden in his house? The Mechanical Hound of the Fire Department, armed with a lethal hypodermic, escorted by helicopters, is ready to track down those dissidents who defy society to preserve and read books. The classic novel of a post-literate future, 'Fahrenheit 451' stands alongside Orwell's '1984' and Huxley's 'Brave New World' as a prophetic account of Western civilization's enslavement by the media, drugs and conformity. Bradbury's powerful and poetic prose combines with uncanny insight into the potential of technology to create a novel which over fifty years from first publication, still has the power to dazzle and shock.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: I know it's a classic, but I was not impressed.\\n\\nReview: Haing missed this book in school, somehow, I've always meant to read it since I keep hearing great things about it. I don't know if my expectations were too high or I'm just missing something that everyone else sees, but I didn't like it.\\n\\nThe idea that political correctness grows into something so ridiculous that not only are books burned, but the houses that they occupy are burned also was just impossible for me to swallow. Add to that only a single character that was likeable at all (and she was killed off pretty early), then a pretty boring story to go along with it, and the only reason I was able to finish it was because it was so short.\\n\\nI don't see any reason why anyone would want to read this book, but I'm clearly in the minority on this one, so maybe you'll like it better than I did.\",\n \"Product: Book by Feist, Raymond E.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Who the heck is Raymond Feist?\\n\\nReview: That's what I was thinking as I began reading this book about 10 years ago, as I had never heard of him before. Despite my reservations because I hadn't heard anything about the book or the author, I was quickly hooked.\\nThe world of Midkemia that Feist creates in this book is very well done, I really got a good sense of how life was there through the eyes of Pug, the young magician's apprentice. Just as I was getting comfortable with this new world and the characters in it, the book gets very exciting when a war breaks out between the Midkemians and the Tsurani who have been transported to Midkemia through a rift that connects the two worlds.\\nThis was a very interesting and engrossing book, and I would recommend it to any fans of good epic fantasy.\",\n \"Product: Tom Sullivan is about to graduate from Princeton. He's intelligent and popular, but haunted by the violent death several years earlier of his father, an academic who devoted his life to studying one of the rarest, most complex and most valuable books in the world. Since its publication in 1499, \\\"The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili\\\" has baffled scholars who have tried to understand its many mysteries. Coded in seven languages, the text is at once a passionate love story, an intricate mathematical labyrinth, and a tale of arcane brutality. Paul Harris, Tom's room-mate, has deeply personal reasons of his own for wanting to unveil the secrets the book hides. When a long-lost diary surfaces, it seems the two friends have found the key to the labyrinth - but when a fellow researcher is murdered only hours later, they suddenly find themselves in great danger. And what they discover embedded in the text stuns them: a narrative detailing the passion of a Renaissance prince, a hidden crypt, and a secret worth dying to protect.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: All that fuss, over what?\\n\\nReview: This book seemed to want to be like The DaVinci Code with mysteries hidden that would reveal great secrets if only they could be figured out. However it lacks the excitement of that book, and also the subject seems a bit too obscure to cause all the drama that took place in the plot, anyway.\\n\\nThe characters are pretty good, and the story isn't too bad, but it's just hard to believe that so much would go on surrounding such an obscure uninteresting (to most people) subject. Also, the authors jump around too much with the timeline and at some points it isn't clear if you are reading past or present events in the story. It also seems like the same information is presented over and over again as Tom looks back on his father's struggles.\\n\\nNot a bad book, but not one I would recommend very highly.\",\n \"Product: Tiny tear bottom DJ. Pages are clean and bright and binding is tight. Solid Book.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not a great story, but a very intriguing concept\\n\\nReview: I had read the Rama series by Arthur C. Clarke, and liked the sequels which had been co-authored with Gentry Lee than the original which Clarke wrote himself, as well as Manifold: Time, by Stephen Baxter, which I hated, so I wasn't sure I would like this book. But it was highly recommended by a co-worker and the subject sounded interesting enough that I gave it a try.\\nThe concept was everything that I had hoped for with the invention of the WormCam and the fall-out from their use. The implications regarding privacy, honesty, history and religion were all very intersting to consider and were presented well in the book. Where I thought the story was lacking was in the more focused plot involving the inventor of the WormCam and his family. That story wasn't terribly interesting, and the characters were all fairly shallow and I didn't care too much about what happened to them. I was also a little annoyed that the authors didn't seem to know when the Colosseum was built, as it appears in the story around 40 years before it existed. There were also some othe minor things that annoyed me, such as how quickly the breakthroughs were made in the WormCam development, and also some of the more practical aspects of using the WormCam that weren't explained well. Like, for example, if someone is walking around \\\"in the past\\\" using his WormCam, how does he avoid walking into walls in the present? Overall, however, I thought the concept of the WormCam was interesting enough to overshadow the other problems, and it's capped off with a very well done ending that ties everything up pretty well.\\nI would recommend this book even if you don't necessarily like the authors because of the interesting subject, and if you are a fan of Clarke or Baxter, then you will probably enjoy it that much more.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":6,"string":"6"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":75,"string":"75"}}},{"rowIdx":76,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A13QM0HT6VXHL5"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Our newest baking essential addition to the Rodelle family our Dutch Processed Baking Cocoa. Our baking cocoa is European Dutch processed for rich flavor and appearance. It contains one of the highest levels of cocoa butter on the market, ensuring superior flavor.\". The summary of the review text is \"VERY CHOCOLATE-Y RICH COCOA\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I purchased this cocoa twice and I love it. In fact, I love it so much, I gave my granddaughter a bunch of cookbooks for her birthday AND a container of this cocoa beause it's really that good. It's extremely chocolate-y, dark, a little bitter but not in a bad way. Most importantly, it's very finely ground so I've had no problem integrating with dry ingredients or with wet. It's a solid baking cocoa that I use for basic chocolate recipes - like syrup, cookies, etc. I haven't used it for hot cocoa but I think it would be perfect. Right now it's my favorite cocoa for my home made chocolate sauce/syrup because the chocolate flavor is distinct and delicious. And it goes very well with Mexican vanilla. ."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I purchased this cocoa twice and I love it. In fact, I love it so much, I gave my granddaughter a bunch of cookbooks for her birthday AND a container of this cocoa beause it's really that good. It's extremely chocolate-y, dark, a little bitter but not in a bad way. Most importantly, it's very finely ground so I've had no problem integrating with dry ingredients or with wet. It's a solid baking cocoa that I use for basic chocolate recipes - like syrup, cookies, etc. I haven't used it for hot cocoa but I think it would be perfect. Right now it's my favorite cocoa for my home made chocolate sauce/syrup because the chocolate flavor is distinct and delicious. And it goes very well with Mexican vanilla. ."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: RSVP strives to offer quality kitchen products and cooking tools at competitive prices.Our set of four Endurance Round Biscuit Cutters, Plain are a perfect example. Whip up some excellent biscuits for your family and friends with these biscuit cutters. The set is constructed from a heavy-gauge polished stainless steel that will last for years of use in the kitchen. Featuring a generous depth for thick holiday biscuits, they have handles that arch high over the cutters, so there's plenty of grip room. Also great for cutting desserts and hamburgers, the set includes four different sized cutters for a multitude of uses; 1-1/2-inches in diameter by 3-1/4-inches tall, 2-1/4-inches in diameter by 3-1/4-inches tall, 2-1/2-inches in diameter by 3-1/4-inches tall, and finally 2-3/4-inches in diameter by 3-1/4-inches tall. When all the right people, and ingredients, kitchen tools, and food come together, we call this The Art of Gathering.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: didn't have all four cutters in the little box!! :(\n\nReview: Very unhappy. I waited a while to buy this set..why? If you're wondering why, I guess it's because I'm a baker and I already have cutters, but none are as deep as these. I received the order today and find either the largest or second largest cutter is missing. (I'll have to go measure to see which one isn't there but it's one of the big ones.) I'm pretty unhappy about the whole thing.\n\nYou see I HAVE cutters and I went and bought more of the same except I needed deep ones for a special BIG biscuit recipe for Thanksgiving. Yes, we'll have our biscuits. But no, I won't have all four sizes for biscuits and cookie baking and petit fours I'll be making in the next couple of weeks.\n\n(sigh)","Product: The Swissmar V-Prep V-Slicer Mandoline set is a joint venture by two well established kitchenware companies. As long term partners, Swissmar clearly knows that Brner, with their 50+ years of experience and being the makers of the Original V-Slicer, were the perfect manufacturer of the V-Prep V-Slicer. Combined with the Swissmar designed multi-functional bowl, this set provides everything you need - it's safe, easy to use, compact, stores completely protected and offers the performance and results that one expects from a Brner made V-Slicer. You too can prepare foods like a professional, with the safe and simple to use V-Prep. The V-Prep Mandoline is made of durable ABS plastic with German surgical grade stainless steel blades. Three inserts allow you to slice, julienne and shred cuts. The ambidextrous Food Safety Holder has a serrated edge to safely push food off slicer and requires very little pressure. Steel pins grip most sizes and shapes of produce to create even slices every time. The multi- function bowl with lid stores all parts when not in use and catches all sliced fruits and vegetables when in use. Easy to clean; rinse under hot or cold running water immediately after use.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT\n\nReview: This is a very sharp kickass mandoline. I've resisted mandolines because I was a little nervous. I am good with a knife and I work fast but I figured while learning, I'd mandoline a finger or two. However, this one has a great sliding holder gizmo that cups the veggy inside itself while I can slide it over the supersharp blades. And believe me, these blades are SUPERduper sharp.\n\n(I'm sure down the line I'll end up being all arrogant and cavalier and shaving off a piece of me, but that goes with the territory of busywork in the kitchen - along with burning and blistering is the loping away at finger bits.)\n\nI think I like using it too, the holder. I didn't know if I'd instictively want to be a safe camper, or go gonzo crazy while working as I've read some people do. I don't blame them because it can be a very fast cutting device, but I feel the holder works fine. It's a good design as it cups the food along with lots of grabby spikes to lock it in. The design works really efficiently. I learned today celery isn't a great mandoline veggy. But it sliced an overripe tomato perfectly that I happened to have.\n\nThere are little rubber feet on the mandoline, to hold it steady on the counter. I positioned it on a plastic cutting board and it held steady. I also used it directly over a pot and it's big enough that it worked great.\n\nI love the julienne attachments, but best best best of all besides the sharp blades and neat German design is the holder. The entire device and extra blades simply slip into this neat little holder that stands in the corner of a counter. It's great! It even has instruction images on the device itself. It's really fabulous.\n\nIt's a little pricey I think. But aren't all the really good tools a little pricey? This one's worth every penny. :)","Product: The Swissmar V-Prep V-Slicer Mandoline set is a joint venture by two well established kitchenware companies. As long term partners, Swissmar clearly knows that Brner, with their 50+ years of experience and being the makers of the Original V-Slicer, were the perfect manufacturer of the V-Prep V-Slicer. Combined with the Swissmar designed multi-functional bowl, this set provides everything you need - it's safe, easy to use, compact, stores completely protected and offers the performance and results that one expects from a Brner made V-Slicer. You too can prepare foods like a professional, with the safe and simple to use V-Prep. The V-Prep Mandoline is made of durable ABS plastic with German surgical grade stainless steel blades. Three inserts allow you to slice, julienne and shred cuts. The ambidextrous Food Safety Holder has a serrated edge to safely push food off slicer and requires very little pressure. Steel pins grip most sizes and shapes of produce to create even slices every time. The multi- function bowl with lid stores all parts when not in use and catches all sliced fruits and vegetables when in use. Easy to clean; rinse under hot or cold running water immediately after use.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT\n\nReview: This is a very sharp kickass mandoline. I've resisted mandolines because I was a little nervous. I am good with a knife and I work fast but I figured while learning, I'd mandoline a finger or two. However, this one has a great sliding holder gizmo that cups the veggy inside itself while I can slide it over the supersharp blades. And believe me, these blades are SUPERduper sharp.\n\n(I'm sure down the line I'll end up being all arrogant and cavalier and shaving off a piece of me, but that goes with the territory of busywork in the kitchen - along with burning and blistering is the loping away at finger bits.)\n\nI think I like using it too, the holder. I didn't know if I'd instictively want to be a safe camper, or go gonzo crazy while working as I've read some people do. I don't blame them because it can be a very fast cutting device, but I feel the holder works fine. It's a good design as it cups the food along with lots of grabby spikes to lock it in. The design works really efficiently. I learned today celery isn't a great mandoline veggy. But it sliced an overripe tomato perfectly that I happened to have.\n\nThere are little rubber feet on the mandoline, to hold it steady on the counter. I positioned it on a plastic cutting board and it held steady. I also used it directly over a pot and it's big enough that it worked great.\n\nI love the julienne attachments, but best best best of all besides the sharp blades and neat German design is the holder. The entire device and extra blades simply slip into this neat little holder that stands in the corner of a counter. It's great! It even has instruction images on the device itself. It's really fabulous.\n\nIt's a little pricey I think. But aren't all the really good tools a little pricey? This one's worth every penny. :)","Product: The easiest way to great coffee is the Cuisinart Grind & Brew! This 12-cup coffeemaker automatically grinds the beans right before brewing to deliver the freshest coffee flavor, and the streamlined design with a brushed metal finish looks great in any kitchen. Fully programmable, with a large control panel, its easier than ever to enjoy a hot cup of coffee any time of day. Simple, quick, delicious great coffee is automatic with the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Features: Automatically grinds whole beans before brewing 24-hour fully programmable 12-cup (5 ounces each) glass carafe Brew Pause feature lets you enjoy a cup before brewing has finished Adjustable auto-shutoff (0-4 hours) Grind-off feature 1 to 4-cup feature Gold tone commercial style permanent filter Charcoal water filter removes impurities Limited 3-year warranty\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: makes good tepid coffee :/\n\nReview: I think if you like coffee to be hot, this is not the brewer for you.\n\nThe water is hot enough to make coffee. We have used it at least once a day ourselves. But the coffee doesn't stay hot because it's not super hot in the first place and the heating plate is only on as long as it takes to make a pot of coffee - although the description says it has \"automatic 1 - 4 hour heating\" - which is a timed hot plate some models have.\n\nHad I known this model is lacking this feature, I wouldn't have ordered it. I LIKE the hot plate and I'll tell you, it is sorely missed here. I'm not happy with this machine, as much as I want to be. Packing it up and sending it back isn't inexpensive and it's a pain. BUt I can't keep it.\n\nThis is our third Cuisinart Grind and Brew coffee maker. We've given them as gifts, we like them so much. But I wouldn't give this model.\n\nSo to be honest, I will detail the PROS and then the CONS:\n\n1. The most noticeable is the carafe with an improved, longer pour spout with an increased length and overall spout design that makes all the difference in the world. The spout pours perfectly cleanly now. Also the cap screws on much smoother.\n\n2. You can see how much water you're putting in from the outside on the side. And if you have one, you can use a sink's hand sprayer to fill the tank and watch the little red ball on the side. It's a very nice design.\n\n3. The grind basket is different now and hooks directly and securely to the side of the swinging door - rather than catching on a ledge on the door and being held in place by a platform in the back when the door is shut. They've eliminated a little area that would catch flying grinds that got crusted on by the steamy environment. So no extra nooks and crannys to clean out when it's maintenance time - the ground coffee goes straight into the basket and no where else. But that means, you can't use your old baskets if you have them. (I have a few)\n\n4. The finish has a plastic coating over the stainless, so it's much easier to keep new looking and shiny. No worries about scrubbing and ruining the brushed stainless finish.\n\nCONS:\n\n1. The heat of the finished pot. The water is heated sufficiently enough to make a pot of coffee, but the coffee seems to cool down faster. Perhaps it's the carafe or the fact that the heating pad shuts down too soon. I don't know why. All I know is my coffee comes out - more or less - hot but within a half hour, it's tepid. So cup two has to go into the microwave.\n\n2. The \"automatic 1 - 4 hour heating\" is not a feature on this model, and believe me, it needs it big time.\n\nIn summary, this could be a great coffee maker, but only with the extended heating feature. The coffee doesn't stay hot enough to pour a hot second cup a half hour later. That doesn't work for me.\n\nI'm afraid I can't recommend this model. Its okay if you like your coffee not \"too\" hot or you're buying this for a senior who you would worry could burn themselves. No worry there. We bought it here on Amazon and I'm sending it back if it's within the time period for returns. I'm unhappy enough to return it.","Product: Tramontina's Gourmet 8 Quart 18/10 Stainless Steel Pasta Insert, from the company's Prima line, adds both beauty and performance to kitchen tasks. The 8 Quart Pasta Insert features an elegantly styled vessel with a flared edge and mirror exterior finish. The insert fits within the Prima 8 Qt. Stock Pot.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent manufacturer of quality product\n\nReview: I had a four pc set of Tramontina stainless \"tri ply\" for probably 30 years. I bought them in Macys way back when and they were what I thought would be my first \"starter set\". They ended up being my only set for all this time. Well, I loved them and used them consistently, some pieces more than others at different times, but essentially all the pieces, all the time. I kept them clean and polished and they never ever failed to give gorgeous results, the highly polished stainless resists sticking, and even if I screwed up and burned something, a soak of hot water and dish detergent and they were like new. Never got stained, never cooked inconsistently or had hot spots, never got stains on the outside/bottom of them. If I polished them up, they looked nearly as good as new.\n\nRecently I noticed one of the saucepan bottoms was coming away from the main pot and when I checked all the pieces , all of them except for the 1 qt saucepan were subtley starting to show the same issue.\n\nI am a serious cook, always have been. I USED those pans. A LOT. That they were showing wear and damage after 30 years of use wasn't surprising but it took me by surprise anyway because t's just that you don't think of these things, that this can happen.\n\nI contacted Tramontina. They had me send the entire set back and then they sent a complete replacement new set including the piece I'm reviewing.\n\nWell, this is a GORGEOUS set! I love the thick solidness of them as I did my original pots and pans and the same smooth stainless finish. I love that Tramontina stands behind their product. No waffling. They give you a real lifetime guarantee. And the customer service representative was just lovely, absolutely everything you hope for when you have a problem with a product.\n\nAll I can say is you get what you pay for in this world. And in this case, maybe a little more.\n\nThis is a good set of pots, every bit as good the Cuisinart stainless pots and pans (and I'm a Cuisinart maniac). Maybe better because I don't know if Cuisinart is going to give you the same service with a smile. One would hope, but you never know.","Product: Practical and functional storage pieces in a versatile contemporary design to mix well with a variety of living room settings.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Gorgeous but look it over carefully\n\nReview: Beautiful table but it took two tries - the first arrived w corners banged in although the box did not show damage in the areas where the damage was. Odd. I'd suggest looking it over carefully, particularly corners. The second one arrived in perfect condition. it's VERY heavy and that's good but also unwieldy so have someone around who's strong and handy for delivery and assembly (I have a handyman next door neighbor). it's also unique and the wood is very impressive.\n\nI highly recommend it because the hinges on the pieces that rise and very solid as are the casters. And the height is exactly right for computer use or having a meal. As as I mentioned before, the weight of it necessitates casters but also holds it in place (so it's not rolling around). Perfect in a carpeted room.","Product: For guest-room flexibility, apartments and older houses where king beds won't fit down the hallway, and other needs for adjustable sleeping accommodations, these twin bed bridges / bed straps are an easy and affordable solution. Simply loop these lightweight, heavy-duty straps around both beds and tighten to connect your twin beds and make a secure and comfortable king-sized bed your or your guests will love. This bed joining solution is simple and reliable, with straps made from the same poly webbing used to secure on-the-road cargo and metal buckles that hold tension without any slipping. Tighten the straps, secure the buckle, and your two twin beds will function as a single king-sized bedframe as sturdy as though it were factory-made that way. When you want to separate the beds again, release the buckle with a single finger and the straps go slack, giving you all of the flexibility you need. All of our twin-to-king bed straps are made in the USA and 100% approved by SGT KNOTS, a veteran-owned business.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: does what it's supposed to do (instructions here)\n\nReview: Well, I didn't think there was much to this - a strap that holds two twin mattresses together. But it's quite a clever idea and the product is very sturdy, which is what we needed with our new mattresses. We puchased twin xls because we live in a Cape and I have never forgotten the horror of the extreme maneuvering and bending and such, getting a king mattress up those narrow steep stairs with the low ceiling. INSANE.\n\nSo we figured we'd get a couple of twinXLs and ...do something. We found this and so far it's worked GREAT.\n\nThere aren't any instructions, so you should know you have to feed the strap in a little bit differently than you might think, across the top and then back into it so it catches and holds the strap in place. Also what you'll need to do is bring it around the mattresses then fold a portion of it up and on the bed so you can feed the strap in, position it and then tighten. We have a pillowtop so the strap fits very nicely in the area where the top meets the innerspring portion. If you don't have a groove, I'd suggest either having someone there to help hold it in place, or lay it on the bed and make sure the straps aren't twisted (I did that once), and then feed the strap into the latch and slip it over the side and tighten enough to hold it and then position it perfectly and THEN tighten it for good.\n\nBTW, Sgt Knots - this should all be on an instruction insert. Some people are intuitive and some people will spend a bit of time on a hot afternoon figuring all this out by themselves, wihich shouldn't be the case. This is why instructions are very nice.","Product: Add a touch of elegance to your home with refined colors and metallic accents. This panel beautifully frames windows adding depth to any room. Bring style home with this Bedford Home Metallic Window Panel Grommet Curtain.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Pretty bad quality BUYER BEWARE\n\nReview: Pro: the color is pretty.\n\nCon: mismatched pattern (not at all like the illustration).\nHems different length (I have furniture in front so it's a non-issue now but unless I put a couch in front of them, they won't work anywhere else.)\nStings and pulls and poorly done edging.\nColor is not apricot - more like an orange-ish gold. But as I said above, the color is nice.\n\nI almost sent them back but I ended up using them (time constraints).\nI also purchased a number of panels so I was able to mix and match until I found acceptable patterns so they didn't look too crazy. But it was time consuming and a headache and I'm unhappy with this purchase as the cost does not reflect the quality. I expected a quality drape. I got import junk.","Product: This contemporary console sofa table has a beautiful weathered Grey Oak finish and x-design sides. The living space accent piece is ideal for use as a console sofa table to suit any decor. Frame comes in black finish. Measures 32 inches high x 40 inches wide x 12 inches deep.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: just like the picture but with a couple of issues\n\nReview: I like this table but I noticed only after assembling it, that the top most piece has tiny little holes where someone had either started to drill holes or used it under another piece of wood they were drilling through . (I'll post a picture) It's very frustrating because I would have flipped that piece and used the underside (assuming there are no holes there).\n\nokay all that said: it's a nice table. it looks exactly like the picture. the metal is thin but strong enough to hold a few books, a plant, phone, etc. it's not going to hold something very heavy. it does come with some straps to secure it to a wall, thoughtful because if I didn't have it wedged between a couch and a wall, it would be very iffy. so it's not very strong, but it's okay for decorative use.\n\non the plus side: it was easypeasy to assemble. on the downside: the metal pieces are a bit warped. the wood holds everything in place somewhat but I'm not thrilled. I think if there weren't those holes in the top piece I'd have given this 3 stars. it's a bit flimsy and I don't expect it to last. I did expect the wood to be a bit more substantial (it's about a 3/8\" to a 1/2\" wide).\n\nbottomline, it's ok. but only just.","Product: Beverly Rock Woman's New Satin Slide House Slipper\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: these look like nice slippers\n\nReview: okay...interesting....these look like nice slippers, the material is the same soft padded terrycloth as isotoner, the footbed has nice memory cushioning, but wearing them - they were pretty horrible. I mean they look okay but they're awful to walk around the house in because the sole is plastic and it's as hard as a rock and you clack when you walk. there's very little \"give\" and I don't believe they'd wear in.\n\nadd to that, the edge digs into the side/back of the foot if your foot shifts at all while walking in them. I had them on for about a half hour - after my shower, in the kitchen making coffee and between the clacking on the tile floor and the digging into my foot, I had to take them off. I decided there was no redemption, so I packed them up and sent them back because bottomline is they feel awful - like big mistake kind of awful.","Product: CD-B001N-ES18 Color: Espresso Features: -Made of MDF panels with powder coated steel frame. -Extra 4th leg provides better stability. -Handy side panel for extra work space. -Large double-wheel non-marking casters with locking mechanism. Product Type: -Laptop Carts & Stands. Primary Material: -Laminate. Casters Included: -Yes. Dimensions: Overall Width - Side to Side: -23\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -29\". Overall Product Weight: -15 lbs. Height Adjustable: -Yes. Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -44.5\".\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: 30% restocking fee + $24 - $45 return shipping\n\nReview: Heavy, cumbersome and far too tall to be used with non adjustable seating.\n\nFirst this is a relatively large piece, meaning it has a very large footprint requiring a good deal of space around it - far more than anticipated and it was impossible to setup in a usable position. It's a lot of shelving in front of you.\n\nThe weight and the overly long width and depth of the shelves make it cumbersome to adjust. Also - although the body height adjustment is acheived via a steel tube in a tube that slides and is kept in place with spring pressed buttons, there is only one vertical set of holes for them, so you can't rotate the shelving with the legs remaining where you placed them.\n\nIn order to change the positioning the entire unit must be rotated and it takes up a lot of floor space - not to mention if you're fitting it under a chair or couch, there are legs that get in the way. My room is large and my chair is in the corner but turning the unit in order to get it \"just so\" would block the doorway.\n\nThis unit is very high - at it's lowest it's hospital bed height - so we removed the wheels, hoping the height would be better for the chair but without wheels, it doesn't slide easily! And the caps kept coming out.\n\nPlus moving a big, heavy unit in order to get in and out of a chair without wheels was just too much.\n\nThis unit is needlessly heavy - the shelving could have been made with a lighter material. Instead the shelves are needlessly heavy pressed wood adding a couple of extra pounds of weight to a unit made of heavy steel tubing, making even more difficult to manuver\n\nLet me mention if you have a problem with this item - including parts falling off - there is a 30% restocking fee which is NOWHERE to be found in the description or on any of the links on this page.\n\nBetween the caps falling off and the weight and lack of manuverability of the unit, it's cumbersome design and difficulty with using it we decided to return it.\n\nBUT EVEN RETURNING IS A HEADACHE!\nFirst the cost of the return shipping is prohibitive - while the seller gets the business discount fedex rate, consumers don't. The least expensive method for a 18 lb package from CT to FL was $24. USPS, the recommended method was twice that - $45. And then OJ deducted 30% of our paying price from the refund.\n\nThen when I first wrote to them, they said please give us a couple of days to process this and we'll get back to you - we just want to work with you, etc etc. Very calm and friendly.\n\nTwo days later a manic email blitz ensued, in the course of which I recieved two different return addresses and was informed my return was \"remorse\" and from my refund a 30% restocking fee would be deducted. At least twice a day, I received a friendly reminder for the tracking number. This occurred holy week - Good Friday/Easter weekend. And keep in mind, holiday or not, this is a big, heavy item and disassembling and reboxing, not to mention taking it your carrier of choice takes time, not to mention out of pocket money. In my case, I needed someone to help me box it and then I had to have it placed in my car so I could take it to Fedex.\n\nMany thanks to Amazon prime for a partial refund towards return shipping but even with that, this was an expensive purchase of import junk.","Product: TUFFY toys are the most durable dog toys on the market! Our MEGA series is made with up to 7 layers of material and 7 rows of stitching, for added durability and strength. A protective webbing is added to the outside edge to cover the seams and make the toy even stronger. TUFFY toys float in water and are machine washable (air dry). Squeakers are sewn inside protective pouches for your dogs safety. This extra measure of safety can give you the time you need to remove the toy in the event your dog reaches the core. Our toys are built to last, but keep in mind that no toy is indestructible. TUFFY toys are designed to be used for interactive play and are not chew toys. Please be a responsible dog owner and only allow your dog to play with the toy under supervision. Do not allow your pet to ingest any portion of the toy. We strive to make our toys the strongest and safest on the market. As loving dog owners, we only want the best toys for our dogs and yours!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: doesn't cut it. :(\n\nReview: Bought this and the octopus. Granted the ring is bigger and a little stronger. But strong is relative to dog and any dog's jaws are made to desimate, not nibble. This is another nibble toy.\n\nTen minutes and the telltale hole, squeeker in pieces, stuffing neatly removed. Now I want to be clear...this wasn't the edge of the toy ripping off. THIS WAS THROUGH THE so called EIGHT LAYERS OF TUFFNESS! so much for that.\n\nThe other toy, the octopus was ridiculous. Totally shot in the blink of an eye.\n\nI bought one big toy and one little toy for one big dog and one little dog. Once I saw what the little dog did to the octopus, I took it away and gave him the ring, thinking maybe the octopus was made for tiny dogs and at this point I was concerned the ring wouldn't last with my big dog. It didn't last with the little dog so I know the big dog would have inhaled it.\n\nThe ring is a pretty big toy.\n\nFirst off here's why: This business of a soft stuffed toy, which I suspect is more for us than for dogs. Because dogs aren't babies who want cuddly dolls. They're dogs and even the littlest dog plays hard.\n\nWhy aren't these kinds of toys thick and quilted to within an inch of their existance? why do we need stuffing and cheesey squeekers? I'll give it, this squeeker's plastic was a little thicker...but honestly...a little thicker means nothing. It means one less chewing motion before the dog spits it out (if your dog doesn't swallow them...mine doesn't thank goodness).\n\nThese are expensive toys. My dog likes a chew challenge, it's true. But I expected, particularly for the price and the description that the smaller would last at least a couple of hours and the larger a few days.\n\nBut they do not live up to the description...the eight layers weren't there that I could see and while I could see to the other side I wasn't counting layers. Or maybe all the layers are in another toy or a different part of it. I don't know. I stopped the play as soon as I saw it was coming apart.\n\nIn this age of high tech design and technology PLUS the need for jobs in America - why are we producing such subpar products. And I realize that for some dogs these toys are just fine, but I know for many, maybe most, they're just not very good.\n\nFrankly, I do not understand why all dog toys are so incredibly destructable now. And because they are, they're dangerous to dogs. Dogs don't care about soft...it's the squeeker they go after.\n\nKongs used to be superior toys. No more. Devil toys too (the big red rubber ones with little horns) but no more. They're making toys flimsier and I realize it's because the stronger they are, the longer they last and there's not enough money in it.\n\nBut I think this is bad strategy. I am willing to bet we dog owners will pay a lot of money for a toy that will last more than a few minutes. I couldn't even give my larger dog her toy because the little dog killed the octopus so fast. And I mean FAST!!\n\nI don't want a toy that's filled with stuffing that's going to be all over my livingroom AND in my dog's throat and gut. I don't want a toy that's cute. I want a toy that's up to dogs playing and chewing. That's what they do and they do it hard.","Product: Made with tough, durable nylon, our large Power Chew DuraChew Ring Stick is a medium dog chew toy designed to keep your aggressive chewer busy. Its unique textures and natural twig shape provide long-lasting enjoyment and help clean your dog's teeth as he chews. Plus, this stuffable dog toy can be filled with your dog's favorite treats! This long lasting dog chew toy also has delicious bacon flavor throughout, making it the perfect durable nylon dog bone for dogs who love to snack and chew! Nylabone crafts tough dog toys for aggressive chewers that are fun, flavorful, and long lasting to keep your best friend happy.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: didn't last very long\n\nReview: Initially I liked nyla products but I'm always wary of toys made of synthetics because dogs tend to ingest them. we had bought the circle toy when Pinky was a puppy and she enjoyed it as did our Smoochy boy when he'd steal it from her.\n\nThey're both big chewers and after a long period - probably six months or so - I noticed the circle toy had become dangerously barbed - God forbid you stepped on it with bare feet. OUCH.\n\nSo I threw it away and bought this one figuring it would last a few months and we'd toss it. after a couple of weeks it became a barbed stick - grabbing on to rugs, impossible to hold. painful to human flesh. So out it went. Adios. Didn't last more than a week or two.\n\nIf you have serious chewers, it's something to consider. no more nylatoys for our dogs.","Product: Petmate Two-door Top Load Kennel offers easy access for your beloved pet. Your furry friend will enjoy superior ventilation and visibility. This kennel is great tool for crate training and housetraining. Features also include secure wing-nut and bolt design, steel front door with secure latch, comfort carry handle, and water cup. Constructed of sturdy yet stylish heavy-duty plastic, the steel wire and plastic combine for strength, safety, and visibility. Petmate kennels meet most airline travel requirements. Pet parents should always confirm the airline travel requirements for each trip.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: fantastic for small dogs, cats, puppies. not for ocelots, tigers or lions.\n\nReview: clean, neat ,spiffy, light too. I'm glad I bought it. I like that top door - access is nice as are vent holes.\n\nbtw - What you see in the picture is what you get. overall, a very nice crate. however I wouldn't use it for a small ocelot or anything too wild and feral - I don't believe it's superstrong, but since I'm not picking up any baby lions or tigers, I won't be testing how it holds up to bigcat teeth. it seems to be exactly what I will need for the puppy I'm picking up next week.\n\nhowever should it not be up to par, I will update. but so far as I can see, this is a very nice crate, great price and easy peasy to assemble. like five minutes.","Product: Ultimate Squids are the perfect pool toy for your pooch. Swim, dive, pull and play all day with these silly squids. Made using our regular construction methods with up to 4 layers of material. Fun to fetch, tug and whip around at your dog's leisure. Great for indoors, machine washableand it floats. Tuffy Pet Toys are the most durable toys available. All the layers of this toy are bonded and sewn together to make one Tuff\" Layer. Most toys have just one seam to hold the toy together. We sew webbing around the edges of the toy and then sew the edges together to make each toy Tuff. Squeakers are sewn into pouches as an added layer of safety. 9 out of 10 on the \"Tuff\" scale.\"\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: not so tuff. but could work for toothless little dogs.\n\nReview: Not good at all. Lasted all of five minutes...maybe ten if you count the time it took to gather up all the pieces and throw it and then the other TUFF toy into a bag to return to Amazon because the other one was destroyed too.\n\nI bought two of these Tuffy toys: the octopus and the ring (which is bigger). The tendrils concerned me when I saw them but I thought...nah..these people make TOUGH toys.\n\nturns out: nope. not so much.\n\nI am concerned that dog people may believe these toys are especially safe and I'm sorry but they're not. They're tougher than many toys, I will give them that. But if your dogs chew and my dogs are dogs that like to chew their toys, this may not last a whole lot longer than a kong wubbie or the rubber devil toy.\n\nMy dogs go for the squeeker. Five minutes on this one. Ten minutes on the ring. RIGHT THROUGH ALL THE LAYERS.\n\nTUFF PEOPLE: you can do it better!! QUILT the layers. LATER FOR THE STUFFING. My dogs don't need soft gooey toys. They need tough toys for strong dog jaws and those lovely white teeth. I showed you I am willing to pay for a tougher toy. Now give my dogs one and you'll get my gratitude and my business.","Product: The Petmate Compass Kennel strives for a comfortable and safe experience for pets and peace of mind for pet parents. With the expandable entrance, pet parents can easily assist their pets entering and exiting the plastic kennel. The double-hinged door's turn-dial latches allow easy access for opening on either side, or for complete door removal. The top's slide-on design allows for easy assembly, snapping together in three simple steps, no tools required. Optional hardware is included for additional security. Ventilation openings allow for better visibility and fresh air on all sides, keeping pets comfortable during travel. The Petmate Kennel meets most airline cargo specifications, but pet parents should always check with their airline's specific requirements. The color combination available for this kennel is Pearl White/Black. Kennel is offered in sizes ranging from 10-90 pounds. Made in the USA. How to Measure - The best way to select the perfect kennel size for your pup is to measure him from the top of his head to the floor, then from the tip of his nose to the base of his tail. The height of the kennel should be 3-4 inches taller and longer than your pet so there's ample space to fully stand up, easily turn around and comfortably lie all the way down! Too small and your pet will be uncomfortable; too large and your pet might attempt to use the bathroom in his space\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not happy, smaller than expected - an okay crate.\n\nReview: This is a okay crate, reasonably solid but not heavy duty enough to use on an airplane. Also the measurements are off. Again. Petmate seems to make a habit of giving a measurement based on the most outside generous number they can come up with that's not an out and out lie. but where they're measuring from counts and it's not where the dog actually places it's body.\n\nAlthough the sticker says this meets \"most\" airline travel requirements, I wouldn't dream of putting an animal in it for that purpose. It's not thick or solid enough. I don't think it would handle much in the way of banging or dropping so be careful because the plastic is not thick..only an 1/8\" - not much when you consider handling and a dog inside - and there's an element of bendability in the plastic that does not seem to be something you'd want for transporting a animal in an airplane hold.\n\nwhat I like:\nhow it comes together - slides then snaps closed, then you secure it with screws or tie wraps.\nhusband had to put the door on...I couldn't figure that.\nI like that you can open the door on either side. excellent idea.\n\nwhat I don't like:\nThe measurements stink. Yes, it IS 28\" at the very middle where the crate swells but overall it's closer to 24 when you measure front to back where the dog actually lays on the bottom. I suppose this is the way it is, you buy based on that middle swell and door frames and other areas where the dog is not going to be - like that middle swell.\n\nMy dog lays on the floor of the crate and has not yet mastered levitation to get at that wide middle area. So if you're consider this crate, 28\" front to back I'd advise you knock off a good 4 to 6 inches from front to back and a few side to side because that's what you're going to get - quite a bit less space than you might think as per description. Frankly, I don't see why it's so difficult to get an accurate measure from these mfgs. I'm sure the mfg knows what the measurements are.\n\nAlso why is there more information on the label than in the amazon ad? The label suggests what breed dogs will fit in it and there's even a picture of a french bulldog standing half in it, so you get a better idea of overall size. But it says 20-30 lb range but I don't see a 25 - 30 lb dog comfortably fitting in this crate, not by a long shot unless it's built like a football with short legs. My dog is not even 18 lbs and she's cramped in it, has to curl around the bottom because she can't lay straight (there's where those 4+\" missing inches would come in handy).\n\nI'm unhappy with this crate - the quality is about what I expected - maybe a tiny bit less but I didn't buy it for airline use - only for short trips/car crating so I think it's acceptable. I'm unhappy because it's simple enough to provide a diagram that honestly shows exact measurements. If they did that, it would avoide these returns I'm having to make. I just don't get this essential avoidance of giving accurate measurements - does the mfg think I'm going to cram my dog into their crate because it's here and I'm too lazy to return it? No.\n\nI guess most of you understand how crates measure but I'd like to point out that I have a petmate varicrate, same mfg, and it's not so much wide in that center area as this one - it's taller. Each crate has it's own dynamic design, some like this are short and squat and wide in the very center. And some are long from front to back and more boxlike (like the varicrate). Some mfgs count that small lip that holds the door as a measuremnt (this mfg does) and some don't. Some give accurate measurements and some fudge. This mfg fudged.\n\nThese items are not inexpensive. It would be very helpful to provide complete and accurate measurements, maybe a basic schematic because this is not the first crate I've had to return. I suppose if I had a petstore nearby I could look around, find my crate and then buy it here because amazon does have excellent prices. But I don't have one close by so I'll have to drive a long way to do that.\n\nI'm thinking I should avoid PETMATE because both crates were PETMATE and both descriptions gave me deceptive measurements unless I'm willing to count the center swell and the door frame and perhas put a bed in it that raises her up to the middle to take advantage of unused spacial real estate.\n\nIt's a shame because the price is fair, the thinking that went into the assembly and door is terrific but the measurements stink and in our case, I'm afraid that counts for a lot.","Product: The Black & Decker BDEMS600 Mouse Detail Sander features a 3-position grip for control and ease of use in multiple applications; the palm grip is ideal for sanding surfaces, the precision grip provides extreme maneuverability, and the handle grip allows you to get into ultra tight spaces. It offers high performance dust collection with micro-filtration for a clean workspace, along with a see-through dust canister to help let you know when it's full. Its compact size and ergonomic design gets into tight spaces and maximizes user control. This sander runs at 1400 orbits/minute, at 1.5 amps of power. Includes: (1) BDEMS600 Sander, (1) Finger attachment, (1) Sanding pad.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: THE GREATEST SANDER EVER!\n\nReview: love it love it love it.\nI'm a mouse afficionado. I have a number of sanders because I'm an old FYI-er and I'm always game for doing a little fixing.\nI have an old b/d mouse. I have sanded floors with my tiny mouse. I have sanded everything with my beloved little mouse. But the old mouse's velcro-y sandpaper holder needed to be replaced and I know the new mouses are more powerful, so when I received birthday money, guess what I bought! woot!\nTHIS IS A GREAT MOUSE. I have two now - my old and my new. My old is for light sanding and my new is the kickbutt heavy hitter supermouse. Love the little vac that grabs the dust. keep it clean and your mighty mouse will live forever.","Product: Product description: with a sturdy HD construction, this ladder will make a handy addition to any home. When folded, it takes little space and can be placed easily. Our item is ideal for you to access the hard to reach places in and around your home. This ladder comes with a tray to place your tools which makes it even more easier for you to work with. features: fine designed easy to use with a tray to place your tools which makes it even more easier for you to work with spacing-saving design, takes little place when folded high quality HD steel construction lightweight makes it easy to carry with anti-skid rubber feet large load capacity of 330 lbs. notice: do not step on the tray! specifications: material: heavy duty iron weight: 16.2 lbs. thickness of iron pipe: 0.9 mm folded size: 20.5 inch x 2.8 inch x 57.3\"(52 x 7 x 145.5 cm) unfolded size: 28.7 inch x 17.7 inch x 52\"(73 x 45 x 132 cm) size of footboard: 13.8 inch x 7.8\"(1St and 2Nd step) 13.8 inch x 13.8\"(3Rd step) size of tray: 13.8 inch x 11.5 inch length between steps: 9. Inch the height from ground to top step: 27.2 inch load capacity: 330 lbs. package include: 1 x foldable ladder.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: SUPER DUPER STRONG and lightweight but not too\n\nReview: WOW+ Happy camper here. Having recently taken a bad fall from a ladder that slid on a wood floor, I firgured it was time for something a little better. This is better. The steps are deep, so the entire foot is on the step, not just the ball of the foot, unless you wear clown shoes and even then, you've got good footing. This ladder is wider than normal and hefty so overall it's substantial. We have many ladders in this house, of varying sizes. I prefer 5' ladders for painting. We have two other 5' ladders - one was aluminum and too lightweight and the other is a famous one that can be made into all kinds of configurations but I can't get it to do anything because it's way heavy and unwieldy besides. This one isn't super light but it's weight is very manageable - I'm a woman close to 70 and I feel secure on it. Big plus is the topmost shelf with grooves for cans of paint, various other indents and tool holders too. Easy open, easy close, not too light or too heavy - \"it's just right\". Absolutely top notch and worth every penny.","Product: Protective seal for pruned, grafted or damaged trees, roses or shrubs. Contains antiseptic and sealant to keep out infection and insects. Will not burn or run. Useful on waterproof planting pots, wooden tubs, canvas.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This stuff is good\n\nReview: I do a lot of garden work. Ordinarily I do not use pruning sealer. The thinking behind this is most tree and shrub wounds will heal themselves and often artificial sealing will create a situation where you're actually sealing IN problems, like mold and insects, etc.\n\nWe had a horrific storm here in CT and lost many trees. And those we didn't lose, lost major limbs. We had to have tree people come here and radically cut away large limbs, clean up torn bark, etc. In the case of one very old and large japanese maple, we lost 1/2 of it's largest branches. So it's a tall, thin tree, instead of a great wide lush tree. Very scary.\n\nThe tree guy said seal the bark which is torn. Don't completely seal it up because you can't but try to help the tree through the winter.\n\nSo we bought a lot of this Bonide sealer, for that tree and an even larger oak. It seems to have helped. We won't know until the spring or summer. But the sealer looks good and the tree is strong so far.\n\nWhat I do know about Bonide is this: I've used it before, it's excellent as a sealer and stays on once it dries. It is also very good for sealing the insides of wooden window boxes and clay pots. It's like spray tar.\n\nI would suggest buying a clip on sprayer, to help with the spray because depressing the spray nozzle after a while is difficult. This is thick stuff. It tends to ..not clog but get messy as you depress it. And then you want to be able to effectively keep shaking the can to get the most out of it without it sputtering and making a mess on your hands and clothing. And it could. But it's worth it because it's effective.\n\nThe seller is the manufacturer. When I asked them to please ship quickly and told them why I was buying so many cans, they shipped overnight. IMO, they're good people and sell a quality product. And the price is about 2/3 to 1/2 what you'll pay in your garden shop."],"string":"[\n \"Product: RSVP strives to offer quality kitchen products and cooking tools at competitive prices.Our set of four Endurance Round Biscuit Cutters, Plain are a perfect example. Whip up some excellent biscuits for your family and friends with these biscuit cutters. The set is constructed from a heavy-gauge polished stainless steel that will last for years of use in the kitchen. Featuring a generous depth for thick holiday biscuits, they have handles that arch high over the cutters, so there's plenty of grip room. Also great for cutting desserts and hamburgers, the set includes four different sized cutters for a multitude of uses; 1-1/2-inches in diameter by 3-1/4-inches tall, 2-1/4-inches in diameter by 3-1/4-inches tall, 2-1/2-inches in diameter by 3-1/4-inches tall, and finally 2-3/4-inches in diameter by 3-1/4-inches tall. When all the right people, and ingredients, kitchen tools, and food come together, we call this The Art of Gathering.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: didn't have all four cutters in the little box!! :(\\n\\nReview: Very unhappy. I waited a while to buy this set..why? If you're wondering why, I guess it's because I'm a baker and I already have cutters, but none are as deep as these. I received the order today and find either the largest or second largest cutter is missing. (I'll have to go measure to see which one isn't there but it's one of the big ones.) I'm pretty unhappy about the whole thing.\\n\\nYou see I HAVE cutters and I went and bought more of the same except I needed deep ones for a special BIG biscuit recipe for Thanksgiving. Yes, we'll have our biscuits. But no, I won't have all four sizes for biscuits and cookie baking and petit fours I'll be making in the next couple of weeks.\\n\\n(sigh)\",\n \"Product: The Swissmar V-Prep V-Slicer Mandoline set is a joint venture by two well established kitchenware companies. As long term partners, Swissmar clearly knows that Brner, with their 50+ years of experience and being the makers of the Original V-Slicer, were the perfect manufacturer of the V-Prep V-Slicer. Combined with the Swissmar designed multi-functional bowl, this set provides everything you need - it's safe, easy to use, compact, stores completely protected and offers the performance and results that one expects from a Brner made V-Slicer. You too can prepare foods like a professional, with the safe and simple to use V-Prep. The V-Prep Mandoline is made of durable ABS plastic with German surgical grade stainless steel blades. Three inserts allow you to slice, julienne and shred cuts. The ambidextrous Food Safety Holder has a serrated edge to safely push food off slicer and requires very little pressure. Steel pins grip most sizes and shapes of produce to create even slices every time. The multi- function bowl with lid stores all parts when not in use and catches all sliced fruits and vegetables when in use. Easy to clean; rinse under hot or cold running water immediately after use.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT\\n\\nReview: This is a very sharp kickass mandoline. I've resisted mandolines because I was a little nervous. I am good with a knife and I work fast but I figured while learning, I'd mandoline a finger or two. However, this one has a great sliding holder gizmo that cups the veggy inside itself while I can slide it over the supersharp blades. And believe me, these blades are SUPERduper sharp.\\n\\n(I'm sure down the line I'll end up being all arrogant and cavalier and shaving off a piece of me, but that goes with the territory of busywork in the kitchen - along with burning and blistering is the loping away at finger bits.)\\n\\nI think I like using it too, the holder. I didn't know if I'd instictively want to be a safe camper, or go gonzo crazy while working as I've read some people do. I don't blame them because it can be a very fast cutting device, but I feel the holder works fine. It's a good design as it cups the food along with lots of grabby spikes to lock it in. The design works really efficiently. I learned today celery isn't a great mandoline veggy. But it sliced an overripe tomato perfectly that I happened to have.\\n\\nThere are little rubber feet on the mandoline, to hold it steady on the counter. I positioned it on a plastic cutting board and it held steady. I also used it directly over a pot and it's big enough that it worked great.\\n\\nI love the julienne attachments, but best best best of all besides the sharp blades and neat German design is the holder. The entire device and extra blades simply slip into this neat little holder that stands in the corner of a counter. It's great! It even has instruction images on the device itself. It's really fabulous.\\n\\nIt's a little pricey I think. But aren't all the really good tools a little pricey? This one's worth every penny. :)\",\n \"Product: The Swissmar V-Prep V-Slicer Mandoline set is a joint venture by two well established kitchenware companies. As long term partners, Swissmar clearly knows that Brner, with their 50+ years of experience and being the makers of the Original V-Slicer, were the perfect manufacturer of the V-Prep V-Slicer. Combined with the Swissmar designed multi-functional bowl, this set provides everything you need - it's safe, easy to use, compact, stores completely protected and offers the performance and results that one expects from a Brner made V-Slicer. You too can prepare foods like a professional, with the safe and simple to use V-Prep. The V-Prep Mandoline is made of durable ABS plastic with German surgical grade stainless steel blades. Three inserts allow you to slice, julienne and shred cuts. The ambidextrous Food Safety Holder has a serrated edge to safely push food off slicer and requires very little pressure. Steel pins grip most sizes and shapes of produce to create even slices every time. The multi- function bowl with lid stores all parts when not in use and catches all sliced fruits and vegetables when in use. Easy to clean; rinse under hot or cold running water immediately after use.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT\\n\\nReview: This is a very sharp kickass mandoline. I've resisted mandolines because I was a little nervous. I am good with a knife and I work fast but I figured while learning, I'd mandoline a finger or two. However, this one has a great sliding holder gizmo that cups the veggy inside itself while I can slide it over the supersharp blades. And believe me, these blades are SUPERduper sharp.\\n\\n(I'm sure down the line I'll end up being all arrogant and cavalier and shaving off a piece of me, but that goes with the territory of busywork in the kitchen - along with burning and blistering is the loping away at finger bits.)\\n\\nI think I like using it too, the holder. I didn't know if I'd instictively want to be a safe camper, or go gonzo crazy while working as I've read some people do. I don't blame them because it can be a very fast cutting device, but I feel the holder works fine. It's a good design as it cups the food along with lots of grabby spikes to lock it in. The design works really efficiently. I learned today celery isn't a great mandoline veggy. But it sliced an overripe tomato perfectly that I happened to have.\\n\\nThere are little rubber feet on the mandoline, to hold it steady on the counter. I positioned it on a plastic cutting board and it held steady. I also used it directly over a pot and it's big enough that it worked great.\\n\\nI love the julienne attachments, but best best best of all besides the sharp blades and neat German design is the holder. The entire device and extra blades simply slip into this neat little holder that stands in the corner of a counter. It's great! It even has instruction images on the device itself. It's really fabulous.\\n\\nIt's a little pricey I think. But aren't all the really good tools a little pricey? This one's worth every penny. :)\",\n \"Product: The easiest way to great coffee is the Cuisinart Grind & Brew! This 12-cup coffeemaker automatically grinds the beans right before brewing to deliver the freshest coffee flavor, and the streamlined design with a brushed metal finish looks great in any kitchen. Fully programmable, with a large control panel, its easier than ever to enjoy a hot cup of coffee any time of day. Simple, quick, delicious great coffee is automatic with the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Features: Automatically grinds whole beans before brewing 24-hour fully programmable 12-cup (5 ounces each) glass carafe Brew Pause feature lets you enjoy a cup before brewing has finished Adjustable auto-shutoff (0-4 hours) Grind-off feature 1 to 4-cup feature Gold tone commercial style permanent filter Charcoal water filter removes impurities Limited 3-year warranty\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: makes good tepid coffee :/\\n\\nReview: I think if you like coffee to be hot, this is not the brewer for you.\\n\\nThe water is hot enough to make coffee. We have used it at least once a day ourselves. But the coffee doesn't stay hot because it's not super hot in the first place and the heating plate is only on as long as it takes to make a pot of coffee - although the description says it has \\\"automatic 1 - 4 hour heating\\\" - which is a timed hot plate some models have.\\n\\nHad I known this model is lacking this feature, I wouldn't have ordered it. I LIKE the hot plate and I'll tell you, it is sorely missed here. I'm not happy with this machine, as much as I want to be. Packing it up and sending it back isn't inexpensive and it's a pain. BUt I can't keep it.\\n\\nThis is our third Cuisinart Grind and Brew coffee maker. We've given them as gifts, we like them so much. But I wouldn't give this model.\\n\\nSo to be honest, I will detail the PROS and then the CONS:\\n\\n1. The most noticeable is the carafe with an improved, longer pour spout with an increased length and overall spout design that makes all the difference in the world. The spout pours perfectly cleanly now. Also the cap screws on much smoother.\\n\\n2. You can see how much water you're putting in from the outside on the side. And if you have one, you can use a sink's hand sprayer to fill the tank and watch the little red ball on the side. It's a very nice design.\\n\\n3. The grind basket is different now and hooks directly and securely to the side of the swinging door - rather than catching on a ledge on the door and being held in place by a platform in the back when the door is shut. They've eliminated a little area that would catch flying grinds that got crusted on by the steamy environment. So no extra nooks and crannys to clean out when it's maintenance time - the ground coffee goes straight into the basket and no where else. But that means, you can't use your old baskets if you have them. (I have a few)\\n\\n4. The finish has a plastic coating over the stainless, so it's much easier to keep new looking and shiny. No worries about scrubbing and ruining the brushed stainless finish.\\n\\nCONS:\\n\\n1. The heat of the finished pot. The water is heated sufficiently enough to make a pot of coffee, but the coffee seems to cool down faster. Perhaps it's the carafe or the fact that the heating pad shuts down too soon. I don't know why. All I know is my coffee comes out - more or less - hot but within a half hour, it's tepid. So cup two has to go into the microwave.\\n\\n2. The \\\"automatic 1 - 4 hour heating\\\" is not a feature on this model, and believe me, it needs it big time.\\n\\nIn summary, this could be a great coffee maker, but only with the extended heating feature. The coffee doesn't stay hot enough to pour a hot second cup a half hour later. That doesn't work for me.\\n\\nI'm afraid I can't recommend this model. Its okay if you like your coffee not \\\"too\\\" hot or you're buying this for a senior who you would worry could burn themselves. No worry there. We bought it here on Amazon and I'm sending it back if it's within the time period for returns. I'm unhappy enough to return it.\",\n \"Product: Tramontina's Gourmet 8 Quart 18/10 Stainless Steel Pasta Insert, from the company's Prima line, adds both beauty and performance to kitchen tasks. The 8 Quart Pasta Insert features an elegantly styled vessel with a flared edge and mirror exterior finish. The insert fits within the Prima 8 Qt. Stock Pot.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent manufacturer of quality product\\n\\nReview: I had a four pc set of Tramontina stainless \\\"tri ply\\\" for probably 30 years. I bought them in Macys way back when and they were what I thought would be my first \\\"starter set\\\". They ended up being my only set for all this time. Well, I loved them and used them consistently, some pieces more than others at different times, but essentially all the pieces, all the time. I kept them clean and polished and they never ever failed to give gorgeous results, the highly polished stainless resists sticking, and even if I screwed up and burned something, a soak of hot water and dish detergent and they were like new. Never got stained, never cooked inconsistently or had hot spots, never got stains on the outside/bottom of them. If I polished them up, they looked nearly as good as new.\\n\\nRecently I noticed one of the saucepan bottoms was coming away from the main pot and when I checked all the pieces , all of them except for the 1 qt saucepan were subtley starting to show the same issue.\\n\\nI am a serious cook, always have been. I USED those pans. A LOT. That they were showing wear and damage after 30 years of use wasn't surprising but it took me by surprise anyway because t's just that you don't think of these things, that this can happen.\\n\\nI contacted Tramontina. They had me send the entire set back and then they sent a complete replacement new set including the piece I'm reviewing.\\n\\nWell, this is a GORGEOUS set! I love the thick solidness of them as I did my original pots and pans and the same smooth stainless finish. I love that Tramontina stands behind their product. No waffling. They give you a real lifetime guarantee. And the customer service representative was just lovely, absolutely everything you hope for when you have a problem with a product.\\n\\nAll I can say is you get what you pay for in this world. And in this case, maybe a little more.\\n\\nThis is a good set of pots, every bit as good the Cuisinart stainless pots and pans (and I'm a Cuisinart maniac). Maybe better because I don't know if Cuisinart is going to give you the same service with a smile. One would hope, but you never know.\",\n \"Product: Practical and functional storage pieces in a versatile contemporary design to mix well with a variety of living room settings.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Gorgeous but look it over carefully\\n\\nReview: Beautiful table but it took two tries - the first arrived w corners banged in although the box did not show damage in the areas where the damage was. Odd. I'd suggest looking it over carefully, particularly corners. The second one arrived in perfect condition. it's VERY heavy and that's good but also unwieldy so have someone around who's strong and handy for delivery and assembly (I have a handyman next door neighbor). it's also unique and the wood is very impressive.\\n\\nI highly recommend it because the hinges on the pieces that rise and very solid as are the casters. And the height is exactly right for computer use or having a meal. As as I mentioned before, the weight of it necessitates casters but also holds it in place (so it's not rolling around). Perfect in a carpeted room.\",\n \"Product: For guest-room flexibility, apartments and older houses where king beds won't fit down the hallway, and other needs for adjustable sleeping accommodations, these twin bed bridges / bed straps are an easy and affordable solution. Simply loop these lightweight, heavy-duty straps around both beds and tighten to connect your twin beds and make a secure and comfortable king-sized bed your or your guests will love. This bed joining solution is simple and reliable, with straps made from the same poly webbing used to secure on-the-road cargo and metal buckles that hold tension without any slipping. Tighten the straps, secure the buckle, and your two twin beds will function as a single king-sized bedframe as sturdy as though it were factory-made that way. When you want to separate the beds again, release the buckle with a single finger and the straps go slack, giving you all of the flexibility you need. All of our twin-to-king bed straps are made in the USA and 100% approved by SGT KNOTS, a veteran-owned business.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: does what it's supposed to do (instructions here)\\n\\nReview: Well, I didn't think there was much to this - a strap that holds two twin mattresses together. But it's quite a clever idea and the product is very sturdy, which is what we needed with our new mattresses. We puchased twin xls because we live in a Cape and I have never forgotten the horror of the extreme maneuvering and bending and such, getting a king mattress up those narrow steep stairs with the low ceiling. INSANE.\\n\\nSo we figured we'd get a couple of twinXLs and ...do something. We found this and so far it's worked GREAT.\\n\\nThere aren't any instructions, so you should know you have to feed the strap in a little bit differently than you might think, across the top and then back into it so it catches and holds the strap in place. Also what you'll need to do is bring it around the mattresses then fold a portion of it up and on the bed so you can feed the strap in, position it and then tighten. We have a pillowtop so the strap fits very nicely in the area where the top meets the innerspring portion. If you don't have a groove, I'd suggest either having someone there to help hold it in place, or lay it on the bed and make sure the straps aren't twisted (I did that once), and then feed the strap into the latch and slip it over the side and tighten enough to hold it and then position it perfectly and THEN tighten it for good.\\n\\nBTW, Sgt Knots - this should all be on an instruction insert. Some people are intuitive and some people will spend a bit of time on a hot afternoon figuring all this out by themselves, wihich shouldn't be the case. This is why instructions are very nice.\",\n \"Product: Add a touch of elegance to your home with refined colors and metallic accents. This panel beautifully frames windows adding depth to any room. Bring style home with this Bedford Home Metallic Window Panel Grommet Curtain.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty bad quality BUYER BEWARE\\n\\nReview: Pro: the color is pretty.\\n\\nCon: mismatched pattern (not at all like the illustration).\\nHems different length (I have furniture in front so it's a non-issue now but unless I put a couch in front of them, they won't work anywhere else.)\\nStings and pulls and poorly done edging.\\nColor is not apricot - more like an orange-ish gold. But as I said above, the color is nice.\\n\\nI almost sent them back but I ended up using them (time constraints).\\nI also purchased a number of panels so I was able to mix and match until I found acceptable patterns so they didn't look too crazy. But it was time consuming and a headache and I'm unhappy with this purchase as the cost does not reflect the quality. I expected a quality drape. I got import junk.\",\n \"Product: This contemporary console sofa table has a beautiful weathered Grey Oak finish and x-design sides. The living space accent piece is ideal for use as a console sofa table to suit any decor. Frame comes in black finish. Measures 32 inches high x 40 inches wide x 12 inches deep.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: just like the picture but with a couple of issues\\n\\nReview: I like this table but I noticed only after assembling it, that the top most piece has tiny little holes where someone had either started to drill holes or used it under another piece of wood they were drilling through . (I'll post a picture) It's very frustrating because I would have flipped that piece and used the underside (assuming there are no holes there).\\n\\nokay all that said: it's a nice table. it looks exactly like the picture. the metal is thin but strong enough to hold a few books, a plant, phone, etc. it's not going to hold something very heavy. it does come with some straps to secure it to a wall, thoughtful because if I didn't have it wedged between a couch and a wall, it would be very iffy. so it's not very strong, but it's okay for decorative use.\\n\\non the plus side: it was easypeasy to assemble. on the downside: the metal pieces are a bit warped. the wood holds everything in place somewhat but I'm not thrilled. I think if there weren't those holes in the top piece I'd have given this 3 stars. it's a bit flimsy and I don't expect it to last. I did expect the wood to be a bit more substantial (it's about a 3/8\\\" to a 1/2\\\" wide).\\n\\nbottomline, it's ok. but only just.\",\n \"Product: Beverly Rock Woman's New Satin Slide House Slipper\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: these look like nice slippers\\n\\nReview: okay...interesting....these look like nice slippers, the material is the same soft padded terrycloth as isotoner, the footbed has nice memory cushioning, but wearing them - they were pretty horrible. I mean they look okay but they're awful to walk around the house in because the sole is plastic and it's as hard as a rock and you clack when you walk. there's very little \\\"give\\\" and I don't believe they'd wear in.\\n\\nadd to that, the edge digs into the side/back of the foot if your foot shifts at all while walking in them. I had them on for about a half hour - after my shower, in the kitchen making coffee and between the clacking on the tile floor and the digging into my foot, I had to take them off. I decided there was no redemption, so I packed them up and sent them back because bottomline is they feel awful - like big mistake kind of awful.\",\n \"Product: CD-B001N-ES18 Color: Espresso Features: -Made of MDF panels with powder coated steel frame. -Extra 4th leg provides better stability. -Handy side panel for extra work space. -Large double-wheel non-marking casters with locking mechanism. Product Type: -Laptop Carts & Stands. Primary Material: -Laminate. Casters Included: -Yes. Dimensions: Overall Width - Side to Side: -23\\\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -29\\\". Overall Product Weight: -15 lbs. Height Adjustable: -Yes. Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -44.5\\\".\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: 30% restocking fee + $24 - $45 return shipping\\n\\nReview: Heavy, cumbersome and far too tall to be used with non adjustable seating.\\n\\nFirst this is a relatively large piece, meaning it has a very large footprint requiring a good deal of space around it - far more than anticipated and it was impossible to setup in a usable position. It's a lot of shelving in front of you.\\n\\nThe weight and the overly long width and depth of the shelves make it cumbersome to adjust. Also - although the body height adjustment is acheived via a steel tube in a tube that slides and is kept in place with spring pressed buttons, there is only one vertical set of holes for them, so you can't rotate the shelving with the legs remaining where you placed them.\\n\\nIn order to change the positioning the entire unit must be rotated and it takes up a lot of floor space - not to mention if you're fitting it under a chair or couch, there are legs that get in the way. My room is large and my chair is in the corner but turning the unit in order to get it \\\"just so\\\" would block the doorway.\\n\\nThis unit is very high - at it's lowest it's hospital bed height - so we removed the wheels, hoping the height would be better for the chair but without wheels, it doesn't slide easily! And the caps kept coming out.\\n\\nPlus moving a big, heavy unit in order to get in and out of a chair without wheels was just too much.\\n\\nThis unit is needlessly heavy - the shelving could have been made with a lighter material. Instead the shelves are needlessly heavy pressed wood adding a couple of extra pounds of weight to a unit made of heavy steel tubing, making even more difficult to manuver\\n\\nLet me mention if you have a problem with this item - including parts falling off - there is a 30% restocking fee which is NOWHERE to be found in the description or on any of the links on this page.\\n\\nBetween the caps falling off and the weight and lack of manuverability of the unit, it's cumbersome design and difficulty with using it we decided to return it.\\n\\nBUT EVEN RETURNING IS A HEADACHE!\\nFirst the cost of the return shipping is prohibitive - while the seller gets the business discount fedex rate, consumers don't. The least expensive method for a 18 lb package from CT to FL was $24. USPS, the recommended method was twice that - $45. And then OJ deducted 30% of our paying price from the refund.\\n\\nThen when I first wrote to them, they said please give us a couple of days to process this and we'll get back to you - we just want to work with you, etc etc. Very calm and friendly.\\n\\nTwo days later a manic email blitz ensued, in the course of which I recieved two different return addresses and was informed my return was \\\"remorse\\\" and from my refund a 30% restocking fee would be deducted. At least twice a day, I received a friendly reminder for the tracking number. This occurred holy week - Good Friday/Easter weekend. And keep in mind, holiday or not, this is a big, heavy item and disassembling and reboxing, not to mention taking it your carrier of choice takes time, not to mention out of pocket money. In my case, I needed someone to help me box it and then I had to have it placed in my car so I could take it to Fedex.\\n\\nMany thanks to Amazon prime for a partial refund towards return shipping but even with that, this was an expensive purchase of import junk.\",\n \"Product: TUFFY toys are the most durable dog toys on the market! Our MEGA series is made with up to 7 layers of material and 7 rows of stitching, for added durability and strength. A protective webbing is added to the outside edge to cover the seams and make the toy even stronger. TUFFY toys float in water and are machine washable (air dry). Squeakers are sewn inside protective pouches for your dogs safety. This extra measure of safety can give you the time you need to remove the toy in the event your dog reaches the core. Our toys are built to last, but keep in mind that no toy is indestructible. TUFFY toys are designed to be used for interactive play and are not chew toys. Please be a responsible dog owner and only allow your dog to play with the toy under supervision. Do not allow your pet to ingest any portion of the toy. We strive to make our toys the strongest and safest on the market. As loving dog owners, we only want the best toys for our dogs and yours!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: doesn't cut it. :(\\n\\nReview: Bought this and the octopus. Granted the ring is bigger and a little stronger. But strong is relative to dog and any dog's jaws are made to desimate, not nibble. This is another nibble toy.\\n\\nTen minutes and the telltale hole, squeeker in pieces, stuffing neatly removed. Now I want to be clear...this wasn't the edge of the toy ripping off. THIS WAS THROUGH THE so called EIGHT LAYERS OF TUFFNESS! so much for that.\\n\\nThe other toy, the octopus was ridiculous. Totally shot in the blink of an eye.\\n\\nI bought one big toy and one little toy for one big dog and one little dog. Once I saw what the little dog did to the octopus, I took it away and gave him the ring, thinking maybe the octopus was made for tiny dogs and at this point I was concerned the ring wouldn't last with my big dog. It didn't last with the little dog so I know the big dog would have inhaled it.\\n\\nThe ring is a pretty big toy.\\n\\nFirst off here's why: This business of a soft stuffed toy, which I suspect is more for us than for dogs. Because dogs aren't babies who want cuddly dolls. They're dogs and even the littlest dog plays hard.\\n\\nWhy aren't these kinds of toys thick and quilted to within an inch of their existance? why do we need stuffing and cheesey squeekers? I'll give it, this squeeker's plastic was a little thicker...but honestly...a little thicker means nothing. It means one less chewing motion before the dog spits it out (if your dog doesn't swallow them...mine doesn't thank goodness).\\n\\nThese are expensive toys. My dog likes a chew challenge, it's true. But I expected, particularly for the price and the description that the smaller would last at least a couple of hours and the larger a few days.\\n\\nBut they do not live up to the description...the eight layers weren't there that I could see and while I could see to the other side I wasn't counting layers. Or maybe all the layers are in another toy or a different part of it. I don't know. I stopped the play as soon as I saw it was coming apart.\\n\\nIn this age of high tech design and technology PLUS the need for jobs in America - why are we producing such subpar products. And I realize that for some dogs these toys are just fine, but I know for many, maybe most, they're just not very good.\\n\\nFrankly, I do not understand why all dog toys are so incredibly destructable now. And because they are, they're dangerous to dogs. Dogs don't care about soft...it's the squeeker they go after.\\n\\nKongs used to be superior toys. No more. Devil toys too (the big red rubber ones with little horns) but no more. They're making toys flimsier and I realize it's because the stronger they are, the longer they last and there's not enough money in it.\\n\\nBut I think this is bad strategy. I am willing to bet we dog owners will pay a lot of money for a toy that will last more than a few minutes. I couldn't even give my larger dog her toy because the little dog killed the octopus so fast. And I mean FAST!!\\n\\nI don't want a toy that's filled with stuffing that's going to be all over my livingroom AND in my dog's throat and gut. I don't want a toy that's cute. I want a toy that's up to dogs playing and chewing. That's what they do and they do it hard.\",\n \"Product: Made with tough, durable nylon, our large Power Chew DuraChew Ring Stick is a medium dog chew toy designed to keep your aggressive chewer busy. Its unique textures and natural twig shape provide long-lasting enjoyment and help clean your dog's teeth as he chews. Plus, this stuffable dog toy can be filled with your dog's favorite treats! This long lasting dog chew toy also has delicious bacon flavor throughout, making it the perfect durable nylon dog bone for dogs who love to snack and chew! Nylabone crafts tough dog toys for aggressive chewers that are fun, flavorful, and long lasting to keep your best friend happy.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: didn't last very long\\n\\nReview: Initially I liked nyla products but I'm always wary of toys made of synthetics because dogs tend to ingest them. we had bought the circle toy when Pinky was a puppy and she enjoyed it as did our Smoochy boy when he'd steal it from her.\\n\\nThey're both big chewers and after a long period - probably six months or so - I noticed the circle toy had become dangerously barbed - God forbid you stepped on it with bare feet. OUCH.\\n\\nSo I threw it away and bought this one figuring it would last a few months and we'd toss it. after a couple of weeks it became a barbed stick - grabbing on to rugs, impossible to hold. painful to human flesh. So out it went. Adios. Didn't last more than a week or two.\\n\\nIf you have serious chewers, it's something to consider. no more nylatoys for our dogs.\",\n \"Product: Petmate Two-door Top Load Kennel offers easy access for your beloved pet. Your furry friend will enjoy superior ventilation and visibility. This kennel is great tool for crate training and housetraining. Features also include secure wing-nut and bolt design, steel front door with secure latch, comfort carry handle, and water cup. Constructed of sturdy yet stylish heavy-duty plastic, the steel wire and plastic combine for strength, safety, and visibility. Petmate kennels meet most airline travel requirements. Pet parents should always confirm the airline travel requirements for each trip.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: fantastic for small dogs, cats, puppies. not for ocelots, tigers or lions.\\n\\nReview: clean, neat ,spiffy, light too. I'm glad I bought it. I like that top door - access is nice as are vent holes.\\n\\nbtw - What you see in the picture is what you get. overall, a very nice crate. however I wouldn't use it for a small ocelot or anything too wild and feral - I don't believe it's superstrong, but since I'm not picking up any baby lions or tigers, I won't be testing how it holds up to bigcat teeth. it seems to be exactly what I will need for the puppy I'm picking up next week.\\n\\nhowever should it not be up to par, I will update. but so far as I can see, this is a very nice crate, great price and easy peasy to assemble. like five minutes.\",\n \"Product: Ultimate Squids are the perfect pool toy for your pooch. Swim, dive, pull and play all day with these silly squids. Made using our regular construction methods with up to 4 layers of material. Fun to fetch, tug and whip around at your dog's leisure. Great for indoors, machine washableand it floats. Tuffy Pet Toys are the most durable toys available. All the layers of this toy are bonded and sewn together to make one Tuff\\\" Layer. Most toys have just one seam to hold the toy together. We sew webbing around the edges of the toy and then sew the edges together to make each toy Tuff. Squeakers are sewn into pouches as an added layer of safety. 9 out of 10 on the \\\"Tuff\\\" scale.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: not so tuff. but could work for toothless little dogs.\\n\\nReview: Not good at all. Lasted all of five minutes...maybe ten if you count the time it took to gather up all the pieces and throw it and then the other TUFF toy into a bag to return to Amazon because the other one was destroyed too.\\n\\nI bought two of these Tuffy toys: the octopus and the ring (which is bigger). The tendrils concerned me when I saw them but I thought...nah..these people make TOUGH toys.\\n\\nturns out: nope. not so much.\\n\\nI am concerned that dog people may believe these toys are especially safe and I'm sorry but they're not. They're tougher than many toys, I will give them that. But if your dogs chew and my dogs are dogs that like to chew their toys, this may not last a whole lot longer than a kong wubbie or the rubber devil toy.\\n\\nMy dogs go for the squeeker. Five minutes on this one. Ten minutes on the ring. RIGHT THROUGH ALL THE LAYERS.\\n\\nTUFF PEOPLE: you can do it better!! QUILT the layers. LATER FOR THE STUFFING. My dogs don't need soft gooey toys. They need tough toys for strong dog jaws and those lovely white teeth. I showed you I am willing to pay for a tougher toy. Now give my dogs one and you'll get my gratitude and my business.\",\n \"Product: The Petmate Compass Kennel strives for a comfortable and safe experience for pets and peace of mind for pet parents. With the expandable entrance, pet parents can easily assist their pets entering and exiting the plastic kennel. The double-hinged door's turn-dial latches allow easy access for opening on either side, or for complete door removal. The top's slide-on design allows for easy assembly, snapping together in three simple steps, no tools required. Optional hardware is included for additional security. Ventilation openings allow for better visibility and fresh air on all sides, keeping pets comfortable during travel. The Petmate Kennel meets most airline cargo specifications, but pet parents should always check with their airline's specific requirements. The color combination available for this kennel is Pearl White/Black. Kennel is offered in sizes ranging from 10-90 pounds. Made in the USA. How to Measure - The best way to select the perfect kennel size for your pup is to measure him from the top of his head to the floor, then from the tip of his nose to the base of his tail. The height of the kennel should be 3-4 inches taller and longer than your pet so there's ample space to fully stand up, easily turn around and comfortably lie all the way down! Too small and your pet will be uncomfortable; too large and your pet might attempt to use the bathroom in his space\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not happy, smaller than expected - an okay crate.\\n\\nReview: This is a okay crate, reasonably solid but not heavy duty enough to use on an airplane. Also the measurements are off. Again. Petmate seems to make a habit of giving a measurement based on the most outside generous number they can come up with that's not an out and out lie. but where they're measuring from counts and it's not where the dog actually places it's body.\\n\\nAlthough the sticker says this meets \\\"most\\\" airline travel requirements, I wouldn't dream of putting an animal in it for that purpose. It's not thick or solid enough. I don't think it would handle much in the way of banging or dropping so be careful because the plastic is not thick..only an 1/8\\\" - not much when you consider handling and a dog inside - and there's an element of bendability in the plastic that does not seem to be something you'd want for transporting a animal in an airplane hold.\\n\\nwhat I like:\\nhow it comes together - slides then snaps closed, then you secure it with screws or tie wraps.\\nhusband had to put the door on...I couldn't figure that.\\nI like that you can open the door on either side. excellent idea.\\n\\nwhat I don't like:\\nThe measurements stink. Yes, it IS 28\\\" at the very middle where the crate swells but overall it's closer to 24 when you measure front to back where the dog actually lays on the bottom. I suppose this is the way it is, you buy based on that middle swell and door frames and other areas where the dog is not going to be - like that middle swell.\\n\\nMy dog lays on the floor of the crate and has not yet mastered levitation to get at that wide middle area. So if you're consider this crate, 28\\\" front to back I'd advise you knock off a good 4 to 6 inches from front to back and a few side to side because that's what you're going to get - quite a bit less space than you might think as per description. Frankly, I don't see why it's so difficult to get an accurate measure from these mfgs. I'm sure the mfg knows what the measurements are.\\n\\nAlso why is there more information on the label than in the amazon ad? The label suggests what breed dogs will fit in it and there's even a picture of a french bulldog standing half in it, so you get a better idea of overall size. But it says 20-30 lb range but I don't see a 25 - 30 lb dog comfortably fitting in this crate, not by a long shot unless it's built like a football with short legs. My dog is not even 18 lbs and she's cramped in it, has to curl around the bottom because she can't lay straight (there's where those 4+\\\" missing inches would come in handy).\\n\\nI'm unhappy with this crate - the quality is about what I expected - maybe a tiny bit less but I didn't buy it for airline use - only for short trips/car crating so I think it's acceptable. I'm unhappy because it's simple enough to provide a diagram that honestly shows exact measurements. If they did that, it would avoide these returns I'm having to make. I just don't get this essential avoidance of giving accurate measurements - does the mfg think I'm going to cram my dog into their crate because it's here and I'm too lazy to return it? No.\\n\\nI guess most of you understand how crates measure but I'd like to point out that I have a petmate varicrate, same mfg, and it's not so much wide in that center area as this one - it's taller. Each crate has it's own dynamic design, some like this are short and squat and wide in the very center. And some are long from front to back and more boxlike (like the varicrate). Some mfgs count that small lip that holds the door as a measuremnt (this mfg does) and some don't. Some give accurate measurements and some fudge. This mfg fudged.\\n\\nThese items are not inexpensive. It would be very helpful to provide complete and accurate measurements, maybe a basic schematic because this is not the first crate I've had to return. I suppose if I had a petstore nearby I could look around, find my crate and then buy it here because amazon does have excellent prices. But I don't have one close by so I'll have to drive a long way to do that.\\n\\nI'm thinking I should avoid PETMATE because both crates were PETMATE and both descriptions gave me deceptive measurements unless I'm willing to count the center swell and the door frame and perhas put a bed in it that raises her up to the middle to take advantage of unused spacial real estate.\\n\\nIt's a shame because the price is fair, the thinking that went into the assembly and door is terrific but the measurements stink and in our case, I'm afraid that counts for a lot.\",\n \"Product: The Black & Decker BDEMS600 Mouse Detail Sander features a 3-position grip for control and ease of use in multiple applications; the palm grip is ideal for sanding surfaces, the precision grip provides extreme maneuverability, and the handle grip allows you to get into ultra tight spaces. It offers high performance dust collection with micro-filtration for a clean workspace, along with a see-through dust canister to help let you know when it's full. Its compact size and ergonomic design gets into tight spaces and maximizes user control. This sander runs at 1400 orbits/minute, at 1.5 amps of power. Includes: (1) BDEMS600 Sander, (1) Finger attachment, (1) Sanding pad.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: THE GREATEST SANDER EVER!\\n\\nReview: love it love it love it.\\nI'm a mouse afficionado. I have a number of sanders because I'm an old FYI-er and I'm always game for doing a little fixing.\\nI have an old b/d mouse. I have sanded floors with my tiny mouse. I have sanded everything with my beloved little mouse. But the old mouse's velcro-y sandpaper holder needed to be replaced and I know the new mouses are more powerful, so when I received birthday money, guess what I bought! woot!\\nTHIS IS A GREAT MOUSE. I have two now - my old and my new. My old is for light sanding and my new is the kickbutt heavy hitter supermouse. Love the little vac that grabs the dust. keep it clean and your mighty mouse will live forever.\",\n \"Product: Product description: with a sturdy HD construction, this ladder will make a handy addition to any home. When folded, it takes little space and can be placed easily. Our item is ideal for you to access the hard to reach places in and around your home. This ladder comes with a tray to place your tools which makes it even more easier for you to work with. features: fine designed easy to use with a tray to place your tools which makes it even more easier for you to work with spacing-saving design, takes little place when folded high quality HD steel construction lightweight makes it easy to carry with anti-skid rubber feet large load capacity of 330 lbs. notice: do not step on the tray! specifications: material: heavy duty iron weight: 16.2 lbs. thickness of iron pipe: 0.9 mm folded size: 20.5 inch x 2.8 inch x 57.3\\\"(52 x 7 x 145.5 cm) unfolded size: 28.7 inch x 17.7 inch x 52\\\"(73 x 45 x 132 cm) size of footboard: 13.8 inch x 7.8\\\"(1St and 2Nd step) 13.8 inch x 13.8\\\"(3Rd step) size of tray: 13.8 inch x 11.5 inch length between steps: 9. Inch the height from ground to top step: 27.2 inch load capacity: 330 lbs. package include: 1 x foldable ladder.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: SUPER DUPER STRONG and lightweight but not too\\n\\nReview: WOW+ Happy camper here. Having recently taken a bad fall from a ladder that slid on a wood floor, I firgured it was time for something a little better. This is better. The steps are deep, so the entire foot is on the step, not just the ball of the foot, unless you wear clown shoes and even then, you've got good footing. This ladder is wider than normal and hefty so overall it's substantial. We have many ladders in this house, of varying sizes. I prefer 5' ladders for painting. We have two other 5' ladders - one was aluminum and too lightweight and the other is a famous one that can be made into all kinds of configurations but I can't get it to do anything because it's way heavy and unwieldy besides. This one isn't super light but it's weight is very manageable - I'm a woman close to 70 and I feel secure on it. Big plus is the topmost shelf with grooves for cans of paint, various other indents and tool holders too. Easy open, easy close, not too light or too heavy - \\\"it's just right\\\". Absolutely top notch and worth every penny.\",\n \"Product: Protective seal for pruned, grafted or damaged trees, roses or shrubs. Contains antiseptic and sealant to keep out infection and insects. Will not burn or run. Useful on waterproof planting pots, wooden tubs, canvas.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This stuff is good\\n\\nReview: I do a lot of garden work. Ordinarily I do not use pruning sealer. The thinking behind this is most tree and shrub wounds will heal themselves and often artificial sealing will create a situation where you're actually sealing IN problems, like mold and insects, etc.\\n\\nWe had a horrific storm here in CT and lost many trees. And those we didn't lose, lost major limbs. We had to have tree people come here and radically cut away large limbs, clean up torn bark, etc. In the case of one very old and large japanese maple, we lost 1/2 of it's largest branches. So it's a tall, thin tree, instead of a great wide lush tree. Very scary.\\n\\nThe tree guy said seal the bark which is torn. Don't completely seal it up because you can't but try to help the tree through the winter.\\n\\nSo we bought a lot of this Bonide sealer, for that tree and an even larger oak. It seems to have helped. We won't know until the spring or summer. But the sealer looks good and the tree is strong so far.\\n\\nWhat I do know about Bonide is this: I've used it before, it's excellent as a sealer and stays on once it dries. It is also very good for sealing the insides of wooden window boxes and clay pots. It's like spray tar.\\n\\nI would suggest buying a clip on sprayer, to help with the spray because depressing the spray nozzle after a while is difficult. This is thick stuff. It tends to ..not clog but get messy as you depress it. And then you want to be able to effectively keep shaking the can to get the most out of it without it sputtering and making a mess on your hands and clothing. And it could. But it's worth it because it's effective.\\n\\nThe seller is the manufacturer. When I asked them to please ship quickly and told them why I was buying so many cans, they shipped overnight. IMO, they're good people and sell a quality product. And the price is about 2/3 to 1/2 what you'll pay in your garden shop.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":19,"string":"19"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":76,"string":"76"}}},{"rowIdx":77,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2XR3I3HASE747"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Ace in the Hole (1951) / REGION FREE DVD / Audio: English / Subtitles: English, Simp. and Trad. Chinese / Actors: Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling / Director: Billy Wilder\". The summary of the review text is \"captivates from beginning to end\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"After years of alcohol abuse and slipping around the truth, an East-coast reporter (Kirk Douglas) washes up in dusty New Mexico. When a local man hunting for ancient Indian treasures is trapped by a cave-in under tons of stone, Kirk seizes his chance: He repackages a small private tragedy as the human interest story of the century. The cave-in becomes a Hopi curse, the victim's vulgar, greedy wife becomes a luminous almost-widow, and what should be a straight-forward rescue effort morphs into a massive engineering feat that may or may not redeem poor Leo. Kirk is absolutely mesmerizing as the devious, trickster journalist. I was captivated by the entire film, eager to discover how it would end and the fate of all the characters. I discovered \"Ace in the Hole\" while researching film noir, but it doesn't fit easily into that genre. Released in 1951, it feels extraordinarily prescient for its time, as Kirk's publicity efforts succeed in repurposing the accident as a sort of primordial reality show gobbled up by millions of gullible Americans, the \"Save Leo\" extravaganza. It may be 60 years old, but the film has much to say about how \"reality\" programming can twist and transform the truth into something far more complicated and sinister."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"After years of alcohol abuse and slipping around the truth, an East-coast reporter (Kirk Douglas) washes up in dusty New Mexico. When a local man hunting for ancient Indian treasures is trapped by a cave-in under tons of stone, Kirk seizes his chance: He repackages a small private tragedy as the human interest story of the century. The cave-in becomes a Hopi curse, the victim's vulgar, greedy wife becomes a luminous almost-widow, and what should be a straight-forward rescue effort morphs into a massive engineering feat that may or may not redeem poor Leo. Kirk is absolutely mesmerizing as the devious, trickster journalist. I was captivated by the entire film, eager to discover how it would end and the fate of all the characters. I discovered \"Ace in the Hole\" while researching film noir, but it doesn't fit easily into that genre. Released in 1951, it feels extraordinarily prescient for its time, as Kirk's publicity efforts succeed in repurposing the accident as a sort of primordial reality show gobbled up by millions of gullible Americans, the \"Save Leo\" extravaganza. It may be 60 years old, but the film has much to say about how \"reality\" programming can twist and transform the truth into something far more complicated and sinister."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Thirty-something Brandon Sullivan is a New York yuppie. He is also a sex addict who thinks about sex all the time when he's not having sex. He surfs for porn on his work computer, masturbates often even in his office's men's room, and eyes strange women in whatever situation he's in in the hopes of having quick anonymous sex with them. He hides his sex addiction from those few people in his life who he lets in in an emotional sense, unlike his married boss, David Fisher, who is open about his marital infidelities to his male work colleagues. And the act of sex holds no emotional connotation whatsoever for Brandon. The arrival back into his life and his apartment of his sister Sissy Sullivan, from who he was estranged due to the emotional baggage associated, changes Brandon's life, especially in what he can do in what used to be the privacy and sanctity of his apartment. Sissy, unlike Brandon, sees sex and emotional attachment as one in the same. Brandon's life begins to spiral out of control following Sissy's arrival. He gains a better understanding, albeit an unpleasant one, of his life following an incident involving Sissy. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Australian Film Institute, BAFTA Awards, British Independent Film Awards, Golden Globes, Venice Film Festival, ...Shame (2011)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: sublimely beautiful in all its ugliness\n\nReview: \"Shame\" shocked and moved me. For such a slow-paced movie, it blew me away as million-dollar special effects never could. Tender and heartfelt yet unrelenting in its brutality, this movie presents something new and real at every turn.\n\nSissy is shallow and flighty, a failing singer who comes to New York to stay with her brother, the cool and controlled business professional. From the beginning, we know something is awry. Brandon and Sissy throw themselves at each other and break away screaming, they love and despise each other intensely. Also, Brandon's addiction to sex is rather hard to hide. Sissy's arrival plunges him into a downward spiral from which the viewer is not spared. His endless bouts of sex are as off-putting to Brandon as they are to us; like any addict, he has lost all sense of joy or fulfillment in his vice long ago. He no longer has any choice.\n\nDo Sissy and Brandon have an incestuous past? What about their parents? As Sissy says, \"We're not bad people. We just come from a bad place.\" Their past is veiled in dark, ugly shadows. Like every great movie, \"Shame\" is open to many interpretations and raises far more questions than it answers.\n\nFor such an ugly subject matter, \"Shame\" is truly beautiful. On a final note, as a heterosexual female moviegoer I am glad-- after years and years of actresses going topless for no reason at all-- that a movie finally has the courage to show full-frontal male nudity.","Product: A magnificent epic of love, war and Russia from the international bestselling author of TULLY and ROAD TO PARADISE Leningrad 1941: the white nights of summer illuminate a city of fallen grandeur whose palaces and avenues speak of a different age, when Leningrad was known as St Petersburg. Two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha, share the same bed, living in one room with their brother and parents. The routine of their hard impoverished life is shattered on 22 June 1941 when Hitler invades Russia. For the Metanov family, for Leningrad and particularly for Tatiana, life will never be the same again. On that fateful day, Tatiana meets a brash young man named Alexander. The family suffers as Hitler's army advances on Leningrad, and the Russian winter closes in. With bombs falling and the city under siege, Tatiana and Alexander are drawn inexorably to each other, but theirs is a love that could tear Tatiana's family apart, and at its heart lies a secret that could mean death to anyone who hears it. Confronted on the one hand by Hitler's vast war machine, and on the other by a Soviet system determined to crush the human spirit, Tatiana and Alexander are pitted against the very tide of history, at a turning point in the century that made the modern world.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: \"Twilight\" meets \"Europe Central\"\n\nReview: \"The Bronze Horseman\" is one part \"Europe Central\" (an operatic surge through Nazi Germany and the USSR, centered upon doomed composer Dmitri Shostakovich), two parts \"Twilight\" (a selfless heroine falls for a gorgeous older boy who hides a Terrible Secret). In this case, boytoy Alexander is secretly American*, in the USSR, thus dangerously bourgeois in the eyes of the state. He is swept up in a love square with Tatiana, a factory worker, Tatiana's spoiled sister Dasha and Alexander's dastardly best friend Dimitri.\n\nMost of the novel's action takes place during the Siege of Leningrad, when the Nazis tried to bomb and starve the city into submission for 900 days and quite nearly succeeded. The author's richly detailed narrative gives you a good feel for what it was like to be a normal Soviet citizen during the war: Bleak and terrifying. Death is inescapable. My one complaint regards the pacing of the novel. The story focuses so obsessively upon Tatiana's love for Alexander that it becomes claustrophobic:\n\n\"Tatiana loved Alexander so much! Did he love her? How she longed to share all of her love with him, to save him from the painful past. All of her love waited for him. But there were too many people around and she had to hide her love. Her love, at all costs.\"\n\nI made that up, but it is typical of the repetitive prose poem that makes up about 50% of the book. Once the promises of the first half are finally consummated, (there is a much bigger payoff here than in \"Twilight\"), the thrill of that wears off pretty quickly as well, like devouring an entire jar of Nutella by yourself. An astonishing ending helps to make up for this trudging midsection.\n\nOverall, this novel is as enjoyable as dipping into Nutella--which is to say quite a lot. It also has something important to say. The Soviets lost 20 million people in WWII, many of them women and children. \"Bronze Horseman\" testifies to the cunning and courage one needed simply to survive.\n\n*A horrible truth I have lived with myself for many years. I assure you it is WORSE than being a vampire.","Product: A powerful story of grief and hope, a passionate and epic love story from the Russian-born author of the internationally bestselling novels TULLY and ROAD TO PARADISE. The world at war ! two people in love. Tatiana is eighteen years old and pregnant when she miraculously escapes war-torn Leningrad to the West, believing herself to be a widow. Her husband, Major Alexander Belov, a decorated hero of the Soviet Union, has been arrested by Stalin's infamous secret police and is awaiting imminent death as a traitor and a spy. Tatiana begins her new life in America. In wartime New York City she finds work, friends and a life beyond her dreams. However, her grief is inescapable and she keeps hearing Alexander calling out to her. Meanwhile, Alexander faces the greatest danger he's ever known. An American trapped in Russia since adolescence, he has been serving in the Red Army and posing as a Soviet citizen to protect himself. For him, Russia's war is not over, and both victory and defeat will mean certain death. As the Second World War moves into its spectacular close, Tatiana and Alexander are surrounded by the ghosts of their past and each other. They must struggle against destiny and despair as they find themselves in the fight of their lives. A master of the historical epic, Paullina Simons takes us on a journey across continents, time, and the entire breadth of human emotion, to create a heartrendingly beautiful love story that will live on long after the final page is turned.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good, but could have been great\n\nReview: The \"Bronze Horseman\" saga soars higher with each new installment, as Paullina Simons acquires more confidence with the characters and they become more and more like real people. The middle book follows Tatiana as she forges a new destiny for herself and her baby, ensconced in the hospital of Ellis Island, helping to bring German and Italian prisoners of war back to life even as she is unable to move past the memory her own dead soldier. Meanwhile, Alexander is trapped on the horrific eastern front of the war between Germany and Russia, hated by both sides, wanted dead by both sides.\n\nThis is a solid historical novel that recalls other epic romances like \"The Thorn Birds,\" Alessandro Manzoni's \"I Promessi Sposi,\" even \"Gone With the Wind.\" That it does not quite rise to their level is due to the fact that the two protagonists lose far too much time and energy in moping after the past. Theirs is an undying love, yes, but how many times do we need to be reminded of that? Simons accounts for the fact that Tania and Sasha are separated for most of the story by plunging us into flashback after flashback of their racy month in Lazarevo. These passages bored me in the first book and add little to the second.\n\nTatiana is a fascinating character, deceptively small but so strong, a single mother thrust onto the stage of WWII-era New York City: A time and place where really, anything was possible. I would have loved to follow her experiences in this strange new world more closely. Too much Bella Swan, not enough Scarlett O'Hara.","Product: Summer Garden\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: beautiful novel, nearly ruined by the ending\n\nReview: The previous two books in this trilogy were epic romances set in wartime. Here the tone switches to domestic drama, set against America's postwar golden age.\n\nI usually find these sorts of books dull. But \"The Summer Garden\" is honest and adult. Like its characters, the trilogy is fully grown up. Sometimes our direst struggles are not against the terror of war and death, but the small heartbreaks of everyday life. Sometimes, the greatest enemy is not a Nazi soldier or informant to the NKVD, but the person you love. Sometimes the greatest enemy to that love is you. In \"The Bronze Horseman,\" we had bombardments and blockades; in \"Tatiana and Alexander,\" escape from Nazi and Soviet concentration camps. The scope of this novel is much narrower but no less powerful: Trust and betrayal, dreams and disillusionment. The perfect bourgeois life does not equal perfect happiness.\n\nThis novel is not for everyone, but it spoke to something in me. I loved everything through the last chapter dealing with Saika, villainess and foil to Tatiana (and perhaps secretly in love with her?). Once the story disposes of Saika, everything seems to fall apart.\n\nThe foray into Vietnam is both bizarre and unnecessary, as is Summers' dragging out of the story into the present day. Five stars, minus two for the grandchild-centric ending which detracts from everything that came before. I would still highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoyed the first two.","Product: One choice can transform you. Pass initiation. Do not fail! Thrilling urban dystopian fiction debut from exciting young author. In sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior's world, society is divided into five factions -- Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) -- each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue, in the attempt to form a \"perfect society.\" At the age of sixteen, teens must choose the faction to which they will devote their lives. On her Choosing Day, Beatrice renames herself Tris, rejects her family's group, and chooses another faction. After surviving a brutal initiation, Tris finds romance with a super-hot boy, but also discovers unrest and growing conflict in their seemingly \"perfect society.\" To survive and save those they love, they must use their strengths to uncover the truths about their identities, their families, and the order of their society itself.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Do I like this book? Do I want to like this book??\n\nReview: I listened to this book on audiotape. Do I like the book? Do I want to like it? I don't know. I don't know, I don't know. I feel confused when it is near me, like I want to freeze or burst into flames.\n\nThe book is about five factions: Erudite, Dauntless, the Tactless, Thumper and Bambi. The Erudite want to hurt people. They want to hurt people because they think too much. Thinking too much is wrong.\n\nThere is a city ruled by the five factions. There is a girl in the city named Tris. Tris is not Thumper like her family because she just watches people get hurt and die, while continuously asking herself whether she wants them to get hurt and die. She decides yes, every time. She is not Tactless or Bambi because they are boring. Tris is brave, if you take bravery as a synonym for petulance. The brave people are Dauntless. Does she want to be brave? Yes, she does. Is she Erudite? No, they are evil.\n\nTris is divergent. Divergent means you are capable of feeling different things, like a real human being. It means you have to save the city from the Erudite's evil mind-control plot. The evil faction's leader is Jeanine. Jeanine, are you kidding me? That is the worst villain name ever. Jeanine is evil because she has pudge and stretch marks. Also, she is really smart. Can you be pudgy, smart and good? No, not in this book.\n\n\"Divergent\" has a really good premise, like something out of a Madeleine L'Engle book. Does it follow through on that premise? Does it want to follow through? It feels unformed and unfinished. It feels unformed.","Product: Brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty insist they were commanded to kill by God. Krakauer's investigation is a meticulously researched, bone-chilling narrative of polygamy, savage violence and unyielding faith: an incisive, gripping work of non-fiction that illuminates an otherwise confounding realm of human behaviour. 'A provocative look at the twisted roots of American fundamentalism' Will Self, Evening Standard Books of the Year 'Excellent ...a lucid, judicious, even sympathetic account not just of Mormon Fundamentalism but of the seductive power of fanaticism in general' Daily Telegraph 'Krakauer writes exceptionally well: as thrilling as Capote on true crime, as devastating as Nietzsche on religious fundamentalism' Scotland on Sunday 'Remarkable ...for anyone interested in the wilder frontiers of spiritual conviction, this book is a must' Independent 'Krakauer is an adept chronicler of extremists, and he's as intent on understanding religious fanatics as he was in his earlier books on exploring the obsessions of monomaniacal adventurers' Los Angeles Times\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A terrific look at Mormon history\n\nReview: I come from a Mormon family (and even have polygamist ancestors!) and I thought this book was terrific. The book's background is a fascinating look into the role of polygamy in the FLDS and LDS religions; the foreground is the story of a young woman who loses her life, together with her child, because she resists her husband's intention to impose his belief in polygamy upon her.\n\nTo Mormon readers, I would suggest that knowing as much about your religion as possible is a good thing. Someone with real faith should not fear the truth: Polygamy is an important part of our history, no denying it. This book is not a blind attack on Mormonism at all. To anti-Mormon posters, you make me feel sad. It must be tough to live with so much hatred in your heart.","Product: Syria's descent into civil war has already claimed an estimated 200,000 lives while more than nine million people have fled their homes. This is now the greatest humanitarian and political crisis of the twenty-first century. In this timely account, John McHugo charts the history of Syria from the First World War to the present and considers why Syria's foundations as a nation have proved so fragile. He examines the country's thwarted attempts at independence under French rule before turning to more recent events: religious and sectarian tensions that have riven Syria, the pressures of international conflicts, two generations of rule by the Assads and the rise of ISIS. As the conflict in Syria rages on, McHugo provides a rare and authoritative guide to a complex nation that demands our attention.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: this book leaves me without words-- or with too many words\n\nReview: I came across this book while researching Islamic State, aka The Nazis of Our Time. I knew IS had physically dismantled the border between Iraq and Syria, and I read a lot of articles about cities recaptured and cities retaken, but it never made very much sense to me. I knew in order to understand the significance of what IS is doing, I needed to understand first what Syria itself \"means.\"\n\nI usually feel like I *should* read books like this because they are important and *interesting*, in the same way that we convince ourselves that apples taste better than chocolate, Let's be honest. Fluff fiction always wins out. When I do drag myself through wholesome nonfiction, usually I am so relieved to read the last page.\n\nNot so here. This book reads like a novel, but better than a novel because it is all true. I've been telling everyone-- strangers, dogs, children-- about the wonderful *biography* of Syria I'm reading. I read it late into the night because I'm so caught up in knowing what will happen next. I read it when I should be working. I can't remember the last time I was so fascinated by a book.\n\nAnd beyond being interesting, it's important too. My country is flooded with Syrian refugees. They drown in our sea and wash up on our shores. I've seen large collections of them huddled with their bundles at the train station. They look tired and confused; but exhausted above all. I can't imagine how they got here. But now at least I know where they came from."],"string":"[\n \"Product: United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Thirty-something Brandon Sullivan is a New York yuppie. He is also a sex addict who thinks about sex all the time when he's not having sex. He surfs for porn on his work computer, masturbates often even in his office's men's room, and eyes strange women in whatever situation he's in in the hopes of having quick anonymous sex with them. He hides his sex addiction from those few people in his life who he lets in in an emotional sense, unlike his married boss, David Fisher, who is open about his marital infidelities to his male work colleagues. And the act of sex holds no emotional connotation whatsoever for Brandon. The arrival back into his life and his apartment of his sister Sissy Sullivan, from who he was estranged due to the emotional baggage associated, changes Brandon's life, especially in what he can do in what used to be the privacy and sanctity of his apartment. Sissy, unlike Brandon, sees sex and emotional attachment as one in the same. Brandon's life begins to spiral out of control following Sissy's arrival. He gains a better understanding, albeit an unpleasant one, of his life following an incident involving Sissy. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Australian Film Institute, BAFTA Awards, British Independent Film Awards, Golden Globes, Venice Film Festival, ...Shame (2011)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: sublimely beautiful in all its ugliness\\n\\nReview: \\\"Shame\\\" shocked and moved me. For such a slow-paced movie, it blew me away as million-dollar special effects never could. Tender and heartfelt yet unrelenting in its brutality, this movie presents something new and real at every turn.\\n\\nSissy is shallow and flighty, a failing singer who comes to New York to stay with her brother, the cool and controlled business professional. From the beginning, we know something is awry. Brandon and Sissy throw themselves at each other and break away screaming, they love and despise each other intensely. Also, Brandon's addiction to sex is rather hard to hide. Sissy's arrival plunges him into a downward spiral from which the viewer is not spared. His endless bouts of sex are as off-putting to Brandon as they are to us; like any addict, he has lost all sense of joy or fulfillment in his vice long ago. He no longer has any choice.\\n\\nDo Sissy and Brandon have an incestuous past? What about their parents? As Sissy says, \\\"We're not bad people. We just come from a bad place.\\\" Their past is veiled in dark, ugly shadows. Like every great movie, \\\"Shame\\\" is open to many interpretations and raises far more questions than it answers.\\n\\nFor such an ugly subject matter, \\\"Shame\\\" is truly beautiful. On a final note, as a heterosexual female moviegoer I am glad-- after years and years of actresses going topless for no reason at all-- that a movie finally has the courage to show full-frontal male nudity.\",\n \"Product: A magnificent epic of love, war and Russia from the international bestselling author of TULLY and ROAD TO PARADISE Leningrad 1941: the white nights of summer illuminate a city of fallen grandeur whose palaces and avenues speak of a different age, when Leningrad was known as St Petersburg. Two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha, share the same bed, living in one room with their brother and parents. The routine of their hard impoverished life is shattered on 22 June 1941 when Hitler invades Russia. For the Metanov family, for Leningrad and particularly for Tatiana, life will never be the same again. On that fateful day, Tatiana meets a brash young man named Alexander. The family suffers as Hitler's army advances on Leningrad, and the Russian winter closes in. With bombs falling and the city under siege, Tatiana and Alexander are drawn inexorably to each other, but theirs is a love that could tear Tatiana's family apart, and at its heart lies a secret that could mean death to anyone who hears it. Confronted on the one hand by Hitler's vast war machine, and on the other by a Soviet system determined to crush the human spirit, Tatiana and Alexander are pitted against the very tide of history, at a turning point in the century that made the modern world.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Twilight\\\" meets \\\"Europe Central\\\"\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Bronze Horseman\\\" is one part \\\"Europe Central\\\" (an operatic surge through Nazi Germany and the USSR, centered upon doomed composer Dmitri Shostakovich), two parts \\\"Twilight\\\" (a selfless heroine falls for a gorgeous older boy who hides a Terrible Secret). In this case, boytoy Alexander is secretly American*, in the USSR, thus dangerously bourgeois in the eyes of the state. He is swept up in a love square with Tatiana, a factory worker, Tatiana's spoiled sister Dasha and Alexander's dastardly best friend Dimitri.\\n\\nMost of the novel's action takes place during the Siege of Leningrad, when the Nazis tried to bomb and starve the city into submission for 900 days and quite nearly succeeded. The author's richly detailed narrative gives you a good feel for what it was like to be a normal Soviet citizen during the war: Bleak and terrifying. Death is inescapable. My one complaint regards the pacing of the novel. The story focuses so obsessively upon Tatiana's love for Alexander that it becomes claustrophobic:\\n\\n\\\"Tatiana loved Alexander so much! Did he love her? How she longed to share all of her love with him, to save him from the painful past. All of her love waited for him. But there were too many people around and she had to hide her love. Her love, at all costs.\\\"\\n\\nI made that up, but it is typical of the repetitive prose poem that makes up about 50% of the book. Once the promises of the first half are finally consummated, (there is a much bigger payoff here than in \\\"Twilight\\\"), the thrill of that wears off pretty quickly as well, like devouring an entire jar of Nutella by yourself. An astonishing ending helps to make up for this trudging midsection.\\n\\nOverall, this novel is as enjoyable as dipping into Nutella--which is to say quite a lot. It also has something important to say. The Soviets lost 20 million people in WWII, many of them women and children. \\\"Bronze Horseman\\\" testifies to the cunning and courage one needed simply to survive.\\n\\n*A horrible truth I have lived with myself for many years. I assure you it is WORSE than being a vampire.\",\n \"Product: A powerful story of grief and hope, a passionate and epic love story from the Russian-born author of the internationally bestselling novels TULLY and ROAD TO PARADISE. The world at war ! two people in love. Tatiana is eighteen years old and pregnant when she miraculously escapes war-torn Leningrad to the West, believing herself to be a widow. Her husband, Major Alexander Belov, a decorated hero of the Soviet Union, has been arrested by Stalin's infamous secret police and is awaiting imminent death as a traitor and a spy. Tatiana begins her new life in America. In wartime New York City she finds work, friends and a life beyond her dreams. However, her grief is inescapable and she keeps hearing Alexander calling out to her. Meanwhile, Alexander faces the greatest danger he's ever known. An American trapped in Russia since adolescence, he has been serving in the Red Army and posing as a Soviet citizen to protect himself. For him, Russia's war is not over, and both victory and defeat will mean certain death. As the Second World War moves into its spectacular close, Tatiana and Alexander are surrounded by the ghosts of their past and each other. They must struggle against destiny and despair as they find themselves in the fight of their lives. A master of the historical epic, Paullina Simons takes us on a journey across continents, time, and the entire breadth of human emotion, to create a heartrendingly beautiful love story that will live on long after the final page is turned.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good, but could have been great\\n\\nReview: The \\\"Bronze Horseman\\\" saga soars higher with each new installment, as Paullina Simons acquires more confidence with the characters and they become more and more like real people. The middle book follows Tatiana as she forges a new destiny for herself and her baby, ensconced in the hospital of Ellis Island, helping to bring German and Italian prisoners of war back to life even as she is unable to move past the memory her own dead soldier. Meanwhile, Alexander is trapped on the horrific eastern front of the war between Germany and Russia, hated by both sides, wanted dead by both sides.\\n\\nThis is a solid historical novel that recalls other epic romances like \\\"The Thorn Birds,\\\" Alessandro Manzoni's \\\"I Promessi Sposi,\\\" even \\\"Gone With the Wind.\\\" That it does not quite rise to their level is due to the fact that the two protagonists lose far too much time and energy in moping after the past. Theirs is an undying love, yes, but how many times do we need to be reminded of that? Simons accounts for the fact that Tania and Sasha are separated for most of the story by plunging us into flashback after flashback of their racy month in Lazarevo. These passages bored me in the first book and add little to the second.\\n\\nTatiana is a fascinating character, deceptively small but so strong, a single mother thrust onto the stage of WWII-era New York City: A time and place where really, anything was possible. I would have loved to follow her experiences in this strange new world more closely. Too much Bella Swan, not enough Scarlett O'Hara.\",\n \"Product: Summer Garden\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: beautiful novel, nearly ruined by the ending\\n\\nReview: The previous two books in this trilogy were epic romances set in wartime. Here the tone switches to domestic drama, set against America's postwar golden age.\\n\\nI usually find these sorts of books dull. But \\\"The Summer Garden\\\" is honest and adult. Like its characters, the trilogy is fully grown up. Sometimes our direst struggles are not against the terror of war and death, but the small heartbreaks of everyday life. Sometimes, the greatest enemy is not a Nazi soldier or informant to the NKVD, but the person you love. Sometimes the greatest enemy to that love is you. In \\\"The Bronze Horseman,\\\" we had bombardments and blockades; in \\\"Tatiana and Alexander,\\\" escape from Nazi and Soviet concentration camps. The scope of this novel is much narrower but no less powerful: Trust and betrayal, dreams and disillusionment. The perfect bourgeois life does not equal perfect happiness.\\n\\nThis novel is not for everyone, but it spoke to something in me. I loved everything through the last chapter dealing with Saika, villainess and foil to Tatiana (and perhaps secretly in love with her?). Once the story disposes of Saika, everything seems to fall apart.\\n\\nThe foray into Vietnam is both bizarre and unnecessary, as is Summers' dragging out of the story into the present day. Five stars, minus two for the grandchild-centric ending which detracts from everything that came before. I would still highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoyed the first two.\",\n \"Product: One choice can transform you. Pass initiation. Do not fail! Thrilling urban dystopian fiction debut from exciting young author. In sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior's world, society is divided into five factions -- Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) -- each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue, in the attempt to form a \\\"perfect society.\\\" At the age of sixteen, teens must choose the faction to which they will devote their lives. On her Choosing Day, Beatrice renames herself Tris, rejects her family's group, and chooses another faction. After surviving a brutal initiation, Tris finds romance with a super-hot boy, but also discovers unrest and growing conflict in their seemingly \\\"perfect society.\\\" To survive and save those they love, they must use their strengths to uncover the truths about their identities, their families, and the order of their society itself.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Do I like this book? Do I want to like this book??\\n\\nReview: I listened to this book on audiotape. Do I like the book? Do I want to like it? I don't know. I don't know, I don't know. I feel confused when it is near me, like I want to freeze or burst into flames.\\n\\nThe book is about five factions: Erudite, Dauntless, the Tactless, Thumper and Bambi. The Erudite want to hurt people. They want to hurt people because they think too much. Thinking too much is wrong.\\n\\nThere is a city ruled by the five factions. There is a girl in the city named Tris. Tris is not Thumper like her family because she just watches people get hurt and die, while continuously asking herself whether she wants them to get hurt and die. She decides yes, every time. She is not Tactless or Bambi because they are boring. Tris is brave, if you take bravery as a synonym for petulance. The brave people are Dauntless. Does she want to be brave? Yes, she does. Is she Erudite? No, they are evil.\\n\\nTris is divergent. Divergent means you are capable of feeling different things, like a real human being. It means you have to save the city from the Erudite's evil mind-control plot. The evil faction's leader is Jeanine. Jeanine, are you kidding me? That is the worst villain name ever. Jeanine is evil because she has pudge and stretch marks. Also, she is really smart. Can you be pudgy, smart and good? No, not in this book.\\n\\n\\\"Divergent\\\" has a really good premise, like something out of a Madeleine L'Engle book. Does it follow through on that premise? Does it want to follow through? It feels unformed and unfinished. It feels unformed.\",\n \"Product: Brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty insist they were commanded to kill by God. Krakauer's investigation is a meticulously researched, bone-chilling narrative of polygamy, savage violence and unyielding faith: an incisive, gripping work of non-fiction that illuminates an otherwise confounding realm of human behaviour. 'A provocative look at the twisted roots of American fundamentalism' Will Self, Evening Standard Books of the Year 'Excellent ...a lucid, judicious, even sympathetic account not just of Mormon Fundamentalism but of the seductive power of fanaticism in general' Daily Telegraph 'Krakauer writes exceptionally well: as thrilling as Capote on true crime, as devastating as Nietzsche on religious fundamentalism' Scotland on Sunday 'Remarkable ...for anyone interested in the wilder frontiers of spiritual conviction, this book is a must' Independent 'Krakauer is an adept chronicler of extremists, and he's as intent on understanding religious fanatics as he was in his earlier books on exploring the obsessions of monomaniacal adventurers' Los Angeles Times\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A terrific look at Mormon history\\n\\nReview: I come from a Mormon family (and even have polygamist ancestors!) and I thought this book was terrific. The book's background is a fascinating look into the role of polygamy in the FLDS and LDS religions; the foreground is the story of a young woman who loses her life, together with her child, because she resists her husband's intention to impose his belief in polygamy upon her.\\n\\nTo Mormon readers, I would suggest that knowing as much about your religion as possible is a good thing. Someone with real faith should not fear the truth: Polygamy is an important part of our history, no denying it. This book is not a blind attack on Mormonism at all. To anti-Mormon posters, you make me feel sad. It must be tough to live with so much hatred in your heart.\",\n \"Product: Syria's descent into civil war has already claimed an estimated 200,000 lives while more than nine million people have fled their homes. This is now the greatest humanitarian and political crisis of the twenty-first century. In this timely account, John McHugo charts the history of Syria from the First World War to the present and considers why Syria's foundations as a nation have proved so fragile. He examines the country's thwarted attempts at independence under French rule before turning to more recent events: religious and sectarian tensions that have riven Syria, the pressures of international conflicts, two generations of rule by the Assads and the rise of ISIS. As the conflict in Syria rages on, McHugo provides a rare and authoritative guide to a complex nation that demands our attention.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: this book leaves me without words-- or with too many words\\n\\nReview: I came across this book while researching Islamic State, aka The Nazis of Our Time. I knew IS had physically dismantled the border between Iraq and Syria, and I read a lot of articles about cities recaptured and cities retaken, but it never made very much sense to me. I knew in order to understand the significance of what IS is doing, I needed to understand first what Syria itself \\\"means.\\\"\\n\\nI usually feel like I *should* read books like this because they are important and *interesting*, in the same way that we convince ourselves that apples taste better than chocolate, Let's be honest. Fluff fiction always wins out. When I do drag myself through wholesome nonfiction, usually I am so relieved to read the last page.\\n\\nNot so here. This book reads like a novel, but better than a novel because it is all true. I've been telling everyone-- strangers, dogs, children-- about the wonderful *biography* of Syria I'm reading. I read it late into the night because I'm so caught up in knowing what will happen next. I read it when I should be working. I can't remember the last time I was so fascinated by a book.\\n\\nAnd beyond being interesting, it's important too. My country is flooded with Syrian refugees. They drown in our sea and wash up on our shores. I've seen large collections of them huddled with their bundles at the train station. They look tired and confused; but exhausted above all. I can't imagine how they got here. But now at least I know where they came from.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":7,"string":"7"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":77,"string":"77"}}},{"rowIdx":78,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1HRECPV2Q79BG"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"The Big Chil has big exterior pockets for your belongings. It insulates contents both hot or cold for 3 hours. It is collapsible. It has a wipe-clean PVC-free interior lining. The Hip Pod has a collapsible design that makes it easy to take everywhere. It is great for travel. The Mesh Wrap 2 Pak has a collapsible design that makes them easy to take everywhere. They have a breathable mesh exterior. They are great for everything from veggies to gym clothes. They have a durable drawstring design for cynching in contents. The (re)zip bulk is machine washable with towels and line dry. It is see-through. It replaces disposable baggies. It is made from FDA-Grade PEVA film. It is PVC Free.\". The summary of the review text is \"Worthwhile urban bag set, sturdy and compact.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I think some of the reviews miss the point of this bag set--it's not for everyone, but it's particularly well-suited to an urban, pedestrian lifestyle. If you drive everywhere, you don't need these. If you walk often, read on.\n\nWe live in a city where a lot of shopping is done on foot. Here we still have the butcher, fish store, and produce stores spread around the neighborhood. (yes, we also have supermarkets) So when my wife and I go out for a walk, it's very useful to have a bag along in case we want to pick up something on the way. The variety of sized this set provides are just the ticket for that kind of use. My lovely wife often keeps a folded medium bag in her purse, and I can shove the smaller one into my jacket pocket. These bags are lighter than the reusable ones sold by Trader Joe's (and nearly everyone else), and so far, hold up very nicely.\nThe cooler bag seems to work well, but then it's winter, so it hasn't been severely tested. Like the other bags, it's compact and light compared to other bags.\nIs it worth the price? Hard to say. They're definitely not cheap, but on the other hand, they fill a niche that most bag makers ignore. For us, it works."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I think some of the reviews miss the point of this bag set--it's not for everyone, but it's particularly well-suited to an urban, pedestrian lifestyle. If you drive everywhere, you don't need these. If you walk often, read on.\n\nWe live in a city where a lot of shopping is done on foot. Here we still have the butcher, fish store, and produce stores spread around the neighborhood. (yes, we also have supermarkets) So when my wife and I go out for a walk, it's very useful to have a bag along in case we want to pick up something on the way. The variety of sized this set provides are just the ticket for that kind of use. My lovely wife often keeps a folded medium bag in her purse, and I can shove the smaller one into my jacket pocket. These bags are lighter than the reusable ones sold by Trader Joe's (and nearly everyone else), and so far, hold up very nicely.\nThe cooler bag seems to work well, but then it's winter, so it hasn't been severely tested. Like the other bags, it's compact and light compared to other bags.\nIs it worth the price? Hard to say. They're definitely not cheap, but on the other hand, they fill a niche that most bag makers ignore. For us, it works."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Extra Large Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips Extra Durable Adhesive Bandages provide heavy duty durable wound care protection that stays with you all day. These extra durable Band-Aid adhesive bandages are made with Dura-Weave fabric and provide superior adhesion to stay on up to 24 hours. Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips Extra Durable Adhesive Bandages have a non-stick pad that wont stick to the wound. Please note that Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips are not recommended for sensitive or delicate skin. This package contains 10 extra large heavy-duty sterile bandages, each measuring 1.75 by 4 inches.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I eat, I cook, I cut myself, I need these. So do you.\n\nReview: Perhaps it's absurd to get enthused over bandages, but the Band-Aid Tough Strips are just great. Most of the times I need bandages are because of cooking accidents, and they always seem to be in awkward places - around a knuckle, on a weird spot on my hand, on the tip of my ear. (OK, not that last one, just wanted to see if you were paying attention) Now in the store you may well be tempted by cheaper brands, since genuine Band Aid (and especially the Though-strip ones) are rather expensive. But they cost more because they actually work as intended, and that means you put one on and it stays put all day. The problem with lesser bandages is that they slip - they don't stick well to themselves, so if there's any movement at all they fall off. I often ended up using 4-5 per day, whereas with the Band Aid, I put one on in the morning and it usually lasts all day.\n\nBand Aid seems to have found a combination of textured, breathable material and strong adhesive that no one else can match, and that's evident in this product. These are big boys, and offer excellent coverage of medium cuts and scrapes. A dab of Neosporin and these are all you need for most cuts. Highly recommended, especially for the klutzy cook.","Product: Extra Large Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips Extra Durable Adhesive Bandages provide heavy duty durable wound care protection that stays with you all day. These extra durable Band-Aid adhesive bandages are made with Dura-Weave fabric and provide superior adhesion to stay on up to 24 hours. Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips Extra Durable Adhesive Bandages have a non-stick pad that wont stick to the wound. Please note that Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips are not recommended for sensitive or delicate skin. This package contains 10 extra large heavy-duty sterile bandages, each measuring 1.75 by 4 inches.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I eat, I cook, I cut myself, I need these. So do you.\n\nReview: Perhaps it's absurd to get enthused over bandages, but the Band-Aid Tough Strips are just great. Most of the times I need bandages are because of cooking accidents, and they always seem to be in awkward places - around a knuckle, on a weird spot on my hand, on the tip of my ear. (OK, not that last one, just wanted to see if you were paying attention) Now in the store you may well be tempted by cheaper brands, since genuine Band Aid (and especially the Though-strip ones) are rather expensive. But they cost more because they actually work as intended, and that means you put one on and it stays put all day. The problem with lesser bandages is that they slip - they don't stick well to themselves, so if there's any movement at all they fall off. I often ended up using 4-5 per day, whereas with the Band Aid, I put one on in the morning and it usually lasts all day.\n\nBand Aid seems to have found a combination of textured, breathable material and strong adhesive that no one else can match, and that's evident in this product. These are big boys, and offer excellent coverage of medium cuts and scrapes. A dab of Neosporin and these are all you need for most cuts. Highly recommended, especially for the klutzy cook.","Product: Visual image and infrared heat map blending help you identify the exact location of the potential issue. Center-point temperature and hot and cold markers let you identify hottest and coldest spots within field of view. Pocket-size design - Handy when you need it; easily fits in your tool bag or pocket. Intuitive interface - Get to work as soon as you take it out of the box. SmartView reporting software enables you to create customizable reports to document your findings or prove repairs have been made.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Amazing Super-Thermometer. Great for engineers, yes, but I like it too.\n\nReview: (see my photos of the Fluke in action in the gallery)\nIm a temperature geek. Not because Im an engineer or a ventilation tech, but because I cook. Getting the exact right temperature is an obsession with me. So I was surprised and delighted to see a Fluke, the Mercedes of thermometers, show up on the Vine list. I thought it was going to be a more advanced version of what I already have, the competent, modestlypriced Kintrex IRT0421. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017L9Q9C/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1)\nSo I was surprised to see that this goes far, far beyond that technology. Its pretty much a flawless piece of measuring equipment, displaying temperatures instantly while offering you the capability of recording and storing the data. Its very sturdy, and comes in a nice plastic case along with rechargeable batteries, an SD card and adapters for use around the world.\nIn fact, the Fluke FLK-VT04 is such an advanced, capable tool that its pretty much overkill for my needs. But I do love using it.\n\nThe first thing I tried was a challenging environment a shiny stainless steel pot filled with water, meat in a bag and an immersion circulator. Ive started sous vide cooking recently, and that technique depends on very precise temperature control. I use a lab immersion circulator, and as you can see in the photos, the Fluke instantly registers a very accurate reading at a distance of about a foot from the pot. (52 degrees Celsius translates to 126 Fahrenheit) verified by both the circulators own super-accurate thermometer and a Thermapen. Reading is instant. Oh joy. Unlike some lesser infrared thermometers, the Fluke doesnt seem to get fooled into false readings by reflective surfaces.\n\nNext, I pointed it at the interior of my fridge, which is set to 40 degrees. Again, the reading is instant, accurate and verified with the imaging screen.\n\nLast, I used to to san my coffee roaster while it was working. Whats showing is the exterior temperature. Unfortunately, by the time I got the Fluke winter was over, so I couldn't use it to show where cold air leaks in around my old buildings aluminum-frame windows.\n\nThere are many options available for the display, and you can set the resolution to show fine gradations in temperature or larger ones, depending on your task. You can also select the range of the measuring area within the viewing screen, as well as near or far readings, and low and high temperature alarms. You can even set it to record time-lapse measurements of temperature changes over a set period. In addition to recording measurements on the included SD card, the Fluke comes with a proprietary program, but its for PC only and Im an a Mac, so I couldn't use it.\n\nAll in all, the Fluke FLK-VT04 is a temperature geeks dreams come true. Itd not cheap, but you certainly get what you pay for. And if you need instant, accurate readings professionally, this is as good as it gets.","Product: Norton AntiVirus 2011 fast protection that does more to stop viruses and spyware. Protects your PC against the latest viruses, spyware, and other threats. Delivers fast, powerful online protection to keep you a step ahead of cyber attacks. Stay a step ahead of threats to your PC with the industry's fastest antivirus protection.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Couldn't install on Vista machine\n\nReview: I have a laptop running Vista that came with a free trial version of this program. I never activated the free trial, which may or may not have something to do with why this version failed to install properly - I'm not sure. What I do know is that in each time I tried (about 6 times in total, over a week) it seemed to go through the entier installation routine as one would expect, until it got to the end and then it would ask if I wanted to activate the free trial version - it never got to the point of activating the full version I was trying to install. I tried calling Norton customer service, but always got snared in a horrible cue. Since this is not my primary computer I simply gave up - there's a point at which the time investment is simply not worth it, especially since I already have other anti-virus programs that do work. (and yes, I disabled the other one before trying to install this) I have used Norton products in the past, and they've always worked reasonably well, but this was an exercise in pure frustration.","Product: Home roasting coffee beans provides a simple way to enjoy the aromas and tastes of freshly roasted coffees. Roasted coffee stales very quickly and is dramatically diminished in days so home roasting ensures your coffee is always fresh. It's fun and easy and takes only about 20 to 30 minutes from roasting to brewing and about half the cost of store-bought roasted beans. Green un-roasted coffee beans are easy to find in stores or on line. The Nesco Coffee Bean Roaster features a patented catalytic technology that significantly reduces smoke and odors during the roasting process. Pre-set digital controls automatically roasts and cools with the touch of a button. The Nesco Coffee Bean Roaster provides a superior roasting performance by combining warm air with a powerful agitator to create an even roast with uniform color throughout the roasting batch. It's large capacity is capable of roasting up to 1/3 pound of fresh green beans (about 36 cups of brewed coffee) each time. The CR-1010 PRR roasts a batch in about 20 minutes at half the cost of store-bought and is perfect for true coffee enthusiasts who want the freshest cup of coffee possible.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: DANGEROUS item, and awful customer service. Avoid.\n\nReview: I've been roasting coffee for over 10 years, on various devices ranging from the simplest popcorn poppers to dedicated home roasters. I've never had any catch on fire. The Nesco wasn't overloaded, it simply slipped a gear - the auger stopped turning - and so the beans inside started to smolder. Despite catching this quickly, there was oily residue all over the roaster. I returned it to Nesco under warranty, and they \"fixed\" it, but what I got back was exactly the same machine, still reeking of smoke. When I complained about this, they said \"this is all we can do\". When it worked, it was OK for lighter roasts. This is a poorly thought-out product from an infomercial-level company, and is a danger. You're much better off using a popcorn popper, or exploring some of the other home machines. (see sweet marias for a comprehensive range)","Product: Progressive International is your source for the widest range of functional, inventive and fun kitchen tools and great ideas put into practice. Our gadgets, tools, food-prep items and household products make cooking and meal preparation more efficient and fun. At Progressive, passion and creativity unite to create the right balance of form and function for today's cooks. Our in-house designers spend hours in the kitchen coming up with ways to improve on a variety of traditional tasks and tools. Established in 1973, our commitment to quality and service allows us to offer a broad selection of quality kitchenware and other household products. Progressive holds product patents worldwide and has gained respect as a world class kitchenware innovator. Prepworks from Progressive International is a line of products created by people who understand having the correct kitchen tool can make your cooking experience more enjoyable. Prepworks - essential items for today's cook. The Prepworks counter edge poly cutting board with integrated removable bin collects food and scraps and collapses for easy storage. The bin slides easily into place and features a seal between board and bin to ensure liquid does not fall on the floor. The bin has a 4-cup capacity and the board features an L shaped edge design that fits over a sink and counter. The board features non skid feet, and measures 11 by 15-inch. Attach the bin to the board and collapse for easy storage. Dishwasher safe; patent pending design\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great idea, very well executed.\n\nReview: I cook a lot and have many cutting boards, including some exotic ones that purport to be the best thing ever for your knives. When I got this I thought it was just a gimmick and I 'd quickly tire of it, but boy was I wrong. This is an excellent board, and has instantly become my favorite. The functionality of having a scrap bin right there, attached to the board makes cooking much more pleasant. Instead of having to cart your discarded cuttings to a separate bin, you jut sweep them into the attached container and keep on chopping. That saves a lot of time, and keeps the counter neat. The cutting surface is very good and has held up to daily use very nicely. The fact that it's dishwasher-safe makes clean up a snap, and it hasn't retained any food tints, nor has it faded.\nThe only downside (if you can call it that) is that you need to remember that the bin is there, hanging under the counter. In my small kitchen I use it above my dishwasher, and once I absentmindedly opened it to get a spoon while I was cooking, sending the board, the bin and everything that was on them all over the floor. Man, that was a big mess. But that's not the board's fault now, is it. Progressive International have a real winner here.","Product: The 3M TEKK Protection rug anchor system helps prevent trips and falls. Using patanted 3M technology it's the best solution for holding rug corners and edges down firmly.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Works, but it's lumpy and awkward to use.\n\nReview: The 3M Tekk anchor does what it should, but not in a very graceful way. You stick half of each pair of grippers to your floor, and the other to the bottom of your rug. There are 4 pairs in a package, which is enough for a small rug. The grippers themselves are like velcro, but with more rigid teeth so the lock feels more positive. The flip side of that is that you can easily detect the presence of the grips underfoot, even with shoes on. Placement is very important - you have to make sure that the spacing between the grippers is such that the rug will stay fairly taut, otherwise you can end up with a wavy rug that trips you up. It lasted the two weeks that I had it on a small area rug, and may last much longer - I don't know because I could not tolerate feeling the little bumps every time i happened to step on them. I removed the grippers (no residue to speak of on the floor, a little on the rug) and went back to my preferred method of keeping rugs from slipping - a rubber backing that's undetectable, and completely repositionable. This product may work for oyu if you have very specific needs, but it's not great for all-around rug securing.","Product: The oxo good grips folding clip dryer is a convenient way to air dry items that cannot be put in the dryer, such as underwear and lingerie. It's also strong enough to hang and dry heavier items such as jeans. The lightweight dryer uses three hooks to mount easily on a shower curtain rod or a rod in the laundry room. It features 14 clips with non-slip grips. The clips are attached directly to the rust proof aluminum rail. This provides easy access to the clip grips for fast opening and loading, and ensures the clips will not get tangled in storage. The dryer folds in half and snaps closed for compact storage and the folded dryer can be hung conveniently in a closet. This folding feature also allows the dryer to hang on curved or corner shower rods. The oxo good grips folding clip dryer is an ideal way to protect delicates, but is also great for reducing energy usage, cutting utility bill costs and extending the life of garments.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Earned my wife's eternal love\n\nReview: Oxo makes great tools for the kitchen, and we have a buch of them. They have lately branched out into the bathroom, to very good effect. This hanger has eliminated the weekly forest of wire hanger that use to appear in our bathroom when my wife washes her \"delicates\". By \"delicates\" I mean bras. OMG, they used to be all over the place, there simply wasn't enough space to hang them all (we live in a small apartment in the big city). Now there's plenty of room ,and it's well organized. The clips hold items securely, giving them just enough space to all dry at the same rate. The hinge in the middle is essential if you have one of those curved shower curtain rods (we do) and is also useful for folding the device for storage. As usual for Oxo, the drier is very well made and looks like it will last for years. I finally threw away the bunch of ugly hangers we kept around - good riddance. Highly recommended.","Product: A kitchen essential - Splatter Guard + Strainer + Baking Sheet. Who needs this versatile wonder? You do. Use the Kuhn Rikon Silicone Splatter Guard on skillets or woks, as colorful strainers and even as baking sheets. Made of nonstick FDA-grade silicone, oven safe up to 450-degrees. Spatter Guards are stain and odor resistant, dishwasher safe. Metal-reinforced rim and handles are microwave safe. Set of two - 10-inch and 12-inch diameter.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Limited usability, not ideal for gas stoves.\n\nReview: As an avid (and messy) cook, I use splatter guards every day. My go-to model is the Oxo metal splatter screen with handle, of which I have two well-worn ones. I was happy to try out the Kuhn Rikon version, being a completely different design of flexible silicone around a semi-rigid frame. The Kuhn Rikon offers great versatility, as it can be used as a shallow colander too. And in fact, it makes a better colander than a splatter screen. The problem is two fold: there simply aren't many vents, so rather than letting steam escape, it condenses on the underside of the guard and drips back down. And that means soggy rather than crispy food. And if you use high heat on a gas stove, the silicone can get singed from any flame that makes its way around the side of the pan. It's better suited to stop splatter from simmering sauces, where a bit of condensation isn't a problem. For true splatter control in the frying process you need something with many more vents, and a material that won't react to flame.","Product: The case of the runaway veggies has just been solved. The OXO Good Grips Chop and Pour Board makes chopping and transporting ingredients simple and efficient. Use the Board's corner spout to neatly guide food from the Board directly into bowls, pots or pans without spilling onto stovetops or counters. A generous, flat cutting surface allows for efficient slicing and dicing, while the raised back and side walls keep food contained. The lightweight Board and soft, tapered handles make lifting easy. The Board is made of durable, non-porous, odor-resistant polypropylene that resists deep scratches and won't dull sharp knives. Juice grooves on one side retain liquids and non-slip edges keep the Board from slipping. Top-rack dishwasher safe.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: A rare dud from Oxo - got deep cuts immediately.\n\nReview: I'm a big fan of most things Oxo, and have a kitchen full of their tools. They are mostly very well made and thoughtfully designed. This is one of the few exceptions I've come across. The basic idea is sound - a cutting board with a lip, so ingredients don't fly off as you're working, and with a corner that lets you pour the chopped and sliced items right into a pot or pan. The problem is the execution. The material Oxo chose for this cutting board is way too flimsy for sharp knives, and within a few days use, this board was covered in deep gouges that rendered it useless. I do have very sharp knives, but that's what a cutting board is for - if it can't handle sharpness, it's pretty much useless. If you cut with a butter knife it might last, otherwise, don't bother.","Product: Anova's sous vide immersion circulator cooks food in their own juices to a precise temperature. The result - great texture and taste, every time. Anova is truly a gift that keeps giving. Friends and family will enjoy and appreciate Anova for years to come! The Anova sous vide circulator is the first immersion circulator cooker designed for personal use, bringing the technique used by many high-end gourmet restaurants to ones own home. Not only is the Anova sous vide circulator compatible with existing kitchen accessories, the small, vertical shape saves space, and can be stored effortlessly. This appliance can easily clamp on to any pot in the house, and is a necessary addition to any true foodies kitchen.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: When things go wrong, they go VERY wrong\n\nReview: If you get one that works out of the box, the Anova is apparently great. Unfortunately, I didn't get one of those. My unit kept shutting itself off and resetting once the temperature went above 120F. You'd think getting a replacement would be a simple matter, but sadly it isn't. The good folks at Anova are earnest, but very poor communicators, so I have no idea if they actually sent a replacement or not. They haven't seen fit to tell me anything beyond \"we'll send a replacement\", no dates, no tracking numbers, no followups whatsoever. Moreover, the return label they sent me is apparently one Fedex doesn't want to touch -- the package has been waiting to get picked up for 4 days, and Fedex makes several visits a day to my building. Anything that goes back to Amazon (or any other online retailer) usually gets picked up within a few hours, but not this package. If you think you're getting the Amazon service experience by paying $5 more here (as I did) instead of buying directly from Anova's site you're sadly mistaken. You'll have to pursue Anova through any channel you can, and then you'll still probably have a hard time getting a straight answer. I did manage to get a live person on the phone after several tries (no one returned my messages, BTW), and she was very apologetic and asked me to send her the details at her email address. Which I did - turns out the address she gave me was invalid, and bounced back several times. Judging by the other reviews I'm sure this can be a great product. Having gotten a bad one, I can tell you that even if the product is great, the company isn't quite ready to deal with retail customers in a timely manner.\n\nUpdate: Had to jump through some hoops, but all finally turned out well and I did get my money back. I'm sure Anova will get better at this as they gain more retail experience.","Product: The Electrolux UltraCaptic canister is a powerful, all-surface, bag less cleaner that literally makes emptying the dust-cup a piece of cake. Empty less often with Compact and Go, a feature that compresses dirt, dust and pet hair into a tidy, easy-empty dirt cake.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good, if hideously ugly, but you can do better for the price.\n\nReview: I used the new vacuum to do the entire house Tuesday. (this is a typical city apartment) I usually use a Miele one of the cheaper ones, not the high-buck model. The Elecotrolux is about the same price, but it's not a very serious challenger.\nThe Electrolux Ultracaptic is a little hard to maneuver--not particularly nimble. But it has great suction and the chamber is very easy to empty--it lets you compress the dirt before you dump it so there's less of a dust cloud. That's the one place where it has some sort of advantage over the Miele, which requires (fairly expensive) bags.\n\nThe tools are a weak point. They give you a 3-in-1 brush/crevice/upholstery tool that's not nearly as good as the ones on the Miele. It's kind of cheap for such an expensive machine, and I couldn't even figure out where to clip it on when I'm not using it. The hard-floor head doesn't rotate at all, which makes it sort of useless for underneath furniture. I don't understand the headlight, even though I like it. It looks nifty, but isn't all that useful. I liked that the suction control was right on the handle and not on the canister part. The styling is mystifying, to be generous. It looks like a Transformer or one those boom boxes from the early 2000s when they were trying to tart them up in a last-ditch effort to lure people away from iPods. I think I might like it better if we had more open space--in a tight apartment like ours, I need something more agile. All in all a decent vacuum, but it's not making me want to give up my Miele.","Product: The Cap Hangup from Master Craft Products makes storing and organizing baseball caps and sun visors easy and convenient. The built-in steel hanging hook allows it to be hung from any closet rod, hanging hook or nail; almost anywhere it is convenient. The Cap Hangup stores 12 or more adjustable baseball caps and sun visors in a minimum of vertical and horizontal space. Each of the 12 hanging loops can easily hold 3 adjustable baseball caps or sun visors. Made from two layers of quality heavy gauge polyester weave fabric. The Cap Hangup does not work on fitted caps. CH0001-CF.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good idea, half-hearted execution.\n\nReview: I like baseball caps. In particular, I like the caps form Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale, one of our favorite restaurants. Every year they issue new caps, and I always get at least one. They crowd our closets, pile up on the change tray by the front door, and find their way onto any flat surface available. My wife is always complaining that I don't put them away, and she's right. When I saw the Master Craft organizer, I knew immediately that this is the sort of thing I need. So does it work? Yes, but not as well as it would have were it designed more thoughtfully. It's a strip of fabric attached to a coat hanger hook, extending about 47\", with 12 Velcro (AKA hook-and-loop device) loops sown onto one side. You attach your caps by threading the loop strip through the space above the sizing strap on the back. If your cap has no such strap, it can't be secured. You can put as many as three caps on each loop, but then you just end up with a vertical mess as opposed to a horizontal one. One per loop is ideal. (see photo) The manufacturer's photo is misleading, since it shows only half the loops in use. Why only 3 stars? because it's an incomplete product. Why are there loops on only one side? They could have easily doubled the capacity by having loops on both sides. The other problem is that the organizer is just too long. Like most people who don't have unlimited storage space, there's stuff on the floor of our closets. At 47\", the organizer hangs much lower than most coats, and the caps on the bottom rest on whatever's on the floor. It's an OK product, but no more. I like the idea, and hopefully someone will make a better, more thoughtfully designed version.","Product: Ignition's fully coordinated line of executive, conference, work, and task chairs, stools, guest chairs, and lounge seating fits who you are, how you work, and where you work. Ignition fits all body types from the 5th to the 95th percentile. Two arm options and three control options support everything from quick collaborations to intense computer use. Ignition fits everywhere-and with a broad choice of upholstery options (including a mesh back)-it looks great doing it.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy, comfortable, easy to assemble--so what if it's a little homely?\n\nReview: It may not win any design awards, but that aside, this Hon is pretty much as good as it gets for the price.\nThe pleasant surprises start when you open the box (see photos); instead of a jumble of hard-to-identify parts, you'll find the main body of the chair fully assembled, with arms attached. All you have to do is pop the casters onto the base, insert the pneumatic seat post, and drop the chair onto it. That's it--no fiddly little parts, no allen wrench necessary. I think it took me all of 3 minutes.\nIt's a very comfortable chair, with firm cushioning and myriad adjustments. That's the only detraction to this char - it came with no instructions, and it can take a while to figure out exactly what can be adjusted (nearly anything you could imagine) and how. Not to worry, there are comprehensive instructions online, at Hon's site: [...]\n\nAll the mechanisms are smooth to operate, and stay in your chosen position. Once I had the chair adjusted to my liking, I could sit comfortably for a full day without fatigue or sore spots. That's unusual for me, I have back problems and normally have to get up from most office chairs pretty frequently. I especially like the mesh back, it keeps you cool and lets air circulate.\nIf you can live with the generic looks of it, this Hon is hard to beat. Highly recommended.","Product: Because Khadi cotton fabric is entirely handmade from the spinning to weaving stage, it has a natural, earthy look and feeling. At the same time, its understatedly chic and these Khadi tablecloths, napkins and handkerchiefs are perfect for outdoor dining, complementing a rustic breakfast table or contrasting and softening a modern dining room setting. A Caravan exclusive.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great as kitchen towels (they can't force you to use them as napkins!)\n\nReview: While these are marketed as napkins, I find them far more useful as kitchen towels. They're attractive, durable, and just the right size for that use - I find them too large for use as napkins. The rough hewn texture and handmade unevenness add charm and personality to a utilitarian item. While the politics of a product are not the reason to choose them, the Gandhi connection make me feel good about it. (in a totally superficial, consumerist way)\nbut that's probably not so relevant now that India is a major high-tech power in the world. After laundering the Khadi napkins are indeed somewhat wrinkled, which might bother me if I were using them as napkins, but it's fine for a kitchen towel. At the price they're not exactly economical, but if you appreciate the hand-made aesthetic, it's worth it.","Product: The RCA Swivel Surge Protector not only keeps your valuable electronics safe from damaging power surges, it also cleans up the mess of power cords surrounding most floor surges or power strips. The Swivel Surge's 90-degree swivel outlets makes it a perfect fit behind furniture or electronics. And because the Swivel Surge plugs directly into the wall, it gets your power cords off the floor and out of the way.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: convenient and ugly - it belongs behind furniture.\n\nReview: We all live in a world where almost everything needs to be powered up, charged up, illuminated and energized. No one has enough outlets, but we all have some that are hiding behind furniture and can't use because the cords will foce us to move the pieve of furniture away from the wall. One anser is a surge protector with a flat plug, but those are rare and will leave your various connectors on the floor. The RCA swivel protector keeps everything up at outlet level, and lets you plug in cumbersome cords or adapters perpendicular to the wall. I put mine behind my wine rack, and it works well to host a couple of cordless vacuum power adapters and a few lamps. I have no idea how it would perform as far as protecting equipment from surges. It has a relatively low joule rating, so I wouldn't plug my laptop into it, but for most household items it should serve well. The only thing I don't like about it is its appearance - it is a homely thing. But since it lives where I can't see it, that's not really a problem.","Product: Compact Camera Case Eva Shell - Plush Interior\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A flexible hard case that offers great protection.\n\nReview: We have several compact cameras in our family. Each has its own soft case, which is OK, but not so great at protecting the camera in a loaded overnight bag. That's where the Case Logic QPB-201 EVA Molded Compact Camera Case shines. Its hard shell protects the camera (and a few small accessories) in the most crowded bag, and makes it easy to just toss it into any bag, instead of finding a safe corner for it. We have two Canon Sureshots, an Olympus and a Fuji, and all fit quite nicely. (one at a time, that is.) The Canons are on the smaller size, and the case will accommodate the camera, a folded lens cloth and a couple of extra batteries, as well as the usual SD cards, which have their own little pocket. One of the camera's chargers is also small enough to fit into the case, so there's only one item to keep track of when you're traveling.\nI haven't used the belt loop - I usually keep the camera and case in a bag with a lot of other stuff we carry while we travel. Though Case Logic makes no claims about this product being waterproof, it did survive a water bottle spill inside a tote bag - I was very happy about that. No water made it into the interior, and the exterior just wiped dry. Overall, I'm very happy with this case. For the price, you couldn't do better.","Product: AmazonBasics products are quality electronics accessories offered at a great value. Made in China.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not good for curved dashboards or weak suction cups.\n\nReview: The Amazon Basics line of products usually provides good value, and is often as good as the big-name version at a fraction of the price. This particular product, a generic GPS mount, is an incomplete attempt. It addresses the need for a beanbag-style mount at a reasonable price, but doesn't achieve the level of functionality the brand-name mounts offer. This may be a function of its stated purpose - to be universal, it relies on the suction cup that comes with most GPS units. Those just don't work as well on plastic as on glass. My unit, a Garmin, lost suction after 30-60 minutes, and sooner than that if the sun was shining directly on it. I also tried it with a friend's unit, a Magellan. The Magellan's suction mount held for a longer time, but my friend's car has a curved dash, and the Amazon mount isn't flexible enough to follow its contours, so the whole assembly flopped around disconcertingly. My car has a flat dash so it was reasonably stable there, but not as good as my everyday mount (a Garmin beanbag). I guess if you have a fairly flat dash AND a powerful suction cup this unit would work for you, but it's a compromise. A positive mechanical mount, like a ball-and-socket, simply works better, and is worth the extra money.","Product: The popular Reflexion Photo line expands with a compact holster to keep your camera within reach on a day of shooting. This easily accessible holster attaches to your compact system cameras neck strap and dangles weightlessly while you snap away, allowing you to focus on your shoot rather than keep track of your case. Belt loop pass-through offers an alternate hands-free option so you always capture the perfect moment.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Well made case, yet completely useless because of odd size and configuration.\n\nReview: I wanted to like the Case Logic FLXH-100 Reflexion, really I did. I have a few other Case Logic items, and they are mostly quite good. This one isn't poorly made or anything like that, but it's misconceived. I have no idea what camera it would be good for, and I have a lot of cameras. The basic shape looks like it's meant for a small, interchangeable lens camera, so initially I thought it might be useful for my mirrorless interchangeable lens Fuji, but it's too small for that. Yet it's too big for my medium-sized Panasonic, not to mention my subcompact Canon. What does it fit? I have no idea. I guess I could put something on the bottom - a small yogurt container maybe? and perch a camera on top of that. This case also lacks a strap, or the means to attach one, so you have to use it as a belt holster. And it's a bit too bulky for that. Altogether, I think the designers completely missed on this one. I tried to give it to someone so it wouldn't go to waste, but can't find anyone who wants it. There are better choices, no matter what your needs are.","Product: Aluminium plastic mudgaurd (fender set) for Front and Rear Wheel. Lightweight and strong with high protection against corrosion and resistant to U.V. Easy to assemble with enclosed instructions. ASR (Automatic Stay Release) equipped. The ASR-plug is the solution for Foreign parts caught up by the tire, which sometimes leads to the blocking of the front wheel. The ASR-plug releases the stays in such case, which can be clipped in afterwards\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Nice fenders ruined by terrible mounting system, incomplete hardware and inane instructions.\n\nReview: The front fender is pretty easy to mount, but the rear presents too many challenges to be worth it. If your bike frame is VERY wide (as in something that'll accommodate chunky mountain bike tires), this set will mount up reasonably well, though with much fiddling. However, if you have a normal street bike geometry, mounting is a challenge that's not really worth the effort. The mounting hardware is inadequate, the mechanism is not very well thought out, and the instructions written by someone who assumes their audience is composed of mechanical engineers. The fenders themselves are OK - silver foil sandwiched in clear plastic. Lightweight, flexible and apparently sturdy enough. I couldn't get them mounted at all, despite making sure I had the theoretically correct size. When they were on the bike, the fender wouldn't stay on straight, and would need some auxiliary method of securing to avoid rubbing on the tire. Too many negatives. Look elsewhere.","Product: the blackburn airtower 3 pump 2016 is a high quality air pump. with it you can increase and guarantee the maximum performance of your bike. the pressure of the wheels is a fundamental aspect for the safety of cyclists and therefore blackburn puts at your disposal a wide range of products to maximize it with greater efficiency and quality possible. this foot pump complies with the requirements of quality brand, has an indicator diaphragm of the pressure at the top, easy to read and is built with a tough steel body of welded base to ensure maximum strength and stability. also, incorporates a shooter ergonomic t shaped with rounded ends and a rubber band to secure the handle to the pump and to facilitate transport. it has a bloated system very easy, with a detachable anyvalve head that fits perfectly to all bike models. it also has a maximum pressure of 160 psi. the result is an air pump of high quality that will meet the needs of the most demanding. features: -easy system bloated. -head anyvalve compatible with all models of bike (presta, schrader and dunlop). -maximum pressure, 160 psi. -steel body. -pressure gauge. -height: 69 cm.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Over priced underperformer for Presta valves\n\nReview: This pump is OK (and just OK, no more than that) for Schrader valve tires, but stay away if you have Presta. Despite the fact that the manufacturer claims that the head will adjust to any valve, with Prestas it works less than half the time. You're just as likely to end up with a completely deflated tire than to get any air in it. Very poorly constructed head barley holds on to a Presta valve, often requiring so much fiddling to get a decent fit that much of the time it's faster to screw on a Schrader adapter. I have two bikes - one with Schraders, the other with Prestas. I really need one pump that can handle both, but this definitely isn't it. Wish I had tried it on both bikes earlier, when I could've returned it. A waste of good money.","Product: Meet the MT5000-E, Mounteks fifth-generation evolution of its proven classic, the nGroove Grip, featuring a rubber-dipped nGroove blade for even better stability. Safely and securely mount your smartphone, GPS, satellite radio, MP3 player and more in your vehicle with a swiveling, lock-grip mount that fits into your CD slot or dashboard groove without any suction cups, clips or adhesives. Perfectly calibrated to snugly fit without damaging your vehicle. Firmly mounts most cell phones, including the new iPhone 6 & 6 plus, Samsung Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Very poor fit, bit for phone and car.\n\nReview: This is a frustrating product category. There are only a few phone holders that don't use a suction cup, and most of those nevertheless suck. This one is a nice idea - use the often unused CD slot as a holder. Nice idea in theory, but in practice the plates used to secure the holder are far too thick, and the range of usable slots very small. It simply isn;t likely to fit most late model (i.e. thin) slots. While it might fit a gap between dashboard panels, do you really want to subject your car's interior to that pressure? I sure don't. I understand that you can call them and request a thinner plate, but that's just more trouble than I want to go through. It ain't rocket science, folks. ASide form that issue, the bracket itself is rather bulky and not all power cords fit with the phone in the portrait orientation. I returned it.","Product: Swivel ChargerCharge your iPad at home or on the go. The home chargers rotating design ensures that you can charge your iPad, even in crowded outlets. *Cable not includedCompact & ConvenientCharge your iPad, iPhone, or iPod even in crowded outlets with this compact charger that rotates for ease of use. Folding prongs make it simple to stick in a bag for charging on the go.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Compact, convenient and recognized by Apple devices\n\nReview: Aftermarket power accessories for iDevices are plagued by the \"unrecognized accessory\" message, that dreaded pop-up that makes you question whether your device is really getting charged, or if you're frying its expensive innards. Not that it really means something, but it's enough to make you uneasy. None of that happens with the Belkin adapter. Two different iPhones and an iPad had no problems with it, and charged up quickly. The small size and swivel mount makes it ideal for travel, and saves us space -0 we usually have at least two chargers, and with the double USB ports, we no only need the one. The cable that comes with it seems to be just as well made and the Apple item, and unlike some other aftermarket cables (including Amazon's own!) it fits in every case I've tried. It's not the cheapest, but in this case you really get what you paid for. Like the products it's designed to power, it just works.","Product: The PortaGrip Universal Phone Holder with 811 Suction Cup Mount securely holds your mobile phone while you drive. Designed for todays smartphones with large touchscreens, thin bezels and various button and charging port configurations, the new PanaVise PortaGrip is the latest product in the 20 years history of PanaVise phone holders under the PortaGrip name.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Works well on window, but not on dash\n\nReview: The Panavise phone holder is a pretty good product, which means that it's pretty much as good as you can expect in the category. Sadly, the category is defined by poorly made, flimsy and unreliable products, so that's not saying much. I've tried three or four of these type of holders with two different generations of iphone (3 and 5) and none are truly excellent. The Panavise is acceptable, provided you attach it to the windshield, where it gets a tight grip on the glass. On my lightly textured plastic dashboard it held for a few minutes but never felt secure. I wouldn't risk it.\n\nIt's simple to operate, and adjusts to fit the phone and its power cord easily. The rubber pads included are fine for keeping your phone unscratched. I had no problem tightening the ball joint, but have to wonder about the long-term reliability of something made entirely of plastic, especially if it's left in a hot car for a while. But then, it's winter now, so time will tell. In use, the phone does shake and shimmy. Not to the extent that it'll fall out, but certainly enough to make it difficult to see the screen, if you're using it for navigation. Again, pretty much par for the product category.\n\nI do wish someone would make a truly robust holder, and charge an appropriate price. Something like the beanbag mounts available for GPS units would be great. Any suction cup product is inherently unreliable, and even the best can fail in warm or humid conditions. But that's what we have - and of these, the Panavise is quite decent. Recommended with reservations.","Product: A compact flip form factor that hosts a nice balance of features and design. Large buttons allow for quick and accurate texting Media Mall allows you to personalize your phone with polyphonic ringtones, games and graphics Push to Talk- walkie talkie style communication\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: \" That's exactly the kind of crap I don't need today\n\nReview: Beware: You may need to ask ATT for an unlock code, and apparently it's not certain that you'll get one. My phone was locked, and turning it on I was greeted by an \"enter unlock code(15 digits)\" message. Of course, I had no idea where to get this unlock code. After a long time trying to find the right person to speak to, ATT directed me towards a site where I could REQUEST an unlock code. Whether I'll get the code, i don't know - it can take them 2 business days to decide (!). Yep, ATT isn't quite sure that it wants to let you use the ATT phone you just bought. To quote the ATT unlock site:\n\"Your unlock request is in review now.\nPlease allow two business days to process it.\nWell send you an email message soon with a decision on your unlock request.\"\n\nThat's exactly the kind of crap I don't need today. Even at this low price, this phone is more trouble than its worth.","Product: An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Works well, but cord is too short/tightly coiled\n\nReview: Amazon Basics items tend to be great values - they work as advertised, are no-nonsense and just do the job without unnecessary frills. This charger almost - but not quite- lives up to that. It does indeed work, and charged my iPhone with no problems, which is great if you're on the road and out of power. But what's not so great is that time when you need to make a call while charging the phone. The cord length on this charger is so short 9or rather, the coiling on it is very, very tight) that you'll have to put your face mere inches from wherever your power outlet may be. Very uncomfortable. I don't know if this is supposed to be a safety feature or if it's just cheapness, but essentially you cannot use your phone while it's charging. I suppose you could try stretching it out, but when I tries, it popped right out of the power outlet. If you don't have to use the phone while it's plugged in, it's fine.","Product: These mats are designed to be trimmed or cut so that they may be customized for an exact fit. The WeatherTechAll-Weather Floor Mats have deeply sculpted channels designed to trap water, road salt, mud and sand. They won't curl, crack or harden in sub-zero weather. Our All-Weather Floor Mats also have anti-skid ridges to prevent shifting in your vehicle and come with a protective, non-stick finish to make cleanup quick and easy. WeatherTech All-Weather Floor Mats meet FMVSS302 and are manufactured to ISO 9001 standards. Choose from Black, Tan or Grey to complement virtually any interior color.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Zero stars - fit guide is completely wrong\n\nReview: \"This product fits your 2008 Honda Element\" says Amazon's part finder. Only in the sense that I can get it into the car. But you could say the same of a saltine cracker. Then it just sits there, a tiny rubber mat that covers less than half of the space it needs to, whose contours bear no relation to the contours of my floor (not that it matters, none of the edges are in danger of coming anywhere near a floor feature because these mats are minuscule). To be fair, I don't think this is just Amazon's fault - they go by what the manufacturer tells them, and this mat is listed as \"fitting\" a bunch of cars on WeatherTech's own site. Perhaps it actually does fit some, but it would have to be a very small interior, like a 1990's subcompact. Chances are if you're comfortable in your car, this won't fit it. Basically, this product is not fit for sale and should be removed; Amazon loses money too when we send things back. I'm annoyed that I now have to package it back up, go to UPS and send it back. Pure waste of time for all concerned. Ditch this loser item, please.","Product: Not your basic label. UltraHold permanent adhesive is guaranteed to stick and stay put on cardboard, envelopes, paper, glass or metal. Avery half sheet address labels won't lift, curl or fall off like other brands. Quickly and easily create your own personalized labels. No more jams or smudges with Avery shipping labels. Bright white labels are optimized for inkjet printers so you can effortlessly print bold bright colors and clear sharp text. Our TrueBlock technology lets you fully cover up everything underneath the 5.5 x 8.5 labels, so you can reuse boxes and block out markings and mistakes for a polished, professional appearance on the bright white labels. This 50 pack of shipping labels is perfect for shipping and mailing jobs, as well as for organizing boxes, labeling bins, classroom organization & stickers, and wine bottle labels. These address labels are optimized for inkjet printers so you can effortlessly print vibrant colors and crisp, clear text without worrying about printer jams or ink smudges. You can also easily customize your printable labels with logos, graphics or images using the free shipping labels template and designs at avery.com/templates.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Does exactly what it claims.\n\nReview: The thought of a special \"internet\" label might be a little silly, but if you do a lot of shipping and reuse boxes, this product is very convenient. It does cover the label under it thoroughly, and you cannot read through it. However, a diligent person certainly could lift the label off and most likely see at least part of the old label. But i'm not sure why anyone would bother to do that.\n\nThe appeal of these labels is certainly not widespread, but for those that do a lot of shipping, this is well worth the expense (and they are expensive) because you'll save a great deal of time by just slapping these on over older labels. Those boxes can really add up, so this is a way to reuse without much hassle.","Product: With these Repositionable Address Labels you can correct mistakes quickly and easily. Whether these labels are placed improperly, upside down or even with the wrong address, our Re-hesive Technology makes it possible to remove and reapply without damaging the label or envelope. The adhesive becomes permanent over time and is guaranteed not to fall off. Easily format and print your labels using our free templates and designs at avery.com/templates.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: very good, but size is not as useful as large ones.\n\nReview: The idea of making labels that can be moved and reapplied is a very smart one. I got both these labels, which are suitable for envelopes, and the larger shipping labels, which I use on boxes. The shipping labels are great. Easy to print a large quantity quickly, and they peel off their backing sheet very cleanly. The repositionable feature is great too - if you make a mistake, it's very easy to lift them up without tearing, and put them down again. Kind of like a Post It but the glue avery uses seems stronger, as it should be for a shipping label. These labels seem to be made very similarly, but I find the size less useful than the larger ones. I seldom need to reposition an envelope label (for that matter, I don't send out many letters nowadays) and other uses like labeling a drawer or small box are better served by a narrower label, like a P-touch. But that's just me - if you have a need that's met by this size, their quality is excellent.\n\nI know these particular labels are made for a laser printer, but I used them in my inkjet with very good results. You just have to remember to let the printed sheet stabilize for a couple of minutes to avoid smear. In my case, my HP printer/HP black ink gave excellent results with no smear if I waited about 3 minutes.","Product: Monochrome laser multifunction copier. Connect via wireless networking or USB. Print/ copy speed up to 30 ppm. Adjustable 250 sheet capacity paper tray. 35 page auto document feeder. Mobile device printing over wireless network.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent printer/scanner, easy to set up and use. (But avoid seller Super Deals)\n\nReview: The printer itself is excellent. Very fast, easy to set up, and scans well. It's great if what you need is a simple monochrome printer combined with a decent scanner, and need to share it on a home or small office wifi network. For the price, I have no complaints. I do have a complaint about the seller Super deals, who sent me a Canadian version of this printer, without a US warrantee. That's just not right. And because of their peculiar hours, they are not available to address problems on weekends at all - exactly the time most normal people set up stuff like printers. So great printer, but make sure to get it from amazon or a reliable seller. Avoid Super Deals.","Product: This simple styled flower pot holder allows your beautiful and unique flower pots to really be shown off on any balcony or deck railing! The possibilities are limitless - simply add your favorite flower pot to add instant dcor. Patent pending technology allows CobraCo flower box and pot holders to adjust to fit any size railing. The CobraCo 10 Inch Adjustable Basic Flower Pot Holder holds up to 10 inch flower pots and comes in a black finish.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pretty darn good potholder\n\nReview: Living in a small apartment with a balcony, a pot holder is essential for growing anything. I have a few, and this one is among the better ones. The adjustability is nice, but for my needs I used the smallest spacing. (narrow metal banister) I've been using it for a few weeks with a relatively lightweight pot, and it's great for that. My heavier pots caused it to flex a bit. Not enough for anything to fall out, but enough to make me a bit uncomfortable, so I switched it to the smaller one. I has been raining quite a bit lately, and the rack has remained completely rust-free; I wish I could say that about all my holders. So I'd say it's quite good for small to medium pots, but you might want a sturdier model for big or heavy ones.","Product: OXO Good Grips Flip and Fold Omelet Turner, High heat Resistant Silicone\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent large spatula, not just for eggs.\n\nReview: Look a the photo carefully - this is not svelte little egg turner, there's a large clear silicone part surrounding the yellow core. It's a big offset spatula that's great for omelets, but useful for many other things too. It's big enough to lift a 3-egg omelet without it drooping much, and has a thin enough edge to get under the eggs without tearing them. I also find it very useful for turning delicate items like fish fillets, or turning loosely packed meatballs that might fall apart with a metal spatula. Another great tool from Oxo, easy to clean in the dishwasher and very durable. I only wish they made the hole in the handle a little larger; it's too small to fit my tool rack.","Product: OurPets Hid & Go Squeak Interactive Cat Toy has random motion of three mice that bob at different intervals to catch the kitty's attention.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Nice idea, very poor execution - arrived broken.\n\nReview: Cats love things that move. The idea of a trio of mice that squeak and dart in and ho out of holes is great, and sure to keep any cat amused - if it's done well. The OurPets Hide and Go Squeak toy, sadly, isn't. It's cheaply made, that's obvious the moment you take it out of its box. Inserting the batteries requires a tedious unscrewing of a cover with a tiny screw, a cost-saving measure that makes your life just that much worse. Ours arrive with only two of the three mice moving up and down, and even those two moved lethargically. The squeaking sound is monotonous and very. very irritating. Our cat is very playful, and will invent his own games, but he lost interest in the mice within 10 minutes. If someone would take the basic idea of this toy and make with high-quality materials, they would have a hit. Cat owners spare no expense in finding toys for their cats, and even of it cost $50 or more, people would buy it. Unfortunately, the OurPets toy is built to very low price point, which makes it basically worthless.","Product: This 15-Piece Utility Drawer Tool Kit is in a heavy duty plastic storage case. Simply open top tray for quick and easy access. Has adjustable compartments for fasteners. Set contains: 8 1/2-Inch scissors, utility knife with 3 Blades, bottle opener with knife, 8-ounce claw hammer, 6-Inch torpedo level, 6-Inch slip joint pliers, 12-feet. tape measure, 1/4-Inch by 4-Inch slotted screwdriver, No. 2 Phillips screwdriver, 3/32-inch. slotted screwdriver, No. 0 Phillips screwdriver.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good light duty compact set\n\nReview: Perhaps fulfilling the middle-aged husband stereotype, I tend to buy a lot of tools. After years of having a multitude of toolboxes and bags, I finally bought one of those heavy-duty rolling tool chests. It lets me keep everything nice and organized. I keep it in a walk-in closet. So that's fine when I have time to work on a project, but what about quick fixes and little projects, the kind that pop up fairly often but don't call for rolling out the heavy artillery? Or when my wife, who's not a tool geek, doesn't want to have to search for a simple screwdriver among the chest's many drawers? That's what this tool set is perfect for. The compact case and thoughtful choice of tools to include make it the right thing to keep in a kitchen cabinet, quickly accessible, without taking up much room or duplicating the capability (and cost!) of the professional tools. The basic assortment's quality is a bit uneven, with items like the tape measure being below average, but the ones that get the most use - the screwdrivers, hammer and pliers - are certainly good enough for light to medium duty. The KR set is a step up from discount store kits, but not quite up to the standard of those tools that come with a lifetime warrantee. But then one of those tools would cost you as much as this entire set. In short, this is a good value, and a perfect secondary set of tools for most homeowners. And I imagine most people who live in small apartments would find this more than adequate for their needs.","Product: This 21 Piece 3/8-Inch Drive SAE and Metric Socket Set with Ratchet includes the following sockets: SAE:5/16-Inch, 3/8-Inch, 7/16-Inch, 1/2-Inch, 9/16-Inch, 5/8-Inch, 11/16-Inch, 3/4-Inch, 13/16-Inch, 7/8-Inch Metric: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 22mm.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent ratchet set - good for casual use\n\nReview: If you're a serious handyman you know the value of good tools, and would be well advised to invest in something like a Craftsman tool set. But those are expensive. For the casual user - and I fall more into that category - a set like the KR tools 31118 is more than adequate. I especially appreciate the fact that the entire set can stay together on the holder - it makes it easy to find the right size socket quickly. The ratchet itself is rather heavy, and feels pretty good, though not quite up to the standard of the one craftsman ratchet I own. The design of the handle is geared more towards protecting hands that don't use tools every day than sturdiness, and that's in keeping with the nature of this set. The sockets themselves seem fine, I only used a few. I'm not sure how easy to read the marking would be once they got a little dirty - I would've liked to see better stamping on the sockets. All performed smoothly, with no slippage and no socket slop on the ratchet. The spring-loaded ball on the ratchet holds the sockets quite securely, so it won't pop off as you're working.\nThe selection of sockets - 10 each of SAE and metric - is adequate for 90% of household needs. If you need bigger sockets on a regular basis you'd want to move to a bigger ratchet drive anyway, since a 3/8\" wouldn't provide enough leverage. All in all, a nice set and a good value. This set has a lifetime warranty, but no clear indication of how to use it.","Product: The Coast DX355 features a patented Double-Lock safety switch mechanism which works in conjunction with the primary Liner-Lock to prevent disengagement when the knife is open, even if the Liner Lock is inadvertently dis-engaged. A checkered G10 handle on a stainless steel frame adds incredible strength and durability. Deep thumb notching on the top of the blade and frame adds excellent grip and control of the knife, helping to prevent accidental slipping.A 9Cr18 stainless steel blade will power through the toughest cutting jobs with ease and is easy to sharpen while still holding a great cutting edge. Thumb studs on both sides of the blade make opening the blade easy; right or left handed. Backed by Coast's lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice knife, but not very sharp OOTB\n\nReview: This is the first folding knife i've had since childhood. While I'm no expert in folders, I do have a serious kitchen knife habit, and sharpen my own on a a DMT whetstone. For around-the-house or yard work, the Cost DX355 is fine. It'll cut rope, thin branches and cardboard fairly well. But when I tool a loser look and the blade, I saw that it was not very well sharpened, and the angle seemed fairly broad (maybe close to 35 degrees). I like Japanese kitchen knives which are sharpened to a 15-18 degree angle. That's too fine for a utility knife, so I sharpened it to about a 25 degree edge. That improved the cutting performance greatly, and it now sails through paper and slices rope and tape very easily. Of course, making the edge narrower will also make it more fragile, but I'm not a woodsman so I won't be hacking through deep brush. The rest of the knife is very well made, with a nice grippy texture on the handle, and a secure (if initially confusing) safety catch. All in all, pretty nice, especially if you put a better edge on it.","Product: COMMAND OUTDOOR LIGHT CLIPS *Clear *16 clips and 20 outdoor clear strips *Damage free hanging *Outdoor usage and decorating *Water resistant *Strips can be applied at extreme temperatures from -20 degrees F. to 125 degrees F. *UV stabilized plastic clips and strips *Use one clip for every 2 ft. of lights *Carded\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It sticks to metal, through rain and wind.\n\nReview: My (almost) uninterrupted history of great experiences with 3M products continues with this set of light clips. I live on the 17th floor of a high-rise, and have always wanted lights on our little balcony. I tried winding a christmas light set around the banister but it sagged in only a few days and looked rather messy. When i got this set, I rummage through our Christmas box and pulled out a set of white LED lights, perfect for every day use. I placed the clips on the window frames and banisters, then strung the lights through them. It works very well on one surface - smooth aluminum - but didn't stick well to the concrete columns. But for my needs, aluminum is fine, since it's everywhere around the balcony. The lights are fairly heavy, having a thick vinyl cord, but have stayed up for the past 3 weeks through a few rain storms. Since it's spring, I can;t tell if the adhesive would survive a freeze and thaw cycle - I'll update should anything change. I can recommend these for their intended purpose, (though I'm not sure what's going on with the price right now; $37 seems rather high) if you have smooth steel surfaces.","Product: The First Alert BRK PRC710 Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Built-In 10-Year Battery features a photoelectric smoke sensor and an electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor. The photoelectric sensor detects larger smoke particles from smoldering fires from objects like cigarettes burning on furniture or in trash cans. The alarm features a loud, 85-decibel alarm, designed to wake even the soundest of sleepers. One button silences any nuisance alarms, and also tests detector functions, while lights indicate if the alarm detects smoke or carbon monoxide. The battery-operated smoke and CO detector can be installed easily, with no wires or electrician required, and its slim profile will seamlessly blend in with your home decor. A one-touch silence/test button makes it easy to operate. Its built-in 10-year battery will provide continuous power for the life of the detector and continues to protect during power outages.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: 10 year detector defective after only 4 months\n\nReview: This alarm worked well for 4 months (i.e. it detected occasional cooking smoke, and had no false alarms). After 4 months, it started to beep randomly, then beeped in a pattern that indicated that the product was defective and needed to be replaced. Calling the First Alert customer service center was quite an eye openerthey first sought to blame the malfunction on me (despite it being in service for only a few months) and claimed that it's beeping because it's dirty - however it was spotless, and the pattern by their own definition is indicative of a product defect. A rather long and less-than-civil discussion then ensued. They did finally agree to replace it, but only after keeping me on hold for a long while. I will update this review when I get the new unit. Based on the fact that this 10-year detector lasted less than 6 months, and the company's attitude I would look elsewhere.","Product: QUICKDRAW DIY Self Marking 25' Foot Tape Measure - 1st Measuring Tape with a Built in Pencil\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Makes your mark - reliably and accurately.\n\nReview: The QuickDraw tape measure indeed works as promised - marking a spot in the wall is very easy. If you need to measure off a bunch of measurements, it could save you a lot of time. But the way I use it, only occasionally needing to mark a measurement for hanging pictures or centering shelf anchors. The mechanism is simple and effective: a tiny wheel \"shaves\" the lead and transfers a little spot onto the wall with a slight flick of the tape measure. The measure itself is very sturdy and well made, and should last many years. If you have a project that requires a lot of wall marking it's great. If not, it can actually be a problem - on a couple of occasions I forgot about the lead and just used it to measure a distance,e but ended up with smudges where I didn't want them. But that's entirely my fault. I do wish it had a cap or some sort of method for choosing whether it makes a mark or not, but aside from that, it performs admirably.","Product: Warm up your exteriors, damage-free, with Command Outdoor Light Clips by 3M. Outdoor Command Clips let you hang Christmas lights, rope lights, decorations and more where you want without tools or nails. Command Outdoor adhesive holds strongly through rain, snow, and extreme temperatures on smooth, finished surfaces, and these string light clips remove cleanly with no sticky residue or damage left behind. Make everyday, spring patio, and Christmas decorating fun and easy with Command Outdoor Light Clips.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It sticks to metal, through rain and wind.\n\nReview: My (almost) uninterrupted history of great experiences with 3M products continues with this set of light clips. I live on the 17th floor of a high-rise, and have always wanted lights on our little balcony. I tried winding a christmas light set around the banister but it sagged in only a few days and looked rather messy. When i got this set, I rummage through our Christmas box and pulled out a set of white LED lights, perfect for every day use. I placed the clips on the window frames and banisters, then strung the lights through them. It works very well on one surface - smooth aluminum - but didn't stick well to the concrete columns. But for my needs, aluminum is fine, since it's everywhere around the balcony. The lights are fairly heavy, having a thick vinyl cord, but have stayed up for the past 3 weeks through a few rain storms. Since it's spring, I can;t tell if the adhesive would survive a freeze and thaw cycle - I'll update should anything change. I can recommend these for their intended purpose, (though I'm not sure what's going on with the price right now; $37 seems rather high) if you have smooth steel surfaces.","Product: Welcome to damage-free Decorating. The days of blank walls or high-commitment decorations are gone forever. With Command Decor, you have complete freedom to dial in your space and create your own look, without leaving behind so much as a nail hole in your wall. Browse our variety of Command Decor wall fronts to find artwork that fits your style. Then simply position the base on the wall using a built-in level and one Command Decor Strip. Press firmly and add your decorative front. It's that easy!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nice frame. Too bad you have to buy 2 pieces of bad art to get it.\n\nReview: I understand the idea of Command Strips, and it's great - mount stuff on your walls without drilling or making holes. I use them around the house, and they've been reliable. This item, which uses the Command strips along with a lightweight plastic frame, isn't as understandable. I got 3 units - 2 with pre-printed art panels glued onto a cheap plastic surface, and one frame. The frame is good. I can put my own photos or art in it and hanging it is a breeze. The built-in level is a nice touch, though not really necessary. It's the pre-printed panels I don't really understand. If you don't like the particular design you get (and you don't get to choose) you can either try to awkwardly glue something on it, or you just chuck the whole thing. And the panel it's printed on is thin and flimsy. If they'd sell just the frames, I'd recommend it without reservations. But 2 art pieces of dubious merit and 1 frame make for a rare poor value from 3M.","Product: This book has been tested, written, and edited by the test cooks, editors, food scientists, tasters, and cookware specialists at America’s Test Kitchen, a 2,500-square-foot kitchen located just outside Boston. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine, the public television cooking shows America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen, America’s Test Kitchen Radio, and the online America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very good for basic ideas.\n\nReview: I love to cook, have done it for many years and seldom follow recipes strictly - I usually improvise. But sometimes I need a jolt for my imagination, or a if i'm cooking with unfamiliar ingredients, I'll look for basic guidelines. This book excels at both those tasks. While it's not revolutionary, there is a wide array of ingredients and courses. This book is a fast read. It isn't quite as meticulous (or anal, depending on your point of view) as some other Cooks Illustrated books, but that's why it exists - to be quick. For me it works best as a general guide, as opposed to a detailed set of precise recipes. If you like to riff on a basic technique, it's awesome. On the other hand, if you're looking for exact, step-by-step instructions for making a stupendous meal, it comes up a little short. This book is aimed squarely at beginners, from the Geting Started section which lists the basic tools a cook needs, to the appendix which explains a bunch of basic kitchen techniques. Many of the recipes are geared towards cooks with limited experience or the busy homemaker and are perfectly serviceable, but not exactly thrilling. Besides the recipes, there are little helpful tips throughout the book, as well as special sections for pressure cooker recipes and kid-friendly meals. As long as you're aware of the book's purpose and understand its context, it can be quite useful to both the beginner and the more experienced cook.","Product: America’s Test Kitchen is well-known for its top-rated television shows with more than 4 million weekly public television viewers, bestselling cookbooks, magazines, websites, and cooking school. The highly reputable and recognizable brands of America’s Test Kitchen, Cook’s Illustrated, and Cook’s Country are the work of over 60 passionate chefs based in Boston, Massachusetts, who put ingredients, cookware, equipment, and recipes through objective, rigorous testing to identify the very best. Discover, learn, and expand your cooking repertoire with Julia Collin Davison, Bridget Lancaster, Jack Bishop, Dan Souza, Lisa McManus, Tucker Shaw, Bryan Roof, and our fabulous team of test cooks!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A treasure for any serious cook, from beginner to expert.\n\nReview: This is a GIGANTIC book, with an amazing number of recipes, tips, technique guides and useful charts. It's not the latest fad, just good, solid information presented in a very easy-to-use format. America's Test Kitchen is not the most innovative culinary publisher, nor the trendiest (they still have a magazine -printed on paper!) but they are consistent. consistently reliable, consistently well-researched and for me, consistently useful. The way the book is divided make it easy to find recipes for whatever ingredients you happen to have on hand, that frequently how I end up using it. I suppose you could also start with the recipe then go shopping, but I usually start with whatever looks good/fresh at the store.\nThe recipes are thorough, but you don't have to follow them to the letter. i find that they're most useful as a general guide, and I can usually improvise to suit my tastes. The pork chops with apple are a good example of that - used the ATK approach and added my own touches (see photo).\nBolstering the recipes is a series of basic technique how-to sections. Some may find them rudimentary, but it's always good to have a reminder of the proper way to do things like carve a bird or reduce a sauce. Unlike the magazine, the book features many useful photos illustrating the various steps in detail - a big help.\nI have not come close to getting everything I can out of this book - that would take years. and that's exactly what makes it a great value."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Extra Large Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips Extra Durable Adhesive Bandages provide heavy duty durable wound care protection that stays with you all day. These extra durable Band-Aid adhesive bandages are made with Dura-Weave fabric and provide superior adhesion to stay on up to 24 hours. Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips Extra Durable Adhesive Bandages have a non-stick pad that wont stick to the wound. Please note that Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips are not recommended for sensitive or delicate skin. This package contains 10 extra large heavy-duty sterile bandages, each measuring 1.75 by 4 inches.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I eat, I cook, I cut myself, I need these. So do you.\\n\\nReview: Perhaps it's absurd to get enthused over bandages, but the Band-Aid Tough Strips are just great. Most of the times I need bandages are because of cooking accidents, and they always seem to be in awkward places - around a knuckle, on a weird spot on my hand, on the tip of my ear. (OK, not that last one, just wanted to see if you were paying attention) Now in the store you may well be tempted by cheaper brands, since genuine Band Aid (and especially the Though-strip ones) are rather expensive. But they cost more because they actually work as intended, and that means you put one on and it stays put all day. The problem with lesser bandages is that they slip - they don't stick well to themselves, so if there's any movement at all they fall off. I often ended up using 4-5 per day, whereas with the Band Aid, I put one on in the morning and it usually lasts all day.\\n\\nBand Aid seems to have found a combination of textured, breathable material and strong adhesive that no one else can match, and that's evident in this product. These are big boys, and offer excellent coverage of medium cuts and scrapes. A dab of Neosporin and these are all you need for most cuts. Highly recommended, especially for the klutzy cook.\",\n \"Product: Extra Large Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips Extra Durable Adhesive Bandages provide heavy duty durable wound care protection that stays with you all day. These extra durable Band-Aid adhesive bandages are made with Dura-Weave fabric and provide superior adhesion to stay on up to 24 hours. Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips Extra Durable Adhesive Bandages have a non-stick pad that wont stick to the wound. Please note that Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips are not recommended for sensitive or delicate skin. This package contains 10 extra large heavy-duty sterile bandages, each measuring 1.75 by 4 inches.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I eat, I cook, I cut myself, I need these. So do you.\\n\\nReview: Perhaps it's absurd to get enthused over bandages, but the Band-Aid Tough Strips are just great. Most of the times I need bandages are because of cooking accidents, and they always seem to be in awkward places - around a knuckle, on a weird spot on my hand, on the tip of my ear. (OK, not that last one, just wanted to see if you were paying attention) Now in the store you may well be tempted by cheaper brands, since genuine Band Aid (and especially the Though-strip ones) are rather expensive. But they cost more because they actually work as intended, and that means you put one on and it stays put all day. The problem with lesser bandages is that they slip - they don't stick well to themselves, so if there's any movement at all they fall off. I often ended up using 4-5 per day, whereas with the Band Aid, I put one on in the morning and it usually lasts all day.\\n\\nBand Aid seems to have found a combination of textured, breathable material and strong adhesive that no one else can match, and that's evident in this product. These are big boys, and offer excellent coverage of medium cuts and scrapes. A dab of Neosporin and these are all you need for most cuts. Highly recommended, especially for the klutzy cook.\",\n \"Product: Visual image and infrared heat map blending help you identify the exact location of the potential issue. Center-point temperature and hot and cold markers let you identify hottest and coldest spots within field of view. Pocket-size design - Handy when you need it; easily fits in your tool bag or pocket. Intuitive interface - Get to work as soon as you take it out of the box. SmartView reporting software enables you to create customizable reports to document your findings or prove repairs have been made.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Amazing Super-Thermometer. Great for engineers, yes, but I like it too.\\n\\nReview: (see my photos of the Fluke in action in the gallery)\\nIm a temperature geek. Not because Im an engineer or a ventilation tech, but because I cook. Getting the exact right temperature is an obsession with me. So I was surprised and delighted to see a Fluke, the Mercedes of thermometers, show up on the Vine list. I thought it was going to be a more advanced version of what I already have, the competent, modestlypriced Kintrex IRT0421. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017L9Q9C/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1)\\nSo I was surprised to see that this goes far, far beyond that technology. Its pretty much a flawless piece of measuring equipment, displaying temperatures instantly while offering you the capability of recording and storing the data. Its very sturdy, and comes in a nice plastic case along with rechargeable batteries, an SD card and adapters for use around the world.\\nIn fact, the Fluke FLK-VT04 is such an advanced, capable tool that its pretty much overkill for my needs. But I do love using it.\\n\\nThe first thing I tried was a challenging environment a shiny stainless steel pot filled with water, meat in a bag and an immersion circulator. Ive started sous vide cooking recently, and that technique depends on very precise temperature control. I use a lab immersion circulator, and as you can see in the photos, the Fluke instantly registers a very accurate reading at a distance of about a foot from the pot. (52 degrees Celsius translates to 126 Fahrenheit) verified by both the circulators own super-accurate thermometer and a Thermapen. Reading is instant. Oh joy. Unlike some lesser infrared thermometers, the Fluke doesnt seem to get fooled into false readings by reflective surfaces.\\n\\nNext, I pointed it at the interior of my fridge, which is set to 40 degrees. Again, the reading is instant, accurate and verified with the imaging screen.\\n\\nLast, I used to to san my coffee roaster while it was working. Whats showing is the exterior temperature. Unfortunately, by the time I got the Fluke winter was over, so I couldn't use it to show where cold air leaks in around my old buildings aluminum-frame windows.\\n\\nThere are many options available for the display, and you can set the resolution to show fine gradations in temperature or larger ones, depending on your task. You can also select the range of the measuring area within the viewing screen, as well as near or far readings, and low and high temperature alarms. You can even set it to record time-lapse measurements of temperature changes over a set period. In addition to recording measurements on the included SD card, the Fluke comes with a proprietary program, but its for PC only and Im an a Mac, so I couldn't use it.\\n\\nAll in all, the Fluke FLK-VT04 is a temperature geeks dreams come true. Itd not cheap, but you certainly get what you pay for. And if you need instant, accurate readings professionally, this is as good as it gets.\",\n \"Product: Norton AntiVirus 2011 fast protection that does more to stop viruses and spyware. Protects your PC against the latest viruses, spyware, and other threats. Delivers fast, powerful online protection to keep you a step ahead of cyber attacks. Stay a step ahead of threats to your PC with the industry's fastest antivirus protection.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Couldn't install on Vista machine\\n\\nReview: I have a laptop running Vista that came with a free trial version of this program. I never activated the free trial, which may or may not have something to do with why this version failed to install properly - I'm not sure. What I do know is that in each time I tried (about 6 times in total, over a week) it seemed to go through the entier installation routine as one would expect, until it got to the end and then it would ask if I wanted to activate the free trial version - it never got to the point of activating the full version I was trying to install. I tried calling Norton customer service, but always got snared in a horrible cue. Since this is not my primary computer I simply gave up - there's a point at which the time investment is simply not worth it, especially since I already have other anti-virus programs that do work. (and yes, I disabled the other one before trying to install this) I have used Norton products in the past, and they've always worked reasonably well, but this was an exercise in pure frustration.\",\n \"Product: Home roasting coffee beans provides a simple way to enjoy the aromas and tastes of freshly roasted coffees. Roasted coffee stales very quickly and is dramatically diminished in days so home roasting ensures your coffee is always fresh. It's fun and easy and takes only about 20 to 30 minutes from roasting to brewing and about half the cost of store-bought roasted beans. Green un-roasted coffee beans are easy to find in stores or on line. The Nesco Coffee Bean Roaster features a patented catalytic technology that significantly reduces smoke and odors during the roasting process. Pre-set digital controls automatically roasts and cools with the touch of a button. The Nesco Coffee Bean Roaster provides a superior roasting performance by combining warm air with a powerful agitator to create an even roast with uniform color throughout the roasting batch. It's large capacity is capable of roasting up to 1/3 pound of fresh green beans (about 36 cups of brewed coffee) each time. The CR-1010 PRR roasts a batch in about 20 minutes at half the cost of store-bought and is perfect for true coffee enthusiasts who want the freshest cup of coffee possible.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: DANGEROUS item, and awful customer service. Avoid.\\n\\nReview: I've been roasting coffee for over 10 years, on various devices ranging from the simplest popcorn poppers to dedicated home roasters. I've never had any catch on fire. The Nesco wasn't overloaded, it simply slipped a gear - the auger stopped turning - and so the beans inside started to smolder. Despite catching this quickly, there was oily residue all over the roaster. I returned it to Nesco under warranty, and they \\\"fixed\\\" it, but what I got back was exactly the same machine, still reeking of smoke. When I complained about this, they said \\\"this is all we can do\\\". When it worked, it was OK for lighter roasts. This is a poorly thought-out product from an infomercial-level company, and is a danger. You're much better off using a popcorn popper, or exploring some of the other home machines. (see sweet marias for a comprehensive range)\",\n \"Product: Progressive International is your source for the widest range of functional, inventive and fun kitchen tools and great ideas put into practice. Our gadgets, tools, food-prep items and household products make cooking and meal preparation more efficient and fun. At Progressive, passion and creativity unite to create the right balance of form and function for today's cooks. Our in-house designers spend hours in the kitchen coming up with ways to improve on a variety of traditional tasks and tools. Established in 1973, our commitment to quality and service allows us to offer a broad selection of quality kitchenware and other household products. Progressive holds product patents worldwide and has gained respect as a world class kitchenware innovator. Prepworks from Progressive International is a line of products created by people who understand having the correct kitchen tool can make your cooking experience more enjoyable. Prepworks - essential items for today's cook. The Prepworks counter edge poly cutting board with integrated removable bin collects food and scraps and collapses for easy storage. The bin slides easily into place and features a seal between board and bin to ensure liquid does not fall on the floor. The bin has a 4-cup capacity and the board features an L shaped edge design that fits over a sink and counter. The board features non skid feet, and measures 11 by 15-inch. Attach the bin to the board and collapse for easy storage. Dishwasher safe; patent pending design\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great idea, very well executed.\\n\\nReview: I cook a lot and have many cutting boards, including some exotic ones that purport to be the best thing ever for your knives. When I got this I thought it was just a gimmick and I 'd quickly tire of it, but boy was I wrong. This is an excellent board, and has instantly become my favorite. The functionality of having a scrap bin right there, attached to the board makes cooking much more pleasant. Instead of having to cart your discarded cuttings to a separate bin, you jut sweep them into the attached container and keep on chopping. That saves a lot of time, and keeps the counter neat. The cutting surface is very good and has held up to daily use very nicely. The fact that it's dishwasher-safe makes clean up a snap, and it hasn't retained any food tints, nor has it faded.\\nThe only downside (if you can call it that) is that you need to remember that the bin is there, hanging under the counter. In my small kitchen I use it above my dishwasher, and once I absentmindedly opened it to get a spoon while I was cooking, sending the board, the bin and everything that was on them all over the floor. Man, that was a big mess. But that's not the board's fault now, is it. Progressive International have a real winner here.\",\n \"Product: The 3M TEKK Protection rug anchor system helps prevent trips and falls. Using patanted 3M technology it's the best solution for holding rug corners and edges down firmly.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Works, but it's lumpy and awkward to use.\\n\\nReview: The 3M Tekk anchor does what it should, but not in a very graceful way. You stick half of each pair of grippers to your floor, and the other to the bottom of your rug. There are 4 pairs in a package, which is enough for a small rug. The grippers themselves are like velcro, but with more rigid teeth so the lock feels more positive. The flip side of that is that you can easily detect the presence of the grips underfoot, even with shoes on. Placement is very important - you have to make sure that the spacing between the grippers is such that the rug will stay fairly taut, otherwise you can end up with a wavy rug that trips you up. It lasted the two weeks that I had it on a small area rug, and may last much longer - I don't know because I could not tolerate feeling the little bumps every time i happened to step on them. I removed the grippers (no residue to speak of on the floor, a little on the rug) and went back to my preferred method of keeping rugs from slipping - a rubber backing that's undetectable, and completely repositionable. This product may work for oyu if you have very specific needs, but it's not great for all-around rug securing.\",\n \"Product: The oxo good grips folding clip dryer is a convenient way to air dry items that cannot be put in the dryer, such as underwear and lingerie. It's also strong enough to hang and dry heavier items such as jeans. The lightweight dryer uses three hooks to mount easily on a shower curtain rod or a rod in the laundry room. It features 14 clips with non-slip grips. The clips are attached directly to the rust proof aluminum rail. This provides easy access to the clip grips for fast opening and loading, and ensures the clips will not get tangled in storage. The dryer folds in half and snaps closed for compact storage and the folded dryer can be hung conveniently in a closet. This folding feature also allows the dryer to hang on curved or corner shower rods. The oxo good grips folding clip dryer is an ideal way to protect delicates, but is also great for reducing energy usage, cutting utility bill costs and extending the life of garments.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Earned my wife's eternal love\\n\\nReview: Oxo makes great tools for the kitchen, and we have a buch of them. They have lately branched out into the bathroom, to very good effect. This hanger has eliminated the weekly forest of wire hanger that use to appear in our bathroom when my wife washes her \\\"delicates\\\". By \\\"delicates\\\" I mean bras. OMG, they used to be all over the place, there simply wasn't enough space to hang them all (we live in a small apartment in the big city). Now there's plenty of room ,and it's well organized. The clips hold items securely, giving them just enough space to all dry at the same rate. The hinge in the middle is essential if you have one of those curved shower curtain rods (we do) and is also useful for folding the device for storage. As usual for Oxo, the drier is very well made and looks like it will last for years. I finally threw away the bunch of ugly hangers we kept around - good riddance. Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: A kitchen essential - Splatter Guard + Strainer + Baking Sheet. Who needs this versatile wonder? You do. Use the Kuhn Rikon Silicone Splatter Guard on skillets or woks, as colorful strainers and even as baking sheets. Made of nonstick FDA-grade silicone, oven safe up to 450-degrees. Spatter Guards are stain and odor resistant, dishwasher safe. Metal-reinforced rim and handles are microwave safe. Set of two - 10-inch and 12-inch diameter.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Limited usability, not ideal for gas stoves.\\n\\nReview: As an avid (and messy) cook, I use splatter guards every day. My go-to model is the Oxo metal splatter screen with handle, of which I have two well-worn ones. I was happy to try out the Kuhn Rikon version, being a completely different design of flexible silicone around a semi-rigid frame. The Kuhn Rikon offers great versatility, as it can be used as a shallow colander too. And in fact, it makes a better colander than a splatter screen. The problem is two fold: there simply aren't many vents, so rather than letting steam escape, it condenses on the underside of the guard and drips back down. And that means soggy rather than crispy food. And if you use high heat on a gas stove, the silicone can get singed from any flame that makes its way around the side of the pan. It's better suited to stop splatter from simmering sauces, where a bit of condensation isn't a problem. For true splatter control in the frying process you need something with many more vents, and a material that won't react to flame.\",\n \"Product: The case of the runaway veggies has just been solved. The OXO Good Grips Chop and Pour Board makes chopping and transporting ingredients simple and efficient. Use the Board's corner spout to neatly guide food from the Board directly into bowls, pots or pans without spilling onto stovetops or counters. A generous, flat cutting surface allows for efficient slicing and dicing, while the raised back and side walls keep food contained. The lightweight Board and soft, tapered handles make lifting easy. The Board is made of durable, non-porous, odor-resistant polypropylene that resists deep scratches and won't dull sharp knives. Juice grooves on one side retain liquids and non-slip edges keep the Board from slipping. Top-rack dishwasher safe.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: A rare dud from Oxo - got deep cuts immediately.\\n\\nReview: I'm a big fan of most things Oxo, and have a kitchen full of their tools. They are mostly very well made and thoughtfully designed. This is one of the few exceptions I've come across. The basic idea is sound - a cutting board with a lip, so ingredients don't fly off as you're working, and with a corner that lets you pour the chopped and sliced items right into a pot or pan. The problem is the execution. The material Oxo chose for this cutting board is way too flimsy for sharp knives, and within a few days use, this board was covered in deep gouges that rendered it useless. I do have very sharp knives, but that's what a cutting board is for - if it can't handle sharpness, it's pretty much useless. If you cut with a butter knife it might last, otherwise, don't bother.\",\n \"Product: Anova's sous vide immersion circulator cooks food in their own juices to a precise temperature. The result - great texture and taste, every time. Anova is truly a gift that keeps giving. Friends and family will enjoy and appreciate Anova for years to come! The Anova sous vide circulator is the first immersion circulator cooker designed for personal use, bringing the technique used by many high-end gourmet restaurants to ones own home. Not only is the Anova sous vide circulator compatible with existing kitchen accessories, the small, vertical shape saves space, and can be stored effortlessly. This appliance can easily clamp on to any pot in the house, and is a necessary addition to any true foodies kitchen.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: When things go wrong, they go VERY wrong\\n\\nReview: If you get one that works out of the box, the Anova is apparently great. Unfortunately, I didn't get one of those. My unit kept shutting itself off and resetting once the temperature went above 120F. You'd think getting a replacement would be a simple matter, but sadly it isn't. The good folks at Anova are earnest, but very poor communicators, so I have no idea if they actually sent a replacement or not. They haven't seen fit to tell me anything beyond \\\"we'll send a replacement\\\", no dates, no tracking numbers, no followups whatsoever. Moreover, the return label they sent me is apparently one Fedex doesn't want to touch -- the package has been waiting to get picked up for 4 days, and Fedex makes several visits a day to my building. Anything that goes back to Amazon (or any other online retailer) usually gets picked up within a few hours, but not this package. If you think you're getting the Amazon service experience by paying $5 more here (as I did) instead of buying directly from Anova's site you're sadly mistaken. You'll have to pursue Anova through any channel you can, and then you'll still probably have a hard time getting a straight answer. I did manage to get a live person on the phone after several tries (no one returned my messages, BTW), and she was very apologetic and asked me to send her the details at her email address. Which I did - turns out the address she gave me was invalid, and bounced back several times. Judging by the other reviews I'm sure this can be a great product. Having gotten a bad one, I can tell you that even if the product is great, the company isn't quite ready to deal with retail customers in a timely manner.\\n\\nUpdate: Had to jump through some hoops, but all finally turned out well and I did get my money back. I'm sure Anova will get better at this as they gain more retail experience.\",\n \"Product: The Electrolux UltraCaptic canister is a powerful, all-surface, bag less cleaner that literally makes emptying the dust-cup a piece of cake. Empty less often with Compact and Go, a feature that compresses dirt, dust and pet hair into a tidy, easy-empty dirt cake.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good, if hideously ugly, but you can do better for the price.\\n\\nReview: I used the new vacuum to do the entire house Tuesday. (this is a typical city apartment) I usually use a Miele one of the cheaper ones, not the high-buck model. The Elecotrolux is about the same price, but it's not a very serious challenger.\\nThe Electrolux Ultracaptic is a little hard to maneuver--not particularly nimble. But it has great suction and the chamber is very easy to empty--it lets you compress the dirt before you dump it so there's less of a dust cloud. That's the one place where it has some sort of advantage over the Miele, which requires (fairly expensive) bags.\\n\\nThe tools are a weak point. They give you a 3-in-1 brush/crevice/upholstery tool that's not nearly as good as the ones on the Miele. It's kind of cheap for such an expensive machine, and I couldn't even figure out where to clip it on when I'm not using it. The hard-floor head doesn't rotate at all, which makes it sort of useless for underneath furniture. I don't understand the headlight, even though I like it. It looks nifty, but isn't all that useful. I liked that the suction control was right on the handle and not on the canister part. The styling is mystifying, to be generous. It looks like a Transformer or one those boom boxes from the early 2000s when they were trying to tart them up in a last-ditch effort to lure people away from iPods. I think I might like it better if we had more open space--in a tight apartment like ours, I need something more agile. All in all a decent vacuum, but it's not making me want to give up my Miele.\",\n \"Product: The Cap Hangup from Master Craft Products makes storing and organizing baseball caps and sun visors easy and convenient. The built-in steel hanging hook allows it to be hung from any closet rod, hanging hook or nail; almost anywhere it is convenient. The Cap Hangup stores 12 or more adjustable baseball caps and sun visors in a minimum of vertical and horizontal space. Each of the 12 hanging loops can easily hold 3 adjustable baseball caps or sun visors. Made from two layers of quality heavy gauge polyester weave fabric. The Cap Hangup does not work on fitted caps. CH0001-CF.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good idea, half-hearted execution.\\n\\nReview: I like baseball caps. In particular, I like the caps form Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale, one of our favorite restaurants. Every year they issue new caps, and I always get at least one. They crowd our closets, pile up on the change tray by the front door, and find their way onto any flat surface available. My wife is always complaining that I don't put them away, and she's right. When I saw the Master Craft organizer, I knew immediately that this is the sort of thing I need. So does it work? Yes, but not as well as it would have were it designed more thoughtfully. It's a strip of fabric attached to a coat hanger hook, extending about 47\\\", with 12 Velcro (AKA hook-and-loop device) loops sown onto one side. You attach your caps by threading the loop strip through the space above the sizing strap on the back. If your cap has no such strap, it can't be secured. You can put as many as three caps on each loop, but then you just end up with a vertical mess as opposed to a horizontal one. One per loop is ideal. (see photo) The manufacturer's photo is misleading, since it shows only half the loops in use. Why only 3 stars? because it's an incomplete product. Why are there loops on only one side? They could have easily doubled the capacity by having loops on both sides. The other problem is that the organizer is just too long. Like most people who don't have unlimited storage space, there's stuff on the floor of our closets. At 47\\\", the organizer hangs much lower than most coats, and the caps on the bottom rest on whatever's on the floor. It's an OK product, but no more. I like the idea, and hopefully someone will make a better, more thoughtfully designed version.\",\n \"Product: Ignition's fully coordinated line of executive, conference, work, and task chairs, stools, guest chairs, and lounge seating fits who you are, how you work, and where you work. Ignition fits all body types from the 5th to the 95th percentile. Two arm options and three control options support everything from quick collaborations to intense computer use. Ignition fits everywhere-and with a broad choice of upholstery options (including a mesh back)-it looks great doing it.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy, comfortable, easy to assemble--so what if it's a little homely?\\n\\nReview: It may not win any design awards, but that aside, this Hon is pretty much as good as it gets for the price.\\nThe pleasant surprises start when you open the box (see photos); instead of a jumble of hard-to-identify parts, you'll find the main body of the chair fully assembled, with arms attached. All you have to do is pop the casters onto the base, insert the pneumatic seat post, and drop the chair onto it. That's it--no fiddly little parts, no allen wrench necessary. I think it took me all of 3 minutes.\\nIt's a very comfortable chair, with firm cushioning and myriad adjustments. That's the only detraction to this char - it came with no instructions, and it can take a while to figure out exactly what can be adjusted (nearly anything you could imagine) and how. Not to worry, there are comprehensive instructions online, at Hon's site: [...]\\n\\nAll the mechanisms are smooth to operate, and stay in your chosen position. Once I had the chair adjusted to my liking, I could sit comfortably for a full day without fatigue or sore spots. That's unusual for me, I have back problems and normally have to get up from most office chairs pretty frequently. I especially like the mesh back, it keeps you cool and lets air circulate.\\nIf you can live with the generic looks of it, this Hon is hard to beat. Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Because Khadi cotton fabric is entirely handmade from the spinning to weaving stage, it has a natural, earthy look and feeling. At the same time, its understatedly chic and these Khadi tablecloths, napkins and handkerchiefs are perfect for outdoor dining, complementing a rustic breakfast table or contrasting and softening a modern dining room setting. A Caravan exclusive.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great as kitchen towels (they can't force you to use them as napkins!)\\n\\nReview: While these are marketed as napkins, I find them far more useful as kitchen towels. They're attractive, durable, and just the right size for that use - I find them too large for use as napkins. The rough hewn texture and handmade unevenness add charm and personality to a utilitarian item. While the politics of a product are not the reason to choose them, the Gandhi connection make me feel good about it. (in a totally superficial, consumerist way)\\nbut that's probably not so relevant now that India is a major high-tech power in the world. After laundering the Khadi napkins are indeed somewhat wrinkled, which might bother me if I were using them as napkins, but it's fine for a kitchen towel. At the price they're not exactly economical, but if you appreciate the hand-made aesthetic, it's worth it.\",\n \"Product: The RCA Swivel Surge Protector not only keeps your valuable electronics safe from damaging power surges, it also cleans up the mess of power cords surrounding most floor surges or power strips. The Swivel Surge's 90-degree swivel outlets makes it a perfect fit behind furniture or electronics. And because the Swivel Surge plugs directly into the wall, it gets your power cords off the floor and out of the way.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: convenient and ugly - it belongs behind furniture.\\n\\nReview: We all live in a world where almost everything needs to be powered up, charged up, illuminated and energized. No one has enough outlets, but we all have some that are hiding behind furniture and can't use because the cords will foce us to move the pieve of furniture away from the wall. One anser is a surge protector with a flat plug, but those are rare and will leave your various connectors on the floor. The RCA swivel protector keeps everything up at outlet level, and lets you plug in cumbersome cords or adapters perpendicular to the wall. I put mine behind my wine rack, and it works well to host a couple of cordless vacuum power adapters and a few lamps. I have no idea how it would perform as far as protecting equipment from surges. It has a relatively low joule rating, so I wouldn't plug my laptop into it, but for most household items it should serve well. The only thing I don't like about it is its appearance - it is a homely thing. But since it lives where I can't see it, that's not really a problem.\",\n \"Product: Compact Camera Case Eva Shell - Plush Interior\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A flexible hard case that offers great protection.\\n\\nReview: We have several compact cameras in our family. Each has its own soft case, which is OK, but not so great at protecting the camera in a loaded overnight bag. That's where the Case Logic QPB-201 EVA Molded Compact Camera Case shines. Its hard shell protects the camera (and a few small accessories) in the most crowded bag, and makes it easy to just toss it into any bag, instead of finding a safe corner for it. We have two Canon Sureshots, an Olympus and a Fuji, and all fit quite nicely. (one at a time, that is.) The Canons are on the smaller size, and the case will accommodate the camera, a folded lens cloth and a couple of extra batteries, as well as the usual SD cards, which have their own little pocket. One of the camera's chargers is also small enough to fit into the case, so there's only one item to keep track of when you're traveling.\\nI haven't used the belt loop - I usually keep the camera and case in a bag with a lot of other stuff we carry while we travel. Though Case Logic makes no claims about this product being waterproof, it did survive a water bottle spill inside a tote bag - I was very happy about that. No water made it into the interior, and the exterior just wiped dry. Overall, I'm very happy with this case. For the price, you couldn't do better.\",\n \"Product: AmazonBasics products are quality electronics accessories offered at a great value. Made in China.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not good for curved dashboards or weak suction cups.\\n\\nReview: The Amazon Basics line of products usually provides good value, and is often as good as the big-name version at a fraction of the price. This particular product, a generic GPS mount, is an incomplete attempt. It addresses the need for a beanbag-style mount at a reasonable price, but doesn't achieve the level of functionality the brand-name mounts offer. This may be a function of its stated purpose - to be universal, it relies on the suction cup that comes with most GPS units. Those just don't work as well on plastic as on glass. My unit, a Garmin, lost suction after 30-60 minutes, and sooner than that if the sun was shining directly on it. I also tried it with a friend's unit, a Magellan. The Magellan's suction mount held for a longer time, but my friend's car has a curved dash, and the Amazon mount isn't flexible enough to follow its contours, so the whole assembly flopped around disconcertingly. My car has a flat dash so it was reasonably stable there, but not as good as my everyday mount (a Garmin beanbag). I guess if you have a fairly flat dash AND a powerful suction cup this unit would work for you, but it's a compromise. A positive mechanical mount, like a ball-and-socket, simply works better, and is worth the extra money.\",\n \"Product: The popular Reflexion Photo line expands with a compact holster to keep your camera within reach on a day of shooting. This easily accessible holster attaches to your compact system cameras neck strap and dangles weightlessly while you snap away, allowing you to focus on your shoot rather than keep track of your case. Belt loop pass-through offers an alternate hands-free option so you always capture the perfect moment.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Well made case, yet completely useless because of odd size and configuration.\\n\\nReview: I wanted to like the Case Logic FLXH-100 Reflexion, really I did. I have a few other Case Logic items, and they are mostly quite good. This one isn't poorly made or anything like that, but it's misconceived. I have no idea what camera it would be good for, and I have a lot of cameras. The basic shape looks like it's meant for a small, interchangeable lens camera, so initially I thought it might be useful for my mirrorless interchangeable lens Fuji, but it's too small for that. Yet it's too big for my medium-sized Panasonic, not to mention my subcompact Canon. What does it fit? I have no idea. I guess I could put something on the bottom - a small yogurt container maybe? and perch a camera on top of that. This case also lacks a strap, or the means to attach one, so you have to use it as a belt holster. And it's a bit too bulky for that. Altogether, I think the designers completely missed on this one. I tried to give it to someone so it wouldn't go to waste, but can't find anyone who wants it. There are better choices, no matter what your needs are.\",\n \"Product: Aluminium plastic mudgaurd (fender set) for Front and Rear Wheel. Lightweight and strong with high protection against corrosion and resistant to U.V. Easy to assemble with enclosed instructions. ASR (Automatic Stay Release) equipped. The ASR-plug is the solution for Foreign parts caught up by the tire, which sometimes leads to the blocking of the front wheel. The ASR-plug releases the stays in such case, which can be clipped in afterwards\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice fenders ruined by terrible mounting system, incomplete hardware and inane instructions.\\n\\nReview: The front fender is pretty easy to mount, but the rear presents too many challenges to be worth it. If your bike frame is VERY wide (as in something that'll accommodate chunky mountain bike tires), this set will mount up reasonably well, though with much fiddling. However, if you have a normal street bike geometry, mounting is a challenge that's not really worth the effort. The mounting hardware is inadequate, the mechanism is not very well thought out, and the instructions written by someone who assumes their audience is composed of mechanical engineers. The fenders themselves are OK - silver foil sandwiched in clear plastic. Lightweight, flexible and apparently sturdy enough. I couldn't get them mounted at all, despite making sure I had the theoretically correct size. When they were on the bike, the fender wouldn't stay on straight, and would need some auxiliary method of securing to avoid rubbing on the tire. Too many negatives. Look elsewhere.\",\n \"Product: the blackburn airtower 3 pump 2016 is a high quality air pump. with it you can increase and guarantee the maximum performance of your bike. the pressure of the wheels is a fundamental aspect for the safety of cyclists and therefore blackburn puts at your disposal a wide range of products to maximize it with greater efficiency and quality possible. this foot pump complies with the requirements of quality brand, has an indicator diaphragm of the pressure at the top, easy to read and is built with a tough steel body of welded base to ensure maximum strength and stability. also, incorporates a shooter ergonomic t shaped with rounded ends and a rubber band to secure the handle to the pump and to facilitate transport. it has a bloated system very easy, with a detachable anyvalve head that fits perfectly to all bike models. it also has a maximum pressure of 160 psi. the result is an air pump of high quality that will meet the needs of the most demanding. features: -easy system bloated. -head anyvalve compatible with all models of bike (presta, schrader and dunlop). -maximum pressure, 160 psi. -steel body. -pressure gauge. -height: 69 cm.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Over priced underperformer for Presta valves\\n\\nReview: This pump is OK (and just OK, no more than that) for Schrader valve tires, but stay away if you have Presta. Despite the fact that the manufacturer claims that the head will adjust to any valve, with Prestas it works less than half the time. You're just as likely to end up with a completely deflated tire than to get any air in it. Very poorly constructed head barley holds on to a Presta valve, often requiring so much fiddling to get a decent fit that much of the time it's faster to screw on a Schrader adapter. I have two bikes - one with Schraders, the other with Prestas. I really need one pump that can handle both, but this definitely isn't it. Wish I had tried it on both bikes earlier, when I could've returned it. A waste of good money.\",\n \"Product: Meet the MT5000-E, Mounteks fifth-generation evolution of its proven classic, the nGroove Grip, featuring a rubber-dipped nGroove blade for even better stability. Safely and securely mount your smartphone, GPS, satellite radio, MP3 player and more in your vehicle with a swiveling, lock-grip mount that fits into your CD slot or dashboard groove without any suction cups, clips or adhesives. Perfectly calibrated to snugly fit without damaging your vehicle. Firmly mounts most cell phones, including the new iPhone 6 & 6 plus, Samsung Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Very poor fit, bit for phone and car.\\n\\nReview: This is a frustrating product category. There are only a few phone holders that don't use a suction cup, and most of those nevertheless suck. This one is a nice idea - use the often unused CD slot as a holder. Nice idea in theory, but in practice the plates used to secure the holder are far too thick, and the range of usable slots very small. It simply isn;t likely to fit most late model (i.e. thin) slots. While it might fit a gap between dashboard panels, do you really want to subject your car's interior to that pressure? I sure don't. I understand that you can call them and request a thinner plate, but that's just more trouble than I want to go through. It ain't rocket science, folks. ASide form that issue, the bracket itself is rather bulky and not all power cords fit with the phone in the portrait orientation. I returned it.\",\n \"Product: Swivel ChargerCharge your iPad at home or on the go. The home chargers rotating design ensures that you can charge your iPad, even in crowded outlets. *Cable not includedCompact & ConvenientCharge your iPad, iPhone, or iPod even in crowded outlets with this compact charger that rotates for ease of use. Folding prongs make it simple to stick in a bag for charging on the go.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Compact, convenient and recognized by Apple devices\\n\\nReview: Aftermarket power accessories for iDevices are plagued by the \\\"unrecognized accessory\\\" message, that dreaded pop-up that makes you question whether your device is really getting charged, or if you're frying its expensive innards. Not that it really means something, but it's enough to make you uneasy. None of that happens with the Belkin adapter. Two different iPhones and an iPad had no problems with it, and charged up quickly. The small size and swivel mount makes it ideal for travel, and saves us space -0 we usually have at least two chargers, and with the double USB ports, we no only need the one. The cable that comes with it seems to be just as well made and the Apple item, and unlike some other aftermarket cables (including Amazon's own!) it fits in every case I've tried. It's not the cheapest, but in this case you really get what you paid for. Like the products it's designed to power, it just works.\",\n \"Product: The PortaGrip Universal Phone Holder with 811 Suction Cup Mount securely holds your mobile phone while you drive. Designed for todays smartphones with large touchscreens, thin bezels and various button and charging port configurations, the new PanaVise PortaGrip is the latest product in the 20 years history of PanaVise phone holders under the PortaGrip name.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well on window, but not on dash\\n\\nReview: The Panavise phone holder is a pretty good product, which means that it's pretty much as good as you can expect in the category. Sadly, the category is defined by poorly made, flimsy and unreliable products, so that's not saying much. I've tried three or four of these type of holders with two different generations of iphone (3 and 5) and none are truly excellent. The Panavise is acceptable, provided you attach it to the windshield, where it gets a tight grip on the glass. On my lightly textured plastic dashboard it held for a few minutes but never felt secure. I wouldn't risk it.\\n\\nIt's simple to operate, and adjusts to fit the phone and its power cord easily. The rubber pads included are fine for keeping your phone unscratched. I had no problem tightening the ball joint, but have to wonder about the long-term reliability of something made entirely of plastic, especially if it's left in a hot car for a while. But then, it's winter now, so time will tell. In use, the phone does shake and shimmy. Not to the extent that it'll fall out, but certainly enough to make it difficult to see the screen, if you're using it for navigation. Again, pretty much par for the product category.\\n\\nI do wish someone would make a truly robust holder, and charge an appropriate price. Something like the beanbag mounts available for GPS units would be great. Any suction cup product is inherently unreliable, and even the best can fail in warm or humid conditions. But that's what we have - and of these, the Panavise is quite decent. Recommended with reservations.\",\n \"Product: A compact flip form factor that hosts a nice balance of features and design. Large buttons allow for quick and accurate texting Media Mall allows you to personalize your phone with polyphonic ringtones, games and graphics Push to Talk- walkie talkie style communication\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\" That's exactly the kind of crap I don't need today\\n\\nReview: Beware: You may need to ask ATT for an unlock code, and apparently it's not certain that you'll get one. My phone was locked, and turning it on I was greeted by an \\\"enter unlock code(15 digits)\\\" message. Of course, I had no idea where to get this unlock code. After a long time trying to find the right person to speak to, ATT directed me towards a site where I could REQUEST an unlock code. Whether I'll get the code, i don't know - it can take them 2 business days to decide (!). Yep, ATT isn't quite sure that it wants to let you use the ATT phone you just bought. To quote the ATT unlock site:\\n\\\"Your unlock request is in review now.\\nPlease allow two business days to process it.\\nWell send you an email message soon with a decision on your unlock request.\\\"\\n\\nThat's exactly the kind of crap I don't need today. Even at this low price, this phone is more trouble than its worth.\",\n \"Product: An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well, but cord is too short/tightly coiled\\n\\nReview: Amazon Basics items tend to be great values - they work as advertised, are no-nonsense and just do the job without unnecessary frills. This charger almost - but not quite- lives up to that. It does indeed work, and charged my iPhone with no problems, which is great if you're on the road and out of power. But what's not so great is that time when you need to make a call while charging the phone. The cord length on this charger is so short 9or rather, the coiling on it is very, very tight) that you'll have to put your face mere inches from wherever your power outlet may be. Very uncomfortable. I don't know if this is supposed to be a safety feature or if it's just cheapness, but essentially you cannot use your phone while it's charging. I suppose you could try stretching it out, but when I tries, it popped right out of the power outlet. If you don't have to use the phone while it's plugged in, it's fine.\",\n \"Product: These mats are designed to be trimmed or cut so that they may be customized for an exact fit. The WeatherTechAll-Weather Floor Mats have deeply sculpted channels designed to trap water, road salt, mud and sand. They won't curl, crack or harden in sub-zero weather. Our All-Weather Floor Mats also have anti-skid ridges to prevent shifting in your vehicle and come with a protective, non-stick finish to make cleanup quick and easy. WeatherTech All-Weather Floor Mats meet FMVSS302 and are manufactured to ISO 9001 standards. Choose from Black, Tan or Grey to complement virtually any interior color.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Zero stars - fit guide is completely wrong\\n\\nReview: \\\"This product fits your 2008 Honda Element\\\" says Amazon's part finder. Only in the sense that I can get it into the car. But you could say the same of a saltine cracker. Then it just sits there, a tiny rubber mat that covers less than half of the space it needs to, whose contours bear no relation to the contours of my floor (not that it matters, none of the edges are in danger of coming anywhere near a floor feature because these mats are minuscule). To be fair, I don't think this is just Amazon's fault - they go by what the manufacturer tells them, and this mat is listed as \\\"fitting\\\" a bunch of cars on WeatherTech's own site. Perhaps it actually does fit some, but it would have to be a very small interior, like a 1990's subcompact. Chances are if you're comfortable in your car, this won't fit it. Basically, this product is not fit for sale and should be removed; Amazon loses money too when we send things back. I'm annoyed that I now have to package it back up, go to UPS and send it back. Pure waste of time for all concerned. Ditch this loser item, please.\",\n \"Product: Not your basic label. UltraHold permanent adhesive is guaranteed to stick and stay put on cardboard, envelopes, paper, glass or metal. Avery half sheet address labels won't lift, curl or fall off like other brands. Quickly and easily create your own personalized labels. No more jams or smudges with Avery shipping labels. Bright white labels are optimized for inkjet printers so you can effortlessly print bold bright colors and clear sharp text. Our TrueBlock technology lets you fully cover up everything underneath the 5.5 x 8.5 labels, so you can reuse boxes and block out markings and mistakes for a polished, professional appearance on the bright white labels. This 50 pack of shipping labels is perfect for shipping and mailing jobs, as well as for organizing boxes, labeling bins, classroom organization & stickers, and wine bottle labels. These address labels are optimized for inkjet printers so you can effortlessly print vibrant colors and crisp, clear text without worrying about printer jams or ink smudges. You can also easily customize your printable labels with logos, graphics or images using the free shipping labels template and designs at avery.com/templates.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Does exactly what it claims.\\n\\nReview: The thought of a special \\\"internet\\\" label might be a little silly, but if you do a lot of shipping and reuse boxes, this product is very convenient. It does cover the label under it thoroughly, and you cannot read through it. However, a diligent person certainly could lift the label off and most likely see at least part of the old label. But i'm not sure why anyone would bother to do that.\\n\\nThe appeal of these labels is certainly not widespread, but for those that do a lot of shipping, this is well worth the expense (and they are expensive) because you'll save a great deal of time by just slapping these on over older labels. Those boxes can really add up, so this is a way to reuse without much hassle.\",\n \"Product: With these Repositionable Address Labels you can correct mistakes quickly and easily. Whether these labels are placed improperly, upside down or even with the wrong address, our Re-hesive Technology makes it possible to remove and reapply without damaging the label or envelope. The adhesive becomes permanent over time and is guaranteed not to fall off. Easily format and print your labels using our free templates and designs at avery.com/templates.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: very good, but size is not as useful as large ones.\\n\\nReview: The idea of making labels that can be moved and reapplied is a very smart one. I got both these labels, which are suitable for envelopes, and the larger shipping labels, which I use on boxes. The shipping labels are great. Easy to print a large quantity quickly, and they peel off their backing sheet very cleanly. The repositionable feature is great too - if you make a mistake, it's very easy to lift them up without tearing, and put them down again. Kind of like a Post It but the glue avery uses seems stronger, as it should be for a shipping label. These labels seem to be made very similarly, but I find the size less useful than the larger ones. I seldom need to reposition an envelope label (for that matter, I don't send out many letters nowadays) and other uses like labeling a drawer or small box are better served by a narrower label, like a P-touch. But that's just me - if you have a need that's met by this size, their quality is excellent.\\n\\nI know these particular labels are made for a laser printer, but I used them in my inkjet with very good results. You just have to remember to let the printed sheet stabilize for a couple of minutes to avoid smear. In my case, my HP printer/HP black ink gave excellent results with no smear if I waited about 3 minutes.\",\n \"Product: Monochrome laser multifunction copier. Connect via wireless networking or USB. Print/ copy speed up to 30 ppm. Adjustable 250 sheet capacity paper tray. 35 page auto document feeder. Mobile device printing over wireless network.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent printer/scanner, easy to set up and use. (But avoid seller Super Deals)\\n\\nReview: The printer itself is excellent. Very fast, easy to set up, and scans well. It's great if what you need is a simple monochrome printer combined with a decent scanner, and need to share it on a home or small office wifi network. For the price, I have no complaints. I do have a complaint about the seller Super deals, who sent me a Canadian version of this printer, without a US warrantee. That's just not right. And because of their peculiar hours, they are not available to address problems on weekends at all - exactly the time most normal people set up stuff like printers. So great printer, but make sure to get it from amazon or a reliable seller. Avoid Super Deals.\",\n \"Product: This simple styled flower pot holder allows your beautiful and unique flower pots to really be shown off on any balcony or deck railing! The possibilities are limitless - simply add your favorite flower pot to add instant dcor. Patent pending technology allows CobraCo flower box and pot holders to adjust to fit any size railing. The CobraCo 10 Inch Adjustable Basic Flower Pot Holder holds up to 10 inch flower pots and comes in a black finish.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty darn good potholder\\n\\nReview: Living in a small apartment with a balcony, a pot holder is essential for growing anything. I have a few, and this one is among the better ones. The adjustability is nice, but for my needs I used the smallest spacing. (narrow metal banister) I've been using it for a few weeks with a relatively lightweight pot, and it's great for that. My heavier pots caused it to flex a bit. Not enough for anything to fall out, but enough to make me a bit uncomfortable, so I switched it to the smaller one. I has been raining quite a bit lately, and the rack has remained completely rust-free; I wish I could say that about all my holders. So I'd say it's quite good for small to medium pots, but you might want a sturdier model for big or heavy ones.\",\n \"Product: OXO Good Grips Flip and Fold Omelet Turner, High heat Resistant Silicone\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent large spatula, not just for eggs.\\n\\nReview: Look a the photo carefully - this is not svelte little egg turner, there's a large clear silicone part surrounding the yellow core. It's a big offset spatula that's great for omelets, but useful for many other things too. It's big enough to lift a 3-egg omelet without it drooping much, and has a thin enough edge to get under the eggs without tearing them. I also find it very useful for turning delicate items like fish fillets, or turning loosely packed meatballs that might fall apart with a metal spatula. Another great tool from Oxo, easy to clean in the dishwasher and very durable. I only wish they made the hole in the handle a little larger; it's too small to fit my tool rack.\",\n \"Product: OurPets Hid & Go Squeak Interactive Cat Toy has random motion of three mice that bob at different intervals to catch the kitty's attention.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice idea, very poor execution - arrived broken.\\n\\nReview: Cats love things that move. The idea of a trio of mice that squeak and dart in and ho out of holes is great, and sure to keep any cat amused - if it's done well. The OurPets Hide and Go Squeak toy, sadly, isn't. It's cheaply made, that's obvious the moment you take it out of its box. Inserting the batteries requires a tedious unscrewing of a cover with a tiny screw, a cost-saving measure that makes your life just that much worse. Ours arrive with only two of the three mice moving up and down, and even those two moved lethargically. The squeaking sound is monotonous and very. very irritating. Our cat is very playful, and will invent his own games, but he lost interest in the mice within 10 minutes. If someone would take the basic idea of this toy and make with high-quality materials, they would have a hit. Cat owners spare no expense in finding toys for their cats, and even of it cost $50 or more, people would buy it. Unfortunately, the OurPets toy is built to very low price point, which makes it basically worthless.\",\n \"Product: This 15-Piece Utility Drawer Tool Kit is in a heavy duty plastic storage case. Simply open top tray for quick and easy access. Has adjustable compartments for fasteners. Set contains: 8 1/2-Inch scissors, utility knife with 3 Blades, bottle opener with knife, 8-ounce claw hammer, 6-Inch torpedo level, 6-Inch slip joint pliers, 12-feet. tape measure, 1/4-Inch by 4-Inch slotted screwdriver, No. 2 Phillips screwdriver, 3/32-inch. slotted screwdriver, No. 0 Phillips screwdriver.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good light duty compact set\\n\\nReview: Perhaps fulfilling the middle-aged husband stereotype, I tend to buy a lot of tools. After years of having a multitude of toolboxes and bags, I finally bought one of those heavy-duty rolling tool chests. It lets me keep everything nice and organized. I keep it in a walk-in closet. So that's fine when I have time to work on a project, but what about quick fixes and little projects, the kind that pop up fairly often but don't call for rolling out the heavy artillery? Or when my wife, who's not a tool geek, doesn't want to have to search for a simple screwdriver among the chest's many drawers? That's what this tool set is perfect for. The compact case and thoughtful choice of tools to include make it the right thing to keep in a kitchen cabinet, quickly accessible, without taking up much room or duplicating the capability (and cost!) of the professional tools. The basic assortment's quality is a bit uneven, with items like the tape measure being below average, but the ones that get the most use - the screwdrivers, hammer and pliers - are certainly good enough for light to medium duty. The KR set is a step up from discount store kits, but not quite up to the standard of those tools that come with a lifetime warrantee. But then one of those tools would cost you as much as this entire set. In short, this is a good value, and a perfect secondary set of tools for most homeowners. And I imagine most people who live in small apartments would find this more than adequate for their needs.\",\n \"Product: This 21 Piece 3/8-Inch Drive SAE and Metric Socket Set with Ratchet includes the following sockets: SAE:5/16-Inch, 3/8-Inch, 7/16-Inch, 1/2-Inch, 9/16-Inch, 5/8-Inch, 11/16-Inch, 3/4-Inch, 13/16-Inch, 7/8-Inch Metric: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 22mm.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent ratchet set - good for casual use\\n\\nReview: If you're a serious handyman you know the value of good tools, and would be well advised to invest in something like a Craftsman tool set. But those are expensive. For the casual user - and I fall more into that category - a set like the KR tools 31118 is more than adequate. I especially appreciate the fact that the entire set can stay together on the holder - it makes it easy to find the right size socket quickly. The ratchet itself is rather heavy, and feels pretty good, though not quite up to the standard of the one craftsman ratchet I own. The design of the handle is geared more towards protecting hands that don't use tools every day than sturdiness, and that's in keeping with the nature of this set. The sockets themselves seem fine, I only used a few. I'm not sure how easy to read the marking would be once they got a little dirty - I would've liked to see better stamping on the sockets. All performed smoothly, with no slippage and no socket slop on the ratchet. The spring-loaded ball on the ratchet holds the sockets quite securely, so it won't pop off as you're working.\\nThe selection of sockets - 10 each of SAE and metric - is adequate for 90% of household needs. If you need bigger sockets on a regular basis you'd want to move to a bigger ratchet drive anyway, since a 3/8\\\" wouldn't provide enough leverage. All in all, a nice set and a good value. This set has a lifetime warranty, but no clear indication of how to use it.\",\n \"Product: The Coast DX355 features a patented Double-Lock safety switch mechanism which works in conjunction with the primary Liner-Lock to prevent disengagement when the knife is open, even if the Liner Lock is inadvertently dis-engaged. A checkered G10 handle on a stainless steel frame adds incredible strength and durability. Deep thumb notching on the top of the blade and frame adds excellent grip and control of the knife, helping to prevent accidental slipping.A 9Cr18 stainless steel blade will power through the toughest cutting jobs with ease and is easy to sharpen while still holding a great cutting edge. Thumb studs on both sides of the blade make opening the blade easy; right or left handed. Backed by Coast's lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice knife, but not very sharp OOTB\\n\\nReview: This is the first folding knife i've had since childhood. While I'm no expert in folders, I do have a serious kitchen knife habit, and sharpen my own on a a DMT whetstone. For around-the-house or yard work, the Cost DX355 is fine. It'll cut rope, thin branches and cardboard fairly well. But when I tool a loser look and the blade, I saw that it was not very well sharpened, and the angle seemed fairly broad (maybe close to 35 degrees). I like Japanese kitchen knives which are sharpened to a 15-18 degree angle. That's too fine for a utility knife, so I sharpened it to about a 25 degree edge. That improved the cutting performance greatly, and it now sails through paper and slices rope and tape very easily. Of course, making the edge narrower will also make it more fragile, but I'm not a woodsman so I won't be hacking through deep brush. The rest of the knife is very well made, with a nice grippy texture on the handle, and a secure (if initially confusing) safety catch. All in all, pretty nice, especially if you put a better edge on it.\",\n \"Product: COMMAND OUTDOOR LIGHT CLIPS *Clear *16 clips and 20 outdoor clear strips *Damage free hanging *Outdoor usage and decorating *Water resistant *Strips can be applied at extreme temperatures from -20 degrees F. to 125 degrees F. *UV stabilized plastic clips and strips *Use one clip for every 2 ft. of lights *Carded\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It sticks to metal, through rain and wind.\\n\\nReview: My (almost) uninterrupted history of great experiences with 3M products continues with this set of light clips. I live on the 17th floor of a high-rise, and have always wanted lights on our little balcony. I tried winding a christmas light set around the banister but it sagged in only a few days and looked rather messy. When i got this set, I rummage through our Christmas box and pulled out a set of white LED lights, perfect for every day use. I placed the clips on the window frames and banisters, then strung the lights through them. It works very well on one surface - smooth aluminum - but didn't stick well to the concrete columns. But for my needs, aluminum is fine, since it's everywhere around the balcony. The lights are fairly heavy, having a thick vinyl cord, but have stayed up for the past 3 weeks through a few rain storms. Since it's spring, I can;t tell if the adhesive would survive a freeze and thaw cycle - I'll update should anything change. I can recommend these for their intended purpose, (though I'm not sure what's going on with the price right now; $37 seems rather high) if you have smooth steel surfaces.\",\n \"Product: The First Alert BRK PRC710 Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Built-In 10-Year Battery features a photoelectric smoke sensor and an electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor. The photoelectric sensor detects larger smoke particles from smoldering fires from objects like cigarettes burning on furniture or in trash cans. The alarm features a loud, 85-decibel alarm, designed to wake even the soundest of sleepers. One button silences any nuisance alarms, and also tests detector functions, while lights indicate if the alarm detects smoke or carbon monoxide. The battery-operated smoke and CO detector can be installed easily, with no wires or electrician required, and its slim profile will seamlessly blend in with your home decor. A one-touch silence/test button makes it easy to operate. Its built-in 10-year battery will provide continuous power for the life of the detector and continues to protect during power outages.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: 10 year detector defective after only 4 months\\n\\nReview: This alarm worked well for 4 months (i.e. it detected occasional cooking smoke, and had no false alarms). After 4 months, it started to beep randomly, then beeped in a pattern that indicated that the product was defective and needed to be replaced. Calling the First Alert customer service center was quite an eye openerthey first sought to blame the malfunction on me (despite it being in service for only a few months) and claimed that it's beeping because it's dirty - however it was spotless, and the pattern by their own definition is indicative of a product defect. A rather long and less-than-civil discussion then ensued. They did finally agree to replace it, but only after keeping me on hold for a long while. I will update this review when I get the new unit. Based on the fact that this 10-year detector lasted less than 6 months, and the company's attitude I would look elsewhere.\",\n \"Product: QUICKDRAW DIY Self Marking 25' Foot Tape Measure - 1st Measuring Tape with a Built in Pencil\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Makes your mark - reliably and accurately.\\n\\nReview: The QuickDraw tape measure indeed works as promised - marking a spot in the wall is very easy. If you need to measure off a bunch of measurements, it could save you a lot of time. But the way I use it, only occasionally needing to mark a measurement for hanging pictures or centering shelf anchors. The mechanism is simple and effective: a tiny wheel \\\"shaves\\\" the lead and transfers a little spot onto the wall with a slight flick of the tape measure. The measure itself is very sturdy and well made, and should last many years. If you have a project that requires a lot of wall marking it's great. If not, it can actually be a problem - on a couple of occasions I forgot about the lead and just used it to measure a distance,e but ended up with smudges where I didn't want them. But that's entirely my fault. I do wish it had a cap or some sort of method for choosing whether it makes a mark or not, but aside from that, it performs admirably.\",\n \"Product: Warm up your exteriors, damage-free, with Command Outdoor Light Clips by 3M. Outdoor Command Clips let you hang Christmas lights, rope lights, decorations and more where you want without tools or nails. Command Outdoor adhesive holds strongly through rain, snow, and extreme temperatures on smooth, finished surfaces, and these string light clips remove cleanly with no sticky residue or damage left behind. Make everyday, spring patio, and Christmas decorating fun and easy with Command Outdoor Light Clips.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It sticks to metal, through rain and wind.\\n\\nReview: My (almost) uninterrupted history of great experiences with 3M products continues with this set of light clips. I live on the 17th floor of a high-rise, and have always wanted lights on our little balcony. I tried winding a christmas light set around the banister but it sagged in only a few days and looked rather messy. When i got this set, I rummage through our Christmas box and pulled out a set of white LED lights, perfect for every day use. I placed the clips on the window frames and banisters, then strung the lights through them. It works very well on one surface - smooth aluminum - but didn't stick well to the concrete columns. But for my needs, aluminum is fine, since it's everywhere around the balcony. The lights are fairly heavy, having a thick vinyl cord, but have stayed up for the past 3 weeks through a few rain storms. Since it's spring, I can;t tell if the adhesive would survive a freeze and thaw cycle - I'll update should anything change. I can recommend these for their intended purpose, (though I'm not sure what's going on with the price right now; $37 seems rather high) if you have smooth steel surfaces.\",\n \"Product: Welcome to damage-free Decorating. The days of blank walls or high-commitment decorations are gone forever. With Command Decor, you have complete freedom to dial in your space and create your own look, without leaving behind so much as a nail hole in your wall. Browse our variety of Command Decor wall fronts to find artwork that fits your style. Then simply position the base on the wall using a built-in level and one Command Decor Strip. Press firmly and add your decorative front. It's that easy!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice frame. Too bad you have to buy 2 pieces of bad art to get it.\\n\\nReview: I understand the idea of Command Strips, and it's great - mount stuff on your walls without drilling or making holes. I use them around the house, and they've been reliable. This item, which uses the Command strips along with a lightweight plastic frame, isn't as understandable. I got 3 units - 2 with pre-printed art panels glued onto a cheap plastic surface, and one frame. The frame is good. I can put my own photos or art in it and hanging it is a breeze. The built-in level is a nice touch, though not really necessary. It's the pre-printed panels I don't really understand. If you don't like the particular design you get (and you don't get to choose) you can either try to awkwardly glue something on it, or you just chuck the whole thing. And the panel it's printed on is thin and flimsy. If they'd sell just the frames, I'd recommend it without reservations. But 2 art pieces of dubious merit and 1 frame make for a rare poor value from 3M.\",\n \"Product: This book has been tested, written, and edited by the test cooks, editors, food scientists, tasters, and cookware specialists at America’s Test Kitchen, a 2,500-square-foot kitchen located just outside Boston. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine, the public television cooking shows America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen, America’s Test Kitchen Radio, and the online America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very good for basic ideas.\\n\\nReview: I love to cook, have done it for many years and seldom follow recipes strictly - I usually improvise. But sometimes I need a jolt for my imagination, or a if i'm cooking with unfamiliar ingredients, I'll look for basic guidelines. This book excels at both those tasks. While it's not revolutionary, there is a wide array of ingredients and courses. This book is a fast read. It isn't quite as meticulous (or anal, depending on your point of view) as some other Cooks Illustrated books, but that's why it exists - to be quick. For me it works best as a general guide, as opposed to a detailed set of precise recipes. If you like to riff on a basic technique, it's awesome. On the other hand, if you're looking for exact, step-by-step instructions for making a stupendous meal, it comes up a little short. This book is aimed squarely at beginners, from the Geting Started section which lists the basic tools a cook needs, to the appendix which explains a bunch of basic kitchen techniques. Many of the recipes are geared towards cooks with limited experience or the busy homemaker and are perfectly serviceable, but not exactly thrilling. Besides the recipes, there are little helpful tips throughout the book, as well as special sections for pressure cooker recipes and kid-friendly meals. As long as you're aware of the book's purpose and understand its context, it can be quite useful to both the beginner and the more experienced cook.\",\n \"Product: America’s Test Kitchen is well-known for its top-rated television shows with more than 4 million weekly public television viewers, bestselling cookbooks, magazines, websites, and cooking school. The highly reputable and recognizable brands of America’s Test Kitchen, Cook’s Illustrated, and Cook’s Country are the work of over 60 passionate chefs based in Boston, Massachusetts, who put ingredients, cookware, equipment, and recipes through objective, rigorous testing to identify the very best. Discover, learn, and expand your cooking repertoire with Julia Collin Davison, Bridget Lancaster, Jack Bishop, Dan Souza, Lisa McManus, Tucker Shaw, Bryan Roof, and our fabulous team of test cooks!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A treasure for any serious cook, from beginner to expert.\\n\\nReview: This is a GIGANTIC book, with an amazing number of recipes, tips, technique guides and useful charts. It's not the latest fad, just good, solid information presented in a very easy-to-use format. America's Test Kitchen is not the most innovative culinary publisher, nor the trendiest (they still have a magazine -printed on paper!) but they are consistent. consistently reliable, consistently well-researched and for me, consistently useful. The way the book is divided make it easy to find recipes for whatever ingredients you happen to have on hand, that frequently how I end up using it. I suppose you could also start with the recipe then go shopping, but I usually start with whatever looks good/fresh at the store.\\nThe recipes are thorough, but you don't have to follow them to the letter. i find that they're most useful as a general guide, and I can usually improvise to suit my tastes. The pork chops with apple are a good example of that - used the ATK approach and added my own touches (see photo).\\nBolstering the recipes is a series of basic technique how-to sections. Some may find them rudimentary, but it's always good to have a reminder of the proper way to do things like carve a bird or reduce a sauce. Unlike the magazine, the book features many useful photos illustrating the various steps in detail - a big help.\\nI have not come close to getting everything I can out of this book - that would take years. and that's exactly what makes it a great value.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":43,"string":"43"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":78,"string":"78"}}},{"rowIdx":79,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1MCH5RXDOH87H"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"The 48-Count Gel Pens in an Acetate Box by ECR4Kids is ideal for adult coloring, scrapbooking, journaling, drawing, or anything else you are looking to create. Pens are organized in four rows of 12 in a durable clear acetate box to store and display on your arts and crafts table, office space, or classroom. The color assortment includes 48 unique colors in a variety of attractive ink types including -- basic, glitter, metallic, neon, neon glitter, silver glitter, and pastel. The gel pen tip sizes range from 0.7mm to 1.0mm and the check safe ink is fade and water resistant. All pens feature a durable pocket clip along with a latex free comfort grip for precision pen control. Intended for use by ages 15 and up. With a concentration on the Pre K-12 sector, ECR4Kids offers a wide range of products including classroom tables and chairs, preschool rest time solutions, hardwood storage cases, blocks and manipulative, mobile organizers and a variety of indoor and outdoor play structures.\". The summary of the review text is \"Pretty Colors, Some Problems, Best For Kids And Teens\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Not super impressed. The colors honestly are very pretty when you're careful and lay them down evenly which isn't as easy as it sounds. You have to be soft, slow and gentle to get large areas covered smoothly, cleanly and completely. They do go down nice if you take care but we found some of the pens were scratchy when coloring with them. Another problem we had, because the pens aren't marked and even though there's Basic, Pastel, Neon, Neon Glitter, Metallic and Colored Glitter. They all seem the same. The 'glitter' pens don't write/color in glitter the glitter as far as I can tell (the glittering being in the barrel of the pen far away from the ink was a big clue) glitter is just decorative part of the pen and not part of the ink. Trying multiple pens from different racks it was really hard to tell there was any real difference in the colors as far as metallic or neon and basic go. I had an easier time than my elderly mother coloring smoothly and with complete coverage but I still think a good set of colored pencils is far better to color with than ball-point pens. I think kids and teens would have more fun than adults with these."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Not super impressed. The colors honestly are very pretty when you're careful and lay them down evenly which isn't as easy as it sounds. You have to be soft, slow and gentle to get large areas covered smoothly, cleanly and completely. They do go down nice if you take care but we found some of the pens were scratchy when coloring with them. Another problem we had, because the pens aren't marked and even though there's Basic, Pastel, Neon, Neon Glitter, Metallic and Colored Glitter. They all seem the same. The 'glitter' pens don't write/color in glitter the glitter as far as I can tell (the glittering being in the barrel of the pen far away from the ink was a big clue) glitter is just decorative part of the pen and not part of the ink. Trying multiple pens from different racks it was really hard to tell there was any real difference in the colors as far as metallic or neon and basic go. I had an easier time than my elderly mother coloring smoothly and with complete coverage but I still think a good set of colored pencils is far better to color with than ball-point pens. I think kids and teens would have more fun than adults with these."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: It's the trimmer that's as tough as your beard. The Remington Virtually Indestructible Beard Trimmer Kit is loaded with premium features. Titanium-coated blades provide consistent cutting performance, with bonus detail and stubble blades for total control over your look. High-impact polycarbonate housing protects the powerful interior, which includes a dual power lithium battery with up to 120 minutes of cordless runtime. Each piece of the kit stores securely in the durable plastic storage case.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Decent Trimmer, Unimpressive Case\n\nReview: Okay, it's a complete kit, you get the trimmer handle which comes with the beard cutter mounted on it. A slim trimming head for shaping and getting into small spaces and there's also a 'stubble' head I assume is for that scruffy look. Along with the three cutters comes a somewhat wimpy cleaning brush, a small tube of mineral oil to lubricate the blades with and a length comb that adjusts longer and shorter via a dial you spin on the trimmer body. Everything comes packed in a huge plastic case that has a military finish and feel to it. According to the product description; 'Each piece of the kit stores securely in the durable plastic storage case.' but they really don't. There's non place to lock down or 'secure' any of the parts at all. The inside of the case holds a fitted cardboard box with two sides that you can put the different bits but, again, there's nothing secure about how the parts are stored and I have doubts that the cardboard is going to last long in a damp bathroom environment.\nThat being said the trimmers, once lubricated, do a great job of giving you a close trim. I hate to blade shave and have used trimmers for decades. Once I ensured the adjustable comb was solidly in place (my first attempt, not so well) the trimmer mows through long beard hair like crazy. Granted my goatee is a bit shorter than I intended I chalk it up to a learning experience. I got things in place and set right and it did a great getting my cheeks smooth and my goatee (albeit a bit shorter than expected) trimmed evenly. It was even quieter than most other trimmers I've used over the years. The case is a bit of a disappointment and the adjustable comb is thin and brittle feeling but it feels good in my hand and does it's job well.","Product: The Roomba 770 Vacuum Cleaning Robot provides a concentrated clean, all at the push of a button. The 3-Stage Cleaning System with Dirt Detect Series II identifies dirtier areas in your home and focuses cleaning, ensuring Roomba tackles even fine pet hair, dust and dirt. Just press 'Clean' or schedule Roomba to run up to 7x per week. Roomba works on all floor types, and at just 3.6 inch tall, is specifically designed to fit under most furniture, beds and kickboards.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A great little time saver {updated}\n\nReview: I really like the Roomba 770 robotic vacuum. When these first came out years ago I thought they were a gimmick and back then they probably were. Now though these things are pretty impressive.\nGetting started was a breeze. Pull a couple protective strips from the bottom of the vacuum, set the clock (easy!) then find a somewhat out of the way place for the charging dock, charge the Roomba up and finally press the Clean button. The Roomba will zip all over your open floors getting into practically every nook and cranny. If it gets full while it's working it will light an icon on it's top letting you know it needs to be emptied. After about an hour to an hour and a quarter the Roomba will decide it's battery needs a recharge. It will then head back to wherever you put the charging dock, back itself onto it, play a little tune to let you know it is done and start charging up for the next time.\nAt it's most basic it doesn't get any easier, one button and it's off. If you want a little more automated control you can program the Roomba 770 to start at any time of the day on any of the days of the week. Further control can be established by using either or both of the two included Virtual Walls. These devices (which take two C-cell batteries) can be used to keep the Roomba from entering rooms or areas you don't want it venturing into.\nI am amazed at what this little thing picks up. I am a vacuum's worst nightmare. I have very long (3 feet) hair and I shed. Before we set the Roomba off I ran our upright vacuum over the two rooms we were going to have the Roomba cleaning regularly a couple extra times. The bin on the upright was nearly empty the last time I ran it but the Roomba comes back nearly full each time it runs.\nCleaning the Roomba is a lot easier than cleaning a large upright vacuum. The dirt collection bin pops on and off easily The Roomba also comes with two tools to make cleaning and hair removal from the brushes quite easy.\nWhile the Roomba 770 is very handy I do want to mention a couple cons I've run across while using it...\nIf you watch the demonstration videos you'll see they show off the Roomba in a very minimalist environment. We have clutter. We have a table with X cross feet that's close to three walls. The Roomba can and occasionally does get stuck. It will let you know (it talks!) when it gets trapped or stuck. Though all you have to do is rescue it (and figure out how to keep it from getting stuck again!) and press the clean button to sent it off again.\nThe Roomba seems to be better on carpeted floors than on hard surface floors. On our hard floors it seems to scatter sand and such around while cleaning. It does get the majority of stuff but not all of it.\nIn the end the Roomba is great for people with busy lifestyles or for the disabled or handicapped person who just can't drag out a heavy regular vacuum all the time.\n\n{Update:}\nThe Roomba 770 includes a remote control; It's nice to be able to start the Roomba from across the room but if you're using the scheduled cleaning you won't need to do that. You can also use the remote to direct the Roomba around the room and command it to return to the charging dock. Two AA batteries for the remote are required but are not included.\nSteering the Roomba with the remote; Once you take control of the unit with the remote it only moves when you are pressing one the directional buttons (left, right, forward) when you release the button the Roomba will stop moving. I found this method of control a bit awkward and mildly uncomfortable to use.\nWarranty; For a device this expensive I would have thought it would have a better warranty than one year parts & labor with just six months coverage on the battery.","Product: The Oral-B Deep Sweep 5000 Smartseries rechargeable electric toothbrush with Bluetooth is the worlds first of its kind with Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth communication allows the brush to connect with your smartphone to give you real-time feedback on your brushing habits. The Deep Sweep brush head features three bristles zones to reach deep to remove plaque, and 3D cleaning action sweeps side to side and pulsates to break up and remove up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush. The pressure sensor lights up if you brush too hard to prevent harmful over-brushing and there are 5 modes and a timer to help you brush for a dentist-recommended 2 minutes. Best of all its brought to you by Oral-B the #1 brand used by dentists worldwide. Compatible with the following replacement toothbrush heads: CrossAction, 3D White, Sensitive Clean, Precision Clean, FlossAction, TriZone, Deep Sweep, ProWhite, Ortho, PowerTip, and Dual Clean.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not All That Great\n\nReview: I really didn't care for this electric toothbrush even on its lowest/gentlest setting it felt... violent against my teeth. Just a slight misjudgment of position and hard, vibrating, plastic was hammering at my teeth. I was also unable to get the toothbrush to pair with my Samsung Galaxy Tab2 tablet. I could still use the timer on the app but it's just as easy to look at a clock.\nEven when I was able to successfully use this toothbrush it just didn't get my teeth as clean feeling as I was and am able to with a manual toothbrush. I'll be going back to the old fashioned toothbrush. The handle is fairly heavy and bulky and somewhat awkward to use. This device just didn't impress me in any way.","Product: IRIS Small Desktop Drawer System, are small-size desktop drawer systems that are useful throughout the house or in a college dorm room. It's the perfect size for small office supplies, beauty products, guest bathroom toiletries, and household items in the kitchen to keep your family or college student organized.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy & Well Made Desktop Organizer\n\nReview: Thise comes fully assembled except for some four button feet that are easily pressed into place. The three drawers, even with quite a lot of weight in them slide open and closed easily. It's sturdy and feels well made. There are stops to keep the drawers from falling out. I can't call it attractive but it's suitable for a business or home office. It takes up quite a large portion of desktop real estate (make sure you check the dimensions and ensure you have enough room for this before you buy it) but i don't mind giving up the desktop space because this has allowed me to sort, store and clear the clutter that was taking over my desk. From packs of rechargeable batteries to cables of all sorts as well as a couple 5v chargers. I also found I have more micro SD card adapters than I ever thought I owned. But now all that clutter, including a giant 5-subject notebook stored on the open top tray. Very pleased with how well I was able to declutter my desk and there's still plenty of room left for more stuff. I don't have anything to compare this to but it certainly does it's job. Well worth having.","Product: If you built it they will succumbProduct InformationCreate the most wicked loathsome underworld imaginable. Dig out yourunderground kingdom. Populate your dungeon with a variety of beasts suchas the Skeletons Dark Elves Trolls and evil Warlocks. Prepare them forbattle with training rooms workshops and magical libraries. With the helpof the dreaded reaper conquer your enemies and expand your empire in your questto defeat the King and invade the land heroic good.Product Features Build the Dungeons of Your Darkest Dreams First construct a nightmarish floor plan. then direct your Imps to dig out the tunnels rooms and chambers for your new home. Slap them around if they are not working fast enough. Infest Your Dungeon with Vile Beasts Discover a portal so evil creatures can find their way into your domain. Mine gold to pay their wages build places for them to rest in and a hatchery where they can feed. Put Your Minions To Work For You Construct training rooms to improve the fighting skills of your dungeon dwellers a library where they can research and learn devious new magic spells and a workshop to create new traps to thwart encroaching do-gooders. Battle the Forces of Good Fulfill your strategic role as the evil overlord leading your wicked hoards in combat against those righteous heroes. Cast devastating spells to crush your enemies and support your minions. Or join the action at dungeon level by possessing your creatures and battling from a first person perspective using special spells and abilities. Entertain the Creatures of Your Dungeon Keep your minions happy by creating casinos where they can drink and gamble. Or build a pit arena where they can gain combat experience or sit back and enjoy the fights from a ringside seat. Torture Chambers are popular attractions for those who like it rough.Windows Requirements\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Windows 7 64-Bit Compatibility Problems\n\nReview: My current PC is a AMD dual-core 2.8 GHz, 6 GIGs of RAM, ATI Radeon HD 4200 graphics (onboard) running under Windows 7 64-Bit. All drivers are up-to-date. I run a clean machine, little more than mouse, audio and graphic drivers loaded with nothing extraneous starting up or running when attempting to play Dungeon Keeper 2.\n\nIt took a couple hours of changing settings and checking Google for solutions and hints to get to even see the game graphics. Once I was able to get the game started I found it was impossible to keep it playing. Randomly after as little as a few minutes or more than half an hour the game will simply quit to Windows. This happens when hitting the ESC key to access the game menues, when clicking on the Panel Bar or the game screen itself or also when doing nothing but watching things happen with no user input at all.\n\nI have had multiple email exchanges with the technical support people at Sold Out Software (the current distributors of the game) and while they were quite willing to work with me on this issue they have not found a solution and as of this writing have exhausted their knowledge and are giving up on finding a solution.\n\nFrom what I was able to see of the game in my limited playing time between crashes... I wasn't all that impressed. At 1024x768, the only resolution I was offered by the game, icons over creatures heads were unreadable unless you were fully zoomed in. Graphics appeared muddied. Going on (fond) memory, I'd say the original Dungeon Keeper's graphics were nearly as good as Keeper 2's graphics although the animations in the newer game were somewhat better. I wasn't all that impressed.\n\nIn conclusion; good luck getting this running. I know, from reading other reviews and web sites, that many people have gotten it to work but it seems just as many run into the same problems I've been having. I'm just glad I didn't spend a lot of money on this game, I can NOW* recommend it.\n\n* After searching Google over the past week or so and reading a hundred or more messages on a half dozen message boards I was able to find the right combination of settings and registry tweaks to get the game to run properly on my computer. Updating Stars accordingly. The following are my settings and may or may not work for you. Use at your own risk.\nCompatibility: Windows XP SP2 mode\nRun as an administrator\n\nOnly attempt to edit the registry if you know what you're doing!\nIn the Registry Key:\n\"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Bullfrog Productions Ltd\\Dungeon Keeper II\\Configuration\\Video\"\nSet:\nEngine ID to 4\nScreen Width to 800\nScreen Height to 600","Product: Hot Shots Golf Fore! is the fourth installment of the golf game that changed the way you play. It has provides breathtaking graphics and true-to-life golf physics, along with new golfers, caddies and courses. There's even a great new miniature golf and unique online gameplay mode. It's more of the fast-paced gameplay that fans of the franchise have grown to love! Unlock more prizes than ever - advanced golf equipment, new courses, characters and tons of wacky golf gadgets Miniature golf returns with a wacky new twist, and against thousands of Hot Shots Golf fans from across the nation\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Three and a half stars really...\n\nReview: This is pretty fun. The character graphics are amusing and the courses are pretty and well done. It's got some flaws that I feel will work out with a LOT of practice which is why I wish you could give half stars here on Amazon. It's not a four star game but it's also not a three star game.\n\nSome comments on game features:\nIgnore the \"Nice Shot\" graphic that pops up often. It means nothing and only applies to the strike ON the ball. You can drive 40 yards past the green and into the trees or sand and still be told you made a 'Nice shot'.\n\nThe voice acting of both the caddies and your opponents is ANNOYING, they repeat themselves incessantly and appear to only have a very few phrases each. Luckily you can X through such rather quickly.\n\nPay attention to the wind. It really has an effect on your ball. When the club info says you can drive X yards and it's X yards to the hole be aware that balls WILL roll and course slope will have a large effect. The physics are pretty good here. So good it can be quite a challenge starting off.\n\nPutting is a pain. You really need to pay attention to the way the green breaks. It's SO easy to hit too hard and rim-out of the cup or too soft and stop just inches away.\n\nThe AI is good but not, thankfully, perfect. It's going to take some practice to string together winning streaks or even your first win. I've got some disability problems with my hands and find easy mode with the 'everyone' clubs to be quite a challenge.\n\nThe mini-putt course (you have to unlock the 2nd one by scoring high in the 1st) has some annoying features. If you go out of bounds, into the water or over par your turn on that hole is OVER. I don't care how bad I'm doing I'd actually like to finish the hole myself without the game deciding I'm done for me.\n\nAll in all this is a fun game, with a few non-critical annoyances. Kids and adults (I'm 41) will find it enjoyable and a challenge. It's well worth the price and a good addition to anyone's game collection.","Product: Test Drive Unlimited is the only game that immerses you into the car enthusiast lifestyle, with total freedom to race however and wherever you want within a huge, online-persistent environment. Visit the most sophisticated car dealers to purchase new vehicles or simply take them for a spin. Customize each vehicle to make it one-of-a-kind. Test Drive Unlimited challenges players online to experience the most exotic and fastest vehicles on more than 1000 miles of diverse Hawaiian roads. Gamers earn master points for driving, airtime, drifts and winning races which leads to unlocking new races and challenges.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Wait for this to hit the bargain bin...\n\nReview: Sadly like oh so many other driving games this appears to have been developed by people who've never seen a real sports car let alone driven one. The cars all drive alike and sound alike. They drive like the tires are greased and the roads are ice. Steering is as typical pivot point (you steer with the middle of the car, not the wheels). The AI on the other hand has a car that not only sticks to the road but even when it's the same car you're driving it can SOAR past you at the last moment as if you were standing still. Like, again, most racing games the 'bootlegger reverse' is not a maneuver you can accomplish. Turning around then becomes a pain in the butt. It's been a long time since I had a driving game (back in the Sega Saturn days) I'd hoped they'd improved the genre. Herein it seems they haven't. The physics are a joke. Your car cannot sustain nor will it show any damage. Head on collisions at 150 MPH simply stop you immediately. Vehicles you hit bounce away from you as if made of rubber.\n[...]","Product: Designed and built for comfort, the UltraFit Sling Strap sits securely at the side and is easily accessed to capture a shot at a moment notice. The ergonomic body-conforming system and pivot ring keep weight distributed along the shoulder muscles keeping strain off the neck. The UltraFit Layered-Pad Technology and ergonomically placed pivot ring allow the strap to conform to the body for ultimate comfort. Secures camera close to body with the SpeedCinch system to free up your hands and prevent potential camera damage. Strap extends automatically as you glide your camera up from your side to a shooting position in one fluid motion. The sleek design and high-tech, neutral colored materials provide a versatile style that is perfect for any occasion. Ultra-lightweight materials make it easy to compact and store in your bag.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Horribly Uncomfortable & Poorly Designed\n\nReview: Horribly Uncomfortable.\n\nWhat's the one thing that makes a good neck strap comfortable for long term wearing? Padding. What's the one thing this strap is completely lacking? Padding!\n\nThe part of the strap that's supposed to go around your neck is a two inch wide very rough textured bit of nylon webbing. Seat belts are softer than this material. The first time I tried the Joby UltraFit Sling Strap I carried my Kodak Z990 around for about an hour and it was so uncomfortable. Who designs a neck strap with NO padding?\n\nThis strap attaches to your camera via the \" tripod screw mount on the bottom of the camera. It's odd that your camera hangs upside down and I don't like the single point of failure mounting. Also, because of the way it's designed it puts angular force on the mounting threads when hanging and even more when releasing or engaging the quick release latch. Since the threads in my Kodak are plastic I have even more dislike for this mounting system. Additionally, you have to dismount your strap any time you want to use a tripod or monopod.\n\nI found in the time I used this that the only time the (non) padded portion of the strap is on your neck is when the rig is retracted when you use the 'Speed Cinch' to bring the camera up for shooting, at least on my extra large frame, the whole strap rotates forward and puts the even more uncomfortable thinner strap around your neck and the 'padded' section down on your chest.\n\nTo sum it up... it's uncomfortable. It completely lacks any padding. It has an odd mounting system that puts lever like force on your tripod socket and you have to take the strap off to use a tripod or monopod. The only good point to this system is that it is rather well made. Unfortunately it's just well made junk. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone for any application.","Product: Enjoy nutritious meals for the whole family, ready in seconds with a juice extractor and 9-cup food processor workbowl. Stainless steel cutting assemblies with titanium coating provide greater durability and power through your prep work with 450 watts of power and high/low speed control. A three-inch wide mouth feed chute less you do more with less precutting, while dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup a snap. Youll enjoy fresh drinks, smoothies, salsas, salads, soups and even main dishes and desserts, all made with the delicious natural goodness of your favorite fruits and vegetables. A recipe book with over 50 exclusive recipes is included to get you started and a 2-year limited warranty provides added peace of mind.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Jack of Two Trades but Master of Neither.\n\nReview: The Juiceman Express Junior Juice Extractor and Food Processor is a Jack of two trades but a master of neither. At just 450 watts of power it has 250 watts less power than this same company's entry and mid level stand alone juicers and less than half the power of top of the line extractors.\n\nThe Juiceman Express Junior does an adequate job of extracting juice from most fruits. We've made and mixed apple, pear, watermelon and grape (both red and green) juices. Oranges didn't fare so well and the output was less than satisfactory.\n\nAs a food processor this is, again, adequate at the job but no great standout. It is good for making pesto, grinding toppings for frying and baking. We've also made slightly lumpy peanut butter (it just would not grind smooth) and less than stellar mayonnaise. The bowel has decent capacity for most small jobs.\n\nJuicing does however make an amazing amount of mess but cleanup wasn't too bad. All removable parts are dishwasher safe and clean up by hand fairly well. The only part I found hard to clean was the juicing basket. After running around a dozen apples through the juicer it took quite a while to get the extractor basket clean and required much poking and scrubbing with a stiff brush to accomplish.\n\nIn conclusion, as an occasional use appliance and for people with limited storage space this is an acceptable product. If you plan on heavy usage or large jobs you might want to look elsewhere.","Product: This cookware set is an exceptional value, including all of the pans needed to equip your kitchen with the most used cooking pieces. As the set contains only basic pieces, you'll really use each and every pan. It includes saucepans for whisking a homemade sauce or cooking your morning oatmeal, a big stockpot for soups, stews or boiling pasta, and skillets (probably the most used pan in any kitchen) that will help you turn out perfect crepes or a simple grilled cheese sandwich. The set also includes a saute pan, a wide, straight-sided pan that can perform many of the functions of a skillet but features deep sides for extra capacity, perfect for one dish meals. Start your dish in this pan by sauteing onions and browning meat, then add your liquid and other ingredients into the same pan to finish on the stovetop or in the oven.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice Cookware for Your Kitchen.\n\nReview: The KitchenAid Gourmet Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set is a decent but by no means top of the line cookware set that would be great for those just starting out or anyone who wants a dependable set of cookware.\n\nThe set is handsomely designed and rather attractive though I actually expected the walls of the cookware to be somewhat thicker. It's advertized as 'heavy gauge' but I've got an older store brand set from BB&B that is far heavier than these.\n\nThe Good:\nThe nonstick surface is as good as any I've cooked on. Even scrambled eggs slide right off with no sticking whatsoever.\n\nThe lids interchange well and there are two lids for the larger pans. No more picking and choosing which dish gets covered.\n\nThe entire set is oven safe to 400. I've baked in the saute pan at 350 with no problems.\n\nThe eight quart stock pot is tall rather than wide which I've found is far better for cooking pasta.\n\nThe silicone portion of the handles are comfortable to grip.\n\nThe high sides of the saute pan make it excellent for cooking large amounts of food that would normally slop over the sides of a similar diameter frying pan.\n\nThe Not-So-Good:\nThe eight quart stock pot is tall rather than wide which means it's fairly narrow making it somewhat smaller than the large element on my glass-top range. This puts the handles directly over the heating element while cooking. They get VERY hot during cooking where my old wide stock pot's plain steel handles did not.\n\nThe metal handles are stamped, the area on the backs around the hole for hanging the pans is quite rough and uncomfortable feeling. It should have been rounded over or sanded better.\n\nThe glass lids also have silicone inserts on their handles. Don't let this give you a false sense of security they get HOT. Just heating water and cooking pasta made the silicone itself untouchable. Pot holders are a must.\n\nThe rivet buttons inside the pans are plain metal, not coated with the non-stick material. Food can stick to and around these.\n\nThe Conclusion:\nI like this cookware set. It is versatile, reasonably heavy and durable. It is attractive and fairly well made. It cleans up easily. We absolutely love the saute pan's usefulness. All in all I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this collection to anyone looking for a good cookware set.","Product: MyCafe for Home single serve pod brewer allows you to brew and enjoy one cup at a time, and uses coffee and tea pods to produce an aroma rich, fresh brewed cup in less than a minute\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A very nice coffee pod brewing system.\n\nReview: The BUNN MC My Cafe Home Pod Brewer makes a very good cup of coffee and an acceptable cup of tea from pods.\nSetup of the unit couldn't be easier. You just plug it in and add water until it lets you know the tank is full. Then you just need wait a very few minutes for the unit to heat the reservoir to approx. 200 degrees. Then you just add what water you need for your particular cup and almost magically it gives you that much water back while keeping the reserve reservoir hot. Pop in a pod and it will deliver a piping hot cup of coffee in less time than it takes to heat the same amount of water in the microwave.\nYou can also leave out the pod if you just need hot water to steep your own tea bags something I recommend over using tea pods. Even using the unit's 'pulse' feature (which wets, waits, brews, repeatedly, for a stronger coffee or tea) the pod tea didn't have the same strength of flavor normally steeped tea has.\nWe've experimented with several brands of coffee pods including the generous sample box that arrived with our brewer. Even with the Kona and other gourmet styles available our favorite so far has oddly been the Senseo Dark Roast pods. They turn out a consistent, rich cup of coffee from the My Cafe Home Pod Brewer at a reasonable price.\nIf I had one complaint about the brewer is that it is designed to always be on. There is even no on/off switch. After a few hours idle it goes into power saving mode dropping the reservoir to 140 degrees and after slightly more than a day it will go into something called a 'sleep mode' which I believe turns the heating unit off but the manual does not state as such only that it takes approx. 3 minutes to come to operating temperature when you wake it up. Since we only drink a couple of cups of coffee in the morning leaving the unit on 24/7 seemed to be a bit of a waste of electricity. Though I must say the tank seems fairly well insulated, even full of 200 degree water the outer case never feels too hot to handle. We've somewhat solved that problem by plugging it in just before bed and then unplugging it once we've brewed our coffee.\nI would highly recommend this pod coffee brewer to anyone interested in one. It's a fine unit and does its job quite well.","Product: Canvas print design of forest - framed and ready to hang. Introduction: our framed canvas print art work is first printed at high resolution on quality thick 100% cotton canvas. The canvas is then stretched professionally over sturdy wooden stretcher frames. The image wraps around the sides resulting in a top quality interior decor art work. Benefits: this design comes already framed and ready to hang. Each panel has a wide hook already attached for easy hanging. This design will be a lasting and well valued gift for home or office dcor. Click on the above yellow \"add to cart\" icon for easy check out and fast delivery. Buy this exceptional interior dcor artwork for great visual impact and talking point.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful but hard to hang...\n\nReview: I received this item in exchange for a review:\n\nThe print is beautiful. I spent more than half my 48 years living in New England and this brings back the feeling of fall better than just about anything I've ever seen. I want so much to step into this print and see what's down the path.\n\nThe canvas feels quite sturdy and the frames are well constructed. It came well packed and undamaged. Mounting hardware was already attached to the frames. No nails or wall hangers are included.\n\nI probably should have found a handyman to hang this for me. I'm disabled and it was a bit of a nightmare. Five panels, five nails and probably a dozen holes in the walls trying to get things even and level. It's still not perfect but I'm happy enough with how it is right now.\n\nDocked one star for not including some kind of hanging template to help get it up straight and even on the wall.","Product: Our Signature Pillow offers a consistent gentle softness and support for better travel comfort. Filled with feather-soft microfibers, this patented hypoallergenic pillow is completely machine washable. Perfect for travel, lounging at home, or therapeutic neck support. Environmentally friendly fill and packaging. World's Best Your First-Class Comfort Experience.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: World's Best Cushion? Just Might Be.\n\nReview: Incredibly soft fill, opening the cover is something I wouldn't recommend, the fill is loose fibers (kinda funky looking, brown and hairy). The cover is plush and silky. It feels wonderful against the skin. The combination of the two really is amazing. The Cobalt Chevron pillow does have the snap. We liked this so much that the same day it arrived we ordered another one. I was a little annoyed and the way the price varied wildly they're all under the same listing, although some have a snap and others don't, I didn't understand why one pillow was nearly four times the price of another. Another mild annoyance was the listing that read; 'Environmentally friendly fill and packaging.' while the fill may be recycled material the packaging is just a plastic bag. Still, I got a good night's sleep last night after weeks of restless nights so who cares, the pillow is fantastic and that's what really counts.","Product: This 11-Inch knife with blade cover features high carbon stainless steel blades. Perfectly weighted and balanced. Design prevents foods from sticking or tearing while cutting. Hand wash recommended. Lifetime limited warranty.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Pretty But Not That Useful\n\nReview: Heavy knife. Looks light and cheap but the blade has some serious heft to it. The white background, green handle and sheath along with multicolored wording (Celebrate!) and balloons make it fairly attractive. But looks are secondary to performance. This will cut cake. Then again so will dental floss (unflavored is best), and my near razor sharp pocket knife that's not serrated. It's cutting other, more difficult things that separates the wheat from the chaff so to speak. The blade cuts cardboard fairly well.i tried it on two different types of rolls; a heavy white bread hoagie roll and a pack of King's Hawaiian sweet rolls. Even though the product is described as designed to prevents food from sticking or tearing while cutting I found it dragging less than halfway through both types of rolls and the heavier hoagie rolls were somewhat crushed while the lighter and softer Hawaiian rolls cut cleanly though there was definite drag cutting both rolls.\nThe knife comes with a well fitting cover/sheath that has holes which amusingly line up with the balloons on the blade. There's also an opening that runs most of the length of the cover. My guess is for easy drainage.\nThis knife is BIG I'm having a hard time finding a place to keep it. There is a hold at the tip of cover I may have to hang it on the wall or inside a cabinet.\nTo be honest I bought a somewhat shorter and sharper serrated knife at the Dollar Store it fits in a drawer and cuts better. This knife? Cute for birthdays and other celebrations but really not much else. A lot of space for something that won't get used much.","Product: O2COOL's 5-inch portable USB fan is perfect for indoor and outdoor activities, use in a hot office and especially during a power outage. O2COOL's fans include a range of sizes, multiple power source options, patented fan blades for efficient operation and compact designs that allow you to take the cool anywhere you want to go.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Attractive But Cheaply Made\n\nReview: Cheaply made feels like it will easily break. I do like the grey and blue color. Cable is proprietary, would using a micro-USB plug to charge instead of an old style round plug-jack add that much to the cost? With a universal cable for power I could use my 10' cable and put the fan nearly anywhere without worrying about wasting batteries. I'd only use batteries during a power outage. I can still use one of my large battery packs but I honestly find it ridiculous not to use a standardized cable.\nThe fan had two speeds, I guess we didn't need the option of three. On low it moves a fair amount of air and is nearly silent. On high, with no batteries inside, it tends to creep across the desk. Use care or it will end up on the floor. It's somewhat noisier on high but surprisingly more quiet than similar portable desk fans. It moves quite a bit of air on high.\nPros: USB powerable. Quiet. Can be run off battery packs. Moves air well.\nCons: Cheap, thin plastic, proprietary cord. 'Walks' across desk on high.\nI honestly don't have much faith in the hinge for adjusting air direction. The high/low/off switch. Or the very thin power cable lasting a year but we're heading into hurricane season so an extra battery powered fan isn't a bad thing to have around. I'll update the review should durability become an issue.","Product: Farberware is the #1 selling cutlery brand in the U.S. (Source: The NPD Group, Inc./Retail Tracking Service. 52 weeks ending March 2016). Farberware EdgeKeeper Knives feature a sheath with innovated technology that is designed to automatically sharpen the blade with each use. The blade is made from high-carbon steel that lends strength, sharpness, and durability. This Santoku knife combines the best features of a chef's knife and a cleaver, with a wide, heavy blade that is ideal for chopping, slicing, and dicing. Not dishwasher safe. Hand wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately..\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Rather Nice Knife\n\nReview: Knife feels nice and well balanced in the hand. The grip feels secure even when damp. The blade came decently sharp, it sliced through a loosely held sheet of paper with ease. The sheath is nice for keeping you and your knife safe and your blade from banging around and getting dulled. I'm not quite sure that without careful insertion only the back side of the blade will meet the sharpener with enough force to sharpen the blade but if you're careful you can sharpen most if not all of the blade. The Santoku combination between chef's knife and cleaver is something different for us but it's quite easy to become comfortable using. Only time will tell how well this knife lasts but I'm quite pleased with it. The only thing I didn't like was the clamshell packaging. I absolutely hate having to remove this type of packaging.","Product: Streaky bathroom mirrors will be a thing of the past thanks to the mirror squeegee. This handy tool is compact to store on counter tops or in medicine cabinets, and has wiper-blade technology that ensures a streak-free shine every time. The durable blade is bi-directional for swiping at any angle, and provides a smooth, resistance-free swipe.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Mixed Results, Moderately Impressive\n\nReview: Unless your mirrors are spotless and you're really just wiping off steam. . . and even if it's just steam for that matter you're going to need a few paper towels or an old terrycloth towel around to clean up the drips and wipe of the blade and mirror as you go.\nWhat I've found, because my car lacks a rear wiper and has a spoiler the combined shapes coat the rear window with dust and water drops faster than you can believe. Also requiring an old towel I've found keeping this inside the garage to wipe off the back, side and side-view mirrors quickly after being out in the rain or with a spray or three of glass cleaner if it'd been dusty a far handier tool than in the bathroom.\nI think this works far better on the car than the bathroom mirrors where it did a fair, if somewhat messy job.","Product: 7\" flameless LED candle is made of real wax with a very natural look. Includes remote control which gives you the option to control the flicker or timer. Natural wax LED candle will not ever blow out, generate smoke, or cause dripping wax. Absolutely beauty and safe to have near pets and children. Perfect table decoration for weddings and events.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Candle With the Right Batteries {Update 3-31-2017}\n\nReview: I can only give this an 'It's Okay' rating. The scent of vanilla is overpowering. I can smell it at the other end of the house. We had a previous candle that was in our living room. The power switch fell inside the candle and it didn't have a remote. It was much brighter than this candle and had was 'drips' down the outside which this also lacks. The wire that holds the flame is slightly bent so the candle has to be placed at the perfect angle otherwise it flickers almost insanely.\nI like having the remote but the brightness controls don't go high enough. You can have the candle light on or flickering. Flickering is annoying so we let the wick flicker and leave the candle light on. We haven't tested the timer capability yet but the on/off buttons work at that's all we need. We can align the candle so it flickers slowly (properly installing the wire would have saved us this trouble) and the power switch won't get pushed inside like the problem with the previous candle. I can live without the drips and dribbles. Most candles today are dripless anyhow how so this more mirrors a more normal candle. I just wish it were brighter. Maybe regular AA batteries instead of the rechargeable would provide a little more voltage and light. Only time will tell. It's an okay candle but nothing to rave about. For now and for the price it's a suitable replacement.\n\n3-31-2017: I replace what were fully charged Eneloop AA batteries which I've relied on for years with a pair of regular Amazon Basics alkaline batteries and the difference was amazing. The candle is literally twice as bright as it was on the rechargeable batteries. I gave it one more star because we can't give half stars. The wire the flame hangs from is still bent out of shape and causes the flame to thrash instead of flicker. Still, it's much better now with the different batteries.","Product: The Belkin 8-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector protects your electronic devices from surges and spikes. This 3550-Joule surge protector provides eight surge-protected outlets with sliding safety covers to supply complete, 3-line AC protection for your workstations, printers, broadband modems, home theater systems, and everyday household electronics. The surge protector features a slender, sleek design with a right angle plug and a detachable cord-management clip to help keep cables organized.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Suits My Needs, Some Quality Issues\n\nReview: I needed a surge protector that would fit in a specific space, would sit flat on the floor (some narrow ones tend to roll or twist) and would accommodate several large power packs. This fit my needs perfectly. I have my laptop, phone charger, tablet and a desk lamp plugged in without any crowding. The reason for three stars instead of four or five is one of the sliders that close off the plug area just fell off a week after it was delivered and I couldn't for the life of me get it back on. I swapped a plug around so it wasn't any big deal but I was a bit disappointed that it would begin falling apart so soon after purchase.","Product: The La Crosse Technology BC700 Alpha Power Battery Charger has four modes and charges all NiCd and NiMH AA and AAA rechargeable batteries. The four modes include charge, discharge (discharges the batteries and then recharges them), recharge (discharges and recharges up to 20 times to bring old batteries back to life) and test (displays the battery capacity). BC-700 Battery Charger \" Features: All modes automatically default to 200 mA charge on the BC-700 Battery charger Charge both AA and AAA rechargeable batteries simultaneously and will charge all Low-Discharge batteries. Sanyo Eneloop, Uniross Hybrio, Nexcell EnergyOn, Accupower Acculoop and other future low discharge batteries. Hhas Four independent channels - Charges 1, 2, 3 , or 4 rechargeable batteries at a time. Overheat detection to protect over-charging and LCD shows capacity for each battery when charging is complete Charge Mode - allows a range of user selectable milliamp settings from 200 to 700 for faster charging times. Within 4 seconds after rechargeable batteries are inserted charging automatically begins at 200mA, or you may select 500, or 700mA charge rates for faster charging times. Discharge Mode - reduces memory effect by discharging rechargeable battery completely before recharging to full capacity. User selectable. Refresh Mode - discharges and recharges up to 20 cycles or until rechargeable battery is refreshed to full capacity. User Selectable. Test Mode- First charges the rechargeable battery to full capacity, then discharges completely to measure rechargeable battery capacity for display in mAh or Ah, and then recharges each rechargeable battery to full battery capacity. UL approved, BC 700 charger also has safeguards that sense rechargeable battery polarity, rechargeable battery temperature and defective rechargeable batteries. World Voltage capable - Operates on 100~240V AC Input.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Does The Job, Does It Well\n\nReview: I purchased this battery charger when I became disappointed with the give-away charger that came with a Recent Kodak camera purchase.\nSo far it has done it's job and not given me any problems. I've charged both AA and AAA batteries with it. The charger even helped me diagnose a problem with my cordless phone (one bad battery) saving me some money.\nWhile you can use each charging slot individually to do different functions (Charge, Test, Refresh, Discharge) I have yet to do more than one function at a time.\nIt really is pretty easy to use. Put your batteries in. Choose your voltage to charge at, choose your function and walk away.\nThe one pet peeve I have with this charger is the lack of backlighting on the LCD display but I have a small flashlight on my desk anyhow so it's not too much of a pain.","Product: 55mm Camera Lens Cap, Black\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: You Get What You Pay For...\n\nReview: ...and I paid .04 for this lens cap (+ $2.98 shipping!) I guess if your lens or camera didn't come with a cap or you lost yours this wouldn't be horrible. The lanyard is NOT attached as the photos imply it's just a 21\" long piece of cheap nylon string. The cap has a single (why?!) hole to thread the line through to attach the lanyard line. The distance between the back of the hole and the inner wall of the cap is literally 2mm. I tried for over half an hour and could not for the life of me thread the lanyard onto the cap. If I safety line the cap to the camera I really have no use for the product. I had been told this held a little better than the stock lens cap that came with the Panasonic Lumix FZ70 that I just purchased but I didn't see that it had any more holding power on the 55mm Sigma UV filter I have mounted on my camera than the factory lens (which came with an easily attached lanyard). The stock cap is somewhat lower in profile than this.\n\nSince the shipping was a several hundred times the cost of the item there's no sense or reason to return this. I guess I'll throw it in my 'spare and old gear' bag and if I somehow lose the Lumix cap that came with and is safely attached by a lanyard to my camera I'll have a spare.\n\nColor me completely unimpressed.","Product: LCD Timer Remote Control for Canon EOS 60D 1000D 700D 650D 600D 550D 500D 450D 400D 350D 300D Rebel Cameras Power Shot G1 X G12 G11 G10\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works Well With the Fujifilm X-E2\n\nReview: I've used this several times now with my Fujifilm X-E2 and it works great. Simple and easy to understand and set. The only problem I had was the case is a little narrow for my thick hands and setting the controller required a bit of juggling. The addition of a light was a nice feature and even helped getting things connected in pre-dawn light.\nThe case is a little flimsy, possibly easy to break but with care it should last. I found an old mesh pouch, I think I got a pair of promotional ping-pong balls in it, which holds the controller and cable when not in use and is perfect to hang the rig on my tripod when it's being used as an intervalometer which is my main use for this remote.","Product: The all new FUJINON XF55-200mm lens gives users a fast F3.5-4.8 lens that produces sharp images across its entire zoom range, from edge-to-edge. Its image stabilization function enables the use of shutter speeds up to 4.5 stops slower, preventing camera shake even when shooting hand-held in low-light situations, or when shooting at a stopped down aperture. The XF55-200mm lens includes two linear motors for high-speed AF of 0.28 seconds 2 to quickly focus on your subject. Together with its high quality metal design, the XF55-200mm lens delivers an easy-to-transport lens with a large maximum aperture for outstanding mobility and performance. The FUJINON XF55-200mm (83-300mm*1) F3.5-F4.8 R LM OIS lens features:, An advanced optical design to cover the mid-telephoto (83mm) to telephoto (300mm), Image stabilization for shutter speeds up to 4.5 stops slower, Two linear motors for high-speed AF and quiet operation, Two ED lens elements and one Super ED lens element for increased performance and effective control against chromatic aberrations, FUJINON's proprietary HT-EBC coating on the entire lens surface to effectively prevent reflections, and control flare and ghosting, Minimum focal distance of 1.1m across the entire zoom range to enable telephoto close-ups , A 1/3EV step aperture ring for users to easily adjust the aperture while holding the camera up to their eye, High quality, metal construction focus ring and aperture ring. Note: This lens has a switch on the side of lens to activate image stabilization.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Really Nice Zoom Lens\n\nReview: My family got together and picked this up for me during Fuji's sale/promotion in March. This is going to cover Christmas and birthdays for the next few years :)\n\nBuild quality is top notch. The zoom, focus and aperture rings are all nicely sized and very... grippy. The zoom itself is almost, but not quite, too stiff. I noticed no creep whatsoever. Autofocus is, expectedly, a bit slower than the kit lens but still decent. Image stabilization is impressive enough for hand-held shooting in low light at full zoom. Image quality is impressive. The included hood is huge, seriously huge. It's actually a little hard to get the lens cap on with the hood on. Speaking of the lens hood; my one gripe with this rig is when fully 'on' the lens the hood tends to rattle a little bit. I've found that backing off the connection a 1/4 inch or so keeps the hood from rattling and still keeps it firmly in place.\n\nIt does make my X-E2 a little front heavy but it's not that horrible. I'm contemplating buying one of the extension grips from Fuji for the camera. A nicely padded neck strap is a definite plus when carrying a camera with this lens mounted on it. One thing I've had to pay attention to is when switching back to my 18-55mm lens I need to be careful of how hard I twist the barrel to zoom in and out this lens is MUCH stiffer to use than the kit 18-55mm that came with my X-E2. I worry I may break the smaller lens after using this lens for an extended period.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: So Far So Good\n\nReview: I've only had the cable for a couple of days but I've run several print jobs with no problems. The Amazon Basics cable is supposed to have gold plated ends I'll take their word on if. The cable itself is nice and sturdy much thicker than many othed USB cables I've received over the years. The connectors fit quite snugly. I even had to really work to get the printer end in. The standard USB end had a good but no where near as tight a fit but it stays in place.\nThe ten foot length is great! Previously I only had a 5-6' cable which gave me little choice where things would go but now I can run the cable out of the way and put my laptop in a comfortable position on the desk. Now I just have to see how the cable holds up over time. I'll update this review should I have to but for right now I'm quite pleased with the product and price.","Product: Pump up the volume wherever you are with the stylish Baytek PartyMix Portable Bluetooth NFC speaker. This lightweight speaker is easy to carry and, with brilliant NFC technology, easy to sync, with a built-in rechargeable battery and Mic compatible with iPhones, Androids and other Bluetooth devices. Plus, it comes in a variety of vibrant colors like blue, red and silver.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Top Notch Speaker\n\nReview: Please note I received this speaker in exchange for a review...\n\nI was blown away by this small speaker system. It's a couple inches in diameter and abouta foot long. I chose the blue model and it matches the displayed color well and the blue is rather nice.\n\nPairing with my Samsung Galaxy tablet was completely painless. The speaker has built in voice acknowledgments letting you kmow it's read to pair and has paired.\n\nSound quality is remarkable, seriously remarkable. From low volume to ear hammering loudness this speaker sounds great. It even manages to push out a respectable amount of bass which is mind boggling in such a small, portable, speaker.\n\nThe only faults I found were the three graduating size buttons on the top were a little hard to press and hold for the various functions and the instruction sheet was a litle lacking (does the red light go out when the device is fully charged? Yes, it does.) But you don't really need much in the wany of instructions. Enable blue tooth, scan for devices, pair and adjust the volume (you can use both the volume controls on the speaker and from your device.\n\nFM radio reception, yes, this hasna built in FM tuner was okay. There aren't a lot of stations local to me so I wasn't able to fully test the radio function. I also didn't have a spare micro SD card, yes this speaker also has a micro SD card slot, to test that functionality.\n\nI really cannot express how impressive this speaker sounds. It's just amazing.","Product: How many times have you stumbled blindly in the dark while out camping? Didn't you wish there was enough light so you could relieve your bladder without getting bruised? What about being constantly yelled at by your co-passenger to turn off the lights, when you want to read for a bit longer? While lanterns and emergency lights work to a certain extent, they could soon run out of power, if they are used frequently. Moreover, emergency lights should be reserved for times of dire need, and not while you take care of personal needs, while it can be difficult lugging around a lantern or bulky lighting device at this time. On the other hand, travelers can't even think about these lighting alternatives the practical solution is this very handy and useful USB stick light, which can illuminate spaces such as interior of camping tents and even the keyboard on your laptop. It uses superior quality leds for the lighting, so you get a long-lasting solution. Key features: 10 powerful 1-watt leds are used for illumination, which emit clear and lucid light. Leds utilize less power, which makes this gadget more energy-efficient, thereby prolonging its shelf life. It has a variety of applications for activities like camping, hiking outdoor sports, shedding more light on keyboards and keypads, functioning as a reading light in the dark, and much more. For your convenience, this device is designed to be compatible with multiple USB ports. The bendable neck makes it very easy to adjust its position just the way you want - you can even dim the light by touching it the compact structure enhances portability, so you can take it along whenever you travel for business or leisure. It also gives you privacy when you need it's Lastly.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Incredibly Tall & Useful USB Light\n\nReview: I love this light, absolutely love it. I purchased a laptop without backlit keys thinking I wouldn't be using it all that often but a disability has led me to require the touch-pad on the laptop as using a mouse on my desktop had become a near impossibility. I had come across another flexible USB lighting system that was less than half the height of this light and also lacked the on/off function as well as the dimmer capability which I find extremely useful.\nWhen plugged into my rear most USB port this light reaches just above the top of the screen on my 15.6\" laptop and with the light dimmed somewhat it doesn't glare even where it's just an inch or so from the screen itself but sheds enough light that I can see the entire keyboard easily.\nThe neck is strong enough to hold its position while standing there as well as once it's unplugged and put on the table when the laptop is not in use. It does wiggle a bit at the USB port but I think all USB ports seem to have a little wiggle room built into them.\nControl couldn't be easier though controls would have, to me, been more convenient. You quickly press/tap the end of the USB light bar very, very lightly to turn or off the light. Dimming the light requires holding the end as the light dims or releasing it and holding it again as the light brightens. Personally I think separate switches would be more convenient but the single switch works well enough.\nI love this light. It's absolutely perfect for my needs and puts so much more light on the keyboard than the smaller light I previously used (shown in one of the photos I'll attach) plus the fact that I can turn it on and off as well as dim or brighten the light just adds to the usefulness of the light. This also works great with a USB power pack.\nI received this light in exchange for my review.","Product: The PNY Elite performance 128GB Class 10, UHS-I, U1 micro SD, Flash card is perfect for the latest smartphones, tablets, action cameras, and drones. It features 128GB of storage, giving you more storage space on your mobile device so you can easily enjoy more mobile content such as apps, eBooks, web video, music and movies. U1 technology is perfect for full HD video recording and HD photography, allowing you to capture high quality HD video and photos with your action camera, drone, or other mobile device. The Elite micro SD card is rated Class 10, U1, which guarantees fast transfer speeds so you can quickly transfer and share your content while you're on the go.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Quite a Nice Micro-SDHC Card\n\nReview: I was quite pleased with the performance of this card. Using the included adapter copying large multi-meg files of course went much quicker than copying thousands of small files on my computer. But the job got done and it didn't feel slow but I can easily blame the built in USB card reader on my laptop. I also tried this card with my Fujifilm X-E2. It easily shot at 7FPS and emptied the 18 photo buffer amazingly fast. At 3FPS the camera would shoot until the card was full. Just for testing I held the camera and ran off over 250 images without a pause, slow-down or hitch. I also shot video at 60FPS in full 1920x1080 HD and it was flawlessly beautiful even shooting in the low light as sunset approached. I'll let other tech-centric users post data rate test result images. I go by what feels good and this card? It really feels good and works fine with my camera and computer. I couldn't be happier.","Product: The CA101 rugged hard case is perfect for protecting your GPS unit when it isn't mounted in your car. It can also be used to protect a digital camera or camcorder! It features a padded inner pocket. It has a built-in belt loop and a removable shoulder strap. 6.25\" x 4.25\" x 2.5\" inner dimensions. Weight 6.4 oz.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Not Worth the Cost of Returning\n\nReview: This is advertized as a 'hard case.' It is NOT a hard case it is simply formed vinyl with minimal rigidity. You can easily compress the sides with one finger.\n\nThe description also claims this has a 'padded inner pocket.' The elasticized strip that divides the case in two is no thicker than a heavy-weight T-Shirt. It offers your GPS no real protection at all.\n\nThe walls, sides, faces of the case have no padding whatsoever. I was forced to improvise padding with a divider taken from one of my camera gear bags.\n\nThe case does not seal. The zippers come 's of the way up the side and then there's an extra piece of vinyl stitched to both sides of the case. Forming something like a collar. The flap that velcro's over the top does not hold the collar section tightly closed. You can easily slip a finger into the case with it 'closed'. This means dirt and moisture, etc. have an easy path to your GPS. Additionally, I've had this for less than four hours and the velcro patch the flap attaches to is already pulling free of the case!\n\nMy <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/5-Garmin-n-uuml-vi-50LM/dp/B005HSDL8S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">5\" Garmin nüvi 50LM</a> barely fits in the Zeikos IR-CA101 Large Hard Case side to side but there is a lot, too much really, front to back room. Along with the improvised padding I was forced to add to the inner side of the case where to protect my GPS I've also wrapped my 12v car power cable in a piece of towel to keep it from thumping around. I would NOT recommend putting a window or other mounting device in this case with a GPS unit.\n\nIf it wouldn't cost me half of what I paid for it to ship it back I'd return it in a heartbeat. As far as I'm concerned this product is NOT as described. It's not a hard case. It's not padded. It offers almost no protection AND it's already falling apart just hours after arriving.\n\nDo yourself a huge favor and don't buy this, it's overpriced junk.","Product: There comes a time when you need both hands free and still be able to capture that thing that you do. With the Fix Tilt & Shoots powerful, interchangeable magnetic and suction foot options, you can mount your camera or smart device on virtually any surface. The U-Shot extends over 19\" for a unique perspective, and with the Tiltee 1/4\" universal aluminum ball head , any angle can be framed perfectly. All mounts are quickly interchangeable with the U-Shot for maximum versatility and efficiency whenever the moment strikes. Keep your hands free to create your story.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Can't Trust This. . .\n\nReview: When I saw this I thought it would be a great addition to my camera gear. The description says it's good for DSLRs and up to six pounds. After opening and inspecting this monopod system I reluctantly tried my ultra-compact Sony WX9 camera on this mounting system. My conclusion is I can't and won't trust this rig with my WX9 let alone my much heavier mirrorless Fuji gear.\n\nThe padded extendable main monopod shaft consists of three sections that are secured with a twist. It's easy to not torque the sections hard enough for them to unexpectedly collapse while you're trying to take a picture.\n\nThe ball-head mounts, this system comes with two, are fairly smooth metal on metal construction. Alarmingly these have no secure locking system. You simply use your thumb to engage a friction locking system. All it takes is a tap to cause the ball-head to be completely free moving. I would never trust a camera I liked on these mounts.\n\nThere are two feet that come with this set. A rubber edged magnetic mount and a suction cup -\nThe magnet is too small for a secure mount. With the monopod vertical and not extended it was reasonably stable. Horizontally it felt unsafe set up in any configuration. Extending the monopod drastically increases the ease with which this tips over. The magnet is just not wide enough to be stable.\nThe suction cup mount was surprisingly strong but like every other securing point in this rig the slide to release the mount does not lock in place. It's just too easy to hit the release while trying to set things up. I had thought I could mount this low on the car to get some interesting video but after trying this out I'd be worried road vibration would cause this to release and drop the camera.\n\nIn conclusion: While the materials are of decent quality this system lacks security. I won't risk my cameras on it.","Product: An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Durable Light Workout Band\n\nReview: This is a review of the red, 10-35lbs resistance 1/2\" exercise band:\nI know it's a silly issue but the photos show two bands to hold this together when not in use but mine came with just one which is a complete pain in the rear. One band means this has to be rolled into one flat roll (that's how it came) and getting it BACK like that is next to impossible. It pops apart, slips open. It was enough to make me want to toss it right then and there as I had no extra elastic bands.\nThe band feels durable enough even doubled over. It doesn't feel like it's going to snap easily. My main complaint is rolling it up with the single elastic band to hold things in place. Other than that it's good for numerous exercises and light enough that it won't strain beginners or disabled people trying to regain strength in their legs or arms.","Product: Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. Crusader Dante returns home to discover that his beloved Beatrice has been murdered, and her soul dragged into Hell. Refusing to give her up, he steals Death s scythe and chases after her... into the Inferno. Loosely based on the first part of The Divine Comedy, the animation segments in Dante s Inferno represent a Who s Who of major animation talent in Japan, Korea and the United States.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Dante's Inferno DVD Review\n\nReview: First and foremost, this DVD in no way resembles the epic poem written by Dante Alighieri. They've borrowed a few names and descriptions of the Circles of Hell and that's it.\n\nThe story is told by several different animators in varying degrees of skill, the Fraud (second to last) segment being notably and particularly bad. Dante, no poet here but a super ninja Crusader Knight easily slaughters his way with little to no effort through the various Circles of Hell and it's demons wielding the typical oversized unbelievable anime weapon, a giant scythe this time in an attempt to rescue his beloved Beatrice who is being held captive and about to be wed to Satan. Interspersed in the visions of Hell we're treated (though it's really no treat) to flashbacks of the acts of depravity and slaughter that Dante did during the Crusades. Instead of seeing him as a hero he's really rather despicable. The dialog is overblown and pretentious trying very hard to be serious and deep which just doesn't mesh right with the rather silly nature of the movie.\n\nHad they not used Dante Alighieri and his Inferno and simply made this a trip into hell alluding to the epic poem I'd have given it three stars but for the blatant misuse of Dante's name and work I have to give it two.","Product: FRAM Extra Guard Air Filters are engineered with an advanced filter media that has been through rigorous testing and have been proven to provide 2X the engine protection* than the average leading standard retail brand air filter. 12,000 miles change intervals helps prevent decreased acceleration and horsepower while helping improve overall performance. FRAM engineering laboratories defines the air filter category by providing a clear choice over other filters. Follow recommended change intervals as noted in your vehicle's owner's manual. *Based on Fram Group testing of filter efficiency of models CA4309, CA8755A, CA8039, CA326 and CA6479 and their standard retail brand equivalent under ISO 5011.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Perfect Fit & High Quality {Edited June 2015}\n\nReview: This filter was much less expensive here on Amazon than at several local auto parts stores who wanted more than TWICE price I paid online. Replacing the engine air filter in my 2007 Hyundai Accent took only a matter of minutes. The Fram CA10088 air filter fit perfectly and looks to be much higher in quality than the OEM filter I removed. The rubber rim is firm yet flexible and is reenforced by criss-crossing wire mesh, something the Hyundai filter lacked. We've bought Fram brand filters for our vehicles for decades and I'll certainly be buying one of these the next time I need a replacement.\n\nEdit June 2015 - I've purchased this same filter yearly and this year, 2015, there were significant changes to the filter. When I got the package and inspected the filter prior to installation I immediately contacted Amazon as I'd thought someone had swapped a cheaper filter for the one I was supposed to receive. Amazon rushed a replacement which was identical to the one I received. A call to Fram customer service verified that this filter was their product. Changes include the gasket edges are no longer Fram orange, they're black. The top of the filter used to be, and still is pictured as being, stiffened with a metal mesh. This mesh has been removed from the product. I've been purchasing this Fram filter for years because it gave the appearance of a better quality build. Now, it looks and feels like every other filter on the market. Fram is losing my loyalty with these changes. Docked two stars. Filter's \"just okay\" now.","Product: FRAM Extra Guard Air Filters are engineered with an advanced filter media that has been through rigorous testing and have been proven to provide 2X the engine protection* than the average leading standard retail brand air filter. 12,000 miles change intervals helps prevent decreased acceleration and horsepower while helping improve overall performance. FRAM engineering laboratories defines the air filter category by providing a clear choice over other filters. Follow recommended change intervals as noted in your vehicle's owner's manual. *Based on Fram Group testing of filter efficiency of models CA4309, CA8755A, CA8039, CA326 and CA6479 and their standard retail brand equivalent under ISO 5011.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Perfect Fit & High Quality {Edited June 2015}\n\nReview: This filter was much less expensive here on Amazon than at several local auto parts stores who wanted more than TWICE price I paid online. Replacing the engine air filter in my 2007 Hyundai Accent took only a matter of minutes. The Fram CA10088 air filter fit perfectly and looks to be much higher in quality than the OEM filter I removed. The rubber rim is firm yet flexible and is reenforced by criss-crossing wire mesh, something the Hyundai filter lacked. We've bought Fram brand filters for our vehicles for decades and I'll certainly be buying one of these the next time I need a replacement.\n\nEdit June 2015 - I've purchased this same filter yearly and this year, 2015, there were significant changes to the filter. When I got the package and inspected the filter prior to installation I immediately contacted Amazon as I'd thought someone had swapped a cheaper filter for the one I was supposed to receive. Amazon rushed a replacement which was identical to the one I received. A call to Fram customer service verified that this filter was their product. Changes include the gasket edges are no longer Fram orange, they're black. The top of the filter used to be, and still is pictured as being, stiffened with a metal mesh. This mesh has been removed from the product. I've been purchasing this Fram filter for years because it gave the appearance of a better quality build. Now, it looks and feels like every other filter on the market. Fram is losing my loyalty with these changes. Docked two stars. Filter's \"just okay\" now.","Product: Designed for small office applications, the Fellowes Saturn 125 Laminator accommodates 12-1/2 Inches wide documents and features advanced temperature control for consistent results. Unique HeatGuard Technology keeps heat inside so laminator is cool to touch. Hot lamination for 3-mil or 5-mil pouches; ready in 5 minutes, laminates a document in one minute. Release lever disengages pouch for re-centering or removal. Sturdy carrying handle plus stand-up feet with cord storage. Includes laminating starter kit. The Fellowes Saturn SL 125 12.5\" Home and Office Laminator, the first laminator designed for home or home office and small office. User-friendly design offers numerous laminating possibilities with minimal adjustment. Dual temperature settings for laminating 3 and 5 mil hot pouches. Designed for letter or tabloid-size applications up to 9\" and 12\" wide. Heats up in just 6 minutes and completes a letter-size lamination in less than 1 minute. Safe and comfortable to touch \"HeatGuard Technology\". Advanced temperature control for consistent lamination quality. Anti-jamming release lever. Acoustic and visual indicators clearly signal when the laminator is ready to use. Front flap serves as document guide and dust cover. Unique horizontal storage capability. Stand-up feet with cable management system. Carry handle and compact size easy portability.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A good addition to the home or small office.\n\nReview: I found the Fellowes Saturn SL 125 12.5-Inch Office Laminator to be reasonably useful. We've run several dozen name tags, award certificates, 8\"x10\" images and other miscellaneous items through it without encountering any problems. The lamination speed is acceptable. The outside of the unit remains acceptably cool during operation. The cord could be somewhat longer. No matter where I used it I needed a short extension cord to reach the wall outlet.\n\nMy only two real complaints about the unit would be:\n\n1) Slow heat time. It takes quite a few minutes to get to operating temperature. It would be best to line up a large batch job to run through the laminator than to turn it on and wait repeatedly during the day to do things piecemeal.\n\n2) The smoke colored plastic door/hatch that covers the input feed slot I found not only VERY hard to get open but had to literally pound on to get closed. As this is cheap, brittle plastic I can see it breaking rather easily.\n\nAll in all the device preformed quite well.","Product: Durable, dependable Five Star poly-cover notebooks are equipped with twin pockets for additional paper storage. Perforated pages tear out clean, and Spiral Lock wire binding prevents coil snags. BONUS 3-Pack passes savings to online buyers, affording three solid color covers perfect for home, school, and office.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A little expensive for the quality...\n\nReview: The front cover is a durable plastic but it is easily creased by sharp bending. The red, which I received to review, was subdued and attractive. The back cover includes Five Star's new Hook N' Go feature which allows you to fold out tabs and attach your notebook to a three-ring binder. This feature also allows you to use both sides of the notebook easily while it is in the binder. Unfortunately the back cover is only thick waxy cardboard and I can't see the Hook N' Go tabs lasting all that long before tearing or ripping.\nThe notebook includes two handy heavy manilla pockets at the front.\nThe college ruled pages are perforated allowing clean removal of each sheet from the notebook but you need to be careful as it's easier to rip the pages from the wire than at the perforations. The paper itself is rather thin and flimsy. I write with a moderately heavy hand and I could see the impression of what I'd written fully four sheets down. Also I recommend against using any type of marker as bleed through happened quite easily.","Product: For the image conscious consumers who want a contemporary design and an effortless writing experience, BIC Triumph is the brand of retractable gels that make one feel self-assured to take on any task with style and ease. Smooth writing 0.7mm gel.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great Pen, Even for Lefties...\n\nReview: I'm a lefty and I really like this pen. A few refinements and I'd love it. I love the way the gel ink looks on any kind of paper. It's dark, vivid and solid with no jaggies or skipping. It reminds me a bit of writing with a fountain pen. I noticed a bit of grabbing on the rollerball when writing but it didn't affect the ink flow and may be because I hold a pen very vertical. Changing the angle a bit caused the grabbing to stop. The rubber grip is comfortable in my large hands and even my mother who normally doesn't like large barreled pens found this to be quite comfortable. The ink dries quickly. I wrote several pages of notes and noticed very little ink transfer to my hand (something all lefties contend with) The ink is NOT waterproof it will smudge if your hand is wet or sweaty then you'll get significant smearing. The pens are refillable. One thing not mentioned on the packaging or online description is each rollerball comes with a soft rubber cap in place that needs to be removed before writing. I didn't notice this at first and thought I'd gotten a defective product.","Product: The Axiom Collection by Pilot is available as a retractable ball point pen with a distinguished flair. With its balanced metal barrel, traction dimples and contemporary design, the Axiom offers both style and writing comfort. Axiom is available in four bold black, cobalt blue, cherry red and pearl white matte metallic finishes with attractive silver accents. Outfitted with a high quality retracting mechanism, Axiom writes in blue ink with a medium point. Each Axiom is merchandised in an elegant Pilot navy leather box.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Retractable Pen... But I like it.\n\nReview: I like the Pilot Axiom Retractable Ball Point Pen. It fits in my beefy hand quite well. It writes nicely and smoothly with no skipping and minimal blotching. I even like the matte black color. It reminds me of the cars my friends and I had back in the 80's when we couldn't afford good paint jobs and our cars were in primer the whole time we owned them.\n\nBut that adds to the problem of this pen. Firstly it's still just a retractable ball point pen. You click it to write and I've never equated that type of actuation with quality pens. Don't get me wrong. It's well made and feels very sturdy but you still have to click it when you want to write something. And secondly the matte black finish on the pen I received. I do like it but I can only see a small niche market of people who would want a flat black expensive retractable pen. Though, with it being somewhat off putting in looks there's probably less chance of people walking off with it so that's a plus.\n\nIn the end? I like it. Other than a little blobbing/blotching when you slow down or lift off while writing it writes nicely. Its size is nice in my large hand and the matte black appeals to me. It's all a matter of tastes and this works for me. I can see myself hanging onto this pen for years.","Product: Ampad Gold Fiber Designer Personal Notebook - 100 Sheet - Legal/Narrow Ruled - 5\" x 7\" - 1 Each\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Cheap, Thin & Flimsy\n\nReview: The title of this review really says it all. This notebook is cheaply made; the pages, cover and back are thin and flimsy...\n\nThe pages are so thin that even with a light hand and a smooth gel pen I can easily read what's written on the back from the front of the page and vice versa. For some unknown reason the micro-perforations are nearly a half inch from the spiral/wire binding which seriously cuts into the usable portion of the page. There are page number and date heading box on each page which are particularly useless.\n\nThe front cover, while a mildly attractive burgundy marble design is incredibly thin and cheap. The pocket on the back is poorly glued in place. I don't expect either to last very long. The back cover is very poorly made cardboard somewhat thicker than the front but even cheaper in quality. It has almost no rigidity and is easily bent.\n\nI only paid a few dollars for this otherwise I'd be returning it. I'll use it but I'm not at all happy with the quality and will never buy this again.\n\nI wouldn't recommend this to anyone.","Product: The Orbit Mechanical Watering Timer provides timed watering from 15 to 120 minutes, giving your lawn just the right amount of water. It works just like an egg timer: twist the dial to the desired watering duration, and the timer will turn itself off upon completion. The mechanical operation requires no batteries and makes for an easy and quick solution for your watering needs. If you don't have a specific timespan in mind, simply use the manual override to keep the water flowing as long as needed. This timer features a comfort grip large dial for ease of use and is constructed of durable high-impact plastic. It comes with an ergonomic swivel for easy hose attachment. Using this timer also saves water in drought conditions.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It Works, It's Affordable\n\nReview: I would have originally rated this three stars. The timer works fine but you had to find EXACTLY the right position and tightness against the hose spigot otherwise it set up a horribly howling wail that echoed throughout the house. Too tight and it was horribly noisy, too loose and it poured water everywhere. Worst of all just dragging out and setting up the hose to fill the pool would change the position of the timer requiring you to spend five minutes loosening and tightening things just to keep the leaks or noise at bay. I was about to return the thing and spend more money on a better model but this is the brand our pool care company uses so I took the risk and bought a $5 bag of hose gaskets. Adding one to the timer where it meets the house and like magic I was able to tighten the timer down all the way, no leaks, now howling throughout the house. So you may need to add a gasket (ask a neighbor I bet one has an extra they can 'lend' you, we just don't know anyone we live near to ask) to your timer or you may not. But it wass all I needed to get things working perfectly.\n\nJanuary 2017 - leaks a bit while in use. Not horrible and it wasn't worth the hassle of returning. Normally takes about two hours to top off the pool, we might lose a gallon of water onto the patio due to leakage (have tried several gaskets to no avail) but that's really not a lot to worry about. Still happy with the timer.","Product: This Amlong Crystal crystal ball is sure to add a touch of elegance to any decor. It is perfect for photography. The ball is 80mm(about 3.15) in diameter. The included square stand is about 1x 1x 1. It is packaged in a nice Blue Amlong Crystal imprinted gift box.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Perfect Sphere, Flawed Stand\n\nReview: I love this crystal ball. I seriously do. I spent half an hour examining it when it arrived and I was unable to find a single flaw. It is larger and heavier than I expected. When I read that it was just 80mm (3.2 inches) in diameter I almost bought the larger and more expensive 110mm ball. I'm glad that I didn't. A quick Google search turned up several images of people holding crystal balls of this size and that was all I needed to make up my mind.\n\nThe only reason I haven't given this purchase five stars is the stand that comes with this ball. It's much too small to be very stable and it's not all that attractive. It's merely an inch square cube with a divot carved in one side. It reminds me of the chalk used for pool cues. I'll be looking for a better stand to display this crystal ball.","Product: Tired of toys that can't take the heat? then treat your pup to long-lasting fun with Outward Hound fire biters! Doggy destroyers have met their match with these tough, but lovable lizards. Constructed with real fire hose material, these toys are stuffing free and include Invincible squeakers that keep squeaking if punctured! it all adds up to long-lasting fun for your furry friend! bound to become your best Friend's favorites, our lovable toys are durably designed with an engaging array of shapes, sounds and textures so you can have huge fun with your furry friend.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Heavy Duty Dog Toy\n\nReview: The squeaker could be a little louder, though people need to remember dogs do have much better hearing than humans. I also found getting one or two of the squeakers to sound to be a little difficult to sound but again dogs have quite stronger jaws than we have hands. That being said Marley the Golden Retriever absolutely loved this toy and although she was able to get it soggy and eventually she might chew off the little hair/crown/tuft and the small feet the rest of the body feels utterly indestructible and with no stuffing material inside even if she does manage to tear this open there's not going to be the typical mess all across the floor to clean up. The material is supposedly recycled fire-hose material so it should last forever or nearly so. We, and Marley the Golden Retriever, are quite impressed by this toy.","Product: The new Six-piece Flame Pliers and Wrench Set features a flame design and non slip cushion grip handles.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Slightly Better Than Mediocre.\n\nReview: I would put these tools at a bit above dollar/closeout lot stores tools in quality but not by much. For around the home infrequent and/or casual use I believe they would be fine. You could probably put together a similar set of better quality for around the same price at a local hardware store.\n\nOverall:\nThe finish is on the metal is cheap. It's sprayed/painted on not anodized and scratches off very easily. In particular there are spots on the 6\" slip-joint pliers and 8\" adjustable wrench where the finish was quite thin or missing entirely.\nThe grips are comfortable and secure when dry. When wet I found these to be extremely slippery and almost impossible to keep a hold of during any type of usage. Exercise caution if using where the handles/grips could become wet! I don't quite get the camouflage coloring. Personally I'd want them brightly colored so they'd be easier to find.\n\nIndividually -\nHammer: The face is smooth and will slip off when driving nails into hard surfaces (concrete, hardwood, etc.) but that could be roughed up with a file. The grip is comfortable and provides decent comfort when hammering. The shaft is fiberglass and seems sturdy. The head appears to be well glued on.\nSix Inch Slip-Joint Pliers: A little loose but usable. Easy to adjust between size ranges and at it's wider adjustment the handle ends do not meet. Something rarely seen on lower end tools.\nEight Inch Adjustable Wrench: While the adjustor operates quite smoothly there is a LOT of play in this tool. I'd estimate nearly a of an inch of play is evident.\nScrewdrivers: Both Phillips head and standard screwdrivers are included in this set. The handles are well secured to the shafts. They're magnetic but just barely. Neither would hold a one inch screw horizontally.\n\nThe warranty, while 'lifetime' is ONLY against defects in manufacture, material or workmanship. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear like those warranties on higher end tools.\n\nIn Conclusion: These would make a decent gift for someone moving into their first apartment, home or going off to college. The quality is acceptable but really only for light duty work.","Product: The new Six-piece Flame Pliers and Wrench Set features a flame design and non slip cushion grip handles.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Slightly Better Than Mediocre.\n\nReview: I would put these tools at a bit above dollar/closeout lot stores tools in quality but not by much. For around the home infrequent and/or casual use I believe they would be fine. You could probably put together a similar set of better quality for around the same price at a local hardware store.\n\nOverall:\nThe finish is on the metal is cheap. It's sprayed/painted on not anodized and scratches off very easily. In particular there are spots on the 6\" slip-joint pliers and 8\" adjustable wrench where the finish was quite thin or missing entirely.\nThe grips are comfortable and secure when dry. When wet I found these to be extremely slippery and almost impossible to keep a hold of during any type of usage. Exercise caution if using where the handles/grips could become wet! I don't quite get the camouflage coloring. Personally I'd want them brightly colored so they'd be easier to find.\n\nIndividually -\nHammer: The face is smooth and will slip off when driving nails into hard surfaces (concrete, hardwood, etc.) but that could be roughed up with a file. The grip is comfortable and provides decent comfort when hammering. The shaft is fiberglass and seems sturdy. The head appears to be well glued on.\nSix Inch Slip-Joint Pliers: A little loose but usable. Easy to adjust between size ranges and at it's wider adjustment the handle ends do not meet. Something rarely seen on lower end tools.\nEight Inch Adjustable Wrench: While the adjustor operates quite smoothly there is a LOT of play in this tool. I'd estimate nearly a of an inch of play is evident.\nScrewdrivers: Both Phillips head and standard screwdrivers are included in this set. The handles are well secured to the shafts. They're magnetic but just barely. Neither would hold a one inch screw horizontally.\n\nThe warranty, while 'lifetime' is ONLY against defects in manufacture, material or workmanship. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear like those warranties on higher end tools.\n\nIn Conclusion: These would make a decent gift for someone moving into their first apartment, home or going off to college. The quality is acceptable but really only for light duty work.","Product: This CFL high wattage twist light bulb is a brilliant alternative to high wattage incandescent, halogen or high intensity discharge light bulbs. This CFL lasts up to 5 times longer and uses 75% less energy than an equivalent incandescent light bulb ranging from 100 - 420 watts. This medium screw base CFL is compatible for use with many standard fixture applications. Use these light bulbs where you use high wattage incandescents, such as barn lights, high bay/low bay retro fits for warehouses and factories. These light bulbs contain mercury. Dispose of according to local, state or federal laws. Westinghouse is a trusted, global brand. Westinghouse knows lighting and offers products with exceptional quality, reliability and functionality. Product reference number 37919.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very, Very Bright Bulb (Edited 09-29-2017)\n\nReview: We replaced a many year old 100 watt (equivalent) CFL with this 150 watt (equivalent) bulb and we were utterly amazed at how much brighter this bulb was than the one we replaced. The cost was fairly extravagant so I hope we get a few years (it's on almost 24/7) service out of it. Currently we're very happy with the purchase.\n\nEdit 09-29-2017 - Hoped for years of use because of the extravagant price but we need the bulb because my mother's eyesight is going slowly bad and she needs the brightest bulbs that will work wIth the lamp. The first bulb lasted a little over ten months, please note this lamp is left on 24/7 and gone through many a Florida thunderstorm and the brownouts that come with them. The bulb had dimmed significantly when we replaced it. That replacement lasted even less time though it did weather some very severe storms including a hurricane. It was, at the time we replaced it not as dim as the other but it had developed a very annoying flicker. On to the next bulb. Maybe someday they'll make an LED this bright.","Product: The Coast RX311 features blade assist technology which was designed by world class custom knife maker and inventor, Ron Lake. It uses a patented system using a roller-bearing mounted to the blade and a leaf spring mounted between the handle liners resulting in a blade that releases faster, smoother and safer than other assisted opening knives on the market. A stainless steel frame and nylon filled nylon handle add incredible strength and durability. Thumb studs on both sides of the blade and thumb ramping on both sides of the handle make firing the blade easy from right or left side carry positions. A reversible, stainless steel pocket clip is included making the knife fully ambidextrous. The knife uses Coast's patented Max-Lock technology which provides a second lock system. This safeguard secures the blade closed when not in use and double locks the Liner-Lock when open, even if the Liner Lock is inadvertently dis-engaged. Backed by Coast's lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I Like This Knife... Now.\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1CNVWPLPIBGJO\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91OaKY-8wtS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81yxUrJpppS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\">As a matter of full disclosure the knife I am reviewing is a replacement for the knife I originally received through the Amazon Vine program. The first knife I received was defective, nearly impossible to open. After contacting the manufacturer they provided a replacement.\n\nThe knife is fairly attractive as knives go. The nylon handle has a nice raised diamond checkered pattern that looks good and gives a secure grip even when wet. The blade has a nice somewhat dark matte grey finish. There are one or two spots where the matte has been scratched down to bare metal but this is a knife, meant to be used, I expect this to happen. The handle fits my beefy hand quite nicely. I've removed the pocket clip. I have no use for it and it interfered with left-handed operation. If you're left handed and want to use the pocket clip it can, with minimal effort, be switched to the other side. The handle has a beveled spot on both sides near the thumb lugs to facilitate opening.\n\nThe knife opens lightning fast. There is some effort required to overcome the spring pressure but it isn't excessive. Using my middle finger as opposed to my thumb to open the knife feels more natural and allows me to keep a more secure grip on the knife. It's also faster to be ready to use this way requiring minimal repositioning of the knife and hand after opening.\n\nThis knife has two locks. Firstly it has a standard liner-lock. This feels reasonably solid and secure and doesn't bind or stick. Secondly it has a sliding lock which clearly shows with red and black colored if the knife is safe or unlocked. This lock works both when the blade is closed and when it's open. Personally I like this feature. You can truly secure the blade when open with no fear of accidentally activating the liner-lock and you can close and lock the knife knowing that it cannot accidentally be opened.\n\nOut of the box the blade was sharp enough to shave the hair off my arm with just a bit of grabbing and tugging. I've had sharper knives but I've also had duller ones. This is sharp enough for everyday utility work. The blade is sturdy with a false beveled edge on top. Thick enough that I don't see it bending, flexing or breaking during every day use but thin enough to not be excessively heavy. Balance on the knife is just on the forward part of the slide lock assembly.\n\nAlthough I had to exchange this knife right after receiving it the replacement is all I expected and more. This Coast RX311 is going in my gear bag. I've wanted a knife to take along with me when I'm out wandering around and this fits nicely in my day pack.\n\nNote, if you purchase this knife and find it very difficult to open, stop, contact the manufacturer or Amazon and let them know. It shouldn't be that way and you could, as I did with the first knife, injure yourself. Properly functioning this is a rather nice knife.","Product: The Gama Sonic Premier Solar Garden Light GS-139 comes as a two pack and is the perfect set of lights for illuminating pathways or gardens. No electrical wiring is required for installation, just stake the solar pathway light into the ground in a sunny spot. Standing 23.5-inches tall, the solar garden light is constructed of weather-resistant cast-aluminum with a powder coated black finish and polished pencil edge glass. As sunlight hits the solar panel located at the top of the lights head, the internal Lithium-ion battery pack will build up a charge. At dusk, the solar garden light will automatically turn on and shine at a brightness of 50 lumens in a warm-white color temperature for up to 8 hours on a full charge. The monocrystalline silicon solar panels are protected by weather-resistant, cleanable tempered glass that helps ensure long-lasting reliability. A sunny day without overcast should be sufficient to provide a full recharge. Recharging speed will vary based on weather conditions, but no charging will occur if direct sun does not shine on the solar panel. For any product questions or unexpected issues with your Gama Sonic product, our support team at our Atlanta headquarters is here to help.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Impressive Solar Lighting {Edited, Three Times}\n\nReview: These lights are quite attractive and much taller than our other bargain basement plastic lights. The material is a sturdy aluminum with the look of wrought iron and real glass panes, they're nice and hefty. As other reviewers have noted the paint is a bit thin but I've noticed only one small dot where the paint has flaked on one of ours. These throw a remarkable amount of light and makes our front walkway much safer to walk on and the do run from dusk to dawn as advertised even on a partially cloudy and rainy day. The addition of an on/off switch on the underside of the cap was a nice bonus. Another perk is the shafts comes as two pieces, not counting the light unit and ground spike, for each lamp this way with several you could stagger the height of your lights high and low for an attractive effect.\n\nEdited to add -\nI've had to dropped my rating to two stars. Within a week of putting these out in the yard one lamp had failed. I contacted Gama Sonic, they apologized and sent out another set. Unfortunately in less than a week one of those two lights has also failed. I contacted Gama Sonic again and was told there is a known issue with the batteries in some of these lights. They've offered to send me replacement batteries when they get new ones in. Their customer service has been very quick to respond, polite and willing to work to resolve these issues but that doesn't make up for a 50% failure rate in 'premium' solar outdoor lighting.\n\nSecond Update -\nI received two batteries and two loose connector plugs with a couple inches of wire running from them weeks after they had sais they were going to send them. The batteries in these lights are nonstandard and are glued in place in the top of the light casing. No additional adhesive was included nor were any instructions included. When the first light failed I had taken it apart to see if a failure point was evident. I had a horrible time reassembling the unit and finally ended up just getting rid of the two bad lights. It was too much of a hassle for my disabled hands. The two lights that DID work are still doing so quite well, staying lit from dusk to dawn. Hopefully the new lights they're shipping have the replacement batteries. My two-star review stands.\n\nA Third Update -\nOut of the four lights I ended up with and the two that worked as reported above neither now stay lit much past three in the morning when they previously would be lit well into the first rays of dawn. Quite disappointed in the continuing poor quality of these lights and support from the company. My original review was written in April and these expensive lights are barely functional after six months? That's deplorable. I have a set of eight, cheap, plastic lights we bought around the same time and these and they work just as well and some even longer with only one failure out of the eight. My two star review is now one star.","Product: These are laser-engraved wooden tokens. No inks or dyes to wear off or fade - these will last for decades. Great fun to give away. These have no advertising on them, they're just plain Round Tuits. We ship from Florida and always ship same or next day.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just Get Around To It And Buy Some Already. . .\n\nReview: I love these things. My dad got me one when I was six at some tourist trap and I carried around with me everywhere I went. Then one day, I'm not even sure when, someone decided they wanted it too and walked off with it. I occasionally looked around to replace mine but the prices were prohibitive. Even these were not inexpensive. But they appear and are very well made. Best of all, each Tuit is advertising free. One side simply says 'Tuit' the other side has a little 'round to it' story which makes these perfect for party favors or gifts. Other companies splash their name, phone number, etc. on the face of the coin which I found a bit off putting. I'm not here to help anyone advertise. If someone asks me where I got them I'll gladly send them the Amazon link but I don't want to be forced into advertising.\nI've already mailed off over a dozen of these to friends and still have several left to share. I hope they get as much of a kick out of them as I do having one again after all this time.","Product: The first volume in a noirish, gritty urban fantasy for adults from the bestselling Children's author. Quick-witted and cocksure, young upstart Capac Raimi arrives in the City determined to make his mark. As he learns the tricks of his new trade from his Uncle Theo -- extortion, racketeering, threatening behaviour -- he's soon well on his way to becoming a promising new gangster. Then he crosses paths with The Cardinal, and his life changes forever. The Cardinal is the City and the City is The Cardinal. They are joined at the soul. Nothing moves on the streets, or below them, without the Cardinal's knowledge. His rule is absolute. As Capac begins to discover more about the extent of the Cardinal's influence on his own life he is faced with hard choices. And as his ambition soars ever higher he will learn all there is to know about loss, and the true cost of ultimate power!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Procession of the Dead (The City)\n\nReview: An eclectic mix of Mayan mythos and Godfather style gangsterism Darren\nShan has created an interesting story of anti-heros that will keep you\nreading until the very end.\n\nShan an already prolific children/young adult author makes his adult\nnovel debut with 'Procession of the Dead (The City)' in which young\nCapac Raimi arrives from points unknown and untold to live with his\nuncle, a somewhat failed career criminal, and learn how to be a\ngangster.\n\nSoon after his uncle's untimely death Capac becomes the protege of The\nCardinal, the crime lord who virtually owns and controls The City (which\nhas, apparently, no name).\n\nWhile being groomed for bigger and better things Capac begins to realize\nhe has no knowledge of his life before arriving in The City. He can\nremember debarking from the train when he arrived but little else before\nthat but strange flashes and dreamlike snippets.\n\nEven odder people around him are disappearing, completely. Once their\ngone no one else except Capac remembers any detail of their existence!\n\nAn interesting story in which the protagonist isn't a hero or even\na very nice person. I enjoyed the plot twist making you involved with and care\nabout a criminal and killer. Bring on the next chapter of the story, I\nfor one cannot wait.","Product: Clayton Smith is a sometimes-writer, sometimes-napper based in Chicago, where he uses neither his bachelors in journalism nor his masters in arts management. He is often calamitous, and good at bacon. He lives with his impressively tolerant wife. Claytons previous works include Pants on Fire: A Collection of Lies and the comedic play Death and McCootie, which debuted at the 2013 New York International Fringe Festival.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Decent But Somewhat Hard to Believe\n\nReview: Both main protagonists annoyed the living. . . heck, out of me. One making idiotic charges straight into sure danger without a care for his companion and the other such an amazing coward I'm amazed he undertook the journey. The author tried to be funny and in many places he did succeed but often it was almost like the 'Laugh' light going on at a TV show taping it was forced making it far less funny. Still the story drew me in, there were a few rough and slow patches but there were also times when I checked it was three am and I had been reading for hours without noticing any time had passed.\nThere wasn't a lot of closure. Even one the story's main protagonists just slips out of the picture. Does he live? Does he die? Does he return to the friends they made along the way? We may never know. The same goes for the young girl in the boat. The journalist and everyone else on the train. They just. . . drift out of the story.\nThe seeming MacGuffin nature of the note carried throughout the entire adventure nearly brought me to tears and I somewhat understand the focus of the ending. But too many loose ends were left. Enough for a sequel? I honestly hope not. I'd like to see an author in this day and age NOT try to stretch everything they write into series. I'll live with wondering. I'll make up, but not write down, I don't do fan-fic, my own endings we weren't provided. Four stars even with the rough bits. Very much a worthwhile read. One thing that bothered me. They kept saying the apocalyptic plague took out 99% of the population but the two protagonists seemed to meet a lot of people along their lives journey."],"string":"[\n \"Product: It's the trimmer that's as tough as your beard. The Remington Virtually Indestructible Beard Trimmer Kit is loaded with premium features. Titanium-coated blades provide consistent cutting performance, with bonus detail and stubble blades for total control over your look. High-impact polycarbonate housing protects the powerful interior, which includes a dual power lithium battery with up to 120 minutes of cordless runtime. Each piece of the kit stores securely in the durable plastic storage case.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent Trimmer, Unimpressive Case\\n\\nReview: Okay, it's a complete kit, you get the trimmer handle which comes with the beard cutter mounted on it. A slim trimming head for shaping and getting into small spaces and there's also a 'stubble' head I assume is for that scruffy look. Along with the three cutters comes a somewhat wimpy cleaning brush, a small tube of mineral oil to lubricate the blades with and a length comb that adjusts longer and shorter via a dial you spin on the trimmer body. Everything comes packed in a huge plastic case that has a military finish and feel to it. According to the product description; 'Each piece of the kit stores securely in the durable plastic storage case.' but they really don't. There's non place to lock down or 'secure' any of the parts at all. The inside of the case holds a fitted cardboard box with two sides that you can put the different bits but, again, there's nothing secure about how the parts are stored and I have doubts that the cardboard is going to last long in a damp bathroom environment.\\nThat being said the trimmers, once lubricated, do a great job of giving you a close trim. I hate to blade shave and have used trimmers for decades. Once I ensured the adjustable comb was solidly in place (my first attempt, not so well) the trimmer mows through long beard hair like crazy. Granted my goatee is a bit shorter than I intended I chalk it up to a learning experience. I got things in place and set right and it did a great getting my cheeks smooth and my goatee (albeit a bit shorter than expected) trimmed evenly. It was even quieter than most other trimmers I've used over the years. The case is a bit of a disappointment and the adjustable comb is thin and brittle feeling but it feels good in my hand and does it's job well.\",\n \"Product: The Roomba 770 Vacuum Cleaning Robot provides a concentrated clean, all at the push of a button. The 3-Stage Cleaning System with Dirt Detect Series II identifies dirtier areas in your home and focuses cleaning, ensuring Roomba tackles even fine pet hair, dust and dirt. Just press 'Clean' or schedule Roomba to run up to 7x per week. Roomba works on all floor types, and at just 3.6 inch tall, is specifically designed to fit under most furniture, beds and kickboards.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A great little time saver {updated}\\n\\nReview: I really like the Roomba 770 robotic vacuum. When these first came out years ago I thought they were a gimmick and back then they probably were. Now though these things are pretty impressive.\\nGetting started was a breeze. Pull a couple protective strips from the bottom of the vacuum, set the clock (easy!) then find a somewhat out of the way place for the charging dock, charge the Roomba up and finally press the Clean button. The Roomba will zip all over your open floors getting into practically every nook and cranny. If it gets full while it's working it will light an icon on it's top letting you know it needs to be emptied. After about an hour to an hour and a quarter the Roomba will decide it's battery needs a recharge. It will then head back to wherever you put the charging dock, back itself onto it, play a little tune to let you know it is done and start charging up for the next time.\\nAt it's most basic it doesn't get any easier, one button and it's off. If you want a little more automated control you can program the Roomba 770 to start at any time of the day on any of the days of the week. Further control can be established by using either or both of the two included Virtual Walls. These devices (which take two C-cell batteries) can be used to keep the Roomba from entering rooms or areas you don't want it venturing into.\\nI am amazed at what this little thing picks up. I am a vacuum's worst nightmare. I have very long (3 feet) hair and I shed. Before we set the Roomba off I ran our upright vacuum over the two rooms we were going to have the Roomba cleaning regularly a couple extra times. The bin on the upright was nearly empty the last time I ran it but the Roomba comes back nearly full each time it runs.\\nCleaning the Roomba is a lot easier than cleaning a large upright vacuum. The dirt collection bin pops on and off easily The Roomba also comes with two tools to make cleaning and hair removal from the brushes quite easy.\\nWhile the Roomba 770 is very handy I do want to mention a couple cons I've run across while using it...\\nIf you watch the demonstration videos you'll see they show off the Roomba in a very minimalist environment. We have clutter. We have a table with X cross feet that's close to three walls. The Roomba can and occasionally does get stuck. It will let you know (it talks!) when it gets trapped or stuck. Though all you have to do is rescue it (and figure out how to keep it from getting stuck again!) and press the clean button to sent it off again.\\nThe Roomba seems to be better on carpeted floors than on hard surface floors. On our hard floors it seems to scatter sand and such around while cleaning. It does get the majority of stuff but not all of it.\\nIn the end the Roomba is great for people with busy lifestyles or for the disabled or handicapped person who just can't drag out a heavy regular vacuum all the time.\\n\\n{Update:}\\nThe Roomba 770 includes a remote control; It's nice to be able to start the Roomba from across the room but if you're using the scheduled cleaning you won't need to do that. You can also use the remote to direct the Roomba around the room and command it to return to the charging dock. Two AA batteries for the remote are required but are not included.\\nSteering the Roomba with the remote; Once you take control of the unit with the remote it only moves when you are pressing one the directional buttons (left, right, forward) when you release the button the Roomba will stop moving. I found this method of control a bit awkward and mildly uncomfortable to use.\\nWarranty; For a device this expensive I would have thought it would have a better warranty than one year parts & labor with just six months coverage on the battery.\",\n \"Product: The Oral-B Deep Sweep 5000 Smartseries rechargeable electric toothbrush with Bluetooth is the worlds first of its kind with Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth communication allows the brush to connect with your smartphone to give you real-time feedback on your brushing habits. The Deep Sweep brush head features three bristles zones to reach deep to remove plaque, and 3D cleaning action sweeps side to side and pulsates to break up and remove up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush. The pressure sensor lights up if you brush too hard to prevent harmful over-brushing and there are 5 modes and a timer to help you brush for a dentist-recommended 2 minutes. Best of all its brought to you by Oral-B the #1 brand used by dentists worldwide. Compatible with the following replacement toothbrush heads: CrossAction, 3D White, Sensitive Clean, Precision Clean, FlossAction, TriZone, Deep Sweep, ProWhite, Ortho, PowerTip, and Dual Clean.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not All That Great\\n\\nReview: I really didn't care for this electric toothbrush even on its lowest/gentlest setting it felt... violent against my teeth. Just a slight misjudgment of position and hard, vibrating, plastic was hammering at my teeth. I was also unable to get the toothbrush to pair with my Samsung Galaxy Tab2 tablet. I could still use the timer on the app but it's just as easy to look at a clock.\\nEven when I was able to successfully use this toothbrush it just didn't get my teeth as clean feeling as I was and am able to with a manual toothbrush. I'll be going back to the old fashioned toothbrush. The handle is fairly heavy and bulky and somewhat awkward to use. This device just didn't impress me in any way.\",\n \"Product: IRIS Small Desktop Drawer System, are small-size desktop drawer systems that are useful throughout the house or in a college dorm room. It's the perfect size for small office supplies, beauty products, guest bathroom toiletries, and household items in the kitchen to keep your family or college student organized.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy & Well Made Desktop Organizer\\n\\nReview: Thise comes fully assembled except for some four button feet that are easily pressed into place. The three drawers, even with quite a lot of weight in them slide open and closed easily. It's sturdy and feels well made. There are stops to keep the drawers from falling out. I can't call it attractive but it's suitable for a business or home office. It takes up quite a large portion of desktop real estate (make sure you check the dimensions and ensure you have enough room for this before you buy it) but i don't mind giving up the desktop space because this has allowed me to sort, store and clear the clutter that was taking over my desk. From packs of rechargeable batteries to cables of all sorts as well as a couple 5v chargers. I also found I have more micro SD card adapters than I ever thought I owned. But now all that clutter, including a giant 5-subject notebook stored on the open top tray. Very pleased with how well I was able to declutter my desk and there's still plenty of room left for more stuff. I don't have anything to compare this to but it certainly does it's job. Well worth having.\",\n \"Product: If you built it they will succumbProduct InformationCreate the most wicked loathsome underworld imaginable. Dig out yourunderground kingdom. Populate your dungeon with a variety of beasts suchas the Skeletons Dark Elves Trolls and evil Warlocks. Prepare them forbattle with training rooms workshops and magical libraries. With the helpof the dreaded reaper conquer your enemies and expand your empire in your questto defeat the King and invade the land heroic good.Product Features Build the Dungeons of Your Darkest Dreams First construct a nightmarish floor plan. then direct your Imps to dig out the tunnels rooms and chambers for your new home. Slap them around if they are not working fast enough. Infest Your Dungeon with Vile Beasts Discover a portal so evil creatures can find their way into your domain. Mine gold to pay their wages build places for them to rest in and a hatchery where they can feed. Put Your Minions To Work For You Construct training rooms to improve the fighting skills of your dungeon dwellers a library where they can research and learn devious new magic spells and a workshop to create new traps to thwart encroaching do-gooders. Battle the Forces of Good Fulfill your strategic role as the evil overlord leading your wicked hoards in combat against those righteous heroes. Cast devastating spells to crush your enemies and support your minions. Or join the action at dungeon level by possessing your creatures and battling from a first person perspective using special spells and abilities. Entertain the Creatures of Your Dungeon Keep your minions happy by creating casinos where they can drink and gamble. Or build a pit arena where they can gain combat experience or sit back and enjoy the fights from a ringside seat. Torture Chambers are popular attractions for those who like it rough.Windows Requirements\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Windows 7 64-Bit Compatibility Problems\\n\\nReview: My current PC is a AMD dual-core 2.8 GHz, 6 GIGs of RAM, ATI Radeon HD 4200 graphics (onboard) running under Windows 7 64-Bit. All drivers are up-to-date. I run a clean machine, little more than mouse, audio and graphic drivers loaded with nothing extraneous starting up or running when attempting to play Dungeon Keeper 2.\\n\\nIt took a couple hours of changing settings and checking Google for solutions and hints to get to even see the game graphics. Once I was able to get the game started I found it was impossible to keep it playing. Randomly after as little as a few minutes or more than half an hour the game will simply quit to Windows. This happens when hitting the ESC key to access the game menues, when clicking on the Panel Bar or the game screen itself or also when doing nothing but watching things happen with no user input at all.\\n\\nI have had multiple email exchanges with the technical support people at Sold Out Software (the current distributors of the game) and while they were quite willing to work with me on this issue they have not found a solution and as of this writing have exhausted their knowledge and are giving up on finding a solution.\\n\\nFrom what I was able to see of the game in my limited playing time between crashes... I wasn't all that impressed. At 1024x768, the only resolution I was offered by the game, icons over creatures heads were unreadable unless you were fully zoomed in. Graphics appeared muddied. Going on (fond) memory, I'd say the original Dungeon Keeper's graphics were nearly as good as Keeper 2's graphics although the animations in the newer game were somewhat better. I wasn't all that impressed.\\n\\nIn conclusion; good luck getting this running. I know, from reading other reviews and web sites, that many people have gotten it to work but it seems just as many run into the same problems I've been having. I'm just glad I didn't spend a lot of money on this game, I can NOW* recommend it.\\n\\n* After searching Google over the past week or so and reading a hundred or more messages on a half dozen message boards I was able to find the right combination of settings and registry tweaks to get the game to run properly on my computer. Updating Stars accordingly. The following are my settings and may or may not work for you. Use at your own risk.\\nCompatibility: Windows XP SP2 mode\\nRun as an administrator\\n\\nOnly attempt to edit the registry if you know what you're doing!\\nIn the Registry Key:\\n\\\"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\\\Software\\\\Bullfrog Productions Ltd\\\\Dungeon Keeper II\\\\Configuration\\\\Video\\\"\\nSet:\\nEngine ID to 4\\nScreen Width to 800\\nScreen Height to 600\",\n \"Product: Hot Shots Golf Fore! is the fourth installment of the golf game that changed the way you play. It has provides breathtaking graphics and true-to-life golf physics, along with new golfers, caddies and courses. There's even a great new miniature golf and unique online gameplay mode. It's more of the fast-paced gameplay that fans of the franchise have grown to love! Unlock more prizes than ever - advanced golf equipment, new courses, characters and tons of wacky golf gadgets Miniature golf returns with a wacky new twist, and against thousands of Hot Shots Golf fans from across the nation\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Three and a half stars really...\\n\\nReview: This is pretty fun. The character graphics are amusing and the courses are pretty and well done. It's got some flaws that I feel will work out with a LOT of practice which is why I wish you could give half stars here on Amazon. It's not a four star game but it's also not a three star game.\\n\\nSome comments on game features:\\nIgnore the \\\"Nice Shot\\\" graphic that pops up often. It means nothing and only applies to the strike ON the ball. You can drive 40 yards past the green and into the trees or sand and still be told you made a 'Nice shot'.\\n\\nThe voice acting of both the caddies and your opponents is ANNOYING, they repeat themselves incessantly and appear to only have a very few phrases each. Luckily you can X through such rather quickly.\\n\\nPay attention to the wind. It really has an effect on your ball. When the club info says you can drive X yards and it's X yards to the hole be aware that balls WILL roll and course slope will have a large effect. The physics are pretty good here. So good it can be quite a challenge starting off.\\n\\nPutting is a pain. You really need to pay attention to the way the green breaks. It's SO easy to hit too hard and rim-out of the cup or too soft and stop just inches away.\\n\\nThe AI is good but not, thankfully, perfect. It's going to take some practice to string together winning streaks or even your first win. I've got some disability problems with my hands and find easy mode with the 'everyone' clubs to be quite a challenge.\\n\\nThe mini-putt course (you have to unlock the 2nd one by scoring high in the 1st) has some annoying features. If you go out of bounds, into the water or over par your turn on that hole is OVER. I don't care how bad I'm doing I'd actually like to finish the hole myself without the game deciding I'm done for me.\\n\\nAll in all this is a fun game, with a few non-critical annoyances. Kids and adults (I'm 41) will find it enjoyable and a challenge. It's well worth the price and a good addition to anyone's game collection.\",\n \"Product: Test Drive Unlimited is the only game that immerses you into the car enthusiast lifestyle, with total freedom to race however and wherever you want within a huge, online-persistent environment. Visit the most sophisticated car dealers to purchase new vehicles or simply take them for a spin. Customize each vehicle to make it one-of-a-kind. Test Drive Unlimited challenges players online to experience the most exotic and fastest vehicles on more than 1000 miles of diverse Hawaiian roads. Gamers earn master points for driving, airtime, drifts and winning races which leads to unlocking new races and challenges.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Wait for this to hit the bargain bin...\\n\\nReview: Sadly like oh so many other driving games this appears to have been developed by people who've never seen a real sports car let alone driven one. The cars all drive alike and sound alike. They drive like the tires are greased and the roads are ice. Steering is as typical pivot point (you steer with the middle of the car, not the wheels). The AI on the other hand has a car that not only sticks to the road but even when it's the same car you're driving it can SOAR past you at the last moment as if you were standing still. Like, again, most racing games the 'bootlegger reverse' is not a maneuver you can accomplish. Turning around then becomes a pain in the butt. It's been a long time since I had a driving game (back in the Sega Saturn days) I'd hoped they'd improved the genre. Herein it seems they haven't. The physics are a joke. Your car cannot sustain nor will it show any damage. Head on collisions at 150 MPH simply stop you immediately. Vehicles you hit bounce away from you as if made of rubber.\\n[...]\",\n \"Product: Designed and built for comfort, the UltraFit Sling Strap sits securely at the side and is easily accessed to capture a shot at a moment notice. The ergonomic body-conforming system and pivot ring keep weight distributed along the shoulder muscles keeping strain off the neck. The UltraFit Layered-Pad Technology and ergonomically placed pivot ring allow the strap to conform to the body for ultimate comfort. Secures camera close to body with the SpeedCinch system to free up your hands and prevent potential camera damage. Strap extends automatically as you glide your camera up from your side to a shooting position in one fluid motion. The sleek design and high-tech, neutral colored materials provide a versatile style that is perfect for any occasion. Ultra-lightweight materials make it easy to compact and store in your bag.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Horribly Uncomfortable & Poorly Designed\\n\\nReview: Horribly Uncomfortable.\\n\\nWhat's the one thing that makes a good neck strap comfortable for long term wearing? Padding. What's the one thing this strap is completely lacking? Padding!\\n\\nThe part of the strap that's supposed to go around your neck is a two inch wide very rough textured bit of nylon webbing. Seat belts are softer than this material. The first time I tried the Joby UltraFit Sling Strap I carried my Kodak Z990 around for about an hour and it was so uncomfortable. Who designs a neck strap with NO padding?\\n\\nThis strap attaches to your camera via the \\\" tripod screw mount on the bottom of the camera. It's odd that your camera hangs upside down and I don't like the single point of failure mounting. Also, because of the way it's designed it puts angular force on the mounting threads when hanging and even more when releasing or engaging the quick release latch. Since the threads in my Kodak are plastic I have even more dislike for this mounting system. Additionally, you have to dismount your strap any time you want to use a tripod or monopod.\\n\\nI found in the time I used this that the only time the (non) padded portion of the strap is on your neck is when the rig is retracted when you use the 'Speed Cinch' to bring the camera up for shooting, at least on my extra large frame, the whole strap rotates forward and puts the even more uncomfortable thinner strap around your neck and the 'padded' section down on your chest.\\n\\nTo sum it up... it's uncomfortable. It completely lacks any padding. It has an odd mounting system that puts lever like force on your tripod socket and you have to take the strap off to use a tripod or monopod. The only good point to this system is that it is rather well made. Unfortunately it's just well made junk. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone for any application.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy nutritious meals for the whole family, ready in seconds with a juice extractor and 9-cup food processor workbowl. Stainless steel cutting assemblies with titanium coating provide greater durability and power through your prep work with 450 watts of power and high/low speed control. A three-inch wide mouth feed chute less you do more with less precutting, while dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup a snap. Youll enjoy fresh drinks, smoothies, salsas, salads, soups and even main dishes and desserts, all made with the delicious natural goodness of your favorite fruits and vegetables. A recipe book with over 50 exclusive recipes is included to get you started and a 2-year limited warranty provides added peace of mind.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Jack of Two Trades but Master of Neither.\\n\\nReview: The Juiceman Express Junior Juice Extractor and Food Processor is a Jack of two trades but a master of neither. At just 450 watts of power it has 250 watts less power than this same company's entry and mid level stand alone juicers and less than half the power of top of the line extractors.\\n\\nThe Juiceman Express Junior does an adequate job of extracting juice from most fruits. We've made and mixed apple, pear, watermelon and grape (both red and green) juices. Oranges didn't fare so well and the output was less than satisfactory.\\n\\nAs a food processor this is, again, adequate at the job but no great standout. It is good for making pesto, grinding toppings for frying and baking. We've also made slightly lumpy peanut butter (it just would not grind smooth) and less than stellar mayonnaise. The bowel has decent capacity for most small jobs.\\n\\nJuicing does however make an amazing amount of mess but cleanup wasn't too bad. All removable parts are dishwasher safe and clean up by hand fairly well. The only part I found hard to clean was the juicing basket. After running around a dozen apples through the juicer it took quite a while to get the extractor basket clean and required much poking and scrubbing with a stiff brush to accomplish.\\n\\nIn conclusion, as an occasional use appliance and for people with limited storage space this is an acceptable product. If you plan on heavy usage or large jobs you might want to look elsewhere.\",\n \"Product: This cookware set is an exceptional value, including all of the pans needed to equip your kitchen with the most used cooking pieces. As the set contains only basic pieces, you'll really use each and every pan. It includes saucepans for whisking a homemade sauce or cooking your morning oatmeal, a big stockpot for soups, stews or boiling pasta, and skillets (probably the most used pan in any kitchen) that will help you turn out perfect crepes or a simple grilled cheese sandwich. The set also includes a saute pan, a wide, straight-sided pan that can perform many of the functions of a skillet but features deep sides for extra capacity, perfect for one dish meals. Start your dish in this pan by sauteing onions and browning meat, then add your liquid and other ingredients into the same pan to finish on the stovetop or in the oven.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice Cookware for Your Kitchen.\\n\\nReview: The KitchenAid Gourmet Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set is a decent but by no means top of the line cookware set that would be great for those just starting out or anyone who wants a dependable set of cookware.\\n\\nThe set is handsomely designed and rather attractive though I actually expected the walls of the cookware to be somewhat thicker. It's advertized as 'heavy gauge' but I've got an older store brand set from BB&B that is far heavier than these.\\n\\nThe Good:\\nThe nonstick surface is as good as any I've cooked on. Even scrambled eggs slide right off with no sticking whatsoever.\\n\\nThe lids interchange well and there are two lids for the larger pans. No more picking and choosing which dish gets covered.\\n\\nThe entire set is oven safe to 400. I've baked in the saute pan at 350 with no problems.\\n\\nThe eight quart stock pot is tall rather than wide which I've found is far better for cooking pasta.\\n\\nThe silicone portion of the handles are comfortable to grip.\\n\\nThe high sides of the saute pan make it excellent for cooking large amounts of food that would normally slop over the sides of a similar diameter frying pan.\\n\\nThe Not-So-Good:\\nThe eight quart stock pot is tall rather than wide which means it's fairly narrow making it somewhat smaller than the large element on my glass-top range. This puts the handles directly over the heating element while cooking. They get VERY hot during cooking where my old wide stock pot's plain steel handles did not.\\n\\nThe metal handles are stamped, the area on the backs around the hole for hanging the pans is quite rough and uncomfortable feeling. It should have been rounded over or sanded better.\\n\\nThe glass lids also have silicone inserts on their handles. Don't let this give you a false sense of security they get HOT. Just heating water and cooking pasta made the silicone itself untouchable. Pot holders are a must.\\n\\nThe rivet buttons inside the pans are plain metal, not coated with the non-stick material. Food can stick to and around these.\\n\\nThe Conclusion:\\nI like this cookware set. It is versatile, reasonably heavy and durable. It is attractive and fairly well made. It cleans up easily. We absolutely love the saute pan's usefulness. All in all I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this collection to anyone looking for a good cookware set.\",\n \"Product: MyCafe for Home single serve pod brewer allows you to brew and enjoy one cup at a time, and uses coffee and tea pods to produce an aroma rich, fresh brewed cup in less than a minute\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A very nice coffee pod brewing system.\\n\\nReview: The BUNN MC My Cafe Home Pod Brewer makes a very good cup of coffee and an acceptable cup of tea from pods.\\nSetup of the unit couldn't be easier. You just plug it in and add water until it lets you know the tank is full. Then you just need wait a very few minutes for the unit to heat the reservoir to approx. 200 degrees. Then you just add what water you need for your particular cup and almost magically it gives you that much water back while keeping the reserve reservoir hot. Pop in a pod and it will deliver a piping hot cup of coffee in less time than it takes to heat the same amount of water in the microwave.\\nYou can also leave out the pod if you just need hot water to steep your own tea bags something I recommend over using tea pods. Even using the unit's 'pulse' feature (which wets, waits, brews, repeatedly, for a stronger coffee or tea) the pod tea didn't have the same strength of flavor normally steeped tea has.\\nWe've experimented with several brands of coffee pods including the generous sample box that arrived with our brewer. Even with the Kona and other gourmet styles available our favorite so far has oddly been the Senseo Dark Roast pods. They turn out a consistent, rich cup of coffee from the My Cafe Home Pod Brewer at a reasonable price.\\nIf I had one complaint about the brewer is that it is designed to always be on. There is even no on/off switch. After a few hours idle it goes into power saving mode dropping the reservoir to 140 degrees and after slightly more than a day it will go into something called a 'sleep mode' which I believe turns the heating unit off but the manual does not state as such only that it takes approx. 3 minutes to come to operating temperature when you wake it up. Since we only drink a couple of cups of coffee in the morning leaving the unit on 24/7 seemed to be a bit of a waste of electricity. Though I must say the tank seems fairly well insulated, even full of 200 degree water the outer case never feels too hot to handle. We've somewhat solved that problem by plugging it in just before bed and then unplugging it once we've brewed our coffee.\\nI would highly recommend this pod coffee brewer to anyone interested in one. It's a fine unit and does its job quite well.\",\n \"Product: Canvas print design of forest - framed and ready to hang. Introduction: our framed canvas print art work is first printed at high resolution on quality thick 100% cotton canvas. The canvas is then stretched professionally over sturdy wooden stretcher frames. The image wraps around the sides resulting in a top quality interior decor art work. Benefits: this design comes already framed and ready to hang. Each panel has a wide hook already attached for easy hanging. This design will be a lasting and well valued gift for home or office dcor. Click on the above yellow \\\"add to cart\\\" icon for easy check out and fast delivery. Buy this exceptional interior dcor artwork for great visual impact and talking point.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful but hard to hang...\\n\\nReview: I received this item in exchange for a review:\\n\\nThe print is beautiful. I spent more than half my 48 years living in New England and this brings back the feeling of fall better than just about anything I've ever seen. I want so much to step into this print and see what's down the path.\\n\\nThe canvas feels quite sturdy and the frames are well constructed. It came well packed and undamaged. Mounting hardware was already attached to the frames. No nails or wall hangers are included.\\n\\nI probably should have found a handyman to hang this for me. I'm disabled and it was a bit of a nightmare. Five panels, five nails and probably a dozen holes in the walls trying to get things even and level. It's still not perfect but I'm happy enough with how it is right now.\\n\\nDocked one star for not including some kind of hanging template to help get it up straight and even on the wall.\",\n \"Product: Our Signature Pillow offers a consistent gentle softness and support for better travel comfort. Filled with feather-soft microfibers, this patented hypoallergenic pillow is completely machine washable. Perfect for travel, lounging at home, or therapeutic neck support. Environmentally friendly fill and packaging. World's Best Your First-Class Comfort Experience.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: World's Best Cushion? Just Might Be.\\n\\nReview: Incredibly soft fill, opening the cover is something I wouldn't recommend, the fill is loose fibers (kinda funky looking, brown and hairy). The cover is plush and silky. It feels wonderful against the skin. The combination of the two really is amazing. The Cobalt Chevron pillow does have the snap. We liked this so much that the same day it arrived we ordered another one. I was a little annoyed and the way the price varied wildly they're all under the same listing, although some have a snap and others don't, I didn't understand why one pillow was nearly four times the price of another. Another mild annoyance was the listing that read; 'Environmentally friendly fill and packaging.' while the fill may be recycled material the packaging is just a plastic bag. Still, I got a good night's sleep last night after weeks of restless nights so who cares, the pillow is fantastic and that's what really counts.\",\n \"Product: This 11-Inch knife with blade cover features high carbon stainless steel blades. Perfectly weighted and balanced. Design prevents foods from sticking or tearing while cutting. Hand wash recommended. Lifetime limited warranty.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty But Not That Useful\\n\\nReview: Heavy knife. Looks light and cheap but the blade has some serious heft to it. The white background, green handle and sheath along with multicolored wording (Celebrate!) and balloons make it fairly attractive. But looks are secondary to performance. This will cut cake. Then again so will dental floss (unflavored is best), and my near razor sharp pocket knife that's not serrated. It's cutting other, more difficult things that separates the wheat from the chaff so to speak. The blade cuts cardboard fairly well.i tried it on two different types of rolls; a heavy white bread hoagie roll and a pack of King's Hawaiian sweet rolls. Even though the product is described as designed to prevents food from sticking or tearing while cutting I found it dragging less than halfway through both types of rolls and the heavier hoagie rolls were somewhat crushed while the lighter and softer Hawaiian rolls cut cleanly though there was definite drag cutting both rolls.\\nThe knife comes with a well fitting cover/sheath that has holes which amusingly line up with the balloons on the blade. There's also an opening that runs most of the length of the cover. My guess is for easy drainage.\\nThis knife is BIG I'm having a hard time finding a place to keep it. There is a hold at the tip of cover I may have to hang it on the wall or inside a cabinet.\\nTo be honest I bought a somewhat shorter and sharper serrated knife at the Dollar Store it fits in a drawer and cuts better. This knife? Cute for birthdays and other celebrations but really not much else. A lot of space for something that won't get used much.\",\n \"Product: O2COOL's 5-inch portable USB fan is perfect for indoor and outdoor activities, use in a hot office and especially during a power outage. O2COOL's fans include a range of sizes, multiple power source options, patented fan blades for efficient operation and compact designs that allow you to take the cool anywhere you want to go.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive But Cheaply Made\\n\\nReview: Cheaply made feels like it will easily break. I do like the grey and blue color. Cable is proprietary, would using a micro-USB plug to charge instead of an old style round plug-jack add that much to the cost? With a universal cable for power I could use my 10' cable and put the fan nearly anywhere without worrying about wasting batteries. I'd only use batteries during a power outage. I can still use one of my large battery packs but I honestly find it ridiculous not to use a standardized cable.\\nThe fan had two speeds, I guess we didn't need the option of three. On low it moves a fair amount of air and is nearly silent. On high, with no batteries inside, it tends to creep across the desk. Use care or it will end up on the floor. It's somewhat noisier on high but surprisingly more quiet than similar portable desk fans. It moves quite a bit of air on high.\\nPros: USB powerable. Quiet. Can be run off battery packs. Moves air well.\\nCons: Cheap, thin plastic, proprietary cord. 'Walks' across desk on high.\\nI honestly don't have much faith in the hinge for adjusting air direction. The high/low/off switch. Or the very thin power cable lasting a year but we're heading into hurricane season so an extra battery powered fan isn't a bad thing to have around. I'll update the review should durability become an issue.\",\n \"Product: Farberware is the #1 selling cutlery brand in the U.S. (Source: The NPD Group, Inc./Retail Tracking Service. 52 weeks ending March 2016). Farberware EdgeKeeper Knives feature a sheath with innovated technology that is designed to automatically sharpen the blade with each use. The blade is made from high-carbon steel that lends strength, sharpness, and durability. This Santoku knife combines the best features of a chef's knife and a cleaver, with a wide, heavy blade that is ideal for chopping, slicing, and dicing. Not dishwasher safe. Hand wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately..\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Rather Nice Knife\\n\\nReview: Knife feels nice and well balanced in the hand. The grip feels secure even when damp. The blade came decently sharp, it sliced through a loosely held sheet of paper with ease. The sheath is nice for keeping you and your knife safe and your blade from banging around and getting dulled. I'm not quite sure that without careful insertion only the back side of the blade will meet the sharpener with enough force to sharpen the blade but if you're careful you can sharpen most if not all of the blade. The Santoku combination between chef's knife and cleaver is something different for us but it's quite easy to become comfortable using. Only time will tell how well this knife lasts but I'm quite pleased with it. The only thing I didn't like was the clamshell packaging. I absolutely hate having to remove this type of packaging.\",\n \"Product: Streaky bathroom mirrors will be a thing of the past thanks to the mirror squeegee. This handy tool is compact to store on counter tops or in medicine cabinets, and has wiper-blade technology that ensures a streak-free shine every time. The durable blade is bi-directional for swiping at any angle, and provides a smooth, resistance-free swipe.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Mixed Results, Moderately Impressive\\n\\nReview: Unless your mirrors are spotless and you're really just wiping off steam. . . and even if it's just steam for that matter you're going to need a few paper towels or an old terrycloth towel around to clean up the drips and wipe of the blade and mirror as you go.\\nWhat I've found, because my car lacks a rear wiper and has a spoiler the combined shapes coat the rear window with dust and water drops faster than you can believe. Also requiring an old towel I've found keeping this inside the garage to wipe off the back, side and side-view mirrors quickly after being out in the rain or with a spray or three of glass cleaner if it'd been dusty a far handier tool than in the bathroom.\\nI think this works far better on the car than the bathroom mirrors where it did a fair, if somewhat messy job.\",\n \"Product: 7\\\" flameless LED candle is made of real wax with a very natural look. Includes remote control which gives you the option to control the flicker or timer. Natural wax LED candle will not ever blow out, generate smoke, or cause dripping wax. Absolutely beauty and safe to have near pets and children. Perfect table decoration for weddings and events.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Candle With the Right Batteries {Update 3-31-2017}\\n\\nReview: I can only give this an 'It's Okay' rating. The scent of vanilla is overpowering. I can smell it at the other end of the house. We had a previous candle that was in our living room. The power switch fell inside the candle and it didn't have a remote. It was much brighter than this candle and had was 'drips' down the outside which this also lacks. The wire that holds the flame is slightly bent so the candle has to be placed at the perfect angle otherwise it flickers almost insanely.\\nI like having the remote but the brightness controls don't go high enough. You can have the candle light on or flickering. Flickering is annoying so we let the wick flicker and leave the candle light on. We haven't tested the timer capability yet but the on/off buttons work at that's all we need. We can align the candle so it flickers slowly (properly installing the wire would have saved us this trouble) and the power switch won't get pushed inside like the problem with the previous candle. I can live without the drips and dribbles. Most candles today are dripless anyhow how so this more mirrors a more normal candle. I just wish it were brighter. Maybe regular AA batteries instead of the rechargeable would provide a little more voltage and light. Only time will tell. It's an okay candle but nothing to rave about. For now and for the price it's a suitable replacement.\\n\\n3-31-2017: I replace what were fully charged Eneloop AA batteries which I've relied on for years with a pair of regular Amazon Basics alkaline batteries and the difference was amazing. The candle is literally twice as bright as it was on the rechargeable batteries. I gave it one more star because we can't give half stars. The wire the flame hangs from is still bent out of shape and causes the flame to thrash instead of flicker. Still, it's much better now with the different batteries.\",\n \"Product: The Belkin 8-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector protects your electronic devices from surges and spikes. This 3550-Joule surge protector provides eight surge-protected outlets with sliding safety covers to supply complete, 3-line AC protection for your workstations, printers, broadband modems, home theater systems, and everyday household electronics. The surge protector features a slender, sleek design with a right angle plug and a detachable cord-management clip to help keep cables organized.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Suits My Needs, Some Quality Issues\\n\\nReview: I needed a surge protector that would fit in a specific space, would sit flat on the floor (some narrow ones tend to roll or twist) and would accommodate several large power packs. This fit my needs perfectly. I have my laptop, phone charger, tablet and a desk lamp plugged in without any crowding. The reason for three stars instead of four or five is one of the sliders that close off the plug area just fell off a week after it was delivered and I couldn't for the life of me get it back on. I swapped a plug around so it wasn't any big deal but I was a bit disappointed that it would begin falling apart so soon after purchase.\",\n \"Product: The La Crosse Technology BC700 Alpha Power Battery Charger has four modes and charges all NiCd and NiMH AA and AAA rechargeable batteries. The four modes include charge, discharge (discharges the batteries and then recharges them), recharge (discharges and recharges up to 20 times to bring old batteries back to life) and test (displays the battery capacity). BC-700 Battery Charger \\\" Features: All modes automatically default to 200 mA charge on the BC-700 Battery charger Charge both AA and AAA rechargeable batteries simultaneously and will charge all Low-Discharge batteries. Sanyo Eneloop, Uniross Hybrio, Nexcell EnergyOn, Accupower Acculoop and other future low discharge batteries. Hhas Four independent channels - Charges 1, 2, 3 , or 4 rechargeable batteries at a time. Overheat detection to protect over-charging and LCD shows capacity for each battery when charging is complete Charge Mode - allows a range of user selectable milliamp settings from 200 to 700 for faster charging times. Within 4 seconds after rechargeable batteries are inserted charging automatically begins at 200mA, or you may select 500, or 700mA charge rates for faster charging times. Discharge Mode - reduces memory effect by discharging rechargeable battery completely before recharging to full capacity. User selectable. Refresh Mode - discharges and recharges up to 20 cycles or until rechargeable battery is refreshed to full capacity. User Selectable. Test Mode- First charges the rechargeable battery to full capacity, then discharges completely to measure rechargeable battery capacity for display in mAh or Ah, and then recharges each rechargeable battery to full battery capacity. UL approved, BC 700 charger also has safeguards that sense rechargeable battery polarity, rechargeable battery temperature and defective rechargeable batteries. World Voltage capable - Operates on 100~240V AC Input.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Does The Job, Does It Well\\n\\nReview: I purchased this battery charger when I became disappointed with the give-away charger that came with a Recent Kodak camera purchase.\\nSo far it has done it's job and not given me any problems. I've charged both AA and AAA batteries with it. The charger even helped me diagnose a problem with my cordless phone (one bad battery) saving me some money.\\nWhile you can use each charging slot individually to do different functions (Charge, Test, Refresh, Discharge) I have yet to do more than one function at a time.\\nIt really is pretty easy to use. Put your batteries in. Choose your voltage to charge at, choose your function and walk away.\\nThe one pet peeve I have with this charger is the lack of backlighting on the LCD display but I have a small flashlight on my desk anyhow so it's not too much of a pain.\",\n \"Product: 55mm Camera Lens Cap, Black\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: You Get What You Pay For...\\n\\nReview: ...and I paid .04 for this lens cap (+ $2.98 shipping!) I guess if your lens or camera didn't come with a cap or you lost yours this wouldn't be horrible. The lanyard is NOT attached as the photos imply it's just a 21\\\" long piece of cheap nylon string. The cap has a single (why?!) hole to thread the line through to attach the lanyard line. The distance between the back of the hole and the inner wall of the cap is literally 2mm. I tried for over half an hour and could not for the life of me thread the lanyard onto the cap. If I safety line the cap to the camera I really have no use for the product. I had been told this held a little better than the stock lens cap that came with the Panasonic Lumix FZ70 that I just purchased but I didn't see that it had any more holding power on the 55mm Sigma UV filter I have mounted on my camera than the factory lens (which came with an easily attached lanyard). The stock cap is somewhat lower in profile than this.\\n\\nSince the shipping was a several hundred times the cost of the item there's no sense or reason to return this. I guess I'll throw it in my 'spare and old gear' bag and if I somehow lose the Lumix cap that came with and is safely attached by a lanyard to my camera I'll have a spare.\\n\\nColor me completely unimpressed.\",\n \"Product: LCD Timer Remote Control for Canon EOS 60D 1000D 700D 650D 600D 550D 500D 450D 400D 350D 300D Rebel Cameras Power Shot G1 X G12 G11 G10\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works Well With the Fujifilm X-E2\\n\\nReview: I've used this several times now with my Fujifilm X-E2 and it works great. Simple and easy to understand and set. The only problem I had was the case is a little narrow for my thick hands and setting the controller required a bit of juggling. The addition of a light was a nice feature and even helped getting things connected in pre-dawn light.\\nThe case is a little flimsy, possibly easy to break but with care it should last. I found an old mesh pouch, I think I got a pair of promotional ping-pong balls in it, which holds the controller and cable when not in use and is perfect to hang the rig on my tripod when it's being used as an intervalometer which is my main use for this remote.\",\n \"Product: The all new FUJINON XF55-200mm lens gives users a fast F3.5-4.8 lens that produces sharp images across its entire zoom range, from edge-to-edge. Its image stabilization function enables the use of shutter speeds up to 4.5 stops slower, preventing camera shake even when shooting hand-held in low-light situations, or when shooting at a stopped down aperture. The XF55-200mm lens includes two linear motors for high-speed AF of 0.28 seconds 2 to quickly focus on your subject. Together with its high quality metal design, the XF55-200mm lens delivers an easy-to-transport lens with a large maximum aperture for outstanding mobility and performance. The FUJINON XF55-200mm (83-300mm*1) F3.5-F4.8 R LM OIS lens features:, An advanced optical design to cover the mid-telephoto (83mm) to telephoto (300mm), Image stabilization for shutter speeds up to 4.5 stops slower, Two linear motors for high-speed AF and quiet operation, Two ED lens elements and one Super ED lens element for increased performance and effective control against chromatic aberrations, FUJINON's proprietary HT-EBC coating on the entire lens surface to effectively prevent reflections, and control flare and ghosting, Minimum focal distance of 1.1m across the entire zoom range to enable telephoto close-ups , A 1/3EV step aperture ring for users to easily adjust the aperture while holding the camera up to their eye, High quality, metal construction focus ring and aperture ring. Note: This lens has a switch on the side of lens to activate image stabilization.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Really Nice Zoom Lens\\n\\nReview: My family got together and picked this up for me during Fuji's sale/promotion in March. This is going to cover Christmas and birthdays for the next few years :)\\n\\nBuild quality is top notch. The zoom, focus and aperture rings are all nicely sized and very... grippy. The zoom itself is almost, but not quite, too stiff. I noticed no creep whatsoever. Autofocus is, expectedly, a bit slower than the kit lens but still decent. Image stabilization is impressive enough for hand-held shooting in low light at full zoom. Image quality is impressive. The included hood is huge, seriously huge. It's actually a little hard to get the lens cap on with the hood on. Speaking of the lens hood; my one gripe with this rig is when fully 'on' the lens the hood tends to rattle a little bit. I've found that backing off the connection a 1/4 inch or so keeps the hood from rattling and still keeps it firmly in place.\\n\\nIt does make my X-E2 a little front heavy but it's not that horrible. I'm contemplating buying one of the extension grips from Fuji for the camera. A nicely padded neck strap is a definite plus when carrying a camera with this lens mounted on it. One thing I've had to pay attention to is when switching back to my 18-55mm lens I need to be careful of how hard I twist the barrel to zoom in and out this lens is MUCH stiffer to use than the kit 18-55mm that came with my X-E2. I worry I may break the smaller lens after using this lens for an extended period.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: So Far So Good\\n\\nReview: I've only had the cable for a couple of days but I've run several print jobs with no problems. The Amazon Basics cable is supposed to have gold plated ends I'll take their word on if. The cable itself is nice and sturdy much thicker than many othed USB cables I've received over the years. The connectors fit quite snugly. I even had to really work to get the printer end in. The standard USB end had a good but no where near as tight a fit but it stays in place.\\nThe ten foot length is great! Previously I only had a 5-6' cable which gave me little choice where things would go but now I can run the cable out of the way and put my laptop in a comfortable position on the desk. Now I just have to see how the cable holds up over time. I'll update this review should I have to but for right now I'm quite pleased with the product and price.\",\n \"Product: Pump up the volume wherever you are with the stylish Baytek PartyMix Portable Bluetooth NFC speaker. This lightweight speaker is easy to carry and, with brilliant NFC technology, easy to sync, with a built-in rechargeable battery and Mic compatible with iPhones, Androids and other Bluetooth devices. Plus, it comes in a variety of vibrant colors like blue, red and silver.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Top Notch Speaker\\n\\nReview: Please note I received this speaker in exchange for a review...\\n\\nI was blown away by this small speaker system. It's a couple inches in diameter and abouta foot long. I chose the blue model and it matches the displayed color well and the blue is rather nice.\\n\\nPairing with my Samsung Galaxy tablet was completely painless. The speaker has built in voice acknowledgments letting you kmow it's read to pair and has paired.\\n\\nSound quality is remarkable, seriously remarkable. From low volume to ear hammering loudness this speaker sounds great. It even manages to push out a respectable amount of bass which is mind boggling in such a small, portable, speaker.\\n\\nThe only faults I found were the three graduating size buttons on the top were a little hard to press and hold for the various functions and the instruction sheet was a litle lacking (does the red light go out when the device is fully charged? Yes, it does.) But you don't really need much in the wany of instructions. Enable blue tooth, scan for devices, pair and adjust the volume (you can use both the volume controls on the speaker and from your device.\\n\\nFM radio reception, yes, this hasna built in FM tuner was okay. There aren't a lot of stations local to me so I wasn't able to fully test the radio function. I also didn't have a spare micro SD card, yes this speaker also has a micro SD card slot, to test that functionality.\\n\\nI really cannot express how impressive this speaker sounds. It's just amazing.\",\n \"Product: How many times have you stumbled blindly in the dark while out camping? Didn't you wish there was enough light so you could relieve your bladder without getting bruised? What about being constantly yelled at by your co-passenger to turn off the lights, when you want to read for a bit longer? While lanterns and emergency lights work to a certain extent, they could soon run out of power, if they are used frequently. Moreover, emergency lights should be reserved for times of dire need, and not while you take care of personal needs, while it can be difficult lugging around a lantern or bulky lighting device at this time. On the other hand, travelers can't even think about these lighting alternatives the practical solution is this very handy and useful USB stick light, which can illuminate spaces such as interior of camping tents and even the keyboard on your laptop. It uses superior quality leds for the lighting, so you get a long-lasting solution. Key features: 10 powerful 1-watt leds are used for illumination, which emit clear and lucid light. Leds utilize less power, which makes this gadget more energy-efficient, thereby prolonging its shelf life. It has a variety of applications for activities like camping, hiking outdoor sports, shedding more light on keyboards and keypads, functioning as a reading light in the dark, and much more. For your convenience, this device is designed to be compatible with multiple USB ports. The bendable neck makes it very easy to adjust its position just the way you want - you can even dim the light by touching it the compact structure enhances portability, so you can take it along whenever you travel for business or leisure. It also gives you privacy when you need it's Lastly.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Incredibly Tall & Useful USB Light\\n\\nReview: I love this light, absolutely love it. I purchased a laptop without backlit keys thinking I wouldn't be using it all that often but a disability has led me to require the touch-pad on the laptop as using a mouse on my desktop had become a near impossibility. I had come across another flexible USB lighting system that was less than half the height of this light and also lacked the on/off function as well as the dimmer capability which I find extremely useful.\\nWhen plugged into my rear most USB port this light reaches just above the top of the screen on my 15.6\\\" laptop and with the light dimmed somewhat it doesn't glare even where it's just an inch or so from the screen itself but sheds enough light that I can see the entire keyboard easily.\\nThe neck is strong enough to hold its position while standing there as well as once it's unplugged and put on the table when the laptop is not in use. It does wiggle a bit at the USB port but I think all USB ports seem to have a little wiggle room built into them.\\nControl couldn't be easier though controls would have, to me, been more convenient. You quickly press/tap the end of the USB light bar very, very lightly to turn or off the light. Dimming the light requires holding the end as the light dims or releasing it and holding it again as the light brightens. Personally I think separate switches would be more convenient but the single switch works well enough.\\nI love this light. It's absolutely perfect for my needs and puts so much more light on the keyboard than the smaller light I previously used (shown in one of the photos I'll attach) plus the fact that I can turn it on and off as well as dim or brighten the light just adds to the usefulness of the light. This also works great with a USB power pack.\\nI received this light in exchange for my review.\",\n \"Product: The PNY Elite performance 128GB Class 10, UHS-I, U1 micro SD, Flash card is perfect for the latest smartphones, tablets, action cameras, and drones. It features 128GB of storage, giving you more storage space on your mobile device so you can easily enjoy more mobile content such as apps, eBooks, web video, music and movies. U1 technology is perfect for full HD video recording and HD photography, allowing you to capture high quality HD video and photos with your action camera, drone, or other mobile device. The Elite micro SD card is rated Class 10, U1, which guarantees fast transfer speeds so you can quickly transfer and share your content while you're on the go.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Quite a Nice Micro-SDHC Card\\n\\nReview: I was quite pleased with the performance of this card. Using the included adapter copying large multi-meg files of course went much quicker than copying thousands of small files on my computer. But the job got done and it didn't feel slow but I can easily blame the built in USB card reader on my laptop. I also tried this card with my Fujifilm X-E2. It easily shot at 7FPS and emptied the 18 photo buffer amazingly fast. At 3FPS the camera would shoot until the card was full. Just for testing I held the camera and ran off over 250 images without a pause, slow-down or hitch. I also shot video at 60FPS in full 1920x1080 HD and it was flawlessly beautiful even shooting in the low light as sunset approached. I'll let other tech-centric users post data rate test result images. I go by what feels good and this card? It really feels good and works fine with my camera and computer. I couldn't be happier.\",\n \"Product: The CA101 rugged hard case is perfect for protecting your GPS unit when it isn't mounted in your car. It can also be used to protect a digital camera or camcorder! It features a padded inner pocket. It has a built-in belt loop and a removable shoulder strap. 6.25\\\" x 4.25\\\" x 2.5\\\" inner dimensions. Weight 6.4 oz.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Worth the Cost of Returning\\n\\nReview: This is advertized as a 'hard case.' It is NOT a hard case it is simply formed vinyl with minimal rigidity. You can easily compress the sides with one finger.\\n\\nThe description also claims this has a 'padded inner pocket.' The elasticized strip that divides the case in two is no thicker than a heavy-weight T-Shirt. It offers your GPS no real protection at all.\\n\\nThe walls, sides, faces of the case have no padding whatsoever. I was forced to improvise padding with a divider taken from one of my camera gear bags.\\n\\nThe case does not seal. The zippers come 's of the way up the side and then there's an extra piece of vinyl stitched to both sides of the case. Forming something like a collar. The flap that velcro's over the top does not hold the collar section tightly closed. You can easily slip a finger into the case with it 'closed'. This means dirt and moisture, etc. have an easy path to your GPS. Additionally, I've had this for less than four hours and the velcro patch the flap attaches to is already pulling free of the case!\\n\\nMy <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/5-Garmin-n-uuml-vi-50LM/dp/B005HSDL8S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">5\\\" Garmin nüvi 50LM</a> barely fits in the Zeikos IR-CA101 Large Hard Case side to side but there is a lot, too much really, front to back room. Along with the improvised padding I was forced to add to the inner side of the case where to protect my GPS I've also wrapped my 12v car power cable in a piece of towel to keep it from thumping around. I would NOT recommend putting a window or other mounting device in this case with a GPS unit.\\n\\nIf it wouldn't cost me half of what I paid for it to ship it back I'd return it in a heartbeat. As far as I'm concerned this product is NOT as described. It's not a hard case. It's not padded. It offers almost no protection AND it's already falling apart just hours after arriving.\\n\\nDo yourself a huge favor and don't buy this, it's overpriced junk.\",\n \"Product: There comes a time when you need both hands free and still be able to capture that thing that you do. With the Fix Tilt & Shoots powerful, interchangeable magnetic and suction foot options, you can mount your camera or smart device on virtually any surface. The U-Shot extends over 19\\\" for a unique perspective, and with the Tiltee 1/4\\\" universal aluminum ball head , any angle can be framed perfectly. All mounts are quickly interchangeable with the U-Shot for maximum versatility and efficiency whenever the moment strikes. Keep your hands free to create your story.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Can't Trust This. . .\\n\\nReview: When I saw this I thought it would be a great addition to my camera gear. The description says it's good for DSLRs and up to six pounds. After opening and inspecting this monopod system I reluctantly tried my ultra-compact Sony WX9 camera on this mounting system. My conclusion is I can't and won't trust this rig with my WX9 let alone my much heavier mirrorless Fuji gear.\\n\\nThe padded extendable main monopod shaft consists of three sections that are secured with a twist. It's easy to not torque the sections hard enough for them to unexpectedly collapse while you're trying to take a picture.\\n\\nThe ball-head mounts, this system comes with two, are fairly smooth metal on metal construction. Alarmingly these have no secure locking system. You simply use your thumb to engage a friction locking system. All it takes is a tap to cause the ball-head to be completely free moving. I would never trust a camera I liked on these mounts.\\n\\nThere are two feet that come with this set. A rubber edged magnetic mount and a suction cup -\\nThe magnet is too small for a secure mount. With the monopod vertical and not extended it was reasonably stable. Horizontally it felt unsafe set up in any configuration. Extending the monopod drastically increases the ease with which this tips over. The magnet is just not wide enough to be stable.\\nThe suction cup mount was surprisingly strong but like every other securing point in this rig the slide to release the mount does not lock in place. It's just too easy to hit the release while trying to set things up. I had thought I could mount this low on the car to get some interesting video but after trying this out I'd be worried road vibration would cause this to release and drop the camera.\\n\\nIn conclusion: While the materials are of decent quality this system lacks security. I won't risk my cameras on it.\",\n \"Product: An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Durable Light Workout Band\\n\\nReview: This is a review of the red, 10-35lbs resistance 1/2\\\" exercise band:\\nI know it's a silly issue but the photos show two bands to hold this together when not in use but mine came with just one which is a complete pain in the rear. One band means this has to be rolled into one flat roll (that's how it came) and getting it BACK like that is next to impossible. It pops apart, slips open. It was enough to make me want to toss it right then and there as I had no extra elastic bands.\\nThe band feels durable enough even doubled over. It doesn't feel like it's going to snap easily. My main complaint is rolling it up with the single elastic band to hold things in place. Other than that it's good for numerous exercises and light enough that it won't strain beginners or disabled people trying to regain strength in their legs or arms.\",\n \"Product: Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. Crusader Dante returns home to discover that his beloved Beatrice has been murdered, and her soul dragged into Hell. Refusing to give her up, he steals Death s scythe and chases after her... into the Inferno. Loosely based on the first part of The Divine Comedy, the animation segments in Dante s Inferno represent a Who s Who of major animation talent in Japan, Korea and the United States.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Dante's Inferno DVD Review\\n\\nReview: First and foremost, this DVD in no way resembles the epic poem written by Dante Alighieri. They've borrowed a few names and descriptions of the Circles of Hell and that's it.\\n\\nThe story is told by several different animators in varying degrees of skill, the Fraud (second to last) segment being notably and particularly bad. Dante, no poet here but a super ninja Crusader Knight easily slaughters his way with little to no effort through the various Circles of Hell and it's demons wielding the typical oversized unbelievable anime weapon, a giant scythe this time in an attempt to rescue his beloved Beatrice who is being held captive and about to be wed to Satan. Interspersed in the visions of Hell we're treated (though it's really no treat) to flashbacks of the acts of depravity and slaughter that Dante did during the Crusades. Instead of seeing him as a hero he's really rather despicable. The dialog is overblown and pretentious trying very hard to be serious and deep which just doesn't mesh right with the rather silly nature of the movie.\\n\\nHad they not used Dante Alighieri and his Inferno and simply made this a trip into hell alluding to the epic poem I'd have given it three stars but for the blatant misuse of Dante's name and work I have to give it two.\",\n \"Product: FRAM Extra Guard Air Filters are engineered with an advanced filter media that has been through rigorous testing and have been proven to provide 2X the engine protection* than the average leading standard retail brand air filter. 12,000 miles change intervals helps prevent decreased acceleration and horsepower while helping improve overall performance. FRAM engineering laboratories defines the air filter category by providing a clear choice over other filters. Follow recommended change intervals as noted in your vehicle's owner's manual. *Based on Fram Group testing of filter efficiency of models CA4309, CA8755A, CA8039, CA326 and CA6479 and their standard retail brand equivalent under ISO 5011.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect Fit & High Quality {Edited June 2015}\\n\\nReview: This filter was much less expensive here on Amazon than at several local auto parts stores who wanted more than TWICE price I paid online. Replacing the engine air filter in my 2007 Hyundai Accent took only a matter of minutes. The Fram CA10088 air filter fit perfectly and looks to be much higher in quality than the OEM filter I removed. The rubber rim is firm yet flexible and is reenforced by criss-crossing wire mesh, something the Hyundai filter lacked. We've bought Fram brand filters for our vehicles for decades and I'll certainly be buying one of these the next time I need a replacement.\\n\\nEdit June 2015 - I've purchased this same filter yearly and this year, 2015, there were significant changes to the filter. When I got the package and inspected the filter prior to installation I immediately contacted Amazon as I'd thought someone had swapped a cheaper filter for the one I was supposed to receive. Amazon rushed a replacement which was identical to the one I received. A call to Fram customer service verified that this filter was their product. Changes include the gasket edges are no longer Fram orange, they're black. The top of the filter used to be, and still is pictured as being, stiffened with a metal mesh. This mesh has been removed from the product. I've been purchasing this Fram filter for years because it gave the appearance of a better quality build. Now, it looks and feels like every other filter on the market. Fram is losing my loyalty with these changes. Docked two stars. Filter's \\\"just okay\\\" now.\",\n \"Product: FRAM Extra Guard Air Filters are engineered with an advanced filter media that has been through rigorous testing and have been proven to provide 2X the engine protection* than the average leading standard retail brand air filter. 12,000 miles change intervals helps prevent decreased acceleration and horsepower while helping improve overall performance. FRAM engineering laboratories defines the air filter category by providing a clear choice over other filters. Follow recommended change intervals as noted in your vehicle's owner's manual. *Based on Fram Group testing of filter efficiency of models CA4309, CA8755A, CA8039, CA326 and CA6479 and their standard retail brand equivalent under ISO 5011.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect Fit & High Quality {Edited June 2015}\\n\\nReview: This filter was much less expensive here on Amazon than at several local auto parts stores who wanted more than TWICE price I paid online. Replacing the engine air filter in my 2007 Hyundai Accent took only a matter of minutes. The Fram CA10088 air filter fit perfectly and looks to be much higher in quality than the OEM filter I removed. The rubber rim is firm yet flexible and is reenforced by criss-crossing wire mesh, something the Hyundai filter lacked. We've bought Fram brand filters for our vehicles for decades and I'll certainly be buying one of these the next time I need a replacement.\\n\\nEdit June 2015 - I've purchased this same filter yearly and this year, 2015, there were significant changes to the filter. When I got the package and inspected the filter prior to installation I immediately contacted Amazon as I'd thought someone had swapped a cheaper filter for the one I was supposed to receive. Amazon rushed a replacement which was identical to the one I received. A call to Fram customer service verified that this filter was their product. Changes include the gasket edges are no longer Fram orange, they're black. The top of the filter used to be, and still is pictured as being, stiffened with a metal mesh. This mesh has been removed from the product. I've been purchasing this Fram filter for years because it gave the appearance of a better quality build. Now, it looks and feels like every other filter on the market. Fram is losing my loyalty with these changes. Docked two stars. Filter's \\\"just okay\\\" now.\",\n \"Product: Designed for small office applications, the Fellowes Saturn 125 Laminator accommodates 12-1/2 Inches wide documents and features advanced temperature control for consistent results. Unique HeatGuard Technology keeps heat inside so laminator is cool to touch. Hot lamination for 3-mil or 5-mil pouches; ready in 5 minutes, laminates a document in one minute. Release lever disengages pouch for re-centering or removal. Sturdy carrying handle plus stand-up feet with cord storage. Includes laminating starter kit. The Fellowes Saturn SL 125 12.5\\\" Home and Office Laminator, the first laminator designed for home or home office and small office. User-friendly design offers numerous laminating possibilities with minimal adjustment. Dual temperature settings for laminating 3 and 5 mil hot pouches. Designed for letter or tabloid-size applications up to 9\\\" and 12\\\" wide. Heats up in just 6 minutes and completes a letter-size lamination in less than 1 minute. Safe and comfortable to touch \\\"HeatGuard Technology\\\". Advanced temperature control for consistent lamination quality. Anti-jamming release lever. Acoustic and visual indicators clearly signal when the laminator is ready to use. Front flap serves as document guide and dust cover. Unique horizontal storage capability. Stand-up feet with cable management system. Carry handle and compact size easy portability.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A good addition to the home or small office.\\n\\nReview: I found the Fellowes Saturn SL 125 12.5-Inch Office Laminator to be reasonably useful. We've run several dozen name tags, award certificates, 8\\\"x10\\\" images and other miscellaneous items through it without encountering any problems. The lamination speed is acceptable. The outside of the unit remains acceptably cool during operation. The cord could be somewhat longer. No matter where I used it I needed a short extension cord to reach the wall outlet.\\n\\nMy only two real complaints about the unit would be:\\n\\n1) Slow heat time. It takes quite a few minutes to get to operating temperature. It would be best to line up a large batch job to run through the laminator than to turn it on and wait repeatedly during the day to do things piecemeal.\\n\\n2) The smoke colored plastic door/hatch that covers the input feed slot I found not only VERY hard to get open but had to literally pound on to get closed. As this is cheap, brittle plastic I can see it breaking rather easily.\\n\\nAll in all the device preformed quite well.\",\n \"Product: Durable, dependable Five Star poly-cover notebooks are equipped with twin pockets for additional paper storage. Perforated pages tear out clean, and Spiral Lock wire binding prevents coil snags. BONUS 3-Pack passes savings to online buyers, affording three solid color covers perfect for home, school, and office.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A little expensive for the quality...\\n\\nReview: The front cover is a durable plastic but it is easily creased by sharp bending. The red, which I received to review, was subdued and attractive. The back cover includes Five Star's new Hook N' Go feature which allows you to fold out tabs and attach your notebook to a three-ring binder. This feature also allows you to use both sides of the notebook easily while it is in the binder. Unfortunately the back cover is only thick waxy cardboard and I can't see the Hook N' Go tabs lasting all that long before tearing or ripping.\\nThe notebook includes two handy heavy manilla pockets at the front.\\nThe college ruled pages are perforated allowing clean removal of each sheet from the notebook but you need to be careful as it's easier to rip the pages from the wire than at the perforations. The paper itself is rather thin and flimsy. I write with a moderately heavy hand and I could see the impression of what I'd written fully four sheets down. Also I recommend against using any type of marker as bleed through happened quite easily.\",\n \"Product: For the image conscious consumers who want a contemporary design and an effortless writing experience, BIC Triumph is the brand of retractable gels that make one feel self-assured to take on any task with style and ease. Smooth writing 0.7mm gel.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Pen, Even for Lefties...\\n\\nReview: I'm a lefty and I really like this pen. A few refinements and I'd love it. I love the way the gel ink looks on any kind of paper. It's dark, vivid and solid with no jaggies or skipping. It reminds me a bit of writing with a fountain pen. I noticed a bit of grabbing on the rollerball when writing but it didn't affect the ink flow and may be because I hold a pen very vertical. Changing the angle a bit caused the grabbing to stop. The rubber grip is comfortable in my large hands and even my mother who normally doesn't like large barreled pens found this to be quite comfortable. The ink dries quickly. I wrote several pages of notes and noticed very little ink transfer to my hand (something all lefties contend with) The ink is NOT waterproof it will smudge if your hand is wet or sweaty then you'll get significant smearing. The pens are refillable. One thing not mentioned on the packaging or online description is each rollerball comes with a soft rubber cap in place that needs to be removed before writing. I didn't notice this at first and thought I'd gotten a defective product.\",\n \"Product: The Axiom Collection by Pilot is available as a retractable ball point pen with a distinguished flair. With its balanced metal barrel, traction dimples and contemporary design, the Axiom offers both style and writing comfort. Axiom is available in four bold black, cobalt blue, cherry red and pearl white matte metallic finishes with attractive silver accents. Outfitted with a high quality retracting mechanism, Axiom writes in blue ink with a medium point. Each Axiom is merchandised in an elegant Pilot navy leather box.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Retractable Pen... But I like it.\\n\\nReview: I like the Pilot Axiom Retractable Ball Point Pen. It fits in my beefy hand quite well. It writes nicely and smoothly with no skipping and minimal blotching. I even like the matte black color. It reminds me of the cars my friends and I had back in the 80's when we couldn't afford good paint jobs and our cars were in primer the whole time we owned them.\\n\\nBut that adds to the problem of this pen. Firstly it's still just a retractable ball point pen. You click it to write and I've never equated that type of actuation with quality pens. Don't get me wrong. It's well made and feels very sturdy but you still have to click it when you want to write something. And secondly the matte black finish on the pen I received. I do like it but I can only see a small niche market of people who would want a flat black expensive retractable pen. Though, with it being somewhat off putting in looks there's probably less chance of people walking off with it so that's a plus.\\n\\nIn the end? I like it. Other than a little blobbing/blotching when you slow down or lift off while writing it writes nicely. Its size is nice in my large hand and the matte black appeals to me. It's all a matter of tastes and this works for me. I can see myself hanging onto this pen for years.\",\n \"Product: Ampad Gold Fiber Designer Personal Notebook - 100 Sheet - Legal/Narrow Ruled - 5\\\" x 7\\\" - 1 Each\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheap, Thin & Flimsy\\n\\nReview: The title of this review really says it all. This notebook is cheaply made; the pages, cover and back are thin and flimsy...\\n\\nThe pages are so thin that even with a light hand and a smooth gel pen I can easily read what's written on the back from the front of the page and vice versa. For some unknown reason the micro-perforations are nearly a half inch from the spiral/wire binding which seriously cuts into the usable portion of the page. There are page number and date heading box on each page which are particularly useless.\\n\\nThe front cover, while a mildly attractive burgundy marble design is incredibly thin and cheap. The pocket on the back is poorly glued in place. I don't expect either to last very long. The back cover is very poorly made cardboard somewhat thicker than the front but even cheaper in quality. It has almost no rigidity and is easily bent.\\n\\nI only paid a few dollars for this otherwise I'd be returning it. I'll use it but I'm not at all happy with the quality and will never buy this again.\\n\\nI wouldn't recommend this to anyone.\",\n \"Product: The Orbit Mechanical Watering Timer provides timed watering from 15 to 120 minutes, giving your lawn just the right amount of water. It works just like an egg timer: twist the dial to the desired watering duration, and the timer will turn itself off upon completion. The mechanical operation requires no batteries and makes for an easy and quick solution for your watering needs. If you don't have a specific timespan in mind, simply use the manual override to keep the water flowing as long as needed. This timer features a comfort grip large dial for ease of use and is constructed of durable high-impact plastic. It comes with an ergonomic swivel for easy hose attachment. Using this timer also saves water in drought conditions.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It Works, It's Affordable\\n\\nReview: I would have originally rated this three stars. The timer works fine but you had to find EXACTLY the right position and tightness against the hose spigot otherwise it set up a horribly howling wail that echoed throughout the house. Too tight and it was horribly noisy, too loose and it poured water everywhere. Worst of all just dragging out and setting up the hose to fill the pool would change the position of the timer requiring you to spend five minutes loosening and tightening things just to keep the leaks or noise at bay. I was about to return the thing and spend more money on a better model but this is the brand our pool care company uses so I took the risk and bought a $5 bag of hose gaskets. Adding one to the timer where it meets the house and like magic I was able to tighten the timer down all the way, no leaks, now howling throughout the house. So you may need to add a gasket (ask a neighbor I bet one has an extra they can 'lend' you, we just don't know anyone we live near to ask) to your timer or you may not. But it wass all I needed to get things working perfectly.\\n\\nJanuary 2017 - leaks a bit while in use. Not horrible and it wasn't worth the hassle of returning. Normally takes about two hours to top off the pool, we might lose a gallon of water onto the patio due to leakage (have tried several gaskets to no avail) but that's really not a lot to worry about. Still happy with the timer.\",\n \"Product: This Amlong Crystal crystal ball is sure to add a touch of elegance to any decor. It is perfect for photography. The ball is 80mm(about 3.15) in diameter. The included square stand is about 1x 1x 1. It is packaged in a nice Blue Amlong Crystal imprinted gift box.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect Sphere, Flawed Stand\\n\\nReview: I love this crystal ball. I seriously do. I spent half an hour examining it when it arrived and I was unable to find a single flaw. It is larger and heavier than I expected. When I read that it was just 80mm (3.2 inches) in diameter I almost bought the larger and more expensive 110mm ball. I'm glad that I didn't. A quick Google search turned up several images of people holding crystal balls of this size and that was all I needed to make up my mind.\\n\\nThe only reason I haven't given this purchase five stars is the stand that comes with this ball. It's much too small to be very stable and it's not all that attractive. It's merely an inch square cube with a divot carved in one side. It reminds me of the chalk used for pool cues. I'll be looking for a better stand to display this crystal ball.\",\n \"Product: Tired of toys that can't take the heat? then treat your pup to long-lasting fun with Outward Hound fire biters! Doggy destroyers have met their match with these tough, but lovable lizards. Constructed with real fire hose material, these toys are stuffing free and include Invincible squeakers that keep squeaking if punctured! it all adds up to long-lasting fun for your furry friend! bound to become your best Friend's favorites, our lovable toys are durably designed with an engaging array of shapes, sounds and textures so you can have huge fun with your furry friend.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Heavy Duty Dog Toy\\n\\nReview: The squeaker could be a little louder, though people need to remember dogs do have much better hearing than humans. I also found getting one or two of the squeakers to sound to be a little difficult to sound but again dogs have quite stronger jaws than we have hands. That being said Marley the Golden Retriever absolutely loved this toy and although she was able to get it soggy and eventually she might chew off the little hair/crown/tuft and the small feet the rest of the body feels utterly indestructible and with no stuffing material inside even if she does manage to tear this open there's not going to be the typical mess all across the floor to clean up. The material is supposedly recycled fire-hose material so it should last forever or nearly so. We, and Marley the Golden Retriever, are quite impressed by this toy.\",\n \"Product: The new Six-piece Flame Pliers and Wrench Set features a flame design and non slip cushion grip handles.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Slightly Better Than Mediocre.\\n\\nReview: I would put these tools at a bit above dollar/closeout lot stores tools in quality but not by much. For around the home infrequent and/or casual use I believe they would be fine. You could probably put together a similar set of better quality for around the same price at a local hardware store.\\n\\nOverall:\\nThe finish is on the metal is cheap. It's sprayed/painted on not anodized and scratches off very easily. In particular there are spots on the 6\\\" slip-joint pliers and 8\\\" adjustable wrench where the finish was quite thin or missing entirely.\\nThe grips are comfortable and secure when dry. When wet I found these to be extremely slippery and almost impossible to keep a hold of during any type of usage. Exercise caution if using where the handles/grips could become wet! I don't quite get the camouflage coloring. Personally I'd want them brightly colored so they'd be easier to find.\\n\\nIndividually -\\nHammer: The face is smooth and will slip off when driving nails into hard surfaces (concrete, hardwood, etc.) but that could be roughed up with a file. The grip is comfortable and provides decent comfort when hammering. The shaft is fiberglass and seems sturdy. The head appears to be well glued on.\\nSix Inch Slip-Joint Pliers: A little loose but usable. Easy to adjust between size ranges and at it's wider adjustment the handle ends do not meet. Something rarely seen on lower end tools.\\nEight Inch Adjustable Wrench: While the adjustor operates quite smoothly there is a LOT of play in this tool. I'd estimate nearly a of an inch of play is evident.\\nScrewdrivers: Both Phillips head and standard screwdrivers are included in this set. The handles are well secured to the shafts. They're magnetic but just barely. Neither would hold a one inch screw horizontally.\\n\\nThe warranty, while 'lifetime' is ONLY against defects in manufacture, material or workmanship. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear like those warranties on higher end tools.\\n\\nIn Conclusion: These would make a decent gift for someone moving into their first apartment, home or going off to college. The quality is acceptable but really only for light duty work.\",\n \"Product: The new Six-piece Flame Pliers and Wrench Set features a flame design and non slip cushion grip handles.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Slightly Better Than Mediocre.\\n\\nReview: I would put these tools at a bit above dollar/closeout lot stores tools in quality but not by much. For around the home infrequent and/or casual use I believe they would be fine. You could probably put together a similar set of better quality for around the same price at a local hardware store.\\n\\nOverall:\\nThe finish is on the metal is cheap. It's sprayed/painted on not anodized and scratches off very easily. In particular there are spots on the 6\\\" slip-joint pliers and 8\\\" adjustable wrench where the finish was quite thin or missing entirely.\\nThe grips are comfortable and secure when dry. When wet I found these to be extremely slippery and almost impossible to keep a hold of during any type of usage. Exercise caution if using where the handles/grips could become wet! I don't quite get the camouflage coloring. Personally I'd want them brightly colored so they'd be easier to find.\\n\\nIndividually -\\nHammer: The face is smooth and will slip off when driving nails into hard surfaces (concrete, hardwood, etc.) but that could be roughed up with a file. The grip is comfortable and provides decent comfort when hammering. The shaft is fiberglass and seems sturdy. The head appears to be well glued on.\\nSix Inch Slip-Joint Pliers: A little loose but usable. Easy to adjust between size ranges and at it's wider adjustment the handle ends do not meet. Something rarely seen on lower end tools.\\nEight Inch Adjustable Wrench: While the adjustor operates quite smoothly there is a LOT of play in this tool. I'd estimate nearly a of an inch of play is evident.\\nScrewdrivers: Both Phillips head and standard screwdrivers are included in this set. The handles are well secured to the shafts. They're magnetic but just barely. Neither would hold a one inch screw horizontally.\\n\\nThe warranty, while 'lifetime' is ONLY against defects in manufacture, material or workmanship. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear like those warranties on higher end tools.\\n\\nIn Conclusion: These would make a decent gift for someone moving into their first apartment, home or going off to college. The quality is acceptable but really only for light duty work.\",\n \"Product: This CFL high wattage twist light bulb is a brilliant alternative to high wattage incandescent, halogen or high intensity discharge light bulbs. This CFL lasts up to 5 times longer and uses 75% less energy than an equivalent incandescent light bulb ranging from 100 - 420 watts. This medium screw base CFL is compatible for use with many standard fixture applications. Use these light bulbs where you use high wattage incandescents, such as barn lights, high bay/low bay retro fits for warehouses and factories. These light bulbs contain mercury. Dispose of according to local, state or federal laws. Westinghouse is a trusted, global brand. Westinghouse knows lighting and offers products with exceptional quality, reliability and functionality. Product reference number 37919.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very, Very Bright Bulb (Edited 09-29-2017)\\n\\nReview: We replaced a many year old 100 watt (equivalent) CFL with this 150 watt (equivalent) bulb and we were utterly amazed at how much brighter this bulb was than the one we replaced. The cost was fairly extravagant so I hope we get a few years (it's on almost 24/7) service out of it. Currently we're very happy with the purchase.\\n\\nEdit 09-29-2017 - Hoped for years of use because of the extravagant price but we need the bulb because my mother's eyesight is going slowly bad and she needs the brightest bulbs that will work wIth the lamp. The first bulb lasted a little over ten months, please note this lamp is left on 24/7 and gone through many a Florida thunderstorm and the brownouts that come with them. The bulb had dimmed significantly when we replaced it. That replacement lasted even less time though it did weather some very severe storms including a hurricane. It was, at the time we replaced it not as dim as the other but it had developed a very annoying flicker. On to the next bulb. Maybe someday they'll make an LED this bright.\",\n \"Product: The Coast RX311 features blade assist technology which was designed by world class custom knife maker and inventor, Ron Lake. It uses a patented system using a roller-bearing mounted to the blade and a leaf spring mounted between the handle liners resulting in a blade that releases faster, smoother and safer than other assisted opening knives on the market. A stainless steel frame and nylon filled nylon handle add incredible strength and durability. Thumb studs on both sides of the blade and thumb ramping on both sides of the handle make firing the blade easy from right or left side carry positions. A reversible, stainless steel pocket clip is included making the knife fully ambidextrous. The knife uses Coast's patented Max-Lock technology which provides a second lock system. This safeguard secures the blade closed when not in use and double locks the Liner-Lock when open, even if the Liner Lock is inadvertently dis-engaged. Backed by Coast's lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I Like This Knife... Now.\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1CNVWPLPIBGJO\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91OaKY-8wtS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81yxUrJpppS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\">As a matter of full disclosure the knife I am reviewing is a replacement for the knife I originally received through the Amazon Vine program. The first knife I received was defective, nearly impossible to open. After contacting the manufacturer they provided a replacement.\\n\\nThe knife is fairly attractive as knives go. The nylon handle has a nice raised diamond checkered pattern that looks good and gives a secure grip even when wet. The blade has a nice somewhat dark matte grey finish. There are one or two spots where the matte has been scratched down to bare metal but this is a knife, meant to be used, I expect this to happen. The handle fits my beefy hand quite nicely. I've removed the pocket clip. I have no use for it and it interfered with left-handed operation. If you're left handed and want to use the pocket clip it can, with minimal effort, be switched to the other side. The handle has a beveled spot on both sides near the thumb lugs to facilitate opening.\\n\\nThe knife opens lightning fast. There is some effort required to overcome the spring pressure but it isn't excessive. Using my middle finger as opposed to my thumb to open the knife feels more natural and allows me to keep a more secure grip on the knife. It's also faster to be ready to use this way requiring minimal repositioning of the knife and hand after opening.\\n\\nThis knife has two locks. Firstly it has a standard liner-lock. This feels reasonably solid and secure and doesn't bind or stick. Secondly it has a sliding lock which clearly shows with red and black colored if the knife is safe or unlocked. This lock works both when the blade is closed and when it's open. Personally I like this feature. You can truly secure the blade when open with no fear of accidentally activating the liner-lock and you can close and lock the knife knowing that it cannot accidentally be opened.\\n\\nOut of the box the blade was sharp enough to shave the hair off my arm with just a bit of grabbing and tugging. I've had sharper knives but I've also had duller ones. This is sharp enough for everyday utility work. The blade is sturdy with a false beveled edge on top. Thick enough that I don't see it bending, flexing or breaking during every day use but thin enough to not be excessively heavy. Balance on the knife is just on the forward part of the slide lock assembly.\\n\\nAlthough I had to exchange this knife right after receiving it the replacement is all I expected and more. This Coast RX311 is going in my gear bag. I've wanted a knife to take along with me when I'm out wandering around and this fits nicely in my day pack.\\n\\nNote, if you purchase this knife and find it very difficult to open, stop, contact the manufacturer or Amazon and let them know. It shouldn't be that way and you could, as I did with the first knife, injure yourself. Properly functioning this is a rather nice knife.\",\n \"Product: The Gama Sonic Premier Solar Garden Light GS-139 comes as a two pack and is the perfect set of lights for illuminating pathways or gardens. No electrical wiring is required for installation, just stake the solar pathway light into the ground in a sunny spot. Standing 23.5-inches tall, the solar garden light is constructed of weather-resistant cast-aluminum with a powder coated black finish and polished pencil edge glass. As sunlight hits the solar panel located at the top of the lights head, the internal Lithium-ion battery pack will build up a charge. At dusk, the solar garden light will automatically turn on and shine at a brightness of 50 lumens in a warm-white color temperature for up to 8 hours on a full charge. The monocrystalline silicon solar panels are protected by weather-resistant, cleanable tempered glass that helps ensure long-lasting reliability. A sunny day without overcast should be sufficient to provide a full recharge. Recharging speed will vary based on weather conditions, but no charging will occur if direct sun does not shine on the solar panel. For any product questions or unexpected issues with your Gama Sonic product, our support team at our Atlanta headquarters is here to help.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Impressive Solar Lighting {Edited, Three Times}\\n\\nReview: These lights are quite attractive and much taller than our other bargain basement plastic lights. The material is a sturdy aluminum with the look of wrought iron and real glass panes, they're nice and hefty. As other reviewers have noted the paint is a bit thin but I've noticed only one small dot where the paint has flaked on one of ours. These throw a remarkable amount of light and makes our front walkway much safer to walk on and the do run from dusk to dawn as advertised even on a partially cloudy and rainy day. The addition of an on/off switch on the underside of the cap was a nice bonus. Another perk is the shafts comes as two pieces, not counting the light unit and ground spike, for each lamp this way with several you could stagger the height of your lights high and low for an attractive effect.\\n\\nEdited to add -\\nI've had to dropped my rating to two stars. Within a week of putting these out in the yard one lamp had failed. I contacted Gama Sonic, they apologized and sent out another set. Unfortunately in less than a week one of those two lights has also failed. I contacted Gama Sonic again and was told there is a known issue with the batteries in some of these lights. They've offered to send me replacement batteries when they get new ones in. Their customer service has been very quick to respond, polite and willing to work to resolve these issues but that doesn't make up for a 50% failure rate in 'premium' solar outdoor lighting.\\n\\nSecond Update -\\nI received two batteries and two loose connector plugs with a couple inches of wire running from them weeks after they had sais they were going to send them. The batteries in these lights are nonstandard and are glued in place in the top of the light casing. No additional adhesive was included nor were any instructions included. When the first light failed I had taken it apart to see if a failure point was evident. I had a horrible time reassembling the unit and finally ended up just getting rid of the two bad lights. It was too much of a hassle for my disabled hands. The two lights that DID work are still doing so quite well, staying lit from dusk to dawn. Hopefully the new lights they're shipping have the replacement batteries. My two-star review stands.\\n\\nA Third Update -\\nOut of the four lights I ended up with and the two that worked as reported above neither now stay lit much past three in the morning when they previously would be lit well into the first rays of dawn. Quite disappointed in the continuing poor quality of these lights and support from the company. My original review was written in April and these expensive lights are barely functional after six months? That's deplorable. I have a set of eight, cheap, plastic lights we bought around the same time and these and they work just as well and some even longer with only one failure out of the eight. My two star review is now one star.\",\n \"Product: These are laser-engraved wooden tokens. No inks or dyes to wear off or fade - these will last for decades. Great fun to give away. These have no advertising on them, they're just plain Round Tuits. We ship from Florida and always ship same or next day.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just Get Around To It And Buy Some Already. . .\\n\\nReview: I love these things. My dad got me one when I was six at some tourist trap and I carried around with me everywhere I went. Then one day, I'm not even sure when, someone decided they wanted it too and walked off with it. I occasionally looked around to replace mine but the prices were prohibitive. Even these were not inexpensive. But they appear and are very well made. Best of all, each Tuit is advertising free. One side simply says 'Tuit' the other side has a little 'round to it' story which makes these perfect for party favors or gifts. Other companies splash their name, phone number, etc. on the face of the coin which I found a bit off putting. I'm not here to help anyone advertise. If someone asks me where I got them I'll gladly send them the Amazon link but I don't want to be forced into advertising.\\nI've already mailed off over a dozen of these to friends and still have several left to share. I hope they get as much of a kick out of them as I do having one again after all this time.\",\n \"Product: The first volume in a noirish, gritty urban fantasy for adults from the bestselling Children's author. Quick-witted and cocksure, young upstart Capac Raimi arrives in the City determined to make his mark. As he learns the tricks of his new trade from his Uncle Theo -- extortion, racketeering, threatening behaviour -- he's soon well on his way to becoming a promising new gangster. Then he crosses paths with The Cardinal, and his life changes forever. The Cardinal is the City and the City is The Cardinal. They are joined at the soul. Nothing moves on the streets, or below them, without the Cardinal's knowledge. His rule is absolute. As Capac begins to discover more about the extent of the Cardinal's influence on his own life he is faced with hard choices. And as his ambition soars ever higher he will learn all there is to know about loss, and the true cost of ultimate power!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Procession of the Dead (The City)\\n\\nReview: An eclectic mix of Mayan mythos and Godfather style gangsterism Darren\\nShan has created an interesting story of anti-heros that will keep you\\nreading until the very end.\\n\\nShan an already prolific children/young adult author makes his adult\\nnovel debut with 'Procession of the Dead (The City)' in which young\\nCapac Raimi arrives from points unknown and untold to live with his\\nuncle, a somewhat failed career criminal, and learn how to be a\\ngangster.\\n\\nSoon after his uncle's untimely death Capac becomes the protege of The\\nCardinal, the crime lord who virtually owns and controls The City (which\\nhas, apparently, no name).\\n\\nWhile being groomed for bigger and better things Capac begins to realize\\nhe has no knowledge of his life before arriving in The City. He can\\nremember debarking from the train when he arrived but little else before\\nthat but strange flashes and dreamlike snippets.\\n\\nEven odder people around him are disappearing, completely. Once their\\ngone no one else except Capac remembers any detail of their existence!\\n\\nAn interesting story in which the protagonist isn't a hero or even\\na very nice person. I enjoyed the plot twist making you involved with and care\\nabout a criminal and killer. Bring on the next chapter of the story, I\\nfor one cannot wait.\",\n \"Product: Clayton Smith is a sometimes-writer, sometimes-napper based in Chicago, where he uses neither his bachelors in journalism nor his masters in arts management. He is often calamitous, and good at bacon. He lives with his impressively tolerant wife. Claytons previous works include Pants on Fire: A Collection of Lies and the comedic play Death and McCootie, which debuted at the 2013 New York International Fringe Festival.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent But Somewhat Hard to Believe\\n\\nReview: Both main protagonists annoyed the living. . . heck, out of me. One making idiotic charges straight into sure danger without a care for his companion and the other such an amazing coward I'm amazed he undertook the journey. The author tried to be funny and in many places he did succeed but often it was almost like the 'Laugh' light going on at a TV show taping it was forced making it far less funny. Still the story drew me in, there were a few rough and slow patches but there were also times when I checked it was three am and I had been reading for hours without noticing any time had passed.\\nThere wasn't a lot of closure. Even one the story's main protagonists just slips out of the picture. Does he live? Does he die? Does he return to the friends they made along the way? We may never know. The same goes for the young girl in the boat. The journalist and everyone else on the train. They just. . . drift out of the story.\\nThe seeming MacGuffin nature of the note carried throughout the entire adventure nearly brought me to tears and I somewhat understand the focus of the ending. But too many loose ends were left. Enough for a sequel? I honestly hope not. I'd like to see an author in this day and age NOT try to stretch everything they write into series. I'll live with wondering. I'll make up, but not write down, I don't do fan-fic, my own endings we weren't provided. Four stars even with the rough bits. Very much a worthwhile read. One thing that bothered me. They kept saying the apocalyptic plague took out 99% of the population but the two protagonists seemed to meet a lot of people along their lives journey.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":49,"string":"49"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":79,"string":"79"}}},{"rowIdx":80,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1JZTXHN3OWWM0"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Laura lives in the Southern United States with her family, including a precocious cat that acts like a dog. When she's not daydreaming up future stories, you can catch her wearing out the Kindle app on her iPad, dancing in the kitchen, or singing in the shower.\". The summary of the review text is \"A Storm of Emotions and Triumph....\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"The premise of this story scares me...does this kind of thing still happen? Have we not evolved yet? Why is it that the Boys Club can still exist?\n\nJana is a successful Sales Rep for a medical device company. She has worked diligently to achieve her high standards and the respect of her colleagues and customers.\n\nJana is happily married to Andrew who is also successful in his field. He is supportive and loving...and all that Jana has ever dreamed of. The icing on the cake would be a child to complete their beautiful family.\n\nPriorities have kept the family dream on hold for some time, approaching 30 Jana is still not sure if she is ready. A promotion to territory manager helps her make that decision, putting her career first yet again.\n\nThe promotion brings her back to her home town, close to family and her best friend Grace. Her best friend since college they have been there for each other. Grace has struggled with mental illness for half her life...but their bonds of friendship never falters.\n\nSo what could possibly go wrong in this picture perfect world that Jana has? Anything and Everything. Jana falls pregnant, a happy surprise that soon becomes an emotional roller coaster. The company she works for is secretly anti mothers in the work force, doing all they can to edge Jana out of the company. Grace soon becomes pregnant but chooses to stop taking her meds while she is, soon starts to struggle with her life.\n\nJana is strong, independent, determined and most of not going to let life hold her back. But does she have what it takes to bring down a multi-million dollar company for discrimination? Can she help her friend through her darkest times?\n\nA story filled with love and devotion, heartache and deception. A story that will have you feeling love and adoration for the characters and anger at the way those in power abuse it.\n\nA wonderful story Ms Lexington, I look forward to reading more of your work!"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"The premise of this story scares me...does this kind of thing still happen? Have we not evolved yet? Why is it that the Boys Club can still exist?\n\nJana is a successful Sales Rep for a medical device company. She has worked diligently to achieve her high standards and the respect of her colleagues and customers.\n\nJana is happily married to Andrew who is also successful in his field. He is supportive and loving...and all that Jana has ever dreamed of. The icing on the cake would be a child to complete their beautiful family.\n\nPriorities have kept the family dream on hold for some time, approaching 30 Jana is still not sure if she is ready. A promotion to territory manager helps her make that decision, putting her career first yet again.\n\nThe promotion brings her back to her home town, close to family and her best friend Grace. Her best friend since college they have been there for each other. Grace has struggled with mental illness for half her life...but their bonds of friendship never falters.\n\nSo what could possibly go wrong in this picture perfect world that Jana has? Anything and Everything. Jana falls pregnant, a happy surprise that soon becomes an emotional roller coaster. The company she works for is secretly anti mothers in the work force, doing all they can to edge Jana out of the company. Grace soon becomes pregnant but chooses to stop taking her meds while she is, soon starts to struggle with her life.\n\nJana is strong, independent, determined and most of not going to let life hold her back. But does she have what it takes to bring down a multi-million dollar company for discrimination? Can she help her friend through her darkest times?\n\nA story filled with love and devotion, heartache and deception. A story that will have you feeling love and adoration for the characters and anger at the way those in power abuse it.\n\nA wonderful story Ms Lexington, I look forward to reading more of your work!"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. When she's not writing, she's probably shopping, baking, or reading. You can often find Jasinda drinking sweet red wine with frozen berries and eating a cupcake. www.jasindawilder.com\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: First appearances are deceiving...\n\nReview: Leo has tolerated a half hearted relationship for too long. Her life is going no where and her fiance has pushed her buttons for the last time. Making a quick exit from the car at the traffic lights, Leo realises its now or never. Moving as fast as she can to get away she absently bumps into a brick wall of a man. The large muscular biker, Shane, unintentionally gives off an intimidating vibe. However he offers an escape for Leo. Out of the rain and in to his warm Condo,Leo soon discovers that there is far more than meets the eye with this leather clad god. Is he just what she's been looking for? Her hormones are screaming yes...but her subconscious is screaming \"Wait!!!\" An adventure worth sinking your teeth into!","Product: Audrey Carlan is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She writes wicked hot love stories that are designed to give the reader a romantic experience that's sexy, sweet, and so hot your ereader might melt. Some of her works include the wildly successful Calendar Girl Serial, Falling Series, and the Trinity Trilogy. She lives in the California Valley where she enjoys her two children and the love of her life. When she's not writing, you can find her teaching yoga, sipping wine with her \"soul sisters\" or with her nose stuck in a wicked hot romance novel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A fabulous strong businesswoman meets a gorgeous southern gentleman...\n\nReview: Aspen is a self made success story. Nobody stands in her way and those that know her respect her. Hank is a southern gentleman who runs his own construction business. His latest job is a building owned by Aspen.\n\nVisiting the construction site Aspen is saved from near death by Hank...who bravely jumped in to protect aspen from falling steel. While Aspen escaped with a few scrapes and bruises, Hank was impaled through his shoulder.\n\nFeeling both grateful and guilty for Hanks injury, Aspen covers all costs for Hanks recovery including her home where she can keep a close eye on his recovery.\n\nBoth Hank and Aspen skip around the attraction they have for each other for the longest time, but eventually they give in to their feelings. The question is while opposites attract can they go the distance? Are they too different to make it work? Will their family and friends support their relationship or seek any way they can to make them see that they just don't match.\n\nA side from all of the outside influences the biggest hindrance is Aspen and her strong determination to remain independent. Can Hank convince her that its okay to need someone...and he is just the guy she can trust\n\nFabulous characters, fantastic storyline. Love your work Ms Carlan, I am on to read London Falling now - because I just cannot get enough of your books!","Product: Melanie Kerr studied linguistics, English and theatre at the University of British Columbia and law at the University of Alberta. She lives in Edmonton, where she raises her three young children, sews her own Regency costumes, runs a Regency costume events company, blogs on all things old and English, endeavours to take over the world and occasionally practices law. Follies Past is her first novel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A must for Fans of Austen and Lovers of Darcy!\n\nReview: I have to admit I have never read Pride & Prejudice - and never really had an attraction to historical romance novels...BUT!!!\n\nFollies Past was fantastic. It took me a little bit to get into only because Ms Karr stayed true to Jane Austen's style and wrote in the language of the time. Once I got the swing of it the story was so wonderfully written that I had to keep reading!\n\nBecause I had no previous knowledge of the story the characters and the story line were just that a story...and by the end of it I knew I had to read Pride and Prejudice to see what happened next to the wonderful characters.\n\nSo after reading P&P, Follies Past had given me quite an insight into the characters - especially Mr Wickham. Over all though Ms Karr has written in beautiful tribute a prequel to the very famous novel. Ms Karr clearly shows her linguistic skills as well as her very talented writing ability.\n\nIf you are a lover of historical romance then you will love this book...if you are a lover of all things Austen or Darcy then you will most definitely love this book.\n\nI am a convert now for sure...and I have a bundle of historical romances in my kindle library just waiting to be read. A wonderful book Ms Karr, I look forward to reading more of your work!","Product: Brenna Aubrey is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary romance stories that center on geek culture. She has always sought comfort in good books and the long, involved stories she weaves in her head. Brenna is a city girl with a nature-lover's heart. She therefore finds herself out in green open spaces any chance she can get. She's also a mom, teacher, geek girl, Francophile, unabashed video-game addict & eBook hoarder. She currently resides on the west coast of the US with her husband, two children, and two adorable golden retriever pups. More information available at www.BrennaAubrey.net To sign up for Brenna's email list for release updates, please copy & paste this link into your browser: http://BrennaAubrey.net/newsletter-signup/\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A hard lesson in compromise....\n\nReview: Mia and Adam are just getting over the honeymoon phase of their relationship when things begin to come crashing down.\n\nAdam's gaming company has been slapped with a law suit and Mia has been accepted in to med school...on the other side of the country.\n\nAdam suddenly realises that Mia is his world and the thought of her leaving scares the hell out of him. So Adam goes in to battle mode...which totally annoys the hell out of Mia. Both strong willed and stubborn, Mia and Adam fight it out. But to Adam's surprise Mia calls his bluff and calls a time out on their relationship.\n\nAt any turn is told through Adam's point of view. Adam is not used to not being in control. To start with he takes it as a challenge, but as the story progresses, Mia becomes more and more distant leaving Adam lost and confused.\n\nTowards the end of the story all is revealed, but the story does not conclude and so be prepared to be left hanging a little because Ms Aubrey has book 3 in the works.\n\nI love Adam and Mia, and I totally Love Brenna Aubrey's writing style. I cannot wait to see what is in store in Gaming the System #3!","Product: Audrey Carlan is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She writes wicked hot love stories that are designed to give the reader a romantic experience that's sexy, sweet, and so hot your ereader might melt. Some of her works include the wildly successful Calendar Girl Serial, Falling Series, and the Trinity Trilogy. She lives in the California Valley where she enjoys her two children and the love of her life. When she's not writing, you can find her teaching yoga, sipping wine with her \"soul sisters\" or with her nose stuck in a wicked hot romance novel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: We all deserve true love...\n\nReview: Camille (Cami) is doing it tough, working two jobs and bring up a young son on her own. She doesn't let life hold her back, despite the constant let downs in her past.\n\nNathaniel (Nate) is a cocky lawyer who has a different woman on his arm each event or party he attends...no tying down this guy...until he lays eyes on Cami. Nate is overwhelmed by her sweetness and true caring nature. He is determined to win her over.\n\nCami doesn't have time for playboys like Nate. The only man in her life is her Son and she is determined to keep it that way. Nate on the other hand sees something in Cami that no other woman has shown to him, and no matter what it takes he is not going to let her slip through his fingers.\n\nCami keeps Nate at arms length, keeping her past and present as discreet as possible. How long can Cami resist his charm? Can Nate convince Cami that he is not after a bit of fun, that he genuinely cares about her?\n\nWill both Cami and Nate's pasts prevent them from having anything meaningful?\n\nMs Carlan, once again you have taken me on a wonderful journey into the lives of your characters. I love their world, and I hope to visit many more to come!"],"string":"[\n \"Product: Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. When she's not writing, she's probably shopping, baking, or reading. You can often find Jasinda drinking sweet red wine with frozen berries and eating a cupcake. www.jasindawilder.com\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: First appearances are deceiving...\\n\\nReview: Leo has tolerated a half hearted relationship for too long. Her life is going no where and her fiance has pushed her buttons for the last time. Making a quick exit from the car at the traffic lights, Leo realises its now or never. Moving as fast as she can to get away she absently bumps into a brick wall of a man. The large muscular biker, Shane, unintentionally gives off an intimidating vibe. However he offers an escape for Leo. Out of the rain and in to his warm Condo,Leo soon discovers that there is far more than meets the eye with this leather clad god. Is he just what she's been looking for? Her hormones are screaming yes...but her subconscious is screaming \\\"Wait!!!\\\" An adventure worth sinking your teeth into!\",\n \"Product: Audrey Carlan is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She writes wicked hot love stories that are designed to give the reader a romantic experience that's sexy, sweet, and so hot your ereader might melt. Some of her works include the wildly successful Calendar Girl Serial, Falling Series, and the Trinity Trilogy. She lives in the California Valley where she enjoys her two children and the love of her life. When she's not writing, you can find her teaching yoga, sipping wine with her \\\"soul sisters\\\" or with her nose stuck in a wicked hot romance novel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A fabulous strong businesswoman meets a gorgeous southern gentleman...\\n\\nReview: Aspen is a self made success story. Nobody stands in her way and those that know her respect her. Hank is a southern gentleman who runs his own construction business. His latest job is a building owned by Aspen.\\n\\nVisiting the construction site Aspen is saved from near death by Hank...who bravely jumped in to protect aspen from falling steel. While Aspen escaped with a few scrapes and bruises, Hank was impaled through his shoulder.\\n\\nFeeling both grateful and guilty for Hanks injury, Aspen covers all costs for Hanks recovery including her home where she can keep a close eye on his recovery.\\n\\nBoth Hank and Aspen skip around the attraction they have for each other for the longest time, but eventually they give in to their feelings. The question is while opposites attract can they go the distance? Are they too different to make it work? Will their family and friends support their relationship or seek any way they can to make them see that they just don't match.\\n\\nA side from all of the outside influences the biggest hindrance is Aspen and her strong determination to remain independent. Can Hank convince her that its okay to need someone...and he is just the guy she can trust\\n\\nFabulous characters, fantastic storyline. Love your work Ms Carlan, I am on to read London Falling now - because I just cannot get enough of your books!\",\n \"Product: Melanie Kerr studied linguistics, English and theatre at the University of British Columbia and law at the University of Alberta. She lives in Edmonton, where she raises her three young children, sews her own Regency costumes, runs a Regency costume events company, blogs on all things old and English, endeavours to take over the world and occasionally practices law. Follies Past is her first novel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A must for Fans of Austen and Lovers of Darcy!\\n\\nReview: I have to admit I have never read Pride & Prejudice - and never really had an attraction to historical romance novels...BUT!!!\\n\\nFollies Past was fantastic. It took me a little bit to get into only because Ms Karr stayed true to Jane Austen's style and wrote in the language of the time. Once I got the swing of it the story was so wonderfully written that I had to keep reading!\\n\\nBecause I had no previous knowledge of the story the characters and the story line were just that a story...and by the end of it I knew I had to read Pride and Prejudice to see what happened next to the wonderful characters.\\n\\nSo after reading P&P, Follies Past had given me quite an insight into the characters - especially Mr Wickham. Over all though Ms Karr has written in beautiful tribute a prequel to the very famous novel. Ms Karr clearly shows her linguistic skills as well as her very talented writing ability.\\n\\nIf you are a lover of historical romance then you will love this book...if you are a lover of all things Austen or Darcy then you will most definitely love this book.\\n\\nI am a convert now for sure...and I have a bundle of historical romances in my kindle library just waiting to be read. A wonderful book Ms Karr, I look forward to reading more of your work!\",\n \"Product: Brenna Aubrey is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary romance stories that center on geek culture. She has always sought comfort in good books and the long, involved stories she weaves in her head. Brenna is a city girl with a nature-lover's heart. She therefore finds herself out in green open spaces any chance she can get. She's also a mom, teacher, geek girl, Francophile, unabashed video-game addict & eBook hoarder. She currently resides on the west coast of the US with her husband, two children, and two adorable golden retriever pups. More information available at www.BrennaAubrey.net To sign up for Brenna's email list for release updates, please copy & paste this link into your browser: http://BrennaAubrey.net/newsletter-signup/\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A hard lesson in compromise....\\n\\nReview: Mia and Adam are just getting over the honeymoon phase of their relationship when things begin to come crashing down.\\n\\nAdam's gaming company has been slapped with a law suit and Mia has been accepted in to med school...on the other side of the country.\\n\\nAdam suddenly realises that Mia is his world and the thought of her leaving scares the hell out of him. So Adam goes in to battle mode...which totally annoys the hell out of Mia. Both strong willed and stubborn, Mia and Adam fight it out. But to Adam's surprise Mia calls his bluff and calls a time out on their relationship.\\n\\nAt any turn is told through Adam's point of view. Adam is not used to not being in control. To start with he takes it as a challenge, but as the story progresses, Mia becomes more and more distant leaving Adam lost and confused.\\n\\nTowards the end of the story all is revealed, but the story does not conclude and so be prepared to be left hanging a little because Ms Aubrey has book 3 in the works.\\n\\nI love Adam and Mia, and I totally Love Brenna Aubrey's writing style. I cannot wait to see what is in store in Gaming the System #3!\",\n \"Product: Audrey Carlan is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She writes wicked hot love stories that are designed to give the reader a romantic experience that's sexy, sweet, and so hot your ereader might melt. Some of her works include the wildly successful Calendar Girl Serial, Falling Series, and the Trinity Trilogy. She lives in the California Valley where she enjoys her two children and the love of her life. When she's not writing, you can find her teaching yoga, sipping wine with her \\\"soul sisters\\\" or with her nose stuck in a wicked hot romance novel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: We all deserve true love...\\n\\nReview: Camille (Cami) is doing it tough, working two jobs and bring up a young son on her own. She doesn't let life hold her back, despite the constant let downs in her past.\\n\\nNathaniel (Nate) is a cocky lawyer who has a different woman on his arm each event or party he attends...no tying down this guy...until he lays eyes on Cami. Nate is overwhelmed by her sweetness and true caring nature. He is determined to win her over.\\n\\nCami doesn't have time for playboys like Nate. The only man in her life is her Son and she is determined to keep it that way. Nate on the other hand sees something in Cami that no other woman has shown to him, and no matter what it takes he is not going to let her slip through his fingers.\\n\\nCami keeps Nate at arms length, keeping her past and present as discreet as possible. How long can Cami resist his charm? Can Nate convince Cami that he is not after a bit of fun, that he genuinely cares about her?\\n\\nWill both Cami and Nate's pasts prevent them from having anything meaningful?\\n\\nMs Carlan, once again you have taken me on a wonderful journey into the lives of your characters. I love their world, and I hope to visit many more to come!\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":5,"string":"5"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":80,"string":"80"}}},{"rowIdx":81,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3H823MCJOPT90"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"1.0\" for a product with description \"Features Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE) with a patented print head firing ink droplets as small as 2pl. Combines dye ink for vivid colors and black pigment ink for sharp text. Print documents and web pages with fast speeds of approx. 8.0 images per minute (ipm) for black and approx. 4.0 images per minute (ipm) for color\". The summary of the review text is \"Small Capacity Printer; Extra Cable Required But Not Provided\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Printer is small and light, fairly easy to set up until you get to the point where you need to hook the printer up to the USB/Firewire cable. Canon blithely assumes you will have such a cable, and does not include it with the purchase of your printer but it is entirely possible that you may not have the required cable, even if you do have another printer...\n\nThe other two printers I own both have firewire ports but neither one of those printers came with that cable. Fortunately both of those other printers use a Cat 5 ethernet cable, of which my husband has more than a few laying around. Not so fortunate for this model, it has no Cat 5 port. I ordered the required cable, but now I have to wait perhaps 2 or 3 weeks before I can use my new printer. Fortunately, I got the printer as a reward for doing surveys for the National Consumer Panel, which is partly owned by AC Nielson... no cash layout necessary.\n\nThere are USB/firewire cables available at a low extra cost, so the lack of the cable being included with the printer is a minor inconvenience... but the delay caused by not having such a cable readily available is why I am docking two stars from the rating. The other two stars got docked because of the paper capacity (small) and top-loading aspect, as well as the lack of written instructions for setup. The instructions that came with the printer are mostly unclear technical drawings with a very small amount of text in English and Spanish. The operations manual is available on screen, but only after setup is complete... which cannot be done without that required cable.\n\nThe stock photo of this printer shows a paper coming out the bottom, but shows no paper going in to the printer. This is deceptive, as it led me to believe the printer was a bottom feed model, which is untrue. A bottom feed printer usually holds more paper so you don't have to reload as often, and would have gotten a better star rating from me.\n\nAfter I can test the printing, I'll revise the review to include more information."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Printer is small and light, fairly easy to set up until you get to the point where you need to hook the printer up to the USB/Firewire cable. Canon blithely assumes you will have such a cable, and does not include it with the purchase of your printer but it is entirely possible that you may not have the required cable, even if you do have another printer...\n\nThe other two printers I own both have firewire ports but neither one of those printers came with that cable. Fortunately both of those other printers use a Cat 5 ethernet cable, of which my husband has more than a few laying around. Not so fortunate for this model, it has no Cat 5 port. I ordered the required cable, but now I have to wait perhaps 2 or 3 weeks before I can use my new printer. Fortunately, I got the printer as a reward for doing surveys for the National Consumer Panel, which is partly owned by AC Nielson... no cash layout necessary.\n\nThere are USB/firewire cables available at a low extra cost, so the lack of the cable being included with the printer is a minor inconvenience... but the delay caused by not having such a cable readily available is why I am docking two stars from the rating. The other two stars got docked because of the paper capacity (small) and top-loading aspect, as well as the lack of written instructions for setup. The instructions that came with the printer are mostly unclear technical drawings with a very small amount of text in English and Spanish. The operations manual is available on screen, but only after setup is complete... which cannot be done without that required cable.\n\nThe stock photo of this printer shows a paper coming out the bottom, but shows no paper going in to the printer. This is deceptive, as it led me to believe the printer was a bottom feed model, which is untrue. A bottom feed printer usually holds more paper so you don't have to reload as often, and would have gotten a better star rating from me.\n\nAfter I can test the printing, I'll revise the review to include more information."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: An excellent reference tool for both students and skilled artists. Fully articulated right hand manikin holds its pose. Constructed of smoothly finished natural wood and features adjustable wrist, fingers, and thumb. Also known as mannequins.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Limited Possibilities Somewhat Disappointing\n\nReview: I bought one of these hands used to help me learn to sketch a human hand with the correct proportions. To that end, this item fulfills it's purpose, however, with the limited posability of this hand, it's usefulness will be severely curtailed.\n\nFor instance, this hand can hold my keys - which made an interesting photo - from which I will eventually create a sketch, but I cannot make the hand hold a small cup which would otherwise fit nicely into the hand because there is no sideways movement of the finger or thumb joints possible due to the solid wood construction. This limitation on the posability of the hand is somewhat disappointing.\n\nHaving more variety of positions to sketch would be nice. I'm guessing I will evenutally move on to using a real hand as my model for more interesting sketches.\n\nWhile there are other hand manniquins on the market with better posability, the full price of the better manniquins is also higher, which is discouraging for a person on a limited budget such as mine. If you buy one of these, don't pay full price, perhaps even try to find one used, as I did.","Product: DMC-An attractive, color selection of both variegated and solid value floss colors. Perfect for crafting, friendship bracelets, card making, kids' craft activities and other crafting hobbies. Value pack includes: 79 solid colors, 26 variegated colors, 12 cardboard bobbins and a free craft project.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: DMC it is Definitely NOT!\n\nReview: I bought a pack of this six-strand floss because ordering the 8 colors I needed for my project from Hershnerr's would have been foolish. The charge for each skein of DMC floss is only 44 cents, regardless of color. However, the shipping charges added would have about tripled my cost for the DMC Floss. Unlike many others, I have no option to purchase embroidery floss, nor many other craft items in my local stores. Such things are either not carried at all, or the selection is very poor.\n\nNeutral:\nThis floss, while not up to DMC standards is also not up to DMC pricing. At the price I paid for this item, my cost breaks down to about 12 cents per skein. Sometimes, you do get what you pay for. The skeins are about 8 meters long, similar the DMC skeins. I was expecting more colors with no duplications, however, in my package, most colors included are represented by two or even three skeins. The included 12 cardboard bobbins are about enough to hold one project's worth of thread.\n\nCons:\nIn examining some DMC floss that I purchased for a different project, I discovered that the six strands you obtain when this floss separates are finer than the DMC floss strands... finer enough that you may want to use three strands of this if the instructions for your project call for two strands of DMC. Another reviewer mentioned that the quality of these skeins makes them unsuitable for mixing this floss and DMC in the same project. I agree; however, I would never, under any circumstances, mix two different brands of floss in the same project. As noted by other reviewers, these colors are neither named nor numbered, which makes selection of your exact colors a bit difficult if you try to go by DMC numbers or color names. You can find colors in dark, medium and light shades of colors somewhere near those listed in DMC project instructions, so all is not lost if you attempt to use this floss.\n\nPros:\nWhile this floss isn't quite as shiny as DMC, it is not, as another reviewer claimed, completely dull. It does have a subtle sheen of it's own. It is also not, as a different reviewer said, all in one thick strand. It will separate into six strands as the label claims, and does so without much difficulty. That said, this is a decent alternative for small projects, provided that you only use this floss for the entire project. If you are doing craft projects other than embroidery, such as friendship bracelets, this is a decent alternative for those other uses, at about 1/3 the cost of DMC floss.\n\nRecommended for friendship bracelets and other children's crafts, for those just learning embroidery, or, if in desperate need of a small amount of a few colors for a single (small) embroidery project to the extent that shipping would cost more than your thread if purchased from Hershnerr's","Product: DMC-An attractive, color selection of both variegated and solid value floss colors. Perfect for crafting, friendship bracelets, card making, kids' craft activities and other crafting hobbies. Value pack includes: 79 solid colors, 26 variegated colors, 12 cardboard bobbins and a free craft project.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: DMC it is Definitely NOT!\n\nReview: I bought a pack of this six-strand floss because ordering the 8 colors I needed for my project from Hershnerr's would have been foolish. The charge for each skein of DMC floss is only 44 cents, regardless of color. However, the shipping charges added would have about tripled my cost for the DMC Floss. Unlike many others, I have no option to purchase embroidery floss, nor many other craft items in my local stores. Such things are either not carried at all, or the selection is very poor.\n\nNeutral:\nThis floss, while not up to DMC standards is also not up to DMC pricing. At the price I paid for this item, my cost breaks down to about 12 cents per skein. Sometimes, you do get what you pay for. The skeins are about 8 meters long, similar the DMC skeins. I was expecting more colors with no duplications, however, in my package, most colors included are represented by two or even three skeins. The included 12 cardboard bobbins are about enough to hold one project's worth of thread.\n\nCons:\nIn examining some DMC floss that I purchased for a different project, I discovered that the six strands you obtain when this floss separates are finer than the DMC floss strands... finer enough that you may want to use three strands of this if the instructions for your project call for two strands of DMC. Another reviewer mentioned that the quality of these skeins makes them unsuitable for mixing this floss and DMC in the same project. I agree; however, I would never, under any circumstances, mix two different brands of floss in the same project. As noted by other reviewers, these colors are neither named nor numbered, which makes selection of your exact colors a bit difficult if you try to go by DMC numbers or color names. You can find colors in dark, medium and light shades of colors somewhere near those listed in DMC project instructions, so all is not lost if you attempt to use this floss.\n\nPros:\nWhile this floss isn't quite as shiny as DMC, it is not, as another reviewer claimed, completely dull. It does have a subtle sheen of it's own. It is also not, as a different reviewer said, all in one thick strand. It will separate into six strands as the label claims, and does so without much difficulty. That said, this is a decent alternative for small projects, provided that you only use this floss for the entire project. If you are doing craft projects other than embroidery, such as friendship bracelets, this is a decent alternative for those other uses, at about 1/3 the cost of DMC floss.\n\nRecommended for friendship bracelets and other children's crafts, for those just learning embroidery, or, if in desperate need of a small amount of a few colors for a single (small) embroidery project to the extent that shipping would cost more than your thread if purchased from Hershnerr's","Product: Dust free storage and organization for all of your thread spools! The Super Satchel Thread Box with 2 removable thread trays securely holds thread spools regardless of how the closed box is stored (vertically or horizantally). The thread trays offer the capacity to hold (224) 20-millimeter spools, (108) 32-millimeter spools, or (30) 45-millimeter spools (accessories not included). This box features secure latches and an easy grip handle for maximum portability.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Adequate, but could be better designed\n\nReview: As other reviewers have mentioned, I, too, have different sizes of thread spools; I don't know exactly which sizes are in my inventory. I do know the larger sizes will NOT fit side-by-side in this box because the spindles are too closely placed, both to each other and to the edges of the tray. At best, I can get larger spools on about every other spindle, but in some rows, even that is not possible. Where the handles for removing the spool trays from the box are located, only small spools of thread will fit at the ends of those rows because of the way the handles are designed.\n\nNevertheless, I was still able to place about 50 large spools, and about 25 smaller spools in this box by mixing up the sizes in each row. I have some empty spindles, but no more larger spools would fit, (good thing I don't have any more of those to store) and I have no more smaller ones with which to fill the remaining spaces, so my box isn't fully utilized.\n\nI would have preferred to store my spools organized by color and size... however, the design of the box would only allow that level of organization if all of my thread was on the small sized spools. So I've marked the one star deficit for that. I'd love to see a slightly different version of this box with the spool trays designed to better handle the larger spools. Despite it's flaws, I think this thread box is probably the best one on the market for storing large quantities of thread.","Product: Versatile organizer keeps embroidery floss neat and organized. Sorts your needlework colors so you can locate and pick them out right away. Even has a larger compartment where you can store a small pair of scissors, measuring tape, etc. Seventeen separate, deep compartments. Reference chart and 100 sturdy bobbins included. Snap-shut lid keeps it all in place. Dimensions: 10-1/4 by 7 by 1-5/8-inch (26cm by 17.8cm by 19.37cm); 16 compartments 2-1/3 by 1-3/4-inch, scissors compartment 4-5/8 by 1-3/4-inch.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Caviat Emptor - Let the Buyer Beware\n\nReview: This box is advertised as coming with a *free* floss winder. The winder is most definitely NOT free, but is included in the set. I paid $12.31 and got my shipping free because of Amazon Prime. I also received 100 paper (lightweight cardstock) bobbins with the box. I found the same box - from a different vendor - with the same type of bobbins and with no floss winder included. I paid $6.99 for that version, and still got free (Amazon Prime) shipping which is much more reasonable, considering what you get.\n\nThe box insert (reference chart on the back) claims the bobbins are sturdy, which is not true. They tear much too easily. The hole in the bobbins mostly does not line up with the hole in the floss winder, so the bobbins get bent a little each time you use them in the floss winder. I think I found about two bobbins in my set where the holes did line up properly, and I still have over half of my 100 skeins to process, so there's a small chance I might find a few more holes that align properly, but I'm not going to count on that happening. I have not yet received the second box, but I expect the bobbins to be about the same as those which came with the first box... in other words, not nearly as sturdy as the manufacturer claims. Deduct one star for the thin, not sturdy bobbins.\n\nThe floss winder isn't quite as useless as another reviewer stated. Using the floss winder is marginally faster than winding the bobbins by hand, but as noted by another reviewer, the floss winder doesn't do as good of a job as it is possible to do when hand-winding the floss. IF you're in a hurry to get your floss wound onto the bobbins, the floss winder can do an acceptable job. The slower you are willing to wind, the neater the job will be done. Over all, I found the same is true of hand-winding your floss. If you hurry, the job is sloppier. Oh, yes, the floss winder does squeak incessantly, but not so loudly as to be disturbing. Setting up the floss winder is a hassle, so I use it alternately with winding the floss by hand. The floss winder makes an interesting toy, and is helpful if you want to process a large number of floss skeins in a shorter time. Is the floss winder worth $5.32? A resounding NO. Deduct another star for the claim that the floss winder is free, when it is obviously included in the cost.\n\nThis box is plastic, but only a little sturdier than the paper bobbins. One must still be careful not to subject the box to undue stress (such as dropping it on a concrete surface). I doubt the box will last forever, but perhaps, with care, it will last as long as I need it. The container is adequate for my needs; it holds around 100 skeins of floss. If I'm willing to store my scissors and floss winder somewhere other than the compartment meant to hold them, I could get about 12 more skeins of floss in this box. I do wish it were a little bigger... like maybe enough to hold 200 skeins plus the scissors, needles,etc. that go in compartment #17 of this box.","Product: Quick View cases are translucent so you can keep track of all your supplies at all times. They are perfect for storing paint, pens, pencils, and other tools, while functioning as sturdy organizers and comfortable totes. Secure latches and durable polypropylene ensure that your supplies are safe and protected. Availible in six different styles.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Almost Ideal for Art Supplies\n\nReview: This case nicely holds a 9x12 sketch book (my favorite size to work with) and plenty of other art supplies, camera and cell phone. The case is sturdily built, with not one but two latches on the front to keep the case closed.\n\nBut, as with seemingly everything there's one drawback that I can find. This case does not have straight sides. They slant ever so slightly to the inside, so the inside bottom is a little smaller than the top. This seemingly minor size difference is a little prominent though. It means my 10.75 inch X 14 inch drawing board will only lie flat in the box if I put sketch pad, books, or other items in the bottom of the case and leave the board out until the case is at least half full... I can live with that, since this case is only meant to be my rainy weather art case. I have a shoulder bag I prefer to use at other times, but it is not water-proof, and does little to protect my unfinished drawings, hence this purchase","Product: Mix and whip with power, convenience and comfort.Powerful Hamilton Beach Hand Mixers focus on ergonomics and versatility. Handles are built with a comfortable grip in mind. Convenient snap-on storage cases keep attachments together so you don\\'t have to search for them each time. A variety of attachments are available with different hand mixers, from traditional beaters to wire beaters, whisks and milkshake attachments.Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer handles are designed for control and comfort, and the unique Bowl Rest feature allows the mixer to sit on the edge of the bowl to eliminate messy drips. A special QuickBurst button provides a quick boost of power and can be used for tough tasks at any speed.Snap-on storage case250 Watts peak powerBowl Rest featureSix speeds with QuickBurst buttonTraditional beaters and whisk\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Handy, But Not Good For Heavy Jobs\n\nReview: My husband purchased one of these mixers for me at Walmart because I was having an issue with the butter in my banana bread, and did not wish to drag out my large stand mixer for such a small task. This mixer allowed me to complete the banana bread the same evening, despite the delay that was created by the butter issue and his trip to Walmart. While mixing up the banana bread, I noticed the dough getting too thick after approximately 75% of the flour had been added. I stopped the mixer, realizing the small appliance isn't well suited to mixing heavy dough and finished my bread by hand. To me, that's not an issue; to others, it might make a difference.\n\nThe small motor will handle the initial stages of the mixing just fine - creaming the butter and sugar, for instance, and even mashing the bananas. However, if you want a mixer to handle heavy batter or dough, this isn't it. You'll risk burning out the motor if you continuousy mix up heavy doughs and expect the mixer to do the entire job. For things that are light and fluffy (pancake batter, eggs, small cake mixes, etc.), this mixer us well suited and much more convenient than that large stand mixer in my cupboard. On the other hand, I'm keeping the big mixer for big jobs that this little mixer just won't handle.\n\nAs noted by another reviewer, the snap-on case is a tight fit for the beaters, whisk and cord. The beaters and whisk lie in the case at an angle, which makes fitting the cord in with them a small challenge. The key to getting all this in the storage case is to wrap the cord into a small, tight bundle. A plastic strap attached to the cord helps with this. At times, the case seems to be a tight fit on the mixer also - but does not always lock on tightly enough to stay in place. These are minor issues that have nothing to do with the operation of the device, but they are something of which the user should be aware if one expects to use the storage case as designed.\n\nPersonally, I do like the storage case for the beaters, whisk, and cord; it protects these items from unnecessary damage, and also insures that you know where the accessories are when you need them. The entire assembly fits in the cupboard next to my large mixer, which is a handy coincidence.","Product: ONTEL One Sweep Broom -- The One Sweep stays clean and sanitary as you work -- and when you're done, just flip it over and squeegee the floor dry! Can be used wet or dry -- with a little soap, the brushing action scrubs so you don't have to!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not Quick and Easy... but Yes, It Works!\n\nReview: Background: I was tired of having to disassemble our vaccuum cleaner after every use to remove the tangled hair in order to keep the machine from burining out the motor... so hubby looked around and found this broom, and bought one for me. After having used this broom for awhile I can say that I love it and won't be without it if I have anything to say on the subject!\n\nThe Features:\n\nLong handle: The extendable handle is wonderful, because you can adjust the length to suit the person using the tool, which will help prevent back strain.\nSqueegie: I haven't had occasion to use the squeegie side but I suspect this would be great to use when washing your car.\nMade of rubber: Since the \"bristles\" of this broom are made of rubber, they are not harsh on your carpets.\nLight weight: This is made from rubber and light-weight aluminum so can be handled easily by almost anyone.\n\nMy opinion: If you are looking for something that will do what this broom does quickly and easily, keep looking. It's not quick - you have to go over a carpeted area at least 3 or 4 times from different angles to get all (or most) of the hair - and you have to use pressure, so it's not easy either... but I've never, in my entire lifetime seen anything as good at dislodging hair from carpet as this gadget!\n\nCaviat: It also doesn't do a complete job... you'll need to use a vaccuum cleaner to get up the small stuff if you want completely clean carpets to walk on. I have not tried using this item on bare floors, where, accompanied by a dust pan, it may do a more complete job. With this broom, you can sweep your carpets and dislodge hair, dust bunnies, large particles of debris of many other kinds... and yes, some free-floating dust... which might necessitate the use of a dust mask if your lungs are sensitive.\n\nExtra Benefit: You can also get some exercise... hmmm might be I should use this thing every day in one room or another...\n\nRecommendation: Still, I recommend this item because hair does a major destruction job on a vaccuum cleaner and this product DOES dislodge the hair like nobody's business... Anyway... use this broom on your carpets and then vaccuum afterwards. You might be suprised to find your carpets are not the color you thought they were...","Product: The Command picture ledge is simple to hang - no tools required! using the revolutionary Command adhesive, the Command picture ledge holds strongly on a variety of surfaces, including paint, wood, tile and more. Yet, it also comes off cleanly - no holes or sticky residue - providing a great alternative to damaging screws and nails. Reusing the Command picture ledge is as easy as applying Command refill strips, so you can take down, move and reuse it again and again\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great for Display of Small Items\n\nReview: About two weeks ago, I received a package of two Command Display ledges from 3M for the purpose of this review. I requested these items because I thought they might come in handy to display some of my figurines. The ledges I received are white, so they blend in with my decor nicely.\n\nThe ledges are perfect for my purposes; this set of ledges will work for the smallest of my figurines in groups of three items per ledge and for medium items at one item per ledge provided the weight of intended items is under two pounds.\n\nSince the ledges attach to a wall with adhesive strips instead of screws or nails, I'm not certain I'd want to put some of the more valuable items in my collection on these ledges, as I don't know how stable the adhesive is. This is the only reason I'm not granting the item 5 stars...\n\nSince I just mounted the first ledge last night, time will tell. So far, I am very happy with the ledge that I mounted... now to find a good place for the other ledge...\n\nSo far, I like this item enough to buy some. Even though this review is based on a free sample, the positive review is not a result of being lucky enough to receive the item for no cost. I only give positive reviews if the item suits the intended purpose and works as advertised. This item most definitely fits that latter criteria; and it looks good too.","Product: Plain pattern bestselling cutlery range ideal for most restaurant and catering needs. High polish 18/0 stainless steel\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not Top Quality... But Not Unexpectedly Low Quality either\n\nReview: These spoons are not top quality merchandise, so if that's what you want, look elsewhere, but expect to pay a lot more than this. Purchasing this package, I got twelve spoons for less than what I expected to pay for one... and since I wanted a minimum of 3 or 4 spoons to use at home - just for my husband and myself - these fit the bill perfectly and at a price that didn't break my budget. Had I been looking for spoons to use when entertaining, I'd have purchased higher quality merchandise. because These are obviously not top of the line; however, as they are merely for routine everyday use, they will suit my purposes just fine. They definitely will not suit everyone.","Product: Size : 16w x 13h x 5d in. The purse drop Length of the handle 11 in. Material : Canvas Description : * Zipper Closure * Cellphone Pocket & Extra Open Pocket Inside * Two Zipper Pocket Inside * Zipper Pocket on Each Side * Zipper Pocket on Rear * Double Straps * Silver Hardware Accents * High Quality Soft Canvas\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: It Will Work For My Purposes But...\n\nReview: The dimensions given on the website for this bag are deceptive. They don't reveal the 1/2 inch taper from bottom to top that makes the top narrower than the bottom of the bag. That would still be okay if the top zipper had been 7 inches long, but it's only five and 7/8 inches. This makes the deepest and otherwise best compartment almost useless to me.\n\nHad the top opening been wider, that compartment would have been best-suited for my Kindle Fire HD 7. I can fit the device in the center compartment with a bit of hassle. The lower compartment will work for my phone, ID, and keys... so I can work with this bag... barely.\n\nPaying list price for this bag would have been too much. In fact, the $7.99 I paid was almost too much given that I'll be almost completely unable to use the deepest compartment because of the short opening. My hands are not extremely large but they're not small either. It's hard to get my hand in that opening while any other contents are in the bag...\n\nEdited to add: I just reduced my rating of this bag to two stars from the three I orginally gave it for the following reason. Where the strap is attached to the adjusting buckle, it should be stitched across the entire width of the strap. On my bag, this stitching only goes about 75% of the way across the strap. I can fix the problem myself, but I should not have to. I'll not be purchasing any other products made by this company. Note that the two stars of my rating are for the manufacturer and designer, not for the seller. Sometimes you get what you pay for - and sometimes you don't. This time, I didn't.","Product: Pro Art incredible value pack of four distinct papers for the discerning dry media artist. Value pack includes: 8-1/2-inch by 11-inch hardbound sketch book that has one hundred and ten sheets of 70-pound paper, 9-inch by 12-inch tape bound drawing pad that has twenty five sheets of 90-pound paper, 9-inch by 12-inch spiral bound heavyweight sketch pad that has twenty five sheets of 70-pound paper and 9-inch by 12-inch euro style travel sketch pad that has thirty eight sheets of 70-pound paper.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Value for the Price\n\nReview: My husband purchased two of these packs for my use. The sketch books in this pack are conveniently shrink-wrapped together for shipping. My over-all rating for this sketch pack is 4 stars. Even though I am mainly satisfied with these sketch books, I do have a few reservations which keep me from rating the pack 5 stars.\n\n1. Hardbound sketch book. The product description claims this lies flat when open, but it doesn't, especially when you get beyond the first third of the book or so... Mine keeps wanting to close whenever I'm not paying close attention. I find this to be a distinctly unpleasant drawback, even to the point where I've avoided finishing the works I started in one of these books. 3.8 star rating for this item.\n\n2. 9 X 12 Spiral-bound sketch book. This is bound on one long side; I prefer sketch pads that are bound on the short side, and prefer to avoid spiral-bound pads altogether. While this book will lie flat when open, the wire binding gets in my way while working. I make use of this type of book by removing pages to work with... and then, of course I have all those little shreds of paper to deal with as one has with any spiral-bound paper that's not perforated for removal. 3.8 star rating for this item.\n\n3. 9 X 12 Euro-style sketch book. Pages are stapled together in this sketch book, which can be made to lie flat with a bit of back-folding and coaxing. One of two better components in this sketch pack, this book is handy to take along when traveling, but needs some better type of cover to protect the book, in my opinion, because the covers are fairly thin, not much better than heavy cardstock. This book is not suitable for removing sheets to work with outside the book. 4.2 star rating for this item.\n\nAll three of the above items contain 70lb paper, which is not the best, but is workable, especially if one is creating rough drafts of projects to be finished on another media.\n\n4. 9 X 12 Drawing pad, tape-bound on one short side. This is the starring item in this pack! The paper contained in this pad is at least a cut above the paper in the other three items of this pack. There are 25 sheets of 90lb paper that can easily be removed from the pad. Since I prefer to work on loose sheets, this is my favorite pad of the bunch. After removing a sheet to work with, the remaining sheets of this pad stay bound until the artist is ready to remove them. The heavier paper featured here is suitable quality for finished drawings with any dry media. 5 stars for this item.\n\nAs another reviewer has stated, I haven't been able to find a better value than these four sketch books, despite the fact that I'm not real fond of two out of the three, and have somewhat lukewarm feelings about the third. The 4th pad more than makes up for that. I just wish the tape-bound pad included in this pack were available separately.","Product: Here's a new way to keep many pages of your Bible marked at one time, with VerseMark Book Ribbons. 6 trendy colored ribbons are attached to filigree photo frame, and finished with pewter prayer box charm.\n\nInstall in your Bible in two easy steps\n1. Insert L bracket into spine\n2. Place ribbons in passages you wish to mark\n\nThis will stay in place as you read and study; a photo is included in the frame but you may insert your own; charm with bead trim remains outside the Bible over the spine. Packed in cello; ribbons are 14\" long.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good Concept; Needs Work\n\nReview: I had such high hopes that this multi-ribbon bookmark would solve my dilemma of needing to mark several places in the bible I normally carry. Once the bookmark came into my possession, I noticed two problems with it almost immediately. My assessment of the item below details both the distinct pros and cons of the item and its intended functionality, as well as a couple of neutral considerations.\n\nPros:\n1. There are 6 different colors of ribbon on this bookmark, each of which is about 14 inches in length.\n2. The smaller size of my regularly used bible would allow me to mark two pages with each ribbon by tucking the exposed lower end of said ribbon into the second location.\n\nCons:\n1. This bookmark requires a gap between the book spine and cover for the L bracket to hold the bookmark in place. My bible that I use when away from home has no such gap at the spine... big disappointment #1.\n2. My large study bible, which does have the gap at the spine, has a gap that's excessively large, which allows the bible to lay flat when opened but also allows this bookmark to slip out of said gap far too easily... huge disappointment #2.\n\nNeutral Considerations:\n1. The picture frame is very small, thus would make finding a suitable picture to change from the default picture difficult to impossible. Okay because I kinda like the cross picture anyhow.\n2. The prayer-box charm attached to the picture frame adds a bit of appeal to the item for some, and a bit of weight to the item for all. Said charm is surprisingly heavy for it's tiny size.\n\nIn light of the cons listed above, I cannot recommend that anyone purchase this bookmark. Those who have a bible with a tight gap at the spine may be able to use this bookmark as designed, but I believe the majority of people would be disappointed. Neither the picture frame or the charm add or detract from the functionality of the bookmark as a whole. In my opinion, these neutral items add cost but no value to the item as advertised.\n\nBottom line: I won't be using the item as designed, but may use parts of it in different ways. First and foremost, I'll need to figure out a different way to bind the ribbons together at one end so that they will work with the bible I intended to use with them. The prayer box charm may become a pendant on one of my necklaces or a key chain. Alternatively, I may find a different way to attach the charm to the ribbons. At this time, the L bracket and picture frame will most likely end up in my box of \"maybe I can use this someday\" items."],"string":"[\n \"Product: An excellent reference tool for both students and skilled artists. Fully articulated right hand manikin holds its pose. Constructed of smoothly finished natural wood and features adjustable wrist, fingers, and thumb. Also known as mannequins.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Limited Possibilities Somewhat Disappointing\\n\\nReview: I bought one of these hands used to help me learn to sketch a human hand with the correct proportions. To that end, this item fulfills it's purpose, however, with the limited posability of this hand, it's usefulness will be severely curtailed.\\n\\nFor instance, this hand can hold my keys - which made an interesting photo - from which I will eventually create a sketch, but I cannot make the hand hold a small cup which would otherwise fit nicely into the hand because there is no sideways movement of the finger or thumb joints possible due to the solid wood construction. This limitation on the posability of the hand is somewhat disappointing.\\n\\nHaving more variety of positions to sketch would be nice. I'm guessing I will evenutally move on to using a real hand as my model for more interesting sketches.\\n\\nWhile there are other hand manniquins on the market with better posability, the full price of the better manniquins is also higher, which is discouraging for a person on a limited budget such as mine. If you buy one of these, don't pay full price, perhaps even try to find one used, as I did.\",\n \"Product: DMC-An attractive, color selection of both variegated and solid value floss colors. Perfect for crafting, friendship bracelets, card making, kids' craft activities and other crafting hobbies. Value pack includes: 79 solid colors, 26 variegated colors, 12 cardboard bobbins and a free craft project.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: DMC it is Definitely NOT!\\n\\nReview: I bought a pack of this six-strand floss because ordering the 8 colors I needed for my project from Hershnerr's would have been foolish. The charge for each skein of DMC floss is only 44 cents, regardless of color. However, the shipping charges added would have about tripled my cost for the DMC Floss. Unlike many others, I have no option to purchase embroidery floss, nor many other craft items in my local stores. Such things are either not carried at all, or the selection is very poor.\\n\\nNeutral:\\nThis floss, while not up to DMC standards is also not up to DMC pricing. At the price I paid for this item, my cost breaks down to about 12 cents per skein. Sometimes, you do get what you pay for. The skeins are about 8 meters long, similar the DMC skeins. I was expecting more colors with no duplications, however, in my package, most colors included are represented by two or even three skeins. The included 12 cardboard bobbins are about enough to hold one project's worth of thread.\\n\\nCons:\\nIn examining some DMC floss that I purchased for a different project, I discovered that the six strands you obtain when this floss separates are finer than the DMC floss strands... finer enough that you may want to use three strands of this if the instructions for your project call for two strands of DMC. Another reviewer mentioned that the quality of these skeins makes them unsuitable for mixing this floss and DMC in the same project. I agree; however, I would never, under any circumstances, mix two different brands of floss in the same project. As noted by other reviewers, these colors are neither named nor numbered, which makes selection of your exact colors a bit difficult if you try to go by DMC numbers or color names. You can find colors in dark, medium and light shades of colors somewhere near those listed in DMC project instructions, so all is not lost if you attempt to use this floss.\\n\\nPros:\\nWhile this floss isn't quite as shiny as DMC, it is not, as another reviewer claimed, completely dull. It does have a subtle sheen of it's own. It is also not, as a different reviewer said, all in one thick strand. It will separate into six strands as the label claims, and does so without much difficulty. That said, this is a decent alternative for small projects, provided that you only use this floss for the entire project. If you are doing craft projects other than embroidery, such as friendship bracelets, this is a decent alternative for those other uses, at about 1/3 the cost of DMC floss.\\n\\nRecommended for friendship bracelets and other children's crafts, for those just learning embroidery, or, if in desperate need of a small amount of a few colors for a single (small) embroidery project to the extent that shipping would cost more than your thread if purchased from Hershnerr's\",\n \"Product: DMC-An attractive, color selection of both variegated and solid value floss colors. Perfect for crafting, friendship bracelets, card making, kids' craft activities and other crafting hobbies. Value pack includes: 79 solid colors, 26 variegated colors, 12 cardboard bobbins and a free craft project.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: DMC it is Definitely NOT!\\n\\nReview: I bought a pack of this six-strand floss because ordering the 8 colors I needed for my project from Hershnerr's would have been foolish. The charge for each skein of DMC floss is only 44 cents, regardless of color. However, the shipping charges added would have about tripled my cost for the DMC Floss. Unlike many others, I have no option to purchase embroidery floss, nor many other craft items in my local stores. Such things are either not carried at all, or the selection is very poor.\\n\\nNeutral:\\nThis floss, while not up to DMC standards is also not up to DMC pricing. At the price I paid for this item, my cost breaks down to about 12 cents per skein. Sometimes, you do get what you pay for. The skeins are about 8 meters long, similar the DMC skeins. I was expecting more colors with no duplications, however, in my package, most colors included are represented by two or even three skeins. The included 12 cardboard bobbins are about enough to hold one project's worth of thread.\\n\\nCons:\\nIn examining some DMC floss that I purchased for a different project, I discovered that the six strands you obtain when this floss separates are finer than the DMC floss strands... finer enough that you may want to use three strands of this if the instructions for your project call for two strands of DMC. Another reviewer mentioned that the quality of these skeins makes them unsuitable for mixing this floss and DMC in the same project. I agree; however, I would never, under any circumstances, mix two different brands of floss in the same project. As noted by other reviewers, these colors are neither named nor numbered, which makes selection of your exact colors a bit difficult if you try to go by DMC numbers or color names. You can find colors in dark, medium and light shades of colors somewhere near those listed in DMC project instructions, so all is not lost if you attempt to use this floss.\\n\\nPros:\\nWhile this floss isn't quite as shiny as DMC, it is not, as another reviewer claimed, completely dull. It does have a subtle sheen of it's own. It is also not, as a different reviewer said, all in one thick strand. It will separate into six strands as the label claims, and does so without much difficulty. That said, this is a decent alternative for small projects, provided that you only use this floss for the entire project. If you are doing craft projects other than embroidery, such as friendship bracelets, this is a decent alternative for those other uses, at about 1/3 the cost of DMC floss.\\n\\nRecommended for friendship bracelets and other children's crafts, for those just learning embroidery, or, if in desperate need of a small amount of a few colors for a single (small) embroidery project to the extent that shipping would cost more than your thread if purchased from Hershnerr's\",\n \"Product: Dust free storage and organization for all of your thread spools! The Super Satchel Thread Box with 2 removable thread trays securely holds thread spools regardless of how the closed box is stored (vertically or horizantally). The thread trays offer the capacity to hold (224) 20-millimeter spools, (108) 32-millimeter spools, or (30) 45-millimeter spools (accessories not included). This box features secure latches and an easy grip handle for maximum portability.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Adequate, but could be better designed\\n\\nReview: As other reviewers have mentioned, I, too, have different sizes of thread spools; I don't know exactly which sizes are in my inventory. I do know the larger sizes will NOT fit side-by-side in this box because the spindles are too closely placed, both to each other and to the edges of the tray. At best, I can get larger spools on about every other spindle, but in some rows, even that is not possible. Where the handles for removing the spool trays from the box are located, only small spools of thread will fit at the ends of those rows because of the way the handles are designed.\\n\\nNevertheless, I was still able to place about 50 large spools, and about 25 smaller spools in this box by mixing up the sizes in each row. I have some empty spindles, but no more larger spools would fit, (good thing I don't have any more of those to store) and I have no more smaller ones with which to fill the remaining spaces, so my box isn't fully utilized.\\n\\nI would have preferred to store my spools organized by color and size... however, the design of the box would only allow that level of organization if all of my thread was on the small sized spools. So I've marked the one star deficit for that. I'd love to see a slightly different version of this box with the spool trays designed to better handle the larger spools. Despite it's flaws, I think this thread box is probably the best one on the market for storing large quantities of thread.\",\n \"Product: Versatile organizer keeps embroidery floss neat and organized. Sorts your needlework colors so you can locate and pick them out right away. Even has a larger compartment where you can store a small pair of scissors, measuring tape, etc. Seventeen separate, deep compartments. Reference chart and 100 sturdy bobbins included. Snap-shut lid keeps it all in place. Dimensions: 10-1/4 by 7 by 1-5/8-inch (26cm by 17.8cm by 19.37cm); 16 compartments 2-1/3 by 1-3/4-inch, scissors compartment 4-5/8 by 1-3/4-inch.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Caviat Emptor - Let the Buyer Beware\\n\\nReview: This box is advertised as coming with a *free* floss winder. The winder is most definitely NOT free, but is included in the set. I paid $12.31 and got my shipping free because of Amazon Prime. I also received 100 paper (lightweight cardstock) bobbins with the box. I found the same box - from a different vendor - with the same type of bobbins and with no floss winder included. I paid $6.99 for that version, and still got free (Amazon Prime) shipping which is much more reasonable, considering what you get.\\n\\nThe box insert (reference chart on the back) claims the bobbins are sturdy, which is not true. They tear much too easily. The hole in the bobbins mostly does not line up with the hole in the floss winder, so the bobbins get bent a little each time you use them in the floss winder. I think I found about two bobbins in my set where the holes did line up properly, and I still have over half of my 100 skeins to process, so there's a small chance I might find a few more holes that align properly, but I'm not going to count on that happening. I have not yet received the second box, but I expect the bobbins to be about the same as those which came with the first box... in other words, not nearly as sturdy as the manufacturer claims. Deduct one star for the thin, not sturdy bobbins.\\n\\nThe floss winder isn't quite as useless as another reviewer stated. Using the floss winder is marginally faster than winding the bobbins by hand, but as noted by another reviewer, the floss winder doesn't do as good of a job as it is possible to do when hand-winding the floss. IF you're in a hurry to get your floss wound onto the bobbins, the floss winder can do an acceptable job. The slower you are willing to wind, the neater the job will be done. Over all, I found the same is true of hand-winding your floss. If you hurry, the job is sloppier. Oh, yes, the floss winder does squeak incessantly, but not so loudly as to be disturbing. Setting up the floss winder is a hassle, so I use it alternately with winding the floss by hand. The floss winder makes an interesting toy, and is helpful if you want to process a large number of floss skeins in a shorter time. Is the floss winder worth $5.32? A resounding NO. Deduct another star for the claim that the floss winder is free, when it is obviously included in the cost.\\n\\nThis box is plastic, but only a little sturdier than the paper bobbins. One must still be careful not to subject the box to undue stress (such as dropping it on a concrete surface). I doubt the box will last forever, but perhaps, with care, it will last as long as I need it. The container is adequate for my needs; it holds around 100 skeins of floss. If I'm willing to store my scissors and floss winder somewhere other than the compartment meant to hold them, I could get about 12 more skeins of floss in this box. I do wish it were a little bigger... like maybe enough to hold 200 skeins plus the scissors, needles,etc. that go in compartment #17 of this box.\",\n \"Product: Quick View cases are translucent so you can keep track of all your supplies at all times. They are perfect for storing paint, pens, pencils, and other tools, while functioning as sturdy organizers and comfortable totes. Secure latches and durable polypropylene ensure that your supplies are safe and protected. Availible in six different styles.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Almost Ideal for Art Supplies\\n\\nReview: This case nicely holds a 9x12 sketch book (my favorite size to work with) and plenty of other art supplies, camera and cell phone. The case is sturdily built, with not one but two latches on the front to keep the case closed.\\n\\nBut, as with seemingly everything there's one drawback that I can find. This case does not have straight sides. They slant ever so slightly to the inside, so the inside bottom is a little smaller than the top. This seemingly minor size difference is a little prominent though. It means my 10.75 inch X 14 inch drawing board will only lie flat in the box if I put sketch pad, books, or other items in the bottom of the case and leave the board out until the case is at least half full... I can live with that, since this case is only meant to be my rainy weather art case. I have a shoulder bag I prefer to use at other times, but it is not water-proof, and does little to protect my unfinished drawings, hence this purchase\",\n \"Product: Mix and whip with power, convenience and comfort.Powerful Hamilton Beach Hand Mixers focus on ergonomics and versatility. Handles are built with a comfortable grip in mind. Convenient snap-on storage cases keep attachments together so you don\\\\'t have to search for them each time. A variety of attachments are available with different hand mixers, from traditional beaters to wire beaters, whisks and milkshake attachments.Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer handles are designed for control and comfort, and the unique Bowl Rest feature allows the mixer to sit on the edge of the bowl to eliminate messy drips. A special QuickBurst button provides a quick boost of power and can be used for tough tasks at any speed.Snap-on storage case250 Watts peak powerBowl Rest featureSix speeds with QuickBurst buttonTraditional beaters and whisk\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Handy, But Not Good For Heavy Jobs\\n\\nReview: My husband purchased one of these mixers for me at Walmart because I was having an issue with the butter in my banana bread, and did not wish to drag out my large stand mixer for such a small task. This mixer allowed me to complete the banana bread the same evening, despite the delay that was created by the butter issue and his trip to Walmart. While mixing up the banana bread, I noticed the dough getting too thick after approximately 75% of the flour had been added. I stopped the mixer, realizing the small appliance isn't well suited to mixing heavy dough and finished my bread by hand. To me, that's not an issue; to others, it might make a difference.\\n\\nThe small motor will handle the initial stages of the mixing just fine - creaming the butter and sugar, for instance, and even mashing the bananas. However, if you want a mixer to handle heavy batter or dough, this isn't it. You'll risk burning out the motor if you continuousy mix up heavy doughs and expect the mixer to do the entire job. For things that are light and fluffy (pancake batter, eggs, small cake mixes, etc.), this mixer us well suited and much more convenient than that large stand mixer in my cupboard. On the other hand, I'm keeping the big mixer for big jobs that this little mixer just won't handle.\\n\\nAs noted by another reviewer, the snap-on case is a tight fit for the beaters, whisk and cord. The beaters and whisk lie in the case at an angle, which makes fitting the cord in with them a small challenge. The key to getting all this in the storage case is to wrap the cord into a small, tight bundle. A plastic strap attached to the cord helps with this. At times, the case seems to be a tight fit on the mixer also - but does not always lock on tightly enough to stay in place. These are minor issues that have nothing to do with the operation of the device, but they are something of which the user should be aware if one expects to use the storage case as designed.\\n\\nPersonally, I do like the storage case for the beaters, whisk, and cord; it protects these items from unnecessary damage, and also insures that you know where the accessories are when you need them. The entire assembly fits in the cupboard next to my large mixer, which is a handy coincidence.\",\n \"Product: ONTEL One Sweep Broom -- The One Sweep stays clean and sanitary as you work -- and when you're done, just flip it over and squeegee the floor dry! Can be used wet or dry -- with a little soap, the brushing action scrubs so you don't have to!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Quick and Easy... but Yes, It Works!\\n\\nReview: Background: I was tired of having to disassemble our vaccuum cleaner after every use to remove the tangled hair in order to keep the machine from burining out the motor... so hubby looked around and found this broom, and bought one for me. After having used this broom for awhile I can say that I love it and won't be without it if I have anything to say on the subject!\\n\\nThe Features:\\n\\nLong handle: The extendable handle is wonderful, because you can adjust the length to suit the person using the tool, which will help prevent back strain.\\nSqueegie: I haven't had occasion to use the squeegie side but I suspect this would be great to use when washing your car.\\nMade of rubber: Since the \\\"bristles\\\" of this broom are made of rubber, they are not harsh on your carpets.\\nLight weight: This is made from rubber and light-weight aluminum so can be handled easily by almost anyone.\\n\\nMy opinion: If you are looking for something that will do what this broom does quickly and easily, keep looking. It's not quick - you have to go over a carpeted area at least 3 or 4 times from different angles to get all (or most) of the hair - and you have to use pressure, so it's not easy either... but I've never, in my entire lifetime seen anything as good at dislodging hair from carpet as this gadget!\\n\\nCaviat: It also doesn't do a complete job... you'll need to use a vaccuum cleaner to get up the small stuff if you want completely clean carpets to walk on. I have not tried using this item on bare floors, where, accompanied by a dust pan, it may do a more complete job. With this broom, you can sweep your carpets and dislodge hair, dust bunnies, large particles of debris of many other kinds... and yes, some free-floating dust... which might necessitate the use of a dust mask if your lungs are sensitive.\\n\\nExtra Benefit: You can also get some exercise... hmmm might be I should use this thing every day in one room or another...\\n\\nRecommendation: Still, I recommend this item because hair does a major destruction job on a vaccuum cleaner and this product DOES dislodge the hair like nobody's business... Anyway... use this broom on your carpets and then vaccuum afterwards. You might be suprised to find your carpets are not the color you thought they were...\",\n \"Product: The Command picture ledge is simple to hang - no tools required! using the revolutionary Command adhesive, the Command picture ledge holds strongly on a variety of surfaces, including paint, wood, tile and more. Yet, it also comes off cleanly - no holes or sticky residue - providing a great alternative to damaging screws and nails. Reusing the Command picture ledge is as easy as applying Command refill strips, so you can take down, move and reuse it again and again\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for Display of Small Items\\n\\nReview: About two weeks ago, I received a package of two Command Display ledges from 3M for the purpose of this review. I requested these items because I thought they might come in handy to display some of my figurines. The ledges I received are white, so they blend in with my decor nicely.\\n\\nThe ledges are perfect for my purposes; this set of ledges will work for the smallest of my figurines in groups of three items per ledge and for medium items at one item per ledge provided the weight of intended items is under two pounds.\\n\\nSince the ledges attach to a wall with adhesive strips instead of screws or nails, I'm not certain I'd want to put some of the more valuable items in my collection on these ledges, as I don't know how stable the adhesive is. This is the only reason I'm not granting the item 5 stars...\\n\\nSince I just mounted the first ledge last night, time will tell. So far, I am very happy with the ledge that I mounted... now to find a good place for the other ledge...\\n\\nSo far, I like this item enough to buy some. Even though this review is based on a free sample, the positive review is not a result of being lucky enough to receive the item for no cost. I only give positive reviews if the item suits the intended purpose and works as advertised. This item most definitely fits that latter criteria; and it looks good too.\",\n \"Product: Plain pattern bestselling cutlery range ideal for most restaurant and catering needs. High polish 18/0 stainless steel\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Top Quality... But Not Unexpectedly Low Quality either\\n\\nReview: These spoons are not top quality merchandise, so if that's what you want, look elsewhere, but expect to pay a lot more than this. Purchasing this package, I got twelve spoons for less than what I expected to pay for one... and since I wanted a minimum of 3 or 4 spoons to use at home - just for my husband and myself - these fit the bill perfectly and at a price that didn't break my budget. Had I been looking for spoons to use when entertaining, I'd have purchased higher quality merchandise. because These are obviously not top of the line; however, as they are merely for routine everyday use, they will suit my purposes just fine. They definitely will not suit everyone.\",\n \"Product: Size : 16w x 13h x 5d in. The purse drop Length of the handle 11 in. Material : Canvas Description : * Zipper Closure * Cellphone Pocket & Extra Open Pocket Inside * Two Zipper Pocket Inside * Zipper Pocket on Each Side * Zipper Pocket on Rear * Double Straps * Silver Hardware Accents * High Quality Soft Canvas\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: It Will Work For My Purposes But...\\n\\nReview: The dimensions given on the website for this bag are deceptive. They don't reveal the 1/2 inch taper from bottom to top that makes the top narrower than the bottom of the bag. That would still be okay if the top zipper had been 7 inches long, but it's only five and 7/8 inches. This makes the deepest and otherwise best compartment almost useless to me.\\n\\nHad the top opening been wider, that compartment would have been best-suited for my Kindle Fire HD 7. I can fit the device in the center compartment with a bit of hassle. The lower compartment will work for my phone, ID, and keys... so I can work with this bag... barely.\\n\\nPaying list price for this bag would have been too much. In fact, the $7.99 I paid was almost too much given that I'll be almost completely unable to use the deepest compartment because of the short opening. My hands are not extremely large but they're not small either. It's hard to get my hand in that opening while any other contents are in the bag...\\n\\nEdited to add: I just reduced my rating of this bag to two stars from the three I orginally gave it for the following reason. Where the strap is attached to the adjusting buckle, it should be stitched across the entire width of the strap. On my bag, this stitching only goes about 75% of the way across the strap. I can fix the problem myself, but I should not have to. I'll not be purchasing any other products made by this company. Note that the two stars of my rating are for the manufacturer and designer, not for the seller. Sometimes you get what you pay for - and sometimes you don't. This time, I didn't.\",\n \"Product: Pro Art incredible value pack of four distinct papers for the discerning dry media artist. Value pack includes: 8-1/2-inch by 11-inch hardbound sketch book that has one hundred and ten sheets of 70-pound paper, 9-inch by 12-inch tape bound drawing pad that has twenty five sheets of 90-pound paper, 9-inch by 12-inch spiral bound heavyweight sketch pad that has twenty five sheets of 70-pound paper and 9-inch by 12-inch euro style travel sketch pad that has thirty eight sheets of 70-pound paper.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Value for the Price\\n\\nReview: My husband purchased two of these packs for my use. The sketch books in this pack are conveniently shrink-wrapped together for shipping. My over-all rating for this sketch pack is 4 stars. Even though I am mainly satisfied with these sketch books, I do have a few reservations which keep me from rating the pack 5 stars.\\n\\n1. Hardbound sketch book. The product description claims this lies flat when open, but it doesn't, especially when you get beyond the first third of the book or so... Mine keeps wanting to close whenever I'm not paying close attention. I find this to be a distinctly unpleasant drawback, even to the point where I've avoided finishing the works I started in one of these books. 3.8 star rating for this item.\\n\\n2. 9 X 12 Spiral-bound sketch book. This is bound on one long side; I prefer sketch pads that are bound on the short side, and prefer to avoid spiral-bound pads altogether. While this book will lie flat when open, the wire binding gets in my way while working. I make use of this type of book by removing pages to work with... and then, of course I have all those little shreds of paper to deal with as one has with any spiral-bound paper that's not perforated for removal. 3.8 star rating for this item.\\n\\n3. 9 X 12 Euro-style sketch book. Pages are stapled together in this sketch book, which can be made to lie flat with a bit of back-folding and coaxing. One of two better components in this sketch pack, this book is handy to take along when traveling, but needs some better type of cover to protect the book, in my opinion, because the covers are fairly thin, not much better than heavy cardstock. This book is not suitable for removing sheets to work with outside the book. 4.2 star rating for this item.\\n\\nAll three of the above items contain 70lb paper, which is not the best, but is workable, especially if one is creating rough drafts of projects to be finished on another media.\\n\\n4. 9 X 12 Drawing pad, tape-bound on one short side. This is the starring item in this pack! The paper contained in this pad is at least a cut above the paper in the other three items of this pack. There are 25 sheets of 90lb paper that can easily be removed from the pad. Since I prefer to work on loose sheets, this is my favorite pad of the bunch. After removing a sheet to work with, the remaining sheets of this pad stay bound until the artist is ready to remove them. The heavier paper featured here is suitable quality for finished drawings with any dry media. 5 stars for this item.\\n\\nAs another reviewer has stated, I haven't been able to find a better value than these four sketch books, despite the fact that I'm not real fond of two out of the three, and have somewhat lukewarm feelings about the third. The 4th pad more than makes up for that. I just wish the tape-bound pad included in this pack were available separately.\",\n \"Product: Here's a new way to keep many pages of your Bible marked at one time, with VerseMark Book Ribbons. 6 trendy colored ribbons are attached to filigree photo frame, and finished with pewter prayer box charm.\\n\\nInstall in your Bible in two easy steps\\n1. Insert L bracket into spine\\n2. Place ribbons in passages you wish to mark\\n\\nThis will stay in place as you read and study; a photo is included in the frame but you may insert your own; charm with bead trim remains outside the Bible over the spine. Packed in cello; ribbons are 14\\\" long.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Concept; Needs Work\\n\\nReview: I had such high hopes that this multi-ribbon bookmark would solve my dilemma of needing to mark several places in the bible I normally carry. Once the bookmark came into my possession, I noticed two problems with it almost immediately. My assessment of the item below details both the distinct pros and cons of the item and its intended functionality, as well as a couple of neutral considerations.\\n\\nPros:\\n1. There are 6 different colors of ribbon on this bookmark, each of which is about 14 inches in length.\\n2. The smaller size of my regularly used bible would allow me to mark two pages with each ribbon by tucking the exposed lower end of said ribbon into the second location.\\n\\nCons:\\n1. This bookmark requires a gap between the book spine and cover for the L bracket to hold the bookmark in place. My bible that I use when away from home has no such gap at the spine... big disappointment #1.\\n2. My large study bible, which does have the gap at the spine, has a gap that's excessively large, which allows the bible to lay flat when opened but also allows this bookmark to slip out of said gap far too easily... huge disappointment #2.\\n\\nNeutral Considerations:\\n1. The picture frame is very small, thus would make finding a suitable picture to change from the default picture difficult to impossible. Okay because I kinda like the cross picture anyhow.\\n2. The prayer-box charm attached to the picture frame adds a bit of appeal to the item for some, and a bit of weight to the item for all. Said charm is surprisingly heavy for it's tiny size.\\n\\nIn light of the cons listed above, I cannot recommend that anyone purchase this bookmark. Those who have a bible with a tight gap at the spine may be able to use this bookmark as designed, but I believe the majority of people would be disappointed. Neither the picture frame or the charm add or detract from the functionality of the bookmark as a whole. In my opinion, these neutral items add cost but no value to the item as advertised.\\n\\nBottom line: I won't be using the item as designed, but may use parts of it in different ways. First and foremost, I'll need to figure out a different way to bind the ribbons together at one end so that they will work with the bible I intended to use with them. The prayer box charm may become a pendant on one of my necklaces or a key chain. Alternatively, I may find a different way to attach the charm to the ribbons. At this time, the L bracket and picture frame will most likely end up in my box of \\\"maybe I can use this someday\\\" items.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":13,"string":"13"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":81,"string":"81"}}},{"rowIdx":82,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A24O617GI0GZIJ"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author Michelle A. Valentine is a Central Ohio nurse turned author of erotic romance and New Adult novels. Her love of hard-rock music and tattoos inspire her sexy novels.\". The summary of the review text is \"Such a Amazing Book!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.\nFrom the first moment they lock eyes Anna and Xavier's chemistry is palpable! She is trying to leave behind a controlling father who is trying to force her to live this bland life and she is yearning to break free and discover everything life has to offer. Then she notices a stranger who sparks her interest. The flight becomes abuzz when it's discovered that he is the pro wrestler Phenominal X. Xavier offers her a seat next to him in first class after her seat mate in Coach spills tomato juice all over her. This begins a tension filled flight and some charged banter back and forth.\n\nThere is more to X than meets the eye and we begin to see different sides to his character as his friendship with Anna progresses . He has a lot of layers and walls built around him and we only get hints of how his past currently affects how he interacts with people until we are almost halfway through the book then the POV changes switching to Xavier's childhood and events told from his POV. I really liked how Michelle handled the change and made it just a natural progression.\n\nEvery thing begins to fall into place for Xavier and Anna and It's not a perfect road. (sometimes X goes all caveman and Then other times he freezes her out . . .) But everything comes to a intense ending of the book! I'm so glad I waited to read this book when I could go right in to book 2 because that cliffhanger! But this is such an awesome book! It was new and exciting to me (yes, I freely admit I got addicted to watching WWE a few years ago so it was interesting to see a behind the scenes look at what happens before the cameras roll)"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.\nFrom the first moment they lock eyes Anna and Xavier's chemistry is palpable! She is trying to leave behind a controlling father who is trying to force her to live this bland life and she is yearning to break free and discover everything life has to offer. Then she notices a stranger who sparks her interest. The flight becomes abuzz when it's discovered that he is the pro wrestler Phenominal X. Xavier offers her a seat next to him in first class after her seat mate in Coach spills tomato juice all over her. This begins a tension filled flight and some charged banter back and forth.\n\nThere is more to X than meets the eye and we begin to see different sides to his character as his friendship with Anna progresses . He has a lot of layers and walls built around him and we only get hints of how his past currently affects how he interacts with people until we are almost halfway through the book then the POV changes switching to Xavier's childhood and events told from his POV. I really liked how Michelle handled the change and made it just a natural progression.\n\nEvery thing begins to fall into place for Xavier and Anna and It's not a perfect road. (sometimes X goes all caveman and Then other times he freezes her out . . .) But everything comes to a intense ending of the book! I'm so glad I waited to read this book when I could go right in to book 2 because that cliffhanger! But this is such an awesome book! It was new and exciting to me (yes, I freely admit I got addicted to watching WWE a few years ago so it was interesting to see a behind the scenes look at what happens before the cameras roll)"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Debra is a native New Yorker who made her escape to the suburbs. She often returns to her hometown to visit her favorite deli for a bagel with butter, because theres no better bagel than a New York bagel. When not in search of bagels, Debra spends her time running Book Enthusiast Promotions, an online promotions company that helps indie authors spread the word about their books. Shes also the owner of The Book Enthusiast blog. She started writing lyrics in her wall-to-wall NKOTB bedroom at the tender age of thirteen while dreaming of the day shed become Mrs. Jordan Knight. That dream never came to fruition, but she has continued to write. Now shes working on her first novel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This was my foray into the Rockstar Romance genre and I have to say it was a excellent way to try out a new genre\n\nReview: I received a ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. This was my foray into the Rockstar Romance genre and I have to say it was a excellent way to try out a new genre! This story has everything, romance, suspense, comic relief moments, self-discovery and an empowered heroine. All of my favorite things! There is even a ex military man for those of you who love that element in a hero ;) I thought that Abby was such an intriguing character, I expected her to be kind of this spoiled, self-entitled princess at the beginning but you soon see that she is so much more. Her journey of empowering herself after some traumatic events was quite refreshing, she could have easily become dependent on Danny and it would have made me not enjoy the book quite as much so I'm really glad that Debra took the story in a different direction.\n\nDanny and the guys were all great characters, strong, moral guys with awesome senses of humor haha. They definitely provide levity after some heavy moments in the story. I also love the relationship between Sophie and Abby, every girl needs a bestie like that who will give you the pep talk to get you to pull your head out of your backside and go after what you want! All in all I thought this was an excellent book! And I may be selfish but can we have a book about Sophie and Connor next? Please and thank you!","Product: Over 70 PAGES of AMAZING STRESS RELIEF PATTERNS - Including Mandalas, Stained Glass, Animals, Fashion, Geometric Shapes, and Other Artistic Creations ENJOY 100s OF HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT - Perfect for stressed adults looking for a mental break. Decompress your mind with calming designs and shapes. PERFECT FOR ALL AGES - From seniors to toddlers, grown ups to kids, everyone will enjoy these fun, creative designs. TOP QUALITY PRINTING - Don't fall victim to the cheap printed coloring books that bleed through. This coloring book was designed specifically to the highest of standards. Ensuring you have the best coloring experience possible. USED BEST WITH TOP QUALITY ART SUPPLIES COLORED PENCILS - We highly recommend pairing this product with our Top Quality Colored Pencils.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: ... a discount in exchange for a honest review I liked this coloring book a lot\n\nReview: I received this product at a discount in exchange for a honest review\n\nI liked this coloring book a lot! Good quality paper and interesting designs, there were a couple in the book that were a little blurry but they are still usable in my opinion. I think coloring is a great stress reliever and I like that they are making different designs that cater to a older audience (I got tired of going to the kids section and getting coloring books!) but these were fun and quick to color in. I used color pencils so I don't know how the paper would hold up to markers but I think it would be okay and not have bleed through since the paper is thicker.","Product: Sadia Ash is an art and history obsessed geek who loves all things British and literary. She has held jobs that always involved writing (and never math) in some way. She is currently working on two other novels and a film script. She lives in sun-drenched Cali with her husband and two bright kids.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Christian and Ana who? Its all about Kyle and Juniper! deserves more than 5 Stars.\n\nReview: I first saw this cover as I was scrolling Facebook and I immediately thought \"that's a wicked cool looking cover! I must get my hands on this book. . . So I waited (not so patiently! I might add haha) until release day and popped over to Amazon and one clicked. . . Little did I know I was gonna get sucked in to this amazing story! (I regret nothing!)\n\nFrom the first page the story is off and running and I loved that there was no superfluous lead in and information it was just boom! Dropped into the story and that mystery and tension of not knowing all the facts from the get go lends a fast paced quest for information quality to the story which is smart, and edgy and relatable. These characters are so life like and like people you have known for years that it makes for a engrossing read.\n\nKyle and Juniper have this witty banter thing down! Haha I love how quick and rapid fire their initial exchange is when he is trying to come to her rescue off of the platform she was stuck on. I totally related to her right then because I am also extremely afraid of heights haha. So yep I probably would have been hugging the ladder petrified to climb the rest of the way down. She makes a snap judgement about him at the beginning and it does come back to bite her in just a few pages but it gives us some comedic inner monologues haha.\n\nAbout 17% in we get the first twist in this story and let me tell you its a doozy! We kinda got hints about it earlier in the book but to have the situation all laid out there it leaves you reeling (much like Juniper in that moment) you've become used to the typical romance novel formula and when this shift happens its like WHOA! (Just wait because there are more twists and turns to follow throughout this story)\n\nKyle and Juniper's story is not an easy one, for each one of them their past experiences shape who they are when they begin their relationship. . . And the conflicts begin to build up. There is so much healing and compromise and these characters are unlike any I have read before. The closest I could get would be Christian and Ana but more complex! Its a smarter storyline and pacing than Fifty Shades and minus all of the gratuitous schmexy times! With this book there are plenty of hot intense scenes but its not blatant about them. A lot is left to the imagination which I loved (and hotter in my opinion!)\n\nThis is a massive story and one that you cannot put down once you finish (I blew through the first half and tried to pace myself with the second half. . . By reading on my phone haha once the battery died I had to stop! Helped me savor the last half and spend more time with these characters because I did not want to let them go) for a debut novel it is truly stunning! Sadia's level of talent is tops of the romance game right now.","Product: Gina LaManna, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, began writing after obtaining a degree in Actuarial Science. To her parent's dismay, she fled the country after graduation to live and nanny in Italy. While it was quite enjoyable to spend summers on the beaches of Sardegna and fall in Milan, she eventually returned to the States, where she now lives in Los Angeles and remains on the lookout for the next adventure. Gina writes fiction under other pen names, including short stories, long stories, and all sizes in-between stories. She loves cappucino foam and whipped cream, and would subsist solely on sprinkles if possible. She has one imaginary dog.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of my top ten favorite series of all time!\n\nReview: So I found this author through a recommended post on Facebook and checked out her page. Imagine my surprise when I find a hidden treasure like Sprinkled! (Facebook's algorithm actually gets it right WHAAA?! That like never happens) I haven't loved a Book series this hard since Jan of this year when I discovered the Unspoken Series by Marilyn Grey. This series has it all! Lots of hilerious hinjinks, a best friend who will do anything for you (including tase someone!) a mysterious stranger who sparks a romantic interest and Family!\n\nIf I gave someone a list of attributes to craft me a perfect series that would grab my attention then you would have the Lacey Luzzi series! Its fresh and funny and somewhat like the Stephanie Plum series (the early ones though back when they were still fresh and exciting) Lacey reminds me of well. . . me Haha My great grandfather was quite a bit like Carlos and my great grandma and grandma are a lot like Nora. So I know how this family dynamic works.\n\nThe farther we get into this story the plot twists just keep on coming and it is one wild ride of an ending! You laugh (because Let's face it Lacey has some of the worst luck!) you bite your fingernails because things get really intense and you are gonna have questions and jaw dropping moments. And once you get to the last few pages you thank your lucky stars because you binge bought most of the other books in this series! I could not get enough. I can see Lacey becoming one of my top ten favorite series of all time!","Product: Taylor Lavati is a twenty-something year old author residing in a small town in Connecticut with her husband and dog. She writes Young Adult and New Adult romances with ranging genres from fantasy, A Curse Books trilogy, to dark romance, A Reliant Love, and everything in between. She works as a pre-school teacher and spends her free time playing video games. Romance with a bit of CHAOS. Visit her at taylorlavati.com Subscribe to her newsletter http://eepurl.com/4saHb Chat with her @taylorjlavati Or here! www.facebook.com/taylorlavati \"Taylor Lavati has proven to be a wonderful writer & has made her way onto my list of favorite authors pretty quickly.\" Amy B \"One for readers at the older end of the 'young adult' spectrum, The Thousand Year Curse is clearly the work of a gifted young writer. ...what struck me most about the book was the deft and surprisingly mature touch of the author.\" Jay G \"I fell in love with Taylor's writing when I read the first book in her Curse Books. When I opened this book {A Reliant Love} I wasn't positive what would be waiting on the other side for me, but I was certain it would be a reading adventure. Taylor didn't disappoint.\" Bestselling author Jesse Kimmel-Freeman \"I absolutely loved this story {For The Love of Ash} and how beautifully it was written and flowed together. I have reread it 4 times now!\" Taylor K \"I never thought I would read a \"zombie book\", much less love one. The Last Legacy really surprised me. Even with the whole people-eating-people thing, it was a fantastic book.\" Melannie S Romance with a bit of CHAOS.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Going to be one of my top reads of the year!\n\nReview: Ready for more of the Wilson's?! I loved meeting this huge family of siblings in For The Love Of Ash and I was hoping we would get more about the other characters..Taylor does not disappoint! This story revolves around Lindsey (Luke's older sister) and Finn (Luke's best friend and Lindsey's prior flame) Finn. Finn returns to town along with the rest of the New York Rangers hockey team for the opening of Luke's rink and as soon as he steps foot into it the sparks between him and Lindsey begin. The attraction and their chemistry is immediately off the charts. (just when you think that the chemistry and intense moments of Luke and Maggie was the best then Finn and Lindsey come along and boom!)\n\nTrying to figure out if they can get over their past and find a new start is a pretty huge part of the story. And it makes you want to keep reading straight through just to see if they make it. We also get the added bonus of checking in with all of our favorite characters from the Love Of Ash! (One of the things I was looking forward to the most about this book, I wasn't ready to let these characters go yet!)\n\nThe deeper we get into the story the more emotional it gets and the more you fall in love with the story! I believe that this is definitely Taylor's best book yet. She introduced us to a new level of her talemt. One of the things I have loved about Taylor's books is that there are times where the emotions going on in the story are so strong that I have to set my book down and process. I have to take a step back because I have become involved with these characters and their stories affect me, move me to a level that is too intense to keep reading haha. The last 30% of this book I think I had to stop 5 or 6 times because I was either gonna bawl my eyes out or shake Lindsey or both. The ending was bittersweet and I am so excited for the next book! I hope it's like this one was where we get to see what all of our favorite characters are up to even though the focus of the book is supposed to be one of the other siblings. I even want books about the older girls who aren't as close to Luke and Lindsey. Like what are their lives like? There is a major story There too I think.","Product: Melody Dawn is a contemporary romance author. She started reading romance novels when she was a teenager and became addicted to Happily Ever After's. She got her own HEA when she met her soulmate. It was instalove and they've been together ever since. She spends most of her time reading, writing, spending time with her main guy as well as nursing a secret addiction to organizing and crime shows.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the Best Debut Novels I Have Read in a Long Time\n\nReview: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.\n\nI absolutely loved this book! It was one of the sweetest stories I have read in a long time! Chloe and Jayson do not have the easiest road to love that is for sure but it is a very unique story told by an author who has a complete mastery of the genre.\n\nChloe is a very complex character but as we see when she first meets Jayson there is more that meets the eye on both of them. And that together they are strong enough to live through anything and he finally convinces her to begin living in the present and to leave all of her grief and shame in the past where it belongs. But on the same side of the coin as soon as Jayson meets Chloe the world is forever changed for him.\n\nAdd in a little comic relief from Jayson's twin brother Connor and you have a very memorable story that you just want to crawl up in and stay for a while! I cannot wait for Connor and Madison's book because I think it's going to be equally as amazing as this one. We do get hints of their story in the course of this book especially in the epilogue but to have it told from their point of view will be awesome. I can tell already that our perception of Connor will change since he is seen as the goofball in this book to see the complete 180 he will most likely make will endear him to readers even more.","Product: New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries. Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can't forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols. Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over twenty novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This book has all of my favorite things! A little bit of a suspense/thriller aspect\n\nReview: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.\n\nThis book has all of my favorite things! A little bit of a suspense/thriller aspect, a snarky hero and a heroine who is tough. Now at first I thought that Hadley was going to be this pampered princess country singer but the deeper we got into the book the more I had to admire her courage and spark. Especially when her and Blake get to bickering back and forth. Those moments are the best because you can really see the tension developing.\n\nAll of the suspense was making a palpable presence in the story I felt because you are constantly trying to figure out who is after Hadley and the big reveal on that one was something I didn't see coming. Add to this the sexual tension that rolls in like a storm whenever these two are within range of each other and you have a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.\n\nWhile this is technically book 2\nin the series it does work really well as a standalone (which is good for me since I hadn't picked up book one before I signed up to review this one) I wasn't lost at all and will definitely be going back and grabbing book one now that I enjoyed this book so much. I freely admit I am a fan of any book that involves a ranch, a cowboy and a beautiful backdrop. But this one went above and beyond my expectations. If you are looking for a excellent read or just a bit of pure escapism ;) then definitely pick this one up you will not be disappointed.","Product: Fun facts about Gina: I love cappuccino foam and whipped cream. I would live off sprinkles if possible. I have one imaginary dog. Laughing is my favorite :)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My Favorite of the series!\n\nReview: What happens when our favorite mobsterista goes on vacation? Trying to corral Meg from not burning up Lacey's work credit card with a shopping trip, a huge transition in the dynamic between Lacey and Anthony and oh yeah! A body in the trunk of the Lumina. . . One thing I can say is Lacey and the gang are gonna need a vacation to recover from their vacation haha.\n\nThe feel of this story is a little different. It takes us out of the city and into a small town, and it sets the stage for lots of cute moments with Lacey and Anthony! I am seriously applauding Gina on creating my all time favorite literary couple, I love them together! We are getting all of the new relationship warm fuzzies, the should I call or shouldn't I call times, the snuggle bug times, but also the trying to go from 2 single people flirting to being a couple and learning how to navigate this new relationship.\n\nLacey is starting to make a name for herself and people are starting to worry that this mystery may be a direct message to her! I mean psh . . . Nothing says good job at work like a dead guy in your trunk face down in some desiccated Taco Bell haha. And during the course of the story Lacey also gets some important info about her mom's past which I have been dying to know more about since I started book one of this series.\n\nThe last couple chapters of this mystery are absolutely jaw dropping and I loved every minute of them and the rest of this book and series! Lacey is one of my favorite female heroines of all time! This series truly has something for everyone a mystery element, some intense action, some schmexy tension between Lacey and Anthony, a girls against the world feel for Lacey and Meg's friendship and a sense of family. All the elements for a amazing read!","Product: Born on the mystical day of October 30th in the not so mystical lands of Mexico City, Claudia grew up with a childhood that resembled a caffeine-injected soap opera. Seventeen years ago she ventured to the lands of her techie husbanda.k.a. the U.S.with their offspring to start a new adventure. She now lives in Colorado working for a small IT company, managing her household filled with three confused dogs, said nerd husband, two daughters wrought with fandoms and a son who thinks hes the boss of the house. To survive she works continually to find purpose for the voices flitting through her head, plus she consumes high quantities of chocolate to keep the last threads of sanity intact.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Beautiful Whirlwind Of A Love Story\n\nReview: Right from the outset you know this is gonna be a excellent read! Hudson Drago is your typical 20 something who is the best man for his best friend's wedding and shenanigans ensue so you have some comedic moments right off the bat, but then he meets the bride's cousin (who is also the bartender) at the reception. . . Sounds like your usual rom com set up right? Just wait my romance loving friends! Because there are some twisty/ turny developments that keep you constantly wondering how this story is gonna work out.\n\nThe chemistry between Jade and Hudson is electric and Claudia gives me exactly what I was craving! Smart, funny banter, a little innuendo and some sarcasm and I was invested in their relationship (from the ice cream freezer scene to the last page.) The reader is drawn in to their story, you see the reasons why it shouldn't work out but that's the thing with love it trumps all the logical reasons and it just works. Without rhyme or reason the pieces all align and you find that person to wander through life with. And that is the story we take with Jade and Hudson.","Product: Tamra Lassiter lives in Northern Virginia with her supportive husband, two lovely daughters, elegant Great Dane and not-so-elegant, but very sweet, English Bulldog. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading and of course, writing. She would love to hear from you. Please visit her website at www.tamralassiter.com.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A fun read! I loved it!\n\nReview: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.\n\nWhat better way to make peace with your arch enemy than to almost get frostbite and then have to be rescued by said arch enemy then of all things to get snowed in together! Yikes! That sets up the beginning of this book. Told in dual POV from Kate and Hunter. They grew up together and well seeing as kids can be kids Hunter fell in with the croud that made fun of Kate for being studious and winning student of the year awards . . . And it wasn't the first\ntime that Hunter humiliated Kate there was definitely a pattern. Despite through it all she has a crush on him and he has a crush on her.\n\nThis awkward set up which we find out is cooked up by Kate's brother.\nKate is sent on a mission and Hunter was invited up to the family cabin for pizza and bro time. Boy were they surprised when they find out Brady is nowhere in sight. Determined to talk out their issues they make a tentative peace with each other that allows them to find out a lot more about each other and their past. But all is not as it seems with Brady's request as he has been abducted and relies on Kate to make an trade for his life which leads them both into an dangerous game that Hunter saves them from.\n\nI thought this was a great book for an afternoon read since it had a little bit of everything, romance, mystery, some humor haha I can't wait for the other books in this new series.","Product: Rachel Madbury is a life long New Englander, currently enjoying the beautiful coast of New Hampshire. She writes modern romances about strong women & the men who love them. Having spent time living in New York City, Boston, and backpacking around New Zealand she continues to embrace her adventurous heart within the world of fiction. If youd like to connect with Rachel online you can find her at https://www.facebook.com/rachelmadbury\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Such a Surprising Story\n\nReview: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.\n\nThis was a very intriguing read! At first I thought it was going to go one way but the further I got into it the more I realized I didn't have any idea what was going on!\n\nThe book is paced a little slower than most I read and that made it fraught with tension and me shaking my Kindle going \"Why are you the way you are!\" It seems like everybody in town has a secret and that makes for some detective work on the part of the reader trying to figure out just what they are.\n\nAs far as how the characters are constructed there is a definite duality between Grace and Alex, she is open and questing for knowledge about the house, Alex's past, Chloe . . . Etc and he is very secretive and hides a lot and only sort of seems to want to know about Grace's past. It makes for an interesting dynamic that's for sure.\n\nIt's not until almost 75-80% that we find out Alex's secret and it will rock his and Grace's relationship to the core. I admit it's not what I thought it was! This fast pacing carries through to the end of the book which does end on a cliffhanger (fair warning) it is going to be really interesting to see where the story goes from here."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Debra is a native New Yorker who made her escape to the suburbs. She often returns to her hometown to visit her favorite deli for a bagel with butter, because theres no better bagel than a New York bagel. When not in search of bagels, Debra spends her time running Book Enthusiast Promotions, an online promotions company that helps indie authors spread the word about their books. Shes also the owner of The Book Enthusiast blog. She started writing lyrics in her wall-to-wall NKOTB bedroom at the tender age of thirteen while dreaming of the day shed become Mrs. Jordan Knight. That dream never came to fruition, but she has continued to write. Now shes working on her first novel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This was my foray into the Rockstar Romance genre and I have to say it was a excellent way to try out a new genre\\n\\nReview: I received a ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. This was my foray into the Rockstar Romance genre and I have to say it was a excellent way to try out a new genre! This story has everything, romance, suspense, comic relief moments, self-discovery and an empowered heroine. All of my favorite things! There is even a ex military man for those of you who love that element in a hero ;) I thought that Abby was such an intriguing character, I expected her to be kind of this spoiled, self-entitled princess at the beginning but you soon see that she is so much more. Her journey of empowering herself after some traumatic events was quite refreshing, she could have easily become dependent on Danny and it would have made me not enjoy the book quite as much so I'm really glad that Debra took the story in a different direction.\\n\\nDanny and the guys were all great characters, strong, moral guys with awesome senses of humor haha. They definitely provide levity after some heavy moments in the story. I also love the relationship between Sophie and Abby, every girl needs a bestie like that who will give you the pep talk to get you to pull your head out of your backside and go after what you want! All in all I thought this was an excellent book! And I may be selfish but can we have a book about Sophie and Connor next? Please and thank you!\",\n \"Product: Over 70 PAGES of AMAZING STRESS RELIEF PATTERNS - Including Mandalas, Stained Glass, Animals, Fashion, Geometric Shapes, and Other Artistic Creations ENJOY 100s OF HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT - Perfect for stressed adults looking for a mental break. Decompress your mind with calming designs and shapes. PERFECT FOR ALL AGES - From seniors to toddlers, grown ups to kids, everyone will enjoy these fun, creative designs. TOP QUALITY PRINTING - Don't fall victim to the cheap printed coloring books that bleed through. This coloring book was designed specifically to the highest of standards. Ensuring you have the best coloring experience possible. USED BEST WITH TOP QUALITY ART SUPPLIES COLORED PENCILS - We highly recommend pairing this product with our Top Quality Colored Pencils.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: ... a discount in exchange for a honest review I liked this coloring book a lot\\n\\nReview: I received this product at a discount in exchange for a honest review\\n\\nI liked this coloring book a lot! Good quality paper and interesting designs, there were a couple in the book that were a little blurry but they are still usable in my opinion. I think coloring is a great stress reliever and I like that they are making different designs that cater to a older audience (I got tired of going to the kids section and getting coloring books!) but these were fun and quick to color in. I used color pencils so I don't know how the paper would hold up to markers but I think it would be okay and not have bleed through since the paper is thicker.\",\n \"Product: Sadia Ash is an art and history obsessed geek who loves all things British and literary. She has held jobs that always involved writing (and never math) in some way. She is currently working on two other novels and a film script. She lives in sun-drenched Cali with her husband and two bright kids.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Christian and Ana who? Its all about Kyle and Juniper! deserves more than 5 Stars.\\n\\nReview: I first saw this cover as I was scrolling Facebook and I immediately thought \\\"that's a wicked cool looking cover! I must get my hands on this book. . . So I waited (not so patiently! I might add haha) until release day and popped over to Amazon and one clicked. . . Little did I know I was gonna get sucked in to this amazing story! (I regret nothing!)\\n\\nFrom the first page the story is off and running and I loved that there was no superfluous lead in and information it was just boom! Dropped into the story and that mystery and tension of not knowing all the facts from the get go lends a fast paced quest for information quality to the story which is smart, and edgy and relatable. These characters are so life like and like people you have known for years that it makes for a engrossing read.\\n\\nKyle and Juniper have this witty banter thing down! Haha I love how quick and rapid fire their initial exchange is when he is trying to come to her rescue off of the platform she was stuck on. I totally related to her right then because I am also extremely afraid of heights haha. So yep I probably would have been hugging the ladder petrified to climb the rest of the way down. She makes a snap judgement about him at the beginning and it does come back to bite her in just a few pages but it gives us some comedic inner monologues haha.\\n\\nAbout 17% in we get the first twist in this story and let me tell you its a doozy! We kinda got hints about it earlier in the book but to have the situation all laid out there it leaves you reeling (much like Juniper in that moment) you've become used to the typical romance novel formula and when this shift happens its like WHOA! (Just wait because there are more twists and turns to follow throughout this story)\\n\\nKyle and Juniper's story is not an easy one, for each one of them their past experiences shape who they are when they begin their relationship. . . And the conflicts begin to build up. There is so much healing and compromise and these characters are unlike any I have read before. The closest I could get would be Christian and Ana but more complex! Its a smarter storyline and pacing than Fifty Shades and minus all of the gratuitous schmexy times! With this book there are plenty of hot intense scenes but its not blatant about them. A lot is left to the imagination which I loved (and hotter in my opinion!)\\n\\nThis is a massive story and one that you cannot put down once you finish (I blew through the first half and tried to pace myself with the second half. . . By reading on my phone haha once the battery died I had to stop! Helped me savor the last half and spend more time with these characters because I did not want to let them go) for a debut novel it is truly stunning! Sadia's level of talent is tops of the romance game right now.\",\n \"Product: Gina LaManna, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, began writing after obtaining a degree in Actuarial Science. To her parent's dismay, she fled the country after graduation to live and nanny in Italy. While it was quite enjoyable to spend summers on the beaches of Sardegna and fall in Milan, she eventually returned to the States, where she now lives in Los Angeles and remains on the lookout for the next adventure. Gina writes fiction under other pen names, including short stories, long stories, and all sizes in-between stories. She loves cappucino foam and whipped cream, and would subsist solely on sprinkles if possible. She has one imaginary dog.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of my top ten favorite series of all time!\\n\\nReview: So I found this author through a recommended post on Facebook and checked out her page. Imagine my surprise when I find a hidden treasure like Sprinkled! (Facebook's algorithm actually gets it right WHAAA?! That like never happens) I haven't loved a Book series this hard since Jan of this year when I discovered the Unspoken Series by Marilyn Grey. This series has it all! Lots of hilerious hinjinks, a best friend who will do anything for you (including tase someone!) a mysterious stranger who sparks a romantic interest and Family!\\n\\nIf I gave someone a list of attributes to craft me a perfect series that would grab my attention then you would have the Lacey Luzzi series! Its fresh and funny and somewhat like the Stephanie Plum series (the early ones though back when they were still fresh and exciting) Lacey reminds me of well. . . me Haha My great grandfather was quite a bit like Carlos and my great grandma and grandma are a lot like Nora. So I know how this family dynamic works.\\n\\nThe farther we get into this story the plot twists just keep on coming and it is one wild ride of an ending! You laugh (because Let's face it Lacey has some of the worst luck!) you bite your fingernails because things get really intense and you are gonna have questions and jaw dropping moments. And once you get to the last few pages you thank your lucky stars because you binge bought most of the other books in this series! I could not get enough. I can see Lacey becoming one of my top ten favorite series of all time!\",\n \"Product: Taylor Lavati is a twenty-something year old author residing in a small town in Connecticut with her husband and dog. She writes Young Adult and New Adult romances with ranging genres from fantasy, A Curse Books trilogy, to dark romance, A Reliant Love, and everything in between. She works as a pre-school teacher and spends her free time playing video games. Romance with a bit of CHAOS. Visit her at taylorlavati.com Subscribe to her newsletter http://eepurl.com/4saHb Chat with her @taylorjlavati Or here! www.facebook.com/taylorlavati \\\"Taylor Lavati has proven to be a wonderful writer & has made her way onto my list of favorite authors pretty quickly.\\\" Amy B \\\"One for readers at the older end of the 'young adult' spectrum, The Thousand Year Curse is clearly the work of a gifted young writer. ...what struck me most about the book was the deft and surprisingly mature touch of the author.\\\" Jay G \\\"I fell in love with Taylor's writing when I read the first book in her Curse Books. When I opened this book {A Reliant Love} I wasn't positive what would be waiting on the other side for me, but I was certain it would be a reading adventure. Taylor didn't disappoint.\\\" Bestselling author Jesse Kimmel-Freeman \\\"I absolutely loved this story {For The Love of Ash} and how beautifully it was written and flowed together. I have reread it 4 times now!\\\" Taylor K \\\"I never thought I would read a \\\"zombie book\\\", much less love one. The Last Legacy really surprised me. Even with the whole people-eating-people thing, it was a fantastic book.\\\" Melannie S Romance with a bit of CHAOS.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Going to be one of my top reads of the year!\\n\\nReview: Ready for more of the Wilson's?! I loved meeting this huge family of siblings in For The Love Of Ash and I was hoping we would get more about the other characters..Taylor does not disappoint! This story revolves around Lindsey (Luke's older sister) and Finn (Luke's best friend and Lindsey's prior flame) Finn. Finn returns to town along with the rest of the New York Rangers hockey team for the opening of Luke's rink and as soon as he steps foot into it the sparks between him and Lindsey begin. The attraction and their chemistry is immediately off the charts. (just when you think that the chemistry and intense moments of Luke and Maggie was the best then Finn and Lindsey come along and boom!)\\n\\nTrying to figure out if they can get over their past and find a new start is a pretty huge part of the story. And it makes you want to keep reading straight through just to see if they make it. We also get the added bonus of checking in with all of our favorite characters from the Love Of Ash! (One of the things I was looking forward to the most about this book, I wasn't ready to let these characters go yet!)\\n\\nThe deeper we get into the story the more emotional it gets and the more you fall in love with the story! I believe that this is definitely Taylor's best book yet. She introduced us to a new level of her talemt. One of the things I have loved about Taylor's books is that there are times where the emotions going on in the story are so strong that I have to set my book down and process. I have to take a step back because I have become involved with these characters and their stories affect me, move me to a level that is too intense to keep reading haha. The last 30% of this book I think I had to stop 5 or 6 times because I was either gonna bawl my eyes out or shake Lindsey or both. The ending was bittersweet and I am so excited for the next book! I hope it's like this one was where we get to see what all of our favorite characters are up to even though the focus of the book is supposed to be one of the other siblings. I even want books about the older girls who aren't as close to Luke and Lindsey. Like what are their lives like? There is a major story There too I think.\",\n \"Product: Melody Dawn is a contemporary romance author. She started reading romance novels when she was a teenager and became addicted to Happily Ever After's. She got her own HEA when she met her soulmate. It was instalove and they've been together ever since. She spends most of her time reading, writing, spending time with her main guy as well as nursing a secret addiction to organizing and crime shows.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of the Best Debut Novels I Have Read in a Long Time\\n\\nReview: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.\\n\\nI absolutely loved this book! It was one of the sweetest stories I have read in a long time! Chloe and Jayson do not have the easiest road to love that is for sure but it is a very unique story told by an author who has a complete mastery of the genre.\\n\\nChloe is a very complex character but as we see when she first meets Jayson there is more that meets the eye on both of them. And that together they are strong enough to live through anything and he finally convinces her to begin living in the present and to leave all of her grief and shame in the past where it belongs. But on the same side of the coin as soon as Jayson meets Chloe the world is forever changed for him.\\n\\nAdd in a little comic relief from Jayson's twin brother Connor and you have a very memorable story that you just want to crawl up in and stay for a while! I cannot wait for Connor and Madison's book because I think it's going to be equally as amazing as this one. We do get hints of their story in the course of this book especially in the epilogue but to have it told from their point of view will be awesome. I can tell already that our perception of Connor will change since he is seen as the goofball in this book to see the complete 180 he will most likely make will endear him to readers even more.\",\n \"Product: New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries. Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can't forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols. Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over twenty novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This book has all of my favorite things! A little bit of a suspense/thriller aspect\\n\\nReview: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.\\n\\nThis book has all of my favorite things! A little bit of a suspense/thriller aspect, a snarky hero and a heroine who is tough. Now at first I thought that Hadley was going to be this pampered princess country singer but the deeper we got into the book the more I had to admire her courage and spark. Especially when her and Blake get to bickering back and forth. Those moments are the best because you can really see the tension developing.\\n\\nAll of the suspense was making a palpable presence in the story I felt because you are constantly trying to figure out who is after Hadley and the big reveal on that one was something I didn't see coming. Add to this the sexual tension that rolls in like a storm whenever these two are within range of each other and you have a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.\\n\\nWhile this is technically book 2\\nin the series it does work really well as a standalone (which is good for me since I hadn't picked up book one before I signed up to review this one) I wasn't lost at all and will definitely be going back and grabbing book one now that I enjoyed this book so much. I freely admit I am a fan of any book that involves a ranch, a cowboy and a beautiful backdrop. But this one went above and beyond my expectations. If you are looking for a excellent read or just a bit of pure escapism ;) then definitely pick this one up you will not be disappointed.\",\n \"Product: Fun facts about Gina: I love cappuccino foam and whipped cream. I would live off sprinkles if possible. I have one imaginary dog. Laughing is my favorite :)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My Favorite of the series!\\n\\nReview: What happens when our favorite mobsterista goes on vacation? Trying to corral Meg from not burning up Lacey's work credit card with a shopping trip, a huge transition in the dynamic between Lacey and Anthony and oh yeah! A body in the trunk of the Lumina. . . One thing I can say is Lacey and the gang are gonna need a vacation to recover from their vacation haha.\\n\\nThe feel of this story is a little different. It takes us out of the city and into a small town, and it sets the stage for lots of cute moments with Lacey and Anthony! I am seriously applauding Gina on creating my all time favorite literary couple, I love them together! We are getting all of the new relationship warm fuzzies, the should I call or shouldn't I call times, the snuggle bug times, but also the trying to go from 2 single people flirting to being a couple and learning how to navigate this new relationship.\\n\\nLacey is starting to make a name for herself and people are starting to worry that this mystery may be a direct message to her! I mean psh . . . Nothing says good job at work like a dead guy in your trunk face down in some desiccated Taco Bell haha. And during the course of the story Lacey also gets some important info about her mom's past which I have been dying to know more about since I started book one of this series.\\n\\nThe last couple chapters of this mystery are absolutely jaw dropping and I loved every minute of them and the rest of this book and series! Lacey is one of my favorite female heroines of all time! This series truly has something for everyone a mystery element, some intense action, some schmexy tension between Lacey and Anthony, a girls against the world feel for Lacey and Meg's friendship and a sense of family. All the elements for a amazing read!\",\n \"Product: Born on the mystical day of October 30th in the not so mystical lands of Mexico City, Claudia grew up with a childhood that resembled a caffeine-injected soap opera. Seventeen years ago she ventured to the lands of her techie husbanda.k.a. the U.S.with their offspring to start a new adventure. She now lives in Colorado working for a small IT company, managing her household filled with three confused dogs, said nerd husband, two daughters wrought with fandoms and a son who thinks hes the boss of the house. To survive she works continually to find purpose for the voices flitting through her head, plus she consumes high quantities of chocolate to keep the last threads of sanity intact.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Beautiful Whirlwind Of A Love Story\\n\\nReview: Right from the outset you know this is gonna be a excellent read! Hudson Drago is your typical 20 something who is the best man for his best friend's wedding and shenanigans ensue so you have some comedic moments right off the bat, but then he meets the bride's cousin (who is also the bartender) at the reception. . . Sounds like your usual rom com set up right? Just wait my romance loving friends! Because there are some twisty/ turny developments that keep you constantly wondering how this story is gonna work out.\\n\\nThe chemistry between Jade and Hudson is electric and Claudia gives me exactly what I was craving! Smart, funny banter, a little innuendo and some sarcasm and I was invested in their relationship (from the ice cream freezer scene to the last page.) The reader is drawn in to their story, you see the reasons why it shouldn't work out but that's the thing with love it trumps all the logical reasons and it just works. Without rhyme or reason the pieces all align and you find that person to wander through life with. And that is the story we take with Jade and Hudson.\",\n \"Product: Tamra Lassiter lives in Northern Virginia with her supportive husband, two lovely daughters, elegant Great Dane and not-so-elegant, but very sweet, English Bulldog. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading and of course, writing. She would love to hear from you. Please visit her website at www.tamralassiter.com.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A fun read! I loved it!\\n\\nReview: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.\\n\\nWhat better way to make peace with your arch enemy than to almost get frostbite and then have to be rescued by said arch enemy then of all things to get snowed in together! Yikes! That sets up the beginning of this book. Told in dual POV from Kate and Hunter. They grew up together and well seeing as kids can be kids Hunter fell in with the croud that made fun of Kate for being studious and winning student of the year awards . . . And it wasn't the first\\ntime that Hunter humiliated Kate there was definitely a pattern. Despite through it all she has a crush on him and he has a crush on her.\\n\\nThis awkward set up which we find out is cooked up by Kate's brother.\\nKate is sent on a mission and Hunter was invited up to the family cabin for pizza and bro time. Boy were they surprised when they find out Brady is nowhere in sight. Determined to talk out their issues they make a tentative peace with each other that allows them to find out a lot more about each other and their past. But all is not as it seems with Brady's request as he has been abducted and relies on Kate to make an trade for his life which leads them both into an dangerous game that Hunter saves them from.\\n\\nI thought this was a great book for an afternoon read since it had a little bit of everything, romance, mystery, some humor haha I can't wait for the other books in this new series.\",\n \"Product: Rachel Madbury is a life long New Englander, currently enjoying the beautiful coast of New Hampshire. She writes modern romances about strong women & the men who love them. Having spent time living in New York City, Boston, and backpacking around New Zealand she continues to embrace her adventurous heart within the world of fiction. If youd like to connect with Rachel online you can find her at https://www.facebook.com/rachelmadbury\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Such a Surprising Story\\n\\nReview: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.\\n\\nThis was a very intriguing read! At first I thought it was going to go one way but the further I got into it the more I realized I didn't have any idea what was going on!\\n\\nThe book is paced a little slower than most I read and that made it fraught with tension and me shaking my Kindle going \\\"Why are you the way you are!\\\" It seems like everybody in town has a secret and that makes for some detective work on the part of the reader trying to figure out just what they are.\\n\\nAs far as how the characters are constructed there is a definite duality between Grace and Alex, she is open and questing for knowledge about the house, Alex's past, Chloe . . . Etc and he is very secretive and hides a lot and only sort of seems to want to know about Grace's past. It makes for an interesting dynamic that's for sure.\\n\\nIt's not until almost 75-80% that we find out Alex's secret and it will rock his and Grace's relationship to the core. I admit it's not what I thought it was! This fast pacing carries through to the end of the book which does end on a cliffhanger (fair warning) it is going to be really interesting to see where the story goes from here.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":11,"string":"11"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":82,"string":"82"}}},{"rowIdx":83,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2REQUI85URT87"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Style, convenience, and power come together in the Cuisinart electric can open. With chrome accents and elegant contours, it fits nicely with other modern countertop appliances. The easy single-touch operation effortlessly opens any standard size can. The precision Power Cut blade and strong magnetic lid holder are attached to the removable lever, which can be easily detached for quick cleanups. A stable design with a wide base for extra sturdiness and solid construction, it won't tip or slide. Simply place the can under the guideposts and press the lever for effortless opening.Dimensions: Measures 5.9\" wide x 6\" long x 10.9\" tall; 2.8 poundsElectric can opener with precision Power Cut bladePress-and-release lever for easily opening any standard-size canExtra-wide base prevents sliding or tipping; stops automaticallyMagnetic lid holder; removable activation lever; easy-to-clean design \". The summary of the review text is \"Note -- Very Short Power Cord\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"As far as basic functions, this is a good, albeit cheap-looking and cheaply built, basic can opener. However, in an obvious, but misguided attempt to lower the production costs by a few cents, they made the power cord as short as I have ever seen on a counter-top appliance -- about 18 inches, as opposed to the usual 24 or 30 inches. 18\" might sound like enough, but it may not be in many kitchens, because you lose about 6 inches due to the height of most receptacles above the counter-top. You are limited to about one foot from the nearest receptacle in either direction, which I found barely enough. So, my basic advice is to check your outlet distance before purchase. Otherwise, this does what it's supposed to do -- it opens cans."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"As far as basic functions, this is a good, albeit cheap-looking and cheaply built, basic can opener. However, in an obvious, but misguided attempt to lower the production costs by a few cents, they made the power cord as short as I have ever seen on a counter-top appliance -- about 18 inches, as opposed to the usual 24 or 30 inches. 18\" might sound like enough, but it may not be in many kitchens, because you lose about 6 inches due to the height of most receptacles above the counter-top. You are limited to about one foot from the nearest receptacle in either direction, which I found barely enough. So, my basic advice is to check your outlet distance before purchase. Otherwise, this does what it's supposed to do -- it opens cans."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Quicken Will Maker Plus is the easiest way to create your estate plan, whether you're just getting started or you want to update your previous arrangements. This powerful software guides you through the process from beginning to end, giving you the practical and legal information you need to make the best decisions for you and your family. The benefits of using Quicken Will Maker Plus include: A customized estate plan, including a will, health care directive and other essential documents An easy-to-use interview format that lets you complete documents at your own pace A user-friendly legal manual answers common questions A team of lawyer-editors working to ensure each document reflects the laws of your state Note: Estate planning documents are not valid in Canada, Louisiana or U.S. Territories Quicken Will Maker Plus is the original will-writing software, created and updated regularly by Nolo's experts. Free legal updates will keep your program current through 2016. Technical support is also available. Plus, get a free living trust and five other valuable online documents! Registering your copy of Quicken Will Maker Plus 2016 gives you a free one-year subscription to Nolo's Online Living Trust. In addition, you also get free one-year subscriptions to five other valuable online forms: Nolo's Promissory Note, Limited Power of Attorney for Finances, Temporary Guardianship Authorization for Minor, Authorization for Minor's Medical Treatment, and Authorization for Foreign Travel. New for 2016: You can now use the Quicken Will Maker Plus to give your executor and attorney-in-fact authority over your digital assets.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Do you know what you don't know?\n\nReview: I was hoping this would be close to the level of sophistication one finds in Intuit's excellent TurboTax and QuickBooks. If your estate situation is at all complex (such as: high net worth, life insurance, younger or special needs children, divorce, high state death taxes, significant IRA assets), this isn't for you. It's more like a good MS-Word template. If you have a very simple estate and more or less know what you are doing, this is definitely better than not having a will at all. However, the real risk in DIY estate planning isn't what you know, it's what you don't know. (eg., if you inherit Mom or Dad's IRA, as a non-spouse IRA beneficiary, you can only do a trustee-trustee rollover -- otherwise, it's taxable immediately.) Unlike TurboTax, this doesn't prompt you with a series of questions that might warn you of tricky situations and possible traps. Although it comes with a pretty good (but hardly definitive) guide in pdf form, it would have been helpful if the advice in the guide had been integrated into the Q&A of the program. That's why I can only give this 3 stars, even accepting it wasn't designed for more complex situations.","Product: An international presence in the finest restaurants and hotels in testament to Vino Grande's undeniable sophistication and versatility. An elegant range of stemware lets you express your creativity in presentation while being assured of the highest quality, durability and elegance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Spiegelau will work just fine\n\nReview: Spiegelau was acquired by Riedel a year or two ago, and is quite similar to the Riedel Vinum glassware, which sits just below Riedel's high end sommelier series. These glasses offer exceptional value. The difference between the Spiegelau and the Riedel is less in the quality of any individual stems--both are well-made, European machine blown crystal--than in the fact that Riedel offers a broader range of glassware specifically designed to enhance wines from particular varietals (e.g., cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir) or from particular appellations (e.g., Burgundy, Bordeaux). If you are simply looking for a basic red wine glass and a basic white wine glass, the Spiegelau will work just fine. However, if you usually just drink Barolo, for example, you might wish to invest a bit more money in a Riedel stem specifically developed to enhance the bouquet and flavors of that appellation. However, the most important thing to know is that these are excellent quality glassware that offer the major advantages of crystal over regular glass, a thin lip and a microscopic pores in the glass that effectively increase surface area, increasing the area from which the bouquet can launch.","Product: Rest easy on these 400-thread count all cotton sheets. Each sheet set comes with a flat sheet, fitted sheet and 4 pillowcases\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Quality for the Price\n\nReview: I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these sheets given the low price. They are great, basic sheets, generously sized, well-sewn, and comfortable to sleep on. They are pure finish cotton, without any anti-wrinkle treatment, ie, they are not No-Iron. Frankly, I prefer that. Anti-wrinkle treatments use resin coatings, and the lack of the resins leaves them very comfortable, soft and moisture absorbing, with a smooth dry hand. Of course, it also means that they come out of the dryer somewhat wrinkled. Not that bad, but if you are fussy, unlike me, you will need to touch them up quite a bit with the iron. If you don't mind a few wrinkles, you will have a great set of sheets with two extra pillowcases at an unbelievable price. After trying these out, I bought 3 more sets.","Product: The Marantz MM7025 Stereo Power Amplifier answers many needs for both two-channel devotees and home theater enthusiasts alike. It produces 140 watts of full-bandwidth, very low distortion power per channel, so it can precisely control demanding speakers in large rooms or deliver subtle nuance in smaller acoustic environments.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Did Not Meet Expectations\n\nReview: I bought this to use for a few months while my conrad-johnson power amp was being rebuilt. I own the Marantz 8004 SACD player, which deserves the rave reviews it has received from Absolute Sound and other critics. With this similarly priced power amp, I did not expect the ultimate in audiophile performance, but I did expect a product that had much of the high-end sound of the audiophile level Marantz amps. This did not deliver that. Although the power rating is high, the unit, the upper end did not sparkle, and seemed compressed, if not dull, even after 14 days of continuous play for break-in. The bass also lacked authority and weight. Perhaps it needed more break-in time, but at some point I had to say enough is enough.","Product: Classic Levi's style mixed with modern detailing.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice jeans, but more tapered leg than slim cut\n\nReview: Although the Levi's 505 jean is usually referred to as the zipper version of the classic button fly 501, the Levi's 512 model seems closer to me. If you are looking for the 501 fit without the hassle of buttons, this may be the way to go. The 505 is rather full in the seat and crotch (technically \"the rise\") and can look pretty baggy. Though described as a \"slim fit\", the 512 is more of a moderate fit, snug but not formfitting, much like the handsome 501. Rather than slim fit, it really should be described as the 512 \"tapered leg\", because it has a noticeable taper to the ankle, which means it will not fit over boots, unlike the 505 and the 501. The denim is thick and of good quality, and breaks in nicely over time. However, if you really do want a true slim cut -- the 514 is better choice as it is trimmer in the seat and sits a little lower on the waist.","Product: Classic Levi's style mixed with modern detailing.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice jeans, but more tapered leg than slim cut\n\nReview: Although the Levi's 505 jean is usually referred to as the zipper version of the classic button fly 501, the Levi's 512 model seems closer to me. If you are looking for the 501 fit without the hassle of buttons, this may be the way to go. The 505 is rather full in the seat and crotch (technically \"the rise\") and can look pretty baggy. Though described as a \"slim fit\", the 512 is more of a moderate fit, snug but not formfitting, much like the handsome 501. Rather than slim fit, it really should be described as the 512 \"tapered leg\", because it has a noticeable taper to the ankle, which means it will not fit over boots, unlike the 505 and the 501. The denim is thick and of good quality, and breaks in nicely over time. However, if you really do want a true slim cut -- the 514 is better choice as it is trimmer in the seat and sits a little lower on the waist.","Product: Classic Levi's style mixed with modern detailing.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice jeans, but more tapered leg than slim cut\n\nReview: Although the Levi's 505 jean is usually referred to as the zipper version of the classic button fly 501, the Levi's 512 model seems closer to me. If you are looking for the 501 fit without the hassle of buttons, this may be the way to go. The 505 is rather full in the seat and crotch (technically \"the rise\") and can look pretty baggy. Though described as a \"slim fit\", the 512 is more of a moderate fit, snug but not formfitting, much like the handsome 501. Rather than slim fit, it really should be described as the 512 \"tapered leg\", because it has a noticeable taper to the ankle, which means it will not fit over boots, unlike the 505 and the 501. The denim is thick and of good quality, and breaks in nicely over time. However, if you really do want a true slim cut -- the 514 is better choice as it is trimmer in the seat and sits a little lower on the waist.","Product: Three years after the cameras stopped rolling the BBC returns to Wernham Hogg to catch up with the staff past and present of the most famous paper merchants in Slough. Gareth is now office manager and Tim last seen asking Dawn out (again) appears to be nearing the point of despair. David Brent has blown his redundancy money on releasing a single and now makes his living selling cleaning products door-to-door and making z-list celebrity appearances. Meanwhile Dawn and her fiance Lee have relocated to Florida but are being flown over specially by the documentary makers for the end-of-year office party. This two-part special of The Office finally brings the story to a close as we find out whether anyone in this life ever gets what they really want.Running Time: 100 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 794051208422\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Buy the set and Save Money\n\nReview: If you are undecided about whether to start with a single disc of this great show or go for a multi-disc set, my advice is to go for the set that includes season 1, 2 and the special. (Identified as \"The Office - The Complete Collection (First And Second Series Plus Special)\"). Once you start, you will end up buying all three anyway, so you might as well save money by buying this set, which in sum costs less than buying individually. The series, the plot, the characters, especially Ricky Gervais, work their way into you consciousness, and you won't let go until you see the full way it plays out, so comic, yet so real and riveting. This is more than just a comedy, it's a world that is created and inhabited by the characters AND by you, the viewer -- they way they draw you in with soliloquies to the camera, and reveal little pieces of themselves. Comic yes, but also drama and character You will be very happy with this purchase.","Product: Columbia Masterworks' most successful Broadway album! This is the 1956 original with Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison: On the Street Where You Live; I Could Have Danced All Night; I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face; The Rain in Spain , and more from this Best Musical-winning classic.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Same as the 2002 Remaster\n\nReview: This is identical to the 2002 remaster, except that it is packaged in a cardboard digipak instead of a jewel case. It is the 1956 Original Broadway Cast recording, in mono, with additional interviews with the cast at the end, which most reviewers seem to prefer the to the later 1959 London Cast Stereo version. I'm a My Fair Lady fan, and I have both recordings, and as far as I am concerned they are both great, and different enough to justify having both. The major difference is in Rex Harrsion's performances. In the London version he uses a mixed singing and talking in the major songs, whereas in Brwy it was pure singing. London seems to reflect his evolution in terms of what would get the audience going. Both work well IMO. Enjoy! PS: I'm not a big fan of the movie soundtrack, because it doesn't have Julie Andrews.","Product: CD\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great Performance, but Sound Quality Dubious\n\nReview: Thank you Mr. Gauthier, so nice to have such a distinguished poster here, and thank you also for the historic background you have provided. Alas, having listened to the CD, I am in total agreement with you about the remastering -- another victim of the loudness wars. The rapture is the performance -- sublime. However, I cannot say the same of the sound quality of the digital remastering. This could have been splendid vintage mono sound. Instead, they tried to \"modernize\" it by using excessive digital compression. The natural acoustic so carefully engineered by the brilliant producer John Pheiffer has been completely removed as a result. It is certainly not close to the sound that Pfeiffer later created on Living Stereo (including mono iterations on the Victor Opera Series label); nor is it close to the sound quality of the great EMI mono recordings of the era, such as the Callas/Gobbi/deStefano recordings at La Scala. Ar times, is is so compressed that it sounds like it's coming in over a telephone line, with little dynamic range and minimal ambience. I appreciate the wonderful insights provided by everyone here into this historic recording.\n\nUpdate 11/22/2014: I would note that Mr. Gauthier's comments about the sound quality of the remastering are now in general agreement with my own with regard to the main points -- excessive compression, too hot, too loud, poor dynamic range even for a mono recording of the era.\n\n\"After several listens I no longer think this is our '89 assembly....As with so many recent RCA/Sony releases of late the digital compression is very heavy. This makes the gain (volume in pro terms) \"hot\" as can be - everyone on the CD is very loud at low volume settings whether it be on your Ipod, tuner, preamp or whatever. The dynamic range on both recordings is very small, even for an old mono recording. But in today's world of 'ear buds' this is not such a bad idea. Playing on first class studio monitors yields a different feeling - that of a recording that could have been more discreetly mastered. However, this complaint in the real world is that of one pro to another and doesn't change the fact that this is the BEST version now available of such an historic occasion.\"","Product: 2014 release, the first studio album of new material in seven years from the singer/songwriter. Tales From The Realm... features 10 new songs, each telling a story that has to do with the material world and the world of the spirit and how they intersect. Suzanne spent the past few years writing and recording these new gems on the road, recording portions in Chicago, London, Prague, LA and New York City, and Kyserike Station, an old train station in upstate New York. Tracking for the album took place mostly at the Clubhouse Studios in Rhinebeck, and the album was mixed by Kevin Killen, who has worked with Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Even Good (as opposed to great) S. Vega Gets 5 Stars from Me\n\nReview: Ok, I admit that most of these songs sound like out-takes from Nine Objects of Desire (1996) and Songs In Red And Gray (2001). They are very much in that syncopated, confessional ballad style that SV so brilliantly invented and explored on those two albums (and then largely abandoned on Beauty & Crime). While it is true that none of the new songs, with the exception of \"Horizon (There Is a Road),\" is at the same high level as the earlier efforts, if you liked NOoD and SIR&G, you will definitely like hearing that distinctive style lovingly revisited again here. I will also say that even a \"high B\" effort from SV is more intelligent, lyrical, and musical than 99% of what else is around, which is why I give this album 5 stars without the least reservation. Suzanne Vega is a musical and artistic tour de force of one.","Product: Tchaikovsky’s three sumptuous ballet scores are also three of his supreme masterpieces, as remarkable for their emotional content as for the beauty of their melodies and orchestration. André Previn, who has described himself as “a complete romantic”, became Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra in 1968. He remained in the role for 11 years – something of a golden era – and in 2016 was named the LSO’s Conductor Emeritus.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Improved over previous EMI mastering\n\nReview: Previn was a master of orchestration, and I've always enjoyed his conducting on these performances, which date from the mid-1970s, and are 5 star in my book. Unfortunately the original EMI recordings, which are somewhat distant and congested, did not serve him well. The sound lacked the brilliance which Previn's deft orchestration truly needs in order to shine. (Check out his fine work on the otherwise less than stellar My Fair Lady motion picture soundtrack album.) This 2014 and 2016 masterings on this set are a distinct improvement.\n\nNote also: take with a grain of salt the blurb on the back cover that Sleeping Beauty is presented \"in its entirety\" for the first time on CD. Well, OK, In order to fit the performance on 2 discs instead of the 3 presented here, the previous EMI release cut about about 5 minutes from this 160 min. long recording, which I suspect neither you, I, Previn, nor Tchaikovsky himself would notice.","Product: these cd's are in very good condition with original box.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is the Great Mastering from EMI -- from 1987\n\nReview: This is the one you want. The later Great Recordings of the Century issue from EMI from 2002 (and subsequent reissues, all of which use the 2002 master) are quite simply, horrible. It has no almost no high frequency response, sounds dull and muffled, more like a digitally synthesized message from your voicemail box than the sound of a splendid opera. It seems as though the only purpose of the 2002 remaster was to remove the tape hiss from the master tape, which was made in the golden era of stereo in the late 1950s, even though the hiss was hardly objectionable in the first instance, as evidenced by the excellent sound of this 1987 compact disc release. If you want to hear the difference, go to the MP3 download of the 1987 version, which still uses the 1987 mastering. You might also consider buying the highlights disc on CD, which still uses the 1987 mastering, and which, unlike the full opera, is still in print.","Product: Maria Callas is at the top of her game, and still very much in her vocal prime. Her dramatic approach to \"Tosca\" is arguably even better captured in the live recordings from Covent Garden a decade later, but at that point her voice had lost some of its bloom; depending on your tastes, this may be the better example of her doing the role. Tito Gobbi owned the role of Scarpia, and considered it his finest characterization. Although he and Callas wouldn''t perform the opera together on-stage for another 10 years, the chemistry and tension they brought to those later live performances are already in evidence here, as if they have done these roles together many times. The excitement of the second act is electric. And Giuseppe di Stefano still sounds youthful and fresh, not yet vocally worn from years of heavy singing. He makes the perfect partner for Callas, bringing an optimistic passion to the opening scene that sets off her more complicated persona. His final \"E lucevan le stelle\" is truly heartbreaking.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A New, EVEN MORE HORRIBLE Digital Remastering.\n\nReview: The original recording of Tosca, by the legendary producer/engineer Walter Legge, was a masterpiece. So why does this CD so sound so bad? It's because the current corporate owners of EMI simply want to cut costs and put out new \"improved\" editions of Callas without paying any respect that Legge's work deserves. Since the original 1986 CD release, which was reasonably well done though a bit subdued compared to the LP, each subsequent remastering of Tosca (1997, 2002) has been even worse than the previous one. The original mono tapes have been noise-reduced to death to remove tape hiss, which would be minimal in any event for a mono recording from 1954, with the effect of making the orchestra sound muffled and digitized. They have continued to pinch the eq to give a more modern sound, modern apparently defined at thin, reedy, harsh and loud. Just a shame....But 5 Stars for the performance.","Product: Original 1958 Sound Recording Made by EMI Records. Digitally Remastered in 1987.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Callas Summons Up Turandot\n\nReview: Made eight years after Callas had given up the role on stage, the Serafin recording is still immensely valuable for Callas' psychological insights into the psyche of her lead character, even though the tone of her voice by this late stage in her illustrious career had now taken on an austere quality on high notes. Callas genius finds eloquent expression in Turandot's great solo on her entrance. Callas finds the source of Turnadot's vengeful mission in a her deep tenderness and vulnerability due to the sorrows of a distant past. Callas still has the necessary power and penetration on the highs to summon immense emotion, even if some element of feminine beauty in its timbre has been lost. . The recording shows that she could summon up all the powers of her art, which she does.","Product: Laura Cantrell - Humming By The Flowered Vine - Cd\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Note on the mixing\n\nReview: Since I concur with the positive comments on the performance posted by other LC fans, I won't bore you with repeating mine here. but I must add a negative comment here on the mixing and/or mastering of this CD: it is ill-suited to LC's extraordinary artistry. LC's beautiful voice is made distant, edgy and the volume is too low relative to the instrumentation. The dynamic range is compressed; the instrumnts are one big muddle, with too much upper midrange and little bass. This especially strange here, as her previous album (WTRosesBA) was mastered in pristine HDCD sound. Too bad about this one, as the perormances are very fine.\n\nStill, I am a huge admirer of LC's work, and hope that no one will be deterred by these comments from buying this, despite the mediocre sound. I hope that the next one will be mixed and mastered at the high level of Ms. Cantrell's artistry.","Product: I will ship by EMS or SAL items in stock in Japan. It is approximately 7-14days on delivery date. You wholeheartedly support customers as satisfactory. Thank you for you seeing it.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Perfformances From the Golden Age of Audio\n\nReview: Intro Note: I wonder if there are two pressings of this floating around, as several reviews have commented that the recordings are in mono. On my set, only the Flute is in mono, as it was recorded in mono. The other three were recorded in stereo, and are presented this way on my set.\n\nOf the these four operas, three have become not only my favorite performances of the opera, but my favorite recordings. Yes, the Magic Flute is in mono, and a bit boxy, but there is a warmth and integrity to the sound that even many stereo recordings never capture. Of course, Fricsay's conducting is superb, and Rita Streich's Queen of the Night, which she was never able to perform on stage, is the best on record IMHO. The 1955 Decca stereo on Figaro and Don Giovanni is a bit tubby in the bass, but the ambiance is wonderful, with great clarity to the voices. The stars of both performances is Hilde Gueden, although Kleiber's conducting on Figaro also earns a place in the Hall of Legends. Only the Cosi Fan Tutte disappoints, as it appears to be a transfer from an LP, the master tapes apparently lost. (The original Decca CD release also appears to be the same vinyl transfer). It's a fine, performance, but neither the sound (which is stereo) nor the performance quite sparkles like the others.","Product: It's pretty simple-this boxed set contains EVERYTHING La Divina recorded in the studio, including newly-licensed and newly-remastered material! That's the first 69 CDs; the 70th CD is a CD-ROM containing the tracklists and photos. And the set comes inside a hardcover slipcase containing a color booklet packed with even more photos of this most photogenic of opera singers. As for the contents, well, again, it's EVERYTHING she did in the studio. Go to www.callas30.com for more info, because we can't describe 69 CDs!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Ugh... more horrible remasters from EMI.\n\nReview: Instead of using the EMI remasters from the 1985-1994 first generation CDs, this set uses primarily the 1997 and later 2000-2002 GROC remasters, which are notoriously bad, and have been the subject of extensive negative commentary in scholarly and lay publications, as well as on this site. The ART/EMI remastering has been a fiasco, removing the tape hiss, and not incidentally, most of the life, immediacy, and exquisite articulation that made Callas the legend she was. Instead of going back to the master tapes, as it did with the first generation CDs, what the EMI engineers did in 1997 and later was was go back to the first generation CD masters, and fiddle with them to get a more \"modern,\" \"hotter\" sound, using digital processing that sounds, actually, quite digital. A sad story of music biz greed and cost cutting at the expense of the music lover. If you buy this set, you won't get the real Callas, you'll get the Stepford Callas, seemingly real on the surface, but oddly artificial and ultimately without the fire and \"soul\" that made Callas Callas. I guess Stepford Callas is still better than no Callas at all, so I gave 3 stars, but if you can hunt down the old pre 1997 CDs, you will be much rewarded for your efforts.\n\n*However, 3 of the 1997 and later complete opera remasters do represent overall improvements over the earlier EMI/Angei releases. They are: Norma (stereo); Medea (stereo; slight loss of vocal richness, but far better ambiance and dynamics); il Trovotore (mono).","Product: The vocal wonder Maria Callas was born under the name Maria Cecilia Sophia Kalogeropoulos on 1 December 1923, entering a world that was soon to worship her - her father George first changed the Greek surname to 'Callas' in 1929. However, he was not able to keep the family together and Maria's parents got divorced in 1936. The mother returned to her native Athens with Maria and Maria's older sister. The future world star Maria Callas started enjoying her musical training during childhood, being given first piano lessons at the age of eight. She later studied singing at the National conservatory in Athens and even during her student days, Maria Callas knew how to thrill audiences - she was awarded a prize by the conservatory for her debut performance in the role of Santuzza.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Ugh... more horrible remasters\n\nReview: Like the Complete Studio Recordings set, instead of using the EMI remasters from the 1985-1994 first generation CDs, this \"Complete Operas\" set uses primarily the 1997 Callas Edition and later 2000-2002 GROC remasters, which are notoriously bad, and have been the subject of extensive negative commentary in scholarly and lay publications, as well as on this site. The ART/EMI remastering has been a fiasco, removing the tape hiss, and not incidentally, most of the life, immediacy, and exquisite articulation that made Callas the legend she was. Instead of going back to the master tapes, as it did with the first generation CDs, what the EMI engineers did in 1997 and later was was go back to the first generation CD masters, and fiddle with them to get a more \"modern,\" \"hotter\" sound, using digital processing that sounds, actually, quite digital. A sad story of music biz greed and cost cutting at the expense of the music lover. If you buy this set, you won't get the real Callas, you'll get the Stepford Callas, seemingly real on the surface, but oddly artificial and ultimately without the fire and \"soul\" that made Callas Callas. I guess Stepford Callas is still better than no Callas at all, so I gave 3 stars, but if you can hunt down the old pre 1997 CDs, you will be much rewarded for your efforts.*\n\n*However, 3 of the 1997 and later remasters do represent overall improvements over the earlier EMI/Angei releases. They are: Norma (stereo); Medea (stereo); il Trovotore (mono).","Product: This Tosca, made in 1953 with the forces of La Scala, is a landmark in recording history.Conducted with searing intensity by Victor de Sabata, it teams Callas with two of her closest colleagues, the tenor Giuseppe di Stefano and the baritone Tito Gobbi - a performer who could rival Callas in dramatic finesse and power. Tosca's aria 'Vissi d'arte' (I lived for art) has come to be seen as Callas's personal manifesto.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I'm still with Hardwick on this one\n\nReview: One could go mad trying to find, let alone distinguish among, the various national and time sequenced EMI pressings of the original Keith Hardwick transfers of the Callas opus, and I don't recommend making the effort unless you have either an extraordinary amount of free time on your hands, or incurable Callas OCD. However, I will state for the record that I have the 1991 German EMI Classics pressing, which curiously enough is packaged in an EMI Angel outer box; this is what what I compared to the new Warner transfer. On my system, which is pretty high end, I continue to prefer the older issue. Beyond the compression, which while undesirable is not really objectionable to me in any, I find that that the ambiance has been somewhat \"sucked out\" of the new Warner mastering. I also find some widening in the supposedly mono warner issue, although this could be more an artifact of room resonance , possibly due to the greater bass of the new issues. My basic point is not that the warner issues are not well done, but that the Keith hardwick tranfers retain a certain natural presentation that is subtle, but more listenable, at least to those with sufficiently good systems, where such nuances matter more.","Product: One of the 20th century's most legendary and enduring icons, Maria Callas was both a glamorous diva and a global superstar who captivated audiences worldwide with her vivid and passionate performances. This special limited-edition 180-gram vinyl album features Callas in a glittering selection of opera favorites that showcase her unique voice and her heartbreaking portrayal of tragic heroines. This vinyl recording is part of the larger \"\"Maria Callas Remastered\"\" product suite.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The Definive Callas Our Age -- Vinyl and CD\n\nReview: An opera critic once wrote of a Maria Callas performance that she \"plunged into the score...absorbing every note and expression mark,\" with the result that \"the wealth of detail her voice unearths is breathtaking. It is as if an old painting, familiar but dim, has been cleaned to its original tints.\" The same could be said of Callas Remastered, the new edition of all of her studio recordings. the earliest from 1949, the last from 1969. Long familiar performances from the age of the LP and from two earlier CD transfers now leap our to the listener with new and vivid clarity of sound. Warner Classics, which acquired EMI, the company that produced most of the Callas recordings, went back to the original master tapes and production notes from the recording sessions to create what must surely be the definitive digital version of our age. (The book included in the complete set gives a detailed account of the process.) Listening primarily on CD (not vinyl), I was immediately able to hear the difference that the new remastering has made. It is a revelation. By bringing us as close as we can come to what she must have sounded like, at least in the studio, Callas Remastered is a priceless opportunity to rediscover what made her such a sensation. She simply sounded like no one else. As one Italian critic described her, she was \"a star wandering into a planetary system not its own.\" Hearing these beautiful recordings brought to life again, brings her miraculous wanderings to life once gain. Much the same can be said for the vinyl version, except that based on my limited listening, there were a few more clicks and pops than I would have expected -- however, it's minor -- and as expected, the vinyl has a bit more warmth than the CD versions.","Product: Our #1 selling brand, BOISE X-9 multi-use copy paper wont let you down. Decades of science, research, and testing have resulted in a dependable and consistent sheet you can trust. X-9 multi-use copy paper delivers quality you can trust in any home, office, or high-speed print environment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good value, not quite as high quality as Xerox 4200\n\nReview: They were sold out of Xerox 4200 paper, so I bought this. It's got the same 91 brightness, and 20 lb weight as 4200. The difference is that 4200 is really smooth on both sides, while this one is a bit grainy on the back side. For one sided printing, it is just as good as 4200. For two sided, you might notice a bit less quality on the reverse pages, especially with a laser printer. For offices that rarely do two-sided printing, this might be the better value. I say might, because many people are not aware that paper has sides (felt; wire), which means there's a 50% chance it will be loaded incorrectly. To be honest, most people would never notice the difference anyway, but if you want the best all purpose paper, go with xerox 4200. If you's rather save a few bucks, go with this. They are both good papers.\nOne other comment: on Amazon Prime, my box shipped 2-day via FEDEX.","Product: * Garden scraper * Strong hook removes moss, grass, and weeds from joints in paving, walls, steps, and more *\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works Great, With Practice\n\nReview: When I first tried to use this, I was frustrated, and the weeds were very happy. But then i figured out that you needed a scraping action, rather than a \"dig out the roots\" action (you'll see what I mean as soon as you try it.) Now I really like it, as it gets those pesky weeds that grow in the cracks out quite easily. It does leave some or all of the root in there, but despite that, the weeds don't seem to grow back, like they do in a lawn. So I would say that if you have the need for such a tool, you will find that it saves you a lot of time, energy, and effort.","Product: Black Beauty truly innovative darker-green turfgrass planted by Sod Growers. Grass leaves possess an invisible waxy coating, very similar to what you would find on an apple. Preserves moisture in the leaf and wards off stress from heat, cold, wind and disease. Roots 4-feet deep into the soil. Redefines what a green lawn is supposed to look like. Thrives in sun or shade. This contains 15 pounds and covers 4500 square feet area.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Tall Fescue at Heart\n\nReview: This is pitched as the ultimate Turf Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) Blend, and maybe it is. But it is still Tall Fescue, which has its limits. The main limit is heat and drought tolerance. TTTF has great drought tolerance if it can root deeply. The problem is that in most of the USA Atlantic seaboard from SC to CT, the soil tends to be compacted clay, which no grass can root deeply in without constant and regular aeration from the homeowner. In such soils, TTTF is toast once the temps get above 90 and the soil gets dry. I've had much more success with Kentucky Bluegrass, which does not require deep rooting to survive the heat. You do have to irrigate KBG for it to stay green, but even if you don't at least it will go dormant and survive. TTTF will just die. Black Beauty supposedly has a moisture retaining crown that helps it survive drought, but the reality is that the root is still the key to surviving drought, and if you have hard soil typical of the US Atlantic Seaboard, you are going to be better off with KBG or one of the new Scotts heat resistant hybrid KBG in my opinion, based on considerable experience with both grass types.","Product: Pennington 100086853 Smart Seed Perennial Rye Blend Premium Grass Seed Mixture 3 LB requires less watering. Maximizes fertilizer performance and grows a denser, deeper root system. It is 99.9-percent weed free. Covers up to 1200 square feet.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\n\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. It is also susceptible to grey leaf spot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed. Note also that like Scotts, Pennington coats it seed with a moisture retaining layer that helps it germinate without as much watering after seeding. I have found that this helps a lot, particularly with perennial rye, where a few days of good luck (and weather) is all you need.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix helps you get early seeding success with less water. It absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed. Durable southern bred* grass that thrives in harsh summer conditions. Superior heat, drought, insect, and disease resistance. 7 lb bag seeds up to 1750 sq ft.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent results, if used in the right soils\n\nReview: Turf type tall fescue (TTTF)is highly recommended by most state AG extension depts for lawns in the so-called transition zone, due to its drought tolerance and quick establishment. However, be aware that it does have significant limitations. The drought tolerance, which comes from its ability to root deeply, can be poor in clay soil, which is very common all over the country, but particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region, much of which is in the transition zone. The color is a dark green, but the blades are not as fine as Kentucky bluegrass, and they tend to get even wider as the grass ages, and if the turf starts to thin out, they begin to look like K-31. You also need to overseed bare spots constantly, because it is a bunch type grass that does not spread by rhizomes the way KBG does. It is also a significantly more prone to fungus than KBG, a mjor downside in the humid parts of the country. Finally, it does not really go dormant in high heat/drought the way KBG does -- it survives because it finds water in the deep roots. If the roots are not deep, like in clay soil, it will be toast above about 90F. So I would say this -- if you do not have clay soil, this is going to be a great choice. But if your soil usually feels brick hard in summer, meaning it has a lot of clay, I'd try either KBG or perennial ryegrass, which do much better in compacted soils.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Quick Fix Grass Seed Mix is fast growing turf for a temporary lawn. It provides temporary ground cover and erosion control. 99.9% weed free. Great for quick fill of bare spots. 3 lb bag seeds up to 750 sq ft.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Note -- This Is Annual Ryegrass -- For Tempory Coverage only\n\nReview: Annual ryegrass germinates amazingly fast -- 3 - 5 days. But, as soon as the temps go above 85-90, it will die off. Nor can it survive the winter. It is used to fill bare patches fast, which gives the seed for your permanent grass something to \"nest\" in. Its appearance is not great -- thick blades, light green color, often with an amber tint. It is the best at what it does -- as a temporary grass, but as soon as it comes up, plant a better seed, like tall fescue, perennial rye (its longer lived cousin, which comes up in 5-7 days) or Kentucky bluegrass. Note also that 3 pounds of this is very little actual seed, because annual rye seeds are quite large, which means few seeds per pound, plus the water absorbing coating comprises about the 1/2 the weight. Strictly a temporary mix for spot repairs, like putting a patch on a punctured tire.","Product: As if your plants didnt have enough pests knocking down their cell walls fungus, algae, mold, and rust are just as dangerous as bugs. Daconil fungicide stops these silent, creepy killers and protects against future disease on flowers, vegetables, shrubs, fruit, and shade trees. Ready-To-Use is made to grab and go, keeping your fungi protection simple. Keep away from children, pets, and especially marine life.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Spray Stream is Too Coarse, but Still Usable if You Adjust\n\nReview: I do agree with the comments about the \"spray\" being more like a stream setting. However, I compensated by squeezing the 'trigger' really fast and forcefully, which made it closer to a true spray, and also spraying from a greater distance (about 2.5 feet), which allows the droplets to spread in the air a bit more before hitting the target. When this was done, I got a reasonably uniform coating to the target. Daconil is generally applied liberally (\"spray it white, sleep at night,\" as my golf course super used to say), so even with a proper spray, you are going to get some coalescing of the droplets when they hit the target regardless. So in the end, it's about the same. Given the convenience and the low price, this is a useful format for Daconil for spot treating, even though I do agree that the spray pattern could be improved.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Perennial Ryegrass Mix is the ideal solution for lawns in need of quick growth, erosion control, and protection in high traffic areas. This mix is Scotts best choice for use on compacted soil. And, each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great In the Right Places\n\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. Note also that Scotts coats it seed with a moisture retaining layer that helps it germinate without as much watering after seeding. I have found that this helps a lot, particularly with perennial rye, where a few days of good luck (and weather) is all you need. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Perennial Ryegrass Mix is the ideal solution for lawns in need of quick growth, erosion control, and protection in high traffic areas. This mix is Scotts best choice for use on compacted soil. And, each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\n\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed. Note also that Scotts coats it seed with a moisture retaining layer that helps it germinate without as much watering after seeding. I have found that this helps a lot, particularly with perennial rye, where a few days of good luck (and weather) is all you need.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Bermudagrass is great for lawns challenged by long periods of scorching southern heat and drought. This seed mix aggressively spreads to fill in bare spots and crowd out weeds. Each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best in the Deep South\n\nReview: Just as with Kentucky bluegrass, zoysia, and fescue, there are a number of different cultivars (types) of bermudagrass. The one in this product is called \"Sunbird.\" Sunbird is a good cultivar, with excellent green color and disease resistance, but it's not one of the more winter-hearty types. If you live north of South Carolina it's going to be brown about 9 months a year and could have a little trouble surviving the winter. For bermudagrass that is going to be planted in the northern part of the warm season grass zone, you would be better off using one of the more northern-adapted cultivars like Yukon. At the time of this writing, I did not see Yukon being offered on Amazon, but it does show up from time to time, and it should be available at your local hardware store/seed supplier if you live in one of the more northern parts of the warm season grass zone. It should work a little better for you.","Product: Kentucky-31 Tall Fescue is grows well with little care and is excellent for areas of hard use. It thrives in sun and moderate shade.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The Cheap, the Green, and the Ugly.\n\nReview: If you are planting a utility yard, a highway median, or a field, this is fine. If you want a \"lawn,\" as in \"a home lawn that I and my neighbors will have to look at occasionally,\" this is not fine at all. It is green; I will give it that. But, it's very thick-bladed, and before I knew what it was, I used to think it was a type of crabgrass. Actually, it's a coarse fescue, not to be compared with the \"Rebels\" and Black Beauty, which are pretty nice turf type tall fescues (TTTF). In fact, TTTF descended genetically from K-31, but that's like saying man descended from the apes, or that Secretariat descended from a donkey. This will get the job done, and it's a step above weeds. A small step IMHO.","Product: There is nothing like being barefoot in Zoysia grass in the south. Zoysia can tolerate wide variations in temperature, sunlight, and water, these grasses are among the most widely used for lawns in temperate climates. They are used on golf courses to create fairways and teeing areas. Zoysia grasses stop erosion on slopes, and are excellent at repelling weeds throughout the year. [4] they resist disease and hold up well under traffic. The cultivar Zoysia 'emerald' (emerald Zoysia; a hybrid between z. Japonica and z. Tenuifolia [5]) is particularly popular. In subtropical climates of North America, Zoysia grass has naturalized in places. For landscape use it is available commercially as sod in some areas. In typical savanna climates (warm wet/dry seasons) such as southern Florida, Zoysia grows during the warm-wet summer and is dormant in the drier, cooler winter months. It is popular because of its fine texture and soft feel, and low growth habit. It can form dense mats and even mounds that grow over low features.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\n\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is often genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, rather light green, non-uniform turf. (However, recent cultivars, like Zenith, have better leaf texture and color.) Given the low cost of seeded zoysia compared to plugged, a seeded zoysia lawn is still a good option for many people, as even a seeded zoysia lawn still has many of the advantages of zoysia in terms of weed resistance and low water use. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.","Product: There is nothing like being barefoot in Zoysia grass in the south. Zoysia can tolerate wide variations in temperature, sunlight, and water, these grasses are among the most widely used for lawns in temperate climates. They are used on golf courses to create fairways and teeing areas. Zoysia grasses stop erosion on slopes, and are excellent at repelling weeds throughout the year. [4] they resist disease and hold up well under traffic. The cultivar Zoysia 'emerald' (emerald Zoysia; a hybrid between z. Japonica and z. Tenuifolia [5]) is particularly popular. In subtropical climates of North America, Zoysia grass has naturalized in places. For landscape use it is available commercially as sod in some areas. In typical savanna climates (warm wet/dry seasons) such as southern Florida, Zoysia grows during the warm-wet summer and is dormant in the drier, cooler winter months. It is popular because of its fine texture and soft feel, and low growth habit. It can form dense mats and even mounds that grow over low features.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\n\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is often genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, rather light green, non-uniform turf. (However, recent cultivars, like Zenith, have better leaf texture and color.) Given the low cost of seeded zoysia compared to plugged, a seeded zoysia lawn is still a good option for many people, as even a seeded zoysia lawn still has many of the advantages of zoysia in terms of weed resistance and low water use. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.","Product: Pennington 100086830 Smart Seed Tall Fescue Premium Grass Seed Blend 3 LB requires less watering. Maximizes fertilizer performance and grows a denser, deeper root system. Blend is 99.9-percent weed free. Coves up to 1,500 square feet.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent results, if used in the right soils\n\nReview: Turf type tall fescue (TTTF)is highly recommended by most state AG extension depts for lawns in the so-called transition zone (basically, the Mid Atlantic from NJ to the Carolinas, back through much of the Midwest) due to its drought tolerance and quick establishment. However, be aware that it does have some limitations. The drought tolerance, which comes from its ability to root deeply, can be poor in clay soil, which is very common all over the country, but particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region, much of which is in the transition zone. The color is a good dark green, but the blades are not as fine as Kentucky bluegrass, and they tend to get even wider as the grass ages. You also need to overseed bare spots constantly, because it is a bunch type grass that does not spread by rhizomes the way KBG does. It is also a little more prone to fungus infections than KBG, a consideration in the humid parts of the country. Finally, it does not really go dormant in high heat/drought the way KBG does -- it survives because it finds water in the deep roots. If the roots are not deep, like in clay soil, it will be toast above about 90F. So I would say this -- if you do not have clay soil, this is going to be a great choice. But if your soil usually feels brick hard in summer, meaning it has a lot of clay, I'd try either KBG or perennial ryegrass, which do much better in compacted soils.","Product: Formulated specifically for the PNW, Top Choice lawn seed products are the right start to a beautiful lawn. Top Choice's quality ingredients are subject to rigorous inspection standards. This allows us to bring you seed that is 99.9-Percent weed free. Top Choice only contains varieties that are selected for your region. Our simple-to-follow directions will produce a lawn that is attractive, durable and easy to maintain. Top Choice is very dependable and satisfaction guaranteed. 3-Way Perennial Ryegrass mixture is composed of 34-Percent Stellar GL Perennial Ryegrass, 33-Percent Apple GL Perennial Ryegrass, and 33-Percent Homerun Perennial Ryegrass.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\n\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.","Product: Formulated specifically for the PNW, Top Choice lawn seed products are the right start to a beautiful lawn. Top Choice's quality ingredients are subject to rigorous inspection standards. This allows us to bring you seed that is 99.9-Percent weed free. Top Choice only contains varieties that are selected for your region. Our simple-to-follow directions will produce a lawn that is attractive, durable and easy to maintain. Top Choice is very dependable and satisfaction guaranteed. 3-Way Perennial Ryegrass mixture is composed of 34-Percent Stellar GL Perennial Ryegrass, 33-Percent Apple GL Perennial Ryegrass, and 33-Percent Homerun Perennial Ryegrass.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\n\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.","Product: Tough on ice safer for concrete driveways, walkways and steps. Morton Safe-T-Plus is a premium ice & snow melt that minimizes costly damage to your concrete steps, driveways and sidewalks compared to traditional rock salt.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great product, with Some Trade-Offs\n\nReview: I purchased this to use on my front steps, which are made of cement, which this product is specially formulated to be less harmful to. It's also somewhat better for the environment. That's mostly because it is formulated with urea, in addition to the usual rock salt (sodium chloride) and calcium chloride, which is supposed to be the best ice melter. It also forms a protective gel, that prevents penetration into cement. I'll probably keep using it on the steps, because I spent a fortune replacing them a while back, and would rather not have to do so again. That said, this is noticeably less fact acting as the all-salt melters I am using. Not terrible, but not impressive either. So in other areas, where I'm not worried about long term damage to anything, I'm still using standard ice melters. That's not a criticism of this product, I'm just pointing out that, based on my experience, there is tradeoff involved. If fast ice melting alone is your priority, I would suggest trying other good products, which use all-salt based formulations.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix for Tall Fescue Lawns grows 33% thicker than ordinary tall fescue. This mix recovers quickly from heat and drought, and it spreads quickly to repair wear and tear on your lawn. Each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not Much Bluegrass is in this \"Bluegrass Mix\"\n\nReview: August 2016 Update: I've now planted this several times, in various places in my yard, with mixed results. On the plus side, I did get some dramatic spreading, which must be from the Thermal Blue, as tall fescue does not spread. On the con, the color is on the light side, and the overall look is rather dull, not as nice as either a pure tall fescue lawn or a pure KBG. Is Thermal Blue actually more heat tolerant than the better KBGs like Midnight? It did ok in the heat, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt compared to other KBGs; but, I can say that my straight tall fescue looked nicer to me than this mix. So other than the spreading, I think straight tall fescue is a better choice for most people looking for a more heat tolerant lawn.\n-------------------------\nThis is good seed for many lawns in the so-called transition zone, but be aware that the name, \"Scotts Heat Tolerant Bluegrass Seed,\" is a bit confusing/misleading. It has less than 10% bluegrass by weight, and is mostly Tall Fescue. Yet, it's pitched primarily as a new type of bluegrass that has all the advantages of tall fescue in terms of heat and drought resistance, but with the dark color and rhizomes that makes Kentucky bluegrass the ultimate in premium grass seeds. So, based on the name, you might think it's mostly heat tolerant bluegrass, which it is not. Tall Fescue is a good grass seed, but the blades are not as nice as Kentucky blue grass, and it doesn't grow all that well in clay soil, which many people have. So, if you want a Kentucky bluegrass lawn, you might want to buy a product that is all or mostly KBG and not this.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix for Tall Fescue Lawns grows 33% thicker than ordinary tall fescue. This mix recovers quickly from heat and drought, and it spreads quickly to repair wear and tear on your lawn. Each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not Much Bluegrass is in this \"Bluegrass Mix\"\n\nReview: The name, \"Scotts Heat Tolerant Bluegrass Seed,\" is a bit confusing/misleading. It has less than 10% bluegrass by weight, and is mostly Tall Fescue. Yet, it's pitched primarily as a new type of bluegrass that has all the advantages of tall fescue in terms of heat and drought resistance, but with the dark color and rhizomes that makes Kentucky bluegrass the ultimate in premium grass seeds. So, based on the name, you might think it's mostly heat tolerant bluegrass, which it is not. Tall Fescue is a good grass seed, but the blades are not as nice as Kentucky blue grass, and it doesn't grow all that well in clay soil, which many people have. So, if you want a Kentucky bluegrass lawn, you might want to buy a product that is all or mostly KBG and not this. However, this is good seed for many lawns in the so-called transition zone, as long as you are aware it is not going to be a pure stand of KBG, heat tolerant or otherwise.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Zoysia Grass Seed & Mulch thrives in heat and drought, in partial shade and in colder temperatures. Our 99.9% weed-free grass seed grows a tough, durable, low-maintenance lawn!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\n\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, non-uniform turf. This product comes with mulch, which attempts to address the moisture issue. In that regard, it gives you a much better shot at establishing a lawn than with seed alone. But you still face the limitations of seeded zoysia as a turf grass. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Tall Fescue Mix provides superior heat, drought, insect and disease resistance to lawns. The mix contains Southern-bred grass seed that thrives in harsh conditions like sun, shade, and high traffic. The exclusive WaterSmart PLUS Coating absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent results, if used in the right soils\n\nReview: Turf type tall fescue (TTTF)is highly recommended by most state AG extension depts for lawns in the so-called transition zone, due to its drought tolerance and quick establishment. However, be aware that it does have some limitations. The drought tolerance, which comes from its ability to root deeply, can be poor in clay soil, which is very common all over the country, but particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region, much of which is in the transition zone. The color is a good dark green, but the blades are not as fine as Kentucky bluegrass, and they tend to get even wider as the grass ages. You also need to overseed bare spots constantly, because it is a bunch type grass that does not spread by rhizomes the way KBG does. It is also a little more prone to fungus infections than KBG, a consideration in the humid parts of the country. Finally, it does not really go dormant in high heat/drought the way KBG does -- it survives because it finds water in the deep roots. If the roots are not deep, like in clay soil, it will be toast above about 90F. So I would say this -- if you do not have clay soil, this is going to be a great choice. But if your soil usually feels brick hard in summer, meaning it has a lot of clay, I'd try either KBG or perennial ryegrass, which do much better in compacted soils.","Product: \"PENNINGTON SEED\" GRASS SEED - Size : 5 lb. - Zenith zoysia grass seed with mulch. - Contains zenith zoysia & bio-170 organic mulch. - Is a spreading sun to moderate shade loving grass. - Stays green later into fall. - Has excellent traffic & drought tolerance & develops a dense. - Weed resistant turf.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\n\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is often genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, rather light green, non-uniform turf. (However, recent cultivars, like Zenith, have better leaf texture and color.) Given the low cost of seeded zoysia compared to plugged, a seeded zoysia lawn is still a good option for many people, as even a seeded zoysia lawn still has many of the advantages of zoysia in terms of weed resistance and low water use. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.","Product: Wonderlawn Perennial Ryegrass Grass Seed - Perennial ryegrass grass seed. Produces traffic tolerant turf, germinates quickly, and requires little maintenance. Does well in sun & light shade. Contains: 100% perennial ryegrass seed. - Size: 5 Lb., Coverage - New Lawn: 700 Sq. Ft., Type: Perennial Ryegrass, Coverage - Overseeding Established Lawn: 1400 Sq. Ft., Style: Medium-Coarse Texture, Dark Green Color, Pkg Qty: 1, Package Type: Bag\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\n\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.","Product: Wolf garten 3536004/ufm 22 flat spring steel tines garden rake\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lighter Weight WG Rake\n\nReview: With a plastic as opposed to metal collar for the tines, this is a lighter weight version of the excellent, but rather heavy all-metal Wolf-Garten rake. <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/WOLF-Garten-3535004-Garden-Rake/dp/B00023S6MY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">WOLF-Garten 3535004 Garden Rake</a> This rake is not as wide as it looks in the picture; for simple chores like leaf raking, you may well be happier with a wide bamboo rake, which covers more surface area. The springy metal tines of this rake will scratch at the surface well, which makes it good for removing dead grass and thatch, and scarifying the surface for seeding. So, I recommend this as a quality product, but if what you really need is a wide leaf rake for autumn, you may prefer a traditional bamboo rake.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Heat Tolerant Blue Grass Seed Mix helps you get early seeding success with less water. It absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed. Grows 33% thicker than ordinary tall fescue. Quickly recovers from periods of heat and drought. 3 lb bag seeds up to 750 sq ft.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not Much Bluegrass in this \"Blue\" Mix\n\nReview: The product's name is \"Scotts Heat Tolerant Bluegrass Seed,\" and it's pitched as a new type of bluegrass that has all the advantages of tall fescue in terms of heat and drought resistance, but with the dark color and rhizomes that makes Kentucky bluegrass the ultimate in premium grass seeds. So, based on the name, how much heat tolerant bluegrass would you guess is actually in this mix (since no specific analysis is given either by|Amazon or on the Scotts website)? 100%? 50%? 25%? Well, those are good guesses, but you would be wrong- - how about 4.96%? That's how much of this fancy new heat tolerant bluegrass seed is actually in this bag- less than 5%. The other 95% is not even standard Kentucky bluegrass, it's tall fescue, which is an OK grass as far as all that, but not nearly as plush as Kentucky bluegrass. My purchase is going back to Amazon.","Product: Scotts Turf Builder Bermuda Grass Seed helps you get early seeding success with less water. It absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed. It aggressively spreads to fill in bare spots and crowd out weeds. Great for lawns challenged by long periods of heat and drought. 1 lb bag seeds up to 1000 sq ft.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best in the Deep South\n\nReview: Just as with Kentucky bluegrass, zoysia, and fescue, there are a number of different cultivars (types) of bermudagrass. The one in this product is called \"Sunbird.\" Sunbird is a good cultivar, with excellent green color and disease resistance, but it's not one of the more winter-hearty types. If you live north of South Carolina it's going to be brown about 9 months a year and could have a little trouble surviving the winter. For bermudagrass that is going to be planted in the northern part of the warm season grass zone, you would be better off using one of the more northern-adapted cultivars like Yukon. At the time of this writing, I did not see Yukon being offered on Amazon, but it does show up from time to time, and it should be available at your local hardware store/seed supplier if you live in one of the more northern parts of the warm season grass zone. It should work a little better for you.","Product: This beautiful species of phlox prefers light soil and temperatures that are not too hot, but it is somewhat adaptable. Phlox flower seed will survive drought, but does best with ample moisture. Blooms range from white to lavender to pink on relatively short plants, usually no more than 14\" tall. Like the flowers, the plants are quite delicate-appearing with long, narrow leaves.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This is about a 1/2 Teaspoon of Seed\n\nReview: Just be aware, this is about a 1/2 teaspoon of seed, as they are very small. It won't cover much area, and it's actually hard to spread such a small amount out over an entire garden bed. Given how much of the cost here has got to be packaging, shipping and packaging, it seems like they should give you more seed, as it would cost them very little extra. But, it is what it is, and I don't doubt that there are 1,000 seeds here -- 1,000 teensy, teensy seeds.\n\nUPDATE: July 24: These have germinated and flowered, and unfortunately, I do not recommend this seed. The flowers are tiny, and not abundant -- one per plant. They look more like weeds at this point. Also, germination was very slow, and I got maybe 20 plants from 1000 seeds.","Product: Top Choice lawn seed products are the right start to a beautiful lawn. Top Choice's quality ingredients are subject to rigorous inspection standards. This allows us to bring you seed that is 99.9-Percent weed free. Top Choice only contains varieties that are selected for your region. Our simple-to-follow directions will produce a lawn that is attractive, durable and easy to maintain. Top Choice is very dependable and satisfaction guaranteed. 3-Way Perennial Ryegrass mixture is composed of 34-Percent Stellar GL Perennial Ryegrass, 33-Percent Apple GL Perennial Ryegrass, and 33-Percent Homerun Perennial Ryegrass.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\n\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.","Product: There is nothing like being barefoot in Zoysia grass in the south. Zoysia can tolerate wide variations in temperature, sunlight, and water, these grasses are among the most widely used for lawns in temperate climates. They are used on golf courses to create fairways and teeing areas. Zoysia grasses stop erosion on slopes, and are excellent at repelling weeds throughout the year. [4] they resist disease and hold up well under traffic. The cultivar Zoysia 'emerald' (emerald Zoysia; a hybrid between z. Japonica and z. Tenuifolia [5]) is particularly popular.in subtropical climates of North America, Zoysia grass has naturalized in places. For landscape use it is available commercially as sod in some areas. In typical savanna climates (warm wet/dry seasons) such as southern Florida, Zoysia grows during the warm-wet summer and is dormant in the drier, cooler winter months. It is popular because of its fine texture and soft feel, and low growth habit. It can form dense mats and even mounds that grow over low features.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\n\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is often genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, rather light green, non-uniform turf. (However, recent cultivars, like Zenith, have better leaf texture and color.) Given the low cost of seeded zoysia compared to plugged, a seeded zoysia lawn is still a good option for many people, as even a seeded zoysia lawn still has many of the advantages of zoysia in terms of weed resistance and low water use. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.","Product: The original and best known name in caulking cord, mortite by Frost King seals gaps around windows thus eliminating drafts. Also great as a sound deadener and to help keep out insects.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Product Easy To Use\n\nReview: When I installed my window AC unit 4 years ago I noticed there were gaps around the edges near the window frame. I'm no good with a caulk gun, so I thought I would try this. It did the job great. You just press it in like clay, except that it seems to stay pliable just like caulk from a gun. It really seems to push in there to fill the crannies and cracks. Recently, I replaced the old unit with a new one. The old caulk had held perfectly. It was also easy to remove. When the new unit was in, I used this again to caulk around the frame, and again it went in easily and effectively. I don't think it looks quite as smooth and professional as a good caulk gun, but it seals the gaps perfectly. That is all I was looking for, and I would use this again for similar jobs. BTW, this is the 90 foot roll. I used about 10 feet for my AC unit, because you waste some etc. I could have bought a smaller roll and saved a couple of bucks, but it's so cheap, I would just buy this size and save the leftovers for the next job, be it windows, doors, etc.","Product: Gain full control over your WOLF-Garten Interlocken tools with the WOLF-Garten D-grip handle. This is the ideal handle for the push/pull and twist motions associated with gardening. The D-grip handle has a lightweight and extremely durable aluminum shaft. Recommended with the IWM Weed Puller or LUSM Trowel\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Useful, But You May Not Need Itl\n\nReview: Wolf-Garten recommends this shorter handle with a hand \"D-grip\" on top for its weeders and a few other tool heads, where a twisting motion is desirable. It is great for that, but I have also found I have no difficulty getting the proper twist motion using the standard W-G long handles, which do not have a D-grip. However, it turns out to be handy in another way. There are some jobs, like breaking up/aerating soil, where a short, up and down chopping motion works the best; I have found this handle is perfect for that, where it's shorter length makes it easier to control the chopping/digging motion. So it is useful to have for many purposes, but don't feel you have to buy it just the for weeding tool heads, if you already own the standard interlock handles.","Product: Eats-Shoots-and-Leaves\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Punctuation Mistakes in \"Eats, Shoots & Leaves\"\n\nReview: The first punctuation mistake in \"Eats, Shoots & Leaves\" by Lynne Truss, a British writer, appears in the dedication, where a nonrestrictive clause is not preceded by a comma. It's downhill from there.\n\nThe foreword contains another comma-free nonrestrictive clause (\"I feel no such sympathy for the manager of my local supermarket who must have a cellarful of apostrophes he doesn't know what to do with\") and a superfluous ellipsis. The preface includes a misplaced apostrophe (\"printers' marks\") and two misused semicolons: one that separates unpunctuated items in a list and one that sets off a dependent clause. About half the semicolons in the rest of the book are either unnecessary or ungrammatical, and the comma is deployed as the mood strikes. Sometimes, phrases such as \"of course\" are set off by commas; sometimes, they are not. Doubtful, distracting, and unwarranted commas turn up in front of restrictive phrases (\"Naturally we become timid about making our insights known, in such inhospitable conditions\"), before correlative conjunctions (\"Either this will ring bells for you, or it won't\"), and in prepositional phrases (\"including biblical names, and any foreign name with an unpronounced final `s'\"). Where you most expect punctuation, it may not show up at all: \"You have to give initial capitals to the words Biro and Hoover otherwise you automatically get tedious letters from solicitors.\"\n\nParentheses are used, wrongly, to add independent clauses to the ends of sentences. Citation form varies: one passage from the Bible is identified as \"Luke, xxiii, 43\" and another, a page later, as \"Isaiah xl, 3.\" The word \"abuzz\" is printed with a hyphen, which it does not have. It opines that when a sentence ends with a quotation American usage always places the terminal punctuation inside the quotation marks, which is not so. (An American would not write \"Who said `I cannot tell a lie?'\") A line from \"My Fair Lady\" is misquoted (\"The Arabs learn Arabian with the speed of summer lightning\"). Some conventions of British usage employed in \"Eats, Shoots & Leaves\" are taboo in the United States-for example, the placement of commas and periods outside quotation marks, \"like this\". The book also omits the serial comma, as in \"eats, shoots and leaves,\" which is acceptable in the United States only in newspapers and commercial magazines.\n\n[Note: This review is abridged from that of Louis Menand, in the New Yorker.]","Product: The Champion of LSAT Preparation. Contains Three previously administered LSATs with three full sets of item explanations, answer keys, writing samples, and score conversion tables.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Outstanding official prep materials from LSAT\n\nReview: The LSAT is sufficiently idiosyncratic in both the form and substance of its content that studying with anything other than the official, exams released by the LSAT board (LSAC) runs the risk of doing more harm than good. The problem with such advice until recently is that before the release of this book a couple of years ago, none of the official materials provided anything more than an answer key, which could leave you scratching your head about why you got something wrong or how you were supposed to get to the correct answer to begin with. By supplying complete and generally pretty decent explanations for all the questions in the three exams included in this book, as well as providing a useful prefatory section giving specific test taking tips for each section, this book is extremely valuable and I might add long overdue. To be fully prepared, you will probably want to use this book and perhaps one or more of the LSAC's \"10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests.\" If you need extra help on the \"games\" section (and most people do), you may also wish to purchase the Powerscore LSAT Logic Games Bible, which alone among the non-official LSAT prep books uses actual LSAT questions obtained under license from the LSAC. It should be noted, however, that the LSAT Superprep book also includes strategy tips as well is very good explanations for the LSAT games section, making the once mandatory purchase of the Powerscore Bible optional for some test takers.","Product: Contains actual, previously administered LSAT's. For pure practice at an unbelievable price, you can't beat 10 PrepTests. Each test includes an answer key, writing sample, and score conversion table.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: THE LATEST and the MOST REPRESENTATIVE LSATs\n\nReview: In a fit of compulsiveness, I bought all three of the Law School Admission Council's \"10 AO LSAT\" books. (The first is \"10 AO LSATS\", followed by \"10 More AO LSATs\" and now this, \"10 Next AO LSATs.\"). All three books contain offcially released, actual LSATs. However, if only buying one, I would say that this is the best choice. The tests are newer; moreover, it seems to me that the \"games and \"logic\" sections of the current LSAT, though ostensibly the same as when first introduced in 1994, have been made slightly easier. If you just read the first book, you may be needlessly scared and discouraged. With this book and to a lesser extent the second book, you will at least not have unjustified anxiety. This is still a TOUGH test, but but no longer quite the nightmare it was back in the mid 90s."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Quicken Will Maker Plus is the easiest way to create your estate plan, whether you're just getting started or you want to update your previous arrangements. This powerful software guides you through the process from beginning to end, giving you the practical and legal information you need to make the best decisions for you and your family. The benefits of using Quicken Will Maker Plus include: A customized estate plan, including a will, health care directive and other essential documents An easy-to-use interview format that lets you complete documents at your own pace A user-friendly legal manual answers common questions A team of lawyer-editors working to ensure each document reflects the laws of your state Note: Estate planning documents are not valid in Canada, Louisiana or U.S. Territories Quicken Will Maker Plus is the original will-writing software, created and updated regularly by Nolo's experts. Free legal updates will keep your program current through 2016. Technical support is also available. Plus, get a free living trust and five other valuable online documents! Registering your copy of Quicken Will Maker Plus 2016 gives you a free one-year subscription to Nolo's Online Living Trust. In addition, you also get free one-year subscriptions to five other valuable online forms: Nolo's Promissory Note, Limited Power of Attorney for Finances, Temporary Guardianship Authorization for Minor, Authorization for Minor's Medical Treatment, and Authorization for Foreign Travel. New for 2016: You can now use the Quicken Will Maker Plus to give your executor and attorney-in-fact authority over your digital assets.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Do you know what you don't know?\\n\\nReview: I was hoping this would be close to the level of sophistication one finds in Intuit's excellent TurboTax and QuickBooks. If your estate situation is at all complex (such as: high net worth, life insurance, younger or special needs children, divorce, high state death taxes, significant IRA assets), this isn't for you. It's more like a good MS-Word template. If you have a very simple estate and more or less know what you are doing, this is definitely better than not having a will at all. However, the real risk in DIY estate planning isn't what you know, it's what you don't know. (eg., if you inherit Mom or Dad's IRA, as a non-spouse IRA beneficiary, you can only do a trustee-trustee rollover -- otherwise, it's taxable immediately.) Unlike TurboTax, this doesn't prompt you with a series of questions that might warn you of tricky situations and possible traps. Although it comes with a pretty good (but hardly definitive) guide in pdf form, it would have been helpful if the advice in the guide had been integrated into the Q&A of the program. That's why I can only give this 3 stars, even accepting it wasn't designed for more complex situations.\",\n \"Product: An international presence in the finest restaurants and hotels in testament to Vino Grande's undeniable sophistication and versatility. An elegant range of stemware lets you express your creativity in presentation while being assured of the highest quality, durability and elegance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Spiegelau will work just fine\\n\\nReview: Spiegelau was acquired by Riedel a year or two ago, and is quite similar to the Riedel Vinum glassware, which sits just below Riedel's high end sommelier series. These glasses offer exceptional value. The difference between the Spiegelau and the Riedel is less in the quality of any individual stems--both are well-made, European machine blown crystal--than in the fact that Riedel offers a broader range of glassware specifically designed to enhance wines from particular varietals (e.g., cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir) or from particular appellations (e.g., Burgundy, Bordeaux). If you are simply looking for a basic red wine glass and a basic white wine glass, the Spiegelau will work just fine. However, if you usually just drink Barolo, for example, you might wish to invest a bit more money in a Riedel stem specifically developed to enhance the bouquet and flavors of that appellation. However, the most important thing to know is that these are excellent quality glassware that offer the major advantages of crystal over regular glass, a thin lip and a microscopic pores in the glass that effectively increase surface area, increasing the area from which the bouquet can launch.\",\n \"Product: Rest easy on these 400-thread count all cotton sheets. Each sheet set comes with a flat sheet, fitted sheet and 4 pillowcases\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Quality for the Price\\n\\nReview: I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these sheets given the low price. They are great, basic sheets, generously sized, well-sewn, and comfortable to sleep on. They are pure finish cotton, without any anti-wrinkle treatment, ie, they are not No-Iron. Frankly, I prefer that. Anti-wrinkle treatments use resin coatings, and the lack of the resins leaves them very comfortable, soft and moisture absorbing, with a smooth dry hand. Of course, it also means that they come out of the dryer somewhat wrinkled. Not that bad, but if you are fussy, unlike me, you will need to touch them up quite a bit with the iron. If you don't mind a few wrinkles, you will have a great set of sheets with two extra pillowcases at an unbelievable price. After trying these out, I bought 3 more sets.\",\n \"Product: The Marantz MM7025 Stereo Power Amplifier answers many needs for both two-channel devotees and home theater enthusiasts alike. It produces 140 watts of full-bandwidth, very low distortion power per channel, so it can precisely control demanding speakers in large rooms or deliver subtle nuance in smaller acoustic environments.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Did Not Meet Expectations\\n\\nReview: I bought this to use for a few months while my conrad-johnson power amp was being rebuilt. I own the Marantz 8004 SACD player, which deserves the rave reviews it has received from Absolute Sound and other critics. With this similarly priced power amp, I did not expect the ultimate in audiophile performance, but I did expect a product that had much of the high-end sound of the audiophile level Marantz amps. This did not deliver that. Although the power rating is high, the unit, the upper end did not sparkle, and seemed compressed, if not dull, even after 14 days of continuous play for break-in. The bass also lacked authority and weight. Perhaps it needed more break-in time, but at some point I had to say enough is enough.\",\n \"Product: Classic Levi's style mixed with modern detailing.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice jeans, but more tapered leg than slim cut\\n\\nReview: Although the Levi's 505 jean is usually referred to as the zipper version of the classic button fly 501, the Levi's 512 model seems closer to me. If you are looking for the 501 fit without the hassle of buttons, this may be the way to go. The 505 is rather full in the seat and crotch (technically \\\"the rise\\\") and can look pretty baggy. Though described as a \\\"slim fit\\\", the 512 is more of a moderate fit, snug but not formfitting, much like the handsome 501. Rather than slim fit, it really should be described as the 512 \\\"tapered leg\\\", because it has a noticeable taper to the ankle, which means it will not fit over boots, unlike the 505 and the 501. The denim is thick and of good quality, and breaks in nicely over time. However, if you really do want a true slim cut -- the 514 is better choice as it is trimmer in the seat and sits a little lower on the waist.\",\n \"Product: Classic Levi's style mixed with modern detailing.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice jeans, but more tapered leg than slim cut\\n\\nReview: Although the Levi's 505 jean is usually referred to as the zipper version of the classic button fly 501, the Levi's 512 model seems closer to me. If you are looking for the 501 fit without the hassle of buttons, this may be the way to go. The 505 is rather full in the seat and crotch (technically \\\"the rise\\\") and can look pretty baggy. Though described as a \\\"slim fit\\\", the 512 is more of a moderate fit, snug but not formfitting, much like the handsome 501. Rather than slim fit, it really should be described as the 512 \\\"tapered leg\\\", because it has a noticeable taper to the ankle, which means it will not fit over boots, unlike the 505 and the 501. The denim is thick and of good quality, and breaks in nicely over time. However, if you really do want a true slim cut -- the 514 is better choice as it is trimmer in the seat and sits a little lower on the waist.\",\n \"Product: Classic Levi's style mixed with modern detailing.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice jeans, but more tapered leg than slim cut\\n\\nReview: Although the Levi's 505 jean is usually referred to as the zipper version of the classic button fly 501, the Levi's 512 model seems closer to me. If you are looking for the 501 fit without the hassle of buttons, this may be the way to go. The 505 is rather full in the seat and crotch (technically \\\"the rise\\\") and can look pretty baggy. Though described as a \\\"slim fit\\\", the 512 is more of a moderate fit, snug but not formfitting, much like the handsome 501. Rather than slim fit, it really should be described as the 512 \\\"tapered leg\\\", because it has a noticeable taper to the ankle, which means it will not fit over boots, unlike the 505 and the 501. The denim is thick and of good quality, and breaks in nicely over time. However, if you really do want a true slim cut -- the 514 is better choice as it is trimmer in the seat and sits a little lower on the waist.\",\n \"Product: Three years after the cameras stopped rolling the BBC returns to Wernham Hogg to catch up with the staff past and present of the most famous paper merchants in Slough. Gareth is now office manager and Tim last seen asking Dawn out (again) appears to be nearing the point of despair. David Brent has blown his redundancy money on releasing a single and now makes his living selling cleaning products door-to-door and making z-list celebrity appearances. Meanwhile Dawn and her fiance Lee have relocated to Florida but are being flown over specially by the documentary makers for the end-of-year office party. This two-part special of The Office finally brings the story to a close as we find out whether anyone in this life ever gets what they really want.Running Time: 100 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 794051208422\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Buy the set and Save Money\\n\\nReview: If you are undecided about whether to start with a single disc of this great show or go for a multi-disc set, my advice is to go for the set that includes season 1, 2 and the special. (Identified as \\\"The Office - The Complete Collection (First And Second Series Plus Special)\\\"). Once you start, you will end up buying all three anyway, so you might as well save money by buying this set, which in sum costs less than buying individually. The series, the plot, the characters, especially Ricky Gervais, work their way into you consciousness, and you won't let go until you see the full way it plays out, so comic, yet so real and riveting. This is more than just a comedy, it's a world that is created and inhabited by the characters AND by you, the viewer -- they way they draw you in with soliloquies to the camera, and reveal little pieces of themselves. Comic yes, but also drama and character You will be very happy with this purchase.\",\n \"Product: Columbia Masterworks' most successful Broadway album! This is the 1956 original with Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison: On the Street Where You Live; I Could Have Danced All Night; I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face; The Rain in Spain , and more from this Best Musical-winning classic.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Same as the 2002 Remaster\\n\\nReview: This is identical to the 2002 remaster, except that it is packaged in a cardboard digipak instead of a jewel case. It is the 1956 Original Broadway Cast recording, in mono, with additional interviews with the cast at the end, which most reviewers seem to prefer the to the later 1959 London Cast Stereo version. I'm a My Fair Lady fan, and I have both recordings, and as far as I am concerned they are both great, and different enough to justify having both. The major difference is in Rex Harrsion's performances. In the London version he uses a mixed singing and talking in the major songs, whereas in Brwy it was pure singing. London seems to reflect his evolution in terms of what would get the audience going. Both work well IMO. Enjoy! PS: I'm not a big fan of the movie soundtrack, because it doesn't have Julie Andrews.\",\n \"Product: CD\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Performance, but Sound Quality Dubious\\n\\nReview: Thank you Mr. Gauthier, so nice to have such a distinguished poster here, and thank you also for the historic background you have provided. Alas, having listened to the CD, I am in total agreement with you about the remastering -- another victim of the loudness wars. The rapture is the performance -- sublime. However, I cannot say the same of the sound quality of the digital remastering. This could have been splendid vintage mono sound. Instead, they tried to \\\"modernize\\\" it by using excessive digital compression. The natural acoustic so carefully engineered by the brilliant producer John Pheiffer has been completely removed as a result. It is certainly not close to the sound that Pfeiffer later created on Living Stereo (including mono iterations on the Victor Opera Series label); nor is it close to the sound quality of the great EMI mono recordings of the era, such as the Callas/Gobbi/deStefano recordings at La Scala. Ar times, is is so compressed that it sounds like it's coming in over a telephone line, with little dynamic range and minimal ambience. I appreciate the wonderful insights provided by everyone here into this historic recording.\\n\\nUpdate 11/22/2014: I would note that Mr. Gauthier's comments about the sound quality of the remastering are now in general agreement with my own with regard to the main points -- excessive compression, too hot, too loud, poor dynamic range even for a mono recording of the era.\\n\\n\\\"After several listens I no longer think this is our '89 assembly....As with so many recent RCA/Sony releases of late the digital compression is very heavy. This makes the gain (volume in pro terms) \\\"hot\\\" as can be - everyone on the CD is very loud at low volume settings whether it be on your Ipod, tuner, preamp or whatever. The dynamic range on both recordings is very small, even for an old mono recording. But in today's world of 'ear buds' this is not such a bad idea. Playing on first class studio monitors yields a different feeling - that of a recording that could have been more discreetly mastered. However, this complaint in the real world is that of one pro to another and doesn't change the fact that this is the BEST version now available of such an historic occasion.\\\"\",\n \"Product: 2014 release, the first studio album of new material in seven years from the singer/songwriter. Tales From The Realm... features 10 new songs, each telling a story that has to do with the material world and the world of the spirit and how they intersect. Suzanne spent the past few years writing and recording these new gems on the road, recording portions in Chicago, London, Prague, LA and New York City, and Kyserike Station, an old train station in upstate New York. Tracking for the album took place mostly at the Clubhouse Studios in Rhinebeck, and the album was mixed by Kevin Killen, who has worked with Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Even Good (as opposed to great) S. Vega Gets 5 Stars from Me\\n\\nReview: Ok, I admit that most of these songs sound like out-takes from Nine Objects of Desire (1996) and Songs In Red And Gray (2001). They are very much in that syncopated, confessional ballad style that SV so brilliantly invented and explored on those two albums (and then largely abandoned on Beauty & Crime). While it is true that none of the new songs, with the exception of \\\"Horizon (There Is a Road),\\\" is at the same high level as the earlier efforts, if you liked NOoD and SIR&G, you will definitely like hearing that distinctive style lovingly revisited again here. I will also say that even a \\\"high B\\\" effort from SV is more intelligent, lyrical, and musical than 99% of what else is around, which is why I give this album 5 stars without the least reservation. Suzanne Vega is a musical and artistic tour de force of one.\",\n \"Product: Tchaikovsky’s three sumptuous ballet scores are also three of his supreme masterpieces, as remarkable for their emotional content as for the beauty of their melodies and orchestration. André Previn, who has described himself as “a complete romantic”, became Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra in 1968. He remained in the role for 11 years – something of a golden era – and in 2016 was named the LSO’s Conductor Emeritus.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Improved over previous EMI mastering\\n\\nReview: Previn was a master of orchestration, and I've always enjoyed his conducting on these performances, which date from the mid-1970s, and are 5 star in my book. Unfortunately the original EMI recordings, which are somewhat distant and congested, did not serve him well. The sound lacked the brilliance which Previn's deft orchestration truly needs in order to shine. (Check out his fine work on the otherwise less than stellar My Fair Lady motion picture soundtrack album.) This 2014 and 2016 masterings on this set are a distinct improvement.\\n\\nNote also: take with a grain of salt the blurb on the back cover that Sleeping Beauty is presented \\\"in its entirety\\\" for the first time on CD. Well, OK, In order to fit the performance on 2 discs instead of the 3 presented here, the previous EMI release cut about about 5 minutes from this 160 min. long recording, which I suspect neither you, I, Previn, nor Tchaikovsky himself would notice.\",\n \"Product: these cd's are in very good condition with original box.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is the Great Mastering from EMI -- from 1987\\n\\nReview: This is the one you want. The later Great Recordings of the Century issue from EMI from 2002 (and subsequent reissues, all of which use the 2002 master) are quite simply, horrible. It has no almost no high frequency response, sounds dull and muffled, more like a digitally synthesized message from your voicemail box than the sound of a splendid opera. It seems as though the only purpose of the 2002 remaster was to remove the tape hiss from the master tape, which was made in the golden era of stereo in the late 1950s, even though the hiss was hardly objectionable in the first instance, as evidenced by the excellent sound of this 1987 compact disc release. If you want to hear the difference, go to the MP3 download of the 1987 version, which still uses the 1987 mastering. You might also consider buying the highlights disc on CD, which still uses the 1987 mastering, and which, unlike the full opera, is still in print.\",\n \"Product: Maria Callas is at the top of her game, and still very much in her vocal prime. Her dramatic approach to \\\"Tosca\\\" is arguably even better captured in the live recordings from Covent Garden a decade later, but at that point her voice had lost some of its bloom; depending on your tastes, this may be the better example of her doing the role. Tito Gobbi owned the role of Scarpia, and considered it his finest characterization. Although he and Callas wouldn''t perform the opera together on-stage for another 10 years, the chemistry and tension they brought to those later live performances are already in evidence here, as if they have done these roles together many times. The excitement of the second act is electric. And Giuseppe di Stefano still sounds youthful and fresh, not yet vocally worn from years of heavy singing. He makes the perfect partner for Callas, bringing an optimistic passion to the opening scene that sets off her more complicated persona. His final \\\"E lucevan le stelle\\\" is truly heartbreaking.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A New, EVEN MORE HORRIBLE Digital Remastering.\\n\\nReview: The original recording of Tosca, by the legendary producer/engineer Walter Legge, was a masterpiece. So why does this CD so sound so bad? It's because the current corporate owners of EMI simply want to cut costs and put out new \\\"improved\\\" editions of Callas without paying any respect that Legge's work deserves. Since the original 1986 CD release, which was reasonably well done though a bit subdued compared to the LP, each subsequent remastering of Tosca (1997, 2002) has been even worse than the previous one. The original mono tapes have been noise-reduced to death to remove tape hiss, which would be minimal in any event for a mono recording from 1954, with the effect of making the orchestra sound muffled and digitized. They have continued to pinch the eq to give a more modern sound, modern apparently defined at thin, reedy, harsh and loud. Just a shame....But 5 Stars for the performance.\",\n \"Product: Original 1958 Sound Recording Made by EMI Records. Digitally Remastered in 1987.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Callas Summons Up Turandot\\n\\nReview: Made eight years after Callas had given up the role on stage, the Serafin recording is still immensely valuable for Callas' psychological insights into the psyche of her lead character, even though the tone of her voice by this late stage in her illustrious career had now taken on an austere quality on high notes. Callas genius finds eloquent expression in Turandot's great solo on her entrance. Callas finds the source of Turnadot's vengeful mission in a her deep tenderness and vulnerability due to the sorrows of a distant past. Callas still has the necessary power and penetration on the highs to summon immense emotion, even if some element of feminine beauty in its timbre has been lost. . The recording shows that she could summon up all the powers of her art, which she does.\",\n \"Product: Laura Cantrell - Humming By The Flowered Vine - Cd\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Note on the mixing\\n\\nReview: Since I concur with the positive comments on the performance posted by other LC fans, I won't bore you with repeating mine here. but I must add a negative comment here on the mixing and/or mastering of this CD: it is ill-suited to LC's extraordinary artistry. LC's beautiful voice is made distant, edgy and the volume is too low relative to the instrumentation. The dynamic range is compressed; the instrumnts are one big muddle, with too much upper midrange and little bass. This especially strange here, as her previous album (WTRosesBA) was mastered in pristine HDCD sound. Too bad about this one, as the perormances are very fine.\\n\\nStill, I am a huge admirer of LC's work, and hope that no one will be deterred by these comments from buying this, despite the mediocre sound. I hope that the next one will be mixed and mastered at the high level of Ms. Cantrell's artistry.\",\n \"Product: I will ship by EMS or SAL items in stock in Japan. It is approximately 7-14days on delivery date. You wholeheartedly support customers as satisfactory. Thank you for you seeing it.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Perfformances From the Golden Age of Audio\\n\\nReview: Intro Note: I wonder if there are two pressings of this floating around, as several reviews have commented that the recordings are in mono. On my set, only the Flute is in mono, as it was recorded in mono. The other three were recorded in stereo, and are presented this way on my set.\\n\\nOf the these four operas, three have become not only my favorite performances of the opera, but my favorite recordings. Yes, the Magic Flute is in mono, and a bit boxy, but there is a warmth and integrity to the sound that even many stereo recordings never capture. Of course, Fricsay's conducting is superb, and Rita Streich's Queen of the Night, which she was never able to perform on stage, is the best on record IMHO. The 1955 Decca stereo on Figaro and Don Giovanni is a bit tubby in the bass, but the ambiance is wonderful, with great clarity to the voices. The stars of both performances is Hilde Gueden, although Kleiber's conducting on Figaro also earns a place in the Hall of Legends. Only the Cosi Fan Tutte disappoints, as it appears to be a transfer from an LP, the master tapes apparently lost. (The original Decca CD release also appears to be the same vinyl transfer). It's a fine, performance, but neither the sound (which is stereo) nor the performance quite sparkles like the others.\",\n \"Product: It's pretty simple-this boxed set contains EVERYTHING La Divina recorded in the studio, including newly-licensed and newly-remastered material! That's the first 69 CDs; the 70th CD is a CD-ROM containing the tracklists and photos. And the set comes inside a hardcover slipcase containing a color booklet packed with even more photos of this most photogenic of opera singers. As for the contents, well, again, it's EVERYTHING she did in the studio. Go to www.callas30.com for more info, because we can't describe 69 CDs!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Ugh... more horrible remasters from EMI.\\n\\nReview: Instead of using the EMI remasters from the 1985-1994 first generation CDs, this set uses primarily the 1997 and later 2000-2002 GROC remasters, which are notoriously bad, and have been the subject of extensive negative commentary in scholarly and lay publications, as well as on this site. The ART/EMI remastering has been a fiasco, removing the tape hiss, and not incidentally, most of the life, immediacy, and exquisite articulation that made Callas the legend she was. Instead of going back to the master tapes, as it did with the first generation CDs, what the EMI engineers did in 1997 and later was was go back to the first generation CD masters, and fiddle with them to get a more \\\"modern,\\\" \\\"hotter\\\" sound, using digital processing that sounds, actually, quite digital. A sad story of music biz greed and cost cutting at the expense of the music lover. If you buy this set, you won't get the real Callas, you'll get the Stepford Callas, seemingly real on the surface, but oddly artificial and ultimately without the fire and \\\"soul\\\" that made Callas Callas. I guess Stepford Callas is still better than no Callas at all, so I gave 3 stars, but if you can hunt down the old pre 1997 CDs, you will be much rewarded for your efforts.\\n\\n*However, 3 of the 1997 and later complete opera remasters do represent overall improvements over the earlier EMI/Angei releases. They are: Norma (stereo); Medea (stereo; slight loss of vocal richness, but far better ambiance and dynamics); il Trovotore (mono).\",\n \"Product: The vocal wonder Maria Callas was born under the name Maria Cecilia Sophia Kalogeropoulos on 1 December 1923, entering a world that was soon to worship her - her father George first changed the Greek surname to 'Callas' in 1929. However, he was not able to keep the family together and Maria's parents got divorced in 1936. The mother returned to her native Athens with Maria and Maria's older sister. The future world star Maria Callas started enjoying her musical training during childhood, being given first piano lessons at the age of eight. She later studied singing at the National conservatory in Athens and even during her student days, Maria Callas knew how to thrill audiences - she was awarded a prize by the conservatory for her debut performance in the role of Santuzza.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Ugh... more horrible remasters\\n\\nReview: Like the Complete Studio Recordings set, instead of using the EMI remasters from the 1985-1994 first generation CDs, this \\\"Complete Operas\\\" set uses primarily the 1997 Callas Edition and later 2000-2002 GROC remasters, which are notoriously bad, and have been the subject of extensive negative commentary in scholarly and lay publications, as well as on this site. The ART/EMI remastering has been a fiasco, removing the tape hiss, and not incidentally, most of the life, immediacy, and exquisite articulation that made Callas the legend she was. Instead of going back to the master tapes, as it did with the first generation CDs, what the EMI engineers did in 1997 and later was was go back to the first generation CD masters, and fiddle with them to get a more \\\"modern,\\\" \\\"hotter\\\" sound, using digital processing that sounds, actually, quite digital. A sad story of music biz greed and cost cutting at the expense of the music lover. If you buy this set, you won't get the real Callas, you'll get the Stepford Callas, seemingly real on the surface, but oddly artificial and ultimately without the fire and \\\"soul\\\" that made Callas Callas. I guess Stepford Callas is still better than no Callas at all, so I gave 3 stars, but if you can hunt down the old pre 1997 CDs, you will be much rewarded for your efforts.*\\n\\n*However, 3 of the 1997 and later remasters do represent overall improvements over the earlier EMI/Angei releases. They are: Norma (stereo); Medea (stereo); il Trovotore (mono).\",\n \"Product: This Tosca, made in 1953 with the forces of La Scala, is a landmark in recording history.Conducted with searing intensity by Victor de Sabata, it teams Callas with two of her closest colleagues, the tenor Giuseppe di Stefano and the baritone Tito Gobbi - a performer who could rival Callas in dramatic finesse and power. Tosca's aria 'Vissi d'arte' (I lived for art) has come to be seen as Callas's personal manifesto.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I'm still with Hardwick on this one\\n\\nReview: One could go mad trying to find, let alone distinguish among, the various national and time sequenced EMI pressings of the original Keith Hardwick transfers of the Callas opus, and I don't recommend making the effort unless you have either an extraordinary amount of free time on your hands, or incurable Callas OCD. However, I will state for the record that I have the 1991 German EMI Classics pressing, which curiously enough is packaged in an EMI Angel outer box; this is what what I compared to the new Warner transfer. On my system, which is pretty high end, I continue to prefer the older issue. Beyond the compression, which while undesirable is not really objectionable to me in any, I find that that the ambiance has been somewhat \\\"sucked out\\\" of the new Warner mastering. I also find some widening in the supposedly mono warner issue, although this could be more an artifact of room resonance , possibly due to the greater bass of the new issues. My basic point is not that the warner issues are not well done, but that the Keith hardwick tranfers retain a certain natural presentation that is subtle, but more listenable, at least to those with sufficiently good systems, where such nuances matter more.\",\n \"Product: One of the 20th century's most legendary and enduring icons, Maria Callas was both a glamorous diva and a global superstar who captivated audiences worldwide with her vivid and passionate performances. This special limited-edition 180-gram vinyl album features Callas in a glittering selection of opera favorites that showcase her unique voice and her heartbreaking portrayal of tragic heroines. This vinyl recording is part of the larger \\\"\\\"Maria Callas Remastered\\\"\\\" product suite.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The Definive Callas Our Age -- Vinyl and CD\\n\\nReview: An opera critic once wrote of a Maria Callas performance that she \\\"plunged into the score...absorbing every note and expression mark,\\\" with the result that \\\"the wealth of detail her voice unearths is breathtaking. It is as if an old painting, familiar but dim, has been cleaned to its original tints.\\\" The same could be said of Callas Remastered, the new edition of all of her studio recordings. the earliest from 1949, the last from 1969. Long familiar performances from the age of the LP and from two earlier CD transfers now leap our to the listener with new and vivid clarity of sound. Warner Classics, which acquired EMI, the company that produced most of the Callas recordings, went back to the original master tapes and production notes from the recording sessions to create what must surely be the definitive digital version of our age. (The book included in the complete set gives a detailed account of the process.) Listening primarily on CD (not vinyl), I was immediately able to hear the difference that the new remastering has made. It is a revelation. By bringing us as close as we can come to what she must have sounded like, at least in the studio, Callas Remastered is a priceless opportunity to rediscover what made her such a sensation. She simply sounded like no one else. As one Italian critic described her, she was \\\"a star wandering into a planetary system not its own.\\\" Hearing these beautiful recordings brought to life again, brings her miraculous wanderings to life once gain. Much the same can be said for the vinyl version, except that based on my limited listening, there were a few more clicks and pops than I would have expected -- however, it's minor -- and as expected, the vinyl has a bit more warmth than the CD versions.\",\n \"Product: Our #1 selling brand, BOISE X-9 multi-use copy paper wont let you down. Decades of science, research, and testing have resulted in a dependable and consistent sheet you can trust. X-9 multi-use copy paper delivers quality you can trust in any home, office, or high-speed print environment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good value, not quite as high quality as Xerox 4200\\n\\nReview: They were sold out of Xerox 4200 paper, so I bought this. It's got the same 91 brightness, and 20 lb weight as 4200. The difference is that 4200 is really smooth on both sides, while this one is a bit grainy on the back side. For one sided printing, it is just as good as 4200. For two sided, you might notice a bit less quality on the reverse pages, especially with a laser printer. For offices that rarely do two-sided printing, this might be the better value. I say might, because many people are not aware that paper has sides (felt; wire), which means there's a 50% chance it will be loaded incorrectly. To be honest, most people would never notice the difference anyway, but if you want the best all purpose paper, go with xerox 4200. If you's rather save a few bucks, go with this. They are both good papers.\\nOne other comment: on Amazon Prime, my box shipped 2-day via FEDEX.\",\n \"Product: * Garden scraper * Strong hook removes moss, grass, and weeds from joints in paving, walls, steps, and more *\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works Great, With Practice\\n\\nReview: When I first tried to use this, I was frustrated, and the weeds were very happy. But then i figured out that you needed a scraping action, rather than a \\\"dig out the roots\\\" action (you'll see what I mean as soon as you try it.) Now I really like it, as it gets those pesky weeds that grow in the cracks out quite easily. It does leave some or all of the root in there, but despite that, the weeds don't seem to grow back, like they do in a lawn. So I would say that if you have the need for such a tool, you will find that it saves you a lot of time, energy, and effort.\",\n \"Product: Black Beauty truly innovative darker-green turfgrass planted by Sod Growers. Grass leaves possess an invisible waxy coating, very similar to what you would find on an apple. Preserves moisture in the leaf and wards off stress from heat, cold, wind and disease. Roots 4-feet deep into the soil. Redefines what a green lawn is supposed to look like. Thrives in sun or shade. This contains 15 pounds and covers 4500 square feet area.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Tall Fescue at Heart\\n\\nReview: This is pitched as the ultimate Turf Type Tall Fescue (TTTF) Blend, and maybe it is. But it is still Tall Fescue, which has its limits. The main limit is heat and drought tolerance. TTTF has great drought tolerance if it can root deeply. The problem is that in most of the USA Atlantic seaboard from SC to CT, the soil tends to be compacted clay, which no grass can root deeply in without constant and regular aeration from the homeowner. In such soils, TTTF is toast once the temps get above 90 and the soil gets dry. I've had much more success with Kentucky Bluegrass, which does not require deep rooting to survive the heat. You do have to irrigate KBG for it to stay green, but even if you don't at least it will go dormant and survive. TTTF will just die. Black Beauty supposedly has a moisture retaining crown that helps it survive drought, but the reality is that the root is still the key to surviving drought, and if you have hard soil typical of the US Atlantic Seaboard, you are going to be better off with KBG or one of the new Scotts heat resistant hybrid KBG in my opinion, based on considerable experience with both grass types.\",\n \"Product: Pennington 100086853 Smart Seed Perennial Rye Blend Premium Grass Seed Mixture 3 LB requires less watering. Maximizes fertilizer performance and grows a denser, deeper root system. It is 99.9-percent weed free. Covers up to 1200 square feet.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\\n\\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. It is also susceptible to grey leaf spot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed. Note also that like Scotts, Pennington coats it seed with a moisture retaining layer that helps it germinate without as much watering after seeding. I have found that this helps a lot, particularly with perennial rye, where a few days of good luck (and weather) is all you need.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix helps you get early seeding success with less water. It absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed. Durable southern bred* grass that thrives in harsh summer conditions. Superior heat, drought, insect, and disease resistance. 7 lb bag seeds up to 1750 sq ft.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent results, if used in the right soils\\n\\nReview: Turf type tall fescue (TTTF)is highly recommended by most state AG extension depts for lawns in the so-called transition zone, due to its drought tolerance and quick establishment. However, be aware that it does have significant limitations. The drought tolerance, which comes from its ability to root deeply, can be poor in clay soil, which is very common all over the country, but particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region, much of which is in the transition zone. The color is a dark green, but the blades are not as fine as Kentucky bluegrass, and they tend to get even wider as the grass ages, and if the turf starts to thin out, they begin to look like K-31. You also need to overseed bare spots constantly, because it is a bunch type grass that does not spread by rhizomes the way KBG does. It is also a significantly more prone to fungus than KBG, a mjor downside in the humid parts of the country. Finally, it does not really go dormant in high heat/drought the way KBG does -- it survives because it finds water in the deep roots. If the roots are not deep, like in clay soil, it will be toast above about 90F. So I would say this -- if you do not have clay soil, this is going to be a great choice. But if your soil usually feels brick hard in summer, meaning it has a lot of clay, I'd try either KBG or perennial ryegrass, which do much better in compacted soils.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Quick Fix Grass Seed Mix is fast growing turf for a temporary lawn. It provides temporary ground cover and erosion control. 99.9% weed free. Great for quick fill of bare spots. 3 lb bag seeds up to 750 sq ft.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Note -- This Is Annual Ryegrass -- For Tempory Coverage only\\n\\nReview: Annual ryegrass germinates amazingly fast -- 3 - 5 days. But, as soon as the temps go above 85-90, it will die off. Nor can it survive the winter. It is used to fill bare patches fast, which gives the seed for your permanent grass something to \\\"nest\\\" in. Its appearance is not great -- thick blades, light green color, often with an amber tint. It is the best at what it does -- as a temporary grass, but as soon as it comes up, plant a better seed, like tall fescue, perennial rye (its longer lived cousin, which comes up in 5-7 days) or Kentucky bluegrass. Note also that 3 pounds of this is very little actual seed, because annual rye seeds are quite large, which means few seeds per pound, plus the water absorbing coating comprises about the 1/2 the weight. Strictly a temporary mix for spot repairs, like putting a patch on a punctured tire.\",\n \"Product: As if your plants didnt have enough pests knocking down their cell walls fungus, algae, mold, and rust are just as dangerous as bugs. Daconil fungicide stops these silent, creepy killers and protects against future disease on flowers, vegetables, shrubs, fruit, and shade trees. Ready-To-Use is made to grab and go, keeping your fungi protection simple. Keep away from children, pets, and especially marine life.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Spray Stream is Too Coarse, but Still Usable if You Adjust\\n\\nReview: I do agree with the comments about the \\\"spray\\\" being more like a stream setting. However, I compensated by squeezing the 'trigger' really fast and forcefully, which made it closer to a true spray, and also spraying from a greater distance (about 2.5 feet), which allows the droplets to spread in the air a bit more before hitting the target. When this was done, I got a reasonably uniform coating to the target. Daconil is generally applied liberally (\\\"spray it white, sleep at night,\\\" as my golf course super used to say), so even with a proper spray, you are going to get some coalescing of the droplets when they hit the target regardless. So in the end, it's about the same. Given the convenience and the low price, this is a useful format for Daconil for spot treating, even though I do agree that the spray pattern could be improved.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Perennial Ryegrass Mix is the ideal solution for lawns in need of quick growth, erosion control, and protection in high traffic areas. This mix is Scotts best choice for use on compacted soil. And, each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great In the Right Places\\n\\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. Note also that Scotts coats it seed with a moisture retaining layer that helps it germinate without as much watering after seeding. I have found that this helps a lot, particularly with perennial rye, where a few days of good luck (and weather) is all you need. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Perennial Ryegrass Mix is the ideal solution for lawns in need of quick growth, erosion control, and protection in high traffic areas. This mix is Scotts best choice for use on compacted soil. And, each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\\n\\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed. Note also that Scotts coats it seed with a moisture retaining layer that helps it germinate without as much watering after seeding. I have found that this helps a lot, particularly with perennial rye, where a few days of good luck (and weather) is all you need.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Bermudagrass is great for lawns challenged by long periods of scorching southern heat and drought. This seed mix aggressively spreads to fill in bare spots and crowd out weeds. Each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best in the Deep South\\n\\nReview: Just as with Kentucky bluegrass, zoysia, and fescue, there are a number of different cultivars (types) of bermudagrass. The one in this product is called \\\"Sunbird.\\\" Sunbird is a good cultivar, with excellent green color and disease resistance, but it's not one of the more winter-hearty types. If you live north of South Carolina it's going to be brown about 9 months a year and could have a little trouble surviving the winter. For bermudagrass that is going to be planted in the northern part of the warm season grass zone, you would be better off using one of the more northern-adapted cultivars like Yukon. At the time of this writing, I did not see Yukon being offered on Amazon, but it does show up from time to time, and it should be available at your local hardware store/seed supplier if you live in one of the more northern parts of the warm season grass zone. It should work a little better for you.\",\n \"Product: Kentucky-31 Tall Fescue is grows well with little care and is excellent for areas of hard use. It thrives in sun and moderate shade.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The Cheap, the Green, and the Ugly.\\n\\nReview: If you are planting a utility yard, a highway median, or a field, this is fine. If you want a \\\"lawn,\\\" as in \\\"a home lawn that I and my neighbors will have to look at occasionally,\\\" this is not fine at all. It is green; I will give it that. But, it's very thick-bladed, and before I knew what it was, I used to think it was a type of crabgrass. Actually, it's a coarse fescue, not to be compared with the \\\"Rebels\\\" and Black Beauty, which are pretty nice turf type tall fescues (TTTF). In fact, TTTF descended genetically from K-31, but that's like saying man descended from the apes, or that Secretariat descended from a donkey. This will get the job done, and it's a step above weeds. A small step IMHO.\",\n \"Product: There is nothing like being barefoot in Zoysia grass in the south. Zoysia can tolerate wide variations in temperature, sunlight, and water, these grasses are among the most widely used for lawns in temperate climates. They are used on golf courses to create fairways and teeing areas. Zoysia grasses stop erosion on slopes, and are excellent at repelling weeds throughout the year. [4] they resist disease and hold up well under traffic. The cultivar Zoysia 'emerald' (emerald Zoysia; a hybrid between z. Japonica and z. Tenuifolia [5]) is particularly popular. In subtropical climates of North America, Zoysia grass has naturalized in places. For landscape use it is available commercially as sod in some areas. In typical savanna climates (warm wet/dry seasons) such as southern Florida, Zoysia grows during the warm-wet summer and is dormant in the drier, cooler winter months. It is popular because of its fine texture and soft feel, and low growth habit. It can form dense mats and even mounds that grow over low features.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\\n\\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is often genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, rather light green, non-uniform turf. (However, recent cultivars, like Zenith, have better leaf texture and color.) Given the low cost of seeded zoysia compared to plugged, a seeded zoysia lawn is still a good option for many people, as even a seeded zoysia lawn still has many of the advantages of zoysia in terms of weed resistance and low water use. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.\",\n \"Product: There is nothing like being barefoot in Zoysia grass in the south. Zoysia can tolerate wide variations in temperature, sunlight, and water, these grasses are among the most widely used for lawns in temperate climates. They are used on golf courses to create fairways and teeing areas. Zoysia grasses stop erosion on slopes, and are excellent at repelling weeds throughout the year. [4] they resist disease and hold up well under traffic. The cultivar Zoysia 'emerald' (emerald Zoysia; a hybrid between z. Japonica and z. Tenuifolia [5]) is particularly popular. In subtropical climates of North America, Zoysia grass has naturalized in places. For landscape use it is available commercially as sod in some areas. In typical savanna climates (warm wet/dry seasons) such as southern Florida, Zoysia grows during the warm-wet summer and is dormant in the drier, cooler winter months. It is popular because of its fine texture and soft feel, and low growth habit. It can form dense mats and even mounds that grow over low features.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\\n\\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is often genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, rather light green, non-uniform turf. (However, recent cultivars, like Zenith, have better leaf texture and color.) Given the low cost of seeded zoysia compared to plugged, a seeded zoysia lawn is still a good option for many people, as even a seeded zoysia lawn still has many of the advantages of zoysia in terms of weed resistance and low water use. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.\",\n \"Product: Pennington 100086830 Smart Seed Tall Fescue Premium Grass Seed Blend 3 LB requires less watering. Maximizes fertilizer performance and grows a denser, deeper root system. Blend is 99.9-percent weed free. Coves up to 1,500 square feet.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent results, if used in the right soils\\n\\nReview: Turf type tall fescue (TTTF)is highly recommended by most state AG extension depts for lawns in the so-called transition zone (basically, the Mid Atlantic from NJ to the Carolinas, back through much of the Midwest) due to its drought tolerance and quick establishment. However, be aware that it does have some limitations. The drought tolerance, which comes from its ability to root deeply, can be poor in clay soil, which is very common all over the country, but particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region, much of which is in the transition zone. The color is a good dark green, but the blades are not as fine as Kentucky bluegrass, and they tend to get even wider as the grass ages. You also need to overseed bare spots constantly, because it is a bunch type grass that does not spread by rhizomes the way KBG does. It is also a little more prone to fungus infections than KBG, a consideration in the humid parts of the country. Finally, it does not really go dormant in high heat/drought the way KBG does -- it survives because it finds water in the deep roots. If the roots are not deep, like in clay soil, it will be toast above about 90F. So I would say this -- if you do not have clay soil, this is going to be a great choice. But if your soil usually feels brick hard in summer, meaning it has a lot of clay, I'd try either KBG or perennial ryegrass, which do much better in compacted soils.\",\n \"Product: Formulated specifically for the PNW, Top Choice lawn seed products are the right start to a beautiful lawn. Top Choice's quality ingredients are subject to rigorous inspection standards. This allows us to bring you seed that is 99.9-Percent weed free. Top Choice only contains varieties that are selected for your region. Our simple-to-follow directions will produce a lawn that is attractive, durable and easy to maintain. Top Choice is very dependable and satisfaction guaranteed. 3-Way Perennial Ryegrass mixture is composed of 34-Percent Stellar GL Perennial Ryegrass, 33-Percent Apple GL Perennial Ryegrass, and 33-Percent Homerun Perennial Ryegrass.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\\n\\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.\",\n \"Product: Formulated specifically for the PNW, Top Choice lawn seed products are the right start to a beautiful lawn. Top Choice's quality ingredients are subject to rigorous inspection standards. This allows us to bring you seed that is 99.9-Percent weed free. Top Choice only contains varieties that are selected for your region. Our simple-to-follow directions will produce a lawn that is attractive, durable and easy to maintain. Top Choice is very dependable and satisfaction guaranteed. 3-Way Perennial Ryegrass mixture is composed of 34-Percent Stellar GL Perennial Ryegrass, 33-Percent Apple GL Perennial Ryegrass, and 33-Percent Homerun Perennial Ryegrass.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\\n\\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.\",\n \"Product: Tough on ice safer for concrete driveways, walkways and steps. Morton Safe-T-Plus is a premium ice & snow melt that minimizes costly damage to your concrete steps, driveways and sidewalks compared to traditional rock salt.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great product, with Some Trade-Offs\\n\\nReview: I purchased this to use on my front steps, which are made of cement, which this product is specially formulated to be less harmful to. It's also somewhat better for the environment. That's mostly because it is formulated with urea, in addition to the usual rock salt (sodium chloride) and calcium chloride, which is supposed to be the best ice melter. It also forms a protective gel, that prevents penetration into cement. I'll probably keep using it on the steps, because I spent a fortune replacing them a while back, and would rather not have to do so again. That said, this is noticeably less fact acting as the all-salt melters I am using. Not terrible, but not impressive either. So in other areas, where I'm not worried about long term damage to anything, I'm still using standard ice melters. That's not a criticism of this product, I'm just pointing out that, based on my experience, there is tradeoff involved. If fast ice melting alone is your priority, I would suggest trying other good products, which use all-salt based formulations.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix for Tall Fescue Lawns grows 33% thicker than ordinary tall fescue. This mix recovers quickly from heat and drought, and it spreads quickly to repair wear and tear on your lawn. Each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Much Bluegrass is in this \\\"Bluegrass Mix\\\"\\n\\nReview: August 2016 Update: I've now planted this several times, in various places in my yard, with mixed results. On the plus side, I did get some dramatic spreading, which must be from the Thermal Blue, as tall fescue does not spread. On the con, the color is on the light side, and the overall look is rather dull, not as nice as either a pure tall fescue lawn or a pure KBG. Is Thermal Blue actually more heat tolerant than the better KBGs like Midnight? It did ok in the heat, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt compared to other KBGs; but, I can say that my straight tall fescue looked nicer to me than this mix. So other than the spreading, I think straight tall fescue is a better choice for most people looking for a more heat tolerant lawn.\\n-------------------------\\nThis is good seed for many lawns in the so-called transition zone, but be aware that the name, \\\"Scotts Heat Tolerant Bluegrass Seed,\\\" is a bit confusing/misleading. It has less than 10% bluegrass by weight, and is mostly Tall Fescue. Yet, it's pitched primarily as a new type of bluegrass that has all the advantages of tall fescue in terms of heat and drought resistance, but with the dark color and rhizomes that makes Kentucky bluegrass the ultimate in premium grass seeds. So, based on the name, you might think it's mostly heat tolerant bluegrass, which it is not. Tall Fescue is a good grass seed, but the blades are not as nice as Kentucky blue grass, and it doesn't grow all that well in clay soil, which many people have. So, if you want a Kentucky bluegrass lawn, you might want to buy a product that is all or mostly KBG and not this.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix for Tall Fescue Lawns grows 33% thicker than ordinary tall fescue. This mix recovers quickly from heat and drought, and it spreads quickly to repair wear and tear on your lawn. Each seed is wrapped in a unique WaterSmart PLUS Coating that absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients, and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Much Bluegrass is in this \\\"Bluegrass Mix\\\"\\n\\nReview: The name, \\\"Scotts Heat Tolerant Bluegrass Seed,\\\" is a bit confusing/misleading. It has less than 10% bluegrass by weight, and is mostly Tall Fescue. Yet, it's pitched primarily as a new type of bluegrass that has all the advantages of tall fescue in terms of heat and drought resistance, but with the dark color and rhizomes that makes Kentucky bluegrass the ultimate in premium grass seeds. So, based on the name, you might think it's mostly heat tolerant bluegrass, which it is not. Tall Fescue is a good grass seed, but the blades are not as nice as Kentucky blue grass, and it doesn't grow all that well in clay soil, which many people have. So, if you want a Kentucky bluegrass lawn, you might want to buy a product that is all or mostly KBG and not this. However, this is good seed for many lawns in the so-called transition zone, as long as you are aware it is not going to be a pure stand of KBG, heat tolerant or otherwise.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Zoysia Grass Seed & Mulch thrives in heat and drought, in partial shade and in colder temperatures. Our 99.9% weed-free grass seed grows a tough, durable, low-maintenance lawn!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\\n\\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, non-uniform turf. This product comes with mulch, which attempts to address the moisture issue. In that regard, it gives you a much better shot at establishing a lawn than with seed alone. But you still face the limitations of seeded zoysia as a turf grass. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Tall Fescue Mix provides superior heat, drought, insect and disease resistance to lawns. The mix contains Southern-bred grass seed that thrives in harsh conditions like sun, shade, and high traffic. The exclusive WaterSmart PLUS Coating absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed, feeds with essential nutrients and protects seedlings from disease. Grow Quicker, Thicker, Greener Grass. Guaranteed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent results, if used in the right soils\\n\\nReview: Turf type tall fescue (TTTF)is highly recommended by most state AG extension depts for lawns in the so-called transition zone, due to its drought tolerance and quick establishment. However, be aware that it does have some limitations. The drought tolerance, which comes from its ability to root deeply, can be poor in clay soil, which is very common all over the country, but particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region, much of which is in the transition zone. The color is a good dark green, but the blades are not as fine as Kentucky bluegrass, and they tend to get even wider as the grass ages. You also need to overseed bare spots constantly, because it is a bunch type grass that does not spread by rhizomes the way KBG does. It is also a little more prone to fungus infections than KBG, a consideration in the humid parts of the country. Finally, it does not really go dormant in high heat/drought the way KBG does -- it survives because it finds water in the deep roots. If the roots are not deep, like in clay soil, it will be toast above about 90F. So I would say this -- if you do not have clay soil, this is going to be a great choice. But if your soil usually feels brick hard in summer, meaning it has a lot of clay, I'd try either KBG or perennial ryegrass, which do much better in compacted soils.\",\n \"Product: \\\"PENNINGTON SEED\\\" GRASS SEED - Size : 5 lb. - Zenith zoysia grass seed with mulch. - Contains zenith zoysia & bio-170 organic mulch. - Is a spreading sun to moderate shade loving grass. - Stays green later into fall. - Has excellent traffic & drought tolerance & develops a dense. - Weed resistant turf.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\\n\\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is often genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, rather light green, non-uniform turf. (However, recent cultivars, like Zenith, have better leaf texture and color.) Given the low cost of seeded zoysia compared to plugged, a seeded zoysia lawn is still a good option for many people, as even a seeded zoysia lawn still has many of the advantages of zoysia in terms of weed resistance and low water use. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.\",\n \"Product: Wonderlawn Perennial Ryegrass Grass Seed - Perennial ryegrass grass seed. Produces traffic tolerant turf, germinates quickly, and requires little maintenance. Does well in sun & light shade. Contains: 100% perennial ryegrass seed. - Size: 5 Lb., Coverage - New Lawn: 700 Sq. Ft., Type: Perennial Ryegrass, Coverage - Overseeding Established Lawn: 1400 Sq. Ft., Style: Medium-Coarse Texture, Dark Green Color, Pkg Qty: 1, Package Type: Bag\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\\n\\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.\",\n \"Product: Wolf garten 3536004/ufm 22 flat spring steel tines garden rake\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lighter Weight WG Rake\\n\\nReview: With a plastic as opposed to metal collar for the tines, this is a lighter weight version of the excellent, but rather heavy all-metal Wolf-Garten rake. <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/WOLF-Garten-3535004-Garden-Rake/dp/B00023S6MY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">WOLF-Garten 3535004 Garden Rake</a> This rake is not as wide as it looks in the picture; for simple chores like leaf raking, you may well be happier with a wide bamboo rake, which covers more surface area. The springy metal tines of this rake will scratch at the surface well, which makes it good for removing dead grass and thatch, and scarifying the surface for seeding. So, I recommend this as a quality product, but if what you really need is a wide leaf rake for autumn, you may prefer a traditional bamboo rake.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Heat Tolerant Blue Grass Seed Mix helps you get early seeding success with less water. It absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed. Grows 33% thicker than ordinary tall fescue. Quickly recovers from periods of heat and drought. 3 lb bag seeds up to 750 sq ft.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Much Bluegrass in this \\\"Blue\\\" Mix\\n\\nReview: The product's name is \\\"Scotts Heat Tolerant Bluegrass Seed,\\\" and it's pitched as a new type of bluegrass that has all the advantages of tall fescue in terms of heat and drought resistance, but with the dark color and rhizomes that makes Kentucky bluegrass the ultimate in premium grass seeds. So, based on the name, how much heat tolerant bluegrass would you guess is actually in this mix (since no specific analysis is given either by|Amazon or on the Scotts website)? 100%? 50%? 25%? Well, those are good guesses, but you would be wrong- - how about 4.96%? That's how much of this fancy new heat tolerant bluegrass seed is actually in this bag- less than 5%. The other 95% is not even standard Kentucky bluegrass, it's tall fescue, which is an OK grass as far as all that, but not nearly as plush as Kentucky bluegrass. My purchase is going back to Amazon.\",\n \"Product: Scotts Turf Builder Bermuda Grass Seed helps you get early seeding success with less water. It absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seed. It aggressively spreads to fill in bare spots and crowd out weeds. Great for lawns challenged by long periods of heat and drought. 1 lb bag seeds up to 1000 sq ft.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best in the Deep South\\n\\nReview: Just as with Kentucky bluegrass, zoysia, and fescue, there are a number of different cultivars (types) of bermudagrass. The one in this product is called \\\"Sunbird.\\\" Sunbird is a good cultivar, with excellent green color and disease resistance, but it's not one of the more winter-hearty types. If you live north of South Carolina it's going to be brown about 9 months a year and could have a little trouble surviving the winter. For bermudagrass that is going to be planted in the northern part of the warm season grass zone, you would be better off using one of the more northern-adapted cultivars like Yukon. At the time of this writing, I did not see Yukon being offered on Amazon, but it does show up from time to time, and it should be available at your local hardware store/seed supplier if you live in one of the more northern parts of the warm season grass zone. It should work a little better for you.\",\n \"Product: This beautiful species of phlox prefers light soil and temperatures that are not too hot, but it is somewhat adaptable. Phlox flower seed will survive drought, but does best with ample moisture. Blooms range from white to lavender to pink on relatively short plants, usually no more than 14\\\" tall. Like the flowers, the plants are quite delicate-appearing with long, narrow leaves.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This is about a 1/2 Teaspoon of Seed\\n\\nReview: Just be aware, this is about a 1/2 teaspoon of seed, as they are very small. It won't cover much area, and it's actually hard to spread such a small amount out over an entire garden bed. Given how much of the cost here has got to be packaging, shipping and packaging, it seems like they should give you more seed, as it would cost them very little extra. But, it is what it is, and I don't doubt that there are 1,000 seeds here -- 1,000 teensy, teensy seeds.\\n\\nUPDATE: July 24: These have germinated and flowered, and unfortunately, I do not recommend this seed. The flowers are tiny, and not abundant -- one per plant. They look more like weeds at this point. Also, germination was very slow, and I got maybe 20 plants from 1000 seeds.\",\n \"Product: Top Choice lawn seed products are the right start to a beautiful lawn. Top Choice's quality ingredients are subject to rigorous inspection standards. This allows us to bring you seed that is 99.9-Percent weed free. Top Choice only contains varieties that are selected for your region. Our simple-to-follow directions will produce a lawn that is attractive, durable and easy to maintain. Top Choice is very dependable and satisfaction guaranteed. 3-Way Perennial Ryegrass mixture is composed of 34-Percent Stellar GL Perennial Ryegrass, 33-Percent Apple GL Perennial Ryegrass, and 33-Percent Homerun Perennial Ryegrass.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Champ of Quick Germination\\n\\nReview: Perennial ryegrass is the champ of quick germination, usually within 5-7 days. That makes it ideal for quick growth and erosion control. Unlike its coarse, light green, short lived cousin, annual ryegrass, perennial rye forms a dark green fine-bladed turf similar to Kentucky bluegerass, and lives a long time. Sounds perfect? Well, not quite. The major downside is that it is not very heat/drought tolerant, and will struggle to survive the summer heat in most areas outside the northern 1/3 of the USA. If you use it in the so-called transition zone, you should mix it with Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you want to have a good lawn after July 15. It is also susceptible to grey rot fungus, although newer cultivars are much more resistant. In the right place, for the right the purpose, this is an excellent seed.\",\n \"Product: There is nothing like being barefoot in Zoysia grass in the south. Zoysia can tolerate wide variations in temperature, sunlight, and water, these grasses are among the most widely used for lawns in temperate climates. They are used on golf courses to create fairways and teeing areas. Zoysia grasses stop erosion on slopes, and are excellent at repelling weeds throughout the year. [4] they resist disease and hold up well under traffic. The cultivar Zoysia 'emerald' (emerald Zoysia; a hybrid between z. Japonica and z. Tenuifolia [5]) is particularly popular.in subtropical climates of North America, Zoysia grass has naturalized in places. For landscape use it is available commercially as sod in some areas. In typical savanna climates (warm wet/dry seasons) such as southern Florida, Zoysia grows during the warm-wet summer and is dormant in the drier, cooler winter months. It is popular because of its fine texture and soft feel, and low growth habit. It can form dense mats and even mounds that grow over low features.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not as Good Turf as Plug Zoysia, But Acceptable For Many\\n\\nReview: Zoysia is normally vegetatatively propagated, a fairly expensive method involving the use of plugs and plantings of grass sod or sprigs. Because of the cost and labor involved in plugging, for 60 years, they have been trying to develop a seeded zoysia that is as good as the plugged varieties (eg,, Z-52). Success has not arrived yet. Zoysia seed is extremely moisture constrained, and in the unlikely event you can get it to germinate, it is often genetically unstable, producing a thick bladed, rather light green, non-uniform turf. (However, recent cultivars, like Zenith, have better leaf texture and color.) Given the low cost of seeded zoysia compared to plugged, a seeded zoysia lawn is still a good option for many people, as even a seeded zoysia lawn still has many of the advantages of zoysia in terms of weed resistance and low water use. BTW, I do not recommend zoysia north of the Mason-Dixon line, because it will be brown too much of the year.\",\n \"Product: The original and best known name in caulking cord, mortite by Frost King seals gaps around windows thus eliminating drafts. Also great as a sound deadener and to help keep out insects.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Product Easy To Use\\n\\nReview: When I installed my window AC unit 4 years ago I noticed there were gaps around the edges near the window frame. I'm no good with a caulk gun, so I thought I would try this. It did the job great. You just press it in like clay, except that it seems to stay pliable just like caulk from a gun. It really seems to push in there to fill the crannies and cracks. Recently, I replaced the old unit with a new one. The old caulk had held perfectly. It was also easy to remove. When the new unit was in, I used this again to caulk around the frame, and again it went in easily and effectively. I don't think it looks quite as smooth and professional as a good caulk gun, but it seals the gaps perfectly. That is all I was looking for, and I would use this again for similar jobs. BTW, this is the 90 foot roll. I used about 10 feet for my AC unit, because you waste some etc. I could have bought a smaller roll and saved a couple of bucks, but it's so cheap, I would just buy this size and save the leftovers for the next job, be it windows, doors, etc.\",\n \"Product: Gain full control over your WOLF-Garten Interlocken tools with the WOLF-Garten D-grip handle. This is the ideal handle for the push/pull and twist motions associated with gardening. The D-grip handle has a lightweight and extremely durable aluminum shaft. Recommended with the IWM Weed Puller or LUSM Trowel\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Useful, But You May Not Need Itl\\n\\nReview: Wolf-Garten recommends this shorter handle with a hand \\\"D-grip\\\" on top for its weeders and a few other tool heads, where a twisting motion is desirable. It is great for that, but I have also found I have no difficulty getting the proper twist motion using the standard W-G long handles, which do not have a D-grip. However, it turns out to be handy in another way. There are some jobs, like breaking up/aerating soil, where a short, up and down chopping motion works the best; I have found this handle is perfect for that, where it's shorter length makes it easier to control the chopping/digging motion. So it is useful to have for many purposes, but don't feel you have to buy it just the for weeding tool heads, if you already own the standard interlock handles.\",\n \"Product: Eats-Shoots-and-Leaves\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Punctuation Mistakes in \\\"Eats, Shoots & Leaves\\\"\\n\\nReview: The first punctuation mistake in \\\"Eats, Shoots & Leaves\\\" by Lynne Truss, a British writer, appears in the dedication, where a nonrestrictive clause is not preceded by a comma. It's downhill from there.\\n\\nThe foreword contains another comma-free nonrestrictive clause (\\\"I feel no such sympathy for the manager of my local supermarket who must have a cellarful of apostrophes he doesn't know what to do with\\\") and a superfluous ellipsis. The preface includes a misplaced apostrophe (\\\"printers' marks\\\") and two misused semicolons: one that separates unpunctuated items in a list and one that sets off a dependent clause. About half the semicolons in the rest of the book are either unnecessary or ungrammatical, and the comma is deployed as the mood strikes. Sometimes, phrases such as \\\"of course\\\" are set off by commas; sometimes, they are not. Doubtful, distracting, and unwarranted commas turn up in front of restrictive phrases (\\\"Naturally we become timid about making our insights known, in such inhospitable conditions\\\"), before correlative conjunctions (\\\"Either this will ring bells for you, or it won't\\\"), and in prepositional phrases (\\\"including biblical names, and any foreign name with an unpronounced final `s'\\\"). Where you most expect punctuation, it may not show up at all: \\\"You have to give initial capitals to the words Biro and Hoover otherwise you automatically get tedious letters from solicitors.\\\"\\n\\nParentheses are used, wrongly, to add independent clauses to the ends of sentences. Citation form varies: one passage from the Bible is identified as \\\"Luke, xxiii, 43\\\" and another, a page later, as \\\"Isaiah xl, 3.\\\" The word \\\"abuzz\\\" is printed with a hyphen, which it does not have. It opines that when a sentence ends with a quotation American usage always places the terminal punctuation inside the quotation marks, which is not so. (An American would not write \\\"Who said `I cannot tell a lie?'\\\") A line from \\\"My Fair Lady\\\" is misquoted (\\\"The Arabs learn Arabian with the speed of summer lightning\\\"). Some conventions of British usage employed in \\\"Eats, Shoots & Leaves\\\" are taboo in the United States-for example, the placement of commas and periods outside quotation marks, \\\"like this\\\". The book also omits the serial comma, as in \\\"eats, shoots and leaves,\\\" which is acceptable in the United States only in newspapers and commercial magazines.\\n\\n[Note: This review is abridged from that of Louis Menand, in the New Yorker.]\",\n \"Product: The Champion of LSAT Preparation. Contains Three previously administered LSATs with three full sets of item explanations, answer keys, writing samples, and score conversion tables.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Outstanding official prep materials from LSAT\\n\\nReview: The LSAT is sufficiently idiosyncratic in both the form and substance of its content that studying with anything other than the official, exams released by the LSAT board (LSAC) runs the risk of doing more harm than good. The problem with such advice until recently is that before the release of this book a couple of years ago, none of the official materials provided anything more than an answer key, which could leave you scratching your head about why you got something wrong or how you were supposed to get to the correct answer to begin with. By supplying complete and generally pretty decent explanations for all the questions in the three exams included in this book, as well as providing a useful prefatory section giving specific test taking tips for each section, this book is extremely valuable and I might add long overdue. To be fully prepared, you will probably want to use this book and perhaps one or more of the LSAC's \\\"10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests.\\\" If you need extra help on the \\\"games\\\" section (and most people do), you may also wish to purchase the Powerscore LSAT Logic Games Bible, which alone among the non-official LSAT prep books uses actual LSAT questions obtained under license from the LSAC. It should be noted, however, that the LSAT Superprep book also includes strategy tips as well is very good explanations for the LSAT games section, making the once mandatory purchase of the Powerscore Bible optional for some test takers.\",\n \"Product: Contains actual, previously administered LSAT's. For pure practice at an unbelievable price, you can't beat 10 PrepTests. Each test includes an answer key, writing sample, and score conversion table.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: THE LATEST and the MOST REPRESENTATIVE LSATs\\n\\nReview: In a fit of compulsiveness, I bought all three of the Law School Admission Council's \\\"10 AO LSAT\\\" books. (The first is \\\"10 AO LSATS\\\", followed by \\\"10 More AO LSATs\\\" and now this, \\\"10 Next AO LSATs.\\\"). All three books contain offcially released, actual LSATs. However, if only buying one, I would say that this is the best choice. The tests are newer; moreover, it seems to me that the \\\"games and \\\"logic\\\" sections of the current LSAT, though ostensibly the same as when first introduced in 1994, have been made slightly easier. If you just read the first book, you may be needlessly scared and discouraged. With this book and to a lesser extent the second book, you will at least not have unjustified anxiety. This is still a TOUGH test, but but no longer quite the nightmare it was back in the mid 90s.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":55,"string":"55"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":83,"string":"83"}}},{"rowIdx":84,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A10QUY14I0ZYFL"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"1.0\" for a product with description \"The original Snappy Trainer was the most effective, least expensive product of its type available. Still sold in 3 packs! Now shipped assembled with pride in the USA, deeper grooves under the mounting clips allow for a more stabile marriage between the mousetrap wire and the affixed plastic paddle virtually eliminating accidental separation. One size fits all .. no need to trim the paddle as the larger size 'defends' a larger area thus requiring fewer units, and the quick snapping action once triggered makes for an impressive sight and sound as it leaps into the air! This unique improved product will allow you to correct a large variety of unwanted behaviors. If you are teaching your dog or cat to stay off a chair, one Snappy Trainer works well. A couch might require three or a bed, six. To restrict your pet to a certain area of the house or apartment, several rows of Snappy Trainer's at a doorway or hallway entrance may be needed. Use the Snappy Trainer as a problem begins to develop. For example, if you catch your dog licking the end of a wooden rocker, expect that he will chew on it the next time. By putting some Snappy Trainer's on the job before he does, you'll not only have a good chance of saving the chair, you will also discourage his development of a gourmet taste for furniture. This product effectively stops dogs and cats from: *Getting into trash *Jumping up on furniture/beds *Stealing food from counters and tables *Chewing *Housebreaking problems associated with a certain room or area *Running out the front door *Stealing shoes from the closet *Digging *Entering restricted areas of the house (pantry, upstairs, formal living room, baby's room) *Other destructive behaviors\". The summary of the review text is \"Worthless, huge rip-off, piece of crap. Doesn't even do anything!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"DO. NOT. BUY. THIS! This product is WAY too expensive for what it is and is a huge rip off! All it is is a cheaply made wooden Victor mouse trap you can buy for 50 cents at the hardware store and a red piece of plastic that goes over the metal part of the trap. You can probably make your own by cutting a plastic take out box, paint it red and just hot glue it to the metal part of a mouse trap. You have been warned.\n\nThe worse part is this thing doesn't even work. I put this next to my bedroom door because my cats like to bite at my door at night. This thing didn't trigger at all and the cats just stepped over it. They also put their nose up to the yellow trigger and sniffed it and it did NOTHING. The only time this thing triggered was when I tried to set it and it would unset itself when I put it down. When it did trigger, the red plastic thing came flying off because it didn't quite fit.\n\nI also don't think this device is all that safe. It is a fifty cent mouse trap! You don't want your pets stepping on the trigger and getting their paws slammed on by the mouse trap. I even snapped my own fingers setting this. Unfortunately, it seems the only way your pets will set it off is if they step on the yellow part, which would make the metal part snap down on whatever pressed the trigger.\n\nThis device might work if you have a giant 100 pound dog that romps and bangs into things but definitely not for graceful animals like cats. Even then, there's better devices like the ssscat air canisters or a sound deterrent like the sofa scram.\n\nI can't believe I paid $16 for 2 of these things that probably cost a total of $1 to make."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"DO. NOT. BUY. THIS! This product is WAY too expensive for what it is and is a huge rip off! All it is is a cheaply made wooden Victor mouse trap you can buy for 50 cents at the hardware store and a red piece of plastic that goes over the metal part of the trap. You can probably make your own by cutting a plastic take out box, paint it red and just hot glue it to the metal part of a mouse trap. You have been warned.\n\nThe worse part is this thing doesn't even work. I put this next to my bedroom door because my cats like to bite at my door at night. This thing didn't trigger at all and the cats just stepped over it. They also put their nose up to the yellow trigger and sniffed it and it did NOTHING. The only time this thing triggered was when I tried to set it and it would unset itself when I put it down. When it did trigger, the red plastic thing came flying off because it didn't quite fit.\n\nI also don't think this device is all that safe. It is a fifty cent mouse trap! You don't want your pets stepping on the trigger and getting their paws slammed on by the mouse trap. I even snapped my own fingers setting this. Unfortunately, it seems the only way your pets will set it off is if they step on the yellow part, which would make the metal part snap down on whatever pressed the trigger.\n\nThis device might work if you have a giant 100 pound dog that romps and bangs into things but definitely not for graceful animals like cats. Even then, there's better devices like the ssscat air canisters or a sound deterrent like the sofa scram.\n\nI can't believe I paid $16 for 2 of these things that probably cost a total of $1 to make."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Good cuting and high quality, every woman should have these earrings. They are suitable for all kinds of gathering, such as wedding, party, ball,etc.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pretty but not so functional\n\nReview: This jewelry is stunning and beautiful. It seems like good quality and good for the price. However, I honestly did not realize this was an ear CUFF only and no post to attach to my earlobe. It seems over the top for everyday wear so I would only wear it if I were to dress up for a formal event like a cocktail party, prom, or wedding. It doesn't seem very secure though and might fall off if going dancing. It is also not practical if you wear your hair down because you hair will cover it up or accidentally get caught in the cuff and make it fall off.\n\nVery pretty and good price but I'm going to return it because I wanted something I can wear everyday that I don't have to worry about it getting caught in my hair. The product came in a basic cardboard box.\n\nFYI, I bought the left side blue. At the writing of this review, this color/side combination is no longer available.","Product: Get your cardio workout with Gold's Gym!Product InformationGold's Gym Cardio Workout brings your own personal Gold’s Gym cardio trainer into your living room! Gold’s Gym is the largest gym in the world and is known for leading the industry in personal training so expect to get in shape fast. It’s a fun way to exercise and maintain a healthy body.Product FeaturesA personal training experienceSchedule WorkoutsTrack Burned Calories and body weight evolutionOffers a more intense cardio workout than most Wii fitness games - Includes exercises such as:Cardio BoxingRunningSit Upsand other activitiesTracks your progress - Maintains a calendar of your exercise activity.Multiple Training modes and fitness levels -Difficulty evolves as your fitness level increasesWii Fit Board Compatible Exercises such as:SquatsBack TrainingAbdominal TrainingPush UpsLog CuttingPunch Dodge  \n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun and effective! Don't buy if you don't like punching or dancing\n\nReview: I'm a lazy college student who doesn't like to get up and exercise. Running and going to the gym really bores me so I thought I could find a Wii game that would make it more fun.\n\nI have tried my Fitness Coach and EA Sports Active and I found this game to be the best one of the three in terms of motivating me to work out. My Fitness Coach was too boring and played out like a work out DVD, and EA Sports Active was just too complicated for it's on good (the motion detecting features aren't implemented very well).\n\nAlthough Gold's Gym lacks flashy features such as complicated motion detecting, graphics, extended balance board support (i.e. mostly user interface/accessory stuff), it's easy to use and effective at what it does, and it plays out more like a video game than the rest of the fitness games (other than Wii Fit).\n\nYes the main exercises focus on boxing but it's much more than that. You have to box to the beat of background music while shifting your balance back and forth. As the routines get more complicated, you have to duck and sway by bending your knees, which works your legs. I enjoyed how was doing squats and I didn't even realize it!\n\nI guess the reason why I thought this game was fun was because it was more like Guitar Hero in that you have to do the right motion at the right time while maintaining a rhythm. If you like Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution and are willing to deal with the sub par graphics then this game is for you!\n\nI give this game 4 stars because the graphics are a little lacking (too simple and the main screen work out screen is box like). The game would be way more enjoyable if it was made more realistic like boxing in Wii Sports or something where you have a goal rather than punching boxes moving down a grid. I don't own a Wii Fit balance board so I don't care about that feature.\n\nMy break down of the features:\n\nGRAPHICS -- Could do better!! If the backgrounds were more involved than it would feel more like a game.\n\nSOUND -- I thought the music was good compared to other work out games. It gives a good beat for you to follow along to.\n\nCONTROLS-- The actions are simple and the Wiimotes are easy to use, unlike EA Sports active where you have to put the Wiimote and nunchuck in the exact place for it to register. Of course, there are times when punches and ducks don't register but it's no big deal.\n\nUSABILITY -- No complicated instructions or annoying menus you have to press through. Set up a profile in 5 minutes and you're ready to go! This game has a learn-as-you-go style. No annoying instructions to read through or complicated exercises. No wasted time!\n\nEFFECTIVENESS (in terms of work out) -- This definitely brought my heart rate up and I was sore for 2 days after! Tip: You have to shift your balance and \"dance\" to the music to have the cardio effect. Otherwise, it's just going to be as effective as sitting on your couch and moving around your Wiimote.","Product: The 1012-ZT Zerolon Scoop is an ideal solution wherever highly chlorinated or high-mineral content water is present. Each scoop is hard coat Anodized and sealed with , reducing oxidation and corrosion risk. The unique heat conductive fluid inside of the handle warms the scoop and helps it glide through ice cream. Color coded end caps allow for easy size recognition. Each scoop provides 20 percent more volume of ice cream by avoiding compression. Designed for right or left hand use. 3 ounce portion.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 3oz size is great for waffle cones and bowls, 2.5oz for cake and sugar cones\n\nReview: I read the reviews of these Zeroll scoops before purchasing and I could not decide what size to get! I finally decided to go with the 3 oz scoop and it wasn't bad! I would say 2.5 oz might have been a better size for your average sugar/cake cones that you can get from the super market. For me, I love ice cream and 3 oz size is what I'm used to when I go to an ice cream shop and get the premium waffle cone that trumps all cake and sugar cones! The size is also perfect for scooping in bowls and for that I'm sure the 4 oz would be great for that purpose, too. 3 oz is a great in between size.\n\nThe only problem I have with my scoop and the reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is I found that the ice cream WOULD NOT come off the scoop! It kinda just stuck onto the scoop no matter how hard I shook. I ended up having to take another spoon and scrape it off the scoop. The scooping ice cream up from the carton was a breeze but not getting the ice cream off the scoop!","Product: This 10 piece glass mixing bowl set is a great gift idea, or for yourself! This set from Anchor Hocking is made in the USA by a well-know company. Great sizes for numerous uses for mixing and serving. Nest together to save space.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent bowls. Buy this at Walmart for 1/2 the price!\n\nReview: I've had my set for 2 years and they are still in great condition. I leave my set stacked together in a lazy Susan and I have not experienced any scratching. They are so fun to use when cooking because I just mis-en-place all my ingredients and in the pot they go! I especially love the little bowls. You can use those to hold sauces and spices or just a table spoon of salt. Only thing these bowls are not good for is mixing batters. They are not deep enough. For batter bowls, I recommend Anchor Hocking's 4 quart mixing bowl.\n\nAmazon charges WAY too much for these bowls! Walmart sells the exact same set for $14. Target and Kmart might have it for a few dollars more. Go buy this at those stores instead of on Amazon!","Product: Enjoy the taste of freshly ground coffee at home any time ceramic mortar has no odor, does not rust. The coarse powder is adjustable simply by turning the knob, also, you can calibrate the amount of ground through the transparent bottle. When not in use, you can store the grinder without the handle. Secure design makes for easier grinding. Easy to clean with disassembled parts, slim design saves space.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Horrible for coarse grinds,cheap quality, do not recommend\n\nReview: The whole reason I bought this burr grinder was so I could get consistent course grinds for use in french press. I found that this grinder just does not deliver the results for coarse grinds, the reason being cheap mechanical parts inside the grinder.\n\nThe outer grinder barrel is set in place by plastic notches and the center grinder stone is threaded on a metal axle. To prevent the two grinder pieces from collapsing on to each other, there's a spring that's also threaded on the axle which pushes the inner grinder out, there by making a slit for the coffee grinds to fall through. There's a wing nut (also made of plastic) that lets you adjust how close the two pieces come together by either tightening the nut to make a smaller slit or loosening it to create a bigger slit. The closer the pieces are, the smaller the slit, and the finer the grind. The problem is the grinder pieces do not fit snugly into the plastic notches that are suppose to keep them centered, and the spring that pushes the two grinders apart does not have even tension around the whole axle. So when the grinder is adjusted for a coarse grind, this creates quite a bit of slack/looseness between the two grinder parts. The two grinder parts end up not being centered while the grinder is in use causing beans to pass through the non-uniform slit.\n\nBecause of this fault, the grinder is not going to work too well for anything but super fine grinds. Under the super fine grind setting, there is enough tension coming from the nut, keeping two grinders centered. The plastic parts that keep the grinders in place will probably get worn out really fast though. I am returning my unit and hope I can find another grinder that is made better (hopefully in Japan) with less plastic.","Product: This 10 piece glass mixing bowl set is a great gift idea, or for yourself! This set from Anchor Hocking is made in the USA by a well-know company. Great sizes for numerous uses for mixing and serving. Nest together to save space.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent bowls. Buy this at Walmart for 1/2 the price!\n\nReview: I've had my set for 2 years and they are still in great condition. I leave my set stacked together in a lazy Susan and I have not experienced any scratching. They are so fun to use when cooking because I just mis-en-place all my ingredients and in the pot they go! I especially love the little bowls. You can use those to hold sauces and spices or just a table spoon of salt. Only thing these bowls are not good for is mixing batters. They are not deep enough. For batter bowls, I recommend Anchor Hocking's 4 quart mixing bowl.\n\nAmazon charges WAY too much for these bowls! Walmart sells the exact same set for $14. Target and Kmart might have it for a few dollars more. Go buy this at those stores instead of on Amazon!","Product: Enjoy the taste of freshly ground coffee at home any time ceramic mortar has no odor, does not rust. The coarse powder is adjustable simply by turning the knob, also, you can calibrate the amount of ground through the transparent bottle. When not in use, you can store the grinder without the handle. Secure design makes for easier grinding. Easy to clean with disassembled parts, slim design saves space.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Horrible for coarse grinds,cheap quality, do not recommend\n\nReview: The whole reason I bought this burr grinder was so I could get consistent course grinds for use in french press. I found that this grinder just does not deliver the results for coarse grinds, the reason being cheap mechanical parts inside the grinder.\n\nThe outer grinder barrel is set in place by plastic notches and the center grinder stone is threaded on a metal axle. To prevent the two grinder pieces from collapsing on to each other, there's a spring that's also threaded on the axle which pushes the inner grinder out, there by making a slit for the coffee grinds to fall through. There's a wing nut (also made of plastic) that lets you adjust how close the two pieces come together by either tightening the nut to make a smaller slit or loosening it to create a bigger slit. The closer the pieces are, the smaller the slit, and the finer the grind. The problem is the grinder pieces do not fit snugly into the plastic notches that are suppose to keep them centered, and the spring that pushes the two grinders apart does not have even tension around the whole axle. So when the grinder is adjusted for a coarse grind, this creates quite a bit of slack/looseness between the two grinder parts. The two grinder parts end up not being centered while the grinder is in use causing beans to pass through the non-uniform slit.\n\nBecause of this fault, the grinder is not going to work too well for anything but super fine grinds. Under the super fine grind setting, there is enough tension coming from the nut, keeping two grinders centered. The plastic parts that keep the grinders in place will probably get worn out really fast though. I am returning my unit and hope I can find another grinder that is made better (hopefully in Japan) with less plastic.","Product: Citristar Citrus Juicer - the quiet yet powerful juicer - can start you on your way to better health. With minimal time & effort, Citristar extracts this extremely beneficial juice for you and your entire family. The Citristars unique, high-clearance stainless-steel spout prevents clogging and ensures continuous operation. The quiet yet powerful motor makes quick work of all your favorite citrus fruits, making Citristar the only appliance needed for all your citrus juicing needs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Still going strong after 2+ years!\n\nReview: I have been using this citrus juicer for almost 3 years and it's still going strong! I don't juice oranges very often, but I make cocktails and lemonade so I juice lemons and limes a lot. This juicer has many good features. I love the locking spout that allows me to juice 3 lemons first and look for a bottle/cup to pour the juice in later. The cord wrap is convenient for storage, and the stainless steel filter works very well and hasn't rusted.\n\nGenerally this device is easy to clean and maintain. However, there are many grooves so a good dish wand brush with pipe cleaners is recommended for a thorough cleaning (I personally use the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/OXO-Good-Grips-Water-Bottle-Cleaning-Set/dp/B008HMF9LS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">OXO Good Grips Water Bottle Cleaning Set</a>). Make sure you use a pipe cleaner to brush the spout because a lot of guck can build up there!\n\nThe only thing I don't like is the plastic cover lid. There is no reliable place to put it when the plastic resevoir and the steel screen is being washed and drying on the dish rack. As a result my lid fell off the counter a couple times and has since cracked. It does keep the dust out of the assembly when your juicer is sitting on the counter though.","Product: Calphalon Silicone Tongs feature a comfortable, grip-anywhere handle for easy maneuverability, and the long handles keeps hands a safe distance from hot foods. Serving tongs are heat-resistant to 500F, making them exceptionally useful in the kitchen, whether you're turning a delicate pan-seared sole filet on the stovetop, removing roasted vegetables from the oven, or using as salad tongs.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Functional and good looking with one flaw\n\nReview: These tongs are awesome! They look so professional and are of high quality. I agree with the other reviewer that compares these to the OXO tongs that these are very well designed/engineered. I love how the silicone parts of the tong are integrated seamlessly with the metal. The handles are also wrapped partly in silicone so they feel nice to hold. I cook with these all the time now, for turning things over in the oven, grilling, pan-searing, tossing salads, sauteing, etc. These are so useful!\n\nMy only complaint is that I got pinched once by the lock mechanism at the top. I got a nick from it on my palm. However, I did not find the lock hard to use at all, just pull when you want to unlock, and when you want to lock them back up, just squeeze the tongs together and push. You just have to make sure to keep you other hand away from the lock to avoid getting pinched. Once you do get them locked, the tongs look very nice and polished, like a closed fan almost. I love these so much I felt compelled to write a review right after I cooked today. Not all tongs are made equal! Buy this one!\n\nUPDATE: I've been using these tongs for months and I realized this tool has one annoying flaw so I removed a star. These tongs will pinch you!! Every time I use these tongs, I have to make sure I do not hold them too far up the handle or the pinky side of my palm will get pinched by the space between the lock tab and the metal when the tongs open up. I haven't bled from getting pinched yet but it really really hurts.","Product: These tools provide the basics, whether you are a novice or a pro, for making perfect drinks at your next party. Each set includes one 20 ounce mixing glass, one stainless steel shaker, and one stainless steel strainer. This is a great bachelor, wedding, housewarming, or host gift, as well as an excellent addition for the home bartender connoisseur. The glass is dishwasher safe and made in the USA. Stainless steel shaker and strainer are made in India and hand washing is recommended.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Doesn't leak, but little too big.\n\nReview: It was VERY difficult for me to find a good boston style cocktail shaker!! I finally gave this set a try and it works great!\nBefore this set, I tried the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/True-Boston-Shaker/dp/B0081HCW9G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">True Boston Shaker</a> and the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Stainless-Steel-Cocktail-Shaker-28-oz/dp/B000NNO2X0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker (28 oz.)</a>. The True Boston Shaker leaked!! The 28oz boston shaker cup was 30oz and did not go well with the standard 16oz pint glass I had at home.\n\nThis set comes with a metal cup that is maybe 32 ounces and the glass can hold maybe 24 ounces of fluid. This could be a pro or con. For me it is a little too big because I have small hands and it gets difficult to hold due to the size and weight. The good thing is this set does not leak and the recipes printed on the side of the glass are traditionally correct recipes for some standard bar drinks.\n\nI have not used the strainer. From what I can tell, it looks really cheap and will probably rust. I have <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/OXO-SteeL-Cocktail-Strainer/dp/B0000DAQ93/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">OXO SteeL Cocktail Strainer</a> as well as the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/OXO-SteeL-Double-Jigger/dp/B0036X4YOG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">OXO SteeL Double Jigger</a>. The OXO strainer is a little too small to cover the big cup that comes with this set but it works. I love the jigger from OXO though, highly recommend.\n\nEven if you don't use the strainer that comes with this set, it is still a VERY good value! You can get this set even cheaper at Target. I got mine for $10. All the other sets I found cost at least double.","Product: Fill your kitchen with the smells of fresh baked bread. Make scrumptious yet inexpensive, bakery-style artisan bread with our new West Bend electronic dual-blade breadmaker.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great machine just not so great user manual\n\nReview: This is my first ever bread machine so I don't have any other bread machine to compare it. I bought this for my parents for Christmas but they're too lazy to bother with it, so I'm the one making the bread.\n\nPros: easy to program, has a lot of features, makes good bread!\nCons: bad user manual recipes, blades hard to remove from the pan (but easily fixable by soaking in water and detergent)\n\nMachine Mechanics, Usability and Features:\nI like how this machine has two kneading blades, and I think many other machines at this price only have one blade. This machine also comes with many bread type settings including settings for french, quick (for those using baking soda instead of yeast), wheat, and sweet bread. I mainly use the basic setting on this machine though because I find it works best. In terms of hardware and mechanics, this bread machine is not hard to use. There a few buttons you need to press to get to the right setting (bread type, crust darkness, and loaf size) but they're easy to use and understand with the lcd screen. I found it a little tricky to line up the pan with the pan rest on the bottom of the machine but I think that's with every bread machine. You also have to make sure the blades are put in properly, that the grooves are matched up so the blades align with the rod. Otherwise, they won't spin. Some reviewers complained about how the blades would sometimes come off and get stuck inside the finished loaf and they'd have to fish the blades out--the machine comes with a metal hook for that--and there would be holes in the bottom. I personally don't care if there are holes in my bread. Bread with holes in the bottom is still edible and still delicious. Another reviewer complained about the opposite, how the blades would get stuck on the pan. This happened to me, too. I found the solution is just make sure you soak the pan with water and detergent immediately after you take the loaf out. All these are minor concerns and I wouldn't give this machine one fewer star because of them.\n\nHow Well It Bakes:\nAs for the resulting bread, be warned if you're a first time bread-baker (like me), it might require some tinkering before you find a recipe that works. My first three tries at sweet bread resulted in dense dough-like loaves, and I was about to blame the failure on the machine. However, on the fourth try, I used a different recipe, which I found on the Internet, and that loaf turned out amazing! For the first three loaves, I used recipes from the user manual. They not only did not work with the bread machine that they were written for nor did they taste very good in terms of ingredient proportions (e.g. too sweet, not enough raisins, etc.). So my advice is to disregard the recipes from the user manual and just look for highly rated bread machine recipes online or buy a bread machine recipe book like this one, <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Betty-Crocker-s-Best-Bread-Machine-Cookbook-The-Goodness-of-Homemade-Bread-the-Easy-Way/dp/0028630238/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Betty Crocker's Best Bread Machine Cookbook: The Goodness of Homemade Bread the Easy Way</a>. I also found that, if you're using active dry yeast, you need to activate it before adding it to the machine, or your bread will not rise very well. This is called proofing the yeast. To do this, add the desired yeast with a spoon of sugar and add warm (not steaming) tap water to cover the yeast. Stir and wait 5 to 10 minutes and if you have good yeast, there should be lots of foam and bubbles. If you see no activity, throw the yeast away and buy a fresh batch.\n\nThis is the cinnamon raisin bread recipe that I used. I didn't have cinnamon but without it the plain raisin bread still turned out excellent. It's from the Betty Crocker website, and it makes a 1.5lb loaf.\n\n1 cup water (I used hot, not steaming, tap water)\n2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened\n3 cups bread flour (I used regular all purpose white flour and it still turned out great! Make sure you don't pack the flour and try sifting it.)\n3 tablespoons sugar\n1 1/2 teaspoons salt\n1 teaspoon ground cinnamon\n2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast (I used active dry yeast, just make sure you proof it beforehand to activate it)\n3/4 cup raisins\n\n1. Before adding ingredients, proof the yeast and soak raisins in water for 5-10 minutes (to make them soft).\n2. Add all ingredients (except the raisins) to the pan in the order according to the manual (liquids first, then dry ingredients, then yeast).\n3. Put the machine on the basic setting (setting #1), light crust, 1.5lb loaf, and press start.\n4. Drain raisins and add them in during the second kneading cycle.\n\nI know I've written more than just a review because I added some tips and a recipe. I wanted to make the point that if you do decide to buy this bread machine and end up getting dense loaves with it, it's not the machine's fault. You just need the right recipe!","Product: ROSKYROSKYROSKY\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Does not get rid of odors but good for allergies\n\nReview: I got this unit about an year ago because I adopted 2 cats and wanted to get rid of the stink from their litter boxes. I have a sensitive nose and can't stand the smell of cat poop. Well unfortunately, this unit did not work for that purpose. I found that if you put this unit next to a source of foul odor, it will just suck in that foul air and distribute it all over the room. I even doubled up on carbon filters and that did not do the trick.\n\nWith that said, I do not regret my purchase because this air purifier has helped with my seasonal allergies in the spring time. I was sneezing up a storm this past spring whenever I went outside and found relief indoors with my windows closed and this unit running 24/7 on auto mode.\n\nThis unit is very sensitive to a sudden increase in particulates in the air but not necessarily odor. Whenever I use fragrances, this would kick off to turbo mode. Once I triggered this thing by farting (it was under the covers, too!). Cooking will trigger it, too. I have burned soy candles candle next to it however, and this did not trigger it. Using essential oils will trigger it. Sometimes this unit gets triggered randomly but expelling air or mist next to the unit will definitely trigger it.\n\nI currently have my unit in my bedroom and it has helped a lot with pet dander and keeping the air fresh. I keep it on auto-mode as I find it to be quiet enough to not require keeping it in sleep mode. I do not use the plasmawave technology. I'm not exactly sure what it does because I never noticed a difference in keeping it on or off. Also, whenever I turen plasmawave on, my unit makes a squeaky noise.\n\nOne last thing, the hepa filter in the unit is suppose to be washable. However, when I tried to wash it, it just got waterlogged and I wasn't sure if washing it did anything at all. I could see no noticeable difference before and after washing the thing.\n\nOverall though, I do notice better air quality with this unit and would recommend it if you need an air purifier.","Product: This classically designed Boston Shaker is easy to use to mix your favorite cocktails. Its sleek design looks great at any bar and the stainless steel makes mixing drinks effortless.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Leaks, rubber ring around glass useless\n\nReview: Where did all these good reviews come from? This thing leaks and I can't get a good seal no matter what. You might as well just take the rubber seal off because it won't stay on the glass rim. If you do take the seal off off, the glass goes farther into the tin and the set would no longer be able to hold much liquid that way. Terrible design. The tin cup is also at an awkward capacity of 26 oz. I think the standard is 28 oz and goes well with a 16 oz pint glass. This makes the glass that comes with this set an awkward size too at 15oz. I did not realize before purchasing this product that I could just get the tin and an standard bar glass for 1/3 of the price of this set.","Product: Need improved comfort and support for your existing mattress? Our 3 inch blended latex topper may be the perfect solution to give your mattress a magnificent feel. We offer three different firmness options in our latex topper line. By adding one of our toppers to your bed you are adding a layer of one of the highest quality foam in the mattress industry. Our toppers are completely encased in a natural bamboo fabric. This topper will go directly on top of your current mattress. Our soft latex topper is going to be a 19 ILD Latex topper. This will add a nice layer of softness to your bed. The medium latex topper is going to be 28 ILD latex. This topper is great when you are trying to add a little bit of softness but mainly trying to achieve pressure point relief. The firm latex topper is going to add a layer of pressure point relief without adding any softness to the bed. Latex is one of the most durable products in the mattress industry. It provides unbeatable support and comfort without the sinking feeling. Latex toppers provide the perfect balance of comfort and support so you can enjoy deep, sound sleep night after night. Latex instantaneously conforms to the shape of your body, gently supporting and comforting you all night long, with up to 33% more pressure relief than other foam bedding. Talalay latex is 4x more breathable than polyurethane, memory foam or Dunlop process latex.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Still using after 3 years..\n\nReview: I bought the topper in February of 2014. I have been using it for over 3 years. It transformed my crappy too firm Ikea mattress that gave me back pain (Ikea Sultan Fjordgar, now discontinued) to like sleeping on a cloud. I have a full sized mattress and I rotate the topper every half a year and have not had any sagging issues. I weigh ~150 pounds. The mattress topper comes in a bamboo cover. The cover is good quality and looks nice but I do believe it makes the topper sleep a bit hotter. You can definitely remove the cover if needed. As for firmness, I have it in SOFT and it has some \"squish\" and bounce factor but still offers some support because the topper is a good 3 inches. If you like soft, I believe going medium would be too firm. The only thing the SOFT topper is not good for is sitting in bed because my butt kind of sinks too much. For sleeping, it is great.\n\nI recently had my new boyfriend sleep in my bed and he loves it and will be ordering one for himself, too.","Product: Safety 1st Ultrasonic 360 Humidifier - Blue The Ultrasonic 360 Humidifier by Safety 1st brings moisture rich air to the nursery...or any room of the house you choose! With variable mist control and 2 fully rotating outlets, it's easy to adjust the moisture to the level you prefer. Product Features: Gently soothes baby with moisture rich air Quiet Operation Variable mist control Two 360 mist outlets Easy-fill tank for 12 hours of nursery coverage Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 8.75 x 8.75\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Garbage! Do not buy. Potential shock hazard!\n\nReview: This humidifier worked 4 times over 1 month and then it started leaking.\n\nWhen it worked, I turned the mist level all the way up and ended up with WET FLOORS after an hour. I realized the mist isn't steam, just fine water particles so the humidifier was basically continuously spraying my floors with 1 gallon of water. Another problem was when the tank was half full, it gurgled. I could not sleep with it on even though the whole point of my getting this thing was because the past winter was terribly harsh and dry which made it difficult to breathe at night.\n\nI tolerated those problems, until the 4th time I go to use this thing, it leak water all over my nightstand and water got everywhere within 10 minutes. It was leaking water from the place where the electrical cord comes out of the base! How is this even safe?\n\nAvoid! I hope I can get my money back.","Product: High-Performance Vacuum - Great for Picking up Dust and Allergens LET IT RUN. YOUR WORK IS DONE. While you do other things, Neato Botvac vacuums dirt, crumbs and dust bunnies from all floor types and every corner of your home.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Botvac is brain damaged\n\nReview: I have a Neato XV-21 and bought this robot because it was on sale at Best Buy. I also bought the combo brush accessory with it effectively turning into the equivalent of the Botvac 80. I am however extremely disappointed. There is a serious manufacturing defect with my new Botvac. It gets stuck in a 2 by 2 feet area and consistently tries to go backwards and back into walls. I know this is not normal because my XV-21 never did that. I am going to try to do a software update on it and if there is no fix for that, this unit is going back to the store.\n\nUpdate: I was able to get a replacement robot from Neato. The diagnosis was a stuck bumper. The bumper on the robot would not click so the robot thought it was consistently bumping into a wall, thus it would back up repeatedly. However, Neato still messed up or something and sent me the Botvac 80 (the purple model) instead of the 75 that I originally purchased. The Botvac 80 is the except same robot except different color and different accessories. I guess this worked in my favor because I got to keep the old accessories that came with the 75 (extra filters) AND the new accessories that came with the 80 (combo brush). My only concern is that if the Botvac 80 they sent me breaks, I'm not sure what I would do about proof of purchase since I had originally bought the 75 and not the 80. Oh well, I'll worry about it when it happens.\n\nAnyway, my replacement Botvac works fine except it has problems with turning around next to stairs. It keeps getting stuck between the corner between the top of the stairs and the hall way wall when it tries to turn around. My Neato XV-21 never did that. I do notice the battery on the Botvac has a little more power than the battery on the XV-21. It was able to get over a slightly higher ledge going from my bathroom to the hallway where as my Neato XV-21 would always get stuck at that point. Lastly, the wall brush on the Botvac is useless. I found that my XV-21 hugged walls better and got more debris along the edge compared to the Botvac!\n\nThe only improvements on the Botvac seems to be that the battery is better and it is slightly quieter. Otherwise, this machine is quite buggy and not worth the extra money. I would recommend the XV-21 over the Botvac.","Product: High-Performance Vacuum - Great for Homes with Pets LET IT RUN. YOUR WORK IS DONE. While you do other things, Neato Botvac vacuums dirt, crumbs and dust bunnies from all floor types and every corner of your home. Ideal for pet owners and allergy sufferers.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: XV-21 performs better than the Botvac 80. Don't fix what's not broken! Horrendous new design\n\nReview: I've had this robot for a little more than half a year (since Oct 2014). I originally got the Botvac 75, the green one, and it had a stuck bumper. I called Neato and they sent me a replacement but sent me a Botvac 80 instead. I believe these two are the exact same robot except the color and the different accessories.\n\nI also own a Neato XV-21 and I think that the XV-21 performs better than the Botvac 80. The only improvement over the XV-21 is that the Botvac 80 isn't as loud and has a slightly more high pitched vacuum noise. The rest of the \"improvements\" do not work so well and I think made the Botvac worse.\n\n1. The Botvac is thinner but wider than the XV series. I don't think this is improvement because my XV-21 never had problems getting under furniture. My Botvac now has problems going between furniture and around corners because it's about 1-2 inches wider.\n2. They got rid of the hard buttons and made the navigation menu buttons captive touch! This doesn't feel natural. I always mis-press when I set the vacuum. The buttons also have an unnatural response time and don't give any sort of feedback.\n3. The vacuum frequently gets stuck for no reason.\n4. The battery has greater capacity but the power it supplies will degrade over time! I have this 1 inch high ledge going from my bathroom to the hallway. The XV-21 could not go over it and would frequently get stuck. When I first got the Botvac, it would be able to go over it. However, now after 6 months, it frequently gets stuck too. I believe it's because the battery is getting older and can no longer supply the motor with as much juice as before.\n5. The side brush frequently falls off. If I have any kind of uneven surface (like a rug), the side brush that is supposed to be used to sweep the edges of walls would fall off! This brush is also pretty useless because I noticed my Botvac never hugs wall anyway. My Neato XV-21 did much better without this brush! I know because I frequently have little pieces of crumbs (onion/garlic skin) at the edge of the floor near my kitchen counters. The XV-21 would pick up most of it where as the Botvac just left the skins.\n6. This vacuum gets stuck in corners for no reason. When it gets stuck, it has the most annoying beep!!! The beep is more annoying than a whining cat begging for food. I got this vacuum because of how much my cats shed, which is pretty annoying. This vacuum annoys me more than my cats ever will. I have this thing set to vacuum 6 days a week before I get home from work. It gets stuck about 3 times a week so I would go home to find it beeping. Often, it will tell me to clear its path when NOTHING is in front of it!\n7. WORST OF ALL, THIS VACUUM EATS CORDS. Don't ever leave your cords hanging from the wall socket or draping off of a table. I've had 2 cell phone cords get mangled by this. THe Botvac will end up dragging the cord around. This never happened with my XV-21; it would just pass the cord over. Sometimes a random cord, a cat toy, or even it's own side brush will fall off and get stuck in the main brush and I'll come home and find the vacuum beeping with the \"please free my brush from debris\" message.\n\nThe Botvac will vacuum for you but a lot of \"baby sitting\" is required. The XV-21 is much less high maintenance and vacuums just as well if not better. Maybe my replacement unit is also nonfunctional and I should call in to customer service. Good luck with that; the waiting time is horrendously long. Last time they put me on hold for at least 20 minutes!","Product: Magnetic Spice Jars - Shake or Pour Containers - Tins Attach to Most Refrigerator Doors: This set of Magnetic Spice Dispensers allow you to keep your spices close at hand on your refrigerator or appliance doors. The tins feature see through windows with openings to either pour or shake. Tight fit lids will not pop off. They are lightweight, but durable and easy to clean. Each jar measures 2.25\" x 2.25\" x. 2.5\"\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: The negative reviews were right, don't buy!\n\nReview: Very disappoint!! I bought 4 12-packs of these for my spices and I can't use them!\n\n1. The 3 star review about the 12 pack being poor quality is right. There are slight gaps on the lids and one tin even came dented.\n\n2. Don't listen to all those 5 star reviews, these tins leak powder!! Don't even bother using these with garlic powder (seriously who doesn't have this spice in their pantry), ground cinnamon, or any other kind powdery spice!! If you shake the tin just a little bit (for example grabbing it off of the fridge), you'll get spice all over your hands. (See my photo of powder on the edges).\n3. The tins are painted aluminum...think MacBook but instead of a real anondized aluminum finish it's painted on and tacky looking!\n\nI got this set to stay organized, especially because the tins were square instead of round so they stack better but the leaky lid and poor quality is unacceptable!!","Product: Tornado ice tea pot features an exetended strainer for maximum expansion of tea leaves. The top and bottom of the strainer separates for easy cleaning. To make a simple delicious cold-brew tea just add tea leaves (sencha, green , deep-roasted green tea recommended) and water. The slow cold-brew method brings out the fresh, sweet flavor of the tea without the acerbity or the bitterness. The lid with the attached mesh filter prevents the leaves from being poured into the cup.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Inner filter has a flaw, only good for iced tea\n\nReview: This device looks very cool and is very well made but the inner tea leaf filter is not 100% functional. The mesh material on the filter is very fine and will filter out all of your tea leaves. However, all that is ruined by the plastic tip at the bottom of the filter funnel. At the tip/bottom of the filter, there are some slits that will allow the small pieces of tea through. Because of this, I always end up with sludge/tea debris at the bottom of the beaker. I don't know why those slits are there! The fine mesh also stains very easily. You'll need to scrub and scour it with a toothbrush to get tea stains out.\n\nAlthough the glass is tempered and can be filled with boiling water, I would not recommend using this pot for hot tea. There is no handle so you risk burning your hands trying to pour hot tea. I also found the capacity to be lacking! The pot is empty after 2 glasses of iced tea. Since ice-tea takes a while to make, the small capacity is rather inconvenient.","Product: Amici's set of two Refrigerator door pitchers , one with Optic finish and one in a Octagonal shape. Both refrigerator pitchers will fit in the door of your fridge and are tempered glass to withstand the cold temperature in the fridge. Optic Pitcher is 9-1/2-Inch in height 36-Ounce; Octagonal Pitcher is 9-1/2-Inch in height 36-Ounce and both are dishwasher safe\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: flawed design and way over priced on amazon\n\nReview: Even though the description says set of two, Amazon only sent me one pitcher! I ended up getting a 50% refund so I guess it worked out. When I bought it, the set of two costed around $13 for two pitchers. Since I only received one pitcher, I paid $6.50 for one after the 50% refund. (At the writing of this review, the price for set of two is now around $24.) Even though I only paid $6.50, I still overpaid because a week later, at Marshalls homegoods, I saw the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Bormioli-Rocco-Gelo-2-Piece-Glass-Pitcher-Set-with-Lids-Red-and-Green/dp/B000P4D972/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Bormioli Rocco Gelo 2-Piece Glass Pitcher Set with Lids, Red and Green</a> pitcher (a different brand but similar style) for only $4.50. If you're considering a glass pitcher like this, check out Marshall's, TJ Maxx, or Ross first!\n\nAs for the functionality of the pitcher, they work okay. Be warned that the plastic cap at the top is not sealed or leak proof! Also, pouring with the cap on is rather difficult. Since the cap has no air holes to let air in to displace the liquid (like on tea pots), whatever you're pouring will just dribble out of the spout. To make liquid come out faster, you'll have to tilt the pitcher almost 90 degrees or remove the cap completely. The handle on the pitcher is also really close to the body of the pitcher, making it difficult to hold! Even for me, who has medium-sized girl hands, my knuckles feel uncomfortably cramped when holding the pitcher.\n\nOne good thing is that the glass is sturdy and tempered. It will not explode/crack with boiling water. Again, do check out your local department store for a better deal.","Product: Charge your HP TouchPad without wires using the sleek, stylish HP Touchstone Charging Dock. Simply place your tablet in the HP charging dock in either portrait or landscape view. With wireless charging, there are no connectors or cables to untangle. The easel back also lets you adjust the viewing angle to multiple positions, so you can watch videos and read books more comfortably. Browse the web effortlessly without using up the battery on your HP TouchPad. The charge time with this HP charging dock is the same as using a standard AC power adapter. Plus, the HP Touchstone Charging Dock keeps your HP tablet in a safe place when youre not using it.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Looks awkward with the official HP folio\n\nReview: Wireless charging is cool and everything but for aesthetic reasons, HP could have made the ledge on the touchstone little bigger/longer! I have the HP folio case and my Touchpad does not stand very well on the ledge with the case on. They could have extended the ledge by 1/8 of an inch more and both the case and the touchpad would have fit on the charger. But no. When I put the Touchpad on with the case (flap behind the touchpad), the Touchpad falls off. The flap of the case stays on the ledge but since the flap does not stick to the Touchpad, the Touchpad ends up crooked. Sometimes, the Touchpad will even fall off onto the table. It will still charge but it looks bad with the Touchpad half falling off.","Product: This Ultra Bright LED Bike Light/Flashlight Combo with 1000x Zoom and has a range of up to 500 feet, making it one of the most powerful and versatile Bike Lights available. It is removable (please see above) so it can be used as a tactical or recreational flashlight. There are three brightness settings - full strength, 50% Power Save Mode, and Emergency Flash Safety Mode - so it's perfect for any circumstance or activity. It's made with reliability in mind, as it's constructed with the highest quality materials and is battery powered with three AAA batteries. The light is waterproof and perfect for any weather, and it's Emergency Flash settings make it an essential piece of safety equipment. The bulb is powered with 250 lumens, making sure you see where you're going and others see you! 100% Lifetime Guarantee! BUY NOW and get a FREE TAILLIGHT!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: It's just a flashlight! Overpriced.\n\nReview: I don't understand the reason behind the abundance of 5 star reviews given to this product. For the price I expected a better light! I am disappointed because this light looks like a cheap aluminum flashlight powered by 3 AAA batteries. The light might look fancy because it comes with a mount and a lens in the front that allows you to focus the light, but really the light itself feels and looks pretty cheap. When you open it up to put the batteries in, the internals of the light looks like those cheap chinese mass produced flashlights you can buy from the dollar store. The beam of light this flashlight produces isn't that great. Unfocused, the flashlight only dimly lights up like 2 feet in front of my bike, hardly useful when it comes to biking on unlit urban streets when I'm trying to avoid j-walking pedestrians or dangerous potholes. It also has that annoying diffused light ring effect in the light it shines, the kind you find in cheap flashlights! The only way to make this light bright enough to illumine something is to focus the beam with the lens in the front. However, once focused, the light would only be able to illumine a very small area the size of a \"no parking/stopping any time\" street sign at 50 feet away. This focused light is very targeted and doesn't seem to do anything except potentially distract drivers in front of me or blind a pedestrian in the face. It reminds me of the times in elementary school when kids would bring mirrors to class to mess with people by reflecting a spot of light on the ceiling or at the teacher's face.\n\nI would not call this light a headlight. I would only use it to increase your visibility for oncoming cars, not for illumining the road. The 3rd photo posted on the left on the product page does not reflect the actual product I got. The actual light produced by this unit is much dimmer and has an annoying refracted light ring around the main beam of light. Oh and the tail light I got was cool for one day except now it won't stay on! Whenever I click to turn it on, it would turn back off. Garbage. I'd rather pay $30 more for a brand name head light that works better.\n\nUpdate: If you search on Amazon, you can buy a similar flashlight for about $8, a mount for $4, and the same taillight for $3. This comes out to be half the price of this set!","Product: PC's cost a lot of money, why leave yours sitting around on the floor? Elevate your desktop computer to where it's meant to be with a 6800B under desk CPU stand and you'll enjoy a more comfortable computing space, better access to your drives and ports, and quieter, safer use of your PC. Unfortunately we don't all have executive, Ping-Pong table sized desks. Most are small and cramped, especially when you're find room for a bulky desktop computer. With the 6800B under desk CPU stand you'll be able to mount your PC tower on an under desk CPU holder instead of leaving it on the floor to take up your foot space. Use this CPU holder and you'll finally have room to stretch! Our under desk CPU stand will also provide better access to your PC's drives and ports. Mounted on this CPU holder your CD and DVD ROM drives will be in easy reach. You won't have to dig so much to reach the ports on the rear of your tower either, since your PC will sit on the CPU holder above and away from most the natural cable clutter! Mounted safely in our CPU holder your PC will receive superior ventilation than it would not set in an under desk CPU stand. Better ventilation reduces the risk of overheating, increases the live span of your parts, and gives your cooling fans a break-making your computer a much quieter place! Our under desk CPU stand also sets your expensive machine out of the way of dirt, dust, bugs, spills, and other common problems. Once you've installed your under desk CPU stand you'll never go back! Your CPU holder will keep your computer safer and better ventilated, nearer to hand for drive and port access, and comfortably off your floor and desk space.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid construction, might sag if your CPU is heavy.\n\nReview: I got this for my sit-stand desk to hold my Antec 902 midtower steel chassis that weights about 45 pounds. The mount doesn't swivel or slide but it's made of solid steel and was fairly simple to screw in and install. This mount is big enough to fit a mid tower custom build on the largest setting but not a full tower. Be sure to check measurements.\n\nAlso caution, if there is a center beam that run across your desk to support the desktop, you will have to consider your mounting options as far as making room for the beam. For me, I had to go down a notch (adjusted with push pin) in the height adjustments to the highest setting in order for the back of my chassis to clear the center beam of my desk.\n\nI'm giving this mount 4 stars because it sort of sags due to the weight of my CPU.","Product: The MaxLite3 21 inch Expandable Spinner Upright Luggage is Ultra lightweight, and features a 4-wheel Spinner system that provides a smooth glide with 360 degree maneuverability. A Honeycomb Framing System and EVA foam construction provide exceptional durability while keeping it super light. The built in Protective skid guards, corner guards and crash-guard wheel housings protect against potential damage during travel and the Airline-grade Telescoping aluminum handle with two stops at 38 inch and 42.5 inch ensures a comfortable roll for users of different height. Limited Lifetime warranty\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent suitcase! Definitely recommend 4 wheels over 2.\n\nReview: I traveled internationally on United flights with this \"carry-on\" sized luggage and I loved it! This suitcase is actually 21.5 inches with the spinner wheels so half an inch too tall according to United's size limits but the difference is so minimal no one will notice. It has just enough pockets where you aren't tempted to over stuff to the point where things bulge out awkwardly but it has enough pockets for you to easily partition things you want to keep separate such as your passport or cell phone charger.\n\nI definitely would recommend the spinner wheels versus the 2 wheel rollaboard. The spinner wheels help you effortlessly navigate through the airplane aisles when you turn the suitcase side ways. It makes boarding and getting on the airplane less of an hassle. I have see so many people struggle with the 2 wheel trying to drag the suitcase behind them through the aisle only to knock their suitcase on the seats and end up having to lift the suitcase up and carry it over. Trust me, go with the 4 wheel.","Product: The MaxLite3 25 inch Expandable Spinner Upright Luggage is Ultra lightweight, and features a 4-wheel Spinner system that provides a smooth glide with 360 degree maneuverability. A Honeycomb Framing System and EVA foam construction provide exceptional durability while keeping it super light. The built in Protective skid guards, corner guards and crash-guard wheel housings protect against potential damage during travel and the Airline-grade Telescoping aluminum handle with two stops at 38 inch and 42.5 inch ensures a comfortable roll for users of different height. Limited Lifetime warranty\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Recommend this suitcase for international travel!\n\nReview: Great suitcase! 25\" was the perfect size for my international trip. I stuffed it full with 2 weeks worth of summer clothes and gifts and was still 5 pounds under the 50 pound limit for United. It held up well for my 16,000 mile round trip flight. If you are looking for airline check luggage, I would stick with a suitcase 26\" or smaller or you will easily go over the weight limit.\n\nAlso if you are debating between 2 wheel versus 4 wheel, I recommend the 4 wheel. I have heard complaints of 4 wheel luggage rolling away from you and wheels getting caught on uneven roads but I experienced none of these problems. The majority of my time was spent rolling the suitcase inside airports, inside hotels or through parking lots. The wheels were able to handle all these situations with no problem.\n\nI especially enjoyed being able to have both hands full in the airport and being able to guide my suitcase alongside me as I'm walking by kicking it with my feet. You can't do that with a rollaboard suitcase!","Product: Add a little touch of flair to your outfit with this unique design ear cuff wrap earrings ,which includes a left ear wrap earrings pair with a stunning crystal flower studs.Insert with stunning clear cubic zirconia crystals,which will makes you shining like a star.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pretty and sparkly but not the most comfortable\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-RX191OYKWSGLR\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81LM1QnGYSS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71O-ADrgjkS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> The listing does not say but the post of the earrings are sterling silver, hence why they are so soft. The reason I did not give this item 5 stars is because, the posts are ever slightly too thick and feel slightly uncomfortable in my lobe. The cuff part needed some slight pinching to stay on my cartilage. I also did not expect the crystals to be so \"flat\". I was hoping they would stick out of the setting more viewed from the side (see photo).\n\nFor some reason, the product I received did not have the same backs as pictured. Mine did not have the round plastic. These earrings also come in gold/multi-colored crystals version form Ear Vines. I ordered those too and those came with the round plastic backs like picture (see photo). I suspect the silver version I received was a previous customer return and have been tampered with.\n\nI paid full price for this item. I review free items but this is not one of them.","Product: Superlight helmet, very good value for money, MTB. Monoshell-in mould technology, 15 air vents, Comfort+ Fit System with height adjustment, antibacterial pads, bug net and removable visor.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fits my large wide head!\n\nReview: I bought the silver/pink in size large. I'm a woman with a wide face and big head. My face is so wide for a woman, I usually have to get unisex or men's frames when it comes to glasses.\n\nI don't care about wearing men's glasses but I wanted a pastel colored helmet that looked somewhat girly. I've bought two other helmets for women on Amazon (<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/2013-Giro-Unisex-Indicator-Helmet-Pearl-White-Turquoise-Tallac-Uni/dp/B009YV5X30/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">2013 Giro Unisex Indicator Helmet Pearl White / Turquoise Tallac Uni</a> and <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Schwinn-Women-s-Starlet-Wave-Helmet-Green/dp/B0030RSEW6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Schwinn Women's Starlet Wave Helmet, Green</a>) and neither fit! I'm so glad this helmet actually fits my head! The helmet part is relatively comfortable, too. The only thing I don't like is that the chin strap sits way far towards the back of my chin and presses on my throat. There's no way to get the strap to sit more forward and according to manual that's where it's suppose to be. Otherwise, the helmet appears to be in good quality. I haven't fell off my bike but it has protected my head from low hanging tree branches and I did not feel a thing!","Product: Stop ExercizingStart Dancing! Forget everything you dread about workouts. Because starting today, exercize isn't something you have to do. It's something you'll want to do. Beachbody is about to show you how to dance your way to fit in just 4 weeks! Let loose your inner dancer as you learn the hottest professionally choreographed dance routines. You'll be so focused on mastering the moves and having a blast, you'll forget you're working outand loosing weight! This is your chance to dance like no one is watchingin the comfort of your own home.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very intense for beginners!! If you're out of shape! Take it slow!!\n\nReview: I like dancing and this work out program is fun because it doesn't feel like I'm just repeating motions for no reason. The moves are well choreographed to the music and if you master them you will feel like a bad ass with great dance moves.\n\nHowever, be warned, this program is very intense for beginners! I'm a sedentary female, 27, 5'5\", ~157 pounds, 31 inch waist, wear size 10 pants, small in shirt though because I'm midriff heavy. I have too much love handle fat and want to lose 20 pounds. I sit on my ass in front of a computer all day. My only exercise is the half mile walk to work. I've been dieting and cutting out carbs but it doesn't seem to work as well because I don't exercise.\n\nI decided I wanted to be skinny now so I started this program. Day 1, saw that the Crazy 8 work out was only 30 minutes long and I was like, that's it? This will be a breeze! I totally overestimated myself. 13 minutes in, I was sweating my ass off and dying. I was on the verge of tears and felt like I was going to faint. Had to stop and take a break and finished the rest. I can do weight training and strength conditioning exercises, like the P90X yoga without having to stop, but CIZE was just too intense! The good news is the exercise is only 30 minutes, not long at all so it's easy to fit into your day.\n\nI think I will take it easy, do yoga tomorrow, and then try the same Crazy 8s routine 2 days from now on. Hopefully I can last longer before dying. I don't plan to follow the schedule but will do it 3x a week along with some light yoga mixed in every other day off of Youtube. I will report back once I do this for a month.\n\nAs far as my diet goes, I'm taking CLA supplement and following a low carb diet: no sugary drinks, quitting alcohol, if I do eat carbs eat in small quantities. Lots of water and tea.","Product: Beginners connecting turns to pros on the hunt for a new trick can drop with confidence in the Burton Total Impact Short, Protected by G-Form. G-Forms proprietary technology momentarily stiffens on impact, absorbing and dissipating incoming energy, hit after hit. Quick-drying, breathable properties and a low-profile boxer short style fit means all-day comfort and stealth performance thats easily hidden underneath your snowboard pants and other layers.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works well but not perfect\n\nReview: Im a beginner snowboarder, falling on my ass every time I go down the hill pretty much. I bought this because I fell straight down in a sitting 90 degrees position on frozen icy snow and bruised my tailbone badly. I couldn't move effectively or use butt muscles to get up for 3 weeks due to the injury. For the first 2 weeks it hurt to even poop.\n\nAfter I healed, I was eager to continue snowboarding and I got this padding to prevent a nasty fall like that again. Ive gone snowboarding twice since I got this and fell repeatedly. I still ended up with a slightly sore tailbone though but not as bad as the other time. The reason is probably because the pad on the back doesnt actually go over my tail bone but hits slightly above it. Im not sure if thats intentional or just my body is different. In any case its better than nothing.\n\nI like that these pants don't add bulk and works well enough to prevent major injury, much more preferred than not being able to even use the bathroom or lie down without pain for weeks.","Product: Help your cat or dog learn good manners and stay off the window sills or other small areas.Touch the power pack. The action indicator light will blink back the number of times it has been activated (subtract one for your touch) to know the number of times your pet has tried crossing the Scat Mat\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Update: cats too smart\n\nReview: This item better than the air canister sprays to keep cats off tabletops, counters, and furniture. If you have a flat surface you want to keep cats away from, definitely choose this deterrent over the spray canisters. I found the cats now fear whatever surface I put this on even if the mat is no longer there. Unlike the air canister, my cats learned to just look for the canister. Once I remove the canister, they will just go back to their old habits and pretend it was never there in the first place.\n\nI find the medium setting works best for cats over 5 pounds. The low setting seems too weak.\n\nThe only draw back is the mats don't always come in the right size and I can't just buy a bigger size and \"fold\" it up since that would trigger the contacts. It gets expensive to have to buy all the different sizes. I have a long wide mat for my sofa seats and a long skinny mat for the sofa back cushions that my cats love to lay on top of but they are not long enough to cover all 3 cushions. For counter tops, I would need a smaller mat. Also if I don't lay the mats flat, they like to go off so I always worry about the battery depleting prematurely. Overall this product works and I definitely recommend for flat surfaces.\n\nUpdate:My cats are too smart, they now treat this mat the same as air canisters. If it's there, they won't touch it. If it's not there, they climb. Ultimately, it doesn't work to train a bad cat new tricks.","Product: Cat Charmer is an interactive cat toy designed to charm and not harm. With a polycarbonate wand and very colorful fabric, Cat Charmer provides excellent aerobic excercize and is a safe interactive toy for all kittens, cats, and kids. Now with bright new candy colored wands and a fun selection of colors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cat loves this toy!\n\nReview: My cat was scared of this toy at first because she thought it was a snake. She got used to it and it's her favorite toy. Sometimes I swish the wand in front of her and she will start clawing like crazy. When I am not playing with her, she will drag the tory everywhere and hide it or paw at it. I would be sleeping at night and just hear the plastic stick dragging on my hardwood floors. I just recently moved, and when I was packing the \"cat stuff\" box, my cat dug this toy out of the unsealed box. She did this 3 times until I figured out it was the cat that kept taking it out of the box, and not just my being absent minded. Only annoying thing is the ribbon part gets knots in it very easily so watch out.","Product: Refill for the Innotek SSSCat Ultimate Cat Control System\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Cheap construction, hard to assemble, air didn't even last 2 days\n\nReview: First of all, it took me 20 minutes to even assemble the unit before I could use it. To attach the unit, you have to set the \"neck\" of the unit around the metal lip of the the can and then slide a locking ring down to clamp it tight. I couldn't slide the ring down because the ring was a tad too small and too tight. My fingers were not strong enough to push it down. I nearly ended up with frostbite from getting sprayed multiple times while trying to line up the unit with the top of the can. I was finally able to pry the ring down using a very small flat head screwdriver. By the end of assembly, I had wasted maybe 1/3 of the can.\n\nSo when I finally got the use the product, it did work. The cats were afraid of it and ran away when it sprayed. The sensor however was not very reliable. Sometimes it would not spray at all even when the cats have their noses right on the sensor, and sometimes it would fire multiple times when someone was just walking by.\n\nIn theory, this idea is great, but in practice it doesn't work very well. I found the humans in my home set off the spray more than the cats. The sprayed annoyed the humans more than scared the cats. For example, I was trying to keep my adopted stray cat from digging in the kitchen trashcan and knocking it over. I could never catch her but she did it maybe twice a day. In the end, the cat did seem to go into the kitchen for that day but people in the house kept triggering the spray while being in the kitchen. I could have taped the unit inside the trashcan, but that seemed really messy. It might be perhaps useful and more effective to quarantine and cut off the section of the home (either by shutting the cat in the room or closing off an area with a pet gate) that you want the cat to avoid and deliberately put the cat in that area with the Ssscat unit near it. This will force the cat to visit the area you want to target more often than usual. Best to do this while you're out of the home or avoiding the area, so you don't get sprayed yourself. Otherwise if you don't do this, I find the cat will hardly trigger a spray at all because the cat might not visit the area as often as you think. Overall, this whole business of having to quarantine the cat and avoid certain areas yourself is just rather inconvenient.\n\nIn the end, my bottle of air did not even last 2 days because of erratic misfires and friendly fires on humans. My cat is no where near trained!\n\nI also want to mention I bought a competing product, <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Contech-StayAway-Motion-Activated-Pet-Deterrent/dp/B000DZFFN4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent</a> at the same time. It costs about double of what the Ssscat unit costs but I definitely recommend the Contech over Ssscat. The quality of the plastic on the Ssscat product just seemed cheap and lacked quality control. Both products use the same locking ring mechanics, but I was able to get the ring on the Contech product locked down without too much effort. The plastic ring on the Contech was actually manufactured to be the correct size! The Contech also makes a sound before spraying, which made the cats more aware and more frightened of the unit itself. I just have to put the Contech bottle down and my cats would see it and be cautious around the area, where as they don't seem to notice the presence of the Ssscat unit at all. Just after one spray, I am able to just leave the bottle in the spot without even turning the unit on and the cats would avoid the area completely. Other than the sound difference, the bottle of air that came with the Contech Stayaway was 50% bigger than the Ssscat bottle. The spray mechanics also seems to be different. The Contech's spray seemed to make a louder hiss and sprays half a second lounger where as the Ssscat's spray was a softer hiss. The Sssact does repeating sprays within a second's pause, but I've never seen the Contech unit do that. The repeating sprays seems very wasteful as the cat could already be darting out of sight and the sensor would still pick up the movement and spray anyway.\n\nOverall, if you want a more reliable and longer lasting product, I'd say go with the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Contech-StayAway-Motion-Activated-Pet-Deterrent/dp/B000DZFFN4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent</a>. You will still run into the problem of humans setting off the spray but at least the spray will last a little longer because of the bigger can and no useless repeated sprays. Once your cat is trained, you can just leave the unit on sound only or just leave the can out. The only benefit I can see from getting the Ssscat unit is if you specifically don't want the sound option. The high pitched beep from the Contech spray can be annoying and unsettling, especially set off at night. I admit, it even catches me off guard and frightens me sometimes!","Product: CK01 Features: -Cat toilet training system. -Toilet train your cat is just a few weeks and save thousands on cat litter. -Fits all toilet sizes including standard, round and elongated. -Works with cats of all ages, sizes and breeds. -Can be removed from the toilet in seconds. -Easy-to-follow training process: gradual 5-Step transition from litter box to toilet. Color: -White. Material: -Plastic. Number of Items Included: -5. Country of Manufacture: -United States. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -2\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -16\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -16\". Overall Product Weight: -1.6 lbs.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 100% Litter box free after 2+ years, some tips and additional tools needed!!\n\nReview: I used this kit to toilet train my cats 2 years ago. My cats are still using the toilet today. My cats are young cats and are 3 years old. I started toilet training 2 cats on 1 toilet in February of 2014 while they were older kittens. I would say they didn't get used to the idea until a year later. Now they use the toilet like it's natural. I initially started training with <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/C-O-T-Cats-Of-Thrones-Toilet-Seat-for-Cats-Starter-Kit/dp/B00FEQ9TPW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">C.O.T. Cats Of Thrones Toilet Seat for Cats Starter Kit</a>. That kit had some serious flaws and poor instructions and caused me to mess up my training (more on that later). I decided to purchase CitiKitty in May 2014. I was able to finish toilet training with the CitiKitty and some additional tools. This review will be some what of a guide to document my success. I give this kit 4 stars instead of 5 because it isn't perfect and you need to buy additional items to ensure better chance of success!\n\nAdditional items you will need:\n--A new toilet seat SPECIFICALLY the one made by Mayfair with the detachable child seat. The child seat is relatively flat and detaches from the main adult seat should you ever decide to not use it anymore (tip: don't do this, use it indefinitely). The whole toilet seat is relatively easy to take on and off after the install so you can clean the whole seat. There is a round version and an elongated version for different toilets: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Mayfair-183SLOWA-NextStep-Adult-Toilet-Seat-with-Built-in-Child-Potty-Training-Seat-Elongated-White/dp/B00EPET9SQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Mayfair 183SLOWA NextStep Adult Toilet Seat with Built-in Child Potty Training Seat, Elongated, White</a>. The purpose of this seat is to make the toilet seat hole smaller so you cats feel more confident using it. You also do not have to go past punchout 5 (6 total) on the CityKitty using this seat. I found out with a full sized seat, my cat fell in one time trying to poop and that deterred him from using the toilet for while (he would poop in the sink)!!\n--Flushable kitty litter. I used <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Cat-s-Pride-Premium-Scoopable-Cat-Litter-Jug-14-Pound/dp/B000PR1XO0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Cat's Pride Premium Scoopable Cat Litter Jug, 14-Pound</a> (you can buy from Walmart) and chicken feed (buy from Tractor Supply Company, a farm supply store). Overall, I used up maybe 2 bags of chicken feed and 3 jugs of Cat's Pride Premium litter. Neither of these litter work well as actual litter for a litterbox but they are flushable and cheap and work for training purposes. You will be using a lot of litter.\n--<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Precious-Cat-Ultra-Litter-Attractant-20-Ounces/dp/B000PKUUU0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Precious Cat Ultra Litter Attractant, 20 Ounces</a>. This item is used to attract your cats to the foreign place to go to the bathroom as well as the new litter you might be using.\n\nMake sure you do the following:\n--Install new toilet seat and leave the child seat down when ever you are done using the bathroom. YES, this is an extra step you have to remember to do. Ask yourself, which is worse: having to put this child seat down every time or having to scoop the cat litter daily and have it track everywhere and have your house smell like poop? Or have your cats too scared of falling in so they stop using the toilet? I just choose to treat my cat like a child. The child seat also shields a bit of water \"splash back\".\n--Follow instructions for CitiKitty. Go slow with removing the rings.\n--Blend the Precious Cat Litter attractant in with the litter to send the message to your cats that the toilet is their new litter box.\n--Check the toilet and flush all urine and poop at least twice a day if you have 1 toilet shared with 2 cats. I do not recommend more than 2 cats per toilet!! During training, you MUST keep the litter and area clean all the times. This means vacuuming/sweeping/changing the litter and wiping the area with a pet stain cleaner like Nature's Miracle. You will waste a lot of litter (that's why I used chicken feed; costs $12 for 40 pounds).\n--Clean the toilet bowl and seats often. Cats will miss and can get pee on the seats. Removable seat design from the mayfair seat helps a lot!\n--Duct tape your toilet lid to the water reservoir. My one cat is aggressive with the burying action and she clawed at the lid one time and it shut the lid on the toilet. The lid might have shut on her, too, I don't know. I came home to find poop on the floor because cats couldn't use the toilet!\n--If you have to go away for a long time (a weekend) and won't be around for more than 24 hours, I recommend you bring out the litter box. If no one is there to flush, cats will poop else where with a dirty toilet! My cats have no problem going back to the toilet once the litter box is removed again.\n\nAvoid doing the following:\n--Don't make your cat use the adult human toilet seat. I had this problem while using the Cat of Thrones toilet seat. My cat fell in once and started using the bathtub and the sink! I now have to put a bucket in my sink and leave 1 inch of water in my tub as deterrent because my one cat now prefers to poop in these spots instead if the toilet if I do not catch him. Do not make the same mistake I did, take precautions!\n--Do not skimp on litter and not change it frequently. The CitiKitty is shallow with a small surface area and often times the poop/pee will be exposed due to lack of litter. If the litter smells like pee or poop, the cat will avoid it and find a cleaner spot to do business! This is not what you want.\n--Do not leave the toilet unflushed to save water (don't practice \"if it's yellow let it mellow\"). Check your toilet often (at least twice a day on top of regular human use) and make sure the water is always clean. I did not do this intentionally but left the cats by themselves overnight one weekend and came back to find poop in my bathtub. I found the kitties do not like going if another cat had already pooped in the toilet (dirty water = dirty litter). Cats are oddly like humans. I wouldn't want to poop on top of someone else's poop either. You need to be vigilant and flush, flush, flush!\n--Do not watch your cat use the toilet. The toilet is not enclosed so they can feel vulnerable when going. I found out that my one cat would always FACE the toilet cover while peeing, but whenever he sees me observing him, he would turned his back towards the toilet cover and tried to pee that way or worst stand up and leave while still peeing. This resulted getting pee everywhere because the angle was not right. Leave your cats alone to do their business. Both of my cats will sometimes look like they have to go but will circle the toilet and walk out of the bathroom if they see me following them.\n--One time my cat followed me into the bathroom when I had to go #2 (because they like to be locked in with you). 5 minutes later, he decided he wanted to go, too, meowed a bunch, and realizing what's happening, I scrambled to get up. Too late, he ended up pooping on the floor before I could put my pants back on.\n\nAdditional info/tips:\n--You will have more success with female cats than male cats. This is because male cats stand up more while peeing. Female cats actually sit. Male cats can miss and sometimes get urine all over the place. Again, cats are oddly like humans.\n--If you feed cats on a schedule, your cats will learn to poop on a schedule, too. My cats have established a schedule where the male cat poops before noon and the female cat in the evening. This is good because you have an idea of when to check the toilet to flush it.\n--If you have to collect urine/feces samples for the vet, it is dead easy with the CitiKitty. If all goes well, you will likely have the extra insert that you did not even have to use. Put this on the used CitiKitty ring under all the toilet seats without litter. You cat will go like normal and the insert will catch the poop/pee. If you already used the insert, it might be helpful to get 2 CitiKitty sets.\n--With toilet training my cat, I was able to identify the problem of my cat peeing blood once from stress because the toilet water was pink!! You can't do this with litter.\n--My one cat will now pee on ANY toilet. I brought him to my relative's house once and he peed on 2 separate toilets (with different adult sized seats) without my prompting. This is in addition to the reintroduction of a litter box at the relative's house. He will still go #2 in the litter box. This means less pee clumps to scoop! If I move, I can just bring the Mayfair toilet seat and my cat will probably recognize it as the new toilet. The child seat is mainly to help the cats go #2 because they require more balancing doing #2 than #1.\n--I don't think this would work on an older cat. You will probably have to buy a step ladder because the toilet is still quite high and older cats can get joint pain.\n--Overall, I do not recommend this kit to train more than 2 cats per toilet because of the small area of the toilet and how fast it can get dirty if not flushed at all hours of the day. If you have multiple cats, train on multiple/all toilets with multiple kits in your house.\n\nThanks for reading, hope this was helpful. Please feel free to comment if you have questions!\n\nUpdate: It is now July 2017. I've moved and now in a 1 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment and now I have 3 cats. Unfortunately, my third cat was not trainable because he absolutely needs to dig in litter and there were many accidents on my bed. It was also too much cleaning to have 3 cats share 1 toilet and the toilet was almost always dirty so that probably contributed to the newest cat rebelling. I have since switched back to a litter box because 3 cats and 1 toilet is just too much. Interestingly enough, my one cat now prefers to pee in the toilet (even the toilet at my new apartment) so I still get some benefit of having to scoop fewer pee clumps.\n\nUpdate 2: I have now acquired a Litter Robot Open Air. I would still prefer litter free but the Litter Robot is a suitable replacement if you have more than 2 cats and only 1 toilet.","Product: Another great toy from the makers of the da bird. The cat catcher teaser wand toy has a cute little mouse attached to a flexible braided wire and then connected to a 12\" glitter wand. The mouse averages 2 inches in length with a tail that averages 3 inches. A fantastic toy to interact with your kitty for play and exercise. Colors may vary. The cat catcher is handcrafted in the use from top quality materials .\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cat goes crazy for the deer fur mouse, refills need to be cheaper\n\nReview: One of my cats goes crazy for this wand toy. The wand itself is okay. It is kind of short and doesn't last long. The wire frays and I'm worried it might give my cats a razor cut. My cat loves the mouse attached to this wand! It's made of deer hair and I think he likes the scent. I sometimes take the mouse off to let my cat play with it. He will play with it until it gets stuck under furniture he can't get to. There have been a few occurrences when my cat stole the wand out of the drawer of cat toys and tried to play with the mouse by itself.\n\nI think for the future I will just buy this for the mouse and not the actual wand. The mouse is quite small and there is a metal pin so I wouldn't let your cats play with it without supervision in case it accidentally swallows it.\n\nUpdate: I lost the mouse attachment and had to buy a new wand because a new wand + mouse is cheaper than just the refill mouse. I'm upping one star also because the mouse no longer has a metal pin in the center. They have converted to using some stiff plastic tubing instead.\n\nUpdate: it looks like the wand + mouse costs less than the mice refills! I will be buying the whole wand in the future since the wire fraud anyway. I wish refills were cheaper and the wand were better quality.","Product: Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food Original Turkey, Chicken, Whitefish & Herring Recipe is healthy, 100% natural grain free cat food for adult cats made with turkey, chicken, whitefish, herring, salmon oil and cranberries to help support your cat's optimal health and fortified with antioxidents, probiotics, vitamins and minerals, including fish and flax omega blend for healthy skin and coat. Wellness CORE grain free cat food formulas are based on the nutritional philosophy that cats thrive on a diet mainly comprised of meat. Each grain free, nutrient-rich formula provides high quality protein for your cat with no meat by-products or fillers, grain, corn, soy, wheat-gluten or artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Made my cats overweight\n\nReview: My cats like this brand of dry catfood and I find that it makes my cats' poop less stinky than when I feed <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Orijen-Grain-Free-Dry-Cat-Food-15-lbs/dp/B00BPCH5NM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Orijen Grain-Free Dry Cat Food 15 lbs</a>. However, I found that this food made both of my cats overweight! I feed my cats twice a day about 1/3 cup each cat. I don't free feed. Even on this diet, my cats seemed plump (small head compared to a fat booty and rounded/bloated stomach). They gained weight on this food from when I fed them Orijen or <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Wysong-Epigen-90-Canine-Feline-Diet-Pet-Food-5-Pound/dp/B00KE3IRN0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Wysong Epigen 90 Canine/Feline Diet Pet Food, 5-Pound</a>. I have since stopped feeding them this brand of food and all dry food in general and converted to 100% wet food (some raw chicken and canned food from Trader Joe's). Trader Joe's sells affordable wet food and I believe little better than Friskies albeit slightly more expensive. After about 2 months of wet food, my cats have lost the pudge and I can see their waists again!\n\nAnyway, this is not a lecture on how wet food is better than dry food or whatever, but beware Wellness CORE seems calorie dense and not recommended if your cat has weight issues. If you want a good dry food brand recommendation, I would recommend <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Instinct-Grain-Free-Chicken-Meal-Dry-Cat-Food-by-Nature-s-Variety-12-1-lb-Bag/dp/B00IKOSLL8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Instinct Grain-Free Chicken Meal Dry Cat Food by Nature's Variety 12.1 lb Bag</a>. The Instinct rabbit version is good, too, and the cats love the taste. Instinct is super expensive and when it goes on sale, I have a bag for the automatic feeder when I won't be home for the day. Epigen 90 and Orijen aren't bad either but my cats made stinky poops from eating those brands.","Product: Precious Cat Ultra Litter Additive contains a scent that naturally attracts cats and kittens to use the litter box. Non-use of the litter box is the number one behavioral reason cats are abandoned, abused, and placed in shelters. Designed for cats that are not using their litter boxes. Precious Cat Ultra litter Attractant is the only litter attractant to provide a clinically tested and consumer proven solution.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: My cat eats it...\n\nReview: I used this on my cat that was not used to my top entry litter box. She would not go into the litter box and pooped on the lid. This product seems to have encouraged her to actually go into the box instead of standing on top of it. I did not use it with the Precious cat ultra litter like the label admonishes you HAVE to use and it still worked. The cats loved the scent and came over to investigate when I poured maybe 1/3 cup of this stuff on top of the litter.\n\nI almost want to sprinkle this on my cat's scratching lounges to attract them there but I'm afraid they will get confused and pee/poo on it.\n\nUpdate: They must have changed the formula because I got a new bottle and my cat now eats this stuff like catnip!!!","Product: The IRIS Premium Airtight Pet Food Storage Container is the perfect solution to store dry pet food. The airtight sealed storage container locks in freshness and keeps moisture, humidity, and pests out. The snap-tight latch confirms that the lid is shut tight, while the wide lid offers easy access for scooping dry pet food. The plastic food container features a translucent body to quickly check content levels. This rolling container can be also used as a charcoal container or wood chip storage. Made in the USA.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Wear and tear and Cats finally figured it out after 2 years...\n\nReview: After 2 years of use (filling it with about 12 pounds of kibble at once), my cats finally bested this container. I do not free feed my cats and often times I have found teeth marks on the plastic lid. Well today they finally found how to get the lid to open. The cats knocked the container over and the impact caused the handle to just slip open. They've done this before but the handle hinge is now loose from wear and tear. The kitties proceeded to stick their faces under the lid, crawled in the 1/3 full container, gorged themselves full of kibble, and the lid closed back up all without spilling anything. Only reason I was able to tell was because I came home and the kitties weren't begging me to feed them. The container was knocked over, the handle dislatched, and the kitties had round tummies. Sneaky thieves!! This was a cheap solution but not good for persistent cats. Invest in something more sturdy.","Product: Your pets's health and vitality require adequate water consumption. Our carefully developed, unique design is exceptionally\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Too much effort to clean, slime and mold build up inside pump!!\n\nReview: I bought this fountain to encourage my cats to drink more water. I've had this fountain for more than a year. I found out one of my cats likes to wash her face at the fountain and leaves cat hairs in it. The filter does not do a good job filtering out debris and leaving the water clean. After one day, the water would have specks of lint and cat hair swimming around in it. I refill the water daily because it evaporates overnight but refilling does not get rid of the grim that builds up in the grooves of the fountain.\n\nI found out to properly maintain it, I had to take the whole fountain apart and scrub it down with pipe cleaners and my dish wand at least twice a week, sometimes more. If I don't do this, the grim eventually turns black and grudge and mold builds up INSIDE the pump. I've also had to replace the filter multiple times because it would eventually grow some pink/beige looking bacteria! If you don't clean it twice a week, running the motor will make the water DIRTIER than just leaving it in the bowl. This will make your pets sick.\n\nMaintaining this really too much work; it is like keeping a fish tank. I am just going to go back to a regular water bowl because that's easier to clean everyday and refill with fresh water.","Product: Sergeant's good behavior pheromone collar helps cats in fearful or stressful situations (separation anxiety, visitors, other household cats, Loud Noises, new baby, vet Visits, traveling). good behavior pheromone collar provides a convenient alternative to diffusers- the collar goes where your cat goes!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Didn't seem to work and gave me a terrible headache that lasted for hours\n\nReview: I didn't mind the powder coating that was on the collars and rubbed it off over the trash immediately after I opened the package. What I had problems with was these collars stank! They smelled like artificial grape bubblegum! Within minutes of putting this on and petting my cat, I had a nauseous headache that lasted for hours even after I put the collar back in its packaging.\n\nThe collar didn't seem to work either. I bought it because I wanted to leash train my kitten to go outside. Whenever he goes outside with supervision, he gets scared and hides under my car. This collar didn't seem to help the case and the cat probably didn't like the smell either.","Product: Rotating head features rake and deshedding blade. This newly designed grooming tool is specifically designed for and used by professional groomers and pet enthusiasts. The high quality rake detangles and removes mats painlessly. It even works on wet coats. The deshedding blade removes the undercoat and loose hair easily and efficiently. This grooming tool is designed to allow one-way brushing to reduce the potential of cutting the fur.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works just as well as the Furminator but cheaper!\n\nReview: This thing works and removes a lot of hair but I'm not sure exactly which layer of fur this tool removes. It doesn't seem to remove loose hairs but instead, it pulls straight hairs off of my cat! I use this tool in conjuncture with the Kong Zoom Groom and the Safari Self Cleaning Slicker Brush. The Zoom Groom loosens the outer coat and the Slicker brush gets the undercoat that is more fuzzy, and the Groominator gets something in between the two. I don't use this tool too much though because it definitely pulls off hairs that are not ready to come off. If you use it too much, your pet will go bald.\n\nUpdate: I have since acquired a de-shedder with a wider blade (4 inches). It works so much better than the Groominator. The blade on the Groominator is just not wide enough to cover enough area effectively. I have short haired cats so I never use the detangler side.","Product: Starch Free Wysong Epigen 90 (90-percent meat) represents the first important kibble pet food innovation in almost 60 years (patent pending) and moves conventional dry extruded pet foods much closer to the high protein meat-based, starch less foods carnivores are genetically designed for. With that, they are given greater opportunity to enjoy their full natural health. Epigen is equally appropriate for both cats and dogs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My cats love this. No digestion problems\n\nReview: I feed this dry food in rotation with raw.\n\nI switched to raw because it's actually cheaper than quality wet food and it reduces the odor in cat poop. At first, I tried to feed my cats completely raw but they eventually got tired of it and boycotted their food to the point where they were starving themselves for hours. I tried to feed my cats grain-free wet food in rotation, but found that my cats' poop started to stink really bad again.\n\nI gave up and started rotating in Epigen 90. So far, all three of my cats love this stuff! It hasn't caused them any digestion problems either. They gobble it up like cat candy. Compared to other brands of high quality kibble, my cats' feces do not bulk up too much and remain relatively odorous like when they are eating 100% raw. Prior to Epigen 90, I was feeding Orijen kibble. It made one of my cat's poop stink really bad, and another cat would not eat it at all.\n\nI try not to feed kibble because a low-moisture diet can cause urinary tract blockages in cats. However, if your cats are picky and you can't feed anything else, I would definitely recommend this in your cat food rotation!","Product: The Litter Genie disposal system provides a convenient, effective solution for getting rid of soiled cat litter. Pails come preassembled with everything youll need to help prevent litter odors. The pail can hold up to two weeks of cat waste (for one cat) - eliminating the everyday hassle of going to the outside garbage. Additionally, the unique pail design and 7-layer disposable bag controls odors, keeping your home smelling fresh and you, and your cat, happy.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Useful with one caveat, the bags don't open properly sometimes!\n\nReview: This device definitely works to keep the smell out! I have one next to both of my litter boxes in the house. It keeps me from being lazy and scoop out the litter box often because I know I can just drop the litter in the litter genie and collect the bag at the end of the week. Before the Litter Genie, I was scooping the clumps into a plastic poop bag and throwing the bag away outside in the trash bin so it doesn't stink up the house. This got really annoying fast because my cat had the habit of using the litter box right after I clean it, which would prompt me to scoop it out again with a fresh bag. I was wasting a bunch of bags filling them with one clump each. The Litter Genie has saved me so many bags and so many trips outside to throw away poop.\n\nOne annoying thing you have to watch out for is to not pull too much bag out of the refill when starting up a new bag. If you pull too much out, making the bag too long, the empty bag will not open up properly. The litter will not fall through to the bottom of the bag and will just get stuck. This causes you to open and close the trapdoor on middle of a dirty clump, half of it down the chute and half exposed still on top of the trapdoor. I have closed the trapdoor a couple of times on pieces of fresh cat poop. I had to cut the whole bag out because poop smeared all over the top and stunk and mucked everything up. I found the perfect length to pull out from the refill is maybe 8 inches, any more and you run the risk of having the bag not opening properly and stuff not actually falling through.","Product: The Kitty Holster is a soft, secure and super-comfortable 100% cotton cat harness with a metal D-ring for attaching a leash. Our strong, ultra-lightweight harness secures with wide Velcro closures. This breathable, washable cotton harness with undyed lining is suitable for all skin types and climates.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Makes my kitten walk funny because it doesn't fit right\n\nReview: I have a 4 month old kitten and I wanted to train him to walk on a harness early. I bought the xs but it doesn't really fit him. It's too small around the top and too big around his belly. The top part is also very stiff. I can fit it around his neck fine but it looked like the stiff collar was pressing up against his wind pipe and choking him. So I ended up pulling the holster back and put the top opening around his chest except then the velcro part became too small. The bottom velcro part was way too big no matter where I put it around his stomach. If the harness slid up, the opening for the \"arm\" rubbed against my kitten's \"armpits\" and it made him walk around slowly and clumsily like a cat with brain damage. He eventually gave up and flopped over and just went to sleep. Maybe he has to grow into this harness but so far, not a good buy! Do no recommend for kittens.\n\nI bought mine from Litterboy Products's ebay account because I had an ebay bucks coupon. They also have an account on Amazon. They ship fast so I recommend.","Product: Try the clumping cat litter that simplifies cleanup with added ingredients for better clumping. Made with a special blend of naturally absorbent plant fibers. This multiple cat strength litter promises powerful odor control and smaller tighter clumps..\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Became dust and was terrible to breathe in\n\nReview: No sure how this does on odor because I have been gradually mixing this in with my Precious Cat Ultra clay litter. My cat only uses clay litter and pooped outside the box the last time I switched all of a sudden to the multicat WBCL so this time I've been trying to slowly transition over to this new WBCL. Well the good thing is this advanced natural stuff smells much better than the regular muticat. It smells like soy instead of corn. Stinky corn is the worst.\n\nThe bad news is this stuff breaks down after a few uses and makes A LOT of dust! When I went to scoop the litter and breathed in, I could feel the dust cutting into my nostrils and my nasal passage and it hurts! It feels like I have dry sinuses I get in the winter time when I breath this stuff in. I know this is not the clay litter doing it because Precious Cat has very little dust and this has never happened before when I was using 100% Precious Cat. I'm at the stage where the mixture is 1/3 WBCL and 2/3 Precious Cat, only 1/3 of it is the WB advanced and it's already super dusty! I'm now using a mask when I scoop cat litter. I'm definitely not buying another bag.\n\nUpdate: My cat started sneezing and sniffing a bunch today. I'm not sure if it's the cat litter that irritated her respiratory system but now she's sick.","Product: Noise and Pheromone Spray combined provide immediate response that stops bad behavior in its tracks. Great for use with behavior issues such as barking, aggression, pulling on leash, meowing. The noise gets the pet's attention and the specific pheromone stops unwanted behavior immediately and redirects the pet's attention.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Works but will make cat afraid of you temporarily if you do it wrong\n\nReview: This product scared the hell out of my cats but it worked to stop crazy meows at meal time. A light press is all I need to make my cats flinch and stop what they are doing. What I do is, I do not look at the cat, I don't show any expression (like anger or annoyance) and I put the can behind my back and press it lightly. A hard press will send my cats flying and hiding under the couch and that's not what I want, only a light tap will do. I have this can in the kitchen and I press it whenever my cat meows at me for food.\n\nThe product did make my cats scared of me for a couple of days the first time I pressed too hard. They wouldn't come to the kitchen during meal time anymore and only ate after I left the kitchen. They eventually get over it though. It's now been a week later, my cats started coming back again when I call them for dinner but they no longer meow a bunch like before.\n\nIf your goal is to get cats to stop bugging you, this is your product. Whatever you do, do not spray directly at the cat (near or far) or they will hate you for weeks.","Product: Cats Of Thrones Toilet Seat for Cats is designed with a cat`s comfort in mind and by that we mean a cat toilet seat with wide platforms on both sides for a cat to spread all 4 paws on. Consider the human toilet seat, it is very narrow and slippery and is the cause for many cats falling in the toilet, when that happens a cat will never use the toilet again. Cats Of Thrones (C.O.T.) is made out of a thick plastic that holds up to 30 lbs. of a cat`s weight and does not need the support of a human toilet seat, instead, C.O.T. offers a cat seat that is installed directly underneath the human seat. C.O.T. NEVER expects a cat to use the HUMAN toilet seat! Another terrific feature of C.O.T. is that we use a drainage system which works perfectly with our specially formulated Dissolving Cat Litter. You could use any other \"Flushable\" type of cat litter but C.O.T. will NOT guarantee its effectiveness nor be liable for any damage to your plumbing which will most likely occur with other cat litter. When you use C.O.T Dissolving Cat Litter all that needs to be done when the cat is finished with its business is to rinse the Dissolving Litter with hot water and everything drains right through to the toilet water beneath it. Our Standard Kit comes with our award winning Cat Toilet Seat, 1.5 lbs. of Dissolving Cat Litter, and 1/4 Oz of OdorCats Of Thrones is The World`s ONLY Toilet Seat for Cats! You will NEVER share your seat with your cat, and why should you? Human seats are made for PEOPLE! Cats need a seat that is made with their comfort in mind! And thats exactly what Cats Of Thrones does, we have given cats a comfortable, STURDY (will easily support cats up to 30 LBS!) stable platform that allows cats to be relaxed by not having to try and balance on a narrow ridge like other systems.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Success for me but not because of this kit! As much hassle as losing weight..\n\nReview: Last Update July 5, 2014:\nI can say now that my two cats have been toilet trained for the past 6 weeks ever since I popped off the last ring, minus quite a few caveats. It has been a grueling and messing process since I started training in early March 2014.\nCaveat 1 -- I do not attribute my success to this toilet training kit because the design of this kit did not necessarily make toilet training easier (see pros and cons below). The \"wing\" parts of this seat is a great idea but poorly executed because the plastic the seat is made from is too flimsy.\nCaveat 2 -- Just 2 weeks ago, I came home to both cat poop in the toilet and cat poop in my sink. It turns out, one of my cats pooped in the toilet but I wasn't there to flush immediately. My other cat must have really had to poop, too. She didn't want to poop in a dirty toilet, so she pooped in the sink instead. Just be warned if you have multiple cats training to use one toilet, they might end up pooping where they are not suppose to because of dirty toilet.\nCaveat 3 -- To keep my cats away from pooping in my sink, I keep an automatic air spray can next to the sink to scare them away at all times. I use <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Contech-StayAway-Motion-Activated-Pet-Deterrent/dp/B000DZFFN4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent</a>. This product has a sound only mode so I don't get sprayed with air. This means that when I go to use the sink, the sound goes off, too. I live alone so I can handle this but I imagine this would not be tolerable in a family.\nCaveat 4 -- I do not recommend toilet training multiple cats at the same time. I trained two and it was such a hassle!\n\nPrevious Review:\n\nPros:\n1. This seat provides an area for your cat to stand so your cat won't have to stand on the slippery toilet seat.\n2. Your cat won't have its poopy paws on your toilet seat, because you leave the toilet seat up when training your cat.\n3. The toilet seat has draining holes so you won't get waterlogged pee if your cat pees a lot. This could be a con too because if you use sand-type litter, it will fall through the holes. You could also potentially use salts as litter and just rinse the seat by dissolving the salt, however using salt can get really expensive! BTW, the special litter the manufacturer sells is just salt crystals, at a crazy high rip-off price.\n4. You might be able to take this seat with you and install it on any toilet and the cat might know how to use it because of the seat. Where as cats toilet trained without this seat might not recognize new toilets.\n\nCons:\n1. The instructions that came with the product tells you to get water softening salt as litter. Do not use it! I bought the exact brand of Morton solar salt crystals that the instructions suggested and the crystals are WAY TOO BIG. You will have to pour gallons of boiling hot water through to dissolve salt rocks that big. My cats were also not used to litter that size. This was a total waste of money. You might have better results with epsom salt or the \"special litter\" that the manufacturer sells but that could get expensive.\n2. The instructions looked like they were made in Microsoft Word and had way too many typos and redundant sentences that said the same thing twice. Did the company even proof read their instructions before sending it out? I found this to be very unprofessional.\n3. The installation of the seat was a little more difficult than advertised. I had to go out and buy carriage bolts that were an inch longer for my toilet because the previous bolts became too short after I put in the seat.\n4. Pro #1 and #2 about the extra space for your cat to stand does not apply if your cat is more than 8 pounds. My heavier cat at 12 pounds refuses to stand on the wing part of the seat because her weight lifts the rest of the seat up from the toilet making it unstable. So far the wing has not broken off but the fact that the plastic seat does not stay put to the toilet bowl is not good. This could be solved by leaving my toilet seat down to prevent the cat toilet seat from going up due to the cats' weight but that would negate the whole idea of a toilet seat for cats.\n5. You cannot go back a step without buying another kit.\n6. Make sure you tap your toilet lid to the toilet. The addition of the cat training seat under the toilet seat makes the whole lid/seat setup unstable and the lid tend to tilt forward. My one cat has this bad habit of burying by scratching on the wall so she has accidentally knocked the toilet seat shut a couple time. One day, I even came home to poop on my floor because the toilet lid got knocked down.\n6. These kits are EXPENSIVE! $80 a pop??\n7. My cats pooped on the floor and in the bathtub after I cut out the first hole. This is a problem with citikitty too and not necessarily this product. You have to take many precautions to keep the area clean or the cats will rebel and start pooping elsewhere. I change/dump out litter every day, vacuum around the toilet every week, and put duct tape/cat deterrent in areas of my bathroom where my cats poop. You must also flush religiously.\n8. You will throw out a lot of litter. I recommend you use chicken feed from the farm supply store. It is like World's Best Cat litter and it is flushable. It costs $16 for a 40 pound bag and it should last you a while. This is way cheaper than actual flushable litter or salt.\n9. As another reviewer mentioned, if you use regular litter, it will clump into the rings and you won't be able to scoop it out easily. I just end up washing the litter out in my bathtub.\n\nFinally, this product had a good concept but it's a fuss to use and clean and costs way too much. I wish it was $30 like citikitty. I was able to get this from a seller on Amazon for $54 and even that's too steep. This product is selling on the manufacturer's site for $80-$100.\n\nOverall, I do recommend you try toilet training your cat even if it's not with this specific kit. My cats are being finicky with the toilet training and they sometimes poop where they are not suppose to (in my bathtub, on the bathroom floor, or in my sink). They are peeing in the toilet 100% of the time though and that is enough for me to continue. I love not having to come home to the smell of a stinky litter box. When my cat pees, all I have to do is flush it down instead of scooping out clumps of ammonia ridden pee. I have a sensitive nose and gag at the smell of dirty litter and the smell of dirty paws my cats get after digging in litter. Even if my cats poop on the floor with the toilet training kit, all I have to do is pick it up with toilet paper and throw it in the toilet and wipe the tile on my floor with cleaner. While I was still training, I had to constantly vacuum litter off the bathroom floor, as well. This whole process was still preferable to scooping the litter box. My apartment smells much better.\n\nUpdate: Buy the mayfair nextsteps toilet seat and city kitty trainer! City kitty is superior because of the insert. Use both in conjunction and you'll have better success. Kitty won't be too scared to fall in with the child seat. My cats exclusively use the toilet now 2 years later.","Product: This new kind of cat litter first seals and then destroys odors. Extra-Strength formula for Multi-Cat homes. Sealing: A proprietary blend of moisture-activated Micro-Granules forms an odor-containing seal around urine and feces. Destroying: Then a powerful formula with heavy-duty odor eliminators plus Arm & Hammer Baking Soda destroys sealed-in odors on contact. Plus your cat will love the new, softer feel.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Poopouri for Litter boxes, no more poop in air\n\nReview: This cat litter is the best I've tried at clumping and keeping the cat smell down! I've tried many kinds of cat litter from flushable sand to \"World's Best\" to crystal litter to feline pine to your run of the mill Fresh Step (horrible btw) and even chicken feed (very cheap but not good at odor control). I've tried Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat too and that litter clumps pretty well. However, there is a night and day difference between the odor control properties of Clump and Seal and that of Dr Elsey's or any other litter for that matter. Clump and Seal is the only litter that I've found neutralized cat poop odors AS the cat is going!\n\nDue to my living situation, I have had to keep a cat box and my cats in my bedroom while I sleep at night. I have a VERY sensitive nose, and I've been woken up many a times by the smell of pungent cat poop reaching me right after my cats go #2 in the middle of the night. One of my cats is also known to not cover her poop so the smell lingers until the poop is covered (by me) or goes away after it dries up. It also does not matter which litter box I use, covered top with a carbon filter or an open top one, my nose can smell it all.\n\nThe first night after switching to Clump and Seal I was able to sleep through the night without having my cats waking me up with their poo stank. I even checked the litter box in the morning to see if the cats even went #2 and there were pieces of dried up uncovered poo in the litter box from the night before. Just wow! This is the first litter I've used that can mask uncovered poo smell right when it is laid! You know that toilet bowl spritz for when you go to the bathroom so people can't smell it? This litter is like poopouri for cats.\n\nThe clumps are also rock solid and I found it very easy to clean. No dust, that's good because I've had litter dust get in my very porous hair and I end up smelling like cat litter.\n\nUnfortunately due to my sensitive nose, I found the scent of this litter sickening. It smells like cheap \"mountain spring\" scented laundry detergent. I can't smell it while it is in the litter box but I am afraid it would bother my cats and cause them to leave me presents outside the box since their sense of smell is probably way better than mine.\n\nIf Arm & Hammer can make a product that is unscented or naturally scented and can still keep the superior odor controlling properties then I would give that product 5 stars. For now this litter gets 4 stars from me. Precious Cat is another litter that gets 4 stars for cost and no-scent but it does not clump as well and odor control is not the best.\n\nI have not found a 5 star litter yet.\n\nUpdate: I would recommend the blue or green boxed clump and seal. The fragrance is much more subtle compared to the pungent multi-cat and I found it works just as well.","Product: Case of 4 full spectrum 27 watt light bulbs that imitate daylight, are energy saving, and have a long life of circa 10,000 hours with 1300 lumens output, 120V; low energy consumption, good for starting plant growth. These are compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs that fit all medium-base E27/E26 sockets, but the large bulb size might create a fit problem with standard lamp harps of household light fixtures; a larger lamp harp is needed, see ALZO 9 inch lamp harp. Dimensions: Length: 6.5 inches; Width (Diameter): 2.5 inches; Length socket base to top of ballast: 2.75 inches; Width (diameter) of socket: 1 inch. Important: ALZO CFL bulb life is based on the bulb in an open air fixture with sufficient ventilation. When ALZO bulbs are installed in fixtures that lack adequate ventilation, the life of the bulb will be reduced. If an ALZO CFL bulb is installed in an overhead recessed light fixture with the bulb glass below the base, the life of the bulb will be greatly reduced.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Feels good to see the light, color temperature like daylight, good for SAD\n\nReview: I got these bulbs because I have Delayed sleep phase disorder and I get SAD in the winter. I turn on a couple of lamps in the morning hooked up to an outlet timer and it wakes me right up. I like the light that comes from these bulbs, very much like the color temperature of daylight.\n\nOnly problem is these bulbs are taller than your average compact fluorescent bulb. They might not fit your lamp especially if you have one of those metal brackets that hold up your lampshade. I also got a bulb that hummed really annoyingly and 2 that hummed slightly. I would not recommend these bulbs for a quiet study room. I only use the lamp in the morning to wake me up and help me get some synthetic sunlight so I cannot speak for extended use.","Product: CREATE YOUR OWN SPA OASIS\nAna Bath Combo Shower System gives you the easiest way to upgrade your shower system without any tool. No power drill, no screwdrivers, No plumbers, just your hands. With the LARGE 5 inch SPRAY FACE & 5 function handheld shower and shower head, you can feel a whole new fantastic shower experience with our water saving shower technology which is another way to save your water bill. The sleek design and transitional style fits in any bathroom perfectly.\n\nWHAT DOES THE PACKAGE INCLUDE\n1) 1 Handheld Shower HS5450 (5-function 5\" handheld shower)\n Rain Spray\n Massage Spray\n Bubbling Spray\n Rain Spray & Massage Spray\n Rain Spray & Bubbling Spray\n* Flow Rate: 2.31 GPM (Gallon per Minute) / 8.73 LPM (Liter per Minute) @ 80psi (Flow rate @ 2.5 GPM / 9.45 LPM @ water pressure of 80 psi meets CSA Standard.)\n\n2) 1 Shower Head SH5450 (5-function 5\" shower head)\n Rain Spray\n Massage Spray\n Bubbling Spray\n Rain Spray & Massage Spray\n Rain Spray & Bubbling Spray\n* Flow Rate: 2.35 GPM (Gallon per Minute) / 8.73 LPM (Liter per Minute) @ 80psi (Flow rate @ 2.5 GPM / 9.45 LPM @ water pressure of 80 psi meets CSA Standard.)\n\n3) 1 LARGE 3-way diverter mount with BRASS CONNECTOR (DT1021)\n4) 5 ft (60 inch) Super Flexible STAINLESS STEEL hose with BRASS NUTS (S21542)\n Doubled hooked\n 0.55\n Anti-twist brass conical nut & brass hex nut\n\n5) 1 Anti-leakage Sealant Tape\n6) 1 Instruction Manual\n\n* Brushed Nickel Finish for Whole Set (Handheld shower, shower head, 3-way diverter mount, and shower hose)\n* 3 Year Limited Warranty\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 2 Colors available make sure you get the right one!\n\nReview: Installed very easily and works great. One caveat is the water pressure from the non-handheld attachment is weaker than the handheld one. The handheld head water pressure can be made really strong or slightly stronger than the non-handheld depending on which washer you use (a water restricting one or just a regular washer). The kit comes with both washers. If you use the regular washer in the handheld, the non-handheld shower head's water pressure is significantly weaker when you run both at the same time.\n\nMy only gripe is the color, nickel, does not match the actual color of the product received at all. It has a beige cast. I wanted something more bright/blue silver. I think I should have went for chrome. The pictures for the 2 colors on amazon are swapped.","Product: Parents and children love this convenient, innovatively designed toilet seat created for enhancing the potty training experience of your child. A magnetic closure gently secures the built-in potty seat into its compartment in the seat lid until it is flipped down for use. The hinges are state-of-the-art slow close chromed metal. The hinges close the lid and ring quietly and gently. The lid and the ring are both white. This particular model fits round bowls which measure 16. 5 inches from hinge holes to end of the inside of bowl. Installation hardware included. See diagrams above. Three-year warranty.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Using this for cats, but I probably won't be the only one...\n\nReview: This toilet seat in TOP quality! Everything is made from solid wood with a hard polished layer of white paint that almost feel like porcelain. The color of the toilet seat is not pure white but somewhat off-white. It's quite sturdy and the chrome is quite shiny although I'd imagine it would rust after a while.\n\nUnfortunately, I cannot use this toilet seat because I bought it for my cats. They are toilet trained and I bought this seat so I can bring the child seat down and give them more space to stand on the toilet. The problem was this toilet seat (both the adult and child) is QUITE thick. This is good in terms of quality but bad for my cat. The stacking of thick toilet seats created a \"tower of hanoi\" effect for my cat and he couldn't find a complete level surface to squat. The child seat is raised about another inch above the adult seat.\n\nThe seats are also completely flat. They do not dip in like some other toilet seats so no contour for your butt! As a result, it's not so comfortable to sit on for adults either. If you don't care about seat height and contour, then this toilet seat would be an excellent choice.","Product: Flashlight\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Returned because audible hum\n\nReview: I must have gotten a defective unit because I did not experience 100% silence with my humidifier! I had to return it because whenever I turn the unit on, I could hear a hum noise like a laptop/computer fan go off or a mosquito light. I couldn't sleep with that noise! It gave me a headache. There's also an LED near the switch you cannot turn off whenever the power is on. Another annoyance is when you go to refill the unit, you'll get water everywhere because the bottom half holds some water but it is easy to spill. Overall it works as a humidifier and the lamp feature is cool but it's too loud for me and not easy to refill. The top half could also be potentially hard to clean and could grow mold. It only has a whole the size of a Gatorade bottle opening.\n\nI did not receive this unit for free. Bought it with my own money and was not satisfied.","Product: Like all our INOVA flashlights, the X3A offers superior light projection that increases your visibility and safety. But because it's powered by 3 AAA batteries, it also does that at a much lower cost per user hour. Its dual use design allows for easy transition between bike light and hand held device. Just slide the INOVA X3A onto the included durable Lite Ride GT and wrap the attached, flexible Gear Ties around any size handlebar-no tools required. Its bright 175 lumen beam can be set to one of three modes: High power, low power, or our innovative Safe-Day Pulse, which creates an irregular, attention-grabbing pattern to increase visibility even during the day. When you've parked your bike, the INOVA X3A is easy to remove and can be tucked into a backpack, purse, pocket, or used as a handheld flashlight to safely illuminate your path in the dark. Remove the X3A from your handlebars and prop or hang the Gear Ties for hands free lighting to assist in roadside repairs or as a signal light. The INOVA X3A Bike Light provides superior LED illumination, is precision engineered for protection against the elements, easily attaches and removes from any bicycle handlebar and doubles as a convenient hand-held flashlight. You might think that would be enough. We don't.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good bike light and flash light, not so great mount.\n\nReview: I bought this bike light because I own another Inova flashlight, their ultraviolet inspection light. This light is the exact same size and style as that light and works exactly the same way, twist to turn on and press and hold the end to temporarily turn on. This light is nice and bright and I mainly use the flash mode for biking at night in the city. The light shines through at least 2 blocks and lights up street signs like a high beam! The construction of this flashlight is solid (not like the cheapo painted aluminum flashlights from Harbor Freight) and will last you many years.\n\nThe only reason I'm not giving this light 5 stars is because the twisty tie mount is garbage. You can only mount the light on the handlebars of the bike and even then it doesn't stay put. The mount rotates a little when the bike bumps which misdirects the beam.\n\nTip: you can just press the end of the flashlight 2 times and twist the 3rd time to cycle to flashing mode, no need to twist and turn the flashlight on and off 3 times."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Good cuting and high quality, every woman should have these earrings. They are suitable for all kinds of gathering, such as wedding, party, ball,etc.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty but not so functional\\n\\nReview: This jewelry is stunning and beautiful. It seems like good quality and good for the price. However, I honestly did not realize this was an ear CUFF only and no post to attach to my earlobe. It seems over the top for everyday wear so I would only wear it if I were to dress up for a formal event like a cocktail party, prom, or wedding. It doesn't seem very secure though and might fall off if going dancing. It is also not practical if you wear your hair down because you hair will cover it up or accidentally get caught in the cuff and make it fall off.\\n\\nVery pretty and good price but I'm going to return it because I wanted something I can wear everyday that I don't have to worry about it getting caught in my hair. The product came in a basic cardboard box.\\n\\nFYI, I bought the left side blue. At the writing of this review, this color/side combination is no longer available.\",\n \"Product: Get your cardio workout with Gold's Gym!Product InformationGold's Gym Cardio Workout brings your own personal Gold’s Gym cardio trainer into your living room! Gold’s Gym is the largest gym in the world and is known for leading the industry in personal training so expect to get in shape fast. It’s a fun way to exercise and maintain a healthy body.Product FeaturesA personal training experienceSchedule WorkoutsTrack Burned Calories and body weight evolutionOffers a more intense cardio workout than most Wii fitness games - Includes exercises such as:Cardio BoxingRunningSit Upsand other activitiesTracks your progress - Maintains a calendar of your exercise activity.Multiple Training modes and fitness levels -Difficulty evolves as your fitness level increasesWii Fit Board Compatible Exercises such as:SquatsBack TrainingAbdominal TrainingPush UpsLog CuttingPunch Dodge  \\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun and effective! Don't buy if you don't like punching or dancing\\n\\nReview: I'm a lazy college student who doesn't like to get up and exercise. Running and going to the gym really bores me so I thought I could find a Wii game that would make it more fun.\\n\\nI have tried my Fitness Coach and EA Sports Active and I found this game to be the best one of the three in terms of motivating me to work out. My Fitness Coach was too boring and played out like a work out DVD, and EA Sports Active was just too complicated for it's on good (the motion detecting features aren't implemented very well).\\n\\nAlthough Gold's Gym lacks flashy features such as complicated motion detecting, graphics, extended balance board support (i.e. mostly user interface/accessory stuff), it's easy to use and effective at what it does, and it plays out more like a video game than the rest of the fitness games (other than Wii Fit).\\n\\nYes the main exercises focus on boxing but it's much more than that. You have to box to the beat of background music while shifting your balance back and forth. As the routines get more complicated, you have to duck and sway by bending your knees, which works your legs. I enjoyed how was doing squats and I didn't even realize it!\\n\\nI guess the reason why I thought this game was fun was because it was more like Guitar Hero in that you have to do the right motion at the right time while maintaining a rhythm. If you like Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution and are willing to deal with the sub par graphics then this game is for you!\\n\\nI give this game 4 stars because the graphics are a little lacking (too simple and the main screen work out screen is box like). The game would be way more enjoyable if it was made more realistic like boxing in Wii Sports or something where you have a goal rather than punching boxes moving down a grid. I don't own a Wii Fit balance board so I don't care about that feature.\\n\\nMy break down of the features:\\n\\nGRAPHICS -- Could do better!! If the backgrounds were more involved than it would feel more like a game.\\n\\nSOUND -- I thought the music was good compared to other work out games. It gives a good beat for you to follow along to.\\n\\nCONTROLS-- The actions are simple and the Wiimotes are easy to use, unlike EA Sports active where you have to put the Wiimote and nunchuck in the exact place for it to register. Of course, there are times when punches and ducks don't register but it's no big deal.\\n\\nUSABILITY -- No complicated instructions or annoying menus you have to press through. Set up a profile in 5 minutes and you're ready to go! This game has a learn-as-you-go style. No annoying instructions to read through or complicated exercises. No wasted time!\\n\\nEFFECTIVENESS (in terms of work out) -- This definitely brought my heart rate up and I was sore for 2 days after! Tip: You have to shift your balance and \\\"dance\\\" to the music to have the cardio effect. Otherwise, it's just going to be as effective as sitting on your couch and moving around your Wiimote.\",\n \"Product: The 1012-ZT Zerolon Scoop is an ideal solution wherever highly chlorinated or high-mineral content water is present. Each scoop is hard coat Anodized and sealed with , reducing oxidation and corrosion risk. The unique heat conductive fluid inside of the handle warms the scoop and helps it glide through ice cream. Color coded end caps allow for easy size recognition. Each scoop provides 20 percent more volume of ice cream by avoiding compression. Designed for right or left hand use. 3 ounce portion.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 3oz size is great for waffle cones and bowls, 2.5oz for cake and sugar cones\\n\\nReview: I read the reviews of these Zeroll scoops before purchasing and I could not decide what size to get! I finally decided to go with the 3 oz scoop and it wasn't bad! I would say 2.5 oz might have been a better size for your average sugar/cake cones that you can get from the super market. For me, I love ice cream and 3 oz size is what I'm used to when I go to an ice cream shop and get the premium waffle cone that trumps all cake and sugar cones! The size is also perfect for scooping in bowls and for that I'm sure the 4 oz would be great for that purpose, too. 3 oz is a great in between size.\\n\\nThe only problem I have with my scoop and the reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is I found that the ice cream WOULD NOT come off the scoop! It kinda just stuck onto the scoop no matter how hard I shook. I ended up having to take another spoon and scrape it off the scoop. The scooping ice cream up from the carton was a breeze but not getting the ice cream off the scoop!\",\n \"Product: This 10 piece glass mixing bowl set is a great gift idea, or for yourself! This set from Anchor Hocking is made in the USA by a well-know company. Great sizes for numerous uses for mixing and serving. Nest together to save space.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent bowls. Buy this at Walmart for 1/2 the price!\\n\\nReview: I've had my set for 2 years and they are still in great condition. I leave my set stacked together in a lazy Susan and I have not experienced any scratching. They are so fun to use when cooking because I just mis-en-place all my ingredients and in the pot they go! I especially love the little bowls. You can use those to hold sauces and spices or just a table spoon of salt. Only thing these bowls are not good for is mixing batters. They are not deep enough. For batter bowls, I recommend Anchor Hocking's 4 quart mixing bowl.\\n\\nAmazon charges WAY too much for these bowls! Walmart sells the exact same set for $14. Target and Kmart might have it for a few dollars more. Go buy this at those stores instead of on Amazon!\",\n \"Product: Enjoy the taste of freshly ground coffee at home any time ceramic mortar has no odor, does not rust. The coarse powder is adjustable simply by turning the knob, also, you can calibrate the amount of ground through the transparent bottle. When not in use, you can store the grinder without the handle. Secure design makes for easier grinding. Easy to clean with disassembled parts, slim design saves space.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Horrible for coarse grinds,cheap quality, do not recommend\\n\\nReview: The whole reason I bought this burr grinder was so I could get consistent course grinds for use in french press. I found that this grinder just does not deliver the results for coarse grinds, the reason being cheap mechanical parts inside the grinder.\\n\\nThe outer grinder barrel is set in place by plastic notches and the center grinder stone is threaded on a metal axle. To prevent the two grinder pieces from collapsing on to each other, there's a spring that's also threaded on the axle which pushes the inner grinder out, there by making a slit for the coffee grinds to fall through. There's a wing nut (also made of plastic) that lets you adjust how close the two pieces come together by either tightening the nut to make a smaller slit or loosening it to create a bigger slit. The closer the pieces are, the smaller the slit, and the finer the grind. The problem is the grinder pieces do not fit snugly into the plastic notches that are suppose to keep them centered, and the spring that pushes the two grinders apart does not have even tension around the whole axle. So when the grinder is adjusted for a coarse grind, this creates quite a bit of slack/looseness between the two grinder parts. The two grinder parts end up not being centered while the grinder is in use causing beans to pass through the non-uniform slit.\\n\\nBecause of this fault, the grinder is not going to work too well for anything but super fine grinds. Under the super fine grind setting, there is enough tension coming from the nut, keeping two grinders centered. The plastic parts that keep the grinders in place will probably get worn out really fast though. I am returning my unit and hope I can find another grinder that is made better (hopefully in Japan) with less plastic.\",\n \"Product: This 10 piece glass mixing bowl set is a great gift idea, or for yourself! This set from Anchor Hocking is made in the USA by a well-know company. Great sizes for numerous uses for mixing and serving. Nest together to save space.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent bowls. Buy this at Walmart for 1/2 the price!\\n\\nReview: I've had my set for 2 years and they are still in great condition. I leave my set stacked together in a lazy Susan and I have not experienced any scratching. They are so fun to use when cooking because I just mis-en-place all my ingredients and in the pot they go! I especially love the little bowls. You can use those to hold sauces and spices or just a table spoon of salt. Only thing these bowls are not good for is mixing batters. They are not deep enough. For batter bowls, I recommend Anchor Hocking's 4 quart mixing bowl.\\n\\nAmazon charges WAY too much for these bowls! Walmart sells the exact same set for $14. Target and Kmart might have it for a few dollars more. Go buy this at those stores instead of on Amazon!\",\n \"Product: Enjoy the taste of freshly ground coffee at home any time ceramic mortar has no odor, does not rust. The coarse powder is adjustable simply by turning the knob, also, you can calibrate the amount of ground through the transparent bottle. When not in use, you can store the grinder without the handle. Secure design makes for easier grinding. Easy to clean with disassembled parts, slim design saves space.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Horrible for coarse grinds,cheap quality, do not recommend\\n\\nReview: The whole reason I bought this burr grinder was so I could get consistent course grinds for use in french press. I found that this grinder just does not deliver the results for coarse grinds, the reason being cheap mechanical parts inside the grinder.\\n\\nThe outer grinder barrel is set in place by plastic notches and the center grinder stone is threaded on a metal axle. To prevent the two grinder pieces from collapsing on to each other, there's a spring that's also threaded on the axle which pushes the inner grinder out, there by making a slit for the coffee grinds to fall through. There's a wing nut (also made of plastic) that lets you adjust how close the two pieces come together by either tightening the nut to make a smaller slit or loosening it to create a bigger slit. The closer the pieces are, the smaller the slit, and the finer the grind. The problem is the grinder pieces do not fit snugly into the plastic notches that are suppose to keep them centered, and the spring that pushes the two grinders apart does not have even tension around the whole axle. So when the grinder is adjusted for a coarse grind, this creates quite a bit of slack/looseness between the two grinder parts. The two grinder parts end up not being centered while the grinder is in use causing beans to pass through the non-uniform slit.\\n\\nBecause of this fault, the grinder is not going to work too well for anything but super fine grinds. Under the super fine grind setting, there is enough tension coming from the nut, keeping two grinders centered. The plastic parts that keep the grinders in place will probably get worn out really fast though. I am returning my unit and hope I can find another grinder that is made better (hopefully in Japan) with less plastic.\",\n \"Product: Citristar Citrus Juicer - the quiet yet powerful juicer - can start you on your way to better health. With minimal time & effort, Citristar extracts this extremely beneficial juice for you and your entire family. The Citristars unique, high-clearance stainless-steel spout prevents clogging and ensures continuous operation. The quiet yet powerful motor makes quick work of all your favorite citrus fruits, making Citristar the only appliance needed for all your citrus juicing needs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Still going strong after 2+ years!\\n\\nReview: I have been using this citrus juicer for almost 3 years and it's still going strong! I don't juice oranges very often, but I make cocktails and lemonade so I juice lemons and limes a lot. This juicer has many good features. I love the locking spout that allows me to juice 3 lemons first and look for a bottle/cup to pour the juice in later. The cord wrap is convenient for storage, and the stainless steel filter works very well and hasn't rusted.\\n\\nGenerally this device is easy to clean and maintain. However, there are many grooves so a good dish wand brush with pipe cleaners is recommended for a thorough cleaning (I personally use the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/OXO-Good-Grips-Water-Bottle-Cleaning-Set/dp/B008HMF9LS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">OXO Good Grips Water Bottle Cleaning Set</a>). Make sure you use a pipe cleaner to brush the spout because a lot of guck can build up there!\\n\\nThe only thing I don't like is the plastic cover lid. There is no reliable place to put it when the plastic resevoir and the steel screen is being washed and drying on the dish rack. As a result my lid fell off the counter a couple times and has since cracked. It does keep the dust out of the assembly when your juicer is sitting on the counter though.\",\n \"Product: Calphalon Silicone Tongs feature a comfortable, grip-anywhere handle for easy maneuverability, and the long handles keeps hands a safe distance from hot foods. Serving tongs are heat-resistant to 500F, making them exceptionally useful in the kitchen, whether you're turning a delicate pan-seared sole filet on the stovetop, removing roasted vegetables from the oven, or using as salad tongs.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Functional and good looking with one flaw\\n\\nReview: These tongs are awesome! They look so professional and are of high quality. I agree with the other reviewer that compares these to the OXO tongs that these are very well designed/engineered. I love how the silicone parts of the tong are integrated seamlessly with the metal. The handles are also wrapped partly in silicone so they feel nice to hold. I cook with these all the time now, for turning things over in the oven, grilling, pan-searing, tossing salads, sauteing, etc. These are so useful!\\n\\nMy only complaint is that I got pinched once by the lock mechanism at the top. I got a nick from it on my palm. However, I did not find the lock hard to use at all, just pull when you want to unlock, and when you want to lock them back up, just squeeze the tongs together and push. You just have to make sure to keep you other hand away from the lock to avoid getting pinched. Once you do get them locked, the tongs look very nice and polished, like a closed fan almost. I love these so much I felt compelled to write a review right after I cooked today. Not all tongs are made equal! Buy this one!\\n\\nUPDATE: I've been using these tongs for months and I realized this tool has one annoying flaw so I removed a star. These tongs will pinch you!! Every time I use these tongs, I have to make sure I do not hold them too far up the handle or the pinky side of my palm will get pinched by the space between the lock tab and the metal when the tongs open up. I haven't bled from getting pinched yet but it really really hurts.\",\n \"Product: These tools provide the basics, whether you are a novice or a pro, for making perfect drinks at your next party. Each set includes one 20 ounce mixing glass, one stainless steel shaker, and one stainless steel strainer. This is a great bachelor, wedding, housewarming, or host gift, as well as an excellent addition for the home bartender connoisseur. The glass is dishwasher safe and made in the USA. Stainless steel shaker and strainer are made in India and hand washing is recommended.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Doesn't leak, but little too big.\\n\\nReview: It was VERY difficult for me to find a good boston style cocktail shaker!! I finally gave this set a try and it works great!\\nBefore this set, I tried the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/True-Boston-Shaker/dp/B0081HCW9G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">True Boston Shaker</a> and the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Stainless-Steel-Cocktail-Shaker-28-oz/dp/B000NNO2X0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker (28 oz.)</a>. The True Boston Shaker leaked!! The 28oz boston shaker cup was 30oz and did not go well with the standard 16oz pint glass I had at home.\\n\\nThis set comes with a metal cup that is maybe 32 ounces and the glass can hold maybe 24 ounces of fluid. This could be a pro or con. For me it is a little too big because I have small hands and it gets difficult to hold due to the size and weight. The good thing is this set does not leak and the recipes printed on the side of the glass are traditionally correct recipes for some standard bar drinks.\\n\\nI have not used the strainer. From what I can tell, it looks really cheap and will probably rust. I have <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/OXO-SteeL-Cocktail-Strainer/dp/B0000DAQ93/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">OXO SteeL Cocktail Strainer</a> as well as the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/OXO-SteeL-Double-Jigger/dp/B0036X4YOG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">OXO SteeL Double Jigger</a>. The OXO strainer is a little too small to cover the big cup that comes with this set but it works. I love the jigger from OXO though, highly recommend.\\n\\nEven if you don't use the strainer that comes with this set, it is still a VERY good value! You can get this set even cheaper at Target. I got mine for $10. All the other sets I found cost at least double.\",\n \"Product: Fill your kitchen with the smells of fresh baked bread. Make scrumptious yet inexpensive, bakery-style artisan bread with our new West Bend electronic dual-blade breadmaker.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great machine just not so great user manual\\n\\nReview: This is my first ever bread machine so I don't have any other bread machine to compare it. I bought this for my parents for Christmas but they're too lazy to bother with it, so I'm the one making the bread.\\n\\nPros: easy to program, has a lot of features, makes good bread!\\nCons: bad user manual recipes, blades hard to remove from the pan (but easily fixable by soaking in water and detergent)\\n\\nMachine Mechanics, Usability and Features:\\nI like how this machine has two kneading blades, and I think many other machines at this price only have one blade. This machine also comes with many bread type settings including settings for french, quick (for those using baking soda instead of yeast), wheat, and sweet bread. I mainly use the basic setting on this machine though because I find it works best. In terms of hardware and mechanics, this bread machine is not hard to use. There a few buttons you need to press to get to the right setting (bread type, crust darkness, and loaf size) but they're easy to use and understand with the lcd screen. I found it a little tricky to line up the pan with the pan rest on the bottom of the machine but I think that's with every bread machine. You also have to make sure the blades are put in properly, that the grooves are matched up so the blades align with the rod. Otherwise, they won't spin. Some reviewers complained about how the blades would sometimes come off and get stuck inside the finished loaf and they'd have to fish the blades out--the machine comes with a metal hook for that--and there would be holes in the bottom. I personally don't care if there are holes in my bread. Bread with holes in the bottom is still edible and still delicious. Another reviewer complained about the opposite, how the blades would get stuck on the pan. This happened to me, too. I found the solution is just make sure you soak the pan with water and detergent immediately after you take the loaf out. All these are minor concerns and I wouldn't give this machine one fewer star because of them.\\n\\nHow Well It Bakes:\\nAs for the resulting bread, be warned if you're a first time bread-baker (like me), it might require some tinkering before you find a recipe that works. My first three tries at sweet bread resulted in dense dough-like loaves, and I was about to blame the failure on the machine. However, on the fourth try, I used a different recipe, which I found on the Internet, and that loaf turned out amazing! For the first three loaves, I used recipes from the user manual. They not only did not work with the bread machine that they were written for nor did they taste very good in terms of ingredient proportions (e.g. too sweet, not enough raisins, etc.). So my advice is to disregard the recipes from the user manual and just look for highly rated bread machine recipes online or buy a bread machine recipe book like this one, <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Betty-Crocker-s-Best-Bread-Machine-Cookbook-The-Goodness-of-Homemade-Bread-the-Easy-Way/dp/0028630238/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Betty Crocker's Best Bread Machine Cookbook: The Goodness of Homemade Bread the Easy Way</a>. I also found that, if you're using active dry yeast, you need to activate it before adding it to the machine, or your bread will not rise very well. This is called proofing the yeast. To do this, add the desired yeast with a spoon of sugar and add warm (not steaming) tap water to cover the yeast. Stir and wait 5 to 10 minutes and if you have good yeast, there should be lots of foam and bubbles. If you see no activity, throw the yeast away and buy a fresh batch.\\n\\nThis is the cinnamon raisin bread recipe that I used. I didn't have cinnamon but without it the plain raisin bread still turned out excellent. It's from the Betty Crocker website, and it makes a 1.5lb loaf.\\n\\n1 cup water (I used hot, not steaming, tap water)\\n2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened\\n3 cups bread flour (I used regular all purpose white flour and it still turned out great! Make sure you don't pack the flour and try sifting it.)\\n3 tablespoons sugar\\n1 1/2 teaspoons salt\\n1 teaspoon ground cinnamon\\n2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast (I used active dry yeast, just make sure you proof it beforehand to activate it)\\n3/4 cup raisins\\n\\n1. Before adding ingredients, proof the yeast and soak raisins in water for 5-10 minutes (to make them soft).\\n2. Add all ingredients (except the raisins) to the pan in the order according to the manual (liquids first, then dry ingredients, then yeast).\\n3. Put the machine on the basic setting (setting #1), light crust, 1.5lb loaf, and press start.\\n4. Drain raisins and add them in during the second kneading cycle.\\n\\nI know I've written more than just a review because I added some tips and a recipe. I wanted to make the point that if you do decide to buy this bread machine and end up getting dense loaves with it, it's not the machine's fault. You just need the right recipe!\",\n \"Product: ROSKYROSKYROSKY\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Does not get rid of odors but good for allergies\\n\\nReview: I got this unit about an year ago because I adopted 2 cats and wanted to get rid of the stink from their litter boxes. I have a sensitive nose and can't stand the smell of cat poop. Well unfortunately, this unit did not work for that purpose. I found that if you put this unit next to a source of foul odor, it will just suck in that foul air and distribute it all over the room. I even doubled up on carbon filters and that did not do the trick.\\n\\nWith that said, I do not regret my purchase because this air purifier has helped with my seasonal allergies in the spring time. I was sneezing up a storm this past spring whenever I went outside and found relief indoors with my windows closed and this unit running 24/7 on auto mode.\\n\\nThis unit is very sensitive to a sudden increase in particulates in the air but not necessarily odor. Whenever I use fragrances, this would kick off to turbo mode. Once I triggered this thing by farting (it was under the covers, too!). Cooking will trigger it, too. I have burned soy candles candle next to it however, and this did not trigger it. Using essential oils will trigger it. Sometimes this unit gets triggered randomly but expelling air or mist next to the unit will definitely trigger it.\\n\\nI currently have my unit in my bedroom and it has helped a lot with pet dander and keeping the air fresh. I keep it on auto-mode as I find it to be quiet enough to not require keeping it in sleep mode. I do not use the plasmawave technology. I'm not exactly sure what it does because I never noticed a difference in keeping it on or off. Also, whenever I turen plasmawave on, my unit makes a squeaky noise.\\n\\nOne last thing, the hepa filter in the unit is suppose to be washable. However, when I tried to wash it, it just got waterlogged and I wasn't sure if washing it did anything at all. I could see no noticeable difference before and after washing the thing.\\n\\nOverall though, I do notice better air quality with this unit and would recommend it if you need an air purifier.\",\n \"Product: This classically designed Boston Shaker is easy to use to mix your favorite cocktails. Its sleek design looks great at any bar and the stainless steel makes mixing drinks effortless.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Leaks, rubber ring around glass useless\\n\\nReview: Where did all these good reviews come from? This thing leaks and I can't get a good seal no matter what. You might as well just take the rubber seal off because it won't stay on the glass rim. If you do take the seal off off, the glass goes farther into the tin and the set would no longer be able to hold much liquid that way. Terrible design. The tin cup is also at an awkward capacity of 26 oz. I think the standard is 28 oz and goes well with a 16 oz pint glass. This makes the glass that comes with this set an awkward size too at 15oz. I did not realize before purchasing this product that I could just get the tin and an standard bar glass for 1/3 of the price of this set.\",\n \"Product: Need improved comfort and support for your existing mattress? Our 3 inch blended latex topper may be the perfect solution to give your mattress a magnificent feel. We offer three different firmness options in our latex topper line. By adding one of our toppers to your bed you are adding a layer of one of the highest quality foam in the mattress industry. Our toppers are completely encased in a natural bamboo fabric. This topper will go directly on top of your current mattress. Our soft latex topper is going to be a 19 ILD Latex topper. This will add a nice layer of softness to your bed. The medium latex topper is going to be 28 ILD latex. This topper is great when you are trying to add a little bit of softness but mainly trying to achieve pressure point relief. The firm latex topper is going to add a layer of pressure point relief without adding any softness to the bed. Latex is one of the most durable products in the mattress industry. It provides unbeatable support and comfort without the sinking feeling. Latex toppers provide the perfect balance of comfort and support so you can enjoy deep, sound sleep night after night. Latex instantaneously conforms to the shape of your body, gently supporting and comforting you all night long, with up to 33% more pressure relief than other foam bedding. Talalay latex is 4x more breathable than polyurethane, memory foam or Dunlop process latex.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Still using after 3 years..\\n\\nReview: I bought the topper in February of 2014. I have been using it for over 3 years. It transformed my crappy too firm Ikea mattress that gave me back pain (Ikea Sultan Fjordgar, now discontinued) to like sleeping on a cloud. I have a full sized mattress and I rotate the topper every half a year and have not had any sagging issues. I weigh ~150 pounds. The mattress topper comes in a bamboo cover. The cover is good quality and looks nice but I do believe it makes the topper sleep a bit hotter. You can definitely remove the cover if needed. As for firmness, I have it in SOFT and it has some \\\"squish\\\" and bounce factor but still offers some support because the topper is a good 3 inches. If you like soft, I believe going medium would be too firm. The only thing the SOFT topper is not good for is sitting in bed because my butt kind of sinks too much. For sleeping, it is great.\\n\\nI recently had my new boyfriend sleep in my bed and he loves it and will be ordering one for himself, too.\",\n \"Product: Safety 1st Ultrasonic 360 Humidifier - Blue The Ultrasonic 360 Humidifier by Safety 1st brings moisture rich air to the nursery...or any room of the house you choose! With variable mist control and 2 fully rotating outlets, it's easy to adjust the moisture to the level you prefer. Product Features: Gently soothes baby with moisture rich air Quiet Operation Variable mist control Two 360 mist outlets Easy-fill tank for 12 hours of nursery coverage Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 8.75 x 8.75\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Garbage! Do not buy. Potential shock hazard!\\n\\nReview: This humidifier worked 4 times over 1 month and then it started leaking.\\n\\nWhen it worked, I turned the mist level all the way up and ended up with WET FLOORS after an hour. I realized the mist isn't steam, just fine water particles so the humidifier was basically continuously spraying my floors with 1 gallon of water. Another problem was when the tank was half full, it gurgled. I could not sleep with it on even though the whole point of my getting this thing was because the past winter was terribly harsh and dry which made it difficult to breathe at night.\\n\\nI tolerated those problems, until the 4th time I go to use this thing, it leak water all over my nightstand and water got everywhere within 10 minutes. It was leaking water from the place where the electrical cord comes out of the base! How is this even safe?\\n\\nAvoid! I hope I can get my money back.\",\n \"Product: High-Performance Vacuum - Great for Picking up Dust and Allergens LET IT RUN. YOUR WORK IS DONE. While you do other things, Neato Botvac vacuums dirt, crumbs and dust bunnies from all floor types and every corner of your home.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Botvac is brain damaged\\n\\nReview: I have a Neato XV-21 and bought this robot because it was on sale at Best Buy. I also bought the combo brush accessory with it effectively turning into the equivalent of the Botvac 80. I am however extremely disappointed. There is a serious manufacturing defect with my new Botvac. It gets stuck in a 2 by 2 feet area and consistently tries to go backwards and back into walls. I know this is not normal because my XV-21 never did that. I am going to try to do a software update on it and if there is no fix for that, this unit is going back to the store.\\n\\nUpdate: I was able to get a replacement robot from Neato. The diagnosis was a stuck bumper. The bumper on the robot would not click so the robot thought it was consistently bumping into a wall, thus it would back up repeatedly. However, Neato still messed up or something and sent me the Botvac 80 (the purple model) instead of the 75 that I originally purchased. The Botvac 80 is the except same robot except different color and different accessories. I guess this worked in my favor because I got to keep the old accessories that came with the 75 (extra filters) AND the new accessories that came with the 80 (combo brush). My only concern is that if the Botvac 80 they sent me breaks, I'm not sure what I would do about proof of purchase since I had originally bought the 75 and not the 80. Oh well, I'll worry about it when it happens.\\n\\nAnyway, my replacement Botvac works fine except it has problems with turning around next to stairs. It keeps getting stuck between the corner between the top of the stairs and the hall way wall when it tries to turn around. My Neato XV-21 never did that. I do notice the battery on the Botvac has a little more power than the battery on the XV-21. It was able to get over a slightly higher ledge going from my bathroom to the hallway where as my Neato XV-21 would always get stuck at that point. Lastly, the wall brush on the Botvac is useless. I found that my XV-21 hugged walls better and got more debris along the edge compared to the Botvac!\\n\\nThe only improvements on the Botvac seems to be that the battery is better and it is slightly quieter. Otherwise, this machine is quite buggy and not worth the extra money. I would recommend the XV-21 over the Botvac.\",\n \"Product: High-Performance Vacuum - Great for Homes with Pets LET IT RUN. YOUR WORK IS DONE. While you do other things, Neato Botvac vacuums dirt, crumbs and dust bunnies from all floor types and every corner of your home. Ideal for pet owners and allergy sufferers.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: XV-21 performs better than the Botvac 80. Don't fix what's not broken! Horrendous new design\\n\\nReview: I've had this robot for a little more than half a year (since Oct 2014). I originally got the Botvac 75, the green one, and it had a stuck bumper. I called Neato and they sent me a replacement but sent me a Botvac 80 instead. I believe these two are the exact same robot except the color and the different accessories.\\n\\nI also own a Neato XV-21 and I think that the XV-21 performs better than the Botvac 80. The only improvement over the XV-21 is that the Botvac 80 isn't as loud and has a slightly more high pitched vacuum noise. The rest of the \\\"improvements\\\" do not work so well and I think made the Botvac worse.\\n\\n1. The Botvac is thinner but wider than the XV series. I don't think this is improvement because my XV-21 never had problems getting under furniture. My Botvac now has problems going between furniture and around corners because it's about 1-2 inches wider.\\n2. They got rid of the hard buttons and made the navigation menu buttons captive touch! This doesn't feel natural. I always mis-press when I set the vacuum. The buttons also have an unnatural response time and don't give any sort of feedback.\\n3. The vacuum frequently gets stuck for no reason.\\n4. The battery has greater capacity but the power it supplies will degrade over time! I have this 1 inch high ledge going from my bathroom to the hallway. The XV-21 could not go over it and would frequently get stuck. When I first got the Botvac, it would be able to go over it. However, now after 6 months, it frequently gets stuck too. I believe it's because the battery is getting older and can no longer supply the motor with as much juice as before.\\n5. The side brush frequently falls off. If I have any kind of uneven surface (like a rug), the side brush that is supposed to be used to sweep the edges of walls would fall off! This brush is also pretty useless because I noticed my Botvac never hugs wall anyway. My Neato XV-21 did much better without this brush! I know because I frequently have little pieces of crumbs (onion/garlic skin) at the edge of the floor near my kitchen counters. The XV-21 would pick up most of it where as the Botvac just left the skins.\\n6. This vacuum gets stuck in corners for no reason. When it gets stuck, it has the most annoying beep!!! The beep is more annoying than a whining cat begging for food. I got this vacuum because of how much my cats shed, which is pretty annoying. This vacuum annoys me more than my cats ever will. I have this thing set to vacuum 6 days a week before I get home from work. It gets stuck about 3 times a week so I would go home to find it beeping. Often, it will tell me to clear its path when NOTHING is in front of it!\\n7. WORST OF ALL, THIS VACUUM EATS CORDS. Don't ever leave your cords hanging from the wall socket or draping off of a table. I've had 2 cell phone cords get mangled by this. THe Botvac will end up dragging the cord around. This never happened with my XV-21; it would just pass the cord over. Sometimes a random cord, a cat toy, or even it's own side brush will fall off and get stuck in the main brush and I'll come home and find the vacuum beeping with the \\\"please free my brush from debris\\\" message.\\n\\nThe Botvac will vacuum for you but a lot of \\\"baby sitting\\\" is required. The XV-21 is much less high maintenance and vacuums just as well if not better. Maybe my replacement unit is also nonfunctional and I should call in to customer service. Good luck with that; the waiting time is horrendously long. Last time they put me on hold for at least 20 minutes!\",\n \"Product: Magnetic Spice Jars - Shake or Pour Containers - Tins Attach to Most Refrigerator Doors: This set of Magnetic Spice Dispensers allow you to keep your spices close at hand on your refrigerator or appliance doors. The tins feature see through windows with openings to either pour or shake. Tight fit lids will not pop off. They are lightweight, but durable and easy to clean. Each jar measures 2.25\\\" x 2.25\\\" x. 2.5\\\"\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: The negative reviews were right, don't buy!\\n\\nReview: Very disappoint!! I bought 4 12-packs of these for my spices and I can't use them!\\n\\n1. The 3 star review about the 12 pack being poor quality is right. There are slight gaps on the lids and one tin even came dented.\\n\\n2. Don't listen to all those 5 star reviews, these tins leak powder!! Don't even bother using these with garlic powder (seriously who doesn't have this spice in their pantry), ground cinnamon, or any other kind powdery spice!! If you shake the tin just a little bit (for example grabbing it off of the fridge), you'll get spice all over your hands. (See my photo of powder on the edges).\\n3. The tins are painted aluminum...think MacBook but instead of a real anondized aluminum finish it's painted on and tacky looking!\\n\\nI got this set to stay organized, especially because the tins were square instead of round so they stack better but the leaky lid and poor quality is unacceptable!!\",\n \"Product: Tornado ice tea pot features an exetended strainer for maximum expansion of tea leaves. The top and bottom of the strainer separates for easy cleaning. To make a simple delicious cold-brew tea just add tea leaves (sencha, green , deep-roasted green tea recommended) and water. The slow cold-brew method brings out the fresh, sweet flavor of the tea without the acerbity or the bitterness. The lid with the attached mesh filter prevents the leaves from being poured into the cup.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Inner filter has a flaw, only good for iced tea\\n\\nReview: This device looks very cool and is very well made but the inner tea leaf filter is not 100% functional. The mesh material on the filter is very fine and will filter out all of your tea leaves. However, all that is ruined by the plastic tip at the bottom of the filter funnel. At the tip/bottom of the filter, there are some slits that will allow the small pieces of tea through. Because of this, I always end up with sludge/tea debris at the bottom of the beaker. I don't know why those slits are there! The fine mesh also stains very easily. You'll need to scrub and scour it with a toothbrush to get tea stains out.\\n\\nAlthough the glass is tempered and can be filled with boiling water, I would not recommend using this pot for hot tea. There is no handle so you risk burning your hands trying to pour hot tea. I also found the capacity to be lacking! The pot is empty after 2 glasses of iced tea. Since ice-tea takes a while to make, the small capacity is rather inconvenient.\",\n \"Product: Amici's set of two Refrigerator door pitchers , one with Optic finish and one in a Octagonal shape. Both refrigerator pitchers will fit in the door of your fridge and are tempered glass to withstand the cold temperature in the fridge. Optic Pitcher is 9-1/2-Inch in height 36-Ounce; Octagonal Pitcher is 9-1/2-Inch in height 36-Ounce and both are dishwasher safe\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: flawed design and way over priced on amazon\\n\\nReview: Even though the description says set of two, Amazon only sent me one pitcher! I ended up getting a 50% refund so I guess it worked out. When I bought it, the set of two costed around $13 for two pitchers. Since I only received one pitcher, I paid $6.50 for one after the 50% refund. (At the writing of this review, the price for set of two is now around $24.) Even though I only paid $6.50, I still overpaid because a week later, at Marshalls homegoods, I saw the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Bormioli-Rocco-Gelo-2-Piece-Glass-Pitcher-Set-with-Lids-Red-and-Green/dp/B000P4D972/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Bormioli Rocco Gelo 2-Piece Glass Pitcher Set with Lids, Red and Green</a> pitcher (a different brand but similar style) for only $4.50. If you're considering a glass pitcher like this, check out Marshall's, TJ Maxx, or Ross first!\\n\\nAs for the functionality of the pitcher, they work okay. Be warned that the plastic cap at the top is not sealed or leak proof! Also, pouring with the cap on is rather difficult. Since the cap has no air holes to let air in to displace the liquid (like on tea pots), whatever you're pouring will just dribble out of the spout. To make liquid come out faster, you'll have to tilt the pitcher almost 90 degrees or remove the cap completely. The handle on the pitcher is also really close to the body of the pitcher, making it difficult to hold! Even for me, who has medium-sized girl hands, my knuckles feel uncomfortably cramped when holding the pitcher.\\n\\nOne good thing is that the glass is sturdy and tempered. It will not explode/crack with boiling water. Again, do check out your local department store for a better deal.\",\n \"Product: Charge your HP TouchPad without wires using the sleek, stylish HP Touchstone Charging Dock. Simply place your tablet in the HP charging dock in either portrait or landscape view. With wireless charging, there are no connectors or cables to untangle. The easel back also lets you adjust the viewing angle to multiple positions, so you can watch videos and read books more comfortably. Browse the web effortlessly without using up the battery on your HP TouchPad. The charge time with this HP charging dock is the same as using a standard AC power adapter. Plus, the HP Touchstone Charging Dock keeps your HP tablet in a safe place when youre not using it.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Looks awkward with the official HP folio\\n\\nReview: Wireless charging is cool and everything but for aesthetic reasons, HP could have made the ledge on the touchstone little bigger/longer! I have the HP folio case and my Touchpad does not stand very well on the ledge with the case on. They could have extended the ledge by 1/8 of an inch more and both the case and the touchpad would have fit on the charger. But no. When I put the Touchpad on with the case (flap behind the touchpad), the Touchpad falls off. The flap of the case stays on the ledge but since the flap does not stick to the Touchpad, the Touchpad ends up crooked. Sometimes, the Touchpad will even fall off onto the table. It will still charge but it looks bad with the Touchpad half falling off.\",\n \"Product: This Ultra Bright LED Bike Light/Flashlight Combo with 1000x Zoom and has a range of up to 500 feet, making it one of the most powerful and versatile Bike Lights available. It is removable (please see above) so it can be used as a tactical or recreational flashlight. There are three brightness settings - full strength, 50% Power Save Mode, and Emergency Flash Safety Mode - so it's perfect for any circumstance or activity. It's made with reliability in mind, as it's constructed with the highest quality materials and is battery powered with three AAA batteries. The light is waterproof and perfect for any weather, and it's Emergency Flash settings make it an essential piece of safety equipment. The bulb is powered with 250 lumens, making sure you see where you're going and others see you! 100% Lifetime Guarantee! BUY NOW and get a FREE TAILLIGHT!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: It's just a flashlight! Overpriced.\\n\\nReview: I don't understand the reason behind the abundance of 5 star reviews given to this product. For the price I expected a better light! I am disappointed because this light looks like a cheap aluminum flashlight powered by 3 AAA batteries. The light might look fancy because it comes with a mount and a lens in the front that allows you to focus the light, but really the light itself feels and looks pretty cheap. When you open it up to put the batteries in, the internals of the light looks like those cheap chinese mass produced flashlights you can buy from the dollar store. The beam of light this flashlight produces isn't that great. Unfocused, the flashlight only dimly lights up like 2 feet in front of my bike, hardly useful when it comes to biking on unlit urban streets when I'm trying to avoid j-walking pedestrians or dangerous potholes. It also has that annoying diffused light ring effect in the light it shines, the kind you find in cheap flashlights! The only way to make this light bright enough to illumine something is to focus the beam with the lens in the front. However, once focused, the light would only be able to illumine a very small area the size of a \\\"no parking/stopping any time\\\" street sign at 50 feet away. This focused light is very targeted and doesn't seem to do anything except potentially distract drivers in front of me or blind a pedestrian in the face. It reminds me of the times in elementary school when kids would bring mirrors to class to mess with people by reflecting a spot of light on the ceiling or at the teacher's face.\\n\\nI would not call this light a headlight. I would only use it to increase your visibility for oncoming cars, not for illumining the road. The 3rd photo posted on the left on the product page does not reflect the actual product I got. The actual light produced by this unit is much dimmer and has an annoying refracted light ring around the main beam of light. Oh and the tail light I got was cool for one day except now it won't stay on! Whenever I click to turn it on, it would turn back off. Garbage. I'd rather pay $30 more for a brand name head light that works better.\\n\\nUpdate: If you search on Amazon, you can buy a similar flashlight for about $8, a mount for $4, and the same taillight for $3. This comes out to be half the price of this set!\",\n \"Product: PC's cost a lot of money, why leave yours sitting around on the floor? Elevate your desktop computer to where it's meant to be with a 6800B under desk CPU stand and you'll enjoy a more comfortable computing space, better access to your drives and ports, and quieter, safer use of your PC. Unfortunately we don't all have executive, Ping-Pong table sized desks. Most are small and cramped, especially when you're find room for a bulky desktop computer. With the 6800B under desk CPU stand you'll be able to mount your PC tower on an under desk CPU holder instead of leaving it on the floor to take up your foot space. Use this CPU holder and you'll finally have room to stretch! Our under desk CPU stand will also provide better access to your PC's drives and ports. Mounted on this CPU holder your CD and DVD ROM drives will be in easy reach. You won't have to dig so much to reach the ports on the rear of your tower either, since your PC will sit on the CPU holder above and away from most the natural cable clutter! Mounted safely in our CPU holder your PC will receive superior ventilation than it would not set in an under desk CPU stand. Better ventilation reduces the risk of overheating, increases the live span of your parts, and gives your cooling fans a break-making your computer a much quieter place! Our under desk CPU stand also sets your expensive machine out of the way of dirt, dust, bugs, spills, and other common problems. Once you've installed your under desk CPU stand you'll never go back! Your CPU holder will keep your computer safer and better ventilated, nearer to hand for drive and port access, and comfortably off your floor and desk space.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid construction, might sag if your CPU is heavy.\\n\\nReview: I got this for my sit-stand desk to hold my Antec 902 midtower steel chassis that weights about 45 pounds. The mount doesn't swivel or slide but it's made of solid steel and was fairly simple to screw in and install. This mount is big enough to fit a mid tower custom build on the largest setting but not a full tower. Be sure to check measurements.\\n\\nAlso caution, if there is a center beam that run across your desk to support the desktop, you will have to consider your mounting options as far as making room for the beam. For me, I had to go down a notch (adjusted with push pin) in the height adjustments to the highest setting in order for the back of my chassis to clear the center beam of my desk.\\n\\nI'm giving this mount 4 stars because it sort of sags due to the weight of my CPU.\",\n \"Product: The MaxLite3 21 inch Expandable Spinner Upright Luggage is Ultra lightweight, and features a 4-wheel Spinner system that provides a smooth glide with 360 degree maneuverability. A Honeycomb Framing System and EVA foam construction provide exceptional durability while keeping it super light. The built in Protective skid guards, corner guards and crash-guard wheel housings protect against potential damage during travel and the Airline-grade Telescoping aluminum handle with two stops at 38 inch and 42.5 inch ensures a comfortable roll for users of different height. Limited Lifetime warranty\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent suitcase! Definitely recommend 4 wheels over 2.\\n\\nReview: I traveled internationally on United flights with this \\\"carry-on\\\" sized luggage and I loved it! This suitcase is actually 21.5 inches with the spinner wheels so half an inch too tall according to United's size limits but the difference is so minimal no one will notice. It has just enough pockets where you aren't tempted to over stuff to the point where things bulge out awkwardly but it has enough pockets for you to easily partition things you want to keep separate such as your passport or cell phone charger.\\n\\nI definitely would recommend the spinner wheels versus the 2 wheel rollaboard. The spinner wheels help you effortlessly navigate through the airplane aisles when you turn the suitcase side ways. It makes boarding and getting on the airplane less of an hassle. I have see so many people struggle with the 2 wheel trying to drag the suitcase behind them through the aisle only to knock their suitcase on the seats and end up having to lift the suitcase up and carry it over. Trust me, go with the 4 wheel.\",\n \"Product: The MaxLite3 25 inch Expandable Spinner Upright Luggage is Ultra lightweight, and features a 4-wheel Spinner system that provides a smooth glide with 360 degree maneuverability. A Honeycomb Framing System and EVA foam construction provide exceptional durability while keeping it super light. The built in Protective skid guards, corner guards and crash-guard wheel housings protect against potential damage during travel and the Airline-grade Telescoping aluminum handle with two stops at 38 inch and 42.5 inch ensures a comfortable roll for users of different height. Limited Lifetime warranty\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Recommend this suitcase for international travel!\\n\\nReview: Great suitcase! 25\\\" was the perfect size for my international trip. I stuffed it full with 2 weeks worth of summer clothes and gifts and was still 5 pounds under the 50 pound limit for United. It held up well for my 16,000 mile round trip flight. If you are looking for airline check luggage, I would stick with a suitcase 26\\\" or smaller or you will easily go over the weight limit.\\n\\nAlso if you are debating between 2 wheel versus 4 wheel, I recommend the 4 wheel. I have heard complaints of 4 wheel luggage rolling away from you and wheels getting caught on uneven roads but I experienced none of these problems. The majority of my time was spent rolling the suitcase inside airports, inside hotels or through parking lots. The wheels were able to handle all these situations with no problem.\\n\\nI especially enjoyed being able to have both hands full in the airport and being able to guide my suitcase alongside me as I'm walking by kicking it with my feet. You can't do that with a rollaboard suitcase!\",\n \"Product: Add a little touch of flair to your outfit with this unique design ear cuff wrap earrings ,which includes a left ear wrap earrings pair with a stunning crystal flower studs.Insert with stunning clear cubic zirconia crystals,which will makes you shining like a star.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty and sparkly but not the most comfortable\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-RX191OYKWSGLR\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81LM1QnGYSS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71O-ADrgjkS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> The listing does not say but the post of the earrings are sterling silver, hence why they are so soft. The reason I did not give this item 5 stars is because, the posts are ever slightly too thick and feel slightly uncomfortable in my lobe. The cuff part needed some slight pinching to stay on my cartilage. I also did not expect the crystals to be so \\\"flat\\\". I was hoping they would stick out of the setting more viewed from the side (see photo).\\n\\nFor some reason, the product I received did not have the same backs as pictured. Mine did not have the round plastic. These earrings also come in gold/multi-colored crystals version form Ear Vines. I ordered those too and those came with the round plastic backs like picture (see photo). I suspect the silver version I received was a previous customer return and have been tampered with.\\n\\nI paid full price for this item. I review free items but this is not one of them.\",\n \"Product: Superlight helmet, very good value for money, MTB. Monoshell-in mould technology, 15 air vents, Comfort+ Fit System with height adjustment, antibacterial pads, bug net and removable visor.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fits my large wide head!\\n\\nReview: I bought the silver/pink in size large. I'm a woman with a wide face and big head. My face is so wide for a woman, I usually have to get unisex or men's frames when it comes to glasses.\\n\\nI don't care about wearing men's glasses but I wanted a pastel colored helmet that looked somewhat girly. I've bought two other helmets for women on Amazon (<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/2013-Giro-Unisex-Indicator-Helmet-Pearl-White-Turquoise-Tallac-Uni/dp/B009YV5X30/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">2013 Giro Unisex Indicator Helmet Pearl White / Turquoise Tallac Uni</a> and <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Schwinn-Women-s-Starlet-Wave-Helmet-Green/dp/B0030RSEW6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Schwinn Women's Starlet Wave Helmet, Green</a>) and neither fit! I'm so glad this helmet actually fits my head! The helmet part is relatively comfortable, too. The only thing I don't like is that the chin strap sits way far towards the back of my chin and presses on my throat. There's no way to get the strap to sit more forward and according to manual that's where it's suppose to be. Otherwise, the helmet appears to be in good quality. I haven't fell off my bike but it has protected my head from low hanging tree branches and I did not feel a thing!\",\n \"Product: Stop ExercizingStart Dancing! Forget everything you dread about workouts. Because starting today, exercize isn't something you have to do. It's something you'll want to do. Beachbody is about to show you how to dance your way to fit in just 4 weeks! Let loose your inner dancer as you learn the hottest professionally choreographed dance routines. You'll be so focused on mastering the moves and having a blast, you'll forget you're working outand loosing weight! This is your chance to dance like no one is watchingin the comfort of your own home.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very intense for beginners!! If you're out of shape! Take it slow!!\\n\\nReview: I like dancing and this work out program is fun because it doesn't feel like I'm just repeating motions for no reason. The moves are well choreographed to the music and if you master them you will feel like a bad ass with great dance moves.\\n\\nHowever, be warned, this program is very intense for beginners! I'm a sedentary female, 27, 5'5\\\", ~157 pounds, 31 inch waist, wear size 10 pants, small in shirt though because I'm midriff heavy. I have too much love handle fat and want to lose 20 pounds. I sit on my ass in front of a computer all day. My only exercise is the half mile walk to work. I've been dieting and cutting out carbs but it doesn't seem to work as well because I don't exercise.\\n\\nI decided I wanted to be skinny now so I started this program. Day 1, saw that the Crazy 8 work out was only 30 minutes long and I was like, that's it? This will be a breeze! I totally overestimated myself. 13 minutes in, I was sweating my ass off and dying. I was on the verge of tears and felt like I was going to faint. Had to stop and take a break and finished the rest. I can do weight training and strength conditioning exercises, like the P90X yoga without having to stop, but CIZE was just too intense! The good news is the exercise is only 30 minutes, not long at all so it's easy to fit into your day.\\n\\nI think I will take it easy, do yoga tomorrow, and then try the same Crazy 8s routine 2 days from now on. Hopefully I can last longer before dying. I don't plan to follow the schedule but will do it 3x a week along with some light yoga mixed in every other day off of Youtube. I will report back once I do this for a month.\\n\\nAs far as my diet goes, I'm taking CLA supplement and following a low carb diet: no sugary drinks, quitting alcohol, if I do eat carbs eat in small quantities. Lots of water and tea.\",\n \"Product: Beginners connecting turns to pros on the hunt for a new trick can drop with confidence in the Burton Total Impact Short, Protected by G-Form. G-Forms proprietary technology momentarily stiffens on impact, absorbing and dissipating incoming energy, hit after hit. Quick-drying, breathable properties and a low-profile boxer short style fit means all-day comfort and stealth performance thats easily hidden underneath your snowboard pants and other layers.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works well but not perfect\\n\\nReview: Im a beginner snowboarder, falling on my ass every time I go down the hill pretty much. I bought this because I fell straight down in a sitting 90 degrees position on frozen icy snow and bruised my tailbone badly. I couldn't move effectively or use butt muscles to get up for 3 weeks due to the injury. For the first 2 weeks it hurt to even poop.\\n\\nAfter I healed, I was eager to continue snowboarding and I got this padding to prevent a nasty fall like that again. Ive gone snowboarding twice since I got this and fell repeatedly. I still ended up with a slightly sore tailbone though but not as bad as the other time. The reason is probably because the pad on the back doesnt actually go over my tail bone but hits slightly above it. Im not sure if thats intentional or just my body is different. In any case its better than nothing.\\n\\nI like that these pants don't add bulk and works well enough to prevent major injury, much more preferred than not being able to even use the bathroom or lie down without pain for weeks.\",\n \"Product: Help your cat or dog learn good manners and stay off the window sills or other small areas.Touch the power pack. The action indicator light will blink back the number of times it has been activated (subtract one for your touch) to know the number of times your pet has tried crossing the Scat Mat\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Update: cats too smart\\n\\nReview: This item better than the air canister sprays to keep cats off tabletops, counters, and furniture. If you have a flat surface you want to keep cats away from, definitely choose this deterrent over the spray canisters. I found the cats now fear whatever surface I put this on even if the mat is no longer there. Unlike the air canister, my cats learned to just look for the canister. Once I remove the canister, they will just go back to their old habits and pretend it was never there in the first place.\\n\\nI find the medium setting works best for cats over 5 pounds. The low setting seems too weak.\\n\\nThe only draw back is the mats don't always come in the right size and I can't just buy a bigger size and \\\"fold\\\" it up since that would trigger the contacts. It gets expensive to have to buy all the different sizes. I have a long wide mat for my sofa seats and a long skinny mat for the sofa back cushions that my cats love to lay on top of but they are not long enough to cover all 3 cushions. For counter tops, I would need a smaller mat. Also if I don't lay the mats flat, they like to go off so I always worry about the battery depleting prematurely. Overall this product works and I definitely recommend for flat surfaces.\\n\\nUpdate:My cats are too smart, they now treat this mat the same as air canisters. If it's there, they won't touch it. If it's not there, they climb. Ultimately, it doesn't work to train a bad cat new tricks.\",\n \"Product: Cat Charmer is an interactive cat toy designed to charm and not harm. With a polycarbonate wand and very colorful fabric, Cat Charmer provides excellent aerobic excercize and is a safe interactive toy for all kittens, cats, and kids. Now with bright new candy colored wands and a fun selection of colors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cat loves this toy!\\n\\nReview: My cat was scared of this toy at first because she thought it was a snake. She got used to it and it's her favorite toy. Sometimes I swish the wand in front of her and she will start clawing like crazy. When I am not playing with her, she will drag the tory everywhere and hide it or paw at it. I would be sleeping at night and just hear the plastic stick dragging on my hardwood floors. I just recently moved, and when I was packing the \\\"cat stuff\\\" box, my cat dug this toy out of the unsealed box. She did this 3 times until I figured out it was the cat that kept taking it out of the box, and not just my being absent minded. Only annoying thing is the ribbon part gets knots in it very easily so watch out.\",\n \"Product: Refill for the Innotek SSSCat Ultimate Cat Control System\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheap construction, hard to assemble, air didn't even last 2 days\\n\\nReview: First of all, it took me 20 minutes to even assemble the unit before I could use it. To attach the unit, you have to set the \\\"neck\\\" of the unit around the metal lip of the the can and then slide a locking ring down to clamp it tight. I couldn't slide the ring down because the ring was a tad too small and too tight. My fingers were not strong enough to push it down. I nearly ended up with frostbite from getting sprayed multiple times while trying to line up the unit with the top of the can. I was finally able to pry the ring down using a very small flat head screwdriver. By the end of assembly, I had wasted maybe 1/3 of the can.\\n\\nSo when I finally got the use the product, it did work. The cats were afraid of it and ran away when it sprayed. The sensor however was not very reliable. Sometimes it would not spray at all even when the cats have their noses right on the sensor, and sometimes it would fire multiple times when someone was just walking by.\\n\\nIn theory, this idea is great, but in practice it doesn't work very well. I found the humans in my home set off the spray more than the cats. The sprayed annoyed the humans more than scared the cats. For example, I was trying to keep my adopted stray cat from digging in the kitchen trashcan and knocking it over. I could never catch her but she did it maybe twice a day. In the end, the cat did seem to go into the kitchen for that day but people in the house kept triggering the spray while being in the kitchen. I could have taped the unit inside the trashcan, but that seemed really messy. It might be perhaps useful and more effective to quarantine and cut off the section of the home (either by shutting the cat in the room or closing off an area with a pet gate) that you want the cat to avoid and deliberately put the cat in that area with the Ssscat unit near it. This will force the cat to visit the area you want to target more often than usual. Best to do this while you're out of the home or avoiding the area, so you don't get sprayed yourself. Otherwise if you don't do this, I find the cat will hardly trigger a spray at all because the cat might not visit the area as often as you think. Overall, this whole business of having to quarantine the cat and avoid certain areas yourself is just rather inconvenient.\\n\\nIn the end, my bottle of air did not even last 2 days because of erratic misfires and friendly fires on humans. My cat is no where near trained!\\n\\nI also want to mention I bought a competing product, <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Contech-StayAway-Motion-Activated-Pet-Deterrent/dp/B000DZFFN4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent</a> at the same time. It costs about double of what the Ssscat unit costs but I definitely recommend the Contech over Ssscat. The quality of the plastic on the Ssscat product just seemed cheap and lacked quality control. Both products use the same locking ring mechanics, but I was able to get the ring on the Contech product locked down without too much effort. The plastic ring on the Contech was actually manufactured to be the correct size! The Contech also makes a sound before spraying, which made the cats more aware and more frightened of the unit itself. I just have to put the Contech bottle down and my cats would see it and be cautious around the area, where as they don't seem to notice the presence of the Ssscat unit at all. Just after one spray, I am able to just leave the bottle in the spot without even turning the unit on and the cats would avoid the area completely. Other than the sound difference, the bottle of air that came with the Contech Stayaway was 50% bigger than the Ssscat bottle. The spray mechanics also seems to be different. The Contech's spray seemed to make a louder hiss and sprays half a second lounger where as the Ssscat's spray was a softer hiss. The Sssact does repeating sprays within a second's pause, but I've never seen the Contech unit do that. The repeating sprays seems very wasteful as the cat could already be darting out of sight and the sensor would still pick up the movement and spray anyway.\\n\\nOverall, if you want a more reliable and longer lasting product, I'd say go with the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Contech-StayAway-Motion-Activated-Pet-Deterrent/dp/B000DZFFN4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent</a>. You will still run into the problem of humans setting off the spray but at least the spray will last a little longer because of the bigger can and no useless repeated sprays. Once your cat is trained, you can just leave the unit on sound only or just leave the can out. The only benefit I can see from getting the Ssscat unit is if you specifically don't want the sound option. The high pitched beep from the Contech spray can be annoying and unsettling, especially set off at night. I admit, it even catches me off guard and frightens me sometimes!\",\n \"Product: CK01 Features: -Cat toilet training system. -Toilet train your cat is just a few weeks and save thousands on cat litter. -Fits all toilet sizes including standard, round and elongated. -Works with cats of all ages, sizes and breeds. -Can be removed from the toilet in seconds. -Easy-to-follow training process: gradual 5-Step transition from litter box to toilet. Color: -White. Material: -Plastic. Number of Items Included: -5. Country of Manufacture: -United States. Dimensions: Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -2\\\". Overall Width - Side to Side: -16\\\". Overall Depth - Front to Back: -16\\\". Overall Product Weight: -1.6 lbs.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 100% Litter box free after 2+ years, some tips and additional tools needed!!\\n\\nReview: I used this kit to toilet train my cats 2 years ago. My cats are still using the toilet today. My cats are young cats and are 3 years old. I started toilet training 2 cats on 1 toilet in February of 2014 while they were older kittens. I would say they didn't get used to the idea until a year later. Now they use the toilet like it's natural. I initially started training with <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/C-O-T-Cats-Of-Thrones-Toilet-Seat-for-Cats-Starter-Kit/dp/B00FEQ9TPW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">C.O.T. Cats Of Thrones Toilet Seat for Cats Starter Kit</a>. That kit had some serious flaws and poor instructions and caused me to mess up my training (more on that later). I decided to purchase CitiKitty in May 2014. I was able to finish toilet training with the CitiKitty and some additional tools. This review will be some what of a guide to document my success. I give this kit 4 stars instead of 5 because it isn't perfect and you need to buy additional items to ensure better chance of success!\\n\\nAdditional items you will need:\\n--A new toilet seat SPECIFICALLY the one made by Mayfair with the detachable child seat. The child seat is relatively flat and detaches from the main adult seat should you ever decide to not use it anymore (tip: don't do this, use it indefinitely). The whole toilet seat is relatively easy to take on and off after the install so you can clean the whole seat. There is a round version and an elongated version for different toilets: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Mayfair-183SLOWA-NextStep-Adult-Toilet-Seat-with-Built-in-Child-Potty-Training-Seat-Elongated-White/dp/B00EPET9SQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Mayfair 183SLOWA NextStep Adult Toilet Seat with Built-in Child Potty Training Seat, Elongated, White</a>. The purpose of this seat is to make the toilet seat hole smaller so you cats feel more confident using it. You also do not have to go past punchout 5 (6 total) on the CityKitty using this seat. I found out with a full sized seat, my cat fell in one time trying to poop and that deterred him from using the toilet for while (he would poop in the sink)!!\\n--Flushable kitty litter. I used <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Cat-s-Pride-Premium-Scoopable-Cat-Litter-Jug-14-Pound/dp/B000PR1XO0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Cat's Pride Premium Scoopable Cat Litter Jug, 14-Pound</a> (you can buy from Walmart) and chicken feed (buy from Tractor Supply Company, a farm supply store). Overall, I used up maybe 2 bags of chicken feed and 3 jugs of Cat's Pride Premium litter. Neither of these litter work well as actual litter for a litterbox but they are flushable and cheap and work for training purposes. You will be using a lot of litter.\\n--<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Precious-Cat-Ultra-Litter-Attractant-20-Ounces/dp/B000PKUUU0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Precious Cat Ultra Litter Attractant, 20 Ounces</a>. This item is used to attract your cats to the foreign place to go to the bathroom as well as the new litter you might be using.\\n\\nMake sure you do the following:\\n--Install new toilet seat and leave the child seat down when ever you are done using the bathroom. YES, this is an extra step you have to remember to do. Ask yourself, which is worse: having to put this child seat down every time or having to scoop the cat litter daily and have it track everywhere and have your house smell like poop? Or have your cats too scared of falling in so they stop using the toilet? I just choose to treat my cat like a child. The child seat also shields a bit of water \\\"splash back\\\".\\n--Follow instructions for CitiKitty. Go slow with removing the rings.\\n--Blend the Precious Cat Litter attractant in with the litter to send the message to your cats that the toilet is their new litter box.\\n--Check the toilet and flush all urine and poop at least twice a day if you have 1 toilet shared with 2 cats. I do not recommend more than 2 cats per toilet!! During training, you MUST keep the litter and area clean all the times. This means vacuuming/sweeping/changing the litter and wiping the area with a pet stain cleaner like Nature's Miracle. You will waste a lot of litter (that's why I used chicken feed; costs $12 for 40 pounds).\\n--Clean the toilet bowl and seats often. Cats will miss and can get pee on the seats. Removable seat design from the mayfair seat helps a lot!\\n--Duct tape your toilet lid to the water reservoir. My one cat is aggressive with the burying action and she clawed at the lid one time and it shut the lid on the toilet. The lid might have shut on her, too, I don't know. I came home to find poop on the floor because cats couldn't use the toilet!\\n--If you have to go away for a long time (a weekend) and won't be around for more than 24 hours, I recommend you bring out the litter box. If no one is there to flush, cats will poop else where with a dirty toilet! My cats have no problem going back to the toilet once the litter box is removed again.\\n\\nAvoid doing the following:\\n--Don't make your cat use the adult human toilet seat. I had this problem while using the Cat of Thrones toilet seat. My cat fell in once and started using the bathtub and the sink! I now have to put a bucket in my sink and leave 1 inch of water in my tub as deterrent because my one cat now prefers to poop in these spots instead if the toilet if I do not catch him. Do not make the same mistake I did, take precautions!\\n--Do not skimp on litter and not change it frequently. The CitiKitty is shallow with a small surface area and often times the poop/pee will be exposed due to lack of litter. If the litter smells like pee or poop, the cat will avoid it and find a cleaner spot to do business! This is not what you want.\\n--Do not leave the toilet unflushed to save water (don't practice \\\"if it's yellow let it mellow\\\"). Check your toilet often (at least twice a day on top of regular human use) and make sure the water is always clean. I did not do this intentionally but left the cats by themselves overnight one weekend and came back to find poop in my bathtub. I found the kitties do not like going if another cat had already pooped in the toilet (dirty water = dirty litter). Cats are oddly like humans. I wouldn't want to poop on top of someone else's poop either. You need to be vigilant and flush, flush, flush!\\n--Do not watch your cat use the toilet. The toilet is not enclosed so they can feel vulnerable when going. I found out that my one cat would always FACE the toilet cover while peeing, but whenever he sees me observing him, he would turned his back towards the toilet cover and tried to pee that way or worst stand up and leave while still peeing. This resulted getting pee everywhere because the angle was not right. Leave your cats alone to do their business. Both of my cats will sometimes look like they have to go but will circle the toilet and walk out of the bathroom if they see me following them.\\n--One time my cat followed me into the bathroom when I had to go #2 (because they like to be locked in with you). 5 minutes later, he decided he wanted to go, too, meowed a bunch, and realizing what's happening, I scrambled to get up. Too late, he ended up pooping on the floor before I could put my pants back on.\\n\\nAdditional info/tips:\\n--You will have more success with female cats than male cats. This is because male cats stand up more while peeing. Female cats actually sit. Male cats can miss and sometimes get urine all over the place. Again, cats are oddly like humans.\\n--If you feed cats on a schedule, your cats will learn to poop on a schedule, too. My cats have established a schedule where the male cat poops before noon and the female cat in the evening. This is good because you have an idea of when to check the toilet to flush it.\\n--If you have to collect urine/feces samples for the vet, it is dead easy with the CitiKitty. If all goes well, you will likely have the extra insert that you did not even have to use. Put this on the used CitiKitty ring under all the toilet seats without litter. You cat will go like normal and the insert will catch the poop/pee. If you already used the insert, it might be helpful to get 2 CitiKitty sets.\\n--With toilet training my cat, I was able to identify the problem of my cat peeing blood once from stress because the toilet water was pink!! You can't do this with litter.\\n--My one cat will now pee on ANY toilet. I brought him to my relative's house once and he peed on 2 separate toilets (with different adult sized seats) without my prompting. This is in addition to the reintroduction of a litter box at the relative's house. He will still go #2 in the litter box. This means less pee clumps to scoop! If I move, I can just bring the Mayfair toilet seat and my cat will probably recognize it as the new toilet. The child seat is mainly to help the cats go #2 because they require more balancing doing #2 than #1.\\n--I don't think this would work on an older cat. You will probably have to buy a step ladder because the toilet is still quite high and older cats can get joint pain.\\n--Overall, I do not recommend this kit to train more than 2 cats per toilet because of the small area of the toilet and how fast it can get dirty if not flushed at all hours of the day. If you have multiple cats, train on multiple/all toilets with multiple kits in your house.\\n\\nThanks for reading, hope this was helpful. Please feel free to comment if you have questions!\\n\\nUpdate: It is now July 2017. I've moved and now in a 1 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment and now I have 3 cats. Unfortunately, my third cat was not trainable because he absolutely needs to dig in litter and there were many accidents on my bed. It was also too much cleaning to have 3 cats share 1 toilet and the toilet was almost always dirty so that probably contributed to the newest cat rebelling. I have since switched back to a litter box because 3 cats and 1 toilet is just too much. Interestingly enough, my one cat now prefers to pee in the toilet (even the toilet at my new apartment) so I still get some benefit of having to scoop fewer pee clumps.\\n\\nUpdate 2: I have now acquired a Litter Robot Open Air. I would still prefer litter free but the Litter Robot is a suitable replacement if you have more than 2 cats and only 1 toilet.\",\n \"Product: Another great toy from the makers of the da bird. The cat catcher teaser wand toy has a cute little mouse attached to a flexible braided wire and then connected to a 12\\\" glitter wand. The mouse averages 2 inches in length with a tail that averages 3 inches. A fantastic toy to interact with your kitty for play and exercise. Colors may vary. The cat catcher is handcrafted in the use from top quality materials .\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cat goes crazy for the deer fur mouse, refills need to be cheaper\\n\\nReview: One of my cats goes crazy for this wand toy. The wand itself is okay. It is kind of short and doesn't last long. The wire frays and I'm worried it might give my cats a razor cut. My cat loves the mouse attached to this wand! It's made of deer hair and I think he likes the scent. I sometimes take the mouse off to let my cat play with it. He will play with it until it gets stuck under furniture he can't get to. There have been a few occurrences when my cat stole the wand out of the drawer of cat toys and tried to play with the mouse by itself.\\n\\nI think for the future I will just buy this for the mouse and not the actual wand. The mouse is quite small and there is a metal pin so I wouldn't let your cats play with it without supervision in case it accidentally swallows it.\\n\\nUpdate: I lost the mouse attachment and had to buy a new wand because a new wand + mouse is cheaper than just the refill mouse. I'm upping one star also because the mouse no longer has a metal pin in the center. They have converted to using some stiff plastic tubing instead.\\n\\nUpdate: it looks like the wand + mouse costs less than the mice refills! I will be buying the whole wand in the future since the wire fraud anyway. I wish refills were cheaper and the wand were better quality.\",\n \"Product: Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food Original Turkey, Chicken, Whitefish & Herring Recipe is healthy, 100% natural grain free cat food for adult cats made with turkey, chicken, whitefish, herring, salmon oil and cranberries to help support your cat's optimal health and fortified with antioxidents, probiotics, vitamins and minerals, including fish and flax omega blend for healthy skin and coat. Wellness CORE grain free cat food formulas are based on the nutritional philosophy that cats thrive on a diet mainly comprised of meat. Each grain free, nutrient-rich formula provides high quality protein for your cat with no meat by-products or fillers, grain, corn, soy, wheat-gluten or artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Made my cats overweight\\n\\nReview: My cats like this brand of dry catfood and I find that it makes my cats' poop less stinky than when I feed <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Orijen-Grain-Free-Dry-Cat-Food-15-lbs/dp/B00BPCH5NM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Orijen Grain-Free Dry Cat Food 15 lbs</a>. However, I found that this food made both of my cats overweight! I feed my cats twice a day about 1/3 cup each cat. I don't free feed. Even on this diet, my cats seemed plump (small head compared to a fat booty and rounded/bloated stomach). They gained weight on this food from when I fed them Orijen or <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Wysong-Epigen-90-Canine-Feline-Diet-Pet-Food-5-Pound/dp/B00KE3IRN0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Wysong Epigen 90 Canine/Feline Diet Pet Food, 5-Pound</a>. I have since stopped feeding them this brand of food and all dry food in general and converted to 100% wet food (some raw chicken and canned food from Trader Joe's). Trader Joe's sells affordable wet food and I believe little better than Friskies albeit slightly more expensive. After about 2 months of wet food, my cats have lost the pudge and I can see their waists again!\\n\\nAnyway, this is not a lecture on how wet food is better than dry food or whatever, but beware Wellness CORE seems calorie dense and not recommended if your cat has weight issues. If you want a good dry food brand recommendation, I would recommend <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Instinct-Grain-Free-Chicken-Meal-Dry-Cat-Food-by-Nature-s-Variety-12-1-lb-Bag/dp/B00IKOSLL8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Instinct Grain-Free Chicken Meal Dry Cat Food by Nature's Variety 12.1 lb Bag</a>. The Instinct rabbit version is good, too, and the cats love the taste. Instinct is super expensive and when it goes on sale, I have a bag for the automatic feeder when I won't be home for the day. Epigen 90 and Orijen aren't bad either but my cats made stinky poops from eating those brands.\",\n \"Product: Precious Cat Ultra Litter Additive contains a scent that naturally attracts cats and kittens to use the litter box. Non-use of the litter box is the number one behavioral reason cats are abandoned, abused, and placed in shelters. Designed for cats that are not using their litter boxes. Precious Cat Ultra litter Attractant is the only litter attractant to provide a clinically tested and consumer proven solution.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: My cat eats it...\\n\\nReview: I used this on my cat that was not used to my top entry litter box. She would not go into the litter box and pooped on the lid. This product seems to have encouraged her to actually go into the box instead of standing on top of it. I did not use it with the Precious cat ultra litter like the label admonishes you HAVE to use and it still worked. The cats loved the scent and came over to investigate when I poured maybe 1/3 cup of this stuff on top of the litter.\\n\\nI almost want to sprinkle this on my cat's scratching lounges to attract them there but I'm afraid they will get confused and pee/poo on it.\\n\\nUpdate: They must have changed the formula because I got a new bottle and my cat now eats this stuff like catnip!!!\",\n \"Product: The IRIS Premium Airtight Pet Food Storage Container is the perfect solution to store dry pet food. The airtight sealed storage container locks in freshness and keeps moisture, humidity, and pests out. The snap-tight latch confirms that the lid is shut tight, while the wide lid offers easy access for scooping dry pet food. The plastic food container features a translucent body to quickly check content levels. This rolling container can be also used as a charcoal container or wood chip storage. Made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Wear and tear and Cats finally figured it out after 2 years...\\n\\nReview: After 2 years of use (filling it with about 12 pounds of kibble at once), my cats finally bested this container. I do not free feed my cats and often times I have found teeth marks on the plastic lid. Well today they finally found how to get the lid to open. The cats knocked the container over and the impact caused the handle to just slip open. They've done this before but the handle hinge is now loose from wear and tear. The kitties proceeded to stick their faces under the lid, crawled in the 1/3 full container, gorged themselves full of kibble, and the lid closed back up all without spilling anything. Only reason I was able to tell was because I came home and the kitties weren't begging me to feed them. The container was knocked over, the handle dislatched, and the kitties had round tummies. Sneaky thieves!! This was a cheap solution but not good for persistent cats. Invest in something more sturdy.\",\n \"Product: Your pets's health and vitality require adequate water consumption. Our carefully developed, unique design is exceptionally\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Too much effort to clean, slime and mold build up inside pump!!\\n\\nReview: I bought this fountain to encourage my cats to drink more water. I've had this fountain for more than a year. I found out one of my cats likes to wash her face at the fountain and leaves cat hairs in it. The filter does not do a good job filtering out debris and leaving the water clean. After one day, the water would have specks of lint and cat hair swimming around in it. I refill the water daily because it evaporates overnight but refilling does not get rid of the grim that builds up in the grooves of the fountain.\\n\\nI found out to properly maintain it, I had to take the whole fountain apart and scrub it down with pipe cleaners and my dish wand at least twice a week, sometimes more. If I don't do this, the grim eventually turns black and grudge and mold builds up INSIDE the pump. I've also had to replace the filter multiple times because it would eventually grow some pink/beige looking bacteria! If you don't clean it twice a week, running the motor will make the water DIRTIER than just leaving it in the bowl. This will make your pets sick.\\n\\nMaintaining this really too much work; it is like keeping a fish tank. I am just going to go back to a regular water bowl because that's easier to clean everyday and refill with fresh water.\",\n \"Product: Sergeant's good behavior pheromone collar helps cats in fearful or stressful situations (separation anxiety, visitors, other household cats, Loud Noises, new baby, vet Visits, traveling). good behavior pheromone collar provides a convenient alternative to diffusers- the collar goes where your cat goes!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Didn't seem to work and gave me a terrible headache that lasted for hours\\n\\nReview: I didn't mind the powder coating that was on the collars and rubbed it off over the trash immediately after I opened the package. What I had problems with was these collars stank! They smelled like artificial grape bubblegum! Within minutes of putting this on and petting my cat, I had a nauseous headache that lasted for hours even after I put the collar back in its packaging.\\n\\nThe collar didn't seem to work either. I bought it because I wanted to leash train my kitten to go outside. Whenever he goes outside with supervision, he gets scared and hides under my car. This collar didn't seem to help the case and the cat probably didn't like the smell either.\",\n \"Product: Rotating head features rake and deshedding blade. This newly designed grooming tool is specifically designed for and used by professional groomers and pet enthusiasts. The high quality rake detangles and removes mats painlessly. It even works on wet coats. The deshedding blade removes the undercoat and loose hair easily and efficiently. This grooming tool is designed to allow one-way brushing to reduce the potential of cutting the fur.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works just as well as the Furminator but cheaper!\\n\\nReview: This thing works and removes a lot of hair but I'm not sure exactly which layer of fur this tool removes. It doesn't seem to remove loose hairs but instead, it pulls straight hairs off of my cat! I use this tool in conjuncture with the Kong Zoom Groom and the Safari Self Cleaning Slicker Brush. The Zoom Groom loosens the outer coat and the Slicker brush gets the undercoat that is more fuzzy, and the Groominator gets something in between the two. I don't use this tool too much though because it definitely pulls off hairs that are not ready to come off. If you use it too much, your pet will go bald.\\n\\nUpdate: I have since acquired a de-shedder with a wider blade (4 inches). It works so much better than the Groominator. The blade on the Groominator is just not wide enough to cover enough area effectively. I have short haired cats so I never use the detangler side.\",\n \"Product: Starch Free Wysong Epigen 90 (90-percent meat) represents the first important kibble pet food innovation in almost 60 years (patent pending) and moves conventional dry extruded pet foods much closer to the high protein meat-based, starch less foods carnivores are genetically designed for. With that, they are given greater opportunity to enjoy their full natural health. Epigen is equally appropriate for both cats and dogs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My cats love this. No digestion problems\\n\\nReview: I feed this dry food in rotation with raw.\\n\\nI switched to raw because it's actually cheaper than quality wet food and it reduces the odor in cat poop. At first, I tried to feed my cats completely raw but they eventually got tired of it and boycotted their food to the point where they were starving themselves for hours. I tried to feed my cats grain-free wet food in rotation, but found that my cats' poop started to stink really bad again.\\n\\nI gave up and started rotating in Epigen 90. So far, all three of my cats love this stuff! It hasn't caused them any digestion problems either. They gobble it up like cat candy. Compared to other brands of high quality kibble, my cats' feces do not bulk up too much and remain relatively odorous like when they are eating 100% raw. Prior to Epigen 90, I was feeding Orijen kibble. It made one of my cat's poop stink really bad, and another cat would not eat it at all.\\n\\nI try not to feed kibble because a low-moisture diet can cause urinary tract blockages in cats. However, if your cats are picky and you can't feed anything else, I would definitely recommend this in your cat food rotation!\",\n \"Product: The Litter Genie disposal system provides a convenient, effective solution for getting rid of soiled cat litter. Pails come preassembled with everything youll need to help prevent litter odors. The pail can hold up to two weeks of cat waste (for one cat) - eliminating the everyday hassle of going to the outside garbage. Additionally, the unique pail design and 7-layer disposable bag controls odors, keeping your home smelling fresh and you, and your cat, happy.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Useful with one caveat, the bags don't open properly sometimes!\\n\\nReview: This device definitely works to keep the smell out! I have one next to both of my litter boxes in the house. It keeps me from being lazy and scoop out the litter box often because I know I can just drop the litter in the litter genie and collect the bag at the end of the week. Before the Litter Genie, I was scooping the clumps into a plastic poop bag and throwing the bag away outside in the trash bin so it doesn't stink up the house. This got really annoying fast because my cat had the habit of using the litter box right after I clean it, which would prompt me to scoop it out again with a fresh bag. I was wasting a bunch of bags filling them with one clump each. The Litter Genie has saved me so many bags and so many trips outside to throw away poop.\\n\\nOne annoying thing you have to watch out for is to not pull too much bag out of the refill when starting up a new bag. If you pull too much out, making the bag too long, the empty bag will not open up properly. The litter will not fall through to the bottom of the bag and will just get stuck. This causes you to open and close the trapdoor on middle of a dirty clump, half of it down the chute and half exposed still on top of the trapdoor. I have closed the trapdoor a couple of times on pieces of fresh cat poop. I had to cut the whole bag out because poop smeared all over the top and stunk and mucked everything up. I found the perfect length to pull out from the refill is maybe 8 inches, any more and you run the risk of having the bag not opening properly and stuff not actually falling through.\",\n \"Product: The Kitty Holster is a soft, secure and super-comfortable 100% cotton cat harness with a metal D-ring for attaching a leash. Our strong, ultra-lightweight harness secures with wide Velcro closures. This breathable, washable cotton harness with undyed lining is suitable for all skin types and climates.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Makes my kitten walk funny because it doesn't fit right\\n\\nReview: I have a 4 month old kitten and I wanted to train him to walk on a harness early. I bought the xs but it doesn't really fit him. It's too small around the top and too big around his belly. The top part is also very stiff. I can fit it around his neck fine but it looked like the stiff collar was pressing up against his wind pipe and choking him. So I ended up pulling the holster back and put the top opening around his chest except then the velcro part became too small. The bottom velcro part was way too big no matter where I put it around his stomach. If the harness slid up, the opening for the \\\"arm\\\" rubbed against my kitten's \\\"armpits\\\" and it made him walk around slowly and clumsily like a cat with brain damage. He eventually gave up and flopped over and just went to sleep. Maybe he has to grow into this harness but so far, not a good buy! Do no recommend for kittens.\\n\\nI bought mine from Litterboy Products's ebay account because I had an ebay bucks coupon. They also have an account on Amazon. They ship fast so I recommend.\",\n \"Product: Try the clumping cat litter that simplifies cleanup with added ingredients for better clumping. Made with a special blend of naturally absorbent plant fibers. This multiple cat strength litter promises powerful odor control and smaller tighter clumps..\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Became dust and was terrible to breathe in\\n\\nReview: No sure how this does on odor because I have been gradually mixing this in with my Precious Cat Ultra clay litter. My cat only uses clay litter and pooped outside the box the last time I switched all of a sudden to the multicat WBCL so this time I've been trying to slowly transition over to this new WBCL. Well the good thing is this advanced natural stuff smells much better than the regular muticat. It smells like soy instead of corn. Stinky corn is the worst.\\n\\nThe bad news is this stuff breaks down after a few uses and makes A LOT of dust! When I went to scoop the litter and breathed in, I could feel the dust cutting into my nostrils and my nasal passage and it hurts! It feels like I have dry sinuses I get in the winter time when I breath this stuff in. I know this is not the clay litter doing it because Precious Cat has very little dust and this has never happened before when I was using 100% Precious Cat. I'm at the stage where the mixture is 1/3 WBCL and 2/3 Precious Cat, only 1/3 of it is the WB advanced and it's already super dusty! I'm now using a mask when I scoop cat litter. I'm definitely not buying another bag.\\n\\nUpdate: My cat started sneezing and sniffing a bunch today. I'm not sure if it's the cat litter that irritated her respiratory system but now she's sick.\",\n \"Product: Noise and Pheromone Spray combined provide immediate response that stops bad behavior in its tracks. Great for use with behavior issues such as barking, aggression, pulling on leash, meowing. The noise gets the pet's attention and the specific pheromone stops unwanted behavior immediately and redirects the pet's attention.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Works but will make cat afraid of you temporarily if you do it wrong\\n\\nReview: This product scared the hell out of my cats but it worked to stop crazy meows at meal time. A light press is all I need to make my cats flinch and stop what they are doing. What I do is, I do not look at the cat, I don't show any expression (like anger or annoyance) and I put the can behind my back and press it lightly. A hard press will send my cats flying and hiding under the couch and that's not what I want, only a light tap will do. I have this can in the kitchen and I press it whenever my cat meows at me for food.\\n\\nThe product did make my cats scared of me for a couple of days the first time I pressed too hard. They wouldn't come to the kitchen during meal time anymore and only ate after I left the kitchen. They eventually get over it though. It's now been a week later, my cats started coming back again when I call them for dinner but they no longer meow a bunch like before.\\n\\nIf your goal is to get cats to stop bugging you, this is your product. Whatever you do, do not spray directly at the cat (near or far) or they will hate you for weeks.\",\n \"Product: Cats Of Thrones Toilet Seat for Cats is designed with a cat`s comfort in mind and by that we mean a cat toilet seat with wide platforms on both sides for a cat to spread all 4 paws on. Consider the human toilet seat, it is very narrow and slippery and is the cause for many cats falling in the toilet, when that happens a cat will never use the toilet again. Cats Of Thrones (C.O.T.) is made out of a thick plastic that holds up to 30 lbs. of a cat`s weight and does not need the support of a human toilet seat, instead, C.O.T. offers a cat seat that is installed directly underneath the human seat. C.O.T. NEVER expects a cat to use the HUMAN toilet seat! Another terrific feature of C.O.T. is that we use a drainage system which works perfectly with our specially formulated Dissolving Cat Litter. You could use any other \\\"Flushable\\\" type of cat litter but C.O.T. will NOT guarantee its effectiveness nor be liable for any damage to your plumbing which will most likely occur with other cat litter. When you use C.O.T Dissolving Cat Litter all that needs to be done when the cat is finished with its business is to rinse the Dissolving Litter with hot water and everything drains right through to the toilet water beneath it. Our Standard Kit comes with our award winning Cat Toilet Seat, 1.5 lbs. of Dissolving Cat Litter, and 1/4 Oz of OdorCats Of Thrones is The World`s ONLY Toilet Seat for Cats! You will NEVER share your seat with your cat, and why should you? Human seats are made for PEOPLE! Cats need a seat that is made with their comfort in mind! And thats exactly what Cats Of Thrones does, we have given cats a comfortable, STURDY (will easily support cats up to 30 LBS!) stable platform that allows cats to be relaxed by not having to try and balance on a narrow ridge like other systems.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Success for me but not because of this kit! As much hassle as losing weight..\\n\\nReview: Last Update July 5, 2014:\\nI can say now that my two cats have been toilet trained for the past 6 weeks ever since I popped off the last ring, minus quite a few caveats. It has been a grueling and messing process since I started training in early March 2014.\\nCaveat 1 -- I do not attribute my success to this toilet training kit because the design of this kit did not necessarily make toilet training easier (see pros and cons below). The \\\"wing\\\" parts of this seat is a great idea but poorly executed because the plastic the seat is made from is too flimsy.\\nCaveat 2 -- Just 2 weeks ago, I came home to both cat poop in the toilet and cat poop in my sink. It turns out, one of my cats pooped in the toilet but I wasn't there to flush immediately. My other cat must have really had to poop, too. She didn't want to poop in a dirty toilet, so she pooped in the sink instead. Just be warned if you have multiple cats training to use one toilet, they might end up pooping where they are not suppose to because of dirty toilet.\\nCaveat 3 -- To keep my cats away from pooping in my sink, I keep an automatic air spray can next to the sink to scare them away at all times. I use <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Contech-StayAway-Motion-Activated-Pet-Deterrent/dp/B000DZFFN4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent</a>. This product has a sound only mode so I don't get sprayed with air. This means that when I go to use the sink, the sound goes off, too. I live alone so I can handle this but I imagine this would not be tolerable in a family.\\nCaveat 4 -- I do not recommend toilet training multiple cats at the same time. I trained two and it was such a hassle!\\n\\nPrevious Review:\\n\\nPros:\\n1. This seat provides an area for your cat to stand so your cat won't have to stand on the slippery toilet seat.\\n2. Your cat won't have its poopy paws on your toilet seat, because you leave the toilet seat up when training your cat.\\n3. The toilet seat has draining holes so you won't get waterlogged pee if your cat pees a lot. This could be a con too because if you use sand-type litter, it will fall through the holes. You could also potentially use salts as litter and just rinse the seat by dissolving the salt, however using salt can get really expensive! BTW, the special litter the manufacturer sells is just salt crystals, at a crazy high rip-off price.\\n4. You might be able to take this seat with you and install it on any toilet and the cat might know how to use it because of the seat. Where as cats toilet trained without this seat might not recognize new toilets.\\n\\nCons:\\n1. The instructions that came with the product tells you to get water softening salt as litter. Do not use it! I bought the exact brand of Morton solar salt crystals that the instructions suggested and the crystals are WAY TOO BIG. You will have to pour gallons of boiling hot water through to dissolve salt rocks that big. My cats were also not used to litter that size. This was a total waste of money. You might have better results with epsom salt or the \\\"special litter\\\" that the manufacturer sells but that could get expensive.\\n2. The instructions looked like they were made in Microsoft Word and had way too many typos and redundant sentences that said the same thing twice. Did the company even proof read their instructions before sending it out? I found this to be very unprofessional.\\n3. The installation of the seat was a little more difficult than advertised. I had to go out and buy carriage bolts that were an inch longer for my toilet because the previous bolts became too short after I put in the seat.\\n4. Pro #1 and #2 about the extra space for your cat to stand does not apply if your cat is more than 8 pounds. My heavier cat at 12 pounds refuses to stand on the wing part of the seat because her weight lifts the rest of the seat up from the toilet making it unstable. So far the wing has not broken off but the fact that the plastic seat does not stay put to the toilet bowl is not good. This could be solved by leaving my toilet seat down to prevent the cat toilet seat from going up due to the cats' weight but that would negate the whole idea of a toilet seat for cats.\\n5. You cannot go back a step without buying another kit.\\n6. Make sure you tap your toilet lid to the toilet. The addition of the cat training seat under the toilet seat makes the whole lid/seat setup unstable and the lid tend to tilt forward. My one cat has this bad habit of burying by scratching on the wall so she has accidentally knocked the toilet seat shut a couple time. One day, I even came home to poop on my floor because the toilet lid got knocked down.\\n6. These kits are EXPENSIVE! $80 a pop??\\n7. My cats pooped on the floor and in the bathtub after I cut out the first hole. This is a problem with citikitty too and not necessarily this product. You have to take many precautions to keep the area clean or the cats will rebel and start pooping elsewhere. I change/dump out litter every day, vacuum around the toilet every week, and put duct tape/cat deterrent in areas of my bathroom where my cats poop. You must also flush religiously.\\n8. You will throw out a lot of litter. I recommend you use chicken feed from the farm supply store. It is like World's Best Cat litter and it is flushable. It costs $16 for a 40 pound bag and it should last you a while. This is way cheaper than actual flushable litter or salt.\\n9. As another reviewer mentioned, if you use regular litter, it will clump into the rings and you won't be able to scoop it out easily. I just end up washing the litter out in my bathtub.\\n\\nFinally, this product had a good concept but it's a fuss to use and clean and costs way too much. I wish it was $30 like citikitty. I was able to get this from a seller on Amazon for $54 and even that's too steep. This product is selling on the manufacturer's site for $80-$100.\\n\\nOverall, I do recommend you try toilet training your cat even if it's not with this specific kit. My cats are being finicky with the toilet training and they sometimes poop where they are not suppose to (in my bathtub, on the bathroom floor, or in my sink). They are peeing in the toilet 100% of the time though and that is enough for me to continue. I love not having to come home to the smell of a stinky litter box. When my cat pees, all I have to do is flush it down instead of scooping out clumps of ammonia ridden pee. I have a sensitive nose and gag at the smell of dirty litter and the smell of dirty paws my cats get after digging in litter. Even if my cats poop on the floor with the toilet training kit, all I have to do is pick it up with toilet paper and throw it in the toilet and wipe the tile on my floor with cleaner. While I was still training, I had to constantly vacuum litter off the bathroom floor, as well. This whole process was still preferable to scooping the litter box. My apartment smells much better.\\n\\nUpdate: Buy the mayfair nextsteps toilet seat and city kitty trainer! City kitty is superior because of the insert. Use both in conjunction and you'll have better success. Kitty won't be too scared to fall in with the child seat. My cats exclusively use the toilet now 2 years later.\",\n \"Product: This new kind of cat litter first seals and then destroys odors. Extra-Strength formula for Multi-Cat homes. Sealing: A proprietary blend of moisture-activated Micro-Granules forms an odor-containing seal around urine and feces. Destroying: Then a powerful formula with heavy-duty odor eliminators plus Arm & Hammer Baking Soda destroys sealed-in odors on contact. Plus your cat will love the new, softer feel.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Poopouri for Litter boxes, no more poop in air\\n\\nReview: This cat litter is the best I've tried at clumping and keeping the cat smell down! I've tried many kinds of cat litter from flushable sand to \\\"World's Best\\\" to crystal litter to feline pine to your run of the mill Fresh Step (horrible btw) and even chicken feed (very cheap but not good at odor control). I've tried Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat too and that litter clumps pretty well. However, there is a night and day difference between the odor control properties of Clump and Seal and that of Dr Elsey's or any other litter for that matter. Clump and Seal is the only litter that I've found neutralized cat poop odors AS the cat is going!\\n\\nDue to my living situation, I have had to keep a cat box and my cats in my bedroom while I sleep at night. I have a VERY sensitive nose, and I've been woken up many a times by the smell of pungent cat poop reaching me right after my cats go #2 in the middle of the night. One of my cats is also known to not cover her poop so the smell lingers until the poop is covered (by me) or goes away after it dries up. It also does not matter which litter box I use, covered top with a carbon filter or an open top one, my nose can smell it all.\\n\\nThe first night after switching to Clump and Seal I was able to sleep through the night without having my cats waking me up with their poo stank. I even checked the litter box in the morning to see if the cats even went #2 and there were pieces of dried up uncovered poo in the litter box from the night before. Just wow! This is the first litter I've used that can mask uncovered poo smell right when it is laid! You know that toilet bowl spritz for when you go to the bathroom so people can't smell it? This litter is like poopouri for cats.\\n\\nThe clumps are also rock solid and I found it very easy to clean. No dust, that's good because I've had litter dust get in my very porous hair and I end up smelling like cat litter.\\n\\nUnfortunately due to my sensitive nose, I found the scent of this litter sickening. It smells like cheap \\\"mountain spring\\\" scented laundry detergent. I can't smell it while it is in the litter box but I am afraid it would bother my cats and cause them to leave me presents outside the box since their sense of smell is probably way better than mine.\\n\\nIf Arm & Hammer can make a product that is unscented or naturally scented and can still keep the superior odor controlling properties then I would give that product 5 stars. For now this litter gets 4 stars from me. Precious Cat is another litter that gets 4 stars for cost and no-scent but it does not clump as well and odor control is not the best.\\n\\nI have not found a 5 star litter yet.\\n\\nUpdate: I would recommend the blue or green boxed clump and seal. The fragrance is much more subtle compared to the pungent multi-cat and I found it works just as well.\",\n \"Product: Case of 4 full spectrum 27 watt light bulbs that imitate daylight, are energy saving, and have a long life of circa 10,000 hours with 1300 lumens output, 120V; low energy consumption, good for starting plant growth. These are compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs that fit all medium-base E27/E26 sockets, but the large bulb size might create a fit problem with standard lamp harps of household light fixtures; a larger lamp harp is needed, see ALZO 9 inch lamp harp. Dimensions: Length: 6.5 inches; Width (Diameter): 2.5 inches; Length socket base to top of ballast: 2.75 inches; Width (diameter) of socket: 1 inch. Important: ALZO CFL bulb life is based on the bulb in an open air fixture with sufficient ventilation. When ALZO bulbs are installed in fixtures that lack adequate ventilation, the life of the bulb will be reduced. If an ALZO CFL bulb is installed in an overhead recessed light fixture with the bulb glass below the base, the life of the bulb will be greatly reduced.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Feels good to see the light, color temperature like daylight, good for SAD\\n\\nReview: I got these bulbs because I have Delayed sleep phase disorder and I get SAD in the winter. I turn on a couple of lamps in the morning hooked up to an outlet timer and it wakes me right up. I like the light that comes from these bulbs, very much like the color temperature of daylight.\\n\\nOnly problem is these bulbs are taller than your average compact fluorescent bulb. They might not fit your lamp especially if you have one of those metal brackets that hold up your lampshade. I also got a bulb that hummed really annoyingly and 2 that hummed slightly. I would not recommend these bulbs for a quiet study room. I only use the lamp in the morning to wake me up and help me get some synthetic sunlight so I cannot speak for extended use.\",\n \"Product: CREATE YOUR OWN SPA OASIS\\nAna Bath Combo Shower System gives you the easiest way to upgrade your shower system without any tool. No power drill, no screwdrivers, No plumbers, just your hands. With the LARGE 5 inch SPRAY FACE & 5 function handheld shower and shower head, you can feel a whole new fantastic shower experience with our water saving shower technology which is another way to save your water bill. The sleek design and transitional style fits in any bathroom perfectly.\\n\\nWHAT DOES THE PACKAGE INCLUDE\\n1) 1 Handheld Shower HS5450 (5-function 5\\\" handheld shower)\\n Rain Spray\\n Massage Spray\\n Bubbling Spray\\n Rain Spray & Massage Spray\\n Rain Spray & Bubbling Spray\\n* Flow Rate: 2.31 GPM (Gallon per Minute) / 8.73 LPM (Liter per Minute) @ 80psi (Flow rate @ 2.5 GPM / 9.45 LPM @ water pressure of 80 psi meets CSA Standard.)\\n\\n2) 1 Shower Head SH5450 (5-function 5\\\" shower head)\\n Rain Spray\\n Massage Spray\\n Bubbling Spray\\n Rain Spray & Massage Spray\\n Rain Spray & Bubbling Spray\\n* Flow Rate: 2.35 GPM (Gallon per Minute) / 8.73 LPM (Liter per Minute) @ 80psi (Flow rate @ 2.5 GPM / 9.45 LPM @ water pressure of 80 psi meets CSA Standard.)\\n\\n3) 1 LARGE 3-way diverter mount with BRASS CONNECTOR (DT1021)\\n4) 5 ft (60 inch) Super Flexible STAINLESS STEEL hose with BRASS NUTS (S21542)\\n Doubled hooked\\n 0.55\\n Anti-twist brass conical nut & brass hex nut\\n\\n5) 1 Anti-leakage Sealant Tape\\n6) 1 Instruction Manual\\n\\n* Brushed Nickel Finish for Whole Set (Handheld shower, shower head, 3-way diverter mount, and shower hose)\\n* 3 Year Limited Warranty\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 2 Colors available make sure you get the right one!\\n\\nReview: Installed very easily and works great. One caveat is the water pressure from the non-handheld attachment is weaker than the handheld one. The handheld head water pressure can be made really strong or slightly stronger than the non-handheld depending on which washer you use (a water restricting one or just a regular washer). The kit comes with both washers. If you use the regular washer in the handheld, the non-handheld shower head's water pressure is significantly weaker when you run both at the same time.\\n\\nMy only gripe is the color, nickel, does not match the actual color of the product received at all. It has a beige cast. I wanted something more bright/blue silver. I think I should have went for chrome. The pictures for the 2 colors on amazon are swapped.\",\n \"Product: Parents and children love this convenient, innovatively designed toilet seat created for enhancing the potty training experience of your child. A magnetic closure gently secures the built-in potty seat into its compartment in the seat lid until it is flipped down for use. The hinges are state-of-the-art slow close chromed metal. The hinges close the lid and ring quietly and gently. The lid and the ring are both white. This particular model fits round bowls which measure 16. 5 inches from hinge holes to end of the inside of bowl. Installation hardware included. See diagrams above. Three-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Using this for cats, but I probably won't be the only one...\\n\\nReview: This toilet seat in TOP quality! Everything is made from solid wood with a hard polished layer of white paint that almost feel like porcelain. The color of the toilet seat is not pure white but somewhat off-white. It's quite sturdy and the chrome is quite shiny although I'd imagine it would rust after a while.\\n\\nUnfortunately, I cannot use this toilet seat because I bought it for my cats. They are toilet trained and I bought this seat so I can bring the child seat down and give them more space to stand on the toilet. The problem was this toilet seat (both the adult and child) is QUITE thick. This is good in terms of quality but bad for my cat. The stacking of thick toilet seats created a \\\"tower of hanoi\\\" effect for my cat and he couldn't find a complete level surface to squat. The child seat is raised about another inch above the adult seat.\\n\\nThe seats are also completely flat. They do not dip in like some other toilet seats so no contour for your butt! As a result, it's not so comfortable to sit on for adults either. If you don't care about seat height and contour, then this toilet seat would be an excellent choice.\",\n \"Product: Flashlight\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Returned because audible hum\\n\\nReview: I must have gotten a defective unit because I did not experience 100% silence with my humidifier! I had to return it because whenever I turn the unit on, I could hear a hum noise like a laptop/computer fan go off or a mosquito light. I couldn't sleep with that noise! It gave me a headache. There's also an LED near the switch you cannot turn off whenever the power is on. Another annoyance is when you go to refill the unit, you'll get water everywhere because the bottom half holds some water but it is easy to spill. Overall it works as a humidifier and the lamp feature is cool but it's too loud for me and not easy to refill. The top half could also be potentially hard to clean and could grow mold. It only has a whole the size of a Gatorade bottle opening.\\n\\nI did not receive this unit for free. Bought it with my own money and was not satisfied.\",\n \"Product: Like all our INOVA flashlights, the X3A offers superior light projection that increases your visibility and safety. But because it's powered by 3 AAA batteries, it also does that at a much lower cost per user hour. Its dual use design allows for easy transition between bike light and hand held device. Just slide the INOVA X3A onto the included durable Lite Ride GT and wrap the attached, flexible Gear Ties around any size handlebar-no tools required. Its bright 175 lumen beam can be set to one of three modes: High power, low power, or our innovative Safe-Day Pulse, which creates an irregular, attention-grabbing pattern to increase visibility even during the day. When you've parked your bike, the INOVA X3A is easy to remove and can be tucked into a backpack, purse, pocket, or used as a handheld flashlight to safely illuminate your path in the dark. Remove the X3A from your handlebars and prop or hang the Gear Ties for hands free lighting to assist in roadside repairs or as a signal light. The INOVA X3A Bike Light provides superior LED illumination, is precision engineered for protection against the elements, easily attaches and removes from any bicycle handlebar and doubles as a convenient hand-held flashlight. You might think that would be enough. We don't.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good bike light and flash light, not so great mount.\\n\\nReview: I bought this bike light because I own another Inova flashlight, their ultraviolet inspection light. This light is the exact same size and style as that light and works exactly the same way, twist to turn on and press and hold the end to temporarily turn on. This light is nice and bright and I mainly use the flash mode for biking at night in the city. The light shines through at least 2 blocks and lights up street signs like a high beam! The construction of this flashlight is solid (not like the cheapo painted aluminum flashlights from Harbor Freight) and will last you many years.\\n\\nThe only reason I'm not giving this light 5 stars is because the twisty tie mount is garbage. You can only mount the light on the handlebars of the bike and even then it doesn't stay put. The mount rotates a little when the bike bumps which misdirects the beam.\\n\\nTip: you can just press the end of the flashlight 2 times and twist the 3rd time to cycle to flashing mode, no need to twist and turn the flashlight on and off 3 times.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":52,"string":"52"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":84,"string":"84"}}},{"rowIdx":85,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A23P5BO1UGNIRR"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"A baker's essential! End the baking process profoundly by placing your fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies, cakes, and breads on these Stackable Cooling Racks. Made of durable, lightweight chrome, this set includes three stackable cooling grids, which will elevate your baked goods for uniform cooling and nice, crisp undersides. Perfect when baking a large amount of cookies or when counter space is limited. The racks can also be used individually to keep lightweight hot pots and dishes off the table or countertop to avoid heat marks or stains. The cooling grids' wires are set close enough together to support cakes and prevent cookies from slipping through. Don't end up with less-than-perfect baked goods due to poor cooling. A must-have for bakers everywhere.\". The summary of the review text is \"Soft and Squeezable Icing Bottles\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This is a nice set of icing bottles for fine decorations of the type you might do on cookies and cake pops, or for writing on cakes. The bottles open easily, are softly squeezable for good icing flow, and come with reusable caps so you don't have to toss or remove your icing to store leftovers. I melted some candy melts in my pic, w some coconut oil for smoothness, and was able to even re-microwave the bottles for 20-30 seconds to keep the consistency warm and melty w/ no problems w the bottles surprisingly. i wouldn't actually recommend doing this, but i was living on the edge i guess... actually, the instructions specifically say these bottles and caps are NOT microwave safe, so don't do what I did. The small bottles hold 1/4 cup or 2 oz of frosting, and the large bottle holds 1 1/4 cup or 10 oz. I highly recommend."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This is a nice set of icing bottles for fine decorations of the type you might do on cookies and cake pops, or for writing on cakes. The bottles open easily, are softly squeezable for good icing flow, and come with reusable caps so you don't have to toss or remove your icing to store leftovers. I melted some candy melts in my pic, w some coconut oil for smoothness, and was able to even re-microwave the bottles for 20-30 seconds to keep the consistency warm and melty w/ no problems w the bottles surprisingly. i wouldn't actually recommend doing this, but i was living on the edge i guess... actually, the instructions specifically say these bottles and caps are NOT microwave safe, so don't do what I did. The small bottles hold 1/4 cup or 2 oz of frosting, and the large bottle holds 1 1/4 cup or 10 oz. I highly recommend."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: With friendly faces and matching zipper-pulls, Zoo Lunchies make lunchtime fun time! Sized just right for little kids or a mom and baby on-the-go, these soft lunch bags have a roomy main compartment that holds sandwiches, snacks, drinks and more. An insulated, wipe-clean interior keeps food and drinks cold, plus an inside mesh pocket holds lunch money, an ice pack or utensils.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: So Cute! Perfect for your Elementary School Child\n\nReview: This is a lightly insulated soft lunchbox for children, with a cool design and adjustable (and unsnap-able) strap. It has an ample inner-mesh liner for a fork/spoon, napkin, and even space for a hand-sanitizer, with elastic across the top, as well as an easy-grip tab on the zipper (perfect for small fingers), which on the Chameleon bag design is a cool looking fly pattern. The quality of this bag is excellent, and the sewn finishes and embroidery are very professionally completed. The fabric is sturdy and water- resistant, and the size and depth is just right for a drink, fruit, snack and sandwich. i really like the thoughtful touch of putting an inner sewn label where you can write your child's name as well. This is a great price for such a nice lunch bag!\n\nbtw- you can hopefully see from one of the pics (reflecting the reference dollar bill) that the tail curve shape sewn on the front of the chameleon is a very pretty and mirror-like greenish/ pinkish toned plastic.","Product: This mid-sized, stretchy neoprene tote, available in a huge variety of fun patterns, is the gold standard among reusable insulated lunch bags. Keeps food cold (or warm) for up to 4 hours, depending on the outside temperature. Zip closure keeps contents secure. The flat bottom keeps it upright, perfect for bottles or dishes that you dont want tipping over. Soft-grip handles make it easy to carry. Its vinyl-free, PVC-free, tested for lead safety, and machine-washable so there's no need to worry about spills. Stores flat, but expands to fit a variety of containers. The zip closure keeps it secure. 10 inches by 13 inches by 6-inches. BUILT Rambler Designer Neoprene Insulated Lunch Bag, Houndstooth Black (B-LB35-HTC)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Thick, Insulating, Well-Made Bag w Plenty of Space\n\nReview: I'm really impressed with this Black-colored, folded neoprene lunch bag. It lies flat, but opens up to stand on it's own for easy filling. It feels like a thick wetsuit, is cleanly and well-stitched around all the seams, and has a smooth-action zipper w a larger pull tab. The bag easily holds a reasonably-sized lunch and snacks, keeping even large glass containers protected with the bouncy neoprene, and providing insulative properties due to the thickness of the material.\n\nFor size reference, i placed a 12 oz bottle of water and a large glass container in the bag for one photo (the glass container also fits flat, but i turned it on it's side next to a dollar bill, to try to show how thick the glass container is, and how much space the lunch bag can hold). In another photo, you can see 5 soda cans- but a six pack will fit (and zip). I'm not thrilled with the large \"BYO\" symbol on the front, but that's certainly not a deal breaker. Hopefully, BYO will come out with even more designs and colors in the future- perhaps they could make the Rambler in a color my son would want to use, for example, because this is a really nice lunch bag.","Product: Chicago cutlery Elston collection has professional stainless steel blades with curved stainless steel handles for comfort and control. This collection is perfect for cooks that are looking to save time and are ready to take cooking to the next level.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good Multi-Purpose Knives, Light Feeling Steak Knives, Poor Scissors & Block\n\nReview: Despite my 3 star (i would give this 3.5, btw), review, i want to say that i am actually a big fan of Chicago Cutlery, and have used their knives for nearly 10 years with no problems. I feel that this particular 16-piece block set, the Avondale, just doesn't have the same great quality the Chicago Cutlery name represents, and comes across as somewhat cheaper feeling than my other Chicago Cutlery knives and sets.\n\nThe block itself is a thinly veneered wood, as can be seen by the little chips in the edging on the back, and the finish was a bit rough. I polished it with wood oil, and it looks reasonable, but i'm not sure how long this will last over time if you're sticking it with knives every so often (unlike my butcher block set that still looks new after nearly a decade of use).\n\nThe knives themselves are actually very sharp, and the stainless steel seems good quality. The handles for the multi-purpose knives are thick feeling and can even stand up on their back edges, giving a nice grip. The parts where the black polymer and the metal on the handles meet are reasonably seamless (very minor and not too noticeable gaps/ raised areas). I did not like the light feeling of the steak knives, however, that feel a bit like you're holding hollow plastic, and i thought the quality of the scissors was cheap feeling (not substantial handle, \"plasticky\" feeling polymer part).\n\nOverall, i'd say this is an OK set, and not bad for a first set for your home or apartment. Still, if you are looking for a long-term knife set, you may want to pay more and get one of Chicago Cutlery's better sets, such as:<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Chicago-Cutlery-Insignia2-18-Piece-Knife-Block-Set-with-In-Block-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B000H6VH1S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Chicago Cutlery Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set with In-Block Knife Sharpener</a>","Product: The Sodastream Source was Commissioned by SodaStream from world-renowned designer, Yves Bhar. This sleek Sparkling Water Maker is a celebration of function and elegant refinement. With an intuitive LED indicator, the Source lets the consumer see the level of carbonation, and adjust to their preference without any guess work. Contents include; (1) Source Sparkling Water Maker, (1) Mini CO2 Carbonator (makes up to 9L of sparkling water), (1) 1L BPA-Free Reusable Source Carbonating Bottle, and a 60 Liter CO2 Carbonator mail-in rebate.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This Is Fab If You Like Convenience and Extra Strong Carbonation, But Very Pricey Method of Carbonating\n\nReview: This is my first experience w a SodaStream Sparkling Water Maker, after having used several methods of carbonating, including using my 10lb CO2 (homebrewing) tank w adaptors and mini kegs, or using specialty connection tops that fit on regular soda bottles. All the the methods i use work to carbonate beverages, but the SodaStream is the easiest and most convenient, and very quick (I always have cold, refrigerated water on hand, however- carbonation works better on cold water, so i'm not counting the time it takes to chill water). I happen to like very strongly carbonated drinks, and i'm finding that this SodaStream is most easily adjustable to the very strong carbonation I prefer, just by pressing the top down about 3-4 times vs. shaking my bottles to death manually (using my tank), which becomes very tiring if you drink a lot of carbonated water like we do. The downsides are that the 1L SodaStream container is too small for our needs (hassle to keep refilling and re-carbonating), that the device itself takes up a lot of counterspace (won't fit under cabinets), that this uses a lot of carbonation (since I carbonate heavily), and thus costs a lot more w their proprietary and expensive replacement canisters (a 60L canister seems to be in $33-$36 range from what I see being sold on Amazon). So, ups and downs. I'm very happy to have this method of carbonating, but am definitely on the fence about the long term costs and whether it will be worth it.\n\nIf you are a regular consumer who does not homebrew, use paintguns or otherwise have tanks of CO2 hanging around your house, i'd say this SodaStream is actually an excellent option. If you are unable to shake bottles vigorously, SodaStream is an excellent option. If you don't drink a huge amount of carbonated liquids, but enjoy a glass now and again, SodaStream is an excellent option. If you have tons of kitchen counterspace and don't mind an additional appliance out in the open, SodaStream is an excellent option.... I'm giving this 5 stars, with the qualifer that I'm not going to consider the cost (you have to decide if it's worth the cost for yourself). As a device on it's mechanical merits, this SodaStream is easy, convenient, and works great. My device did not come with any instructions at all, but it was easy enough to figure out w youtube. This does come with one rebate coupon where you can get 14.99 back from SodaStream if and when you are able to exchange out the starter small CO2 canister this comes with, for a 60L SodaStream canister. I say \"if\" you are able to exchage, because not all places that sell the 60L canisters will switch out for the small starter canister- you may need to hunt around to use the coupon.\n\nBtw, this Source model has three indicators in the front that light up progressively as you press down to carbonate, presumably showing you how much carbonation you are putting in your drink- the longer you press, the first, second, then third indicators light up. I believe the indicator works by measuring the amount of time passing only (vs. actual CO2 measurements), which may or may not be useful to you. I pretty much ignore it, and listen for the change in sound when the CO2 fills the bottle and makes a different sound as it starts off-gassing out of the bottle. Once you do this, you'll easily know what i mean. Some who like less carbonation and don't do the max each pump like I do, may find the indicators useful, as an visual reminder of when to stop pressing.","Product: The Sodastream Jet is perfect for the sparkling water drinker who carbonates frequently and values convenience. This is the only machine that is compatible with the 60L CO2 cylinder and the 130L CO2 cylinder, allowing the consumer to maximize their carbonation capabilities. Simply twist and lock the bottle into the machine, and carbonate by pumping the textured push button control. This kit includes everything you need to make fresh sparkling water in your own home. Contents include; (1) Jet Sparkling Water Maker, (1) Mini CO2 Carbonator (makes up to 9L of sparkling water), (1) 1L BPA-Free Reusable Carbonating Bottle, and a 60 Liter CO2 Carbonator mail-in rebate.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good For Adjustable Fizzing, and Works as Advertised- Some Comparisons w the SodaStream Source\n\nReview: This is my second SodaStream Sparkling Water Maker, after having tried the SodaStream Source. Prior to the SodaStreams, I've used several methods of carbonating, including using my 10lb CO2 (homebrewing) tank w adaptors and mini kegs, or using specialty connection tops that fit on regular soda bottles. All the the methods i use work to carbonate beverages, but the SodaStream is the easiest and most convenient, and very quick (I always have cold, refrigerated water on hand, however- carbonation works better on cold water, so i'm not counting the time it takes to chill water). I happen to like very strongly carbonated drinks, and i'm finding that this SodaStream is most easily adjustable to the very strong carbonation I prefer, just by pressing the top down about 3-4 times vs. shaking my bottles to death manually (using my tank), which becomes very tiring if you drink a lot of carbonated water like we do. The downsides are that the 1L SodaStream container is too small for our needs (hassle to keep refilling and re-carbonating), that the device itself takes up a lot of counterspace (won't fit under cabinets), that this uses a lot of carbonation (since I carbonate heavily), and thus costs a lot more w their proprietary and expensive replacement canisters (a 60L canister seems to be in $33-$36 range from what I see being sold on Amazon). The Jet can accomodate both the 60L and the 130L CO2 canister sizes, and the 130L costs nearly the same as the Jet itself. So, ups and downs. I'm very happy to have this method of carbonating, but am definitely on the fence about the long term costs and whether it will be worth it.\n\nIf you are a regular consumer who does not homebrew, use paintguns or otherwise have tanks of CO2 laying about your house, i'd say this SodaStream is actually an excellent option. If you are unable to shake bottles vigorously, SodaStream is an excellent option. If you don't drink a huge amount of carbonated liquids, but enjoy a glass now and again, SodaStream is an excellent option. If you have tons of kitchen counterspace and don't mind an additional appliance out in the open, SodaStream is an excellent option.... I'm giving this 4 stars, with the qualifer that I'm not going to consider the cost (you have to decide if it's worth the cost for yourself). As a device on it's mechanical merits, this SodaStream is easy, convenient, and works as advertised. The Source is more convenient than the Jet, because you need to screw your water bottle into the machine for fizzing w the Jet, vs. just \"locking\" the water in the device w the Stream. But, the Jet is about $20 cheaper. Both the Jet and Source came with one rebate coupon where you can get $14.99 back from SodaStream if and when you are able to exchange out the starter small CO2 canister this comes with, for a 60L SodaStream canister. I say \"if\" you are able to exchage, because not all places that sell the 60L canisters will switch out for the small starter canister- you may need to hunt around to use the coupon.\n\nOne other difference between the Jet and the Source is that the the Source has a sturdy metal bottom platform which does not slip on the counter, whereas the Jet is not as stable nor non-slip. The Jet has just the plastic at the bottom, and feels overall cheaper than the Source, which, again, is cuz it is actually cheaper (by $20-ish) than the Source.","Product: Core, slice, and peel like your apples all at once with the new star deluxe apple peeler. Mmm.homemade Apple pies just got easier!.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works Amazingly Well; Even Great Just for Eating Apples Daily\n\nReview: This is a very impressive device that cores, peels and slices apples all in one go. I use it just to have sliced and peeled apples for my kids for breakfast- we're eating a lot more apples because of this. Once I get my act together and unpack my stored dehydrator, I'll really get use from this peeler. I rinse this device immediately after using it, while the apple juice is still wet, and just leave it on my counter (I use it that much lately). You can also core and slice without peeling, if you want to eat the peel. All in all, I think this is just the greatest invention. If you have an apple tree and can, dry or make a lot of pies, this is a must!","Product: Create breathtaking desserts in just minutes with the Bakelicious Icing Gun! This decorating gun fits nicely in one hand so you can use it like a pen! Its natural hand position makes writing or detailed decorating easy for both kids and adults. Have up to 3 colors ready instantly, using its unique \"quick-switch action\". One moment you're writing in blue, the next you're outlining in green. And no messy bags means there's no need to clean until you're done! This must-have set includes three icing containers, three icing tips and six lids for storage (3 top & 3 bottom) - All parts disassemble for easy cleaning. Each cartridge has a lid for both ends so icing stays fresh until your next decorating session. For best results, store icing in refrigerator to keep it from drying out. Decorate and create beautiful designs easily with this Icing Gun Set!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect Stand For Pop Decorating- Looks Nice As A Server Too\n\nReview: I really love this Bakelicious Cake Pop Stand, which is not only extremely useful for decorating, but acts as a pretty serving tray as well. The stand comes w three separate trays that screw together and a top piece that covers the center hole and adds a useful ring handle you can pick up the entire stand by, for easy transport. Best of all, the separate pieces of the stand all pack together into a thinner shape for easier storage. The clip areas that hold the pop sticks fit standard sized 4\" lollipop sticks, and the trays wipe easily. When you place your dipped pops, don't forget to add the pops to the top tray first- otherwise, you'll mess up the bottom pops (i figured this out the hard way). The little indents on the tray don't necessarily line up well with the bottoms of the pop sticks, but no biggie- i'm not clear what they are for anyways- if you had that much dripping down into the indent, your sticks would be a mess. I highly recommend this great tray set.","Product: Make chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered pretzels, cake pops and more with the Wilton Candy Melting Pot. It features an easy-to-clean and convenient removable silicone pot with an ergonomic, heat-resistant handle and two easy-pour spouts perfect for pouring melted candy into a decorating bag or drizzling directly onto treats. Once finished, simply chill the silicone pot until the candy hardens, then gently squeeze the soft silicone insert to pop out the remaining candy. The pot has two temperature settings, warm and melt so you can quickly melt up to 2 cups of Candy Melts candy or chocolate in less than 10 minutes and keep it warm for dipping. An innovative heating base stays cool to the touch, a safety light indicates when the pot is on and it has rubber feet to keep it steady and in place on your counter. Powered by a standard 120-volt cord with polarized plug. Complete instructions included.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Decorating Tools by Wilton- Must Haves For Decorating w Melts\n\nReview: These Wilton Candy Melts Decorating Tools Set comes with most all of the decorating tools you'll need for basic candy melt decorating, and they are a good quality. The wires are thin but strong enough to hold your food, and the shapes are useful for small candies as well as cake balls. The handles are long enough to be comfortable, and the plastic handles are sturdy. I used these with Wilton's melting pot set, and the products complemented each other well in both use and appearance <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Wilton-Party-Pack-Candy-Melts-Candy-Melting-Pot-Set/dp/B01NAAP6H2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Wilton Party Pack, Candy Melts & Candy Melting Pot Set</a>. You can see from the pics that I used the little basket tool and the fork tool to hold my cake balls. I also used the thin \"spear\" to take my cake balls out of the cake ball maker. I didn't use a contrasting color in my project shown, so I didn't need the designing tool (the white teardrop spoon), but that as well as the small candy loop are great tools to have. I can't imagine doing this without these tools. Everything would just be a lot harder. If you enjoy decorating and making desserts, you'll enjoy this set.","Product: Ideal for traditional and slow cooking techniques, designed to heat evenly and steadily, holding heat so foods stay warm while serving. The cast iron pan features a pre-seasoned cooking surface to help prevent sticking, and oversized handles for easy and secure lifting. Can be used on gas, electric and even induction stovetops, as well as in the oven and broiler. Cast iron skillet is ideal for both stovetop and oven use, and makes delicious seared steaks, baked cornbread, or tasty frittatas. This product is protected by Calphalon's full lifetime warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Shape and Size, Works Great\n\nReview: I was specifically looking for a larger cast iron pan that has sloped edges towards the bottom of the pan, just like this Caphalon 12\". The size lets me make a meal for four easily (4-8 chicken breasts or pork chops at a time size), and doesn't have the edge crevice that occasionally keeps my food from touching the pan. It's also easier to clean the gentle slope vs. a sharper angle. This pan is a bit thinner (and lighter) than your typical Lodge (which I also have in many sizes), and I was worried it wouldn't work as well to maintain that great cast iron heat, but so far, i have had no trouble getting that nice crispy/ crunchy browning on my food as I get w my other cast iron pans. This says pre-seasoned, but it comes less seasoned than other cast iron pans I've purchased. No big deal, though, I just cooked a lot of bacon a few times, and kept it oiled and in the oven while I baked other foods- it didn't take long to get the desired blackened burnish. The pic has some leftover hashbrowns, which don't stick, and work very well for four big servings in this pan (The lid is from another pan).","Product: DII offers over-sized napkins in countless colors, assuring youll find the perfect color for your table. All napkin colors coordinate with the DII ribbed place-mats, fringe place-mats, and assorted tablecloths. This makes it simple to create a perfectly coordinated table setting. These napkins are 100 percent cotton and measure 20 x 20 inches. To minimize shrinkage, please follow care instructions. To view more of our products visit amazon.com/dii.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Substantial and Pretty Everyday Tablecloth\n\nReview: I have several DII cotton tableware products, and having used them for about half a year now through many washes, I'm very pleased w the quality overall. These 100% cotton tablecloths come in many pretty muted colors, and this particular blue/ green plaid looks just like the picture. i don't know if the manufacturing is handled in different facilities, but this particular cloth seems thicker and more substantial than some other tablecloths I have from this same company. When I was unfolding this, I thought one of the hems was two thicknesses of cloth and I was trying to pull it apart, when I realized it was the thick-feeling edging. These do shrink about 10% over time (I only cold water wash), and if you want a finished look you need to iron. Still, for everyday use, these are perfect.","Product: DIIs 100% cotton tablecloths come in a variety of colors & sizes. These tablecloths are perfect for picnics, parties, showers, dinners, everyday use and more. DII offers a variety of prints and patterns, giving you numerous options for your next event or dinner party. All of DIIs cotton tablecloths have a 1 inch folded hem and mitered corners. These tablecloths are machine washable for easy clean up and use. Find DIIs full selection of tablecloths by searching for DII Cotton Tablecloths.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: So Pretty and Well Made\n\nReview: I have several DII tablecloths and runners, and I really find the muted natural cotton fabric and simple designs very pleasant and cheerful on the dining table. This lovely blue and beige striped tablecloth with clean stitching and well-mitered corners is another winner for this series, and the colors are true to the pictures in the ad. I use these tablecloths outdoors as well, on a big plastic table that looks so much more appealing with these on- like a rustic table you'd find in a French countryside vs. the old patio furniture it actually is. These fabrics also wash well, as long as you take care to only use cold water and low heat drying (or drip dry and cool iron)- it is 100% cotton, so there is a bit of shrinkage over time, but the fabrics and colors have held up over a few months of washsings, and still look very nice. I would not hesitate to get these for casual dining.","Product: DIIs 100% cotton tablecloths come in a variety of colors & sizes. These tablecloths are perfect for picnics, parties, showers, dinners, everyday use and more. DII offers a variety of prints and patterns, giving you numerous options for your next event or dinner party. All of DIIs cotton tablecloths have a 1 inch folded hem and mitered corners. These tablecloths are machine washable for easy clean up and use. Find DIIs full selection of tablecloths by searching for DII Cotton Tablecloths.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful Color, Rustic Look and Feel, Holds up Well\n\nReview: This is a nice series from DII. I have several of their 100% cotton tablecloths, and when maintained by only washing in cold w a low dry or hang dry and light iron, I find these tablecloths hold their color and shape well with about a 10% shrinkage over time (several months of washing). They still look beautiful and rustic, however, and add a great look to my indoor and outdoor dining areas. The color is fairly steadfast, but the look gets very slightly lighter over time. This could be due to the cotton \"fuzzing\" a bit, which doesn't detract from this looking very nice. Overall, these are a great everyday cloths, and if you like natural fabrics like I do, these are very decent.","Product: Sink your feet into the Imprint Cumulus9 Comfort Mat with its proprietary Multi-Core Technology. Feel how it conforms to the shape of your feet and supports your arches for relief of back, leg and foot discomfort. The advantage is its proprietary multilayer cushioning system. The soft, upper layer luxuriously cushions your feet while the firm, lower layer provides soothing support. Youll want an Imprint Comfort Mat everywhere you work and stand kitchen, laundry, bathroom, garage,workshop and more.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best of 4 types of anti-fatigue mats i have\n\nReview: I have four types of similar anti-fatigue mats such as this one, and compared to the Gel Pro NewLife, Cumulus9's Nantucket series, and the Rachel Ray Anti-Fatigue, i think this Cumulus9 Chevron Series mat feels the best. In order of preference for me:\n\nthis Cumulus9 Chevron\nGel Pro NewLife <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/NewLife-by-GelPro-Designer-Comfort-Mat-18-by-30-Inch-Sisal-Coffee-Bean/dp/B0176BIJEE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">NewLife by GelPro Designer Comfort Mat, 18 by 30-Inch, Sisal Coffee Bean</a>\nCumulus 9 Nantucket <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Imprint-Cumulus9-Kitchen-Mat-Nantucket-Series-20-in-x-36-in-x-5-8-in-Cinnamon/dp/B003BYRDK2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Imprint Cumulus9 Kitchen Mat Nantucket Series 20 in. x 36 in. x 5/8 in. Cinnamon</a>\nRachel Ray <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Rachael-Ray-Premium-Anti-Fatique-Kitchen-Comfort-Mat-Black/dp/B015T1WMIM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Rachael Ray Premium Anti-Fatique Kitchen Comfort Mat, Black</a>\n\nThis Chevron is a perfect mix between the athletic shoe-type very bouncy feel of the NewLife, and the softer memory-foam cushioning that moulds around your feet like the Nantucket. I don't necessarily recommend the Rachel Ray mat, because although it provides the most support due to it being the \"hardest\" feeling mat, it was irregularly machined, and does not hold up well over time. The Cumulus 9 series, both Chevron and Nantucket, are well-made, extremely comfortable to stand on, and lovely in your home. I highly recommend. I have the \"Dove\" color, and it works really well with my wood floors and white cabinetry (see pic).","Product: The mason Shaker set includes the mason Shaker, our muddler, jigger and a copy of shake, everything necessary to start crafting delicious cocktails. It's the perfect companion for at-home bartenders.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellently Machined, No Drip Shaker\n\nReview: This beautiful W&P Mason Cocktail Shaker in a 1 qt (32 oz) size, has a standard regular mouth opening, and should fit your regular canning jars. The set comes with a jar, the shaker head, a cap and a ring (regular canning ring). The shaker head and cap are beautifully machined, and fit perfectly on the jar as well as to each other. I'm impressed with how they made the shaker head design with a small lip all around the edge that fits on the jar, so that if you screw the ring on firmly, there is no leaking from the neck at all. I tried this with ice and water, and absolutely no leak to my surprise. I fully expected, based on reading a review or two, that there might be a leak, and that I might have to buy a separate silicone jar edge insert- such as I use for some of my re-open type lids- <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Unique-Design-Reusable-Silicone-Seals-for-use-with-Regular-Mouth-Mason-Jars-Seal-Sits-on-Rim-of-Jar-Not-Inside-Lid-Gaskets-fit-Ball-Kerr-And-All-Regular-Mouth-Mason-Jars-Pack-of-12/dp/B06XPH8QN3/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Unique Design, Reusable Silicone Seals for use with Regular Mouth Mason Jars, Seal Sits on Rim of Jar Not Inside Lid, Gaskets fit Ball, Kerr And All Regular Mouth Mason Jars - Pack of 12</a> but nope (I tried the listed silicone seal, btw, and found it fits, in case you have a leaking issue for some reason). This is a beautiful and useful shaker, and I'm pleased to have this useful and attractive getup in my house. btw, the box was quite attractive as well, and would make a nice gift.","Product: Enjoy the cool comfort and memory foam support of the Sleep Master Gel Memory Foam Sofa Mattress by Zinus. The 1 inch of premium gel memory foam combined with 4 inches of high density support foam ensures that guests will sleep cool and comfortably on your sleeper sofa. The Gel Memory Foam Sofa Mattress conforms to the contours of your body and provides the ultimate support for an undisturbed night sleep. The latest evolution of memory foam, Biofoam replaces some of the traditional petroleum with natural plant oil, and includes natural green tea extract and all natural active charcoal to help absorb moisture, eliminate odors, and keep your mattress topper fresh. Please open your sofa mattress package within 72 hours of receipt and allow 48 hours for your new sofa mattress to return to its original, plush shape. Worry free 5 year limited warranty. Another comfort innovation from Zinus. Pioneering comfort.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Deal for a High Quality Mattress!\n\nReview: I didn't have high hopes for this mattress before i got it. the price was low, and at the advertised 5\" thick, it just didn't seem like it should be sturdy or thick enough to be comfortable. I was wrong on all counts, happily. As a disclosure, i don't generally like memory foam, and like very firm mattresses, so if you are a feathery-soft-squish-into-your-mattress-loving person, i'm not sure this will be for you. The mattress came rolled up and packaged in a large white fabric-ish tube (one use, disposable, cuz u are instructed to literally rip, not cut, it open), and the mattress is vacuum squished flat in a plastic bag. you cut the plastic bag open, and the vacuum seal breaks to allow air back into the mattress. The instructions say to allow it to unfurl in place for 48 hours. Sadly (cuz now i have to move it), i put this on my living room floor, and it really expands!- it looked so little in the tube by comparison... Within 10 minutes of me taking it out of the plastic, it had grown to the full 5\" in height. You can see the sequence in the photos as the mattress gets nearly as high as the dollar bill, and slightly over 5\".\n\nThe mattress has a nicely fuzzy/soft, removable cover which is zippered around three full edges of the bottom for easy removal, and the metal head of the zipper is thoughtfully tucked into a fabric \"tunnel\" of sorts, so that you can't rip any covers or sheets with the metal part hanging out. A peek inside the cover shows an inner gauze holding together the 4\" foam layer (yellow) with the 1\" \"Cool Gel\" memory foam (blue). i couldn't tell about the \"Cool Gel\" part, as it felt neither gel-ish nor particularly cool, but it does feel like 1\" of fairly high quality memory foam on a firm base of heavy duty firm upholstery-type foam. All together, this feels great to lay on, and supports my back while providing enough cushion to cuddle your shape.\n\nThis is an excellent mattress, and absolutely worth the cost. i would not hesitate to let my guests sleep on this, and it's a big step up from typical sleeper sofa mattresses. i would even use this as a regular mattress for daily use. i can't say yet as to how well it will hold up over time, but i'll update in the future..\n\nbtw- for those of you who are sensitive to chemical smells- this is much less stinky out of the pack than other memory foam products my family has owned. it has a very mild, much less than new car type smell, and i didn't feel the need to open every window.","Product: Joseph Josephs Elevate kitchen utensils are designed to improve hygiene and minimize the mess made by placing utensils onto countertops during use. Each tool has an innovative weighted handle with an integrated tool rest that prevents the tool head from touching the counter when placed down. The rotating carousel storage stand has a non-slip base and rotates smoothly for easy utensil selection.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Attractive, Space Saving and Easy to Use- Good Tools\n\nReview: This Joseph Joseph 6-piece utensil set is a very functional and attractive caddy for everyday tools you'd use in your kitchen. Presently, I have a mishmash of items in a drawer, taking up all the drawer space. This rotating set is so much cleaner and useful- don't have to dig around for the right tool, either. The tools are a good size and shape, being slightly smaller than individual pieces I have, but i'm liking the smaller sizes, actually. I particularly like the thin flipper spatula, which is really useful for nearly everything I use a spatula for- much better than my big fat one (except for giant pancakes, that is- can use the bigger spatula in the set for that). The handles are firm, well weighted and rubberized, so they won't slip out of your hands. The clever \"foot\" that keeps the food part of the tool off the counter is so excellent- all kitchen tools should have this feature! All in all a wonderful all-in-one set.","Product: DIIs 100% cotton tablecloths come in a variety of colors & sizes. These tablecloths are perfect for picnics, parties, showers, dinners, everyday use and more. DII offers a variety of prints and patterns, giving you numerous options for your next event or dinner party. All of DIIs cotton tablecloths have a 1 inch folded hem and mitered corners. These tablecloths are machine washable for easy clean up and use. Find DIIs full selection of tablecloths by searching for DII Cotton Tablecloths. To view more of our products visit amazon.com/dii.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fine Basic Lightweight Tablecloth- Bamboo Lattice Has a Great Retro Look\n\nReview: This nice 100% Cotton DII tablecloth is lightweight and crisp, feeling just a bit thinner than other DII tablecloths I have used, and being less \"rustic\" in that the fabric is smoother and more sheet-like. This cloth doesn't have the slightly fuzzier textured cotton feel on it's face, and it makes it a bit more elegant overall. I have the Bamboo Lattice pattern, and the pattern and color remind me of the mid-century modern look of my aunt's place during the 60's. I guess this tablecloth is nostalgic for me, and I like it a lot. DII has great natural cotton tablecloths, and they hold up well through (cold) washes. I highly recommend them-they are good quality, and they come in many beautiful styles and patterns for everyday use.","Product: Brighten up your cupcakes with rainbow icing swirls using the Wilton Color Swirl. This three-color coupler lets you pipe three different shades of icing at once. Includes the tri-color icing coupler, 1M and 1A icing tips and disposable piping bags.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Way to Get Pretty Multi-Colors - Good Price\n\nReview: This Wilton ColorSwirl 3-Color Coupler Set with two tips, disposable plastic frosting bags, and a coupler set that splits into three plus outer ring, is an interesting tool that allows you to precisely control the amount of each color going into your frosting- you can get fairly even-looking thirds of color if you squeeze a tight bag. This works best with three frosting filled bags, so the frosting comes out evenly. I tried just two of the colors at first, and it was tougher to control with the two plastic inner pieces moving around in the outer purple coupler ring. It finally occurred to me to put the third (empty) coupler head in for stability (duh) and it worked much better. I think the best (if you only want two colors) would be to just use two of the couplers with one color, and the third with the 2nd color, so it's easier to squeeze. It also helps a lot if you refill the frosting bags as you go, instead of putting in a lot at once.\n\nThe tips provided have fairly large openings (to accommodate three coupler/ colors at once), and you'll end up with quite a lot of frosting on your cupcakes if you want good swirls showcasing all the colors. I like to make mini cupcakes, and liked the look I got with single dots (like a big chocolate kiss shape- or a star if you use the other tip) piped straight down on the center. Overall, this set is a cleaner way to keep your frosting colors looking precise, vs. spreading the different icing colors along the insides of a single bag. You get a very pretty design, esp. using highly contrasted colors. This set is a good price, and a good addition to your cake decorating arsenal.","Product: The USA Pan Small Cookie Scoop Pan measures a full 12.5 x 7.75 inches* and provides home bakers with an easy way to bake delicious homemade cookies that brown evenly, release quickly, and come out tasting great! With an innovative scoop design that is both smart and baker friendly, taking fresh cookies out of the oven has never been easier. With a secure, easy gripping handle and a tapered edge, simply slide finished cookies onto a kitchen counter or cooling sheet. With a patented AMERICOAT Plus non-stick coating, the USA Pan small cookie Scoop Pan allows for easy clean-up. AMERICOAT Plus is PTFE, PFOA, and BPA free. Every USA Pan is made in the USA and has been designed with the same standard high performance features that commercial bakers enjoy including aluminized steel and heavy gauge steel construction that allows for even heat distribution and maximum service life. USA Pan Small Cookie Scoop Pans unique fluted surface design facilitates air circulation and also maximizes pan strength, which helps to resist warping. USA Pan bakeware is long-lasting, durable, reliable, and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. USA Pans professional grade bakeware helps everyday home bakers produce professional grade baked goods. USA Pan is a Bundy Family owned company, based in the Greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area that has been producing high performance bakeware for over 50 years. *Dimensions represent baking surface, not overall pan size.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Substantial, Non-Stick High Quality Cookie Sheet\n\nReview: This is another great product by USA Pan Bakeware. This (Large) sheet has the same finish (wavy and heavy gauge metal coated w a smooth silicone) as my favored USA Pan Pullman Loaf baker i've been using over five years now: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/USA-Pan-Bakeware-Pullman-Loaf-Pan-with-Cover-13-x-4-inch-Nonstick-amp-Quick-Release-Coating-Made-in-the-USA-from-Aluminized-Steel/dp/B002UNMZPI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">USA Pan Bakeware Pullman Loaf Pan with Cover, 13 x 4 inch, Nonstick & Quick Release Coating, Made in the USA from Aluminized Steel</a>. Based on my long term use of my USA Pan Pullman, I can say this material really holds up over time, as my Pullman looks and works as new as the day I got it in early 2011, with my using it about once per month over that time. Just be careful not to scratch the silicone finish w any metal instruments. I also really like how this cookie sheet has one higher lip, because I am constantly crushing the edge of my cookies w oven mitts, and this pan's high edge prevents that from happening. I wish both sides had high edges, however, because I turn my cookies 1/2 way through, but I guess that might interfere w the heat flow over the tops of the cookies. Overall, this is a great pan, distributes heat well due to it's thickness, and nothing sticks to that silicone. I just cooked a pan of green beans w olive oil and garlic salt, and they turned out great, leaving the pan easy to quickly rinse clean.","Product: THE BOSS stainless steel growler is ready for filling with 64 ounces of icy cold craft beer at the brewery or fresh hot coffee from home or your local coffee house. Featuring our TriMax triple insulation technology, this bottle is vacuum insulated and tested to keep liquids cold for 36 hours and hot for up to 8 hours. Weve included a removable stainless steel infuser, so you have the option of adding the flavor of fresh fruit to your drinks. If youre a tea enthusiast, fill the infuser with leaves and THE BOSS will be your favorite tea maker. On a summer day or warm evening, pour some wine in the growler, add slices of oranges, limes, pineapple and enjoy refreshingly chilled sangria that will stay cold all day - perfect to take on a picnic or day at the beach!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Luv These TriMax Bottles w their Excellent Filters\n\nReview: This EcoVessel THE BOSS TriMax is just what i've been looking for. I have a lot of insulated carriers, but none w the convenient and beautifully machined inner fine-mesh strainer in this size. I like to drink specialty teas, and this BOSS size allows me to share without running out, and without it getting cold before I finish the pot. The large strainer has ample room for full sized spices like cinnamon sticks and uncrushed flowers, and the very fine opening strainer keeps smaller particles out of my drink, almost as well as a paper mesh filter. The screw-on cap of the filter ensures that no large particles get out, and the thoughtful tuck-down handle on the filter cap makes it easy to remove from the bottle cleanly.\n\nThis a very attractive bottle that's well-built, and I can't feel the heat from the outer body at all, even w nearly boiling temperatures inside. Over time, I can feel a slight warmth on the lid, but the tea (and hot coffee) is still pleasantly warm even after about 4 hrs w opening the lid several times for pouring. I have the smaller 24 oz EcoVessel container as well <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/EcoVessel-Boulder-Dual-Opening-Insulated-Stainless-Steel-Water-Bottle-with-Tea-Fruit-and-Ice-Strainer-20-oz-Teal/dp/B019K72H7M/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">EcoVessel Boulder Dual Opening Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Tea, Fruit and Ice Strainer, 20 oz., Teal</a>, and like to use that for homemade kombucha. The strainer keeps the occasional blob of errant SCOBY out of my drink, without having to filter it separately. I think the best and most unique parts of these EcoVessel insulated drink carriers are their excellent filters, and I highly recommend these great bottles if you are looking for the combo of superior filter, good insulation and good looks.","Product: Mikasa Haley Platinum is an elegant and sophisticated pattern that creates a stunning tablescape. Features 2 hand-painted platinum bands along the rim creating a timeless design. Constructed of glass. Hand wash. Set of 4 flutes, each holds 7 ounces.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent Looking Overall, But Minor Imperfections\n\nReview: These Mikasa Haley Platinum Champagne Flutes are overall attractive looking w a pleasing feel, and I like the light swirl/ twist design in the bowl, the double platinum stripe at top and the substantial weight of these glasses, which are not particularly delicate, but not in a bad way. The stem is smooth and has no seam, but Mikasa is engraved on the foot, so that it's noticeable and permanent. I'm not a big fan of branding showing on my items, so this is a disappointment for me, but i'm not deducting stars for it. The reason i'm giving this 3 stars is that two of the four glasses in this set have minor imperfections within the glass in the bowl, that are less noticeable due to the swirl pattern, but still should not be there for a nearly $50 set. It's hard to tell from my picture, but there are several off-looking cuts/waves inside the walls of the glass itself (unrelated to the swirl design). At a minimum, this shows some quality control issues. Perhaps you will be luckier w your set.","Product: Ciara dinnerware by Mikasa brings understated contemporary style to the table. Clean white bone china is accented with striations that swirl around each piece, creating a simple, modern pattern perfect for both casual and formal dining. 16-piece set, service for 4, includes 4 each of: 11-inch dinner plate, 9-inch salad plate, 5-3/4 inch cereal bowl, and 13-ounce mug. Microwave and dishwasher safe.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is now our Good Dinnerware, but we use it every day\n\nReview: At our wedding so long ago, i received a really nice set of dinnerware, that we use only on special occasions. Compared to the price, and because we rarely use the settings, i wish i could go back in time and just have gotten this Mikasa Ciara Bone China set instead. We pretty much stuck to our sturdy and uninspiring Corningware dishes for daily use after our children were born, and have been using those and fiesta-type stoneware since. So, i was really happy to have the opportunity to review this nice set of dishes, which i figured would be a step up from our Corningware, different and lighter than our stoneware and hopefully nice enough to serve dinner to guests on more fancy occasions.\n\nThis set has really surpassed my expectations! This is a delicate-feeling and looking set, but surprisingly sturdy, with a clean and simple design. The dinnerware set easily dresses up our nice dinners, yet is solid enough to stand up to daily use. i've used these just like our Corningware, with no special care, and no problem at all. I really like how the edges of the dishware are tapered and that it feels and looks more sophisticated than what i'm used to with glass and stoneware.\n\nAn additional benefit i found was that these are really functionally sized and shaped. The bowl is a perfect size, in my opinion, for both hot (soups, stews) and cold (cereal, salads) foods, because it is larger than my other bowls, and not shallow in shape. i don't have to fill it too far up to the rim, for example, which generally caused spills with my kids. the mug is also really nice, because it has a 13 oz capacity, which gives you that little bit extra than normal 12oz mugs, and due to it's deep well and slightly fluted design, my coffee is staying warmer longer, and it's pleasant to hold with less chance of slipping. The salad plate at 9\" is also large enough to be useful as a light dinner plate, if you have a small entree for yourself.\n\nAll in all, a superior set of dishes! i'll definitely be using these for every occasion.","Product: The world is your oyster! OK, maybe not the whole world, but this pan is your oyster. Use this versatile 12-section pan to grill oysters on the half shell or shucked. Constructed of heavy duty cast iron, it features a seasoned, non-stick coating for easy release and cleaning. You can also use it to make single serving mac & cheese, drop biscuits, mini corn bread, and more. Fire up your creativity.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Substantial Cast Iron- Even Heating, Ample Oyster Space\n\nReview: This specialized Outset Oyster Grill Pan w 12 slots, is very fancy looking, but more importantly, is a very useful way to grill or bake your oysters without having them tip all their delish juices and seasonings out. The holding spots are ample and will cradle a good range of shells from smaller shells to the largest I've seen, due to the graduated curves up the sides. Although this does not have to be seasoned further if you're just going to be using it for oysters, I oiled and baked the front of the pan (I did not oil the back,so you can see a minor difference in sheen) just so I could also use this for cornbread and brownies as well, which i make more frequently than i grill oysters (see cheese jalapeno cornbread pics). The pan is well made, had no obvious imperfections, and feels substantial and weighty as you'd expect from cast iron. I think this is beautiful as a presentation plate for your oysters (grilled or even iced), and would give quite a flair to your appetizer spread.","Product: Lifetime 4-foot commercial adjustable height folding tables are constructed of high-density polyethylene & have three adjustable height settings. They will not crack, chip or peel, & are built for indoor & outdoor use. The patented steel frame design provides a sturdy foundation & is protected with a powder-coated, weather-resistant finish. Designed with an innovative one-hand adjustment mechanism, this Lifetime 4-foot adjustable height table is backed by a ten-year warranty, & is perfect for your home, office, outdoor activities & more!.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well-Built, Sturdy, Easy to Set-Up and Take Down, Useful Size\n\nReview: This is my third Lifetime Products folding table. I purchased my first (large picnic table size) from Costco many years ago, for quick backyard setups when I needed an extra table, and it has held up great over time for both indoor and outdoor use. This smaller side table- 80387 4'- which i've shown in my pic next to the short side of a queen mattress for size reference, is almost an identical version to my bigger table, except it has the advantage of adjustable height legs. This table is sturdy feeling and stable when set up, even at the highest height setting (three possible settings), and the materials and workmanship are excellent. The legs are easy to slide in and out for height adjustment via squeezing together two red release tabs on the crossbar bracing the legs, and the compacted legs fold down into the underside of the table, snapping into place, so that the table's sillhouette is completely flat and the legs don't flop around. There is even a convenient handle on one side of the table, so that you can carry it like a supersized briefcase when folded.\n\nI've been using this one outside next to my bbq, because my bbq didn't come w side wings. The table doesn't take much room in my small courtyard, but provides the perfect amount of table space I need for my platters, food and cooking tools. When i'm done, it's neatly folded away and stored in my garage, against a wall. I would not hesitate to get this brand if you are looking for a long-lasting and well-made folding table","Product: Clingless Curtain Keeper pulls the shower curtain or shower liner away from you and towards the outside edge of the bathtub. The bottom of the shower curtain remains on the inside of the bathtub preventing water spills onto your floor. Additional benefits include: Solves Shower Curtain Cling No more shower curtain touching you! Adds up to 25% More Shower Space! Designed to work with ANY shower curtain / shower liner and ANY bathtub! Comes Completely Assembled, so ZERO assembled required. No Tools Required! Just snap it on 12-15\" above the bottom of the Shower Liner Healthier as it keeps a dirty shower liner from touching you. Better than shower curtain weights and magnets, but work well with existing. Accents your boring shower liner, visible with a single liner or can be hidden with a double curtain. Travels in any suitcase, so take it on the road to use at any hotel, resort or motel! Not limited to designs, shapes or colors because they are interchangeable. Easy Care: Wipe clean with sponge and soap!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Live a Longer and Happier Life\n\nReview: If you have a certain kind of irritation in your household- a combination of a specific shower curtain thickness, a certain airflow pattern in your shower area, or you happen to have a particular body shape/ size or movement habit that causes you to be assaulted by a cold wet curtain every so often as you are trying to get soap out of your eyes- this IS the product for you! Irritations like this, over and over again, in your life, can cause early death... or certainly unnecessary stress, and you probably didn't even appreciate the harm to your inner-chi from the accumulation of these bad feelings at the start of your day, did you?\n\nThis Clingless Curtain Keeper does exactly what it's name says, and these doo-dads do give you more room in your shower. We already had that curved out shower rod, trying to get additional space away from our Attack- Curtain, but it didn't help all that much. This set of three nifty devices, sleek-looking and easy to put on your shower curtain via strong magnets, keeps your curtain in it's place. The nicely rubberized swinging teardrop shaped weights are totally waterproof and make only light bumping sounds against your tub when you move the curtain back- no fear of scratches or damage.\n\nThese genius guys, invent this thing- pet-rock-like, but better, and present it to all us stressed-out people who didn't even know what was causing our generalized and vague unease, slowly permeating our day, before trying out this great product. I'm a much happier person now. Good job Inventor Guys!","Product: Dili's 13x19\" outdoor double-sided placemats coordinate with dii's zippered tablecloth for outdoor use during the spring and summer months. The polyester material makes for simple cleanup. Great for BBQ's, parties, summer gatherings, dinner with the family and more.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for Casual, and Especially Outdoor Use\n\nReview: This DII 100% Poly Outdoor tablecloth is exactly as described, and looks just like in the picture. This tablecloth is smooth and substantial feeling, and does not wrinkle, but lays flat. It has the feeling of the napkins you generally find in large hotel chains, which are not a bad quality at all, and very easy to maintain. Because this is all Polyester, water does not soak in very easily, and so you can wipe away quick liquid spills before they get down into the fabric. Additionally, this beautiful banana leaf type pattern really hides minor stains without taking away from the festive and pretty look. If you have animal or tropical themed parties, this tablecloth is just the best. Quick in and out of the washer and dryer, and it looks exactly the same. I highly recommend!","Product: The Thermos 16 Ounce stainless steel travel tumblers offer superior cold temperature retention that keeps beverages cool and delicious for up to 12 hours. That makes them great for long walks, the Ride to work or wherever life takes you. With durable stainless steel interior and exterior and a sweat-proof design, this cold beverage bottle is versatile for any lifestyle.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Insulation, 1-Piece Cap, Not Leakproof\n\nReview: I was happy to try this Thermos H1017PC4, as our family has been using Thermos' similar insulated 16oz tumbler:<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Thermos-Stainless-King-16-Ounce-Travel-Tumbler-Midnight-Blue/dp/B002PY7AYS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Thermos Stainless King 16-Ounce Travel Tumbler, Midnight Blue</a> for over 5 years, and recently even bought some more, cuz it's our all time favorite. This particular peach H1017PC4 (i'm just going to call this model peach and our other model blue here) has nearly the same body type and insulation, except that the peach one says it has double the cold insulation as our blue one- 18 hrs vs. 9 hrs, but the same 5 hrs for hot liquids. I'm not sure about that, but I pretty much drink all my 16 oz drinks in less than a few hours, so the insulation is fantastic for the time I use the cup (altho I've left hot coffees overnight, and it's still lukewarm in the morning, so really good insulation).\n\nThe main difference i'm seeing in this peach model, is that the lid is a 1 piece cap, and easier to use and clean, whereas our trusty blue models have a cap that can be disassembled into 3 pieces for cleaning purposes. I was ready to love this peach one for the easier 1 piece cap, but unfortunately, it leaks like a sieve :) i think it's not meant to be leakproof- it will definitely not be a problem for general use in the car or casual swinging around, but you cannot have it roll to the bottom of your bag or backpack, for instance, or turn it on it's side for any length of time, so just be aware of that.\n\nI'd highly recommend this peach model if you don't generally keep your drinks sideways or upside down, as it's beautiful, easy to use and clean, and the insulation is great. If you need a true no-leak type insulated drink tumbler, however, i'd go with Thermos' awesome blue model linked above. My pics show both models, including one of the older blue models we've used in our home for the last 5 years. It's chipped and not so pretty, but it's still our most favored coffee cup, and we use these (we have 5 of them, incl. our new one) nearly every day.","Product: Hamilton Beach 16\" air circulator in Two Tone Gray color, has 3 adjustable Speed and a variable tilt fan head. The unit has built in handle and it is wall mountable. Unit dimensions are: 15.5\" x 7\" x 16\". Works with 120 V, 60 Hz electric current. Whether for your home or office, Hamilton Beach and proctor silex fans will meet your needs. Manufactured with the very best quality and innovation in housewares, these fans deliver on the very best in design, product innovation, manufacturing, and service.. the manufacturer warrants that your Hamilton Beach 16\" air circulator, H01AC017 no. H01AC017, for a period of one year from the date of original purchase, will be free from all defects in material and workmanship. This limited warranty is granted only to the original consumer purchaser or gift recipient. Keep the original sales receipt, as proof of purchase is required to make a warranty claim. Warranty is valid in the USA and Canada only. Refer to the user manual for the details.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Large, Effective and Portable Fan that's Somewhat Loud\n\nReview: This is a good-sized and slim-profiled fan that really moves air. It's got a wide and open face, without much of the unnecessary outer framing that some fans have- the fan blades go all the way to the outer edges, pretty much, and you get a good amount of breeze coming through. The control is a simple dial with three levels above the zero, which you just click through. The fan is not particularly robust feeling, and it's not made of any exceptional plastic, but it's light, seems sturdy enough, and does what you want it to. The sound is somewhat loud, however, like a hairdryer, so just be aware of that. This Hamilton Beach seems a good deal for the price, and is very useful to have around when you just need the air circulating.","Product: Rachel Ray Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mat : Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mats effectively relieve pressure on your knees, feet and delicate joints in the legs. Stylish pattern provides a great look and design in your kitchen. Measures 20 by 39 inches. East to clean- Wipe clean surface. Proudly made in the USA.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: longer sized and firm mat, has imprints that don't go away over time\n\nReview: I have many of these anti-fatigue mats of different brands at home, and three in my kitchen- one in front of the sink, one in front of the stove, and one in front of the food prep area. My kitchen is not huge, but i love to cook, so it's great to always have something pleasant to stand on. Compared to my other kitchen mats, this Rachel Ray mat is a bigger size, being longer than my mid-sized Cumulus9 <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Imprint-Cumulus9-Kitchen-Mat-Nantucket-Series-20-in-x-36-in-x-5-8-in-Cinnamon/dp/B003BYRDK2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Imprint Cumulus9 Kitchen Mat Nantucket Series 20 in. x 36 in. x 5/8 in. Cinnamon</a> and my smallest NewLife <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/NewLife-by-GelPro-Designer-Comfort-Mat-18-by-30-Inch-Sisal-Coffee-Bean/dp/B0176BIJEE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">NewLife by GelPro Designer Comfort Mat, 18 by 30-Inch, Sisal Coffee Bean</a> mats.\n\nEach mat has a different feel and benefit. This Rachel Ray is the \"hardest\" feeling mat, in that it does not feel like a bouncy athletic shoe sole (NewLife) or like a foot-cradling memory foam cushion (Cumulus9). It has the feel of a thin smear of memory foam atop a folded up military-grade dense wool blanket--ok, so this is a bit specific, but i'm trying-- The benefit of this \"hardest\" feeling Rachel Ray mat, is that it provides the most support for your body when you are standing a long time, and keeps your spine up- just as a firm mattress is supposed to be better for your back alignment. If you have a bad back, and need additional support while standing a long time, this might be the mat for you. if your feet are hurting, and you need a comfy cushion, the Cumulus9 is awesome. if you want bounce in your step and feel like you're wearing a good running shoe on a track, you'll like the NewLife.\n\nThe one star deduction is not due to the feel of the Rachel Ray mat, which is pleasant and very supportive-- it's due to the poorly finished edging on the mat (i tried to show the irregular finishes in my pics next to the straight lines of the dollar bill) and because your footprints make an irregular pattern on top of the mat that never really goes away, until you make new prints.\n\nUpdate: i am removing another star, because after using this mat for a month, i'm finding that the imprints from footprints don't go away over time, and that it has become even less cushion-y/ supportive.","Product: Rock safely back and forth as you read a story or play your favorite game! The ECR4Kids Soft Rocker is the perfect seating solution for children and adults in a classroom, daycare, or home. Ergonomic contours and plush padding make it ideal for reading, studying, meditating, watching TV, playing video games and more. Lightweight chair is fitted with dense foam and a soft, leather-like cover for style and comfort. Intended for use on the floor only.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Size for your Pre-Teen or Early Teen, but Okay for Smaller Kids too\n\nReview: This is a cute comfy rocker made of a leather-ette type fabric that feels pleasant, and is stretched on what seems like a reasonably light but sturdy plastic frame with cushioned padding along the seat and back. I'd say this chair would work best for your slender 4\" to 5\" tall youngster (or a thinner adult), because it's not very wide - see my pic w a dollar bill across the seat for reference. Also, it's most comfortable if your legs are long enough from your feet to your knees to keep you leaned back enough to hit the sweet spot of balance, but not so tall that your head starts to hang over the top. If your child is as small as the little boy in the photo, for example, the seat will be leaned forward more that the picture shows. My son, who is taller than the photo boy, needs to actively rock and push the chair up w his legs to be leaned back that amount, if that makes sense. Even so, it's not hard for him to rock, because the chair is light. He really likes the chair, and says it's comfortable even in the forward position (the position shown in my pic w no one on it).\n\nThe bottom of the chair has two plastic rails (black against this red) that touch the floor surface, to prevent damage to the leatherette. I sat in this and found it extremely comfortable as well. I tried to fall all the way backwards, and it wasn't very easy to do. I did push my way all the way back to the floor just to test for safety, and felt that you'd be fairly protected if you somehow managed to tip all the way back (no problem in the on-your-back position unless your head hangs over the top). All together a really nice piece of furniture that looks great in your room, and is pleasant to sit on.","Product: Lenox's Organics Reef Bread Tray brings a natural accent to entertaining with undulating ridges that evoke the subtle curves of life under the waves.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Go-To Appetizer Plate, but Even Better as a Serving Platter\n\nReview: This Lenox Chip and Dip - or any appetizer - will be elegantly presented in this wonderful platter and bowl set, which feels thick, substantial, textured and is so beautiful to look at and touch. The dip bowl is separate and removable, and even the backs of each piece are patterned in a lovely way, completing the look of the free-form art piece this is. i'm thinking i'll use this for hummus and breads; or marinated olives, cornishons and meats/ cheeses. I just love this piece, which comes in a nice box, and would be a welcome gift.\n\nThe directions given for care of this item suggest coating surfaces with oil/ spray prior to each use to guard against discoloration from acidic foods or fatty acids. Do not microwave, and don't let water stand in it for extended time frames. If you see discoloration, you can rub with baking soda and water paste, or a metal polish. The bottom can scratch, so you can use a trivet. Hand wash w mild soap and water, and dry immediately. Don't use in a dishwasher. Not freezer or oven safe.\n\nUpdate: I've used this at a few dinners now, and primarily without the middle \"dip\" bowl- The large plate really works great as a serving platter in general, and i've carved up a big chicken with veggies around it. The sides keep in the juices nicely, and it looks very fancy. I'm definitely using this during Thanksgiving for my ham.","Product: The Next Generation Bed Frame - The Premium 18 Inch Smart Base Mattress Foundation by Zinus eliminates the need for a box spring as your memory foam, spring or latex mattress should be placed directly on the Premium Smart Base. The Premium SmartBase works especially well for lower profile 6, 8 and 10 inch mattresses, giving your bed a lift for extra storage as well as ease of use. Uniquely designed for optimum support and durability the strong steel mattress support has multiple points of contact with the floor for stability and prevents mattress sagging, increasing mattress life. The Premium Smart Base bed frame is 18 Inches high with 17 Inches of clearance under the frame for 4 extra Inches of under-bed storage space. With plastic caps to protect your floors and an innovative folding design to allow for easy storage, the Smart Base is well designed for ease of use. Worry free 5-year limited warranty. Another comfort innovation from Zinus. Pioneering comfort.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Eight -20 Gallon Storage Containers Fit under my Queen SmartBase!\n\nReview: I'm reviewing the Queen-sized Zinus 18\" Premium SmartBase. This took me less than 15 min. to set up, and only cuz i was taking pictures in between. It comes in two parts, folded in half. You basically unfold each almost twin-sized piece (similar to a flat conference tables with folded down legs), click in the safety hooks and tighten the wingnuts on each of the four corners. You then use the included two long screws and wingnut the two parts together to make the complete base-- no tools necessary.\n\nThis makes for a very tall bed, esp. if you have thick mattresses and a topper like we do. But, the glory of having an ample area to discreetly store supplies makes this SO WORTH IT. I was able to fit EIGHT 20-gallon storage containers that were 17 inches tall and almost 17 inches wide: [23 3/4\"x 17\" x 16 5/8\" (60.3cm x 43cm x 42.2cm)] under this frame, and 18\" bedskirts are available--i need to get one.\n\nThis frame feels very sturdy set-up, for being so lightweight, and has no squeaking- all the parts that touch the floor have plastic caps, so your wood floors should be fine. It feels great to be on the bed, and there is no movement. Best yet, I was able to throw out our old and unwieldy box spring, which was so hard to fit up our stairs during our last move. Yay, Zinus!","Product: TOSSWARE is the perfect upscale disposable (but 100% recyclable!) drinkware for any occasion. Our products embody the elegant look and feel of crystal without the shatter. Best of all, they are BPA-free and made with the highest quality recycled PET polymer, so you can save the planet without sacrificing sophistication. Its style meets simplicity with TOSSWARE!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Thick, Reusable TOSSWARE - Beautiful & a Great Value\n\nReview: These 7oz shatterproof beer glasses are very durable, crystal clear and thick enough so that I don't want to throw them away. They come snapped together in 8 columns of 6 cups wrapped in plastic (48 all together in the box), and they stay together unless you pull reasonably hard. You can re-snap them together as well, making storage easier. These are attractively designed and have just enough room for a tasting glass of beer, 6 oz pour of wine, or a glass of milk or juice for the kids. The shape is easy and pleasant to hold, and the lip is rounded and smooth- no sharp edges on your mouth. I can't think of a better glass for your get togethers (or for every day use), unless you're going to get a different size or shape of this TOSSWARE. These are not your solo cups, and really take it up a notch for entertaining, when you still need something disposable.\n\nI'm actually handwashing these and keeping them, because the are so nice and because they really work for my kid's drinks. The cup clearly says on the bottom that these are NOT for hot liquids or for dishwashing. I tried to dishwash one on the top rack anyways, just to see what would happen, and it sadly did shrinkydink into a lopsided shape (see last pic- cup on right side is the after). My husband said, \"what, you think you're above the TOSSWARE laws?\" Don't be me. Color within the lines on this one.","Product: Putting versatility at your fingertips, this T-fal 10-in-1 rice and multi-cooker offers a large 10-cup capacity, 10 pre-set cooking programs, and Fuzzy Logic technology for convenient, foolproof results every time. From breakfast to desserts, the T-fal 10-in-1 makes it easy to cook tasty and healthy meals for the entire family. Just put the ingredients, push the button and the machine will cook perfectly for you thanks to its Fuzzy Logic technology. Try new ways of cooking while gaining countertop space thanks to the T-fal 10-in-1!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fast cooking perfect textured rice (and quinoa or other grains) with effective Keep Warm function\n\nReview: If you make rice dishes on any regular basis, you owe it to yourself to get one of these dedicated rice cookers. I say dedicated, because even though you can make numerous other foods in this device, including using it as a steamer or slow cooker alternative, no other device will make your rice (or quinoa or other grains) so hands-off easily and so perfectly textured, and keep it hot and fresh for hours, until you eat it. This T-fal comes with a short cord, an inner pot, a steamer basket, a one-cup plastic measuring scoop, a textured rice paddle, a small ladle, a glossy recipe book and direction manual.\n\nTo make rice, you can use the the plastic measuring cup to add up to 10 cups of dry rice (serves 16-18 people) into any fine-sieved colander to rinse off extra starch. Or, you can just add the dry rice to the pot and wash w a few changes of water, pouring out most of the excess each time. Make sure the rinsed rice is in the pot, before adding enough water according to the directions (pic shows the table you can refer to in the manual), to the level shown on the side of the pot (hopefully you can see the pic with the engraved number markings up the side). *btw, some say you should use a colander to rinse your dry rice so you don't end up scratching up the inside of your pot over time.\n\nIn my pics, i used 4 cups of jasmine rice mixed with quinoa, which serves 5-6 people, and added water up to the \"4\" line (it looks like the water is near the \"6\" in my picture, but that was a reflection). To cook, press the Menu button until the triangle next to the word Rice is lit, and then press the big Power symbol/ start button. When you press start, you'll only see a dash \"-\" on the readout. After the water is boiled, it will beep twice and count down the minutes until your rice is done; about 20 min all together. The Keep Warm function automatically starts after your rice is done, and you see a \"b\" on the display until you press the Keep Warm/ Cancel button again to turn off that function. The rice/quinoa mix i made turned out perfectly- i fluffed it up after cooking and mixed in a few tablespoons of coconut oil with the included rice paddle for flavor. I have also made all quinoa without rice, and rice with other whole grains such as barley or buckwheat, and it all works great.\n\nIf you want to cook foods other than rice, the included recipe book has step-by-step instructions and ingredients for soups and vegis, main dishes like stews and ragout, or even desserts such as spiced cider or pudding. One thing that i'm planning to try that i think would be very useful is the yogurt function. i normally make yogurt in my oven, preheated and then cracked, with a thermometer- it's a real hassle to get and keep the temperature right. if this T-fal works well, i'll be making yogurt more often.\n\nThis is a great device. it even has a handle for portability so you can make your food and take it to the picnic table! luv it.\n\nUpdate: i've tried yogurt twice- the second time worked much better because i heated the milk to 180 F (kill other germs), cooled to 115 F and added the culture (u can either use dried or just a cup or two of plain yogurt from the store or your last batch) and 2 cups of powdered milk to a gallon of milk before putting it in the T-fal (8 hrs). the first time i tried this, i just put cold milk in w culture only to see what would happen- it worked, but was very thin liquid-y yogurt.\n\ni've made this with powdered milk in coconut milk before as well, and that works great if you want a different taste. i never tried just coconut milk by itself tho- when i do this the harder way in the oven, the yogurt is thicker and less tart, because i only need to set it 4 hrs (the longer you keep it in, the firmer, but more tart it gets).","Product: The InterDesign clarity cosmetic Trio cup is the perfect way to keep your vanity organized. Made of plastic with 3 compartments, it's perfect for tall brushes and applicators, eyeliners,and lip glosses\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fits All My Makeup Brushes and Tools\n\nReview: This is a very simple plastic all-purpose organizer, which has ample space, even for my extensive collection of makeup brushes, tweezers, nail files, small scissors and other random cosmetics tools. I like how these three cups are fused together, so that they don't tip over as easily as they would on their own (like the drinking glasses I was using before).\n\nThis organizer is great for both thicker and longer tools, which are easily held in the shorter and taller sized cups. I debated actually getting one of these organizers in the past, because it seemed really simple (and cheaper) just to use a plastic cup or something I already had on hand. But, having done that, and now having used this, I've got to say, having a specific holder made especially for specific items just looks neater and works a whole lot better.","Product: The JJ Cole Insulated Tote combines all of the conveniences of our diaper bags with the features of a picnic cooler. Both the main compartment and the side pockets are insulated to keep items cool while you find the perfect picnic spot. The easy-access front pocket is perfect to store items you need at a moment's notice, and you can stash larger items in the roomy back pocket. This tote can hold up to 20 pounds, so you won't have to pick and choose what to bring along. Grips stroller attachments are included so you can quickly and easily attach your tote to the stroller and go.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Insulated Tote/ Soft Cooler- Goldilocks Size\n\nReview: This is is an insulated and roomy tote bag, that is like a soft ice cooler. I wouldn't fill it with water or ice directly though, because it has seams around the bottom and the walls are filled with a puffy insulation that could get wet. It does not have any partitions on the inside, so if you wanted to use this as a reusable grocery bag for refrigerated or frozen items, this is perfect (see pic- a normal wine bottle fits standing up and you can zip it).\n\nThe bag has a velcro-closed slot on the back side, and a magnetic button-closure pouch for keys, wallet or other small items on the front side. There is also a place for your water bottle or pens on the right side (pic). The handles are made of nylon straps, of the type you'd find on a backpack, but that are rolled and filled with a firm fiber-type material, making the handles more comfortable to hold. Also included are two detachable rubbery \"stroller attachments\" that stretch over the handles of your stroller (or cart).\n\nThis tote is a really good size to hold a nice picnic lunch for your small family of 3-4; for holding snacks, diapers and clothing changes for your kids at the park; or how i like to use it, as a grocery tote for cold foods. This is very versatile, sturdy and well-made.","Product: DII Halloween Portraits tablecloths makes it easy to dress up your tabel setting for Halloween! DII 100% cotton printed tablecloth is an elegant way to transform your table for Halloween dinner parties. Care instructions: Machine wash cold separately, Gentle cycle, Tumble dry low and Low iron if needed. Coordinate with DII halloween napkins and table runner to create the perfect place setting. To view more of our products visit amazon.com/dii\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cute Halloween Print Tablecloth\n\nReview: This orange rimmed spider cornered black star dotted tablecloth is great. It looks really nice and would be perfect to cover a table for treats. DII has really decent 100% cotton tablecloths, and these holiday-themed fabrics are a great idea. This particular one is not one of the thicker tablecloths I've felt from DII, but for a 1-time per year use, it's definitely not bad, and the design is pleasing. You can see the very faint outline of my fingers through the cloth, but just barely. Once this is washed, it should feel a bit thicker. I noticed my 100% DIIs shrink up to about 10% after several washes, but still fit the table very well, because they are ample in size overall. I'd recommend this Halloween tablecloth- esp. if you love holiday decorating like I do.","Product: Mossy Oak is one of the most effective and recognized camouflage brands in the country. Mossy Oak strives to represent their genuine love of the outdoors with uncompromising quality and a unique bond with consumers driven by the heritage of hunting and a love of the great outdoors. This durable turner sports the Break-Up Infinity pattern, has a stainless steel head, and is extra long, making it perfect for turning and serving meat on the barbecue. Also features a built-in bottle opener. Measures 19-1/2 inches long. Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy, Large and Utilitarian\n\nReview: This is a useful long-handled Stainless Steel Turner, that has a very large head that doubles as a bottle opener, which is really convenient if you don't want to be fussing around looking for, or packing a separate tool for your beer during your BBQ or camp-out. This turner is stamped out of a single, decently thick piece of stainless steel, nothing fancy, but works perfectly for larger foods. Flip your 1/2 lb burger patty or big pancakes expertly. This also works great with looser foods like a pile of hashbrowns or corned beef hash, to help keep the crisp on one side, vs. having it fall all apart. The handle on this turner is a long, hollow resin-type oval shaped tube, that feels good to hold and feels sturdy even thought it's very light. Importantly, it keeps your hands cool. The handle also has a hole in it so you can hang it on a hook. One thing to be aware of, is that because this tool is fairly large, it works better outside on a larger and flat grill surface. I took a pic next to my 12\" cast iron skillet, so you can see the relative sizes. All in all, a great tool for the grill.","Product: Chicago Cutlery Avondale 16 piece Block Set includes: 8 in Chef, 8 in Bread, 4.5 in Serrated Utility, 4.5 in Utility, 3.5 in Parer, (8) 4.5 in Steak, Kitchen Shears, Sharpening Steel, Wood Block.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good Multi-Purpose Knives, Light Feeling Steak Knives, Poor Scissors & Block\n\nReview: Despite my 3 star (i would give this 3.5, btw), review, i want to say that i am actually a big fan of Chicago Cutlery, and have used their knives for nearly 10 years with no problems. I feel that this particular 16-piece block set, the Avondale, just doesn't have the same great quality the Chicago Cutlery name represents, and comes across as somewhat cheaper feeling than my other Chicago Cutlery knives and sets.\n\nThe block itself is a thinly veneered wood, as can be seen by the little chips in the edging on the back, and the finish was a bit rough. I polished it with wood oil, and it looks reasonable, but i'm not sure how long this will last over time if you're sticking it with knives every so often (unlike my butcher block set that still looks new after nearly a decade of use).\n\nThe knives themselves are actually very sharp, and the stainless steel seems good quality. The handles for the multi-purpose knives are thick feeling and can even stand up on their back edges, giving a nice grip. The parts where the black polymer and the metal on the handles meet are reasonably seamless (very minor and not too noticeable gaps/ raised areas). I did not like the light feeling of the steak knives, however, that feel a bit like you're holding hollow plastic, and i thought the quality of the scissors was cheap feeling (not substantial handle, \"plasticky\" feeling polymer part).\n\nOverall, i'd say this is an OK set, and not bad for a first set for your home or apartment. Still, if you are looking for a long-term knife set, you may want to pay more and get one of Chicago Cutlery's better sets, such as:<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Chicago-Cutlery-Insignia2-18-Piece-Knife-Block-Set-with-In-Block-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B000H6VH1S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Chicago Cutlery Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set with In-Block Knife Sharpener</a>","Product: The Currituck Tumblers offer superior heat and ice retention. They are constructed of durable, kitchen-grade 18/8 stainless steel and come with a BPA free lid. The double wall vacuum insulation and built-in gasket help prevent heat transfer, meaning your ice stays solid longer and your cup wont sweat. Fits in most cup holders.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful, effective mug with always-open drink hole opening on top\n\nReview: This is a seriously excellent vacuum sealed double-walled mug. I have many sets of double walled stainless steel cups, mugs and travel mugs, including many similar in look to this Camco Caribou 20oz, but i'd say this is one of the most, if not the most, well-insulated of the covered mugs i own. I made a hot mocha tonight, and i could not feel any transfer of the boiling-level temperatures within the mug, around the outer metal body- was not even warm- very impressive. The plastic lid was a bit warm, to be expected, and you could see the condensation of the heat on the inside of the clear lid, but the lid's temperature felt very comfortable against my mouth.\n\nAt first, i was not thrilled with the lid, which is one-piece of plastic, because it has a permanent hole in it for the drink opening (see pic w pencil through opening), with no closing feature. While this would not be great for an extremely bumpy car ride or, obviously, in a sack or purse (this may be a deal breaker for some), it makes for the easiest cleaning of all my covered mugs. There just is no fuss, cuz there are no parts, moving or otherwise, that allows moisture to remain in crevices in an unsanitary way, or that doesn't let you access smallish areas for thorough cleaning. This lid w it's rubberish/silicon gasket (ok, the gasket is a separate part that can be removed) is so simple to wash, and w the clear plastic, you can easily see that it's clean. I was also worried that the permanent opening would allow too much heat to escape too quickly.- not so. my drink was still very hot after two hours, and is warm even now, about four hours later.\n\nThe bottom of the cup does warn you that you should hand wash, and that you should not freeze (or microwave), but that is similar to many mugs/ cups with plastic parts/ plastic lid portions. I plan to use this for my tea or coffee drinks at home or in the office. i don't think i'll try to travel w this in my car- not saying it wouldn't work; i just am not going to try it. I'm also not deducting any stars, because if you purchase this knowing about the permanent opening, it's a really effective and beautiful mug, that is great for insulating your drink, and it easily cleans to a sanitary condition.","Product: Our chamois like material provides a super absorbent hair towel that folds into a compact travel size. This is the best quick dry hair towel on the market. Rated as twice the absorbency of microfiber material and preferred by professional hair stylists. The Bucky hair towel also makes an excellent travel towel. The high-performance chamois material readily absorbs water and is just as easily wrung out for quick-drying. This towel is generously sized, measuring 35 x 18\". It makes a compact roll that fits easily into an overnight bag or carryon. We cut, sew and package this product in Seattle, WA. Bucky has been making fine travel and relaxation products for over 22 years. To use, just flip your head over, place the large part of the turban on your head, trap your hair in the tail of the turban. Twist until tight, then tuck the tail into the elastic loop in the back, just as if you were making a low ponytail. To view more of our spa and travel products visit amazon.com/Bucky.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Plush, Light and Absorbent\n\nReview: I love microfiber towels, and always carry one when I hike or go camping. They absorb water quickly, dry quickly, and can be used to cushion items or pad my backpack against my back I also use them in the kitchen, and I use them on my car This Bucky Quick Drying Microfiber Plush Terry is huge. It's the largest and thickest microfiber towel i've seen, being a full sized bath towel practically. Obviously I wouldn't take this on a hike, but it's really great for home use, particularly for my daughter's long and thick hair, which always takes forever to dry out of the shower. This Bucky towel is plush, lightweight, fluffy and absorbent, and my daughter likes the color, which looks a bit on the pinker side of peach. She has been using this after her showers at night, and it sucks the water out of her hair better than a regular towel. She also likes that it doesn't make her head feel like it's the weight of a bowling ball when she wraps her hair up on her head, like normal towels. If you're a microfiber towel fan, this large sized towel is excellent!","Product: The Pour Over Goose Neck Kettle from True has a unique spout allowing better pour control for that smooth cup of coffee and is great for tea as well. The 1-liter kettle has a 360-degree swivel base and turns on easily with a finger touch control at the base. With 1000 watts of power, your water heats quickly while an auto shut-off feature prevents over boiling. The brushed stainless steel exterior and elegant shape are great addition to any kitchen.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect little kettle for pour-over coffee or for tea\n\nReview: This one liter (about 4, 8-oz cups) capacity, brushed stainless steel electric kettle boiled a full liter of water (there is a fill-to max line on the inside near the handle) in 5 minutes and 3 seconds from my tap (about 63 degrees F/ 17 C), and turned off immediately at the boil (not the noisy part, but when the bubbles can be heard percolating), which is very impressive, since i've had similar kettles that take forever at boiling before they turn off. The boiled water was 208 degrees F/98 C. The \"on\" lever sticks out under the handle, and depresses easily and smoothly. The \"on\" light is a bright blue that can easily be seen, and also immediately shuts off when the lever snaps back up by itself (manual action) upon boil.\n\nThe inside of the kettle has no plastic parts that touch the water, provided you stay below the recommended fill-to line. The outside bottom has a plastic coat that allows you to place the hot kettle on any surface immediately after boil- it feels barely warm to the touch. However, don't touch the metal portions, which are extremely hot!\n\nThe goose neck design is great if you wanted to make pour-over coffee (filter with coffee grounds atop of your cup/vessel, and you pour water over it), because you can precisely control the saturation of all parts of your coffee grounds in the filter, making for a stronger brew. Or, this is a great look for a modern tea. This is very simple, easy to clean, and a perfect size for travel, in my opinion. I like to take a hot water boiler with me when i travel, so that i can have hot water in my room without having to rely on hotel coffee pots, and this is a nice compact size. Also, despite the delicate look of the goose neck, the metal is thick and feels quite sturdy.\n\nI highly recommend this useful and easy-to-use kettle. I'm sorry about the upside-down photo of me pouring water into my cup at the end.","Product: Whether hosting a business meeting, catering an event, or simply upping the convenience quota of everyday life, Panasonic's electric thermal hot pot makes it easy to quickly and safely boil and dispense hot water--perfect for anything from tea, instant coffee and hot cocoa to instant soup, noodles, baby food and more. The exceptionally versatile unit can be used throughout the day for various applications and at different temperature settings. The pot's fold-down carrying handle makes it effortless to transport from the sink for filling to the buffet table or counter when entertaining guests or working in the kitchen.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well Designed & Very Useful Perpetual Hot Water Machine\n\nReview: I was first introduced to these Electric Thermo Pots (perpetual hot water boilers) traveling in Japan and Korea nearly two decades ago, where they seemed to be in almost every middle class household, even then. These have finally gained traction in the US over the past many years, i've noticed- maybe because people are using more convenience devices and services, like Keurigs or AmazonFresh, and hot water is just one more thing we can't believe we ever had to wait (a few minutes) for. I'm not complaining- I love my Panasonic Thermo Pot, and the ease of having instant hot water whenever I want, feels like a nice daily luxury.\n\nThese Thermo Pots are certainly really useful to have around, and you don't have to professionally install a fancy boiling water faucet in your kitchen. Panasonic is a long-term name in these devices, so you're going with a solid company w lots of experience boiling water when you purchase this 3 liter baby. The concept is that you will always have hot water at a set temperature of your choosing (160, 180, 190, and 208 degree options on this machine). If you are a purist, you want your green teas at 180 degrees or your drip (pour over) coffee at 205. If you're like me, and just want hot water for general hot drinks or instant soups or noodles, I keep it at 190 at all times. You can switch the temperatures, but it doesn't change instantaneously of course. This NC-EG3003 model takes 27 minutes to get the full 3L from tap water temp to boiling, and holds it at a cooler 190 in my case.\n\nOne interesting function, is that if you press the Reboil button after your water has already been heated to the temp you want, it will (re)boil the water for six more minutes, reducing the chlorine in your water by 80%. Who knew? Some other useful features are that the lid is fully removable for cleaning, and there is also a small removable metal mesh filter at the bottom of the metal pot (the boiling container is fully metal- lid and pot), keeping any hard water scale deposits from getting into your drinks. You can clean the mesh with a toothbrush if it gets scaly over time. Also, there is a safety auto-release magnetic power cord, so that if your machine were to fall over (highly unlikely- it's well balanaced), the magnet for the power would easily disengage, cutting off electricity to the machine. The outer plastic housing of this machine stays only lightly warm to the touch, even when the water is boiling- it's very well insulated.\n\nThere is a \"Lock Unlock/ Slow Drip\" button for safety, which toggles between Locked (no light), On (solid red light) and Slow Drip (slow blinking red, for pour over coffee). Only when the red light is on the Lock-Unlock button (solid or blinking), can you then press the Dispense button to get hot water. After 10 seconds, it will automatically lock again. That's pretty much it. This is a one trick pony, but the trick is pretty useful if you're like our family, using hot water all throughout the day. This really beats heating water each time in the kettle. If you're concerned about the hot water being on at all times, you can chose the six hour timer (toggles with the temp change Select button), and your device will shut off automatically at the six hour mark.\n\nThis is one of those machines you won't want to do without once you have one around- a bit like a microwave- yes, you can do everything on the stove, but it's nice not to have to... (or even having to wait the 90 sec. in the microwave...)","Product: Making a complete and balanced meal in the Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker and Steamer is as easy as placing the ingredients in the bowl and turning it on. Not only does it cook rice and whole grains perfectly, but an integrated basket can be used to steam seafood, poultry and vegetables even while the rice cooks below. That means with just a few presses of a button, its quick and easy to serve salmon with kale and quinoa one night and chicken and broccoli over white rice the next. The 2-in-1 steamer basket can also be used to rinse grains before cooking, which prevents clumping and results in a fresher taste. Clean up is a snap with the dishwasher safe nonstick cooking pot. Its compact size makes for easy storage. Cooking healthy, delicious meals doesnt get any simpler than that. Do not place on or near a hot gas or an electric burner, or in a heated oven\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sleek Looking and Compact, Good Results\n\nReview: This Hamilton Beach Rice and Hot Cereal Cooker is a sleek looking and compact (a bit larger than Volleyball sized) cooker that makes rice and hot cereal as noted, as well as steams. This comes with a rice scooper, steam basket which doubles as a colander, and a measuring (metric, not imperial) \"cup\" to measure out your dry grain. The cooking pot is non-stick, and marked on the inside with water level numbers that correspond the the number of \"cups\" you add. So, if you add 3 dry scoops using their measuring \"cup\" you would add water to the #3 line shown inside the pot (see my pic). The max number of dry cups you can add to this cooker is 4, but the colander can only hold about 3 for rinsing, so be aware of that.\n\nThe function buttons on the front are: white rice, whole grain, hot cereal, steam and power/warming. The warming function auto starts once the cooking ends to keep your food hot and safe. You plug in the machine, add the pre-measured and rinsed water and grain-filled pot, press the middle power button to turn on and then press the function button of what you're making. In my pic, I made 1/2 jasmine rice 1/2 quinoa, which cooks just the same as white rice, i've found, in the measurements. The timer started at 45 min for my white rice, counted down to zero (machine beeps) then automatically warmed as the timer starts counting up. I added coconut oil and curry powder after the rice/quinoa was done just for something different.\n\nSo far so good. This is a great little machine that has worked well and consistently for me a few weeks now, and I'm very pleased w the results.","Product: DII offers tablecloth in countless colors, designs and sizes. You'll find the perfect tablecloth for your table. All tablecloths coordinate with the DII ribbed placemats, fringe placemats, and assorted napkins. This tablecloth makes it simple to create a perfectly coordinated table setting for Christmas and winter season. This is also great hostess gift, Christmas gift, holiday gift, house warming gift, and more. This holiday tablecloth adds fun and style to your dinning room, family gathering and dinner party! the tablecloth is 100percent cotton and machine washable. To Minimize shrinkage, Please follow care instructions. To view more of our products visit Amazon.Com/dii.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Cotton Fabric is Thin\n\nReview: I have many DII 100% cotton table coverings and accessories, which are very decent and high quality, but this particular DII design with the green and red sparkles on a white background is not as nice as most of the DII tablecloths I have. This design's fabric is very thin, and it even seems smaller on my table than other cloths meant for a 4-seater. The primary issue I have with this is that I can almost see the table underneath the cloth, and feel like I need to use a white colored undercloth in order to have this on my table. I do like the pretty design, but they should have used a more substantial fabric to print it on.","Product: No matter what's on the menu, you'll have it made with this diverse 14-piece set of blades constructed with German Stainless Steel. This stunning and enduring cutlery collection gives all chefs the leading edge they crave in the kitchen. Plus, the well-organized Silver Sleek Knife Block with its integrated sharpener keeps everything needed within hands reach.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: One-piece hollow-handled, Elegant knives- Solid holding block\n\nReview: This KitchenAid Classic Forged 14-piece cutlery set is a good basic set for a smaller family or individual. The \"German Stainless Steel\" they advertise as being resistant to rust, stain, and corrosion, is qualified as applying to the specialized knives only- for the Chef, Bread, Utility, Santoku and Paring knives (but not the six steak knives, i guess). I really like how the knives are forged of one piece of metal, and don't have any seams or edges where germs can get trapped, making them very pleasant to look at and hold.\n\nI should clarify that only the specialized knives' handles, and not the steak knives, are hollow, and this is a plus in my opinion- the hollow handles are larger, thicker and easier to hold, and makes the knives feel more balanced, in comparison to the solid-handled steak knives, where the handles feel a bit thin and short, even for my smaller hands- as if they left just the tang, and forgot to add the outer, actual handle. Even so, i still think this is a solid knife set, because the knives actually cut well, and are sharp. The holding block is also very durable feeling and looks very fancy. The scissors are really well-made, seem durable, and are one piece (the two blades do not come apart for cleaning). The instructions say the cutlery is dishwasher safe, but that hand washing is recommended for lasting appearance and performance, which is similar to care for most stainless steel items.\n\nThere is an integrated Diamond Sharpener in the block, which makes it convenient to keep your knives sharp, but that i don't generally use (I have another set of knives with a similar sharpener in the block), because over time, you get powdery metal shavings on your block and around your clean knives. yes, you can remove the sharpener and clean it, but i find it easier to just use a separate sharpener, like this one i bought in 2007, which is still going strong: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Presto-08800-EverSharp-Electric-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B00006IUWM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener</a>. The instructions for the KitchenAid cutlery also tell you that the knives w serrated edges (the bread, utility and six steak knives) must be professionally sharpened- but again, same as w other knives- if you want to keep the serration, that is.\n\nAll together, a decent product by KitchenAid, and the knives look great on your counter.","Product: This Westinghouse seasoned cast iron 12 inch skillet screams versatility, allowing you to make an almost endless assortment of delicious foods all in one pan. Use it over high heat to brown foods perfectly. If youre sear roasting, its a great choice since it can be transferred directly to a hot oven with no worries. Create restaurant-quality French toast or potato pancakes with golden brown, crispy exteriors and its also ideal for making corn bread, frittatas and flat bread in the oven.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good All-Purpose Cast Iron 12\"- A Little Rough to Start\n\nReview: This is a nice all-purpose cast iron pan which has a good lip height, so that you can bake a decent portion of biscuits, corn bread or cinnamon rolls, or fry enough main course (4-6 chicken breasts or porkchops) for a family of four or so. If you are a long time cast iron user, you probably already have a 12\" skillet. If you are starting out using cast iron, you'll definitely want at least one pan this size- it's perfect for stove top, and is generally my go-to size for most pan-cooking items. This Westinghouse is fairly well-seasoned when you get it, but you'll need to 1) wash it once w warm water and a tiny bit of soap (I never use soap again after the first time, or you'll ruin the seasoning); 2) coat w oil, and either put it in the oven for a few hours at 350, or just continue to use it on the stove w oily foods like bacon, until you get a dark black burnish. This accumulating burnish is the carbon filling in the grooves of the iron surface, creating your non-stick surface over time. When you clean your pan, just use warm water and a plastic scraper, and re-coat w oil (i use any veg oil).\n\nI like this Westinghouse skillet, and have their 5 quart cast iron dutch oven as well, which I love. This also comes with a nice (blue) removable silicon sleeve,which fits over the handle to help w insulating you from heat when moving/ lifting the pan. Overall, I think this is a fine pan, but the surface is noticeably rougher than several of my other cast iron pans (Lodge and other brands as well)- especially near the angle part to the lip. Over time, the roughness will smooth out, but it is a bit rougher than I like to start (you can see the slightly coarser texture in my pic). Curiously, my Westinghouse 5-quart is not this rough, and I can't recommend it enough. This skillet is not as well-finished as their dutch oven for some reason, but it's a fairly small criticism to an overall good pan.","Product: The Westinghouse seasoned cast iron Dutch oven offers a spacious 5 quart capacity, making it ideal for searing and braising meat, preparing delicious stews or putting together one of those like momma used to make meat sauces. Even better, being oven safe, you can brown meats on the stovetop and then finish your special recipe in the oven. Let your imagination and talents run wild with this versatile product, which is also easy to clean and can last decades with minimal care.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Really Beautiful Cast Iron Pot\n\nReview: This Dutch Oven by Westinghouse is really much nicer than I expected. This 5Q pre-seasoned pot is gorgeous and is a proportional thickness for it's size. I have a similar Lodge 7Q (see pic of the larger Lodge pot w oil in it, on right side of this Westinghouse for comparison) as well as numerous other cast iron cookware from various companies, and this Westinghouse is a good value for the quality. I like the larger handle on top of this 5Q, and the finish, although not quite as smooth as my Lodge wear was when new, is very decent, and just one oiling and heating in my oven really created a deep burnish, which you can see from the pic. I cook and bake in cast iron a lot, and it's my favored bakeware- esp. for sourdough rounds, bar none. Deep frying in these larger pots is also superior, as the heat stays consistent, once you have it up to the right temperatures. The deep sides are great for minimizing splatter, and I always set fried food on top of a paper towel on the upended dimpled inner lid which stays at a good slant due to the handle. This is a fine pot, and I'm very happy to have it.","Product: The Westinghouse seasoned cast iron Dutch Oven provides you not only the opportunity to sear and braise meat, prepare delicious stew or make meat sauce but turn over the lid when youre done and you have a ready to use, ready to cook 10 1/4 skillet. How convenient is that, especially when cabinet space is limited in the kitchen or youre out cooking on a campfire and looking to take as little equipment as necessary. Use the skillet to make golden brown pancakes or cook a steak just the way you like it.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Quality and Value, Good Shape\n\nReview: This great Dutch Oven by Westinghouse, and it's twin, Model WFL545 which has a traditional briquette holder lid with handle <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Westinghouse-WFL545-Select-Series-Seasoned-Cast-Iron-5-Quart-Dutch-Oven-Amazon-Exclusive/dp/B01G5LGF0G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Westinghouse WFL545 Select Series Seasoned Cast Iron 5 Quart Dutch Oven - Amazon Exclusive</a>, share identical 5Q bodies, and are both beautiful pieces of cast iron cookware, made w a decently fine cast. I compared the body of the briquette lid Westinghouse with my trusty Lodge 7Q (has frying oil in it) in the first pic, and you can see that these 5Q bodies are a perfect fit for one on my larger glass top burners. The instructions actually say not to use these on glass tops, but I've never had any trouble, even with multiple cast iron pots at the same time- just be careful to lift, not drag the pots or you may scratch the glass. When I received these, I washed them with soap and water, dried immediately, and coated with veg oil- then, put them in the oven for an hour at 350 degrees for additional seasoning. Even though these are pre-seasoned, you really need to use them for awhile before they develop that wonderful black smooth sheen of baked-on carbon, which becomes non-stick. I only use warm water and a plastic scraper to wash after the first and only soaping, and always keep them lightly oiled.\n\nI use cast iron for a lot of my cooking, and for nearly all my baking, esp. breads (a sour dough boule is perfect fit for one of these 5Qs- just lower the dough in the preheated body on parchment paper), because they provide very high, even and consistent heat, mimicking to some extent, what you might find in a wood fire oven after it cools (I use the lid on). This is also why cast iron is my first choice for baking pizza - this link is to my favorite pizza pan, for example: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Lodge-P14P3-Pro-Logic-Cast-Iron-Pizza-Pan-14-inch-Black/dp/B0000E2V3X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Lodge P14P3 Pro-Logic Cast Iron Pizza Pan, 14-inch, Black</a>. Deep frying in these cast iron dutch ovens is also superior, as again, the heat stays very consistent once you have it up to the right temperatures. The deep sides are great for minimizing splatter (only fill it to about 30% full of oil). There is nothing like golden fried chicken from one of these babies. The skillet lid on this model is a good size for a deep dish pie, or for a cluster of cinnamon rolls, in addition to general use as a pan, because even the sides of the lid are fairly deep.\n\nI think this Westinghouse is very good value for the quality, and the surface texture is decent- not quite as fine as my Lodge ware- but, granted, i've had decades of use with some of my Lodge ware, so it's not a fair comparison. But I just think that Lodge has it in the bag if you even compare new to new. However, just heating this up once in the oven gave it a nice burnishing as you can see from the pic, and the price is nice. Also, it's great that two 5Qs fit into my standard-sized oven side by side, so that you can make more than one oven bake at a time. Once you get the hang of cast iron, you'll never go back.\n\nUpdate: Like one of the reviewers here, I also bake bread in cast iron - Until I saw a few recent utube videos, however, I didn't know about using it upside down with the loaf on the \"lid\" part and the big body over it. It certainly makes it a bit easier to place your risen dough correctly with less chance of burning yourself. Also, because these Westinghouse 5 Qts are so compact, you can get two, and use them both in the oven at once, saving a lot of time and energy. Cast iron provides a perfect environment for baking crispy skinned sourdoughs, without having to get a wood-fired oven.","Product: Pampers small disposable Bibsters have a cloth-like feel and leakproof liner. Suitable for babies up to 6 months old, they feature Sesame Street characters. Case of 6 boxes: each box contains 20 Bibsters. 120 total Bibsters.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: very useful for drooling baby\n\nReview: i love these little bibs. i say little, because even though they are the size of regular cloth bibs, the big size Bibsters, which i also bought, are HUGE, and cover my 9mo. old baby to almost past his diapers. i was reluctant to buy Bibsters at first, because they seemed such a waste of material being disposable- and i guess they are-- however, they serve a good purpose in that they are extremely light and thin and fully waterproof, so that my super-drooler doesn't get his outfits totally wet like he does with his cloth bibs, which i'm frequently switching out. Bibsters are also very easy to pack into the diaper bag, and i'm never without a bib. i've also been using the big size bibsters on my 2yr old in the car, for random snack spills. these are not really reusable, but i sometimes do use them for 2 meals, depending on how clean they are. The price was right when Amazon grocery had the spend 50 get 10 deal","Product: A lightweight, easy-to-use steamer that will produce a steady, high thrust continuous flow of steam within 30 seconds! Durable enough to stand up to daily in-store use. Maintenance Free Just fill it and use it!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy to Use, Decent Steam Power\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R34IJT9PDXPQ1G\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1TuZJhZDTS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91a5KvWBAFS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> This Econoco Steam Butler works as advertised, and is a decent way to steam iron your clothes. The Steam Butler comes with a rolling base, a plastic water bottle and top, and a hook stand that is in three pieces that screw together (ends are threaded, not that you use screws). There is a steam head/handle permanently attached to a hose, and the end of the hose can be hand tightened onto the base, even though the instructions say you could use a wrench. My husband had no problem hand tightening, and there were no leaks, but he did use a little bit of petroleum jelly on the metal connectors to smooth the job. There is one on/off switch which lights up red when it's on, and a continuous flow of steam comes out of the head in about two minutes, and stays on until you switch it off. You can see the steam flowing out of the head, and it fogged up our small bathroom after awhile.\n\nMy husband steam-ironed a few dress shirts, and they came out smooth and freshened up. The hose beyond the plastic handle gets a bit hot, so you have to be careful not to grab the hose part. This is slim and has a small footprint, so you can even keep it in your closet. This butler is a good price, and works effectively. It's simple to use, and a great way to avoid ironing. You don't get those crisp lines, but the ease sure beats getting the ironing board out.","Product: Regency's Chloe Collection of occasional tables convey a simple idea that complements any room setting. This end table's straightforward design includes a modern X style base and elegant round top. It is constructed of 1-inch thick solid hardwood and is finished with a deep Mocha Walnut hand-rubbed veneer. Stylish Chloe tables are at ease in both home and professional environments and look especially great in waiting rooms, entryways, in front of a sofa or lounge chair. Backed by a 1-year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Simple Set-up, Heavy Weight and Good Quality Hard Wood End Table\n\nReview: Sometimes, you just need a little table- one that can hold a lamp, a drink, or in my case, a printer. This Regency Chole 21\" round end table has a perfectly simple design and set-up, and is made of a high quality and nicely finished wood, which feels dense, heavy and very substantial. This does not look cheap like the \"wood\" that comprises my \"executive desk\" set-up at work, for example, and this does not have that paper-thin veneer finishing the surface of an increasing number of do-it-yourself furniture assembly kits and pieces. It's hard to find a solid wood anything nowadays in a kit, so this was a very nice surprise.\n\nThe table comes w one allen wrench for the one large bolt-screw holding the \"x\" portion of the table on the floor. The top is held on the four legs via single dowels sticking up from each leg, fitting into appropriate holes at the bottom of the table top. You screw the included L-shaped brackets from each of the legs to the bottom of the table top, with two included screws per bracket; one on the leg, one on the table (eight screws and four brackets provided). You need your own phillips head screwdriver. Also, the four ends of the beams that touch the floor thoughtfully have adjustable risers in them so that you can level off your table if anything isn't quite straight, either w your table or the surface you place it on.\n\nThis took me about 15 min. to put together, and was fairly simple. I say this because I have had so much trouble putting together mis-aligned furniture kits, bikes, kid's toys, bed frames etc... over the years, and this table was not bad at all. That said, and as at least one reviewer commented, the instructions show a different L-shaped bracket than those provided. It's pretty clear though, considering that each provided bracket has only one hole on each side of the \"L\" and that you only have eight screws, that you'll know what to do, despite the instructions showing a longer bracket w three screws each. One other issue is that drill holes are only placed on one side (the legs) of where you attach the bracket. The table top is not drilled. However, you'll find that you can put the screws in the wood with only moderately strong hand pressure, no drill needed (I do have a big fat puffy grip screwdriver which helps). I'm a small gal, and i'm not a body-builder. I'm very pleased with this table, and really like how sturdy it feels after assembling. I would not let the assembly put you off- this is a nice table, and real wood is hard to come by nowadays in these type of kits.","Product: With a series of designs that will be both striking and suitable for your space, the divine rugs found within the Jabari collection by WorldWeavers offer a touch of incomparable charm to any dcor. Machine made of 100% polypropylene, each of these perfect pieces will not only update your space, but offer an affordable solution for doing so, fashioning a sense of flawless warmth from room to room within any home.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Rug For Great Price\n\nReview: This Surya Riley RLY-5026 Classic is a pleasant and neutral rug w very low pile that looks well made overall. The rug is on the thinner side and needs a non-slip pad underneath in order to prevent slippage on wood or tile flooring and for a bit more cushion. That said, the texture of the short pile is very comfy and feels soft underfoot like acrylic sweater yarn might feel- not natural feeling in a breathable way like cotton or wool, but not at all rough or plasticky. The colors seem true compared to the ad pic, and the edges are smooth and not snagged. The rug is a bit creased upon unrolling, and stays that way for days even if you put some weight on the creased portions. Overall, however, this is a great price for a good everyday rug that looks quite nice.","Product: Embodying the a sense of classic charm that will effortlessly emit a sense of inviting comfort, the flawless rugs found within the Hepburn collection by WorldWeavers will surely become the center point to your space. With a smooth oriental design that radiates opulence, and a cool color palette that will give any room a feel of refined relaxation, each of these perfect pieces will surely be exquisite within your home decor.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very Affordable, Easy To Clean, Attractive Southwest Design\n\nReview: This Surya Paramount Foggy Blue Southwest Area Rug has some negatives, but definitely more positives. The first negative is that initially, youll need to put something on the ends of the rug to flatten it down. After keeping a large coffee table book on each each of the four corners overnight, the rug lay flat. There was also a strong chemical smell when I first unrolled the rug, but it mostly dissipated by the next day.\n\nOn the positive side, this 53 x 76 rug covers a decent amount of floor space in most rooms. After flattening, it lays pretty well. The rug feels very comfortable under bare feet. Note that you should consider adding a non-slip pad underneath if you have this on a hardwood floor in a high traffic area. Another positive is that the rug is made of polypropylene and can be cleaned easily using just soap and water. The rug also has an attractive southwest pattern. While no one would ever mistake this for a Native-American hand-loomed rug, the design and colors give off a classy southwest vibe, like something you might find at a nice hotel in Sedona or Santa Fe. The biggest positive about this rug though is the price. Getting an attractive, functional, easy to clean rug of these dimensions for such an affordable price is just incredible. This would be perfect for furnishing a spare bedroom or for someone who is just starting out at their first place and wants to add a handsome, durable, and easy to maintain floor covering without breaking the bank.\n\nFinally, I just wanted to add a note regarding the product information warning about only vacuuming this rug with non-beater bar vacuum cleaners. From the research I did, a beater bar was originally a metal agitator attached to a vacuum cleaners rotating brush rolls in addition to the bristle brushes. Its supposed to beat the carpet fibers through rotational/vibrational action to help lift dirt as you vacuum. These days, however, very few vacuums actually have this feature, replaced instead with stiffer brush strips which still provide agitation. All the same, most articles I read said that many consider the rotating brush bar a beater bar. Im actually not sure whether my upright vacuum cleaner with the rotating brushes will damage this rug, but to be safe, Ill be sure to set the roller brush height higher when vacuuming or just use the vacuum attachment without the rotating brush.","Product: Large, angled display is easy to read. Removable outer shell and platform are dishwasher safe. Sealed inner chassis resists airborne contamination, slides out for easy cleaning. Reads and displays in pounds, ounces and grams in decimal, fractional and whole grams Increments : 0.1 ounce, 1/8 ounce, or 1 gram. Field calibratable for accuracy. Anti-microbial protection on resin surfaces to help prevent cross contamination. Intuitive hand grips for safe, quick, and simple transport. Temperature-compensated load cell for use in refrigerated prep rooms. Onboard count feature for easy portion tracking and kitchen productivity. Programmable auto shutoff to conserve battery life. 200% overload protection. Includes AC adapter. Uses AAA batteries (not included). Rubbermaid Commercial 1812595 Premium Digital Scale for Foodservice Portion Control, 12-pound, Stainless Steel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Scale for So Many Uses- Has (Included) Internal Rechargeable Battery\n\nReview: There seems to be a misunderstanding in some of these reviews, but this scale has an internal rechargeable battery. It also comes with a 120-230 VAC adapter, or can also be used with 4 AA batteries (not included). The instructions (page 5) recommend you charge for 12 hours before use, and the power will last 50 hours. All i can think of for this discrepancy in reviews is that each time you press a button on this machine, you need to hold it down for a second before it registers- this includes the power button (and the other buttons as well), so it could be that users may have pressed the power button quickly and thought there was no internal power when it didn't immediately turn on. That said, this is a really good, multi-functional scale with six units of measurement you toggle through by pressing the \"units\" button: pounds in decimal, pounds & ounces in decimal, pounds & oz in fraction, oz in decimal, oz in fraction, and grams.\n\nThere are also four different programs you can input: 1) the Power Save program, which when enabled, turns off the scale after five min. of inactivity; 2) the Count Portions program, which will count the number of times you put a portion on the scale up to your desired specified number limit (the default is 50, and you can adjust up and down); 3) the Calculate Weight of Portions, which allows you to put food (or whatnot) on the scale, set the number of portions you want (default is 20, adj. up and down), and the scale will divide the total weight of the food by the number of portions you set- so you know how much each portion needs to weigh; and 4) Calculate Portions in Weight- so you know how many portions you can get from the food on the scale if you want each specified portion to be a specific weight.\n\nInterestingly, while there is a final customization function for business use that can permanently reset the factory defaults, the bottom of the scale has a sticker that says, \"NOT LEGAL FOR TRADE\"- i tried to take a pic of this, but it may be a bit hard to see-\n\nThe picture-based instructions for programming the four functions are a bit tricky to get the hang of at first, but once you see how they are describing things, it does make sense. The \"Tare\" button allows you to set a container on the scale, \"zero\" it out (so you are not weighing the container), and then add your product into the container. I like to use this when i am continuing to add ingredients into the same bowl for a recipe (when the recipe is in weights, of course). i \"zero\" out the scale (press \"Tare\") after each addition of an ingredient, so i don't have to weigh each ingredient separately on the scale and move it to a different bowl.\n\nI love that this scale has two removable stainless steel weighing platforms- one being a larger size that fits my typical 3 lbs of bread dough nicely, and that gives me exact weights for each of the various portions i like to have for different sized flat breads. The platforms are easily removable and dishwasher safe to boot. The accuracy of this scale is +/- 0.005 lbs, so this pretty much should take care of most of your household needs and then some- such as, if you bake and measure in weights, make mixed drinks, use portion control for your diet, need to mix hair dyes (developer/ dye), help your son with his science fair project (yes- vinegar and soda!), do crafts such as scented candle making... every home could use a good accurate scale. This one is a winner.","Product: This Built NY Lunchpack Collection Verdi Tote Bag is perfect for carrying your daily essentials and lunch in one sleek bag. Features a detachable insulating lunch bag that makes it easy to store your meal in the fridge. The external neoprene pocket holds a water bottle or umbrella and includes an elastic strap to secure smaller items. The fully lined interior features a zipped pocket for valuables and the durable, dual handles with faux leather grip provide carrying comfort. Made from 900 denier poly canvas. Wipe clean. Tote measures 14-1/2 x 15-3/4 x 4-1/2 inches, Detachable lunch bag measures 12 x 10 x 2-1/2 inches.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Attractive, High Quality and Good Sized Carry-All for School or Work\n\nReview: Using this bag is a nice break from a backpack or computer case. It fits comfortably over my shoulder and has a decently padded interior which makes it reasonable to use as a laptop carrier. The 1.25\" nylon straps have \"pleather\" type handles sewn on for better comfort, and all the main zippers are also fitted with pleather pulls for ease of use and visual contrast. This bag is an ample size that can hold several regular binders or notebooks, and a 12\" laptop, all at the same time.\n\nThe top of the bag has extended flaps with a zipper, that allows the top of the bag to remain square (versus pulled together to a point) when zipped with a lot of items in it, which is a nice touch. There are two smaller zippered compartments on the inside of the bag for loose items such as for your cords or keys or wallet, and a non-zip pouch on the outside, opposite the lunchpack side, for easy access items such as sunglasses, pens or even your phone. The lunchpack is roomy enough for several items, and is attached to the outer bag via three zippered sides- the top and sides attach to the bag, and the entire lunchpack comes off. The inside of the lunchpack is a reflective, water-proof shiny material for better insulation. The lunchpack is also padded, so that the bag and lunchpack feel sturdy and substantial, but light. There is a neoprene side pouch on the outside of the main bag, that will hold your drink.\n\nThis is a great bag, and feels good to carry. I like the bright colors, so it's easy to see among a sea of black and muted carry cases out there, and it feels better balanced than my computer bag, because it holds my computer up vertically, vs. swinging side to side the long way. The quality in the make and materials of this bag is evident, and I would not hesitate to recommend.","Product: Add style to your next party with this Style Setter Glass Beverage Dispenser. Whether you're entertaining indoors or outdoors, this Beverage Dispenser is sure to be the life of the party. This beautiful piece is made of crystal glass with a timeless design. Ideal for either casual or formal occasions.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy and Thick, High Quality Drink Dispenser-- Perfect for Kombucha Brewing\n\nReview: I'm very pleased w this Style Setter Main Street Bev Dispenser, which has thicker glass at the shoulder area and base than regular commercially available gallon pickle jars, and this also has an attractive look. The metal stand is very sturdy, and easily and securely holds this dispenser off the counter top for ease of pouring yourself a glass. The plastic spigot worked perfectly after securely tightening the provided fitting on the inside of the dispenser, and I have had no drips.\n\nI've been using this as a continuous brewing vessel for Kombucha/ Jun, and it works great. The pic I attached shows a mix of 2 cups honey and nearly the full 2 gallon capacity of this Style Setter dispenser worth of green tea (1/2 cup loose tea and water) plus the SCOBY. I put this dispenser on a heating pad, so that there are no drips from this jar is very important. The grolsch-style bottles next to the dispenser contain some of the flavored booch from the last batch. When I take a break from making Kombucha, I'll very likely use this at my next party for flavored waters. I highly recommend this lovely container and stand.\n\nbtw, i forgot to mention- when you securely tighten the spigot to the jar, make sure that you place the silicone \"washer\" i am holding in my pic, the opposite direction from the direction I am holding it (sorry, took pic wrong way), because it is angled narrower in one direction, and the narrowest part should go towards the hole in the glass, like you'd put a cork in a bottle. the washer and the nut you screw over the washer, should be on the inside of the dispenser. This should help w any leaks that are coming from the bottle area.","Product: Corelle Livingware South Beach 8.5\" Plate (Set of 4)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Awesome Corelle. What's Not to Love?\n\nReview: When I was a kid, we'd always had these around our home- different patterns of course, but the same Corelle glass plate sets that I still love today. And boy am I sorry I had given so many settings away to charities over the years as I've moved, thinking I'd just get some nicer plates. Well, I do have \"nicer\" (aka at least more expensive, anyways) plates, and had gone through that whole phase w the bridal registry picks, fancy parties and such. Lately tho, I am back to ease of use, and simple living is far more important to me. I've been purchasing Corelle plates and bowls again, which I like to use the most, because nothing beats their lightweight and thin design, and I love their bright designs, like this newer South Beach pattern, which is just very Happy. Some things just are good, and stay good, no matter how many years pass.","Product: Offering a range of colors that brilliantly blend to create a modern seemingly textural design, the Malia collection for WorldWeavers will craft a bold, beautiful look for your space. Machine made in Turkey in 100% polypropylene, the tasteful tie dye designs and affordable price points coalesce flawlessly with a vibrant coloring, redefining trend from room to room within any home decor.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Neutral Colored Faded-Chic Area Rug\n\nReview: I am reviewing the Surya Nova x Area Rug in the smaller 3'9\" x 5'2\" size, and I have to say that the rug looks nearly identical to the ad pic shown. The rug is low pile and looks well made overall. The rug is on the thinner side and needs a non-slip pad underneath in order to prevent slippage on wood or tile flooring and for a bit more cushion. That said, the texture of the short pile is very comfy and feels soft underfoot like acrylic sweater yarn might feel- not natural feeling in a breathable way like cotton or wool, but not at all rough or plasticky. The colors seem true compared to the ad pic, and the edges are smooth and not snagged. This Nova has unique worn and faded areas that are prominent, patterned as if it were an antique-type of worn rug. I guess this look may be a faded-chic type of look, not unlike the concept of ripped jeans, perhaps. The rug is a bit creased upon unrolling, and takes a few days to smooth out. Overall, however, this is a great price for a good everyday rug that looks quite nice.","Product: Our silky soft Microfiber sheets offer a low cost solution for quality linens. Wrinkle resistant and fully machine washable, our extremely durable Microfiber sheets feature a breathable twill weave. King and Cal King sheet sets include 1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet and 2 king pillowcases. All sheet sets fit mattresses up to 18\" deep.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Soft and Luxurious, Feels Lightly Velvety, Has Beautiful Sheen\n\nReview: This PureCare Microfiber Sheet set is really lovely and well made. The material has a light sheen, thick satin embroidered decorative edging along the pillow cases and top sheet, and an inner stitched covered elastic that goes all the way around the bed for the fitted sheet. Impressively, the fitted sheet also has fabric-covered elastics on the undersides of the corners (nice touch- so no bare elastic at all, unlike some sheets) at the top curves covering each corner of your mattress. This provides ample room yet a snug fit at the corners, whether you have a thinner and thicker mattress. The pillowcases are also ample in size, and fit my very full and fluffy down pillows easily around the middle, and with about six inches of fabric to spare at the openings.\n\nThe fabric feels lightly velvety, and has a very subtle \"fuzzy\" texture, compared to the smoother feel of cotton or linen, making lying in this just wonderful for cold nights. I have to say though, having used a microfiber duvet cover for years, that you may want to switch to cotton in warm weather, because ultimately, this material just doesn't breath as well as cotton, and can make you feel a bit too warm if you're a hot sleeper. I'm not docking this, however, because for cool weather, I find that nothing beats the luxurious feel of this type of microfiber.","Product: This Sabatier White slotted restaurant turner is an essential for turning everything from pancakes to fish, and has a durable stainless steel head strong enough to flip heavier meats on the grill, with slots that allow juices to drain away when transferring the food to a plate. The handle is made of durable pom and includes stainless steel triple rivets for added strength. Dishwasher safe.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Long and Sturdy, Solid Handle\n\nReview: The working end of this Sabatier Slotted Spatula is about double the length of a regular kitchen spatula, and it is constructed of a light metal which is one piece- the triple rivets go through the handle slabs and full tang. The slots are wide and well proportioned, allowing for less weight, but do not detract from the sturdy feel of this spatula. This tool is perfect for a large flat top grill, and would be excellent for flipping large pancakes or a pile of hashbrowns when you want that nice crispy part to stay in big chunks. The length is also useful for maneuvering/ turning or holding personal-sized pizzas easily. If you grill a lot, you definitely need one of these larger tools, and this particular Sabatier Spatula is quite handy and well-made.","Product: The Storkcraft Premium Comfort 5-inch Foam Twin Mattress combines superior quality and comfort for a restful nights sleep. Made with high-quality premium foam, the Stork craft Premium Comfort Mattress strikes the perfect balance between comfort and support. This twin mattress is unique in that it features a removable, washable and breathable outer cover for convenience and peace of mind. The Stork craft Premium Comfort 5-inch Foam Twin Mattress ships compressed in an easy to carry lightweight box, and once unpacked, will start expanding to its full size. The Stork craft Premium Comfort 5-inch Foam Twin Mattress meets Federal flammability standards and includes a 6 year limited manufacturers warranty\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent Mattress for Medium Firmness Sleepers\n\nReview: This is a foam mattress of the vacuum-packed, rolled and shipped to your door variety, which is very convenient, and the price is right. The cover is nice, velour-ish, removable and zippered around three sides of the mattress for easy cleaning. Inside, you will find a thinner stretchy fabric covering a solid foam of one type, which is about medium in density- not hard like a couch foam, and nowhere near what you would find with a Tempurpedic-type memory foam for softness. It's a solid OKAY, which is why i gave this three stars. I have another foam mattress that is also five inches thick- the similarly priced <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Sleep-Master-Cool-Gel-Memory-Foam-5-Inch-Sleeper-Sofa-Mattress-Replacement-Sofa-Bed-Mattress-Twin/dp/B00PZ03VE2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Sleep Master Cool Gel Memory Foam 5 Inch Sleeper Sofa Mattress, Replacement Sofa Bed Mattress, Twin</a>, which i find to be more comfortable due to the dual foam layers in the Sleep Master (four inches of solid bottom layer and one inch of very soft upper layer). I suppose this is a preference issue, however, based on how you sleep and what level of hard/soft you like. Still, i can't help but compare the two mattresses, and for me, i find this Storkcraft to be a good, but not quite great mattress.--this mattress did expand to five inches btw (vs. the four inches shown in my pic), but took overnight to expand to full size. also, the wooden ruler atop the roll pic is 12\" long.","Product: This Sabatier Pom Ice Cream Scoop easily scoops ice cream, sorbet, and other frozen desserts. Features a strong durable stainless steel head to scoop all your favorite frozen treats. The handle provides a secure, comfortable grip. Dishwasher safe.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy and Smooth Action, Best for Larger Hands\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R25YMUPOLF23V3\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1QlkRdgC8S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1eRZ0VnjdS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> This is a well-made Ice Cream Scoop,and the parts move smoothly and it appears to be machined well. It will make nice sized balls of ice cream, and it feels strong enough to cut through harder ice creams. The handle is made of hard, smooth plastic, and is a bit slippery when you're holding it, as it's nearly a round shape. This is also a fairly large tool - granted, I have a small hand, but you can see from the video that this would work best if your hand was larger. The cross guard section, which is the lip-part which prevents your hand from sliding up as you depress the ice-cream release lever, is a good feature, and gives you stability so that you can press the lever with more strength. The protruding portion could have been rotated back a bit further behind the scoop, to be more effective, imo, but that could also be due to my hand size. Overall, this is a well-made tool, and should last a long while.","Product: Our silky soft Microfiber sheets offer a low cost solution for quality linens. Wrinkle resistant and fully machine washable, our extremely durable Microfiber sheets feature a breathable twill weave. Queen sheet sets include 1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet and 2 queen pillowcases. All sheet sets fit mattresses up to 18\" deep.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Soft and Luxurious, Feels Lightly Velvety, Has Beautiful Sheen\n\nReview: This PureCare Microfiber Sheet set is really lovely and well made. The material has a light sheen, thick satin embroidered decorative edging along the pillow cases and top sheet, and an inner stitched covered elastic that goes all the way around the bed for the fitted sheet. Impressively, the fitted sheet also has fabric-covered elastics on the undersides of the corners (nice touch- so no bare elastic at all, unlike some sheets) at the top curves covering each corner of your mattress. This provides ample room yet a snug fit at the corners, whether you have a thinner and thicker mattress. The pillowcases are also ample in size, and fit my very full and fluffy down pillows easily around the middle, and with about six inches of fabric to spare at the openings.\n\nThe fabric feels lightly velvety, and has a very subtle \"fuzzy\" texture, compared to the smoother feel of cotton or linen, making lying in this just wonderful for cold nights. I have to say though, having used a microfiber duvet cover for years, that you may want to switch to cotton in warm weather, because ultimately, this material just doesn't breath as well as cotton, and can make you feel a bit too warm if you're a hot sleeper. I'm not docking this, however, because for cool weather, I find that nothing beats the luxurious feel of this type of microfiber.","Product: There's no reason to brown bag it anymore when you can use the Six Pack Tote instead. It's perfect to take to the beach, park, or party, and keeps beverages cool up to four hours. It's also a clever to carry condiments and utensils to a picnic or tailgate. Whether you're toting fragile glass jars or squeeze bottles that need to stay upright, they'll stay totally safe on your way to and from. This tote also includes a stainless steel bottle opener that slides perfectly into the small pocket. Made from neoprene which isn't just for wetsuits. It protects against, spills, splashes, bumps, and drops, making it perfect for safeguarding the things you love. This tote is as slim as a thin mint when not in use, but don't be deceived by its size-it expands to fit the canned or bottled beverage of your choice. Made a mess, no problem. Simply toss this product in the washing machine to make it look like new. Just ask any Joe Six-pack. Measures 11-1/4-inch wide by 12-inch tall.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Snazzy 6-Pack Holder- Great for Quick Outings\n\nReview: I have the two-wines pouch of BUILT's Neoprene line of beverage holders, and have really made good use of it on weekend beach trips with friends. This snazzy six-pack sleeve is manufactured just as well, with tight & clean seams, and securely holds cans and bottles so they won't fall out. If you're hanging with a small number of people, these neoprene holders are a great item to have on hand. Esp. since the bottle (or wine) opener is incorporated right on the pack, and there's no need to do a search and rescue type operation for any openers (and I've never been all that good at using my teeth). There is a moderate insulating effect w this, and my cans were decently cold for maybe two hours. The Six-Pack is easy to carry, w a wide grip, and doesn't really stretch or lose it's shape when you pick it up. It looks sleek and classy- much better than a paper bag, and if you drop it, there's a much greater chance you won't be cleaning up glass. I highly recommend if you tend to take a lot of short outings with close friends.","Product: Farberware Huggers helps preserve the freshness of leftovers by sealing tight when you fit it around the rim of your bowl. Bowl Huggers use a tight seal to keep your food fresh for longer, saving you money. Each Bowl Hugger can adapt to a range of different sized bowls. So whatever bowl your leftovers are in, you can seal it with a Bowl Hugger. The silicone lip gives you the flexibility to stretch the bowl hugger over various sized bowls that can be plastic, glass, ceramic or more. To remove it, simply lift from the tab. Bowl Huggers have a clear top that allows you to easily view what is in the bowl and also makes it easy to stack bowls for space saving storage. Made from 100% BPA- and phthalate-free plastic. This set conveniently nest inside each other for easy, compact storage. This set of 2 includes (1) large Bowl Hugger (fits bowls from 7-3/4 - 8-1/2 inch diameter), and (1) extra-large Bowl Hugger (fits bowls from 5-1/2 - 9-1/4 inch diameter). Refrigerator Safe. Hand wash only, do not use in microwave. Bowls not included.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great If Your Bowls Fit\n\nReview: These are fairly nice, hard topped and silicon lipped Farberware Bowl Huggers. Provided the bowls you have fit, they make for a good option to cover your foods. The ad implies these covers could possibly fit a wider sizing of bowls than I expected, and unfortunately, my bowls are a little too tight or a little too loose.\n\nMore importantly, even the advertized size ranges don't really work. For example, I can fit my finger between the smaller (called \"Large\" size by Farberware), bowl cover and the rim of my 1.5Q Pyrex bowl, which is comfortably within the range of the advertised cover size, which is supposed to fit a 7 3/4\" -8 1/2\" bowl. The rim to rim of my 1.5Q Pyrex bowl measures between 8\" to 8 1/4\", but the cover really is too large for any seal. My larger bowl, a 2.5Q Pyrex measuring nearly 10\" is outside the advertised larger bowl (\"Extra Large\") cover's range of \"5 1/2\"- 9 1/4\" (I think they misprinted the 5 1/2, which should probably be 8 1/2, i'm guessing). However, it fits, but very tightly.\n\nThese are a useful concept, and are well made. I'd say Farberware needs to get back to measuring, and be much more precise with their advertising. If you want to use these as is, i'd recommend you have bowls that are about 8 1/2\"- 8 3/4\" for the Large cover and maybe a 9 1/4\"- 9 1/2\" for the Extra Large. Please don't hold me to my measurements, however, because I don't have bowls exactly those sizes- i'm just guesstimating based on my bowls above as noted.","Product: EarSet 3i Black (1 pce )\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Outrageously Fantastic Sound. Fits Me Poorly,... But I Don't Care\n\nReview: These B&Os are just incredible. I have no earphones or buds that even come close to the melodic and rich mid-range sound that hits you w a full spectrum of amazing, throw your hair back type of sound (remember those Maxell ads?). There is a crisp clarity at the high notes and yet B&O has managed to also provide a low level bass that you can feel in your chest. I'm actually in love.\n\nThe sound is so good that i'm completely willing to overlook the highly stylized and status-symbol design that is more high art than utility. Beautiful, holy cow, Yes. well- fitting, not so much (at least for me). These will not fall off my head while working out, but they don't fit my small face or ears all that well- the buds are a bit large for my ear openings and the over the ear, hinged, pull-down/ twist 1/2 moon bar won't sit flush to my head and will just float over my ears for the most part. The good news with this floating, however, is that i have space to put my sunglasses on at the same time. When my husband wears these though, it looks like he may have actually been the head model B&O built these for- they fit him so well.\n\nThese sweet pups come with four pairs of foamy ear bud \"socks\" and a nice (also 1/2 moon shaped) leatherette velcro pouch that you'll need to slip into a pocket, cuz there's no clip, belt slot or handle (no biggie- i have so many things hanging on me already that i should just get a utility belt). There is a tiny clip that fits on the very thin wires (I hope these don't break! You have to be gentle) to attach to your shirt collar. This is meant for Apple products: iPod Shuffle (3rd gen and later); iPod nano (4th gen and later); iPod classic (120GB, 160GB only); iPod touch (2nd gen and later); iPhone 3GS; iPhone 4; iPad; iPad 2. Even so, these work as earphones for my computer, even though the controls don't work. On my iPhone 5, most of the controls work (vol up-down, play, pause, skip, answer call, decline call), but the controls for fast-forward, rewind and announcing my song title/artist name do not. On the other hand, If I press the middle button for a few seconds, Siri inexplicably pops up, and I can have long discussions w her, and also control my Phillips Hue lights in my house. cool.\n\nWearing these, I feel like I've arrived (where, i'm still not sure). AND, I can even (literally) have (success) theme music playing in my head as I strut around.","Product: 3M Privacy Filters keep confidential information private. Only persons directly in front of the monitor can see the image on screen; others on either side of them see a darkened screen.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Better than Having No Protection, but Somewhat Limited\n\nReview: I was on a plane last week, where I would liked to have taken my laptop out to complete some work, but felt uncomfortable due to the sensitivity of the information I was accessing. So, I just sat there instead. I normally don't use my work laptop in public locations, but wondered if these privacy screens helped at all. After trying out this 3M, I'd say yes and no.\n\nLooking directly perpendicular to the screen, i can see slight shading around the edges, as if I am looking into the beginning of a tunnel. This isn't too bad, but it is noticeable. Also, the screen overall becomes darker, necessitating my increasing the back-light one or two clicks- an expected effect since you are putting on a darker piece of plastic on your screen (in my case this is very useful, because my screen's lowest setting is brighter than I like at night). More to the point though, I find that the filter angles are somewhat limited, in that I need to get to about 75 degrees off center in order to see some privacy effect. I'd say at about 80 degrees, you're fairly protected in that the screen looks dark enough not to be able to read words, but you can see a general outline of what's on the screen.\n\nThe screen itself is a good quality, with a cutout for your camera. 3M provides three long strips of adhesive, that if cut in half, can provide four corners of tack. I ended up using all three strips, because I made a mess of the first two halves when I put the camera cutout portion on the bottom and had to re-do. There is an etched \"3M PFNAP001\" next to the camera cutout, that you can feel, and see at certain angles (they should have put this on the bottom). I mimicked what i could see on the screen if I were a passenger in an isle seat kitty corner from me (if I were also sitting in an isle seat), and I have to say that I still won't be doing any sensitive work on a plane. Still, this is better than having no protection, and does provide oblique coverage for some privacy. Overall, if you need to keep your work private, I'd say you can only be sure if don't do it in public- these filters seem to be of limited coverage.\n\nUpdate: after writing this, I found three more strips of adhesive in the box- there are six long strips provided.","Product: The AmazonBasics portable fold-up travel stand is designed for use with nearly all new lightweight tablet and e-Readers from 6\" to 12\" displays including Kindle Fire, iPad 1, iPad 2, the new iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Kindle Touch and Kindle Keyboard. An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: sturdy, non-slip, foldable and pretty nifty\n\nReview: I actually love this product. I purchased one previously for my iPad, and quickly ordered another through the Vine program when i saw it was being offered, for my husband's tablet (A Le Pan- also an awesome device- at a fraction of the price of an iPad). The stand is very solid feeling and folds into a smallish smooth batton, easily fitting in my tablet case (neoprene w handles) which has a zippered outter pocket, and into which i also put my power cord and ear buds. It is fully adjustable for tilt, unlike those hard tablet cases that fold backwards into a triangle and have pre-set angles. It also has a highly adjustable v-shaped footprint (wider or narrower v), making it very stable for many sizes of tablets. Finally, the surfaces touching the table and the back of your tablet have a nice tacky rubbery material that prevents slips. If you already carry your plug and some accessories as i do, you won't mind the addition of this stand.","Product: Set up full coverage monitoring for your home with this NETGEAR Arlo smart home wireless security system. The included smart home base station makes it easy to connect with your Wi-Fi and create remote access to camera function. Customize this NETGEAR Arlo smart home wireless security system to send alerts when family arrives home or suspicious activity occurs. Includes two cameras: Cover separate rooms or the front and back doors. Night vision: 12 IR LEDs provide clear vision up to 25 feet. High definition: 720p HD provides a clear view. Weatherproof construction: Set the cameras up indoors or out. Voice control: Connects with Alexa for hands-free operation. Free app: Download the Arlo app and watch from work.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good For Real-time Monitoring, Somewhat Unreliable Motion Detection\n\nReview: I set this Arlo Camera System up with some amount of difficulty. The hardware and app were easy enough to connect and download respectively, and to get up and running w power and internet, but the base station was not able to be recognized. I followed the simple short steps and reset to factory default settings as directed many many times. I read through numerous community help comments and saw several people seemed to have had the same problem. I tried some of the fixes that were suggested (powering on, off, plugging in, out, resetting again and again). Just as I was about to give up and wait for morning to call customer service, it picked up my base station. I am unclear what I did to make that happen, other than following the steps on the app and the forums over and over, so I can't really give any pointers. The few hours I spent trying to just set this up irritated me quite a bit.\n\nWhen I got the cameras working (they paired very easily once the base station was picked up), I set them up in various parts of my home, and over the next several days tried the devices out. The color is very clear and the night vision very good, and the alerts seemed to be picking up a lot of the movement, especially when I tried them on two sides of the living room w high traffic- so much so that I turned the scheduling on only for times we were out, so I wouldn't get so many beeps on my phone or notification email in my inbox. When the weekend came, I had time to try to install these outside, and the limited wi-fi range (my wifi is fairly strong w a mesh system, but who knows) made it impossible to move the cameras even a few feet away from the walls of the house. One camera is outside our front door facing the courtyard's outer door, and I could not put the other camera outside at all, due to sporadic cut-outs and not working for hours at a time. So I placed it looking outside through a window towards the backyard, but the motion detector did not seem to pick up any movement through the glass, and it didn't work at night due to the glass reflecting back at the camera. I re-positioned it inside looking at the inside of the backdoor.\n\nHaving used these for about a week now, it appears that the cameras only sporadically pick up movement, and you have to be fairly close- no more than about a few feet away. Also, if you walk quickly through the camera zone, it may not pick up motion. This can be remedied by putting the cameras right next to the entrance you are interested in (it would take some stationary time to break in, but since the cameras are not recording unless the motion detector detects, this system is not reliable enough for security purposes I was desiring.\n\nWhat the cameras seem best at doing, is monitoring real time inside or immediately outside your home, such as when you want to see your pet or baby sleeping or you hear a noise or something like that. Overall, though, I don't believe these cameras are consistent enough for security based on reliable motion detection. I noticed Arlo Pro provides longer distance motion detection, so this upgrade may be more useful.\n\nUpdate: i added a star to this- 4 stars, \"I like this,\" because for the purposes of real time monitoring where you can check in and view, this system works very well.","Product: AmazonBasics brings you everyday items at a great value. An Amazon Brand.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Keep your camera and accessories safe and tidy\n\nReview: This is a convenient, semi-rigid, double zippered, soft-handled mini \"suitcase\" for your GoPro or GoPro knock-off camera, which is what I have (Black Box DareDVL 2.0\" LCD WIFI HD 1080P Waterproof Sports Camera - 12MP 170 Wide Angle Outdoor Action Camcorder with Remote Control and Accessory Bundle (Black))- sold on Amazon. I have accumulated (and my Black Box camera also came w) a large accessory collection that makes this well-made and lightweight case absolutely essential to hold all the various attachments, cords, SD cards, cleaners, etc... that i like to have w me when i'm taking my camera out. The case comes with cut-outs of plastic-topped foam shapes, already in place as shown, that can easily be removed or left in as desired (see attached pic w cutouts removed). The foam is very protective and dense, and my camera and accessories do not move once the case is zippered shut. You could also take out the entire foam section as well, if you wanted, to just have a mini-case to repurpose for other uses. If you have a GoPro or facsimile thereof, you really owe it to yourself to keep your camera and accessories safe, tidy, and in one place in this neat little case. I find AmazonBasics has great quality products in general, and this is no exception.\n\nI've noticed some reviewers mentioning the zippered opening should be on the same side of the case as the handle. True. Even if this is an odd placement, you could avoid any negative effect on your items (falling out accidentally) as long as you have both zippers together at the top.","Product: 360fly HD - The original 360-degree video leader. With one camera, one lens and no seaming, the 360fly HD captures your entire life in immersive, interactive video video you can edit, add effects to and share directly from your iPhone and Android smartphone. Includes camera, mounts, and everything you need to start recording your memories in their fullest. Compatible with most iPhone / iPad devices running iOS 9 or later and Android devices running version 4.4 or later including the Samsung S6, Samsung Galaxy Note and LG Nexus 5. Accessories for purchase: - 360fly VR - Smartphone Compatible Virtual Reality Headset - 360fly HD Suction Mount - High-Speed Suction Mount - 360fly HD Vented Helmet Mount - Fits Most Vented Helmets - 360fly HD Handlebar Mount - Fits Round and Square Bars - 360fly -20 Tripod Grip - Rubber Injected Grip Handle - 360fly QuickTwist to -20 Adapter - Versatile Connection\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Truly Incredible, Easy to Use- See What You Missed the First Time\n\nReview: For those of you not familiar with the concept of 360 cameras (like I was), think Google Earth. you can look at all angles of the earth based on where you focus your view. This slightly larger than racquet-ball-sized 360fly 4K camera allows you to take a video or photo, so that later, you can watch your own event from all angles as well (from one fixed point), either via touchscreen, or even better, through the use of a \"Cardboard\" enabled viewing device, the simplest and cheapest ones literally being made of cardboard, like this: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Google-Cardboard-V2-0-Virtual-Reality-DIY-3D-Glasses-for-Smartphone-3-5-to-6-inch-with-Headband-Easy-Setup/dp/B01EWKKYN6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Google Cardboard V2.0 Virtual Reality DIY 3D Glasses for Smartphone 3.5 to 6 inch with Headband - Easy Setup</a> and strap your smartphone onto your face! Then, just by turning your head and body around, you are in your Virtual Reality world, back in that moment you captured, except that you can look at it from all angles, including the sights you missed at the time- such as those views behind you.\n\nThis is an amazing (and powerful ) 4K single lens (one of the few 360-type presently with a single lens) 360 VR camera, with beautiful resolution and color at 2880px X 2880px- 30fps, saved in MP4. I was amazed that despite having the one eyeball-type lens, i was able to capture a significant chunk of the full field of vertical view. For me, the benefits of having the single lens (no stitching of multiple camera outputs together)- thus quicker processing w less computing power, and intuitive shooting/ capture (like it's your own eye- if you can see the eye, it can see you), significantly outweighs any drawbacks from the minimal blind spotting below. It is a very worthwhile trade-off if you don't absolutely need spherical coverage, and near-spherical will do.\n\nBecause of the minimal processing needed, you can watch what you are shooting in live mode (share/ watch live streaming w Livit app), seeing in real time what is being recorded, on your screen. You can then download/ save your vid/pic to your device from your 360fly immediately via wifi, and review/ share to social media if you desire.\n\nThis cam has other extremely useful features, such as:\n\n-Timelapse video, with shutter intervals you can set from 1-60 sec\n-Motion/Audio triggered auto start\n-Acceleration triggered (shaking the camera) auto start\n-Front Facing mode when you don't need 360- then u get 16:9 aspect ratio/ 2560px X 1440 px\n-GPS built-in w altimeter, barometer and accelerometer, (location, altitude, speed), so you can track telemetry and tag locations-- apparently there are also 3rd party apps that will overlay your telemetry on your video stream. nice!\n-Waterproof to 30ft\n-should withstand a fall from 1.5 meters\n\nThe battery life is reasonable, considering, lasting approx 1.5 hrs, but the charging was very speedy- i was able to get pretty much a full charge back in about 4.5 hrs.\n\nThe 360fly company also did this great thing, where they partnered with some major helmet manufacturers (i think Bell, BRG Sports and GIro) so that the 360fly's helmet version cam fits these helmets directly, so you can quickly switch the helmet cam from your helmet to your buddies' helmets. Because the cam is custom fitted, it is significantly safer to wear, being very low profile and aerodynamic looking (vs. sticking out of your head like a growth).\n\nI am very impressed with this little device, which comes with a small magnetic disk charger, USB cord, zip-up neoprene case for your charger and cord, and a universal GoPro type compatible attachment that worked well with all my GoPro (and knock-off GoPro accessories). I thought the magnetic disk charger was particularly cool, because you cannot \"dock\" the cam into the charger except in one position- the cam's magnets will only attract the charger's magnets in that one position- otherwise, it repels, and you can't set it down. another nice touch in this beautifully designed device.\n\nI had no problem downloading and using the recommended \"360fly\" app (or Livit) onto my iPhone, and also checking out other users' uploaded videos (fairly spectacular!). So far, this has worked seamlessly for me, and i'm excited to get out and about to continue recording.\n\nUpdate: Here are some still shots taken from some videos i took in Alaska. In the one shot w whales emerging, i was facing the wrong direction when they came out of the water, but because of this 360, i was able to watch what i missed later on. Because it was overcast during my trip, i added a shot of the blue sky in N. Cal. for color contrast. 360 cameras definitely have their place, and if you want grand (and detailed) views of your events, this is a good pick.","Product: Seamlessly stream 4K HD video and game online with the Touch P5's lightning-fast AC1900 Wi-Fi. Set up your network right on the dual band router's intuitive touchscreen display, eliminating the need for a separate PC, tablet, or smartphone. The Touch P5 includes apps for easily adding or removing devices from your network, modifying parental controls, and changing guest access privileges. Its three external antennas use high-powered amplifiers and Beam forming technology to provide superior coverage and reliability.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Extremely intuitive and easy set-up\n\nReview: This is one of the easiest set-ups for a router i have ever used, because of the large touch-screen allowing you to input the settings you would normally need to input via ethernet, computer and webpage access, which does not always go so smoothly. the quickstart instruction sheet (see pic) shows the following steps 1) screw on the 3 antennas 2) cut power to the modem 3) connect modem to router with included ethernet cable 4) power up modem and wait for it to fully restart 5) power up router.\n\nOnce on, the router asks you to create an administrator password, set your region and time, and then you can name your SSID and make passwords for both the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz, as well as guest access options that give you new passwords at various intervals you choose (the default is daily, and you can easily read the day's password on the screen without the admin password). You can use this in 3 modes: router, repeater or access mode, and it has various other options including parental controls and printer server, and you can adjust the screen itself for brightness level and timing before it locks to screensaver/ sleep . The screen looks and acts like an iphone w apps, making it very intuitive. I also have an Almond Securifi 2015, which also has great touchscreen features, but in a smaller package. i'm deducting a point here because in comparison to my Almond, this TP-Link is more expensive and seems just a smidge more sluggish in connection speed- my home has a lot of thick walls, however, and all my connections have issues, so speed isn't necessarily a problem with this device. On the other hand, i had to return my Almond within a few months for problems with the touchscreen (their customer service was extremely responsive, however, and replaced it right away).\n\nOverall, i think this is a well thought-out product, which works very smoothly, sets up incredibly easily and is in a reasonable price range for effective routers.","Product: Our CX model is ultra-compact and lightweight. Designed for efficiency with a look and feel that is sleek and convenient. With the high quality LCD live viewfinder you can monitor while you capture photos and videos instantly.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Comparison of Three Action Cameras, and why I like Activeon Best\n\nReview: REVIEW of 3 ACTION CAMERAS\nI have three action cameras that are GoPro accessory compatible: This Activeon CX, The Black Box DareDVL 2.0\" LCD WIFI HD 1080P Waterproof Sports Camera - 12MP 170 Wide Angle Outdoor Action Camcorder with Remote Control and Accessory Bundle (Black), and the Legazone WIFI 2.0'' 12MP HD 1080P 170Wide Sports Camera Action DV + Shockproof Carrying Bag Waterproof Helmet Camcorder. When i purchased the Black Box last Dec., the price was about $80. It is still about $80. When I purchased the Legozone (also last Dec), the price was $80 w a large accessory bundle and case, and now you can buy it for about $50-$60 w/o quite as many, but still a lot of included accessories. This Activeon is the most expensive (with the fewest accessories) of the three-$99 as of this writing, and has, in my opinion, the best overall quality of audio and video, and about 1/4 to 1/3 longer battery life before needing recharging.\n\nALL 3 CAMERAS SHARE GOOD FEATURES\nEach of the three cameras have some similar basic features- 2\" view screen; up to 1080P/ 30 FPS; fish-eye 170 degree wide angle (actually Activeon has a slightly narrower 160 FOV, but not noticeable); wi-fi iOS/Android phone control via downloadable apps; 30 meter dive feature via included waterproof casings; detachable rechargeable LI-ion batteries; multiple photo shooting modes such as burst shot and time-lapse; and the convenience of being compatible with GoPro and each others accessories for the most part- the main exception being that the waterproof casings are not interchangeable (due to the placement and number of button controls).\n\nWHY I LIKE ACTIVEON\nSome of the differences in features i think are noteworthy are: Activeon has a wide variety of color filter and video effects that allow you to capture your media w the effect directly (vs. after the fact w photo/video editing software), Activeon has a stronger battery included, at 1100 mAh/ 4.18Wh vs. 900 mAh/ 3.33Wh for the other two, that extends your record time between charges by about 1/4 to 1/3, in my opinion, an upgrade that is not insignificant in real-life use. The Activeon has a universal 1/4 inch screw hole at the bottom of the camera itself, that mounts to many general tripods you might already have, whereas the other two don't (to be fair, both Black Box and Legazone include various accessories that have the 1/4 screw mount, but you'd have to add the adapter). From a subjective standpoint, it seems to me that the Activeon's video is less jerky (has a much smoother look), and the video and pics are brighter and more clear, esp. in low light conditions. I can even see that the Activeon videos show the camera auto-adjusting the exposure as subjects move from shadow to light and back, for example. I would say that the Activeon and Legazone's audio recording results are neck and neck for me, with very good quality, considering the tiny size of these cameras.\n\nFurther, the Activeon has a professional website and obvious corporate presence online, including firmware upgrades and easily accessible support, whereas it could be (i'm guessing here based on their similarities in function and look) that the Black Box and Legazone have a sole source origination for their manufactured internal \"guts\" that are put into slightly modified housings and given slightly modified software, before being sold as separate items under separate entities. Both the Black Box and Legazone instruction manuals don't identify their companies, but say, \"Sports HD DV\" and \"Action Camera\" respectively on their covers, and show no contact information for assistance. Finally, the Activeon housing has rounded corners and you can change the color of the faceplate (purchased separately) --better ergonomics and style choices. I personally find Activeon's rounded corners much nicer than the perfect 90 degree angles on the other 2 cameras. as for color? black is fine for me, but w a bright color you'd see the camera better if you put it down somewhere. These are really small cameras!\n\nWHY I LIKE BLACK BOX and LEGAZONE\nAll that said, I don't want downplay too much the Black Box and Legazone, which are both very good cameras (i'm very happy to have them) and extremely good values for their price points- i think Legazone is really a steal, considering it is almost half the price of the Activeon, and both Legazone and Black Box also give you so much free stuff (tons of accessories) along w the cameras themselves. Additionally, both Black Box and Legazone can shoot up to 12 MP vs. 5MP for Activeon (altho, truth be told, i can't actually tell the difference, and i'm not magnifying detailed subjects like insects, so it is a negligible issue for me), and each have unique features that Activeon does not. Black Box, for example, can double as a security camera, having a built-in motion detector and auto on/off feature. Additionally, Black Box actually comes with a separate IR remote control, so you don't have to use your phone app. The Legazone has a brighter and more crisp 2\" screen on the camera itself than both the Activeon and the Black Box, so that watching the video as it's made is more pleasant (does not affect the end result of my preference for the Activeon's better finished video/ pic). Legazone also has nearly as good video and audio (really, neck and neck) w the Activeon, at nearly half the price (did i mention tons of free accessories? Legazone had the most included, and useful items). The Black Box and Legazone also both have 4 buttons for control- power, mode, and up and down to toggle within modes, whereas Activeon has 2 control buttons- you just need to press mode longer to get into settings. depending on whether you're a lots-of-button person (think Blackberry) or a minimal buttons person (Apple), you'll like or dislike 2 or 4 buttons. i'm ambivalent about button numbers- each of the cameras works well, and are easy to use and intuitive, w either 2 or 4 buttons.\n\nWHY I STILL LIKE ACTIVEON BETTER\ni know i rambled here a bit, but because i have been using several of these GoPro \"knockoff\" type cameras, i thought i'd put in my 2 cents. To summarize, of the three cameras i have, I believe Activeon has the best overall features (for me) and best quality of audio and video, even though it is also the most expensive, relatively speaking.\n\nNote: in the first pic, the Black Box is the upper left, Legazone is the upper right, and Activeon is the bottom camera. The remaining pics are of the Activeon and the box and accessories it came in/ had included. the dollar bill i added for perspective.","Product: The PNY CS2211 2.5-inch SATA-III (6GB/s) solid state drive (SSD) is the next generation of XLR8 SSD that offers our highest performance when gaming or transferring large files. The PNY CS2211 was designed to be an ultimate HDD replacement for enthusiasts and gamers, who demand extreme performance from their system.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Smooth, Speedy, SO much better than HDD\n\nReview: I'm a novice at this, so I watched a few youtube vids in order to figure out how to switch out my original 2011 160gb Toshiba HDD in my PS3 to this SSD. The basic steps were, 1) back up your game settings from the Game menu/ Save Data Utility, 2) mechanically switch out the drives (very simple, it turns out, with one phillips head screwdriver) and 3) replace operating system- you download it from the Playstation website onto a thumbdrive as directed, and plug it into the PS3 usb once you're done switching out the drives. This info is all on youtube vids- just search under \"upgrade to SSD\" for whatever system you have. If i can do this, you can. I have to say, this was an extremely glitch-free operation, and i was able to get up and running in about 30 min, with re-setting my account and adding back my apps and game settings.\n\nI was immediately impressed with how quickly all the updates and apps were downloaded and installed with this new PNY SSD, and i wish i had done this earlier. Not only was the speed more than double (maybe triple!- just felt crazy fast in comparison) what I had experienced previously, there was no random \"jerking\" occurring on the screen, where the system would stop for extended times before resuming downloads- everything seemed extremely smooth and seamless as i switched between apps, downloaded games, moved things around, --even just moving the pointer around the screen weirdly felt like it had better maneuverability and speed (like getting in a sports car after driving a minivan- not sure if i'm imaging this, just cuz i'd rather drive a sports car....).\n\nMy kids used to do a little download-dance in front of the tv (they were younger- alas, i should have taken video for later blackmailing); they were hoping their dance would make the computer gods move that green line across the screen faster... they used to dance a long time, is all i can say. I'm excited to have them try out their Little Big Planet games now and hopefully not have the freezing episodes that would occasionally force them to restart the whole system (and upset them greatly). Update: since they've been playing, system response is much better, and no freezing episodes yet!\n\nThis is a reasonably priced drive, considering it makes our PS3 feel like a new machine, and me, a hero mommy. I highly recommend.","Product: The PNY CS1311 2.5 SATA III SSD is an excellent choice for a mainstream solid state drive (SSD) upgrade from a hard disk drive (HDD). The CS1311 drive is designed for an easy and cost-effective HDD replacement in the existing PC system to help realize faster boot times, quicker application launches and better overall system performance. With no moving parts, the PNY CS1311 2.5 SATA III SSD is highly durable, less likely to fail, and supports up to 3 years of warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Upgraded a Hand-Me-Down -Now Lightning Fast!\n\nReview: I have a different model of the PNY SSDs, the PNY CS2211 240 GB 2.5\" SATA III Internal Solid State Drive SSD7CS2211-240-RB, and was extremely pleased with its top notch performance in my old PS3. So I was glad to try this particular model (CS1311) as a external HD for various uses as a backup drive, using the $10 Anker USB 3.0 to SATA Adapter Converter Cable for 2.5-inch Hard Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD).\n\nRecently, however, I received a hand-me-down ASUS Republic of Gamers G56JK (2014) laptop, which was running sluggish. I factory-reset saving my files, and switched out the included HDD with this PNY. I followed the directions in CNET editor Dong Ngo's article, \"Upgrade to an SSD...\" which were very clear: 1) I made a clone of my HDD using the Anker converter and Ngo's recommended free Macrium Reflect cloning software (see screenshot pic), 2) changed the Master Boot Record (MBR) format on my pre-used (as a backup) PNY to the same GUID Partition Table (GPT) that my original HD had, and 3) physically switched out the drives.\n\nPerfection. The PNY start-up was like butter compared to the original HDD, and the computer felt like a different, new computer. Downloads have not just been fast, but lightning fast. I do large video file downloads and edits, and this really has really sped up some of my processing time. I'm just thinking I need a bigger one of these- my 240GB is just way too small! This PNY SSD is an extremely worthwhile upgrade, and I would not hesitate to recommend. You'll be happy you did.\n\nNote: when i originally tried to using the SATA adapter/ CS1311 combo on my newer laptops running Windows 10, the drive was not recognized. However, according to one comment to this review, this CS1311 is compatible w Win 10 in a traditional internal switch-out. When I did the internal switch out with the ASUS ROG, yep. it works great.","Product: Wistiki Premium Key Finder. Phone Finder. Item Finder. Yellow\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Reasonable Tracker, Delays in Responsiveness\n\nReview: I use the Tile Mate trackers presently, and am reviewing this Wistiki in comparison. The Wistiki is a different shape than the Tiles, looking more like a thumb drive vs. the thinner and wider square shaped Tiles. The Wistiki app was reasonable and easy to find and download, and the tracker easy to pair:\n\ndownload the Wistiki app\ncreate a new account w password\nverify/activate account from your linked email\nread through a few quick screens of hints on use\nturn on phone's bluetooth\nstart sync by pressing the circular indentation on wistiki device for 3 seconds until it rings (press firmly- there's no click or discernible movement of the \"button,\" and it's not a touch reader like a fingerprint scanner, so it must be a manual mechanism underneath the metal housing)\nafter sync completes new firmware auto downloads\nidentify the color of your wistiki (there are four color choices; mine is purple),\nname your device (I chose \"Bob\") and pick icon (I chose a car, but there were options such as briefcase, bike, etc.)\n\nOn your main app homescreen, there is a section under \"My Wistiki\" that shows my purple Bob car icon w a pic of a bell in a circle next to it. If you touch the bell pic next to your icon, the wiki will ring a distinctive and noticeable short tune until you press the bell again to turn off. Right underneath, and somewhat confusingly, they have a section called \"Endless possibilities...\" which shows other (not colored) icons- in my case, another car and a bike with shopping bag pics next to them (instead of the bell). If you press the icons or bags, you get taken to Wistiki's website for purchases or information, but which is not relevant to your use of the app to find your lost items.-- i don't know, i guess i would have preferred the ad area not be right next to the functional area, and looking like your own icons.\n\nif you touch your (real) icon, you are taken to a screen showing how long your Wistiki has been bluetooth connected to your phone, and whether it's nearby, with a map showing a dot at your phone's location and a pin at your Wistiki's location. Testing from my garage (Wistiki in my car) to my livingroom (i'm holding phone-approx 40' away) you can see the divergence between the two location points on their map.\n\nIf you press settings, you have the option to turn on the \"Electronic leash\" which activates a notification banner if the Wistiki goes out of range of your smartphone, and the \"Reverse electronic leash\" which provides a notification when the Wistiki is again w/i range of your smartphone. I turned on both, and received a banner across my Wistiki app that flashed for a short time saying my Wistiki was out of range, but there was no sound. I walked back towards my car, and i did not received a Reverse notification. Later on, as I was walking within and out of range of my Wistiki, I did receive a tone notification on my phone w the banner. The problem was, that the feature was not consistent- the tones/banner and/or the notifications themselves would sometimes work, sometimes not- or a big delay.\n\nMy primary problem was that the Bluetooth connection would be lost fairly frequently around my home, and there were delays of a minute or two before i was able to use the ringing bell feature again. With no connection, you are defaulted to \"Lost-mode activation\" that you can activate so that if someone else with a Wistiki happens to pass w/i range of your lost Wistiki, you will be sent an updated position location of your lost device (Tile also has this feature for other Tile users, as well as a last \"seen\" locator). There are also some occasional delays (about 3 seconds) between my pressing the bell sound finder pic and the ring happening, so i end up pressing the button again, and it turns off the ringer the second it starts ringing... i guess the key is to press once and just wait and see if it will ring, and not assume you didn't press hard enough or that it's not working.\n\nThe plus side of this Wistiki is that the battery life is three years, which is significant, and accounts for the somewhat thicker size of this device. The Tiles only lasts one yr, and will apparently auto deactivate at that point, requiring you to purchase more. Tile says they do this so you are not relying on a Tile that may not work well due to weak power. Additionally, this Wistiki has their clever hot/cold, leash/unleash skills, adding layers to their app- the Wistiki app is not as easily intuitive as the Tiles, therefore, which only ring your tiles and shows you a map of where they are. The ranges of both devices are similar- 300 ft or so at tops. You do need to be nearby to read/link to your devices.\n\nIf you don't absolutely need the hot cold or leashing features, and (mainly) you have good Bluetooth coverage, this Wistiki will work fine. I gave it 3 stars, primarily due to the delays in responsiveness of the device in my home (although my Tiles work fine for their single function), and because it is slightly more expensive in comparison to the Tiles at this point, even when also considering the triple battery life of the Wistiki.","Product: The CAS1 audio system featuring dual-amps and separate speakers accurately recreates original sound spaces for immersive High-Resolution Audio experiences through speakers or headphones. Every subtle note of your favorite music fills your space in exquisitely rich detail, even at low volumes. Also, you can enjoy easy high-quality Bluetooth audio streaming from your devices.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Power in a Small Package- WOW!\n\nReview: I just LOVE this Sony CAS-1 (Compact Audio System) system, which is meant to be used in a small space, and is built for desktop use as an over-the-top external speaker system that can be used with your computer/ tablet, headphones, USB flash drive or smartphone, and is Bluetooth/ NFC compatible. I put this Sony CAS-1 setup in our approx 600 sq. foot \"great\" room, in a corner on a cabinet, and WOW, i am impressed! Don't be fooled by the small size of the speakers- my room fills with sound that has the full balanced range of bass at even the lowest volume to the crisp and outrageously clear treble, and an incredible mid-range that allows you to hear every instrument, every breath and background beat. Listening to this is like eating candy, and i had a hard time tearing myself away from my music collection to write this review, cuz i got a bit carried away. All my music sounded great, from classical to classic rock.\n\nThis is a\"wireless\" system, which is plugged into a wall socket for power, and can be played back via supported USB-A (flash drive; MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, DSD via supported MSC), USB-B (w supplied USB cable to your PC, for example; PCM and DSD), headphones (adjustable gain) or Bluetooth devices.\n\nIn the specs, Sony distinguishes their LDAC proprietary coding technology for their Hi-Res Bluetooth transmission, saying it allows approx. three times more data than other Bluetooth compatible coding technologies like SBC, resulting in much better sound quality. All i know is, there was flawless pairing with my iPhone and my Bluetooth headphones (CAS-1 supports up to 9 devices at a time), and just incredible sound- no skipping, static, long buffering or pauses from about 15 ft across the room, which really surprised me because i generally have unreliable coverage.\n\nThe body of the speakers look well-made with a beautifully finished wood-esque polymer build, and the speaker set comes w included longer/ exchangeable spikes for the bottoms, which raise the front of the speakers off a desktop for better directionality, and supposedly keeps the device cooler (although i felt no heat after a few hours). Sony also provides two flat (heavy- metal) speaker base rectangles, on which you place your speakers for stability, as well as a small 3/4 of a credit card-sized remote that allows you to control your songs, volume, source, etc... even if you are Bluetoothing your smartphone. There is also a small clear plastic stand/ support that holds the main unit and helps to keep it from tipping over. The main unit has a large, dedicated (convenient) volume dial. The guts of this set: a 2-way dual drive system with 14mm soft dome tweeter/ 62mm cone type woofer.\n\nThe setup was very easy and self-explanatory, but the instruction booklet is also clear, with lots of pictures. If you want to pamper your ears with better-than-CD quality hi-res audio, you owe it to yourself to get this gem of a set, which packs power in a small footprint.\n\nUpdate: For a sample of the sound, pls listen to my video review by Kindle Customer <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/AirJamz-The-App-Enabled-Music-Toy-Play-Air-Guitar-and-Make-Real-Music-with-Your-Motion-black/dp/B01J3ODTAQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">AirJamz: The App-Enabled Music Toy. Play Air Guitar and Make Real Music with Your Motion! (black)</a> for the AirJamz guitar, where i plugged my iPhone in to this Sony to play the app through these speakers.","Product: Smart plug lets you control any connected device from home or remotely: turn off the heat, turn on a light- it's all at your fingertips. Home kit system from apple makes control of compliant Devices simple and standardized. Control plugs with siri individually or as a group. Works with wink app and Nest learning thermostats. Power consumption monitoring of Devices connected to smart plug. Works with included remote control to turn Devices on or off without using a smartphone or tablet.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Spotty Coverage for My Home, Limited Capabilites\n\nReview: So far, this iHome iSS50 has not worked well in our home as a standalone monitor- I did not want to purchase the associated iHome Smartplugs yet, since I am using the Phillips Hue hub/ bulbs as well as a Sengled Snap at the moment, and wanted to make sure this worked before investing in it. If this had worked better, I would have considered iHome additions to my present layout or replacing some parts. The set-up for this iSS50 was a breeze, and I was feeling quite excited about the possibilities of having numerous trigger rules based on other \"senses\" rather than relying soley on voice activated Alexa commands for the PHues or motion triggered monthly subscription plans under Sengled- but, this iHome fell short when it came to actual effectiveness. Because I am using this as a standalone, I can only speak to how the triggers under my rules worked to notify me of the condition of my home environment. The iHome app never notified me of any triggers, for any rules that I set, even when I set them to be easily triggered: greater than 40 degrees, 5 minutes of non-motion, on all the time, etc... I found this so odd, i contacted iHome via their email service (they responded as promised within a day) to see whether I was missing the push notifications somehow- were they being sent to my email? messaging?- nope- they only provide a push via the device you put the app on. In my case, i am using an iPhone 5, and no push alert notices.\n\nI can see from the general \"Devices\" screen on the iHome app, what the temp, humidity and luminosity are in my home, but the only notifications I realized I was receiving, was in Apple's general Home app, which did provide a static notice that motion and sound had been triggered (w no further details as to when)- at least I knew that the iSS50 was actually working- I was observing random notifications (looking in the Apple Home app) however, so I was not able to rely on true triggers vs. false alarms. The iHome app was dead silent. I guess this product may have a ways to go in development, to work more seamlessly with it's app. Even though I really like the concept of monitoring multiple senses, and that I can look to see what some of the stats for temp, humidity and lighting are at any given time, I find this product unreliable as a standalone, at least in my home setup, and it also does not work with either my Alexa Echo or Dot, so it's usefulness is very limited for me.","Product: Essential cases provide more substantial protection without sacrificing style or adding bulk. Available in twelve different styles and a variety of colors and finishes, the Essential line takes the basic case and pumps up the volume for a variety of styles and personalities, from fun and bright to minimalist and sleek. Examples of the Essential line include:\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: thin, light, reasonably substantial protection\n\nReview: I got 2 cases for my Apple iPod Touch 4G- this purple Polyurethane nearly-soft case, as well as the Belkin F8W047ebC03 Essential 034 Polycarbonate hard case. This particular model has a deeply ridged and somewhat bubbled-up design on the back which makes it fairly non-slip and protective. However, it's a rigid enough material that it doesn't have that nicely squishy \"grippy\" feel that I expected and wanted. On the other hand, it doesn't pick up lint either. Because the material is somewhat rigid, and because it curves just enough around the front of my device, it actually prevents the glass from touching a flat surface when i set it on its face. The plug-in area (bottom) part of the cover has a flimsy and thin band of the polyurethane material that wraps around the bottom front of the device, that helps keep the front face off surfaces and shows off a pleasing purple frame, but i find that it sometimes gets in the way of my plugs because it moves around a little bit too much--a minor detail, but somewhat annoying. Overall, this is a useful case which appears to offer reasonably substantial protection. The design is bulkier than the polycarbonate hard case, but definitely less slippery.","Product: This boot sock keeps you warm, dry and protected in all environments, even extreme cold. Acrylic/Merino Wool blend regulates temperature so you are completely comfortable no matter where you are. Fully cushioned in the foot and lower leg for maximum comfort and protection. Mesh vents produce breathability with less bulk. Made in the USA\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My Feet Love These\n\nReview: These Boot Socks are thick, but breathable but warm, and keep my feet comfortable in my hiking boots, but also in any of my shoes where I typically wear socks. Because they are made w a combination of natural and man-made fibers (69% acrylic, 18% wool, 12% nylon, 1% lycra), you get a lighter weight and evaporative sock, that contours well to your foot, but with the benefits and warmth of wool. These socks are reinforced at the toe and heel portions, and have a fuzzier weave on the inside (see pic w one sock turned inside-out), so that my feet feel really snug and warm. These are soft and comfortable enough to wear just around the house, in lieu of slippers, and have held up well to my regular machine washing, unlike my all-wool socks that get compacted.","Product: Are you ready for the weekend? This is the perfect watch when you just feel like being yourself. A textured play on our classic Weekender collection gives you fun options to customize your straps depending on your outfit or mood.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Everyday Wear Analog Quartz at this Price Point\n\nReview: Review for the Timex Weekender Cream/Black Nylon Slip-Thru Strap Watch\n\nIf I were asked to recommend a reasonably priced, all-around analog quartz watch for everyday wear, then this Timex Weekender would be one of my first choices. It features an easily readable dial, with both 12-hour and 24 hour (military) numbered hour markers, behind a scratch-resistant mineral crystal. The dial and movement are housed in a 38mm brass case with a silver-tone polish that makes it look stainless steel. The Weekender comes with a slip-thru, nylon, 3-ring (2 retention and 1 buckle) single-strap that wears well and is readily changeable with other 20mm nylon watch straps. The styling of the case and dial is so clean and classic that the watch works well with a variety of band/strap colors and types to suit your tastes and preferences. Ive found varied replacement straps on Amazon, in both nylon and leather, starting at well under $10, such as this example that costs $8.99 for four straps at the time of this writing: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/4pc-Ritche-20mm-Nylon-Striped-Blue-Red-blue-White-red-black-Army-Green-Replacement-Watch-Strap-Band/dp/B017QTDJAK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">4pc Ritche 20mm Nylon Striped Blue /Red,blue /White/red,black, Army Green Replacement Watch Strap Band</a>. Search under \"weekender strap\"\n\nIn terms of functionality and time-keeping, the Weekender has worked flawlessly timed against my radio-controlled clock over the last two days. Its supposed to be water resistant up to 30 meters, but the product info says it is not good for swimming. While theres no luminescent paint on the hands or hour markers, the watch features Timexs famous Indiglo light that illuminates the entire dial with a cool blue-green light. The only two issues prospective buyers should be aware of. is that the watch emits a relatively loud tick, and that the second hand does not not perfectly align with each hour or hash mark when it lands as it ticks around the dial. As for the tick emitted, the ambient noise outside usually masks it well enough, and I only really notice the tick late at night before bed. The second hand alignment issue is more of a pet peeve and a common problem with quartz watches, even those that cost much more than these Weekenders. At this price point, the positive aspects of this classically styled and dependable everyday watch definitely outweighs any of the minor negatives.","Product: Our most comfortable, versatile and effortlessly cool watch yet! These weekender essentials are designed with slip-thru straps, so you can easily change them depending on your outfit or mood. Go beyond the basics; have some fun; make a suit feel less stuffy; do the unexpected. Timex has a strap for every style.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Reliable Weekender with Well Crafted Vintage Look, but Loud Tick\n\nReview: This is a review of the Timex Weekender Oversized Vintage-Style Watch in Antique Brown with White Dial.\n\nI really like the Timex Weekender line. The watches are usually stylish in a minimalist way, keep time well, are easy to read, and are fairly durable. The Timex Weekender Oversized Vintage Style Watch in antique brown with white dial is no exception, but has the added bonus of the antique-ing. Timex has done a nice job crafting the vintage look of this watch. The case has an lustrous brass finish. The Arabic numeral hour markers are light green, outlined, and in a classic font. The brown leather slip-thru NATO-style watch strap looks aged. All together, these features give this Weekender a 1940s watch look and feel. The dial is ringed by subtle minute markers along the outer chapter ring in 5-minute increments (5, 10, 15 . . . 60), and also has military (24-hour) markers in small black print closer to the center of the dial.\n\nThe hour and minute hands look as though they might have luminescent paint, but they do not. Note that the product specifications on Amazon lists Luminous as one of the watchs Special Features, but is probably referring to the watchs Indiglo light which illuminates the entire dial nicely. The Special Features as of this writing also lists Chronograph which is clearly wrong.\n\nAs for function and comfort, Ive been wearing the watch for many hours today and find it comfortable and easy to read thanks to a good contrast between the colors of the hands and the white dial, and the wide 40mm case. The watch set easily and has kept time accurately all day. I would have given this watch 5 stars but for the one issue common among the Weekenders: the loud tick. Its really not noticeable when Im outside where the ambient noise drowns it out. Since Ive been home, however, Ive really noticed it even when my watch is on my wrist and down by my side. This is more of a pet peeve for me and doesnt detract from the watchs great time-keeping performance or aesthetics. Overall, this is a solid affordable watch with unique styling reminiscent of mid-20th century watches.","Product: \"The Timex Expedition Field Chrono draws design inspiration from vintage military watches. The unique dial features numerals in increments of five up to 60 and three sub-dials that track minutes, seconds, and 1/20 of a second for up to 30 minutes. An easy to operate date window is located at 4 oclock. With the Quick Date function, you can set the date on the watch without turning the crown for every 24-hour period. Just pull the stem halfway out, and turn until desired date is reached. It also offers water resistance to 330 feet (100 meters) and a durable leather strap. The Indiglo night-light uniformly lights the surface of the watch dial using patented blue electroluminescent lighting technology. It uses less battery power than most other watch illumination systems, enabling your watch battery to last longer.\"\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An Easy-to-Read, Gadget-Filled Field Chrono\n\nReview: This is a review of the Timex Men's Expedition Field Chrono Black/Green Canvas Strap Watch.\n\nMy first impression after putting on the Timex Expedition Field Chrono was wow, it looks like a flight instrument panel in an airplane cockpit. This watch is sure to appeal to gadget lovers. The dial comes with three subdial registers that track seconds (at 6 oclock), the chronograph (stopwatch) elapsed minutes up to 30 minutes (at 10 oclock), and the chronograph elapsed 1/20th of a second (at 2 oclock). There is also a chronograph second sweep hand at the center of the dial. The watch has hour markers displayed in minute increments (from 5 to 60), and has a tachymeter along the chapter ring of the outer dial. A date calendar window is at the 4 oclock position. One might think that all the varied hands and dial displays would make the watch difficult to read, but that is not the case. It looks like Timex put a lot of good work in designing this watch. For instance, the second hand at the 6 oclock subdial and the center dial chronograph second sweep are both tipped in orange in contrast to the rest of the dial. The date window is nicely bordered in subtle, cut lines to make it stand out. The hour and minute hands are sword shaped, mostly white, and are well contrasted against the dark dial. All of the numerals, hash marks, and subdial borders are a subdued taupe/cream color and are easily readable. I should also mention that the color schemes of this watch, with its dark dial, subdued display markings, and black case set off against a green canvas strap, work really well.\n\nThe watch is easy to set and has been very accurate compared against my radio-controlled clock the last day and a half. I tested the chronograph multiple times throughout the afternoon and evening and it functioned flawlessly. The watch features Timexs Indiglo light which illuminates the entire dial well. A nice surprise was that in addition to the Indiglo, the hour, minute, and chronograph subdial hands (at 10 and 2 oclock) are luminescent. The case itself is 43mm wide and has a solid, durable feel. I was initially concerned, given the good sized crown and chronograph pushers, that the watch might poke against the back of my hand, but on my wrist it's surprisingly comfortable. The watch case itself is thick (about 12.5mm), which I think helps keep the crown and pushers up and away from your skin. In terms of design, functionality, and aesthetics, I am very happy with this Timex Expedition Field Chrono.","Product: Not your average polo shirt, this solid style is designed to perform. It's made from moisture-wicking sport flex fabric offering maximum natural stretch and a quick-drying finish. Built-in uv-15 sun protection ensures safe days outdoors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: High Quality, Smooth and Comfortable, Breathable\n\nReview: I got this IZOD for my son, a young teen, and he's generally been wearing adult Small for most of his shirts. This particular S shirt is fits him well, seems standard sized, and comfortably roomy in both the torso and arms. The material is a 60% cotton and 40% polyester blend, like many Polo shirts, and so has a smoother yet breathable feel to it, that is very comfortable against the skin. This light blue color looks exactly like the ad picture (my own pics look a bit washed out, but this is quite a pleasant blue in real life). You can see the fine quality and detailing in the weave of the material and in the stitching of the seams, as you would expect from the iconic IZOD brand. This particular shirt does not have the crocodile emblem, but an \"I\" intertwined w a \"Z\", providing a simple and modern look. I took a pic of one layer of fabric of this shirt against a bright window, and you can see how the light shines through the material, which allows great airflow and a light weight. This is a fine shirt from a great company.","Product: The Fruit of the Loom women's low cut socks are made with heel and toe cushioning for the ultimate comfort and shock absorption. These best-selling socks are carefully designed and constructed to look and feel great, and last wear after wear. Spandex is knitted throughout the sock for a streamlined performance fit, and the energizing compression arch provides enhanced support so you can keep going. 10 pairs per package.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Value 10-Pack of Decent White Low Cut Socks\n\nReview: These Fruit of the Loom Women's low cut socks are a good deal, and are a decent grade of cotton. They are not the most plush or thick like some of the expensive brands you buy one set at a time, but they are absorbent and comfortable, and don't slip down into my shoe. With this 10-pack, I don't feel too bad about throwing out an older pair, and it's always nice to have a pair of fresh new socks around- one of the joys in life, I'd say (hhahah. what does this say about my life, i don't know, but I do appreciate the little things). These are great for my teen as well, because she's always loosing a sock or two at the gym, bringing them back and forth from school. Because these socks fit a large range of foot size, we are able to share. I'd definitely recommend.","Product: Outwork them all in Carhartt legendary all-season work socks that are the perfect blend of softness and toughness. The force performance crew sock provides function and versatility for work and play. High-tech polyester and sleek design elements create the next generation in women's performance socks. Polyester's superior moisture management lifts sweat from the skin for quick evaporation. Racetrack mesh panels provide ventilation for cool, breathable comfort. The compression arch provides full-motion support and stability, while accent colors and reinforcement make this performance sock ruggedly feminine. Fits women's shoe size 5.5-11.5. 3 pairs per package.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Supportive Socks w Good Breathability\n\nReview: These are a perfect pair of socks for everyday wear or even light hikes. They are not too puffy, but provide a perfect amount of thickness and density to allow for good cushion and comfort. These feel good in regular shoes for general everyday wear, and even in light hiking or dress boots. These have a fitted elastic feel (98% polyester, 2% spandex), and contour snugly around the arch area for a nice amount of arch support. If you use compression socks for pain, these would be a good pair of socks as an in-between treatment-type of general use sock. They are also quite breathable as advertised- the polyester weave seems to act like the performance shirts that \"wick away\" sweat to some extent, and using these all day has kept my feet feeling cool. These comes in a useful 3-pack, and are high quality socks.","Product: This Tommy Hilfiger wirefree bra is the perfect combination of both cute and comfort. Matching panty available.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful Looking and Beautiful Fit\n\nReview: This is a heavily padded 36B cup w no wires, by Tommy Hilfiger. I can usually wear a 34B or a 36B, and this fits perfectly, and comfortably- nearly better than any bra I currently have. I had recently reviewed a 36B cup by another brand, which was also heavily padded, and it was a terrible fit- I had been wondering if it was the heavy padding perhaps, or if I really shouldn't be wearing a larger size up (around the chest). Nope. This T.Hilfiger bra takes away my hesitancy re: either heavily padded bras, or the larger torso sizing. The bra itself is also quite beautiful. It has a natural, nearly raw cotton look, but it feels perfectly smooth and supportive on, with no binding feeling along the lower plastic supports (it may be \"wireless,\" but has flexible plastic inserts along the lower cups). This is a great bra, and I'll be looking for additional colors.","Product: He will look like a rock star when he wears these Levi's 519 extreme skinny fit jeans. We've constructed them with the classic Levi's detailing: our iconic 5 pocket styling, signature arcuate stitching at the back two pockets and the signature red tab at the back pocket. Fabrication; murky waters, dark cove: 84 percent cotton, 14 percent polyester, 2 percent elastane; harvest gold, black stretch 78.5 percent cotton, 20 percent polyester, 1.5 percent elastane.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: They Are Not Kidding About Extreme Skinny Fit\n\nReview: These Levi's Big Boys' Extreme Skinny Fit Jeans are very good quality, thick and stretchy, w softly combed cotton that still feels substantial and is durable. The design is simple and enduring, and these pants can be worn by both boys and girls- at this age, skinny is skinny. My daughter actually wears Levi's boy's pants, because they are just flat out great jeans. I've got to warn you though, when they say \"Extreme Skinny\" in the description here, they are not kidding. These fit more like tight leggings, and unless you have a very thin youngster, I'd maybe get their just skinny jeans, or regular jeans. At some point, the skinniness starts to look silly for such young kids, but, that's just my opinion.","Product: Sometimes you just need a trusted companion who's up for anything. The Timex Expedition Scout Watch is a well-crafted update to the classic field watch with twelve or twenty-four hour time settings, date, and a distinct arrow second hand. Everything you need and nothing you don't.Buckle close strap..Matte case finish..Case Height: 11 mm.Case Lug Width: 20 mm.Case Width: 40 mm.Case Material: Brass.Crystal/Lens: Mineral glass..Full Arabic dial markings.Quartz analog watch movement..\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Ruggedly Appealing and Affordable Field Watch\n\nReview: This is a review for the Timex Men's Expedition Scout Black/Brown Leather Slip-Thru Strap Watch\n\nThis Timex Expedition Scout is a solid and affordable homage to the classic field watch (think U.S. Army A-11 or A-17 military watches). Other companies, most notably Hamilton, are well known for making field style watches, but they usually start at hundreds of dollars more than the Expedition Scout. In terms of features, the Expedition Scout has everything you would want in a field watch: 40mm case with large readable dial, both 12 and 24 (military) hour markers, high contrast between the dial color, watch hands, and hour markers, luminescent watch hands (plus Timexs dial-illuminating Indiglo light), and a hacking second hand (pull out the crown to the last position to stop the second hand so you can synchronize your watch with WWII commandos on their way to blow up a bridge).\n\nWhether or not you're interested in the Expedition Scout as a field watch, the watch itself is comfortable on the wrist and has a very appealing and rugged look. Mine came with a black finish on the case and a slip thru single-strap brown leather watch band (easily changeable to a nylon or leather 20mm NATO or Zulu strap). The watch also has an unobtrusive calendar window at the 3 oclock position. As for functionality, the watch set easily and has kept time against my radio-controlled clock. The only negatives I found with the watch relate to the single-strap leather band, which feels rather thin and much less robust feeling than the leather slip thru NATO-type strap on my Timex Weekender. The second issue is a common and seemingly random problem Ive noticed among Timex Indiglo watches, where a narrow area just under the watchs 6 o clock position doesnt illuminate when the Indiglo is activated. This is more of an aesthetic pet peeve, and does that detract from the overall operation of the watch. I give this watch 4 stars for everything Timex got right in capturing the essence of a durable field watch, and for doing it at such an affordable price. If they were to switch out the thin leather single strap slip-thru band with a thicker leather or 2-strap NATO type band, I would probably move this up to 5 stars.","Product: Modern tailoring meets dapper style in these versatile Levi's 511 slim fit suede pants. The brushed stretch fabric has a soft matte finish that will look perfect from the playground to the classroom. We've finished these pants with everything we love about Levi's; five-pocket styling, arcuate stitching at the back two pockets and the two horse pull patch at the waist.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fits My Daughter Better\n\nReview: This Levi's Big Boys 511 Slim Fit are really nice pants- substantial weight in the fabric, sturdy yet stretchable and soft, and is made of a combed cotton material that almost feels textured like microfiber. I have the size 12, but my 10 yo son is too big for these- he's not unusually large but these are tight on him (I know these are Slim Fit, but he is 10, and I don't want him wearing what looks like leggings). On the other hand, these fit my 12 yo daughter, who is more slender, perfectly. These look great on her, even hugging well at the waist. Perhaps Levi's should advertise these as unisex. If you have a fairly thin child, these work better-- and maybe get a size up.","Product: You just found the only watch you'll ever need. A timeless chronograph that let's you change up leather and nylon straps for the season, the occasion or even your mood.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This is a Winner of a Watch\n\nReview: This is a review for the Timex Unisex TWC063800 Weekender Oversize Chrono Cream/Blue Nylon NATO Slip-Thru Strap Watch\n\nThis is the chronograph version of Timexs very popular Weekender watch. What I immediately noticed and liked about this watch is the size. I own several Weekenders in 38mm and Im very happy with them. Over the last couple of years, however, Ive been gravitating towards slightly larger mens watches. At 40mm, this Oversize Chrono is a perfect size, nice and large without being overwhelming on my wrist. Combine the greater size with a nifty chronograph and everything I already love about the Weekender, and we have a winning combination.\n\nLooks and Styling:\nTimexs Weekender watches are known for their clean, classic looks. The TImex Weekender Oversize Chrono is no exception. It looks handsome and much more expensive than it actually costs. The watch is easily readable with 12-hour markers that contrast the color of the dial, and smaller 24 hour (military) markers along the hash marks of the chapter ring. Even though it has three subdial registers that display the seconds (at 6 oclock), the chronograph elapsed time in 1/20th second (at 2 oclock), and the chronograph elapsed minutes (at 10 oclock), the numbers and display markings are so clean and simple that the dial does not look busy. That said, I also like the look and feel of gadgety chronograph subdials and pushers. The dial and movement are housed in a brass case with a silver-tone polish that makes it look stainless steel. The watch comes with a slip-thru, 4-ring (3 retention and 1 buckle) NATO-type strap. This type of strap gives the watch a more rugged look, and is easily changeable with other nylon or leather 20mm NATO or Zulu watch straps to suit your preference. Finally, as I mentioned above, the larger 40mm case really adds to the watch, and gives it a bolder, more solid appearance.\n\nFunctionality:\nAs for time-keeping accuracy and overall functionality, the Weekender Oversize Chrono has worked well right out of the box. I set the time against my radio-controlled clock over 24 hours ago, and it has not lost any time at all. A cool feature of this watch is the chronograph stopwatch which gives you the seconds, 1/20th second, and minutes elapsed (up to 30 minutes). Ive tested the chronograph repeatedly over the course of the day and it has functioned flawlessly. Timex Weekender fans will also be pleased to hear that unlike the basic Weekenders, which emit a noticeable tick as the second hand sweeps around the dial, this Oversize Weekender Chrono is substantially quieter. Finally, the watch features Timexs famous Indiglo light that illuminates the entire dial with a cool blue-green light for low-light situations. This is where the only issue I found with the watch came up. When the Indiglo is activated, there is a small band just below the 6 oclock position that does not light up. This is a common problem among Timex Indiglo analog watches that Ive noticed over the last few years. Having owned many Timex watches, Ive come to the conclusion that there isn't any rhyme or reason as to which watch will have this issue (Ive had two of the exact Timex model watch, for example, and only one of them had the problem). Either way, this slight manufacturing defect does not detract from the watchs overall functionality or appearance. This is a winner.","Product: Lacoste men's underwear single micro mesh trunk - Lacoste\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Goodbye to Cotton Boxer Briefs\n\nReview: These Lacoste Micro Mesh Trunks are really, really comfortable. I have worn cotton boxer briefs since the early 1990s (okay, I totally bought the Marky Mark ads). So I was a little dubious when these Micro Mesh Trunks arrived because they are a bit shorter than my usual boxer briefs and the waistband is fairly wide. Once I put them on, I was immediately impressed. They are far lighter feeling, cooler, and more breathable than my cotton boxer briefs, probably thanks to the quick-dry 87% nylon and 13% spandex material. I didn't notice the wide elastic waistband at all while standing up or sitting down, even under a snug pair of jeans,. They hold comfortably around the upper thighs and don't ride up at all. The sizing seems perfect (I have about a 34 waist and the large size fits very well). I'd like to transition to these from cotton boxer briefs, as budget allows. These look like they should hold up better than cotton as well.","Product: Kanu Surf presents our newest swim trunks yet. Kanu Surf, a surf and swim lifestyle brand, is well know for great prints and colors along with high quality functional apparel for the whole family. All of our trunks are made with our comfort technology quick dry fabric with a UPF rating of 50+. All trunks have 2 side pockets. Some trunks have 1 or 2 cargo pockets as well. Most trunks feature triple needle stitching at seams and rises for extra durability. These trunks are built to last. Our pismo trunk is a classic floral print with 2 side pockets and 2 cargo pockets. Approximate inseam length is 11 inch. Mesh lining. Outside drawstring. Also available in regular men's sizes small to extra large. Available in kids sizes as well so dads and kids can hit the beach scene as a team\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Beach Trunks With A Fun Tropical Look\n\nReview: Its hard not to get into a vacation mindset when you slip on these Kanu Papagayo Floral Swim Trunks. The tropical print is so bold and fun. Itd be comfortable walking around in them on a sandy beach after a day in the water. In terms of value, these Kanu Swim Trunks are offered at a great price, and are a definite bargain compared with similar quality trunks Ive bought from other companies. At the time of this review, these shorts are also being offered in five colors (Aqua, Black, Navy, Red, and Royal).\n\nThese trunks appear really well stitched and sturdily constructed. Theyre board-short length (reach the tops of my knees), seem to fit true to size, and feel comfortably roomy, so its easy to move in them. Im impressed by their quick dry microfiber material which seems to almost repel water and dry fairly quickly after i put these in the sink. I really like all the pocket options so I can easily carry my valuables with me rather than leaving them somewhere unsafe (hidden under my towel on a beach blanket when I have to go get a snack or use the bathroom). They come with 2 deep side pockets, 2 cargo pockets, and a small inside-the-pants mesh pouch pocket. The cargo pockets have a fabric lining rather than mesh so I can keep items in them that might otherwise snag or rip the mesh. The trunks themseves are mesh lined, have a broad elastic waistband, and drawstrings that really work. All in all, these are really fun looking, but also user-friendly vacation trunks at a bargain price.","Product: Kanu Surf presents our newest swim trunks yet. Kanu Surf, a surf and swim lifestyle brand, is well know for great prints and colors along with high quality functional apparel for the whole family. All of our swim trunks are made with our comfort technology quick dry fabric with a UPF rating of 50+. all trunks have 2 side pockets. Some swimming trunks have 1 or 2 cargo pockets as well. Most trunks feature triple needle stitching at seams and rises for extra durability. These trunks are built to last. Our viper trunk is a great floral stripe print with 2 side pockets and a cargo pocket. Approximate inseam length is 11 inch\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice Quality, Great Value, and Fun Look\n\nReview: Im very impressed with these Kanu Surf Condor Stripe Floral Swim Trunks. They fit me true to size, and are lightweight and comfortably roomy. They are made of a light feeling microfiber and dry fairly quickly after coming out of the pool and wiping off with a towel. The trunks have a mesh liner, elastic waistband, and well-working drawstring. They also feature roomy side pockets, a cargo pocket on the right side with velcro closures, and a small inside the pants mesh pouch pocket (I usually keep my locker key in this). The trunks are well stitched and feel solid and durable. In terms of appearance, the Stripe Floral motif is fun and very summery. Note that these trunks are long and reach the tops of my knees -- this is fine for me since I like the sun protection. Finally, the Amazon price for these Kanu Swim Trunks is terrific. Ive purchased trunks of similar quality that cost two to three times more in the past. Overall, these are are solid swim trunks and at a great value.","Product: Fast dry technology for quick wicking. Fights odors. Superior moisture management delcron hydrotec polyester. Compression arch provides full-motion support and stability to keep socks up and feet comfortable.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Thick, Plush, High Quality Socks\n\nReview: These Carhartt Force High Performance low cut socks feel great and are a treat for the feet. The comfort of the plush material is really noticeable as soon as you slip these on, and my feet are cradled. There is a perfect amount of elastic pressure around the curves of the arches and heel, so that that the socks feel very well fitted, and there are no loose areas around the toes or near the tops of the ankles, which is so important in order to avoid those excess fabric folds and creases when you put on your shoes. My feet can breath when wearing these, and moisture has not been an issue. I'm very pleased with their warmth on cold mornings, but they feel ventilated and comfortable in my shoes. All in all, these are high quality socks, and you can definitely feel the difference.","Product: Four pocket cotton military jacket with attached hood\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fully Lined, Substantial Feeling and Good Looking Jacket\n\nReview: This Levi's Women's Cotton Four Pocket Field Jacket feels very comfortable to wear, is very lightly padded with quilting in the fully lined inner nylon shell which reaches to the inside of the wrists, hood and hips, and is substantial, but light enough to wear casually. The jacket is cut slim, and has tighteners around the waist for an even more fitted look. My very skinny 13 yo daughter is wearing this XS in the pics, and it fits her perfectly in the body, so I'd say this is more of a Jr. size. The sleeves were slightly long, but we rolled them up a bit at the ends w no trouble. If you want a looser fit (wearing heavier sweaters underneath, for example), you might even want to get a size up. The jacket is quite attractive, w rugged good looks, and has both buttons and a zipper up front. The elbows have rectangular patches on them for extra strength, and the construction/ sewing is high quality. I'd highly recommend this jacket.","Product: A bigger brother to the Burton kettle pack, this 24 liter two-pocket, back-to-school pack upgrades capacity for the honor student who simply needs more space. An internal padded laptop sleeve keeps expensive electronics protected from books, binders, and gym clothes, while tough external materials prevent blowouts during after school activities. The zippered organizer pocket with a secure key clip offers an easy spot to store pens, pencils, protractors, and other tools of scholarly pursuits.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Light, Well-Made, Good Shape for papers- Perfect Student Backpack for smaller frames\n\nReview: I gave this to my daughter to use for school, and she loves it. I think it is a perfect backpack for students- it has an ample amount of space for paperwork, books and binders, plus a padded and velcro-closed internal section that holds a laptop securely. The squarish shape of this pack is a much better fit for the items a student would typically carry, and it feels roomier than my daughter's old pack, which is very rounded at the top and across the center (like a full belly), and occasionally bends the corners of her papers.\n\nThe straps are easily adjustable and fit her snugly, and because the middle of the pack doesn't bulge away from her, the pack sits closer to her center of gravity/ spine and she even looks less awkward carrying it. The pack seems very well-made, and all the seams are covered and double stitched. I think it's a plus that there are not too many extraneous pouches and unnecessary dividers in the pack, because the pack itself does not weigh too much, like some other packs we have- i don't want my kids carrying more weight than they already do. I highly recommend this well-thought out and useful backpack.\n\n--I read the review that noted one woman's daughter having the chest strap go across her bust-- this has not happened with my daughter at all (the chest strap fits comfortably above her bust area, where you might expect the strap to go) and I think the difference must be due to their sizes. My daughter is in middle school, and so the pack would fit differently on an adult-sized individual.","Product: Our best selling Scout design just got upgraded. The Expedition Scout Chronograph maintains the classic outdoor design of the original and enhances it with chronograph functionality. It is now as appropriate for the office as it is for the trail.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful Retro Look and Great In-Warranty Repair Experience\n\nReview: Looks:\nTimex has been knocking it out of the park in recent years in terms of design. The Expedition Scout Chronograph is no exception. I have the Scout Chrono with the blue dial and brown leather strap with red stitching accents. The watchs case is made of brass, but has a brushed metal, silver-colored finish that measures 42mm in diameter. The watchs rich blue dial, which I measured at about 37mm across, is nicely offset by cream-colored hands and hour markings. The combination of the large dial, brushed metal case, and rustic leather watch band with exposed stitching gives the watch a retro military watch look. In terms of color scheme and overall styling, I think this is a great looking watch at this price point and one of the best in Timexs Expedition line.\n\nFunctionality:\nThe Good: The watch has kept time all evening against my radio-controlled clock since I set it this afternoon. There is no luminescent paint on the hands or hour markers, but there is a fantastic Indiglo light that illuminates the entire dial well. The leather band feels thick, yet comfortable when worn. The same can be said of the watch case itself, even though it is a solid 42mm in diameter and about 12mm thick. Finally, unlike the popular Timex Weekenders that tend to emit a fairly noticeable tick, this Expedition Scout Chronograph is very quiet.\n\nThe Bad: The chronograph stopwatch function is where issues arise with this watch. Ive been testing out the chronograph throughout the evening and noticed that after the second elapsed minute, the second timer (center dial sweeping hand) inexplicably falters and stops, then restarts. No doubt this is just a manufacturing defect in this particular watch, as I have other Timex chronographs that function flawlessly. After faltering, when the chronograph is stopped and reset, the second hand resets to the position where it faltered rather than to the 12 oclock position. A second less important, but common issue with many quartz chronographs, is that the center dial second sweep hand does not align perfectly at the vertical 12 oclock position. Instead, it is about half a millimeter left of vertical (and yes, I tried recalibrating it according to the directions).\n\nOverall, this is a great looking watch that has some nice functionality in some areas, but issues with the chronograph. If you're only into styling and don't plan to even use the chronograph, Im sure youll be happy with this watch. If you plan to use this as a reliable chronograph tool watch, you may want to test it out for potential problems as I did.\n\nUPDATE: I got tired of the chronograph on the watch not working and contacted Timex regarding the issue. They referred me to the repair page on their www.timex.com website and had me send in the watch for in-warranty service. Timex provided a pre-paid shipping label, which is a really nice courtesy for their customers. When they couldn't fix the the chronograph issue, they sent me a new watch! So far, the new watch is working very well. Unfortunately, the new watch's center sweep is also a bit off center when reset to the 12 o'clock position. Nevertheless, I'm enjoying this beautiful watch with a well functioning chronograph again. Additionally, I learned from this experience that Timex is very good about honoring their warranties.","Product: Long sleeve all cotton non iron Tommy Hilfiger dress shirt\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Appealing English Blue Gingham Shirt, Perfect for Business Casual\n\nReview: What I noticed first when I put on this Tommy Hilfiger Gingham Buttondown Dress Shirt was the nice quality of the material. The all cotton shirt feels crisp and solid. The shirt itself is nicely constructed and looks sharp. The english blue gingham checks are subtle, pleasant and visually appealing, unlike other gingham shirts Ive owned where the bold checks give off a picnic blanket vibe.\n\nIn terms of wear, my shirt (16.5 neck, 32/33 sleeve) seemed true to size. The shirt is comfortable and doesnt feel constricting like other dress shirts. I cant say its completely non-iron if you expect it to look as sharp as a newly pressed shirt when you take it out of the wash. All the same, I usually machine wash and hang dry this shirt, and have been able to wear it without pressing. I don't think it would take much pressing to give it that crisply ironed look.\n\nThe really nice thing about this shirt is that it solves my business casual dilemma. Wearing a plain white or blue long sleeve collared shirt looks like I just decided not to wear a tie, and wearing a polo shirt just seems a little too casual sometimes. Now, I can wear this shirt on casual days at work or for business casual occasions. It looks great whether I pair it with a dark or light blazer, or just with a pair of khakis. The button-down collar also gives this shirt a more refined collegiate look. This is now a go to item in my wardrobe.","Product: A preppy classic gets technical with the advantage performance polo shirt. Constructed from quick-drying sport flex fabric that naturally stretches as you move, this top features uv-15 sun protection and an improved roll-resistant collar.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: High Quality, Smooth and Comfortable, Breathable\n\nReview: I got this IZOD for my son, a young teen, and he's generally been wearing adult Small for most of his shirts. This particular S shirt is fits him well, seems standard sized, and comfortably roomy in both the torso and arms. The material is a 60% cotton and 40% polyester blend, like many Polo shirts, and so has a smoother yet breathable feel to it, that is very comfortable against the skin. This light blue color looks exactly like the ad picture (my own pics look a bit washed out, but this is quite a pleasant blue in real life). You can see the fine quality and detailing in the weave of the material and in the stitching of the seams, as you would expect from the iconic IZOD brand. This particular shirt does not have the crocodile emblem, but an \"I\" intertwined w a \"Z\", providing a simple and modern look. I took a pic of one layer of fabric of this shirt against a bright window, and you can see how the light shines through the material, which allows great airflow and a light weight. This is a fine shirt from a great company.","Product: Boyshort featuring a classic cotton blend fabrication and an iconic Tommy Hilfiger repeating logo waistband\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very Comfy, Very Sexy\n\nReview: This is a really nice pair of Boyshorts- they fit very well and are extremely sexy looking, with a slightly higher cut along the cheeks, and a wide upper band that doesn't bind- no scratchy edges either. They don't ride up though, and only have minimal show though any thinner fabric pants or skirts (lines are not invisible, but not nearly so). The cotton 95%/ spandex 5% mix is a thinner to medium weight, and feel breathable. The only slight criticism I have, and which doesn't detract from the good fit, is that the top band is a tad too heavy compared to the fabric weight of the rest of the shorts- the band could be better balanced, so it's less noticeable. Still, this is a quality product that fits great.","Product: Lacoste men's sporty luxurious fiber tencel single boxer brief\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cool and Comfortable, Very Smooth and Soft Natural Fabric\n\nReview: These Lacoste Men's Tencel Boxers are made of Tencel, a wood cellulose derived product, making them 1/2 way to a natural fabric like cotton, but they feel smoother and drape better. These briefs are very well-made, and there are no extraneous tags or other irritation-causing additions to the inside. The stitching around the leg cuffs and banding around the waist are also soft and stretchy, and this reminds me almost of a stretchy rayon. Because these briefs are ultimately composed of natural fibers, they absorb some moisture, but the fabric is woven thinly enough to stay cool and breathable. These briefs are softly elastic (5% \"Elastane\"), and hug the legs fairly well. The S size fits my young teen son who is 11, but larger for his age. The S would fit younger/ thinner teens. These are high quality, and my son searches these Lacostes out of his pants drawer to wear in preference to his regular cotton briefs.","Product: The Essential Capri is a cooler alternative to a full-length legging. Four-way stretch fabric moves with you like a second skin while the contoured waist provides the coverage (and courage) to approach each pose.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Supportive, Flexible and Well-Fitting- \"SM X 19\" is about a US Size 4 (and maybe 6)\n\nReview: These Manduka Essential Capris are attractive, flexible and breathable, and perfect for yoga and workouts. There are no areas that bind, and the waist is smooth and comfortable all the way around. The material is substantial and not too thin, so that your underwear won't show through, and you look decent. The sizing seems right, and this \"SM X 19\" seems to be the size range of 4-6, but closer 4 maybe. I can't verify their sizing on the pants themselves, because they are not labeled for size, so i'm going by what Amazon said they sent. If you're a 6, you should probably get the size up (not SM X 19) just to be sure. These feel pretty snug, and i'm in-between sizes 4-6 depending on what i eat that day :)\n\nThere is a small, lined inner pocket in the front for a key or small bills, but the pocket strangely doesn't have it's own bottom, so the hole actually accesses the entire waistline, and you might end up w your key trapped in your back if you move around a lot. On the other hand, your key can't fall out of your waist area, and you could even also conceivably put in an inner elastic or tie into this area, to cinch your waist like a drawstring...but I can't see that you'd ever need to because the elastic material fits so smoothly and well.\n\nOdd front inner pocket notwithstanding, these capris are very well made and are attractively designed and comfortable exercise pants.","Product: Liverpool Jeans offer a fit solution for most shapes and sizes. Our high quality fabrications allow the jeans to fit to your shape. The Abby skinny is one of our most popular fits with a slimming narrow leg that is flattening to all. Our fabrications have comfort stretch and strong recovery. The recovery attributes help retain the shape to prevent the bagging effects that can occur with most jeans.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Comfortable, Well-Fitting & Flattering\n\nReview: These Abby Skinny Denim Jeans are perfect for a form-fitting look, but have far more substance and style than leggings. These have a mid-rise waist, look great on my daughter, and seem true to size. There is a good length to the legs, so if you are tall, you shouldn't have any problems, and if you are shorter, these are slim enough near the calves so that you can wear them a bit bunched up and they still look good (they are on the long side, however). The fabric is flexible and stretchy, and the jeans are comfortable and non-binding. I particularly like the minimalist style of these jeans, with their clean looking rivets, simple trim and back pockets lacking loud designs. These are flattering jeans in a lovely deep indigo stain, and can be worn with anything.","Product: Lark & Ros collection of womens dresses, blouses, cardigans, jackets, outerwear, and more marries soft fabrics with classic designs for easily paired pieces that take care of business. Our stylish selection includes office clothes for work, warm coats, and 100% cashmere sweaters as well as casual tops and formal dresses for parties and wedding guests.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pretty and Smart Looking\n\nReview: This dress fits me fairly well as a size 6-8, but it's a bit loose in my chest area (34B), which can be made up w a padded bra. The fabric hangs nicely and \"swooshes\" around as you move, and it's sewn well. The fabric is not stretchy at all, so it is less forgiving depending on your shape, but somewhat A-line towards the bottom, providing more room for your lower behind. I'd say if you have greater than a 36\" waist, however, this may be tight on you. It's a subtle dress that looks put-together and not flashy. I like the invisible zipper in back, and even though it is not lined, it looks modest on, and you don't have to wear a slip (I can feel the inside seams on my torso though, like a soft tag). Overall, I like this dress, and would wear it day or night.","Product: Look your best in this versatile casual top from Riders by Lee Indigo. The knit fabric will keep you comfy all day without sacrificing style. This top features a flattering key-shaped placket with a polo collar. The 3/4 ruched sleeves with tab detail are the perfect fashion touch.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Look Professional, But Feel Like You're Wearing a Polo\n\nReview: I have to agree w the reviewer who loves this shirt. I also LOVE this shirt! It's amazingly well-fitted and makes me look more trim and put-together. Despite being soft and comfortable-feeling like a thinner, smoother polo shirt (stretchy and maneuverable), the cut and design of this shirt somehow makes you look more polished and professional- almost as if it were an ironed dress shirt (except w/o the hassle). The color is a lighter, dappled red, almost a heather red, which is a pretty shade and not too bright or loud. This is great for the office, or great for the weekend. I'm on the smaller side of medium, and this fits just right. If you are in-between sizes, I'd get the larger size up.","Product: Columbia cotton stretch tank top. Natural cotton fabric with a little stretch to move with your body. Multipurpose tank top can be an everyday essential, underpinning or wear during your favorite activity as thick shoulder straps hide bra straps. Omni-wick advanced evaporation pulls moisture away from the body and enables perspiration to evaporate quickly. Tag less comfort.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Go-To Staple for Your Active-Wear Wardrobe\n\nReview: I like Columbia clothes, and have a lot of their fleece outerwear. I've found their products to be well-made and sturdy, comfortable and a great value in general. This cotton stretch tank is a good performance product (95% cotton, 5% spandex), which gives a nice stretch and wick for a base layer. It's not too much spandex to be obnoxious feeling, and not too much cotton to soak you through w a wet sweat. I own similar shirts with this composition of materials, but I think the fit of this tank is more comfortable around the arm holes and neckline- a loose stretch that still stays put. This tank also has a longer fitted bodice, which makes for a snug fit when tucking into your pants, w no lifting out when you bend or turn. You machine wash this cold w like colors, low dry, cool iron, but no chlorine bleach. This is a good go-to staple for your active-wear wardrobe.","Product: Lacoste premium boxer brief underwear inspired by Lacoste sportswear\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Soft and Stretchy, Well-Made w Comfortable Seams and Cut\n\nReview: This Lacoste Men's Micro Boxers are well-made and form-fitting. I got these in size S for my young teen son to wear (he's on the larger side for his age- 11), and it fits him snugly without binding at the elastic waist or folded leg cuffs. The fabric over the cup area is lightly tented, and feels a bit thicker for support. The fabric is nylon (89%) and \"elastane\" (11%), making these briefs soft and stretchy, which is important to my son who is very picky about scratchy fabrics. The seams don't feel noticeable from the inside, according to my son. Because of their high nylon content, these briefs seem to act in a wicking-type of manner, and my son says he doesn't feel sweaty, but that these feel cool and comfortable over the day. Because these briefs are fitted and have a gentle elastic pull, they don't bunch up in his jeans either. These are very high quality briefs.","Product: Under Armour's mission is to make all athletes better through passion, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation. Where we started? It all started with an idea to build a superior T-shirt. The technology behind Under Armour's diverse product assortment for men, women and youth is complex, but the program for reaping the benefits is simple: wear HeatGear when it's hot, ColdGear when it's cold, and All Season Gear between the extremes.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Terrific Summertime Wicking Boxerjock, But Pricey\n\nReview: I just have to say that Im so glad to have this pair of Under Armour Armourvent Mesh Boxerjocks now that summer is here. The material (77% nylon, 23% Elastane) is so breathable, and keeps me so cool that I can say this is the most comfortable pair of warm weather wicking boxer briefs that Ive ever worn. My wife took some photos to try to show the light coming through the fabric.\n\nIve tried wearing these under jeans and cargo pants during a couple of hikes over the weekend and they really kept me cool and dry. I wore these under khakis during a recent heat wave, and I could readily feel a difference from other wicking material underwear, and certainly from cotton boxer briefs. Although the fabric of these boxerjocks feels much thinner than any of my previous boxer briefs from other companies, the boxers still feel solid, nicely constructed, and appear well stitched. The waistband, while wide, feels smooth when worn and does not pinch. In terms of fit, my boxers (large) fit true to size. I also like the length of the legs which end just above mid thigh for me. As for the relatively high price, I think this is the only downside to this product. Given the great comfort and quality, Id love to get another pair (or even a half dozen more), but I just cant justify spending that much. If I were planning an adventure trip or similar event where I absolutely needed top of the line gear, Id consider purchasing another pair.","Product: The wrangler authentic slim straight jean is constructed with premium fabric for maximum comfort and has an adjustable waistband for a fit that is just right. Authentic rock (Bangladesh 98 percent cotton/2 percent spandex), vintage night (Africa 99 percent cotton/1 percent spandex)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Stretchy and Adjustable, Well-Made Soft Combed Cotton\n\nReview: These size 12 Wrangler Boy's fit my 10 yo in a snug way, along the thighs particularly, as expected, I suppose, for \"Slim\" pants. He's about avg. weight, but not thin, and I think we'll go with a size up in the future, particularly because these are 98% cotton, and I'd expect shrinkage over time. Most of his size 12 pants fit more loosely, but we have never tried a slim fit. The quality of these pants is excellent, and the fabric feels durable and \"soft\" like combed cotton. The pants are very stretchy with movement, which is great. Additionally, there are elastics built into both sides of the inner waistband, that adjust to as many button lengths tighter as you need, so the waist will fit well. I thought these pants looked very nice on him, but my son thought they felt too tight- \"a teeny bit.\"","Product: Five Star backpack with built-in insulated compartment safely stores snacks and beverages and helps to maintain correct temperature. Main compartment expands to provide 4\" of extra storage space for textbooks, notebooks, folders and more. Patent-pending main compartment also opens wide to easily find supplies. Padded sleeve secures and protects a laptop or tablet. Multiple organization pockets help keep small items organized. Side mesh pocket securely holds a water bottle. Adjustable padded straps provide support for heavy loads to make backpack easier to carry. Durable, water resistant materials resists rips and tears with reinforced stitching to stand up to daily wear and tear. Berry color. Limited lifetime warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Design- A Space for Everything\n\nReview: This Five Star is one of the best school packs we've used for my daughter (middle school). Backpacks have taken on a lot more importance for her, because our Jr. High doesn't provide locker space, and kids are not allowed to take rolling bags. So, everything she needs daily, has to fit into the pack, and it has to be durable and comfortable. This pack fits the bill.\n\nThe great thing about this pack are the numerous and thoughtfully placed pockets, which include a built-in outer insulated lunch/ snack pouch w an elastic band to hold utensils/ napkins in place, a side elastic net for their drink, an opposite side zippered pouch that's big enough to hold eyeglasses, keys or a phone, and a large front opening for all their frequently accessed tools (pens, erasers). This leave a big open space w one lightly elasticized divider, on the inside for the big binders and books, which she can access without having to fuss through a lunch bag or pen case first. One of the neatest features (I've not seen in other packs) is the extra zipper on the bottom of the pack, which, when opened, expands the pack to a wider foundation (see pic w dollar bill across the bottom- it's about 1-1/2 bills at the widest). The designers really knew what users need in a school pack. My daughter has worn this a few days so far, and she thinks it is very comfortable (the back and arm straps are lightly padded). She also likes that there is a specific spot for all her items, so she doesn't need to dig-- all-in-all, a fine backpack","Product: Trend inspired midline design with the sensational fit of Lily of France bras. Smooth sheen fabrication and striking lace detail add a retro flair.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Heavily Padded, Does not Conform Well to Shape\n\nReview: This is a beautiful bra, and well made. But, it doesn't fit all that well. I typically can wear a 34B or 36B, because my mid-section is wider. this 36 part is a perfect size, and very comfortable around my back, but surprisingly on the last eyehook (largest setting) vs. the smallest setting which I can usually use for the 36. The real issue is the B cup, which does not hug my my curves well, and bulges out away from my skin in the location near my underarms and in the \"V\" shaped center area near the grey ribbon/bow. If you look at the picture of the model shown for this item, you can actually see the bulge locations I just mentioned- particularly the part next to her underarm- it shows an area that is shadowed and not actually touching her skin, which it should if it fit well. The bra is also very heavily padded, with nearly an inch of fluffy thickness in the lower outer corners of the cups, which is heavier than I like, but which would have been fine if there were no bulges. I know bras are very specific to the individual, but this one fit me really oddly compared to most.","Product: Sneaker\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Quality, Versatility, and Comfort!\n\nReview: The pictures on this listing really don't do these shoes justice. What I noticed first about these Frye Slip On Walking Shoes was the nice quality of the leather. Right out of the box, I was impressed with how robust and solid the leather uppers looked and felt. I guess I really shouldnt be surprised. I owned a couple of pairs of Frye western style boots back in the 80s (yes, I was a victim of the Urban Cowboy craze), and I always found their leather products high quality and durable. As solid as the leather is, the shoes are remarkably comfortable. The soles are thick and cushioned, and the shoes feel great without any break-in time. The fact that they are slip-ons is an added bonus as these are perfect for throwing on for a quick walk or a run out to the store. Ive worn them with blue jeans, khaki chinos, cargo shorts, and board shorts and theyve looked terrific with everything so far. If you're looking for a comfortable and versatile walking shoe, made by a company known for its quality leather goods, look no further.","Product: You'll want to stay in this nightgown all day. Karen Neuburger sleepwear is designed for ultimate comfort and style. Our signature lightweight, cozy fabric is uniquely detailed to create the luxurious casual wear you've loved for over twenty years.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Soft, Comfortable, Loose Fitting PJ Pullover\n\nReview: This 60% cotton 40% polyester Karen Neuburger Women's Long Sleeve is comfortable and pleasant, and looks pretty. The sleeves fall just right- not too long so they get in the way, but not annoyingly short where you feel the need to pull on them (I guess this will depend on your arm length, of course, but they seem fairly typical to me). There is a pretty scalloped lace-look edging on the sleeves (not the bottom), that adds an attractive touch. The 6 small buttons down the front at the neck look decorative, but actually work if you were inclined to undo them. The neckline is fairly ample and easy to pull over your head, though, so I don't think you'll ever need to use the buttons. The material feels cool and soft, almost like a combed cotton feel to the surface. The nightgown is just the right thickness, imo, with no see-through issues, but not bulky or hot. Overall, this is a fine everyday comfortable pullover nightshirt, that you may not want to change out of.","Product: The Mossy Oak collection of graphic t-shirts is ideal for hunters, casual outdoorsmen, or anyone desiring authentic style. With a variety of available colors, you can represent your favorite hunting brand on those few days spent outside of the woods.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: High Quality Tee-Shirt with Earthy Mossy Oak Color and Design\n\nReview: I don't usually wear t-shirts with company logos emblazoned on them. This Mossy Oak Short Sleeve Logo Tee and other Mossy Oak products are the exception. The color scheme and designs of their shirts, meant for the outdoors/ hunting ensures they look far more subdued and pleasing than the average company logo t-shirt. I got mine in the Heather CIty Green. The shirt looks muted and understated, and pairs very well with any number of my casual pants, jeans, and shorts.\n\nThis has been my go to t-shirt which Ive reached for many times since I received it, just for daily wear, simply because it works so well with everything, and feels comfortable, breathable and lightly stretchy. The logo is sharply printed, with reds and greens that offset nicely against the rest of the logo and shirt. This tagless shirt is well stitched, and has a mixed material fabric content (50% cotton, 50% polyester). I prefer to wear this type of mixed material under heavier tops or jackets, vs. 100% cotton, which i notice tends to hold in moisture (and can feel colder). This X-Large Tee fits true to size, and it's a solid, basic shirt for all occasions.","Product: Fast dry technology for quick wicking. Fights odors. Technically blended fabric stays dry to reduce likelihood of blisters. Arch support and contoured fit hold socks in place to eliminate slipping and bunching. Soft, cushioned sole absorbs shock.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Pink is More of a Hot Pink, But Great Quality\n\nReview: These Carhartt Women's Merino Wool Blend Hikers are super comfy with a good amount of stretchy feeling. They allow my feet to breath and feel airy like i'm wearing cotton almost, but with the heft and thick plushness you get with wool socks, that protect your feet better in hiking shoes. I've been wearing these around the house all day because they are warm and substantial, and feel good on my feet. The entire bottom part of the sock as well as up around the toes has extra loop fabric cushioning as you can see from my pic showing the sock inside out. The upper section of the sock goes up far enough to reach higher hiking boots, and has a gentle all-around elastic that does not feel tight, but lightly snug. These are really high quality socks, and i'd definitely recommend- not just for hiking, but just for walking around in your home!","Product: Charles river apparel has created a modern soft shell jacket that is lightweight, breathable and water-resistant. Stand-up collar with chin guard to protect chin/face. Zippered side pockets and zippered chest pocket. Features adjustable tabbed cuffs for comfort. When looking for quality apparel, look to Charles river apparel. Charles river apparel infuses their clothing with technology, performance and contemporary style. Traditional new England value brings innovation to everything they make: innovation in how it fits, to the way it feels. Charles river apparel offers function that performs and fashion that lasts. After more than 30 years of leading quality, the family-owned business pushes into the future with their eyes on the horizon of innovation. Look good. Feel good. Charles river apparel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Dynamic Look, Bargain Price, And So Many Great Features\n\nReview: This Charles River Axis Softshell Jacket has so much going for it. Starting with wearability, it is lightweight, yet sturdy and provides a fair amount of wind protection under a water resistant fabric shell. The jacket material (97% polyester, 3% Spandex) is also soft and comfortable when worn. The jacket is cut true to size and has generous sleeves and tail hem that keep me well covered. The sleeves also have adjustable velcro cuffs that help keep out the chill. I always like outerwear with easy access zippered pockets. This jacket has 3 (2 side and 1 right chest) and all of them are deep enough to hold my phone, keys, etc and zip up nicely to keep them from falling out.\n\nThe strongest appeal of this jacket for me though is the styling. This jacket has such a sleek, cool look. Maybe its the stand-up collar, or the clean dark navy color, or just the overall design and cut, but this jacket definitely gives off a dynamic modern vibe. I usually pair this jacket over a shirt and jeans, or dark chinos, and it looks outstanding. Price-wise, this jacket is still going for under $50 on Amazon when similarly styled jackets go for double or more. For me, this jacket has it all: Functionality, Style, and Affordability.","Product: Gildan is a leading provider of everyday quality family apparel, including t-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, underwear, socks, hosiery, and shape wear.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Affordable And Works Well, Especially For Lean Physiques\n\nReview: I asked my husband to try on these Gildan Mens Fleece Elastic Bottom Pocketed Pants. He generally doesnt like to wear sweatpants as most of the ones hes tried before tend to balloon out at the legs, which looks unflattering for his lean (tall/thin) body type. These Gildan Fleece Pants, however, seem to be cut narrower from the hips down so theres no excess material to deal with. Additionally, they have a well-functional drawstring as well as an elasticized waistband and cuffs. The fabric is comfortable and the underside of the pants have a soft fleece feel. The size large fits my husband as it should, and the Black color is easy to match with all of his gym shirts. My husband also really likes that these pants have side pockets that are just deep enough to hold his ID and some cash. These great features already make these Gildan Fleece Pants a winner for my husband. The very affordable price means well be picking up more of these, maybe in the other colors (Navy, Dark Heather).","Product: With its textured dobby construction, this short-sleeve shirt keeps you cool and comfortable, yet fashionable for any night out.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Ready For A Night Out In Miami\n\nReview: I wasn't too sure about this shirt before receiving it. Would it look too flashy? Or make me look like I was trying too hard? My concerns were completely unwarranted. This Cubavera Mens Dobby Texture Short Sleeve is a sharp and classy looking Guayabera-type shirt that would be well-suited for a night out in Miami or any other warm locale. The pleats and textured patterning are more subtle than in the photos, and the rich blue (Navy Blazer) color is just beautiful. I particularly like the fact that this shirt is designed to be worn untucked and pairs very well over every pair of dark pants I own. There is also a refined look to this shirt that I just don't get from wearing my standard polos or Hawaiian type shirts. The size large fits me very well, although I should note that the cut is a bit on the slim side and may not be as flattering if I still had a paunch. The material (55% Linen, 45% Viscose Rayon) breathes well and feels comfortable against the skin, but needs some ironing after laundering. This is definitely a welcome and refreshing addition to my wardrobe.","Product: Sport the latest fashion with the Hollywood bracelet watch in solid stainless steel - featuring a 38mm case and light blue plastic bezel. Lexington white dial, detailed by bright crystal markers, diamond-dusted outer ring and three light blue subdials, add a feminine touch to this Glam sport design.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Great Fashion Statement that Also Happens to Tell Time\n\nReview: This is bold piece of pretty jewelry, imo, with the added benefit of it actually being a watch that tells time. The color scheme with the silver and light icy blue dial is so nice to look at, especially if you like cool tones. The shimmery diamond-like face accents add just enough sparkle, and it's a pleasant heft on your wrist- it's not a small or light watch, which is why you might even want to leave in any extra links, and wear it like a loose bracelet (like boyfriend jeans, but for watches). My husband is a more serious watch guy, and collects and repairs watches. I asked him for a pro & con breakdown, in case anyone was interested in the timekeeping aspects of this item more than the fashion aspects:\n\nHere are some pros and cons:\n\nPros:\n-The watch case itself feels solid and has good heft.\n-The hour and minute hands are silver edged and white filled, and the second hand is red-tipped which make for easy reading of the time.\n-The two-position crown pulls out readily and the time sets smoothly and easily.\n-The signature deployment clasp for the bracelet watchband opens and closes smoothly.\n-A sticker at the case back provides the recommended battery replacement date.\n-Ive timed the watch against my radio-controlled clock and the watchs Japanese quartz movement is very accurate.\n\nCons:\n-For a ladies fashion watch, the watch is fairly large and looks about the same size as many average mens watches. The watch band looks about 20mm wide at the lugs (note that this is not a standard band/watch case configuration), and tapers down to about 16mm at the clasp. Although I like the weight of the watch, I think some may find it a bit heavy.\n-The metal bracelet watchband feels cheap when compared to the case (body of the watch). As I mentioned above, this is not a standard watchband/case configuration, so replacing it would not be easy.\n-The watch features three sub-dial registers that display Day, Date, and 24 Hour time, which are great to have, but unfortunately, the numbers are a light color against a light grey background and faint and difficult to read.\n-Although the instruction manual advises that the Day and Date can be set by rotating the crown in position 2 clockwise to set the Date and counterclockwise to set the Day, turning the crown counterclockwise on my watch set the Date. And turning it clockwise did nothing at all.\n-I tried rotating the crown in different positions, but could not find any way to change the Day. In order to adjust the Day, I had to move the time forward around the clock several times until the subdial displayed the correct Day.","Product: The men's Watertown jacket combines comfort, practicality and versatility to meet your most adventurous needs. Equipped with breathable 5000mm waterproof rated nylon twill ripstop, sealed seems and waterproof two-way front zipper and zipper pockets, you are ensured maximum durability and enhanced protection from all of nature's elements.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just In Time For Rainy Season\n\nReview: I received this Charles River Watertown Jacket just before our recent rainy weather. This fully waterproof shell (unlined) jacket was most welcome and perfect for keeping off the rain and keeping me dry and comfortable. This rain jacket is well designed and includes several features that I look for in quality outerwear. For instance, the hood is a full-size functional hood that has a working elasticized drawstring secured with plastic toggles. The sleeve cuffs are not only elastic, but also include adjustable velcro cuff straps that help keep out the rain and wind. The main zipper has double sliders and pull tabs so you can unzip the jacket from the bottom if you need to access something from your pants pocket or from under your jacket. The main zipper also has a layer of fabric behind it that helps keeps wind and water out. Both side pockets are deep and have zipper closures. There are also 2 inside the jacket pockets in the space behind the outer pockets that work well for keeping lightweight incidentals such as papers dry.\n\nThe jacket fits true to size and wears comfortably. The ripstop fabric and stitching feel well constructed and sturdy, yet the jacket remains lightweight. I like how breathable the jacket feels even though it is fully waterproof. All in all, Ive found this jacket functional, and really handy during the last few days of rain.","Product: Oxfords\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Modern Take On Classic Oxford At Reasonable Price\n\nReview: I asked my husband to try out these Calvin Klein Ramses Oxford shoes, because my son is going to wear these, but doesn't know much about shoes yet. My husband really admired the way they looked and described them as a modern take on a classic design. Hes worn shoes like this before and thought that these dress shoes looked sharp and were perfect for business and special occasions. He especially liked the way these tumbled leather oxfords have leather uppers that look textured rather than the high polish leather oxfords he usually wears. I think that these tumbled leather shoes paired with his usual suit and dress pants give his outfits a more updated, cosmopolitan look.\n\nThe shoes appear well stitched and feel solid. The leather is soft, yet durable and feels nicely crafted. Overall, the quality of the shoes is very good and comparable to other fine Calvin Klein products weve tried before. My husband did note, however, that the shoes are cut so that they taper to a point at the front. Hes accustomed to this having worn shoes like these before, but said that this is different from his dress shoes that end with a wider toe box, so just be aware of that. He also liked how the soles and back of the heels are part synthetic and have a rough texturing which makes them far less slippery on the hard floors and low carpets, such as you might find in a workplace environment.","Product: All of the figure flattering characteristics of our instasculpt jean with a 28 inch\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very Stretchy- Fits a US Women's Size 4\n\nReview: These Women's Margaux Instasculpt Skinny Jeans are quite nice. They feel very comfortable on, and are almost like spanx for your legs and butt area. The fit is flattering, particularly if you run on the thinner side, because you won't be swimming in the legs. I'm a typical size 4, and these fit me well, but they would certainly look good on a size 3, and would not be uncomfortable for a 5. The length would readily fit a 5'2 to 5'5 fairly well (depending on the length of your legs, of course), but the pants are forgiving both in size and length, so they will look good on a wide variety of sizes and shapes due to how the fabric conforms so well to your curves. The color is as pictured on the model- a deep indigo, and they look nicely worn in, but not shabby. The only slight negative I found was that if I sit on the ground cross legged for any amount of time, they start to feel too tight- easily remedied by sitting in a chair--hahah.","Product: This Super Lightweight and Durable Mask is fitted with Tempered Safety Glass Lenses, is a Low Volume Mask with a Wide Field of View that is Easy-to-Clear.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good View Range, True Dry Snorkel w Good Airflow, Light Leakage Over Time\n\nReview: This Phantom Aquatics Mask and Dry Snorkel set came in a nice quality reusable velcro-topped carry bag w handle, which was a little too tight a fit for ease of use during an outing, but which conveniently kept everything together and not flopping around for storage. The soft plastic/rubbery portions of the mask and mouthpiece are extremely flexible and conformed to my face comfortably, and the side adjustments made the straps fairly easy to tighten around my head. I didn't have any problems with slippage of the large and webbed back portion of the mask off my wet hair, nor did the rubbery material pull on my hair in a painful manner, which had been a problem for me in the past w some other masks.\n\nThe only issue I had was that the nose portion did not make a full watertight seal, and i had some light leakage with water slowly entering the lower part of my mask over time while using this for about 3 hours-- i needed to lift up the bottom part and drain the water maybe every 10 min or so, which wasn't too bad, but not the best. On the other hand, the field of vision from the goggles was broad and clear, and I didn't experience any fogging (probably cuz i was lifting the mask for draining). Also, the snorkel itself was indeed dry, and normal dunking and splashing around did not cause any water to enter the tubing, nor did I have any breathing blockages. The airflow was good, and I thought this set was worth it, even just for the snorkel itself. I think it's hard to get a perfect fit for a mask, and you just have to try some out. I have a smaller sized face, so depending on your face size and shape, this may not leak on you like it did for me.","Product: The Gel Micro Mitt is compact, measuring only 8\" in length. Mitt still packs quite a wallop in efficiency. Utilizing cutting edge gel technology, it is constructed with an internal 1/4\" thick layer of gel which provides unparalleled shock absorption. It is made of leather with comfortable suede on the hand side. With a concaved striking surface providing the perfect sweet spot. The Gel Micro Mitt is small in size but big on performance.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Terrific Training Punch Pad Mitts\n\nReview: When I first received these Ringside Gel Micro Punch Pad Mitts, I thought they would be too small and was skeptical about the size. But after pulling them on, I found that they actually fit. In fact, the compact sizing allowed me to move and re-position the mitts faster than any other punch pads Ive used in the past. Although I would not say they are easy to slip on and off as stated in the listing, I was able to get a snug and comfortable fit after pulling my fingers all the way into them. It also was not difficult at all to pull on the other mitt after having the first one on. Once on, they feel like Im just wearing a thick pair of close-fitting gloves. Whats more is that unlike other training punch pads, these have a concave striking surface which feels more natural when Im holding my hands up. In terms of function, the mitts provide both the trainer and trainee with a great degree of protection thanks to a thick layer of gel that absorbs impact well.\n\nIve used other Ringside products for years and have never been disappointed in their quality. This pair of RIngside Gel Micro Punch Pad MItts are no exception. They are made of leather and appear both well stitched and solidly constructed. They are also currently being sold at a very competitive price, especially given their leather construction and nice quality. All in all, an excellent pair of training punch pad mitts sold at a decent price point.","Product: Camp Chef: The Way to Cook Outdoors Bake delectable pies to perfection with a true-seasoned Cast Iron Pie Pan. Cast iron creates even heat distribution giving you a golden brown crust every time. Decorative handles have been added for convenience. Features: - True Seasoned Finished cast iron - Decorative molded cast iron handles - Create golden brown crusts and light fluffy rolls with this perfect addition to your kitchen Specifications - 10\" diameter pan\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: good product, no complaints\n\nReview: This is a fine cast iron pie pan, with thinner, tapered edges (as seen from the product photo). Even so, it has a very nice heft, and was as pre-seasoned as any of my Lodge pre-seasoned products when i first received them. i was originally a bit hesitant to purchase this product based on some of the poor reviews of non-Lodge pans, but took the chance anyway, mainly because there were few options for a cast iron pie pan, and none had the unique edging this one has. I've now used it for frying bacon and eggs on the stove like a griddle, and i've just made cinnamon rolls this morning (see pictures i've attached to this review). I've yet to make a pie, but i highly recommend this product- it works as you would expect from cast iron, which is my metal of choice for baking.\n\nNote: oddly, my cinnamon roll pics are not showing up here and keep disappearing after a day... sorry if you are not seeing them either at this time. However, they rise up fluffy and light, don't stick to the pan even with syrupy sugar, and the pan stays warm for longer than they're around!","Product: The Viper Razorback is a 100% staple-free spider dartboard constructed from self-healing sisal bristle fibers compressed together, providing unsurpassed durability. Utilizing razor thin galvanized wires, the surface area is greatly increased which helps prevent bounce-outs. The Viper Razorback is an official tournament size board, measuring 18\" in diameter and 1.5\" D. A movable number ring further extends the dartboard's life. This dartboard accommodates both steel tip and soft tip darts and includes mounting hardware.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy, Attractive and Well-Built\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1GHRCSL7G6WDA\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/819O8P59VcS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A10XwC--AGS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> This Viper Razorback Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard is a very well-made, heavy and attractive board, that comes with mounting hardware. You can see from my video/ pics using both Viper's soft and steel tips <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Viper-Element-90-Tungsten-Soft-Tip-Darts-with-Storage-Travel-Case-Ridgeback-Grooved-18-Grams/dp/B004139RR4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Viper Element 90% Tungsten Soft Tip Darts with Storage/Travel Case, Ridgeback Grooved, 18 Grams</a> and the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Viper-Elite-Brass-Steel-Tip-Darts-25-Grams/dp/B0094AZKIY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Viper Elite Brass Steel Tip Darts, 25 Grams</a>, that both work just as well w this board, and that the thin wires of the spider don't interfere much w play (you can see that the third dart in the video hit a wire, but continued into the board). This board is one of the nicer dart boards I've used, with the superior compressed Bristle material that almost heals itself, and Viper did a good job with the bright visuals and lining up the slices straight, and ensuring the wires actually separate the colors. It's also a plus that you can move the number ring around- you can shift up some of the damage areas that occur over time, and because the numbers are metal and not painted on, the board is going to look newer longer. All around, this is a very solid, regulation sized board with good features.","Product: It's incredible durability will make our Powerhide Heavy Bag one of the most used pieces of equipment in your gym. The resilient Powerhide covering ensures an attractive, well shaped bag that will consistently come back for more. A Ringside exclusive 1\" closed cell foam liner is included in all of our filled bags to help eliminate hand injuries. Bag weighs 65 - 70lbs. and measures 14\" x 42\". A Heavy Bag Chain and Swivel are included. Additional shipping charges apply for this item. The exact amount is quoted at the checkout or by selecting to estimate your shipping charges in your shopping cart.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great Quality Ringside Heavy Bag\n\nReview: I first have to say is that I had forgotten what incredible exercise working the heavy bag was until I hung up this Ringside Powerhide Heavy Bag and started throwing a few punches. I did two 3-minute sets and I was breathing heavily and sweating through my shirt halfway through the second set! I run pretty regularly and go to the gym twice a week so I thought I was in fairly good shape. All I can say is wow, this is definitely part of my training program from now on.\n\nAs for the Powerhide Heavy Bag itself, Im happy to say that it is another terrific Ringside product. I used Ringside products starting in the mid-90s and I have always been impressed by their quality and price. This heavy bag is no exception. Upon opening the box, I was immediately impressed by its solid heft. I felt around the bag as I moved it around, and found it was completely uniform in firmness with no lumps or gaps on the body. The top of the bag has four rings that attach to the included heavy bag chains four hooks. The bag is well designed as there are four protective flaps right where the hooks might scrape against the bag, that keep the hooks from wearing away at the bag itself. There is also a metal D-ring at the bottom of the bag if you want to tether the bag to reduce swing or rotation.\n\nThe product information on the Amazon listing says that the bag has a 1 closed cell foam liner that helps eliminate hand injuries. Its nice that its there, but I really would not hit this bag without at least having on a set of hand wraps and preferably some bag gloves. The great job they did with the bags filling along with the tough powerhide covering would make this really rough on bare knuckles and unsupported wrists.\n\nNote that there are no included instructions regarding hanging this heavy bag, but there are numerous ones available online (I just did a search for how to hang a heavy bag). I plan to hang this in my garage one weekend when I have time to drill into a support beam and hang some hardware. But since I was excited to try out this bag the moment I got it, I hung it temporarily from my door frame pull-up bar and it worked out fine. I figured it should support the weight for the short time of a set, since the bag is only 65-70 lbs. I also put a large old duffel filled with our winter blankets underneath the heavy bag to reduce the swing and banging against the door frame.\n\nAll in all, this is another well-made Ringside product that provides great training and exercise options.","Product: Fully sealed and taped waterproof seams. Adjustable/zippered leg openings with storm flap for easy off and on. Adjustable elastic waist band with webbing belt & adjustable quick release buckle (on back of bib, not shown). Waterproof hip storage pocket.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Well Designed Performance Fleece Hat\n\nReview: Im impressed by this Huntworth Performance Fleece Camouflage Hat. The pattern is Huntworths realistic Oak Tree EVO camo which blends into woodland areas well. Its also just a very pleasant looking oak tree design. I like that the hat obviously has some thought put into it, from the durable water repellant (DWR) coating on the outer camo side that should keep you dry in the rain (or snow), to the hunter safety blaze orange on the reverse side if you want to increase your visibility.\n\nThis hat has a lot to offer. Theres a small product information label on the underside which you can easily cut off if you want to wear it orange side out. In terms of fit and comfort, the outer poly/spandex camo side is thick and elastic, yet smooth and soft, while the orange acrylic knit reverse side is plush feeling and comfortable when worn. This hat really keeps me warm outdoors, now that the cooler fall weather has arrived. Im sure it will see a lot more use in the coming winter months as well.","Product: Franklin Sports' Youth Baseball Socks are made from lightweight, durable fabric to keep your youth baseball or softball player cool and comfortable season after season. Made with extra cushioning and anti-bunch construction, these socks are designed for no-fuss comfort all day long. Plus they come in a variety of sizes and colors so you can get the perfect fit for ANY uniform!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect, Fitted Comfortable Socks, Fits Boys Size 3 Just Right\n\nReview: These Franklin Sports Youth Baseball Socks fit my son's Size 3-4 feet just right, and reach to a perfect place just below the knee as you would expect for baseball socks. I was supposedly getting the Navy color, but they accidentally shipped Black, so the color in the pics is not off. What's nice about the socks is that they seem to fit snuggly but without binding, all the way from the toe to the band at the knee, and the heel portion actually is fitted to the foot to make an almost tailored fit in the cleats- no random part of the socks are sticking out of the shoe, like some socks. My son says these fit great, and feel very soft and comfortable. These are well-made, well-stitched and I would definitely consider purchasing these as a primary baseball sock.","Product: The i3 scuba mask combines the advantages of the Tri-comfort technology with a huge field of vision. In addition to the wide central glass, smaller panels on each side guarantee peripheral vision that will blow you away. The ergonomic 2-button buckles allow for easy and secure adjustment of the strap even when diving with thick gloves.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Peripheral View, Good for Snorkeling\n\nReview: This Mares I3 Sunrise Scuba Mask is fairly comfortable, with a wide head grip in back and very soft and flexible plastic/ rubber areas. The fit seemed to be okay, and it was easy to adjust, but I had some light leaking around the nose area. As you can see from my pic, I took this snorkeling, not scuba diving, so the leaking didn't matter that much, since I could easily surface and drain. I would need to look for a more well-fitting mask for my particular face shape if I was going to use this for extended periods of time under water. On the other hand, the visibility was quite good, and the clear sides made for a peripheral view that provided extremely good visibility-- almost as if I were not wearing a mask. I didn't have any issues with fogging, either, and I would definitely recommend this mask for snorkeling.","Product: Speedo water accessories are unmatched in performance, fit and feel. The Bullet is super comfortable and features our new fitness goggle technologies of Elastomeric seals and Clearsight vision. This is the perfect fitness or recreational goggle for open water or pool swimming. No matter where or why you dive in - training, fitness, or fun - those moments in the water are always better with Speedo.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Updated Version of My Favorite Tried and Trues\n\nReview: Speedo has been my go to company for swim goggles since high school. I remember my Speedo goggles were the only pair that I could wear through a whole practice without having to constantly make adjustments to keep out water or defog. Over the years, Ive tried other companies including the larger ones that give a wide field of vision. Those are nice too, but they always seem to require adjusting much more than Speedo goggles. It must be the fit of the Speedos and the way their eyepieces contour snugly to my face.\n\nThese Speedo Bullet Swim Goggles are like an updated version of my tried and true Speedos Ive used throughout the years. These Bullets have all kinds of fancy design features (Elastomeric technology for eye comfort, smoke-tint Clearsight lenses for better visibility, soft liquid silicone straps and seals, etc). Whats more is that this latest iteration has easy adjustment tabs on the sides for quick tightening/loosening of the straps. The soft silicone seals around the eyepieces act like suction cups, but are surprisingly comfortable, even when Ive tightened the straps fully. In terms of looks, the sleek grey and white frames are offset nicely by the orange seals and black straps, giving the goggles a cool, modern look. These goggles have a winning combination of looks, function, fit, and comfort. Speedo has been making great swim goggles for decades and these are no exception.","Product: Franklin Sports 40MM Table Tennis Balls feature tournament quality performance, increased control and consistent bounce for precision play. 144 case pack of solid orange and white balls. Official size and weight.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for Table Tennis Families\n\nReview: These Franklin Sport Ping Pong Balls are everything I want from a set of ping pong balls: crisp bounce, uniform feel across the surface, and large quantity -- because despite their best efforts, the kids lose and damage table tennis balls constantly.\n\nThe balls came well packaged and sealed in double plastic and boxed ( I chose the smaller box in the pic to better show the volume next to the fiver). I counted 75 white balls and 69 orange balls for a total of 144 as advertised. Although the balls were packaged well, be advised that 2 out of the entire lot arrived dimpled and crushed (the ones shown outside of the box). Not a big deal since this is a high quantity lot of 144 balls.\n\nThe balls move well when hit across the paddles and on the table. As there are no outward imperfections or seams, the balls bounce and spin predictably and without any issues. These days, I prefer to use the orange ones because they are so much easier to follow during play.\n\nAll in all, a nice 2-color lot of reliable, good quality table tennis balls. For any family that gets good use out of their ping pong table, having a huge lot like this is definitely the way to go.","Product: TriMax Triple Insulation Keep Drinks COLD for 48 Hours and HOT for up to 16 Hours\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Combination of Superior Filter, Good Insulation and Good Looks\n\nReview: This EcoVessel 24 oz is a very good insulated drink carrier, just like it's big-sized brother, EcoVessel's THE BOSS <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/EcoVessel-THE-BOSS-TriMax-Insulated-Stainless-Steel-Beer-Growler-Bottle-With-Tea-And-Fruit-Infuser-64-Ounces-Hudson-Blue/dp/B00TZOT8S2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">EcoVessel THE BOSS TriMax Insulated Stainless Steel Beer Growler Bottle With Tea And Fruit Infuser - 64 Ounces - Hudson Blue</a>, which i'm particularly fond of, due to its excellent quality larger mesh strainer. This 24 oz also has the same type of superior strainer, with tiny holes punched in a solid sheet of metal, vs. a mesh that's more typical w cheaper plastic strainers incorporating a flexible metal fabric. This bottle is very attractive, and feels substantial. The insulation is quite good, and keeps my hot drinks at decently warm temperatures even after about 4 hours after I pour in piping hot, nearly boiling drinks. I can't feel the heat through the outer body at all, even w these hot drinks inside. Over time, I can feel a slight warmth on the lid, however. To be fair, I'm sure this insulates longer than 4 hours, but I open the bottle a lot. Luckily, I pretty much drink what i'm drinking w/i 4 hrs generally speaking, so it's not a noticeable issue for me w this 24 oz sized bottle.\n\nGetting back to this excellent filter, I also like to use this 24 oz for homemade kombucha (i don't brew in this, i just add kombucha i've already made into it before drinking). The strainer keeps the occasional blob of errant SCOBY out of my drink, without having to filter it separately, and that's very convenient. For my purposes, the very fine openings in this EcoVessel strainer keep smaller particles out of my drink, almost as well as a paper mesh filter. In addition to the one-piece metal hole punch design, this strainer cap has a thoughtful tuck-down handle, making it easy to remove from the bottle cleanly.\n\nThis a very attractive bottle that's well-built. I think the best and most unique parts of these EcoVessel insulated drink carriers are their excellent filters, and I highly recommend these great bottles if you are looking for the combo of superior filter, good insulation and good looks.","Product: G-Form knee pads feature innovative rate-dependent technology (RPT) for maximum impact protection and virtually no bulk. These versatile knee pads are great for mountain biking, BMX, skateboarding, snowboarding and soccer. Youll never again worry about compromising your movement and performing your best in fact, you wont even realize youre wearing them. Sold in pairs.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Low-Profile Knee Pads For Less Rugged Activities\n\nReview: What I really like about these G-Form Pro-X Knee Pads is how low profile and not bulky they are. Having some knee protection during my outdoor activities is really helpful, but I don't want to wear something that feels cumbersome or makes me look all geared out. These G-Form Knee Pads are perfect for my purposes. Under a pair of pants, you couldn't even tell I was wearing them. The actual pad portions are not hard and feel very flexible. The stretchable fabric portions are breathable and moisture wicking. The pads pull on and stay in place well. According to the product information, these pads are also machine washable which is a real plus.\n\nIn terms of fit and comfort, I usually wear a medium and found these pads a bit snug when I first pulled them on. They felt all right as I wore them and didn't cut off my circulation, but I would consider going a size larger.\n\nThese are a good pair of low-profile, protective knee pads. I would consider hard shell knee pads if I were playing certain sports or involved with heavy-duty activities where I was on my knees a lot or going at higher speeds than running. Overall though, for my modest outdoor activities, these are good protective pads.","Product: Enjoy the clean, natural taste of your beverage of choice in one of our glass water bottles. Not only does your beverage taste great, but our glass bottles are very easy to clean and are dishwasher safe. Our Surf glass water bottle is available with a loop top or with a flip straw top and inner straw and features a protective silicone sleeve with Drop Shield Base. The Surf is available in five different protective sleeve color options.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Clean Water, Avoiding Off-Tastes and Chemicals\n\nReview: This EcoVessel SURF SPORT drinking bottle is as attractive as it is practical. The glass body is made in curvy shape with a \"waist\" that allows for an easier grip, and the tight silicone sleeve with horizontal open slats helps to keep this firmly in your hand even when the bottle is wet. As a big plus, the substantial feeling sleeve also protects the glass from breakage and shattering. The silicone sleeve is said to be removable if necessary, but it's really tightly on the bottle, and i think it would be tough to take off. But because it is so tight, there's a low chance of having much moisture incursion between the outer glass and inner sleeve.\n\nThe flexible silicone inner drink tube is removable for cleaning, and the top mouthpiece, although solid plastic on the inside core, is also covered with a removable silicone mouthpiece that keeps your teeth from uncomfortably jarring against a hard surface while sipping. I love glass bottles that don't add any off-tastes into my water. I can usually taste plastics and even stainless steel in my water if it's left in a container for a few hours. Even though the top of this glass bottle is plastic, i don't usually keep my drinks sideways or upside down for any length of time, and i'm not concerned. This is a great bottle that looks very happy and bright, and it's a safer way to carry a glass bottle around.","Product: Drinks Stay Cold & FreshHands Stay Warm & Dry with the superior triple insulation of this fun to use bottle. It features a Flip Straw Top and no tilt drinking so easy and convenient to stay hydrated, whether kids are playing sports, video games or reading.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Build, Cute Design, But Leaks A Little Bit Over Time\n\nReview: This Eco Vessel FROST is a well-made bottle with cute unicorns running across the bottom. The build of the bottle feels nice, and it's got a vacuum core and an outer coating that feels like a thick coat of glossy wall paint on the outside, accounting for the triple part in the TriMax insulation, i believe. The bottle has a lightly indented \"waist\" that allows an adult to comfortably hold it w one hand, and that helps even small kids' hands get a better grip. The top is sturdy, and the flexible inner straw is removable for easy cleaning. The plastic bite guard does not seem to be removable like some bottles, but it does have a softer feel that should protect teeth somewhat. This has gone through my dishwasher a few times w no problem. The main reason i've deducted one star is that if you keep this filled and upside down for 10 minutes or so, you'll start to see it's leaking out the top where the bite guard rotates up and down at the ball bearing. Not a huge problem unless you keep this in your child's lunch pack vs. on the side pocket of their roller bag, for example, where it won't be sideways or upside down for any length of time.","Product: MOUNTAIN HOUSE CHICKEN FRIED RICEChicken Fried Rice has arrived! New from Mountain house, this meal is great on the trail, on the mountain, or even at home. Made with long grain rice, delicious chicken, scrambled eggs, chopped onions, savory mushrooms, green peas, red peppers, and diced carrots.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not Really Chicken Fried Rice, But Tasty\n\nReview: This Mountain House Chicken Fried Rice is a satisfying meal that resembles and tastes more like a thick chicken rice stew than a chicken fried rice. I made two batches of this in single serving amounts (1 cup dry mix plus 3/4 cup boiling water, stir, wait 8-9 min), and both batches came out creamy and well-constituted, where the rice and chicken chunks were tender. We use a lot of Mountain House freeze dried products for camping as well as for emergency storage, and as usual, the food tastes great. This meal is well-seasoned and hearty, and the chicken meat chunks are large and have nearly the texture of real chicken chunks. Actually, I even prefer the texture of reconstituted freeze-dried chicken chunks to canned chicken meat.\n\nI don't think you can or should compare these long-term storage products to actual fresh foods that you make from scratch, but should compare them to other similar, instant products. I've tried a lot of different brands, and I keep coming back to Mountain House for instant. They have done a really good job of making preserved, light and delicious meals that provide the calories you need. This Chicken Fried Rice is very good, but they should probably rename it chicken rice stew. No matter, however, as we had no problem eating this tonight for dinner, and I would definitely purchase this for future use in the emergency pantry.","Product: With contoured shape and thin rim to enhance the drinking experience and aroma, the Claret allows you to apres in style with a classy glass of red (or white) once it's time to kick back. An insulated design keeps liquid at the perfect temperature in the outdoors, and a padded base cuts down on slips and unnecessary clanking.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good for Poolside, Tough to Hold for Smaller Hands\n\nReview: This is a well made and sturdy, double walled stainless steel wine cup that can be used poolside or outdoors. it has a hard plastic feel to the outside (not rubberized or silicon), due to the sprayed plastic coating (matte-white, lightly textured) on the metal itself. This coating prevents scratching on the metal and the double walled construction insulates your wine in a futuristic looking stainless steel inner core.\n\nThe base is fairly broad, so those of you with smaller hands (like me), may have a bit of a reach to hold the cup around the middle (i ended up putting my pinky under the bottom), but it is comfortable for my husband to hold. Because the cup is so broad at the base, and because it has a nice rubberized black pad at the bottom (see pic), this puppy is fairly stable, and probably won't tip over or hydroplane across your table. i put this in the fridge w some room temp wine while writing this review. the wine actually got fairly cold, quickly. The outside of the cup is also staying fairly cold though (since it's sprayed metal) after drinking this for a bit now, so it does \"leak\" some coolness, but the inner wall is still staying cooler than the outer wall, so that's good.\n\nOther than this being a tad too large for me to hold, and that they wrote the name of the company prominently on the cup (it makes the cup look like a face cream jar, in my opinion), i think this cup is useful and functional, and would consider having a set for poolside.\n\nUpdate: this cup's insulative properties really shine with hot coffee! this is a multi-useful cup.","Product: Make guests feel right at home with Intex's Pillow Rest Raised Airbed. The new and improved Dura-Beam Series version of the classic pillow rest raised offers the ideal comfort and durability. Engineered with Fiber-Tech Construction, which is comprised of thousands of high-strength polyester fibers, this airbed provides enhanced comfort, stability, and support. Unlike traditional airbed construction, high-strength polyester fibers do not stretch over time, resulting in superior and long-lasting durability. The sleeping surface is covered in soft flocking for extra comfort, and indented sides help grip fitted sheets. The dual chamber construction provides increased ground stability and height to make this airbed a refined addition to any guest room. There's no need for extra pillows! The bed's built-in pillow is designed to provide support. In addition, the Raised Downy Airbed is remarkably easy to inflate thanks to the built-in, high-powered electric pump; quickly and easily inflate both chambers with the touch of a switch. Then adjust to any level of firmness for the ultimate in comfort. The airbed inflates in about 3 and 1/2 minutes and deflates completely for travel and storage. No more fussing with tiring hand or foot pumps. The convenient hand carry bag is perfect for storage and transport. The 16-1/2 inch raised height provides easy accessibility and a closer feel to traditional mattresses, making it the perfect choice for house guests, dorms and even camping trips.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Wow. Advances in Airbed Technology!\n\nReview: Despite my husband's strong objections, i requested to test out this airbed via Amazon's Vine program. We had purchased four (FOUR!) airbeds in sequence over the past ten years, and had had enough with the leaking and the sagging and curiously heavy weight of the airbeds (thick plastics) making them hard to fold and store- they were not even all that cheap- and we ended up tossing them all out, one at a time, as they each died slow and terrible patched-up deaths. more than once did our guests wake up to find they were on a lifeless \"air\"bed skin on hard floor or carpet, and said they didn't re-inflate because they didn't want to wake the house... when our final one sprung a significant leak a few years ago, that was it. zero tolerance policy- and we've not had an airbed since. So it was w extreme prejudice that i tried this Intex Dura-Beam bed out. Mainly, i still craved the benefit of having a portable and storable bed to put in any room in the house when we had a lot of extra guests, without them having to sleep on the floor (ironic) or a couch (we have a big family, and we even run out of couch space).\n\nSo, i am now tentatively reporting that airbed technology has made some major advances since our last foray into this market, and i'm tempted to buy another one of these, provided this one holds up a few more months (my expectations are extremely low). Firstly, the package holding this bed was surprisingly small and light when i received it, and i couldn't believe a queen airbed was in it, since our older ones were at least twice as large and heavy- really, they were just that much heavier. The plastic (or whatever fiber or composite material this is made of) on this bed is significantly more supple and thinner, yet sturdy enough to hold (they say) a max of 600 lbs/ 273 Kg. It easily held 400+ lbs of several of us testing this out. Secondly, the seams holding different portions of the bed together (heat melt) are also amazingly thin- maybe 3 mm along the top rim where the fuzzy top meets the more plasticy sides- so no sharp or hard pokey spots- they even thoughtfully turned those super thin seams downwards facing, so you can't really feel them anyway. Thirdly, you don't automatically slide straight towards the middle when you try to lie on this with your spouse. the internal vertical baffling/support they advertise (\"Dura-Beam\") seems to work very well. when you lie on the bed, you actually feel pressure upwards into your lumbar region, which is a surprising and welcome effect.\n\nAdditionally, the pump is very powerful, compact and well designed. With our airbeds in the past, you'd had to have a separate pump, various attachments and hoses and batteries and you let the air out by unscrewing a cap or releasing a valve and other such nonsense that just created failure points and new areas of potential leakage. This Intex Dura-Beam bed pump is static, built into the bed, and you don't open it up to let air out. it actually has a deflate function! and, it's easy to use. the pump has a rotating donut controller with a marked (although hard to see) triangle that points to inflate (turn to the right) or deflate (turn 180 degrees back to the left). you basically plug it in (the plug comes out of a little compartment in the pump next to the donut-see pic), turn the rotating donut to inflate or deflate, and press the on/off switch. crazy easy. the hole part of the donut is the air intake, as well as where the air is pushed out.\n\nI laid on this bed and inflated it from the floor w me on it. it took 2 minutes and 50 seconds to become extremely firm- i could tell the pitch (sound) of the pump began to rise slightly higher near the end, as it worked harder, but kept going. deflating it, i laid on the bed again, turned the donut dial to point the triangle to the left, and air started coming out of the donut hole, even without the pump functioning. after i turned on the pump, the air came out much faster, and the bed was pretty much vacuum sucked out of air in 3 min. (seems to take just a smidge longer to deflate). also, I do literally mean vacuum sucked--like one of those food savers. there was almost no air in there, and the plastic was stuck together. the sound of the pump is also equivalent to a typical vacuum cleaner level of noise when running either inflate or deflate.\n\npretty awesome so far. i would give this bed a 4 1/2 stars if i could. i am reserving the 1/2 star at this time, because it seems smaller than a queen bed. i put two standard sized pillows touching on the bed (see pic), and they reach all the way to both edges, unlike our mattress queens, where you still have some room on each side of the pillows. still, it's a great bed. it also comes with a carry sac w handle, that easily fits the bed back in after deflating and folding back according to the directions. i'll update if anything starts leaking. if there is no update, assume it is still working!","Product: Introducing the best of both worlds.A perfectly cushioned mat to protect joints, with a built-in microfiber top cover that actually provides increased grip as temperatures soar. Ideal for hot yoga, power yoga or any vigorous Vinyasa class, Gaiam's Ultra-Dri hot yoga mat absorbs moisture twice as fast as traditional towels and gives you slip-free stability so you can keep your cool during the sweatiest practice. Machine washable to maintain a hygienic foundation. Machine wash separately in cold water; dry flat. The mat may fade and become brittle and unusable if exposed to the sun for extended periods of time. We recommend storing your mat in a mat bag when not in use. 24 W x 68 L x 07 thick (1.8mm).\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Lightweight Specialized Mat for Heavyweight (Sweaty) Sessions\n\nReview: This is about half the price of the Gaiam Sol Dry-Grip Yoga Mat (5mm), which is and has been an absolutely great yoga mat for me and my go-to mat for years. This Ultra-Dri also had the benefit of being touted as super absorbent and washable, and i was excited about trying it out, as some of my Bikram and heated power classes still cause me to use my towel to prevent some slippage on the sweatiest days, although i'm not really a dripper in general.\n\nSome immediate observations about the mat when i got it- this mat is very thin- thinner feeling than even my friend's Jade Harmony, which i think feels too thin already (although she swears by it), and about 1/2 the thickness of my Sol. I prefer a more padded surface myself, and sometime even steal my husband's ultra thick Yoga Accessories Extra Wide and Extra Long 1/4'' Deluxe Yoga Mat when i'm doing more ground work- i guess this is more of a personal choice. As far as the appearance of the mat, the red color is more like a dull brick tone, and it seems to easily pick up lint, unfortunately. lol- who knew i might need a lint brush for a yoga mat! there is also a sewn edge around the entire mat, where the microfiber towel top is sewn to the grippy padded bottom. the towel part does not free float on the mat, however, as it bonded to the padded bottom. The edges of the mat are not cleanly straight, and it looks like the mat was run through a sew and serge machine by hand w/o guides, when it was manufactured (see last pic with wavy indent cut on edge, next to sweaty handprint). even so, it's pleasantly homey in a hand-made looking way, and the appearance does not detract from performance. The microfiber top is exactly like my microfiber towel, but not as plush (since it's bonded to the mat), and has superior absorbancy. this mat absolutely holds you in place and keeps you from slipping when you are sweating- it immediately soaks up moisture, as advertised, and is perfect for...wet yoga. however, and this was significant to me, when you are not heavily sweating, at the start of the session say, the towel surface was actually a bit slippery, and i found i could not get comfortable traction on even a relaxed downward facing dog.\n\ni'm giving this Ultra-Dri mat 4-stars, because it does exactly what it says, and provides a great (lightweight) choice for hot workouts. However, i deducted one star because it's not an all-in-one solution as a go-to mat. i'll keep using my Sol, which is worth the double price, and maybe take this one out for particularly tough sessions or travel.","Product: Now you can easily customize an emergency food supply with Mountain House just in case...emergency food supply multi-day kits. Are you looking for a 7-day supply? Consider combining the 2-day with the 5-day kits. Or select the variety of meals that are included with the 3-day and 4-day kits instead. Customize your emergency food supply foundation to fit your taste preferences and budget. This stackable 5-day boxed kit contains a variety of popular breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees for one person. Includes 15 total pouches: biscuits & Gravy (2) - hot, fluffy buttermilk biscuits with Creamy pork sausage Gravy make for a hearty family-favorite. Breakfast Skillet (1) - Hash browns and scrambled eggs mixed with pork sausage, peppers & onions. Eggs with ham & peppers (2) - scrambled eggs with savory ham, green peppers and red peppers. Chili Mac with beef (2) - spicy Chili sauce with beef, Macaroni Noodles, onion and beans. Chicken fried rice (2) - made with long grain rice, delicious chicken, scrambled eggs, chopped onions, savory mushrooms, green peas, red peppers and diced carrots. Macaroni & cheese (2) - Macaroni Noodles in a smooth, Creamy, and very cheesy sauce. Mexican rice & chicken (2) - perfectly seasoned rice and chicken in a savory sauce accented with pimentos. Pasta Primavera (2) - Zucchini, spiral Macaroni, cauliflower, broccoli, red & yellow peppers and green beans in a Creamy, parmesan cheese sauce.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Terminus or Thunderdome got u down? no problem. stock lots of this in advance\n\nReview: This Mountain House Just in Case 5 Day Emergency Food Supply came in a box about the size of powdered laundry detergent, but was very light- 4.6 lbs as listed on the package. The best-used-by date was prominently displayed on the back of the box, \"Dec 2027,\" and it opened up to show 15 separate foil pouches each containing 2, 2.5, or 3 servings per pouch, with 37 servings of food all together. One side of the box listed all the nutritional facts for each type of food pouch, and each pouch had the nutritional facts on it too, along with directions. The food pouches in the box were:\n\nBiscuits & Gravy (2 pouches of 2 servings each- 310 calories per serving) ;\nBreakfast Skillet (1 pouch/2 servings- 400 calories per serving);\nScrambled Eggs w Ham (2 pouches/2 servings each-190 calories per serving);\nChicken Fried Rice (2 pouches/ 2.5 servings each- 260 calories per serving);\nChili Mac (2 pouches/2.5 servings each- 230 calories per serving);\nMac & Cheese (2 pouches/3 servings each- 320 calories per serving);\nMex Rice & Chicken (2 pouches/3 servings each- 210 calories per serving);\nPasta Primavera (2 pouches/2.5 servings each- 210 calories per serving).\n\nI wanted to try a pouch of food, so i waited for lunch, and i was really hungry. i picked Biscuits and Gravy cuz i was curious how the biscuit part would be, and whether the light pouch would actually be filling enough for just me, much less me and a second \"servee.\" The directions said to 1) tear open the pack and discard the oxygen absorber. Of course, i couldn't follow even the first direction right, so i left in the absorber... then 2) add 1 3/4 cup boiling water; 3) stir and close zipper (like a zip-lock bag)- optionally, you could stir again at the 4-minute mark. 4) let stand 8-9 minutes, stir and eat.\n\nI guess i was not the only dull person to use these products, who could not follow simple directions, because there was an asterisk after step one, which takes you to a note near the bottom that says, \"*if you forgot to remove oxygen absorber before adding water, don't worry. Your food is still safe to eat. Simply remove and discard absorber.\" whew. I poured/ spooned about 1/2 of the biscuit/sausage/gravy mix in the bag onto a plate. granted, it was chopped up for better rehydration, so didn't look particularly pretty (but really, what kind of plating art could one expect w biscuits and gravy?), but it was quite yummy, and warm and filling. even the biscuits had some bigger chunks that had a few crispy-er, less hydrated parts to go with the softer bits, so that the mouthfeel was similar to what you might expect from a regular plate of biscuits and gravy at home.\n\ni could imagine that after a good hike in cold weather, or waking up from your camp, that this meal would be a very welcome treat. --or, if you were starving because you were in an actual emergency scenario, you'd probably never have tasted anything so good. I could definitely see having zero problems eating this in an emergency (or just for lunch like i just did). Surprisingly, i felt a bit full- it was only about 310 calories per serving, and i only had about one of the two servings in the pouch, so i didn't expect to feel even remotely satisfied, since i started out hungry. If you're a big dude (i'm a smallish gal), you could easily eat the whole pouch. On the other hand, this will keep you going, even at these minimal rations, so u don't feel like eating your shoes (or your neighbors) immediately. the sheer will to survive, i guess, will take you the rest of the way- at least for 5 days...after which,... Terminus (from AMC's Walking Dead) or Thunderdome- so you'd better buy a lot of this product in advance.\n\nI recommend you get good provisions such as these Mountain House Just in Case products for any emergency or camp (or \"After\") situation- these last for over 10 years, are light to carry, are easy to prepare, and taste really good. Mountain House is a well-known and respected brand, and you'll be extremely glad to have these meals if and when you need them.","Product: For hockey players seeking compression below the waist and groin area, with enhanced venting on inner thighs and a loose fit on the outer thighs. The Power Stride hockey short is the perfect combination for lightweight comfort and performance. AirCore hard cup offers impact protection and unrestricted mobility.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: true to size, lightweight and supportive\n\nReview: i got this for my husband, who is about 5\"11 185lbs. like another reviewer of similar proportions, he felt this size L fit very well- he's a size 35 normally, and said a 36 guy might find it to be a tad tight around the waist, but good for more compression and warmth, if you prefer. the cup is very easy to remove and insert, is very comfortable, and feels secure after adjustment (\"cups your boys\"). the fabric is lightweight and sheer, and feels smooth and well-fitting around the thighs, without being too tight. husband said he would not wear these outside without the hocky pants, however, because it's mainly mesh, and sheer enough to almost see through--but, you could wear dark colored underwear so you don't look like you went out in a thong! Under hocky pants, tho,these feel great, and the velcro tabs are very securely sewn on the outside to prevent skin irritation- no way your socks will fall.","Product: Low-profile co-polymer flex or rigid core cup with foam shell for light impact protection\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Well-fitting, good fabric, comfortable and convenient cup, good protection\n\nReview: This pair of compression shorts were for my husband, and the L size fit snugly but maybe a tad tight for his 5'11\"/ 185lb frame. He did like the smooth fabric, which is opaque enough not to be see-through, but light enough to breath. The soft cup was very convenient, and according to husband, a good way to wear a jockstrap, without having to fuss with the actual straps. He recommended that the cup be placed in the pouch section of the shorts before you put on the shorts- otherwise, the cup does not easily push all the way down to the tip (but, fairly easy to pull in and out of the shorts before you put them on). The one issue he has, is that once inserted, the cup tends to pull the waistband of the shorts downwards in the front, so that the waistband sags a bit above the cup, and is not at the same height as the rest of the elastic around your waist. This might be remedied by getting a larger size, but will reduce the compression effect. The cup itself is flexible around the edges (soft), and appears durable and sturdy enough in the areas that matter, and provides good protection for sports that do not have high impact issues like hockey. Overall, a good product.","Product: The Zycom Zinger complete scooter is a unique 3 wheel scooter designed to help younger children learn their balance with their unique balance steering system which only allows the wheels to turn depending the direction the rider distributes their weight. If your toddler is excited to cruise around on wheels but isnt fully comfortable with a 2 wheel scooter this amazing setup will ensure to prepare them for the next level allowing plenty of room for progression and keeping safety in mind with the innovative features. Fully foldable for easy storage and ease of travel.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great as a First Scooter, and Even Fun for Middle-Aged Scooter-Noobs Like Me\n\nReview: This is our first scooter, and although i personally dabbled in skateboarding as a child, i have not tried riding anything w a board ever since (and since before boards with sticks had been invented). So, coming from a reasonably coordinated, but middle-aged scooter-noob's perspective, this is great fun! it took me about fifteen minutes scooting around our street to get the hang of it, and if you've skated (ice or roller) before, it's a similar experience in terms of balance. Because it has three wheels, and the front wheels are very quiet, smooth and large (about 4/5 the height of a US dollar bill), it's stable enough to be easy to learn, and it rolls over small rocks reasonably well- our street is no problem, but i wouldn't go near any gravel.\n\nI know this is marketed for youth, and my two (10 and 12yo) kids took off with this immediately, despite having no experience on a scooter either. they had no trouble with this at all, and i had to wait a few days before they left it alone long enough for me to squeeze some time in. the only caveat i'd say is that it works best for youth under 5'5\" or so (my approximation)- the handlebar only telescopes so far. My husband who is about 6' can use it, but he has to bend a little- his fingertips hold the bar. i read one of the reviews discussing the very wide turn radius. this is true. we had no problem with this though, going down straightaways on neighborhood streets. The scooter turns very easily, just not too far in either direction- you just lean into it, but can't make any sharp turns. The upside to this, of course, is that you have better stability for newcomers.\n\nThis scooter is reasonably light to carry along (maybe about 5 lbs) yet sturdy and well-built, and the handlebar conveniently locks down to the length of the scooter when not in use. I highly recommend for youth who are on their first scooter, or anyone who wants to have a fun and more stable mode of transport.","Product: The Tortuga is a one-piece shorty constructed with 2.5 mm double-lined neoprene. Donning and doffing are made easy with the back-zipper closure with pull tab leash. The suit seams are sewn for strength and durability. This suit is perfect for tropical waters, swimming, sailing, and snorkeling, diving and water sports in general while offering UV protection to covered areas. This suit offers great range of movement and incorporates an adjustable hook and loop fastener collar for maximum comfort.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Comfortable. Size L/4 is about a US Women's size 6-8\n\nReview: This Cressi Tortuga Wetsuit is a solidly and well-made piece. I'm a US Women's size 4-6,and it was a bit larger on me than a wetsuit should be (the thighs and arm openings were not tight enough and the waist was a tad long, but it still fits well enough for casual use. The body type you see w the model in the Amazon ad- more strong/stout w longer torso, is the optimal fit for this wetsuit. The fabric feels thick enough to wear for non-tropical climes- say, Los Angeles water would work, and the edging and seams are all smooth and non-binding. Some comments mentioned that they thought the velcro neckstrap was not sewn on, but that's just a protective piece to cover the sharp bits in transit, so you don't get a ripped up and snagged wetsuit. You don't need the cover piece to use this, because the other part (right side) of the neck already has the furry part the sharp loop side clings onto. Overall, this is a comfortable and thick-feeling suit for general use. Wetsuits are one of those items though, that you may need to try on in person to get the fit right.","Product: The Mossy Oak collection of camouflage t-shirts is ideal for hunters, casual outdoorsmen, or anyone desiring functional concealment and authentic style. Combining effective patterns with branded heritage, you can get the true hunting look or feel, no matter the occasion.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great Shirt For Working Outdoors, But Wrist Cuffs Narrow\n\nReview: This Mossy Oak Adult Long Sleeve Break-Up Country Camo T-Shirt is comfortable and well made. The material (60% cotton, 40% polyester) feels sturdy, and the shirt is nicely stitched. This particular long sleeve camo tee is thicker feeling than Mossy Oak's similar looking 100% poly long sleeve tee, and is warmer, but only if it doesn't get wet, since the cotton content doesn't dry as quickly. The 100% poly is good inner wear for wicking, whereas I like to wear this mixed cotton/poly alone. I wore this shirt to work outside in the yard throughout a fairly chilly morning and it kept me pretty warm. I also really like the subdued color of the mossy oak woodland pattern, and the small, subtle Mossy Oak signature tree logo at the upper left of the shirt front. The large fits true to size. The only issue I have is with the elasticized wrist cuffs. They are cut a bit too narrow and tended to ride up my forearm while I was working. Other than that, I found this to be a durable, yet comfortable shirt to wear while working outdoors. (first pic of me in this print against my leaf patterned rug)","Product: The Mossy Oak collection of camouflage t-shirts is ideal for hunters, casual outdoorsmen, or anyone desiring functional concealment and authentic style. Combining effective patterns with branded heritage, you can get the true hunting look or feel, no matter the occasion.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Attractive and Functional Mossy Oak Shirt, But Sleeves A Bit Snug\n\nReview: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this Mossy Oak Long Sleeve Camo Tee Shirt. And although I enjoy firearms, Im not a hunter at this point in my life. Questions like, Would this make me look like a wannabe outdoorsman? and Would I be that camo shirt guy at the coffee shop? ran through my mind more than once. After putting it on, I found the shirt both appealing and functional.\n\nIn terms of appearance, the mossy oak image on the shirt is an attractive woodland pattern. The color and design makes it a nice accent piece when paired with monochromatic bottoms such as khaki cargo shorts, sand colored pants, or denim blue jeans. I wore this shirt over a pair of black running shorts during my workout and it went well together. I also run near a nature preserve so it looked completely appropriate. (see pic of my back - I'm lying on my leaf rug)\n\nIn terms of fit, the large seemed true to size to me except in one area. The sleeves seem a bit snug and clingy. My arms aren't particularly large either. Thankfully, the sleeves are long enough so they don't ride up too much. Comfort-wise, the shirt is soft, breathable, and just right for my early morning runs when there is still a chill in the air.\n\nThis shirt has really grown on me. While I still may be the only guy in line at the coffee shop wearing mossy oak camo, I can live with a few second looks given how comfortable and useful this shirt has been.","Product: Crush your next meet in the high-performing angles swimsuit, engineered from our exclusive, long-lasting endurance+ fabric. This chlorine-resistant style is designed with four-way stretch, a supportive wide back strap and high-cut legs for unrestricted movement.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Be Secure, Smooth and Seal-Like\n\nReview: This is definitely a pro-fitted suit, that seems true to size. It fits exceedingly well, particularly along the back cut-out area, which somehow hugs the curves of my lower back smoothly without feeling too tight or binding. The top is also secure, and there is definitely a difference between this suit and general fashion suits, which usually leave me feeling that I might have an outfit malfunction or accidental slippage if I move too energetically, if you know what I mean. This is very soft on the inside, with a full frontal lining, that is lightly textured (almost like a fine felt) in comparison to the smooth outer shell. There is no separate bra area, so there are no extra seams on the front causing unnecessary drag. The suit is modest, however, and covers everything adequately. The geometric pattern is also pleasing, and seems slimming. This is a really nice suit- esp. if you plan on using it primarily for exercise.","Product: The Viper Black Magic soft tip darts are designed with high quality, black coated brass barrels which offer exceptional balance and styling in a slim profile. Having a slim profile dart barrel is necessary to obtain a closer grouping of darts to maximizing scoring. Intended for use with electronic dartboards and are ideal for casual-to-intermediate level players. Each barrel has strategically placed knurled bands, deep grooves and rings that make excellent gripping points and encourages consistent hand placement. Viper Black Magic darts are equipped with heavy-duty, lightweight aluminum shafts with locking holes and diamond-cut etchings. Locking holes in the shaft allow for a tighter fitting to the barrel that improves stability and greatly reduces the need to retighten during play. Quality flights help increase speed and reduce drag, producing a consistent flight path for pinpoint accuracy; detailed graphics are prominently displayed for added flare. These darts feature 2BA Tufflex Tips II soft tip dart points that have a reinforced cone, making them extremely strong and durable. Simply twist for a tight, secure fitting and easy removal. The barrels are compatible with all 2BA sized corkscrew thread dart points.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Decent Soft Tips with Moderate Feeling Knurling\n\nReview: These Viper Black Magic Soft Tips are a good decent set of soft tips, that work well w my Viper Sisal/Bristle Board <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Viper-Razorback-Sisal-Bristle-Steel-Tip-Dartboard-with-Staple-Free-Spider/dp/B000UV57DE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Viper Razorback Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard with Staple-Free Spider</a>, and stick well. The balance of these Black Magics is fairly good, and the weight is meant to be light at 18g, but the combination of lightness and thick barrel necessitates a bit of a \"hollow\" type feeling, which I don't love particularly. Also, the knurling is \"coarse\" but this feels moderate to me in terms of grip- perhaps because the knurling pattern is more uniform down the barrel with no dividing ridges in between. Nonetheless, these are very well machined and the parts are also well designed, like all the Viper products I've tried thus far. If I would have placed more weight on the very competitive price point for these Black Magics, I would rate this a 5.","Product: Cut and styled to look great, Cressis long-sleeve rash guard is available in a full range of mens and womens sizes. Quality 190 g/m2 material delivers SPF 40protection from UV exposure out of the water or while floating on the surface. In the water, the high-stretch material is form fitting for easy swimming and protectsagainst chaffing from sports equipment as well as stings from jellyfish and other irritants.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Medium is about a US Women's Size 4\n\nReview: During a good week, i'm a size 4 (also, 34B-36B), and this fits me about as tightly as the model in the ad pic- about as tight as a one piece swimsuit typically feels, and the thickness of the fabric is similar, but a bit denser and smoother. For some reason, the description I'm writing this review under says \"Cressi Man Long Sleeve Rash Guard black/pink\" but i'm reviewing a \"Ladies\" top which is what is written on the actual top. This sun protection is \"UPF 40+\" also according to the writing on the top, and this is indeed very tightly woven and protective feeling. The stitching is well done, and there were no snags or off lines or bunching, and this looks attractive on. I'd highly recommend- just be sure to get the right size.","Product: Improved Refractory Metal Combustion Chamber Door, The StoveTec Big Foot 2 Door Rocket Stove. Our Big Foot 2 door metal lined rocket stove design burns wood, biomass, or charcoal fuel, and now features many new improvements. It is more durable, easier to operate, safer to use, and longer lasting. Stove includes the fuel shelf and upgraded adjustable. These stoves are designed to be used for cooking outdoors. Dimensions: Stove D-11 in H-12 1/2 in Features Insulative, abrasion-resistant fire chamber with refractory metal liner to increase durability Thick Cast iron stove top with 6 pot supports Stick support, thick tile floor Painted sheet metal body Heat Resistant Plastic and Steel Handles Model: Big Foot 2 Door Stove Shipping Weight: 27 lbs Retail Internet Price: $124.95 Free FedEx Home Delivery Shipping inside Continental US, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, & Puerto Rico. Hawaii & Alaska, & Puerto Rico customers pay an additional $50.00 USPS shipping. Call for all International shipping quotes: 541-942-6472 Pacific Time Zone, additional USPS charges are applicable and processed only through our StoveTec Warehouse. StoveTec 76132 Blue Mountain School Road, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 Pacific Time Zone\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect! Good Consistent Heat, Low Fuel Use, Minimal Smoke\n\nReview: I got this in just three days, much quicker than the 5-10 days listed. I live in a townhouse complex, and don't have a ton of space- very small personal courtyard, no yard space. I was excited to try this StoveTec, and I had been eyeing this and similar wood burning stoves for years. After getting a small Solo stove years ago (for portability, mainly), I was really wanting something to use at home, that was a more \"serious\" cook stove where I could make actual meals for my family if I wanted or needed to, and as a backup in case my propane and charcoal ran out. At the time I purchased the Solo stove, the smallest size was the only one available (they came out with the bigger sizes afterwards), and while fine for backpacking or your BOB, it was really not a solution to the stove at home issue. I decided not to mess around with the larger Solo stove either, because I wasn't planning to carry my home stove around, and without that need, I decided to get a more sturdy and durable stove like this excellent StoveTec Big Foot Two-Door instead, which had numerous advantages to the Solo stove design, including its solid durability.\n\nI absolutely love how this StoveTec side feeding design allows the use of larger, long pieces of wood (being the typical shape branches come in), making it very easy to feed a consistent amount into the main opening, without having to break the branches up or chop wood into small chunks against the grain. I also found it very easy to start, following the youtube directions by the guy on the AfterBURNER Stove vids, where he adds four 1\" x 3/4\" or so sticks into the main opening (both doors open) and a very loose gathering of long shreds of paper mixed with small twigs placed vertically throughout the paper into the top (titled StoveTec Basics: Lighting your StoveTec Rocket Stove). This setup lit easily, and in less than a few minutes, I had a good fire burning. My kids and I walked outside for about 5 minutes and gathered one plastic shopping bag full of dead pine branches and twigs on the ground just outside our house, and only used about 1/3 of that bag for an hour of consistent heat, at a level that would be similar to a large high gas burner on your stove. It was easy to maintain that same level of heat, just by ensuring the same number/ volume of sticks were in the burn chamber at any given time- basically the 4-5 sticks I used to light the stove in the first place.\n\nLike another recent reviewer said, I also think my stove must have a lighter fill material in it (I didn't take off the top), because it is definitely lighter than a solid ceramic core would weigh, and that many reviewers had complained about. I find the stove easy to lift (I am a small gal, & not a weightlifter), but the insulating properties are definitely there, and I can comfortably touch the sides of the stove even after an hour of burn, without hurting myself. The bottom is not all that hot either- I have the stove on tile, but don't feel too much in the way of heat transfer to the ground when I move the stove. It actually is light enough to carry easily in your car to the park or to the beach, and I absolutely am planning more trips just cuz of the stove- heh. Also, because of my townhouse/ courtyard situation, I am very conscious of smoke, and this puppy has very little- WAY less than my charcoal grill, that's for sure. It's so easy to use and start (and stop- just shut the doors) that I let my 10 and 12 yo set it up and light it- with supervision of course. They happily cooked marshmallows tonight, and it was a wonderful thing to have this mini campfire right at home. Love this thing.","Product: The Viper Element soft tip darts are designed with high quality, 90% tungsten and 10% nickel barrels, offering exceptional balance and styling. Using a dense metal like tungsten creates a slim profile dart barrel compared to a dart without tungsten. The higher the percentage of tungsten used, the smaller the profile, allowing for a closer grouping of darts to maximize scoring. Intended for use with electronic dartboards and are ideal for intermediate-to-advanced level players. Each barrel has strategically placed knurled bands, deep grooves and rings that make excellent gripping points and encourages consistent hand placement. Viper Element darts are equipped with heavy-duty, lightweight aluminum shafts with locking holes and diamond-cut etchings. Locking holes in the shaft allow for a tighter fitting to the barrel that improves stability and greatly reduces the need to retighten during play. Quality flights are constructed to help increase speed and reduce drag, delivering a consistent flight path for pinpoint accuracy; detailed graphics are prominently displayed for added flare. They feature 2BA Tufflex Tips II soft tip dart points that have a reinforced cone, making them extremely strong and durable. Simply twist for a tight, secure fitting and easy removal. The barrels are compatible with all 2BA sized corkscrew thread dart points. These darts include an additional set of nylon shafts, flights, flight protectors, 2BA dart points and a dart mechanic wrench. The Viper Element darts and accessories are fashionably stored and protected in the Deluxe Dart Pal case, which features a soft cloth lining and a hard outer shell.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Good Set w Hard Case and Lots of Extras; Nice Feeling Throw\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R2YKTSDSXGWQWC\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81CP%2BDKZD6S.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A10XwC--AGS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> These Viper Element 90% Tungsten Soft Tip Darts are a really good all-in-one set. I have used the darts with Viper's Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Viper-Razorback-Sisal-Bristle-Steel-Tip-Dartboard-with-Staple-Free-Spider/dp/B000UV57DE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Viper Razorback Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard with Staple-Free Spider</a>, and they work well together even with the Soft/ Steel product difference. I like that the Flights look very unique w this set, being nearly rectangular, and that they are fairly lightweight, yet still feel very accurate and grippy. The varied knurls (Turbo Ridgeback here) feel great and the carved out diamonds on the shafts are really eye-catching. The hard backed case this comes with also includes a more than full extra set (3 shafts, 6 points, 3 flights) of additional parts as well as a locking hole tool for ensuring your darts stay tight, which is fantastic, and the hard, sliding lock case also ensures everything stays together and well protected. I'd highly recommend this Tungsten soft tips set.","Product: The Viper V-Factor soft tip darts are designed with high quality, 90% tungsten and 10% nickel barrels, offering exceptional balance and styling. Using a dense metal like tungsten creates a slim profile dart barrel compared to a dart without tungsten. The higher the percentage of tungsten used, the smaller the profile, allowing for a closer grouping of darts to maximize scoring. Intended for use with electronic dartboards and are ideal for intermediate-to-advanced level players. Each barrel has strategically placed knurled bands, deep grooves and rings that make excellent gripping points and encourages consistent hand placement. Viper V-Factor darts are equipped with heavy-duty, lightweight aluminum shafts with locking holes. Locking holes in the shaft allow for a tighter fitting to the barrel that improves stability and greatly reduces the need to retighten during play. Quality flights are constructed to help increase speed and reduce drag, delivering a consistent flight path for pinpoint accuracy; detailed graphics are prominently displayed for added flare. They feature 2BA Tufflex Tips II soft tip dart points that have a reinforced cone, making them extremely strong and durable. Simply twist for a tight, secure fitting and easy removal. The barrels are compatible with all 2BA sized corkscrew thread dart points. These darts include an additional set of convex nylon shafts, flights, flight protectors, 2BA dart points and a dart mechanic wrench. The Viper V-Factor darts and accessories are fashionably stored and protected in the Deluxe Dart Pal case, which features a soft cloth lining and a hard outer shell.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Precise Feel and Weighted Balance- Very High Quality Darts\n\nReview: Wow. Impressive front end balance and weighting is my first impression handling and throwing these precise Viper V-Factor 90% Tungsten Soft Tips. The knurling on these \"Double Band\" designed barrels is so defined, that they practically feel sharp (in a good way!) I'm thinking sometimes you get what you pay for. The fine make of these darts screams high quality, and you can really feel the difference handling them. The hard backed case this comes with also includes a more than full extra set (3 shafts, 6 points, 3 flights) of additional parts as well as a locking hole tool for ensuring your darts stay tight, which is fantastic, and the hard, sliding lock case also ensures everything stays together and well protected. I'd highly recommend these Viper Tungsten 90%s.","Product: Lightweight and comfortable long-sleeved tee with mesh panels for enhanced ventilation, reflective details and headphone cord solution.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This Should Be The Standard For All Moisture Wicking Running Shirts\n\nReview: I discovered moisture wicking shirts a few years ago. They made such a positive difference in my runs that Ive never gone back to cotton. Since then, Ive owned easily over 2 dozen of them. With each passing year, I notice that new and innovative features get added that make the shirts better and better. To me, this Craft Long Sleeve Mind Tee feels like the current standard in moisture wicking running shirts.\n\nIn terms of performance, Ive worn this shirt on my runs over the last week and it has done the job completely. Im partial to the long sleeve shirts as I run early in the day and live in an area where there is always a chill in the morning. Once I get close to the mile mark, however, I start to really work up a sweat. If a shirt doesnt breathe or wick away the sweat well, I can really feel it. This Craft Mind Tee handled the perspiration and moisture/heat exchange very well. This quick dry shirt was also dry by the time I finished my cool down and walked into my house. One of the innovative features that really helped keep me cool are the ventilation panels under the arms. They are so subtle that I didn't even notice them until I took a close look under bright light and saw that the fabric looked and felt different, like a thin, close knit mesh.\n\nThe shirt is also lightweight with fabric that feels soft and smooth. Additionally, the right shoulder and sleeve has a modern looking reflective stripe and small reflective hexagonal shapes, which are helpful as its been dark when Ive headed out on my run each morning. There are also some reflective symbols at the lower back and a reflective Craft signature logo at the left wrist. I should also note that there is a small loop at the back of the neck area that is supposed to help keep your headphone wires in place (I haven't tried it yet as I don't run with music most days).\n\nSize wise, my large shirt fits perfectly. I am especially appreciative that the sleeves are long enough and don't ride up like some other long sleeve wicking shirts Ive owned. The shirt is contoured close to the body, but is not fitted or constraining at all. In terms of appearance, I got the shirt in Sweden Blue, which is like the royal blue in the flag of Sweden. Paired with the silver grey reflective designs, the shirt gives off a cool, contemporary look. All in all, Im very impressed by both the design and performance of this Craft Mind Tee.","Product: Quartz movement\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Comfortable Watch with Rugged Outdoor Look\n\nReview: The first thing you notice about this watch is the size. According to the product information, the case measures 51mm across, so this is a fairly large watch. That said, its also lightweight and surprisingly comfortable. I think the comfort has a lot to do with the smooth neoprene watch strap that goes on easily with a hook and loop velcro closure. I was initially a bit torn on the strap. While I liked the smooth, lightweight feel, I kept getting the velcro portion caught on things during the first couple of hours that I wore the watch. I made some adjustments to how tightly I wrapped the band around my wrist, making sure I didn't extend the velcro hook portion of the band beyond the corresponding fabric side, and I haven't had any problems since.\n\nThe watch has multiple features (stopwatch, pacer, countdown tImer, dual tIme zone, five 24 hour alarms, electro luminescent light) and a digital time telling mode that also displays the day and date. One cool feature I noticed as I was setting the watch date and year was that the watch will set through the year 2099 and still automatically give you the corresponding day of the week. The watch is water resistant to 330 feet. I didn't test it at that depth, but I wore it all weekend at a water park where I got soaked and it didn't have any issues. I also timed it over the course of four days against my radio controlled clock and it has run accurately down to the second.\n\nIn terms of styling, the watch looks like a rugged, outdoor-type timepiece. The color scheme combination of olive green, black, and orange offset each other nicely. The watch also features a 60-click, unidirectional, rotating compass bezel. While I like rotating bezels, I was confused by this one. Typically, a compass bezel is used in conjunction with an analog (hour/minute hand) watch in order to orient directions (Generally, in the northern hemisphere, you point the hour hand of an analog watch at the sun, rotate your compass bezel on the watch until the South indicator is midway between the hour hand and 12 oclock, and that will be South. Then you can use the other marks to locate North, East, and West). Again, this is how its supposed to work with an analog watch. I don't know if it actually does anything with a digital watch like this, so it may just be a cool looking decorative feature.\n\nAll in all, this is a good looking, comfortable, and reliable watch for a great price.","Product: Keep out the wind while staying dry and comfortable in this Women's lightweight running jacket. Built with sweat-wicking fabric, it features a full-zip front and Stand-Up collar for adjustable coverage. A zip pocket holds your essentials while you face the elements and the road ahead.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lightweight and Attractive, But Slim Fit\n\nReview: This adidas Women's Running Response Wind Jacket is extremely light, cool and comfortable, and is made of 100% polyester. The fabric feels like umbrella material, and when balled up in the fist, will be about the size of a softball. There is one zippered pocket on the outer right side, and one open mesh pocket on the inner right panel. The last five or so inches of the sleeves towards the wrists are a separate woven type fabric that allows in more air than the rest of the jacket. There are contrasting black stripes near the end of the sleeves (before the mesh weave part), and a contrasting black adidas logo on the front\n\nMy daughter is wearing this in Women's Large in my photos, but she is 14 and under 100lbs. You can see that this jacket is loose on her, however, and the sleeves are actually significantly long for her (can roll up twice). Based on how this jacket fits her, and based on how it fits me (I'm a US Women's 4-6/ 34B-36B /Medium) I'd say that this would be best for someone my size. However, if you wear size Large typically, and you want a very slim fitted jacket, this may work well.","Product: MOUNTAIN HOUSE BISCUITS AND GRAVYNow you can have this classic comfort food anywhere your adventure takes you. Made with real buttermilk biscuit pieces and pork patty crumbles in a perfectly peppered gravy. This is the only biscuits and gravy on the market with our signature just-add-water ease and convenience. This is the perfect way to fuel up at the start of a day full of adventure.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Family-Sized Servings of Mountain House's Excellent Biscuits & Gravy Dish\n\nReview: I am a big fan of Mountain House emergency, camp or long term storage food products, and especially because their \"instant\" nature definitely has a place in food backup plans. There are numerous levels of food preparation that come packaged in #10 cans, the most labor intensive being 1) plain raw food such as wheat berries or dried beans, which take some cooking know-how and quite a bit of time and heat energy to prepare (think hours on simmer); 2) partial prep, such as single ingredient or dishes that are heat dried, and that you need to cook, but not quite as long- think pastas or rice dishes; and finally, the easiest to prepare, 3) instant meals such as Mountain House provides, which are freeze dried, and all you need is boiling water and 10 min. or so. --- ok, i left out the true easiest, which is 4) canned soups and such that you just open, heat up or eat cold.\n\nThe big benefit of the Mountain House Instant food level of prep is that for the speed and ease of getting food in your face, the unprepared food lasts a very long time- 10-15 years in most cases, unopened, and far longer than the canned soups category of food, which may last only a few years tops. This particular Mountain House choice, Biscuits and Gravy in a #10 sized can- big can- 1.58 pounds, has Freeze dried Buttermilk Biscuits w Gravy and Pork Patty Crumbles, and contains 11 -one cup servings of food at 310 calories per serving. I have eaten this (and other) Mountain House foods over the years, and I am very fond of the Biscuits and Gravy. Firstly, I like biscuits and gravy in real life- i'm thinking that if you don't like the actual home made food, you very likely won't like the instant kind. Secondly, Mountain House has made this Biscuits and Gravy with a very good texture, so that if you follow directions- add 8-1/4 cups boiling water to the contents in the can, cover and wait 5 min, stir, wait another 4-5 minutes- you get a hearty dish with pieces of crunchier bits of biscuit (bigger pieces that don't rehydrate as quickly), and chewy little bits of sausage, that has a mouthfeel very similar to the \"real\" (homecooked) dish. It's quite delicious.\n\nIf you have a family of 4 or 5, one of these #10 cans of Biscuits and Gravy will allow you to eat one meal and feel fuller- There are 11 servings, but at 310 calories, it's a light serving. If you wanted, you could split the dried food in 1/2, add 1/2 the water, and save the remainder. Once you prepare the food, you pretty much have to eat it immediately, since you probably won't have refrigeration if you're eating this (unless ur in the snow).\n\nI wrote a review of this particular Biscuits and Gravy dish, with pictures of the food prep, in the 5-day Mountain House Just in Case kit, and you can see my pics and review there (first review, under my name, KC) <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Mountain-House-Just-In-Case-5-Day-Emergency-Food-Supply/dp/B016C2U3NI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Mountain House Just In Case 5-Day Emergency Food Supply</a>. As I wrote there, I'll repeat my summary here:\n\nI recommend you get good provisions such as these Mountain House [ ] products for any emergency or camp (or \"After\") situation- these last for over 10 years, are light to carry, are easy to prepare, and taste really good. Mountain House is a well-known and respected brand, and you'll be extremely glad to have these meals if and when you need them.","Product: Now available in our favored 10 Can, you can have real Italian-Style Pepper Steak with rice on the trail, or wherever your adventure takes you. Made with tender cuts of pepper steak, red, green and yellow bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes with long grain rice.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Full of Pepper Steak- Very Hearty\n\nReview: This Mountain House Italian Style Pepper Steak makes a substantial meal, with a lot of large steak chunks in it- they didn't skimp on the meat. The tomato base is tangy and bright tasting in a nice contrast to the peppery flavor of the meat. We use a lot of Mountain House freeze-dried food products for camping as well as for emergency food storage, and I've been very impressed by the variety and high quality of their meals. This Italian style pepper steak is no exception, and provides a filling and delicious way to get the calories you need.\n\nI made two separate single-serving sized portions of this dish using their recommended ratio: 1 1/2 cups dry mix with 1 cup boiling water, mix, wait 8-9 minutes. This provided a creamy and thick saucy rice and steak dish, where the texture of the rice and the steak chunks was tender, and the mouth-feel of the steak surprisingly chewy and \"realistic.\" I've eaten several types of Mountain House and other freeze-dried, add-water type meals over the years, and I would say that on the whole, Mountain House is a clear winner in my book for the instant category. The flavors and seasonings of the Mountain House meals are well-thought out, and the portions substantial, and the flavors delicious. These instant meals are a fantastic way to have something hearty and satisfying right away, right when you need it. This pepper steak is a good variety to stock for your emergency pantry, esp. in this #10 can size.","Product: Minimize Glare View your screen comfortably, even in bright conditions. The overlay's anti-glare finish reduces harsh reflections. Defend Your Device Avoid damage without affecting your touchscreen's functionality. Strong yet thin and lightweight, the overlay provides excellent protection that will help keep your device looking like new.Tru Clear See your screen, not the overlay. Tru Clear technology ensures optimal screen visibility. Fast Install Applying the overlay is fast and easy. Simply clean your phone screen with the included cleaning wipe, peel the overlay from its backing and place it onto your screen. Then use the included smoothing card to push away creases and bubbles.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: feels good to the touch, no glare\n\nReview: I obtained this Belkin touchscreen for the Samsung Galaxy at the same time I tried out the Belkin iphone protector sheet. Unlike the iphone sheet, i found that this product was actually easier to apply (strange- it's bigger, but I had less trial and error to avoid air bubbles). Since the iphone protector was not that difficult anyway, this was really a breeze. One might wonder why you'd need a screen protector in general, other than the obvious use of preventing scratched glass (which i'd never really had a problem with anyway). I actually prefer overlays due to the way the light reflects more softly from the surface, and the way my finger glides more easily over the surface of the screen. I highly recommend the belkin line of screen protector products, because they are easy to use and apply, cause no loss of touch sensitivity, and because of the non-glare aspect of the resulting surface. I think these products are definitely mandatory, and should probably be included with the product to begin with!","Product: Extends iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 battery life almost a full charge\n\n\nPre-charged and ready to use\n\n\n\n1700mAh lithium-polymer battery provides reusable and rechargeable power\n\n\n\nMicro USB Cable included for syncing device and recharging case\n\n\n\nLED Battery Life and Charging Indicator\n\n\n\nOn/off button allows user to control charging\n\n\n\nFlexible case fits securely around your phone and has an optimized opening for camera flash\n\n\nRecharges in 2 hours at 5 watts\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Good Way to Have Battery Backup\n\nReview: This item is an iPhone 4/4S compatible charger and battery that's in the shape of a thicker, substantial case. Of course, being an actual charger/battery contributes to the 3 oz. weight of the case (my iPhone 4S weighs 4 3/4 oz. as reference). The case comes with a micro usb cord, but you'll need to use your own plug adapter for the wall socket (like the one your iPhone came with)\n\nThe Appearance and Design\n\nThe case is made of a high quality, \"grippy\" feeling material that does not hold fingerprints and is matte. The Energizer label is stamped in the front/bottom of case in a slightly shinier font, which can be seen mainly in certain angles in the light. There is a 30 pin male connector at the inside bottom of the case, into which the iPhone docks when the cover is fully in place around the phone. A micro usb port is on the outer side, bottom right of the case, and the regular iPhone charging pin port is inaccessible. Effectively, the charging case converts your iPhone from needing the proprietary Apple connector to the more prevalent (well, at least i have more of these laying around) micro usb. This would not be a great feature, however, if you have a lot of accessories using the Apple proprietary plug. On the outer side, bottom left of the case is the case's own on-off switch, which allows you to determine if and when you will access the case's backup battery power. The other 3 \"cut-outs\" in the case include the area where you plug in an earpiece, the camera lens, and the ringtone mute switch. The volume controls and power buttons are covered, but engraved on the case (work well pressing through the case). The back of the case is tapered in an angle to better fit your hand, and it feels good to hold the case. The front \"lip\" covering the rim around the front of your iPhone is not as high or pronounced as on other plain cases i've used, so i can see that if you dropped your iPhone on its front, there could be more potential to get a scratch or crack. Still, i'm glad it's not too pronounced, since the case is fairly bulky already, due to it's other functions. On the outer side bottom of the case, there are up to 4 subtle, internal, and blue-colored circular lights that show the charge of the case itself, but only appear when you plug the case in.\n\nThe Functionality\n\nThe instructions say that the case is pre-charged and ready to use out of the box, however, you'll probably need to charge it first, as I found when i tried to charge my phone with the case upon receiving the unit. I placed my iPhone in the case, slid the case's on/off switch to the on-position, and the iPhone started charging from the 51% level that I had left. I saw that the bottom of the case showed one blue light, blinking, indicating a low battery level for the case. At 8 minutes, I saw the phone wake-up and stop charging, no blue light on the bottom of the case, and the phone had charged to 64%- pretty quick, i'd say. I plugged the case (with my iPhone in it), to the included micro usb and a wall plug, and the phone resumed charging and the case had 1 blue light blinking again. The instructions indicate that when plugged in this way, the iPhone will charge first, and then the case will charge- in sequence, not at the same time. The following lists my first charging attempt- sorry if the times are a bit random- i checked sporadically.\n\n0 minutes- 51% phone charging from new, out-of-box case w/o plug-in\n8 minutes later, phone at 64%, no charge left on case (no blue light)\n\nplug in case with phone to wall socket\n\n30 minutes - phone 84%, one blue light blinking on case\n45 minutes- phone 93%, one blue light blinking on case\n2 hours- phone 100%, one solid blue light, second blue light blinking on case\n3 hrs 10 min- phone 100$, 2 solid blue lights, third blue light blinking on case\novernight, and about 8 hrs later, phone at 100%, 4 solid blue lights.\n\nAt this point, i turned off the case's on-off switch, to ensure i could have the full case/battery back-up power available (only about 85% of the iPhone's full charge is available in the case/battery according to the packaging info). It's still holding 4 solid blue lights after 12 hours.\n\nThe case charged my phone really well, fairly quickly, and i'm happy to have the extra power available without carrying other charging devices. The extra weight of the case is outweighed (ugg) by the benefits, and it's a nice looking case cover to boot.\n\ntip: i also tried to remove the phone from the case as another reviewer had tried, and was able to extract the phone (not too hard to do once you get the hang of it) from the case by lifting the top lip on the front of the case, and pressing with a pencil eraser on the camera lens (there's a cut out) to push the phone forward. From there, i pulled it off the docking. It's probably not great to press on the camera lens part, but it's a working way to remove the phone- just fyi.","Product: The GoPower Day Trip is our most compact pocket size portable battery for smartphones the perfect daily companion. Up to 1 extra charge packed into a size that fits in your pocket. Comes with integrated Apple Lightning Cable and micro USB connectors, so you can plug in and start charging. For ultimate convenience recharge it wirelessly. Duracell Powermat products are compatible with the PMA (Power Matters Alliance) standard. PMA is the standard for smart and environmental wireless power backed by AT&T, Starbucks, P&G, Powermat and dozens of global leaders, and deployed at leading venues including in select Delta Air Terminals and Delta Sky Clubs, Westfield Malls, at Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center and in Jay Z's 40/40 Club. Duracell Powermat. TakeCharge. Be Empowered.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: an extra thing to carry\n\nReview: I am often running out of power on my iphone at various times, either from overuse or just forgetfulness. So, extra battery packs seemed just the thing. I got this plus the Overnighter (Duracell Powermat GoPower Overnighter Backup Battery, Power Bank for iPhone 5S/5C/5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Other Smartphones and Tablets), just for backup - as advertised. I had previously been using the \"Energizer PP-IP4SB iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 Charging Case,\" which, unlike these Duracell Powermat devices, doubles as a phone case. The only thing I didn't like about the Energizer, was that it added a bulk and weight to my phone which i didn't particularly care for, so i thought i'd try out these other backups. Well, after a few weeks of carrying this Daytrip around in my purse, and using the Overnighter on travel, I decided to go back to my Energizer despite the added weight and heft. For me, it turned out that the convenience of having the battery already stuck to my phone outweighed the inconvenience of carrying the additional weight. Also, the Energizer gives me about a 90% charge up. I'll discuss the Daytrip here, and my review for the Overnighter under that webpage separately:\nThe Daytrip charges my iphone 4S to about the 65-70% within an hour or so (pretty quick), but never goes above that amount no matter how long i plug it in for- it stays on 1 blue bar for nearly 10 hours or more, but does not add but a few percentage points or so more to my phone power after that initial hour. Additionally, it is a tad bulky (like a makeup compact) in my purse- i sometimes try to avoid carrying a purse, and the added \"thing\" to carry in my pockets gets a bit much to juggle. If you don't like to carry your whole house in your purse, or don't carry a purse or murse (man-purse), you may find this an issue as well....but that's individual. On the other hand, the Daytrip conveniently has the charging cords built into it, so that you don't have to also carry around a separate usb cord. An additional plus is that after a few weeks of not using it, it still held the 4 bar charge, and charged my phone back to that 65-70% level just fine.\nGood:\n-quick charging in an hour\n-separate usb cord unnecessary\n-holds full backup charge for weeks very well\n\nNot great for me:\n-another thing to carry and possibly lose or misplace\n-only 65-70% charge capacity for my iphone 4S from empty\n-relatively bulky in my purse or pocket","Product: Color:DATE NIGHT (BLACK/WHITE POLKA DOT GRAPHIC) | Product Packaging:Retail Packaging When it comes to your iPhone 8 Plus & iPhone 7 Plus, its not just about protection. Its also about you your style, your personality, your life. With Symmetry Series, you dont have to choose between a protective case and a stylish one. You can make a fashion statement while you protect your phone.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful, Substantial Case- Esp. Good for Bigger Phones like the iPhone 7 Plus\n\nReview: This Symmetry Series by OtterBox is a good solid case with a tough plastic outer backside (clicks when you hit it w your fingernails), rimmed with a slightly softer and more pliable rubber-ish feeling edging and button covers. It takes a bit of pressure to press through the button covers, but not more than most cases in this design. I particularly like the durable feel of this case, even though it feels rounded and almost bulky in your hand, which I was not used to, having used a very thin and extremely flexible Belkin previously.\n\nThis Symmetry only provides a very modest flex when you try to torque it lengthwise, so you're getting a pretty solid case, which I find to to be more useful for these bigger phones. The front edging holding your phone in, is fairly thin, but there's no risk of your phone falling out, and it keeps the glass face off surfaces as you'd expect. I like the color schemes this case comes in, and it makes for good all around protection that looks great. I have read some reviews noting that the rubbery edging gets dirty quickly. I have not really found this to be the case w the darker orange edging at least (we also have a different Symmetry case w orange edging on an iPhone 7-not plus- in our home).","Product: Strada Series Folio for iPhone 8 & iPhone 7 is the only leather smartphone case backed with OtterBox Certified Drop+ Protection. Featuring a folio cover, Strada Series Folio closes securely around your device, and opens to reveal a convenient slot for a bank or ID card. And on the inside, it cradles your device to help protect it from drops and shock.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sleek, Protective and Attractive. Only Holds 2 Cards Max\n\nReview: This OtterBox Strada case fits my iPhone 7 well, and feels very protective around the rounded edges and w it's leather covered hard case. The front cover opens and shuts via a small strip of magnet on the side, which clicks into place well, but only if you have 1-2 cards (credit, driver's license) in it at the most. I wanted to carry this with my driver's license and 2 credit cards, and it doesn't close well, because the magnet doesn't reach the other side comfortably with just these three items. I realize this isn't supposed to be a full wallet, but a very small modification to make the magnet reach a tad longer would have looked just as nice, but worked far better. I was torn on giving this a 3 star rating just due to this issue, because I like to travel light, and don't want to carry an additional wallet if I can help it. Still, 1 ID and 1 card is tough for me. There is no room for cash, of course, unless you have a few big bills, no cards, and there'd be no place to return bulkier smaller change for your big bills even if so. However, if you don't put much in the card slot, this is a fine case that looks handsome. Also, the volume buttons on the left side of the case are accessible from the outside of the case, and work well.","Product: Conquer the elements with the case that goes everywhere and survives everything: LifeProof FR for iPhone 7 Plus. WaterProof, DirtProof, SnowProof and DropProof, FR braves the elements while blocking them from soaking circuits or clogging ports. Whats more, the integrated screen cover keeps your display pristine, and the custom design leaves every feature and function accessible.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Impressive and Worthwhile Protection\n\nReview: I have to admit, I first thought this was a pretty expensive case- and, of course, it is expensive...but, it's worth it, considering the investment you made for your phone. I would not have given this 5 stars for the price alone, except that it works great, is indeed waterproof, and there are very few products out there like this, that completely encase your phone and yet also respond well to touchscreen and button function. This comes in two pieces and literally snaps together- it's clear that it's closed because you press the two parts together around all the edges and hear snap sounds as it seals shut. The charging port area has it's own little door that also snaps open and closed separately for access. This case also comes with a guitar-pick like tool that you can use to open the case again (very easy), or you can just use a coin. They've also thrown in 2 LIFEPROOF stickers and a screen cleaning cloth. nice.\n\nThere is a slight \"tap\" \"tap\" sound from the plastic face covering the glass when you use the touchscreen, which is a bit different, since I've only used cases w open faces before. I'm not sure i like the \"tap\" sound/feel, but it's a small price to pay for the waterproofing protection, when it comes down to it. There were several occasions over the past few years, where i've had near misses w toilets, sinks and near large bodies of water... it makes me actually shudder to think of that one time i dropped my iPhone on a dock, and it was 1/3rd off the edge overlooking the lake. yikes. waterproofing may not have helped me there, cuz this won't make your phone float (i tried- the phone sinks in water in the case), but, i would at least have had a shot at trying to swim down (wasn't too deep) to retrieve it. This case serves a very useful waterproof function, and in general just keeps your phone clean of debris. I do recommend this.\n\nbtw, the pic shows me testing my case as directed in the instruction pamphlet by submerging the closed case under water (cup on top to keep the empty case down) for 30 minutes. If your case is not dry inside after that time, they direct you to their website, where i'm assuming you can get a replacement (the warranty says as much- they won't pay for your damaged phone, so you should check your case before you use it).","Product: Easy set-up - no tape required for box assembly. Convenient lift-off lid. Easy carry handles. Durable, double end, double bottom construction. Constructed from strong 32 ECT B-Flute Kraft corrugated board. Reusable, recyclable and made in the USA.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Easy to Assemble, Nice to Have Re-usable/ Removable Tops\n\nReview: These bankers boxes are a reasonable quality, and come shipped together in a convenient large flat pack that provides 30 boxes and lids in the three sizes listed (i put pics w the dimensions of the small, med and large as printed on the side of the boxes themselves, next to the assembly directions, and a pic of the assembled small box). The boxes are not the most heavy-duty, in that they seem to be lighter weight cardboard than actual banker's boxes (used at banks/ financial or legal institutions for masses of paper records), which need to be sturdier for the weight and use requirements, but these are definitely good for home use and general storage, so that your packing stays neat and organized.\n\nThe price is a good value, provided you search on Amazon for the cheapest vendor for these SmoothMove packs- there seems to be a fairly large price range in this exact 30-pack. Assembly of these boxes is easy, but I found that I needed to be a little careful when assembling the top lid, because it didn't fold on the crease lines cleanly. When I tried to undo the tab to re-crease, the edge ripped. So, just be aware that you can't really disassemble the lid easily once the tabs are set. All-in-all, this is a good value set, and the bankers box design w removable top, is an excellent way to keep and re-use your moving boxes.","Product: LASTS ALL YEAR. GUARANTEED! The versatile Five Star Flex Hybrid Note Binder acts like a notebook and works like a binder. It features durable plastic covers and TechLock rings to store loose sheets and protect your most important pages. The covers fold back to lie flat allowing easy notetaking in class while the 3 rings open easily to quickly add or remove sheets so you always have what you need. The flexible patented rings ensure durability so they wont break or misalign from frequent use. 1\" size holds 200 sheets and zipper closure keeps all items secure. Includes 20 sheets of quad ruled paper and 60 sheets of college ruled paper for convenient and ready usage. Your most important papers are protected by the Note Pocket dividers (2) and Note Protector dividers (3), which are included. Note: Color choice is not available for this item. Color shipped to you is selected at random, and will vary.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Lightweight and Flexible, But Difficult to Open and Close Ring Design\n\nReview: I really wanted to like this Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder. The lightweight, flexible nature of the coated plastic cover seemed to be a great alternative to the hard-covered, heavy binder my son has to lug in his backpack every day. Upon receiving it, the Hybrid NoteBinder was indeed lightweight and flexible. Unfortunately, the big negative with this product was the plastic \"techlock\" rings. Unlike the usual metal rings that snap open and close in unison like you would find in most binders, this Hybrid NoteBinder features plastic rings that need to be pulled apart individually and fitted back together one at a time. It was really slow and bothersome to pull apart each of the rings and fit each ring back together again just to insert or remove a sheet of paper. As my son needs to remove and insert sheets during just about every school period, this process could get old very quickly. I should also note that although the product description says that the NoteBinder comes pre-filled with 20 Quad ruled sheets and 60 college ruled sheets, mine did not come with any paper.\n\nAs for positive aspects, as stated earlier, this NoteBinder is lightweight and flexible. The black color on the one I received is also attractive and nicely contrasted with grey-colored piping and accents. The zipper is well constructed and zips smoothly without catching. The inside front cover also has a useful zippered, see-through storage pocket that can fit pens, pencils, and even a 12 inch ruler if inserted and stored at an angle. All of these great features would have made this a 5 star review if it were not for the difficult time I had with the plastic techlock rings. Ive used other Mead Five Star products in the past that Ive been very happy with, but Im disappointed to say that this one fails to make the grade.","Product: Slow down and appreciate the timeless art of fine writing with the PARKER Jotter Premium Bond Street Black ballpoint pen. With an instantly recognizable, professional look that represents 60 years of iconic PARKER designs, this pen features a stainless steel barrel in a luxurious black finish, stainless steel cap with grid laser engraving, high-shine trims and an arrowhead clip. The ballpoint tip provides a smooth and fluid writing experience. This Jotter pen's name is inspired by the city of London. Sleek and sophisticated, the PARKER Jotter Premium Bond Street Black arrives in an elegant gift box.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Classic Jotter- 50+ Years of Fine Writing\n\nReview: This beautiful PARKER Jotter Special Edition pen is just lovely. The carved design/ diamond print (inspired by the architecture in London) along the shimmery silver barrel and the smooth creamy red at the cap look classic, contrasted and eye-catching. The snappy sounding click click of the depressing mechanism feels very satisfying, as does the compact smooth tapering of the pen body at both ends. The slender arrow-shaped clip looks delicate but feels sturdy, and this fine instrument is just an all around pleasure to hold and use...like having a piece of history in your hands. The medium point line is clean and refreshing in movement, as it makes it's mark. If you love pens, this special edition Jotter is definitely one you should have for your collection.","Product: R23 Fine Wire Stapling Gun. Durable all steel stapling gun for securing thinner materials like fabrics, paper, and labels. For use with fine wire staples.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Sure Shot- Good Balance, Easy to Use w No Misfires\n\nReview: I have both this Rapid R23 (lighter duty 4- 8mm staples) as well as the R34 (heavier duty 6-14mm) staple guns. The R23 is in the yellow package in the pic, and the R34 is in the green package. If you are only going to get one gun, you'll get more range out of the larger R34, but I find my projects/ needs have not been so extensive to require the larger gun anyways. This R23 comes with a pack of 5000 8mm 5/16\" staples. It is very easy to load, by squeezing the lever on the lower back portion, and sliding out the rail. The staples go under the gun in front of the rail (not on the rail). There is a rubbery yellow lining in the squeeze area on the R23 (green colored lining on the R34), to provide a more comfortable grip. It's easy to hold, even for my small hands (i'm a gal), and easy to squeeze. There is no recoil; just smooth action that I barely notice as the staple goes firmly into the medium.\n\nI just re-did some of the covers on some old chairs, without removing the underlying fabric. I covered the seat with nice leather, stapling w the R23, which was perfect for most of the job. I ended up using the R34 for some areas of the corners, because the leather was fairly thick bunched up along the pleats- I could have been more careful w the pleating and still used the R23 for the whole project however. These Rapids are fantastic tools, and i'm very pleased w the ease, accuracy and consistency of these guns. They are machined well, and will likely last a lifetime w care. I've used no-name brand guns in the past, and these Rapids are definitely superior tools. I'll be donating my old ones.","Product: The success of a local CERT team in response to an emergency is contingent on communication and coordination. Our All-Weather CERT Field Operating Guide is a comprehensive reference book filled with practical reference material that refreshes core skills in a pinch. Properly evaluate triage, deploy a fire extinguisher, observe HAZMAT procedure, and respond appropriately to floods and fires thanks to simple guides and templates printed throughout the book. No matter the conditions, this book will survive the ordeal thanks to our patented water-resistant paper. In times of crisis, Rite in the Rain CERT materials help local CERT members rise to the occasion.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Useful Guide and Summary of Emergency Response Procedures\n\nReview: This Rite in the Rain All-Weather Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) action and organization kit contains a compact and succinct Field Operating Guide with waterproof cover and wire binding (useful to keep your hands free as it lays open flat); an all-weather Forms Book which contains perforated removable pages of various pre-printed forms for tracking resources, assignments and personnel; a specialized pen that writes at all angles, even upside down, and at temperatures between -30 F to 250 F degrees; and a sturdy water resistant zippered Cordura Fabric cover/ case with pockets for additional pens and notes to hold everything in. The fully contained kit is light, lays flat and can fit in a large coat pocket.\n\nThe Quick Reference sections in the Field Operating Guide cover areas such as Disaster Preparedness, Medical Operations and steps to take for specific disasters such as Fire, Flood, Hazards, etc... and are clearly marked on the edges of the pages for locating easily. While this guide is primarily meant for a coordinated plan of action with a CERT team, even an individual who is not a professional first responder will benefit from the guided practical steps and tips that may be critical in the event of an emergency situation or natural disaster, such as what to do if you are caught in a hurricane, how to assess and treat hypothermia, how to open an airway, how to determine when to use a fire extinguisher vs. leave, etc... This is not a comprehensive guide of all emergencies, but a great way to get rapid practical guidance for immediate action, and would be very useful when one may not be thinking straight due to the emergency at hand. I'd definitely recommend this CERT pack as part of any emergency kit, even for home owners to review and understand in advance of a disaster, but definitely to have as a reference while in a stressful situation.","Product: Handy, practical and requiring minimal user-effort; the X5-25ps less effort stapler from Rapesco offers 25 sheet (20lb paper) stapling with up to 60% less effort required from the user. Available in a range of attractive colors and manufactured from high quality materials to an exacting standard, this stapler is backed by a 15 year guarantee.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Low Hand Pressure Necessary, As Advertised\n\nReview: This Rapesco X5-25ps Less Effort Stapler is indeed amazingly easy to press (60% less pressure advertised). I added standard sized staples (not included) from my regular desk stapler, and they fit fine. \"24/6 26/6\" is printed on the side of this stapler, for the millimeter sizes that will fit. The stapler itself is very compact in length, but will sit very wide (more than the width of a US bill) when filled with staples. The pressure needed to staple the thinner cardboard that the stapler came in, was negligible. Actually, when I first put staples into the device, i accidentally pressed and didn't even realize that i had bent a staple out of the machine already. This does stand by itself, so you can either hand-hold it to press, or place it on your desk and press down w your weight, as you could w a regular stapler, although the height makes it a bit less stable if used in that manner. This stapler may be a good option for those with weaker hand strength, or who routinely need to staple a lot and don't have an automatic. I'd definitely recommend.","Product: Fits cart BBQs up to 70in length, 24inwidth, 48in height. The Veranda Collection blends style and function in one upscale line. Gardelle Fabric System features an elegant fabric top with a protective water repellent, resistant PVC undercoating, and a protective dark splash guard skirt. Heavy-duty fabric and tough interlocking seams add strength and durability. Special treatments ensure fabric won't crack in cold weather. Elastic hem cord with a toggle allows adjustment for a tight and custom fit. Air vents reduce inside condensation and wind lofting. Click-close straps snap over legs to secure cover on the windiest days. Padded handles for easy fitting and removal.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lasts Years And Looks Great, Protects Extremely Well\n\nReview: Classic Accessories Veranda line is my favorite grill cover of all I've tried. I have been using their smaller grill cover: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Classic-Accessories-73902-Veranda-Small-Grill-Cover-For-Weber-Q-300-Q-320-Grills/dp/B007XAKFRI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Classic Accessories 73902 Veranda Small Grill Cover For Weber Q-300 & Q-320 Grills</a> on my Camp Chef +BBQ box since I purchased it (cover in side shot pic shows the grill fabric, used since 2012- it's the last pic w lighter beige colored cover), and it looks no worse for the wear, other than very light fading and some dirt. This really stands up to the elements! For three of the years, this cover was less than a mile from the salt spraying ocean, in full sun, and my grill (and the cover) has remained in great shape, w no rust.--- (update: i just read some of the poor experiences some folks have had w this cover, and it surprised me. I want to point out that I live in N. California, and we don't get extreme heat or extreme cold, esp. at the beach. so.... I suppose my experience may be different than yours, depending on your weather!)\n\nThe cover is heavy duty fabric with a plastic coating underneath. The seams are thick and even have piping along significant edges for durability and to keep it's shape. There are 4 adjustable snap straps that you attach to the legs of your grill, preventing the cover from sliding or flying off, and the skirt is encircled with an elastic rope that has 2 adjusting spring tabs to tighten the elastic from both ends of the grill, so the underside of your grill is even further protected from the weather. There is a convenient top/front zippered pouch with a protective flap over the zipper, in case you want to store some tools, and each of the end sides of the cover has a flap for air ventilation, that only opens downwards to prevent rain getting in, and which has a mesh screen inside to help keep bugs out. There are also two padded and well-attached handles on the top sides for ease of removal of the cover off your grill.\n\nI've had several covers I've used on many grills over the years, and none has held up as well as this Veranda. If I were to buy only one grill cover, this would be it.","Product: Some like it hot. This 0.59\" thick cordierite baking stone loves it it's heat safe to 1450F! It works in the oven or on the grill, and we call it a pizza stone, but it's just as good for breads and tortillas.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Convenient For Placement, A Bit Thin, But Works\n\nReview: This set of 4 pizza cordierite grill stones is very convenient and provides the benefits of the mineral cordierite's even heat conductive and thermal shock resistant properties in square tile shapes that allow you to easily move them around. I have two larger and significantly thicker pieces of cordierite, that I keep in my oven at all times, so i'm a huge fan of the material. What I like about these smaller squares (about 7.5\" and a bit more than 1/4\" thick) is that they fit in smaller heating spaces such as in my toaster oven and on my camp grill (and coleman portable oven). You can also arrange these lengthwise for a longer dough shape, provided they fit in/on your particular oven or grill. Also, being small and thin, the tiles don't weigh much for easy pickup (can keep a mini pizza on the stone and set it at the table to keep the pizza bottom crispy for a bit). You can also use them as trivets. The negatives are that these are really small, so you do need all four for a regular sized pizza, and the thinness can cause breakage if you drop them accidentally. Still, they do have their uses and come in handy where my big stones just can't be taken.","Product: BKC90 Features: -Insect zapper.-Perfect for patios, decks and camping spaces.-Cordless and rechargeable.-Provides decorative lantern design to complement outdoor decor.-15.08" H x 7.99" W x 7.99" D, 3.18 lbs. Includes: -Includes UV light and octenol lure to attract and kill mosquitoes and other flying insects. Specifications: -Quiet operation and coverage up to 625 sq. ft. with 3.2 hours run time.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works Very Well, Especially in an Enclosed Area\n\nReview: I know this is technically for outdoor use, but we live in an older home, w a few windows in a bathroom that have slatted glass in a row opening outwards, w no easy way to put screens on the set. Every time I open those windows, small bugs and mosquitoes fly in, freaking out my daughter who is nervous about Zika. This Stinger Cordless insect zapper has been just the thing we need. I place this near the window, and bugs flying in seem to go straight to it- the nearest source of light. I may consider hanging it outside of the window, but it's on the second floor, so for now it's indoors. It's a little bit gross w the zapping that happens when a bigger insect hits the light source, but then you know it's working. There is a small tray that slides out of the side at the base, and a little tub of insect attractant is provided. I have not used this yet, because it seems to work just fine without it.\n\nI charged this overnight before i used it-- just be aware that if you don't close the insect attractant tray all the way, your lights will not turn on.- this is a safety feature, i believe, as otherwise, you could actually put your hand in there and potentially get zapped yourself. There is a UV type light that turns on if you flip the switch one way, and a normal LED white light (like a lantern) if you switch it the other way. I don't believe the LED light works to kill anything however, and so i only use the UV feature. The battery life is supposed to last 3+ hrs. Since i only use this when i'm opening the window in the bathroom, i have not used it for the full battery life. It has, however, worked perfectly for at least an hour, and doesn't hum- it's actually fairly quiet, so that's great. When a bug does come in, flying through without being attracted to this Zapper the first time, i just shut the windows, the regular bathroom lights and door and wait about 10 min. No more bugs. SO much better than having my husband hunt with his handheld \"tennis racquet\" zapper to make our daughter feel better.\n\nThis is a very useful device! (The closer-up pic of the light is the LED, and the further away pic of the light is the UV- the UV is not very bright, and purple-ish in color.)","Product: Stinger on-the-go bug zapper racket kills insects on contact: mosquitoes, spiders, wasps, flies & more\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Highly Effective, Short Stout Handle\n\nReview: This On-The-Go Bug Zapper works great, and is small enough to be portable, so you aren't carrying around a big tennis racquet zapper. It also has a great flash light feature built-in, that draws bugs onto the screen when you're in darker or twilight surroundings, either in your house or outside--I think this feature is genius. I don't know if you can see from my pics, but i caught a mosquito- you may be able to see the electric zap flash on the slightly blurry pic. It was flying around a light on my desk, and i zapped it- it stuck to the racquet right away, and i tried to put in a little bit more electricity during the pic to make sure it was dead. I love this thing. I use it to kill spiders that are floating down from ceilings as well- just put the Zapper right under it as it descends. The only thing i think the larger/ longer zapper design works better for is for flies and quick moving scary bugs like wasps- I definitely want more distance from those.","Product: The Sodo Barbecue Grill Cover by Classic Accessories offers unique styling with clean lines and solid main body contours while providing reliable protection and peace of mind in wet, windy weather. Our light Raincoat fabric is tough but stores easily when not in use and is made from durable coated polyester with a PVC undercoating. Each cover comes with an integrated storage bag with an exterior label for easy identification. Air vents keep weather out while providing ventilation and minimizing condensation. Extra-long straps tie around furniture legs to secure covers on windy days. Adjustable draw-string tightens easily resulting in a custom-like fit. The Sodo Collection offers more features than other similarly-priced covers with a look that stands out from the crowd. 1-year warranty.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Like a Slicker for your BBQ\n\nReview: This is a very similar concept to a rain jacket in a pouch--it's a BBQ cover in a pouch, literally, when you open the package (see pic of pouch w handle), and is a mid to lighter weight plastic material, like a good shower curtain. The fabric is not exceptionally sturdy, but will probably last two or three seasons in the sun (granted, i live in a mild, coastal climate). This is a sewn plastic cover that fits your two extended side-arm-shaped grill. The bottom skirt has two sets of ties (you need to manually tie the two ends together) to go around two of your grill legs, and one pull cord that slightly tightens the circumference of the bottom of the skirt (see pics). I say slightly tightens, because the pull cord only comes out one side, and so it is not easy to tighten the skirt all the way around- you have to pull really hard. There is also a triangle vent on each side (see pic of my fingers showing through some of the holes on the inside) covered by outer plastic on two of the three triangle edges, so no water can get in.\n\nBtw, the pouch the cover comes in, is actually sewn to the inner top of the cover, so it will be laying on top of your grill on the inside. it's a bit weird, and causes a slight bump on the grill (but u can move it to the back, kinda). I guess this feature would be great if you plan to use the pouch to store your cover again, since this way you can't lose it, but this feature has limited use for me, since i don't tend to pack up my grill cover- i just set it on the side until the BBQ cools, and i put it back on the grill. i can't see folding it up and taking it with me anywhere w that handle, etc...\n\nIt's sewn well, overall, considering it's a single stitch construction without a waterproofing underseam like some tents have. so i can't speak to the waterproofing of the seams at this point, and it does not look like it would leak much, if at all under normal rainy conditions, but it might not be absolutely water tight at the seams if there was a deluge. Overall, the price is a tad high for this item, and i prefer the thicker fabric-type covers that are about about $5 more expensive. One i've used for the past three years and is still holding up great and feels much more substantial, is the Classic Accessories 73902 Veranda Small Grill Cover For Weber Q-300 & Q-320 Grills--http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XAKFRI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage.\n\nStill, this green grill slicker is pleasant looking, and about 1/2 the weight of fabric covers, so that does have it's uses. Overall, not a bad product.","Product: This beautiful brand new JARDIN Collection rug with soft rich color palette offers a durable stain resistant and low pile for easy cleaning with Jute backing. Machine woven on Jacquad Looms with 100% nylon pile and manufactured in Turkey. Perfect for outdoor hardwood, tile, and marble floors that gets a lot of traffic. Intricate design along with the color choice used in this rug will make an elegant addition to your outdoor patio. Care instructions: Do not rub wet spots, absorb moisture with paper towels, and remove dried spots by scraping carefully towards the center of the spot.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great Price, Pleasant Color, And Practical Size Area Rug, But Some Issues\n\nReview: This Ottomanson Jardin Rug is a pleasant neutral cream color that should go well with most rooms, whether your home furnishings are modern or more rustic. It is an area rug that would look nice in many places in and around the house such as under a coffee table, in an entrance foyer, or on a covered outdoor floor space. Note that the size on the listing should be corrected as I measured the rug as 53 across but a shorter 7 (about) in length. As a big plus, this rug is being sold at a very affordable price point.\n\nWhile the rug is well priced, looks pleasant, and is large enough for several uses in and out of the home, there are negatives. I unrolled and laid out the rug about a week ago, yet the crease lines from being rolled and compacted still haven't gone away. I even tried inverting flat top furniture and large coffee table books on it, but the creases have remained. My first pic shows the creases an hour after unrolling, and the last pic shows the rug after a week in the same location. I would expect that this will eventually flatten out, but it could take longer than I thought. The other, more significant issue is a quality control matter. My rug arrived with several snags and runs. One of the snags might have occurred during the packaging as the plastic wrapping around the rug was ripped in the same area, although the shipping box arrived completely intact.\n\nFinally, the rug is fairly lightweight and thin, which is neither a positive or negative, but just something you should know if you are expecting a heavy floor covering.","Product: Entertain with or just enjoy this fun, Mickey inspired chocolate fountain. Dip cakes, breads, fruit or your favorite snack with the included skewers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: How Have I Lived Without This??!!\n\nReview: Even tho i've been a fondue fan forever, this is my first foray into the world of melty chocolatey fountain goodness, and after i tried it, i had to ask myself, how have i lived my whole life w/o one of these??!! strangely, i realized that i'd never even been to a party where one was set up- regrettable, but true- which was probably pretty lucky for me, because it might have been rude, me just standing there in front of the fountain all night.... I was so excited about getting this mid-week, that i set it up as a surprise for my kids (ok, it was for me---yes, a school night, yes, i'm not a responsible mother). I doubled a basic fondue recipe i liked and modified from Betty Crocker (using semi-sweet chocolate and adding coconut oil chunks until it was a runnier, to smooth it out).\n\n1 1/3 cup half-and-half\n24 oz semi-sweet chocolate (or about 4 cups)\n2-4 tablespoons coconut oil (depending on how runny you need it- u can add some later into the fountain top as well, if it gets too thick)\ndried and fresh fruits, cubes of cake or cake pops (i had some banana bread pops in the freezer w no frosting on them), pretzel sticks\n\nmicrowave half and half in large glass bowl until nearly hot. add chocolate and stir until melted and mixture is smooth. if u need to, microwave some more. Stir in coconut oil until you have the right consistency, then place into the preheated fountain basin. u can also add flavorings such as orange or mint extract.\n\nWhat a hit! the kids asked if we could do it again on the weekend. this fountain is small-ish enough that it was a special dessert treat just for our family; even so, we had a ton left over, and i just scraped off as much of the chocolate as i could with a silicon spatula, and let it harden on the counter before putting the chunk in the freezer for our next family dessert night. but, I'm thinking i'm going to try cheese fondue next (cuz why not?).\n\nLuv this little well-made gadget. more fun than a regular fondue pot, it keeps things nicely warmed, smooth and stirred, and the cute mickey mouse shape is just chocolate on the cake!","Product: Oxy stain destroyer formula starts working on contact to mobilize, lift, and penetrate the stain at the source to remove stains in 30 seconds. Instantly and permanently removes tough pet stains like tracked-in dirt, grass, mud, blood, vomit, feces and urine! Improves deep cleaning performance by up to 3X.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: excellent carpet formula for grape throw-up on nubby beige carpet!\n\nReview: I finally got around to using the Bissell 2x Professional Deep Cleaning Formula for my hand-held suction cleaner (BISSELL SpotLifter 2X Portable Deep Carpet Cleaner)- well, actually, mainly because my daughter unexpectedly threw up grape juice all over our nubby beige carpet. It was a traumatic experience (for her- too much party food), and it was past midnight so i couldn't get around to cleaning up adequately until later the next day. Using the Spotlifter for the first time, and with the Professional Deep Cleaning Formula, I was able to get the (by then dried) grape throw-up stains out of the beige, in less than one battery charge (charge only lasts about 15 min., so it was lucky the effort only took one charge). I highly recommend this product, as well as the SpotLifter, for that matter. I couldn't believe the stain had been there at all. At first, the beige area i had cleaned seemed a darker color, but it dried, within a day, to the same color as the surrounding carpet. All was well again (as was my daughter). There was no smell remaining, and the Bissell cleaner itself had a pleasant (not a natural, but still nice) smell that was not too noticable even when wet. I will definitely be keeping this stuff in stock, and am considering purchasing a bigger carpet cleaner to do my entire house with the formula. --thank goodness for Bissell!","Product: Healthier and great tasting water has never been so convenient with the Pelican premium Countertop Drinking Water Filtration and Purification System. Addresses chlorine, chloramines, lead, cysts, VOC's and THM's. One of the most important things we can do is protect ourselves from the long-term and damaging effects dangerous chemicals such as chlorine has in our water. The state-of-the art Pelican Countertop Drinking Water Filtration and Purification System, with its unique modern design can alleviate your worries and get your on your way to a cleaner, safer and healthier lifestyle.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Easy Install, Quick Convenient Clean Water\n\nReview: This is an on-the-counter water filter that is very simple to install on a male thread faucet end, provided it fits- you need to take off your faucet's aerator if you have one, and may need to goto a hardware store to get an adapter. They also include two male/male adapters (all washers included) that would fit female thread faucet ends or attachments. If you can make it past that point, it's a snap, literally, to attach the the color-coded blue (water out) and white (water in) tube ends to the blue and white connectors at the bottom of the filter body by just pressing them in. There is one battery that goes into the filter body (lift the silver cover off the base to access), that causes a green light to come on once the water is flowing, to show the filter sensor is working. According to the directions, the light turns from green to orange at 5.5 months, letting you know you have 1/2 a month more in filter life, when, at 6 mo. the light turns red, and you should replace the filter. Once the battery is in the filter body housing, you place the silver-colored top back on, and you're done.\n\nI put this on our laundry room faucet, because our kitchen sink has a pull-out sprayer, and you CANNOT attach this countertop filter to a pull-out sprayer- you need to get a different filter if you want to keep your pull-out sprayer. Also, because this is an easy-to-install countertop filter, you will have those cords running the length of your faucet (you may have to tie them on, so they don't swing about), and it doesn't look great- but i don't mind, cuz it's in the laundry. A small price for convenience, and more importantly, clean water. I did not notice any degradation in water pressure coming through either the regular water exit, or the filtered water exit. Of course, the filtered water exit is a much smaller stream, as you'd expect. I don't know if the pressure will remain good over time yet, but it works well so far, and you could probably remove and/or clean the aerator on the filter's head if you really have trouble. Truthfully, i can't really tell the difference in the taste of my water. Our water never tasted that badly, in my opinion, so it didn't change all that much for flavor. But, if it's filtering out any of the 60+ chemicals noted in the included Performance Data Sheet (also online at the manufacturer's website for Pelican Water, under the Drinking Filter tab/ Countertop Filter area) including lead, mercury, and chlorine, i'm very happy about that.\n\nI am filling up in the laundry, and putting a pitcher in the fridge. nice.","Product: The Allsop home and garden Soji artist series print - geo star is part of the artist designed collection of printed Soji solar lanterns. The unique square lantern features a geometric, star pattern. Each lantern is constructed from durable nylon and equipped with one AAA rechargeable battery, solar panel, dual white led and stainless steel hardware. Allsop home and garden is a family business, started by a father and a daughter who were inspired to create a better wheelbarrow. Now, twelve years later we are still inspired to create the best, the most innovative and conscientious products possible from original garden tools to solar lighting. At Allsop home and garden we know that we benefit from working as a team where employees are valued and encouraged to help create, design and innovate.as The founders of the concept \"solar garden art,\" Allsop home and garden is known for combining creative materials with solar power for efficient, beautiful and sustainable outdoor lighting. Everything we sell is designed by us with our customers in mind. Collectively Allsop home and garden and Allsop Inc. Hold over 450 patents world wide. With this in mind, our mission is to create meaningful and quality products that are as important to you as they are to us.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Mood Lighting, Not For Actual Lighting, But Looks Pretty\n\nReview: These Allsop Soji Ginkgo lanterns are made of a heavier metal top and base, with decently sturdy fabric around the center. At 14.7 oz, this is not lightweight. The top collects sunlight during the day, and has a very sensitive auto on light sensor that switches on when the ambient light around it becomes dark enough. The lantern seems to last at least 3-4 hours, dimming as it goes into the night, but it's a very faint light, and if you have a string of these, it'd be quite pretty from a decorative standpoint. This is definitely mood lighting, however, and you really can't use it as an actual light,...to see your surrounding, i mean. This allows you to see the lantern, pretty much. If you are looking for this particular design and lighting to set ambiance, this will work for you. However, if you are expecting more illumination than mood lighting, you'll need some backup. See pic w spotlights and lantern, so that the lantern almost looks like it's lighting up the area, even tho the spotlight is.","Product: The light it wireless LED remote control wall sconce set operates on a radio control frequency so powerful it can connect through walls and up to 100 feet. Easy installation allows you to set up an entire lighting system with the remote control switch and LED lights that can also be purchased separately. Perfect lighting for rvs, boats, attics, garages, closets - anywhere where hardwiring would be a challenge. The sconce light comes with a variable dimmer feature that provides just the right level of illumination. It mounts anywhere with tape or screws (included) making it a versatile solution for dark areas of any kind. A battery Saver feature shuts off lights to save battery energy. Runs on 3 AA batteries, not included.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works Great Through Walls My Internet Won't Reach, and Awesome for Emergency Lighting\n\nReview: This is ingenious and so useful! You get the benefits of a remote controlled light source, but with the advantages of not needing wifi, since this uses radio frequency (vs. many wifi-connected \"smart\" devices for your lights), not needing grid power- a great backup source of light in emergencies, and not needing to hardwire anything- great if you don't have a power source conveniently located. You receive one sconce and one remote in this pack, and they provide back plates pre-set with adhesive stickers for each, as well as screws and wall plugs in case you want a more permanent attachment. I was very impressed with the range of the remote, which easily penetrated the floors and walls in my home that our wireless internet requires a repeater for. The sconce has a dimmer slide on the bottom (see pic), and the remote has a switch for auto shut off settings at 30, 60 and 120 minutes (see pic) to conserve battery power. The sconce requires 3- AA batteries and the remote requires 2- AAA, (not included).\n\nThe set can be expanded to operate two or more groups of lights, up to eight possible groups (shown on the backs of sconce & remote), without interfering w each other (the instructions say up to \"any combination of up to 20 lights and switches\"), but you don't have to touch the pre-set switches on the back unless you are adding lights to a group, or you are operating two or more groups of lights within 60 feet of each other. If you are only using this one sconce & remote set, you don't have to do anything, and the light and remote work great as soon as you put batteries in. If you are adding to your group, you just match the combination pattern on the new sconce to that of your existing sconce/remote set.\n\nI put this sconce in my downstairs livingroom, which i can see from my upstairs bedroom loft area. So, without actually leaving my bedroom, i am able to turn on the sconce and see what's going on downstairs when i hear a noise at night, which is really convenient, and i can avoid that horror movie scenario where the doomed character always starts walking towards that sound.... but seriously, i don't have to trip down my dark stairwell to avoid waking anyone else up when i'm trying to get a snack. The sconce by itself is also great to carry around as well, and is like a little lantern, but more versatile. --really great if your power goes out in emergencies.","Product: Does your occupation require you to handle glass, sheet metal or lumber? Are you in the market for a cut-resistant glove? You've come to the right pair. Stanley's newest machine knit gloves offer a foam nitrile palm coating that will prevent snags, cuts and abrasions for even your toughest jobs. Feel free to hand them out to your team. Sizing: Using a measuring tape, measure the circumference of your hand just below the knuckles. (Large = 10\")\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good Gloves, Protection From Brush Clearing- Large Size is More Like a Medium\n\nReview: These Stanley Cut-Resistant Gloves are pretty good. The fabric is similar to my wife's cut-resistant kitchen gloves, which I got her because she slices herself occasionally cutting up food. When she wears them, she doesn't get cut. But, she doesn't always wear them. With these Stanleys, you can feel the tight, elastic weave on the back of the glove, and the front parts are covered (dipped, it seems) in nitrile, the material often used in those latex-free blue colored hospital type \"rubber\" gloves. The nitrile layer is decently thick, and between the cut-resistant fabric and the nitrile coating, these gloves do feel very protective. I used these outside today to clear out some dead brush, and my hands were not nicked or cut as they sometimes are. No splinters or pokes either. These work well, and are definitely better than my regular fabric gloves with strips of silicon on them. The grip on these Stanleys is better by far. The problem with these gloves for me is the size. I wear a size Large in gloves typically, and a Medium is a literal stretch. These L feel like a Medium to me. I can still wear them though, and would recommend them for outside use, unless you have X-Large hands. It could be that these are a Women's Large, since that's how they look on my wife's hands.","Product: Need a more powerful circular saw for weekend or DIY projects? The SKIL 5180 14-Amp 7-1/4 inch circular saw slices through 2x4's and cuts plywood down to size. The integrated dust blower keeps the line of cut sawdust-free so you can get the job done easily and accurately. The 51-degree bevel, with positive stop at 45-degree, gives you a wider variety of angle and miter cuts. At 7.2 pounds, it's lighter than its predecessor and has been updated with a spindle lock for easier blades changes using the on-tool wrench.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: No Nonsense Saw for Light Projects\n\nReview: This saw is pretty much ready to use out of the box- all you need to do is to attach the provided 7 1/4\" /20 teeth carbide blade with a wrench that has a clever housing in the foot, so that it always stays with the saw (see pics). The saw is very light and easy to maneuver, and has calibrated bevel markings showing 15 degrees, 22.5, 30, 45, and 52. the 45 degree setting has a notch allowing for more precise cuts. The bevel is adjusted and set with a easy to grip plastic covered wingnut. For this particular 5180 model, the maximum capacities are the 7-1/4\" blade, as well as:\n\n5/8\" Round Blade arbor hole,\n2-7/16\" Depth of cut at 90 degrees\n1-15/16\" Depth of cut at 45 degrees\n1-11/16\" Depth of cut at 51 degrees\n\nThe depth settings are also calibrated for standard lumber sizes, with an easy press adjustment lever. There are good safety features, including the lower guard on a light spring that retracts only as you cut, as well as the safety on the thumb (right or left thumb activation) that must be depressed at the same time as the trigger for the saw blade to rotate. There is also a bright orange power activation light showing power running to the saw (the pic does not show it as bright as it is). The saw sliced through baseboard like butter, and this will be my go-to saw for light projects around the house.","Product: These new XTRATUF Salmon Sisters Legacy Series 15\" Neoprene Womens Fishing Boots feature an attractive fish-print liner designed by Alaska's famous Salmon Sisters. Inspired by nautical tradition and the sustainable fisheries of the North Pacific, the liner rolls down easily to reveal the eye-catching blue fish print. Boasting XTRATUF's signature non-marking Chevron outsole, these womens fishing boots provide unparalleled traction on slippery, wave-washed decks. Toe and heel guards offer added protection. Designed for all-day comfort, these neoprene fishing boots feature moisture-wicking Breathe-O-Prene insoles with a breathable, open cell structure that reduces insole drying time. The insoles are also cushioned to absorb impacts and combat foot fatigue. The women-specific lasts are designed to match the contour of the female foot, and are narrower at the back to prevent heel movement and chafing. The 100% waterproof triple-dipped neoprene construction is lighter and more pliable than regular rubber, and is resistant to fish fats, acids, diesel fuel and other solvents.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Thick, Soft and Rubbery - But Get a Size Up\n\nReview: These are not your regular rubber galoshes that you typically find on the market. These are more serious, with cushiony and rubbery soles, that are about an inch thick and extremely comfortable. These have a flexible outer shell that are actually soft, and not plasticky in any way. Xtratuf was clearly trying to make a boot you can move in, despite it's significant heft. We've been having heavy storms in N. CA this year, with very wet, windy weather, and cleaning up the yard in regular boots was not cutting it. These have good traction, can be adjusted for height by rolling down the top into a cuff for comfort, and keep feet warm and dry. The only small criticism I have is that unless you want to wear very thin socks, you should get a size up, as these run small.","Product: The IRWIN Tools 8-in-1 ratcheting screwdriver features the most commonly used screwdriver bits in 1 convenient tool to save time and get jobs done fast. Including #1 and #2 Phillips screwdrivers, 1/4\" slotted screwdriver/flat head screwdriver, #2 square, T25, and 1/4\", 3/8\", and 5/16\" nut drivers in one multi-driver means not having to search through your tool box or drawer to find the right tool for multiple jobs. Compatible with standard double-ended power bits and insert bits, it makes lost bits easy to replace, while the 3-Zone Comfort Grip provides more control with low, high, and no-texture zones for greater torque.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Useful Driver, Well-Made, No Place for Screw Tips.\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R6ZDS2O9Y3X98\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1Z9X8ytgwS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91MSXq5xx1S.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> This IRWIN Screw Guide Driver is a nifty concept, which actually works. The guide is surprisingly useful, and provides a sturdy enclosure for your screw, as well as providing a good \"base\" support (the circular round of the guide pressing against the surface you're screwing) so that you can add a lot more pressure and torque to your screw without the screw tilting or splintering out. It's especially helpful if you don't have a guide hole already drilled.\n\nThe fabrication of material seems to be high quality, and the guide itself is a sturdy metal cylinder. The handle is a solid and thick feeling polymer, covered with a rubbery grip, which makes for ease of use. A very useful part of this driver, is the strong magnetic tip, which will actually hold the included 5 screw tips in place very well- it holds better than other magnetic driver tips I have at home. The downside to this set, as mentioned now in numerous reviews, and which is obvious when you take this out of the package and wonder what you are going to do w all the small parts, is the lack of a place to put your screw tips!","Product: Luceco's LED bulbs offer an 80% energy savings over their incandescent counterparts, at an average energy cost of just $1.14 per year. With a color temperature of 2700K, they produce the same soft, warm white glow of a traditional bulb, making them as easy on the eyes as they are on the wallet. These bulbs are a direct replacement for a standard A19 65-watt incandescent light bulb - no rewiring is required to upgrade your lighting. The mercury-free LED bulb also stays cool when lit for a safe, environmentally and family friendly lighting option. A 15,000 hour lifetime means less time and money spent on replacements. Backed by Luceco's 3-year warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just Sippin' Energy Usage\n\nReview: These are an economical upgrade to 60 watt incandescent bulbs. We replaced a standing lamp bulb with one of these LUCECO Base LEDs, and this LED provided a surprisingly pleasant and soft white light, that almost looked yellow through our standing lampshade. I can't tell any difference in the brightness of our lamp, and using this was as simple as switching out a ...light bulb. I used a Kill a Watt <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/P3-P4400-Kill-A-Watt-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor</a> over a day, to check my costs. It's hard to see the Kill a Watt reading on my pic, but this LED shows an even lower static 8 watt usage, vs. their advertised 9.5 watts. The Kill a Watt showed a slightly higher 0.01 kWh consumption over the longer timeframe i had it plugged in, so I went with the higher number. I looked at my electric bill, and i'm charged an avg of about 21 cents per kWh. I use that light about 8 hrs per day at most-\n\n8 *.01 kWh * 30 days= 2.4 kWh/mo *$0.21 /kWh= or about 50 cents per month w this LED bulb\n\nA 60 watt bulb, by contrast= 60 W*8 /1000=0.48 kWh/day* $0.21 /KWh= about 10 cents/day *30 days= $3 per month\n\nThat's $6/ yr for this LED light vs. $36/ yr for a typical 60 watt bulb based on my usage and local energy costs. worth it.\n\n this plug-in energy consumption calculator helps\n[...] (removed by Amazon), but you can just look one of these up. btw, my annual cost is higher than that shown on the box, because they are estimating a 3 hr/ day usage and 11 cents per kWh cost.","Product: The Alex Toys My First Sewing Kit will introduce children to the creative world of sewing. It's a skill that lasts a lifetime and can be used to make adorable stuffed animals,notebook covers and more. All the materials you need come in the charming carrycase that closes securely and has a handle for sewing on-the-go. Includes 28 pre-cut polyester felt shapes, 8 colors of embroidery floss (26ft/8m each), polyester stuffing(0.4oz/11g), fabric cloth (65% polyester/35% cotton), polyester ric rac(24in/60cm), scissors, measuring tape, 40 straight pins, 2 needles, thimble, cotton/polyesterpin cushion, polyester ribbon (12in/30cm), 6 buttons, pom pom strip (12in/30cm)and easy instructions. Recommended for children 7 to 12 years of age.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Bright, Fun kit w ideas for your child to start, or to continue w their love of sewing\n\nReview: This beautiful and colorful kit contains materials for five distinct projects: stuffed cat, dog, elephant, drawstring pouch, and small book cover w pockets. The striped \"suitcase\" container has a metal open/close latch plus a plastic-covered metal handle, and is made of a durable, thicker cardboard with sewn accents. The kit includes embroidery threads, measuring tape, scissors, pins, needles, threader, plastic thimble, small pin-cushion, decorative items (ribbons, buttons, fabric shapes), stuffing, the three pre-cut felt animals w accent pieces, and pre-cut fabrics for the pouch and book cover. There is plenty of extra room in the suitcase for additional materials or sewing tools your kids may want to keep in there, or they can easily re-purpose the suitcase after they are done with their projects.\n\nThe instructions are large and have big pictures, and with a little bit of coaching, your child can start making what's in the pictures right away. You may need a little more stuffing than what they provide, but if you want more substantial animals, you can just add some fluffed up cotton balls. Some of the tools, like the thimble and scissors can be replaced with better quality, but these are serviceable. My kids love sewing, and have been making their own little made-up felt creatures (and monsters) for several years. Even though they are past the very beginner stage now, they were thrilled to get this, and quickly ran off with this suitcase to start their new projects.","Product: Radio Flyer new ultimate EZ fold wagon is designed as a full size wagon for 2 kids that folds compactly. With an easy one hand fold, you can take or store the wagon anywhere. Two kids ride comfortably with 2 seats, 4 cup holders, seatbelts for added safety, and a removable canopy. The telescoping handle is for easy transport when folded. The DuraClean fabric is durable and can be easily wiped clean. A full size wagon with a compact fold to take & store anywhere. For ages 1 1/2 +.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent Portability, Very Simple to Assemble, Smooth Ride, Nice Seat Function\n\nReview: This EZ Fold is a convenient and more portable Radio Flyer wagon, because of the fabric sides and folding metal frame, which accordions in the middle with a \"W\" shape when closed. This EZ Fold has the same great Radio Flyer smooth and easy maneuverability as the hard sided/ molded plastic Ultimate Family Wagon (UFW) <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Radio-Flyer-Ultimate-Family-WagonTM/dp/B000EUMP9K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Radio Flyer Ultimate Family WagonTM</a>, but has smaller, softer wheels than the UFW (EZ has a slightly less dense black foam-ey feeling material covering the white plastic rims). See my review for the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Radio-Flyer-Deluxe-All-Terrain-Family-Wagon-Ride-On-Red/dp/B01C60O7N2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Radio Flyer Deluxe All-Terrain Family Wagon Ride On, Red</a> comparing the UFW and the All-Terrain (AT) wheels- the AT wheels are air-filled and the most rugged and bouncy- AT's wheels are the best wheels. The UFW has hard plastic-y and durable wheels that worked surprisingly well over a decade of use. These EZ wheels are soft enough for a comfortable ride, but may not last as long as the UFW wheels.\n\nPROS for Portability:\nDepending on what your needs are for this wagon, this EZ can really fit the bill. The obvious highlight is that the EZ is significantly less bulky and more portable than the UFW and AT body (same hard bodies) and can fit in a regular sedan trunk- It's easy to fold, just by lifting up the gray fabric pull handle at the bottom-center of the inner cart. Another benefit is that the perfectly rectangular shape and lack of internal folding moulded seats in the EZ, provides much more overall space to cart things in. You can also pull the EZ in folded form, like you would a piece of luggage, provided you pull it by the fabric gray handle and backwards (If you pull from the side with the black plastic handle, the wheels will go sideways). The thoughtful design of the EZ allows you to completely remove the fabric from the metal frame, just by detaching two velcro tabs underneath the wagon, and pulling the fabric up off the four corner posts. I wouldn't necessarily launder the fabric, but it seems durable enough with it's slightly plastic-feeling coating to just wipe clean. I also liked the large velcro tabs as an extra hold for the sides that zipper up/ down for the \"bench\" seating function, so that the zippers won't accidentally unzip from pressure.\n\nFinally, this EZ is significantly easier to assemble than the UFW/ AT wagons- even though you will need your own 1) hammer/ mallet, 2) a screwdriver and 3) an adjustable wrench. This EZ took me less than 10 min to set up- you 1) hammer on the red end cap after fitting the back wheels and plastic white spacers on the wheelrod; 2) you \"click\" in the two front wheels by pushing, ensuring the \"L\" and \"R\" stickers on the wheels match the correct-side \"L\" and \"R\" stickers on the body; and 3) you attach the handle using the screw driver and wrench (holding bolt stable with the screwdriver to prevent turning, and using wrench to tighten bolt). The directions are clear pictures and easy to follow.\n\nCONS of a Soft-Sided Wagon:\nBecause the EZ has no internal molded seats, your kids will need to sit on the lightly padded floor cross-legged or legs side-by-side vs. in a chair with seatbelts for the UFW or AT. Even so, i opened up the zipper front and sat on the seat in the lengthwise (forward or back-facing) direction a child would, and I didn't feel any metal bars under the floor, and the lightly white padded \"backs\" provided good support. Even without seatbelts, your child will sit much lower in this wagon, so there is little chance of falling out. If you sit on the EZ in the \"bench\" seating configuration, however, just be aware you can't lean back, as there is little support from the red fabric along the longer sides.\n\nIf you are looking for portability and the occasional need to haul children, pets or lots of \"stuff\" around, this is a wonderful and well-thought out product. The frame is very sturdy and the pieces smooth and well machined. Everything fit together as described; no torquing or forcing necessary. The fabric cover even comes off all the way for easy cleaning. I am a big fan of Radio Flyer, and would have had a much harder time when my children were small without their great products.","Product: Some of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in recent years involve things that are actually very, very small. The science of nanotechnology deals with the smallest structures, in the range of one to 100 nanometers in size. That's as small as just a few atoms in a row (one atom corresponds to about one nanometer)! With this kit, the intangible, nanoscopic world becomes accessible with hands-on experiments using both scaled-up models and real nanomaterials. Nanoparticles can be made of different materials and exist in a wide variety of forms -thin layers, tubes, balls, and tree-like structures. These particles can be coated onto surfaces, they can enhance other materials such as paint, they can be used as a delivery method for pharmaceuticals in the body, and much more. Specific applications include, for example, self-cleaning house paints and water-repellent clothes, anti-fog coatings on glasses, UV protection components in sunscreen, antifouling coatings for ships (to prevent algae growth, thereby reducing fuel consumption), coatings for medical devices, and materials to more effectively filter dirty water. Start out by conducting experiments concerning size, scale, and orders of magnitude in the International System of Units, to get a feel for just how small a nanometer really is. Stir up some mixtures and suspensions, and then examine exotic mixtures to learn about the nanoscopic particles suspended in them. Shine a laser through a colloidal gold - a suspension of nanoscale particles of gold! Learn about the electromagnetic spectrum, laser light, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy to begin to grasp how we can make nanomaterials visible. Experiment with a special material that mimics the nanostructures on a gecko's footpads that allow it to climb straight up a vertical pane of glass with ease! - A Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My Kids Rated this 4.5 Stars\n\nReview: This is a wonderful kit demonstrating the science behind small (nano) particles, and how the chemical properties of the nanoparticles can translate into (larger) real world effects or applications. The Nanotechnology Experiment Manual is the real star of this set, and it contains 72 pages full of well-defined projects (42 actual experiments) and information helping your child (the box says age 15+, but my kids are 10 and 12, and are enjoying this) understand the significance of the reactions observed in the \"What's Happening?\" sections per experiment. This kit does need occasional adult supervision, because it contains some chemicals and processes that require protective gear (you provide yourself- like gloves or safety goggles) or assistance (working w flames). This kit has numerous experiments that are fairly short by themselves- 10 to 30 min, but which cumulatively can take many days to a week(s) to properly complete and understand, depending on how motivated your child is. The book and exercises could be a jr. high- high school chemistry-lite class...with a fun teacher. My kids went through the introductory section of this kit so far, reading about the first-aid and ground rules for safety information, completing the check-list to determine if their kit was complete (yes), and setting up their laser pointer w provided batteries. They then completed three experiments this evening, so far, and were running back to the set to continue after dinner.\n\nI asked my kids to rate their experience at this point, and they both think it's a 4.5, because, \"it's cool,\" \"it has a lot of interesting things,\" (poking at me with the included gecko footpad-inspired sticky pad), \"you actually learn stuff from it- the experiments are fun.\" The deduction of 1/2 a star from my daughter, was due to not having an ink cartridge for one of the experiments, from which you're supposed to remove five drops of ink (i didn't want them to take apart our printer cartridge and make a mess- i guess that's more my fault than the kit). My son also deducted 1/2 a star, because he didn't like that one of the experiments could kill Club Moss spores, which would have been alive, he felt, upon rehydration (experiment #16- putting a thin layer of spores on water to form a waterproof layer), but which could then be harmed if you added oil or dish soap (the limits of nano-coating for waterproofing applications- experiment 20). They did experiment #16, and dumped the water-moss spore mix in our yard, because they wanted the moss to have a chance at life.\n\nAll in all, i can see that my kids love this- they are busily reading the book and trying the experiments even now as i type. i'm pleased, because they are occupied, having fun, and learning new concepts. I am sitting right next to them, however, and asking questions about their experiment and progress. I told them to let me know which project they are doing before they start. I would not leave my kids alone with this kit at this point, but supervised, it is fine.","Product: Build the Call of Duty Armored Vehicle Charge collector construction set by Mega Bloks. Hit the ground with the mobile firepower of a light armored vehicle when you lead the charge with a team of combat-ready soldiers. Featuring a classic camouflage finish and authentic details like treaded rubber tires, front brush guard, and net tarp, this buildable armored truck comes equipped for infantry support with a hard-hitting roof-mounted rocket launcher. Open the side doors or rear hatch to load in your team of three highly detailed, super-poseable micro action figures. Then, use the detachable armor and authentic weapons and accessories to gear your troops for a rolling attack!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Amazing Detail- Almost Looks Like a Glue Set\n\nReview: I got this for my 10 and 12 yos to put together, and the 12yo is good with the process; my 10 yo, just about able, but not quite able to do all the steps and needs help. When I first saw this kit, I thought it was simpler- it looks so detailed in the pictures, that I imagined it might have been a model that you put together with larger parts which were mostly already moulded- that's how fine the detailing looks. I was very surprised upon my kids' opening the inside plastic packages that there were hundreds of smaller-than-dime sized pieces. Even the action figures were in several parts, which my kids put together first.\n\nThis is appropriate for your model enthusiasts, whether young or old, but will be tougher for the earlier-than-teen crowd. On the other hand, the directions are very step by step, and very clear, \"exploded\" pictures, which are easy to follow if you have the patience and interest. My 12yo daughter is happily working on this, and is enjoying the set- every so often, my 10 yo son wants to join in, but loses interest after getting stuck, until he comes back to it in about ten min., seeing his sister continuing to work on it. It's also hard for two to work on it at the same time, so they take turns and/or she has him search for pieces. This is a great set; a 3-D puzzle of a very realistic armored vehicle and figurines. This very much reminds me of a cement- glue set in terms of complexity and detail, but it's great that it's bloks instead, so that you can avoid the hassles of glue, and I feel comfortable letting my younger kids work on it.\n\nUpdate: ok- I did actually need to help my kids glue on a few pieces (so far) that kept coming apart- such as an area along the bottom chassis connecting the front and back parts of the vehicle at two points, and the back fins near the rear headlights.","Product: ALEX Spa Fab Foil Tattoos Pink gives you a temporary way to make a lasting impression. Shiny foil tattoos and gleaming-bling gem tattoos shimmer in the light to grab your attention. The designs all feature the color teal, so you can match an outfit, jewelry, nails or makeup. The kit includes 3 gem tattoos, 35 foil tattoos, sponge and easy instructions. Recommended for children 8 years of age and older.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Faux Jewelry-Metallic Temporary Tattoos\n\nReview: These ALEX Spa Fab Foils are basically temporary tattoos that incorporate metallic foil surfaces for shine. In the pack are two sheets with numerous tattoo patterns, three jewel stickers-tattoos (little raised shiny plastic \"jewels\" placed in a design, backed with sticky adhesive), an instruction sheet and a small triangular sponge. The tattoos are pretty, and the dominant color is listed on the pack (pink, teal...). The designs are cleverly made into necklace, bracelet and ring strands/ fronts, in addition to larger patterns, so that the tattoos look like you might be wearing jewelry. My kids cut out some of the designs they wanted, and placed them face down on their arms and wet the backs w the included sponge, as you would w any regular temp tattoos. They came off the paper easily, and looked very shiny.\n\nThese are definitely fun for the young crowd,... or can be a fashion statement if you are a Beyonce-styled hipster. I saw a pic a few yrs back of the singer in a tropical setting with gold tattoo jewelry, similar to these, and noticed that these faux jewelry tattoos are also popular w adults-<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Premium-Metallic-Tattoos-75-Shimmer-Designs-in-Gold-Silver-Black-Turquoise-Temporary-Fake-Jewelry-Tattoos-Bracelets-Feathers-Wrist-Arm-Bands-More-Delila-Collection/dp/B00ZBN19QA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Premium Metallic Tattoos - 75+ Shimmer Designs in Gold, Silver, Black & Turquoise - Temporary Fake Jewelry Tattoos - Bracelets, Feathers, Wrist & Arm Bands, & More (Delila Collection)</a> or this: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Metallic-Temporary-Tattoo-10-SHEETS-With-Over-200-Tattoos-Gold-Silver-Color-Temporary-Tattoos-High-Gloss-Shimmer-Effect-by-Pinky-Petals/dp/B01J67T9QS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Metallic Temporary Tattoo - 10 SHEETS With Over 200+ Tattoos - Gold Silver Color Temporary Tattoos - High Gloss Shimmer Effect by Pinky Petals</a>. I took off one star here, only because this ALEX set w two sheets seems pricey compared w competitors. On the other hand, ALEX does provide the three raised plastic jewel \"tattoos\" which are actually stickers, but still a big hit w the kids.","Product: The Radio Flyer deluxe all-terrain family wagon is designed with air tires for a smooth ride, and a UV blocking canopy for Sun protection. With features that make it a very versatile wagon, there is endless fun. The 5 seating and storage options include: 1. Seating for two, 2. Flatbed, 3. Covered storage & ride, 4. Activity surface, and 5. Xl storage & ride. The wagon also features seatbelts for safety, child and adult cup holders, and a Fold-Over handle for easy storage. For ages 1 1/2+ years.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Durable and dependable workhorse for 10 years\n\nReview: We've had an earlier version of this Radio Flyer: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Radio-Flyer-Ultimate-Family-WagonTM/dp/B000EUMP9K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Radio Flyer Ultimate Family WagonTM</a> for nearly ten years now, and it has followed our family and towed our children through our neighborhood and schools, beach walkways, amusement parks, camps, farmer's markets...you name it- even to the grocery store. it looks as new as the day we bought it in 2007, and it has not faded at all, amazingly. we've even stored it outside for several summers now to move my garden supplies around since the kids have grown up, and it's holding up as well as ever. The wagon is easy to wash off with a hose, and it has been fine in the rain too, without any water getting into the internal body. even though our old Ultimate Family Wagon (UFW) did not have these new All-Terrain (AT) inflatable wheels, and instead had the hard, plastic-y ones, we've never had any issues with them. I was thrilled to be able to review this newer Radio Flyer, because i love our older UFW, and thought i could compare these for you.\n\nThe bodies of the older UFW and this newer AT are exactly the same, with the same roomy interior, big enough for two 2-4 yos (approx) and a few supplies (one diaper bag with snacks, etc) between or behind them. When we purchased our UFW, it had bright blue seat backs and seatbelt straps, instead of the gray the current UFW and this AT model both seem to have. I liked the blue better, actually. Additionally, the UFW has a rounded sunscreen top vs. this AT's flattish shape. The primary difference i can see is in the vastly superior wheels of this AT, which are air-filled and thick, textured and rubbery like mini-car tires, which makes for a much smoother and comfortable ride for your kids, pets (or plants), and you can even \"off-road\" a bit :). Since the price for the UFW is twenty dollars less than the AT at $169, you'd be paying $5 per tire for the upgrade, which i think is worth it.\n\nI took pics of the assembly of the AT body, which did not take too long (about 30 minutes), because it just consists of putting on the axles/tires to have a basic working wagon (i did not add the seatbelt or canopy on this AT, but we did have them on our UFW, and they worked great). The long black pull handle and seats come pre-attached. The trick is to make sure you match up the marked right and left metal wheel axles to their respective sides on the wagon body. The two metal axles, shaped a bit like big hooks, are engraved with part numbers plus an \"L\" and an \"R\" into the black metal (i tried to take a pic of this next to the parts shown on the instruction manual), and they both attach to the side with the long black pull handle. There is also an \"L\" and \"R\" embossed into the red wagon body housing on the bottom (hopefully you can see this in the pics as well), to help you get the left and right sides correctly matched. Also, don't forget to add the washers and plastic housing/spacers per the directions. There is one washer per wheel (4 all together), and 4 white plastic housing pieces for the hook-shaped axles (2 each), and 2 black plastic spacers for the long, across the body axle rod. They provide 5 red end caps you hammer on (i used a rubber mallet), but which cannot be taken off without breaking them- so you need to get this right the first time for the most part- they provide one extra 5th end cap in case you make one mistake!\n\nI highly recommend this for any family, with or without children. You'll find that you end up using this great wagon for a lot of different chores, but kids and pets love to ride in it as well.","Product: ALEX Toys DIY Wear Grow Crystal Jewelry give a young jewelry maker the unique experience of growing their own stones. Just mix up the crystal powder and pour it into a jewelry finding, and like magic a colorful crystal will growright on the jewelry! Make pendants, a necklace, earrings and a ring. 8 pieces in all! The kit includes 6 crystal powder packets, mixing bowl, 6 plastic cups, 6 stir sticks, sheet of duct tape stickers, 4 pendants, 1 ring, 2 earrings, jump rings, 2 earring hooks, satin cord and easy instructions. Recommended for children 9 years of age and older.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Does Not Make Clean Jewelry Pieces\n\nReview: This DIY Crystal Jewelry kit is similar to making rock candy, although at least you can eat rock candy. This particular set comes with plastic containers, stirring sticks, and packets of crystals in various colors that your kids dissolve into hot water. These really need to be microwaved by an adult to dissolve the crystals fully, which I did for them. The kit also contains pre-\"seeded\" pendants, earrings and ring jewelry pieces that come with a fine layer of crystals already on them (pink colored), over which you should be able to grow the crystals you just dissolved in the water. In order to prevent crystals from growing on other parts of the jewelry (the backside, the metal rings), the kit comes with grey duct tape pre-cut into the shape of the pendants/ jewelry, so that the backs and other metal parts of the jewelry can be covered.\n\nMy kids enjoyed the crystal dissolving part of the project- the mixing and stirring part, and choosing which jewelry items would go into which colored pot. However, there was a bit of a bummer part, where they needed to wait up to 5 days (we waited 4), for the crystals to grow. As you can see from the results, the crystals grew haphazardly all over the jewelry, including the bottom of the containers, creating quite a mess. The bluish circle, for example, are the 2 earrings encased in the circle of crystals grown all over the bottom of the pot. The crystals can easily be broken off the areas you don't want them to be (we broke off a lot of crystals surrounding the 2 cleaner looking pendants at the bottom of my pic), but they also easily break off the jewelry parts where you want the crystals as well- one of the pendant's crystals fell off the face completely as we tried to carefully break the non-desired portions. The crystal water also stains hands strongly, so I recommend gloves. I don't actually want my kids to wear these pieces, because they crumble so easily, the crystals being very delicate. This is an interesting science experiment, where your child can learn about the methods by which crystals can be grown, but if it's science you're looking for, I'd just recommend making rock candy and skipping this set.","Product: Imhotep. The legendary architect of the Egyptian monuments. His awe-inspiring structures and brutal tactics earned him divine status among ancient Egyptians. Can you match his ruthless determination to build the most revered monuments? To do this, you will need to transport stone blocks on ships from your quarry to different construction sites. But you alone do not choose where the ships go. Your opponents have monumental plans of their own and want to prevent your success. A fierce competition for the precious stone resources plays out. Only with the right strategy and a little luck can you succeed. In Imhotep, the players take on the roles of ancient Egyptian architects. Over six rounds, they try to transport their stone blocks to end up in the most valuable positions at five construction sites: pyramid, obelisk, chamber tomb, temple, and market. But a player can only choose one of three actions in a turn: excavate a new stone block from the quarry, load a block onto a ship, or move a ship to a construction site. From there, the massive stone blocks must be unloaded in order from bow to stern and placed on the sites in preset sequences. Depending on where the blocks end up, players earn different point values either immediately or at the end of the game. In each turn, you must weigh your options for getting your own stones into place and thwarting your opponents' placement plans. You must get your blocks to the right places, in the right order, at the right time to be the greatest architect.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun Strategy Game to Maximize Points\n\nReview: Pretty cool game to play w the family, but four players are the max at one time. I'd say this game is less about building structures, and more about counting points and strategizing for the greatest number of points in elaborate rule-based ways, by the end of the game. You also end up creating small \"monuments\" as you try to maximize your points. You have four options during each turn: 1) get a \"stone\" (wooden block of your color) from the quarry, 2) place a stone on a ship, 3) transport the ship to either the market, the pyramid site, the temple, the burial chamber, or the obelisk site, or 4) play one of the \"blue market cards\". Each option moves you toward placing your stones in monument formations at various sites, and depending on where you place your stone at the site, and how you block your opponents, you'll achieve a varied number of points.\n\nThere are only six rounds per game (although we frequently ended up continuing to play until the first person ran out of stones), and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins. The instructions are clearly placed in a glossy magazine-type (12 pages) format with pictures, and were reasonably easy to follow. Even though we made a few counting missteps the first few times we played, we eventually were able to figure it all out, and it didn't take away from the fun in the game. My 10 and 12 yos enjoyed this as well, and they were able to pick up different strategies to maximize points over a few plays. So there is a bit of a starting learning curve, but it is a fun game overall, and makes a nice addition to game night.","Product: It's time to get medieval on physics! Build ten sleek and updated models of catapults and crossbows. These classic siege weapons from the middle ages also happen to be great tools for teaching physics, including lessons in force, energy, motion, and projectiles. A crossbow is a medieval type of weapon based on a bow and arrow, in which the bow is mounted horizontally on a stock. Build and experiment with five different types of crossbows. The projectile, called the bolt, has a safe foam tip and a special cross-section that prevents other projectiles from being launched. When the bolt is loaded into the crossbow, a rubber band is pulled backward and energy is stored in the stretched rubber band. A trigger releases the bolt and the rubber band launches it through the air toward its target. A catapult is another medieval ballistic device that uses mechanical rubber bands and counterweights to fling projectiles into the air. The 32-page, full-color manual has illustrated step-by-step instructions.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Really Fun For the Kids. Too Tough For Me- heh\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R1LQ8W2YEPXZF7\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91Y4D30PKoS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91PdpPg7kqS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> Ok. I was originally going to give this 4 stars, because while I thought this was a pretty awesome concept and learning tool [an assembly kit that allows you to make all manner of medieval weapons while learning the physical (physics) concepts that make them work], I thought the picture assembly directions were very tough to follow. I spent a few days trying to assemble the first item, the Classic Crossbow, and was not doing too well... my husband saw me struggling with the kit, and said, \"why don't you wait till the weekend so [our daughter] can work on it? she'll be done w her homework by then.\" That was enuf motivation for me to give up! Well, it's Friday evening now, and she finished it up in no time flat, even telling me that the part that i'd completed over this past week was wrong- \"You did it wrong mom.\" Well. thank goodness someone in this household can understand these concepts. Now that I know it's probably just me, I feel confident that this is a great kit for my (10 and 12 yo) kids. There are ten separate weapons systems you can make:\n\n1) Classic Crossbow\n2) Trebuchet one\n3) Scorpion\n4) Weighted Catapult\n5) Reverse-draw Crossbow\n6) Compound Crossbow\n7) Trebuchet two\n8) Ballista\n9) Catapult one\n10) Mangonel\n\nI didn't even know what some of these weapons were before reading about them in the 32 page \"Experiment Manual.\"-- for example, each Experiment entails building one of the weapons above, learning a bit about the history of the weapon in the \"Background\" section, and obtaining a comprehension of the physical concepts that make the device work in the \"What's Happening?\" section. In the Mangonel Experiment #10, the background explains that, \"The mangonel is often what people think of when they think of a catapult. Historically, the mangonel was not able to throw projectiles as far or with as great of a velocity as the trebuchet. This is because a lot of the energy goes into accelerating the arm itself which means less energy goes into the projectile.\" The What's Happening? section for the Mangonel basically explains that maximizing an object's time in the air is a function of the height from which the projectile is shot- important for sports like tennis, football or diving.\n\nThis is another great Thames & Kosmos science /fun kit, that puts pleasure in learning. We have a few of their kits now. The manuals /books they provide with the kits are equally, if not more, important than the projects themselves, and they tie the projects and theory together smoothly. The only sad thing about this Catapults and Crossbows kit is that you have to disassemble each Experiment before building another- there are only enough pieces for one project at a time. While my daughter was building the crossbow, my son was making up an \"egg-catcher\" he called it, with some of the leftover pieces (pic- not a real egg but an included catapult ball). He took the crossbow she finished (see vid of him shooting the projectile into the floor), and won't give it back, so she can't make the next project.","Product: What kids aren't wild about animals? They all are and that's why they'll love this kit that gives them 8 Super fun projects to make, share, give, love and learn about. We give them everything they'll need to create an animal mask, A cute necklace, The world's most adorable yarn Lion, animal ear headbands, and more. It's a kit that contains all kind of warm fuzzy and fun things.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cute Individual Projects for Your Craft-Loving Kids\n\nReview: This is a really nice activity set with individual projects in their own clear envelopes, so your kids don't have to hunt around for the necessary items required for each animal-themed craft provided. There is a good picture instruction booklet with clear step-by-step directions showing how to make your craft and what's included in the set, as well as the items you need from home (scissors, crayons/ markers/ colored pencils, ruler, and iron- for adult use).\n\nMy kids needed some help with the directions for using double-sided sticky glue tape, which they had never seen before, and for ironing the Pawprint Charm project (ironing sets the pom poms permanently into the sticky double-sided tape). The Bunny Necklace project needs some basic knotting skills and dexterity in putting yarn through small holes, as well as adult help for more ironing of sticky tape. I'd say the most difficult project is the Animal Wallet, which requires basic sewing skills (they provide a thick yellow plastic needle) and uses two small metal \"brads\" (button on top, two separating metal legs on the bottom) to secure the felt eyes onto the face. The rest of the projects are fairly self-explanatory, and make for a fun afternoon of activity, even for older children. They recommend ages 6+, and my kids who are 10 and 12 liked working on the projects a lot, and thought the items they made were really cute.","Product: ALEX Spa Fab Foil Tattoos gives you a temporary way to make a lasting impression. Shiny foil tattoos and gleaming-bling gem tattoos shimmer in the light to grab your attention. The designs all feature the colors silver and gold, so you can match an outfit, jewelry, nails or makeup. The kit includes 3 gem tattoos, 35 foil tattoos, sponge and easy instructions. Recommended for children 8 years of age and older.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pretty Faux Jewelry- Metallic Temp Tattoos\n\nReview: These ALEX Spa Fab Foils are basically temporary tattoos that incorporate metallic foil surfaces for shine. In the pack are two sheets with numerous tattoo patterns, three jewel stickers-tattoos (little raised shiny plastic \"jewels\" placed in a design, backed with sticky adhesive), an instruction sheet and a small triangular sponge. The tattoos are pretty, and the dominant color is listed on the pack- in this case, gold and silver, but other foil packs of pink and teal are available too. The designs are cleverly made into necklace, bracelet and ring strands/ fronts, in addition to larger patterns, so that the tattoos look like you might be wearing jewelry. My kids cut out some of the designs they wanted, and placed them face down on their arms and wet the backs w the included sponge, as you would w any regular temp tattoos. They came off the paper easily, and looked very shiny.\n\nThese are definitely fun for the young crowd,... or can be a fashion statement if you are a Beyonce-styled hipster. I saw a pic a few yrs back of the singer in a tropical setting with gold tattoo jewelry, similar to these, and noticed that these faux jewelry tattoos are also popular w adults- <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Premium-Metallic-Tattoos-75-Shimmer-Designs-in-Gold-Silver-Black-Turquoise-Temporary-Fake-Jewelry-Tattoos-Bracelets-Feathers-Wrist-Arm-Bands-More-Delila-Collection/dp/B00ZBN19QA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Premium Metallic Tattoos - 75+ Shimmer Designs in Gold, Silver, Black & Turquoise - Temporary Fake Jewelry Tattoos - Bracelets, Feathers, Wrist & Arm Bands, & More (Delila Collection)</a> or this:<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Metallic-Temporary-Tattoo-10-SHEETS-With-Over-200-Tattoos-Gold-Silver-Color-Temporary-Tattoos-High-Gloss-Shimmer-Effect-by-Pinky-Petals/dp/B01J67T9QS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Metallic Temporary Tattoo - 10 SHEETS With Over 200+ Tattoos - Gold Silver Color Temporary Tattoos - High Gloss Shimmer Effect by Pinky Petals</a> I took off one star here, only because this ALEX set w two sheets seems pricey compared w competitors. On the other hand, ALEX does provide the three raised plastic jewel \"tattoos\" which are actually stickers, but still a big hit w the kids. These are a fun way to put some sparkle on your body without wearing actual jewelry.","Product: Packed with 26 unique step-by-step projects, the 3Doodler Project Book will guide you through the basics of how to use your 3Doodler 3D printing pen and take you on a journey all the way from beginner to master Doodler.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Some Good Basics and Fun Ideas\n\nReview: My kids have a 3D pen, but it's not a 3Doodler. We have the Hatchbox <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/HATCHBOX-1-75mm-3D-Printing-Pen-with-LCD-Screen-for-ABS-and-PLA-Filaments/dp/B017I3XW7O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">HATCHBOX 1.75mm 3D Printing Pen with LCD Screen for ABS and PLA Filaments</a>, which does not have the different pen tips (interchangeable nozzles) that 3Doodler comes with, as described in this 3Doodler book. Even so, this book was very informative and is usable for 3D pens in general, and my kids and I learned a lot of different techniques and ideas from this Project Book. For example, we did not realize that there were various media, besides the more common ABS and PLA filling strands available. The book also discusses and uses a rubberized, elastic plastic called FLEXY for some projects (such as for making a wallet and headband) and a wood fiber and PLA composite called WOOD, that apparently looks like wood. Also, there is a starter section they call \"Bootcamp,\" which provides three \"Drills\" for basic shapes that use techniques that can be incorporated in any project, such as how to make a cube, a squiggly tower, and a simple animal (Doodle Dog). The 26 projects are the following, and the book places them in order of easy to hard:\n\n1) butterfly\n2) wallet\n3) mixed media (bonding plastic extrusions with fabrics, string, glass, etc...)\n4) pyramid star\n5) headband w flower\n6) tree\n7) portraits (doodle trace on top of a picture/ photo copy)\n8) bird and birdcage\n9) hamburger\n10) dragon\n11) dinosaur\n12) windmill\n13) gorilla\n14) airplane\n15) bobblehead cowboy\n16) articulated action figure (they show you how to make a general body, and you can personalize it)\n17) vase\n18) bringing photos to life (they built a pirate ship, but you need to figure out how on your own- they provide guidance on what they did)\n19) Day of the dead sugar skull (u need a desktop 3D printer, or u can buy a plastic skull and doodle decorate)\n20) autumn leaves\n21) jack o'lantern (good primer on how to make a spherical shape w/o a balled up tissue paper insert as in some of the projects)\n22) thanksgiving turkey (using the balled up tissue paper insert, and u doodle around it for the body)\n23) bauble (more tissue paper insert spheres for ornaments and snowmen)\n24) reindeer\n25) santa ornament\n26) hanukkah dreidel (need desktop 3D printer, or plastic dreidel to decorate)\n\nEven though some of these projects are a bit vague on directions (or require outside parts or 3D desk printers on a few), i still think this book is worthwhile, because you get really nice examples of different work created by many artists (listed in back). The book has beautiful pictures on each page, and the ideas are clever. I recommend this book as a nice starter book for ideas generally, with some step-by-step basics covered. I attached a pic with some of the creatures my kids have made, incorporating some of the techniques and ideas in the book (pic including blue objects). The other three pics are from the book, which also include stencils u can copy."],"string":"[\n \"Product: With friendly faces and matching zipper-pulls, Zoo Lunchies make lunchtime fun time! Sized just right for little kids or a mom and baby on-the-go, these soft lunch bags have a roomy main compartment that holds sandwiches, snacks, drinks and more. An insulated, wipe-clean interior keeps food and drinks cold, plus an inside mesh pocket holds lunch money, an ice pack or utensils.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: So Cute! Perfect for your Elementary School Child\\n\\nReview: This is a lightly insulated soft lunchbox for children, with a cool design and adjustable (and unsnap-able) strap. It has an ample inner-mesh liner for a fork/spoon, napkin, and even space for a hand-sanitizer, with elastic across the top, as well as an easy-grip tab on the zipper (perfect for small fingers), which on the Chameleon bag design is a cool looking fly pattern. The quality of this bag is excellent, and the sewn finishes and embroidery are very professionally completed. The fabric is sturdy and water- resistant, and the size and depth is just right for a drink, fruit, snack and sandwich. i really like the thoughtful touch of putting an inner sewn label where you can write your child's name as well. This is a great price for such a nice lunch bag!\\n\\nbtw- you can hopefully see from one of the pics (reflecting the reference dollar bill) that the tail curve shape sewn on the front of the chameleon is a very pretty and mirror-like greenish/ pinkish toned plastic.\",\n \"Product: This mid-sized, stretchy neoprene tote, available in a huge variety of fun patterns, is the gold standard among reusable insulated lunch bags. Keeps food cold (or warm) for up to 4 hours, depending on the outside temperature. Zip closure keeps contents secure. The flat bottom keeps it upright, perfect for bottles or dishes that you dont want tipping over. Soft-grip handles make it easy to carry. Its vinyl-free, PVC-free, tested for lead safety, and machine-washable so there's no need to worry about spills. Stores flat, but expands to fit a variety of containers. The zip closure keeps it secure. 10 inches by 13 inches by 6-inches. BUILT Rambler Designer Neoprene Insulated Lunch Bag, Houndstooth Black (B-LB35-HTC)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Thick, Insulating, Well-Made Bag w Plenty of Space\\n\\nReview: I'm really impressed with this Black-colored, folded neoprene lunch bag. It lies flat, but opens up to stand on it's own for easy filling. It feels like a thick wetsuit, is cleanly and well-stitched around all the seams, and has a smooth-action zipper w a larger pull tab. The bag easily holds a reasonably-sized lunch and snacks, keeping even large glass containers protected with the bouncy neoprene, and providing insulative properties due to the thickness of the material.\\n\\nFor size reference, i placed a 12 oz bottle of water and a large glass container in the bag for one photo (the glass container also fits flat, but i turned it on it's side next to a dollar bill, to try to show how thick the glass container is, and how much space the lunch bag can hold). In another photo, you can see 5 soda cans- but a six pack will fit (and zip). I'm not thrilled with the large \\\"BYO\\\" symbol on the front, but that's certainly not a deal breaker. Hopefully, BYO will come out with even more designs and colors in the future- perhaps they could make the Rambler in a color my son would want to use, for example, because this is a really nice lunch bag.\",\n \"Product: Chicago cutlery Elston collection has professional stainless steel blades with curved stainless steel handles for comfort and control. This collection is perfect for cooks that are looking to save time and are ready to take cooking to the next level.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Multi-Purpose Knives, Light Feeling Steak Knives, Poor Scissors & Block\\n\\nReview: Despite my 3 star (i would give this 3.5, btw), review, i want to say that i am actually a big fan of Chicago Cutlery, and have used their knives for nearly 10 years with no problems. I feel that this particular 16-piece block set, the Avondale, just doesn't have the same great quality the Chicago Cutlery name represents, and comes across as somewhat cheaper feeling than my other Chicago Cutlery knives and sets.\\n\\nThe block itself is a thinly veneered wood, as can be seen by the little chips in the edging on the back, and the finish was a bit rough. I polished it with wood oil, and it looks reasonable, but i'm not sure how long this will last over time if you're sticking it with knives every so often (unlike my butcher block set that still looks new after nearly a decade of use).\\n\\nThe knives themselves are actually very sharp, and the stainless steel seems good quality. The handles for the multi-purpose knives are thick feeling and can even stand up on their back edges, giving a nice grip. The parts where the black polymer and the metal on the handles meet are reasonably seamless (very minor and not too noticeable gaps/ raised areas). I did not like the light feeling of the steak knives, however, that feel a bit like you're holding hollow plastic, and i thought the quality of the scissors was cheap feeling (not substantial handle, \\\"plasticky\\\" feeling polymer part).\\n\\nOverall, i'd say this is an OK set, and not bad for a first set for your home or apartment. Still, if you are looking for a long-term knife set, you may want to pay more and get one of Chicago Cutlery's better sets, such as:<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Chicago-Cutlery-Insignia2-18-Piece-Knife-Block-Set-with-In-Block-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B000H6VH1S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Chicago Cutlery Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set with In-Block Knife Sharpener</a>\",\n \"Product: The Sodastream Source was Commissioned by SodaStream from world-renowned designer, Yves Bhar. This sleek Sparkling Water Maker is a celebration of function and elegant refinement. With an intuitive LED indicator, the Source lets the consumer see the level of carbonation, and adjust to their preference without any guess work. Contents include; (1) Source Sparkling Water Maker, (1) Mini CO2 Carbonator (makes up to 9L of sparkling water), (1) 1L BPA-Free Reusable Source Carbonating Bottle, and a 60 Liter CO2 Carbonator mail-in rebate.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This Is Fab If You Like Convenience and Extra Strong Carbonation, But Very Pricey Method of Carbonating\\n\\nReview: This is my first experience w a SodaStream Sparkling Water Maker, after having used several methods of carbonating, including using my 10lb CO2 (homebrewing) tank w adaptors and mini kegs, or using specialty connection tops that fit on regular soda bottles. All the the methods i use work to carbonate beverages, but the SodaStream is the easiest and most convenient, and very quick (I always have cold, refrigerated water on hand, however- carbonation works better on cold water, so i'm not counting the time it takes to chill water). I happen to like very strongly carbonated drinks, and i'm finding that this SodaStream is most easily adjustable to the very strong carbonation I prefer, just by pressing the top down about 3-4 times vs. shaking my bottles to death manually (using my tank), which becomes very tiring if you drink a lot of carbonated water like we do. The downsides are that the 1L SodaStream container is too small for our needs (hassle to keep refilling and re-carbonating), that the device itself takes up a lot of counterspace (won't fit under cabinets), that this uses a lot of carbonation (since I carbonate heavily), and thus costs a lot more w their proprietary and expensive replacement canisters (a 60L canister seems to be in $33-$36 range from what I see being sold on Amazon). So, ups and downs. I'm very happy to have this method of carbonating, but am definitely on the fence about the long term costs and whether it will be worth it.\\n\\nIf you are a regular consumer who does not homebrew, use paintguns or otherwise have tanks of CO2 hanging around your house, i'd say this SodaStream is actually an excellent option. If you are unable to shake bottles vigorously, SodaStream is an excellent option. If you don't drink a huge amount of carbonated liquids, but enjoy a glass now and again, SodaStream is an excellent option. If you have tons of kitchen counterspace and don't mind an additional appliance out in the open, SodaStream is an excellent option.... I'm giving this 5 stars, with the qualifer that I'm not going to consider the cost (you have to decide if it's worth the cost for yourself). As a device on it's mechanical merits, this SodaStream is easy, convenient, and works great. My device did not come with any instructions at all, but it was easy enough to figure out w youtube. This does come with one rebate coupon where you can get 14.99 back from SodaStream if and when you are able to exchange out the starter small CO2 canister this comes with, for a 60L SodaStream canister. I say \\\"if\\\" you are able to exchage, because not all places that sell the 60L canisters will switch out for the small starter canister- you may need to hunt around to use the coupon.\\n\\nBtw, this Source model has three indicators in the front that light up progressively as you press down to carbonate, presumably showing you how much carbonation you are putting in your drink- the longer you press, the first, second, then third indicators light up. I believe the indicator works by measuring the amount of time passing only (vs. actual CO2 measurements), which may or may not be useful to you. I pretty much ignore it, and listen for the change in sound when the CO2 fills the bottle and makes a different sound as it starts off-gassing out of the bottle. Once you do this, you'll easily know what i mean. Some who like less carbonation and don't do the max each pump like I do, may find the indicators useful, as an visual reminder of when to stop pressing.\",\n \"Product: The Sodastream Jet is perfect for the sparkling water drinker who carbonates frequently and values convenience. This is the only machine that is compatible with the 60L CO2 cylinder and the 130L CO2 cylinder, allowing the consumer to maximize their carbonation capabilities. Simply twist and lock the bottle into the machine, and carbonate by pumping the textured push button control. This kit includes everything you need to make fresh sparkling water in your own home. Contents include; (1) Jet Sparkling Water Maker, (1) Mini CO2 Carbonator (makes up to 9L of sparkling water), (1) 1L BPA-Free Reusable Carbonating Bottle, and a 60 Liter CO2 Carbonator mail-in rebate.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good For Adjustable Fizzing, and Works as Advertised- Some Comparisons w the SodaStream Source\\n\\nReview: This is my second SodaStream Sparkling Water Maker, after having tried the SodaStream Source. Prior to the SodaStreams, I've used several methods of carbonating, including using my 10lb CO2 (homebrewing) tank w adaptors and mini kegs, or using specialty connection tops that fit on regular soda bottles. All the the methods i use work to carbonate beverages, but the SodaStream is the easiest and most convenient, and very quick (I always have cold, refrigerated water on hand, however- carbonation works better on cold water, so i'm not counting the time it takes to chill water). I happen to like very strongly carbonated drinks, and i'm finding that this SodaStream is most easily adjustable to the very strong carbonation I prefer, just by pressing the top down about 3-4 times vs. shaking my bottles to death manually (using my tank), which becomes very tiring if you drink a lot of carbonated water like we do. The downsides are that the 1L SodaStream container is too small for our needs (hassle to keep refilling and re-carbonating), that the device itself takes up a lot of counterspace (won't fit under cabinets), that this uses a lot of carbonation (since I carbonate heavily), and thus costs a lot more w their proprietary and expensive replacement canisters (a 60L canister seems to be in $33-$36 range from what I see being sold on Amazon). The Jet can accomodate both the 60L and the 130L CO2 canister sizes, and the 130L costs nearly the same as the Jet itself. So, ups and downs. I'm very happy to have this method of carbonating, but am definitely on the fence about the long term costs and whether it will be worth it.\\n\\nIf you are a regular consumer who does not homebrew, use paintguns or otherwise have tanks of CO2 laying about your house, i'd say this SodaStream is actually an excellent option. If you are unable to shake bottles vigorously, SodaStream is an excellent option. If you don't drink a huge amount of carbonated liquids, but enjoy a glass now and again, SodaStream is an excellent option. If you have tons of kitchen counterspace and don't mind an additional appliance out in the open, SodaStream is an excellent option.... I'm giving this 4 stars, with the qualifer that I'm not going to consider the cost (you have to decide if it's worth the cost for yourself). As a device on it's mechanical merits, this SodaStream is easy, convenient, and works as advertised. The Source is more convenient than the Jet, because you need to screw your water bottle into the machine for fizzing w the Jet, vs. just \\\"locking\\\" the water in the device w the Stream. But, the Jet is about $20 cheaper. Both the Jet and Source came with one rebate coupon where you can get $14.99 back from SodaStream if and when you are able to exchange out the starter small CO2 canister this comes with, for a 60L SodaStream canister. I say \\\"if\\\" you are able to exchage, because not all places that sell the 60L canisters will switch out for the small starter canister- you may need to hunt around to use the coupon.\\n\\nOne other difference between the Jet and the Source is that the the Source has a sturdy metal bottom platform which does not slip on the counter, whereas the Jet is not as stable nor non-slip. The Jet has just the plastic at the bottom, and feels overall cheaper than the Source, which, again, is cuz it is actually cheaper (by $20-ish) than the Source.\",\n \"Product: Core, slice, and peel like your apples all at once with the new star deluxe apple peeler. Mmm.homemade Apple pies just got easier!.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works Amazingly Well; Even Great Just for Eating Apples Daily\\n\\nReview: This is a very impressive device that cores, peels and slices apples all in one go. I use it just to have sliced and peeled apples for my kids for breakfast- we're eating a lot more apples because of this. Once I get my act together and unpack my stored dehydrator, I'll really get use from this peeler. I rinse this device immediately after using it, while the apple juice is still wet, and just leave it on my counter (I use it that much lately). You can also core and slice without peeling, if you want to eat the peel. All in all, I think this is just the greatest invention. If you have an apple tree and can, dry or make a lot of pies, this is a must!\",\n \"Product: Create breathtaking desserts in just minutes with the Bakelicious Icing Gun! This decorating gun fits nicely in one hand so you can use it like a pen! Its natural hand position makes writing or detailed decorating easy for both kids and adults. Have up to 3 colors ready instantly, using its unique \\\"quick-switch action\\\". One moment you're writing in blue, the next you're outlining in green. And no messy bags means there's no need to clean until you're done! This must-have set includes three icing containers, three icing tips and six lids for storage (3 top & 3 bottom) - All parts disassemble for easy cleaning. Each cartridge has a lid for both ends so icing stays fresh until your next decorating session. For best results, store icing in refrigerator to keep it from drying out. Decorate and create beautiful designs easily with this Icing Gun Set!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect Stand For Pop Decorating- Looks Nice As A Server Too\\n\\nReview: I really love this Bakelicious Cake Pop Stand, which is not only extremely useful for decorating, but acts as a pretty serving tray as well. The stand comes w three separate trays that screw together and a top piece that covers the center hole and adds a useful ring handle you can pick up the entire stand by, for easy transport. Best of all, the separate pieces of the stand all pack together into a thinner shape for easier storage. The clip areas that hold the pop sticks fit standard sized 4\\\" lollipop sticks, and the trays wipe easily. When you place your dipped pops, don't forget to add the pops to the top tray first- otherwise, you'll mess up the bottom pops (i figured this out the hard way). The little indents on the tray don't necessarily line up well with the bottoms of the pop sticks, but no biggie- i'm not clear what they are for anyways- if you had that much dripping down into the indent, your sticks would be a mess. I highly recommend this great tray set.\",\n \"Product: Make chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered pretzels, cake pops and more with the Wilton Candy Melting Pot. It features an easy-to-clean and convenient removable silicone pot with an ergonomic, heat-resistant handle and two easy-pour spouts perfect for pouring melted candy into a decorating bag or drizzling directly onto treats. Once finished, simply chill the silicone pot until the candy hardens, then gently squeeze the soft silicone insert to pop out the remaining candy. The pot has two temperature settings, warm and melt so you can quickly melt up to 2 cups of Candy Melts candy or chocolate in less than 10 minutes and keep it warm for dipping. An innovative heating base stays cool to the touch, a safety light indicates when the pot is on and it has rubber feet to keep it steady and in place on your counter. Powered by a standard 120-volt cord with polarized plug. Complete instructions included.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Decorating Tools by Wilton- Must Haves For Decorating w Melts\\n\\nReview: These Wilton Candy Melts Decorating Tools Set comes with most all of the decorating tools you'll need for basic candy melt decorating, and they are a good quality. The wires are thin but strong enough to hold your food, and the shapes are useful for small candies as well as cake balls. The handles are long enough to be comfortable, and the plastic handles are sturdy. I used these with Wilton's melting pot set, and the products complemented each other well in both use and appearance <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Wilton-Party-Pack-Candy-Melts-Candy-Melting-Pot-Set/dp/B01NAAP6H2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Wilton Party Pack, Candy Melts & Candy Melting Pot Set</a>. You can see from the pics that I used the little basket tool and the fork tool to hold my cake balls. I also used the thin \\\"spear\\\" to take my cake balls out of the cake ball maker. I didn't use a contrasting color in my project shown, so I didn't need the designing tool (the white teardrop spoon), but that as well as the small candy loop are great tools to have. I can't imagine doing this without these tools. Everything would just be a lot harder. If you enjoy decorating and making desserts, you'll enjoy this set.\",\n \"Product: Ideal for traditional and slow cooking techniques, designed to heat evenly and steadily, holding heat so foods stay warm while serving. The cast iron pan features a pre-seasoned cooking surface to help prevent sticking, and oversized handles for easy and secure lifting. Can be used on gas, electric and even induction stovetops, as well as in the oven and broiler. Cast iron skillet is ideal for both stovetop and oven use, and makes delicious seared steaks, baked cornbread, or tasty frittatas. This product is protected by Calphalon's full lifetime warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Shape and Size, Works Great\\n\\nReview: I was specifically looking for a larger cast iron pan that has sloped edges towards the bottom of the pan, just like this Caphalon 12\\\". The size lets me make a meal for four easily (4-8 chicken breasts or pork chops at a time size), and doesn't have the edge crevice that occasionally keeps my food from touching the pan. It's also easier to clean the gentle slope vs. a sharper angle. This pan is a bit thinner (and lighter) than your typical Lodge (which I also have in many sizes), and I was worried it wouldn't work as well to maintain that great cast iron heat, but so far, i have had no trouble getting that nice crispy/ crunchy browning on my food as I get w my other cast iron pans. This says pre-seasoned, but it comes less seasoned than other cast iron pans I've purchased. No big deal, though, I just cooked a lot of bacon a few times, and kept it oiled and in the oven while I baked other foods- it didn't take long to get the desired blackened burnish. The pic has some leftover hashbrowns, which don't stick, and work very well for four big servings in this pan (The lid is from another pan).\",\n \"Product: DII offers over-sized napkins in countless colors, assuring youll find the perfect color for your table. All napkin colors coordinate with the DII ribbed place-mats, fringe place-mats, and assorted tablecloths. This makes it simple to create a perfectly coordinated table setting. These napkins are 100 percent cotton and measure 20 x 20 inches. To minimize shrinkage, please follow care instructions. To view more of our products visit amazon.com/dii.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Substantial and Pretty Everyday Tablecloth\\n\\nReview: I have several DII cotton tableware products, and having used them for about half a year now through many washes, I'm very pleased w the quality overall. These 100% cotton tablecloths come in many pretty muted colors, and this particular blue/ green plaid looks just like the picture. i don't know if the manufacturing is handled in different facilities, but this particular cloth seems thicker and more substantial than some other tablecloths I have from this same company. When I was unfolding this, I thought one of the hems was two thicknesses of cloth and I was trying to pull it apart, when I realized it was the thick-feeling edging. These do shrink about 10% over time (I only cold water wash), and if you want a finished look you need to iron. Still, for everyday use, these are perfect.\",\n \"Product: DIIs 100% cotton tablecloths come in a variety of colors & sizes. These tablecloths are perfect for picnics, parties, showers, dinners, everyday use and more. DII offers a variety of prints and patterns, giving you numerous options for your next event or dinner party. All of DIIs cotton tablecloths have a 1 inch folded hem and mitered corners. These tablecloths are machine washable for easy clean up and use. Find DIIs full selection of tablecloths by searching for DII Cotton Tablecloths.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: So Pretty and Well Made\\n\\nReview: I have several DII tablecloths and runners, and I really find the muted natural cotton fabric and simple designs very pleasant and cheerful on the dining table. This lovely blue and beige striped tablecloth with clean stitching and well-mitered corners is another winner for this series, and the colors are true to the pictures in the ad. I use these tablecloths outdoors as well, on a big plastic table that looks so much more appealing with these on- like a rustic table you'd find in a French countryside vs. the old patio furniture it actually is. These fabrics also wash well, as long as you take care to only use cold water and low heat drying (or drip dry and cool iron)- it is 100% cotton, so there is a bit of shrinkage over time, but the fabrics and colors have held up over a few months of washsings, and still look very nice. I would not hesitate to get these for casual dining.\",\n \"Product: DIIs 100% cotton tablecloths come in a variety of colors & sizes. These tablecloths are perfect for picnics, parties, showers, dinners, everyday use and more. DII offers a variety of prints and patterns, giving you numerous options for your next event or dinner party. All of DIIs cotton tablecloths have a 1 inch folded hem and mitered corners. These tablecloths are machine washable for easy clean up and use. Find DIIs full selection of tablecloths by searching for DII Cotton Tablecloths.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful Color, Rustic Look and Feel, Holds up Well\\n\\nReview: This is a nice series from DII. I have several of their 100% cotton tablecloths, and when maintained by only washing in cold w a low dry or hang dry and light iron, I find these tablecloths hold their color and shape well with about a 10% shrinkage over time (several months of washing). They still look beautiful and rustic, however, and add a great look to my indoor and outdoor dining areas. The color is fairly steadfast, but the look gets very slightly lighter over time. This could be due to the cotton \\\"fuzzing\\\" a bit, which doesn't detract from this looking very nice. Overall, these are a great everyday cloths, and if you like natural fabrics like I do, these are very decent.\",\n \"Product: Sink your feet into the Imprint Cumulus9 Comfort Mat with its proprietary Multi-Core Technology. Feel how it conforms to the shape of your feet and supports your arches for relief of back, leg and foot discomfort. The advantage is its proprietary multilayer cushioning system. The soft, upper layer luxuriously cushions your feet while the firm, lower layer provides soothing support. Youll want an Imprint Comfort Mat everywhere you work and stand kitchen, laundry, bathroom, garage,workshop and more.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best of 4 types of anti-fatigue mats i have\\n\\nReview: I have four types of similar anti-fatigue mats such as this one, and compared to the Gel Pro NewLife, Cumulus9's Nantucket series, and the Rachel Ray Anti-Fatigue, i think this Cumulus9 Chevron Series mat feels the best. In order of preference for me:\\n\\nthis Cumulus9 Chevron\\nGel Pro NewLife <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/NewLife-by-GelPro-Designer-Comfort-Mat-18-by-30-Inch-Sisal-Coffee-Bean/dp/B0176BIJEE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">NewLife by GelPro Designer Comfort Mat, 18 by 30-Inch, Sisal Coffee Bean</a>\\nCumulus 9 Nantucket <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Imprint-Cumulus9-Kitchen-Mat-Nantucket-Series-20-in-x-36-in-x-5-8-in-Cinnamon/dp/B003BYRDK2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Imprint Cumulus9 Kitchen Mat Nantucket Series 20 in. x 36 in. x 5/8 in. Cinnamon</a>\\nRachel Ray <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Rachael-Ray-Premium-Anti-Fatique-Kitchen-Comfort-Mat-Black/dp/B015T1WMIM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Rachael Ray Premium Anti-Fatique Kitchen Comfort Mat, Black</a>\\n\\nThis Chevron is a perfect mix between the athletic shoe-type very bouncy feel of the NewLife, and the softer memory-foam cushioning that moulds around your feet like the Nantucket. I don't necessarily recommend the Rachel Ray mat, because although it provides the most support due to it being the \\\"hardest\\\" feeling mat, it was irregularly machined, and does not hold up well over time. The Cumulus 9 series, both Chevron and Nantucket, are well-made, extremely comfortable to stand on, and lovely in your home. I highly recommend. I have the \\\"Dove\\\" color, and it works really well with my wood floors and white cabinetry (see pic).\",\n \"Product: The mason Shaker set includes the mason Shaker, our muddler, jigger and a copy of shake, everything necessary to start crafting delicious cocktails. It's the perfect companion for at-home bartenders.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellently Machined, No Drip Shaker\\n\\nReview: This beautiful W&P Mason Cocktail Shaker in a 1 qt (32 oz) size, has a standard regular mouth opening, and should fit your regular canning jars. The set comes with a jar, the shaker head, a cap and a ring (regular canning ring). The shaker head and cap are beautifully machined, and fit perfectly on the jar as well as to each other. I'm impressed with how they made the shaker head design with a small lip all around the edge that fits on the jar, so that if you screw the ring on firmly, there is no leaking from the neck at all. I tried this with ice and water, and absolutely no leak to my surprise. I fully expected, based on reading a review or two, that there might be a leak, and that I might have to buy a separate silicone jar edge insert- such as I use for some of my re-open type lids- <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Unique-Design-Reusable-Silicone-Seals-for-use-with-Regular-Mouth-Mason-Jars-Seal-Sits-on-Rim-of-Jar-Not-Inside-Lid-Gaskets-fit-Ball-Kerr-And-All-Regular-Mouth-Mason-Jars-Pack-of-12/dp/B06XPH8QN3/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Unique Design, Reusable Silicone Seals for use with Regular Mouth Mason Jars, Seal Sits on Rim of Jar Not Inside Lid, Gaskets fit Ball, Kerr And All Regular Mouth Mason Jars - Pack of 12</a> but nope (I tried the listed silicone seal, btw, and found it fits, in case you have a leaking issue for some reason). This is a beautiful and useful shaker, and I'm pleased to have this useful and attractive getup in my house. btw, the box was quite attractive as well, and would make a nice gift.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy the cool comfort and memory foam support of the Sleep Master Gel Memory Foam Sofa Mattress by Zinus. The 1 inch of premium gel memory foam combined with 4 inches of high density support foam ensures that guests will sleep cool and comfortably on your sleeper sofa. The Gel Memory Foam Sofa Mattress conforms to the contours of your body and provides the ultimate support for an undisturbed night sleep. The latest evolution of memory foam, Biofoam replaces some of the traditional petroleum with natural plant oil, and includes natural green tea extract and all natural active charcoal to help absorb moisture, eliminate odors, and keep your mattress topper fresh. Please open your sofa mattress package within 72 hours of receipt and allow 48 hours for your new sofa mattress to return to its original, plush shape. Worry free 5 year limited warranty. Another comfort innovation from Zinus. Pioneering comfort.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Deal for a High Quality Mattress!\\n\\nReview: I didn't have high hopes for this mattress before i got it. the price was low, and at the advertised 5\\\" thick, it just didn't seem like it should be sturdy or thick enough to be comfortable. I was wrong on all counts, happily. As a disclosure, i don't generally like memory foam, and like very firm mattresses, so if you are a feathery-soft-squish-into-your-mattress-loving person, i'm not sure this will be for you. The mattress came rolled up and packaged in a large white fabric-ish tube (one use, disposable, cuz u are instructed to literally rip, not cut, it open), and the mattress is vacuum squished flat in a plastic bag. you cut the plastic bag open, and the vacuum seal breaks to allow air back into the mattress. The instructions say to allow it to unfurl in place for 48 hours. Sadly (cuz now i have to move it), i put this on my living room floor, and it really expands!- it looked so little in the tube by comparison... Within 10 minutes of me taking it out of the plastic, it had grown to the full 5\\\" in height. You can see the sequence in the photos as the mattress gets nearly as high as the dollar bill, and slightly over 5\\\".\\n\\nThe mattress has a nicely fuzzy/soft, removable cover which is zippered around three full edges of the bottom for easy removal, and the metal head of the zipper is thoughtfully tucked into a fabric \\\"tunnel\\\" of sorts, so that you can't rip any covers or sheets with the metal part hanging out. A peek inside the cover shows an inner gauze holding together the 4\\\" foam layer (yellow) with the 1\\\" \\\"Cool Gel\\\" memory foam (blue). i couldn't tell about the \\\"Cool Gel\\\" part, as it felt neither gel-ish nor particularly cool, but it does feel like 1\\\" of fairly high quality memory foam on a firm base of heavy duty firm upholstery-type foam. All together, this feels great to lay on, and supports my back while providing enough cushion to cuddle your shape.\\n\\nThis is an excellent mattress, and absolutely worth the cost. i would not hesitate to let my guests sleep on this, and it's a big step up from typical sleeper sofa mattresses. i would even use this as a regular mattress for daily use. i can't say yet as to how well it will hold up over time, but i'll update in the future..\\n\\nbtw- for those of you who are sensitive to chemical smells- this is much less stinky out of the pack than other memory foam products my family has owned. it has a very mild, much less than new car type smell, and i didn't feel the need to open every window.\",\n \"Product: Joseph Josephs Elevate kitchen utensils are designed to improve hygiene and minimize the mess made by placing utensils onto countertops during use. Each tool has an innovative weighted handle with an integrated tool rest that prevents the tool head from touching the counter when placed down. The rotating carousel storage stand has a non-slip base and rotates smoothly for easy utensil selection.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive, Space Saving and Easy to Use- Good Tools\\n\\nReview: This Joseph Joseph 6-piece utensil set is a very functional and attractive caddy for everyday tools you'd use in your kitchen. Presently, I have a mishmash of items in a drawer, taking up all the drawer space. This rotating set is so much cleaner and useful- don't have to dig around for the right tool, either. The tools are a good size and shape, being slightly smaller than individual pieces I have, but i'm liking the smaller sizes, actually. I particularly like the thin flipper spatula, which is really useful for nearly everything I use a spatula for- much better than my big fat one (except for giant pancakes, that is- can use the bigger spatula in the set for that). The handles are firm, well weighted and rubberized, so they won't slip out of your hands. The clever \\\"foot\\\" that keeps the food part of the tool off the counter is so excellent- all kitchen tools should have this feature! All in all a wonderful all-in-one set.\",\n \"Product: DIIs 100% cotton tablecloths come in a variety of colors & sizes. These tablecloths are perfect for picnics, parties, showers, dinners, everyday use and more. DII offers a variety of prints and patterns, giving you numerous options for your next event or dinner party. All of DIIs cotton tablecloths have a 1 inch folded hem and mitered corners. These tablecloths are machine washable for easy clean up and use. Find DIIs full selection of tablecloths by searching for DII Cotton Tablecloths. To view more of our products visit amazon.com/dii.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fine Basic Lightweight Tablecloth- Bamboo Lattice Has a Great Retro Look\\n\\nReview: This nice 100% Cotton DII tablecloth is lightweight and crisp, feeling just a bit thinner than other DII tablecloths I have used, and being less \\\"rustic\\\" in that the fabric is smoother and more sheet-like. This cloth doesn't have the slightly fuzzier textured cotton feel on it's face, and it makes it a bit more elegant overall. I have the Bamboo Lattice pattern, and the pattern and color remind me of the mid-century modern look of my aunt's place during the 60's. I guess this tablecloth is nostalgic for me, and I like it a lot. DII has great natural cotton tablecloths, and they hold up well through (cold) washes. I highly recommend them-they are good quality, and they come in many beautiful styles and patterns for everyday use.\",\n \"Product: Brighten up your cupcakes with rainbow icing swirls using the Wilton Color Swirl. This three-color coupler lets you pipe three different shades of icing at once. Includes the tri-color icing coupler, 1M and 1A icing tips and disposable piping bags.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Way to Get Pretty Multi-Colors - Good Price\\n\\nReview: This Wilton ColorSwirl 3-Color Coupler Set with two tips, disposable plastic frosting bags, and a coupler set that splits into three plus outer ring, is an interesting tool that allows you to precisely control the amount of each color going into your frosting- you can get fairly even-looking thirds of color if you squeeze a tight bag. This works best with three frosting filled bags, so the frosting comes out evenly. I tried just two of the colors at first, and it was tougher to control with the two plastic inner pieces moving around in the outer purple coupler ring. It finally occurred to me to put the third (empty) coupler head in for stability (duh) and it worked much better. I think the best (if you only want two colors) would be to just use two of the couplers with one color, and the third with the 2nd color, so it's easier to squeeze. It also helps a lot if you refill the frosting bags as you go, instead of putting in a lot at once.\\n\\nThe tips provided have fairly large openings (to accommodate three coupler/ colors at once), and you'll end up with quite a lot of frosting on your cupcakes if you want good swirls showcasing all the colors. I like to make mini cupcakes, and liked the look I got with single dots (like a big chocolate kiss shape- or a star if you use the other tip) piped straight down on the center. Overall, this set is a cleaner way to keep your frosting colors looking precise, vs. spreading the different icing colors along the insides of a single bag. You get a very pretty design, esp. using highly contrasted colors. This set is a good price, and a good addition to your cake decorating arsenal.\",\n \"Product: The USA Pan Small Cookie Scoop Pan measures a full 12.5 x 7.75 inches* and provides home bakers with an easy way to bake delicious homemade cookies that brown evenly, release quickly, and come out tasting great! With an innovative scoop design that is both smart and baker friendly, taking fresh cookies out of the oven has never been easier. With a secure, easy gripping handle and a tapered edge, simply slide finished cookies onto a kitchen counter or cooling sheet. With a patented AMERICOAT Plus non-stick coating, the USA Pan small cookie Scoop Pan allows for easy clean-up. AMERICOAT Plus is PTFE, PFOA, and BPA free. Every USA Pan is made in the USA and has been designed with the same standard high performance features that commercial bakers enjoy including aluminized steel and heavy gauge steel construction that allows for even heat distribution and maximum service life. USA Pan Small Cookie Scoop Pans unique fluted surface design facilitates air circulation and also maximizes pan strength, which helps to resist warping. USA Pan bakeware is long-lasting, durable, reliable, and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. USA Pans professional grade bakeware helps everyday home bakers produce professional grade baked goods. USA Pan is a Bundy Family owned company, based in the Greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area that has been producing high performance bakeware for over 50 years. *Dimensions represent baking surface, not overall pan size.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Substantial, Non-Stick High Quality Cookie Sheet\\n\\nReview: This is another great product by USA Pan Bakeware. This (Large) sheet has the same finish (wavy and heavy gauge metal coated w a smooth silicone) as my favored USA Pan Pullman Loaf baker i've been using over five years now: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/USA-Pan-Bakeware-Pullman-Loaf-Pan-with-Cover-13-x-4-inch-Nonstick-amp-Quick-Release-Coating-Made-in-the-USA-from-Aluminized-Steel/dp/B002UNMZPI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">USA Pan Bakeware Pullman Loaf Pan with Cover, 13 x 4 inch, Nonstick & Quick Release Coating, Made in the USA from Aluminized Steel</a>. Based on my long term use of my USA Pan Pullman, I can say this material really holds up over time, as my Pullman looks and works as new as the day I got it in early 2011, with my using it about once per month over that time. Just be careful not to scratch the silicone finish w any metal instruments. I also really like how this cookie sheet has one higher lip, because I am constantly crushing the edge of my cookies w oven mitts, and this pan's high edge prevents that from happening. I wish both sides had high edges, however, because I turn my cookies 1/2 way through, but I guess that might interfere w the heat flow over the tops of the cookies. Overall, this is a great pan, distributes heat well due to it's thickness, and nothing sticks to that silicone. I just cooked a pan of green beans w olive oil and garlic salt, and they turned out great, leaving the pan easy to quickly rinse clean.\",\n \"Product: THE BOSS stainless steel growler is ready for filling with 64 ounces of icy cold craft beer at the brewery or fresh hot coffee from home or your local coffee house. Featuring our TriMax triple insulation technology, this bottle is vacuum insulated and tested to keep liquids cold for 36 hours and hot for up to 8 hours. Weve included a removable stainless steel infuser, so you have the option of adding the flavor of fresh fruit to your drinks. If youre a tea enthusiast, fill the infuser with leaves and THE BOSS will be your favorite tea maker. On a summer day or warm evening, pour some wine in the growler, add slices of oranges, limes, pineapple and enjoy refreshingly chilled sangria that will stay cold all day - perfect to take on a picnic or day at the beach!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Luv These TriMax Bottles w their Excellent Filters\\n\\nReview: This EcoVessel THE BOSS TriMax is just what i've been looking for. I have a lot of insulated carriers, but none w the convenient and beautifully machined inner fine-mesh strainer in this size. I like to drink specialty teas, and this BOSS size allows me to share without running out, and without it getting cold before I finish the pot. The large strainer has ample room for full sized spices like cinnamon sticks and uncrushed flowers, and the very fine opening strainer keeps smaller particles out of my drink, almost as well as a paper mesh filter. The screw-on cap of the filter ensures that no large particles get out, and the thoughtful tuck-down handle on the filter cap makes it easy to remove from the bottle cleanly.\\n\\nThis a very attractive bottle that's well-built, and I can't feel the heat from the outer body at all, even w nearly boiling temperatures inside. Over time, I can feel a slight warmth on the lid, but the tea (and hot coffee) is still pleasantly warm even after about 4 hrs w opening the lid several times for pouring. I have the smaller 24 oz EcoVessel container as well <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/EcoVessel-Boulder-Dual-Opening-Insulated-Stainless-Steel-Water-Bottle-with-Tea-Fruit-and-Ice-Strainer-20-oz-Teal/dp/B019K72H7M/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">EcoVessel Boulder Dual Opening Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Tea, Fruit and Ice Strainer, 20 oz., Teal</a>, and like to use that for homemade kombucha. The strainer keeps the occasional blob of errant SCOBY out of my drink, without having to filter it separately. I think the best and most unique parts of these EcoVessel insulated drink carriers are their excellent filters, and I highly recommend these great bottles if you are looking for the combo of superior filter, good insulation and good looks.\",\n \"Product: Mikasa Haley Platinum is an elegant and sophisticated pattern that creates a stunning tablescape. Features 2 hand-painted platinum bands along the rim creating a timeless design. Constructed of glass. Hand wash. Set of 4 flutes, each holds 7 ounces.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent Looking Overall, But Minor Imperfections\\n\\nReview: These Mikasa Haley Platinum Champagne Flutes are overall attractive looking w a pleasing feel, and I like the light swirl/ twist design in the bowl, the double platinum stripe at top and the substantial weight of these glasses, which are not particularly delicate, but not in a bad way. The stem is smooth and has no seam, but Mikasa is engraved on the foot, so that it's noticeable and permanent. I'm not a big fan of branding showing on my items, so this is a disappointment for me, but i'm not deducting stars for it. The reason i'm giving this 3 stars is that two of the four glasses in this set have minor imperfections within the glass in the bowl, that are less noticeable due to the swirl pattern, but still should not be there for a nearly $50 set. It's hard to tell from my picture, but there are several off-looking cuts/waves inside the walls of the glass itself (unrelated to the swirl design). At a minimum, this shows some quality control issues. Perhaps you will be luckier w your set.\",\n \"Product: Ciara dinnerware by Mikasa brings understated contemporary style to the table. Clean white bone china is accented with striations that swirl around each piece, creating a simple, modern pattern perfect for both casual and formal dining. 16-piece set, service for 4, includes 4 each of: 11-inch dinner plate, 9-inch salad plate, 5-3/4 inch cereal bowl, and 13-ounce mug. Microwave and dishwasher safe.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is now our Good Dinnerware, but we use it every day\\n\\nReview: At our wedding so long ago, i received a really nice set of dinnerware, that we use only on special occasions. Compared to the price, and because we rarely use the settings, i wish i could go back in time and just have gotten this Mikasa Ciara Bone China set instead. We pretty much stuck to our sturdy and uninspiring Corningware dishes for daily use after our children were born, and have been using those and fiesta-type stoneware since. So, i was really happy to have the opportunity to review this nice set of dishes, which i figured would be a step up from our Corningware, different and lighter than our stoneware and hopefully nice enough to serve dinner to guests on more fancy occasions.\\n\\nThis set has really surpassed my expectations! This is a delicate-feeling and looking set, but surprisingly sturdy, with a clean and simple design. The dinnerware set easily dresses up our nice dinners, yet is solid enough to stand up to daily use. i've used these just like our Corningware, with no special care, and no problem at all. I really like how the edges of the dishware are tapered and that it feels and looks more sophisticated than what i'm used to with glass and stoneware.\\n\\nAn additional benefit i found was that these are really functionally sized and shaped. The bowl is a perfect size, in my opinion, for both hot (soups, stews) and cold (cereal, salads) foods, because it is larger than my other bowls, and not shallow in shape. i don't have to fill it too far up to the rim, for example, which generally caused spills with my kids. the mug is also really nice, because it has a 13 oz capacity, which gives you that little bit extra than normal 12oz mugs, and due to it's deep well and slightly fluted design, my coffee is staying warmer longer, and it's pleasant to hold with less chance of slipping. The salad plate at 9\\\" is also large enough to be useful as a light dinner plate, if you have a small entree for yourself.\\n\\nAll in all, a superior set of dishes! i'll definitely be using these for every occasion.\",\n \"Product: The world is your oyster! OK, maybe not the whole world, but this pan is your oyster. Use this versatile 12-section pan to grill oysters on the half shell or shucked. Constructed of heavy duty cast iron, it features a seasoned, non-stick coating for easy release and cleaning. You can also use it to make single serving mac & cheese, drop biscuits, mini corn bread, and more. Fire up your creativity.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Substantial Cast Iron- Even Heating, Ample Oyster Space\\n\\nReview: This specialized Outset Oyster Grill Pan w 12 slots, is very fancy looking, but more importantly, is a very useful way to grill or bake your oysters without having them tip all their delish juices and seasonings out. The holding spots are ample and will cradle a good range of shells from smaller shells to the largest I've seen, due to the graduated curves up the sides. Although this does not have to be seasoned further if you're just going to be using it for oysters, I oiled and baked the front of the pan (I did not oil the back,so you can see a minor difference in sheen) just so I could also use this for cornbread and brownies as well, which i make more frequently than i grill oysters (see cheese jalapeno cornbread pics). The pan is well made, had no obvious imperfections, and feels substantial and weighty as you'd expect from cast iron. I think this is beautiful as a presentation plate for your oysters (grilled or even iced), and would give quite a flair to your appetizer spread.\",\n \"Product: Lifetime 4-foot commercial adjustable height folding tables are constructed of high-density polyethylene & have three adjustable height settings. They will not crack, chip or peel, & are built for indoor & outdoor use. The patented steel frame design provides a sturdy foundation & is protected with a powder-coated, weather-resistant finish. Designed with an innovative one-hand adjustment mechanism, this Lifetime 4-foot adjustable height table is backed by a ten-year warranty, & is perfect for your home, office, outdoor activities & more!.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well-Built, Sturdy, Easy to Set-Up and Take Down, Useful Size\\n\\nReview: This is my third Lifetime Products folding table. I purchased my first (large picnic table size) from Costco many years ago, for quick backyard setups when I needed an extra table, and it has held up great over time for both indoor and outdoor use. This smaller side table- 80387 4'- which i've shown in my pic next to the short side of a queen mattress for size reference, is almost an identical version to my bigger table, except it has the advantage of adjustable height legs. This table is sturdy feeling and stable when set up, even at the highest height setting (three possible settings), and the materials and workmanship are excellent. The legs are easy to slide in and out for height adjustment via squeezing together two red release tabs on the crossbar bracing the legs, and the compacted legs fold down into the underside of the table, snapping into place, so that the table's sillhouette is completely flat and the legs don't flop around. There is even a convenient handle on one side of the table, so that you can carry it like a supersized briefcase when folded.\\n\\nI've been using this one outside next to my bbq, because my bbq didn't come w side wings. The table doesn't take much room in my small courtyard, but provides the perfect amount of table space I need for my platters, food and cooking tools. When i'm done, it's neatly folded away and stored in my garage, against a wall. I would not hesitate to get this brand if you are looking for a long-lasting and well-made folding table\",\n \"Product: Clingless Curtain Keeper pulls the shower curtain or shower liner away from you and towards the outside edge of the bathtub. The bottom of the shower curtain remains on the inside of the bathtub preventing water spills onto your floor. Additional benefits include: Solves Shower Curtain Cling No more shower curtain touching you! Adds up to 25% More Shower Space! Designed to work with ANY shower curtain / shower liner and ANY bathtub! Comes Completely Assembled, so ZERO assembled required. No Tools Required! Just snap it on 12-15\\\" above the bottom of the Shower Liner Healthier as it keeps a dirty shower liner from touching you. Better than shower curtain weights and magnets, but work well with existing. Accents your boring shower liner, visible with a single liner or can be hidden with a double curtain. Travels in any suitcase, so take it on the road to use at any hotel, resort or motel! Not limited to designs, shapes or colors because they are interchangeable. Easy Care: Wipe clean with sponge and soap!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Live a Longer and Happier Life\\n\\nReview: If you have a certain kind of irritation in your household- a combination of a specific shower curtain thickness, a certain airflow pattern in your shower area, or you happen to have a particular body shape/ size or movement habit that causes you to be assaulted by a cold wet curtain every so often as you are trying to get soap out of your eyes- this IS the product for you! Irritations like this, over and over again, in your life, can cause early death... or certainly unnecessary stress, and you probably didn't even appreciate the harm to your inner-chi from the accumulation of these bad feelings at the start of your day, did you?\\n\\nThis Clingless Curtain Keeper does exactly what it's name says, and these doo-dads do give you more room in your shower. We already had that curved out shower rod, trying to get additional space away from our Attack- Curtain, but it didn't help all that much. This set of three nifty devices, sleek-looking and easy to put on your shower curtain via strong magnets, keeps your curtain in it's place. The nicely rubberized swinging teardrop shaped weights are totally waterproof and make only light bumping sounds against your tub when you move the curtain back- no fear of scratches or damage.\\n\\nThese genius guys, invent this thing- pet-rock-like, but better, and present it to all us stressed-out people who didn't even know what was causing our generalized and vague unease, slowly permeating our day, before trying out this great product. I'm a much happier person now. Good job Inventor Guys!\",\n \"Product: Dili's 13x19\\\" outdoor double-sided placemats coordinate with dii's zippered tablecloth for outdoor use during the spring and summer months. The polyester material makes for simple cleanup. Great for BBQ's, parties, summer gatherings, dinner with the family and more.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for Casual, and Especially Outdoor Use\\n\\nReview: This DII 100% Poly Outdoor tablecloth is exactly as described, and looks just like in the picture. This tablecloth is smooth and substantial feeling, and does not wrinkle, but lays flat. It has the feeling of the napkins you generally find in large hotel chains, which are not a bad quality at all, and very easy to maintain. Because this is all Polyester, water does not soak in very easily, and so you can wipe away quick liquid spills before they get down into the fabric. Additionally, this beautiful banana leaf type pattern really hides minor stains without taking away from the festive and pretty look. If you have animal or tropical themed parties, this tablecloth is just the best. Quick in and out of the washer and dryer, and it looks exactly the same. I highly recommend!\",\n \"Product: The Thermos 16 Ounce stainless steel travel tumblers offer superior cold temperature retention that keeps beverages cool and delicious for up to 12 hours. That makes them great for long walks, the Ride to work or wherever life takes you. With durable stainless steel interior and exterior and a sweat-proof design, this cold beverage bottle is versatile for any lifestyle.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Insulation, 1-Piece Cap, Not Leakproof\\n\\nReview: I was happy to try this Thermos H1017PC4, as our family has been using Thermos' similar insulated 16oz tumbler:<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Thermos-Stainless-King-16-Ounce-Travel-Tumbler-Midnight-Blue/dp/B002PY7AYS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Thermos Stainless King 16-Ounce Travel Tumbler, Midnight Blue</a> for over 5 years, and recently even bought some more, cuz it's our all time favorite. This particular peach H1017PC4 (i'm just going to call this model peach and our other model blue here) has nearly the same body type and insulation, except that the peach one says it has double the cold insulation as our blue one- 18 hrs vs. 9 hrs, but the same 5 hrs for hot liquids. I'm not sure about that, but I pretty much drink all my 16 oz drinks in less than a few hours, so the insulation is fantastic for the time I use the cup (altho I've left hot coffees overnight, and it's still lukewarm in the morning, so really good insulation).\\n\\nThe main difference i'm seeing in this peach model, is that the lid is a 1 piece cap, and easier to use and clean, whereas our trusty blue models have a cap that can be disassembled into 3 pieces for cleaning purposes. I was ready to love this peach one for the easier 1 piece cap, but unfortunately, it leaks like a sieve :) i think it's not meant to be leakproof- it will definitely not be a problem for general use in the car or casual swinging around, but you cannot have it roll to the bottom of your bag or backpack, for instance, or turn it on it's side for any length of time, so just be aware of that.\\n\\nI'd highly recommend this peach model if you don't generally keep your drinks sideways or upside down, as it's beautiful, easy to use and clean, and the insulation is great. If you need a true no-leak type insulated drink tumbler, however, i'd go with Thermos' awesome blue model linked above. My pics show both models, including one of the older blue models we've used in our home for the last 5 years. It's chipped and not so pretty, but it's still our most favored coffee cup, and we use these (we have 5 of them, incl. our new one) nearly every day.\",\n \"Product: Hamilton Beach 16\\\" air circulator in Two Tone Gray color, has 3 adjustable Speed and a variable tilt fan head. The unit has built in handle and it is wall mountable. Unit dimensions are: 15.5\\\" x 7\\\" x 16\\\". Works with 120 V, 60 Hz electric current. Whether for your home or office, Hamilton Beach and proctor silex fans will meet your needs. Manufactured with the very best quality and innovation in housewares, these fans deliver on the very best in design, product innovation, manufacturing, and service.. the manufacturer warrants that your Hamilton Beach 16\\\" air circulator, H01AC017 no. H01AC017, for a period of one year from the date of original purchase, will be free from all defects in material and workmanship. This limited warranty is granted only to the original consumer purchaser or gift recipient. Keep the original sales receipt, as proof of purchase is required to make a warranty claim. Warranty is valid in the USA and Canada only. Refer to the user manual for the details.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Large, Effective and Portable Fan that's Somewhat Loud\\n\\nReview: This is a good-sized and slim-profiled fan that really moves air. It's got a wide and open face, without much of the unnecessary outer framing that some fans have- the fan blades go all the way to the outer edges, pretty much, and you get a good amount of breeze coming through. The control is a simple dial with three levels above the zero, which you just click through. The fan is not particularly robust feeling, and it's not made of any exceptional plastic, but it's light, seems sturdy enough, and does what you want it to. The sound is somewhat loud, however, like a hairdryer, so just be aware of that. This Hamilton Beach seems a good deal for the price, and is very useful to have around when you just need the air circulating.\",\n \"Product: Rachel Ray Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mat : Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mats effectively relieve pressure on your knees, feet and delicate joints in the legs. Stylish pattern provides a great look and design in your kitchen. Measures 20 by 39 inches. East to clean- Wipe clean surface. Proudly made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: longer sized and firm mat, has imprints that don't go away over time\\n\\nReview: I have many of these anti-fatigue mats of different brands at home, and three in my kitchen- one in front of the sink, one in front of the stove, and one in front of the food prep area. My kitchen is not huge, but i love to cook, so it's great to always have something pleasant to stand on. Compared to my other kitchen mats, this Rachel Ray mat is a bigger size, being longer than my mid-sized Cumulus9 <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Imprint-Cumulus9-Kitchen-Mat-Nantucket-Series-20-in-x-36-in-x-5-8-in-Cinnamon/dp/B003BYRDK2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Imprint Cumulus9 Kitchen Mat Nantucket Series 20 in. x 36 in. x 5/8 in. Cinnamon</a> and my smallest NewLife <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/NewLife-by-GelPro-Designer-Comfort-Mat-18-by-30-Inch-Sisal-Coffee-Bean/dp/B0176BIJEE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">NewLife by GelPro Designer Comfort Mat, 18 by 30-Inch, Sisal Coffee Bean</a> mats.\\n\\nEach mat has a different feel and benefit. This Rachel Ray is the \\\"hardest\\\" feeling mat, in that it does not feel like a bouncy athletic shoe sole (NewLife) or like a foot-cradling memory foam cushion (Cumulus9). It has the feel of a thin smear of memory foam atop a folded up military-grade dense wool blanket--ok, so this is a bit specific, but i'm trying-- The benefit of this \\\"hardest\\\" feeling Rachel Ray mat, is that it provides the most support for your body when you are standing a long time, and keeps your spine up- just as a firm mattress is supposed to be better for your back alignment. If you have a bad back, and need additional support while standing a long time, this might be the mat for you. if your feet are hurting, and you need a comfy cushion, the Cumulus9 is awesome. if you want bounce in your step and feel like you're wearing a good running shoe on a track, you'll like the NewLife.\\n\\nThe one star deduction is not due to the feel of the Rachel Ray mat, which is pleasant and very supportive-- it's due to the poorly finished edging on the mat (i tried to show the irregular finishes in my pics next to the straight lines of the dollar bill) and because your footprints make an irregular pattern on top of the mat that never really goes away, until you make new prints.\\n\\nUpdate: i am removing another star, because after using this mat for a month, i'm finding that the imprints from footprints don't go away over time, and that it has become even less cushion-y/ supportive.\",\n \"Product: Rock safely back and forth as you read a story or play your favorite game! The ECR4Kids Soft Rocker is the perfect seating solution for children and adults in a classroom, daycare, or home. Ergonomic contours and plush padding make it ideal for reading, studying, meditating, watching TV, playing video games and more. Lightweight chair is fitted with dense foam and a soft, leather-like cover for style and comfort. Intended for use on the floor only.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Size for your Pre-Teen or Early Teen, but Okay for Smaller Kids too\\n\\nReview: This is a cute comfy rocker made of a leather-ette type fabric that feels pleasant, and is stretched on what seems like a reasonably light but sturdy plastic frame with cushioned padding along the seat and back. I'd say this chair would work best for your slender 4\\\" to 5\\\" tall youngster (or a thinner adult), because it's not very wide - see my pic w a dollar bill across the seat for reference. Also, it's most comfortable if your legs are long enough from your feet to your knees to keep you leaned back enough to hit the sweet spot of balance, but not so tall that your head starts to hang over the top. If your child is as small as the little boy in the photo, for example, the seat will be leaned forward more that the picture shows. My son, who is taller than the photo boy, needs to actively rock and push the chair up w his legs to be leaned back that amount, if that makes sense. Even so, it's not hard for him to rock, because the chair is light. He really likes the chair, and says it's comfortable even in the forward position (the position shown in my pic w no one on it).\\n\\nThe bottom of the chair has two plastic rails (black against this red) that touch the floor surface, to prevent damage to the leatherette. I sat in this and found it extremely comfortable as well. I tried to fall all the way backwards, and it wasn't very easy to do. I did push my way all the way back to the floor just to test for safety, and felt that you'd be fairly protected if you somehow managed to tip all the way back (no problem in the on-your-back position unless your head hangs over the top). All together a really nice piece of furniture that looks great in your room, and is pleasant to sit on.\",\n \"Product: Lenox's Organics Reef Bread Tray brings a natural accent to entertaining with undulating ridges that evoke the subtle curves of life under the waves.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Go-To Appetizer Plate, but Even Better as a Serving Platter\\n\\nReview: This Lenox Chip and Dip - or any appetizer - will be elegantly presented in this wonderful platter and bowl set, which feels thick, substantial, textured and is so beautiful to look at and touch. The dip bowl is separate and removable, and even the backs of each piece are patterned in a lovely way, completing the look of the free-form art piece this is. i'm thinking i'll use this for hummus and breads; or marinated olives, cornishons and meats/ cheeses. I just love this piece, which comes in a nice box, and would be a welcome gift.\\n\\nThe directions given for care of this item suggest coating surfaces with oil/ spray prior to each use to guard against discoloration from acidic foods or fatty acids. Do not microwave, and don't let water stand in it for extended time frames. If you see discoloration, you can rub with baking soda and water paste, or a metal polish. The bottom can scratch, so you can use a trivet. Hand wash w mild soap and water, and dry immediately. Don't use in a dishwasher. Not freezer or oven safe.\\n\\nUpdate: I've used this at a few dinners now, and primarily without the middle \\\"dip\\\" bowl- The large plate really works great as a serving platter in general, and i've carved up a big chicken with veggies around it. The sides keep in the juices nicely, and it looks very fancy. I'm definitely using this during Thanksgiving for my ham.\",\n \"Product: The Next Generation Bed Frame - The Premium 18 Inch Smart Base Mattress Foundation by Zinus eliminates the need for a box spring as your memory foam, spring or latex mattress should be placed directly on the Premium Smart Base. The Premium SmartBase works especially well for lower profile 6, 8 and 10 inch mattresses, giving your bed a lift for extra storage as well as ease of use. Uniquely designed for optimum support and durability the strong steel mattress support has multiple points of contact with the floor for stability and prevents mattress sagging, increasing mattress life. The Premium Smart Base bed frame is 18 Inches high with 17 Inches of clearance under the frame for 4 extra Inches of under-bed storage space. With plastic caps to protect your floors and an innovative folding design to allow for easy storage, the Smart Base is well designed for ease of use. Worry free 5-year limited warranty. Another comfort innovation from Zinus. Pioneering comfort.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Eight -20 Gallon Storage Containers Fit under my Queen SmartBase!\\n\\nReview: I'm reviewing the Queen-sized Zinus 18\\\" Premium SmartBase. This took me less than 15 min. to set up, and only cuz i was taking pictures in between. It comes in two parts, folded in half. You basically unfold each almost twin-sized piece (similar to a flat conference tables with folded down legs), click in the safety hooks and tighten the wingnuts on each of the four corners. You then use the included two long screws and wingnut the two parts together to make the complete base-- no tools necessary.\\n\\nThis makes for a very tall bed, esp. if you have thick mattresses and a topper like we do. But, the glory of having an ample area to discreetly store supplies makes this SO WORTH IT. I was able to fit EIGHT 20-gallon storage containers that were 17 inches tall and almost 17 inches wide: [23 3/4\\\"x 17\\\" x 16 5/8\\\" (60.3cm x 43cm x 42.2cm)] under this frame, and 18\\\" bedskirts are available--i need to get one.\\n\\nThis frame feels very sturdy set-up, for being so lightweight, and has no squeaking- all the parts that touch the floor have plastic caps, so your wood floors should be fine. It feels great to be on the bed, and there is no movement. Best yet, I was able to throw out our old and unwieldy box spring, which was so hard to fit up our stairs during our last move. Yay, Zinus!\",\n \"Product: TOSSWARE is the perfect upscale disposable (but 100% recyclable!) drinkware for any occasion. Our products embody the elegant look and feel of crystal without the shatter. Best of all, they are BPA-free and made with the highest quality recycled PET polymer, so you can save the planet without sacrificing sophistication. Its style meets simplicity with TOSSWARE!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Thick, Reusable TOSSWARE - Beautiful & a Great Value\\n\\nReview: These 7oz shatterproof beer glasses are very durable, crystal clear and thick enough so that I don't want to throw them away. They come snapped together in 8 columns of 6 cups wrapped in plastic (48 all together in the box), and they stay together unless you pull reasonably hard. You can re-snap them together as well, making storage easier. These are attractively designed and have just enough room for a tasting glass of beer, 6 oz pour of wine, or a glass of milk or juice for the kids. The shape is easy and pleasant to hold, and the lip is rounded and smooth- no sharp edges on your mouth. I can't think of a better glass for your get togethers (or for every day use), unless you're going to get a different size or shape of this TOSSWARE. These are not your solo cups, and really take it up a notch for entertaining, when you still need something disposable.\\n\\nI'm actually handwashing these and keeping them, because the are so nice and because they really work for my kid's drinks. The cup clearly says on the bottom that these are NOT for hot liquids or for dishwashing. I tried to dishwash one on the top rack anyways, just to see what would happen, and it sadly did shrinkydink into a lopsided shape (see last pic- cup on right side is the after). My husband said, \\\"what, you think you're above the TOSSWARE laws?\\\" Don't be me. Color within the lines on this one.\",\n \"Product: Putting versatility at your fingertips, this T-fal 10-in-1 rice and multi-cooker offers a large 10-cup capacity, 10 pre-set cooking programs, and Fuzzy Logic technology for convenient, foolproof results every time. From breakfast to desserts, the T-fal 10-in-1 makes it easy to cook tasty and healthy meals for the entire family. Just put the ingredients, push the button and the machine will cook perfectly for you thanks to its Fuzzy Logic technology. Try new ways of cooking while gaining countertop space thanks to the T-fal 10-in-1!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fast cooking perfect textured rice (and quinoa or other grains) with effective Keep Warm function\\n\\nReview: If you make rice dishes on any regular basis, you owe it to yourself to get one of these dedicated rice cookers. I say dedicated, because even though you can make numerous other foods in this device, including using it as a steamer or slow cooker alternative, no other device will make your rice (or quinoa or other grains) so hands-off easily and so perfectly textured, and keep it hot and fresh for hours, until you eat it. This T-fal comes with a short cord, an inner pot, a steamer basket, a one-cup plastic measuring scoop, a textured rice paddle, a small ladle, a glossy recipe book and direction manual.\\n\\nTo make rice, you can use the the plastic measuring cup to add up to 10 cups of dry rice (serves 16-18 people) into any fine-sieved colander to rinse off extra starch. Or, you can just add the dry rice to the pot and wash w a few changes of water, pouring out most of the excess each time. Make sure the rinsed rice is in the pot, before adding enough water according to the directions (pic shows the table you can refer to in the manual), to the level shown on the side of the pot (hopefully you can see the pic with the engraved number markings up the side). *btw, some say you should use a colander to rinse your dry rice so you don't end up scratching up the inside of your pot over time.\\n\\nIn my pics, i used 4 cups of jasmine rice mixed with quinoa, which serves 5-6 people, and added water up to the \\\"4\\\" line (it looks like the water is near the \\\"6\\\" in my picture, but that was a reflection). To cook, press the Menu button until the triangle next to the word Rice is lit, and then press the big Power symbol/ start button. When you press start, you'll only see a dash \\\"-\\\" on the readout. After the water is boiled, it will beep twice and count down the minutes until your rice is done; about 20 min all together. The Keep Warm function automatically starts after your rice is done, and you see a \\\"b\\\" on the display until you press the Keep Warm/ Cancel button again to turn off that function. The rice/quinoa mix i made turned out perfectly- i fluffed it up after cooking and mixed in a few tablespoons of coconut oil with the included rice paddle for flavor. I have also made all quinoa without rice, and rice with other whole grains such as barley or buckwheat, and it all works great.\\n\\nIf you want to cook foods other than rice, the included recipe book has step-by-step instructions and ingredients for soups and vegis, main dishes like stews and ragout, or even desserts such as spiced cider or pudding. One thing that i'm planning to try that i think would be very useful is the yogurt function. i normally make yogurt in my oven, preheated and then cracked, with a thermometer- it's a real hassle to get and keep the temperature right. if this T-fal works well, i'll be making yogurt more often.\\n\\nThis is a great device. it even has a handle for portability so you can make your food and take it to the picnic table! luv it.\\n\\nUpdate: i've tried yogurt twice- the second time worked much better because i heated the milk to 180 F (kill other germs), cooled to 115 F and added the culture (u can either use dried or just a cup or two of plain yogurt from the store or your last batch) and 2 cups of powdered milk to a gallon of milk before putting it in the T-fal (8 hrs). the first time i tried this, i just put cold milk in w culture only to see what would happen- it worked, but was very thin liquid-y yogurt.\\n\\ni've made this with powdered milk in coconut milk before as well, and that works great if you want a different taste. i never tried just coconut milk by itself tho- when i do this the harder way in the oven, the yogurt is thicker and less tart, because i only need to set it 4 hrs (the longer you keep it in, the firmer, but more tart it gets).\",\n \"Product: The InterDesign clarity cosmetic Trio cup is the perfect way to keep your vanity organized. Made of plastic with 3 compartments, it's perfect for tall brushes and applicators, eyeliners,and lip glosses\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fits All My Makeup Brushes and Tools\\n\\nReview: This is a very simple plastic all-purpose organizer, which has ample space, even for my extensive collection of makeup brushes, tweezers, nail files, small scissors and other random cosmetics tools. I like how these three cups are fused together, so that they don't tip over as easily as they would on their own (like the drinking glasses I was using before).\\n\\nThis organizer is great for both thicker and longer tools, which are easily held in the shorter and taller sized cups. I debated actually getting one of these organizers in the past, because it seemed really simple (and cheaper) just to use a plastic cup or something I already had on hand. But, having done that, and now having used this, I've got to say, having a specific holder made especially for specific items just looks neater and works a whole lot better.\",\n \"Product: The JJ Cole Insulated Tote combines all of the conveniences of our diaper bags with the features of a picnic cooler. Both the main compartment and the side pockets are insulated to keep items cool while you find the perfect picnic spot. The easy-access front pocket is perfect to store items you need at a moment's notice, and you can stash larger items in the roomy back pocket. This tote can hold up to 20 pounds, so you won't have to pick and choose what to bring along. Grips stroller attachments are included so you can quickly and easily attach your tote to the stroller and go.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Insulated Tote/ Soft Cooler- Goldilocks Size\\n\\nReview: This is is an insulated and roomy tote bag, that is like a soft ice cooler. I wouldn't fill it with water or ice directly though, because it has seams around the bottom and the walls are filled with a puffy insulation that could get wet. It does not have any partitions on the inside, so if you wanted to use this as a reusable grocery bag for refrigerated or frozen items, this is perfect (see pic- a normal wine bottle fits standing up and you can zip it).\\n\\nThe bag has a velcro-closed slot on the back side, and a magnetic button-closure pouch for keys, wallet or other small items on the front side. There is also a place for your water bottle or pens on the right side (pic). The handles are made of nylon straps, of the type you'd find on a backpack, but that are rolled and filled with a firm fiber-type material, making the handles more comfortable to hold. Also included are two detachable rubbery \\\"stroller attachments\\\" that stretch over the handles of your stroller (or cart).\\n\\nThis tote is a really good size to hold a nice picnic lunch for your small family of 3-4; for holding snacks, diapers and clothing changes for your kids at the park; or how i like to use it, as a grocery tote for cold foods. This is very versatile, sturdy and well-made.\",\n \"Product: DII Halloween Portraits tablecloths makes it easy to dress up your tabel setting for Halloween! DII 100% cotton printed tablecloth is an elegant way to transform your table for Halloween dinner parties. Care instructions: Machine wash cold separately, Gentle cycle, Tumble dry low and Low iron if needed. Coordinate with DII halloween napkins and table runner to create the perfect place setting. To view more of our products visit amazon.com/dii\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cute Halloween Print Tablecloth\\n\\nReview: This orange rimmed spider cornered black star dotted tablecloth is great. It looks really nice and would be perfect to cover a table for treats. DII has really decent 100% cotton tablecloths, and these holiday-themed fabrics are a great idea. This particular one is not one of the thicker tablecloths I've felt from DII, but for a 1-time per year use, it's definitely not bad, and the design is pleasing. You can see the very faint outline of my fingers through the cloth, but just barely. Once this is washed, it should feel a bit thicker. I noticed my 100% DIIs shrink up to about 10% after several washes, but still fit the table very well, because they are ample in size overall. I'd recommend this Halloween tablecloth- esp. if you love holiday decorating like I do.\",\n \"Product: Mossy Oak is one of the most effective and recognized camouflage brands in the country. Mossy Oak strives to represent their genuine love of the outdoors with uncompromising quality and a unique bond with consumers driven by the heritage of hunting and a love of the great outdoors. This durable turner sports the Break-Up Infinity pattern, has a stainless steel head, and is extra long, making it perfect for turning and serving meat on the barbecue. Also features a built-in bottle opener. Measures 19-1/2 inches long. Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent; rinse and dry immediately.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy, Large and Utilitarian\\n\\nReview: This is a useful long-handled Stainless Steel Turner, that has a very large head that doubles as a bottle opener, which is really convenient if you don't want to be fussing around looking for, or packing a separate tool for your beer during your BBQ or camp-out. This turner is stamped out of a single, decently thick piece of stainless steel, nothing fancy, but works perfectly for larger foods. Flip your 1/2 lb burger patty or big pancakes expertly. This also works great with looser foods like a pile of hashbrowns or corned beef hash, to help keep the crisp on one side, vs. having it fall all apart. The handle on this turner is a long, hollow resin-type oval shaped tube, that feels good to hold and feels sturdy even thought it's very light. Importantly, it keeps your hands cool. The handle also has a hole in it so you can hang it on a hook. One thing to be aware of, is that because this tool is fairly large, it works better outside on a larger and flat grill surface. I took a pic next to my 12\\\" cast iron skillet, so you can see the relative sizes. All in all, a great tool for the grill.\",\n \"Product: Chicago Cutlery Avondale 16 piece Block Set includes: 8 in Chef, 8 in Bread, 4.5 in Serrated Utility, 4.5 in Utility, 3.5 in Parer, (8) 4.5 in Steak, Kitchen Shears, Sharpening Steel, Wood Block.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Multi-Purpose Knives, Light Feeling Steak Knives, Poor Scissors & Block\\n\\nReview: Despite my 3 star (i would give this 3.5, btw), review, i want to say that i am actually a big fan of Chicago Cutlery, and have used their knives for nearly 10 years with no problems. I feel that this particular 16-piece block set, the Avondale, just doesn't have the same great quality the Chicago Cutlery name represents, and comes across as somewhat cheaper feeling than my other Chicago Cutlery knives and sets.\\n\\nThe block itself is a thinly veneered wood, as can be seen by the little chips in the edging on the back, and the finish was a bit rough. I polished it with wood oil, and it looks reasonable, but i'm not sure how long this will last over time if you're sticking it with knives every so often (unlike my butcher block set that still looks new after nearly a decade of use).\\n\\nThe knives themselves are actually very sharp, and the stainless steel seems good quality. The handles for the multi-purpose knives are thick feeling and can even stand up on their back edges, giving a nice grip. The parts where the black polymer and the metal on the handles meet are reasonably seamless (very minor and not too noticeable gaps/ raised areas). I did not like the light feeling of the steak knives, however, that feel a bit like you're holding hollow plastic, and i thought the quality of the scissors was cheap feeling (not substantial handle, \\\"plasticky\\\" feeling polymer part).\\n\\nOverall, i'd say this is an OK set, and not bad for a first set for your home or apartment. Still, if you are looking for a long-term knife set, you may want to pay more and get one of Chicago Cutlery's better sets, such as:<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Chicago-Cutlery-Insignia2-18-Piece-Knife-Block-Set-with-In-Block-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B000H6VH1S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Chicago Cutlery Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set with In-Block Knife Sharpener</a>\",\n \"Product: The Currituck Tumblers offer superior heat and ice retention. They are constructed of durable, kitchen-grade 18/8 stainless steel and come with a BPA free lid. The double wall vacuum insulation and built-in gasket help prevent heat transfer, meaning your ice stays solid longer and your cup wont sweat. Fits in most cup holders.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful, effective mug with always-open drink hole opening on top\\n\\nReview: This is a seriously excellent vacuum sealed double-walled mug. I have many sets of double walled stainless steel cups, mugs and travel mugs, including many similar in look to this Camco Caribou 20oz, but i'd say this is one of the most, if not the most, well-insulated of the covered mugs i own. I made a hot mocha tonight, and i could not feel any transfer of the boiling-level temperatures within the mug, around the outer metal body- was not even warm- very impressive. The plastic lid was a bit warm, to be expected, and you could see the condensation of the heat on the inside of the clear lid, but the lid's temperature felt very comfortable against my mouth.\\n\\nAt first, i was not thrilled with the lid, which is one-piece of plastic, because it has a permanent hole in it for the drink opening (see pic w pencil through opening), with no closing feature. While this would not be great for an extremely bumpy car ride or, obviously, in a sack or purse (this may be a deal breaker for some), it makes for the easiest cleaning of all my covered mugs. There just is no fuss, cuz there are no parts, moving or otherwise, that allows moisture to remain in crevices in an unsanitary way, or that doesn't let you access smallish areas for thorough cleaning. This lid w it's rubberish/silicon gasket (ok, the gasket is a separate part that can be removed) is so simple to wash, and w the clear plastic, you can easily see that it's clean. I was also worried that the permanent opening would allow too much heat to escape too quickly.- not so. my drink was still very hot after two hours, and is warm even now, about four hours later.\\n\\nThe bottom of the cup does warn you that you should hand wash, and that you should not freeze (or microwave), but that is similar to many mugs/ cups with plastic parts/ plastic lid portions. I plan to use this for my tea or coffee drinks at home or in the office. i don't think i'll try to travel w this in my car- not saying it wouldn't work; i just am not going to try it. I'm also not deducting any stars, because if you purchase this knowing about the permanent opening, it's a really effective and beautiful mug, that is great for insulating your drink, and it easily cleans to a sanitary condition.\",\n \"Product: Our chamois like material provides a super absorbent hair towel that folds into a compact travel size. This is the best quick dry hair towel on the market. Rated as twice the absorbency of microfiber material and preferred by professional hair stylists. The Bucky hair towel also makes an excellent travel towel. The high-performance chamois material readily absorbs water and is just as easily wrung out for quick-drying. This towel is generously sized, measuring 35 x 18\\\". It makes a compact roll that fits easily into an overnight bag or carryon. We cut, sew and package this product in Seattle, WA. Bucky has been making fine travel and relaxation products for over 22 years. To use, just flip your head over, place the large part of the turban on your head, trap your hair in the tail of the turban. Twist until tight, then tuck the tail into the elastic loop in the back, just as if you were making a low ponytail. To view more of our spa and travel products visit amazon.com/Bucky.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Plush, Light and Absorbent\\n\\nReview: I love microfiber towels, and always carry one when I hike or go camping. They absorb water quickly, dry quickly, and can be used to cushion items or pad my backpack against my back I also use them in the kitchen, and I use them on my car This Bucky Quick Drying Microfiber Plush Terry is huge. It's the largest and thickest microfiber towel i've seen, being a full sized bath towel practically. Obviously I wouldn't take this on a hike, but it's really great for home use, particularly for my daughter's long and thick hair, which always takes forever to dry out of the shower. This Bucky towel is plush, lightweight, fluffy and absorbent, and my daughter likes the color, which looks a bit on the pinker side of peach. She has been using this after her showers at night, and it sucks the water out of her hair better than a regular towel. She also likes that it doesn't make her head feel like it's the weight of a bowling ball when she wraps her hair up on her head, like normal towels. If you're a microfiber towel fan, this large sized towel is excellent!\",\n \"Product: The Pour Over Goose Neck Kettle from True has a unique spout allowing better pour control for that smooth cup of coffee and is great for tea as well. The 1-liter kettle has a 360-degree swivel base and turns on easily with a finger touch control at the base. With 1000 watts of power, your water heats quickly while an auto shut-off feature prevents over boiling. The brushed stainless steel exterior and elegant shape are great addition to any kitchen.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect little kettle for pour-over coffee or for tea\\n\\nReview: This one liter (about 4, 8-oz cups) capacity, brushed stainless steel electric kettle boiled a full liter of water (there is a fill-to max line on the inside near the handle) in 5 minutes and 3 seconds from my tap (about 63 degrees F/ 17 C), and turned off immediately at the boil (not the noisy part, but when the bubbles can be heard percolating), which is very impressive, since i've had similar kettles that take forever at boiling before they turn off. The boiled water was 208 degrees F/98 C. The \\\"on\\\" lever sticks out under the handle, and depresses easily and smoothly. The \\\"on\\\" light is a bright blue that can easily be seen, and also immediately shuts off when the lever snaps back up by itself (manual action) upon boil.\\n\\nThe inside of the kettle has no plastic parts that touch the water, provided you stay below the recommended fill-to line. The outside bottom has a plastic coat that allows you to place the hot kettle on any surface immediately after boil- it feels barely warm to the touch. However, don't touch the metal portions, which are extremely hot!\\n\\nThe goose neck design is great if you wanted to make pour-over coffee (filter with coffee grounds atop of your cup/vessel, and you pour water over it), because you can precisely control the saturation of all parts of your coffee grounds in the filter, making for a stronger brew. Or, this is a great look for a modern tea. This is very simple, easy to clean, and a perfect size for travel, in my opinion. I like to take a hot water boiler with me when i travel, so that i can have hot water in my room without having to rely on hotel coffee pots, and this is a nice compact size. Also, despite the delicate look of the goose neck, the metal is thick and feels quite sturdy.\\n\\nI highly recommend this useful and easy-to-use kettle. I'm sorry about the upside-down photo of me pouring water into my cup at the end.\",\n \"Product: Whether hosting a business meeting, catering an event, or simply upping the convenience quota of everyday life, Panasonic's electric thermal hot pot makes it easy to quickly and safely boil and dispense hot water--perfect for anything from tea, instant coffee and hot cocoa to instant soup, noodles, baby food and more. The exceptionally versatile unit can be used throughout the day for various applications and at different temperature settings. The pot's fold-down carrying handle makes it effortless to transport from the sink for filling to the buffet table or counter when entertaining guests or working in the kitchen.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well Designed & Very Useful Perpetual Hot Water Machine\\n\\nReview: I was first introduced to these Electric Thermo Pots (perpetual hot water boilers) traveling in Japan and Korea nearly two decades ago, where they seemed to be in almost every middle class household, even then. These have finally gained traction in the US over the past many years, i've noticed- maybe because people are using more convenience devices and services, like Keurigs or AmazonFresh, and hot water is just one more thing we can't believe we ever had to wait (a few minutes) for. I'm not complaining- I love my Panasonic Thermo Pot, and the ease of having instant hot water whenever I want, feels like a nice daily luxury.\\n\\nThese Thermo Pots are certainly really useful to have around, and you don't have to professionally install a fancy boiling water faucet in your kitchen. Panasonic is a long-term name in these devices, so you're going with a solid company w lots of experience boiling water when you purchase this 3 liter baby. The concept is that you will always have hot water at a set temperature of your choosing (160, 180, 190, and 208 degree options on this machine). If you are a purist, you want your green teas at 180 degrees or your drip (pour over) coffee at 205. If you're like me, and just want hot water for general hot drinks or instant soups or noodles, I keep it at 190 at all times. You can switch the temperatures, but it doesn't change instantaneously of course. This NC-EG3003 model takes 27 minutes to get the full 3L from tap water temp to boiling, and holds it at a cooler 190 in my case.\\n\\nOne interesting function, is that if you press the Reboil button after your water has already been heated to the temp you want, it will (re)boil the water for six more minutes, reducing the chlorine in your water by 80%. Who knew? Some other useful features are that the lid is fully removable for cleaning, and there is also a small removable metal mesh filter at the bottom of the metal pot (the boiling container is fully metal- lid and pot), keeping any hard water scale deposits from getting into your drinks. You can clean the mesh with a toothbrush if it gets scaly over time. Also, there is a safety auto-release magnetic power cord, so that if your machine were to fall over (highly unlikely- it's well balanaced), the magnet for the power would easily disengage, cutting off electricity to the machine. The outer plastic housing of this machine stays only lightly warm to the touch, even when the water is boiling- it's very well insulated.\\n\\nThere is a \\\"Lock Unlock/ Slow Drip\\\" button for safety, which toggles between Locked (no light), On (solid red light) and Slow Drip (slow blinking red, for pour over coffee). Only when the red light is on the Lock-Unlock button (solid or blinking), can you then press the Dispense button to get hot water. After 10 seconds, it will automatically lock again. That's pretty much it. This is a one trick pony, but the trick is pretty useful if you're like our family, using hot water all throughout the day. This really beats heating water each time in the kettle. If you're concerned about the hot water being on at all times, you can chose the six hour timer (toggles with the temp change Select button), and your device will shut off automatically at the six hour mark.\\n\\nThis is one of those machines you won't want to do without once you have one around- a bit like a microwave- yes, you can do everything on the stove, but it's nice not to have to... (or even having to wait the 90 sec. in the microwave...)\",\n \"Product: Making a complete and balanced meal in the Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker and Steamer is as easy as placing the ingredients in the bowl and turning it on. Not only does it cook rice and whole grains perfectly, but an integrated basket can be used to steam seafood, poultry and vegetables even while the rice cooks below. That means with just a few presses of a button, its quick and easy to serve salmon with kale and quinoa one night and chicken and broccoli over white rice the next. The 2-in-1 steamer basket can also be used to rinse grains before cooking, which prevents clumping and results in a fresher taste. Clean up is a snap with the dishwasher safe nonstick cooking pot. Its compact size makes for easy storage. Cooking healthy, delicious meals doesnt get any simpler than that. Do not place on or near a hot gas or an electric burner, or in a heated oven\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sleek Looking and Compact, Good Results\\n\\nReview: This Hamilton Beach Rice and Hot Cereal Cooker is a sleek looking and compact (a bit larger than Volleyball sized) cooker that makes rice and hot cereal as noted, as well as steams. This comes with a rice scooper, steam basket which doubles as a colander, and a measuring (metric, not imperial) \\\"cup\\\" to measure out your dry grain. The cooking pot is non-stick, and marked on the inside with water level numbers that correspond the the number of \\\"cups\\\" you add. So, if you add 3 dry scoops using their measuring \\\"cup\\\" you would add water to the #3 line shown inside the pot (see my pic). The max number of dry cups you can add to this cooker is 4, but the colander can only hold about 3 for rinsing, so be aware of that.\\n\\nThe function buttons on the front are: white rice, whole grain, hot cereal, steam and power/warming. The warming function auto starts once the cooking ends to keep your food hot and safe. You plug in the machine, add the pre-measured and rinsed water and grain-filled pot, press the middle power button to turn on and then press the function button of what you're making. In my pic, I made 1/2 jasmine rice 1/2 quinoa, which cooks just the same as white rice, i've found, in the measurements. The timer started at 45 min for my white rice, counted down to zero (machine beeps) then automatically warmed as the timer starts counting up. I added coconut oil and curry powder after the rice/quinoa was done just for something different.\\n\\nSo far so good. This is a great little machine that has worked well and consistently for me a few weeks now, and I'm very pleased w the results.\",\n \"Product: DII offers tablecloth in countless colors, designs and sizes. You'll find the perfect tablecloth for your table. All tablecloths coordinate with the DII ribbed placemats, fringe placemats, and assorted napkins. This tablecloth makes it simple to create a perfectly coordinated table setting for Christmas and winter season. This is also great hostess gift, Christmas gift, holiday gift, house warming gift, and more. This holiday tablecloth adds fun and style to your dinning room, family gathering and dinner party! the tablecloth is 100percent cotton and machine washable. To Minimize shrinkage, Please follow care instructions. To view more of our products visit Amazon.Com/dii.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Cotton Fabric is Thin\\n\\nReview: I have many DII 100% cotton table coverings and accessories, which are very decent and high quality, but this particular DII design with the green and red sparkles on a white background is not as nice as most of the DII tablecloths I have. This design's fabric is very thin, and it even seems smaller on my table than other cloths meant for a 4-seater. The primary issue I have with this is that I can almost see the table underneath the cloth, and feel like I need to use a white colored undercloth in order to have this on my table. I do like the pretty design, but they should have used a more substantial fabric to print it on.\",\n \"Product: No matter what's on the menu, you'll have it made with this diverse 14-piece set of blades constructed with German Stainless Steel. This stunning and enduring cutlery collection gives all chefs the leading edge they crave in the kitchen. Plus, the well-organized Silver Sleek Knife Block with its integrated sharpener keeps everything needed within hands reach.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: One-piece hollow-handled, Elegant knives- Solid holding block\\n\\nReview: This KitchenAid Classic Forged 14-piece cutlery set is a good basic set for a smaller family or individual. The \\\"German Stainless Steel\\\" they advertise as being resistant to rust, stain, and corrosion, is qualified as applying to the specialized knives only- for the Chef, Bread, Utility, Santoku and Paring knives (but not the six steak knives, i guess). I really like how the knives are forged of one piece of metal, and don't have any seams or edges where germs can get trapped, making them very pleasant to look at and hold.\\n\\nI should clarify that only the specialized knives' handles, and not the steak knives, are hollow, and this is a plus in my opinion- the hollow handles are larger, thicker and easier to hold, and makes the knives feel more balanced, in comparison to the solid-handled steak knives, where the handles feel a bit thin and short, even for my smaller hands- as if they left just the tang, and forgot to add the outer, actual handle. Even so, i still think this is a solid knife set, because the knives actually cut well, and are sharp. The holding block is also very durable feeling and looks very fancy. The scissors are really well-made, seem durable, and are one piece (the two blades do not come apart for cleaning). The instructions say the cutlery is dishwasher safe, but that hand washing is recommended for lasting appearance and performance, which is similar to care for most stainless steel items.\\n\\nThere is an integrated Diamond Sharpener in the block, which makes it convenient to keep your knives sharp, but that i don't generally use (I have another set of knives with a similar sharpener in the block), because over time, you get powdery metal shavings on your block and around your clean knives. yes, you can remove the sharpener and clean it, but i find it easier to just use a separate sharpener, like this one i bought in 2007, which is still going strong: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Presto-08800-EverSharp-Electric-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B00006IUWM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Presto 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener</a>. The instructions for the KitchenAid cutlery also tell you that the knives w serrated edges (the bread, utility and six steak knives) must be professionally sharpened- but again, same as w other knives- if you want to keep the serration, that is.\\n\\nAll together, a decent product by KitchenAid, and the knives look great on your counter.\",\n \"Product: This Westinghouse seasoned cast iron 12 inch skillet screams versatility, allowing you to make an almost endless assortment of delicious foods all in one pan. Use it over high heat to brown foods perfectly. If youre sear roasting, its a great choice since it can be transferred directly to a hot oven with no worries. Create restaurant-quality French toast or potato pancakes with golden brown, crispy exteriors and its also ideal for making corn bread, frittatas and flat bread in the oven.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good All-Purpose Cast Iron 12\\\"- A Little Rough to Start\\n\\nReview: This is a nice all-purpose cast iron pan which has a good lip height, so that you can bake a decent portion of biscuits, corn bread or cinnamon rolls, or fry enough main course (4-6 chicken breasts or porkchops) for a family of four or so. If you are a long time cast iron user, you probably already have a 12\\\" skillet. If you are starting out using cast iron, you'll definitely want at least one pan this size- it's perfect for stove top, and is generally my go-to size for most pan-cooking items. This Westinghouse is fairly well-seasoned when you get it, but you'll need to 1) wash it once w warm water and a tiny bit of soap (I never use soap again after the first time, or you'll ruin the seasoning); 2) coat w oil, and either put it in the oven for a few hours at 350, or just continue to use it on the stove w oily foods like bacon, until you get a dark black burnish. This accumulating burnish is the carbon filling in the grooves of the iron surface, creating your non-stick surface over time. When you clean your pan, just use warm water and a plastic scraper, and re-coat w oil (i use any veg oil).\\n\\nI like this Westinghouse skillet, and have their 5 quart cast iron dutch oven as well, which I love. This also comes with a nice (blue) removable silicon sleeve,which fits over the handle to help w insulating you from heat when moving/ lifting the pan. Overall, I think this is a fine pan, but the surface is noticeably rougher than several of my other cast iron pans (Lodge and other brands as well)- especially near the angle part to the lip. Over time, the roughness will smooth out, but it is a bit rougher than I like to start (you can see the slightly coarser texture in my pic). Curiously, my Westinghouse 5-quart is not this rough, and I can't recommend it enough. This skillet is not as well-finished as their dutch oven for some reason, but it's a fairly small criticism to an overall good pan.\",\n \"Product: The Westinghouse seasoned cast iron Dutch oven offers a spacious 5 quart capacity, making it ideal for searing and braising meat, preparing delicious stews or putting together one of those like momma used to make meat sauces. Even better, being oven safe, you can brown meats on the stovetop and then finish your special recipe in the oven. Let your imagination and talents run wild with this versatile product, which is also easy to clean and can last decades with minimal care.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Really Beautiful Cast Iron Pot\\n\\nReview: This Dutch Oven by Westinghouse is really much nicer than I expected. This 5Q pre-seasoned pot is gorgeous and is a proportional thickness for it's size. I have a similar Lodge 7Q (see pic of the larger Lodge pot w oil in it, on right side of this Westinghouse for comparison) as well as numerous other cast iron cookware from various companies, and this Westinghouse is a good value for the quality. I like the larger handle on top of this 5Q, and the finish, although not quite as smooth as my Lodge wear was when new, is very decent, and just one oiling and heating in my oven really created a deep burnish, which you can see from the pic. I cook and bake in cast iron a lot, and it's my favored bakeware- esp. for sourdough rounds, bar none. Deep frying in these larger pots is also superior, as the heat stays consistent, once you have it up to the right temperatures. The deep sides are great for minimizing splatter, and I always set fried food on top of a paper towel on the upended dimpled inner lid which stays at a good slant due to the handle. This is a fine pot, and I'm very happy to have it.\",\n \"Product: The Westinghouse seasoned cast iron Dutch Oven provides you not only the opportunity to sear and braise meat, prepare delicious stew or make meat sauce but turn over the lid when youre done and you have a ready to use, ready to cook 10 1/4 skillet. How convenient is that, especially when cabinet space is limited in the kitchen or youre out cooking on a campfire and looking to take as little equipment as necessary. Use the skillet to make golden brown pancakes or cook a steak just the way you like it.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Quality and Value, Good Shape\\n\\nReview: This great Dutch Oven by Westinghouse, and it's twin, Model WFL545 which has a traditional briquette holder lid with handle <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Westinghouse-WFL545-Select-Series-Seasoned-Cast-Iron-5-Quart-Dutch-Oven-Amazon-Exclusive/dp/B01G5LGF0G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Westinghouse WFL545 Select Series Seasoned Cast Iron 5 Quart Dutch Oven - Amazon Exclusive</a>, share identical 5Q bodies, and are both beautiful pieces of cast iron cookware, made w a decently fine cast. I compared the body of the briquette lid Westinghouse with my trusty Lodge 7Q (has frying oil in it) in the first pic, and you can see that these 5Q bodies are a perfect fit for one on my larger glass top burners. The instructions actually say not to use these on glass tops, but I've never had any trouble, even with multiple cast iron pots at the same time- just be careful to lift, not drag the pots or you may scratch the glass. When I received these, I washed them with soap and water, dried immediately, and coated with veg oil- then, put them in the oven for an hour at 350 degrees for additional seasoning. Even though these are pre-seasoned, you really need to use them for awhile before they develop that wonderful black smooth sheen of baked-on carbon, which becomes non-stick. I only use warm water and a plastic scraper to wash after the first and only soaping, and always keep them lightly oiled.\\n\\nI use cast iron for a lot of my cooking, and for nearly all my baking, esp. breads (a sour dough boule is perfect fit for one of these 5Qs- just lower the dough in the preheated body on parchment paper), because they provide very high, even and consistent heat, mimicking to some extent, what you might find in a wood fire oven after it cools (I use the lid on). This is also why cast iron is my first choice for baking pizza - this link is to my favorite pizza pan, for example: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Lodge-P14P3-Pro-Logic-Cast-Iron-Pizza-Pan-14-inch-Black/dp/B0000E2V3X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Lodge P14P3 Pro-Logic Cast Iron Pizza Pan, 14-inch, Black</a>. Deep frying in these cast iron dutch ovens is also superior, as again, the heat stays very consistent once you have it up to the right temperatures. The deep sides are great for minimizing splatter (only fill it to about 30% full of oil). There is nothing like golden fried chicken from one of these babies. The skillet lid on this model is a good size for a deep dish pie, or for a cluster of cinnamon rolls, in addition to general use as a pan, because even the sides of the lid are fairly deep.\\n\\nI think this Westinghouse is very good value for the quality, and the surface texture is decent- not quite as fine as my Lodge ware- but, granted, i've had decades of use with some of my Lodge ware, so it's not a fair comparison. But I just think that Lodge has it in the bag if you even compare new to new. However, just heating this up once in the oven gave it a nice burnishing as you can see from the pic, and the price is nice. Also, it's great that two 5Qs fit into my standard-sized oven side by side, so that you can make more than one oven bake at a time. Once you get the hang of cast iron, you'll never go back.\\n\\nUpdate: Like one of the reviewers here, I also bake bread in cast iron - Until I saw a few recent utube videos, however, I didn't know about using it upside down with the loaf on the \\\"lid\\\" part and the big body over it. It certainly makes it a bit easier to place your risen dough correctly with less chance of burning yourself. Also, because these Westinghouse 5 Qts are so compact, you can get two, and use them both in the oven at once, saving a lot of time and energy. Cast iron provides a perfect environment for baking crispy skinned sourdoughs, without having to get a wood-fired oven.\",\n \"Product: Pampers small disposable Bibsters have a cloth-like feel and leakproof liner. Suitable for babies up to 6 months old, they feature Sesame Street characters. Case of 6 boxes: each box contains 20 Bibsters. 120 total Bibsters.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: very useful for drooling baby\\n\\nReview: i love these little bibs. i say little, because even though they are the size of regular cloth bibs, the big size Bibsters, which i also bought, are HUGE, and cover my 9mo. old baby to almost past his diapers. i was reluctant to buy Bibsters at first, because they seemed such a waste of material being disposable- and i guess they are-- however, they serve a good purpose in that they are extremely light and thin and fully waterproof, so that my super-drooler doesn't get his outfits totally wet like he does with his cloth bibs, which i'm frequently switching out. Bibsters are also very easy to pack into the diaper bag, and i'm never without a bib. i've also been using the big size bibsters on my 2yr old in the car, for random snack spills. these are not really reusable, but i sometimes do use them for 2 meals, depending on how clean they are. The price was right when Amazon grocery had the spend 50 get 10 deal\",\n \"Product: A lightweight, easy-to-use steamer that will produce a steady, high thrust continuous flow of steam within 30 seconds! Durable enough to stand up to daily in-store use. Maintenance Free Just fill it and use it!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to Use, Decent Steam Power\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R34IJT9PDXPQ1G\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1TuZJhZDTS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91a5KvWBAFS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> This Econoco Steam Butler works as advertised, and is a decent way to steam iron your clothes. The Steam Butler comes with a rolling base, a plastic water bottle and top, and a hook stand that is in three pieces that screw together (ends are threaded, not that you use screws). There is a steam head/handle permanently attached to a hose, and the end of the hose can be hand tightened onto the base, even though the instructions say you could use a wrench. My husband had no problem hand tightening, and there were no leaks, but he did use a little bit of petroleum jelly on the metal connectors to smooth the job. There is one on/off switch which lights up red when it's on, and a continuous flow of steam comes out of the head in about two minutes, and stays on until you switch it off. You can see the steam flowing out of the head, and it fogged up our small bathroom after awhile.\\n\\nMy husband steam-ironed a few dress shirts, and they came out smooth and freshened up. The hose beyond the plastic handle gets a bit hot, so you have to be careful not to grab the hose part. This is slim and has a small footprint, so you can even keep it in your closet. This butler is a good price, and works effectively. It's simple to use, and a great way to avoid ironing. You don't get those crisp lines, but the ease sure beats getting the ironing board out.\",\n \"Product: Regency's Chloe Collection of occasional tables convey a simple idea that complements any room setting. This end table's straightforward design includes a modern X style base and elegant round top. It is constructed of 1-inch thick solid hardwood and is finished with a deep Mocha Walnut hand-rubbed veneer. Stylish Chloe tables are at ease in both home and professional environments and look especially great in waiting rooms, entryways, in front of a sofa or lounge chair. Backed by a 1-year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Simple Set-up, Heavy Weight and Good Quality Hard Wood End Table\\n\\nReview: Sometimes, you just need a little table- one that can hold a lamp, a drink, or in my case, a printer. This Regency Chole 21\\\" round end table has a perfectly simple design and set-up, and is made of a high quality and nicely finished wood, which feels dense, heavy and very substantial. This does not look cheap like the \\\"wood\\\" that comprises my \\\"executive desk\\\" set-up at work, for example, and this does not have that paper-thin veneer finishing the surface of an increasing number of do-it-yourself furniture assembly kits and pieces. It's hard to find a solid wood anything nowadays in a kit, so this was a very nice surprise.\\n\\nThe table comes w one allen wrench for the one large bolt-screw holding the \\\"x\\\" portion of the table on the floor. The top is held on the four legs via single dowels sticking up from each leg, fitting into appropriate holes at the bottom of the table top. You screw the included L-shaped brackets from each of the legs to the bottom of the table top, with two included screws per bracket; one on the leg, one on the table (eight screws and four brackets provided). You need your own phillips head screwdriver. Also, the four ends of the beams that touch the floor thoughtfully have adjustable risers in them so that you can level off your table if anything isn't quite straight, either w your table or the surface you place it on.\\n\\nThis took me about 15 min. to put together, and was fairly simple. I say this because I have had so much trouble putting together mis-aligned furniture kits, bikes, kid's toys, bed frames etc... over the years, and this table was not bad at all. That said, and as at least one reviewer commented, the instructions show a different L-shaped bracket than those provided. It's pretty clear though, considering that each provided bracket has only one hole on each side of the \\\"L\\\" and that you only have eight screws, that you'll know what to do, despite the instructions showing a longer bracket w three screws each. One other issue is that drill holes are only placed on one side (the legs) of where you attach the bracket. The table top is not drilled. However, you'll find that you can put the screws in the wood with only moderately strong hand pressure, no drill needed (I do have a big fat puffy grip screwdriver which helps). I'm a small gal, and i'm not a body-builder. I'm very pleased with this table, and really like how sturdy it feels after assembling. I would not let the assembly put you off- this is a nice table, and real wood is hard to come by nowadays in these type of kits.\",\n \"Product: With a series of designs that will be both striking and suitable for your space, the divine rugs found within the Jabari collection by WorldWeavers offer a touch of incomparable charm to any dcor. Machine made of 100% polypropylene, each of these perfect pieces will not only update your space, but offer an affordable solution for doing so, fashioning a sense of flawless warmth from room to room within any home.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Rug For Great Price\\n\\nReview: This Surya Riley RLY-5026 Classic is a pleasant and neutral rug w very low pile that looks well made overall. The rug is on the thinner side and needs a non-slip pad underneath in order to prevent slippage on wood or tile flooring and for a bit more cushion. That said, the texture of the short pile is very comfy and feels soft underfoot like acrylic sweater yarn might feel- not natural feeling in a breathable way like cotton or wool, but not at all rough or plasticky. The colors seem true compared to the ad pic, and the edges are smooth and not snagged. The rug is a bit creased upon unrolling, and stays that way for days even if you put some weight on the creased portions. Overall, however, this is a great price for a good everyday rug that looks quite nice.\",\n \"Product: Embodying the a sense of classic charm that will effortlessly emit a sense of inviting comfort, the flawless rugs found within the Hepburn collection by WorldWeavers will surely become the center point to your space. With a smooth oriental design that radiates opulence, and a cool color palette that will give any room a feel of refined relaxation, each of these perfect pieces will surely be exquisite within your home decor.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Affordable, Easy To Clean, Attractive Southwest Design\\n\\nReview: This Surya Paramount Foggy Blue Southwest Area Rug has some negatives, but definitely more positives. The first negative is that initially, youll need to put something on the ends of the rug to flatten it down. After keeping a large coffee table book on each each of the four corners overnight, the rug lay flat. There was also a strong chemical smell when I first unrolled the rug, but it mostly dissipated by the next day.\\n\\nOn the positive side, this 53 x 76 rug covers a decent amount of floor space in most rooms. After flattening, it lays pretty well. The rug feels very comfortable under bare feet. Note that you should consider adding a non-slip pad underneath if you have this on a hardwood floor in a high traffic area. Another positive is that the rug is made of polypropylene and can be cleaned easily using just soap and water. The rug also has an attractive southwest pattern. While no one would ever mistake this for a Native-American hand-loomed rug, the design and colors give off a classy southwest vibe, like something you might find at a nice hotel in Sedona or Santa Fe. The biggest positive about this rug though is the price. Getting an attractive, functional, easy to clean rug of these dimensions for such an affordable price is just incredible. This would be perfect for furnishing a spare bedroom or for someone who is just starting out at their first place and wants to add a handsome, durable, and easy to maintain floor covering without breaking the bank.\\n\\nFinally, I just wanted to add a note regarding the product information warning about only vacuuming this rug with non-beater bar vacuum cleaners. From the research I did, a beater bar was originally a metal agitator attached to a vacuum cleaners rotating brush rolls in addition to the bristle brushes. Its supposed to beat the carpet fibers through rotational/vibrational action to help lift dirt as you vacuum. These days, however, very few vacuums actually have this feature, replaced instead with stiffer brush strips which still provide agitation. All the same, most articles I read said that many consider the rotating brush bar a beater bar. Im actually not sure whether my upright vacuum cleaner with the rotating brushes will damage this rug, but to be safe, Ill be sure to set the roller brush height higher when vacuuming or just use the vacuum attachment without the rotating brush.\",\n \"Product: Large, angled display is easy to read. Removable outer shell and platform are dishwasher safe. Sealed inner chassis resists airborne contamination, slides out for easy cleaning. Reads and displays in pounds, ounces and grams in decimal, fractional and whole grams Increments : 0.1 ounce, 1/8 ounce, or 1 gram. Field calibratable for accuracy. Anti-microbial protection on resin surfaces to help prevent cross contamination. Intuitive hand grips for safe, quick, and simple transport. Temperature-compensated load cell for use in refrigerated prep rooms. Onboard count feature for easy portion tracking and kitchen productivity. Programmable auto shutoff to conserve battery life. 200% overload protection. Includes AC adapter. Uses AAA batteries (not included). Rubbermaid Commercial 1812595 Premium Digital Scale for Foodservice Portion Control, 12-pound, Stainless Steel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Scale for So Many Uses- Has (Included) Internal Rechargeable Battery\\n\\nReview: There seems to be a misunderstanding in some of these reviews, but this scale has an internal rechargeable battery. It also comes with a 120-230 VAC adapter, or can also be used with 4 AA batteries (not included). The instructions (page 5) recommend you charge for 12 hours before use, and the power will last 50 hours. All i can think of for this discrepancy in reviews is that each time you press a button on this machine, you need to hold it down for a second before it registers- this includes the power button (and the other buttons as well), so it could be that users may have pressed the power button quickly and thought there was no internal power when it didn't immediately turn on. That said, this is a really good, multi-functional scale with six units of measurement you toggle through by pressing the \\\"units\\\" button: pounds in decimal, pounds & ounces in decimal, pounds & oz in fraction, oz in decimal, oz in fraction, and grams.\\n\\nThere are also four different programs you can input: 1) the Power Save program, which when enabled, turns off the scale after five min. of inactivity; 2) the Count Portions program, which will count the number of times you put a portion on the scale up to your desired specified number limit (the default is 50, and you can adjust up and down); 3) the Calculate Weight of Portions, which allows you to put food (or whatnot) on the scale, set the number of portions you want (default is 20, adj. up and down), and the scale will divide the total weight of the food by the number of portions you set- so you know how much each portion needs to weigh; and 4) Calculate Portions in Weight- so you know how many portions you can get from the food on the scale if you want each specified portion to be a specific weight.\\n\\nInterestingly, while there is a final customization function for business use that can permanently reset the factory defaults, the bottom of the scale has a sticker that says, \\\"NOT LEGAL FOR TRADE\\\"- i tried to take a pic of this, but it may be a bit hard to see-\\n\\nThe picture-based instructions for programming the four functions are a bit tricky to get the hang of at first, but once you see how they are describing things, it does make sense. The \\\"Tare\\\" button allows you to set a container on the scale, \\\"zero\\\" it out (so you are not weighing the container), and then add your product into the container. I like to use this when i am continuing to add ingredients into the same bowl for a recipe (when the recipe is in weights, of course). i \\\"zero\\\" out the scale (press \\\"Tare\\\") after each addition of an ingredient, so i don't have to weigh each ingredient separately on the scale and move it to a different bowl.\\n\\nI love that this scale has two removable stainless steel weighing platforms- one being a larger size that fits my typical 3 lbs of bread dough nicely, and that gives me exact weights for each of the various portions i like to have for different sized flat breads. The platforms are easily removable and dishwasher safe to boot. The accuracy of this scale is +/- 0.005 lbs, so this pretty much should take care of most of your household needs and then some- such as, if you bake and measure in weights, make mixed drinks, use portion control for your diet, need to mix hair dyes (developer/ dye), help your son with his science fair project (yes- vinegar and soda!), do crafts such as scented candle making... every home could use a good accurate scale. This one is a winner.\",\n \"Product: This Built NY Lunchpack Collection Verdi Tote Bag is perfect for carrying your daily essentials and lunch in one sleek bag. Features a detachable insulating lunch bag that makes it easy to store your meal in the fridge. The external neoprene pocket holds a water bottle or umbrella and includes an elastic strap to secure smaller items. The fully lined interior features a zipped pocket for valuables and the durable, dual handles with faux leather grip provide carrying comfort. Made from 900 denier poly canvas. Wipe clean. Tote measures 14-1/2 x 15-3/4 x 4-1/2 inches, Detachable lunch bag measures 12 x 10 x 2-1/2 inches.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive, High Quality and Good Sized Carry-All for School or Work\\n\\nReview: Using this bag is a nice break from a backpack or computer case. It fits comfortably over my shoulder and has a decently padded interior which makes it reasonable to use as a laptop carrier. The 1.25\\\" nylon straps have \\\"pleather\\\" type handles sewn on for better comfort, and all the main zippers are also fitted with pleather pulls for ease of use and visual contrast. This bag is an ample size that can hold several regular binders or notebooks, and a 12\\\" laptop, all at the same time.\\n\\nThe top of the bag has extended flaps with a zipper, that allows the top of the bag to remain square (versus pulled together to a point) when zipped with a lot of items in it, which is a nice touch. There are two smaller zippered compartments on the inside of the bag for loose items such as for your cords or keys or wallet, and a non-zip pouch on the outside, opposite the lunchpack side, for easy access items such as sunglasses, pens or even your phone. The lunchpack is roomy enough for several items, and is attached to the outer bag via three zippered sides- the top and sides attach to the bag, and the entire lunchpack comes off. The inside of the lunchpack is a reflective, water-proof shiny material for better insulation. The lunchpack is also padded, so that the bag and lunchpack feel sturdy and substantial, but light. There is a neoprene side pouch on the outside of the main bag, that will hold your drink.\\n\\nThis is a great bag, and feels good to carry. I like the bright colors, so it's easy to see among a sea of black and muted carry cases out there, and it feels better balanced than my computer bag, because it holds my computer up vertically, vs. swinging side to side the long way. The quality in the make and materials of this bag is evident, and I would not hesitate to recommend.\",\n \"Product: Add style to your next party with this Style Setter Glass Beverage Dispenser. Whether you're entertaining indoors or outdoors, this Beverage Dispenser is sure to be the life of the party. This beautiful piece is made of crystal glass with a timeless design. Ideal for either casual or formal occasions.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy and Thick, High Quality Drink Dispenser-- Perfect for Kombucha Brewing\\n\\nReview: I'm very pleased w this Style Setter Main Street Bev Dispenser, which has thicker glass at the shoulder area and base than regular commercially available gallon pickle jars, and this also has an attractive look. The metal stand is very sturdy, and easily and securely holds this dispenser off the counter top for ease of pouring yourself a glass. The plastic spigot worked perfectly after securely tightening the provided fitting on the inside of the dispenser, and I have had no drips.\\n\\nI've been using this as a continuous brewing vessel for Kombucha/ Jun, and it works great. The pic I attached shows a mix of 2 cups honey and nearly the full 2 gallon capacity of this Style Setter dispenser worth of green tea (1/2 cup loose tea and water) plus the SCOBY. I put this dispenser on a heating pad, so that there are no drips from this jar is very important. The grolsch-style bottles next to the dispenser contain some of the flavored booch from the last batch. When I take a break from making Kombucha, I'll very likely use this at my next party for flavored waters. I highly recommend this lovely container and stand.\\n\\nbtw, i forgot to mention- when you securely tighten the spigot to the jar, make sure that you place the silicone \\\"washer\\\" i am holding in my pic, the opposite direction from the direction I am holding it (sorry, took pic wrong way), because it is angled narrower in one direction, and the narrowest part should go towards the hole in the glass, like you'd put a cork in a bottle. the washer and the nut you screw over the washer, should be on the inside of the dispenser. This should help w any leaks that are coming from the bottle area.\",\n \"Product: Corelle Livingware South Beach 8.5\\\" Plate (Set of 4)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Awesome Corelle. What's Not to Love?\\n\\nReview: When I was a kid, we'd always had these around our home- different patterns of course, but the same Corelle glass plate sets that I still love today. And boy am I sorry I had given so many settings away to charities over the years as I've moved, thinking I'd just get some nicer plates. Well, I do have \\\"nicer\\\" (aka at least more expensive, anyways) plates, and had gone through that whole phase w the bridal registry picks, fancy parties and such. Lately tho, I am back to ease of use, and simple living is far more important to me. I've been purchasing Corelle plates and bowls again, which I like to use the most, because nothing beats their lightweight and thin design, and I love their bright designs, like this newer South Beach pattern, which is just very Happy. Some things just are good, and stay good, no matter how many years pass.\",\n \"Product: Offering a range of colors that brilliantly blend to create a modern seemingly textural design, the Malia collection for WorldWeavers will craft a bold, beautiful look for your space. Machine made in Turkey in 100% polypropylene, the tasteful tie dye designs and affordable price points coalesce flawlessly with a vibrant coloring, redefining trend from room to room within any home decor.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Neutral Colored Faded-Chic Area Rug\\n\\nReview: I am reviewing the Surya Nova x Area Rug in the smaller 3'9\\\" x 5'2\\\" size, and I have to say that the rug looks nearly identical to the ad pic shown. The rug is low pile and looks well made overall. The rug is on the thinner side and needs a non-slip pad underneath in order to prevent slippage on wood or tile flooring and for a bit more cushion. That said, the texture of the short pile is very comfy and feels soft underfoot like acrylic sweater yarn might feel- not natural feeling in a breathable way like cotton or wool, but not at all rough or plasticky. The colors seem true compared to the ad pic, and the edges are smooth and not snagged. This Nova has unique worn and faded areas that are prominent, patterned as if it were an antique-type of worn rug. I guess this look may be a faded-chic type of look, not unlike the concept of ripped jeans, perhaps. The rug is a bit creased upon unrolling, and takes a few days to smooth out. Overall, however, this is a great price for a good everyday rug that looks quite nice.\",\n \"Product: Our silky soft Microfiber sheets offer a low cost solution for quality linens. Wrinkle resistant and fully machine washable, our extremely durable Microfiber sheets feature a breathable twill weave. King and Cal King sheet sets include 1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet and 2 king pillowcases. All sheet sets fit mattresses up to 18\\\" deep.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Soft and Luxurious, Feels Lightly Velvety, Has Beautiful Sheen\\n\\nReview: This PureCare Microfiber Sheet set is really lovely and well made. The material has a light sheen, thick satin embroidered decorative edging along the pillow cases and top sheet, and an inner stitched covered elastic that goes all the way around the bed for the fitted sheet. Impressively, the fitted sheet also has fabric-covered elastics on the undersides of the corners (nice touch- so no bare elastic at all, unlike some sheets) at the top curves covering each corner of your mattress. This provides ample room yet a snug fit at the corners, whether you have a thinner and thicker mattress. The pillowcases are also ample in size, and fit my very full and fluffy down pillows easily around the middle, and with about six inches of fabric to spare at the openings.\\n\\nThe fabric feels lightly velvety, and has a very subtle \\\"fuzzy\\\" texture, compared to the smoother feel of cotton or linen, making lying in this just wonderful for cold nights. I have to say though, having used a microfiber duvet cover for years, that you may want to switch to cotton in warm weather, because ultimately, this material just doesn't breath as well as cotton, and can make you feel a bit too warm if you're a hot sleeper. I'm not docking this, however, because for cool weather, I find that nothing beats the luxurious feel of this type of microfiber.\",\n \"Product: This Sabatier White slotted restaurant turner is an essential for turning everything from pancakes to fish, and has a durable stainless steel head strong enough to flip heavier meats on the grill, with slots that allow juices to drain away when transferring the food to a plate. The handle is made of durable pom and includes stainless steel triple rivets for added strength. Dishwasher safe.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Long and Sturdy, Solid Handle\\n\\nReview: The working end of this Sabatier Slotted Spatula is about double the length of a regular kitchen spatula, and it is constructed of a light metal which is one piece- the triple rivets go through the handle slabs and full tang. The slots are wide and well proportioned, allowing for less weight, but do not detract from the sturdy feel of this spatula. This tool is perfect for a large flat top grill, and would be excellent for flipping large pancakes or a pile of hashbrowns when you want that nice crispy part to stay in big chunks. The length is also useful for maneuvering/ turning or holding personal-sized pizzas easily. If you grill a lot, you definitely need one of these larger tools, and this particular Sabatier Spatula is quite handy and well-made.\",\n \"Product: The Storkcraft Premium Comfort 5-inch Foam Twin Mattress combines superior quality and comfort for a restful nights sleep. Made with high-quality premium foam, the Stork craft Premium Comfort Mattress strikes the perfect balance between comfort and support. This twin mattress is unique in that it features a removable, washable and breathable outer cover for convenience and peace of mind. The Stork craft Premium Comfort 5-inch Foam Twin Mattress ships compressed in an easy to carry lightweight box, and once unpacked, will start expanding to its full size. The Stork craft Premium Comfort 5-inch Foam Twin Mattress meets Federal flammability standards and includes a 6 year limited manufacturers warranty\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent Mattress for Medium Firmness Sleepers\\n\\nReview: This is a foam mattress of the vacuum-packed, rolled and shipped to your door variety, which is very convenient, and the price is right. The cover is nice, velour-ish, removable and zippered around three sides of the mattress for easy cleaning. Inside, you will find a thinner stretchy fabric covering a solid foam of one type, which is about medium in density- not hard like a couch foam, and nowhere near what you would find with a Tempurpedic-type memory foam for softness. It's a solid OKAY, which is why i gave this three stars. I have another foam mattress that is also five inches thick- the similarly priced <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Sleep-Master-Cool-Gel-Memory-Foam-5-Inch-Sleeper-Sofa-Mattress-Replacement-Sofa-Bed-Mattress-Twin/dp/B00PZ03VE2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Sleep Master Cool Gel Memory Foam 5 Inch Sleeper Sofa Mattress, Replacement Sofa Bed Mattress, Twin</a>, which i find to be more comfortable due to the dual foam layers in the Sleep Master (four inches of solid bottom layer and one inch of very soft upper layer). I suppose this is a preference issue, however, based on how you sleep and what level of hard/soft you like. Still, i can't help but compare the two mattresses, and for me, i find this Storkcraft to be a good, but not quite great mattress.--this mattress did expand to five inches btw (vs. the four inches shown in my pic), but took overnight to expand to full size. also, the wooden ruler atop the roll pic is 12\\\" long.\",\n \"Product: This Sabatier Pom Ice Cream Scoop easily scoops ice cream, sorbet, and other frozen desserts. Features a strong durable stainless steel head to scoop all your favorite frozen treats. The handle provides a secure, comfortable grip. Dishwasher safe.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy and Smooth Action, Best for Larger Hands\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R25YMUPOLF23V3\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1QlkRdgC8S.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1eRZ0VnjdS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> This is a well-made Ice Cream Scoop,and the parts move smoothly and it appears to be machined well. It will make nice sized balls of ice cream, and it feels strong enough to cut through harder ice creams. The handle is made of hard, smooth plastic, and is a bit slippery when you're holding it, as it's nearly a round shape. This is also a fairly large tool - granted, I have a small hand, but you can see from the video that this would work best if your hand was larger. The cross guard section, which is the lip-part which prevents your hand from sliding up as you depress the ice-cream release lever, is a good feature, and gives you stability so that you can press the lever with more strength. The protruding portion could have been rotated back a bit further behind the scoop, to be more effective, imo, but that could also be due to my hand size. Overall, this is a well-made tool, and should last a long while.\",\n \"Product: Our silky soft Microfiber sheets offer a low cost solution for quality linens. Wrinkle resistant and fully machine washable, our extremely durable Microfiber sheets feature a breathable twill weave. Queen sheet sets include 1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet and 2 queen pillowcases. All sheet sets fit mattresses up to 18\\\" deep.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Soft and Luxurious, Feels Lightly Velvety, Has Beautiful Sheen\\n\\nReview: This PureCare Microfiber Sheet set is really lovely and well made. The material has a light sheen, thick satin embroidered decorative edging along the pillow cases and top sheet, and an inner stitched covered elastic that goes all the way around the bed for the fitted sheet. Impressively, the fitted sheet also has fabric-covered elastics on the undersides of the corners (nice touch- so no bare elastic at all, unlike some sheets) at the top curves covering each corner of your mattress. This provides ample room yet a snug fit at the corners, whether you have a thinner and thicker mattress. The pillowcases are also ample in size, and fit my very full and fluffy down pillows easily around the middle, and with about six inches of fabric to spare at the openings.\\n\\nThe fabric feels lightly velvety, and has a very subtle \\\"fuzzy\\\" texture, compared to the smoother feel of cotton or linen, making lying in this just wonderful for cold nights. I have to say though, having used a microfiber duvet cover for years, that you may want to switch to cotton in warm weather, because ultimately, this material just doesn't breath as well as cotton, and can make you feel a bit too warm if you're a hot sleeper. I'm not docking this, however, because for cool weather, I find that nothing beats the luxurious feel of this type of microfiber.\",\n \"Product: There's no reason to brown bag it anymore when you can use the Six Pack Tote instead. It's perfect to take to the beach, park, or party, and keeps beverages cool up to four hours. It's also a clever to carry condiments and utensils to a picnic or tailgate. Whether you're toting fragile glass jars or squeeze bottles that need to stay upright, they'll stay totally safe on your way to and from. This tote also includes a stainless steel bottle opener that slides perfectly into the small pocket. Made from neoprene which isn't just for wetsuits. It protects against, spills, splashes, bumps, and drops, making it perfect for safeguarding the things you love. This tote is as slim as a thin mint when not in use, but don't be deceived by its size-it expands to fit the canned or bottled beverage of your choice. Made a mess, no problem. Simply toss this product in the washing machine to make it look like new. Just ask any Joe Six-pack. Measures 11-1/4-inch wide by 12-inch tall.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Snazzy 6-Pack Holder- Great for Quick Outings\\n\\nReview: I have the two-wines pouch of BUILT's Neoprene line of beverage holders, and have really made good use of it on weekend beach trips with friends. This snazzy six-pack sleeve is manufactured just as well, with tight & clean seams, and securely holds cans and bottles so they won't fall out. If you're hanging with a small number of people, these neoprene holders are a great item to have on hand. Esp. since the bottle (or wine) opener is incorporated right on the pack, and there's no need to do a search and rescue type operation for any openers (and I've never been all that good at using my teeth). There is a moderate insulating effect w this, and my cans were decently cold for maybe two hours. The Six-Pack is easy to carry, w a wide grip, and doesn't really stretch or lose it's shape when you pick it up. It looks sleek and classy- much better than a paper bag, and if you drop it, there's a much greater chance you won't be cleaning up glass. I highly recommend if you tend to take a lot of short outings with close friends.\",\n \"Product: Farberware Huggers helps preserve the freshness of leftovers by sealing tight when you fit it around the rim of your bowl. Bowl Huggers use a tight seal to keep your food fresh for longer, saving you money. Each Bowl Hugger can adapt to a range of different sized bowls. So whatever bowl your leftovers are in, you can seal it with a Bowl Hugger. The silicone lip gives you the flexibility to stretch the bowl hugger over various sized bowls that can be plastic, glass, ceramic or more. To remove it, simply lift from the tab. Bowl Huggers have a clear top that allows you to easily view what is in the bowl and also makes it easy to stack bowls for space saving storage. Made from 100% BPA- and phthalate-free plastic. This set conveniently nest inside each other for easy, compact storage. This set of 2 includes (1) large Bowl Hugger (fits bowls from 7-3/4 - 8-1/2 inch diameter), and (1) extra-large Bowl Hugger (fits bowls from 5-1/2 - 9-1/4 inch diameter). Refrigerator Safe. Hand wash only, do not use in microwave. Bowls not included.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great If Your Bowls Fit\\n\\nReview: These are fairly nice, hard topped and silicon lipped Farberware Bowl Huggers. Provided the bowls you have fit, they make for a good option to cover your foods. The ad implies these covers could possibly fit a wider sizing of bowls than I expected, and unfortunately, my bowls are a little too tight or a little too loose.\\n\\nMore importantly, even the advertized size ranges don't really work. For example, I can fit my finger between the smaller (called \\\"Large\\\" size by Farberware), bowl cover and the rim of my 1.5Q Pyrex bowl, which is comfortably within the range of the advertised cover size, which is supposed to fit a 7 3/4\\\" -8 1/2\\\" bowl. The rim to rim of my 1.5Q Pyrex bowl measures between 8\\\" to 8 1/4\\\", but the cover really is too large for any seal. My larger bowl, a 2.5Q Pyrex measuring nearly 10\\\" is outside the advertised larger bowl (\\\"Extra Large\\\") cover's range of \\\"5 1/2\\\"- 9 1/4\\\" (I think they misprinted the 5 1/2, which should probably be 8 1/2, i'm guessing). However, it fits, but very tightly.\\n\\nThese are a useful concept, and are well made. I'd say Farberware needs to get back to measuring, and be much more precise with their advertising. If you want to use these as is, i'd recommend you have bowls that are about 8 1/2\\\"- 8 3/4\\\" for the Large cover and maybe a 9 1/4\\\"- 9 1/2\\\" for the Extra Large. Please don't hold me to my measurements, however, because I don't have bowls exactly those sizes- i'm just guesstimating based on my bowls above as noted.\",\n \"Product: EarSet 3i Black (1 pce )\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Outrageously Fantastic Sound. Fits Me Poorly,... But I Don't Care\\n\\nReview: These B&Os are just incredible. I have no earphones or buds that even come close to the melodic and rich mid-range sound that hits you w a full spectrum of amazing, throw your hair back type of sound (remember those Maxell ads?). There is a crisp clarity at the high notes and yet B&O has managed to also provide a low level bass that you can feel in your chest. I'm actually in love.\\n\\nThe sound is so good that i'm completely willing to overlook the highly stylized and status-symbol design that is more high art than utility. Beautiful, holy cow, Yes. well- fitting, not so much (at least for me). These will not fall off my head while working out, but they don't fit my small face or ears all that well- the buds are a bit large for my ear openings and the over the ear, hinged, pull-down/ twist 1/2 moon bar won't sit flush to my head and will just float over my ears for the most part. The good news with this floating, however, is that i have space to put my sunglasses on at the same time. When my husband wears these though, it looks like he may have actually been the head model B&O built these for- they fit him so well.\\n\\nThese sweet pups come with four pairs of foamy ear bud \\\"socks\\\" and a nice (also 1/2 moon shaped) leatherette velcro pouch that you'll need to slip into a pocket, cuz there's no clip, belt slot or handle (no biggie- i have so many things hanging on me already that i should just get a utility belt). There is a tiny clip that fits on the very thin wires (I hope these don't break! You have to be gentle) to attach to your shirt collar. This is meant for Apple products: iPod Shuffle (3rd gen and later); iPod nano (4th gen and later); iPod classic (120GB, 160GB only); iPod touch (2nd gen and later); iPhone 3GS; iPhone 4; iPad; iPad 2. Even so, these work as earphones for my computer, even though the controls don't work. On my iPhone 5, most of the controls work (vol up-down, play, pause, skip, answer call, decline call), but the controls for fast-forward, rewind and announcing my song title/artist name do not. On the other hand, If I press the middle button for a few seconds, Siri inexplicably pops up, and I can have long discussions w her, and also control my Phillips Hue lights in my house. cool.\\n\\nWearing these, I feel like I've arrived (where, i'm still not sure). AND, I can even (literally) have (success) theme music playing in my head as I strut around.\",\n \"Product: 3M Privacy Filters keep confidential information private. Only persons directly in front of the monitor can see the image on screen; others on either side of them see a darkened screen.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Better than Having No Protection, but Somewhat Limited\\n\\nReview: I was on a plane last week, where I would liked to have taken my laptop out to complete some work, but felt uncomfortable due to the sensitivity of the information I was accessing. So, I just sat there instead. I normally don't use my work laptop in public locations, but wondered if these privacy screens helped at all. After trying out this 3M, I'd say yes and no.\\n\\nLooking directly perpendicular to the screen, i can see slight shading around the edges, as if I am looking into the beginning of a tunnel. This isn't too bad, but it is noticeable. Also, the screen overall becomes darker, necessitating my increasing the back-light one or two clicks- an expected effect since you are putting on a darker piece of plastic on your screen (in my case this is very useful, because my screen's lowest setting is brighter than I like at night). More to the point though, I find that the filter angles are somewhat limited, in that I need to get to about 75 degrees off center in order to see some privacy effect. I'd say at about 80 degrees, you're fairly protected in that the screen looks dark enough not to be able to read words, but you can see a general outline of what's on the screen.\\n\\nThe screen itself is a good quality, with a cutout for your camera. 3M provides three long strips of adhesive, that if cut in half, can provide four corners of tack. I ended up using all three strips, because I made a mess of the first two halves when I put the camera cutout portion on the bottom and had to re-do. There is an etched \\\"3M PFNAP001\\\" next to the camera cutout, that you can feel, and see at certain angles (they should have put this on the bottom). I mimicked what i could see on the screen if I were a passenger in an isle seat kitty corner from me (if I were also sitting in an isle seat), and I have to say that I still won't be doing any sensitive work on a plane. Still, this is better than having no protection, and does provide oblique coverage for some privacy. Overall, if you need to keep your work private, I'd say you can only be sure if don't do it in public- these filters seem to be of limited coverage.\\n\\nUpdate: after writing this, I found three more strips of adhesive in the box- there are six long strips provided.\",\n \"Product: The AmazonBasics portable fold-up travel stand is designed for use with nearly all new lightweight tablet and e-Readers from 6\\\" to 12\\\" displays including Kindle Fire, iPad 1, iPad 2, the new iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Kindle Touch and Kindle Keyboard. An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: sturdy, non-slip, foldable and pretty nifty\\n\\nReview: I actually love this product. I purchased one previously for my iPad, and quickly ordered another through the Vine program when i saw it was being offered, for my husband's tablet (A Le Pan- also an awesome device- at a fraction of the price of an iPad). The stand is very solid feeling and folds into a smallish smooth batton, easily fitting in my tablet case (neoprene w handles) which has a zippered outter pocket, and into which i also put my power cord and ear buds. It is fully adjustable for tilt, unlike those hard tablet cases that fold backwards into a triangle and have pre-set angles. It also has a highly adjustable v-shaped footprint (wider or narrower v), making it very stable for many sizes of tablets. Finally, the surfaces touching the table and the back of your tablet have a nice tacky rubbery material that prevents slips. If you already carry your plug and some accessories as i do, you won't mind the addition of this stand.\",\n \"Product: Set up full coverage monitoring for your home with this NETGEAR Arlo smart home wireless security system. The included smart home base station makes it easy to connect with your Wi-Fi and create remote access to camera function. Customize this NETGEAR Arlo smart home wireless security system to send alerts when family arrives home or suspicious activity occurs. Includes two cameras: Cover separate rooms or the front and back doors. Night vision: 12 IR LEDs provide clear vision up to 25 feet. High definition: 720p HD provides a clear view. Weatherproof construction: Set the cameras up indoors or out. Voice control: Connects with Alexa for hands-free operation. Free app: Download the Arlo app and watch from work.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good For Real-time Monitoring, Somewhat Unreliable Motion Detection\\n\\nReview: I set this Arlo Camera System up with some amount of difficulty. The hardware and app were easy enough to connect and download respectively, and to get up and running w power and internet, but the base station was not able to be recognized. I followed the simple short steps and reset to factory default settings as directed many many times. I read through numerous community help comments and saw several people seemed to have had the same problem. I tried some of the fixes that were suggested (powering on, off, plugging in, out, resetting again and again). Just as I was about to give up and wait for morning to call customer service, it picked up my base station. I am unclear what I did to make that happen, other than following the steps on the app and the forums over and over, so I can't really give any pointers. The few hours I spent trying to just set this up irritated me quite a bit.\\n\\nWhen I got the cameras working (they paired very easily once the base station was picked up), I set them up in various parts of my home, and over the next several days tried the devices out. The color is very clear and the night vision very good, and the alerts seemed to be picking up a lot of the movement, especially when I tried them on two sides of the living room w high traffic- so much so that I turned the scheduling on only for times we were out, so I wouldn't get so many beeps on my phone or notification email in my inbox. When the weekend came, I had time to try to install these outside, and the limited wi-fi range (my wifi is fairly strong w a mesh system, but who knows) made it impossible to move the cameras even a few feet away from the walls of the house. One camera is outside our front door facing the courtyard's outer door, and I could not put the other camera outside at all, due to sporadic cut-outs and not working for hours at a time. So I placed it looking outside through a window towards the backyard, but the motion detector did not seem to pick up any movement through the glass, and it didn't work at night due to the glass reflecting back at the camera. I re-positioned it inside looking at the inside of the backdoor.\\n\\nHaving used these for about a week now, it appears that the cameras only sporadically pick up movement, and you have to be fairly close- no more than about a few feet away. Also, if you walk quickly through the camera zone, it may not pick up motion. This can be remedied by putting the cameras right next to the entrance you are interested in (it would take some stationary time to break in, but since the cameras are not recording unless the motion detector detects, this system is not reliable enough for security purposes I was desiring.\\n\\nWhat the cameras seem best at doing, is monitoring real time inside or immediately outside your home, such as when you want to see your pet or baby sleeping or you hear a noise or something like that. Overall, though, I don't believe these cameras are consistent enough for security based on reliable motion detection. I noticed Arlo Pro provides longer distance motion detection, so this upgrade may be more useful.\\n\\nUpdate: i added a star to this- 4 stars, \\\"I like this,\\\" because for the purposes of real time monitoring where you can check in and view, this system works very well.\",\n \"Product: AmazonBasics brings you everyday items at a great value. An Amazon Brand.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Keep your camera and accessories safe and tidy\\n\\nReview: This is a convenient, semi-rigid, double zippered, soft-handled mini \\\"suitcase\\\" for your GoPro or GoPro knock-off camera, which is what I have (Black Box DareDVL 2.0\\\" LCD WIFI HD 1080P Waterproof Sports Camera - 12MP 170 Wide Angle Outdoor Action Camcorder with Remote Control and Accessory Bundle (Black))- sold on Amazon. I have accumulated (and my Black Box camera also came w) a large accessory collection that makes this well-made and lightweight case absolutely essential to hold all the various attachments, cords, SD cards, cleaners, etc... that i like to have w me when i'm taking my camera out. The case comes with cut-outs of plastic-topped foam shapes, already in place as shown, that can easily be removed or left in as desired (see attached pic w cutouts removed). The foam is very protective and dense, and my camera and accessories do not move once the case is zippered shut. You could also take out the entire foam section as well, if you wanted, to just have a mini-case to repurpose for other uses. If you have a GoPro or facsimile thereof, you really owe it to yourself to keep your camera and accessories safe, tidy, and in one place in this neat little case. I find AmazonBasics has great quality products in general, and this is no exception.\\n\\nI've noticed some reviewers mentioning the zippered opening should be on the same side of the case as the handle. True. Even if this is an odd placement, you could avoid any negative effect on your items (falling out accidentally) as long as you have both zippers together at the top.\",\n \"Product: 360fly HD - The original 360-degree video leader. With one camera, one lens and no seaming, the 360fly HD captures your entire life in immersive, interactive video video you can edit, add effects to and share directly from your iPhone and Android smartphone. Includes camera, mounts, and everything you need to start recording your memories in their fullest. Compatible with most iPhone / iPad devices running iOS 9 or later and Android devices running version 4.4 or later including the Samsung S6, Samsung Galaxy Note and LG Nexus 5. Accessories for purchase: - 360fly VR - Smartphone Compatible Virtual Reality Headset - 360fly HD Suction Mount - High-Speed Suction Mount - 360fly HD Vented Helmet Mount - Fits Most Vented Helmets - 360fly HD Handlebar Mount - Fits Round and Square Bars - 360fly -20 Tripod Grip - Rubber Injected Grip Handle - 360fly QuickTwist to -20 Adapter - Versatile Connection\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Truly Incredible, Easy to Use- See What You Missed the First Time\\n\\nReview: For those of you not familiar with the concept of 360 cameras (like I was), think Google Earth. you can look at all angles of the earth based on where you focus your view. This slightly larger than racquet-ball-sized 360fly 4K camera allows you to take a video or photo, so that later, you can watch your own event from all angles as well (from one fixed point), either via touchscreen, or even better, through the use of a \\\"Cardboard\\\" enabled viewing device, the simplest and cheapest ones literally being made of cardboard, like this: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Google-Cardboard-V2-0-Virtual-Reality-DIY-3D-Glasses-for-Smartphone-3-5-to-6-inch-with-Headband-Easy-Setup/dp/B01EWKKYN6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Google Cardboard V2.0 Virtual Reality DIY 3D Glasses for Smartphone 3.5 to 6 inch with Headband - Easy Setup</a> and strap your smartphone onto your face! Then, just by turning your head and body around, you are in your Virtual Reality world, back in that moment you captured, except that you can look at it from all angles, including the sights you missed at the time- such as those views behind you.\\n\\nThis is an amazing (and powerful ) 4K single lens (one of the few 360-type presently with a single lens) 360 VR camera, with beautiful resolution and color at 2880px X 2880px- 30fps, saved in MP4. I was amazed that despite having the one eyeball-type lens, i was able to capture a significant chunk of the full field of vertical view. For me, the benefits of having the single lens (no stitching of multiple camera outputs together)- thus quicker processing w less computing power, and intuitive shooting/ capture (like it's your own eye- if you can see the eye, it can see you), significantly outweighs any drawbacks from the minimal blind spotting below. It is a very worthwhile trade-off if you don't absolutely need spherical coverage, and near-spherical will do.\\n\\nBecause of the minimal processing needed, you can watch what you are shooting in live mode (share/ watch live streaming w Livit app), seeing in real time what is being recorded, on your screen. You can then download/ save your vid/pic to your device from your 360fly immediately via wifi, and review/ share to social media if you desire.\\n\\nThis cam has other extremely useful features, such as:\\n\\n-Timelapse video, with shutter intervals you can set from 1-60 sec\\n-Motion/Audio triggered auto start\\n-Acceleration triggered (shaking the camera) auto start\\n-Front Facing mode when you don't need 360- then u get 16:9 aspect ratio/ 2560px X 1440 px\\n-GPS built-in w altimeter, barometer and accelerometer, (location, altitude, speed), so you can track telemetry and tag locations-- apparently there are also 3rd party apps that will overlay your telemetry on your video stream. nice!\\n-Waterproof to 30ft\\n-should withstand a fall from 1.5 meters\\n\\nThe battery life is reasonable, considering, lasting approx 1.5 hrs, but the charging was very speedy- i was able to get pretty much a full charge back in about 4.5 hrs.\\n\\nThe 360fly company also did this great thing, where they partnered with some major helmet manufacturers (i think Bell, BRG Sports and GIro) so that the 360fly's helmet version cam fits these helmets directly, so you can quickly switch the helmet cam from your helmet to your buddies' helmets. Because the cam is custom fitted, it is significantly safer to wear, being very low profile and aerodynamic looking (vs. sticking out of your head like a growth).\\n\\nI am very impressed with this little device, which comes with a small magnetic disk charger, USB cord, zip-up neoprene case for your charger and cord, and a universal GoPro type compatible attachment that worked well with all my GoPro (and knock-off GoPro accessories). I thought the magnetic disk charger was particularly cool, because you cannot \\\"dock\\\" the cam into the charger except in one position- the cam's magnets will only attract the charger's magnets in that one position- otherwise, it repels, and you can't set it down. another nice touch in this beautifully designed device.\\n\\nI had no problem downloading and using the recommended \\\"360fly\\\" app (or Livit) onto my iPhone, and also checking out other users' uploaded videos (fairly spectacular!). So far, this has worked seamlessly for me, and i'm excited to get out and about to continue recording.\\n\\nUpdate: Here are some still shots taken from some videos i took in Alaska. In the one shot w whales emerging, i was facing the wrong direction when they came out of the water, but because of this 360, i was able to watch what i missed later on. Because it was overcast during my trip, i added a shot of the blue sky in N. Cal. for color contrast. 360 cameras definitely have their place, and if you want grand (and detailed) views of your events, this is a good pick.\",\n \"Product: Seamlessly stream 4K HD video and game online with the Touch P5's lightning-fast AC1900 Wi-Fi. Set up your network right on the dual band router's intuitive touchscreen display, eliminating the need for a separate PC, tablet, or smartphone. The Touch P5 includes apps for easily adding or removing devices from your network, modifying parental controls, and changing guest access privileges. Its three external antennas use high-powered amplifiers and Beam forming technology to provide superior coverage and reliability.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Extremely intuitive and easy set-up\\n\\nReview: This is one of the easiest set-ups for a router i have ever used, because of the large touch-screen allowing you to input the settings you would normally need to input via ethernet, computer and webpage access, which does not always go so smoothly. the quickstart instruction sheet (see pic) shows the following steps 1) screw on the 3 antennas 2) cut power to the modem 3) connect modem to router with included ethernet cable 4) power up modem and wait for it to fully restart 5) power up router.\\n\\nOnce on, the router asks you to create an administrator password, set your region and time, and then you can name your SSID and make passwords for both the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz, as well as guest access options that give you new passwords at various intervals you choose (the default is daily, and you can easily read the day's password on the screen without the admin password). You can use this in 3 modes: router, repeater or access mode, and it has various other options including parental controls and printer server, and you can adjust the screen itself for brightness level and timing before it locks to screensaver/ sleep . The screen looks and acts like an iphone w apps, making it very intuitive. I also have an Almond Securifi 2015, which also has great touchscreen features, but in a smaller package. i'm deducting a point here because in comparison to my Almond, this TP-Link is more expensive and seems just a smidge more sluggish in connection speed- my home has a lot of thick walls, however, and all my connections have issues, so speed isn't necessarily a problem with this device. On the other hand, i had to return my Almond within a few months for problems with the touchscreen (their customer service was extremely responsive, however, and replaced it right away).\\n\\nOverall, i think this is a well thought-out product, which works very smoothly, sets up incredibly easily and is in a reasonable price range for effective routers.\",\n \"Product: Our CX model is ultra-compact and lightweight. Designed for efficiency with a look and feel that is sleek and convenient. With the high quality LCD live viewfinder you can monitor while you capture photos and videos instantly.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Comparison of Three Action Cameras, and why I like Activeon Best\\n\\nReview: REVIEW of 3 ACTION CAMERAS\\nI have three action cameras that are GoPro accessory compatible: This Activeon CX, The Black Box DareDVL 2.0\\\" LCD WIFI HD 1080P Waterproof Sports Camera - 12MP 170 Wide Angle Outdoor Action Camcorder with Remote Control and Accessory Bundle (Black), and the Legazone WIFI 2.0'' 12MP HD 1080P 170Wide Sports Camera Action DV + Shockproof Carrying Bag Waterproof Helmet Camcorder. When i purchased the Black Box last Dec., the price was about $80. It is still about $80. When I purchased the Legozone (also last Dec), the price was $80 w a large accessory bundle and case, and now you can buy it for about $50-$60 w/o quite as many, but still a lot of included accessories. This Activeon is the most expensive (with the fewest accessories) of the three-$99 as of this writing, and has, in my opinion, the best overall quality of audio and video, and about 1/4 to 1/3 longer battery life before needing recharging.\\n\\nALL 3 CAMERAS SHARE GOOD FEATURES\\nEach of the three cameras have some similar basic features- 2\\\" view screen; up to 1080P/ 30 FPS; fish-eye 170 degree wide angle (actually Activeon has a slightly narrower 160 FOV, but not noticeable); wi-fi iOS/Android phone control via downloadable apps; 30 meter dive feature via included waterproof casings; detachable rechargeable LI-ion batteries; multiple photo shooting modes such as burst shot and time-lapse; and the convenience of being compatible with GoPro and each others accessories for the most part- the main exception being that the waterproof casings are not interchangeable (due to the placement and number of button controls).\\n\\nWHY I LIKE ACTIVEON\\nSome of the differences in features i think are noteworthy are: Activeon has a wide variety of color filter and video effects that allow you to capture your media w the effect directly (vs. after the fact w photo/video editing software), Activeon has a stronger battery included, at 1100 mAh/ 4.18Wh vs. 900 mAh/ 3.33Wh for the other two, that extends your record time between charges by about 1/4 to 1/3, in my opinion, an upgrade that is not insignificant in real-life use. The Activeon has a universal 1/4 inch screw hole at the bottom of the camera itself, that mounts to many general tripods you might already have, whereas the other two don't (to be fair, both Black Box and Legazone include various accessories that have the 1/4 screw mount, but you'd have to add the adapter). From a subjective standpoint, it seems to me that the Activeon's video is less jerky (has a much smoother look), and the video and pics are brighter and more clear, esp. in low light conditions. I can even see that the Activeon videos show the camera auto-adjusting the exposure as subjects move from shadow to light and back, for example. I would say that the Activeon and Legazone's audio recording results are neck and neck for me, with very good quality, considering the tiny size of these cameras.\\n\\nFurther, the Activeon has a professional website and obvious corporate presence online, including firmware upgrades and easily accessible support, whereas it could be (i'm guessing here based on their similarities in function and look) that the Black Box and Legazone have a sole source origination for their manufactured internal \\\"guts\\\" that are put into slightly modified housings and given slightly modified software, before being sold as separate items under separate entities. Both the Black Box and Legazone instruction manuals don't identify their companies, but say, \\\"Sports HD DV\\\" and \\\"Action Camera\\\" respectively on their covers, and show no contact information for assistance. Finally, the Activeon housing has rounded corners and you can change the color of the faceplate (purchased separately) --better ergonomics and style choices. I personally find Activeon's rounded corners much nicer than the perfect 90 degree angles on the other 2 cameras. as for color? black is fine for me, but w a bright color you'd see the camera better if you put it down somewhere. These are really small cameras!\\n\\nWHY I LIKE BLACK BOX and LEGAZONE\\nAll that said, I don't want downplay too much the Black Box and Legazone, which are both very good cameras (i'm very happy to have them) and extremely good values for their price points- i think Legazone is really a steal, considering it is almost half the price of the Activeon, and both Legazone and Black Box also give you so much free stuff (tons of accessories) along w the cameras themselves. Additionally, both Black Box and Legazone can shoot up to 12 MP vs. 5MP for Activeon (altho, truth be told, i can't actually tell the difference, and i'm not magnifying detailed subjects like insects, so it is a negligible issue for me), and each have unique features that Activeon does not. Black Box, for example, can double as a security camera, having a built-in motion detector and auto on/off feature. Additionally, Black Box actually comes with a separate IR remote control, so you don't have to use your phone app. The Legazone has a brighter and more crisp 2\\\" screen on the camera itself than both the Activeon and the Black Box, so that watching the video as it's made is more pleasant (does not affect the end result of my preference for the Activeon's better finished video/ pic). Legazone also has nearly as good video and audio (really, neck and neck) w the Activeon, at nearly half the price (did i mention tons of free accessories? Legazone had the most included, and useful items). The Black Box and Legazone also both have 4 buttons for control- power, mode, and up and down to toggle within modes, whereas Activeon has 2 control buttons- you just need to press mode longer to get into settings. depending on whether you're a lots-of-button person (think Blackberry) or a minimal buttons person (Apple), you'll like or dislike 2 or 4 buttons. i'm ambivalent about button numbers- each of the cameras works well, and are easy to use and intuitive, w either 2 or 4 buttons.\\n\\nWHY I STILL LIKE ACTIVEON BETTER\\ni know i rambled here a bit, but because i have been using several of these GoPro \\\"knockoff\\\" type cameras, i thought i'd put in my 2 cents. To summarize, of the three cameras i have, I believe Activeon has the best overall features (for me) and best quality of audio and video, even though it is also the most expensive, relatively speaking.\\n\\nNote: in the first pic, the Black Box is the upper left, Legazone is the upper right, and Activeon is the bottom camera. The remaining pics are of the Activeon and the box and accessories it came in/ had included. the dollar bill i added for perspective.\",\n \"Product: The PNY CS2211 2.5-inch SATA-III (6GB/s) solid state drive (SSD) is the next generation of XLR8 SSD that offers our highest performance when gaming or transferring large files. The PNY CS2211 was designed to be an ultimate HDD replacement for enthusiasts and gamers, who demand extreme performance from their system.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Smooth, Speedy, SO much better than HDD\\n\\nReview: I'm a novice at this, so I watched a few youtube vids in order to figure out how to switch out my original 2011 160gb Toshiba HDD in my PS3 to this SSD. The basic steps were, 1) back up your game settings from the Game menu/ Save Data Utility, 2) mechanically switch out the drives (very simple, it turns out, with one phillips head screwdriver) and 3) replace operating system- you download it from the Playstation website onto a thumbdrive as directed, and plug it into the PS3 usb once you're done switching out the drives. This info is all on youtube vids- just search under \\\"upgrade to SSD\\\" for whatever system you have. If i can do this, you can. I have to say, this was an extremely glitch-free operation, and i was able to get up and running in about 30 min, with re-setting my account and adding back my apps and game settings.\\n\\nI was immediately impressed with how quickly all the updates and apps were downloaded and installed with this new PNY SSD, and i wish i had done this earlier. Not only was the speed more than double (maybe triple!- just felt crazy fast in comparison) what I had experienced previously, there was no random \\\"jerking\\\" occurring on the screen, where the system would stop for extended times before resuming downloads- everything seemed extremely smooth and seamless as i switched between apps, downloaded games, moved things around, --even just moving the pointer around the screen weirdly felt like it had better maneuverability and speed (like getting in a sports car after driving a minivan- not sure if i'm imaging this, just cuz i'd rather drive a sports car....).\\n\\nMy kids used to do a little download-dance in front of the tv (they were younger- alas, i should have taken video for later blackmailing); they were hoping their dance would make the computer gods move that green line across the screen faster... they used to dance a long time, is all i can say. I'm excited to have them try out their Little Big Planet games now and hopefully not have the freezing episodes that would occasionally force them to restart the whole system (and upset them greatly). Update: since they've been playing, system response is much better, and no freezing episodes yet!\\n\\nThis is a reasonably priced drive, considering it makes our PS3 feel like a new machine, and me, a hero mommy. I highly recommend.\",\n \"Product: The PNY CS1311 2.5 SATA III SSD is an excellent choice for a mainstream solid state drive (SSD) upgrade from a hard disk drive (HDD). The CS1311 drive is designed for an easy and cost-effective HDD replacement in the existing PC system to help realize faster boot times, quicker application launches and better overall system performance. With no moving parts, the PNY CS1311 2.5 SATA III SSD is highly durable, less likely to fail, and supports up to 3 years of warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Upgraded a Hand-Me-Down -Now Lightning Fast!\\n\\nReview: I have a different model of the PNY SSDs, the PNY CS2211 240 GB 2.5\\\" SATA III Internal Solid State Drive SSD7CS2211-240-RB, and was extremely pleased with its top notch performance in my old PS3. So I was glad to try this particular model (CS1311) as a external HD for various uses as a backup drive, using the $10 Anker USB 3.0 to SATA Adapter Converter Cable for 2.5-inch Hard Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD).\\n\\nRecently, however, I received a hand-me-down ASUS Republic of Gamers G56JK (2014) laptop, which was running sluggish. I factory-reset saving my files, and switched out the included HDD with this PNY. I followed the directions in CNET editor Dong Ngo's article, \\\"Upgrade to an SSD...\\\" which were very clear: 1) I made a clone of my HDD using the Anker converter and Ngo's recommended free Macrium Reflect cloning software (see screenshot pic), 2) changed the Master Boot Record (MBR) format on my pre-used (as a backup) PNY to the same GUID Partition Table (GPT) that my original HD had, and 3) physically switched out the drives.\\n\\nPerfection. The PNY start-up was like butter compared to the original HDD, and the computer felt like a different, new computer. Downloads have not just been fast, but lightning fast. I do large video file downloads and edits, and this really has really sped up some of my processing time. I'm just thinking I need a bigger one of these- my 240GB is just way too small! This PNY SSD is an extremely worthwhile upgrade, and I would not hesitate to recommend. You'll be happy you did.\\n\\nNote: when i originally tried to using the SATA adapter/ CS1311 combo on my newer laptops running Windows 10, the drive was not recognized. However, according to one comment to this review, this CS1311 is compatible w Win 10 in a traditional internal switch-out. When I did the internal switch out with the ASUS ROG, yep. it works great.\",\n \"Product: Wistiki Premium Key Finder. Phone Finder. Item Finder. Yellow\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Reasonable Tracker, Delays in Responsiveness\\n\\nReview: I use the Tile Mate trackers presently, and am reviewing this Wistiki in comparison. The Wistiki is a different shape than the Tiles, looking more like a thumb drive vs. the thinner and wider square shaped Tiles. The Wistiki app was reasonable and easy to find and download, and the tracker easy to pair:\\n\\ndownload the Wistiki app\\ncreate a new account w password\\nverify/activate account from your linked email\\nread through a few quick screens of hints on use\\nturn on phone's bluetooth\\nstart sync by pressing the circular indentation on wistiki device for 3 seconds until it rings (press firmly- there's no click or discernible movement of the \\\"button,\\\" and it's not a touch reader like a fingerprint scanner, so it must be a manual mechanism underneath the metal housing)\\nafter sync completes new firmware auto downloads\\nidentify the color of your wistiki (there are four color choices; mine is purple),\\nname your device (I chose \\\"Bob\\\") and pick icon (I chose a car, but there were options such as briefcase, bike, etc.)\\n\\nOn your main app homescreen, there is a section under \\\"My Wistiki\\\" that shows my purple Bob car icon w a pic of a bell in a circle next to it. If you touch the bell pic next to your icon, the wiki will ring a distinctive and noticeable short tune until you press the bell again to turn off. Right underneath, and somewhat confusingly, they have a section called \\\"Endless possibilities...\\\" which shows other (not colored) icons- in my case, another car and a bike with shopping bag pics next to them (instead of the bell). If you press the icons or bags, you get taken to Wistiki's website for purchases or information, but which is not relevant to your use of the app to find your lost items.-- i don't know, i guess i would have preferred the ad area not be right next to the functional area, and looking like your own icons.\\n\\nif you touch your (real) icon, you are taken to a screen showing how long your Wistiki has been bluetooth connected to your phone, and whether it's nearby, with a map showing a dot at your phone's location and a pin at your Wistiki's location. Testing from my garage (Wistiki in my car) to my livingroom (i'm holding phone-approx 40' away) you can see the divergence between the two location points on their map.\\n\\nIf you press settings, you have the option to turn on the \\\"Electronic leash\\\" which activates a notification banner if the Wistiki goes out of range of your smartphone, and the \\\"Reverse electronic leash\\\" which provides a notification when the Wistiki is again w/i range of your smartphone. I turned on both, and received a banner across my Wistiki app that flashed for a short time saying my Wistiki was out of range, but there was no sound. I walked back towards my car, and i did not received a Reverse notification. Later on, as I was walking within and out of range of my Wistiki, I did receive a tone notification on my phone w the banner. The problem was, that the feature was not consistent- the tones/banner and/or the notifications themselves would sometimes work, sometimes not- or a big delay.\\n\\nMy primary problem was that the Bluetooth connection would be lost fairly frequently around my home, and there were delays of a minute or two before i was able to use the ringing bell feature again. With no connection, you are defaulted to \\\"Lost-mode activation\\\" that you can activate so that if someone else with a Wistiki happens to pass w/i range of your lost Wistiki, you will be sent an updated position location of your lost device (Tile also has this feature for other Tile users, as well as a last \\\"seen\\\" locator). There are also some occasional delays (about 3 seconds) between my pressing the bell sound finder pic and the ring happening, so i end up pressing the button again, and it turns off the ringer the second it starts ringing... i guess the key is to press once and just wait and see if it will ring, and not assume you didn't press hard enough or that it's not working.\\n\\nThe plus side of this Wistiki is that the battery life is three years, which is significant, and accounts for the somewhat thicker size of this device. The Tiles only lasts one yr, and will apparently auto deactivate at that point, requiring you to purchase more. Tile says they do this so you are not relying on a Tile that may not work well due to weak power. Additionally, this Wistiki has their clever hot/cold, leash/unleash skills, adding layers to their app- the Wistiki app is not as easily intuitive as the Tiles, therefore, which only ring your tiles and shows you a map of where they are. The ranges of both devices are similar- 300 ft or so at tops. You do need to be nearby to read/link to your devices.\\n\\nIf you don't absolutely need the hot cold or leashing features, and (mainly) you have good Bluetooth coverage, this Wistiki will work fine. I gave it 3 stars, primarily due to the delays in responsiveness of the device in my home (although my Tiles work fine for their single function), and because it is slightly more expensive in comparison to the Tiles at this point, even when also considering the triple battery life of the Wistiki.\",\n \"Product: The CAS1 audio system featuring dual-amps and separate speakers accurately recreates original sound spaces for immersive High-Resolution Audio experiences through speakers or headphones. Every subtle note of your favorite music fills your space in exquisitely rich detail, even at low volumes. Also, you can enjoy easy high-quality Bluetooth audio streaming from your devices.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Power in a Small Package- WOW!\\n\\nReview: I just LOVE this Sony CAS-1 (Compact Audio System) system, which is meant to be used in a small space, and is built for desktop use as an over-the-top external speaker system that can be used with your computer/ tablet, headphones, USB flash drive or smartphone, and is Bluetooth/ NFC compatible. I put this Sony CAS-1 setup in our approx 600 sq. foot \\\"great\\\" room, in a corner on a cabinet, and WOW, i am impressed! Don't be fooled by the small size of the speakers- my room fills with sound that has the full balanced range of bass at even the lowest volume to the crisp and outrageously clear treble, and an incredible mid-range that allows you to hear every instrument, every breath and background beat. Listening to this is like eating candy, and i had a hard time tearing myself away from my music collection to write this review, cuz i got a bit carried away. All my music sounded great, from classical to classic rock.\\n\\nThis is a\\\"wireless\\\" system, which is plugged into a wall socket for power, and can be played back via supported USB-A (flash drive; MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, DSD via supported MSC), USB-B (w supplied USB cable to your PC, for example; PCM and DSD), headphones (adjustable gain) or Bluetooth devices.\\n\\nIn the specs, Sony distinguishes their LDAC proprietary coding technology for their Hi-Res Bluetooth transmission, saying it allows approx. three times more data than other Bluetooth compatible coding technologies like SBC, resulting in much better sound quality. All i know is, there was flawless pairing with my iPhone and my Bluetooth headphones (CAS-1 supports up to 9 devices at a time), and just incredible sound- no skipping, static, long buffering or pauses from about 15 ft across the room, which really surprised me because i generally have unreliable coverage.\\n\\nThe body of the speakers look well-made with a beautifully finished wood-esque polymer build, and the speaker set comes w included longer/ exchangeable spikes for the bottoms, which raise the front of the speakers off a desktop for better directionality, and supposedly keeps the device cooler (although i felt no heat after a few hours). Sony also provides two flat (heavy- metal) speaker base rectangles, on which you place your speakers for stability, as well as a small 3/4 of a credit card-sized remote that allows you to control your songs, volume, source, etc... even if you are Bluetoothing your smartphone. There is also a small clear plastic stand/ support that holds the main unit and helps to keep it from tipping over. The main unit has a large, dedicated (convenient) volume dial. The guts of this set: a 2-way dual drive system with 14mm soft dome tweeter/ 62mm cone type woofer.\\n\\nThe setup was very easy and self-explanatory, but the instruction booklet is also clear, with lots of pictures. If you want to pamper your ears with better-than-CD quality hi-res audio, you owe it to yourself to get this gem of a set, which packs power in a small footprint.\\n\\nUpdate: For a sample of the sound, pls listen to my video review by Kindle Customer <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/AirJamz-The-App-Enabled-Music-Toy-Play-Air-Guitar-and-Make-Real-Music-with-Your-Motion-black/dp/B01J3ODTAQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">AirJamz: The App-Enabled Music Toy. Play Air Guitar and Make Real Music with Your Motion! (black)</a> for the AirJamz guitar, where i plugged my iPhone in to this Sony to play the app through these speakers.\",\n \"Product: Smart plug lets you control any connected device from home or remotely: turn off the heat, turn on a light- it's all at your fingertips. Home kit system from apple makes control of compliant Devices simple and standardized. Control plugs with siri individually or as a group. Works with wink app and Nest learning thermostats. Power consumption monitoring of Devices connected to smart plug. Works with included remote control to turn Devices on or off without using a smartphone or tablet.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Spotty Coverage for My Home, Limited Capabilites\\n\\nReview: So far, this iHome iSS50 has not worked well in our home as a standalone monitor- I did not want to purchase the associated iHome Smartplugs yet, since I am using the Phillips Hue hub/ bulbs as well as a Sengled Snap at the moment, and wanted to make sure this worked before investing in it. If this had worked better, I would have considered iHome additions to my present layout or replacing some parts. The set-up for this iSS50 was a breeze, and I was feeling quite excited about the possibilities of having numerous trigger rules based on other \\\"senses\\\" rather than relying soley on voice activated Alexa commands for the PHues or motion triggered monthly subscription plans under Sengled- but, this iHome fell short when it came to actual effectiveness. Because I am using this as a standalone, I can only speak to how the triggers under my rules worked to notify me of the condition of my home environment. The iHome app never notified me of any triggers, for any rules that I set, even when I set them to be easily triggered: greater than 40 degrees, 5 minutes of non-motion, on all the time, etc... I found this so odd, i contacted iHome via their email service (they responded as promised within a day) to see whether I was missing the push notifications somehow- were they being sent to my email? messaging?- nope- they only provide a push via the device you put the app on. In my case, i am using an iPhone 5, and no push alert notices.\\n\\nI can see from the general \\\"Devices\\\" screen on the iHome app, what the temp, humidity and luminosity are in my home, but the only notifications I realized I was receiving, was in Apple's general Home app, which did provide a static notice that motion and sound had been triggered (w no further details as to when)- at least I knew that the iSS50 was actually working- I was observing random notifications (looking in the Apple Home app) however, so I was not able to rely on true triggers vs. false alarms. The iHome app was dead silent. I guess this product may have a ways to go in development, to work more seamlessly with it's app. Even though I really like the concept of monitoring multiple senses, and that I can look to see what some of the stats for temp, humidity and lighting are at any given time, I find this product unreliable as a standalone, at least in my home setup, and it also does not work with either my Alexa Echo or Dot, so it's usefulness is very limited for me.\",\n \"Product: Essential cases provide more substantial protection without sacrificing style or adding bulk. Available in twelve different styles and a variety of colors and finishes, the Essential line takes the basic case and pumps up the volume for a variety of styles and personalities, from fun and bright to minimalist and sleek. Examples of the Essential line include:\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: thin, light, reasonably substantial protection\\n\\nReview: I got 2 cases for my Apple iPod Touch 4G- this purple Polyurethane nearly-soft case, as well as the Belkin F8W047ebC03 Essential 034 Polycarbonate hard case. This particular model has a deeply ridged and somewhat bubbled-up design on the back which makes it fairly non-slip and protective. However, it's a rigid enough material that it doesn't have that nicely squishy \\\"grippy\\\" feel that I expected and wanted. On the other hand, it doesn't pick up lint either. Because the material is somewhat rigid, and because it curves just enough around the front of my device, it actually prevents the glass from touching a flat surface when i set it on its face. The plug-in area (bottom) part of the cover has a flimsy and thin band of the polyurethane material that wraps around the bottom front of the device, that helps keep the front face off surfaces and shows off a pleasing purple frame, but i find that it sometimes gets in the way of my plugs because it moves around a little bit too much--a minor detail, but somewhat annoying. Overall, this is a useful case which appears to offer reasonably substantial protection. The design is bulkier than the polycarbonate hard case, but definitely less slippery.\",\n \"Product: This boot sock keeps you warm, dry and protected in all environments, even extreme cold. Acrylic/Merino Wool blend regulates temperature so you are completely comfortable no matter where you are. Fully cushioned in the foot and lower leg for maximum comfort and protection. Mesh vents produce breathability with less bulk. Made in the USA\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My Feet Love These\\n\\nReview: These Boot Socks are thick, but breathable but warm, and keep my feet comfortable in my hiking boots, but also in any of my shoes where I typically wear socks. Because they are made w a combination of natural and man-made fibers (69% acrylic, 18% wool, 12% nylon, 1% lycra), you get a lighter weight and evaporative sock, that contours well to your foot, but with the benefits and warmth of wool. These socks are reinforced at the toe and heel portions, and have a fuzzier weave on the inside (see pic w one sock turned inside-out), so that my feet feel really snug and warm. These are soft and comfortable enough to wear just around the house, in lieu of slippers, and have held up well to my regular machine washing, unlike my all-wool socks that get compacted.\",\n \"Product: Are you ready for the weekend? This is the perfect watch when you just feel like being yourself. A textured play on our classic Weekender collection gives you fun options to customize your straps depending on your outfit or mood.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Everyday Wear Analog Quartz at this Price Point\\n\\nReview: Review for the Timex Weekender Cream/Black Nylon Slip-Thru Strap Watch\\n\\nIf I were asked to recommend a reasonably priced, all-around analog quartz watch for everyday wear, then this Timex Weekender would be one of my first choices. It features an easily readable dial, with both 12-hour and 24 hour (military) numbered hour markers, behind a scratch-resistant mineral crystal. The dial and movement are housed in a 38mm brass case with a silver-tone polish that makes it look stainless steel. The Weekender comes with a slip-thru, nylon, 3-ring (2 retention and 1 buckle) single-strap that wears well and is readily changeable with other 20mm nylon watch straps. The styling of the case and dial is so clean and classic that the watch works well with a variety of band/strap colors and types to suit your tastes and preferences. Ive found varied replacement straps on Amazon, in both nylon and leather, starting at well under $10, such as this example that costs $8.99 for four straps at the time of this writing: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/4pc-Ritche-20mm-Nylon-Striped-Blue-Red-blue-White-red-black-Army-Green-Replacement-Watch-Strap-Band/dp/B017QTDJAK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">4pc Ritche 20mm Nylon Striped Blue /Red,blue /White/red,black, Army Green Replacement Watch Strap Band</a>. Search under \\\"weekender strap\\\"\\n\\nIn terms of functionality and time-keeping, the Weekender has worked flawlessly timed against my radio-controlled clock over the last two days. Its supposed to be water resistant up to 30 meters, but the product info says it is not good for swimming. While theres no luminescent paint on the hands or hour markers, the watch features Timexs famous Indiglo light that illuminates the entire dial with a cool blue-green light. The only two issues prospective buyers should be aware of. is that the watch emits a relatively loud tick, and that the second hand does not not perfectly align with each hour or hash mark when it lands as it ticks around the dial. As for the tick emitted, the ambient noise outside usually masks it well enough, and I only really notice the tick late at night before bed. The second hand alignment issue is more of a pet peeve and a common problem with quartz watches, even those that cost much more than these Weekenders. At this price point, the positive aspects of this classically styled and dependable everyday watch definitely outweighs any of the minor negatives.\",\n \"Product: Our most comfortable, versatile and effortlessly cool watch yet! These weekender essentials are designed with slip-thru straps, so you can easily change them depending on your outfit or mood. Go beyond the basics; have some fun; make a suit feel less stuffy; do the unexpected. Timex has a strap for every style.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Reliable Weekender with Well Crafted Vintage Look, but Loud Tick\\n\\nReview: This is a review of the Timex Weekender Oversized Vintage-Style Watch in Antique Brown with White Dial.\\n\\nI really like the Timex Weekender line. The watches are usually stylish in a minimalist way, keep time well, are easy to read, and are fairly durable. The Timex Weekender Oversized Vintage Style Watch in antique brown with white dial is no exception, but has the added bonus of the antique-ing. Timex has done a nice job crafting the vintage look of this watch. The case has an lustrous brass finish. The Arabic numeral hour markers are light green, outlined, and in a classic font. The brown leather slip-thru NATO-style watch strap looks aged. All together, these features give this Weekender a 1940s watch look and feel. The dial is ringed by subtle minute markers along the outer chapter ring in 5-minute increments (5, 10, 15 . . . 60), and also has military (24-hour) markers in small black print closer to the center of the dial.\\n\\nThe hour and minute hands look as though they might have luminescent paint, but they do not. Note that the product specifications on Amazon lists Luminous as one of the watchs Special Features, but is probably referring to the watchs Indiglo light which illuminates the entire dial nicely. The Special Features as of this writing also lists Chronograph which is clearly wrong.\\n\\nAs for function and comfort, Ive been wearing the watch for many hours today and find it comfortable and easy to read thanks to a good contrast between the colors of the hands and the white dial, and the wide 40mm case. The watch set easily and has kept time accurately all day. I would have given this watch 5 stars but for the one issue common among the Weekenders: the loud tick. Its really not noticeable when Im outside where the ambient noise drowns it out. Since Ive been home, however, Ive really noticed it even when my watch is on my wrist and down by my side. This is more of a pet peeve for me and doesnt detract from the watchs great time-keeping performance or aesthetics. Overall, this is a solid affordable watch with unique styling reminiscent of mid-20th century watches.\",\n \"Product: \\\"The Timex Expedition Field Chrono draws design inspiration from vintage military watches. The unique dial features numerals in increments of five up to 60 and three sub-dials that track minutes, seconds, and 1/20 of a second for up to 30 minutes. An easy to operate date window is located at 4 oclock. With the Quick Date function, you can set the date on the watch without turning the crown for every 24-hour period. Just pull the stem halfway out, and turn until desired date is reached. It also offers water resistance to 330 feet (100 meters) and a durable leather strap. The Indiglo night-light uniformly lights the surface of the watch dial using patented blue electroluminescent lighting technology. It uses less battery power than most other watch illumination systems, enabling your watch battery to last longer.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An Easy-to-Read, Gadget-Filled Field Chrono\\n\\nReview: This is a review of the Timex Men's Expedition Field Chrono Black/Green Canvas Strap Watch.\\n\\nMy first impression after putting on the Timex Expedition Field Chrono was wow, it looks like a flight instrument panel in an airplane cockpit. This watch is sure to appeal to gadget lovers. The dial comes with three subdial registers that track seconds (at 6 oclock), the chronograph (stopwatch) elapsed minutes up to 30 minutes (at 10 oclock), and the chronograph elapsed 1/20th of a second (at 2 oclock). There is also a chronograph second sweep hand at the center of the dial. The watch has hour markers displayed in minute increments (from 5 to 60), and has a tachymeter along the chapter ring of the outer dial. A date calendar window is at the 4 oclock position. One might think that all the varied hands and dial displays would make the watch difficult to read, but that is not the case. It looks like Timex put a lot of good work in designing this watch. For instance, the second hand at the 6 oclock subdial and the center dial chronograph second sweep are both tipped in orange in contrast to the rest of the dial. The date window is nicely bordered in subtle, cut lines to make it stand out. The hour and minute hands are sword shaped, mostly white, and are well contrasted against the dark dial. All of the numerals, hash marks, and subdial borders are a subdued taupe/cream color and are easily readable. I should also mention that the color schemes of this watch, with its dark dial, subdued display markings, and black case set off against a green canvas strap, work really well.\\n\\nThe watch is easy to set and has been very accurate compared against my radio-controlled clock the last day and a half. I tested the chronograph multiple times throughout the afternoon and evening and it functioned flawlessly. The watch features Timexs Indiglo light which illuminates the entire dial well. A nice surprise was that in addition to the Indiglo, the hour, minute, and chronograph subdial hands (at 10 and 2 oclock) are luminescent. The case itself is 43mm wide and has a solid, durable feel. I was initially concerned, given the good sized crown and chronograph pushers, that the watch might poke against the back of my hand, but on my wrist it's surprisingly comfortable. The watch case itself is thick (about 12.5mm), which I think helps keep the crown and pushers up and away from your skin. In terms of design, functionality, and aesthetics, I am very happy with this Timex Expedition Field Chrono.\",\n \"Product: Not your average polo shirt, this solid style is designed to perform. It's made from moisture-wicking sport flex fabric offering maximum natural stretch and a quick-drying finish. Built-in uv-15 sun protection ensures safe days outdoors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: High Quality, Smooth and Comfortable, Breathable\\n\\nReview: I got this IZOD for my son, a young teen, and he's generally been wearing adult Small for most of his shirts. This particular S shirt is fits him well, seems standard sized, and comfortably roomy in both the torso and arms. The material is a 60% cotton and 40% polyester blend, like many Polo shirts, and so has a smoother yet breathable feel to it, that is very comfortable against the skin. This light blue color looks exactly like the ad picture (my own pics look a bit washed out, but this is quite a pleasant blue in real life). You can see the fine quality and detailing in the weave of the material and in the stitching of the seams, as you would expect from the iconic IZOD brand. This particular shirt does not have the crocodile emblem, but an \\\"I\\\" intertwined w a \\\"Z\\\", providing a simple and modern look. I took a pic of one layer of fabric of this shirt against a bright window, and you can see how the light shines through the material, which allows great airflow and a light weight. This is a fine shirt from a great company.\",\n \"Product: The Fruit of the Loom women's low cut socks are made with heel and toe cushioning for the ultimate comfort and shock absorption. These best-selling socks are carefully designed and constructed to look and feel great, and last wear after wear. Spandex is knitted throughout the sock for a streamlined performance fit, and the energizing compression arch provides enhanced support so you can keep going. 10 pairs per package.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Value 10-Pack of Decent White Low Cut Socks\\n\\nReview: These Fruit of the Loom Women's low cut socks are a good deal, and are a decent grade of cotton. They are not the most plush or thick like some of the expensive brands you buy one set at a time, but they are absorbent and comfortable, and don't slip down into my shoe. With this 10-pack, I don't feel too bad about throwing out an older pair, and it's always nice to have a pair of fresh new socks around- one of the joys in life, I'd say (hhahah. what does this say about my life, i don't know, but I do appreciate the little things). These are great for my teen as well, because she's always loosing a sock or two at the gym, bringing them back and forth from school. Because these socks fit a large range of foot size, we are able to share. I'd definitely recommend.\",\n \"Product: Outwork them all in Carhartt legendary all-season work socks that are the perfect blend of softness and toughness. The force performance crew sock provides function and versatility for work and play. High-tech polyester and sleek design elements create the next generation in women's performance socks. Polyester's superior moisture management lifts sweat from the skin for quick evaporation. Racetrack mesh panels provide ventilation for cool, breathable comfort. The compression arch provides full-motion support and stability, while accent colors and reinforcement make this performance sock ruggedly feminine. Fits women's shoe size 5.5-11.5. 3 pairs per package.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Supportive Socks w Good Breathability\\n\\nReview: These are a perfect pair of socks for everyday wear or even light hikes. They are not too puffy, but provide a perfect amount of thickness and density to allow for good cushion and comfort. These feel good in regular shoes for general everyday wear, and even in light hiking or dress boots. These have a fitted elastic feel (98% polyester, 2% spandex), and contour snugly around the arch area for a nice amount of arch support. If you use compression socks for pain, these would be a good pair of socks as an in-between treatment-type of general use sock. They are also quite breathable as advertised- the polyester weave seems to act like the performance shirts that \\\"wick away\\\" sweat to some extent, and using these all day has kept my feet feeling cool. These comes in a useful 3-pack, and are high quality socks.\",\n \"Product: This Tommy Hilfiger wirefree bra is the perfect combination of both cute and comfort. Matching panty available.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful Looking and Beautiful Fit\\n\\nReview: This is a heavily padded 36B cup w no wires, by Tommy Hilfiger. I can usually wear a 34B or a 36B, and this fits perfectly, and comfortably- nearly better than any bra I currently have. I had recently reviewed a 36B cup by another brand, which was also heavily padded, and it was a terrible fit- I had been wondering if it was the heavy padding perhaps, or if I really shouldn't be wearing a larger size up (around the chest). Nope. This T.Hilfiger bra takes away my hesitancy re: either heavily padded bras, or the larger torso sizing. The bra itself is also quite beautiful. It has a natural, nearly raw cotton look, but it feels perfectly smooth and supportive on, with no binding feeling along the lower plastic supports (it may be \\\"wireless,\\\" but has flexible plastic inserts along the lower cups). This is a great bra, and I'll be looking for additional colors.\",\n \"Product: He will look like a rock star when he wears these Levi's 519 extreme skinny fit jeans. We've constructed them with the classic Levi's detailing: our iconic 5 pocket styling, signature arcuate stitching at the back two pockets and the signature red tab at the back pocket. Fabrication; murky waters, dark cove: 84 percent cotton, 14 percent polyester, 2 percent elastane; harvest gold, black stretch 78.5 percent cotton, 20 percent polyester, 1.5 percent elastane.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: They Are Not Kidding About Extreme Skinny Fit\\n\\nReview: These Levi's Big Boys' Extreme Skinny Fit Jeans are very good quality, thick and stretchy, w softly combed cotton that still feels substantial and is durable. The design is simple and enduring, and these pants can be worn by both boys and girls- at this age, skinny is skinny. My daughter actually wears Levi's boy's pants, because they are just flat out great jeans. I've got to warn you though, when they say \\\"Extreme Skinny\\\" in the description here, they are not kidding. These fit more like tight leggings, and unless you have a very thin youngster, I'd maybe get their just skinny jeans, or regular jeans. At some point, the skinniness starts to look silly for such young kids, but, that's just my opinion.\",\n \"Product: Sometimes you just need a trusted companion who's up for anything. The Timex Expedition Scout Watch is a well-crafted update to the classic field watch with twelve or twenty-four hour time settings, date, and a distinct arrow second hand. Everything you need and nothing you don't.Buckle close strap..Matte case finish..Case Height: 11 mm.Case Lug Width: 20 mm.Case Width: 40 mm.Case Material: Brass.Crystal/Lens: Mineral glass..Full Arabic dial markings.Quartz analog watch movement..\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Ruggedly Appealing and Affordable Field Watch\\n\\nReview: This is a review for the Timex Men's Expedition Scout Black/Brown Leather Slip-Thru Strap Watch\\n\\nThis Timex Expedition Scout is a solid and affordable homage to the classic field watch (think U.S. Army A-11 or A-17 military watches). Other companies, most notably Hamilton, are well known for making field style watches, but they usually start at hundreds of dollars more than the Expedition Scout. In terms of features, the Expedition Scout has everything you would want in a field watch: 40mm case with large readable dial, both 12 and 24 (military) hour markers, high contrast between the dial color, watch hands, and hour markers, luminescent watch hands (plus Timexs dial-illuminating Indiglo light), and a hacking second hand (pull out the crown to the last position to stop the second hand so you can synchronize your watch with WWII commandos on their way to blow up a bridge).\\n\\nWhether or not you're interested in the Expedition Scout as a field watch, the watch itself is comfortable on the wrist and has a very appealing and rugged look. Mine came with a black finish on the case and a slip thru single-strap brown leather watch band (easily changeable to a nylon or leather 20mm NATO or Zulu strap). The watch also has an unobtrusive calendar window at the 3 oclock position. As for functionality, the watch set easily and has kept time against my radio-controlled clock. The only negatives I found with the watch relate to the single-strap leather band, which feels rather thin and much less robust feeling than the leather slip thru NATO-type strap on my Timex Weekender. The second issue is a common and seemingly random problem Ive noticed among Timex Indiglo watches, where a narrow area just under the watchs 6 o clock position doesnt illuminate when the Indiglo is activated. This is more of an aesthetic pet peeve, and does that detract from the overall operation of the watch. I give this watch 4 stars for everything Timex got right in capturing the essence of a durable field watch, and for doing it at such an affordable price. If they were to switch out the thin leather single strap slip-thru band with a thicker leather or 2-strap NATO type band, I would probably move this up to 5 stars.\",\n \"Product: Modern tailoring meets dapper style in these versatile Levi's 511 slim fit suede pants. The brushed stretch fabric has a soft matte finish that will look perfect from the playground to the classroom. We've finished these pants with everything we love about Levi's; five-pocket styling, arcuate stitching at the back two pockets and the two horse pull patch at the waist.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fits My Daughter Better\\n\\nReview: This Levi's Big Boys 511 Slim Fit are really nice pants- substantial weight in the fabric, sturdy yet stretchable and soft, and is made of a combed cotton material that almost feels textured like microfiber. I have the size 12, but my 10 yo son is too big for these- he's not unusually large but these are tight on him (I know these are Slim Fit, but he is 10, and I don't want him wearing what looks like leggings). On the other hand, these fit my 12 yo daughter, who is more slender, perfectly. These look great on her, even hugging well at the waist. Perhaps Levi's should advertise these as unisex. If you have a fairly thin child, these work better-- and maybe get a size up.\",\n \"Product: You just found the only watch you'll ever need. A timeless chronograph that let's you change up leather and nylon straps for the season, the occasion or even your mood.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This is a Winner of a Watch\\n\\nReview: This is a review for the Timex Unisex TWC063800 Weekender Oversize Chrono Cream/Blue Nylon NATO Slip-Thru Strap Watch\\n\\nThis is the chronograph version of Timexs very popular Weekender watch. What I immediately noticed and liked about this watch is the size. I own several Weekenders in 38mm and Im very happy with them. Over the last couple of years, however, Ive been gravitating towards slightly larger mens watches. At 40mm, this Oversize Chrono is a perfect size, nice and large without being overwhelming on my wrist. Combine the greater size with a nifty chronograph and everything I already love about the Weekender, and we have a winning combination.\\n\\nLooks and Styling:\\nTimexs Weekender watches are known for their clean, classic looks. The TImex Weekender Oversize Chrono is no exception. It looks handsome and much more expensive than it actually costs. The watch is easily readable with 12-hour markers that contrast the color of the dial, and smaller 24 hour (military) markers along the hash marks of the chapter ring. Even though it has three subdial registers that display the seconds (at 6 oclock), the chronograph elapsed time in 1/20th second (at 2 oclock), and the chronograph elapsed minutes (at 10 oclock), the numbers and display markings are so clean and simple that the dial does not look busy. That said, I also like the look and feel of gadgety chronograph subdials and pushers. The dial and movement are housed in a brass case with a silver-tone polish that makes it look stainless steel. The watch comes with a slip-thru, 4-ring (3 retention and 1 buckle) NATO-type strap. This type of strap gives the watch a more rugged look, and is easily changeable with other nylon or leather 20mm NATO or Zulu watch straps to suit your preference. Finally, as I mentioned above, the larger 40mm case really adds to the watch, and gives it a bolder, more solid appearance.\\n\\nFunctionality:\\nAs for time-keeping accuracy and overall functionality, the Weekender Oversize Chrono has worked well right out of the box. I set the time against my radio-controlled clock over 24 hours ago, and it has not lost any time at all. A cool feature of this watch is the chronograph stopwatch which gives you the seconds, 1/20th second, and minutes elapsed (up to 30 minutes). Ive tested the chronograph repeatedly over the course of the day and it has functioned flawlessly. Timex Weekender fans will also be pleased to hear that unlike the basic Weekenders, which emit a noticeable tick as the second hand sweeps around the dial, this Oversize Weekender Chrono is substantially quieter. Finally, the watch features Timexs famous Indiglo light that illuminates the entire dial with a cool blue-green light for low-light situations. This is where the only issue I found with the watch came up. When the Indiglo is activated, there is a small band just below the 6 oclock position that does not light up. This is a common problem among Timex Indiglo analog watches that Ive noticed over the last few years. Having owned many Timex watches, Ive come to the conclusion that there isn't any rhyme or reason as to which watch will have this issue (Ive had two of the exact Timex model watch, for example, and only one of them had the problem). Either way, this slight manufacturing defect does not detract from the watchs overall functionality or appearance. This is a winner.\",\n \"Product: Lacoste men's underwear single micro mesh trunk - Lacoste\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Goodbye to Cotton Boxer Briefs\\n\\nReview: These Lacoste Micro Mesh Trunks are really, really comfortable. I have worn cotton boxer briefs since the early 1990s (okay, I totally bought the Marky Mark ads). So I was a little dubious when these Micro Mesh Trunks arrived because they are a bit shorter than my usual boxer briefs and the waistband is fairly wide. Once I put them on, I was immediately impressed. They are far lighter feeling, cooler, and more breathable than my cotton boxer briefs, probably thanks to the quick-dry 87% nylon and 13% spandex material. I didn't notice the wide elastic waistband at all while standing up or sitting down, even under a snug pair of jeans,. They hold comfortably around the upper thighs and don't ride up at all. The sizing seems perfect (I have about a 34 waist and the large size fits very well). I'd like to transition to these from cotton boxer briefs, as budget allows. These look like they should hold up better than cotton as well.\",\n \"Product: Kanu Surf presents our newest swim trunks yet. Kanu Surf, a surf and swim lifestyle brand, is well know for great prints and colors along with high quality functional apparel for the whole family. All of our trunks are made with our comfort technology quick dry fabric with a UPF rating of 50+. All trunks have 2 side pockets. Some trunks have 1 or 2 cargo pockets as well. Most trunks feature triple needle stitching at seams and rises for extra durability. These trunks are built to last. Our pismo trunk is a classic floral print with 2 side pockets and 2 cargo pockets. Approximate inseam length is 11 inch. Mesh lining. Outside drawstring. Also available in regular men's sizes small to extra large. Available in kids sizes as well so dads and kids can hit the beach scene as a team\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Beach Trunks With A Fun Tropical Look\\n\\nReview: Its hard not to get into a vacation mindset when you slip on these Kanu Papagayo Floral Swim Trunks. The tropical print is so bold and fun. Itd be comfortable walking around in them on a sandy beach after a day in the water. In terms of value, these Kanu Swim Trunks are offered at a great price, and are a definite bargain compared with similar quality trunks Ive bought from other companies. At the time of this review, these shorts are also being offered in five colors (Aqua, Black, Navy, Red, and Royal).\\n\\nThese trunks appear really well stitched and sturdily constructed. Theyre board-short length (reach the tops of my knees), seem to fit true to size, and feel comfortably roomy, so its easy to move in them. Im impressed by their quick dry microfiber material which seems to almost repel water and dry fairly quickly after i put these in the sink. I really like all the pocket options so I can easily carry my valuables with me rather than leaving them somewhere unsafe (hidden under my towel on a beach blanket when I have to go get a snack or use the bathroom). They come with 2 deep side pockets, 2 cargo pockets, and a small inside-the-pants mesh pouch pocket. The cargo pockets have a fabric lining rather than mesh so I can keep items in them that might otherwise snag or rip the mesh. The trunks themseves are mesh lined, have a broad elastic waistband, and drawstrings that really work. All in all, these are really fun looking, but also user-friendly vacation trunks at a bargain price.\",\n \"Product: Kanu Surf presents our newest swim trunks yet. Kanu Surf, a surf and swim lifestyle brand, is well know for great prints and colors along with high quality functional apparel for the whole family. All of our swim trunks are made with our comfort technology quick dry fabric with a UPF rating of 50+. all trunks have 2 side pockets. Some swimming trunks have 1 or 2 cargo pockets as well. Most trunks feature triple needle stitching at seams and rises for extra durability. These trunks are built to last. Our viper trunk is a great floral stripe print with 2 side pockets and a cargo pocket. Approximate inseam length is 11 inch\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice Quality, Great Value, and Fun Look\\n\\nReview: Im very impressed with these Kanu Surf Condor Stripe Floral Swim Trunks. They fit me true to size, and are lightweight and comfortably roomy. They are made of a light feeling microfiber and dry fairly quickly after coming out of the pool and wiping off with a towel. The trunks have a mesh liner, elastic waistband, and well-working drawstring. They also feature roomy side pockets, a cargo pocket on the right side with velcro closures, and a small inside the pants mesh pouch pocket (I usually keep my locker key in this). The trunks are well stitched and feel solid and durable. In terms of appearance, the Stripe Floral motif is fun and very summery. Note that these trunks are long and reach the tops of my knees -- this is fine for me since I like the sun protection. Finally, the Amazon price for these Kanu Swim Trunks is terrific. Ive purchased trunks of similar quality that cost two to three times more in the past. Overall, these are are solid swim trunks and at a great value.\",\n \"Product: Fast dry technology for quick wicking. Fights odors. Superior moisture management delcron hydrotec polyester. Compression arch provides full-motion support and stability to keep socks up and feet comfortable.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Thick, Plush, High Quality Socks\\n\\nReview: These Carhartt Force High Performance low cut socks feel great and are a treat for the feet. The comfort of the plush material is really noticeable as soon as you slip these on, and my feet are cradled. There is a perfect amount of elastic pressure around the curves of the arches and heel, so that that the socks feel very well fitted, and there are no loose areas around the toes or near the tops of the ankles, which is so important in order to avoid those excess fabric folds and creases when you put on your shoes. My feet can breath when wearing these, and moisture has not been an issue. I'm very pleased with their warmth on cold mornings, but they feel ventilated and comfortable in my shoes. All in all, these are high quality socks, and you can definitely feel the difference.\",\n \"Product: Four pocket cotton military jacket with attached hood\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fully Lined, Substantial Feeling and Good Looking Jacket\\n\\nReview: This Levi's Women's Cotton Four Pocket Field Jacket feels very comfortable to wear, is very lightly padded with quilting in the fully lined inner nylon shell which reaches to the inside of the wrists, hood and hips, and is substantial, but light enough to wear casually. The jacket is cut slim, and has tighteners around the waist for an even more fitted look. My very skinny 13 yo daughter is wearing this XS in the pics, and it fits her perfectly in the body, so I'd say this is more of a Jr. size. The sleeves were slightly long, but we rolled them up a bit at the ends w no trouble. If you want a looser fit (wearing heavier sweaters underneath, for example), you might even want to get a size up. The jacket is quite attractive, w rugged good looks, and has both buttons and a zipper up front. The elbows have rectangular patches on them for extra strength, and the construction/ sewing is high quality. I'd highly recommend this jacket.\",\n \"Product: A bigger brother to the Burton kettle pack, this 24 liter two-pocket, back-to-school pack upgrades capacity for the honor student who simply needs more space. An internal padded laptop sleeve keeps expensive electronics protected from books, binders, and gym clothes, while tough external materials prevent blowouts during after school activities. The zippered organizer pocket with a secure key clip offers an easy spot to store pens, pencils, protractors, and other tools of scholarly pursuits.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Light, Well-Made, Good Shape for papers- Perfect Student Backpack for smaller frames\\n\\nReview: I gave this to my daughter to use for school, and she loves it. I think it is a perfect backpack for students- it has an ample amount of space for paperwork, books and binders, plus a padded and velcro-closed internal section that holds a laptop securely. The squarish shape of this pack is a much better fit for the items a student would typically carry, and it feels roomier than my daughter's old pack, which is very rounded at the top and across the center (like a full belly), and occasionally bends the corners of her papers.\\n\\nThe straps are easily adjustable and fit her snugly, and because the middle of the pack doesn't bulge away from her, the pack sits closer to her center of gravity/ spine and she even looks less awkward carrying it. The pack seems very well-made, and all the seams are covered and double stitched. I think it's a plus that there are not too many extraneous pouches and unnecessary dividers in the pack, because the pack itself does not weigh too much, like some other packs we have- i don't want my kids carrying more weight than they already do. I highly recommend this well-thought out and useful backpack.\\n\\n--I read the review that noted one woman's daughter having the chest strap go across her bust-- this has not happened with my daughter at all (the chest strap fits comfortably above her bust area, where you might expect the strap to go) and I think the difference must be due to their sizes. My daughter is in middle school, and so the pack would fit differently on an adult-sized individual.\",\n \"Product: Our best selling Scout design just got upgraded. The Expedition Scout Chronograph maintains the classic outdoor design of the original and enhances it with chronograph functionality. It is now as appropriate for the office as it is for the trail.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful Retro Look and Great In-Warranty Repair Experience\\n\\nReview: Looks:\\nTimex has been knocking it out of the park in recent years in terms of design. The Expedition Scout Chronograph is no exception. I have the Scout Chrono with the blue dial and brown leather strap with red stitching accents. The watchs case is made of brass, but has a brushed metal, silver-colored finish that measures 42mm in diameter. The watchs rich blue dial, which I measured at about 37mm across, is nicely offset by cream-colored hands and hour markings. The combination of the large dial, brushed metal case, and rustic leather watch band with exposed stitching gives the watch a retro military watch look. In terms of color scheme and overall styling, I think this is a great looking watch at this price point and one of the best in Timexs Expedition line.\\n\\nFunctionality:\\nThe Good: The watch has kept time all evening against my radio-controlled clock since I set it this afternoon. There is no luminescent paint on the hands or hour markers, but there is a fantastic Indiglo light that illuminates the entire dial well. The leather band feels thick, yet comfortable when worn. The same can be said of the watch case itself, even though it is a solid 42mm in diameter and about 12mm thick. Finally, unlike the popular Timex Weekenders that tend to emit a fairly noticeable tick, this Expedition Scout Chronograph is very quiet.\\n\\nThe Bad: The chronograph stopwatch function is where issues arise with this watch. Ive been testing out the chronograph throughout the evening and noticed that after the second elapsed minute, the second timer (center dial sweeping hand) inexplicably falters and stops, then restarts. No doubt this is just a manufacturing defect in this particular watch, as I have other Timex chronographs that function flawlessly. After faltering, when the chronograph is stopped and reset, the second hand resets to the position where it faltered rather than to the 12 oclock position. A second less important, but common issue with many quartz chronographs, is that the center dial second sweep hand does not align perfectly at the vertical 12 oclock position. Instead, it is about half a millimeter left of vertical (and yes, I tried recalibrating it according to the directions).\\n\\nOverall, this is a great looking watch that has some nice functionality in some areas, but issues with the chronograph. If you're only into styling and don't plan to even use the chronograph, Im sure youll be happy with this watch. If you plan to use this as a reliable chronograph tool watch, you may want to test it out for potential problems as I did.\\n\\nUPDATE: I got tired of the chronograph on the watch not working and contacted Timex regarding the issue. They referred me to the repair page on their www.timex.com website and had me send in the watch for in-warranty service. Timex provided a pre-paid shipping label, which is a really nice courtesy for their customers. When they couldn't fix the the chronograph issue, they sent me a new watch! So far, the new watch is working very well. Unfortunately, the new watch's center sweep is also a bit off center when reset to the 12 o'clock position. Nevertheless, I'm enjoying this beautiful watch with a well functioning chronograph again. Additionally, I learned from this experience that Timex is very good about honoring their warranties.\",\n \"Product: Long sleeve all cotton non iron Tommy Hilfiger dress shirt\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Appealing English Blue Gingham Shirt, Perfect for Business Casual\\n\\nReview: What I noticed first when I put on this Tommy Hilfiger Gingham Buttondown Dress Shirt was the nice quality of the material. The all cotton shirt feels crisp and solid. The shirt itself is nicely constructed and looks sharp. The english blue gingham checks are subtle, pleasant and visually appealing, unlike other gingham shirts Ive owned where the bold checks give off a picnic blanket vibe.\\n\\nIn terms of wear, my shirt (16.5 neck, 32/33 sleeve) seemed true to size. The shirt is comfortable and doesnt feel constricting like other dress shirts. I cant say its completely non-iron if you expect it to look as sharp as a newly pressed shirt when you take it out of the wash. All the same, I usually machine wash and hang dry this shirt, and have been able to wear it without pressing. I don't think it would take much pressing to give it that crisply ironed look.\\n\\nThe really nice thing about this shirt is that it solves my business casual dilemma. Wearing a plain white or blue long sleeve collared shirt looks like I just decided not to wear a tie, and wearing a polo shirt just seems a little too casual sometimes. Now, I can wear this shirt on casual days at work or for business casual occasions. It looks great whether I pair it with a dark or light blazer, or just with a pair of khakis. The button-down collar also gives this shirt a more refined collegiate look. This is now a go to item in my wardrobe.\",\n \"Product: A preppy classic gets technical with the advantage performance polo shirt. Constructed from quick-drying sport flex fabric that naturally stretches as you move, this top features uv-15 sun protection and an improved roll-resistant collar.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: High Quality, Smooth and Comfortable, Breathable\\n\\nReview: I got this IZOD for my son, a young teen, and he's generally been wearing adult Small for most of his shirts. This particular S shirt is fits him well, seems standard sized, and comfortably roomy in both the torso and arms. The material is a 60% cotton and 40% polyester blend, like many Polo shirts, and so has a smoother yet breathable feel to it, that is very comfortable against the skin. This light blue color looks exactly like the ad picture (my own pics look a bit washed out, but this is quite a pleasant blue in real life). You can see the fine quality and detailing in the weave of the material and in the stitching of the seams, as you would expect from the iconic IZOD brand. This particular shirt does not have the crocodile emblem, but an \\\"I\\\" intertwined w a \\\"Z\\\", providing a simple and modern look. I took a pic of one layer of fabric of this shirt against a bright window, and you can see how the light shines through the material, which allows great airflow and a light weight. This is a fine shirt from a great company.\",\n \"Product: Boyshort featuring a classic cotton blend fabrication and an iconic Tommy Hilfiger repeating logo waistband\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Comfy, Very Sexy\\n\\nReview: This is a really nice pair of Boyshorts- they fit very well and are extremely sexy looking, with a slightly higher cut along the cheeks, and a wide upper band that doesn't bind- no scratchy edges either. They don't ride up though, and only have minimal show though any thinner fabric pants or skirts (lines are not invisible, but not nearly so). The cotton 95%/ spandex 5% mix is a thinner to medium weight, and feel breathable. The only slight criticism I have, and which doesn't detract from the good fit, is that the top band is a tad too heavy compared to the fabric weight of the rest of the shorts- the band could be better balanced, so it's less noticeable. Still, this is a quality product that fits great.\",\n \"Product: Lacoste men's sporty luxurious fiber tencel single boxer brief\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cool and Comfortable, Very Smooth and Soft Natural Fabric\\n\\nReview: These Lacoste Men's Tencel Boxers are made of Tencel, a wood cellulose derived product, making them 1/2 way to a natural fabric like cotton, but they feel smoother and drape better. These briefs are very well-made, and there are no extraneous tags or other irritation-causing additions to the inside. The stitching around the leg cuffs and banding around the waist are also soft and stretchy, and this reminds me almost of a stretchy rayon. Because these briefs are ultimately composed of natural fibers, they absorb some moisture, but the fabric is woven thinly enough to stay cool and breathable. These briefs are softly elastic (5% \\\"Elastane\\\"), and hug the legs fairly well. The S size fits my young teen son who is 11, but larger for his age. The S would fit younger/ thinner teens. These are high quality, and my son searches these Lacostes out of his pants drawer to wear in preference to his regular cotton briefs.\",\n \"Product: The Essential Capri is a cooler alternative to a full-length legging. Four-way stretch fabric moves with you like a second skin while the contoured waist provides the coverage (and courage) to approach each pose.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Supportive, Flexible and Well-Fitting- \\\"SM X 19\\\" is about a US Size 4 (and maybe 6)\\n\\nReview: These Manduka Essential Capris are attractive, flexible and breathable, and perfect for yoga and workouts. There are no areas that bind, and the waist is smooth and comfortable all the way around. The material is substantial and not too thin, so that your underwear won't show through, and you look decent. The sizing seems right, and this \\\"SM X 19\\\" seems to be the size range of 4-6, but closer 4 maybe. I can't verify their sizing on the pants themselves, because they are not labeled for size, so i'm going by what Amazon said they sent. If you're a 6, you should probably get the size up (not SM X 19) just to be sure. These feel pretty snug, and i'm in-between sizes 4-6 depending on what i eat that day :)\\n\\nThere is a small, lined inner pocket in the front for a key or small bills, but the pocket strangely doesn't have it's own bottom, so the hole actually accesses the entire waistline, and you might end up w your key trapped in your back if you move around a lot. On the other hand, your key can't fall out of your waist area, and you could even also conceivably put in an inner elastic or tie into this area, to cinch your waist like a drawstring...but I can't see that you'd ever need to because the elastic material fits so smoothly and well.\\n\\nOdd front inner pocket notwithstanding, these capris are very well made and are attractively designed and comfortable exercise pants.\",\n \"Product: Liverpool Jeans offer a fit solution for most shapes and sizes. Our high quality fabrications allow the jeans to fit to your shape. The Abby skinny is one of our most popular fits with a slimming narrow leg that is flattening to all. Our fabrications have comfort stretch and strong recovery. The recovery attributes help retain the shape to prevent the bagging effects that can occur with most jeans.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Comfortable, Well-Fitting & Flattering\\n\\nReview: These Abby Skinny Denim Jeans are perfect for a form-fitting look, but have far more substance and style than leggings. These have a mid-rise waist, look great on my daughter, and seem true to size. There is a good length to the legs, so if you are tall, you shouldn't have any problems, and if you are shorter, these are slim enough near the calves so that you can wear them a bit bunched up and they still look good (they are on the long side, however). The fabric is flexible and stretchy, and the jeans are comfortable and non-binding. I particularly like the minimalist style of these jeans, with their clean looking rivets, simple trim and back pockets lacking loud designs. These are flattering jeans in a lovely deep indigo stain, and can be worn with anything.\",\n \"Product: Lark & Ros collection of womens dresses, blouses, cardigans, jackets, outerwear, and more marries soft fabrics with classic designs for easily paired pieces that take care of business. Our stylish selection includes office clothes for work, warm coats, and 100% cashmere sweaters as well as casual tops and formal dresses for parties and wedding guests.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty and Smart Looking\\n\\nReview: This dress fits me fairly well as a size 6-8, but it's a bit loose in my chest area (34B), which can be made up w a padded bra. The fabric hangs nicely and \\\"swooshes\\\" around as you move, and it's sewn well. The fabric is not stretchy at all, so it is less forgiving depending on your shape, but somewhat A-line towards the bottom, providing more room for your lower behind. I'd say if you have greater than a 36\\\" waist, however, this may be tight on you. It's a subtle dress that looks put-together and not flashy. I like the invisible zipper in back, and even though it is not lined, it looks modest on, and you don't have to wear a slip (I can feel the inside seams on my torso though, like a soft tag). Overall, I like this dress, and would wear it day or night.\",\n \"Product: Look your best in this versatile casual top from Riders by Lee Indigo. The knit fabric will keep you comfy all day without sacrificing style. This top features a flattering key-shaped placket with a polo collar. The 3/4 ruched sleeves with tab detail are the perfect fashion touch.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Look Professional, But Feel Like You're Wearing a Polo\\n\\nReview: I have to agree w the reviewer who loves this shirt. I also LOVE this shirt! It's amazingly well-fitted and makes me look more trim and put-together. Despite being soft and comfortable-feeling like a thinner, smoother polo shirt (stretchy and maneuverable), the cut and design of this shirt somehow makes you look more polished and professional- almost as if it were an ironed dress shirt (except w/o the hassle). The color is a lighter, dappled red, almost a heather red, which is a pretty shade and not too bright or loud. This is great for the office, or great for the weekend. I'm on the smaller side of medium, and this fits just right. If you are in-between sizes, I'd get the larger size up.\",\n \"Product: Columbia cotton stretch tank top. Natural cotton fabric with a little stretch to move with your body. Multipurpose tank top can be an everyday essential, underpinning or wear during your favorite activity as thick shoulder straps hide bra straps. Omni-wick advanced evaporation pulls moisture away from the body and enables perspiration to evaporate quickly. Tag less comfort.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Go-To Staple for Your Active-Wear Wardrobe\\n\\nReview: I like Columbia clothes, and have a lot of their fleece outerwear. I've found their products to be well-made and sturdy, comfortable and a great value in general. This cotton stretch tank is a good performance product (95% cotton, 5% spandex), which gives a nice stretch and wick for a base layer. It's not too much spandex to be obnoxious feeling, and not too much cotton to soak you through w a wet sweat. I own similar shirts with this composition of materials, but I think the fit of this tank is more comfortable around the arm holes and neckline- a loose stretch that still stays put. This tank also has a longer fitted bodice, which makes for a snug fit when tucking into your pants, w no lifting out when you bend or turn. You machine wash this cold w like colors, low dry, cool iron, but no chlorine bleach. This is a good go-to staple for your active-wear wardrobe.\",\n \"Product: Lacoste premium boxer brief underwear inspired by Lacoste sportswear\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Soft and Stretchy, Well-Made w Comfortable Seams and Cut\\n\\nReview: This Lacoste Men's Micro Boxers are well-made and form-fitting. I got these in size S for my young teen son to wear (he's on the larger side for his age- 11), and it fits him snugly without binding at the elastic waist or folded leg cuffs. The fabric over the cup area is lightly tented, and feels a bit thicker for support. The fabric is nylon (89%) and \\\"elastane\\\" (11%), making these briefs soft and stretchy, which is important to my son who is very picky about scratchy fabrics. The seams don't feel noticeable from the inside, according to my son. Because of their high nylon content, these briefs seem to act in a wicking-type of manner, and my son says he doesn't feel sweaty, but that these feel cool and comfortable over the day. Because these briefs are fitted and have a gentle elastic pull, they don't bunch up in his jeans either. These are very high quality briefs.\",\n \"Product: Under Armour's mission is to make all athletes better through passion, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation. Where we started? It all started with an idea to build a superior T-shirt. The technology behind Under Armour's diverse product assortment for men, women and youth is complex, but the program for reaping the benefits is simple: wear HeatGear when it's hot, ColdGear when it's cold, and All Season Gear between the extremes.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Terrific Summertime Wicking Boxerjock, But Pricey\\n\\nReview: I just have to say that Im so glad to have this pair of Under Armour Armourvent Mesh Boxerjocks now that summer is here. The material (77% nylon, 23% Elastane) is so breathable, and keeps me so cool that I can say this is the most comfortable pair of warm weather wicking boxer briefs that Ive ever worn. My wife took some photos to try to show the light coming through the fabric.\\n\\nIve tried wearing these under jeans and cargo pants during a couple of hikes over the weekend and they really kept me cool and dry. I wore these under khakis during a recent heat wave, and I could readily feel a difference from other wicking material underwear, and certainly from cotton boxer briefs. Although the fabric of these boxerjocks feels much thinner than any of my previous boxer briefs from other companies, the boxers still feel solid, nicely constructed, and appear well stitched. The waistband, while wide, feels smooth when worn and does not pinch. In terms of fit, my boxers (large) fit true to size. I also like the length of the legs which end just above mid thigh for me. As for the relatively high price, I think this is the only downside to this product. Given the great comfort and quality, Id love to get another pair (or even a half dozen more), but I just cant justify spending that much. If I were planning an adventure trip or similar event where I absolutely needed top of the line gear, Id consider purchasing another pair.\",\n \"Product: The wrangler authentic slim straight jean is constructed with premium fabric for maximum comfort and has an adjustable waistband for a fit that is just right. Authentic rock (Bangladesh 98 percent cotton/2 percent spandex), vintage night (Africa 99 percent cotton/1 percent spandex)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Stretchy and Adjustable, Well-Made Soft Combed Cotton\\n\\nReview: These size 12 Wrangler Boy's fit my 10 yo in a snug way, along the thighs particularly, as expected, I suppose, for \\\"Slim\\\" pants. He's about avg. weight, but not thin, and I think we'll go with a size up in the future, particularly because these are 98% cotton, and I'd expect shrinkage over time. Most of his size 12 pants fit more loosely, but we have never tried a slim fit. The quality of these pants is excellent, and the fabric feels durable and \\\"soft\\\" like combed cotton. The pants are very stretchy with movement, which is great. Additionally, there are elastics built into both sides of the inner waistband, that adjust to as many button lengths tighter as you need, so the waist will fit well. I thought these pants looked very nice on him, but my son thought they felt too tight- \\\"a teeny bit.\\\"\",\n \"Product: Five Star backpack with built-in insulated compartment safely stores snacks and beverages and helps to maintain correct temperature. Main compartment expands to provide 4\\\" of extra storage space for textbooks, notebooks, folders and more. Patent-pending main compartment also opens wide to easily find supplies. Padded sleeve secures and protects a laptop or tablet. Multiple organization pockets help keep small items organized. Side mesh pocket securely holds a water bottle. Adjustable padded straps provide support for heavy loads to make backpack easier to carry. Durable, water resistant materials resists rips and tears with reinforced stitching to stand up to daily wear and tear. Berry color. Limited lifetime warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Design- A Space for Everything\\n\\nReview: This Five Star is one of the best school packs we've used for my daughter (middle school). Backpacks have taken on a lot more importance for her, because our Jr. High doesn't provide locker space, and kids are not allowed to take rolling bags. So, everything she needs daily, has to fit into the pack, and it has to be durable and comfortable. This pack fits the bill.\\n\\nThe great thing about this pack are the numerous and thoughtfully placed pockets, which include a built-in outer insulated lunch/ snack pouch w an elastic band to hold utensils/ napkins in place, a side elastic net for their drink, an opposite side zippered pouch that's big enough to hold eyeglasses, keys or a phone, and a large front opening for all their frequently accessed tools (pens, erasers). This leave a big open space w one lightly elasticized divider, on the inside for the big binders and books, which she can access without having to fuss through a lunch bag or pen case first. One of the neatest features (I've not seen in other packs) is the extra zipper on the bottom of the pack, which, when opened, expands the pack to a wider foundation (see pic w dollar bill across the bottom- it's about 1-1/2 bills at the widest). The designers really knew what users need in a school pack. My daughter has worn this a few days so far, and she thinks it is very comfortable (the back and arm straps are lightly padded). She also likes that there is a specific spot for all her items, so she doesn't need to dig-- all-in-all, a fine backpack\",\n \"Product: Trend inspired midline design with the sensational fit of Lily of France bras. Smooth sheen fabrication and striking lace detail add a retro flair.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Heavily Padded, Does not Conform Well to Shape\\n\\nReview: This is a beautiful bra, and well made. But, it doesn't fit all that well. I typically can wear a 34B or 36B, because my mid-section is wider. this 36 part is a perfect size, and very comfortable around my back, but surprisingly on the last eyehook (largest setting) vs. the smallest setting which I can usually use for the 36. The real issue is the B cup, which does not hug my my curves well, and bulges out away from my skin in the location near my underarms and in the \\\"V\\\" shaped center area near the grey ribbon/bow. If you look at the picture of the model shown for this item, you can actually see the bulge locations I just mentioned- particularly the part next to her underarm- it shows an area that is shadowed and not actually touching her skin, which it should if it fit well. The bra is also very heavily padded, with nearly an inch of fluffy thickness in the lower outer corners of the cups, which is heavier than I like, but which would have been fine if there were no bulges. I know bras are very specific to the individual, but this one fit me really oddly compared to most.\",\n \"Product: Sneaker\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Quality, Versatility, and Comfort!\\n\\nReview: The pictures on this listing really don't do these shoes justice. What I noticed first about these Frye Slip On Walking Shoes was the nice quality of the leather. Right out of the box, I was impressed with how robust and solid the leather uppers looked and felt. I guess I really shouldnt be surprised. I owned a couple of pairs of Frye western style boots back in the 80s (yes, I was a victim of the Urban Cowboy craze), and I always found their leather products high quality and durable. As solid as the leather is, the shoes are remarkably comfortable. The soles are thick and cushioned, and the shoes feel great without any break-in time. The fact that they are slip-ons is an added bonus as these are perfect for throwing on for a quick walk or a run out to the store. Ive worn them with blue jeans, khaki chinos, cargo shorts, and board shorts and theyve looked terrific with everything so far. If you're looking for a comfortable and versatile walking shoe, made by a company known for its quality leather goods, look no further.\",\n \"Product: You'll want to stay in this nightgown all day. Karen Neuburger sleepwear is designed for ultimate comfort and style. Our signature lightweight, cozy fabric is uniquely detailed to create the luxurious casual wear you've loved for over twenty years.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Soft, Comfortable, Loose Fitting PJ Pullover\\n\\nReview: This 60% cotton 40% polyester Karen Neuburger Women's Long Sleeve is comfortable and pleasant, and looks pretty. The sleeves fall just right- not too long so they get in the way, but not annoyingly short where you feel the need to pull on them (I guess this will depend on your arm length, of course, but they seem fairly typical to me). There is a pretty scalloped lace-look edging on the sleeves (not the bottom), that adds an attractive touch. The 6 small buttons down the front at the neck look decorative, but actually work if you were inclined to undo them. The neckline is fairly ample and easy to pull over your head, though, so I don't think you'll ever need to use the buttons. The material feels cool and soft, almost like a combed cotton feel to the surface. The nightgown is just the right thickness, imo, with no see-through issues, but not bulky or hot. Overall, this is a fine everyday comfortable pullover nightshirt, that you may not want to change out of.\",\n \"Product: The Mossy Oak collection of graphic t-shirts is ideal for hunters, casual outdoorsmen, or anyone desiring authentic style. With a variety of available colors, you can represent your favorite hunting brand on those few days spent outside of the woods.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: High Quality Tee-Shirt with Earthy Mossy Oak Color and Design\\n\\nReview: I don't usually wear t-shirts with company logos emblazoned on them. This Mossy Oak Short Sleeve Logo Tee and other Mossy Oak products are the exception. The color scheme and designs of their shirts, meant for the outdoors/ hunting ensures they look far more subdued and pleasing than the average company logo t-shirt. I got mine in the Heather CIty Green. The shirt looks muted and understated, and pairs very well with any number of my casual pants, jeans, and shorts.\\n\\nThis has been my go to t-shirt which Ive reached for many times since I received it, just for daily wear, simply because it works so well with everything, and feels comfortable, breathable and lightly stretchy. The logo is sharply printed, with reds and greens that offset nicely against the rest of the logo and shirt. This tagless shirt is well stitched, and has a mixed material fabric content (50% cotton, 50% polyester). I prefer to wear this type of mixed material under heavier tops or jackets, vs. 100% cotton, which i notice tends to hold in moisture (and can feel colder). This X-Large Tee fits true to size, and it's a solid, basic shirt for all occasions.\",\n \"Product: Fast dry technology for quick wicking. Fights odors. Technically blended fabric stays dry to reduce likelihood of blisters. Arch support and contoured fit hold socks in place to eliminate slipping and bunching. Soft, cushioned sole absorbs shock.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Pink is More of a Hot Pink, But Great Quality\\n\\nReview: These Carhartt Women's Merino Wool Blend Hikers are super comfy with a good amount of stretchy feeling. They allow my feet to breath and feel airy like i'm wearing cotton almost, but with the heft and thick plushness you get with wool socks, that protect your feet better in hiking shoes. I've been wearing these around the house all day because they are warm and substantial, and feel good on my feet. The entire bottom part of the sock as well as up around the toes has extra loop fabric cushioning as you can see from my pic showing the sock inside out. The upper section of the sock goes up far enough to reach higher hiking boots, and has a gentle all-around elastic that does not feel tight, but lightly snug. These are really high quality socks, and i'd definitely recommend- not just for hiking, but just for walking around in your home!\",\n \"Product: Charles river apparel has created a modern soft shell jacket that is lightweight, breathable and water-resistant. Stand-up collar with chin guard to protect chin/face. Zippered side pockets and zippered chest pocket. Features adjustable tabbed cuffs for comfort. When looking for quality apparel, look to Charles river apparel. Charles river apparel infuses their clothing with technology, performance and contemporary style. Traditional new England value brings innovation to everything they make: innovation in how it fits, to the way it feels. Charles river apparel offers function that performs and fashion that lasts. After more than 30 years of leading quality, the family-owned business pushes into the future with their eyes on the horizon of innovation. Look good. Feel good. Charles river apparel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Dynamic Look, Bargain Price, And So Many Great Features\\n\\nReview: This Charles River Axis Softshell Jacket has so much going for it. Starting with wearability, it is lightweight, yet sturdy and provides a fair amount of wind protection under a water resistant fabric shell. The jacket material (97% polyester, 3% Spandex) is also soft and comfortable when worn. The jacket is cut true to size and has generous sleeves and tail hem that keep me well covered. The sleeves also have adjustable velcro cuffs that help keep out the chill. I always like outerwear with easy access zippered pockets. This jacket has 3 (2 side and 1 right chest) and all of them are deep enough to hold my phone, keys, etc and zip up nicely to keep them from falling out.\\n\\nThe strongest appeal of this jacket for me though is the styling. This jacket has such a sleek, cool look. Maybe its the stand-up collar, or the clean dark navy color, or just the overall design and cut, but this jacket definitely gives off a dynamic modern vibe. I usually pair this jacket over a shirt and jeans, or dark chinos, and it looks outstanding. Price-wise, this jacket is still going for under $50 on Amazon when similarly styled jackets go for double or more. For me, this jacket has it all: Functionality, Style, and Affordability.\",\n \"Product: Gildan is a leading provider of everyday quality family apparel, including t-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, underwear, socks, hosiery, and shape wear.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Affordable And Works Well, Especially For Lean Physiques\\n\\nReview: I asked my husband to try on these Gildan Mens Fleece Elastic Bottom Pocketed Pants. He generally doesnt like to wear sweatpants as most of the ones hes tried before tend to balloon out at the legs, which looks unflattering for his lean (tall/thin) body type. These Gildan Fleece Pants, however, seem to be cut narrower from the hips down so theres no excess material to deal with. Additionally, they have a well-functional drawstring as well as an elasticized waistband and cuffs. The fabric is comfortable and the underside of the pants have a soft fleece feel. The size large fits my husband as it should, and the Black color is easy to match with all of his gym shirts. My husband also really likes that these pants have side pockets that are just deep enough to hold his ID and some cash. These great features already make these Gildan Fleece Pants a winner for my husband. The very affordable price means well be picking up more of these, maybe in the other colors (Navy, Dark Heather).\",\n \"Product: With its textured dobby construction, this short-sleeve shirt keeps you cool and comfortable, yet fashionable for any night out.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Ready For A Night Out In Miami\\n\\nReview: I wasn't too sure about this shirt before receiving it. Would it look too flashy? Or make me look like I was trying too hard? My concerns were completely unwarranted. This Cubavera Mens Dobby Texture Short Sleeve is a sharp and classy looking Guayabera-type shirt that would be well-suited for a night out in Miami or any other warm locale. The pleats and textured patterning are more subtle than in the photos, and the rich blue (Navy Blazer) color is just beautiful. I particularly like the fact that this shirt is designed to be worn untucked and pairs very well over every pair of dark pants I own. There is also a refined look to this shirt that I just don't get from wearing my standard polos or Hawaiian type shirts. The size large fits me very well, although I should note that the cut is a bit on the slim side and may not be as flattering if I still had a paunch. The material (55% Linen, 45% Viscose Rayon) breathes well and feels comfortable against the skin, but needs some ironing after laundering. This is definitely a welcome and refreshing addition to my wardrobe.\",\n \"Product: Sport the latest fashion with the Hollywood bracelet watch in solid stainless steel - featuring a 38mm case and light blue plastic bezel. Lexington white dial, detailed by bright crystal markers, diamond-dusted outer ring and three light blue subdials, add a feminine touch to this Glam sport design.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Great Fashion Statement that Also Happens to Tell Time\\n\\nReview: This is bold piece of pretty jewelry, imo, with the added benefit of it actually being a watch that tells time. The color scheme with the silver and light icy blue dial is so nice to look at, especially if you like cool tones. The shimmery diamond-like face accents add just enough sparkle, and it's a pleasant heft on your wrist- it's not a small or light watch, which is why you might even want to leave in any extra links, and wear it like a loose bracelet (like boyfriend jeans, but for watches). My husband is a more serious watch guy, and collects and repairs watches. I asked him for a pro & con breakdown, in case anyone was interested in the timekeeping aspects of this item more than the fashion aspects:\\n\\nHere are some pros and cons:\\n\\nPros:\\n-The watch case itself feels solid and has good heft.\\n-The hour and minute hands are silver edged and white filled, and the second hand is red-tipped which make for easy reading of the time.\\n-The two-position crown pulls out readily and the time sets smoothly and easily.\\n-The signature deployment clasp for the bracelet watchband opens and closes smoothly.\\n-A sticker at the case back provides the recommended battery replacement date.\\n-Ive timed the watch against my radio-controlled clock and the watchs Japanese quartz movement is very accurate.\\n\\nCons:\\n-For a ladies fashion watch, the watch is fairly large and looks about the same size as many average mens watches. The watch band looks about 20mm wide at the lugs (note that this is not a standard band/watch case configuration), and tapers down to about 16mm at the clasp. Although I like the weight of the watch, I think some may find it a bit heavy.\\n-The metal bracelet watchband feels cheap when compared to the case (body of the watch). As I mentioned above, this is not a standard watchband/case configuration, so replacing it would not be easy.\\n-The watch features three sub-dial registers that display Day, Date, and 24 Hour time, which are great to have, but unfortunately, the numbers are a light color against a light grey background and faint and difficult to read.\\n-Although the instruction manual advises that the Day and Date can be set by rotating the crown in position 2 clockwise to set the Date and counterclockwise to set the Day, turning the crown counterclockwise on my watch set the Date. And turning it clockwise did nothing at all.\\n-I tried rotating the crown in different positions, but could not find any way to change the Day. In order to adjust the Day, I had to move the time forward around the clock several times until the subdial displayed the correct Day.\",\n \"Product: The men's Watertown jacket combines comfort, practicality and versatility to meet your most adventurous needs. Equipped with breathable 5000mm waterproof rated nylon twill ripstop, sealed seems and waterproof two-way front zipper and zipper pockets, you are ensured maximum durability and enhanced protection from all of nature's elements.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just In Time For Rainy Season\\n\\nReview: I received this Charles River Watertown Jacket just before our recent rainy weather. This fully waterproof shell (unlined) jacket was most welcome and perfect for keeping off the rain and keeping me dry and comfortable. This rain jacket is well designed and includes several features that I look for in quality outerwear. For instance, the hood is a full-size functional hood that has a working elasticized drawstring secured with plastic toggles. The sleeve cuffs are not only elastic, but also include adjustable velcro cuff straps that help keep out the rain and wind. The main zipper has double sliders and pull tabs so you can unzip the jacket from the bottom if you need to access something from your pants pocket or from under your jacket. The main zipper also has a layer of fabric behind it that helps keeps wind and water out. Both side pockets are deep and have zipper closures. There are also 2 inside the jacket pockets in the space behind the outer pockets that work well for keeping lightweight incidentals such as papers dry.\\n\\nThe jacket fits true to size and wears comfortably. The ripstop fabric and stitching feel well constructed and sturdy, yet the jacket remains lightweight. I like how breathable the jacket feels even though it is fully waterproof. All in all, Ive found this jacket functional, and really handy during the last few days of rain.\",\n \"Product: Oxfords\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Modern Take On Classic Oxford At Reasonable Price\\n\\nReview: I asked my husband to try out these Calvin Klein Ramses Oxford shoes, because my son is going to wear these, but doesn't know much about shoes yet. My husband really admired the way they looked and described them as a modern take on a classic design. Hes worn shoes like this before and thought that these dress shoes looked sharp and were perfect for business and special occasions. He especially liked the way these tumbled leather oxfords have leather uppers that look textured rather than the high polish leather oxfords he usually wears. I think that these tumbled leather shoes paired with his usual suit and dress pants give his outfits a more updated, cosmopolitan look.\\n\\nThe shoes appear well stitched and feel solid. The leather is soft, yet durable and feels nicely crafted. Overall, the quality of the shoes is very good and comparable to other fine Calvin Klein products weve tried before. My husband did note, however, that the shoes are cut so that they taper to a point at the front. Hes accustomed to this having worn shoes like these before, but said that this is different from his dress shoes that end with a wider toe box, so just be aware of that. He also liked how the soles and back of the heels are part synthetic and have a rough texturing which makes them far less slippery on the hard floors and low carpets, such as you might find in a workplace environment.\",\n \"Product: All of the figure flattering characteristics of our instasculpt jean with a 28 inch\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Stretchy- Fits a US Women's Size 4\\n\\nReview: These Women's Margaux Instasculpt Skinny Jeans are quite nice. They feel very comfortable on, and are almost like spanx for your legs and butt area. The fit is flattering, particularly if you run on the thinner side, because you won't be swimming in the legs. I'm a typical size 4, and these fit me well, but they would certainly look good on a size 3, and would not be uncomfortable for a 5. The length would readily fit a 5'2 to 5'5 fairly well (depending on the length of your legs, of course), but the pants are forgiving both in size and length, so they will look good on a wide variety of sizes and shapes due to how the fabric conforms so well to your curves. The color is as pictured on the model- a deep indigo, and they look nicely worn in, but not shabby. The only slight negative I found was that if I sit on the ground cross legged for any amount of time, they start to feel too tight- easily remedied by sitting in a chair--hahah.\",\n \"Product: This Super Lightweight and Durable Mask is fitted with Tempered Safety Glass Lenses, is a Low Volume Mask with a Wide Field of View that is Easy-to-Clear.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good View Range, True Dry Snorkel w Good Airflow, Light Leakage Over Time\\n\\nReview: This Phantom Aquatics Mask and Dry Snorkel set came in a nice quality reusable velcro-topped carry bag w handle, which was a little too tight a fit for ease of use during an outing, but which conveniently kept everything together and not flopping around for storage. The soft plastic/rubbery portions of the mask and mouthpiece are extremely flexible and conformed to my face comfortably, and the side adjustments made the straps fairly easy to tighten around my head. I didn't have any problems with slippage of the large and webbed back portion of the mask off my wet hair, nor did the rubbery material pull on my hair in a painful manner, which had been a problem for me in the past w some other masks.\\n\\nThe only issue I had was that the nose portion did not make a full watertight seal, and i had some light leakage with water slowly entering the lower part of my mask over time while using this for about 3 hours-- i needed to lift up the bottom part and drain the water maybe every 10 min or so, which wasn't too bad, but not the best. On the other hand, the field of vision from the goggles was broad and clear, and I didn't experience any fogging (probably cuz i was lifting the mask for draining). Also, the snorkel itself was indeed dry, and normal dunking and splashing around did not cause any water to enter the tubing, nor did I have any breathing blockages. The airflow was good, and I thought this set was worth it, even just for the snorkel itself. I think it's hard to get a perfect fit for a mask, and you just have to try some out. I have a smaller sized face, so depending on your face size and shape, this may not leak on you like it did for me.\",\n \"Product: The Gel Micro Mitt is compact, measuring only 8\\\" in length. Mitt still packs quite a wallop in efficiency. Utilizing cutting edge gel technology, it is constructed with an internal 1/4\\\" thick layer of gel which provides unparalleled shock absorption. It is made of leather with comfortable suede on the hand side. With a concaved striking surface providing the perfect sweet spot. The Gel Micro Mitt is small in size but big on performance.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Terrific Training Punch Pad Mitts\\n\\nReview: When I first received these Ringside Gel Micro Punch Pad Mitts, I thought they would be too small and was skeptical about the size. But after pulling them on, I found that they actually fit. In fact, the compact sizing allowed me to move and re-position the mitts faster than any other punch pads Ive used in the past. Although I would not say they are easy to slip on and off as stated in the listing, I was able to get a snug and comfortable fit after pulling my fingers all the way into them. It also was not difficult at all to pull on the other mitt after having the first one on. Once on, they feel like Im just wearing a thick pair of close-fitting gloves. Whats more is that unlike other training punch pads, these have a concave striking surface which feels more natural when Im holding my hands up. In terms of function, the mitts provide both the trainer and trainee with a great degree of protection thanks to a thick layer of gel that absorbs impact well.\\n\\nIve used other Ringside products for years and have never been disappointed in their quality. This pair of RIngside Gel Micro Punch Pad MItts are no exception. They are made of leather and appear both well stitched and solidly constructed. They are also currently being sold at a very competitive price, especially given their leather construction and nice quality. All in all, an excellent pair of training punch pad mitts sold at a decent price point.\",\n \"Product: Camp Chef: The Way to Cook Outdoors Bake delectable pies to perfection with a true-seasoned Cast Iron Pie Pan. Cast iron creates even heat distribution giving you a golden brown crust every time. Decorative handles have been added for convenience. Features: - True Seasoned Finished cast iron - Decorative molded cast iron handles - Create golden brown crusts and light fluffy rolls with this perfect addition to your kitchen Specifications - 10\\\" diameter pan\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: good product, no complaints\\n\\nReview: This is a fine cast iron pie pan, with thinner, tapered edges (as seen from the product photo). Even so, it has a very nice heft, and was as pre-seasoned as any of my Lodge pre-seasoned products when i first received them. i was originally a bit hesitant to purchase this product based on some of the poor reviews of non-Lodge pans, but took the chance anyway, mainly because there were few options for a cast iron pie pan, and none had the unique edging this one has. I've now used it for frying bacon and eggs on the stove like a griddle, and i've just made cinnamon rolls this morning (see pictures i've attached to this review). I've yet to make a pie, but i highly recommend this product- it works as you would expect from cast iron, which is my metal of choice for baking.\\n\\nNote: oddly, my cinnamon roll pics are not showing up here and keep disappearing after a day... sorry if you are not seeing them either at this time. However, they rise up fluffy and light, don't stick to the pan even with syrupy sugar, and the pan stays warm for longer than they're around!\",\n \"Product: The Viper Razorback is a 100% staple-free spider dartboard constructed from self-healing sisal bristle fibers compressed together, providing unsurpassed durability. Utilizing razor thin galvanized wires, the surface area is greatly increased which helps prevent bounce-outs. The Viper Razorback is an official tournament size board, measuring 18\\\" in diameter and 1.5\\\" D. A movable number ring further extends the dartboard's life. This dartboard accommodates both steel tip and soft tip darts and includes mounting hardware.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sturdy, Attractive and Well-Built\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1GHRCSL7G6WDA\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/819O8P59VcS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A10XwC--AGS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> This Viper Razorback Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard is a very well-made, heavy and attractive board, that comes with mounting hardware. You can see from my video/ pics using both Viper's soft and steel tips <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Viper-Element-90-Tungsten-Soft-Tip-Darts-with-Storage-Travel-Case-Ridgeback-Grooved-18-Grams/dp/B004139RR4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Viper Element 90% Tungsten Soft Tip Darts with Storage/Travel Case, Ridgeback Grooved, 18 Grams</a> and the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Viper-Elite-Brass-Steel-Tip-Darts-25-Grams/dp/B0094AZKIY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Viper Elite Brass Steel Tip Darts, 25 Grams</a>, that both work just as well w this board, and that the thin wires of the spider don't interfere much w play (you can see that the third dart in the video hit a wire, but continued into the board). This board is one of the nicer dart boards I've used, with the superior compressed Bristle material that almost heals itself, and Viper did a good job with the bright visuals and lining up the slices straight, and ensuring the wires actually separate the colors. It's also a plus that you can move the number ring around- you can shift up some of the damage areas that occur over time, and because the numbers are metal and not painted on, the board is going to look newer longer. All around, this is a very solid, regulation sized board with good features.\",\n \"Product: It's incredible durability will make our Powerhide Heavy Bag one of the most used pieces of equipment in your gym. The resilient Powerhide covering ensures an attractive, well shaped bag that will consistently come back for more. A Ringside exclusive 1\\\" closed cell foam liner is included in all of our filled bags to help eliminate hand injuries. Bag weighs 65 - 70lbs. and measures 14\\\" x 42\\\". A Heavy Bag Chain and Swivel are included. Additional shipping charges apply for this item. The exact amount is quoted at the checkout or by selecting to estimate your shipping charges in your shopping cart.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Quality Ringside Heavy Bag\\n\\nReview: I first have to say is that I had forgotten what incredible exercise working the heavy bag was until I hung up this Ringside Powerhide Heavy Bag and started throwing a few punches. I did two 3-minute sets and I was breathing heavily and sweating through my shirt halfway through the second set! I run pretty regularly and go to the gym twice a week so I thought I was in fairly good shape. All I can say is wow, this is definitely part of my training program from now on.\\n\\nAs for the Powerhide Heavy Bag itself, Im happy to say that it is another terrific Ringside product. I used Ringside products starting in the mid-90s and I have always been impressed by their quality and price. This heavy bag is no exception. Upon opening the box, I was immediately impressed by its solid heft. I felt around the bag as I moved it around, and found it was completely uniform in firmness with no lumps or gaps on the body. The top of the bag has four rings that attach to the included heavy bag chains four hooks. The bag is well designed as there are four protective flaps right where the hooks might scrape against the bag, that keep the hooks from wearing away at the bag itself. There is also a metal D-ring at the bottom of the bag if you want to tether the bag to reduce swing or rotation.\\n\\nThe product information on the Amazon listing says that the bag has a 1 closed cell foam liner that helps eliminate hand injuries. Its nice that its there, but I really would not hit this bag without at least having on a set of hand wraps and preferably some bag gloves. The great job they did with the bags filling along with the tough powerhide covering would make this really rough on bare knuckles and unsupported wrists.\\n\\nNote that there are no included instructions regarding hanging this heavy bag, but there are numerous ones available online (I just did a search for how to hang a heavy bag). I plan to hang this in my garage one weekend when I have time to drill into a support beam and hang some hardware. But since I was excited to try out this bag the moment I got it, I hung it temporarily from my door frame pull-up bar and it worked out fine. I figured it should support the weight for the short time of a set, since the bag is only 65-70 lbs. I also put a large old duffel filled with our winter blankets underneath the heavy bag to reduce the swing and banging against the door frame.\\n\\nAll in all, this is another well-made Ringside product that provides great training and exercise options.\",\n \"Product: Fully sealed and taped waterproof seams. Adjustable/zippered leg openings with storm flap for easy off and on. Adjustable elastic waist band with webbing belt & adjustable quick release buckle (on back of bib, not shown). Waterproof hip storage pocket.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Well Designed Performance Fleece Hat\\n\\nReview: Im impressed by this Huntworth Performance Fleece Camouflage Hat. The pattern is Huntworths realistic Oak Tree EVO camo which blends into woodland areas well. Its also just a very pleasant looking oak tree design. I like that the hat obviously has some thought put into it, from the durable water repellant (DWR) coating on the outer camo side that should keep you dry in the rain (or snow), to the hunter safety blaze orange on the reverse side if you want to increase your visibility.\\n\\nThis hat has a lot to offer. Theres a small product information label on the underside which you can easily cut off if you want to wear it orange side out. In terms of fit and comfort, the outer poly/spandex camo side is thick and elastic, yet smooth and soft, while the orange acrylic knit reverse side is plush feeling and comfortable when worn. This hat really keeps me warm outdoors, now that the cooler fall weather has arrived. Im sure it will see a lot more use in the coming winter months as well.\",\n \"Product: Franklin Sports' Youth Baseball Socks are made from lightweight, durable fabric to keep your youth baseball or softball player cool and comfortable season after season. Made with extra cushioning and anti-bunch construction, these socks are designed for no-fuss comfort all day long. Plus they come in a variety of sizes and colors so you can get the perfect fit for ANY uniform!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect, Fitted Comfortable Socks, Fits Boys Size 3 Just Right\\n\\nReview: These Franklin Sports Youth Baseball Socks fit my son's Size 3-4 feet just right, and reach to a perfect place just below the knee as you would expect for baseball socks. I was supposedly getting the Navy color, but they accidentally shipped Black, so the color in the pics is not off. What's nice about the socks is that they seem to fit snuggly but without binding, all the way from the toe to the band at the knee, and the heel portion actually is fitted to the foot to make an almost tailored fit in the cleats- no random part of the socks are sticking out of the shoe, like some socks. My son says these fit great, and feel very soft and comfortable. These are well-made, well-stitched and I would definitely consider purchasing these as a primary baseball sock.\",\n \"Product: The i3 scuba mask combines the advantages of the Tri-comfort technology with a huge field of vision. In addition to the wide central glass, smaller panels on each side guarantee peripheral vision that will blow you away. The ergonomic 2-button buckles allow for easy and secure adjustment of the strap even when diving with thick gloves.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Peripheral View, Good for Snorkeling\\n\\nReview: This Mares I3 Sunrise Scuba Mask is fairly comfortable, with a wide head grip in back and very soft and flexible plastic/ rubber areas. The fit seemed to be okay, and it was easy to adjust, but I had some light leaking around the nose area. As you can see from my pic, I took this snorkeling, not scuba diving, so the leaking didn't matter that much, since I could easily surface and drain. I would need to look for a more well-fitting mask for my particular face shape if I was going to use this for extended periods of time under water. On the other hand, the visibility was quite good, and the clear sides made for a peripheral view that provided extremely good visibility-- almost as if I were not wearing a mask. I didn't have any issues with fogging, either, and I would definitely recommend this mask for snorkeling.\",\n \"Product: Speedo water accessories are unmatched in performance, fit and feel. The Bullet is super comfortable and features our new fitness goggle technologies of Elastomeric seals and Clearsight vision. This is the perfect fitness or recreational goggle for open water or pool swimming. No matter where or why you dive in - training, fitness, or fun - those moments in the water are always better with Speedo.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Updated Version of My Favorite Tried and Trues\\n\\nReview: Speedo has been my go to company for swim goggles since high school. I remember my Speedo goggles were the only pair that I could wear through a whole practice without having to constantly make adjustments to keep out water or defog. Over the years, Ive tried other companies including the larger ones that give a wide field of vision. Those are nice too, but they always seem to require adjusting much more than Speedo goggles. It must be the fit of the Speedos and the way their eyepieces contour snugly to my face.\\n\\nThese Speedo Bullet Swim Goggles are like an updated version of my tried and true Speedos Ive used throughout the years. These Bullets have all kinds of fancy design features (Elastomeric technology for eye comfort, smoke-tint Clearsight lenses for better visibility, soft liquid silicone straps and seals, etc). Whats more is that this latest iteration has easy adjustment tabs on the sides for quick tightening/loosening of the straps. The soft silicone seals around the eyepieces act like suction cups, but are surprisingly comfortable, even when Ive tightened the straps fully. In terms of looks, the sleek grey and white frames are offset nicely by the orange seals and black straps, giving the goggles a cool, modern look. These goggles have a winning combination of looks, function, fit, and comfort. Speedo has been making great swim goggles for decades and these are no exception.\",\n \"Product: Franklin Sports 40MM Table Tennis Balls feature tournament quality performance, increased control and consistent bounce for precision play. 144 case pack of solid orange and white balls. Official size and weight.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect for Table Tennis Families\\n\\nReview: These Franklin Sport Ping Pong Balls are everything I want from a set of ping pong balls: crisp bounce, uniform feel across the surface, and large quantity -- because despite their best efforts, the kids lose and damage table tennis balls constantly.\\n\\nThe balls came well packaged and sealed in double plastic and boxed ( I chose the smaller box in the pic to better show the volume next to the fiver). I counted 75 white balls and 69 orange balls for a total of 144 as advertised. Although the balls were packaged well, be advised that 2 out of the entire lot arrived dimpled and crushed (the ones shown outside of the box). Not a big deal since this is a high quantity lot of 144 balls.\\n\\nThe balls move well when hit across the paddles and on the table. As there are no outward imperfections or seams, the balls bounce and spin predictably and without any issues. These days, I prefer to use the orange ones because they are so much easier to follow during play.\\n\\nAll in all, a nice 2-color lot of reliable, good quality table tennis balls. For any family that gets good use out of their ping pong table, having a huge lot like this is definitely the way to go.\",\n \"Product: TriMax Triple Insulation Keep Drinks COLD for 48 Hours and HOT for up to 16 Hours\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Combination of Superior Filter, Good Insulation and Good Looks\\n\\nReview: This EcoVessel 24 oz is a very good insulated drink carrier, just like it's big-sized brother, EcoVessel's THE BOSS <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/EcoVessel-THE-BOSS-TriMax-Insulated-Stainless-Steel-Beer-Growler-Bottle-With-Tea-And-Fruit-Infuser-64-Ounces-Hudson-Blue/dp/B00TZOT8S2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">EcoVessel THE BOSS TriMax Insulated Stainless Steel Beer Growler Bottle With Tea And Fruit Infuser - 64 Ounces - Hudson Blue</a>, which i'm particularly fond of, due to its excellent quality larger mesh strainer. This 24 oz also has the same type of superior strainer, with tiny holes punched in a solid sheet of metal, vs. a mesh that's more typical w cheaper plastic strainers incorporating a flexible metal fabric. This bottle is very attractive, and feels substantial. The insulation is quite good, and keeps my hot drinks at decently warm temperatures even after about 4 hours after I pour in piping hot, nearly boiling drinks. I can't feel the heat through the outer body at all, even w these hot drinks inside. Over time, I can feel a slight warmth on the lid, however. To be fair, I'm sure this insulates longer than 4 hours, but I open the bottle a lot. Luckily, I pretty much drink what i'm drinking w/i 4 hrs generally speaking, so it's not a noticeable issue for me w this 24 oz sized bottle.\\n\\nGetting back to this excellent filter, I also like to use this 24 oz for homemade kombucha (i don't brew in this, i just add kombucha i've already made into it before drinking). The strainer keeps the occasional blob of errant SCOBY out of my drink, without having to filter it separately, and that's very convenient. For my purposes, the very fine openings in this EcoVessel strainer keep smaller particles out of my drink, almost as well as a paper mesh filter. In addition to the one-piece metal hole punch design, this strainer cap has a thoughtful tuck-down handle, making it easy to remove from the bottle cleanly.\\n\\nThis a very attractive bottle that's well-built. I think the best and most unique parts of these EcoVessel insulated drink carriers are their excellent filters, and I highly recommend these great bottles if you are looking for the combo of superior filter, good insulation and good looks.\",\n \"Product: G-Form knee pads feature innovative rate-dependent technology (RPT) for maximum impact protection and virtually no bulk. These versatile knee pads are great for mountain biking, BMX, skateboarding, snowboarding and soccer. Youll never again worry about compromising your movement and performing your best in fact, you wont even realize youre wearing them. Sold in pairs.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Low-Profile Knee Pads For Less Rugged Activities\\n\\nReview: What I really like about these G-Form Pro-X Knee Pads is how low profile and not bulky they are. Having some knee protection during my outdoor activities is really helpful, but I don't want to wear something that feels cumbersome or makes me look all geared out. These G-Form Knee Pads are perfect for my purposes. Under a pair of pants, you couldn't even tell I was wearing them. The actual pad portions are not hard and feel very flexible. The stretchable fabric portions are breathable and moisture wicking. The pads pull on and stay in place well. According to the product information, these pads are also machine washable which is a real plus.\\n\\nIn terms of fit and comfort, I usually wear a medium and found these pads a bit snug when I first pulled them on. They felt all right as I wore them and didn't cut off my circulation, but I would consider going a size larger.\\n\\nThese are a good pair of low-profile, protective knee pads. I would consider hard shell knee pads if I were playing certain sports or involved with heavy-duty activities where I was on my knees a lot or going at higher speeds than running. Overall though, for my modest outdoor activities, these are good protective pads.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy the clean, natural taste of your beverage of choice in one of our glass water bottles. Not only does your beverage taste great, but our glass bottles are very easy to clean and are dishwasher safe. Our Surf glass water bottle is available with a loop top or with a flip straw top and inner straw and features a protective silicone sleeve with Drop Shield Base. The Surf is available in five different protective sleeve color options.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Clean Water, Avoiding Off-Tastes and Chemicals\\n\\nReview: This EcoVessel SURF SPORT drinking bottle is as attractive as it is practical. The glass body is made in curvy shape with a \\\"waist\\\" that allows for an easier grip, and the tight silicone sleeve with horizontal open slats helps to keep this firmly in your hand even when the bottle is wet. As a big plus, the substantial feeling sleeve also protects the glass from breakage and shattering. The silicone sleeve is said to be removable if necessary, but it's really tightly on the bottle, and i think it would be tough to take off. But because it is so tight, there's a low chance of having much moisture incursion between the outer glass and inner sleeve.\\n\\nThe flexible silicone inner drink tube is removable for cleaning, and the top mouthpiece, although solid plastic on the inside core, is also covered with a removable silicone mouthpiece that keeps your teeth from uncomfortably jarring against a hard surface while sipping. I love glass bottles that don't add any off-tastes into my water. I can usually taste plastics and even stainless steel in my water if it's left in a container for a few hours. Even though the top of this glass bottle is plastic, i don't usually keep my drinks sideways or upside down for any length of time, and i'm not concerned. This is a great bottle that looks very happy and bright, and it's a safer way to carry a glass bottle around.\",\n \"Product: Drinks Stay Cold & FreshHands Stay Warm & Dry with the superior triple insulation of this fun to use bottle. It features a Flip Straw Top and no tilt drinking so easy and convenient to stay hydrated, whether kids are playing sports, video games or reading.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Build, Cute Design, But Leaks A Little Bit Over Time\\n\\nReview: This Eco Vessel FROST is a well-made bottle with cute unicorns running across the bottom. The build of the bottle feels nice, and it's got a vacuum core and an outer coating that feels like a thick coat of glossy wall paint on the outside, accounting for the triple part in the TriMax insulation, i believe. The bottle has a lightly indented \\\"waist\\\" that allows an adult to comfortably hold it w one hand, and that helps even small kids' hands get a better grip. The top is sturdy, and the flexible inner straw is removable for easy cleaning. The plastic bite guard does not seem to be removable like some bottles, but it does have a softer feel that should protect teeth somewhat. This has gone through my dishwasher a few times w no problem. The main reason i've deducted one star is that if you keep this filled and upside down for 10 minutes or so, you'll start to see it's leaking out the top where the bite guard rotates up and down at the ball bearing. Not a huge problem unless you keep this in your child's lunch pack vs. on the side pocket of their roller bag, for example, where it won't be sideways or upside down for any length of time.\",\n \"Product: MOUNTAIN HOUSE CHICKEN FRIED RICEChicken Fried Rice has arrived! New from Mountain house, this meal is great on the trail, on the mountain, or even at home. Made with long grain rice, delicious chicken, scrambled eggs, chopped onions, savory mushrooms, green peas, red peppers, and diced carrots.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not Really Chicken Fried Rice, But Tasty\\n\\nReview: This Mountain House Chicken Fried Rice is a satisfying meal that resembles and tastes more like a thick chicken rice stew than a chicken fried rice. I made two batches of this in single serving amounts (1 cup dry mix plus 3/4 cup boiling water, stir, wait 8-9 min), and both batches came out creamy and well-constituted, where the rice and chicken chunks were tender. We use a lot of Mountain House freeze dried products for camping as well as for emergency storage, and as usual, the food tastes great. This meal is well-seasoned and hearty, and the chicken meat chunks are large and have nearly the texture of real chicken chunks. Actually, I even prefer the texture of reconstituted freeze-dried chicken chunks to canned chicken meat.\\n\\nI don't think you can or should compare these long-term storage products to actual fresh foods that you make from scratch, but should compare them to other similar, instant products. I've tried a lot of different brands, and I keep coming back to Mountain House for instant. They have done a really good job of making preserved, light and delicious meals that provide the calories you need. This Chicken Fried Rice is very good, but they should probably rename it chicken rice stew. No matter, however, as we had no problem eating this tonight for dinner, and I would definitely purchase this for future use in the emergency pantry.\",\n \"Product: With contoured shape and thin rim to enhance the drinking experience and aroma, the Claret allows you to apres in style with a classy glass of red (or white) once it's time to kick back. An insulated design keeps liquid at the perfect temperature in the outdoors, and a padded base cuts down on slips and unnecessary clanking.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good for Poolside, Tough to Hold for Smaller Hands\\n\\nReview: This is a well made and sturdy, double walled stainless steel wine cup that can be used poolside or outdoors. it has a hard plastic feel to the outside (not rubberized or silicon), due to the sprayed plastic coating (matte-white, lightly textured) on the metal itself. This coating prevents scratching on the metal and the double walled construction insulates your wine in a futuristic looking stainless steel inner core.\\n\\nThe base is fairly broad, so those of you with smaller hands (like me), may have a bit of a reach to hold the cup around the middle (i ended up putting my pinky under the bottom), but it is comfortable for my husband to hold. Because the cup is so broad at the base, and because it has a nice rubberized black pad at the bottom (see pic), this puppy is fairly stable, and probably won't tip over or hydroplane across your table. i put this in the fridge w some room temp wine while writing this review. the wine actually got fairly cold, quickly. The outside of the cup is also staying fairly cold though (since it's sprayed metal) after drinking this for a bit now, so it does \\\"leak\\\" some coolness, but the inner wall is still staying cooler than the outer wall, so that's good.\\n\\nOther than this being a tad too large for me to hold, and that they wrote the name of the company prominently on the cup (it makes the cup look like a face cream jar, in my opinion), i think this cup is useful and functional, and would consider having a set for poolside.\\n\\nUpdate: this cup's insulative properties really shine with hot coffee! this is a multi-useful cup.\",\n \"Product: Make guests feel right at home with Intex's Pillow Rest Raised Airbed. The new and improved Dura-Beam Series version of the classic pillow rest raised offers the ideal comfort and durability. Engineered with Fiber-Tech Construction, which is comprised of thousands of high-strength polyester fibers, this airbed provides enhanced comfort, stability, and support. Unlike traditional airbed construction, high-strength polyester fibers do not stretch over time, resulting in superior and long-lasting durability. The sleeping surface is covered in soft flocking for extra comfort, and indented sides help grip fitted sheets. The dual chamber construction provides increased ground stability and height to make this airbed a refined addition to any guest room. There's no need for extra pillows! The bed's built-in pillow is designed to provide support. In addition, the Raised Downy Airbed is remarkably easy to inflate thanks to the built-in, high-powered electric pump; quickly and easily inflate both chambers with the touch of a switch. Then adjust to any level of firmness for the ultimate in comfort. The airbed inflates in about 3 and 1/2 minutes and deflates completely for travel and storage. No more fussing with tiring hand or foot pumps. The convenient hand carry bag is perfect for storage and transport. The 16-1/2 inch raised height provides easy accessibility and a closer feel to traditional mattresses, making it the perfect choice for house guests, dorms and even camping trips.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Wow. Advances in Airbed Technology!\\n\\nReview: Despite my husband's strong objections, i requested to test out this airbed via Amazon's Vine program. We had purchased four (FOUR!) airbeds in sequence over the past ten years, and had had enough with the leaking and the sagging and curiously heavy weight of the airbeds (thick plastics) making them hard to fold and store- they were not even all that cheap- and we ended up tossing them all out, one at a time, as they each died slow and terrible patched-up deaths. more than once did our guests wake up to find they were on a lifeless \\\"air\\\"bed skin on hard floor or carpet, and said they didn't re-inflate because they didn't want to wake the house... when our final one sprung a significant leak a few years ago, that was it. zero tolerance policy- and we've not had an airbed since. So it was w extreme prejudice that i tried this Intex Dura-Beam bed out. Mainly, i still craved the benefit of having a portable and storable bed to put in any room in the house when we had a lot of extra guests, without them having to sleep on the floor (ironic) or a couch (we have a big family, and we even run out of couch space).\\n\\nSo, i am now tentatively reporting that airbed technology has made some major advances since our last foray into this market, and i'm tempted to buy another one of these, provided this one holds up a few more months (my expectations are extremely low). Firstly, the package holding this bed was surprisingly small and light when i received it, and i couldn't believe a queen airbed was in it, since our older ones were at least twice as large and heavy- really, they were just that much heavier. The plastic (or whatever fiber or composite material this is made of) on this bed is significantly more supple and thinner, yet sturdy enough to hold (they say) a max of 600 lbs/ 273 Kg. It easily held 400+ lbs of several of us testing this out. Secondly, the seams holding different portions of the bed together (heat melt) are also amazingly thin- maybe 3 mm along the top rim where the fuzzy top meets the more plasticy sides- so no sharp or hard pokey spots- they even thoughtfully turned those super thin seams downwards facing, so you can't really feel them anyway. Thirdly, you don't automatically slide straight towards the middle when you try to lie on this with your spouse. the internal vertical baffling/support they advertise (\\\"Dura-Beam\\\") seems to work very well. when you lie on the bed, you actually feel pressure upwards into your lumbar region, which is a surprising and welcome effect.\\n\\nAdditionally, the pump is very powerful, compact and well designed. With our airbeds in the past, you'd had to have a separate pump, various attachments and hoses and batteries and you let the air out by unscrewing a cap or releasing a valve and other such nonsense that just created failure points and new areas of potential leakage. This Intex Dura-Beam bed pump is static, built into the bed, and you don't open it up to let air out. it actually has a deflate function! and, it's easy to use. the pump has a rotating donut controller with a marked (although hard to see) triangle that points to inflate (turn to the right) or deflate (turn 180 degrees back to the left). you basically plug it in (the plug comes out of a little compartment in the pump next to the donut-see pic), turn the rotating donut to inflate or deflate, and press the on/off switch. crazy easy. the hole part of the donut is the air intake, as well as where the air is pushed out.\\n\\nI laid on this bed and inflated it from the floor w me on it. it took 2 minutes and 50 seconds to become extremely firm- i could tell the pitch (sound) of the pump began to rise slightly higher near the end, as it worked harder, but kept going. deflating it, i laid on the bed again, turned the donut dial to point the triangle to the left, and air started coming out of the donut hole, even without the pump functioning. after i turned on the pump, the air came out much faster, and the bed was pretty much vacuum sucked out of air in 3 min. (seems to take just a smidge longer to deflate). also, I do literally mean vacuum sucked--like one of those food savers. there was almost no air in there, and the plastic was stuck together. the sound of the pump is also equivalent to a typical vacuum cleaner level of noise when running either inflate or deflate.\\n\\npretty awesome so far. i would give this bed a 4 1/2 stars if i could. i am reserving the 1/2 star at this time, because it seems smaller than a queen bed. i put two standard sized pillows touching on the bed (see pic), and they reach all the way to both edges, unlike our mattress queens, where you still have some room on each side of the pillows. still, it's a great bed. it also comes with a carry sac w handle, that easily fits the bed back in after deflating and folding back according to the directions. i'll update if anything starts leaking. if there is no update, assume it is still working!\",\n \"Product: Introducing the best of both worlds.A perfectly cushioned mat to protect joints, with a built-in microfiber top cover that actually provides increased grip as temperatures soar. Ideal for hot yoga, power yoga or any vigorous Vinyasa class, Gaiam's Ultra-Dri hot yoga mat absorbs moisture twice as fast as traditional towels and gives you slip-free stability so you can keep your cool during the sweatiest practice. Machine washable to maintain a hygienic foundation. Machine wash separately in cold water; dry flat. The mat may fade and become brittle and unusable if exposed to the sun for extended periods of time. We recommend storing your mat in a mat bag when not in use. 24 W x 68 L x 07 thick (1.8mm).\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Lightweight Specialized Mat for Heavyweight (Sweaty) Sessions\\n\\nReview: This is about half the price of the Gaiam Sol Dry-Grip Yoga Mat (5mm), which is and has been an absolutely great yoga mat for me and my go-to mat for years. This Ultra-Dri also had the benefit of being touted as super absorbent and washable, and i was excited about trying it out, as some of my Bikram and heated power classes still cause me to use my towel to prevent some slippage on the sweatiest days, although i'm not really a dripper in general.\\n\\nSome immediate observations about the mat when i got it- this mat is very thin- thinner feeling than even my friend's Jade Harmony, which i think feels too thin already (although she swears by it), and about 1/2 the thickness of my Sol. I prefer a more padded surface myself, and sometime even steal my husband's ultra thick Yoga Accessories Extra Wide and Extra Long 1/4'' Deluxe Yoga Mat when i'm doing more ground work- i guess this is more of a personal choice. As far as the appearance of the mat, the red color is more like a dull brick tone, and it seems to easily pick up lint, unfortunately. lol- who knew i might need a lint brush for a yoga mat! there is also a sewn edge around the entire mat, where the microfiber towel top is sewn to the grippy padded bottom. the towel part does not free float on the mat, however, as it bonded to the padded bottom. The edges of the mat are not cleanly straight, and it looks like the mat was run through a sew and serge machine by hand w/o guides, when it was manufactured (see last pic with wavy indent cut on edge, next to sweaty handprint). even so, it's pleasantly homey in a hand-made looking way, and the appearance does not detract from performance. The microfiber top is exactly like my microfiber towel, but not as plush (since it's bonded to the mat), and has superior absorbancy. this mat absolutely holds you in place and keeps you from slipping when you are sweating- it immediately soaks up moisture, as advertised, and is perfect for...wet yoga. however, and this was significant to me, when you are not heavily sweating, at the start of the session say, the towel surface was actually a bit slippery, and i found i could not get comfortable traction on even a relaxed downward facing dog.\\n\\ni'm giving this Ultra-Dri mat 4-stars, because it does exactly what it says, and provides a great (lightweight) choice for hot workouts. However, i deducted one star because it's not an all-in-one solution as a go-to mat. i'll keep using my Sol, which is worth the double price, and maybe take this one out for particularly tough sessions or travel.\",\n \"Product: Now you can easily customize an emergency food supply with Mountain House just in case...emergency food supply multi-day kits. Are you looking for a 7-day supply? Consider combining the 2-day with the 5-day kits. Or select the variety of meals that are included with the 3-day and 4-day kits instead. Customize your emergency food supply foundation to fit your taste preferences and budget. This stackable 5-day boxed kit contains a variety of popular breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees for one person. Includes 15 total pouches: biscuits & Gravy (2) - hot, fluffy buttermilk biscuits with Creamy pork sausage Gravy make for a hearty family-favorite. Breakfast Skillet (1) - Hash browns and scrambled eggs mixed with pork sausage, peppers & onions. Eggs with ham & peppers (2) - scrambled eggs with savory ham, green peppers and red peppers. Chili Mac with beef (2) - spicy Chili sauce with beef, Macaroni Noodles, onion and beans. Chicken fried rice (2) - made with long grain rice, delicious chicken, scrambled eggs, chopped onions, savory mushrooms, green peas, red peppers and diced carrots. Macaroni & cheese (2) - Macaroni Noodles in a smooth, Creamy, and very cheesy sauce. Mexican rice & chicken (2) - perfectly seasoned rice and chicken in a savory sauce accented with pimentos. Pasta Primavera (2) - Zucchini, spiral Macaroni, cauliflower, broccoli, red & yellow peppers and green beans in a Creamy, parmesan cheese sauce.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Terminus or Thunderdome got u down? no problem. stock lots of this in advance\\n\\nReview: This Mountain House Just in Case 5 Day Emergency Food Supply came in a box about the size of powdered laundry detergent, but was very light- 4.6 lbs as listed on the package. The best-used-by date was prominently displayed on the back of the box, \\\"Dec 2027,\\\" and it opened up to show 15 separate foil pouches each containing 2, 2.5, or 3 servings per pouch, with 37 servings of food all together. One side of the box listed all the nutritional facts for each type of food pouch, and each pouch had the nutritional facts on it too, along with directions. The food pouches in the box were:\\n\\nBiscuits & Gravy (2 pouches of 2 servings each- 310 calories per serving) ;\\nBreakfast Skillet (1 pouch/2 servings- 400 calories per serving);\\nScrambled Eggs w Ham (2 pouches/2 servings each-190 calories per serving);\\nChicken Fried Rice (2 pouches/ 2.5 servings each- 260 calories per serving);\\nChili Mac (2 pouches/2.5 servings each- 230 calories per serving);\\nMac & Cheese (2 pouches/3 servings each- 320 calories per serving);\\nMex Rice & Chicken (2 pouches/3 servings each- 210 calories per serving);\\nPasta Primavera (2 pouches/2.5 servings each- 210 calories per serving).\\n\\nI wanted to try a pouch of food, so i waited for lunch, and i was really hungry. i picked Biscuits and Gravy cuz i was curious how the biscuit part would be, and whether the light pouch would actually be filling enough for just me, much less me and a second \\\"servee.\\\" The directions said to 1) tear open the pack and discard the oxygen absorber. Of course, i couldn't follow even the first direction right, so i left in the absorber... then 2) add 1 3/4 cup boiling water; 3) stir and close zipper (like a zip-lock bag)- optionally, you could stir again at the 4-minute mark. 4) let stand 8-9 minutes, stir and eat.\\n\\nI guess i was not the only dull person to use these products, who could not follow simple directions, because there was an asterisk after step one, which takes you to a note near the bottom that says, \\\"*if you forgot to remove oxygen absorber before adding water, don't worry. Your food is still safe to eat. Simply remove and discard absorber.\\\" whew. I poured/ spooned about 1/2 of the biscuit/sausage/gravy mix in the bag onto a plate. granted, it was chopped up for better rehydration, so didn't look particularly pretty (but really, what kind of plating art could one expect w biscuits and gravy?), but it was quite yummy, and warm and filling. even the biscuits had some bigger chunks that had a few crispy-er, less hydrated parts to go with the softer bits, so that the mouthfeel was similar to what you might expect from a regular plate of biscuits and gravy at home.\\n\\ni could imagine that after a good hike in cold weather, or waking up from your camp, that this meal would be a very welcome treat. --or, if you were starving because you were in an actual emergency scenario, you'd probably never have tasted anything so good. I could definitely see having zero problems eating this in an emergency (or just for lunch like i just did). Surprisingly, i felt a bit full- it was only about 310 calories per serving, and i only had about one of the two servings in the pouch, so i didn't expect to feel even remotely satisfied, since i started out hungry. If you're a big dude (i'm a smallish gal), you could easily eat the whole pouch. On the other hand, this will keep you going, even at these minimal rations, so u don't feel like eating your shoes (or your neighbors) immediately. the sheer will to survive, i guess, will take you the rest of the way- at least for 5 days...after which,... Terminus (from AMC's Walking Dead) or Thunderdome- so you'd better buy a lot of this product in advance.\\n\\nI recommend you get good provisions such as these Mountain House Just in Case products for any emergency or camp (or \\\"After\\\") situation- these last for over 10 years, are light to carry, are easy to prepare, and taste really good. Mountain House is a well-known and respected brand, and you'll be extremely glad to have these meals if and when you need them.\",\n \"Product: For hockey players seeking compression below the waist and groin area, with enhanced venting on inner thighs and a loose fit on the outer thighs. The Power Stride hockey short is the perfect combination for lightweight comfort and performance. AirCore hard cup offers impact protection and unrestricted mobility.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: true to size, lightweight and supportive\\n\\nReview: i got this for my husband, who is about 5\\\"11 185lbs. like another reviewer of similar proportions, he felt this size L fit very well- he's a size 35 normally, and said a 36 guy might find it to be a tad tight around the waist, but good for more compression and warmth, if you prefer. the cup is very easy to remove and insert, is very comfortable, and feels secure after adjustment (\\\"cups your boys\\\"). the fabric is lightweight and sheer, and feels smooth and well-fitting around the thighs, without being too tight. husband said he would not wear these outside without the hocky pants, however, because it's mainly mesh, and sheer enough to almost see through--but, you could wear dark colored underwear so you don't look like you went out in a thong! Under hocky pants, tho,these feel great, and the velcro tabs are very securely sewn on the outside to prevent skin irritation- no way your socks will fall.\",\n \"Product: Low-profile co-polymer flex or rigid core cup with foam shell for light impact protection\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Well-fitting, good fabric, comfortable and convenient cup, good protection\\n\\nReview: This pair of compression shorts were for my husband, and the L size fit snugly but maybe a tad tight for his 5'11\\\"/ 185lb frame. He did like the smooth fabric, which is opaque enough not to be see-through, but light enough to breath. The soft cup was very convenient, and according to husband, a good way to wear a jockstrap, without having to fuss with the actual straps. He recommended that the cup be placed in the pouch section of the shorts before you put on the shorts- otherwise, the cup does not easily push all the way down to the tip (but, fairly easy to pull in and out of the shorts before you put them on). The one issue he has, is that once inserted, the cup tends to pull the waistband of the shorts downwards in the front, so that the waistband sags a bit above the cup, and is not at the same height as the rest of the elastic around your waist. This might be remedied by getting a larger size, but will reduce the compression effect. The cup itself is flexible around the edges (soft), and appears durable and sturdy enough in the areas that matter, and provides good protection for sports that do not have high impact issues like hockey. Overall, a good product.\",\n \"Product: The Zycom Zinger complete scooter is a unique 3 wheel scooter designed to help younger children learn their balance with their unique balance steering system which only allows the wheels to turn depending the direction the rider distributes their weight. If your toddler is excited to cruise around on wheels but isnt fully comfortable with a 2 wheel scooter this amazing setup will ensure to prepare them for the next level allowing plenty of room for progression and keeping safety in mind with the innovative features. Fully foldable for easy storage and ease of travel.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great as a First Scooter, and Even Fun for Middle-Aged Scooter-Noobs Like Me\\n\\nReview: This is our first scooter, and although i personally dabbled in skateboarding as a child, i have not tried riding anything w a board ever since (and since before boards with sticks had been invented). So, coming from a reasonably coordinated, but middle-aged scooter-noob's perspective, this is great fun! it took me about fifteen minutes scooting around our street to get the hang of it, and if you've skated (ice or roller) before, it's a similar experience in terms of balance. Because it has three wheels, and the front wheels are very quiet, smooth and large (about 4/5 the height of a US dollar bill), it's stable enough to be easy to learn, and it rolls over small rocks reasonably well- our street is no problem, but i wouldn't go near any gravel.\\n\\nI know this is marketed for youth, and my two (10 and 12yo) kids took off with this immediately, despite having no experience on a scooter either. they had no trouble with this at all, and i had to wait a few days before they left it alone long enough for me to squeeze some time in. the only caveat i'd say is that it works best for youth under 5'5\\\" or so (my approximation)- the handlebar only telescopes so far. My husband who is about 6' can use it, but he has to bend a little- his fingertips hold the bar. i read one of the reviews discussing the very wide turn radius. this is true. we had no problem with this though, going down straightaways on neighborhood streets. The scooter turns very easily, just not too far in either direction- you just lean into it, but can't make any sharp turns. The upside to this, of course, is that you have better stability for newcomers.\\n\\nThis scooter is reasonably light to carry along (maybe about 5 lbs) yet sturdy and well-built, and the handlebar conveniently locks down to the length of the scooter when not in use. I highly recommend for youth who are on their first scooter, or anyone who wants to have a fun and more stable mode of transport.\",\n \"Product: The Tortuga is a one-piece shorty constructed with 2.5 mm double-lined neoprene. Donning and doffing are made easy with the back-zipper closure with pull tab leash. The suit seams are sewn for strength and durability. This suit is perfect for tropical waters, swimming, sailing, and snorkeling, diving and water sports in general while offering UV protection to covered areas. This suit offers great range of movement and incorporates an adjustable hook and loop fastener collar for maximum comfort.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Comfortable. Size L/4 is about a US Women's size 6-8\\n\\nReview: This Cressi Tortuga Wetsuit is a solidly and well-made piece. I'm a US Women's size 4-6,and it was a bit larger on me than a wetsuit should be (the thighs and arm openings were not tight enough and the waist was a tad long, but it still fits well enough for casual use. The body type you see w the model in the Amazon ad- more strong/stout w longer torso, is the optimal fit for this wetsuit. The fabric feels thick enough to wear for non-tropical climes- say, Los Angeles water would work, and the edging and seams are all smooth and non-binding. Some comments mentioned that they thought the velcro neckstrap was not sewn on, but that's just a protective piece to cover the sharp bits in transit, so you don't get a ripped up and snagged wetsuit. You don't need the cover piece to use this, because the other part (right side) of the neck already has the furry part the sharp loop side clings onto. Overall, this is a comfortable and thick-feeling suit for general use. Wetsuits are one of those items though, that you may need to try on in person to get the fit right.\",\n \"Product: The Mossy Oak collection of camouflage t-shirts is ideal for hunters, casual outdoorsmen, or anyone desiring functional concealment and authentic style. Combining effective patterns with branded heritage, you can get the true hunting look or feel, no matter the occasion.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Shirt For Working Outdoors, But Wrist Cuffs Narrow\\n\\nReview: This Mossy Oak Adult Long Sleeve Break-Up Country Camo T-Shirt is comfortable and well made. The material (60% cotton, 40% polyester) feels sturdy, and the shirt is nicely stitched. This particular long sleeve camo tee is thicker feeling than Mossy Oak's similar looking 100% poly long sleeve tee, and is warmer, but only if it doesn't get wet, since the cotton content doesn't dry as quickly. The 100% poly is good inner wear for wicking, whereas I like to wear this mixed cotton/poly alone. I wore this shirt to work outside in the yard throughout a fairly chilly morning and it kept me pretty warm. I also really like the subdued color of the mossy oak woodland pattern, and the small, subtle Mossy Oak signature tree logo at the upper left of the shirt front. The large fits true to size. The only issue I have is with the elasticized wrist cuffs. They are cut a bit too narrow and tended to ride up my forearm while I was working. Other than that, I found this to be a durable, yet comfortable shirt to wear while working outdoors. (first pic of me in this print against my leaf patterned rug)\",\n \"Product: The Mossy Oak collection of camouflage t-shirts is ideal for hunters, casual outdoorsmen, or anyone desiring functional concealment and authentic style. Combining effective patterns with branded heritage, you can get the true hunting look or feel, no matter the occasion.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Attractive and Functional Mossy Oak Shirt, But Sleeves A Bit Snug\\n\\nReview: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this Mossy Oak Long Sleeve Camo Tee Shirt. And although I enjoy firearms, Im not a hunter at this point in my life. Questions like, Would this make me look like a wannabe outdoorsman? and Would I be that camo shirt guy at the coffee shop? ran through my mind more than once. After putting it on, I found the shirt both appealing and functional.\\n\\nIn terms of appearance, the mossy oak image on the shirt is an attractive woodland pattern. The color and design makes it a nice accent piece when paired with monochromatic bottoms such as khaki cargo shorts, sand colored pants, or denim blue jeans. I wore this shirt over a pair of black running shorts during my workout and it went well together. I also run near a nature preserve so it looked completely appropriate. (see pic of my back - I'm lying on my leaf rug)\\n\\nIn terms of fit, the large seemed true to size to me except in one area. The sleeves seem a bit snug and clingy. My arms aren't particularly large either. Thankfully, the sleeves are long enough so they don't ride up too much. Comfort-wise, the shirt is soft, breathable, and just right for my early morning runs when there is still a chill in the air.\\n\\nThis shirt has really grown on me. While I still may be the only guy in line at the coffee shop wearing mossy oak camo, I can live with a few second looks given how comfortable and useful this shirt has been.\",\n \"Product: Crush your next meet in the high-performing angles swimsuit, engineered from our exclusive, long-lasting endurance+ fabric. This chlorine-resistant style is designed with four-way stretch, a supportive wide back strap and high-cut legs for unrestricted movement.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Be Secure, Smooth and Seal-Like\\n\\nReview: This is definitely a pro-fitted suit, that seems true to size. It fits exceedingly well, particularly along the back cut-out area, which somehow hugs the curves of my lower back smoothly without feeling too tight or binding. The top is also secure, and there is definitely a difference between this suit and general fashion suits, which usually leave me feeling that I might have an outfit malfunction or accidental slippage if I move too energetically, if you know what I mean. This is very soft on the inside, with a full frontal lining, that is lightly textured (almost like a fine felt) in comparison to the smooth outer shell. There is no separate bra area, so there are no extra seams on the front causing unnecessary drag. The suit is modest, however, and covers everything adequately. The geometric pattern is also pleasing, and seems slimming. This is a really nice suit- esp. if you plan on using it primarily for exercise.\",\n \"Product: The Viper Black Magic soft tip darts are designed with high quality, black coated brass barrels which offer exceptional balance and styling in a slim profile. Having a slim profile dart barrel is necessary to obtain a closer grouping of darts to maximizing scoring. Intended for use with electronic dartboards and are ideal for casual-to-intermediate level players. Each barrel has strategically placed knurled bands, deep grooves and rings that make excellent gripping points and encourages consistent hand placement. Viper Black Magic darts are equipped with heavy-duty, lightweight aluminum shafts with locking holes and diamond-cut etchings. Locking holes in the shaft allow for a tighter fitting to the barrel that improves stability and greatly reduces the need to retighten during play. Quality flights help increase speed and reduce drag, producing a consistent flight path for pinpoint accuracy; detailed graphics are prominently displayed for added flare. These darts feature 2BA Tufflex Tips II soft tip dart points that have a reinforced cone, making them extremely strong and durable. Simply twist for a tight, secure fitting and easy removal. The barrels are compatible with all 2BA sized corkscrew thread dart points.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent Soft Tips with Moderate Feeling Knurling\\n\\nReview: These Viper Black Magic Soft Tips are a good decent set of soft tips, that work well w my Viper Sisal/Bristle Board <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Viper-Razorback-Sisal-Bristle-Steel-Tip-Dartboard-with-Staple-Free-Spider/dp/B000UV57DE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Viper Razorback Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard with Staple-Free Spider</a>, and stick well. The balance of these Black Magics is fairly good, and the weight is meant to be light at 18g, but the combination of lightness and thick barrel necessitates a bit of a \\\"hollow\\\" type feeling, which I don't love particularly. Also, the knurling is \\\"coarse\\\" but this feels moderate to me in terms of grip- perhaps because the knurling pattern is more uniform down the barrel with no dividing ridges in between. Nonetheless, these are very well machined and the parts are also well designed, like all the Viper products I've tried thus far. If I would have placed more weight on the very competitive price point for these Black Magics, I would rate this a 5.\",\n \"Product: Cut and styled to look great, Cressis long-sleeve rash guard is available in a full range of mens and womens sizes. Quality 190 g/m2 material delivers SPF 40protection from UV exposure out of the water or while floating on the surface. In the water, the high-stretch material is form fitting for easy swimming and protectsagainst chaffing from sports equipment as well as stings from jellyfish and other irritants.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Medium is about a US Women's Size 4\\n\\nReview: During a good week, i'm a size 4 (also, 34B-36B), and this fits me about as tightly as the model in the ad pic- about as tight as a one piece swimsuit typically feels, and the thickness of the fabric is similar, but a bit denser and smoother. For some reason, the description I'm writing this review under says \\\"Cressi Man Long Sleeve Rash Guard black/pink\\\" but i'm reviewing a \\\"Ladies\\\" top which is what is written on the actual top. This sun protection is \\\"UPF 40+\\\" also according to the writing on the top, and this is indeed very tightly woven and protective feeling. The stitching is well done, and there were no snags or off lines or bunching, and this looks attractive on. I'd highly recommend- just be sure to get the right size.\",\n \"Product: Improved Refractory Metal Combustion Chamber Door, The StoveTec Big Foot 2 Door Rocket Stove. Our Big Foot 2 door metal lined rocket stove design burns wood, biomass, or charcoal fuel, and now features many new improvements. It is more durable, easier to operate, safer to use, and longer lasting. Stove includes the fuel shelf and upgraded adjustable. These stoves are designed to be used for cooking outdoors. Dimensions: Stove D-11 in H-12 1/2 in Features Insulative, abrasion-resistant fire chamber with refractory metal liner to increase durability Thick Cast iron stove top with 6 pot supports Stick support, thick tile floor Painted sheet metal body Heat Resistant Plastic and Steel Handles Model: Big Foot 2 Door Stove Shipping Weight: 27 lbs Retail Internet Price: $124.95 Free FedEx Home Delivery Shipping inside Continental US, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, & Puerto Rico. Hawaii & Alaska, & Puerto Rico customers pay an additional $50.00 USPS shipping. Call for all International shipping quotes: 541-942-6472 Pacific Time Zone, additional USPS charges are applicable and processed only through our StoveTec Warehouse. StoveTec 76132 Blue Mountain School Road, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 Pacific Time Zone\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Perfect! Good Consistent Heat, Low Fuel Use, Minimal Smoke\\n\\nReview: I got this in just three days, much quicker than the 5-10 days listed. I live in a townhouse complex, and don't have a ton of space- very small personal courtyard, no yard space. I was excited to try this StoveTec, and I had been eyeing this and similar wood burning stoves for years. After getting a small Solo stove years ago (for portability, mainly), I was really wanting something to use at home, that was a more \\\"serious\\\" cook stove where I could make actual meals for my family if I wanted or needed to, and as a backup in case my propane and charcoal ran out. At the time I purchased the Solo stove, the smallest size was the only one available (they came out with the bigger sizes afterwards), and while fine for backpacking or your BOB, it was really not a solution to the stove at home issue. I decided not to mess around with the larger Solo stove either, because I wasn't planning to carry my home stove around, and without that need, I decided to get a more sturdy and durable stove like this excellent StoveTec Big Foot Two-Door instead, which had numerous advantages to the Solo stove design, including its solid durability.\\n\\nI absolutely love how this StoveTec side feeding design allows the use of larger, long pieces of wood (being the typical shape branches come in), making it very easy to feed a consistent amount into the main opening, without having to break the branches up or chop wood into small chunks against the grain. I also found it very easy to start, following the youtube directions by the guy on the AfterBURNER Stove vids, where he adds four 1\\\" x 3/4\\\" or so sticks into the main opening (both doors open) and a very loose gathering of long shreds of paper mixed with small twigs placed vertically throughout the paper into the top (titled StoveTec Basics: Lighting your StoveTec Rocket Stove). This setup lit easily, and in less than a few minutes, I had a good fire burning. My kids and I walked outside for about 5 minutes and gathered one plastic shopping bag full of dead pine branches and twigs on the ground just outside our house, and only used about 1/3 of that bag for an hour of consistent heat, at a level that would be similar to a large high gas burner on your stove. It was easy to maintain that same level of heat, just by ensuring the same number/ volume of sticks were in the burn chamber at any given time- basically the 4-5 sticks I used to light the stove in the first place.\\n\\nLike another recent reviewer said, I also think my stove must have a lighter fill material in it (I didn't take off the top), because it is definitely lighter than a solid ceramic core would weigh, and that many reviewers had complained about. I find the stove easy to lift (I am a small gal, & not a weightlifter), but the insulating properties are definitely there, and I can comfortably touch the sides of the stove even after an hour of burn, without hurting myself. The bottom is not all that hot either- I have the stove on tile, but don't feel too much in the way of heat transfer to the ground when I move the stove. It actually is light enough to carry easily in your car to the park or to the beach, and I absolutely am planning more trips just cuz of the stove- heh. Also, because of my townhouse/ courtyard situation, I am very conscious of smoke, and this puppy has very little- WAY less than my charcoal grill, that's for sure. It's so easy to use and start (and stop- just shut the doors) that I let my 10 and 12 yo set it up and light it- with supervision of course. They happily cooked marshmallows tonight, and it was a wonderful thing to have this mini campfire right at home. Love this thing.\",\n \"Product: The Viper Element soft tip darts are designed with high quality, 90% tungsten and 10% nickel barrels, offering exceptional balance and styling. Using a dense metal like tungsten creates a slim profile dart barrel compared to a dart without tungsten. The higher the percentage of tungsten used, the smaller the profile, allowing for a closer grouping of darts to maximize scoring. Intended for use with electronic dartboards and are ideal for intermediate-to-advanced level players. Each barrel has strategically placed knurled bands, deep grooves and rings that make excellent gripping points and encourages consistent hand placement. Viper Element darts are equipped with heavy-duty, lightweight aluminum shafts with locking holes and diamond-cut etchings. Locking holes in the shaft allow for a tighter fitting to the barrel that improves stability and greatly reduces the need to retighten during play. Quality flights are constructed to help increase speed and reduce drag, delivering a consistent flight path for pinpoint accuracy; detailed graphics are prominently displayed for added flare. They feature 2BA Tufflex Tips II soft tip dart points that have a reinforced cone, making them extremely strong and durable. Simply twist for a tight, secure fitting and easy removal. The barrels are compatible with all 2BA sized corkscrew thread dart points. These darts include an additional set of nylon shafts, flights, flight protectors, 2BA dart points and a dart mechanic wrench. The Viper Element darts and accessories are fashionably stored and protected in the Deluxe Dart Pal case, which features a soft cloth lining and a hard outer shell.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Good Set w Hard Case and Lots of Extras; Nice Feeling Throw\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R2YKTSDSXGWQWC\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81CP%2BDKZD6S.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A10XwC--AGS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> These Viper Element 90% Tungsten Soft Tip Darts are a really good all-in-one set. I have used the darts with Viper's Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Viper-Razorback-Sisal-Bristle-Steel-Tip-Dartboard-with-Staple-Free-Spider/dp/B000UV57DE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Viper Razorback Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard with Staple-Free Spider</a>, and they work well together even with the Soft/ Steel product difference. I like that the Flights look very unique w this set, being nearly rectangular, and that they are fairly lightweight, yet still feel very accurate and grippy. The varied knurls (Turbo Ridgeback here) feel great and the carved out diamonds on the shafts are really eye-catching. The hard backed case this comes with also includes a more than full extra set (3 shafts, 6 points, 3 flights) of additional parts as well as a locking hole tool for ensuring your darts stay tight, which is fantastic, and the hard, sliding lock case also ensures everything stays together and well protected. I'd highly recommend this Tungsten soft tips set.\",\n \"Product: The Viper V-Factor soft tip darts are designed with high quality, 90% tungsten and 10% nickel barrels, offering exceptional balance and styling. Using a dense metal like tungsten creates a slim profile dart barrel compared to a dart without tungsten. The higher the percentage of tungsten used, the smaller the profile, allowing for a closer grouping of darts to maximize scoring. Intended for use with electronic dartboards and are ideal for intermediate-to-advanced level players. Each barrel has strategically placed knurled bands, deep grooves and rings that make excellent gripping points and encourages consistent hand placement. Viper V-Factor darts are equipped with heavy-duty, lightweight aluminum shafts with locking holes. Locking holes in the shaft allow for a tighter fitting to the barrel that improves stability and greatly reduces the need to retighten during play. Quality flights are constructed to help increase speed and reduce drag, delivering a consistent flight path for pinpoint accuracy; detailed graphics are prominently displayed for added flare. They feature 2BA Tufflex Tips II soft tip dart points that have a reinforced cone, making them extremely strong and durable. Simply twist for a tight, secure fitting and easy removal. The barrels are compatible with all 2BA sized corkscrew thread dart points. These darts include an additional set of convex nylon shafts, flights, flight protectors, 2BA dart points and a dart mechanic wrench. The Viper V-Factor darts and accessories are fashionably stored and protected in the Deluxe Dart Pal case, which features a soft cloth lining and a hard outer shell.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Precise Feel and Weighted Balance- Very High Quality Darts\\n\\nReview: Wow. Impressive front end balance and weighting is my first impression handling and throwing these precise Viper V-Factor 90% Tungsten Soft Tips. The knurling on these \\\"Double Band\\\" designed barrels is so defined, that they practically feel sharp (in a good way!) I'm thinking sometimes you get what you pay for. The fine make of these darts screams high quality, and you can really feel the difference handling them. The hard backed case this comes with also includes a more than full extra set (3 shafts, 6 points, 3 flights) of additional parts as well as a locking hole tool for ensuring your darts stay tight, which is fantastic, and the hard, sliding lock case also ensures everything stays together and well protected. I'd highly recommend these Viper Tungsten 90%s.\",\n \"Product: Lightweight and comfortable long-sleeved tee with mesh panels for enhanced ventilation, reflective details and headphone cord solution.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This Should Be The Standard For All Moisture Wicking Running Shirts\\n\\nReview: I discovered moisture wicking shirts a few years ago. They made such a positive difference in my runs that Ive never gone back to cotton. Since then, Ive owned easily over 2 dozen of them. With each passing year, I notice that new and innovative features get added that make the shirts better and better. To me, this Craft Long Sleeve Mind Tee feels like the current standard in moisture wicking running shirts.\\n\\nIn terms of performance, Ive worn this shirt on my runs over the last week and it has done the job completely. Im partial to the long sleeve shirts as I run early in the day and live in an area where there is always a chill in the morning. Once I get close to the mile mark, however, I start to really work up a sweat. If a shirt doesnt breathe or wick away the sweat well, I can really feel it. This Craft Mind Tee handled the perspiration and moisture/heat exchange very well. This quick dry shirt was also dry by the time I finished my cool down and walked into my house. One of the innovative features that really helped keep me cool are the ventilation panels under the arms. They are so subtle that I didn't even notice them until I took a close look under bright light and saw that the fabric looked and felt different, like a thin, close knit mesh.\\n\\nThe shirt is also lightweight with fabric that feels soft and smooth. Additionally, the right shoulder and sleeve has a modern looking reflective stripe and small reflective hexagonal shapes, which are helpful as its been dark when Ive headed out on my run each morning. There are also some reflective symbols at the lower back and a reflective Craft signature logo at the left wrist. I should also note that there is a small loop at the back of the neck area that is supposed to help keep your headphone wires in place (I haven't tried it yet as I don't run with music most days).\\n\\nSize wise, my large shirt fits perfectly. I am especially appreciative that the sleeves are long enough and don't ride up like some other long sleeve wicking shirts Ive owned. The shirt is contoured close to the body, but is not fitted or constraining at all. In terms of appearance, I got the shirt in Sweden Blue, which is like the royal blue in the flag of Sweden. Paired with the silver grey reflective designs, the shirt gives off a cool, contemporary look. All in all, Im very impressed by both the design and performance of this Craft Mind Tee.\",\n \"Product: Quartz movement\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Comfortable Watch with Rugged Outdoor Look\\n\\nReview: The first thing you notice about this watch is the size. According to the product information, the case measures 51mm across, so this is a fairly large watch. That said, its also lightweight and surprisingly comfortable. I think the comfort has a lot to do with the smooth neoprene watch strap that goes on easily with a hook and loop velcro closure. I was initially a bit torn on the strap. While I liked the smooth, lightweight feel, I kept getting the velcro portion caught on things during the first couple of hours that I wore the watch. I made some adjustments to how tightly I wrapped the band around my wrist, making sure I didn't extend the velcro hook portion of the band beyond the corresponding fabric side, and I haven't had any problems since.\\n\\nThe watch has multiple features (stopwatch, pacer, countdown tImer, dual tIme zone, five 24 hour alarms, electro luminescent light) and a digital time telling mode that also displays the day and date. One cool feature I noticed as I was setting the watch date and year was that the watch will set through the year 2099 and still automatically give you the corresponding day of the week. The watch is water resistant to 330 feet. I didn't test it at that depth, but I wore it all weekend at a water park where I got soaked and it didn't have any issues. I also timed it over the course of four days against my radio controlled clock and it has run accurately down to the second.\\n\\nIn terms of styling, the watch looks like a rugged, outdoor-type timepiece. The color scheme combination of olive green, black, and orange offset each other nicely. The watch also features a 60-click, unidirectional, rotating compass bezel. While I like rotating bezels, I was confused by this one. Typically, a compass bezel is used in conjunction with an analog (hour/minute hand) watch in order to orient directions (Generally, in the northern hemisphere, you point the hour hand of an analog watch at the sun, rotate your compass bezel on the watch until the South indicator is midway between the hour hand and 12 oclock, and that will be South. Then you can use the other marks to locate North, East, and West). Again, this is how its supposed to work with an analog watch. I don't know if it actually does anything with a digital watch like this, so it may just be a cool looking decorative feature.\\n\\nAll in all, this is a good looking, comfortable, and reliable watch for a great price.\",\n \"Product: Keep out the wind while staying dry and comfortable in this Women's lightweight running jacket. Built with sweat-wicking fabric, it features a full-zip front and Stand-Up collar for adjustable coverage. A zip pocket holds your essentials while you face the elements and the road ahead.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lightweight and Attractive, But Slim Fit\\n\\nReview: This adidas Women's Running Response Wind Jacket is extremely light, cool and comfortable, and is made of 100% polyester. The fabric feels like umbrella material, and when balled up in the fist, will be about the size of a softball. There is one zippered pocket on the outer right side, and one open mesh pocket on the inner right panel. The last five or so inches of the sleeves towards the wrists are a separate woven type fabric that allows in more air than the rest of the jacket. There are contrasting black stripes near the end of the sleeves (before the mesh weave part), and a contrasting black adidas logo on the front\\n\\nMy daughter is wearing this in Women's Large in my photos, but she is 14 and under 100lbs. You can see that this jacket is loose on her, however, and the sleeves are actually significantly long for her (can roll up twice). Based on how this jacket fits her, and based on how it fits me (I'm a US Women's 4-6/ 34B-36B /Medium) I'd say that this would be best for someone my size. However, if you wear size Large typically, and you want a very slim fitted jacket, this may work well.\",\n \"Product: MOUNTAIN HOUSE BISCUITS AND GRAVYNow you can have this classic comfort food anywhere your adventure takes you. Made with real buttermilk biscuit pieces and pork patty crumbles in a perfectly peppered gravy. This is the only biscuits and gravy on the market with our signature just-add-water ease and convenience. This is the perfect way to fuel up at the start of a day full of adventure.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Family-Sized Servings of Mountain House's Excellent Biscuits & Gravy Dish\\n\\nReview: I am a big fan of Mountain House emergency, camp or long term storage food products, and especially because their \\\"instant\\\" nature definitely has a place in food backup plans. There are numerous levels of food preparation that come packaged in #10 cans, the most labor intensive being 1) plain raw food such as wheat berries or dried beans, which take some cooking know-how and quite a bit of time and heat energy to prepare (think hours on simmer); 2) partial prep, such as single ingredient or dishes that are heat dried, and that you need to cook, but not quite as long- think pastas or rice dishes; and finally, the easiest to prepare, 3) instant meals such as Mountain House provides, which are freeze dried, and all you need is boiling water and 10 min. or so. --- ok, i left out the true easiest, which is 4) canned soups and such that you just open, heat up or eat cold.\\n\\nThe big benefit of the Mountain House Instant food level of prep is that for the speed and ease of getting food in your face, the unprepared food lasts a very long time- 10-15 years in most cases, unopened, and far longer than the canned soups category of food, which may last only a few years tops. This particular Mountain House choice, Biscuits and Gravy in a #10 sized can- big can- 1.58 pounds, has Freeze dried Buttermilk Biscuits w Gravy and Pork Patty Crumbles, and contains 11 -one cup servings of food at 310 calories per serving. I have eaten this (and other) Mountain House foods over the years, and I am very fond of the Biscuits and Gravy. Firstly, I like biscuits and gravy in real life- i'm thinking that if you don't like the actual home made food, you very likely won't like the instant kind. Secondly, Mountain House has made this Biscuits and Gravy with a very good texture, so that if you follow directions- add 8-1/4 cups boiling water to the contents in the can, cover and wait 5 min, stir, wait another 4-5 minutes- you get a hearty dish with pieces of crunchier bits of biscuit (bigger pieces that don't rehydrate as quickly), and chewy little bits of sausage, that has a mouthfeel very similar to the \\\"real\\\" (homecooked) dish. It's quite delicious.\\n\\nIf you have a family of 4 or 5, one of these #10 cans of Biscuits and Gravy will allow you to eat one meal and feel fuller- There are 11 servings, but at 310 calories, it's a light serving. If you wanted, you could split the dried food in 1/2, add 1/2 the water, and save the remainder. Once you prepare the food, you pretty much have to eat it immediately, since you probably won't have refrigeration if you're eating this (unless ur in the snow).\\n\\nI wrote a review of this particular Biscuits and Gravy dish, with pictures of the food prep, in the 5-day Mountain House Just in Case kit, and you can see my pics and review there (first review, under my name, KC) <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Mountain-House-Just-In-Case-5-Day-Emergency-Food-Supply/dp/B016C2U3NI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Mountain House Just In Case 5-Day Emergency Food Supply</a>. As I wrote there, I'll repeat my summary here:\\n\\nI recommend you get good provisions such as these Mountain House [ ] products for any emergency or camp (or \\\"After\\\") situation- these last for over 10 years, are light to carry, are easy to prepare, and taste really good. Mountain House is a well-known and respected brand, and you'll be extremely glad to have these meals if and when you need them.\",\n \"Product: Now available in our favored 10 Can, you can have real Italian-Style Pepper Steak with rice on the trail, or wherever your adventure takes you. Made with tender cuts of pepper steak, red, green and yellow bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes with long grain rice.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Full of Pepper Steak- Very Hearty\\n\\nReview: This Mountain House Italian Style Pepper Steak makes a substantial meal, with a lot of large steak chunks in it- they didn't skimp on the meat. The tomato base is tangy and bright tasting in a nice contrast to the peppery flavor of the meat. We use a lot of Mountain House freeze-dried food products for camping as well as for emergency food storage, and I've been very impressed by the variety and high quality of their meals. This Italian style pepper steak is no exception, and provides a filling and delicious way to get the calories you need.\\n\\nI made two separate single-serving sized portions of this dish using their recommended ratio: 1 1/2 cups dry mix with 1 cup boiling water, mix, wait 8-9 minutes. This provided a creamy and thick saucy rice and steak dish, where the texture of the rice and the steak chunks was tender, and the mouth-feel of the steak surprisingly chewy and \\\"realistic.\\\" I've eaten several types of Mountain House and other freeze-dried, add-water type meals over the years, and I would say that on the whole, Mountain House is a clear winner in my book for the instant category. The flavors and seasonings of the Mountain House meals are well-thought out, and the portions substantial, and the flavors delicious. These instant meals are a fantastic way to have something hearty and satisfying right away, right when you need it. This pepper steak is a good variety to stock for your emergency pantry, esp. in this #10 can size.\",\n \"Product: Minimize Glare View your screen comfortably, even in bright conditions. The overlay's anti-glare finish reduces harsh reflections. Defend Your Device Avoid damage without affecting your touchscreen's functionality. Strong yet thin and lightweight, the overlay provides excellent protection that will help keep your device looking like new.Tru Clear See your screen, not the overlay. Tru Clear technology ensures optimal screen visibility. Fast Install Applying the overlay is fast and easy. Simply clean your phone screen with the included cleaning wipe, peel the overlay from its backing and place it onto your screen. Then use the included smoothing card to push away creases and bubbles.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: feels good to the touch, no glare\\n\\nReview: I obtained this Belkin touchscreen for the Samsung Galaxy at the same time I tried out the Belkin iphone protector sheet. Unlike the iphone sheet, i found that this product was actually easier to apply (strange- it's bigger, but I had less trial and error to avoid air bubbles). Since the iphone protector was not that difficult anyway, this was really a breeze. One might wonder why you'd need a screen protector in general, other than the obvious use of preventing scratched glass (which i'd never really had a problem with anyway). I actually prefer overlays due to the way the light reflects more softly from the surface, and the way my finger glides more easily over the surface of the screen. I highly recommend the belkin line of screen protector products, because they are easy to use and apply, cause no loss of touch sensitivity, and because of the non-glare aspect of the resulting surface. I think these products are definitely mandatory, and should probably be included with the product to begin with!\",\n \"Product: Extends iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 battery life almost a full charge\\n\\n\\nPre-charged and ready to use\\n\\n\\n\\n1700mAh lithium-polymer battery provides reusable and rechargeable power\\n\\n\\n\\nMicro USB Cable included for syncing device and recharging case\\n\\n\\n\\nLED Battery Life and Charging Indicator\\n\\n\\n\\nOn/off button allows user to control charging\\n\\n\\n\\nFlexible case fits securely around your phone and has an optimized opening for camera flash\\n\\n\\nRecharges in 2 hours at 5 watts\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Way to Have Battery Backup\\n\\nReview: This item is an iPhone 4/4S compatible charger and battery that's in the shape of a thicker, substantial case. Of course, being an actual charger/battery contributes to the 3 oz. weight of the case (my iPhone 4S weighs 4 3/4 oz. as reference). The case comes with a micro usb cord, but you'll need to use your own plug adapter for the wall socket (like the one your iPhone came with)\\n\\nThe Appearance and Design\\n\\nThe case is made of a high quality, \\\"grippy\\\" feeling material that does not hold fingerprints and is matte. The Energizer label is stamped in the front/bottom of case in a slightly shinier font, which can be seen mainly in certain angles in the light. There is a 30 pin male connector at the inside bottom of the case, into which the iPhone docks when the cover is fully in place around the phone. A micro usb port is on the outer side, bottom right of the case, and the regular iPhone charging pin port is inaccessible. Effectively, the charging case converts your iPhone from needing the proprietary Apple connector to the more prevalent (well, at least i have more of these laying around) micro usb. This would not be a great feature, however, if you have a lot of accessories using the Apple proprietary plug. On the outer side, bottom left of the case is the case's own on-off switch, which allows you to determine if and when you will access the case's backup battery power. The other 3 \\\"cut-outs\\\" in the case include the area where you plug in an earpiece, the camera lens, and the ringtone mute switch. The volume controls and power buttons are covered, but engraved on the case (work well pressing through the case). The back of the case is tapered in an angle to better fit your hand, and it feels good to hold the case. The front \\\"lip\\\" covering the rim around the front of your iPhone is not as high or pronounced as on other plain cases i've used, so i can see that if you dropped your iPhone on its front, there could be more potential to get a scratch or crack. Still, i'm glad it's not too pronounced, since the case is fairly bulky already, due to it's other functions. On the outer side bottom of the case, there are up to 4 subtle, internal, and blue-colored circular lights that show the charge of the case itself, but only appear when you plug the case in.\\n\\nThe Functionality\\n\\nThe instructions say that the case is pre-charged and ready to use out of the box, however, you'll probably need to charge it first, as I found when i tried to charge my phone with the case upon receiving the unit. I placed my iPhone in the case, slid the case's on/off switch to the on-position, and the iPhone started charging from the 51% level that I had left. I saw that the bottom of the case showed one blue light, blinking, indicating a low battery level for the case. At 8 minutes, I saw the phone wake-up and stop charging, no blue light on the bottom of the case, and the phone had charged to 64%- pretty quick, i'd say. I plugged the case (with my iPhone in it), to the included micro usb and a wall plug, and the phone resumed charging and the case had 1 blue light blinking again. The instructions indicate that when plugged in this way, the iPhone will charge first, and then the case will charge- in sequence, not at the same time. The following lists my first charging attempt- sorry if the times are a bit random- i checked sporadically.\\n\\n0 minutes- 51% phone charging from new, out-of-box case w/o plug-in\\n8 minutes later, phone at 64%, no charge left on case (no blue light)\\n\\nplug in case with phone to wall socket\\n\\n30 minutes - phone 84%, one blue light blinking on case\\n45 minutes- phone 93%, one blue light blinking on case\\n2 hours- phone 100%, one solid blue light, second blue light blinking on case\\n3 hrs 10 min- phone 100$, 2 solid blue lights, third blue light blinking on case\\novernight, and about 8 hrs later, phone at 100%, 4 solid blue lights.\\n\\nAt this point, i turned off the case's on-off switch, to ensure i could have the full case/battery back-up power available (only about 85% of the iPhone's full charge is available in the case/battery according to the packaging info). It's still holding 4 solid blue lights after 12 hours.\\n\\nThe case charged my phone really well, fairly quickly, and i'm happy to have the extra power available without carrying other charging devices. The extra weight of the case is outweighed (ugg) by the benefits, and it's a nice looking case cover to boot.\\n\\ntip: i also tried to remove the phone from the case as another reviewer had tried, and was able to extract the phone (not too hard to do once you get the hang of it) from the case by lifting the top lip on the front of the case, and pressing with a pencil eraser on the camera lens (there's a cut out) to push the phone forward. From there, i pulled it off the docking. It's probably not great to press on the camera lens part, but it's a working way to remove the phone- just fyi.\",\n \"Product: The GoPower Day Trip is our most compact pocket size portable battery for smartphones the perfect daily companion. Up to 1 extra charge packed into a size that fits in your pocket. Comes with integrated Apple Lightning Cable and micro USB connectors, so you can plug in and start charging. For ultimate convenience recharge it wirelessly. Duracell Powermat products are compatible with the PMA (Power Matters Alliance) standard. PMA is the standard for smart and environmental wireless power backed by AT&T, Starbucks, P&G, Powermat and dozens of global leaders, and deployed at leading venues including in select Delta Air Terminals and Delta Sky Clubs, Westfield Malls, at Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center and in Jay Z's 40/40 Club. Duracell Powermat. TakeCharge. Be Empowered.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: an extra thing to carry\\n\\nReview: I am often running out of power on my iphone at various times, either from overuse or just forgetfulness. So, extra battery packs seemed just the thing. I got this plus the Overnighter (Duracell Powermat GoPower Overnighter Backup Battery, Power Bank for iPhone 5S/5C/5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Other Smartphones and Tablets), just for backup - as advertised. I had previously been using the \\\"Energizer PP-IP4SB iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 Charging Case,\\\" which, unlike these Duracell Powermat devices, doubles as a phone case. The only thing I didn't like about the Energizer, was that it added a bulk and weight to my phone which i didn't particularly care for, so i thought i'd try out these other backups. Well, after a few weeks of carrying this Daytrip around in my purse, and using the Overnighter on travel, I decided to go back to my Energizer despite the added weight and heft. For me, it turned out that the convenience of having the battery already stuck to my phone outweighed the inconvenience of carrying the additional weight. Also, the Energizer gives me about a 90% charge up. I'll discuss the Daytrip here, and my review for the Overnighter under that webpage separately:\\nThe Daytrip charges my iphone 4S to about the 65-70% within an hour or so (pretty quick), but never goes above that amount no matter how long i plug it in for- it stays on 1 blue bar for nearly 10 hours or more, but does not add but a few percentage points or so more to my phone power after that initial hour. Additionally, it is a tad bulky (like a makeup compact) in my purse- i sometimes try to avoid carrying a purse, and the added \\\"thing\\\" to carry in my pockets gets a bit much to juggle. If you don't like to carry your whole house in your purse, or don't carry a purse or murse (man-purse), you may find this an issue as well....but that's individual. On the other hand, the Daytrip conveniently has the charging cords built into it, so that you don't have to also carry around a separate usb cord. An additional plus is that after a few weeks of not using it, it still held the 4 bar charge, and charged my phone back to that 65-70% level just fine.\\nGood:\\n-quick charging in an hour\\n-separate usb cord unnecessary\\n-holds full backup charge for weeks very well\\n\\nNot great for me:\\n-another thing to carry and possibly lose or misplace\\n-only 65-70% charge capacity for my iphone 4S from empty\\n-relatively bulky in my purse or pocket\",\n \"Product: Color:DATE NIGHT (BLACK/WHITE POLKA DOT GRAPHIC) | Product Packaging:Retail Packaging When it comes to your iPhone 8 Plus & iPhone 7 Plus, its not just about protection. Its also about you your style, your personality, your life. With Symmetry Series, you dont have to choose between a protective case and a stylish one. You can make a fashion statement while you protect your phone.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful, Substantial Case- Esp. Good for Bigger Phones like the iPhone 7 Plus\\n\\nReview: This Symmetry Series by OtterBox is a good solid case with a tough plastic outer backside (clicks when you hit it w your fingernails), rimmed with a slightly softer and more pliable rubber-ish feeling edging and button covers. It takes a bit of pressure to press through the button covers, but not more than most cases in this design. I particularly like the durable feel of this case, even though it feels rounded and almost bulky in your hand, which I was not used to, having used a very thin and extremely flexible Belkin previously.\\n\\nThis Symmetry only provides a very modest flex when you try to torque it lengthwise, so you're getting a pretty solid case, which I find to to be more useful for these bigger phones. The front edging holding your phone in, is fairly thin, but there's no risk of your phone falling out, and it keeps the glass face off surfaces as you'd expect. I like the color schemes this case comes in, and it makes for good all around protection that looks great. I have read some reviews noting that the rubbery edging gets dirty quickly. I have not really found this to be the case w the darker orange edging at least (we also have a different Symmetry case w orange edging on an iPhone 7-not plus- in our home).\",\n \"Product: Strada Series Folio for iPhone 8 & iPhone 7 is the only leather smartphone case backed with OtterBox Certified Drop+ Protection. Featuring a folio cover, Strada Series Folio closes securely around your device, and opens to reveal a convenient slot for a bank or ID card. And on the inside, it cradles your device to help protect it from drops and shock.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sleek, Protective and Attractive. Only Holds 2 Cards Max\\n\\nReview: This OtterBox Strada case fits my iPhone 7 well, and feels very protective around the rounded edges and w it's leather covered hard case. The front cover opens and shuts via a small strip of magnet on the side, which clicks into place well, but only if you have 1-2 cards (credit, driver's license) in it at the most. I wanted to carry this with my driver's license and 2 credit cards, and it doesn't close well, because the magnet doesn't reach the other side comfortably with just these three items. I realize this isn't supposed to be a full wallet, but a very small modification to make the magnet reach a tad longer would have looked just as nice, but worked far better. I was torn on giving this a 3 star rating just due to this issue, because I like to travel light, and don't want to carry an additional wallet if I can help it. Still, 1 ID and 1 card is tough for me. There is no room for cash, of course, unless you have a few big bills, no cards, and there'd be no place to return bulkier smaller change for your big bills even if so. However, if you don't put much in the card slot, this is a fine case that looks handsome. Also, the volume buttons on the left side of the case are accessible from the outside of the case, and work well.\",\n \"Product: Conquer the elements with the case that goes everywhere and survives everything: LifeProof FR for iPhone 7 Plus. WaterProof, DirtProof, SnowProof and DropProof, FR braves the elements while blocking them from soaking circuits or clogging ports. Whats more, the integrated screen cover keeps your display pristine, and the custom design leaves every feature and function accessible.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Impressive and Worthwhile Protection\\n\\nReview: I have to admit, I first thought this was a pretty expensive case- and, of course, it is expensive...but, it's worth it, considering the investment you made for your phone. I would not have given this 5 stars for the price alone, except that it works great, is indeed waterproof, and there are very few products out there like this, that completely encase your phone and yet also respond well to touchscreen and button function. This comes in two pieces and literally snaps together- it's clear that it's closed because you press the two parts together around all the edges and hear snap sounds as it seals shut. The charging port area has it's own little door that also snaps open and closed separately for access. This case also comes with a guitar-pick like tool that you can use to open the case again (very easy), or you can just use a coin. They've also thrown in 2 LIFEPROOF stickers and a screen cleaning cloth. nice.\\n\\nThere is a slight \\\"tap\\\" \\\"tap\\\" sound from the plastic face covering the glass when you use the touchscreen, which is a bit different, since I've only used cases w open faces before. I'm not sure i like the \\\"tap\\\" sound/feel, but it's a small price to pay for the waterproofing protection, when it comes down to it. There were several occasions over the past few years, where i've had near misses w toilets, sinks and near large bodies of water... it makes me actually shudder to think of that one time i dropped my iPhone on a dock, and it was 1/3rd off the edge overlooking the lake. yikes. waterproofing may not have helped me there, cuz this won't make your phone float (i tried- the phone sinks in water in the case), but, i would at least have had a shot at trying to swim down (wasn't too deep) to retrieve it. This case serves a very useful waterproof function, and in general just keeps your phone clean of debris. I do recommend this.\\n\\nbtw, the pic shows me testing my case as directed in the instruction pamphlet by submerging the closed case under water (cup on top to keep the empty case down) for 30 minutes. If your case is not dry inside after that time, they direct you to their website, where i'm assuming you can get a replacement (the warranty says as much- they won't pay for your damaged phone, so you should check your case before you use it).\",\n \"Product: Easy set-up - no tape required for box assembly. Convenient lift-off lid. Easy carry handles. Durable, double end, double bottom construction. Constructed from strong 32 ECT B-Flute Kraft corrugated board. Reusable, recyclable and made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy to Assemble, Nice to Have Re-usable/ Removable Tops\\n\\nReview: These bankers boxes are a reasonable quality, and come shipped together in a convenient large flat pack that provides 30 boxes and lids in the three sizes listed (i put pics w the dimensions of the small, med and large as printed on the side of the boxes themselves, next to the assembly directions, and a pic of the assembled small box). The boxes are not the most heavy-duty, in that they seem to be lighter weight cardboard than actual banker's boxes (used at banks/ financial or legal institutions for masses of paper records), which need to be sturdier for the weight and use requirements, but these are definitely good for home use and general storage, so that your packing stays neat and organized.\\n\\nThe price is a good value, provided you search on Amazon for the cheapest vendor for these SmoothMove packs- there seems to be a fairly large price range in this exact 30-pack. Assembly of these boxes is easy, but I found that I needed to be a little careful when assembling the top lid, because it didn't fold on the crease lines cleanly. When I tried to undo the tab to re-crease, the edge ripped. So, just be aware that you can't really disassemble the lid easily once the tabs are set. All-in-all, this is a good value set, and the bankers box design w removable top, is an excellent way to keep and re-use your moving boxes.\",\n \"Product: LASTS ALL YEAR. GUARANTEED! The versatile Five Star Flex Hybrid Note Binder acts like a notebook and works like a binder. It features durable plastic covers and TechLock rings to store loose sheets and protect your most important pages. The covers fold back to lie flat allowing easy notetaking in class while the 3 rings open easily to quickly add or remove sheets so you always have what you need. The flexible patented rings ensure durability so they wont break or misalign from frequent use. 1\\\" size holds 200 sheets and zipper closure keeps all items secure. Includes 20 sheets of quad ruled paper and 60 sheets of college ruled paper for convenient and ready usage. Your most important papers are protected by the Note Pocket dividers (2) and Note Protector dividers (3), which are included. Note: Color choice is not available for this item. Color shipped to you is selected at random, and will vary.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Lightweight and Flexible, But Difficult to Open and Close Ring Design\\n\\nReview: I really wanted to like this Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder. The lightweight, flexible nature of the coated plastic cover seemed to be a great alternative to the hard-covered, heavy binder my son has to lug in his backpack every day. Upon receiving it, the Hybrid NoteBinder was indeed lightweight and flexible. Unfortunately, the big negative with this product was the plastic \\\"techlock\\\" rings. Unlike the usual metal rings that snap open and close in unison like you would find in most binders, this Hybrid NoteBinder features plastic rings that need to be pulled apart individually and fitted back together one at a time. It was really slow and bothersome to pull apart each of the rings and fit each ring back together again just to insert or remove a sheet of paper. As my son needs to remove and insert sheets during just about every school period, this process could get old very quickly. I should also note that although the product description says that the NoteBinder comes pre-filled with 20 Quad ruled sheets and 60 college ruled sheets, mine did not come with any paper.\\n\\nAs for positive aspects, as stated earlier, this NoteBinder is lightweight and flexible. The black color on the one I received is also attractive and nicely contrasted with grey-colored piping and accents. The zipper is well constructed and zips smoothly without catching. The inside front cover also has a useful zippered, see-through storage pocket that can fit pens, pencils, and even a 12 inch ruler if inserted and stored at an angle. All of these great features would have made this a 5 star review if it were not for the difficult time I had with the plastic techlock rings. Ive used other Mead Five Star products in the past that Ive been very happy with, but Im disappointed to say that this one fails to make the grade.\",\n \"Product: Slow down and appreciate the timeless art of fine writing with the PARKER Jotter Premium Bond Street Black ballpoint pen. With an instantly recognizable, professional look that represents 60 years of iconic PARKER designs, this pen features a stainless steel barrel in a luxurious black finish, stainless steel cap with grid laser engraving, high-shine trims and an arrowhead clip. The ballpoint tip provides a smooth and fluid writing experience. This Jotter pen's name is inspired by the city of London. Sleek and sophisticated, the PARKER Jotter Premium Bond Street Black arrives in an elegant gift box.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Classic Jotter- 50+ Years of Fine Writing\\n\\nReview: This beautiful PARKER Jotter Special Edition pen is just lovely. The carved design/ diamond print (inspired by the architecture in London) along the shimmery silver barrel and the smooth creamy red at the cap look classic, contrasted and eye-catching. The snappy sounding click click of the depressing mechanism feels very satisfying, as does the compact smooth tapering of the pen body at both ends. The slender arrow-shaped clip looks delicate but feels sturdy, and this fine instrument is just an all around pleasure to hold and use...like having a piece of history in your hands. The medium point line is clean and refreshing in movement, as it makes it's mark. If you love pens, this special edition Jotter is definitely one you should have for your collection.\",\n \"Product: R23 Fine Wire Stapling Gun. Durable all steel stapling gun for securing thinner materials like fabrics, paper, and labels. For use with fine wire staples.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Sure Shot- Good Balance, Easy to Use w No Misfires\\n\\nReview: I have both this Rapid R23 (lighter duty 4- 8mm staples) as well as the R34 (heavier duty 6-14mm) staple guns. The R23 is in the yellow package in the pic, and the R34 is in the green package. If you are only going to get one gun, you'll get more range out of the larger R34, but I find my projects/ needs have not been so extensive to require the larger gun anyways. This R23 comes with a pack of 5000 8mm 5/16\\\" staples. It is very easy to load, by squeezing the lever on the lower back portion, and sliding out the rail. The staples go under the gun in front of the rail (not on the rail). There is a rubbery yellow lining in the squeeze area on the R23 (green colored lining on the R34), to provide a more comfortable grip. It's easy to hold, even for my small hands (i'm a gal), and easy to squeeze. There is no recoil; just smooth action that I barely notice as the staple goes firmly into the medium.\\n\\nI just re-did some of the covers on some old chairs, without removing the underlying fabric. I covered the seat with nice leather, stapling w the R23, which was perfect for most of the job. I ended up using the R34 for some areas of the corners, because the leather was fairly thick bunched up along the pleats- I could have been more careful w the pleating and still used the R23 for the whole project however. These Rapids are fantastic tools, and i'm very pleased w the ease, accuracy and consistency of these guns. They are machined well, and will likely last a lifetime w care. I've used no-name brand guns in the past, and these Rapids are definitely superior tools. I'll be donating my old ones.\",\n \"Product: The success of a local CERT team in response to an emergency is contingent on communication and coordination. Our All-Weather CERT Field Operating Guide is a comprehensive reference book filled with practical reference material that refreshes core skills in a pinch. Properly evaluate triage, deploy a fire extinguisher, observe HAZMAT procedure, and respond appropriately to floods and fires thanks to simple guides and templates printed throughout the book. No matter the conditions, this book will survive the ordeal thanks to our patented water-resistant paper. In times of crisis, Rite in the Rain CERT materials help local CERT members rise to the occasion.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Useful Guide and Summary of Emergency Response Procedures\\n\\nReview: This Rite in the Rain All-Weather Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) action and organization kit contains a compact and succinct Field Operating Guide with waterproof cover and wire binding (useful to keep your hands free as it lays open flat); an all-weather Forms Book which contains perforated removable pages of various pre-printed forms for tracking resources, assignments and personnel; a specialized pen that writes at all angles, even upside down, and at temperatures between -30 F to 250 F degrees; and a sturdy water resistant zippered Cordura Fabric cover/ case with pockets for additional pens and notes to hold everything in. The fully contained kit is light, lays flat and can fit in a large coat pocket.\\n\\nThe Quick Reference sections in the Field Operating Guide cover areas such as Disaster Preparedness, Medical Operations and steps to take for specific disasters such as Fire, Flood, Hazards, etc... and are clearly marked on the edges of the pages for locating easily. While this guide is primarily meant for a coordinated plan of action with a CERT team, even an individual who is not a professional first responder will benefit from the guided practical steps and tips that may be critical in the event of an emergency situation or natural disaster, such as what to do if you are caught in a hurricane, how to assess and treat hypothermia, how to open an airway, how to determine when to use a fire extinguisher vs. leave, etc... This is not a comprehensive guide of all emergencies, but a great way to get rapid practical guidance for immediate action, and would be very useful when one may not be thinking straight due to the emergency at hand. I'd definitely recommend this CERT pack as part of any emergency kit, even for home owners to review and understand in advance of a disaster, but definitely to have as a reference while in a stressful situation.\",\n \"Product: Handy, practical and requiring minimal user-effort; the X5-25ps less effort stapler from Rapesco offers 25 sheet (20lb paper) stapling with up to 60% less effort required from the user. Available in a range of attractive colors and manufactured from high quality materials to an exacting standard, this stapler is backed by a 15 year guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Low Hand Pressure Necessary, As Advertised\\n\\nReview: This Rapesco X5-25ps Less Effort Stapler is indeed amazingly easy to press (60% less pressure advertised). I added standard sized staples (not included) from my regular desk stapler, and they fit fine. \\\"24/6 26/6\\\" is printed on the side of this stapler, for the millimeter sizes that will fit. The stapler itself is very compact in length, but will sit very wide (more than the width of a US bill) when filled with staples. The pressure needed to staple the thinner cardboard that the stapler came in, was negligible. Actually, when I first put staples into the device, i accidentally pressed and didn't even realize that i had bent a staple out of the machine already. This does stand by itself, so you can either hand-hold it to press, or place it on your desk and press down w your weight, as you could w a regular stapler, although the height makes it a bit less stable if used in that manner. This stapler may be a good option for those with weaker hand strength, or who routinely need to staple a lot and don't have an automatic. I'd definitely recommend.\",\n \"Product: Fits cart BBQs up to 70in length, 24inwidth, 48in height. The Veranda Collection blends style and function in one upscale line. Gardelle Fabric System features an elegant fabric top with a protective water repellent, resistant PVC undercoating, and a protective dark splash guard skirt. Heavy-duty fabric and tough interlocking seams add strength and durability. Special treatments ensure fabric won't crack in cold weather. Elastic hem cord with a toggle allows adjustment for a tight and custom fit. Air vents reduce inside condensation and wind lofting. Click-close straps snap over legs to secure cover on the windiest days. Padded handles for easy fitting and removal.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lasts Years And Looks Great, Protects Extremely Well\\n\\nReview: Classic Accessories Veranda line is my favorite grill cover of all I've tried. I have been using their smaller grill cover: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Classic-Accessories-73902-Veranda-Small-Grill-Cover-For-Weber-Q-300-Q-320-Grills/dp/B007XAKFRI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Classic Accessories 73902 Veranda Small Grill Cover For Weber Q-300 & Q-320 Grills</a> on my Camp Chef +BBQ box since I purchased it (cover in side shot pic shows the grill fabric, used since 2012- it's the last pic w lighter beige colored cover), and it looks no worse for the wear, other than very light fading and some dirt. This really stands up to the elements! For three of the years, this cover was less than a mile from the salt spraying ocean, in full sun, and my grill (and the cover) has remained in great shape, w no rust.--- (update: i just read some of the poor experiences some folks have had w this cover, and it surprised me. I want to point out that I live in N. California, and we don't get extreme heat or extreme cold, esp. at the beach. so.... I suppose my experience may be different than yours, depending on your weather!)\\n\\nThe cover is heavy duty fabric with a plastic coating underneath. The seams are thick and even have piping along significant edges for durability and to keep it's shape. There are 4 adjustable snap straps that you attach to the legs of your grill, preventing the cover from sliding or flying off, and the skirt is encircled with an elastic rope that has 2 adjusting spring tabs to tighten the elastic from both ends of the grill, so the underside of your grill is even further protected from the weather. There is a convenient top/front zippered pouch with a protective flap over the zipper, in case you want to store some tools, and each of the end sides of the cover has a flap for air ventilation, that only opens downwards to prevent rain getting in, and which has a mesh screen inside to help keep bugs out. There are also two padded and well-attached handles on the top sides for ease of removal of the cover off your grill.\\n\\nI've had several covers I've used on many grills over the years, and none has held up as well as this Veranda. If I were to buy only one grill cover, this would be it.\",\n \"Product: Some like it hot. This 0.59\\\" thick cordierite baking stone loves it it's heat safe to 1450F! It works in the oven or on the grill, and we call it a pizza stone, but it's just as good for breads and tortillas.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Convenient For Placement, A Bit Thin, But Works\\n\\nReview: This set of 4 pizza cordierite grill stones is very convenient and provides the benefits of the mineral cordierite's even heat conductive and thermal shock resistant properties in square tile shapes that allow you to easily move them around. I have two larger and significantly thicker pieces of cordierite, that I keep in my oven at all times, so i'm a huge fan of the material. What I like about these smaller squares (about 7.5\\\" and a bit more than 1/4\\\" thick) is that they fit in smaller heating spaces such as in my toaster oven and on my camp grill (and coleman portable oven). You can also arrange these lengthwise for a longer dough shape, provided they fit in/on your particular oven or grill. Also, being small and thin, the tiles don't weigh much for easy pickup (can keep a mini pizza on the stone and set it at the table to keep the pizza bottom crispy for a bit). You can also use them as trivets. The negatives are that these are really small, so you do need all four for a regular sized pizza, and the thinness can cause breakage if you drop them accidentally. Still, they do have their uses and come in handy where my big stones just can't be taken.\",\n \"Product: BKC90 Features: -Insect zapper.-Perfect for patios, decks and camping spaces.-Cordless and rechargeable.-Provides decorative lantern design to complement outdoor decor.-15.08" H x 7.99" W x 7.99" D, 3.18 lbs. Includes: -Includes UV light and octenol lure to attract and kill mosquitoes and other flying insects. Specifications: -Quiet operation and coverage up to 625 sq. ft. with 3.2 hours run time.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works Very Well, Especially in an Enclosed Area\\n\\nReview: I know this is technically for outdoor use, but we live in an older home, w a few windows in a bathroom that have slatted glass in a row opening outwards, w no easy way to put screens on the set. Every time I open those windows, small bugs and mosquitoes fly in, freaking out my daughter who is nervous about Zika. This Stinger Cordless insect zapper has been just the thing we need. I place this near the window, and bugs flying in seem to go straight to it- the nearest source of light. I may consider hanging it outside of the window, but it's on the second floor, so for now it's indoors. It's a little bit gross w the zapping that happens when a bigger insect hits the light source, but then you know it's working. There is a small tray that slides out of the side at the base, and a little tub of insect attractant is provided. I have not used this yet, because it seems to work just fine without it.\\n\\nI charged this overnight before i used it-- just be aware that if you don't close the insect attractant tray all the way, your lights will not turn on.- this is a safety feature, i believe, as otherwise, you could actually put your hand in there and potentially get zapped yourself. There is a UV type light that turns on if you flip the switch one way, and a normal LED white light (like a lantern) if you switch it the other way. I don't believe the LED light works to kill anything however, and so i only use the UV feature. The battery life is supposed to last 3+ hrs. Since i only use this when i'm opening the window in the bathroom, i have not used it for the full battery life. It has, however, worked perfectly for at least an hour, and doesn't hum- it's actually fairly quiet, so that's great. When a bug does come in, flying through without being attracted to this Zapper the first time, i just shut the windows, the regular bathroom lights and door and wait about 10 min. No more bugs. SO much better than having my husband hunt with his handheld \\\"tennis racquet\\\" zapper to make our daughter feel better.\\n\\nThis is a very useful device! (The closer-up pic of the light is the LED, and the further away pic of the light is the UV- the UV is not very bright, and purple-ish in color.)\",\n \"Product: Stinger on-the-go bug zapper racket kills insects on contact: mosquitoes, spiders, wasps, flies & more\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Highly Effective, Short Stout Handle\\n\\nReview: This On-The-Go Bug Zapper works great, and is small enough to be portable, so you aren't carrying around a big tennis racquet zapper. It also has a great flash light feature built-in, that draws bugs onto the screen when you're in darker or twilight surroundings, either in your house or outside--I think this feature is genius. I don't know if you can see from my pics, but i caught a mosquito- you may be able to see the electric zap flash on the slightly blurry pic. It was flying around a light on my desk, and i zapped it- it stuck to the racquet right away, and i tried to put in a little bit more electricity during the pic to make sure it was dead. I love this thing. I use it to kill spiders that are floating down from ceilings as well- just put the Zapper right under it as it descends. The only thing i think the larger/ longer zapper design works better for is for flies and quick moving scary bugs like wasps- I definitely want more distance from those.\",\n \"Product: The Sodo Barbecue Grill Cover by Classic Accessories offers unique styling with clean lines and solid main body contours while providing reliable protection and peace of mind in wet, windy weather. Our light Raincoat fabric is tough but stores easily when not in use and is made from durable coated polyester with a PVC undercoating. Each cover comes with an integrated storage bag with an exterior label for easy identification. Air vents keep weather out while providing ventilation and minimizing condensation. Extra-long straps tie around furniture legs to secure covers on windy days. Adjustable draw-string tightens easily resulting in a custom-like fit. The Sodo Collection offers more features than other similarly-priced covers with a look that stands out from the crowd. 1-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Like a Slicker for your BBQ\\n\\nReview: This is a very similar concept to a rain jacket in a pouch--it's a BBQ cover in a pouch, literally, when you open the package (see pic of pouch w handle), and is a mid to lighter weight plastic material, like a good shower curtain. The fabric is not exceptionally sturdy, but will probably last two or three seasons in the sun (granted, i live in a mild, coastal climate). This is a sewn plastic cover that fits your two extended side-arm-shaped grill. The bottom skirt has two sets of ties (you need to manually tie the two ends together) to go around two of your grill legs, and one pull cord that slightly tightens the circumference of the bottom of the skirt (see pics). I say slightly tightens, because the pull cord only comes out one side, and so it is not easy to tighten the skirt all the way around- you have to pull really hard. There is also a triangle vent on each side (see pic of my fingers showing through some of the holes on the inside) covered by outer plastic on two of the three triangle edges, so no water can get in.\\n\\nBtw, the pouch the cover comes in, is actually sewn to the inner top of the cover, so it will be laying on top of your grill on the inside. it's a bit weird, and causes a slight bump on the grill (but u can move it to the back, kinda). I guess this feature would be great if you plan to use the pouch to store your cover again, since this way you can't lose it, but this feature has limited use for me, since i don't tend to pack up my grill cover- i just set it on the side until the BBQ cools, and i put it back on the grill. i can't see folding it up and taking it with me anywhere w that handle, etc...\\n\\nIt's sewn well, overall, considering it's a single stitch construction without a waterproofing underseam like some tents have. so i can't speak to the waterproofing of the seams at this point, and it does not look like it would leak much, if at all under normal rainy conditions, but it might not be absolutely water tight at the seams if there was a deluge. Overall, the price is a tad high for this item, and i prefer the thicker fabric-type covers that are about about $5 more expensive. One i've used for the past three years and is still holding up great and feels much more substantial, is the Classic Accessories 73902 Veranda Small Grill Cover For Weber Q-300 & Q-320 Grills--http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XAKFRI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage.\\n\\nStill, this green grill slicker is pleasant looking, and about 1/2 the weight of fabric covers, so that does have it's uses. Overall, not a bad product.\",\n \"Product: This beautiful brand new JARDIN Collection rug with soft rich color palette offers a durable stain resistant and low pile for easy cleaning with Jute backing. Machine woven on Jacquad Looms with 100% nylon pile and manufactured in Turkey. Perfect for outdoor hardwood, tile, and marble floors that gets a lot of traffic. Intricate design along with the color choice used in this rug will make an elegant addition to your outdoor patio. Care instructions: Do not rub wet spots, absorb moisture with paper towels, and remove dried spots by scraping carefully towards the center of the spot.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great Price, Pleasant Color, And Practical Size Area Rug, But Some Issues\\n\\nReview: This Ottomanson Jardin Rug is a pleasant neutral cream color that should go well with most rooms, whether your home furnishings are modern or more rustic. It is an area rug that would look nice in many places in and around the house such as under a coffee table, in an entrance foyer, or on a covered outdoor floor space. Note that the size on the listing should be corrected as I measured the rug as 53 across but a shorter 7 (about) in length. As a big plus, this rug is being sold at a very affordable price point.\\n\\nWhile the rug is well priced, looks pleasant, and is large enough for several uses in and out of the home, there are negatives. I unrolled and laid out the rug about a week ago, yet the crease lines from being rolled and compacted still haven't gone away. I even tried inverting flat top furniture and large coffee table books on it, but the creases have remained. My first pic shows the creases an hour after unrolling, and the last pic shows the rug after a week in the same location. I would expect that this will eventually flatten out, but it could take longer than I thought. The other, more significant issue is a quality control matter. My rug arrived with several snags and runs. One of the snags might have occurred during the packaging as the plastic wrapping around the rug was ripped in the same area, although the shipping box arrived completely intact.\\n\\nFinally, the rug is fairly lightweight and thin, which is neither a positive or negative, but just something you should know if you are expecting a heavy floor covering.\",\n \"Product: Entertain with or just enjoy this fun, Mickey inspired chocolate fountain. Dip cakes, breads, fruit or your favorite snack with the included skewers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: How Have I Lived Without This??!!\\n\\nReview: Even tho i've been a fondue fan forever, this is my first foray into the world of melty chocolatey fountain goodness, and after i tried it, i had to ask myself, how have i lived my whole life w/o one of these??!! strangely, i realized that i'd never even been to a party where one was set up- regrettable, but true- which was probably pretty lucky for me, because it might have been rude, me just standing there in front of the fountain all night.... I was so excited about getting this mid-week, that i set it up as a surprise for my kids (ok, it was for me---yes, a school night, yes, i'm not a responsible mother). I doubled a basic fondue recipe i liked and modified from Betty Crocker (using semi-sweet chocolate and adding coconut oil chunks until it was a runnier, to smooth it out).\\n\\n1 1/3 cup half-and-half\\n24 oz semi-sweet chocolate (or about 4 cups)\\n2-4 tablespoons coconut oil (depending on how runny you need it- u can add some later into the fountain top as well, if it gets too thick)\\ndried and fresh fruits, cubes of cake or cake pops (i had some banana bread pops in the freezer w no frosting on them), pretzel sticks\\n\\nmicrowave half and half in large glass bowl until nearly hot. add chocolate and stir until melted and mixture is smooth. if u need to, microwave some more. Stir in coconut oil until you have the right consistency, then place into the preheated fountain basin. u can also add flavorings such as orange or mint extract.\\n\\nWhat a hit! the kids asked if we could do it again on the weekend. this fountain is small-ish enough that it was a special dessert treat just for our family; even so, we had a ton left over, and i just scraped off as much of the chocolate as i could with a silicon spatula, and let it harden on the counter before putting the chunk in the freezer for our next family dessert night. but, I'm thinking i'm going to try cheese fondue next (cuz why not?).\\n\\nLuv this little well-made gadget. more fun than a regular fondue pot, it keeps things nicely warmed, smooth and stirred, and the cute mickey mouse shape is just chocolate on the cake!\",\n \"Product: Oxy stain destroyer formula starts working on contact to mobilize, lift, and penetrate the stain at the source to remove stains in 30 seconds. Instantly and permanently removes tough pet stains like tracked-in dirt, grass, mud, blood, vomit, feces and urine! Improves deep cleaning performance by up to 3X.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: excellent carpet formula for grape throw-up on nubby beige carpet!\\n\\nReview: I finally got around to using the Bissell 2x Professional Deep Cleaning Formula for my hand-held suction cleaner (BISSELL SpotLifter 2X Portable Deep Carpet Cleaner)- well, actually, mainly because my daughter unexpectedly threw up grape juice all over our nubby beige carpet. It was a traumatic experience (for her- too much party food), and it was past midnight so i couldn't get around to cleaning up adequately until later the next day. Using the Spotlifter for the first time, and with the Professional Deep Cleaning Formula, I was able to get the (by then dried) grape throw-up stains out of the beige, in less than one battery charge (charge only lasts about 15 min., so it was lucky the effort only took one charge). I highly recommend this product, as well as the SpotLifter, for that matter. I couldn't believe the stain had been there at all. At first, the beige area i had cleaned seemed a darker color, but it dried, within a day, to the same color as the surrounding carpet. All was well again (as was my daughter). There was no smell remaining, and the Bissell cleaner itself had a pleasant (not a natural, but still nice) smell that was not too noticable even when wet. I will definitely be keeping this stuff in stock, and am considering purchasing a bigger carpet cleaner to do my entire house with the formula. --thank goodness for Bissell!\",\n \"Product: Healthier and great tasting water has never been so convenient with the Pelican premium Countertop Drinking Water Filtration and Purification System. Addresses chlorine, chloramines, lead, cysts, VOC's and THM's. One of the most important things we can do is protect ourselves from the long-term and damaging effects dangerous chemicals such as chlorine has in our water. The state-of-the art Pelican Countertop Drinking Water Filtration and Purification System, with its unique modern design can alleviate your worries and get your on your way to a cleaner, safer and healthier lifestyle.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Easy Install, Quick Convenient Clean Water\\n\\nReview: This is an on-the-counter water filter that is very simple to install on a male thread faucet end, provided it fits- you need to take off your faucet's aerator if you have one, and may need to goto a hardware store to get an adapter. They also include two male/male adapters (all washers included) that would fit female thread faucet ends or attachments. If you can make it past that point, it's a snap, literally, to attach the the color-coded blue (water out) and white (water in) tube ends to the blue and white connectors at the bottom of the filter body by just pressing them in. There is one battery that goes into the filter body (lift the silver cover off the base to access), that causes a green light to come on once the water is flowing, to show the filter sensor is working. According to the directions, the light turns from green to orange at 5.5 months, letting you know you have 1/2 a month more in filter life, when, at 6 mo. the light turns red, and you should replace the filter. Once the battery is in the filter body housing, you place the silver-colored top back on, and you're done.\\n\\nI put this on our laundry room faucet, because our kitchen sink has a pull-out sprayer, and you CANNOT attach this countertop filter to a pull-out sprayer- you need to get a different filter if you want to keep your pull-out sprayer. Also, because this is an easy-to-install countertop filter, you will have those cords running the length of your faucet (you may have to tie them on, so they don't swing about), and it doesn't look great- but i don't mind, cuz it's in the laundry. A small price for convenience, and more importantly, clean water. I did not notice any degradation in water pressure coming through either the regular water exit, or the filtered water exit. Of course, the filtered water exit is a much smaller stream, as you'd expect. I don't know if the pressure will remain good over time yet, but it works well so far, and you could probably remove and/or clean the aerator on the filter's head if you really have trouble. Truthfully, i can't really tell the difference in the taste of my water. Our water never tasted that badly, in my opinion, so it didn't change all that much for flavor. But, if it's filtering out any of the 60+ chemicals noted in the included Performance Data Sheet (also online at the manufacturer's website for Pelican Water, under the Drinking Filter tab/ Countertop Filter area) including lead, mercury, and chlorine, i'm very happy about that.\\n\\nI am filling up in the laundry, and putting a pitcher in the fridge. nice.\",\n \"Product: The Allsop home and garden Soji artist series print - geo star is part of the artist designed collection of printed Soji solar lanterns. The unique square lantern features a geometric, star pattern. Each lantern is constructed from durable nylon and equipped with one AAA rechargeable battery, solar panel, dual white led and stainless steel hardware. Allsop home and garden is a family business, started by a father and a daughter who were inspired to create a better wheelbarrow. Now, twelve years later we are still inspired to create the best, the most innovative and conscientious products possible from original garden tools to solar lighting. At Allsop home and garden we know that we benefit from working as a team where employees are valued and encouraged to help create, design and innovate.as The founders of the concept \\\"solar garden art,\\\" Allsop home and garden is known for combining creative materials with solar power for efficient, beautiful and sustainable outdoor lighting. Everything we sell is designed by us with our customers in mind. Collectively Allsop home and garden and Allsop Inc. Hold over 450 patents world wide. With this in mind, our mission is to create meaningful and quality products that are as important to you as they are to us.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Mood Lighting, Not For Actual Lighting, But Looks Pretty\\n\\nReview: These Allsop Soji Ginkgo lanterns are made of a heavier metal top and base, with decently sturdy fabric around the center. At 14.7 oz, this is not lightweight. The top collects sunlight during the day, and has a very sensitive auto on light sensor that switches on when the ambient light around it becomes dark enough. The lantern seems to last at least 3-4 hours, dimming as it goes into the night, but it's a very faint light, and if you have a string of these, it'd be quite pretty from a decorative standpoint. This is definitely mood lighting, however, and you really can't use it as an actual light,...to see your surrounding, i mean. This allows you to see the lantern, pretty much. If you are looking for this particular design and lighting to set ambiance, this will work for you. However, if you are expecting more illumination than mood lighting, you'll need some backup. See pic w spotlights and lantern, so that the lantern almost looks like it's lighting up the area, even tho the spotlight is.\",\n \"Product: The light it wireless LED remote control wall sconce set operates on a radio control frequency so powerful it can connect through walls and up to 100 feet. Easy installation allows you to set up an entire lighting system with the remote control switch and LED lights that can also be purchased separately. Perfect lighting for rvs, boats, attics, garages, closets - anywhere where hardwiring would be a challenge. The sconce light comes with a variable dimmer feature that provides just the right level of illumination. It mounts anywhere with tape or screws (included) making it a versatile solution for dark areas of any kind. A battery Saver feature shuts off lights to save battery energy. Runs on 3 AA batteries, not included.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works Great Through Walls My Internet Won't Reach, and Awesome for Emergency Lighting\\n\\nReview: This is ingenious and so useful! You get the benefits of a remote controlled light source, but with the advantages of not needing wifi, since this uses radio frequency (vs. many wifi-connected \\\"smart\\\" devices for your lights), not needing grid power- a great backup source of light in emergencies, and not needing to hardwire anything- great if you don't have a power source conveniently located. You receive one sconce and one remote in this pack, and they provide back plates pre-set with adhesive stickers for each, as well as screws and wall plugs in case you want a more permanent attachment. I was very impressed with the range of the remote, which easily penetrated the floors and walls in my home that our wireless internet requires a repeater for. The sconce has a dimmer slide on the bottom (see pic), and the remote has a switch for auto shut off settings at 30, 60 and 120 minutes (see pic) to conserve battery power. The sconce requires 3- AA batteries and the remote requires 2- AAA, (not included).\\n\\nThe set can be expanded to operate two or more groups of lights, up to eight possible groups (shown on the backs of sconce & remote), without interfering w each other (the instructions say up to \\\"any combination of up to 20 lights and switches\\\"), but you don't have to touch the pre-set switches on the back unless you are adding lights to a group, or you are operating two or more groups of lights within 60 feet of each other. If you are only using this one sconce & remote set, you don't have to do anything, and the light and remote work great as soon as you put batteries in. If you are adding to your group, you just match the combination pattern on the new sconce to that of your existing sconce/remote set.\\n\\nI put this sconce in my downstairs livingroom, which i can see from my upstairs bedroom loft area. So, without actually leaving my bedroom, i am able to turn on the sconce and see what's going on downstairs when i hear a noise at night, which is really convenient, and i can avoid that horror movie scenario where the doomed character always starts walking towards that sound.... but seriously, i don't have to trip down my dark stairwell to avoid waking anyone else up when i'm trying to get a snack. The sconce by itself is also great to carry around as well, and is like a little lantern, but more versatile. --really great if your power goes out in emergencies.\",\n \"Product: Does your occupation require you to handle glass, sheet metal or lumber? Are you in the market for a cut-resistant glove? You've come to the right pair. Stanley's newest machine knit gloves offer a foam nitrile palm coating that will prevent snags, cuts and abrasions for even your toughest jobs. Feel free to hand them out to your team. Sizing: Using a measuring tape, measure the circumference of your hand just below the knuckles. (Large = 10\\\")\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good Gloves, Protection From Brush Clearing- Large Size is More Like a Medium\\n\\nReview: These Stanley Cut-Resistant Gloves are pretty good. The fabric is similar to my wife's cut-resistant kitchen gloves, which I got her because she slices herself occasionally cutting up food. When she wears them, she doesn't get cut. But, she doesn't always wear them. With these Stanleys, you can feel the tight, elastic weave on the back of the glove, and the front parts are covered (dipped, it seems) in nitrile, the material often used in those latex-free blue colored hospital type \\\"rubber\\\" gloves. The nitrile layer is decently thick, and between the cut-resistant fabric and the nitrile coating, these gloves do feel very protective. I used these outside today to clear out some dead brush, and my hands were not nicked or cut as they sometimes are. No splinters or pokes either. These work well, and are definitely better than my regular fabric gloves with strips of silicon on them. The grip on these Stanleys is better by far. The problem with these gloves for me is the size. I wear a size Large in gloves typically, and a Medium is a literal stretch. These L feel like a Medium to me. I can still wear them though, and would recommend them for outside use, unless you have X-Large hands. It could be that these are a Women's Large, since that's how they look on my wife's hands.\",\n \"Product: Need a more powerful circular saw for weekend or DIY projects? The SKIL 5180 14-Amp 7-1/4 inch circular saw slices through 2x4's and cuts plywood down to size. The integrated dust blower keeps the line of cut sawdust-free so you can get the job done easily and accurately. The 51-degree bevel, with positive stop at 45-degree, gives you a wider variety of angle and miter cuts. At 7.2 pounds, it's lighter than its predecessor and has been updated with a spindle lock for easier blades changes using the on-tool wrench.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: No Nonsense Saw for Light Projects\\n\\nReview: This saw is pretty much ready to use out of the box- all you need to do is to attach the provided 7 1/4\\\" /20 teeth carbide blade with a wrench that has a clever housing in the foot, so that it always stays with the saw (see pics). The saw is very light and easy to maneuver, and has calibrated bevel markings showing 15 degrees, 22.5, 30, 45, and 52. the 45 degree setting has a notch allowing for more precise cuts. The bevel is adjusted and set with a easy to grip plastic covered wingnut. For this particular 5180 model, the maximum capacities are the 7-1/4\\\" blade, as well as:\\n\\n5/8\\\" Round Blade arbor hole,\\n2-7/16\\\" Depth of cut at 90 degrees\\n1-15/16\\\" Depth of cut at 45 degrees\\n1-11/16\\\" Depth of cut at 51 degrees\\n\\nThe depth settings are also calibrated for standard lumber sizes, with an easy press adjustment lever. There are good safety features, including the lower guard on a light spring that retracts only as you cut, as well as the safety on the thumb (right or left thumb activation) that must be depressed at the same time as the trigger for the saw blade to rotate. There is also a bright orange power activation light showing power running to the saw (the pic does not show it as bright as it is). The saw sliced through baseboard like butter, and this will be my go-to saw for light projects around the house.\",\n \"Product: These new XTRATUF Salmon Sisters Legacy Series 15\\\" Neoprene Womens Fishing Boots feature an attractive fish-print liner designed by Alaska's famous Salmon Sisters. Inspired by nautical tradition and the sustainable fisheries of the North Pacific, the liner rolls down easily to reveal the eye-catching blue fish print. Boasting XTRATUF's signature non-marking Chevron outsole, these womens fishing boots provide unparalleled traction on slippery, wave-washed decks. Toe and heel guards offer added protection. Designed for all-day comfort, these neoprene fishing boots feature moisture-wicking Breathe-O-Prene insoles with a breathable, open cell structure that reduces insole drying time. The insoles are also cushioned to absorb impacts and combat foot fatigue. The women-specific lasts are designed to match the contour of the female foot, and are narrower at the back to prevent heel movement and chafing. The 100% waterproof triple-dipped neoprene construction is lighter and more pliable than regular rubber, and is resistant to fish fats, acids, diesel fuel and other solvents.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Thick, Soft and Rubbery - But Get a Size Up\\n\\nReview: These are not your regular rubber galoshes that you typically find on the market. These are more serious, with cushiony and rubbery soles, that are about an inch thick and extremely comfortable. These have a flexible outer shell that are actually soft, and not plasticky in any way. Xtratuf was clearly trying to make a boot you can move in, despite it's significant heft. We've been having heavy storms in N. CA this year, with very wet, windy weather, and cleaning up the yard in regular boots was not cutting it. These have good traction, can be adjusted for height by rolling down the top into a cuff for comfort, and keep feet warm and dry. The only small criticism I have is that unless you want to wear very thin socks, you should get a size up, as these run small.\",\n \"Product: The IRWIN Tools 8-in-1 ratcheting screwdriver features the most commonly used screwdriver bits in 1 convenient tool to save time and get jobs done fast. Including #1 and #2 Phillips screwdrivers, 1/4\\\" slotted screwdriver/flat head screwdriver, #2 square, T25, and 1/4\\\", 3/8\\\", and 5/16\\\" nut drivers in one multi-driver means not having to search through your tool box or drawer to find the right tool for multiple jobs. Compatible with standard double-ended power bits and insert bits, it makes lost bits easy to replace, while the 3-Zone Comfort Grip provides more control with low, high, and no-texture zones for greater torque.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Useful Driver, Well-Made, No Place for Screw Tips.\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R6ZDS2O9Y3X98\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1Z9X8ytgwS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91MSXq5xx1S.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> This IRWIN Screw Guide Driver is a nifty concept, which actually works. The guide is surprisingly useful, and provides a sturdy enclosure for your screw, as well as providing a good \\\"base\\\" support (the circular round of the guide pressing against the surface you're screwing) so that you can add a lot more pressure and torque to your screw without the screw tilting or splintering out. It's especially helpful if you don't have a guide hole already drilled.\\n\\nThe fabrication of material seems to be high quality, and the guide itself is a sturdy metal cylinder. The handle is a solid and thick feeling polymer, covered with a rubbery grip, which makes for ease of use. A very useful part of this driver, is the strong magnetic tip, which will actually hold the included 5 screw tips in place very well- it holds better than other magnetic driver tips I have at home. The downside to this set, as mentioned now in numerous reviews, and which is obvious when you take this out of the package and wonder what you are going to do w all the small parts, is the lack of a place to put your screw tips!\",\n \"Product: Luceco's LED bulbs offer an 80% energy savings over their incandescent counterparts, at an average energy cost of just $1.14 per year. With a color temperature of 2700K, they produce the same soft, warm white glow of a traditional bulb, making them as easy on the eyes as they are on the wallet. These bulbs are a direct replacement for a standard A19 65-watt incandescent light bulb - no rewiring is required to upgrade your lighting. The mercury-free LED bulb also stays cool when lit for a safe, environmentally and family friendly lighting option. A 15,000 hour lifetime means less time and money spent on replacements. Backed by Luceco's 3-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just Sippin' Energy Usage\\n\\nReview: These are an economical upgrade to 60 watt incandescent bulbs. We replaced a standing lamp bulb with one of these LUCECO Base LEDs, and this LED provided a surprisingly pleasant and soft white light, that almost looked yellow through our standing lampshade. I can't tell any difference in the brightness of our lamp, and using this was as simple as switching out a ...light bulb. I used a Kill a Watt <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/P3-P4400-Kill-A-Watt-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor</a> over a day, to check my costs. It's hard to see the Kill a Watt reading on my pic, but this LED shows an even lower static 8 watt usage, vs. their advertised 9.5 watts. The Kill a Watt showed a slightly higher 0.01 kWh consumption over the longer timeframe i had it plugged in, so I went with the higher number. I looked at my electric bill, and i'm charged an avg of about 21 cents per kWh. I use that light about 8 hrs per day at most-\\n\\n8 *.01 kWh * 30 days= 2.4 kWh/mo *$0.21 /kWh= or about 50 cents per month w this LED bulb\\n\\nA 60 watt bulb, by contrast= 60 W*8 /1000=0.48 kWh/day* $0.21 /KWh= about 10 cents/day *30 days= $3 per month\\n\\nThat's $6/ yr for this LED light vs. $36/ yr for a typical 60 watt bulb based on my usage and local energy costs. worth it.\\n\\n this plug-in energy consumption calculator helps\\n[...] (removed by Amazon), but you can just look one of these up. btw, my annual cost is higher than that shown on the box, because they are estimating a 3 hr/ day usage and 11 cents per kWh cost.\",\n \"Product: The Alex Toys My First Sewing Kit will introduce children to the creative world of sewing. It's a skill that lasts a lifetime and can be used to make adorable stuffed animals,notebook covers and more. All the materials you need come in the charming carrycase that closes securely and has a handle for sewing on-the-go. Includes 28 pre-cut polyester felt shapes, 8 colors of embroidery floss (26ft/8m each), polyester stuffing(0.4oz/11g), fabric cloth (65% polyester/35% cotton), polyester ric rac(24in/60cm), scissors, measuring tape, 40 straight pins, 2 needles, thimble, cotton/polyesterpin cushion, polyester ribbon (12in/30cm), 6 buttons, pom pom strip (12in/30cm)and easy instructions. Recommended for children 7 to 12 years of age.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Bright, Fun kit w ideas for your child to start, or to continue w their love of sewing\\n\\nReview: This beautiful and colorful kit contains materials for five distinct projects: stuffed cat, dog, elephant, drawstring pouch, and small book cover w pockets. The striped \\\"suitcase\\\" container has a metal open/close latch plus a plastic-covered metal handle, and is made of a durable, thicker cardboard with sewn accents. The kit includes embroidery threads, measuring tape, scissors, pins, needles, threader, plastic thimble, small pin-cushion, decorative items (ribbons, buttons, fabric shapes), stuffing, the three pre-cut felt animals w accent pieces, and pre-cut fabrics for the pouch and book cover. There is plenty of extra room in the suitcase for additional materials or sewing tools your kids may want to keep in there, or they can easily re-purpose the suitcase after they are done with their projects.\\n\\nThe instructions are large and have big pictures, and with a little bit of coaching, your child can start making what's in the pictures right away. You may need a little more stuffing than what they provide, but if you want more substantial animals, you can just add some fluffed up cotton balls. Some of the tools, like the thimble and scissors can be replaced with better quality, but these are serviceable. My kids love sewing, and have been making their own little made-up felt creatures (and monsters) for several years. Even though they are past the very beginner stage now, they were thrilled to get this, and quickly ran off with this suitcase to start their new projects.\",\n \"Product: Radio Flyer new ultimate EZ fold wagon is designed as a full size wagon for 2 kids that folds compactly. With an easy one hand fold, you can take or store the wagon anywhere. Two kids ride comfortably with 2 seats, 4 cup holders, seatbelts for added safety, and a removable canopy. The telescoping handle is for easy transport when folded. The DuraClean fabric is durable and can be easily wiped clean. A full size wagon with a compact fold to take & store anywhere. For ages 1 1/2 +.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent Portability, Very Simple to Assemble, Smooth Ride, Nice Seat Function\\n\\nReview: This EZ Fold is a convenient and more portable Radio Flyer wagon, because of the fabric sides and folding metal frame, which accordions in the middle with a \\\"W\\\" shape when closed. This EZ Fold has the same great Radio Flyer smooth and easy maneuverability as the hard sided/ molded plastic Ultimate Family Wagon (UFW) <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Radio-Flyer-Ultimate-Family-WagonTM/dp/B000EUMP9K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Radio Flyer Ultimate Family WagonTM</a>, but has smaller, softer wheels than the UFW (EZ has a slightly less dense black foam-ey feeling material covering the white plastic rims). See my review for the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Radio-Flyer-Deluxe-All-Terrain-Family-Wagon-Ride-On-Red/dp/B01C60O7N2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Radio Flyer Deluxe All-Terrain Family Wagon Ride On, Red</a> comparing the UFW and the All-Terrain (AT) wheels- the AT wheels are air-filled and the most rugged and bouncy- AT's wheels are the best wheels. The UFW has hard plastic-y and durable wheels that worked surprisingly well over a decade of use. These EZ wheels are soft enough for a comfortable ride, but may not last as long as the UFW wheels.\\n\\nPROS for Portability:\\nDepending on what your needs are for this wagon, this EZ can really fit the bill. The obvious highlight is that the EZ is significantly less bulky and more portable than the UFW and AT body (same hard bodies) and can fit in a regular sedan trunk- It's easy to fold, just by lifting up the gray fabric pull handle at the bottom-center of the inner cart. Another benefit is that the perfectly rectangular shape and lack of internal folding moulded seats in the EZ, provides much more overall space to cart things in. You can also pull the EZ in folded form, like you would a piece of luggage, provided you pull it by the fabric gray handle and backwards (If you pull from the side with the black plastic handle, the wheels will go sideways). The thoughtful design of the EZ allows you to completely remove the fabric from the metal frame, just by detaching two velcro tabs underneath the wagon, and pulling the fabric up off the four corner posts. I wouldn't necessarily launder the fabric, but it seems durable enough with it's slightly plastic-feeling coating to just wipe clean. I also liked the large velcro tabs as an extra hold for the sides that zipper up/ down for the \\\"bench\\\" seating function, so that the zippers won't accidentally unzip from pressure.\\n\\nFinally, this EZ is significantly easier to assemble than the UFW/ AT wagons- even though you will need your own 1) hammer/ mallet, 2) a screwdriver and 3) an adjustable wrench. This EZ took me less than 10 min to set up- you 1) hammer on the red end cap after fitting the back wheels and plastic white spacers on the wheelrod; 2) you \\\"click\\\" in the two front wheels by pushing, ensuring the \\\"L\\\" and \\\"R\\\" stickers on the wheels match the correct-side \\\"L\\\" and \\\"R\\\" stickers on the body; and 3) you attach the handle using the screw driver and wrench (holding bolt stable with the screwdriver to prevent turning, and using wrench to tighten bolt). The directions are clear pictures and easy to follow.\\n\\nCONS of a Soft-Sided Wagon:\\nBecause the EZ has no internal molded seats, your kids will need to sit on the lightly padded floor cross-legged or legs side-by-side vs. in a chair with seatbelts for the UFW or AT. Even so, i opened up the zipper front and sat on the seat in the lengthwise (forward or back-facing) direction a child would, and I didn't feel any metal bars under the floor, and the lightly white padded \\\"backs\\\" provided good support. Even without seatbelts, your child will sit much lower in this wagon, so there is little chance of falling out. If you sit on the EZ in the \\\"bench\\\" seating configuration, however, just be aware you can't lean back, as there is little support from the red fabric along the longer sides.\\n\\nIf you are looking for portability and the occasional need to haul children, pets or lots of \\\"stuff\\\" around, this is a wonderful and well-thought out product. The frame is very sturdy and the pieces smooth and well machined. Everything fit together as described; no torquing or forcing necessary. The fabric cover even comes off all the way for easy cleaning. I am a big fan of Radio Flyer, and would have had a much harder time when my children were small without their great products.\",\n \"Product: Some of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in recent years involve things that are actually very, very small. The science of nanotechnology deals with the smallest structures, in the range of one to 100 nanometers in size. That's as small as just a few atoms in a row (one atom corresponds to about one nanometer)! With this kit, the intangible, nanoscopic world becomes accessible with hands-on experiments using both scaled-up models and real nanomaterials. Nanoparticles can be made of different materials and exist in a wide variety of forms -thin layers, tubes, balls, and tree-like structures. These particles can be coated onto surfaces, they can enhance other materials such as paint, they can be used as a delivery method for pharmaceuticals in the body, and much more. Specific applications include, for example, self-cleaning house paints and water-repellent clothes, anti-fog coatings on glasses, UV protection components in sunscreen, antifouling coatings for ships (to prevent algae growth, thereby reducing fuel consumption), coatings for medical devices, and materials to more effectively filter dirty water. Start out by conducting experiments concerning size, scale, and orders of magnitude in the International System of Units, to get a feel for just how small a nanometer really is. Stir up some mixtures and suspensions, and then examine exotic mixtures to learn about the nanoscopic particles suspended in them. Shine a laser through a colloidal gold - a suspension of nanoscale particles of gold! Learn about the electromagnetic spectrum, laser light, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy to begin to grasp how we can make nanomaterials visible. Experiment with a special material that mimics the nanostructures on a gecko's footpads that allow it to climb straight up a vertical pane of glass with ease! - A Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My Kids Rated this 4.5 Stars\\n\\nReview: This is a wonderful kit demonstrating the science behind small (nano) particles, and how the chemical properties of the nanoparticles can translate into (larger) real world effects or applications. The Nanotechnology Experiment Manual is the real star of this set, and it contains 72 pages full of well-defined projects (42 actual experiments) and information helping your child (the box says age 15+, but my kids are 10 and 12, and are enjoying this) understand the significance of the reactions observed in the \\\"What's Happening?\\\" sections per experiment. This kit does need occasional adult supervision, because it contains some chemicals and processes that require protective gear (you provide yourself- like gloves or safety goggles) or assistance (working w flames). This kit has numerous experiments that are fairly short by themselves- 10 to 30 min, but which cumulatively can take many days to a week(s) to properly complete and understand, depending on how motivated your child is. The book and exercises could be a jr. high- high school chemistry-lite class...with a fun teacher. My kids went through the introductory section of this kit so far, reading about the first-aid and ground rules for safety information, completing the check-list to determine if their kit was complete (yes), and setting up their laser pointer w provided batteries. They then completed three experiments this evening, so far, and were running back to the set to continue after dinner.\\n\\nI asked my kids to rate their experience at this point, and they both think it's a 4.5, because, \\\"it's cool,\\\" \\\"it has a lot of interesting things,\\\" (poking at me with the included gecko footpad-inspired sticky pad), \\\"you actually learn stuff from it- the experiments are fun.\\\" The deduction of 1/2 a star from my daughter, was due to not having an ink cartridge for one of the experiments, from which you're supposed to remove five drops of ink (i didn't want them to take apart our printer cartridge and make a mess- i guess that's more my fault than the kit). My son also deducted 1/2 a star, because he didn't like that one of the experiments could kill Club Moss spores, which would have been alive, he felt, upon rehydration (experiment #16- putting a thin layer of spores on water to form a waterproof layer), but which could then be harmed if you added oil or dish soap (the limits of nano-coating for waterproofing applications- experiment 20). They did experiment #16, and dumped the water-moss spore mix in our yard, because they wanted the moss to have a chance at life.\\n\\nAll in all, i can see that my kids love this- they are busily reading the book and trying the experiments even now as i type. i'm pleased, because they are occupied, having fun, and learning new concepts. I am sitting right next to them, however, and asking questions about their experiment and progress. I told them to let me know which project they are doing before they start. I would not leave my kids alone with this kit at this point, but supervised, it is fine.\",\n \"Product: Build the Call of Duty Armored Vehicle Charge collector construction set by Mega Bloks. Hit the ground with the mobile firepower of a light armored vehicle when you lead the charge with a team of combat-ready soldiers. Featuring a classic camouflage finish and authentic details like treaded rubber tires, front brush guard, and net tarp, this buildable armored truck comes equipped for infantry support with a hard-hitting roof-mounted rocket launcher. Open the side doors or rear hatch to load in your team of three highly detailed, super-poseable micro action figures. Then, use the detachable armor and authentic weapons and accessories to gear your troops for a rolling attack!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Amazing Detail- Almost Looks Like a Glue Set\\n\\nReview: I got this for my 10 and 12 yos to put together, and the 12yo is good with the process; my 10 yo, just about able, but not quite able to do all the steps and needs help. When I first saw this kit, I thought it was simpler- it looks so detailed in the pictures, that I imagined it might have been a model that you put together with larger parts which were mostly already moulded- that's how fine the detailing looks. I was very surprised upon my kids' opening the inside plastic packages that there were hundreds of smaller-than-dime sized pieces. Even the action figures were in several parts, which my kids put together first.\\n\\nThis is appropriate for your model enthusiasts, whether young or old, but will be tougher for the earlier-than-teen crowd. On the other hand, the directions are very step by step, and very clear, \\\"exploded\\\" pictures, which are easy to follow if you have the patience and interest. My 12yo daughter is happily working on this, and is enjoying the set- every so often, my 10 yo son wants to join in, but loses interest after getting stuck, until he comes back to it in about ten min., seeing his sister continuing to work on it. It's also hard for two to work on it at the same time, so they take turns and/or she has him search for pieces. This is a great set; a 3-D puzzle of a very realistic armored vehicle and figurines. This very much reminds me of a cement- glue set in terms of complexity and detail, but it's great that it's bloks instead, so that you can avoid the hassles of glue, and I feel comfortable letting my younger kids work on it.\\n\\nUpdate: ok- I did actually need to help my kids glue on a few pieces (so far) that kept coming apart- such as an area along the bottom chassis connecting the front and back parts of the vehicle at two points, and the back fins near the rear headlights.\",\n \"Product: ALEX Spa Fab Foil Tattoos Pink gives you a temporary way to make a lasting impression. Shiny foil tattoos and gleaming-bling gem tattoos shimmer in the light to grab your attention. The designs all feature the color teal, so you can match an outfit, jewelry, nails or makeup. The kit includes 3 gem tattoos, 35 foil tattoos, sponge and easy instructions. Recommended for children 8 years of age and older.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Faux Jewelry-Metallic Temporary Tattoos\\n\\nReview: These ALEX Spa Fab Foils are basically temporary tattoos that incorporate metallic foil surfaces for shine. In the pack are two sheets with numerous tattoo patterns, three jewel stickers-tattoos (little raised shiny plastic \\\"jewels\\\" placed in a design, backed with sticky adhesive), an instruction sheet and a small triangular sponge. The tattoos are pretty, and the dominant color is listed on the pack (pink, teal...). The designs are cleverly made into necklace, bracelet and ring strands/ fronts, in addition to larger patterns, so that the tattoos look like you might be wearing jewelry. My kids cut out some of the designs they wanted, and placed them face down on their arms and wet the backs w the included sponge, as you would w any regular temp tattoos. They came off the paper easily, and looked very shiny.\\n\\nThese are definitely fun for the young crowd,... or can be a fashion statement if you are a Beyonce-styled hipster. I saw a pic a few yrs back of the singer in a tropical setting with gold tattoo jewelry, similar to these, and noticed that these faux jewelry tattoos are also popular w adults-<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Premium-Metallic-Tattoos-75-Shimmer-Designs-in-Gold-Silver-Black-Turquoise-Temporary-Fake-Jewelry-Tattoos-Bracelets-Feathers-Wrist-Arm-Bands-More-Delila-Collection/dp/B00ZBN19QA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Premium Metallic Tattoos - 75+ Shimmer Designs in Gold, Silver, Black & Turquoise - Temporary Fake Jewelry Tattoos - Bracelets, Feathers, Wrist & Arm Bands, & More (Delila Collection)</a> or this: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Metallic-Temporary-Tattoo-10-SHEETS-With-Over-200-Tattoos-Gold-Silver-Color-Temporary-Tattoos-High-Gloss-Shimmer-Effect-by-Pinky-Petals/dp/B01J67T9QS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Metallic Temporary Tattoo - 10 SHEETS With Over 200+ Tattoos - Gold Silver Color Temporary Tattoos - High Gloss Shimmer Effect by Pinky Petals</a>. I took off one star here, only because this ALEX set w two sheets seems pricey compared w competitors. On the other hand, ALEX does provide the three raised plastic jewel \\\"tattoos\\\" which are actually stickers, but still a big hit w the kids.\",\n \"Product: The Radio Flyer deluxe all-terrain family wagon is designed with air tires for a smooth ride, and a UV blocking canopy for Sun protection. With features that make it a very versatile wagon, there is endless fun. The 5 seating and storage options include: 1. Seating for two, 2. Flatbed, 3. Covered storage & ride, 4. Activity surface, and 5. Xl storage & ride. The wagon also features seatbelts for safety, child and adult cup holders, and a Fold-Over handle for easy storage. For ages 1 1/2+ years.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Durable and dependable workhorse for 10 years\\n\\nReview: We've had an earlier version of this Radio Flyer: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Radio-Flyer-Ultimate-Family-WagonTM/dp/B000EUMP9K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Radio Flyer Ultimate Family WagonTM</a> for nearly ten years now, and it has followed our family and towed our children through our neighborhood and schools, beach walkways, amusement parks, camps, farmer's markets...you name it- even to the grocery store. it looks as new as the day we bought it in 2007, and it has not faded at all, amazingly. we've even stored it outside for several summers now to move my garden supplies around since the kids have grown up, and it's holding up as well as ever. The wagon is easy to wash off with a hose, and it has been fine in the rain too, without any water getting into the internal body. even though our old Ultimate Family Wagon (UFW) did not have these new All-Terrain (AT) inflatable wheels, and instead had the hard, plastic-y ones, we've never had any issues with them. I was thrilled to be able to review this newer Radio Flyer, because i love our older UFW, and thought i could compare these for you.\\n\\nThe bodies of the older UFW and this newer AT are exactly the same, with the same roomy interior, big enough for two 2-4 yos (approx) and a few supplies (one diaper bag with snacks, etc) between or behind them. When we purchased our UFW, it had bright blue seat backs and seatbelt straps, instead of the gray the current UFW and this AT model both seem to have. I liked the blue better, actually. Additionally, the UFW has a rounded sunscreen top vs. this AT's flattish shape. The primary difference i can see is in the vastly superior wheels of this AT, which are air-filled and thick, textured and rubbery like mini-car tires, which makes for a much smoother and comfortable ride for your kids, pets (or plants), and you can even \\\"off-road\\\" a bit :). Since the price for the UFW is twenty dollars less than the AT at $169, you'd be paying $5 per tire for the upgrade, which i think is worth it.\\n\\nI took pics of the assembly of the AT body, which did not take too long (about 30 minutes), because it just consists of putting on the axles/tires to have a basic working wagon (i did not add the seatbelt or canopy on this AT, but we did have them on our UFW, and they worked great). The long black pull handle and seats come pre-attached. The trick is to make sure you match up the marked right and left metal wheel axles to their respective sides on the wagon body. The two metal axles, shaped a bit like big hooks, are engraved with part numbers plus an \\\"L\\\" and an \\\"R\\\" into the black metal (i tried to take a pic of this next to the parts shown on the instruction manual), and they both attach to the side with the long black pull handle. There is also an \\\"L\\\" and \\\"R\\\" embossed into the red wagon body housing on the bottom (hopefully you can see this in the pics as well), to help you get the left and right sides correctly matched. Also, don't forget to add the washers and plastic housing/spacers per the directions. There is one washer per wheel (4 all together), and 4 white plastic housing pieces for the hook-shaped axles (2 each), and 2 black plastic spacers for the long, across the body axle rod. They provide 5 red end caps you hammer on (i used a rubber mallet), but which cannot be taken off without breaking them- so you need to get this right the first time for the most part- they provide one extra 5th end cap in case you make one mistake!\\n\\nI highly recommend this for any family, with or without children. You'll find that you end up using this great wagon for a lot of different chores, but kids and pets love to ride in it as well.\",\n \"Product: ALEX Toys DIY Wear Grow Crystal Jewelry give a young jewelry maker the unique experience of growing their own stones. Just mix up the crystal powder and pour it into a jewelry finding, and like magic a colorful crystal will growright on the jewelry! Make pendants, a necklace, earrings and a ring. 8 pieces in all! The kit includes 6 crystal powder packets, mixing bowl, 6 plastic cups, 6 stir sticks, sheet of duct tape stickers, 4 pendants, 1 ring, 2 earrings, jump rings, 2 earring hooks, satin cord and easy instructions. Recommended for children 9 years of age and older.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Does Not Make Clean Jewelry Pieces\\n\\nReview: This DIY Crystal Jewelry kit is similar to making rock candy, although at least you can eat rock candy. This particular set comes with plastic containers, stirring sticks, and packets of crystals in various colors that your kids dissolve into hot water. These really need to be microwaved by an adult to dissolve the crystals fully, which I did for them. The kit also contains pre-\\\"seeded\\\" pendants, earrings and ring jewelry pieces that come with a fine layer of crystals already on them (pink colored), over which you should be able to grow the crystals you just dissolved in the water. In order to prevent crystals from growing on other parts of the jewelry (the backside, the metal rings), the kit comes with grey duct tape pre-cut into the shape of the pendants/ jewelry, so that the backs and other metal parts of the jewelry can be covered.\\n\\nMy kids enjoyed the crystal dissolving part of the project- the mixing and stirring part, and choosing which jewelry items would go into which colored pot. However, there was a bit of a bummer part, where they needed to wait up to 5 days (we waited 4), for the crystals to grow. As you can see from the results, the crystals grew haphazardly all over the jewelry, including the bottom of the containers, creating quite a mess. The bluish circle, for example, are the 2 earrings encased in the circle of crystals grown all over the bottom of the pot. The crystals can easily be broken off the areas you don't want them to be (we broke off a lot of crystals surrounding the 2 cleaner looking pendants at the bottom of my pic), but they also easily break off the jewelry parts where you want the crystals as well- one of the pendant's crystals fell off the face completely as we tried to carefully break the non-desired portions. The crystal water also stains hands strongly, so I recommend gloves. I don't actually want my kids to wear these pieces, because they crumble so easily, the crystals being very delicate. This is an interesting science experiment, where your child can learn about the methods by which crystals can be grown, but if it's science you're looking for, I'd just recommend making rock candy and skipping this set.\",\n \"Product: Imhotep. The legendary architect of the Egyptian monuments. His awe-inspiring structures and brutal tactics earned him divine status among ancient Egyptians. Can you match his ruthless determination to build the most revered monuments? To do this, you will need to transport stone blocks on ships from your quarry to different construction sites. But you alone do not choose where the ships go. Your opponents have monumental plans of their own and want to prevent your success. A fierce competition for the precious stone resources plays out. Only with the right strategy and a little luck can you succeed. In Imhotep, the players take on the roles of ancient Egyptian architects. Over six rounds, they try to transport their stone blocks to end up in the most valuable positions at five construction sites: pyramid, obelisk, chamber tomb, temple, and market. But a player can only choose one of three actions in a turn: excavate a new stone block from the quarry, load a block onto a ship, or move a ship to a construction site. From there, the massive stone blocks must be unloaded in order from bow to stern and placed on the sites in preset sequences. Depending on where the blocks end up, players earn different point values either immediately or at the end of the game. In each turn, you must weigh your options for getting your own stones into place and thwarting your opponents' placement plans. You must get your blocks to the right places, in the right order, at the right time to be the greatest architect.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Strategy Game to Maximize Points\\n\\nReview: Pretty cool game to play w the family, but four players are the max at one time. I'd say this game is less about building structures, and more about counting points and strategizing for the greatest number of points in elaborate rule-based ways, by the end of the game. You also end up creating small \\\"monuments\\\" as you try to maximize your points. You have four options during each turn: 1) get a \\\"stone\\\" (wooden block of your color) from the quarry, 2) place a stone on a ship, 3) transport the ship to either the market, the pyramid site, the temple, the burial chamber, or the obelisk site, or 4) play one of the \\\"blue market cards\\\". Each option moves you toward placing your stones in monument formations at various sites, and depending on where you place your stone at the site, and how you block your opponents, you'll achieve a varied number of points.\\n\\nThere are only six rounds per game (although we frequently ended up continuing to play until the first person ran out of stones), and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins. The instructions are clearly placed in a glossy magazine-type (12 pages) format with pictures, and were reasonably easy to follow. Even though we made a few counting missteps the first few times we played, we eventually were able to figure it all out, and it didn't take away from the fun in the game. My 10 and 12 yos enjoyed this as well, and they were able to pick up different strategies to maximize points over a few plays. So there is a bit of a starting learning curve, but it is a fun game overall, and makes a nice addition to game night.\",\n \"Product: It's time to get medieval on physics! Build ten sleek and updated models of catapults and crossbows. These classic siege weapons from the middle ages also happen to be great tools for teaching physics, including lessons in force, energy, motion, and projectiles. A crossbow is a medieval type of weapon based on a bow and arrow, in which the bow is mounted horizontally on a stock. Build and experiment with five different types of crossbows. The projectile, called the bolt, has a safe foam tip and a special cross-section that prevents other projectiles from being launched. When the bolt is loaded into the crossbow, a rubber band is pulled backward and energy is stored in the stretched rubber band. A trigger releases the bolt and the rubber band launches it through the air toward its target. A catapult is another medieval ballistic device that uses mechanical rubber bands and counterweights to fling projectiles into the air. The 32-page, full-color manual has illustrated step-by-step instructions.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Really Fun For the Kids. Too Tough For Me- heh\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R1LQ8W2YEPXZF7\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91Y4D30PKoS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91PdpPg7kqS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> Ok. I was originally going to give this 4 stars, because while I thought this was a pretty awesome concept and learning tool [an assembly kit that allows you to make all manner of medieval weapons while learning the physical (physics) concepts that make them work], I thought the picture assembly directions were very tough to follow. I spent a few days trying to assemble the first item, the Classic Crossbow, and was not doing too well... my husband saw me struggling with the kit, and said, \\\"why don't you wait till the weekend so [our daughter] can work on it? she'll be done w her homework by then.\\\" That was enuf motivation for me to give up! Well, it's Friday evening now, and she finished it up in no time flat, even telling me that the part that i'd completed over this past week was wrong- \\\"You did it wrong mom.\\\" Well. thank goodness someone in this household can understand these concepts. Now that I know it's probably just me, I feel confident that this is a great kit for my (10 and 12 yo) kids. There are ten separate weapons systems you can make:\\n\\n1) Classic Crossbow\\n2) Trebuchet one\\n3) Scorpion\\n4) Weighted Catapult\\n5) Reverse-draw Crossbow\\n6) Compound Crossbow\\n7) Trebuchet two\\n8) Ballista\\n9) Catapult one\\n10) Mangonel\\n\\nI didn't even know what some of these weapons were before reading about them in the 32 page \\\"Experiment Manual.\\\"-- for example, each Experiment entails building one of the weapons above, learning a bit about the history of the weapon in the \\\"Background\\\" section, and obtaining a comprehension of the physical concepts that make the device work in the \\\"What's Happening?\\\" section. In the Mangonel Experiment #10, the background explains that, \\\"The mangonel is often what people think of when they think of a catapult. Historically, the mangonel was not able to throw projectiles as far or with as great of a velocity as the trebuchet. This is because a lot of the energy goes into accelerating the arm itself which means less energy goes into the projectile.\\\" The What's Happening? section for the Mangonel basically explains that maximizing an object's time in the air is a function of the height from which the projectile is shot- important for sports like tennis, football or diving.\\n\\nThis is another great Thames & Kosmos science /fun kit, that puts pleasure in learning. We have a few of their kits now. The manuals /books they provide with the kits are equally, if not more, important than the projects themselves, and they tie the projects and theory together smoothly. The only sad thing about this Catapults and Crossbows kit is that you have to disassemble each Experiment before building another- there are only enough pieces for one project at a time. While my daughter was building the crossbow, my son was making up an \\\"egg-catcher\\\" he called it, with some of the leftover pieces (pic- not a real egg but an included catapult ball). He took the crossbow she finished (see vid of him shooting the projectile into the floor), and won't give it back, so she can't make the next project.\",\n \"Product: What kids aren't wild about animals? They all are and that's why they'll love this kit that gives them 8 Super fun projects to make, share, give, love and learn about. We give them everything they'll need to create an animal mask, A cute necklace, The world's most adorable yarn Lion, animal ear headbands, and more. It's a kit that contains all kind of warm fuzzy and fun things.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cute Individual Projects for Your Craft-Loving Kids\\n\\nReview: This is a really nice activity set with individual projects in their own clear envelopes, so your kids don't have to hunt around for the necessary items required for each animal-themed craft provided. There is a good picture instruction booklet with clear step-by-step directions showing how to make your craft and what's included in the set, as well as the items you need from home (scissors, crayons/ markers/ colored pencils, ruler, and iron- for adult use).\\n\\nMy kids needed some help with the directions for using double-sided sticky glue tape, which they had never seen before, and for ironing the Pawprint Charm project (ironing sets the pom poms permanently into the sticky double-sided tape). The Bunny Necklace project needs some basic knotting skills and dexterity in putting yarn through small holes, as well as adult help for more ironing of sticky tape. I'd say the most difficult project is the Animal Wallet, which requires basic sewing skills (they provide a thick yellow plastic needle) and uses two small metal \\\"brads\\\" (button on top, two separating metal legs on the bottom) to secure the felt eyes onto the face. The rest of the projects are fairly self-explanatory, and make for a fun afternoon of activity, even for older children. They recommend ages 6+, and my kids who are 10 and 12 liked working on the projects a lot, and thought the items they made were really cute.\",\n \"Product: ALEX Spa Fab Foil Tattoos gives you a temporary way to make a lasting impression. Shiny foil tattoos and gleaming-bling gem tattoos shimmer in the light to grab your attention. The designs all feature the colors silver and gold, so you can match an outfit, jewelry, nails or makeup. The kit includes 3 gem tattoos, 35 foil tattoos, sponge and easy instructions. Recommended for children 8 years of age and older.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty Faux Jewelry- Metallic Temp Tattoos\\n\\nReview: These ALEX Spa Fab Foils are basically temporary tattoos that incorporate metallic foil surfaces for shine. In the pack are two sheets with numerous tattoo patterns, three jewel stickers-tattoos (little raised shiny plastic \\\"jewels\\\" placed in a design, backed with sticky adhesive), an instruction sheet and a small triangular sponge. The tattoos are pretty, and the dominant color is listed on the pack- in this case, gold and silver, but other foil packs of pink and teal are available too. The designs are cleverly made into necklace, bracelet and ring strands/ fronts, in addition to larger patterns, so that the tattoos look like you might be wearing jewelry. My kids cut out some of the designs they wanted, and placed them face down on their arms and wet the backs w the included sponge, as you would w any regular temp tattoos. They came off the paper easily, and looked very shiny.\\n\\nThese are definitely fun for the young crowd,... or can be a fashion statement if you are a Beyonce-styled hipster. I saw a pic a few yrs back of the singer in a tropical setting with gold tattoo jewelry, similar to these, and noticed that these faux jewelry tattoos are also popular w adults- <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Premium-Metallic-Tattoos-75-Shimmer-Designs-in-Gold-Silver-Black-Turquoise-Temporary-Fake-Jewelry-Tattoos-Bracelets-Feathers-Wrist-Arm-Bands-More-Delila-Collection/dp/B00ZBN19QA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Premium Metallic Tattoos - 75+ Shimmer Designs in Gold, Silver, Black & Turquoise - Temporary Fake Jewelry Tattoos - Bracelets, Feathers, Wrist & Arm Bands, & More (Delila Collection)</a> or this:<a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Metallic-Temporary-Tattoo-10-SHEETS-With-Over-200-Tattoos-Gold-Silver-Color-Temporary-Tattoos-High-Gloss-Shimmer-Effect-by-Pinky-Petals/dp/B01J67T9QS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Metallic Temporary Tattoo - 10 SHEETS With Over 200+ Tattoos - Gold Silver Color Temporary Tattoos - High Gloss Shimmer Effect by Pinky Petals</a> I took off one star here, only because this ALEX set w two sheets seems pricey compared w competitors. On the other hand, ALEX does provide the three raised plastic jewel \\\"tattoos\\\" which are actually stickers, but still a big hit w the kids. These are a fun way to put some sparkle on your body without wearing actual jewelry.\",\n \"Product: Packed with 26 unique step-by-step projects, the 3Doodler Project Book will guide you through the basics of how to use your 3Doodler 3D printing pen and take you on a journey all the way from beginner to master Doodler.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Some Good Basics and Fun Ideas\\n\\nReview: My kids have a 3D pen, but it's not a 3Doodler. We have the Hatchbox <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/HATCHBOX-1-75mm-3D-Printing-Pen-with-LCD-Screen-for-ABS-and-PLA-Filaments/dp/B017I3XW7O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">HATCHBOX 1.75mm 3D Printing Pen with LCD Screen for ABS and PLA Filaments</a>, which does not have the different pen tips (interchangeable nozzles) that 3Doodler comes with, as described in this 3Doodler book. Even so, this book was very informative and is usable for 3D pens in general, and my kids and I learned a lot of different techniques and ideas from this Project Book. For example, we did not realize that there were various media, besides the more common ABS and PLA filling strands available. The book also discusses and uses a rubberized, elastic plastic called FLEXY for some projects (such as for making a wallet and headband) and a wood fiber and PLA composite called WOOD, that apparently looks like wood. Also, there is a starter section they call \\\"Bootcamp,\\\" which provides three \\\"Drills\\\" for basic shapes that use techniques that can be incorporated in any project, such as how to make a cube, a squiggly tower, and a simple animal (Doodle Dog). The 26 projects are the following, and the book places them in order of easy to hard:\\n\\n1) butterfly\\n2) wallet\\n3) mixed media (bonding plastic extrusions with fabrics, string, glass, etc...)\\n4) pyramid star\\n5) headband w flower\\n6) tree\\n7) portraits (doodle trace on top of a picture/ photo copy)\\n8) bird and birdcage\\n9) hamburger\\n10) dragon\\n11) dinosaur\\n12) windmill\\n13) gorilla\\n14) airplane\\n15) bobblehead cowboy\\n16) articulated action figure (they show you how to make a general body, and you can personalize it)\\n17) vase\\n18) bringing photos to life (they built a pirate ship, but you need to figure out how on your own- they provide guidance on what they did)\\n19) Day of the dead sugar skull (u need a desktop 3D printer, or u can buy a plastic skull and doodle decorate)\\n20) autumn leaves\\n21) jack o'lantern (good primer on how to make a spherical shape w/o a balled up tissue paper insert as in some of the projects)\\n22) thanksgiving turkey (using the balled up tissue paper insert, and u doodle around it for the body)\\n23) bauble (more tissue paper insert spheres for ornaments and snowmen)\\n24) reindeer\\n25) santa ornament\\n26) hanukkah dreidel (need desktop 3D printer, or plastic dreidel to decorate)\\n\\nEven though some of these projects are a bit vague on directions (or require outside parts or 3D desk printers on a few), i still think this book is worthwhile, because you get really nice examples of different work created by many artists (listed in back). The book has beautiful pictures on each page, and the ideas are clever. I recommend this book as a nice starter book for ideas generally, with some step-by-step basics covered. I attached a pic with some of the creatures my kids have made, incorporating some of the techniques and ideas in the book (pic including blue objects). The other three pics are from the book, which also include stencils u can copy.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":200,"string":"200"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":85,"string":"85"}}},{"rowIdx":86,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A13OWJOBS7Z90I"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Gina Lake is the author of over twenty books about awakening to one's true nature, including From Stress to Stillness, All Grace, In the World But Not of It, The Jesus Trilogy, A Heroic Life, Trusting Life, Embracing the Now, Radical Happiness, and Choosing Love. She is also a gifted intuitive with a master's degree in counseling psychology and over twenty-five years' experience supporting people in their spiritual growth. Her website offers information about her books and online course, a free ebook, a newsletter, a blog, and audio and video recordings.\". The summary of the review text is \"Return to Essence is a MUST READ\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I adore Gina Lake's writing and the voice she gives to Theo, the entity she channels. Each book brings gentle, guiding messages to each of us. The work is similar in meaning to Eckhart Tolle's work, but a bit less esoteric and a bit easier to understand for those of us who make need that :-D\n\nGetting into the FLOW of life and then STAYING in the FLOW of life is the essence of this book. Once we can achieve this state we all desire to stay in it, but sometimes life gets in the way and before you know it...you have slid back into your old ways :-D This book will help you STAY in the flow...ahhhh.\n\nReturn to Essence is one of my favorites and I strongly recommend you buy it and enjoy it."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I adore Gina Lake's writing and the voice she gives to Theo, the entity she channels. Each book brings gentle, guiding messages to each of us. The work is similar in meaning to Eckhart Tolle's work, but a bit less esoteric and a bit easier to understand for those of us who make need that :-D\n\nGetting into the FLOW of life and then STAYING in the FLOW of life is the essence of this book. Once we can achieve this state we all desire to stay in it, but sometimes life gets in the way and before you know it...you have slid back into your old ways :-D This book will help you STAY in the flow...ahhhh.\n\nReturn to Essence is one of my favorites and I strongly recommend you buy it and enjoy it."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: From the producer of Alice in Wonderland comes a new vision that turns a legendary tale into an action-adventure epic. The evil Queen Ravenna (Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) will rule forever if she can take the life of Snow White (Kristen Stewart), so she dispatches the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to track her down. But the wicked ruler never imagined that the Huntsman would train the girl to become a brave warrior, skilled in the art of war. Filled with intense battles and spectacular visual effects, Snow White & the Huntsman is a thrilling experience that shouldnt be missed Shawn Edwards, Fox-TV.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great special effects, strong story\n\nReview: I love streaming movies via Amazon. Quality is fabulous and you cannot beat the convenience! I was going to give the movie 4 stars (and not five) because Kristen Stewart did another EMO, lip-biting, damsel in distress role that we have all seen (and many do not love). What is the fixation with her? Prettier than Charlize Theron? Really? That was my only complaint with the movie and that is not Amazon's fault - Amanda Seiyfreid would have been much better in the role, except for the fact that she just did the OTHER similar movie. Oh well...back to the review.\n\nThanks, Amazon, for this service! GREAT job. Oh, I use a ROKU device and love it, my iPhone with an app is the remote and it is flawless. Love this system.","Product: After getting a taste for blood as children, Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) have become the ultimate vigilantes, hell-bent on retribution. Now, unbeknownst to them, Hansel and Gretel have become the hunted, and must face an evil far greater than witches...their past.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fun Re-Telling of Hansel & Gretel\n\nReview: OK, this was not one of those movies that you clutch and grasp your pearls as it reveals the meaning of life or has you weeping from how touching it is. Was it a fun watch for a Friday night - heck yeah! CGI was pretty durn good, the casting was decent - Jeremy Renner did an unexpectedly good job in a lighter role - he is kind of an intense guy and he made it work perfectly for this show.\n\nWell, worth streaming for $3.99. It was one of those where I turned to the husband and said, \"That was fun\" instead of screaming at the TV to give me my $3.99 back. I recommend it, just go into it with an open mind and ready for a fun couple of hours of mind candy. Oh, parent alert - F-bombs, which were not really necessary. I think they could have left that out and this show would be great for older kids. Just my two bits and the producers did not call and ask my opinion, so what the heck.","Product: Product description 8.5\" x 5.5\" USPS - UPS Labels Each package of USPS Compatible Labels (Shipping Assistant Labels) contains 100 sheets of 8-1/2\" x 5-1/2\" labels, two labels per sheet. These self adhesive labels are made from white smudge proof stock, and can be used on both Laser and Ink Jet Printers. This label is used by many on line postage and mailing programs.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: I am so disappointed\n\nReview: First, they were REALLY smelly when I opened the package...like \"where is my white jumpsuit and gas mask smelly\" - that I can get over. I loved how they were super easy to peel off and the curved die cut of the two labels is nice...\n\nBUT for my HP LaserJet CP1525nw they keep jamming and jamming and jamming. My head actually exploded the first day I used them. The seller names on these off-brand labels seem to change, so it is hard to keep up with the labels I like and the ones I don't. I can hear my husband saying, \"You get what you pay for.\" I loathe when he is right. I also loathe writing a marginal review, but I don't want anyone else's head to explode...would be on my conscience.\n\nADDITION: I had posted this earlier today and just spent another hour trying to get a few labels to print. I had to individually straighten each sheet (they were stored in pack they came in FLAT) and stand on one foot while jumping up and down to get them to feed through. Yes, I ordered different labels and they will be here tomorrow...but for today, I gotta deal with these. I know I am not walking seven miles each day to carry water in a goat bladder, but it is still annoying...first world country problem, but it is still making me sad.","Product: In work simply, renowned productivity expert carson tate helps you discover your personal working style, so you never have to feel overwhelmed again. Your time is under attack. You just can't get enough done. You spend more time managing your productivity than doing actual work. Sound familiar? in work simply, renowned productivity expert carson tate offers a step-by-step guide to making work simple again. It's about using the style that works best for you. Most of us fit into one of four productivity styles: people-focused arrangers; goal-oriented prioritizers; visualizers, who comprehend the big picture; and planners, who live for the details. In this book, you'll learn how to identify your own style and the styles of those around you; how to maximize your effectiveness; and why a messy desk is right for some, but a disaster for others. You'll discover a productivity system that truly fits you - and you'll never feel overwhelmed again.carson tate's mission is to bring productivity with passion back to the workplace. She is the founder and principal of working simply and serves as a consultant, coach and trainer to executives at fortune 500 companies. A renowned expert on workplace productivity, she has featured in forbes, fast company and the new york times.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One Tip At A Time...Book Really Helped Me!\n\nReview: This is one of those books you probably won't sit down, read, shut and say Tah Dah...I know what to do now! If you so, you probably didn't need to read it in the first place. For the rest of us mere mortals who have tried umpteen organizational systems looking for the Holy Grail of time management, my best advice is...skim through the book, go back and read one chapter, implement a strategy or two and repeat until you make it through the whole book.\n\nAs someone with the superpower of, as the nice therapist lady said \"off-the-charts-ADHD\", I have implemented many of her strategies successfully. One at a time has worked for me, with an eye on the golden ring of smiling at the end of each workday, rather than sobbing hot tears of frustration into my keyboard as I wail, \"I can't go any faster, I'll never finish this....\" Not that I have ever done that...\n\nGet the book, sign up for her newsletter, give her style a shot! Hopefully it will click for you and help a bit. And that is all I ask for in a productivity type book...a few nuggets that help, not to wake up as a born-again chill organized person.","Product: Nathaniel Friedland field-tested his practical psychic development system in over 20,000 successful readings on the Psychic Friends Network. His previous book was \"The Occult Explosion,\" a pioneering survey of New Age in the USA.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Lives Up To The Title\n\nReview: I am an avid reader of metaphysical books and found this one to be especially good. The exercises are fast, easy and most importantly THEY WORK! I have been to lots of workshops etc. etc. etc. and was just amazed at how easy the exercises are to connect with. One of the things I liked best about this book is that the author does not claim to be \"gifted\" from birth, from ten generations of psychic readers or suffered a near death experience. He seems to be a basic guy that taught himself how to really tap into his innate psychic abilities. Then he takes it a step further and shares his knowledge. I really related to his writing and teaching style.\n\nWell worth the price, I even just ordered the cassette (now I just have to find a cassette player - hahahaha)!\n\nKathy"],"string":"[\n \"Product: From the producer of Alice in Wonderland comes a new vision that turns a legendary tale into an action-adventure epic. The evil Queen Ravenna (Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) will rule forever if she can take the life of Snow White (Kristen Stewart), so she dispatches the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to track her down. But the wicked ruler never imagined that the Huntsman would train the girl to become a brave warrior, skilled in the art of war. Filled with intense battles and spectacular visual effects, Snow White & the Huntsman is a thrilling experience that shouldnt be missed Shawn Edwards, Fox-TV.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great special effects, strong story\\n\\nReview: I love streaming movies via Amazon. Quality is fabulous and you cannot beat the convenience! I was going to give the movie 4 stars (and not five) because Kristen Stewart did another EMO, lip-biting, damsel in distress role that we have all seen (and many do not love). What is the fixation with her? Prettier than Charlize Theron? Really? That was my only complaint with the movie and that is not Amazon's fault - Amanda Seiyfreid would have been much better in the role, except for the fact that she just did the OTHER similar movie. Oh well...back to the review.\\n\\nThanks, Amazon, for this service! GREAT job. Oh, I use a ROKU device and love it, my iPhone with an app is the remote and it is flawless. Love this system.\",\n \"Product: After getting a taste for blood as children, Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) have become the ultimate vigilantes, hell-bent on retribution. Now, unbeknownst to them, Hansel and Gretel have become the hunted, and must face an evil far greater than witches...their past.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun Re-Telling of Hansel & Gretel\\n\\nReview: OK, this was not one of those movies that you clutch and grasp your pearls as it reveals the meaning of life or has you weeping from how touching it is. Was it a fun watch for a Friday night - heck yeah! CGI was pretty durn good, the casting was decent - Jeremy Renner did an unexpectedly good job in a lighter role - he is kind of an intense guy and he made it work perfectly for this show.\\n\\nWell, worth streaming for $3.99. It was one of those where I turned to the husband and said, \\\"That was fun\\\" instead of screaming at the TV to give me my $3.99 back. I recommend it, just go into it with an open mind and ready for a fun couple of hours of mind candy. Oh, parent alert - F-bombs, which were not really necessary. I think they could have left that out and this show would be great for older kids. Just my two bits and the producers did not call and ask my opinion, so what the heck.\",\n \"Product: Product description 8.5\\\" x 5.5\\\" USPS - UPS Labels Each package of USPS Compatible Labels (Shipping Assistant Labels) contains 100 sheets of 8-1/2\\\" x 5-1/2\\\" labels, two labels per sheet. These self adhesive labels are made from white smudge proof stock, and can be used on both Laser and Ink Jet Printers. This label is used by many on line postage and mailing programs.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: I am so disappointed\\n\\nReview: First, they were REALLY smelly when I opened the package...like \\\"where is my white jumpsuit and gas mask smelly\\\" - that I can get over. I loved how they were super easy to peel off and the curved die cut of the two labels is nice...\\n\\nBUT for my HP LaserJet CP1525nw they keep jamming and jamming and jamming. My head actually exploded the first day I used them. The seller names on these off-brand labels seem to change, so it is hard to keep up with the labels I like and the ones I don't. I can hear my husband saying, \\\"You get what you pay for.\\\" I loathe when he is right. I also loathe writing a marginal review, but I don't want anyone else's head to explode...would be on my conscience.\\n\\nADDITION: I had posted this earlier today and just spent another hour trying to get a few labels to print. I had to individually straighten each sheet (they were stored in pack they came in FLAT) and stand on one foot while jumping up and down to get them to feed through. Yes, I ordered different labels and they will be here tomorrow...but for today, I gotta deal with these. I know I am not walking seven miles each day to carry water in a goat bladder, but it is still annoying...first world country problem, but it is still making me sad.\",\n \"Product: In work simply, renowned productivity expert carson tate helps you discover your personal working style, so you never have to feel overwhelmed again. Your time is under attack. You just can't get enough done. You spend more time managing your productivity than doing actual work. Sound familiar? in work simply, renowned productivity expert carson tate offers a step-by-step guide to making work simple again. It's about using the style that works best for you. Most of us fit into one of four productivity styles: people-focused arrangers; goal-oriented prioritizers; visualizers, who comprehend the big picture; and planners, who live for the details. In this book, you'll learn how to identify your own style and the styles of those around you; how to maximize your effectiveness; and why a messy desk is right for some, but a disaster for others. You'll discover a productivity system that truly fits you - and you'll never feel overwhelmed again.carson tate's mission is to bring productivity with passion back to the workplace. She is the founder and principal of working simply and serves as a consultant, coach and trainer to executives at fortune 500 companies. A renowned expert on workplace productivity, she has featured in forbes, fast company and the new york times.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One Tip At A Time...Book Really Helped Me!\\n\\nReview: This is one of those books you probably won't sit down, read, shut and say Tah Dah...I know what to do now! If you so, you probably didn't need to read it in the first place. For the rest of us mere mortals who have tried umpteen organizational systems looking for the Holy Grail of time management, my best advice is...skim through the book, go back and read one chapter, implement a strategy or two and repeat until you make it through the whole book.\\n\\nAs someone with the superpower of, as the nice therapist lady said \\\"off-the-charts-ADHD\\\", I have implemented many of her strategies successfully. One at a time has worked for me, with an eye on the golden ring of smiling at the end of each workday, rather than sobbing hot tears of frustration into my keyboard as I wail, \\\"I can't go any faster, I'll never finish this....\\\" Not that I have ever done that...\\n\\nGet the book, sign up for her newsletter, give her style a shot! Hopefully it will click for you and help a bit. And that is all I ask for in a productivity type book...a few nuggets that help, not to wake up as a born-again chill organized person.\",\n \"Product: Nathaniel Friedland field-tested his practical psychic development system in over 20,000 successful readings on the Psychic Friends Network. His previous book was \\\"The Occult Explosion,\\\" a pioneering survey of New Age in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Lives Up To The Title\\n\\nReview: I am an avid reader of metaphysical books and found this one to be especially good. The exercises are fast, easy and most importantly THEY WORK! I have been to lots of workshops etc. etc. etc. and was just amazed at how easy the exercises are to connect with. One of the things I liked best about this book is that the author does not claim to be \\\"gifted\\\" from birth, from ten generations of psychic readers or suffered a near death experience. He seems to be a basic guy that taught himself how to really tap into his innate psychic abilities. Then he takes it a step further and shares his knowledge. I really related to his writing and teaching style.\\n\\nWell worth the price, I even just ordered the cassette (now I just have to find a cassette player - hahahaha)!\\n\\nKathy\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":5,"string":"5"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":86,"string":"86"}}},{"rowIdx":87,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1WCJQWPDVH5RY"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"J.M. Benjamin is a successful, powerful and impacting author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker from Plainfield, New Jersey. Since released from prison he has received numerous of accolades and recognition for his Essence Best novel Ride Or Die Chick. J.M. Benjamin is also, the Award Winning author of Down In the Dirty, My Manz and Em, On The Run With Love, Ride Or Die Chick 2, the recently award nominated novel Heaven and Earth and a co-author of the non-fiction motivational book From Incarceration 2 Incorporation. He is also the contributing author to several anthologies, Christmas In The Hood, Menace II Society, The Massacre and Soft with some of the top authors in urban lit. J.M. quickly made his presence felt in the genre of Urban Literature after the completion of his incarceration with his freshman novel Down In The Dirty. After appearing on The Wendy Williams Experience and The Michael Baisden Show J.M. career as an author soared to new heights after sharing how and why he started writing. Ironically, having spent more than half his life in the streets and a substantial amount of time in prison, J.M. Benjamin only credential as a street tale story teller is simply his own first hand experience and knowledge of what the street life consists of. Growing up in an urban community and practically being raised in the streets, J.M. Benjamin s upbringing provided him with the necessary tools he now uses in his work to capture and display the reality and horrors of the streets worldwide. J.M. went on to become a motivational speaker after receiving several email invitations and calls from schools, churches, facilities, various mentoring organizations and programs asking to share his journey of redemption once a thirty minute television interview about his life was aired on a NJN News show called Another View with Candace Kelley. Thereafter he began collaborating with The Mayor of his city, The Board of Education, nonprofit organizations and even local authorities to aid them in the fight against gang violence, saving our youth and re-claiming the community. He became a mentor for at risk youth as well as an activist. He shares his experiences and knowledge of the streets as well, as how writing was and continues to be his outlet, in hopes to make a difference. He also became a member of the C.E.C Alumni, Community Education Center after successfully completing their life skills program and returning to society to implement the tools he obtained from their curriculum into his everyday living. J.M. embarked on yet another endeavor, opening up an African American bookstore in his hometown, to provide a place for other independent authors to house their work and enhance the reading of the youth who have gravitated to urban lit above all other genres. J.M. Benjamin is the founder and CEO of A New Quality Publishing and publisher of the urban novels Back Stabbers I & II by Nyema, Have You Ever...? By FiFi Cureton, The Ski Mask Way 2 By Randy Ski Thompson, Breaking London By J-Rod Nider, The Robbery Report By Glorious, Allure By Erica Kimberly. In addition, J.M. signed Actress Cherie Johnson Of The 80 s Sitcom Punky Brewster and popular 90 s Sitcom Family Matters and published her collaborative novel titled Around The World Twice. Most recently, J.M. launched an independent monthly newspaper called Success Newspaper, highlighting and offering recognition to minorities who have overcome adversities and challenges and gone off to become successful in life. For more info on J.M. go to; anewqualitypublishing.com or facebook.com/Jm Benjamin Twitter.com/jmbenjamin\". The summary of the review text is \"A Love Like None Other\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"He's back like he never left, why is that? Because he never left us without a book to read. Mr. Benjamin comes back strong in this third part to the series. Be forewarned you will need part 4 and quick. Yes I said it, you will not be ready for this series to end, you are going to need more.\n\nWe pick up three years later and lil' Treacherous is haunted by the death of his mother. What child wouldn't be seeing as he was there in the final moments of her life. He holds onto the memory of his parents by reading his mom's journal. Through her journals, he is able to keep them alive, while he plots revenge. Then an incident in group home lands lil' Treach in a mental hospital. There he meets Baby, and after a courtship that even she can't deny, they become kindred spirits. As their love blossoms, it reminds me more and more of his parents love. They both have their issues but together they are sane and whole. We could all yearn for that kind of love. Even if you wanted not to you can't help but to root for these two. If you're not up on this series tell me what are you waiting for?\n\nI truly enjoyed this book until the end, I wanted more. I need more, need to see how this is going to play out. Was left with no closure and that didn't sit well. Mr. Benjamin has piqued my interest and I will be on deck waiting for part four as I have to see how this going to play out. Even with the cliff hanger, this is a recommended read.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n5 star rating\n1/23//12"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"He's back like he never left, why is that? Because he never left us without a book to read. Mr. Benjamin comes back strong in this third part to the series. Be forewarned you will need part 4 and quick. Yes I said it, you will not be ready for this series to end, you are going to need more.\n\nWe pick up three years later and lil' Treacherous is haunted by the death of his mother. What child wouldn't be seeing as he was there in the final moments of her life. He holds onto the memory of his parents by reading his mom's journal. Through her journals, he is able to keep them alive, while he plots revenge. Then an incident in group home lands lil' Treach in a mental hospital. There he meets Baby, and after a courtship that even she can't deny, they become kindred spirits. As their love blossoms, it reminds me more and more of his parents love. They both have their issues but together they are sane and whole. We could all yearn for that kind of love. Even if you wanted not to you can't help but to root for these two. If you're not up on this series tell me what are you waiting for?\n\nI truly enjoyed this book until the end, I wanted more. I need more, need to see how this is going to play out. Was left with no closure and that didn't sit well. Mr. Benjamin has piqued my interest and I will be on deck waiting for part four as I have to see how this going to play out. Even with the cliff hanger, this is a recommended read.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n5 star rating\n1/23//12"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Moses Miller is an award winning author, journalist and co-founder of Mind Candy, LLC, which is a company focused on book publishing and the development of creative and thought provoking screenplays. A native New Yorker, Moses exhibits the uncanny ability to capture the pulse of the streets with intelligence, strong character development and well thought out storylines. In the past, he has contributed articles and written for various websites and publications including The Voice, Newsday and 88HIPHOP.COM where he is currently the Editor in Chief of content. He holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management and a Masters of Science degree in Technology Management obtained from Polytechnic University. His first novel, Nan: The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones has received awards and critical acclaim from critics, readers and book clubs around the world. After selling thousands of copies of his first novel, Mr. Miller cemented a deal with F.E.D.S. magazine resulting in a joint venture to publish his second release, Once Upon A Time in Harlem in September of 2007. The highly anticipated second installment in the Nan series, The Game of Trife, will be released through his company Mind Candy, LLC in the summer of 2008. Mr. Miller is a socially conscious individual that strives to play a key role in helping to improve the literacy rates amongst African American and Hispanic teens. Through his American Me Voices of Our Youth program, he has partnered with several other organizations in an effort to decrease the high school dropout rates plaguing lower income communities. The program encourages teens to read and also offers exposure to aspiring authors and creative writers. Awards and Accomplishments: Most Outstanding Rising Urban Novelist ---YOUnity Guild 2007. Best New Author--- Infini Awards 2008. Most Underrated Author s List--- Urban Book Source 2008. For The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones, Mr. Miller won the following awards: 5 out of 5 Top Shelf Rating--- UrbanReviews.com. Best Characters--- Infini Awards 2008. Best Street/Urban Fiction Novel--- Afr Am Fest Literary Awards 2008.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Right Where We Left Off\n\nReview: Moses Miller brings us the highly anticipated sequel. Picking up right where he left off with Nan: The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones. If you have not read part one you need to cop that like a crack addict needing a hit. I promise you will NOT be disappointed.\n\nWe start off with Nan seeking revenge for all the love ones he has lost and the body count still counting. Retuning for the sequel Officer Carson the man, we all wish to see in a body bag. Of course, Officer Carson is still making mayhem for Nan. Each trying to stay five steps ahead of the other as they are now archenemies. Both have blood on their hands Carson from covering his tracks and Nan from trying to survive a game he was NEVER meant to survive. This story is so good I cannot even begin to go into details. You gonna have to read the book. This book answers all my questions and more. With a lot of unexpected twist and turns had me on the edge of my seat. I was routing for Nan as we all know he is a marked man.\n\nAuthor Moses Miller's character devolvement is great! He has a great pen game that has made him one of my favorites. He introduces us to new characters but not limited to Sister Sarah, her grandson Darius, Spider, Gunner, Tony, Derek, and Jada a lost teenager trying to find her way in this cold cruel world we live in. Moses does an amazing job tying them all together. Moses is master in pulling a story together, and a wizard at going into the past and the next chapter bringing us into the present. NO ONE does it better.\n\nThis book in my humble opinion is his best work to date. Moses just keeps getting better. I am always looking forward to reading his next novel. I hope this time he does not keep his fans waiting to long for Nan: Trifecta.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n5 star rating","Product: Author Arlene Brathwaite, born and raised in Albany, N.Y., is the founder and operator of Brathwaite Publishing. She attended Sage College where she majored in Computer Science. In 2006, She propelled herself into the literary world with her debut novel, Youngin. Her status as an author not to be taken lightly was cemented with the follow up to Youngin. Ol Timer. In a span of five years, Arlene has written and published four more novels (In The Cut, Paper Trail, Soul Dancing, and Darkest Before Dawn). Arlene is also co-owner of The Book Club (an urban caf, located in downtown Albany, in the Coliseum mall).\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Love has reasons that Reasons can't understand\n\nReview: This is my first novel by Arlene Brathwaite; I was not disappointed in this one and will check out her earlier work.\n\nAll the character in this book work very well and all had essential part to play in the development of this Novel. They were sneaky, funny and some were trust worthy while other not so. There were no useless characters and they all had background info offered to help understand why they did the things they did.\n\nWe are introduced to Olivia Martin owner of Butta Cutz men's Salon. Olivia is the most sought after barber and looking to take her salon to the next level. When she has a chance meeting with Clayton \"Saint\" Andrews he gives her the means to bring VIP to her shop and plenty of publicity with it. Only it also awakens some past enemies of his. While these two are attracted to one another Saint feels the only way to keep her out of harm way is to distance himself from her. Olivia has other plans while she tries to fight her attraction as well fate just keeps bringing together. Saint has to come clean and let her in on his dangerous past will she stick it out with him? Will his secrets do more harm than good? Will being honest with a woman he is truly in love with bring him a peace of mind? With his enemies hot on his trail is he able to protect himself and keep Olivia out of harm way? While I considered this a romance novel, which I routing for Olivia and Saint to become an official couple, this book had some twist and plots and a street edge to it also.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n4 star rating","Product: Author Arlene Brathwaite, born and raised in Albany, N.Y., is the founder and operator of Brathwaite Publishing. She attended Sage College where she majored in Computer Science. In 2006, She propelled herself into the literary world with her debut novel, Youngin. Her status as an author not to be taken lightly was cemented with the follow up to Youngin. Ol Timer. In a span of five years, Arlene has written and published four more novels (In The Cut, Paper Trail, Soul Dancing, and Darkest Before Dawn). Arlene is also co-owner of The Book Club (an urban caf, located in downtown Albany, in the Coliseum mall).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Hiding in plain sight!\n\nReview: Having read the novel previous to this one \"In the cut\", I felt Ms. Brathwaite was one to lookout for. I was trying to find time to read the two previous novels in this series but never could. After hearing much talk about \"Paper Trail\" I bit the bullet and read it without having read its predecessors. Ms. Brathwaite has talent. I was entertained and stayed up at night to see what was going to happen next. I fell in love with Devon, the main character. Amazingly I only had two questions about the previous books and one was answered in the book. The second wasn't really a big deal I just wanted to know who the \"woman in the park\" was and was told she was just that. So needless to say I finished the book feeling like I was up to speed and saying the way this book was written was EXCELLENT. I am STILL going to find time to read the two previous in this series.\n\nI was impressed with the way the book starts. I have to say the introduction to readers and the start of the story is something very new for me. Not to be outdone the ending was perfect. Everything in between is action packed and drama filled - all that is expected in a novel. Devon Carter has been on the run from the police ever since his right hand man Brian was locked up and turned on. I get the feeling the readers have been asking what has happened to Devon and they will not be disappointed. Devon is doing big things and \"hiding in plain sight.\" Devon was so much more than a drug dealer; he has the brains, wit and the good looks to carry him far in the life of crime.\n\nTo sum it up, I'm not sure who all was in the previous novels but whether they were new or old they all worked well with the story. Ivory, Ginja (who was my favorite other than Devon), Recker, the General, Knots, Porter, Dane, Ripper, Stripes, Arlene and of course Brian were all vital characters and each served a purpose and had a point to be made. I would recommend reading the first two ONLY because Ms. Brathwaite is such a great story teller that I am confident that the readers would not be disappointed. On that note, either way, you can read \"Paper Trail\" as it is written as a stand-alone book.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n5 star rating","Product: Brooke Green is a Manager at a large telecommunications company, and currently resides in Philadelphia, PA with her 2 daughters. She is hard at work on her next book which she plans to release in the near future.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The 1st time you fall for something you're a victim\n\nReview: You, Me And He\n\nDonna has it all in her fianc Keith. Keith is as close to perfect as any woman can get. He is smart, has a great job, house, and car. To top it off he is handsome. So you ask what is his biggest flaw? He is Bisexual.\n\nDonna decides to stay by her man's side as he deals with his \"demons\". She gives him one ultimatum and that is to be faithful to her and only her. Keith does his best to stay faithful. Enter his old college roommate and former lover, Jarrod. Despite being married with a baby on the way, Jarrod is relentless in his quest to win Keith back. Jarrod wants Keith all to himself; he wants them both out of the closet and to live as a couple. With Donna's nemeses back on the scene her perfect little world is threatening to come to an abrupt end. Can Keith stay on the \"straight\" and narrow? Can Donna continue have faith in her man or will the pressure Jarrod is putting on the relationship be too much for her to handle?\n\nThis was a heartfelt story. In today's world with the Down Low man being so prevalent, this was a much-needed book. I love the fact that it's written from the woman's side of the coin. Brooke does a great job expressing the feelings of all the parties involved especially Donna's. I know with me personally I am scared to death to find out I am or have been dealing with a man on the DL and I'm sure it is that way for a lot of women. Throughout the story I often found myself screaming at Donna to get out while she can, lol. I completely understand why she stayed, as her reasoning was she knows what she is getting with Keith, so why take a chance with stepping into another relationship and getting the same result. I constantly wondered- would I have the strength to stay? I believe that was Brooke's intention - to get the reader thinking. She tackles a host of issues from the DL brother to the trust/lack of trust issues, to the STD's so widespread in today's society to the family issues.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc\n4.5 star rating","Product: When I meet people one of the first things they ask is where are you from? Or did you grow up in Harrisburg which is where I currently live. I have a very hard time answering the first question. I was born in Detroit Michigan but don't remember it since I literally only stayed there about a week or so after I was born. I spent most of my life in the Washington Dc, Suburban Maryland area until the age of 14 when I left home and went to Virginia to attend a boarding school from the ninth to the twelfth grade. Every year I was in boarding school I came home in the summer to a different city; first Washington, DC then Charlotte, North Carolina and finally to Harrisburg, PA. When I tell people that they often ask if my parents were in the military? I laugh and say no my mother was just finding herself. So where am I from? I have now officially lived in Harrisburg PA longer than anywhere else so this is home. I am a single mother of three. I once read that children bring our subconscious issues into life. They show us the parts of us that we need to heal. My children have always been my inspiration to push myself to get to the next level. I see little pieces of me in each of them but they have all grown up to have their own distinct personalities. I have worked in the Healthcare industry for over 20 years. I am presently employed for a local Healthcare company and work in the Information Systems department. Although I work in IT I am not a "techie" as most people consider anyone who works in this field. I consider myself to be very analytical which makes people I have know for a long time wonder where all of this creativeness came from all of a sudden. To this I say it has always been there just hidden beneath the surface. I have kept journals as far back as I can remember. I always liked to write and express myself in writing. I have often been told I express myself in writing better than I do verbally. I dabbled in poetry from time to time, but have always gravitated more towards music. I am a singer and have also used that as an outlet for my creative energy. I come from a very musical family. All of our activities usually involve music in some form or fashion. I still sing in church, as often as possible, however, my writing intensified ten years ago while going through my divorce. It was a way for me to express myself without exposing what was really going on inside of me. At one point I allowed a close friend to read some of what I wrote and they commented that I had a very unique way of writing and expressing myself and they encouraged me to continue to write. I have continued to journal and started to write my first book a few years ago but was not able to complete it. Earlier this year (2010) due to some events in my life a story came to me and I sat down and started to write. The words flowed freely and the next thing I knew I had over fifty pages typed. My debut book Yesterday's Lies is the finished product of that brainstorm one summer night. The characters, although,fictional, could be argued by those who know me well,that there are pieces of me in each one of them. Maybe not who I am in real life, but who I would like to be in my fantasy world. I hope that you enjoy reading Yesterday's Lies as much as I have enjoyed writing it. It was a journey to get to the finished product but one that was well worth it. I have met some wonderful people along the way; ones that I hope will remain in my life from this point forward. As we go through the journey of life we cross paths with a lot of people. Some interactions are very brief and some last much longer. The trick is recognizing which ones to grab onto and cultivate and which ones we should let go of. As you read the book ask yourself these questions; How far would you go for your best friend? What secrets would you keep from the one\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Small World Equals Big Lies\n\nReview: I enjoyed this novel. I was asked not to read at first as the author was having the book re-edited. I have received the revised version and am happy to say that the editing was on point. I think Ms. Terri has story telling skills. I look forward to her future works.\n\nOne dreadful event seven years ago has caused a snowball effect that has affected all involved. We all know when you have to keep lying it just leads to digging bigger holes. No one can fully grasp the after effects that changed their lives forever.\n\nJada and David have what appears to be the perfect marriage. Nothing in life is perfect especially when built on deceit. When the walls come crashing down can these two survive the heat?\n\nToni and the love of her life, Benjamin, are headed for bliss. That is until Benjamin disappears without a trace. This leads Toni to have one unsuccessful relationship after another. Now she may be onto a successful one when Benjamin comes back into the picture. The answer he provides will send lives in to a frenzy.\n\nSee how Terri D. shows the emotions that will draw you in. While there are some questions left unanswered, rest assured there is a follow up. I can't lie I am left wanting to see how this plays out. The biggest drawback for me was that I felt some of the story was thrown in for shock value almost seemed like an afterthought although needed in story, should have been introduce earlier in book.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n4 Star Rating\nJune 2012","Product: Born and raised in New York City Brandie Davis graduated with a Bachelors degree in English from York College and is the founder of My Urban Books blog and Facebook book club. From home she continues to pen drama filled novels while developing her blog, geared towards shining light on readers and authors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Another One Bites The Dust\n\nReview: Let me start by saying this sequel rocks and is better than the first. I needtheauthorto hurryupwith the finale. I cant wait to see how the puzzle gets finished. I love her style of writing and getting her points across. I can see improvement in this short period of time and am positive that she will continue to improve in her skills.\n\nRenee is ready to give the underworld up. With all that has taken place in her life she wants the simple life. She is preparing to give the crown to her sister,Carmen,who is more than willing to take over it. What happens when friends and familywarnher that Carmen is not to be trusted?Will Renee finally wise up and listen or will their pleas fall on deaf ears? With a few sub stories going onthere is a lot to keep us turning the pages. With Julian,Renees boyfriend,and Dame her mentor and friend,ablast from the past comes to make an appearance and their presence felt.\n\nI highly recommend that part one be read first to get the full background on Ms. Renee. Really looking forward to finding out how things turn out for Renee. Ms Davis has really entertained me with her two novels and I look forward to seeing more from her in the near future.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc\n5 star rating\nJan 2015","Product: Warren, a native of Baltimore, Md. and a former U.S. Army Specialist, penned a clever three-part series of books - A Private Affair, Sweet Swagger and Sir, Yes Sir and several others - that chronicle Sean's intriguing life, including a revolving door of relationships, turning into a series of lies, deceit and wild weekends. Fans of author E. Lynn Harris will love Warren's creative flair that lures readers into every raunchy detail. His first installment, A Private Affair, introduces us to Sean who lives a life of wild weekends that lead him down a path where he begins to enjoy both men and women. In his sequel, Sweet Swagger, Sean tells his male lover - Cameron - that he can't get him off his mind. The story takes a twist when Sean is accused and arrested for murder. In the third and final book of the series, Sir, Yes, Sir, Sean meets his father for the first time, coming to face with dark family secrets and then finds himself on the verge of getting kicked out of the military. Warren's series and novel, Just Make Him Beautiful, are published by Life Changing Books. The Maryland-based publishing company was started 10 years ago when its founder, Azarel, wrote her first novel, A Life to Remember, which is an emotional story that sets out to change the lives of young men. The company has had several best selling books, including Bruised and Daddy's House, the Dirty Divorce Series, the Millionaire Mistress Series and One Night Stand series. Mike Warren has gone on to self-publish. To learn more about Life Changing Books, visit www.lifechangingbooks.net.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Looking For Shock Value\n\nReview: I've read the two previous books in the series and I have to say this one didn't flow the way the previous two did. This one seemed more like the author was trying to get shock value reactions of the reader. I have to say, of the trilogy this was my least favorite. With so much left up in the air I'm not sure if the reader is supposed to draw their own conclusions or if there will there be a part four in the future. Personally, I would like to see what else Mr. Warren has in his arsenal.\n\nSean Matthews is back in the army and shipping out to Hawaii. Gabriel and him get a room to enjoy each other before Sean has to report. When Sean reports for duty what seems like racial bias, he is sent to another base. Where fate would have it, he meets Eddie Salgado from NY who has to drive him to his new base. From day one these two start a relationship as Sean is up to his old tricks with sex, sex, and more sex. At the new base, he finds out that SP Chuck Harrison is his roommate. Harrison, Cameron, Justin, Mike and a few others are back. Sean still has a court proceeding with Cameron's father-in-law that takes him back to Maryland.\n\nBack in Maryland the other shoe drops and it's kicked up in the shock value. As we see the interaction between the BOYS and SIR. As a promise to Eddie when he joins the society of SIRS and BOYS, Sean helps to find his little sister and brother who ended up in foster care when their mother died. Family secrets are revealed that effect everyone involved.\n\nWith all the sub plots, at time it seems like the book was all over place and at times dragging. There was a lot of drama going on with no answers; everything was clearly left up in the air. There were some unbelievable plots that I was saying \"no way\" to. It took on a whole different level which I didn't think worked with the story. Not to mention a mistake about the city of New York, my hometown, calling it Burroughs instead of boroughs. I am however looking forward to what Mr. Warren has to offer us readers next.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n3 star rating\nMarch 18 2012","Product: D.L. SPARKS, author of All That Glitters, lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two kids. A passion for reading, which started at an early age, blossomed into a love of everything literary. D.L. has a monthly book review column in a local community magazine. In her spare time, D.L. enjoys spending time with her family and watching movies. She is an avid reader and a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan. D.L.Sparks can be reached at: www.myspace.com/dlsparksonline or dlsparks2006@hotmail.com\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Make the money don't let the money make you\n\nReview: Santee Mitchell just cannot catch a break. Santee picks the wrong men and keeps coming up short with her money. She has a low paying job that barely keeps the lights on, and has her hiding from the repo man and ducking bill collector's phone calls. The only family she has is a sister who she is convinced wishes she was never born. Santee does have a sister-friend Delaree who has her back though thick and thin. Santee's friend Monique comes to her with a plan to get out of debt and put some much-needed cash in to her pockets. After considering and taking the deal; her life takes a drastic change for the worst. With this deal, she has sold her soul to the devil. Can she step away unscathed? On the other hand, will she be trapped with no way out? Find the answer in this fast-paced novel.\n\nI really enjoyed \"All that Glitters.\" The title was perfect for the subject of this book. Author D.L. Sparks tells a compelling story of a woman trying to make ends meet on short money. While I am sure somewhere, somebody is living the nightmare that Santee has put herself in and this book could help him or her by learning from the characters mistakes. This book is written where I could feel the character emotions. I was impressed with the characters devolvement and the fact that D.L had no useless characters in this book. With only about seven character in the book with mention of a few more that made it interesting the story came together quite lovely. The editing was good. I had just two questions how did Eric learn Santee's real name as he only knew her as babygirl? In addition with Eric; what motivated him I understood his story just not, why he fell for Santee so hard.\n\nI will be looking for future project of Ms. Sparks.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n4.5 Star rating","Product: Richard Jeanty is the national best-selling author of the Ignorant Souls, Neglected Souls and the Neglected No More series.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Back on American Soil\n\nReview: I have enjoyed this series and hate to see it end. With that being said this was my least favorite book in the series. This one seemed rushed to me and a lot farfetched. Yes the entire series is farfetched, but this one works the least for me. I am still a supporter of Mr. Jeanty's work and will continue to read his novel and those he published.\n\nDeon and the remaining hoodfellas are back in the good ole USA. They want revenge for their fallen comrades. Will they be able to extract their revenge? Can Deon keep his self alive to see this will of his done. As he has made some enemies, none more powerful than the Italian mob when his crews goes legit in Miami Florida. Going legit brings on another set of problems that will keep them from putting their guns down completely. Who be the crew left standing? The pieces will all come together as the heat is intensified.\n\nI find this to be my least favorite book of all time by this author and I have read quite a few of his works. Even with that said it was not a horrible book in the least. Compared to other works of this author this had so much potential and it stopped short. I do believe that others will enjoy this. I am always looking forward to see what Mr. Jeanty has on tap for us next.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n3.5 star rating.\n10/25/2011","Product: Take the decision of loyalty as seen in True to the Game added with the Gritty dealings in Deadly Reigns...and you've got Marked by Capone\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Street's will Talk\n\nReview: Capone brings us a street tale from the streets of \"The D\" Detroit, Michigan. The way he describes it coupled with my knowledge from 8 Mile the movie, I felt like I could see exactly what he was explaining as I have never been to Detroit. I was drawn into this story and at times felt, it was predictable. I was hoping what I knew to be the outcome would change and even though it did not I still enjoyed the story line. I was not happy with the formatting of the book as the whole book is double spaced and in my eyes looked like it was trying to stretch the book.\n\nGator is \"the\" man in the streets with the money, clout, empire, cars, house, wifey and the chicks chasing after him. In other words, he has it going on! With Myth his right hand man holding him down and a team of soldiers Gator is one not to be messed with. When his nephew Deluxe comes home on leave from the military Gator messes with his head and convinces him to go AWOL(Absent With Out leave). When jealousy and strife enter into the camp all hell, breaks loose. Gator's higher than GOD complex causes him to make some foolish moves that cost him dearly. As things go from bad to worst Gator is slowly losing battles. Read the book to find out if he wins the war. See who remains in his corner. See if Gator is able to make a come-up. Can Gator keep it together as his world fall apart? Some parts will shock you and keep you turning pages to see what will happen next.\n\nCapone has the makings to be an author to be reckoned with. I really enjoyed his story telling skills. If he could have made the book less predictable this would have been a 5 star rating, I personally was not happy with the way New Yorkers were portrayed in the book but honestly - this is nothing new!\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n4 star rating","Product: Andrea J. Wilson, Ph.D. is the author of both fiction and nonfiction books, including the novels, Wife 101 and Husband 101, and the devotional, My Business His Way: Wisdom & Inspiration for Entrepreneurs. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology, a Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology; Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Doctorate in Global Leadership; Educational Leadership. Andrea works as a college professor, as well as conducts workshops on a variety of personal and professional topics. Dr. Wilson is the Founder and President of Divine Garden Press, a publishing company that specializes in fiction and nonfiction books addressing marriage and family issues. A native of Rochester, New York, she currently resides in Georgia. Please visit her online at www.andreawilsononline.com and www.wife101.com or email her at drajwilson@gmail.com.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just Keeps Getting Better\n\nReview: In this installment we see couples in action. Amber and Eric are back. Things are still a little rocky between them and this couple retreat couldn't come at a better time for this couple. There are 6 couples in all as we are introduced to Dr Andrea Wilson and her Husband Lem, who add a dynamic edge to the story. Other characters include Martin Day and his Wife Pamela. Erics employee and Friend Carl and wife Kelly Bradford. The 101 instructors Martin and his wife Lydia Woods. Jordan and Sarah Larks. Each with their own set of issues and concerns. It's amazing how they help each other without realizing it. Each chapter alternates characters and staying true to form, the author does an excellent job being true to the character's voice.\n\nWhat can I say? This series is a blessing to so many. Single, divorced, married, or other this series is for everyone. Dont let the title fool you. While some of the couples issues you may not relate to you, I can say I know that others will. While this can be considered a standalone book I would suggest you start at the beginning to have a better understanding of why these couples move the way they do.\n\nI highly recommend this novel to all as well as the other books in this series. I cant wait to see what direction this series goes with the next installment of Singles 101 I may even give the short series Wife To Be 101 a chance as shorts are not a favorite of mine, so that is saying a lot about I feel about the 101 series.\n\nSiStar Tea\nARC Book Club Inc.\n4.75 star rating\nJan 2015 Review"],"string":"[\n \"Product: Moses Miller is an award winning author, journalist and co-founder of Mind Candy, LLC, which is a company focused on book publishing and the development of creative and thought provoking screenplays. A native New Yorker, Moses exhibits the uncanny ability to capture the pulse of the streets with intelligence, strong character development and well thought out storylines. In the past, he has contributed articles and written for various websites and publications including The Voice, Newsday and 88HIPHOP.COM where he is currently the Editor in Chief of content. He holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management and a Masters of Science degree in Technology Management obtained from Polytechnic University. His first novel, Nan: The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones has received awards and critical acclaim from critics, readers and book clubs around the world. After selling thousands of copies of his first novel, Mr. Miller cemented a deal with F.E.D.S. magazine resulting in a joint venture to publish his second release, Once Upon A Time in Harlem in September of 2007. The highly anticipated second installment in the Nan series, The Game of Trife, will be released through his company Mind Candy, LLC in the summer of 2008. Mr. Miller is a socially conscious individual that strives to play a key role in helping to improve the literacy rates amongst African American and Hispanic teens. Through his American Me Voices of Our Youth program, he has partnered with several other organizations in an effort to decrease the high school dropout rates plaguing lower income communities. The program encourages teens to read and also offers exposure to aspiring authors and creative writers. Awards and Accomplishments: Most Outstanding Rising Urban Novelist ---YOUnity Guild 2007. Best New Author--- Infini Awards 2008. Most Underrated Author s List--- Urban Book Source 2008. For The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones, Mr. Miller won the following awards: 5 out of 5 Top Shelf Rating--- UrbanReviews.com. Best Characters--- Infini Awards 2008. Best Street/Urban Fiction Novel--- Afr Am Fest Literary Awards 2008.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Right Where We Left Off\\n\\nReview: Moses Miller brings us the highly anticipated sequel. Picking up right where he left off with Nan: The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones. If you have not read part one you need to cop that like a crack addict needing a hit. I promise you will NOT be disappointed.\\n\\nWe start off with Nan seeking revenge for all the love ones he has lost and the body count still counting. Retuning for the sequel Officer Carson the man, we all wish to see in a body bag. Of course, Officer Carson is still making mayhem for Nan. Each trying to stay five steps ahead of the other as they are now archenemies. Both have blood on their hands Carson from covering his tracks and Nan from trying to survive a game he was NEVER meant to survive. This story is so good I cannot even begin to go into details. You gonna have to read the book. This book answers all my questions and more. With a lot of unexpected twist and turns had me on the edge of my seat. I was routing for Nan as we all know he is a marked man.\\n\\nAuthor Moses Miller's character devolvement is great! He has a great pen game that has made him one of my favorites. He introduces us to new characters but not limited to Sister Sarah, her grandson Darius, Spider, Gunner, Tony, Derek, and Jada a lost teenager trying to find her way in this cold cruel world we live in. Moses does an amazing job tying them all together. Moses is master in pulling a story together, and a wizard at going into the past and the next chapter bringing us into the present. NO ONE does it better.\\n\\nThis book in my humble opinion is his best work to date. Moses just keeps getting better. I am always looking forward to reading his next novel. I hope this time he does not keep his fans waiting to long for Nan: Trifecta.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc.\\n5 star rating\",\n \"Product: Author Arlene Brathwaite, born and raised in Albany, N.Y., is the founder and operator of Brathwaite Publishing. She attended Sage College where she majored in Computer Science. In 2006, She propelled herself into the literary world with her debut novel, Youngin. Her status as an author not to be taken lightly was cemented with the follow up to Youngin. Ol Timer. In a span of five years, Arlene has written and published four more novels (In The Cut, Paper Trail, Soul Dancing, and Darkest Before Dawn). Arlene is also co-owner of The Book Club (an urban caf, located in downtown Albany, in the Coliseum mall).\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Love has reasons that Reasons can't understand\\n\\nReview: This is my first novel by Arlene Brathwaite; I was not disappointed in this one and will check out her earlier work.\\n\\nAll the character in this book work very well and all had essential part to play in the development of this Novel. They were sneaky, funny and some were trust worthy while other not so. There were no useless characters and they all had background info offered to help understand why they did the things they did.\\n\\nWe are introduced to Olivia Martin owner of Butta Cutz men's Salon. Olivia is the most sought after barber and looking to take her salon to the next level. When she has a chance meeting with Clayton \\\"Saint\\\" Andrews he gives her the means to bring VIP to her shop and plenty of publicity with it. Only it also awakens some past enemies of his. While these two are attracted to one another Saint feels the only way to keep her out of harm way is to distance himself from her. Olivia has other plans while she tries to fight her attraction as well fate just keeps bringing together. Saint has to come clean and let her in on his dangerous past will she stick it out with him? Will his secrets do more harm than good? Will being honest with a woman he is truly in love with bring him a peace of mind? With his enemies hot on his trail is he able to protect himself and keep Olivia out of harm way? While I considered this a romance novel, which I routing for Olivia and Saint to become an official couple, this book had some twist and plots and a street edge to it also.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc.\\n4 star rating\",\n \"Product: Author Arlene Brathwaite, born and raised in Albany, N.Y., is the founder and operator of Brathwaite Publishing. She attended Sage College where she majored in Computer Science. In 2006, She propelled herself into the literary world with her debut novel, Youngin. Her status as an author not to be taken lightly was cemented with the follow up to Youngin. Ol Timer. In a span of five years, Arlene has written and published four more novels (In The Cut, Paper Trail, Soul Dancing, and Darkest Before Dawn). Arlene is also co-owner of The Book Club (an urban caf, located in downtown Albany, in the Coliseum mall).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Hiding in plain sight!\\n\\nReview: Having read the novel previous to this one \\\"In the cut\\\", I felt Ms. Brathwaite was one to lookout for. I was trying to find time to read the two previous novels in this series but never could. After hearing much talk about \\\"Paper Trail\\\" I bit the bullet and read it without having read its predecessors. Ms. Brathwaite has talent. I was entertained and stayed up at night to see what was going to happen next. I fell in love with Devon, the main character. Amazingly I only had two questions about the previous books and one was answered in the book. The second wasn't really a big deal I just wanted to know who the \\\"woman in the park\\\" was and was told she was just that. So needless to say I finished the book feeling like I was up to speed and saying the way this book was written was EXCELLENT. I am STILL going to find time to read the two previous in this series.\\n\\nI was impressed with the way the book starts. I have to say the introduction to readers and the start of the story is something very new for me. Not to be outdone the ending was perfect. Everything in between is action packed and drama filled - all that is expected in a novel. Devon Carter has been on the run from the police ever since his right hand man Brian was locked up and turned on. I get the feeling the readers have been asking what has happened to Devon and they will not be disappointed. Devon is doing big things and \\\"hiding in plain sight.\\\" Devon was so much more than a drug dealer; he has the brains, wit and the good looks to carry him far in the life of crime.\\n\\nTo sum it up, I'm not sure who all was in the previous novels but whether they were new or old they all worked well with the story. Ivory, Ginja (who was my favorite other than Devon), Recker, the General, Knots, Porter, Dane, Ripper, Stripes, Arlene and of course Brian were all vital characters and each served a purpose and had a point to be made. I would recommend reading the first two ONLY because Ms. Brathwaite is such a great story teller that I am confident that the readers would not be disappointed. On that note, either way, you can read \\\"Paper Trail\\\" as it is written as a stand-alone book.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc.\\n5 star rating\",\n \"Product: Brooke Green is a Manager at a large telecommunications company, and currently resides in Philadelphia, PA with her 2 daughters. She is hard at work on her next book which she plans to release in the near future.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The 1st time you fall for something you're a victim\\n\\nReview: You, Me And He\\n\\nDonna has it all in her fianc Keith. Keith is as close to perfect as any woman can get. He is smart, has a great job, house, and car. To top it off he is handsome. So you ask what is his biggest flaw? He is Bisexual.\\n\\nDonna decides to stay by her man's side as he deals with his \\\"demons\\\". She gives him one ultimatum and that is to be faithful to her and only her. Keith does his best to stay faithful. Enter his old college roommate and former lover, Jarrod. Despite being married with a baby on the way, Jarrod is relentless in his quest to win Keith back. Jarrod wants Keith all to himself; he wants them both out of the closet and to live as a couple. With Donna's nemeses back on the scene her perfect little world is threatening to come to an abrupt end. Can Keith stay on the \\\"straight\\\" and narrow? Can Donna continue have faith in her man or will the pressure Jarrod is putting on the relationship be too much for her to handle?\\n\\nThis was a heartfelt story. In today's world with the Down Low man being so prevalent, this was a much-needed book. I love the fact that it's written from the woman's side of the coin. Brooke does a great job expressing the feelings of all the parties involved especially Donna's. I know with me personally I am scared to death to find out I am or have been dealing with a man on the DL and I'm sure it is that way for a lot of women. Throughout the story I often found myself screaming at Donna to get out while she can, lol. I completely understand why she stayed, as her reasoning was she knows what she is getting with Keith, so why take a chance with stepping into another relationship and getting the same result. I constantly wondered- would I have the strength to stay? I believe that was Brooke's intention - to get the reader thinking. She tackles a host of issues from the DL brother to the trust/lack of trust issues, to the STD's so widespread in today's society to the family issues.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc\\n4.5 star rating\",\n \"Product: When I meet people one of the first things they ask is where are you from? Or did you grow up in Harrisburg which is where I currently live. I have a very hard time answering the first question. I was born in Detroit Michigan but don't remember it since I literally only stayed there about a week or so after I was born. I spent most of my life in the Washington Dc, Suburban Maryland area until the age of 14 when I left home and went to Virginia to attend a boarding school from the ninth to the twelfth grade. Every year I was in boarding school I came home in the summer to a different city; first Washington, DC then Charlotte, North Carolina and finally to Harrisburg, PA. When I tell people that they often ask if my parents were in the military? I laugh and say no my mother was just finding herself. So where am I from? I have now officially lived in Harrisburg PA longer than anywhere else so this is home. I am a single mother of three. I once read that children bring our subconscious issues into life. They show us the parts of us that we need to heal. My children have always been my inspiration to push myself to get to the next level. I see little pieces of me in each of them but they have all grown up to have their own distinct personalities. I have worked in the Healthcare industry for over 20 years. I am presently employed for a local Healthcare company and work in the Information Systems department. Although I work in IT I am not a "techie" as most people consider anyone who works in this field. I consider myself to be very analytical which makes people I have know for a long time wonder where all of this creativeness came from all of a sudden. To this I say it has always been there just hidden beneath the surface. I have kept journals as far back as I can remember. I always liked to write and express myself in writing. I have often been told I express myself in writing better than I do verbally. I dabbled in poetry from time to time, but have always gravitated more towards music. I am a singer and have also used that as an outlet for my creative energy. I come from a very musical family. All of our activities usually involve music in some form or fashion. I still sing in church, as often as possible, however, my writing intensified ten years ago while going through my divorce. It was a way for me to express myself without exposing what was really going on inside of me. At one point I allowed a close friend to read some of what I wrote and they commented that I had a very unique way of writing and expressing myself and they encouraged me to continue to write. I have continued to journal and started to write my first book a few years ago but was not able to complete it. Earlier this year (2010) due to some events in my life a story came to me and I sat down and started to write. The words flowed freely and the next thing I knew I had over fifty pages typed. My debut book Yesterday's Lies is the finished product of that brainstorm one summer night. The characters, although,fictional, could be argued by those who know me well,that there are pieces of me in each one of them. Maybe not who I am in real life, but who I would like to be in my fantasy world. I hope that you enjoy reading Yesterday's Lies as much as I have enjoyed writing it. It was a journey to get to the finished product but one that was well worth it. I have met some wonderful people along the way; ones that I hope will remain in my life from this point forward. As we go through the journey of life we cross paths with a lot of people. Some interactions are very brief and some last much longer. The trick is recognizing which ones to grab onto and cultivate and which ones we should let go of. As you read the book ask yourself these questions; How far would you go for your best friend? What secrets would you keep from the one\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Small World Equals Big Lies\\n\\nReview: I enjoyed this novel. I was asked not to read at first as the author was having the book re-edited. I have received the revised version and am happy to say that the editing was on point. I think Ms. Terri has story telling skills. I look forward to her future works.\\n\\nOne dreadful event seven years ago has caused a snowball effect that has affected all involved. We all know when you have to keep lying it just leads to digging bigger holes. No one can fully grasp the after effects that changed their lives forever.\\n\\nJada and David have what appears to be the perfect marriage. Nothing in life is perfect especially when built on deceit. When the walls come crashing down can these two survive the heat?\\n\\nToni and the love of her life, Benjamin, are headed for bliss. That is until Benjamin disappears without a trace. This leads Toni to have one unsuccessful relationship after another. Now she may be onto a successful one when Benjamin comes back into the picture. The answer he provides will send lives in to a frenzy.\\n\\nSee how Terri D. shows the emotions that will draw you in. While there are some questions left unanswered, rest assured there is a follow up. I can't lie I am left wanting to see how this plays out. The biggest drawback for me was that I felt some of the story was thrown in for shock value almost seemed like an afterthought although needed in story, should have been introduce earlier in book.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc.\\n4 Star Rating\\nJune 2012\",\n \"Product: Born and raised in New York City Brandie Davis graduated with a Bachelors degree in English from York College and is the founder of My Urban Books blog and Facebook book club. From home she continues to pen drama filled novels while developing her blog, geared towards shining light on readers and authors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Another One Bites The Dust\\n\\nReview: Let me start by saying this sequel rocks and is better than the first. I needtheauthorto hurryupwith the finale. I cant wait to see how the puzzle gets finished. I love her style of writing and getting her points across. I can see improvement in this short period of time and am positive that she will continue to improve in her skills.\\n\\nRenee is ready to give the underworld up. With all that has taken place in her life she wants the simple life. She is preparing to give the crown to her sister,Carmen,who is more than willing to take over it. What happens when friends and familywarnher that Carmen is not to be trusted?Will Renee finally wise up and listen or will their pleas fall on deaf ears? With a few sub stories going onthere is a lot to keep us turning the pages. With Julian,Renees boyfriend,and Dame her mentor and friend,ablast from the past comes to make an appearance and their presence felt.\\n\\nI highly recommend that part one be read first to get the full background on Ms. Renee. Really looking forward to finding out how things turn out for Renee. Ms Davis has really entertained me with her two novels and I look forward to seeing more from her in the near future.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc\\n5 star rating\\nJan 2015\",\n \"Product: Warren, a native of Baltimore, Md. and a former U.S. Army Specialist, penned a clever three-part series of books - A Private Affair, Sweet Swagger and Sir, Yes Sir and several others - that chronicle Sean's intriguing life, including a revolving door of relationships, turning into a series of lies, deceit and wild weekends. Fans of author E. Lynn Harris will love Warren's creative flair that lures readers into every raunchy detail. His first installment, A Private Affair, introduces us to Sean who lives a life of wild weekends that lead him down a path where he begins to enjoy both men and women. In his sequel, Sweet Swagger, Sean tells his male lover - Cameron - that he can't get him off his mind. The story takes a twist when Sean is accused and arrested for murder. In the third and final book of the series, Sir, Yes, Sir, Sean meets his father for the first time, coming to face with dark family secrets and then finds himself on the verge of getting kicked out of the military. Warren's series and novel, Just Make Him Beautiful, are published by Life Changing Books. The Maryland-based publishing company was started 10 years ago when its founder, Azarel, wrote her first novel, A Life to Remember, which is an emotional story that sets out to change the lives of young men. The company has had several best selling books, including Bruised and Daddy's House, the Dirty Divorce Series, the Millionaire Mistress Series and One Night Stand series. Mike Warren has gone on to self-publish. To learn more about Life Changing Books, visit www.lifechangingbooks.net.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Looking For Shock Value\\n\\nReview: I've read the two previous books in the series and I have to say this one didn't flow the way the previous two did. This one seemed more like the author was trying to get shock value reactions of the reader. I have to say, of the trilogy this was my least favorite. With so much left up in the air I'm not sure if the reader is supposed to draw their own conclusions or if there will there be a part four in the future. Personally, I would like to see what else Mr. Warren has in his arsenal.\\n\\nSean Matthews is back in the army and shipping out to Hawaii. Gabriel and him get a room to enjoy each other before Sean has to report. When Sean reports for duty what seems like racial bias, he is sent to another base. Where fate would have it, he meets Eddie Salgado from NY who has to drive him to his new base. From day one these two start a relationship as Sean is up to his old tricks with sex, sex, and more sex. At the new base, he finds out that SP Chuck Harrison is his roommate. Harrison, Cameron, Justin, Mike and a few others are back. Sean still has a court proceeding with Cameron's father-in-law that takes him back to Maryland.\\n\\nBack in Maryland the other shoe drops and it's kicked up in the shock value. As we see the interaction between the BOYS and SIR. As a promise to Eddie when he joins the society of SIRS and BOYS, Sean helps to find his little sister and brother who ended up in foster care when their mother died. Family secrets are revealed that effect everyone involved.\\n\\nWith all the sub plots, at time it seems like the book was all over place and at times dragging. There was a lot of drama going on with no answers; everything was clearly left up in the air. There were some unbelievable plots that I was saying \\\"no way\\\" to. It took on a whole different level which I didn't think worked with the story. Not to mention a mistake about the city of New York, my hometown, calling it Burroughs instead of boroughs. I am however looking forward to what Mr. Warren has to offer us readers next.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc.\\n3 star rating\\nMarch 18 2012\",\n \"Product: D.L. SPARKS, author of All That Glitters, lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two kids. A passion for reading, which started at an early age, blossomed into a love of everything literary. D.L. has a monthly book review column in a local community magazine. In her spare time, D.L. enjoys spending time with her family and watching movies. She is an avid reader and a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan. D.L.Sparks can be reached at: www.myspace.com/dlsparksonline or dlsparks2006@hotmail.com\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Make the money don't let the money make you\\n\\nReview: Santee Mitchell just cannot catch a break. Santee picks the wrong men and keeps coming up short with her money. She has a low paying job that barely keeps the lights on, and has her hiding from the repo man and ducking bill collector's phone calls. The only family she has is a sister who she is convinced wishes she was never born. Santee does have a sister-friend Delaree who has her back though thick and thin. Santee's friend Monique comes to her with a plan to get out of debt and put some much-needed cash in to her pockets. After considering and taking the deal; her life takes a drastic change for the worst. With this deal, she has sold her soul to the devil. Can she step away unscathed? On the other hand, will she be trapped with no way out? Find the answer in this fast-paced novel.\\n\\nI really enjoyed \\\"All that Glitters.\\\" The title was perfect for the subject of this book. Author D.L. Sparks tells a compelling story of a woman trying to make ends meet on short money. While I am sure somewhere, somebody is living the nightmare that Santee has put herself in and this book could help him or her by learning from the characters mistakes. This book is written where I could feel the character emotions. I was impressed with the characters devolvement and the fact that D.L had no useless characters in this book. With only about seven character in the book with mention of a few more that made it interesting the story came together quite lovely. The editing was good. I had just two questions how did Eric learn Santee's real name as he only knew her as babygirl? In addition with Eric; what motivated him I understood his story just not, why he fell for Santee so hard.\\n\\nI will be looking for future project of Ms. Sparks.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc.\\n4.5 Star rating\",\n \"Product: Richard Jeanty is the national best-selling author of the Ignorant Souls, Neglected Souls and the Neglected No More series.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Back on American Soil\\n\\nReview: I have enjoyed this series and hate to see it end. With that being said this was my least favorite book in the series. This one seemed rushed to me and a lot farfetched. Yes the entire series is farfetched, but this one works the least for me. I am still a supporter of Mr. Jeanty's work and will continue to read his novel and those he published.\\n\\nDeon and the remaining hoodfellas are back in the good ole USA. They want revenge for their fallen comrades. Will they be able to extract their revenge? Can Deon keep his self alive to see this will of his done. As he has made some enemies, none more powerful than the Italian mob when his crews goes legit in Miami Florida. Going legit brings on another set of problems that will keep them from putting their guns down completely. Who be the crew left standing? The pieces will all come together as the heat is intensified.\\n\\nI find this to be my least favorite book of all time by this author and I have read quite a few of his works. Even with that said it was not a horrible book in the least. Compared to other works of this author this had so much potential and it stopped short. I do believe that others will enjoy this. I am always looking forward to see what Mr. Jeanty has on tap for us next.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc.\\n3.5 star rating.\\n10/25/2011\",\n \"Product: Take the decision of loyalty as seen in True to the Game added with the Gritty dealings in Deadly Reigns...and you've got Marked by Capone\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Street's will Talk\\n\\nReview: Capone brings us a street tale from the streets of \\\"The D\\\" Detroit, Michigan. The way he describes it coupled with my knowledge from 8 Mile the movie, I felt like I could see exactly what he was explaining as I have never been to Detroit. I was drawn into this story and at times felt, it was predictable. I was hoping what I knew to be the outcome would change and even though it did not I still enjoyed the story line. I was not happy with the formatting of the book as the whole book is double spaced and in my eyes looked like it was trying to stretch the book.\\n\\nGator is \\\"the\\\" man in the streets with the money, clout, empire, cars, house, wifey and the chicks chasing after him. In other words, he has it going on! With Myth his right hand man holding him down and a team of soldiers Gator is one not to be messed with. When his nephew Deluxe comes home on leave from the military Gator messes with his head and convinces him to go AWOL(Absent With Out leave). When jealousy and strife enter into the camp all hell, breaks loose. Gator's higher than GOD complex causes him to make some foolish moves that cost him dearly. As things go from bad to worst Gator is slowly losing battles. Read the book to find out if he wins the war. See who remains in his corner. See if Gator is able to make a come-up. Can Gator keep it together as his world fall apart? Some parts will shock you and keep you turning pages to see what will happen next.\\n\\nCapone has the makings to be an author to be reckoned with. I really enjoyed his story telling skills. If he could have made the book less predictable this would have been a 5 star rating, I personally was not happy with the way New Yorkers were portrayed in the book but honestly - this is nothing new!\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc.\\n4 star rating\",\n \"Product: Andrea J. Wilson, Ph.D. is the author of both fiction and nonfiction books, including the novels, Wife 101 and Husband 101, and the devotional, My Business His Way: Wisdom & Inspiration for Entrepreneurs. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology, a Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology; Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Doctorate in Global Leadership; Educational Leadership. Andrea works as a college professor, as well as conducts workshops on a variety of personal and professional topics. Dr. Wilson is the Founder and President of Divine Garden Press, a publishing company that specializes in fiction and nonfiction books addressing marriage and family issues. A native of Rochester, New York, she currently resides in Georgia. Please visit her online at www.andreawilsononline.com and www.wife101.com or email her at drajwilson@gmail.com.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Just Keeps Getting Better\\n\\nReview: In this installment we see couples in action. Amber and Eric are back. Things are still a little rocky between them and this couple retreat couldn't come at a better time for this couple. There are 6 couples in all as we are introduced to Dr Andrea Wilson and her Husband Lem, who add a dynamic edge to the story. Other characters include Martin Day and his Wife Pamela. Erics employee and Friend Carl and wife Kelly Bradford. The 101 instructors Martin and his wife Lydia Woods. Jordan and Sarah Larks. Each with their own set of issues and concerns. It's amazing how they help each other without realizing it. Each chapter alternates characters and staying true to form, the author does an excellent job being true to the character's voice.\\n\\nWhat can I say? This series is a blessing to so many. Single, divorced, married, or other this series is for everyone. Dont let the title fool you. While some of the couples issues you may not relate to you, I can say I know that others will. While this can be considered a standalone book I would suggest you start at the beginning to have a better understanding of why these couples move the way they do.\\n\\nI highly recommend this novel to all as well as the other books in this series. I cant wait to see what direction this series goes with the next installment of Singles 101 I may even give the short series Wife To Be 101 a chance as shorts are not a favorite of mine, so that is saying a lot about I feel about the 101 series.\\n\\nSiStar Tea\\nARC Book Club Inc.\\n4.75 star rating\\nJan 2015 Review\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":11,"string":"11"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":87,"string":"87"}}},{"rowIdx":88,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AI6BUH5TK5ZWT"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"In August 1914 the two greatest navies in the world confronted each other across the North Sea. This is a book about leadership and command, bravery and timidity, genius and folly.\". The summary of the review text is \"Another Great History Book!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Castles of Steel is the \"sequel\" to Massie's superb Dreadnought. Dreadnought covered the unification of Germany, the establishment and massive expansion of the German Navy, which catalyzed the gradual deterioration of relations between Britain and Imperial Germany which was a prime driver of WWI as we know it. Castles of Steel takes up where Dreadnought leaves off and provides a very good history of the conflict between the Royal Navy and Kaiserliche Marine, with particular emphasis on the personalities involved, especially on the British side.\n\nThis leads me to my only criticism of the book, it is very Anglo-centric. While we get lots of material on the personalities and political machinations of the major British players, Fisher, Churchill, Jellico, Beatty etc. we get much less detail for the German side of things. Although Massie faithfully reports what Pohl, Scheer, Tirpitz and the Kaiser are doing, he doesn't seem to have researched them and their interactions as thoroughly, especially on a personal level, as he did the British.\n\nReaders should also be aware that this isn't (nor is it intended to be) a comprehensive naval history of WWI. Operations in the North Sea are covered in fair detail, as are Spee's initial successes, his pursuit and eventual destruction. The U-boat war is covered concisely in a couple of chapters, as are operations in the Dardanelles. The flight of the Goeben is covered fairly thoroughly. There is little or no information on any other aspect of WWI at sea. The book is almost completely innocent of any mention of the Russian, Italian, Austrian, French or (aside from Goeben) the Turkish navies. Nor are operations in the Mediterranean (outside of the Dardanelles) covered. However, to my mind this isn't really a criticism of the book, as it was intended to be a sequel to Dreadnought, and advance that story. As such, much of the material mentioned above would be \"out of scope\" for such a work. But I did want to mention it.\n\nDespite these very minor shortcomings, this is really an outstanding book. I recommend it highly to anyone, especially anyone who enjoyed Dreadnought. In fact, I would go so far as to advise that this book not be attempted until the reader has finished Dreadnought. If you enjoy Dreadnought, you'll really want to read this one. If you didn't enjoy it, this is just more of the same."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Castles of Steel is the \"sequel\" to Massie's superb Dreadnought. Dreadnought covered the unification of Germany, the establishment and massive expansion of the German Navy, which catalyzed the gradual deterioration of relations between Britain and Imperial Germany which was a prime driver of WWI as we know it. Castles of Steel takes up where Dreadnought leaves off and provides a very good history of the conflict between the Royal Navy and Kaiserliche Marine, with particular emphasis on the personalities involved, especially on the British side.\n\nThis leads me to my only criticism of the book, it is very Anglo-centric. While we get lots of material on the personalities and political machinations of the major British players, Fisher, Churchill, Jellico, Beatty etc. we get much less detail for the German side of things. Although Massie faithfully reports what Pohl, Scheer, Tirpitz and the Kaiser are doing, he doesn't seem to have researched them and their interactions as thoroughly, especially on a personal level, as he did the British.\n\nReaders should also be aware that this isn't (nor is it intended to be) a comprehensive naval history of WWI. Operations in the North Sea are covered in fair detail, as are Spee's initial successes, his pursuit and eventual destruction. The U-boat war is covered concisely in a couple of chapters, as are operations in the Dardanelles. The flight of the Goeben is covered fairly thoroughly. There is little or no information on any other aspect of WWI at sea. The book is almost completely innocent of any mention of the Russian, Italian, Austrian, French or (aside from Goeben) the Turkish navies. Nor are operations in the Mediterranean (outside of the Dardanelles) covered. However, to my mind this isn't really a criticism of the book, as it was intended to be a sequel to Dreadnought, and advance that story. As such, much of the material mentioned above would be \"out of scope\" for such a work. But I did want to mention it.\n\nDespite these very minor shortcomings, this is really an outstanding book. I recommend it highly to anyone, especially anyone who enjoyed Dreadnought. In fact, I would go so far as to advise that this book not be attempted until the reader has finished Dreadnought. If you enjoy Dreadnought, you'll really want to read this one. If you didn't enjoy it, this is just more of the same."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Max Hastings is the author of twenty-six books, most about conflict, and between 1986 and 2002 served as editor-in-chief of the Daily Telegraph, then editor of the Evening Standard. He has won many prizes both for journalism and his books, of which the most recent are All Hell Let Loose, Catastrophe and The Secret War, best-sellers translated around the world. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, an Honorary Fellow of King's College, London and was knighted in 2002. He has two grown-up children, Charlotte and Harry, and lives with his wife Penny in West Berkshire, where they garden enthusiastically.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good but not great...\n\nReview: This is a series of biographical sketches of soldiers in different eras, starting with Baron Marbot one of Napoleon's cavalrymen who fought in just about every major campaign during the era and sustained 14 wounds, and ending with LTC Avigdor Kahalani who commanded an Israeli armor battalion during the epic defense of the Golan Heights at the beginning of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The book moves chronologically, with heavy coverage of WWII. Among the other soldiers covered are Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, John Masters, Eddie Rickenbacker, Audie Murphy, John Paul Vann and James Gavin.\n\nMany of the men Hasting's covers were intensely unhappy in peacetime some of them weren't, apparently very nice people. Hastings notes this in the epilogue of the book, but not in any thematically structured way, nor does he actually advance any hypothesis on the psychology of heroes. In fact, the book is pretty lightweight; there isn't any new ground here. At most it could motivate you to obtain full-scale biographies of one or more of the subjects. I know I was motivated enough to order a copy Baron Marbot's memoirs.","Product: About the bookconsolidating some of his all-time favorite writings from the new yorker, malcolm gladwell came up with a set of 19 epic articles titled what the dog saw and other adventures. It has the capacity to engage the reader's mind with his captivating subject matter. The book showcases the lives of people who do important things, yet remain anonymous. His persuasive way of bringing such stories has succeeded to hook each reader to each page.the book, what the dog saw and other adventures, presents the mixed life events of the dog whisperer, who possessed natural magic to calm wild animals down with a mere touch of his hands. It also speaks about the life of the one who invented a birth control pill and the one who invented the pasta sauce. None of them managed to earn recognition, but are extensively cited in the book.the stories are segregated in three interlinked sections, wherein each section has a theme of its own. The author, malcolm, has put across the readers a revolutionary, yet unique idea of writing. He has presented the unquoted adventures of the lives of individuals who were not duly recognised.malcolm has brought into light a buoyant purpose with persuasive curiosity that tags him as one of the most sought-after writers in this genre. Penguin publishers got the re-issue edition of this book released on 1st august, 2013, in paperback.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Somewhat Disappointing Gladwell Book.\n\nReview: I just finished What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell, and for the first time I was a bit disappointed. Perhaps I've been spoiled by his previous books Tipping Point and Outliers, but this one just didn't do it for me. I think the main problem was that unlike those two books, this one didn't have a central hypothesis or theme. It was just a collection of Gladwells columns that had a kind of \"half-hearted\" thematic structure imposed on them ex post facto.\n\nDon't get me wrong, the writing is good and most of the columns, taken by themselves, are interesting, but at the end of the day, I was looking for something better, some flash of insight and genius such as those provided by Gladwell's other books.","Product: Bill Steigerwald is a veteran journalist from Pittsburgh who worked as an editor and writer/reporter/columnist for the Los Angeles Times in the 1980s, the Post-Gazette in the 1990s and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in the 2000s. His interviews and libertarian op-ed columns were nationally syndicated for about five years at CagleCartoons.com, and he worked briefly for CBS-TV in Hollywood in the late 1970s. Steigerwald's freelance articles, interviews and commentaries have appeared in many of the major newspapers in the USA and in magazines like Reason, Penthouse and Family Circle. He retired from the daily newspaper business in March 2009. He and his wife Trudi live south of Pittsburgh in the woods.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Three books, two of them bad, with a side of petulance!\n\nReview: This was a weird and ultimately unsatisfying book. Steigerwald a long time journalist from Pittsburgh took a buy-out from his paper and decided to replicate John Steinbecks epic journey around the country that was the basis of Travels With Charlie. While doing research before the trip, Steigerwald discovered that huge swathes of TWC were, apparently, made up out of whole cloth. For example, early in the book, Steinbeck describes meeting an old Yankee farmer on a certain date, in a certain place, and discussing Khrushchevs banging his shore on the table at a UN meeting. The problem is, that K didn't bang the shoe until two weeks after Steinbeck says they had the discussion, and, in a letter home to his wife with the same date as the discussion, Steinbeck describes himself as being in a totally different place. And there are A LOT of this sort of discrepancies. Enough to pretty much prove that TWC , rather than being a non-fiction account of Steinbecks travels, was in fact, more or less a novel. OK, fair enough. Good catch. That would make an interesting magazine article.\n\nThe problem is that Steigerwald, for some reason decides to go ahead and try to replicate the (bogus) journey anyway, so we get a more or less constant litany of:\n\nIm in Bugtussle Iowa, and Steinbeck says he drove here on the 12th and slept in his camper in a peach orchard, but according to a letter to his wife (or agent) he drove straight-through Bugtussle and stayed in a tourist court in Next-town-over. I slept in my Rav4 parked in the Wal-Mart parking lot.\n\nSince hes not as good a writer as Steinbeck, he never really manages to make me care about his travels.\n\nFinally theres the third issue I had with the book was Steigerwalds Right-Wing/Libertarian slant which he insists on inserting into pretty much every page of the book. As in:\n\n\"When I stayed in the Bugtussle Wal-Mart parking lot, I didn't see any poor people or sign of the Great Recession so government intervention clearly isn't needed\"\n\nI get his politics, and hes certainly entitled to them, but if he had sub-titled his book A Libertarian take on TWC, I wouldnt have read it.\n\nAnyway, theres three stories here: the expose of TWC , which I quite enjoyed despite being a huge fan of the book, the Steigerwald travelogue (which I found rather boring) and his Libertarian assessment of John Steinbeck which I thought was irrelevant. Oh, and theres a bonus. After exposing the fictive nature of TWC , Steigerwald apparently expected the world of Steinbeck scholars to laud him and reward him for his effort and insight. When that didn't happen he seems to have become quite petulant and vindictive. The final quarter of the book consists largely of extensive quotes from his correspondence (both public and private) with various people he thinks don't take Steinbecks sins seriously enough. Anyway, now Ive told you that TWC was mostly fiction, Penguin has put a disclaimer of sorts in the intro to their latest edition of TWC , so you can save your time and skip this book.","Product: John T. Kuehn is a former naval aviator who retired as a commander from the U.S. Navy in 2004. He holds a PhD in military history from Kansas State University and teaches at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, KS.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The guys who set up the win for WWII in the Pacific\n\nReview: Agents of Innovation explained how the General Board of the US Navy, in the wake of the Washington Naval Treaty's ban on American fortification of it Western Pacific bases began thinking of innovative ways of addressing the limitation. Because of the lack of forward bases, the Navy began planning for a long-range, blue water fleet with extraordinary ability to replenish underway. It also began planning for the \"step-by-step\" strategy of island hopping and establishment of forward operation bases (the secret Mobile Base Project) to include SeeBee construction battalions and dozens of floating dry-docks some of which could accommodate the largest ships in the American inventory.\n\nAll of these preparations (made in the 20's and 30's) laid the groundwork for the American victory over Japan. This book was absolutely fascinating, anyone with any interest in WWII naval strategy needs to read this book."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Max Hastings is the author of twenty-six books, most about conflict, and between 1986 and 2002 served as editor-in-chief of the Daily Telegraph, then editor of the Evening Standard. He has won many prizes both for journalism and his books, of which the most recent are All Hell Let Loose, Catastrophe and The Secret War, best-sellers translated around the world. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, an Honorary Fellow of King's College, London and was knighted in 2002. He has two grown-up children, Charlotte and Harry, and lives with his wife Penny in West Berkshire, where they garden enthusiastically.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good but not great...\\n\\nReview: This is a series of biographical sketches of soldiers in different eras, starting with Baron Marbot one of Napoleon's cavalrymen who fought in just about every major campaign during the era and sustained 14 wounds, and ending with LTC Avigdor Kahalani who commanded an Israeli armor battalion during the epic defense of the Golan Heights at the beginning of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The book moves chronologically, with heavy coverage of WWII. Among the other soldiers covered are Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, John Masters, Eddie Rickenbacker, Audie Murphy, John Paul Vann and James Gavin.\\n\\nMany of the men Hasting's covers were intensely unhappy in peacetime some of them weren't, apparently very nice people. Hastings notes this in the epilogue of the book, but not in any thematically structured way, nor does he actually advance any hypothesis on the psychology of heroes. In fact, the book is pretty lightweight; there isn't any new ground here. At most it could motivate you to obtain full-scale biographies of one or more of the subjects. I know I was motivated enough to order a copy Baron Marbot's memoirs.\",\n \"Product: About the bookconsolidating some of his all-time favorite writings from the new yorker, malcolm gladwell came up with a set of 19 epic articles titled what the dog saw and other adventures. It has the capacity to engage the reader's mind with his captivating subject matter. The book showcases the lives of people who do important things, yet remain anonymous. His persuasive way of bringing such stories has succeeded to hook each reader to each page.the book, what the dog saw and other adventures, presents the mixed life events of the dog whisperer, who possessed natural magic to calm wild animals down with a mere touch of his hands. It also speaks about the life of the one who invented a birth control pill and the one who invented the pasta sauce. None of them managed to earn recognition, but are extensively cited in the book.the stories are segregated in three interlinked sections, wherein each section has a theme of its own. The author, malcolm, has put across the readers a revolutionary, yet unique idea of writing. He has presented the unquoted adventures of the lives of individuals who were not duly recognised.malcolm has brought into light a buoyant purpose with persuasive curiosity that tags him as one of the most sought-after writers in this genre. Penguin publishers got the re-issue edition of this book released on 1st august, 2013, in paperback.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Somewhat Disappointing Gladwell Book.\\n\\nReview: I just finished What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell, and for the first time I was a bit disappointed. Perhaps I've been spoiled by his previous books Tipping Point and Outliers, but this one just didn't do it for me. I think the main problem was that unlike those two books, this one didn't have a central hypothesis or theme. It was just a collection of Gladwells columns that had a kind of \\\"half-hearted\\\" thematic structure imposed on them ex post facto.\\n\\nDon't get me wrong, the writing is good and most of the columns, taken by themselves, are interesting, but at the end of the day, I was looking for something better, some flash of insight and genius such as those provided by Gladwell's other books.\",\n \"Product: Bill Steigerwald is a veteran journalist from Pittsburgh who worked as an editor and writer/reporter/columnist for the Los Angeles Times in the 1980s, the Post-Gazette in the 1990s and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in the 2000s. His interviews and libertarian op-ed columns were nationally syndicated for about five years at CagleCartoons.com, and he worked briefly for CBS-TV in Hollywood in the late 1970s. Steigerwald's freelance articles, interviews and commentaries have appeared in many of the major newspapers in the USA and in magazines like Reason, Penthouse and Family Circle. He retired from the daily newspaper business in March 2009. He and his wife Trudi live south of Pittsburgh in the woods.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Three books, two of them bad, with a side of petulance!\\n\\nReview: This was a weird and ultimately unsatisfying book. Steigerwald a long time journalist from Pittsburgh took a buy-out from his paper and decided to replicate John Steinbecks epic journey around the country that was the basis of Travels With Charlie. While doing research before the trip, Steigerwald discovered that huge swathes of TWC were, apparently, made up out of whole cloth. For example, early in the book, Steinbeck describes meeting an old Yankee farmer on a certain date, in a certain place, and discussing Khrushchevs banging his shore on the table at a UN meeting. The problem is, that K didn't bang the shoe until two weeks after Steinbeck says they had the discussion, and, in a letter home to his wife with the same date as the discussion, Steinbeck describes himself as being in a totally different place. And there are A LOT of this sort of discrepancies. Enough to pretty much prove that TWC , rather than being a non-fiction account of Steinbecks travels, was in fact, more or less a novel. OK, fair enough. Good catch. That would make an interesting magazine article.\\n\\nThe problem is that Steigerwald, for some reason decides to go ahead and try to replicate the (bogus) journey anyway, so we get a more or less constant litany of:\\n\\nIm in Bugtussle Iowa, and Steinbeck says he drove here on the 12th and slept in his camper in a peach orchard, but according to a letter to his wife (or agent) he drove straight-through Bugtussle and stayed in a tourist court in Next-town-over. I slept in my Rav4 parked in the Wal-Mart parking lot.\\n\\nSince hes not as good a writer as Steinbeck, he never really manages to make me care about his travels.\\n\\nFinally theres the third issue I had with the book was Steigerwalds Right-Wing/Libertarian slant which he insists on inserting into pretty much every page of the book. As in:\\n\\n\\\"When I stayed in the Bugtussle Wal-Mart parking lot, I didn't see any poor people or sign of the Great Recession so government intervention clearly isn't needed\\\"\\n\\nI get his politics, and hes certainly entitled to them, but if he had sub-titled his book A Libertarian take on TWC, I wouldnt have read it.\\n\\nAnyway, theres three stories here: the expose of TWC , which I quite enjoyed despite being a huge fan of the book, the Steigerwald travelogue (which I found rather boring) and his Libertarian assessment of John Steinbeck which I thought was irrelevant. Oh, and theres a bonus. After exposing the fictive nature of TWC , Steigerwald apparently expected the world of Steinbeck scholars to laud him and reward him for his effort and insight. When that didn't happen he seems to have become quite petulant and vindictive. The final quarter of the book consists largely of extensive quotes from his correspondence (both public and private) with various people he thinks don't take Steinbecks sins seriously enough. Anyway, now Ive told you that TWC was mostly fiction, Penguin has put a disclaimer of sorts in the intro to their latest edition of TWC , so you can save your time and skip this book.\",\n \"Product: John T. Kuehn is a former naval aviator who retired as a commander from the U.S. Navy in 2004. He holds a PhD in military history from Kansas State University and teaches at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, KS.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The guys who set up the win for WWII in the Pacific\\n\\nReview: Agents of Innovation explained how the General Board of the US Navy, in the wake of the Washington Naval Treaty's ban on American fortification of it Western Pacific bases began thinking of innovative ways of addressing the limitation. Because of the lack of forward bases, the Navy began planning for a long-range, blue water fleet with extraordinary ability to replenish underway. It also began planning for the \\\"step-by-step\\\" strategy of island hopping and establishment of forward operation bases (the secret Mobile Base Project) to include SeeBee construction battalions and dozens of floating dry-docks some of which could accommodate the largest ships in the American inventory.\\n\\nAll of these preparations (made in the 20's and 30's) laid the groundwork for the American victory over Japan. This book was absolutely fascinating, anyone with any interest in WWII naval strategy needs to read this book.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":4,"string":"4"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":88,"string":"88"}}},{"rowIdx":89,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AOI2MD752ZWFU"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"What's more fun than a logging toy truck? One that lets kids play lumberjack with squishy, colorful Play-Doh compound! This toy construction truck for kids ages 3 and up lets kids make and haul their own timber again and again. Squeeze silly logs and beams from the back, slice them up, and roll Buzzsaw to wherever your imagination takes you. Kids can create their own fresh cut wood and other fun shapes with these 4 Play-Doh colors in 3-ounce cans, which also double as construction cones! For more fun, Buzzsaw has a removable arm with 2 interchangeable saw blades to cut different patterns. Make axes, hard hats, and more with the molds on the truck. For kids who love toy construction trucks and arts and crafts like modeling clay, this Play-Doh set is sure to get their imaginations rolling! Hasbro, Play-Doh, and all related properties are trademarks of Hasbro.\". The summary of the review text is \"It's Play-doh, kids love Play-Doh and trucks\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Even my 3 y/o daughter got in on this play-doh action. Anyway, my two boys ages 5 and 7 are still having loads of fun with this. I think the best part is the truck, because well, its a truck and my boys are playing with it with their other cars and trucks.\n\nThe actual intended use of the truck and its two blades, functionally is not the best and does not sustain its purpose...you can only roll over and cut play-doh so many times before your child realizes its kinda boring. You also have stabilize the rear of truck with another hand to get some good 'buzzing' cutting action. But like said, the truck itself is the fun part, especially rolling the tires over lots of play-doh.\n\nSo far the play-doh hasn't been mushed into one brownish color mess like most play-doh in our house, but thats just a matter of time.\n\nI recommend this play-doh set."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Even my 3 y/o daughter got in on this play-doh action. Anyway, my two boys ages 5 and 7 are still having loads of fun with this. I think the best part is the truck, because well, its a truck and my boys are playing with it with their other cars and trucks.\n\nThe actual intended use of the truck and its two blades, functionally is not the best and does not sustain its purpose...you can only roll over and cut play-doh so many times before your child realizes its kinda boring. You also have stabilize the rear of truck with another hand to get some good 'buzzing' cutting action. But like said, the truck itself is the fun part, especially rolling the tires over lots of play-doh.\n\nSo far the play-doh hasn't been mushed into one brownish color mess like most play-doh in our house, but thats just a matter of time.\n\nI recommend this play-doh set."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Take care of your Wii U GamePads charging needs with the Tomee Charge Cable for Wii U GamePad. Compatible with the GamePad, this cable is 10 feet in length, and plugs into any open USB port on the Wii U, allowing for simultaneous play and charge.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 27,000 Stars, Nintendo get a clue\n\nReview: You are reading this because you recently discovered how useless your new overpriced Wii U is with a dead Gamepad and/or how a charging station versus a cable (plugged in) is less useful when your battery runs out. You can't even access the Wii U menu without the Gamepad. I.E. it needs to be charged/charging and always on. Nintendo are jerks. Even with their 97 different proprietary inputs, this little 7 dollar USB cable is the bomb. A perfect replacement for the white Wii U whose plug in charger dies out at a whim and for the black deluxe where the charging station becomes useless because your battery is dead and you can't play with the gamepad when charging. Low and behold the perfect solution for both. Tomee I hope you make a billion dollars off this simple but awesome cable. Yes you can plug this cable right into the front of your Wii U and charge and maintain playing or if you really want, simply plug it into a USB wall charger like for a iphone/ipad/kindle etc. Nintendo is so dumb, they could have produced this cable themselves and easily charged 20 bucks for it. I mean think about it, why with 4 USB inputs would you need separate a plug in wired charger? Duh Nintendo, get a clue.","Product: DC17 Animal; The most powerful upright for pet hair. Outcleans all other vacuums, room after room. Level 3 Root Cyclone technology. Unique cleaner head and motorized brushbar for the bets pick-up across all floor types.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Lots of power BUT One MAJOR DESIGN FLAW\n\nReview: I feel compelled to write an honest review albeit warning about the Dyson DC-17 Animal Cyclone vacuum.\n\nYes this vacuum has lots of power with incredible suction. However, having owned this unit for almost two years now there is a fair amount maintenance that as prospective owners you need to be aware of.\n\nFirst off, nearly every component is removable for cleaning/removing debris. So this is positive - you can clean the unit BUT who ever heard of having to clean a cleaning product - a paradox of sorts.\n\nBUT Most importantly is that the most integral component on this unit - the top \"Level 3\" cyclones (middle part of the canister) is sealed and this is where any large debris, i.e.: hair, pet or human, gets clogged and CANNOT BE REMOVED.\n\nYes there is a 5 year warranty on Dysons' so I called customer service on this issue. The Dyson response verbatim \"yes this is a problem we aware of for 'this unit' and there is nothing we can do about it other than send you a new canister\" - which I ordered for free.\n\nIt turns out the issue is not so much the canister but the rubber gasket seal at the bottom of the canister which is supposed to form a air-tight seal between the canister and the base unit. The problem is that when removing/re-inserting the canister for emptying (a normal part of operation), this rubber seal is easily moved. When this gasket is offset by even the slightest margin, your large debris gets sucked into the filter (which then quickly clogs) and the hair has no place to go but into the cyclone housing. A general rule with Dysons' is that you are not supposed to see any hair or large debris on the filter - if so, this is indicative of a problem - i.e.: IT LOSES SUCTION.\n\nI think now knowing this issue exists I will thoroughly inspect this gasket each time I remove/re-insert the canister but if had I known you had to be so delicate with such a routine vacuum function - I would have not purchased this vacuum.\n\nI also think this unit will last a long time knowing I can (have to) periodically maintain it, but for $550 I wish I didn't have to.\n\nThe irony here is that Dyson vacuums which are heralded as engineering marvels \"that never lose suction\" are not as brilliant as Andre Dyson would like you to think. All DC-17s are susceptible to this design flaw, you can call Dyson yourself 1-866-693-9766 to confirm.\n\nNow I can't speak for the other models, perhaps the cyclone component can be opened for removing debris or there is a different gasket mechanism, but as for the DC-17 their most expensive unit, I would caution not to purchase this specific model and investigate if the other models do not have this design flaw. If the other models do not have this issue then I would recommend the Dyson brand in general because of the power, it is unrivaled compared to other brands plus the 5 year warranty is better than most companies.\n\nNow you know and knowing is half the battle. :-)","Product: Crafted from durable porcelain to provide years of dining and entertaining, the heirloom-quality BonJour Dinnerware Fruitful Nectar Porcelain 10-Inch Round Serving Bowl is graced with soft aqua borders encircling elegant silver and bronze floral and hummingbird motifs. The beautiful serving bowl is poised to serve culinary treats for any meal, from sweet ambrosia salad to sausage and cranberry dressing. Blending exquisite style with contemporary convenience, the bowl is safe for the microwave, making it easy to heat vegetables or homemade soup. Able to go into a warming oven to 250 for up to 30 minutes, the bowl is also dishwasher safe, so less time is spent cleaning up after meals. This beautiful round serving bowl is the perfect complement to other BonJour Fruitful Nectar dinnerware and serve ware pieces.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pretty birds, functional, and FREEZER safe? All at a great price\n\nReview: For a full set of dinnerware for four, you got yourself a good deal here. Granted the teal-green bird inspired design needs to be something of your taste but no downside to the quality of workmanship. Did I mention the birds? Its a little weird clearing your plate or sipping your coffee staring at these birds but I guess its better than a bland solid color. These may seem a little 'grandma-ish' but they grow on you. Again for the price to quality ratio, the aesthetics make them kind of fun. The freezer safe claim is a little odd as I have never froze a plate or cup but apparently with these you are free to do so with less worry ...so get your freeze on.","Product: Brew up to 12 cups of great-tasting coffee with the KRUPS Savoy EC311050 programmable coffee maker. Its easy-to-read digital screen and intuitive control panel enables you to easily program your clock and program the auto-start. You can now wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee or have a fresh pot ready and waiting when you want to entertain. Thoughtfully designed, the coffee maker also provides a pause-and-serve function that allows you to remove the carafe at anytime to enjoy a quick cup mid-brew. You can also enjoy the automatic keep warm function, for keeping brewed coffee perfectly heated for up to two hours. A glass carafe comes included, complete with a generous stay-cool handle for graceful serving. Other highlights include a front-facing water-level display and a gold-tone filter (no paper filters necessary), to prepare delicious coffee served at an optimal temperature. The EC311050 KRUPS Savoy coffee maker makes it easy to brew hot, robust, flavorful coffee every time. Get ready to savor your day.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Brews at 180 degrees, cone basket helps rich flavor, programming has issues\n\nReview: This is a near perfect, minimalist coffee maker (I think). It's a cone basket, which I am now fully convinced brews better, richer tasting coffee than the flat basket makers out there. I love this machine minus the one star because the digital display & subsequent programming is kind of 'alarming'. When you set the timer, regardless of what time it currently is, the am or pm of the programmed time overrides the display of the current time. For example, it's 7:05pm right now, I set the machine to start at 5:35 AM, however on my display it reads 7:05 AM. WHY? Who knows but it is what it is. So in others, if you set the machine to be programmed, you can give up using the clock for time telling purposes. There is no 24 hour option either which if there was, this issue would be eliminated.\n\nI've measured the brewed temperature a few times and it's a solid 181-183 every time for me which is pretty darn good given here in Japan, our voltage is on the lower end of 110v not 120v like the U.S.\n\nYes it is big in size. Almost 3 inches taller than the tasteless Mr. Coffee 12 cup machine this replaced. I noticed its bigger because the carafe is taller versus wider.\n\nIt does brew at a slow speed though too so patience is needed. The stop and pour helps this out though.\n\nBeeping. It beeps when it turns on...not off or brewing completion - WHY? Who knows, again programming the unit doesn't make much sense.\n\nPrice wins though, $40 and I am much happier than spending less on a machine that produces bad, bland tasting coffee or double or more for a machine which makes similar tasting coffee.","Product: Furinno WAYAR series wire shelving system designed to organize your loose stuff with additional storage spaces. These wire shelving units are constructed from premium quality industrial-strength steel wires, with options in chrome or matte black finish. The heavy duty steel and chrome/black coat are tested for long term durability. You can use these shelves in almost every room in your house or apartment. It fits in your kitchen, bathroom and garage to store pots and pans, cleaning detergent, tools, appliances and more. Furinno wire shelving provides a 10 year limited warranty. For help with assembly, missing parts, damaged goods, or other questions, Furinno Customer Team are pleased to answer you. Please contact Furinno by calling at the toll-free number or via email.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Petite but durable shelf\n\nReview: This is a small shelf and took about 10 minutes to put together. I don't have much experience with this Furinno brand but we do have several similar metal shelves like this that we have purchased overseas in Japan. These Furinnos are actually of lesser \"heavy duty\" quality than what we have as the vertical bars are about 1/2 half the diameter (they also come with a set of wheeled coasters as well which these Furinnos do not). This is not to say these shelves are not of good quality - they are, just saying that there are similar but better shelves out there.\n\n- It's not stackable as they are capped - other brands are and give you that option to screw in the top cap yourself. At this height you should be able to buy a 2nd shelf or extensions to add height and additional shelves.","Product: Remove natural and synthetic corks in a matter of seconds with a simple press of a button. Easily removes and discharge up to 45 natural or synthetic corks with a single charge. Includes charging base and foil cutter.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Mine was a dud, don't recommend this product at all\n\nReview: So my very first bottle this thing jammed and would not release my (synthetic) cork. I had to use a chopstick to suspend the cork so it would release hence I don't trust this gimmicky, unnecessary product. I almost feel like an idiot for wanting to try this thing out. I have the Vinturi aerator, which albeit kind of works but is also a gimmicky, unnecessary product. Shame on me for thinking using a normal wine bottle opener and letting a glass catch some air time is insufficient. Jeez...\n\nBuild quality is also on the sketchy side. It is plastic, all plastic chrome. And the blue light, well it's just a show and has no purpose. If I were to resell this thing it would be for about $5, that's all its worth.\n\nDEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VINTURI RECHARGEABLE WINE OPENER TO ANYONE !!!","Product: Optomas EP719 digital projector offers brilliant performance at an amazing price. The EP719 is a compact and durable projector that is designed to handle todays demanding multimedia needs.Features: Advance DLP technology featuring DarkChip2 DLP for deeper 2500:1 contrast and bright at 2000 Lumens; Extensive connectivity for true HD digital DVI-D w/HDCP, VGA (YPbPr) for HDTV connection; Native XGA (1024x768) and maximum SXGA+ (1400x1050) resolution for high-end display needs; HDTV Compatibility for High Definition entertainment from a variety of sources; User Password security for administrative control.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Dude, forget the plasma...get this projector\n\nReview: I have had this projector for 2 years now. I was using the s-video input (with a 25 foot Acoustic Research cable) for DVDs, playstation 2, and digital cable television. I was always happy with the picture but whites were always fuzzy - you could see static on the screen (in my case a white wall). It took some research to find out that sVGA is the same as component video. So I experimented with a long component video to VGA cable (35 ft.). In order for this work with cable, I had to upgrade to a HDTV box because they are the only ones Cox Cable has with component video output (and hdmi of course). WOW...not only was the picture quality for regular cable increased - the EP719 takes the 1080i HDTV signal through this cable no problem (even recognizes it on screen as HDTV in the lower right corner). HDTV is so awesome on this projector. HUGE crystal clear HDTV quality resolution. DVDs are also much clearer too. That white fuzziness was completely eradicated.\n\nI wanted to experiment with the HDMI to DVD-D conversion as I imagine the picture will be even better. But in order run everything (cable, ps2, dvd) through my stereo receiver with one cable to the projector I had to stick to one cable type - component video being it.\n\nThere is absolutely no need to buy an expensive plasma or LCD when for a fraction of the cost you can get the same high-res picture quality with a screen six times the size.\n\nNo Problems either. Get yourself a component video to VGA cable (dirt cheap on ebay). Or if you have a new receiver that has hdmi inputs, you can use all hdmi cables and then connect one hdmi cable with an hdmi-dvi-d converter and get the max out of your projector. Although, I have read that long runs of hdmi lose quality over 10 ft. whereas with component video you are ok up to 50 feet with no signal loss.","Product: The Targus Unofficial Netbook Slipcase is designed to protect netbooks with up to 10.2 screens. The netbook compartment features 360 protection with air-mesh padding on all sides of the device for ventilation and protection against drops and bumps. The case is constructed with water-and wear-resistant fabric and features an oversized accessory pocket to store a power adapter or other necessities. The fully-reinforced shoulder strap provides a durable and comfortable carrying option.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Fits Asus S400c 14.1 no problem but...\n\nReview: So laptops these days (ultrabooks) sure are nice, thin, & light but the sizes are inconsistent (12.1, 13.3, 14.1, 15.4, etc.). My Asus S400c has a 14.1 diagonal screen, hence there appears to be zillion 13.3 laptops and cases/bags out in the market but for those 14.1's there are significantly less let alone any custom made for the Asus S400. This Targus bag fits my laptop and I assume other (HP) 14.1 ultrabooks very snug like a glove (just fine too with my USB Logitech unifying receiver left in). BUT...the power brick/cable unlike like Apple's small profile power supply does show a nice little 'bump out' for this bag. Without the power supply the bag is very slick. I would like the bag a inch shorter, closer to the width of my computer but obviously its not custom made hence wiggle room is understandably needed. So overall, very nice brown color, build quality is great so the price to quality ratio is near perfect.","Product: While at first glance, it may be in your best interest to shop around. Know that when you purchase RAM from Komputerbay, you're getting Grade-A brand name computer memory. Cheap computer memory, while possibly being compatible, can cause system crashes, error codes in your computer, and even damage to your motherboard! Other sellers may offer you similar looking products for a few cents or a dollar less, but here's the scoop on why: they sell cheap-grade memory and they don't test the modules before shipping! This ends up costing you time and money. Trust when you buy from Komputerbay, you are getting top of the line product from a top of the line company. We test every module before it leaves the building, and back all of our purchases up with a LIFETIME WARRANTY! PC3-12800 (1600MHz) DDR3 204 Pin Laptop memory upgrade Non-ECC Non-Parity Unbuffered 1.5V Lifetime Warranty Compatible to: MacBook Pro 17\" Late 2011 and newer MacBook Pro 15.4\" Mid 2011 and newer MacBook Pro 15\" Mid 2010 and newer without Retina display MacBook Pro 13.3\" Late 2011 and newer MacBook Pro 13\" Late 2011 and newer without Retina display iMac 27\" Mid 2011 and newer iMac 21.5 \"Mid 2011 and newer Mac Mini Mid 2011 and newer Contact us with your Mac details, if you not sure before you buy this product.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Not 100% Compatible with 2011 Mac Mini\n\nReview: All is good except for one HUGE non-compatibility issue - the mac mini will NOT WAKE with this RAM in your computer. It's a very rare issue but consistent with other complaints. Go to crucial.com for 100% guaranteed compatibility, yes its 50 bucks more but you won't have any problems. The only workaround is setting the Energy saving setting to 'Never' but you can leave the Display sleep setting where it was. In other words, you will wake your monitor only but the computer will be running all the time - other than shutting your machine off and back on every time you need or want to use it...which is a bit of a pain. Sorry but had to return for this nuisance.","Product: The Micca MB42 bookshelf speakers render an amazing listening experience while taking up very little in space or budget. Handsomely styled with classic appearance and natural textures, the MB42 is easy to place and blends into any room or decor. Its well balanced sound signature and vocal clarity are a great fit with a wide range of usage scenarios, from background music to home theater. The MB42 design starts with carefully picked drivers that mesh perfectly in the critical crossover overlap region. It incorporates a balanced woven carbon fiber woofer for enhanced transient and impactful bass, and a high performance silk dome tweeter for smooth treble and accurate imaging. The drivers are housed in a ported enclosure that delivers extended bass response with low distortion. Full size 5-way binding posts provide the full complement of speaker wire connectivity options. Hex screws are used throughout for assembly. Hearing is believing. Discover how good an affordable pair of speakers can be by trying them risk free in your home with your music. Place the MB42 along a wall or near a corner of the room for best results. They can be used on desks, book/wall shelves, or on speaker stands. If you are not absolutely delighted with the MB42 performance, simply Return them for a refund. Micca MB42 specifications: - woofer: 4\" carbon fiber cone with rubber surround - tweeter: 0.75\" silk dome - enclosure: ported enclosure - frequency response: 60Hz-20kHz - impedance: 4-8 ohms - Sensitivity: 85dB 1W/1M - power handling: 75 watts (each) - dimensions: 9.5\" (H) x 5.8\" (w) x 6.5\" (D)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nice upgrade & balance with the MB42X Bookshelf speakers\n\nReview: This replaced a BIC Venturi DV32CLR center which while is also a cheaper speaker, I still had a hard time deciding to \"upgrade\". I already had two Micca MB42X bookshelf speakers for my fronts (a 3.1 set up with 10 inch sub) and finally took the advice to have the same brand and speaker type for my center channel. This center is a pleasant upgrade both to the wallet and hears. The soundstage is much, much bigger & louder now - wider I mean. Some people mentioned this speaker only casts it sound forward with limited dispersion left to right, I disagree. I have sat for hours on both of sides of the TV and the sound is more room-filling than front-directional. Anyway, my 3 front speakers all match now and hope to keep this system running for a while. Can't wait to get more powerful receiver to push this speaker a bit more.\n\nThese Micca speakers are a poor man's delight. You need a subwoofer though as these little 4 inch woofers don't push a lot of air.","Product: The Klipsch GiG is an ultra-portable wireless music system small enough to fit into a briefcase, a backpack, or even the palm of your hand. Yet, its full-range sound is what is truly astounding. Applying our 65 years+ experience as a major manufacturer of premium quality loudspeakers to the smallest of the Klipsch Music Center series, GiG is the state-of-the-art choice in its class.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: The JiG is up with the GiG. This is so not Klipsch.\n\nReview: Simply put: look elsewhere for this price point. I hope there is at least one Klipsch employee saying: \"I told you so\". Klipsch really deviated way too far from its its brand recognition and strengths with this specific GiG speaker. I dare say, they should pull the plug now, cut their losses, and maintain current the bluetooth line up that they already had. The two stars are for sound quality because it is strong, super clear, and loud. But there are way more (significant) negatives than positives for this product. Here they are:\n\n- The flipped design giving you option to place the speaker vertically or horizontally with the sliding enclosure is a nuisance both in functionality for accessing the power button, usb/aux inputs, and aesthetics.\n\n- The Power button. OMG seriously, what? Hold the the button for 3 seconds (per the instructions) to turn on or off. This is an epic fail. I had to have my wife come over and count to 7 'Mississippi's' just to turn it off. It would not turn off, several times.\n\n- Bluetooth connectivity is slower compared to most speakers I have (and I have a lot). You have to wait unusually longer for the nice little guitar sound and your device indicator to know its connected.\n\n- The single dial/button for multiple functions, again, what? Reading the directions for this was an automatic, 'what were they thinking?' There are 8 functions (skipping tracks, pausing, taking/hanging up a call, holding a call, voice commands) that you need to memorize as to whether you need to press the button 1-3 times, and/or hold it for 1-2 seconds. Seriously, no customer really wants to memorize how to use anything, let alone a bluetooth speaker. I am tempted to take off another star for this alone.\n\n+ + There are two aspects I did like: 1) The global USB charger, now that was a classy act I have never seen. I live in Italy, and this was a pleasant surprise to have a Euro plug adapter that is cleanly integrated into the US/Asia 110v plug. 2) The volume dial. Its old school and I appreciated it.\n\nHonestly, if Klipsch kept it simple on this \"GiG\", the Bose Mini SL would have some serious, serious competition at this price point. Seriously, all they needed to do was NOT have the flipped cover/stand, have SEPARATE buttons for each (group of) functions, and a SIMPLE on/off button,... there should be nothing but 5 star reviews here. The charging issue seems to be resolved but with that the noted design violations - you have many other speakers options to consider/research in what seems a never-ending sea of bluetooth speakers. Sorry Klipsch, you should have known better or done some focus group testing with this unit.","Product: Enjoy the freedom of wireless connectivity with Azio's slim and ergonomic wireless 2.4 GHz keyboard. Designed for home theater PC's and Smart TV's, this keyboard features an integrated micro-track pad with left/right mouse buttons and essential multimedia hotkeys, all within the range of your thumbs. [Interface: USB] [Operating Distance: 33 ft.] [Radio: 2.4 GHz Wireless (RF)] [Battery: 2 x AAA Alkaline Batteries] [Battery Life: 30 hrs. Usage Time / 6 Months Standby] [Weight: 0.5 lbs] [Hotkeys: Back Track, Next Track, Play/Pause, Vol+/-] [OS Support: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8; Not recommended for Mac] [Dimensions (LxWxH): 3.5 x 6.6 x 0.6 Inches] [Warranty: 1 Year Limited]\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: No. Micro Trackpad sensor is annoyingly imperfect\n\nReview: Disappointing to say the least. I am using this as a HTPC keyboard on my Mac mini as my ioGear trackball keyboard has been dropped too many times. To save some bucks, I decided to try this little guy out. The scrolling involved to move the cursor from one side of the screen to the other is ridiculous with this keyboard. Literally it takes 10 swipes. The set up was easy, though not entirely Mac friendly (no command key). This is really meant for a google mini pc, which I am now using it for. Build quality is nice, very light. Actually I am done with these wireless keyboards and will be sticking with my mobile mouse app on my iphone and ipad, its awesome.","Product: Let the music play at home or away with the SRS-X5, packing 20 watts of 2.1 channel sound in a sleek, portable design with built-in battery for up to 8 hours of playback. Flexible music streaming connectivity options even let you stream your favorite audio tracks via Bluetooth.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It is great with a few quirks and definitely recommended\n\nReview: I fell in love with the this speaker at first glance and listening. But after some serious testing this is what I conclude:\n\nAdvantages:\n+ Musically ...Sound is loud and clear. The real test of loudness was it allows you to go way past the max volume of your device by simply tapping the Volume + button. Distortion is minimal too. Net result really loud (indoors).\n+ Design is contemporary and tastefully executed. But it does look it is meant for indoor use, no ruggedness to it at all. It says sleek and stylish.\n+ Build quality and driver appear top notch, in other words there are some heavy magnets on these 5 speakers inside. Almost as heavy as my Bose SL3.\n+ USB device charging, this is great, until our homes are equipped with USB jacks in the walls, having this capability on your speaker makes a lot of sense.\n+ Phone call function worked perfectly even with Skype. I admit I like the speaker phone function on bluetooth speakers.\n+/- Bass. I am on the fence with the bass and bass-specific woofer inside. There are 3 front facing speakers and 2 in the rear but there is no radiated bass coming out of this speaker (rear or front really). You can feel the bass when holding the speaker but not that much even when touching in front of the surface it is placed on. This is a huge difference compared to radiated bass woofers (like the Bose SL3 and Mini) that throw a lot of bass out you can literally feel several feet away. As such I found this speaker to be more treble oriented with the bass more or less flat, like you can hear that \"pat pat\" sound on bass-laden music. Not a negative if your musical choices do not warrant the bass response.\n\nDisadvantages:\n- The \"Sound\" button. This was a real sore spot for me because the TWO manuals included mention nothing about this overtly clear button on the top of the speaker. Its only when you refer to the online help guide: [...] that you have to dig to find out what the button's purpose is. Yes you can press it, and you hear a difference in sound but its purpose is not what it seems. According to the guide, it is for a Surround effect - which appears this is only when the 2 rear speakers turn on. It is far from surround. Actually to my ears it is a Treble enhancer. I am fine with that as for some lesser-quality mp3s I have, it did wonders to the sound clarity. But again that is not the Button's intent. In fact its purpose is contradicted in the online guide, Sony states: with the button Off, \"You can enjoy Clear Audio+ mode (Sony-recommended sound quality).\" So the obvious question is why have it if Sony is recommending Not to use it.\n- Touch buttons are way too sensitive. You cannot lift and carry the speaker by grasping the top as the slightest touch either lowers the volume or unpairs the bluetooth connection (which happened the very first time I picked it up). I tend to prefer hard, press-able buttons. Just because your phone has a touch screen doesn't mean everything else should.\n- Get the case if you get this, I wouldn't trust this shiny, slick, boxey design outside without protection.\n- Power charging plug is a bit on the large side and of course proprietary to this unit.\n\nAll in all for the price, you are getting a very high quality speaker with some great features and of course musical sound. I am estimating the next two levels on this speaker series are not worth it though, especially the 700 dollar SRS-X9. I would love to give this SRS X5 - 5 stars but knowing there are other speakers out there for the same or less money that do not have these quirks, I would do a little bit of market research then decide but know full well you won't be disappointed with your purchase decision.","Product: Logitech Harmony Home Control integrates connected lights, locks, binds, thermostats, sensors, home entertainment devices, and more-all controllable from your Harmony remote or mobile app.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 1 star for product; 3 for Customer Service (i'd give more service but the product is lacking)\n\nReview: Let me preface Chad (Senior Director of Worldwide Marketing and Product Management) from Logitech was top notch in his responsiveness and solutions. His quick and eager help even occurred over the weekend.\n\nWith that said, I experienced a lot of difficulty with this remote and app. I have other Logitech remotes (harmony 550) and products and love them all, until now. In sum I believe the Wifi and app dependence kill this remote's functionality, not enhance it.\n\nThe set up and experience went like this:\n\n1) After setting this up with 2 activities (TV & Cable and TV & Wii U); after 3 tests it instantly stopped connecting after powering off the TV/Cable activity.\n2) Within those 3 tests, after shutting off the first activity, it immediately turned on the Wii game activity.\n3) I could never get the Volume TV control to work.\n4) It has now stopped working completely altogether.\n5) I do live Overseas and the major TV brand we use (sold by military exchange stores is AVOL (http://avl21c.com/renewal/company.htm) because of their dual voltage/multi-system capability) is not in the database so I had to add and teach the remote that TV.\n6) The Wii U bluetooth set up took way more than a few seconds per the app, more like 5 attempts.\n7) I own other Harmony remotes whose set up and web-based set up were way easier to use and quicker to set up devices and activities.\n8) The app set up while thorough is still cumbersome, the Myharmony.com site and software is useless as it is sorely limited and refers you back to the App for set up/edits. One should not have to install anything worthy of 100mb to be so limited. Its just wasteful.\n9) The iOS app has one way navigation meaning if I am trying to troubleshoot the set up, you are forced to go through the linear steps (unsuccessfully) with no ability to 'go home' or other main menu navigation.\n10) The fact the hub requires a power connection, i.e.: an empty outlet is needed in one's most likely already full power strip/surge protector is a let down. No one would ever think that a new remote, something perceived as a stand alone hand held product would require a power source.\n\nThe above is what Chad responded to, offered a phone call assist as well, but in the end offered for me to try the Harmony Ultimate. We'll see if he sends it and if it works.\n\nAnyway, this really was a disappointment.","Product: Meet the speaker that brings your music and friends togetherwith a style thats all your own. The SoundLink Bluetooth speaker III is the best-performing mobile Bluetooth speaker from Bose. It plays louder and longer than its popular predecessor, with advanced Bose technologies that reproduce the fullness, clarity and depth of your music. And new for Green Bay Packers fans: The SoundLink III -NFL Collection. Show passion for your team, and elevate your game with this striking speaker.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Revised: I am admit, this is the gold standard.\n\nReview: Note: I originally gave this 3 stars a couple months ago. After now reviewing several other pricey bluetooth speakers since first receiving the SL3, I have to admit, I have kept coming back to SL3 as a comparison, and it still holds several advantages over the competition even with its 300 dollar price tag. Its the musical sound clarity, loudness, and congruence with original recordings. Some say there is this concept of a \"Bose sound\" or that Bose is muddy. And yes there is some digital sound processing going on in the amplification but I have to admit it is good. Its not overly loaded with bass nor treble, I really do think its pretty balanced. If you disagree, then you have not fully run these Bose speakers through the full gamut of musical types like acoustical, classical, drum n bass, jazz, rock n roll, to trance/dance. The SL3 does extremely well across them all, bringing out the clarity and authenticity of each. So with that, my mind has changed. BUT definitely consider the Bose Mini if saving $100 is a priority because you will be very happy with that.","Product: Quiet Comfort 15 headphones feature exclusive Bose advancements in noise reduction technology. You hear less noise than ever before, and even more of your music and movies with the quality sound you expect from Bose. And their lightweight fit stays comfortable for hours. It's a combination of benefits unmatched in the industry.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for the Independently Wealthy\n\nReview: If you're like me and can afford to pay 300 beans for a set of headphones, then life is good. If I didn't have so much disposable income I would opt for the Audio-Technica headphones as people seem to really like the quality and more importantly the cost. You have to realize Bose is a brand name and that is what you are paying for. I don't think their other products are worth it but these QC 15s seem to be pretty damn good. From what I read in terms of noise cancellation, they are the best. I believe I remember reading that Bose actually invented this technology, so that should be some consolation. Also, the improvements made in these QC15's over the QC 2, I think are worth it. My co-worker has a nice broken pair of QC-2s but the durability is allegedly increased on the QC 15.\n\nAs far as how they work, I was skeptic but between the suction of the ear cups (over your ear is a key part) and turning on the noise cancellation - they really work. I have tried other types of noise cancelling headphones and you can hear a hiss (more often than not you are supposed to hear that hiss). But with these QC 15s, there is no hiss whatsoever, its like you flip a switch and BAM, no external sound. I have a loud fan in my office and it is completely eradicated. I have another long flight from Japan to the US soon, hence why I got these - I don't think I will be dissappointed with this purchase for flying purposes either. It does help though I will be sitting in first class but like I said if you're independently wealthy - the Bose QC 15s are worth it.","Product: The Kidizoom Action Cam by VTech lets little videographers capture their adventures with videos and photos! The Action Cam is a great first video camera for kids and is durable enough to handle drops and tumbles. It can go anywhere and do anything kids can do with two included mounts so they can attach it to their bike, skateboard and more. It also comes with a waterproof case so they can take videos and pictures up to 6 feet underwater! The Action Cam features a 1.4-inch color LCD screen and can take regular videos and photos in addition to stop-motion videos and time-lapse photos. Your child can also explore their creativity with fun effects, frames and photo filters. They can download their photos and videos to a computer using the included micro USB cable and share them with family and friends. For even more fun, they can also play three exciting learning games. Built-in rechargeable Li-ion Polymer battery (Approximate continuous photo taking and recording time is 2.5 hours. Battery is not replaceable). Expandable Memory (To store all your adventures, a micro memory card is required. Sold separately). Ages 4 to 9 years.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Meh ...doesn't come with memory\n\nReview: OK this lets your kids be the director with a durable mediocre video camera but it has one major flaw - no memory card included. I get why they are sold separately but for products marketed to parents with little kids - the whole use it right out of the box thing should be paramount. No its not a GoPro and yes I understand that but come on now. It doesn't even state this fact on the box. There should be a big 'No Memory card' on the packaging and on this amazon listing. Given that its a rechargeable battery, a cheap 1 to 2 gb SDcard could have been included.\n\nAnyway, we used this at the pool here in FL and it performs as as stated. Waterproof for sure.","Product: The SoundTouch 10 wireless speaker makes it easy to stream the music you love. It fits just about anywhere (its the perfect companion for bedrooms and dorm rooms) and delivers full, rich sound that belies its size. It works with your home Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices to stream millions of songs from music services, Internet radio stations and your stored music library. What if you want to play a podcast in one room and stream music in another room? Or two? Or three? With SoundTouch, you can build a family of multi-room wireless speakers throughout your home. Start with one and add more later. So you can play the same music in every room, or different music in different rooms. When you want to add more energy to parties and holidays, use the SoundTouch app to pair two SoundTouch 10 speakers for left/right Stereo Mode. And when you want to find your favorite music and podcasts faster, use the six presets on the remote or the speaker itself. Love the Amazon Echo Dot? So does SoundTouch. Just pair your speaker with the Echo Dot and use your voice to play music, get your news, manage smart home devices and more. You can skip right to the fun part, because setting up your SoundTouch couldnt be easier. Just install the free SoundTouch app on your mobile device, plug in your speaker, connect your device and control it all with the app and an intuitive remote. With the new Bose Skill for Alexa, you can now enjoy hands-free voice control of your SoundTouch speakers using any Alexa-enabled device like the Echo Dot. Its easy. Just open the Alexa app. Search Bose under the Skills menu. Follow the simple steps. And ask away. COMMON COMMANDS Alexa, ask Bose to play. Alexa, ask Bose to play in the kitchen. Alexa, ask Bose to play everywhere. Alexa, ask Bose to play Preset 1. Alexa, ask Bose whats playing. Alexa, ask Bose to turn up the volume. Alexa, ask Bose to pause.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Loud & Convenient Radio\n\nReview: This is an internet radio. I can't think of any other description. It's a mix old and new school technology. For me it has a Ron Popeil, \"set it and forget it\" appeal. As such it's in my opinion, these Bose units are all about the Preset buttons...for people who have a set number of radio station likes or music genre interests but do not want to get lost in sea of a million internet radio stations or new streaming music services popping up all over now. For me at age 41, it's perfect. I'm also a firm believer with the number of internet radio stations, websites, and apps like TuneinRadio - you don't need (to pay) a streaming music service. This radio makes accessing, setting, and conveniently listening to your favorite internet stations pretty darn easy.\n\n::::: PLUSES :::::\n\n1) It's small and discreet in size. 8.5 inches all by 5.5 inches wide by 3.5ish inches deep\n2) Setup to my home wifi network via smartphone app was seconds versus if you use a computer (for the non-smartphone/tablet owners out there) you need to use the USB cable. I initially wanted to try the computer set up on my Windows 10 laptop and Soundtouch app - but when I saw you needed the usb, I was like no way - that should not be necessary.\n3) Searching for free Internet radio stations was easy and simply press play to listen, if you like the station or know your favorites - just hold a preset button on the app (or drag and drop from the computer app) and its set. I was able to find all my favorite RadioTunes stations, Jazz24, and Venice classical. I could not find nor load my favorite Jam Radio Cafe station though.\n4) You can use streaming services like Pandora, Deeezer, and IHeart radio. I tried Pandora, had to log in but once in was able to access my saved stations and save them to a preset button. I used my iphone for the Pandora app because my VPN is set up on there and worked great.\n5) I have to admit, I like having the remote too. Yes its another remote but this radio is about simplicity, in my mind. Once you get your preset buttons set, you can just come home and click the remote and its on. No turning on a separate Bluetooth speaker and phone.\n6) It's loud ...very loud for its small size. I imagine the 20 and 30 models are really loud with super bass.\n\n:::: CONS ::::\n\n1) The cloth grill was not a smart idea. I can see this deteriorating, pilling, or ripping over time.\n2) I understand the bluetooth connection which is new to all these SoundTouch units but this unit is all about using Wifi for better sound.\n3) It's not portable, in fact they stopped making the portable version of this radio. It's meant to be set in one room and left there.\n4) The adding of speakers throughout your home sounds great in theory but I don't see many people doing this above 2 speakers like for indoor to outdoor transitions.\n5) You have to create a new Bose app account for some reason which I doubt was necessary but in these days of selling people's consumer behavior, I understand.\n\nThese obviously are to compete with the Sonos market share but there are other brands of wifi radios and speakers with similar function but lesser price as well. So like any purchase, shop around and do some market research.","Product: JVC KW-R920BTS CD receiver covers just about all audio bases, including digital music, streaming Internet radio, siriusxm satellite radio, and old-school music options, like CD and am/FM radio. You can take hands-free calls, as well as switch between two paired phones using its Built-in Bluetooth. This receiver also lets you set your favorite colors in three different areas on its face. Pick your display color, pick your music, and suddenly, you've got a Jukebox in your dash.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Limited pre-outs, know what you're getting\n\nReview: Yes there are 2 sets of L/R pre-outs on this unit but this means only the following combinations of speakers work:\n- 4 speakers (assuming 2 fronts and 2 rears)\n- 2 speakers (front or rear) and use 2nf pre-out for a sub-woofer (a 2.1 system)\n\nThat's it and in my opinion...weak. I purchased this unit foolishly without seeing the rear of the unit (should have known better). Is it coincidence there is no photo or diagram of the back? Perhaps.\n\nMyself and I'd like to think most people have 4 speakers in their vehicle and if they want extra thump in the trunk (like me) the have a subwoofer. This head unit cannot accommodate this norm. Hence I returned it.","Product: With this earbud set, your music listening experience will never be the same again. This around the neck earphone set comes with Bluetooth capabilities that allows you to play music from iHeartRadio, Spotify, NPR & more using your voice and Bluetooth connection. The detachable ear cushions add comfort and mobility, making these earbuds the perfect addition to your next life adventure. They are water resistant and sweat-proof, perfect for the outdoors and heavy daily use. It takes advantage of a USB charging cable and paired with the travel pouch, these truly pack a powerful punch of sound. Introducing Melody the voice powered music assistant for your iHome with Melody you can use your voice to control music and content from iHeart Radio, Spotify, NPR and more! With a simple button tap, you can now put your mobile device away and control Melody right from your compatible iHome device. Voice control to access millions of songs at your command. Just download the Melody App (iOS & Android) and you are a tap away from accessing millions of songs using the power of your voice! Totally mobile, no Wi-Fi or AC required\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great deal for sound and wireless freedom\n\nReview: I picked these up at our AAfes Exchange for $25 on a whim. Well for that price and this Amazon $34 price, they are worth it.\n\n+ In ear voice for powering on/off and Bluetooth connection\n+ Sound quality is great... a little more bass but nothing the EQ can't fix\n\nThe black control dongle is lightweight and you don't notice it too much but the wire connecting the two headphones could be 2 inches longer with the dongle further down so it rests on your neck. It appears shorter than the other discount brand wireless BT headphones I've seen.\n\nYou can take calls with no issue and the center multifunction button can switch between using adjusting the volume and songs back/forth.\n\nYou don't need the ear wraps. The three different sized earbuds will stay in your ears.\n\nThe earbuds themselves are also very lightweight.\n\nBattery life is good at about 4 hours.\n\nI so badly want the new Apple Airpods but at 6 times the price of something like these iHomes...I'll wait.","Product: Durable molded plastic bars with cushioned foam grips. Non-skid removable bases for safety. One pair.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Intense workout for dirt cheap.\n\nReview: I don't know how you can give less than 5 stars for this extremely handy $[...] product. Yes they are plastic, and I was skeptic based on former reviews but listen the way these are designed, (which is smart via the angle) provide incredible resistance. If you are a lard ass tipping 250 lbs, don't buy these, get the metal ones. But seriously these hold your weight no problem.\n\nWHAT'S GREAT - I just started a push up regimen, starting slow because I am definitely out of shape. My routine of 4 reps consisting only 20,15,10, and lastly 5 push ups (50 total) - burns. With these push up bars, OMG I thought I was dead after 20. The extra posture, correct positioning, extra depth you get intensify your simple push up easily 2 fold.\n\nI wish I discovered this type of product long ago. Oh BTW I did own a pair of those Perfect Pushups, the ones that spin. No good, that spinning factoring is the worst thing for your push up. Keep it simple with these.","Product: Bowflex Boost was designed with one simple goal: to keep you moving. Day and night, Boost keeps track of your activities (calories, steps, distance traveled) and sleep. The band is designed with Bluetooth Smart technology, provides extended battery life of up to 11 days and is currently available for iOS devices (4s and higher).\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Hard to believe this is a legitimate product\n\nReview: Oh where to begin...\n\n1) No where near accurate. I wore this in tandem with my Wii Fit pedometer, the Bowflex logged on average 3000 yes 3000 more steps. This does not measure steps, its measures your hand movements which begs the question why you would wear something on your wrist (includes the Fitbit force and flex) to measure steps...makes no sense. I washed my hands 3 times today and it logged that activity...really?\n2) Bluetooth connection - is completely manual and requires several connection attempts. On the iPhone it does not register through the bluetooth area, meaning you have to connect through the Bowflex app.\n3) Sleep activity - useless because of 1 and 2 above\n\nJust a bad idea all the way around.","Product: Military-grade protection with raised rubber ridges for the perfect no-slip grip. The CandyShell Grip case is ideal for serious texters, hardcore gamers, or anyone who wants a better grip on their phone. Give your butterfingers a break with CandyShell Grip for iPhone SE or iPhone 5/5s from Speck.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Update-rubber grip does wear down over time\n\nReview: Update 4.16.13 - if you carry your phone in your pocket, the daily removal and replacement into your pocket will wear the rubber grip off. Expected I suppose but knocking off a star because my now 3 month old case looks really old and that solid rubbery grip I fell in love with is now gone.\n*****\nGotta love this case. Its sturdy. Awesome grip. Got the black/gray one for me for my black iphone and the white/black one for my wife's white iphone (that white/black is really sexy). It almost gives the iPhone 5 the correct depth and weight because when you take it off after a while your forget just how skinny the phone is. But I do warn against taking it off, once its on, it on. I say this because the bottom front (top) part where lightening plug hole is literally like .5 microns of an inch worth of plastic covered in just as much rubber..i.e.: it's very flimsy at that point. I do think too though for the price it should come with a screen sticker protector. I got one of those as well just in case. I haven't dropped the phone yet but am not worried with this Speck case. All those huge tough guard rubber cases simply are not practical. I have 3 kids under 5 and I trust them handling my phone with this case.","Product: Exclusive design, classic phone case\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Solid entry into a huge market - Great Execution!!\n\nReview: Akna did a good job this case's design, build quality, and aesthetics. I believe it is the color pallets and design that is catching people's eye with this case, as that was the \"case\" for me. I have the black/yellow wavy stripe and it is really cool to look at.\n\nPoints of interest:\n+ It is two parts, the top white part is the \"flexible tpu\" component and its pretty soft but not that soft like other full tpu/jelly like cases.\n+ back plate is more of a solid plastic\n+ the two pieces snap together perfectly, there are no gaps whatsoever\n+ the open bottom is perfect for the Lightening cable and headphones with the speakers fully exposed.\n\n- the left opening for the ringer/volume switch button is very hard to access though, I have to use my pinky\n- I don't think Akna is a \"california\" based company based on the mangled English grammar used in the product's photo advertisement. Not a big deal, its entertaining.\n\nAll in all, a great case at a fair price. I would certainly buy some of the other colors.","Product: Color:PURPLE NEBULA (WINSOME ORCHID/NIGHT PURPLE) | Product Packaging:Frustration-Free Packaging Worry less while youre on the job. Defender Series for iPhone 8 & iPhone 7 combines three ultra-tough layers to guard your device against serious drops, dirt, scrapes and bumps. The built-in screen film stops display scratches, plus the included holster gives you the quick draw on calls and texts. Defender Series works hard to protect your device.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Yes it's HUGE but it's sturdy\n\nReview: I have all the confidence in the world this chubby Defender series case is going to protect my sexy slim iPhone. BUT my sexy slim phone is now 3 times the size. I also have the LifeProof case which I am leaning on as being just as protective but the added waterproof factor makes it a win over this Defender.\n\n+/- The included belt clip is a nice feature (and I'm guessing its us older men are its main demographic) but I am not 100% convinced my phone will stay clipped in say after bumping into a doorway (which us old men tend to do).\n- Having the Lightning connection port and side switch covered by a flap is annoying. No fat older finger can fit in that side switch opening to flip up or down.","Product: The Micro-Max Xtreme puts 22 tools in the palm of your hand. A full-sized multitool when opened and a compact pocket tool when closed. Lifetime Limited Warranty. Features: 4mm Allen driver, 5mm Allen driver, 6mm Allen driver, 1/4 inch wrench, 7/16 inch wrench, no. 0 Phillips, no. 1 Phillips, no. 2 Phillips, no. 0 flat driver, no. 1 driver, no. 2 driver, pliers, wire cutter, wire crimper, hand drill, file, bottle opener, inches ruler, inches ruler extension, mm ruler, and mm ruler extension.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Great tool but not a Leatherman\n\nReview: So I admit I am a faithful Leatherman tool user. This is my first Swiss-tech and I give these folks credit, they make a solid, durable product here with this Palm-group Micro-Max. I was disappointed it doesn't have a knife or any blade equivalent so when I went to perform a simple task today like a opening a box (as I would with my Leatherman) I was surprised I couldn't use my new Swiss-tech. Other than that its handy for other small tasks requiring a screwdriver or pliers. I can't say I nor many people would use the 3 hex keys on this tool as you normally need a longer and thinner handle for those types of jobs. The hex placement might be good for people with ginormous hands.\n\nThe lack of case (belt worn) is disappointing as well. I can't see anyone in the market for this tool.","Product: Deflecto caddy organizer provides the ultimate storage experience with its convenient removable containers and modern appeal. The white organizer includes three clear containers that offer three different sizes (small, medium and Large), giving you a variety of storage options. Your office supply space and on-the-go storage needs will be looking sharp and organized with this trendy caddy. Removable lids allow easy access to supplies and keeps your desk accessories immaculate and ready to use. Make storing your items fun and easy with this ideal caddy.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: ... for this minus the star BUT this is a great system of organization considering you can add more caddies\n\nReview: I'd pay $5-$8 less for this minus the star BUT this is a great system of organization considering you can add more caddies. As a single caddy it is still very handy and well designed. All of us can put this to immediate use for the multitude of junk we have. Personally, I had my 6 y/0 daughter use this for her hair supplies...headband, scrunchies, ties, brushed etc. No more running around the house asking her where she put her brush is or where her gymnastics hair ties. Everything is in one place.\n\nThe clear containers are a hard plastic which I understand but I don't think they would sustain a drop from 3 more feet so as if you needed replacement containers, you might be out of luck.\n\nI will buy more soon.","Product: Power wash your deck, driveway, patio furniture and more with this powerful pressure washer from Generac. Long been known for their quality engines, this model is no exception, equipped with a powerful 196cc Generac OHV engine. Also included are four Quick-Click nozzle tips (0-degree Blast, 25-degree Clean, 40-degree Wash, Soap) and a 25 foot hose. Generac's power washers are carefully engineered for longevity and ease of use, with well thought-out features not found on competitive models. Easy to maneuver, the welded frame is designed for durability, with a built-in step for easy starting and an integrated gun holster. The easily accessible high-performance axial cam pump provides maximum heat dissipation for extended life and the easy to pull trigger reduces fatigue. The pump is located well above the ground, eliminating the need to kneel down to make hose connections. Backed with a 2 year limited warranty. Founded in 1959, Generac has earned a reputation as the company home and business owners turn to when the power goes out. The first to engineer affordable home standby generators, along with the first engine developed specifically for the rigors of generator use, Generac now sells more home standby generators than all of our competitors combined. We have brought this same level of commitment and quality to our pressure washer products. Our customer research has led us to engineer our pressure washers from the ground up, to meet your specific demands. Generac manufactures the widest range of power products in the marketplace including portable, RV, residential, commercial and industrial generators. Generac also operates three large factories which employs thousands of workers in the American Midwest. Note: This model is not for sale in California/non-CARB compliant.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Cheap, poor hose - upgrade hose and its pretty good\n\nReview: My very first use, the hose kinked in 4 places and burst immediately. Talk about heart broken. Generac is replacing it, no questions asked but come on now. The hose is really bad, its actually a clear plastic tube covered in black thin plastic covering. It reminds me of a thick plastic straw you get on a refillable plastic cup at like 7-11. The plastic once bent or kinked retains the fold and makes for a instant weak point in the hose. I \"upgraded\" to a non-kinking hose for additional 22 bucks but technically no one should have to do that, let alone have their new 279 dollar washer break on first use. The rest of generator is fine, its starts on 3 pulls on average and you have to learn to use the choke to idle the engine correctly. It has huge detergent reserve that is very conservative in use (in other words don't fill it all the way up otherwise you'll have to remove the soap tube to stop it from using soap). The swappable tips I haven't decided if they are a good idea or not because they can blow off too. A 25 foot hose length is non-issue so don't listen to others that tell ya its too short or you need a 50 foot hose, its gas powered so you are free to move around as much as you need.\n\nSo if you decide on this washer (mainly because of the price to specs) its fine, just know to buy better non-kinking hose too so you don't go through what I went through.","Product: Place, replace, and race to 5. Be the first to place a row of 5 pyramidstouching on any side or cornerand you win this tricky game of wits and strategy. Ages 7 to Adult. For 2 players.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Fun for boys and/or the little thinker in your home\n\nReview: I wanted to try this specifically for my six year old boy because he like most little guys he likes to build all sorts imaginary spreads. This also happens to be a game - so low and behold there is a Plan A (the actual game purpose) and Plan B (building fun) with the Kryo5. The game is cool, very Connect 4ish but instead lays horizontal and is 5 in a row. I had to let my boy win a few times for him to understand the 5-in-a-row end point but after a few rounds he was able to be beat me without Dad conceding. Plus as I suspected he took all the pieces with the rest of toys and was able to build and add some terrain to his play. So while the dual purpose I don't think is intended, its there. Have fun with this. It's simple yet smart."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Take care of your Wii U GamePads charging needs with the Tomee Charge Cable for Wii U GamePad. Compatible with the GamePad, this cable is 10 feet in length, and plugs into any open USB port on the Wii U, allowing for simultaneous play and charge.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 27,000 Stars, Nintendo get a clue\\n\\nReview: You are reading this because you recently discovered how useless your new overpriced Wii U is with a dead Gamepad and/or how a charging station versus a cable (plugged in) is less useful when your battery runs out. You can't even access the Wii U menu without the Gamepad. I.E. it needs to be charged/charging and always on. Nintendo are jerks. Even with their 97 different proprietary inputs, this little 7 dollar USB cable is the bomb. A perfect replacement for the white Wii U whose plug in charger dies out at a whim and for the black deluxe where the charging station becomes useless because your battery is dead and you can't play with the gamepad when charging. Low and behold the perfect solution for both. Tomee I hope you make a billion dollars off this simple but awesome cable. Yes you can plug this cable right into the front of your Wii U and charge and maintain playing or if you really want, simply plug it into a USB wall charger like for a iphone/ipad/kindle etc. Nintendo is so dumb, they could have produced this cable themselves and easily charged 20 bucks for it. I mean think about it, why with 4 USB inputs would you need separate a plug in wired charger? Duh Nintendo, get a clue.\",\n \"Product: DC17 Animal; The most powerful upright for pet hair. Outcleans all other vacuums, room after room. Level 3 Root Cyclone technology. Unique cleaner head and motorized brushbar for the bets pick-up across all floor types.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Lots of power BUT One MAJOR DESIGN FLAW\\n\\nReview: I feel compelled to write an honest review albeit warning about the Dyson DC-17 Animal Cyclone vacuum.\\n\\nYes this vacuum has lots of power with incredible suction. However, having owned this unit for almost two years now there is a fair amount maintenance that as prospective owners you need to be aware of.\\n\\nFirst off, nearly every component is removable for cleaning/removing debris. So this is positive - you can clean the unit BUT who ever heard of having to clean a cleaning product - a paradox of sorts.\\n\\nBUT Most importantly is that the most integral component on this unit - the top \\\"Level 3\\\" cyclones (middle part of the canister) is sealed and this is where any large debris, i.e.: hair, pet or human, gets clogged and CANNOT BE REMOVED.\\n\\nYes there is a 5 year warranty on Dysons' so I called customer service on this issue. The Dyson response verbatim \\\"yes this is a problem we aware of for 'this unit' and there is nothing we can do about it other than send you a new canister\\\" - which I ordered for free.\\n\\nIt turns out the issue is not so much the canister but the rubber gasket seal at the bottom of the canister which is supposed to form a air-tight seal between the canister and the base unit. The problem is that when removing/re-inserting the canister for emptying (a normal part of operation), this rubber seal is easily moved. When this gasket is offset by even the slightest margin, your large debris gets sucked into the filter (which then quickly clogs) and the hair has no place to go but into the cyclone housing. A general rule with Dysons' is that you are not supposed to see any hair or large debris on the filter - if so, this is indicative of a problem - i.e.: IT LOSES SUCTION.\\n\\nI think now knowing this issue exists I will thoroughly inspect this gasket each time I remove/re-insert the canister but if had I known you had to be so delicate with such a routine vacuum function - I would have not purchased this vacuum.\\n\\nI also think this unit will last a long time knowing I can (have to) periodically maintain it, but for $550 I wish I didn't have to.\\n\\nThe irony here is that Dyson vacuums which are heralded as engineering marvels \\\"that never lose suction\\\" are not as brilliant as Andre Dyson would like you to think. All DC-17s are susceptible to this design flaw, you can call Dyson yourself 1-866-693-9766 to confirm.\\n\\nNow I can't speak for the other models, perhaps the cyclone component can be opened for removing debris or there is a different gasket mechanism, but as for the DC-17 their most expensive unit, I would caution not to purchase this specific model and investigate if the other models do not have this design flaw. If the other models do not have this issue then I would recommend the Dyson brand in general because of the power, it is unrivaled compared to other brands plus the 5 year warranty is better than most companies.\\n\\nNow you know and knowing is half the battle. :-)\",\n \"Product: Crafted from durable porcelain to provide years of dining and entertaining, the heirloom-quality BonJour Dinnerware Fruitful Nectar Porcelain 10-Inch Round Serving Bowl is graced with soft aqua borders encircling elegant silver and bronze floral and hummingbird motifs. The beautiful serving bowl is poised to serve culinary treats for any meal, from sweet ambrosia salad to sausage and cranberry dressing. Blending exquisite style with contemporary convenience, the bowl is safe for the microwave, making it easy to heat vegetables or homemade soup. Able to go into a warming oven to 250 for up to 30 minutes, the bowl is also dishwasher safe, so less time is spent cleaning up after meals. This beautiful round serving bowl is the perfect complement to other BonJour Fruitful Nectar dinnerware and serve ware pieces.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty birds, functional, and FREEZER safe? All at a great price\\n\\nReview: For a full set of dinnerware for four, you got yourself a good deal here. Granted the teal-green bird inspired design needs to be something of your taste but no downside to the quality of workmanship. Did I mention the birds? Its a little weird clearing your plate or sipping your coffee staring at these birds but I guess its better than a bland solid color. These may seem a little 'grandma-ish' but they grow on you. Again for the price to quality ratio, the aesthetics make them kind of fun. The freezer safe claim is a little odd as I have never froze a plate or cup but apparently with these you are free to do so with less worry ...so get your freeze on.\",\n \"Product: Brew up to 12 cups of great-tasting coffee with the KRUPS Savoy EC311050 programmable coffee maker. Its easy-to-read digital screen and intuitive control panel enables you to easily program your clock and program the auto-start. You can now wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee or have a fresh pot ready and waiting when you want to entertain. Thoughtfully designed, the coffee maker also provides a pause-and-serve function that allows you to remove the carafe at anytime to enjoy a quick cup mid-brew. You can also enjoy the automatic keep warm function, for keeping brewed coffee perfectly heated for up to two hours. A glass carafe comes included, complete with a generous stay-cool handle for graceful serving. Other highlights include a front-facing water-level display and a gold-tone filter (no paper filters necessary), to prepare delicious coffee served at an optimal temperature. The EC311050 KRUPS Savoy coffee maker makes it easy to brew hot, robust, flavorful coffee every time. Get ready to savor your day.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Brews at 180 degrees, cone basket helps rich flavor, programming has issues\\n\\nReview: This is a near perfect, minimalist coffee maker (I think). It's a cone basket, which I am now fully convinced brews better, richer tasting coffee than the flat basket makers out there. I love this machine minus the one star because the digital display & subsequent programming is kind of 'alarming'. When you set the timer, regardless of what time it currently is, the am or pm of the programmed time overrides the display of the current time. For example, it's 7:05pm right now, I set the machine to start at 5:35 AM, however on my display it reads 7:05 AM. WHY? Who knows but it is what it is. So in others, if you set the machine to be programmed, you can give up using the clock for time telling purposes. There is no 24 hour option either which if there was, this issue would be eliminated.\\n\\nI've measured the brewed temperature a few times and it's a solid 181-183 every time for me which is pretty darn good given here in Japan, our voltage is on the lower end of 110v not 120v like the U.S.\\n\\nYes it is big in size. Almost 3 inches taller than the tasteless Mr. Coffee 12 cup machine this replaced. I noticed its bigger because the carafe is taller versus wider.\\n\\nIt does brew at a slow speed though too so patience is needed. The stop and pour helps this out though.\\n\\nBeeping. It beeps when it turns on...not off or brewing completion - WHY? Who knows, again programming the unit doesn't make much sense.\\n\\nPrice wins though, $40 and I am much happier than spending less on a machine that produces bad, bland tasting coffee or double or more for a machine which makes similar tasting coffee.\",\n \"Product: Furinno WAYAR series wire shelving system designed to organize your loose stuff with additional storage spaces. These wire shelving units are constructed from premium quality industrial-strength steel wires, with options in chrome or matte black finish. The heavy duty steel and chrome/black coat are tested for long term durability. You can use these shelves in almost every room in your house or apartment. It fits in your kitchen, bathroom and garage to store pots and pans, cleaning detergent, tools, appliances and more. Furinno wire shelving provides a 10 year limited warranty. For help with assembly, missing parts, damaged goods, or other questions, Furinno Customer Team are pleased to answer you. Please contact Furinno by calling at the toll-free number or via email.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Petite but durable shelf\\n\\nReview: This is a small shelf and took about 10 minutes to put together. I don't have much experience with this Furinno brand but we do have several similar metal shelves like this that we have purchased overseas in Japan. These Furinnos are actually of lesser \\\"heavy duty\\\" quality than what we have as the vertical bars are about 1/2 half the diameter (they also come with a set of wheeled coasters as well which these Furinnos do not). This is not to say these shelves are not of good quality - they are, just saying that there are similar but better shelves out there.\\n\\n- It's not stackable as they are capped - other brands are and give you that option to screw in the top cap yourself. At this height you should be able to buy a 2nd shelf or extensions to add height and additional shelves.\",\n \"Product: Remove natural and synthetic corks in a matter of seconds with a simple press of a button. Easily removes and discharge up to 45 natural or synthetic corks with a single charge. Includes charging base and foil cutter.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Mine was a dud, don't recommend this product at all\\n\\nReview: So my very first bottle this thing jammed and would not release my (synthetic) cork. I had to use a chopstick to suspend the cork so it would release hence I don't trust this gimmicky, unnecessary product. I almost feel like an idiot for wanting to try this thing out. I have the Vinturi aerator, which albeit kind of works but is also a gimmicky, unnecessary product. Shame on me for thinking using a normal wine bottle opener and letting a glass catch some air time is insufficient. Jeez...\\n\\nBuild quality is also on the sketchy side. It is plastic, all plastic chrome. And the blue light, well it's just a show and has no purpose. If I were to resell this thing it would be for about $5, that's all its worth.\\n\\nDEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS VINTURI RECHARGEABLE WINE OPENER TO ANYONE !!!\",\n \"Product: Optomas EP719 digital projector offers brilliant performance at an amazing price. The EP719 is a compact and durable projector that is designed to handle todays demanding multimedia needs.Features: Advance DLP technology featuring DarkChip2 DLP for deeper 2500:1 contrast and bright at 2000 Lumens; Extensive connectivity for true HD digital DVI-D w/HDCP, VGA (YPbPr) for HDTV connection; Native XGA (1024x768) and maximum SXGA+ (1400x1050) resolution for high-end display needs; HDTV Compatibility for High Definition entertainment from a variety of sources; User Password security for administrative control.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Dude, forget the plasma...get this projector\\n\\nReview: I have had this projector for 2 years now. I was using the s-video input (with a 25 foot Acoustic Research cable) for DVDs, playstation 2, and digital cable television. I was always happy with the picture but whites were always fuzzy - you could see static on the screen (in my case a white wall). It took some research to find out that sVGA is the same as component video. So I experimented with a long component video to VGA cable (35 ft.). In order for this work with cable, I had to upgrade to a HDTV box because they are the only ones Cox Cable has with component video output (and hdmi of course). WOW...not only was the picture quality for regular cable increased - the EP719 takes the 1080i HDTV signal through this cable no problem (even recognizes it on screen as HDTV in the lower right corner). HDTV is so awesome on this projector. HUGE crystal clear HDTV quality resolution. DVDs are also much clearer too. That white fuzziness was completely eradicated.\\n\\nI wanted to experiment with the HDMI to DVD-D conversion as I imagine the picture will be even better. But in order run everything (cable, ps2, dvd) through my stereo receiver with one cable to the projector I had to stick to one cable type - component video being it.\\n\\nThere is absolutely no need to buy an expensive plasma or LCD when for a fraction of the cost you can get the same high-res picture quality with a screen six times the size.\\n\\nNo Problems either. Get yourself a component video to VGA cable (dirt cheap on ebay). Or if you have a new receiver that has hdmi inputs, you can use all hdmi cables and then connect one hdmi cable with an hdmi-dvi-d converter and get the max out of your projector. Although, I have read that long runs of hdmi lose quality over 10 ft. whereas with component video you are ok up to 50 feet with no signal loss.\",\n \"Product: The Targus Unofficial Netbook Slipcase is designed to protect netbooks with up to 10.2 screens. The netbook compartment features 360 protection with air-mesh padding on all sides of the device for ventilation and protection against drops and bumps. The case is constructed with water-and wear-resistant fabric and features an oversized accessory pocket to store a power adapter or other necessities. The fully-reinforced shoulder strap provides a durable and comfortable carrying option.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Fits Asus S400c 14.1 no problem but...\\n\\nReview: So laptops these days (ultrabooks) sure are nice, thin, & light but the sizes are inconsistent (12.1, 13.3, 14.1, 15.4, etc.). My Asus S400c has a 14.1 diagonal screen, hence there appears to be zillion 13.3 laptops and cases/bags out in the market but for those 14.1's there are significantly less let alone any custom made for the Asus S400. This Targus bag fits my laptop and I assume other (HP) 14.1 ultrabooks very snug like a glove (just fine too with my USB Logitech unifying receiver left in). BUT...the power brick/cable unlike like Apple's small profile power supply does show a nice little 'bump out' for this bag. Without the power supply the bag is very slick. I would like the bag a inch shorter, closer to the width of my computer but obviously its not custom made hence wiggle room is understandably needed. So overall, very nice brown color, build quality is great so the price to quality ratio is near perfect.\",\n \"Product: While at first glance, it may be in your best interest to shop around. Know that when you purchase RAM from Komputerbay, you're getting Grade-A brand name computer memory. Cheap computer memory, while possibly being compatible, can cause system crashes, error codes in your computer, and even damage to your motherboard! Other sellers may offer you similar looking products for a few cents or a dollar less, but here's the scoop on why: they sell cheap-grade memory and they don't test the modules before shipping! This ends up costing you time and money. Trust when you buy from Komputerbay, you are getting top of the line product from a top of the line company. We test every module before it leaves the building, and back all of our purchases up with a LIFETIME WARRANTY! PC3-12800 (1600MHz) DDR3 204 Pin Laptop memory upgrade Non-ECC Non-Parity Unbuffered 1.5V Lifetime Warranty Compatible to: MacBook Pro 17\\\" Late 2011 and newer MacBook Pro 15.4\\\" Mid 2011 and newer MacBook Pro 15\\\" Mid 2010 and newer without Retina display MacBook Pro 13.3\\\" Late 2011 and newer MacBook Pro 13\\\" Late 2011 and newer without Retina display iMac 27\\\" Mid 2011 and newer iMac 21.5 \\\"Mid 2011 and newer Mac Mini Mid 2011 and newer Contact us with your Mac details, if you not sure before you buy this product.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Not 100% Compatible with 2011 Mac Mini\\n\\nReview: All is good except for one HUGE non-compatibility issue - the mac mini will NOT WAKE with this RAM in your computer. It's a very rare issue but consistent with other complaints. Go to crucial.com for 100% guaranteed compatibility, yes its 50 bucks more but you won't have any problems. The only workaround is setting the Energy saving setting to 'Never' but you can leave the Display sleep setting where it was. In other words, you will wake your monitor only but the computer will be running all the time - other than shutting your machine off and back on every time you need or want to use it...which is a bit of a pain. Sorry but had to return for this nuisance.\",\n \"Product: The Micca MB42 bookshelf speakers render an amazing listening experience while taking up very little in space or budget. Handsomely styled with classic appearance and natural textures, the MB42 is easy to place and blends into any room or decor. Its well balanced sound signature and vocal clarity are a great fit with a wide range of usage scenarios, from background music to home theater. The MB42 design starts with carefully picked drivers that mesh perfectly in the critical crossover overlap region. It incorporates a balanced woven carbon fiber woofer for enhanced transient and impactful bass, and a high performance silk dome tweeter for smooth treble and accurate imaging. The drivers are housed in a ported enclosure that delivers extended bass response with low distortion. Full size 5-way binding posts provide the full complement of speaker wire connectivity options. Hex screws are used throughout for assembly. Hearing is believing. Discover how good an affordable pair of speakers can be by trying them risk free in your home with your music. Place the MB42 along a wall or near a corner of the room for best results. They can be used on desks, book/wall shelves, or on speaker stands. If you are not absolutely delighted with the MB42 performance, simply Return them for a refund. Micca MB42 specifications: - woofer: 4\\\" carbon fiber cone with rubber surround - tweeter: 0.75\\\" silk dome - enclosure: ported enclosure - frequency response: 60Hz-20kHz - impedance: 4-8 ohms - Sensitivity: 85dB 1W/1M - power handling: 75 watts (each) - dimensions: 9.5\\\" (H) x 5.8\\\" (w) x 6.5\\\" (D)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice upgrade & balance with the MB42X Bookshelf speakers\\n\\nReview: This replaced a BIC Venturi DV32CLR center which while is also a cheaper speaker, I still had a hard time deciding to \\\"upgrade\\\". I already had two Micca MB42X bookshelf speakers for my fronts (a 3.1 set up with 10 inch sub) and finally took the advice to have the same brand and speaker type for my center channel. This center is a pleasant upgrade both to the wallet and hears. The soundstage is much, much bigger & louder now - wider I mean. Some people mentioned this speaker only casts it sound forward with limited dispersion left to right, I disagree. I have sat for hours on both of sides of the TV and the sound is more room-filling than front-directional. Anyway, my 3 front speakers all match now and hope to keep this system running for a while. Can't wait to get more powerful receiver to push this speaker a bit more.\\n\\nThese Micca speakers are a poor man's delight. You need a subwoofer though as these little 4 inch woofers don't push a lot of air.\",\n \"Product: The Klipsch GiG is an ultra-portable wireless music system small enough to fit into a briefcase, a backpack, or even the palm of your hand. Yet, its full-range sound is what is truly astounding. Applying our 65 years+ experience as a major manufacturer of premium quality loudspeakers to the smallest of the Klipsch Music Center series, GiG is the state-of-the-art choice in its class.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: The JiG is up with the GiG. This is so not Klipsch.\\n\\nReview: Simply put: look elsewhere for this price point. I hope there is at least one Klipsch employee saying: \\\"I told you so\\\". Klipsch really deviated way too far from its its brand recognition and strengths with this specific GiG speaker. I dare say, they should pull the plug now, cut their losses, and maintain current the bluetooth line up that they already had. The two stars are for sound quality because it is strong, super clear, and loud. But there are way more (significant) negatives than positives for this product. Here they are:\\n\\n- The flipped design giving you option to place the speaker vertically or horizontally with the sliding enclosure is a nuisance both in functionality for accessing the power button, usb/aux inputs, and aesthetics.\\n\\n- The Power button. OMG seriously, what? Hold the the button for 3 seconds (per the instructions) to turn on or off. This is an epic fail. I had to have my wife come over and count to 7 'Mississippi's' just to turn it off. It would not turn off, several times.\\n\\n- Bluetooth connectivity is slower compared to most speakers I have (and I have a lot). You have to wait unusually longer for the nice little guitar sound and your device indicator to know its connected.\\n\\n- The single dial/button for multiple functions, again, what? Reading the directions for this was an automatic, 'what were they thinking?' There are 8 functions (skipping tracks, pausing, taking/hanging up a call, holding a call, voice commands) that you need to memorize as to whether you need to press the button 1-3 times, and/or hold it for 1-2 seconds. Seriously, no customer really wants to memorize how to use anything, let alone a bluetooth speaker. I am tempted to take off another star for this alone.\\n\\n+ + There are two aspects I did like: 1) The global USB charger, now that was a classy act I have never seen. I live in Italy, and this was a pleasant surprise to have a Euro plug adapter that is cleanly integrated into the US/Asia 110v plug. 2) The volume dial. Its old school and I appreciated it.\\n\\nHonestly, if Klipsch kept it simple on this \\\"GiG\\\", the Bose Mini SL would have some serious, serious competition at this price point. Seriously, all they needed to do was NOT have the flipped cover/stand, have SEPARATE buttons for each (group of) functions, and a SIMPLE on/off button,... there should be nothing but 5 star reviews here. The charging issue seems to be resolved but with that the noted design violations - you have many other speakers options to consider/research in what seems a never-ending sea of bluetooth speakers. Sorry Klipsch, you should have known better or done some focus group testing with this unit.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy the freedom of wireless connectivity with Azio's slim and ergonomic wireless 2.4 GHz keyboard. Designed for home theater PC's and Smart TV's, this keyboard features an integrated micro-track pad with left/right mouse buttons and essential multimedia hotkeys, all within the range of your thumbs. [Interface: USB] [Operating Distance: 33 ft.] [Radio: 2.4 GHz Wireless (RF)] [Battery: 2 x AAA Alkaline Batteries] [Battery Life: 30 hrs. Usage Time / 6 Months Standby] [Weight: 0.5 lbs] [Hotkeys: Back Track, Next Track, Play/Pause, Vol+/-] [OS Support: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8; Not recommended for Mac] [Dimensions (LxWxH): 3.5 x 6.6 x 0.6 Inches] [Warranty: 1 Year Limited]\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: No. Micro Trackpad sensor is annoyingly imperfect\\n\\nReview: Disappointing to say the least. I am using this as a HTPC keyboard on my Mac mini as my ioGear trackball keyboard has been dropped too many times. To save some bucks, I decided to try this little guy out. The scrolling involved to move the cursor from one side of the screen to the other is ridiculous with this keyboard. Literally it takes 10 swipes. The set up was easy, though not entirely Mac friendly (no command key). This is really meant for a google mini pc, which I am now using it for. Build quality is nice, very light. Actually I am done with these wireless keyboards and will be sticking with my mobile mouse app on my iphone and ipad, its awesome.\",\n \"Product: Let the music play at home or away with the SRS-X5, packing 20 watts of 2.1 channel sound in a sleek, portable design with built-in battery for up to 8 hours of playback. Flexible music streaming connectivity options even let you stream your favorite audio tracks via Bluetooth.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It is great with a few quirks and definitely recommended\\n\\nReview: I fell in love with the this speaker at first glance and listening. But after some serious testing this is what I conclude:\\n\\nAdvantages:\\n+ Musically ...Sound is loud and clear. The real test of loudness was it allows you to go way past the max volume of your device by simply tapping the Volume + button. Distortion is minimal too. Net result really loud (indoors).\\n+ Design is contemporary and tastefully executed. But it does look it is meant for indoor use, no ruggedness to it at all. It says sleek and stylish.\\n+ Build quality and driver appear top notch, in other words there are some heavy magnets on these 5 speakers inside. Almost as heavy as my Bose SL3.\\n+ USB device charging, this is great, until our homes are equipped with USB jacks in the walls, having this capability on your speaker makes a lot of sense.\\n+ Phone call function worked perfectly even with Skype. I admit I like the speaker phone function on bluetooth speakers.\\n+/- Bass. I am on the fence with the bass and bass-specific woofer inside. There are 3 front facing speakers and 2 in the rear but there is no radiated bass coming out of this speaker (rear or front really). You can feel the bass when holding the speaker but not that much even when touching in front of the surface it is placed on. This is a huge difference compared to radiated bass woofers (like the Bose SL3 and Mini) that throw a lot of bass out you can literally feel several feet away. As such I found this speaker to be more treble oriented with the bass more or less flat, like you can hear that \\\"pat pat\\\" sound on bass-laden music. Not a negative if your musical choices do not warrant the bass response.\\n\\nDisadvantages:\\n- The \\\"Sound\\\" button. This was a real sore spot for me because the TWO manuals included mention nothing about this overtly clear button on the top of the speaker. Its only when you refer to the online help guide: [...] that you have to dig to find out what the button's purpose is. Yes you can press it, and you hear a difference in sound but its purpose is not what it seems. According to the guide, it is for a Surround effect - which appears this is only when the 2 rear speakers turn on. It is far from surround. Actually to my ears it is a Treble enhancer. I am fine with that as for some lesser-quality mp3s I have, it did wonders to the sound clarity. But again that is not the Button's intent. In fact its purpose is contradicted in the online guide, Sony states: with the button Off, \\\"You can enjoy Clear Audio+ mode (Sony-recommended sound quality).\\\" So the obvious question is why have it if Sony is recommending Not to use it.\\n- Touch buttons are way too sensitive. You cannot lift and carry the speaker by grasping the top as the slightest touch either lowers the volume or unpairs the bluetooth connection (which happened the very first time I picked it up). I tend to prefer hard, press-able buttons. Just because your phone has a touch screen doesn't mean everything else should.\\n- Get the case if you get this, I wouldn't trust this shiny, slick, boxey design outside without protection.\\n- Power charging plug is a bit on the large side and of course proprietary to this unit.\\n\\nAll in all for the price, you are getting a very high quality speaker with some great features and of course musical sound. I am estimating the next two levels on this speaker series are not worth it though, especially the 700 dollar SRS-X9. I would love to give this SRS X5 - 5 stars but knowing there are other speakers out there for the same or less money that do not have these quirks, I would do a little bit of market research then decide but know full well you won't be disappointed with your purchase decision.\",\n \"Product: Logitech Harmony Home Control integrates connected lights, locks, binds, thermostats, sensors, home entertainment devices, and more-all controllable from your Harmony remote or mobile app.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 1 star for product; 3 for Customer Service (i'd give more service but the product is lacking)\\n\\nReview: Let me preface Chad (Senior Director of Worldwide Marketing and Product Management) from Logitech was top notch in his responsiveness and solutions. His quick and eager help even occurred over the weekend.\\n\\nWith that said, I experienced a lot of difficulty with this remote and app. I have other Logitech remotes (harmony 550) and products and love them all, until now. In sum I believe the Wifi and app dependence kill this remote's functionality, not enhance it.\\n\\nThe set up and experience went like this:\\n\\n1) After setting this up with 2 activities (TV & Cable and TV & Wii U); after 3 tests it instantly stopped connecting after powering off the TV/Cable activity.\\n2) Within those 3 tests, after shutting off the first activity, it immediately turned on the Wii game activity.\\n3) I could never get the Volume TV control to work.\\n4) It has now stopped working completely altogether.\\n5) I do live Overseas and the major TV brand we use (sold by military exchange stores is AVOL (http://avl21c.com/renewal/company.htm) because of their dual voltage/multi-system capability) is not in the database so I had to add and teach the remote that TV.\\n6) The Wii U bluetooth set up took way more than a few seconds per the app, more like 5 attempts.\\n7) I own other Harmony remotes whose set up and web-based set up were way easier to use and quicker to set up devices and activities.\\n8) The app set up while thorough is still cumbersome, the Myharmony.com site and software is useless as it is sorely limited and refers you back to the App for set up/edits. One should not have to install anything worthy of 100mb to be so limited. Its just wasteful.\\n9) The iOS app has one way navigation meaning if I am trying to troubleshoot the set up, you are forced to go through the linear steps (unsuccessfully) with no ability to 'go home' or other main menu navigation.\\n10) The fact the hub requires a power connection, i.e.: an empty outlet is needed in one's most likely already full power strip/surge protector is a let down. No one would ever think that a new remote, something perceived as a stand alone hand held product would require a power source.\\n\\nThe above is what Chad responded to, offered a phone call assist as well, but in the end offered for me to try the Harmony Ultimate. We'll see if he sends it and if it works.\\n\\nAnyway, this really was a disappointment.\",\n \"Product: Meet the speaker that brings your music and friends togetherwith a style thats all your own. The SoundLink Bluetooth speaker III is the best-performing mobile Bluetooth speaker from Bose. It plays louder and longer than its popular predecessor, with advanced Bose technologies that reproduce the fullness, clarity and depth of your music. And new for Green Bay Packers fans: The SoundLink III -NFL Collection. Show passion for your team, and elevate your game with this striking speaker.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Revised: I am admit, this is the gold standard.\\n\\nReview: Note: I originally gave this 3 stars a couple months ago. After now reviewing several other pricey bluetooth speakers since first receiving the SL3, I have to admit, I have kept coming back to SL3 as a comparison, and it still holds several advantages over the competition even with its 300 dollar price tag. Its the musical sound clarity, loudness, and congruence with original recordings. Some say there is this concept of a \\\"Bose sound\\\" or that Bose is muddy. And yes there is some digital sound processing going on in the amplification but I have to admit it is good. Its not overly loaded with bass nor treble, I really do think its pretty balanced. If you disagree, then you have not fully run these Bose speakers through the full gamut of musical types like acoustical, classical, drum n bass, jazz, rock n roll, to trance/dance. The SL3 does extremely well across them all, bringing out the clarity and authenticity of each. So with that, my mind has changed. BUT definitely consider the Bose Mini if saving $100 is a priority because you will be very happy with that.\",\n \"Product: Quiet Comfort 15 headphones feature exclusive Bose advancements in noise reduction technology. You hear less noise than ever before, and even more of your music and movies with the quality sound you expect from Bose. And their lightweight fit stays comfortable for hours. It's a combination of benefits unmatched in the industry.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for the Independently Wealthy\\n\\nReview: If you're like me and can afford to pay 300 beans for a set of headphones, then life is good. If I didn't have so much disposable income I would opt for the Audio-Technica headphones as people seem to really like the quality and more importantly the cost. You have to realize Bose is a brand name and that is what you are paying for. I don't think their other products are worth it but these QC 15s seem to be pretty damn good. From what I read in terms of noise cancellation, they are the best. I believe I remember reading that Bose actually invented this technology, so that should be some consolation. Also, the improvements made in these QC15's over the QC 2, I think are worth it. My co-worker has a nice broken pair of QC-2s but the durability is allegedly increased on the QC 15.\\n\\nAs far as how they work, I was skeptic but between the suction of the ear cups (over your ear is a key part) and turning on the noise cancellation - they really work. I have tried other types of noise cancelling headphones and you can hear a hiss (more often than not you are supposed to hear that hiss). But with these QC 15s, there is no hiss whatsoever, its like you flip a switch and BAM, no external sound. I have a loud fan in my office and it is completely eradicated. I have another long flight from Japan to the US soon, hence why I got these - I don't think I will be dissappointed with this purchase for flying purposes either. It does help though I will be sitting in first class but like I said if you're independently wealthy - the Bose QC 15s are worth it.\",\n \"Product: The Kidizoom Action Cam by VTech lets little videographers capture their adventures with videos and photos! The Action Cam is a great first video camera for kids and is durable enough to handle drops and tumbles. It can go anywhere and do anything kids can do with two included mounts so they can attach it to their bike, skateboard and more. It also comes with a waterproof case so they can take videos and pictures up to 6 feet underwater! The Action Cam features a 1.4-inch color LCD screen and can take regular videos and photos in addition to stop-motion videos and time-lapse photos. Your child can also explore their creativity with fun effects, frames and photo filters. They can download their photos and videos to a computer using the included micro USB cable and share them with family and friends. For even more fun, they can also play three exciting learning games. Built-in rechargeable Li-ion Polymer battery (Approximate continuous photo taking and recording time is 2.5 hours. Battery is not replaceable). Expandable Memory (To store all your adventures, a micro memory card is required. Sold separately). Ages 4 to 9 years.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Meh ...doesn't come with memory\\n\\nReview: OK this lets your kids be the director with a durable mediocre video camera but it has one major flaw - no memory card included. I get why they are sold separately but for products marketed to parents with little kids - the whole use it right out of the box thing should be paramount. No its not a GoPro and yes I understand that but come on now. It doesn't even state this fact on the box. There should be a big 'No Memory card' on the packaging and on this amazon listing. Given that its a rechargeable battery, a cheap 1 to 2 gb SDcard could have been included.\\n\\nAnyway, we used this at the pool here in FL and it performs as as stated. Waterproof for sure.\",\n \"Product: The SoundTouch 10 wireless speaker makes it easy to stream the music you love. It fits just about anywhere (its the perfect companion for bedrooms and dorm rooms) and delivers full, rich sound that belies its size. It works with your home Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices to stream millions of songs from music services, Internet radio stations and your stored music library. What if you want to play a podcast in one room and stream music in another room? Or two? Or three? With SoundTouch, you can build a family of multi-room wireless speakers throughout your home. Start with one and add more later. So you can play the same music in every room, or different music in different rooms. When you want to add more energy to parties and holidays, use the SoundTouch app to pair two SoundTouch 10 speakers for left/right Stereo Mode. And when you want to find your favorite music and podcasts faster, use the six presets on the remote or the speaker itself. Love the Amazon Echo Dot? So does SoundTouch. Just pair your speaker with the Echo Dot and use your voice to play music, get your news, manage smart home devices and more. You can skip right to the fun part, because setting up your SoundTouch couldnt be easier. Just install the free SoundTouch app on your mobile device, plug in your speaker, connect your device and control it all with the app and an intuitive remote. With the new Bose Skill for Alexa, you can now enjoy hands-free voice control of your SoundTouch speakers using any Alexa-enabled device like the Echo Dot. Its easy. Just open the Alexa app. Search Bose under the Skills menu. Follow the simple steps. And ask away. COMMON COMMANDS Alexa, ask Bose to play. Alexa, ask Bose to play in the kitchen. Alexa, ask Bose to play everywhere. Alexa, ask Bose to play Preset 1. Alexa, ask Bose whats playing. Alexa, ask Bose to turn up the volume. Alexa, ask Bose to pause.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Loud & Convenient Radio\\n\\nReview: This is an internet radio. I can't think of any other description. It's a mix old and new school technology. For me it has a Ron Popeil, \\\"set it and forget it\\\" appeal. As such it's in my opinion, these Bose units are all about the Preset buttons...for people who have a set number of radio station likes or music genre interests but do not want to get lost in sea of a million internet radio stations or new streaming music services popping up all over now. For me at age 41, it's perfect. I'm also a firm believer with the number of internet radio stations, websites, and apps like TuneinRadio - you don't need (to pay) a streaming music service. This radio makes accessing, setting, and conveniently listening to your favorite internet stations pretty darn easy.\\n\\n::::: PLUSES :::::\\n\\n1) It's small and discreet in size. 8.5 inches all by 5.5 inches wide by 3.5ish inches deep\\n2) Setup to my home wifi network via smartphone app was seconds versus if you use a computer (for the non-smartphone/tablet owners out there) you need to use the USB cable. I initially wanted to try the computer set up on my Windows 10 laptop and Soundtouch app - but when I saw you needed the usb, I was like no way - that should not be necessary.\\n3) Searching for free Internet radio stations was easy and simply press play to listen, if you like the station or know your favorites - just hold a preset button on the app (or drag and drop from the computer app) and its set. I was able to find all my favorite RadioTunes stations, Jazz24, and Venice classical. I could not find nor load my favorite Jam Radio Cafe station though.\\n4) You can use streaming services like Pandora, Deeezer, and IHeart radio. I tried Pandora, had to log in but once in was able to access my saved stations and save them to a preset button. I used my iphone for the Pandora app because my VPN is set up on there and worked great.\\n5) I have to admit, I like having the remote too. Yes its another remote but this radio is about simplicity, in my mind. Once you get your preset buttons set, you can just come home and click the remote and its on. No turning on a separate Bluetooth speaker and phone.\\n6) It's loud ...very loud for its small size. I imagine the 20 and 30 models are really loud with super bass.\\n\\n:::: CONS ::::\\n\\n1) The cloth grill was not a smart idea. I can see this deteriorating, pilling, or ripping over time.\\n2) I understand the bluetooth connection which is new to all these SoundTouch units but this unit is all about using Wifi for better sound.\\n3) It's not portable, in fact they stopped making the portable version of this radio. It's meant to be set in one room and left there.\\n4) The adding of speakers throughout your home sounds great in theory but I don't see many people doing this above 2 speakers like for indoor to outdoor transitions.\\n5) You have to create a new Bose app account for some reason which I doubt was necessary but in these days of selling people's consumer behavior, I understand.\\n\\nThese obviously are to compete with the Sonos market share but there are other brands of wifi radios and speakers with similar function but lesser price as well. So like any purchase, shop around and do some market research.\",\n \"Product: JVC KW-R920BTS CD receiver covers just about all audio bases, including digital music, streaming Internet radio, siriusxm satellite radio, and old-school music options, like CD and am/FM radio. You can take hands-free calls, as well as switch between two paired phones using its Built-in Bluetooth. This receiver also lets you set your favorite colors in three different areas on its face. Pick your display color, pick your music, and suddenly, you've got a Jukebox in your dash.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Limited pre-outs, know what you're getting\\n\\nReview: Yes there are 2 sets of L/R pre-outs on this unit but this means only the following combinations of speakers work:\\n- 4 speakers (assuming 2 fronts and 2 rears)\\n- 2 speakers (front or rear) and use 2nf pre-out for a sub-woofer (a 2.1 system)\\n\\nThat's it and in my opinion...weak. I purchased this unit foolishly without seeing the rear of the unit (should have known better). Is it coincidence there is no photo or diagram of the back? Perhaps.\\n\\nMyself and I'd like to think most people have 4 speakers in their vehicle and if they want extra thump in the trunk (like me) the have a subwoofer. This head unit cannot accommodate this norm. Hence I returned it.\",\n \"Product: With this earbud set, your music listening experience will never be the same again. This around the neck earphone set comes with Bluetooth capabilities that allows you to play music from iHeartRadio, Spotify, NPR & more using your voice and Bluetooth connection. The detachable ear cushions add comfort and mobility, making these earbuds the perfect addition to your next life adventure. They are water resistant and sweat-proof, perfect for the outdoors and heavy daily use. It takes advantage of a USB charging cable and paired with the travel pouch, these truly pack a powerful punch of sound. Introducing Melody the voice powered music assistant for your iHome with Melody you can use your voice to control music and content from iHeart Radio, Spotify, NPR and more! With a simple button tap, you can now put your mobile device away and control Melody right from your compatible iHome device. Voice control to access millions of songs at your command. Just download the Melody App (iOS & Android) and you are a tap away from accessing millions of songs using the power of your voice! Totally mobile, no Wi-Fi or AC required\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great deal for sound and wireless freedom\\n\\nReview: I picked these up at our AAfes Exchange for $25 on a whim. Well for that price and this Amazon $34 price, they are worth it.\\n\\n+ In ear voice for powering on/off and Bluetooth connection\\n+ Sound quality is great... a little more bass but nothing the EQ can't fix\\n\\nThe black control dongle is lightweight and you don't notice it too much but the wire connecting the two headphones could be 2 inches longer with the dongle further down so it rests on your neck. It appears shorter than the other discount brand wireless BT headphones I've seen.\\n\\nYou can take calls with no issue and the center multifunction button can switch between using adjusting the volume and songs back/forth.\\n\\nYou don't need the ear wraps. The three different sized earbuds will stay in your ears.\\n\\nThe earbuds themselves are also very lightweight.\\n\\nBattery life is good at about 4 hours.\\n\\nI so badly want the new Apple Airpods but at 6 times the price of something like these iHomes...I'll wait.\",\n \"Product: Durable molded plastic bars with cushioned foam grips. Non-skid removable bases for safety. One pair.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Intense workout for dirt cheap.\\n\\nReview: I don't know how you can give less than 5 stars for this extremely handy $[...] product. Yes they are plastic, and I was skeptic based on former reviews but listen the way these are designed, (which is smart via the angle) provide incredible resistance. If you are a lard ass tipping 250 lbs, don't buy these, get the metal ones. But seriously these hold your weight no problem.\\n\\nWHAT'S GREAT - I just started a push up regimen, starting slow because I am definitely out of shape. My routine of 4 reps consisting only 20,15,10, and lastly 5 push ups (50 total) - burns. With these push up bars, OMG I thought I was dead after 20. The extra posture, correct positioning, extra depth you get intensify your simple push up easily 2 fold.\\n\\nI wish I discovered this type of product long ago. Oh BTW I did own a pair of those Perfect Pushups, the ones that spin. No good, that spinning factoring is the worst thing for your push up. Keep it simple with these.\",\n \"Product: Bowflex Boost was designed with one simple goal: to keep you moving. Day and night, Boost keeps track of your activities (calories, steps, distance traveled) and sleep. The band is designed with Bluetooth Smart technology, provides extended battery life of up to 11 days and is currently available for iOS devices (4s and higher).\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Hard to believe this is a legitimate product\\n\\nReview: Oh where to begin...\\n\\n1) No where near accurate. I wore this in tandem with my Wii Fit pedometer, the Bowflex logged on average 3000 yes 3000 more steps. This does not measure steps, its measures your hand movements which begs the question why you would wear something on your wrist (includes the Fitbit force and flex) to measure steps...makes no sense. I washed my hands 3 times today and it logged that activity...really?\\n2) Bluetooth connection - is completely manual and requires several connection attempts. On the iPhone it does not register through the bluetooth area, meaning you have to connect through the Bowflex app.\\n3) Sleep activity - useless because of 1 and 2 above\\n\\nJust a bad idea all the way around.\",\n \"Product: Military-grade protection with raised rubber ridges for the perfect no-slip grip. The CandyShell Grip case is ideal for serious texters, hardcore gamers, or anyone who wants a better grip on their phone. Give your butterfingers a break with CandyShell Grip for iPhone SE or iPhone 5/5s from Speck.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Update-rubber grip does wear down over time\\n\\nReview: Update 4.16.13 - if you carry your phone in your pocket, the daily removal and replacement into your pocket will wear the rubber grip off. Expected I suppose but knocking off a star because my now 3 month old case looks really old and that solid rubbery grip I fell in love with is now gone.\\n*****\\nGotta love this case. Its sturdy. Awesome grip. Got the black/gray one for me for my black iphone and the white/black one for my wife's white iphone (that white/black is really sexy). It almost gives the iPhone 5 the correct depth and weight because when you take it off after a while your forget just how skinny the phone is. But I do warn against taking it off, once its on, it on. I say this because the bottom front (top) part where lightening plug hole is literally like .5 microns of an inch worth of plastic covered in just as much rubber..i.e.: it's very flimsy at that point. I do think too though for the price it should come with a screen sticker protector. I got one of those as well just in case. I haven't dropped the phone yet but am not worried with this Speck case. All those huge tough guard rubber cases simply are not practical. I have 3 kids under 5 and I trust them handling my phone with this case.\",\n \"Product: Exclusive design, classic phone case\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid entry into a huge market - Great Execution!!\\n\\nReview: Akna did a good job this case's design, build quality, and aesthetics. I believe it is the color pallets and design that is catching people's eye with this case, as that was the \\\"case\\\" for me. I have the black/yellow wavy stripe and it is really cool to look at.\\n\\nPoints of interest:\\n+ It is two parts, the top white part is the \\\"flexible tpu\\\" component and its pretty soft but not that soft like other full tpu/jelly like cases.\\n+ back plate is more of a solid plastic\\n+ the two pieces snap together perfectly, there are no gaps whatsoever\\n+ the open bottom is perfect for the Lightening cable and headphones with the speakers fully exposed.\\n\\n- the left opening for the ringer/volume switch button is very hard to access though, I have to use my pinky\\n- I don't think Akna is a \\\"california\\\" based company based on the mangled English grammar used in the product's photo advertisement. Not a big deal, its entertaining.\\n\\nAll in all, a great case at a fair price. I would certainly buy some of the other colors.\",\n \"Product: Color:PURPLE NEBULA (WINSOME ORCHID/NIGHT PURPLE) | Product Packaging:Frustration-Free Packaging Worry less while youre on the job. Defender Series for iPhone 8 & iPhone 7 combines three ultra-tough layers to guard your device against serious drops, dirt, scrapes and bumps. The built-in screen film stops display scratches, plus the included holster gives you the quick draw on calls and texts. Defender Series works hard to protect your device.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Yes it's HUGE but it's sturdy\\n\\nReview: I have all the confidence in the world this chubby Defender series case is going to protect my sexy slim iPhone. BUT my sexy slim phone is now 3 times the size. I also have the LifeProof case which I am leaning on as being just as protective but the added waterproof factor makes it a win over this Defender.\\n\\n+/- The included belt clip is a nice feature (and I'm guessing its us older men are its main demographic) but I am not 100% convinced my phone will stay clipped in say after bumping into a doorway (which us old men tend to do).\\n- Having the Lightning connection port and side switch covered by a flap is annoying. No fat older finger can fit in that side switch opening to flip up or down.\",\n \"Product: The Micro-Max Xtreme puts 22 tools in the palm of your hand. A full-sized multitool when opened and a compact pocket tool when closed. Lifetime Limited Warranty. Features: 4mm Allen driver, 5mm Allen driver, 6mm Allen driver, 1/4 inch wrench, 7/16 inch wrench, no. 0 Phillips, no. 1 Phillips, no. 2 Phillips, no. 0 flat driver, no. 1 driver, no. 2 driver, pliers, wire cutter, wire crimper, hand drill, file, bottle opener, inches ruler, inches ruler extension, mm ruler, and mm ruler extension.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Great tool but not a Leatherman\\n\\nReview: So I admit I am a faithful Leatherman tool user. This is my first Swiss-tech and I give these folks credit, they make a solid, durable product here with this Palm-group Micro-Max. I was disappointed it doesn't have a knife or any blade equivalent so when I went to perform a simple task today like a opening a box (as I would with my Leatherman) I was surprised I couldn't use my new Swiss-tech. Other than that its handy for other small tasks requiring a screwdriver or pliers. I can't say I nor many people would use the 3 hex keys on this tool as you normally need a longer and thinner handle for those types of jobs. The hex placement might be good for people with ginormous hands.\\n\\nThe lack of case (belt worn) is disappointing as well. I can't see anyone in the market for this tool.\",\n \"Product: Deflecto caddy organizer provides the ultimate storage experience with its convenient removable containers and modern appeal. The white organizer includes three clear containers that offer three different sizes (small, medium and Large), giving you a variety of storage options. Your office supply space and on-the-go storage needs will be looking sharp and organized with this trendy caddy. Removable lids allow easy access to supplies and keeps your desk accessories immaculate and ready to use. Make storing your items fun and easy with this ideal caddy.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: ... for this minus the star BUT this is a great system of organization considering you can add more caddies\\n\\nReview: I'd pay $5-$8 less for this minus the star BUT this is a great system of organization considering you can add more caddies. As a single caddy it is still very handy and well designed. All of us can put this to immediate use for the multitude of junk we have. Personally, I had my 6 y/0 daughter use this for her hair supplies...headband, scrunchies, ties, brushed etc. No more running around the house asking her where she put her brush is or where her gymnastics hair ties. Everything is in one place.\\n\\nThe clear containers are a hard plastic which I understand but I don't think they would sustain a drop from 3 more feet so as if you needed replacement containers, you might be out of luck.\\n\\nI will buy more soon.\",\n \"Product: Power wash your deck, driveway, patio furniture and more with this powerful pressure washer from Generac. Long been known for their quality engines, this model is no exception, equipped with a powerful 196cc Generac OHV engine. Also included are four Quick-Click nozzle tips (0-degree Blast, 25-degree Clean, 40-degree Wash, Soap) and a 25 foot hose. Generac's power washers are carefully engineered for longevity and ease of use, with well thought-out features not found on competitive models. Easy to maneuver, the welded frame is designed for durability, with a built-in step for easy starting and an integrated gun holster. The easily accessible high-performance axial cam pump provides maximum heat dissipation for extended life and the easy to pull trigger reduces fatigue. The pump is located well above the ground, eliminating the need to kneel down to make hose connections. Backed with a 2 year limited warranty. Founded in 1959, Generac has earned a reputation as the company home and business owners turn to when the power goes out. The first to engineer affordable home standby generators, along with the first engine developed specifically for the rigors of generator use, Generac now sells more home standby generators than all of our competitors combined. We have brought this same level of commitment and quality to our pressure washer products. Our customer research has led us to engineer our pressure washers from the ground up, to meet your specific demands. Generac manufactures the widest range of power products in the marketplace including portable, RV, residential, commercial and industrial generators. Generac also operates three large factories which employs thousands of workers in the American Midwest. Note: This model is not for sale in California/non-CARB compliant.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheap, poor hose - upgrade hose and its pretty good\\n\\nReview: My very first use, the hose kinked in 4 places and burst immediately. Talk about heart broken. Generac is replacing it, no questions asked but come on now. The hose is really bad, its actually a clear plastic tube covered in black thin plastic covering. It reminds me of a thick plastic straw you get on a refillable plastic cup at like 7-11. The plastic once bent or kinked retains the fold and makes for a instant weak point in the hose. I \\\"upgraded\\\" to a non-kinking hose for additional 22 bucks but technically no one should have to do that, let alone have their new 279 dollar washer break on first use. The rest of generator is fine, its starts on 3 pulls on average and you have to learn to use the choke to idle the engine correctly. It has huge detergent reserve that is very conservative in use (in other words don't fill it all the way up otherwise you'll have to remove the soap tube to stop it from using soap). The swappable tips I haven't decided if they are a good idea or not because they can blow off too. A 25 foot hose length is non-issue so don't listen to others that tell ya its too short or you need a 50 foot hose, its gas powered so you are free to move around as much as you need.\\n\\nSo if you decide on this washer (mainly because of the price to specs) its fine, just know to buy better non-kinking hose too so you don't go through what I went through.\",\n \"Product: Place, replace, and race to 5. Be the first to place a row of 5 pyramidstouching on any side or cornerand you win this tricky game of wits and strategy. Ages 7 to Adult. For 2 players.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Fun for boys and/or the little thinker in your home\\n\\nReview: I wanted to try this specifically for my six year old boy because he like most little guys he likes to build all sorts imaginary spreads. This also happens to be a game - so low and behold there is a Plan A (the actual game purpose) and Plan B (building fun) with the Kryo5. The game is cool, very Connect 4ish but instead lays horizontal and is 5 in a row. I had to let my boy win a few times for him to understand the 5-in-a-row end point but after a few rounds he was able to be beat me without Dad conceding. Plus as I suspected he took all the pieces with the rest of toys and was able to build and add some terrain to his play. So while the dual purpose I don't think is intended, its there. Have fun with this. It's simple yet smart.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":29,"string":"29"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":89,"string":"89"}}},{"rowIdx":90,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3419UGPGGIKNE"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Evapo-Rust is a product of extensive research, Evapo-Rust rust remover is an environmentally safe water based product that has been proven to make even deep rust disappear without any scrubbing. It's so easy to use; anyone can restore their rusted steel tools, auto parts and household items to like-new condition. 1 gal. will remove 226g of dry rust). Evapo-Rust will not harm metals, rubber, plastic, PVC, viton, most paints or un-rusted steel. Best of all, Evapo-Rust is safe to use. It's non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-flammable and contains no acids, alkalis or petroleum solvents. Evapo-Rust is even biodegradable.\". The summary of the review text is \"This product is amazing. Staggering how well it works\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Evapo-rust is now a standard part of my garage. I work at restoring various motorcycle and car parts and nothing I have found is as effective as this and completely non-toxic. I have had a few friends try this and the reaction is always the same - they buy a gallon immediately and are amazed how well it works.\n\nOften old hardware that I have thought would not be useful again comes out beautifully after an overnight soak. No need to rush, although it works quickly, since this has no effect on any parts except for the rust. You can forget about things and they are not harmed.\n\nI think there would be a business opportunity here if someone would submerge your entire car or motorcycle project in a tub of this stuff for a fee!"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Evapo-rust is now a standard part of my garage. I work at restoring various motorcycle and car parts and nothing I have found is as effective as this and completely non-toxic. I have had a few friends try this and the reaction is always the same - they buy a gallon immediately and are amazed how well it works.\n\nOften old hardware that I have thought would not be useful again comes out beautifully after an overnight soak. No need to rush, although it works quickly, since this has no effect on any parts except for the rust. You can forget about things and they are not harmed.\n\nI think there would be a business opportunity here if someone would submerge your entire car or motorcycle project in a tub of this stuff for a fee!"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Exclusively from Saga Musical Instruments, Golden Gate musical instrument cases continue the tradition of making high-quality, durable, and affordable cases by offering a new line of Deluxe Vintage cases designed for the professional player, but with the beginner's budget in mind. Available for Dreadnaught, Parlor-style, and \"000\".\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: fits vintage 0 parlor perfectly, also fits old Gibson LG-0 and TG-0\n\nReview: I bought this case to hold a vintage Washburn sized 0-parlor and it fits quite nicely. It was more difficult that it sounds to find a good 0-size case and I am glad I found it on Amazon. I love Amazon just for the ton of gas it saves driving around looking for things.\n\nThe case looks fancy but it is in fact a Chinese made knock-off of the typical Canada-made case heavy plywood/tolex we've seen for years (everest, grand prix, superior, TKL, etc). It seems quite a bit lighter in weight and I don't know if that translates to a difference in quality or not. I have no idea if it will hold up to abuse, but my cases are mostly just to keep dust off and getting banged up around the house. It is much better than the old cardboard student case I had this guitar in before, and about 30 bucks less expensive than the standard Canadian model.\n\nMine arrived with one of the rivets falling out of a latch, the Chinese QC guy must have been distracted, but I decided to try a bit of JB-weld and stick the un-bucked rivet back in rather than send it back to Amazon. If that does not work, we'll go to plan B or maybe try a pop rivet.\n\nUnlike some of my other cases, there is a padded section in the lid over the neck - the purpose is to firmly press the neck into the rest. Not sure about that but it should be fine.\n\nAll it all it will serve its purpose at less than top dollar.\n\nUpdate 6/2017\n\nI purchased another one of these as a new home for an old Gibson LG-0 - the old gibson cardboard case, while vintage, is just getting to delicate to offer much protection for the guitar. The LG-0 body style is very snug but it does indeed fit like a tight glove - I am sure the foam will compress to match the guitar even better over time. A good new home for an old friend.","Product: ChromaCast hard cases are designed to protect your instrument and keep it sounding its best. Durable wood construction features plush lined interior with extra neck and bridge padding for full support. Sturdy chrome latches and bumpers on bottom and sides of case add protection and stability. Molded handle allows for comfortable, easy transport. Also features large accessory compartment. Designed by musicians for the active player. ChromaCast is dedicated to crafting roadworthy products. Providing the best in creative design and durability. ChromaCast proves you don't have to spend a fortune for quality music gear. Acoustic Hard Case Interior Dimensions: 44\" Length, 13.75\" Wide Upper Bout, 17 \" Wide Lower Bout, 5\" Height\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Better than a \"gig bag\" and nearly the same price\n\nReview: While there is plenty of flex in the case, when it is latched up, it works fine. Sometimes you have to jiggle the top to get it to line up perfectly.\n\nThe Dreadnought model does not exactly fit my kids Yamaha FG720S like it was made for it. The guitar is in the Dreadnought style. It fits sort of ok and the lid closes and the guitar it doesn't rattle around. It will survive being moved occasionally and the guitar won't pick up any dings. (I paid extra and bought the Yamaha with a case 4 years ago but somehow the case grew legs and disappeared from my house, go figure). It will also serve it's purpose to thwart my 2yo grandson from mangling the guitar when I'm not present.\n\nFor basically $20 more than a (not protective) gig bag you have a case that sorta looks like a TKL case and looks to be well finished and does not smell bad, like some cases do when new. A little bag of picks came in the thin box. It arrived very quickly, thanks Amazon.\n\nI would not put a Martin or a Collings in a case like this and travel around, but for the excellent price, it is very hard to beat. If you have a really nice guitar and are on the go with it, spend at least $100 more and get a much nicer case, your guitar will love you for it.","Product: Guitar Hanger by DoorJamz is the #1 Best Selling Over-the-Door Guitar Display, will not touch when opening and closing door! The easy way to display your electric or acoustic guitar on any door. Will not damage walls like guitar wall hangers and wall mounts or take up valuable floor space like traditional guitar stands. DoorJamz Guitar Hangers are made with high-quality steel and real hardwood construction, holds any guitar up to 12 lbs - built to last. Yoke pivots to adjust to any guitar headstock, and fits on any studio or residential door (up to 1-7/8\" thick). Advanced design features a patent-pending stabilization bar to minimize movement when opening and closing door to prevent guitar from touching door. Includes steel hanger, stabilization bar, and guitar hook(with spacer attached). MADE IN THE USA 100% Money Back Guarantee\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Gets the guitar up off the floor and out of the reach of inquisitive little people\n\nReview: I really like this hanger. Of course the safest place for your guitar when it is not being used is in it's case. But there are times you need to set it aside, and not leaning precariously on a chair or table, and this over-the-door hanger works perfectly. No holes are needed and it is easy to move.\n\nThe hanger is well constructed with an extended section that keeps your guitar from banging on the door if it is moved.\n\nAnd it is up off the floor when hung - in my house, out of the reach of an 18 month old that is very interested in getting his hands on my guitars. This is the best part of getting the guitar high up off the floor!\n\nI liked it so much I bought another.","Product: A great introduction to a pre-war style acoustic guitar, the Classic Series I has fine craftsmanship and a natural acoustic tone. This guitar features a solid spruce top, mahogany or rosewood back and sides, fully scalloped forward-x bracing and a mahogany neck. A new standard in sound and value, the RD-06 and RD-07 illustrate the skill of the Recording King luthiers. Weve crafted a solid-top guitar with a sound so amazing it rivals that of guitars three times as expensive. Assembled with the perfect combination of sonic excellence, careful craftsmanship and attention to detail, weve produced a guitar that sounds like a million bucks, but costs far less.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice Nice, especially at that price!\n\nReview: I bought this guitar as a 000 to \"leave out\" so as to practice and play more in my main living area that gets a lot of traffic. I have been playing for many years mostly for my own enjoyment and have some nice instruments I would not leave out of eyesight. I was attracted to by the positive reviews and low price.\n\nI have to say that I am genuinely pretty pleased with the R0-06. It has a 1 3/4 nut that I prefer for fingerstyle (my fingers getting older, slower, and fatter as the years go by :)\n\nConstruction and appearance: The guitar seems well put together, is very light, lively, and handsome. The neck is made from multiple pieces, which is expected at this price point, and the top's spruce grain has some \"character\" and is not matched, but this is not a negative statement. The finish is slightly heavier than some guitars costing 10x and is nearly flawless, but the box itself is very resonant. Some finish waves on the top around the neck that probably could have been polished out, but I can see no issues with the construction. The tuning keys are not top-of-the-line but they seem to work well.\n\nNeck and set-up: I really have no major complaints here. I've played it for a few hours and the set-up is probably as close as the level of refinement on the neck/frets/nut/fingerboard and bridge can allow. The nut may be cut a hair high, but it is probably not worth messing with right now until a few sets of strings go on and it settles down. A difference noted between the RK and say a Collings or Martin is the fret finish at the fingerboard and fret edges - sighting down the neck shows some ever so slight wavy variation in the fretboard/fret end finish. I don't seem to feel a lot of difference playing, but those higher end luthiers spend a lot more time on the fretboard and neck methinks. The strings it ships with are something cheap and they blacken your fingers in about 3 minutes, so a quick initial swap to some Elixirs solves that problem. And I would be thrilled if the Chinese makers could use something like their version of a Plek machine to finish the nut and frets.\n\nThe sound is quite nice for a small bodied 000. No complaints at all here. Played it side-by-side with a Martin and Collings 000 and while it is not quite the same it is still quite a guitar for the price and holds its own very well, I might even spring for a hard shell case that costs half the price of the RK.","Product: There's a good chance if you've heard of Uo-Chikyu (also known as Hiroshima Files) you either own some of their files or want to. Their reputation for making precision files used for slotting nuts and filing frets is unsurpassed among luthiers. We carry a wide selection of individual Nut Files. This is the costsaving and convenient set of eight. Sizes include 0.010\", 0.013\", 0.017\", 0.024\", 0.032\", 0.036\", 0.046\" and 0.056\". Made in Japan.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: If you are working on guitar nuts, these are absolutely required\n\nReview: There really is no substitute for the proper tool when making adjustments to improperly cut nuts and, once the neck is flat or set with the desired relief, the nut and bridge height is the next on the list. My set arrived without the red handles, but it makes no difference to me as you typically only need a few light strokes for these files to do their job. They are for fine adjustment, not chopping down trees. Don't be afraid to try the CA glue and bone dust/baking soda to fix a low slot with these. It works great. Too bad these files are rather expensive (no substitutes at harbor freight), but feel better that the tool is quality one.","Product: Brand: SeresRoad\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Dead after a week. Too expensive for 7 days of use.\n\nReview: I purchased two of these \"Lazy Lights\" to have good coverage of my house. If your house is wider than about 40 feet you will need more than one.\n\nThey looked great while they worked. Lazy Lights are perfect for folks without a lot of free time on their hands to decorate.\n\nAfter about 7 days the laser in one failed and refuses to come on. Way too expensive for 7 days of use. I would have purchased another one if a) the seller was not in China (taking a week or two to arrive) or b) the seller had not hiked the price by a third as we got later into the holiday season (seller has since dropped the price back after Christmas).\n\nReading the rest of the reviews, it seems that the failure rate is pretty high (one or both colors failing after a week or so).\n\nHopefully by Christmas 2016 the manufacturing will improve the reliability to make me want to purchase again. These are way to expensive, and way to much of a shipping/return hassle than they should be.\n\nBut when the work, they are very pretty.","Product: 4G LTE Global SIM Real-time GPS updates every 1 minute.Worldwide coverage, requires airtime subscription as low as $19.95 per month Use any PC or MAC with internet access. No software required. Unlimited viewing access. Also works with iPhone/iPad/Android/Blackberry. Email alerts for tampering, speeding, movement after hours, geofence, etc. No installation. Simply plugs into OBD-II port on every vehicle manufactured since 1996. No long term contracts. Lifetime warranty as long as client subscribe to service. Once package is delivered, follow instructions enclosed in the package on how to activate device. Once the device is plugged into the vehicle OBD, lights will be On and it will start reporting position to the platform.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works perfectly for me - needs a price break for more than one - needs to be smaller\n\nReview: Update - This one is the best of any I have tried. Works in all my vehicles without a problem. I've renewed for another year. More features that I even thought.\n\nUpdate2 - would be nice to have a 24V model for larger trucks that use a 24V electrical system.\n------\nI have tried most of the vehicle/cycle locators that are available here (Zoombak, Garmin GTU-10, Little Buddy, phone family locators), and the performance of the GoTrackEZ is right up there at the top.\n\nUnfortunately their price is right up there at the top as well - compared to Zoombak, Garmin and the others, the GoTrackEZ is significantly more expensive to purchase ($200), and significantly more expensive on a monthly basis ($25/mo) - but the performance is at the top of the heap also, with full history and frequent updates, so I guess it is one of those \"you get what you pay for\" experiences. While the monthly gets cheaper purchasing a year in advance ($20/mo), there is still no price break for multiple units unless you are a huge fleet. This is easily more than two times what the Garmin GTU-10 costs even with Garmin's deluxe data plan. That said, I like the GoTrackEZ better.\n\nThe downfall of most of the battery powered locators is the battery itself (or compromises they make to extend the battery life). They all work better if they are hard-wired into the vehicle electrical system to keep them charged. This unit plugs into the OBDII port that all modern cars have, therefore using the car battery for the power supply. If the car is driven regularly the tiny power draw is a non issue. I have read a few claims that this drained someones battery, but I have had no issues even close to this and my car as a tiny battery.\n\nRecommendations to the GoTrackEZ folks: **You'd think that the next gen of this locator add add some simple circuitry to turn itself off after say detecting the battery at 11V to make everyone happy, but I am not an electrical engineer.\n\n** It would be a real plus if the next gen of this unit would be SMALLER as on my cars it sticks out to the point where I am concerned about a foot knocking it off and have purchased extension cables to make it protrude less. **\n\nThe unit arrived quickly with minimal instructions (how much do you really need anyway, plug it in). Depending where your OBD port is, the unit might be well out of the way or extending a bit into the passenger space where it might get nudged, like in my case. I will probably put a velcro cable tie around it to keep it secure. The unit is not very big, but I wished it was smaller (along the Garmin GTU10 size).\n\nThe set-up process is a little odd requiring a call and a separate purchase of a \"monthly plan\" to get it going. You would think this could all be done via the web site, but I suspect the company is small and growing. But you talk to real people in the good ol' USA and they seem to go out of there way to help resolve any issues you have and don't have a script to read. Very refreshing. They even seem to read Amazon reviews and reach out to comment or help.\n\nThe set-up was quick and the site for keeping track of the unit is very polished and as a number of nice or unique features (speed alert, first trip of the day alert, starts, stops, ignition on/off). I must say the accuracy in my area is phenomenal - a few feet at most - you can easily find the parking space you left your car in.\n\nIf you can accept the unit's requirement to plug into the ODB port (yes, I know they have other cable options to remote install it if you want) and the price/monthly both being at the top end of the \"budget locator\" market and price point, this is a very good choice and a clear functionality winner for me.\n\nThe only think I would like is a package deal to get a price break for multiple units - one for each vehicle. I now have more than one of these units, one for each car, and there is no price break for repeat customers.","Product: Insignia NS-KDTR2\n\nInsignia NS-KDTR2 LittleBuddy Child Tracker - Blue\n\nProduct Description:\n\nKeep tabs on your child at all times with this small but sophisticated device that combines GPS and cellular technology to provide you with real-time location updates. The small and lightweight Little Buddy transmitter fits easily into a backpack, lunchbox or other receptacle, making it easy for your child to carry so you can check his or her location at any time using a smartphone or computer. \n\nProduct Details:\n\nContains one (1) Insignia Little Buddy Child Tracker, and a USB cable for charging \n\nCustomizable safety checks allow you to establish specific times and locations where your child is supposed to be - for example, in school - causing the device to alert you with a text message if your child leaves the designated area during that time. Additional real-time alerts let you know when the device's battery is running low so you can take steps to ensure your monitoring isn't interrupted.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Works as advertised, ridiculously short battery life\n\nReview: Apparently now only sold at Best Buy, the Little Buddy runs on the Sprint network and works almost exactly like Sprint's Family Locator service (powered by Wavemarket). In my area the accuracy is usually within a few yards, which I think is fantastic.\n\nThe monthly service is one of the least expensive out there - and the only one I know of with a $0/mo, price per locate option.\n\nThe battery lasts at best 24 hours. This makes it pretty much useless for my purposes. A cell phone on Sprint/Family locator lasts about a week.\n\nIf these parameters work for you, you might be very happy with this device. For me, battery life is paramount and I had to return the device after a trial period.","Product: Rocksmith Real Tone Cable PS3 & XBOX 360\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent USB Guitar Cable for Garageband and other USB needs too\n\nReview: This review is actually for the USB Rocksmith Real Tone cable, not the game.\n\nI recently purchased this game and decided to try the cable directly into Garageband on a Mac, since I had tried the 'Alesis Guitarlink' USB cable and found it unworkable in Garageband because of a low volume but persistent high-pitched pulsing/beeping coming from what I assume is the USB circuitry in the Alesis cable. Maybe my Alesis cable is defective - either way it was unusable.\n\nI am happy to comment that this Rocksmith Real Tone cable works perfectly with Garageband for me and is absolutely free of any unwanted noises. The cable is quite sturdy and seems almost indestructible in normal use. There is even a strain release mechanism in the USB tail where an inline plug will disconnect without yanking any of your computer (or game console if you are using it with the Rocksmith game) onto the floor.\n\nHighly recommended. I ordered a spare before everyone figures this out and the cables end up on backorder!","Product: Designed for home entertainment and AV enthusiasts, the PowerLite Home Cinema 8350 delivers outstanding big screen entertainment at an affordable price. This native resolution 1080p 3LCD projector features improved contrast ratio of up to 50,000:1 and increased brightness of up to 2,000 lumens for amazing colors and image quality in dark or lighted rooms. Watch big screen movies, sports and live TV, and play video games or sing karaoke\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Stunning picture - for the price this can't be beat\n\nReview: I debated and debated on replacing my aging Infocus X1 for my home theater. After reading about this and finally understanding the capabilities of \"lens shift\", and getting a couple of AVS forum reports, I decided to give this a try, knowing Amazon is great about purchase mistakes.\n\nI was blown away with the improvement in picture quality. This is a light cannon compared to the X1. Even in bright daylight there is a tremendous picture. And at night, you have to set it back to a more tame 'cinema' setting or the brightness is eyeball overpowering. Wonderful picture, and nearly silent operation. The only noise I hear is the iris and in cinema mode, I turn the auto iris off. The PJ is mounted right over my head in my favorite viewing spot - did I say silent? By comparison the old X1 projector was quite loud.\n\nThe lens shift magic is very neat. No keystone adjustment required. You can adjust the picture to move up/down/left/right just as if you were moving the projector. The image stays square and true - it just moves to the spot you want it.\n\nCompared to my old X1, this projector is very large - over twice the size. I purchased inexpensive PCMD mount here on Amazon and am also pleased with that.","Product: SANOXY Smart Cover Partner protects and style your iPad 2 with this Snap-On Solid Protector case. The case has a high gloss coloring with a clear coat finish. It has pre-cut openings for top and side buttons, camera, charger port/dock connector, headset jack and speaker which allows full access to the iPad 2's functions. Easy snap-on installation with a perfect fitment.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: This one works for me, price is right, keeps from destroying your ipad\n\nReview: I purchased one of these immediately after buying an iPad 2. For the price, 4 clams, I figured I could make it work if it didn't. But it works fine right out of the box.\n\nI use this in conjunction with one of the OEM smart covers and for me this is a perfect marriage. It does not interfere in any way with the smart cover.\n\nI can see how it could be popped off, but in my case it does not pull off in any normal use.\n\nMy wife and daughter each have iPads and they have no cover like this. Of course both of their iPads look like they have beat theirs with hammers in the 2 months they've owned iPads, and would not listen to me about putting on a cover like this.\n\nI do not see how you could go wrong with this.","Product: The SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive provides an easy way to wirelessly store and stream your favorite high-definition movies, videos, and music on up to 8 tablet and smartphone connectionsincluding 5 different HD movies simultaneously. This pocket-sized device is designed for convenience and portability, allowing you to enjoy the freedom without Internet connections, cables, or connectors; plus, up to 8 continuous streaming hours on a single charge. The Wireless Media Drive is the perfect companion for road warriors or parents who need to keep their kids' movies and videos ready to go. The added SDHC /SDXC slot allows you to store or share more of your content or high-quality photos for instant viewing from your camera's memory card. 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less. Based on streaming 720p content at 2mbps to one device; actual life and performance may vary depending upon usage and settings; battery not replaceable. HD (1280x720) video support may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors. SD Card sold separately. See system requirements.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: This dud is a one-trick pony\n\nReview: Apparently design to work as EITHER a standard USB drive... OR a wireless file sharing device (the one trick). And not both at the same time, which makes it a dud for my purposes.\n\nThis limitation (lets call it a design flaw) is not clear in the docs or the description of the item.\n\nSo if you thought you would be able to plug it in and use it as a drive while interacting with the content over a wireless network - like a poor-man's mini file server - you can't. You have to a) charge it by plugging (you can use it as a usb drive while it is charging) OR unplug it and turn the wireless on manually to then interact with the files on it (from an app or your browser pointed to its IP address). But not both at the same time. Big limitation and it defeats the purpose for me.\n\nAdditionally over the wireless network there is no password control or security to who has access to what files other than what WPA2 provides. If you put it on a network, everyone has access to its content.\n\nBottom line: does not work for me. I will have to wait for the technology to evolve.","Product: Connect your devices easily with the Pac ISHD01 HDMI To Composite Video/Audio Adaptor Cable. This specialty cable helps deliver a clean and clear audio and video quality in almost any application. The HDMI to composite cable is designed to convert digital content to analog compositive video and stereo analog audio RCA in a vehicle, office or boat's entertainment system. It works with HDCP encoded videos. It features a standard female HDMI input. The RCA adaptor cable is easy to install, with no programming necessary.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Bring your older vehicle entertainment system into the streaming age!\n\nReview: This little device allowed me to resurrect my older kid hauler (with a built-in rear seat entertainment system) into the streaming age. My internal system worked great until the built-in DVD player became flaky. My car also has an aux video input in the 3rd row area so I thought it would be nice to allow the system to watch video entertainment from my iPhone.\n\nAll that was required is an hdmi cable and hdmi adapter from Apple and the rear passengers can now watch anything available on Prime video or Netflix - just like if I had a box full of DVDs. Your Acura rear entertainment system is now into the streaming age.\n\nMy rear seat passengers will agree that it is my best purchase of the year.","Product: The View Sonic VA2855Smh is a 28 Full HD 1080p display designed for both home entertainment and office use. Equipped with Super Clear Pro MVA technology, true 8-bit colors, and a 3000:1 static contrast ratio, the VA2855Smh delivers superior color performance with excellent color reproduction at nearly any viewing angle. Vivid 1920x1080 resolution and dual stereo speakers deliver an immersive viewing experience ideal for any multimedia application, while HDMI and VGA inputs provide flexible connectivity to PCs, laptops, and other multimedia devices. View Sonic's exclusive View Mode provides intuitive presets to deliver optimized screen performance in different applications. In addition, Flicker-Free technology and a Blue Light Filter help to eliminate eye strain from extended viewing periods. With an energy-saving Eco-mode feature and ENERGY STAR compliance, the VA2855Smh is a great long-term investment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I thought I was going blind until I bought these VA2759 Frameless 27\" displays\n\nReview: I had dual 24\" monitors in my office on a DS100 Dual-Monitor Desk Stand since 2013. I thought I was going blind since I just could not get the old displays bright enough like my laptop screens. Even my IPS display'd chromebook was much better. So I searched for IPS displays with VESA mounts and found these - reluctant because I already had Viewsonic displays, I thought I would check and see anyway.\n\nWow - what a difference these are. Hugely bright and crisp. The best part about it is these are half the weight of the old panels and with the frame-less models I can get two 27\" panels comfortably where before were two 23\" panels without room to spare.\n\nThese displays are staggeringly good. My old ones look sepia-toned compared to the new ones. And the price is great.","Product: Shoe Goo 110212 Shoe Goo Black 3.7Oz\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I'll say it again, there are a zillion uses for this stuff\n\nReview: To call this Shoe Goo is a a bit of a disservice to this product. Yes, I have reattached soles to several pairs of shoes with this stuff, with the repair lasting for years. But another poster pointed out the shoe goo Japanese web site with additional tips for using and working with this product. Worth a look.\n\nThis material (I prefer the black) starts out somewhat sticky and thick and not a lot of structural rigidity, but can be easily formed and pushed with a wet finger or popsicle stick. Over the course of a day it hardens to a much sturdier form. I have used it for household repairs, insulating, waterproofing and bonding smaller items. It has a permanent place in my toolbox and I prefer it over any silicone style rtv or adhesive for repairs. I'll stick with silicone caulk for tile and tubs but everything else that I want to fix and stay fixed, I use this or plastex.","Product: Gunzilla 8 oz World's Best CLP Gun Cleaner\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my go-to. And no smell either.\n\nReview: This is my go-to cleaner now. It works very well on all arms. I particularly like it for shotguns since a little bit seems to lean very well. My shotguns get used 3-4 times a week and only get cleaned once every few weeks. I have not found any plastics that it reacts with. Best of all it does not smell. At all. Granted, cleaner odors do not bother me (I think Hoppes #9 should be a cologne) but spouse entering the room after a cleaning session cannot detect a thing.\n\nI purchased the spray bottle first and then keep topping it up with the 16oz refill also available on Amazon. While it does seem to leave some lubrication behind, I do not use it as a unilateral CLP with nothing else, I use it primarily for it's cleaning and light lube properties. I use a separate lubrication or purpose-specific grease on the working or mating surfaces and protect the external surfaces with a finish from a silicone cloth. I don't like to leave my firearms greasy or oily/slippery in general.\n\nCleans great. No smell.","Product: Gunzilla 16 oz World's Best CLP Gun Cleaner\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my go-to cleaner now\n\nReview: This is my go-to cleaner now. It works very well on all arms. I particularly like it for shotguns since a little bit seems to clean very well. My shotguns get used 3-4 times a week and only get cleaned once every few weeks. I have not found any plastics that it reacts with, but I have not gone looking for any either. Best of all it does not smell. At all. Granted, cleaner odors do not bother me (I think Hoppes #9 should be a cologne) but spouse entering the room after a cleaning session cannot detect a thing.\n\nI purchased the spray bottle first and then keep topping it up with the 16oz refill. While it does seem to leave some lubrication behind, I do not use it as a unilateral CLP with nothing else, I use it primarily for it's cleaning properties. I use a separate lubrication or purpose-specific grease on the working or mating surfaces and protect the external surfaces with a finish from a silicone cloth. I don't like to leave my firearms greasy or oily/slippery in general.\n\nDid I mention that it does not smell?","Product: Gun Butter is an exotic blend of the finest lubricants available today. Specifically designed for: 1. Break-in protection and durability. 2. Clingability (film strength) to maintain its placement. 3. And enhanced lubricity to allow superior performance in all weather extremes; A) Heat - will not burn up in a jet engine. B) Cold - unabated in freezing conditions C) Wet - stays intact during pouring rain D) Dry - repels dust and airborne sand 4. Consistency in all weather extremes Needle oiler provided for precision application Yield roughly 50,000 rounds Not a grease, it's an oil.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: a little goes a long way - my bottle has lasted 5 years.\n\nReview: I use this on all my firearms. I have had one bottle for 5 years - a little goes a long way if you use this with it's needle applicator on the mating and wearing surfaces. Best of all, unlike gun oil, it does not seem to creep. I do not like to slather oil and grease over everything and this is great for carry weapons since there is never anything to leak on clothing. You put it on and it stays. Come back in a month and check and it is still where you put it ready to do its job.\n\nIt may be on the expensive side for a small bottle, but I use it quite a bit and I still have the same bottle I started with and it goes on everything after a range trip and clean.","Product: The VHS tape is in great shape. The card board box is included. There is NOT a songbook with it though.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: They should have titled this Baby Magic\n\nReview: I was given Baby Songs as a gift when my first child was born over a couple of decades back. I scoffed originally despite the knowing smile from the mom gifting Hap Palmer's original Baby Songs tape, but it turned out was like magic; entertaining a fussy month or two old baby and held their interested until they were ready for preschool. They never got tired of it. Nothing soothed better for some reason. But it worked its magic on them.\n\nNow that I am a grandparent, the DVD I bought is doing the same magical and mesmerizing work on my first grandchild. Baby songs only gets played probably once a week but kids months old to years old are transfixed.\n\nYou'll be singing the songs in your head too, for better or for worse.","Product: Adjustable creeper seat with height adjustment of 17 to 22 inches has a large high back padded seat which swivels 360 degrees. Has a tubular steel frame and is powder coated. Tray bottom includes magnetic strip. Has a wheel diameter of 3 inches. Features gas filled lift cylinder with fingertip adjustment.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I struggled with this choice\n\nReview: For my use I struggled with this purchase. What I was really looking for is a sturdy mechanic's seat that would do double duty as a low workbench seat (standard table height).\n\nI had been used to, and happy with, the round seat style but the cheap models I had been buying for about a 'Jackson' on-sale from the local Chinese tools store but they all had cheap casters that would give out after a couple of years of hard use. After a caster wore out and sent me flying, I decided to upgrade to something sturdier and purpose built. This chair seems to be very sturdy and very sturdy casters.\n\nI almost went with the Dale Adams Tail Bone stool, but these are really really low to the ground and not adjustable, a deal breaker when doubling as a low work bench seat. Fail.\n\nWhat I am not thrilled about is the seat itself. It seems to be made for smaller folks than me and the \"back\" part seems to start up half way back, if that makes sense. I would have preferred the round style seat. Hopefully I'll get used to it.","Product: Exceeding all expectations and standards of its predecessors, the Aeron Chair, with its 12-year warranty, has become the new benchmark in the arena of ergonomic office, seating.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best chair I have used, despite broken arms\n\nReview: I bought this chair 10 years ago for my home office after sitting in one while visiting our head office. Nothing but the best for them but they did not care if we were sitting on apple crates at work... ahh, but I digress.\n\nThe chair has proven to be reliable and worthy of the price. Over the years one arm has snapped off from putting too much weight on it, but both times these were fixed under warranty by mailing a new arm.\n\nYou will have to remember to dust the underside of the chair with some regularity - the open fabric does tend to let dust fall through - maybe it is the cheese grater effect with clothes moving around on the surface with the inevitable dust particles falling through.\n\nIf mine were to die I would immediately buy another.","Product: Plast-aid forms a strong, waterproof, durable plastic with thousands of uses in about 15 minutes. As it cures, it changes consistency to be used to cast, glue, fill and form. It chemically fuses to many plastics such as ABS, acrylic, and PVC, and those which become sticky after testing with a drop of Plast-aid liquid. Will not bond to all plastics such as polyethylene or nylon. Plast-aid mechanically bonds to rough surfaces such as wood, stone, and concrete.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An interesting product that deserves 5 stars\n\nReview: Being the Mr. Fixit for everything around here, I try to keep some of this around for certain types of repairs where there really is no substitute. Plast-aid is a powdered plastic that is activated by second bottle (sort of an acetone-like liquid). Once the powder is saturated it mixes up easily and, depending on how much activator you've added, can be quite thin, or if you've used less, a bit more viscous. If it is too thin, add a bit more powder.\n\nUsually you have a 10-15 minutes before thickens to a clay-like consistency, then it continues until it is no longer workable. And a few more minutes and it is rock (and I mean rock) solid. It sets slowly enough that you have plenty of time to pay attention to it, and even work it into forms or shapes as it hardens, and as it reaches the later stages, it does not stick to your fingers.\n\nI have used it to reinforce completely broken plastic parts, repair motorcycle plastics, and other things like this where there really is no good substitute. Unlike epoxies, it is very solid after an hour. If you leave some on the little mixing stick, you will not get it off after it hardens.\n\nI am convinced it is the same stuff in use at acrylic nail salons (smells just like a salon while you are working it). It has saved the day for me many times. UNLIKE opened 2-part epoxy, JB Weld, or even super(cyanoacrylate)glue that, once opened, the shelf life days are short, Plast-aid appears to last in the box indefinitely - the activator bottle is brown glass and well sealed, the powder is completely stable so nothing will go to waste and it will be there when you need it.","Product: Our Dura-Thin Police Search Duty glove is one of the best-selling leather law enforcement models of all time. Their soft, second-skin thin leather construction provides a superior feel whether shooting, searching, handcuffing or driving.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: I wanted to like these gloves, I really did...\n\nReview: I really wanted to like these gloves; the leather is thick and seems nice, they are unlined and good for dexterity.\n\nBut the fit is just ridiculous. It is like they were made for some sort of alien hands.\n\n1. The palms are way to short and the part of the gloves that is the \"V\" between your fingers is thus jammed into the webs between your fingers - after an hour or so wearing them you are literally in pain between your fingers. Even after taking them off, my hands hurt for another hour.\n\n2. Secondly the fingers are between 1\" and 1/2\" too long. I have pretty normal XXL hands, but these things would not fit any human hand.\n\nIf you try to pull the gloves on more to take up the slack at the ends of the fingers (#2), you end up exacerbating the issue between the fingers (#1).\n\nI have never had gloves fit so badly.","Product: G7 Power introduces the Terra Series of LED bulbs. At 900 lumens, this A21 size bulb will replace up to a 65-Watt incandescent bulb in nearly all fixtures and a 75-Watt bulb in down-light fixtures. This bulb will pay for itself in energy savings in six months when compared to a 65-Watt incandescent used eight hours a day at the rate of $0.12 per kilowatt hour. This versatile bulb has a standard E26 base and A21 size. It will replace A19 bulbs in nearly all fixtures and R20/R25/PAR20 reflector floods in most recessed and track lighting applications. Recommended uses include: recessed can lighting, kitchen, bathroom, garage, down-light fixtures and other high use areas. The bulb's warm white color temperature (3,000 Kelvin) falls between an incandescent's light and pure white light. The lens is designed to be shatter resistant. This bulb is for use in open luminaries only, enclosed fixtures can cause this bulb to overheat. It is for use with standard household switches; may not be compatible with some remote controlled switches, dimmers and back-lit switches. This bulb is RoHS and CE certified and does not emit UV light. G7 Power is located in Reno, Nevada and is dedicated to efficient solutions. Questions, comments and suggestions are welcomed at support@G7Power.com.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: For now I am pretty pleased with these! - NO LONGER!\n\nReview: If you purchase these bulbs you will be a dunce like me.\n\nI purchased one of these to test and am going to purchase another three to fill out my office fixture. I am in my office a lot and prefer bright light.\n\nI was hesitant to purchase these due to some of the dissapointing results I have had with LED bulbs. For this particular application, the sockets are open at the bottom (down facing bulbs) right over my desk in a ceiling fan fixture. I installed the bulb next to three other CFL bulbs (1600 lumen 23 watt '100 watt replacement') and other than a slight color temp difference, it seems as bright as the CFLs, maybe brighter.\n\nOther than the ever curious situation of one day ordering these as an Amazon Prime item, and two days later, not being able to get them via Prime, I am pretty happy. Will post a photo of the bulb comparison.\n\nUPDATE 3/15/12\n\nThe three bulbs finally arrived from G7 directly, with me paying shipping shipping, but I notice that Amazon now is doing fulfillment again (sigh, Prime). The new bulbs are all good and no hint of noise like other reviewers have posted. They run very cool to the touch. A CFL is too hot to touch in this fixture, even facing down, but these exhibit almost no heat at all. The new stock bulbs seem ever-so-slightly less bright, or maybe it is just a slightly warmer color temperature.\n\nUPDATE 10/26/13\n\nI again have had another one of these go \"strobe\" and flicker and die. Over the last year 3 of them have done the same thing (died). So the economics are pretty questionable - about a year lifetime and the electronics will flake out. This makes 3 out of 4 of these bulbs (75%) failure.\n\nDo yourself a favor, buy something other than these from a legitimate market leader (not G7).","Product: G7 Power introduces the only 830 lumen, dimmable, omnidirectional LED bulb with a lifetime guarantee. At 830 lumens, it will replace a standard 60-Watt incandescent bulb in nearly all fixtures. A 60-Watt incandescent puts out approximately 840 lumens. Like an incandescent or CFL, this LED bulb distributes light in all directions. Its warm white color temperature falls between incandescent light and pure white light. It is constructed with a shatter resistant hard plastic lens and its nickel-coated copper base is uniquely designed to effectively dissipate heat. Rest assured knowing this bulb is UL certified, contains no mercury, does not emit UV light and is RoHS compliant. LED Light Review scores the G7 bulb higher than the Philips Ambient LED and the GE Energy Smart LED in quality of light. This bulb will pay for itself in energy savings after approximately one year when compared to a 60-Watt incandescent used eight hours a day at the rate of $0.12 per kilowatt hour.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Bought two, one bad - now two bad (strobe!!!), replacement then failed in a year - these bulbs are frankly cr*p, sorry\n\nReview: <div id=\"video-block-R2PAGM1U7136Z2\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91CwZjifutS.mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61leVRG5LxS.png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> I purchased two of these as soon as they came out, due to the great experience I had with the prior g7 bulbs.\n\nThese are somewhat similar in shape to the Philips LED bulbs with an odd segmented \"bulb\" and large heat sink, but they are white where the Philips are orange.\n\nOne of the bulbs I received had a malformed thread (almost looked stripped) and would not screw into any socket. It was returned using Amazon's standard policy.\n\nThe other lights well, seems not quite as warm as the Philips, but still very close. I have not tried the dimming feature.\n\nWho knows whether the lifetime warranty will work out - only time will tell since these will probably be updated after a year when G7 changes the models (the prior g7 bulbs are no longer available). But in the end, to get a replacement you have to spend more money to send them back to G7 - a big fail.\n\nUpdate 1/28/13 - Strobe Light!!\n\n6 months after purchase the bulb has turned into a strobe light. In the process of contacting the manufacturer for a replacement. For $20/bulb one would hope the quality was better than this (2 out of 2 fails). It might save money but if I have to keep mailing them in for a replacement... fail!\n\nUpdate 5/5/14 - Now the replacement failed after strobing for 3 days.\n\nFellow amazon shoppers, these bulbs are cr*p - I don't know any kinder way to say it. The savings with LED bulbs only exist if they don't fail. You're required to send the bulb back to G7 power in order to get a replacement (another $10 down the savings drain)."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Exclusively from Saga Musical Instruments, Golden Gate musical instrument cases continue the tradition of making high-quality, durable, and affordable cases by offering a new line of Deluxe Vintage cases designed for the professional player, but with the beginner's budget in mind. Available for Dreadnaught, Parlor-style, and \\\"000\\\".\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: fits vintage 0 parlor perfectly, also fits old Gibson LG-0 and TG-0\\n\\nReview: I bought this case to hold a vintage Washburn sized 0-parlor and it fits quite nicely. It was more difficult that it sounds to find a good 0-size case and I am glad I found it on Amazon. I love Amazon just for the ton of gas it saves driving around looking for things.\\n\\nThe case looks fancy but it is in fact a Chinese made knock-off of the typical Canada-made case heavy plywood/tolex we've seen for years (everest, grand prix, superior, TKL, etc). It seems quite a bit lighter in weight and I don't know if that translates to a difference in quality or not. I have no idea if it will hold up to abuse, but my cases are mostly just to keep dust off and getting banged up around the house. It is much better than the old cardboard student case I had this guitar in before, and about 30 bucks less expensive than the standard Canadian model.\\n\\nMine arrived with one of the rivets falling out of a latch, the Chinese QC guy must have been distracted, but I decided to try a bit of JB-weld and stick the un-bucked rivet back in rather than send it back to Amazon. If that does not work, we'll go to plan B or maybe try a pop rivet.\\n\\nUnlike some of my other cases, there is a padded section in the lid over the neck - the purpose is to firmly press the neck into the rest. Not sure about that but it should be fine.\\n\\nAll it all it will serve its purpose at less than top dollar.\\n\\nUpdate 6/2017\\n\\nI purchased another one of these as a new home for an old Gibson LG-0 - the old gibson cardboard case, while vintage, is just getting to delicate to offer much protection for the guitar. The LG-0 body style is very snug but it does indeed fit like a tight glove - I am sure the foam will compress to match the guitar even better over time. A good new home for an old friend.\",\n \"Product: ChromaCast hard cases are designed to protect your instrument and keep it sounding its best. Durable wood construction features plush lined interior with extra neck and bridge padding for full support. Sturdy chrome latches and bumpers on bottom and sides of case add protection and stability. Molded handle allows for comfortable, easy transport. Also features large accessory compartment. Designed by musicians for the active player. ChromaCast is dedicated to crafting roadworthy products. Providing the best in creative design and durability. ChromaCast proves you don't have to spend a fortune for quality music gear. Acoustic Hard Case Interior Dimensions: 44\\\" Length, 13.75\\\" Wide Upper Bout, 17 \\\" Wide Lower Bout, 5\\\" Height\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Better than a \\\"gig bag\\\" and nearly the same price\\n\\nReview: While there is plenty of flex in the case, when it is latched up, it works fine. Sometimes you have to jiggle the top to get it to line up perfectly.\\n\\nThe Dreadnought model does not exactly fit my kids Yamaha FG720S like it was made for it. The guitar is in the Dreadnought style. It fits sort of ok and the lid closes and the guitar it doesn't rattle around. It will survive being moved occasionally and the guitar won't pick up any dings. (I paid extra and bought the Yamaha with a case 4 years ago but somehow the case grew legs and disappeared from my house, go figure). It will also serve it's purpose to thwart my 2yo grandson from mangling the guitar when I'm not present.\\n\\nFor basically $20 more than a (not protective) gig bag you have a case that sorta looks like a TKL case and looks to be well finished and does not smell bad, like some cases do when new. A little bag of picks came in the thin box. It arrived very quickly, thanks Amazon.\\n\\nI would not put a Martin or a Collings in a case like this and travel around, but for the excellent price, it is very hard to beat. If you have a really nice guitar and are on the go with it, spend at least $100 more and get a much nicer case, your guitar will love you for it.\",\n \"Product: Guitar Hanger by DoorJamz is the #1 Best Selling Over-the-Door Guitar Display, will not touch when opening and closing door! The easy way to display your electric or acoustic guitar on any door. Will not damage walls like guitar wall hangers and wall mounts or take up valuable floor space like traditional guitar stands. DoorJamz Guitar Hangers are made with high-quality steel and real hardwood construction, holds any guitar up to 12 lbs - built to last. Yoke pivots to adjust to any guitar headstock, and fits on any studio or residential door (up to 1-7/8\\\" thick). Advanced design features a patent-pending stabilization bar to minimize movement when opening and closing door to prevent guitar from touching door. Includes steel hanger, stabilization bar, and guitar hook(with spacer attached). MADE IN THE USA 100% Money Back Guarantee\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Gets the guitar up off the floor and out of the reach of inquisitive little people\\n\\nReview: I really like this hanger. Of course the safest place for your guitar when it is not being used is in it's case. But there are times you need to set it aside, and not leaning precariously on a chair or table, and this over-the-door hanger works perfectly. No holes are needed and it is easy to move.\\n\\nThe hanger is well constructed with an extended section that keeps your guitar from banging on the door if it is moved.\\n\\nAnd it is up off the floor when hung - in my house, out of the reach of an 18 month old that is very interested in getting his hands on my guitars. This is the best part of getting the guitar high up off the floor!\\n\\nI liked it so much I bought another.\",\n \"Product: A great introduction to a pre-war style acoustic guitar, the Classic Series I has fine craftsmanship and a natural acoustic tone. This guitar features a solid spruce top, mahogany or rosewood back and sides, fully scalloped forward-x bracing and a mahogany neck. A new standard in sound and value, the RD-06 and RD-07 illustrate the skill of the Recording King luthiers. Weve crafted a solid-top guitar with a sound so amazing it rivals that of guitars three times as expensive. Assembled with the perfect combination of sonic excellence, careful craftsmanship and attention to detail, weve produced a guitar that sounds like a million bucks, but costs far less.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice Nice, especially at that price!\\n\\nReview: I bought this guitar as a 000 to \\\"leave out\\\" so as to practice and play more in my main living area that gets a lot of traffic. I have been playing for many years mostly for my own enjoyment and have some nice instruments I would not leave out of eyesight. I was attracted to by the positive reviews and low price.\\n\\nI have to say that I am genuinely pretty pleased with the R0-06. It has a 1 3/4 nut that I prefer for fingerstyle (my fingers getting older, slower, and fatter as the years go by :)\\n\\nConstruction and appearance: The guitar seems well put together, is very light, lively, and handsome. The neck is made from multiple pieces, which is expected at this price point, and the top's spruce grain has some \\\"character\\\" and is not matched, but this is not a negative statement. The finish is slightly heavier than some guitars costing 10x and is nearly flawless, but the box itself is very resonant. Some finish waves on the top around the neck that probably could have been polished out, but I can see no issues with the construction. The tuning keys are not top-of-the-line but they seem to work well.\\n\\nNeck and set-up: I really have no major complaints here. I've played it for a few hours and the set-up is probably as close as the level of refinement on the neck/frets/nut/fingerboard and bridge can allow. The nut may be cut a hair high, but it is probably not worth messing with right now until a few sets of strings go on and it settles down. A difference noted between the RK and say a Collings or Martin is the fret finish at the fingerboard and fret edges - sighting down the neck shows some ever so slight wavy variation in the fretboard/fret end finish. I don't seem to feel a lot of difference playing, but those higher end luthiers spend a lot more time on the fretboard and neck methinks. The strings it ships with are something cheap and they blacken your fingers in about 3 minutes, so a quick initial swap to some Elixirs solves that problem. And I would be thrilled if the Chinese makers could use something like their version of a Plek machine to finish the nut and frets.\\n\\nThe sound is quite nice for a small bodied 000. No complaints at all here. Played it side-by-side with a Martin and Collings 000 and while it is not quite the same it is still quite a guitar for the price and holds its own very well, I might even spring for a hard shell case that costs half the price of the RK.\",\n \"Product: There's a good chance if you've heard of Uo-Chikyu (also known as Hiroshima Files) you either own some of their files or want to. Their reputation for making precision files used for slotting nuts and filing frets is unsurpassed among luthiers. We carry a wide selection of individual Nut Files. This is the costsaving and convenient set of eight. Sizes include 0.010\\\", 0.013\\\", 0.017\\\", 0.024\\\", 0.032\\\", 0.036\\\", 0.046\\\" and 0.056\\\". Made in Japan.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: If you are working on guitar nuts, these are absolutely required\\n\\nReview: There really is no substitute for the proper tool when making adjustments to improperly cut nuts and, once the neck is flat or set with the desired relief, the nut and bridge height is the next on the list. My set arrived without the red handles, but it makes no difference to me as you typically only need a few light strokes for these files to do their job. They are for fine adjustment, not chopping down trees. Don't be afraid to try the CA glue and bone dust/baking soda to fix a low slot with these. It works great. Too bad these files are rather expensive (no substitutes at harbor freight), but feel better that the tool is quality one.\",\n \"Product: Brand: SeresRoad\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Dead after a week. Too expensive for 7 days of use.\\n\\nReview: I purchased two of these \\\"Lazy Lights\\\" to have good coverage of my house. If your house is wider than about 40 feet you will need more than one.\\n\\nThey looked great while they worked. Lazy Lights are perfect for folks without a lot of free time on their hands to decorate.\\n\\nAfter about 7 days the laser in one failed and refuses to come on. Way too expensive for 7 days of use. I would have purchased another one if a) the seller was not in China (taking a week or two to arrive) or b) the seller had not hiked the price by a third as we got later into the holiday season (seller has since dropped the price back after Christmas).\\n\\nReading the rest of the reviews, it seems that the failure rate is pretty high (one or both colors failing after a week or so).\\n\\nHopefully by Christmas 2016 the manufacturing will improve the reliability to make me want to purchase again. These are way to expensive, and way to much of a shipping/return hassle than they should be.\\n\\nBut when the work, they are very pretty.\",\n \"Product: 4G LTE Global SIM Real-time GPS updates every 1 minute.Worldwide coverage, requires airtime subscription as low as $19.95 per month Use any PC or MAC with internet access. No software required. Unlimited viewing access. Also works with iPhone/iPad/Android/Blackberry. Email alerts for tampering, speeding, movement after hours, geofence, etc. No installation. Simply plugs into OBD-II port on every vehicle manufactured since 1996. No long term contracts. Lifetime warranty as long as client subscribe to service. Once package is delivered, follow instructions enclosed in the package on how to activate device. Once the device is plugged into the vehicle OBD, lights will be On and it will start reporting position to the platform.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works perfectly for me - needs a price break for more than one - needs to be smaller\\n\\nReview: Update - This one is the best of any I have tried. Works in all my vehicles without a problem. I've renewed for another year. More features that I even thought.\\n\\nUpdate2 - would be nice to have a 24V model for larger trucks that use a 24V electrical system.\\n------\\nI have tried most of the vehicle/cycle locators that are available here (Zoombak, Garmin GTU-10, Little Buddy, phone family locators), and the performance of the GoTrackEZ is right up there at the top.\\n\\nUnfortunately their price is right up there at the top as well - compared to Zoombak, Garmin and the others, the GoTrackEZ is significantly more expensive to purchase ($200), and significantly more expensive on a monthly basis ($25/mo) - but the performance is at the top of the heap also, with full history and frequent updates, so I guess it is one of those \\\"you get what you pay for\\\" experiences. While the monthly gets cheaper purchasing a year in advance ($20/mo), there is still no price break for multiple units unless you are a huge fleet. This is easily more than two times what the Garmin GTU-10 costs even with Garmin's deluxe data plan. That said, I like the GoTrackEZ better.\\n\\nThe downfall of most of the battery powered locators is the battery itself (or compromises they make to extend the battery life). They all work better if they are hard-wired into the vehicle electrical system to keep them charged. This unit plugs into the OBDII port that all modern cars have, therefore using the car battery for the power supply. If the car is driven regularly the tiny power draw is a non issue. I have read a few claims that this drained someones battery, but I have had no issues even close to this and my car as a tiny battery.\\n\\nRecommendations to the GoTrackEZ folks: **You'd think that the next gen of this locator add add some simple circuitry to turn itself off after say detecting the battery at 11V to make everyone happy, but I am not an electrical engineer.\\n\\n** It would be a real plus if the next gen of this unit would be SMALLER as on my cars it sticks out to the point where I am concerned about a foot knocking it off and have purchased extension cables to make it protrude less. **\\n\\nThe unit arrived quickly with minimal instructions (how much do you really need anyway, plug it in). Depending where your OBD port is, the unit might be well out of the way or extending a bit into the passenger space where it might get nudged, like in my case. I will probably put a velcro cable tie around it to keep it secure. The unit is not very big, but I wished it was smaller (along the Garmin GTU10 size).\\n\\nThe set-up process is a little odd requiring a call and a separate purchase of a \\\"monthly plan\\\" to get it going. You would think this could all be done via the web site, but I suspect the company is small and growing. But you talk to real people in the good ol' USA and they seem to go out of there way to help resolve any issues you have and don't have a script to read. Very refreshing. They even seem to read Amazon reviews and reach out to comment or help.\\n\\nThe set-up was quick and the site for keeping track of the unit is very polished and as a number of nice or unique features (speed alert, first trip of the day alert, starts, stops, ignition on/off). I must say the accuracy in my area is phenomenal - a few feet at most - you can easily find the parking space you left your car in.\\n\\nIf you can accept the unit's requirement to plug into the ODB port (yes, I know they have other cable options to remote install it if you want) and the price/monthly both being at the top end of the \\\"budget locator\\\" market and price point, this is a very good choice and a clear functionality winner for me.\\n\\nThe only think I would like is a package deal to get a price break for multiple units - one for each vehicle. I now have more than one of these units, one for each car, and there is no price break for repeat customers.\",\n \"Product: Insignia NS-KDTR2\\n\\nInsignia NS-KDTR2 LittleBuddy Child Tracker - Blue\\n\\nProduct Description:\\n\\nKeep tabs on your child at all times with this small but sophisticated device that combines GPS and cellular technology to provide you with real-time location updates. The small and lightweight Little Buddy transmitter fits easily into a backpack, lunchbox or other receptacle, making it easy for your child to carry so you can check his or her location at any time using a smartphone or computer. \\n\\nProduct Details:\\n\\nContains one (1) Insignia Little Buddy Child Tracker, and a USB cable for charging \\n\\nCustomizable safety checks allow you to establish specific times and locations where your child is supposed to be - for example, in school - causing the device to alert you with a text message if your child leaves the designated area during that time. Additional real-time alerts let you know when the device's battery is running low so you can take steps to ensure your monitoring isn't interrupted.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Works as advertised, ridiculously short battery life\\n\\nReview: Apparently now only sold at Best Buy, the Little Buddy runs on the Sprint network and works almost exactly like Sprint's Family Locator service (powered by Wavemarket). In my area the accuracy is usually within a few yards, which I think is fantastic.\\n\\nThe monthly service is one of the least expensive out there - and the only one I know of with a $0/mo, price per locate option.\\n\\nThe battery lasts at best 24 hours. This makes it pretty much useless for my purposes. A cell phone on Sprint/Family locator lasts about a week.\\n\\nIf these parameters work for you, you might be very happy with this device. For me, battery life is paramount and I had to return the device after a trial period.\",\n \"Product: Rocksmith Real Tone Cable PS3 & XBOX 360\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent USB Guitar Cable for Garageband and other USB needs too\\n\\nReview: This review is actually for the USB Rocksmith Real Tone cable, not the game.\\n\\nI recently purchased this game and decided to try the cable directly into Garageband on a Mac, since I had tried the 'Alesis Guitarlink' USB cable and found it unworkable in Garageband because of a low volume but persistent high-pitched pulsing/beeping coming from what I assume is the USB circuitry in the Alesis cable. Maybe my Alesis cable is defective - either way it was unusable.\\n\\nI am happy to comment that this Rocksmith Real Tone cable works perfectly with Garageband for me and is absolutely free of any unwanted noises. The cable is quite sturdy and seems almost indestructible in normal use. There is even a strain release mechanism in the USB tail where an inline plug will disconnect without yanking any of your computer (or game console if you are using it with the Rocksmith game) onto the floor.\\n\\nHighly recommended. I ordered a spare before everyone figures this out and the cables end up on backorder!\",\n \"Product: Designed for home entertainment and AV enthusiasts, the PowerLite Home Cinema 8350 delivers outstanding big screen entertainment at an affordable price. This native resolution 1080p 3LCD projector features improved contrast ratio of up to 50,000:1 and increased brightness of up to 2,000 lumens for amazing colors and image quality in dark or lighted rooms. Watch big screen movies, sports and live TV, and play video games or sing karaoke\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Stunning picture - for the price this can't be beat\\n\\nReview: I debated and debated on replacing my aging Infocus X1 for my home theater. After reading about this and finally understanding the capabilities of \\\"lens shift\\\", and getting a couple of AVS forum reports, I decided to give this a try, knowing Amazon is great about purchase mistakes.\\n\\nI was blown away with the improvement in picture quality. This is a light cannon compared to the X1. Even in bright daylight there is a tremendous picture. And at night, you have to set it back to a more tame 'cinema' setting or the brightness is eyeball overpowering. Wonderful picture, and nearly silent operation. The only noise I hear is the iris and in cinema mode, I turn the auto iris off. The PJ is mounted right over my head in my favorite viewing spot - did I say silent? By comparison the old X1 projector was quite loud.\\n\\nThe lens shift magic is very neat. No keystone adjustment required. You can adjust the picture to move up/down/left/right just as if you were moving the projector. The image stays square and true - it just moves to the spot you want it.\\n\\nCompared to my old X1, this projector is very large - over twice the size. I purchased inexpensive PCMD mount here on Amazon and am also pleased with that.\",\n \"Product: SANOXY Smart Cover Partner protects and style your iPad 2 with this Snap-On Solid Protector case. The case has a high gloss coloring with a clear coat finish. It has pre-cut openings for top and side buttons, camera, charger port/dock connector, headset jack and speaker which allows full access to the iPad 2's functions. Easy snap-on installation with a perfect fitment.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: This one works for me, price is right, keeps from destroying your ipad\\n\\nReview: I purchased one of these immediately after buying an iPad 2. For the price, 4 clams, I figured I could make it work if it didn't. But it works fine right out of the box.\\n\\nI use this in conjunction with one of the OEM smart covers and for me this is a perfect marriage. It does not interfere in any way with the smart cover.\\n\\nI can see how it could be popped off, but in my case it does not pull off in any normal use.\\n\\nMy wife and daughter each have iPads and they have no cover like this. Of course both of their iPads look like they have beat theirs with hammers in the 2 months they've owned iPads, and would not listen to me about putting on a cover like this.\\n\\nI do not see how you could go wrong with this.\",\n \"Product: The SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive provides an easy way to wirelessly store and stream your favorite high-definition movies, videos, and music on up to 8 tablet and smartphone connectionsincluding 5 different HD movies simultaneously. This pocket-sized device is designed for convenience and portability, allowing you to enjoy the freedom without Internet connections, cables, or connectors; plus, up to 8 continuous streaming hours on a single charge. The Wireless Media Drive is the perfect companion for road warriors or parents who need to keep their kids' movies and videos ready to go. The added SDHC /SDXC slot allows you to store or share more of your content or high-quality photos for instant viewing from your camera's memory card. 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less. Based on streaming 720p content at 2mbps to one device; actual life and performance may vary depending upon usage and settings; battery not replaceable. HD (1280x720) video support may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors. SD Card sold separately. See system requirements.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: This dud is a one-trick pony\\n\\nReview: Apparently design to work as EITHER a standard USB drive... OR a wireless file sharing device (the one trick). And not both at the same time, which makes it a dud for my purposes.\\n\\nThis limitation (lets call it a design flaw) is not clear in the docs or the description of the item.\\n\\nSo if you thought you would be able to plug it in and use it as a drive while interacting with the content over a wireless network - like a poor-man's mini file server - you can't. You have to a) charge it by plugging (you can use it as a usb drive while it is charging) OR unplug it and turn the wireless on manually to then interact with the files on it (from an app or your browser pointed to its IP address). But not both at the same time. Big limitation and it defeats the purpose for me.\\n\\nAdditionally over the wireless network there is no password control or security to who has access to what files other than what WPA2 provides. If you put it on a network, everyone has access to its content.\\n\\nBottom line: does not work for me. I will have to wait for the technology to evolve.\",\n \"Product: Connect your devices easily with the Pac ISHD01 HDMI To Composite Video/Audio Adaptor Cable. This specialty cable helps deliver a clean and clear audio and video quality in almost any application. The HDMI to composite cable is designed to convert digital content to analog compositive video and stereo analog audio RCA in a vehicle, office or boat's entertainment system. It works with HDCP encoded videos. It features a standard female HDMI input. The RCA adaptor cable is easy to install, with no programming necessary.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Bring your older vehicle entertainment system into the streaming age!\\n\\nReview: This little device allowed me to resurrect my older kid hauler (with a built-in rear seat entertainment system) into the streaming age. My internal system worked great until the built-in DVD player became flaky. My car also has an aux video input in the 3rd row area so I thought it would be nice to allow the system to watch video entertainment from my iPhone.\\n\\nAll that was required is an hdmi cable and hdmi adapter from Apple and the rear passengers can now watch anything available on Prime video or Netflix - just like if I had a box full of DVDs. Your Acura rear entertainment system is now into the streaming age.\\n\\nMy rear seat passengers will agree that it is my best purchase of the year.\",\n \"Product: The View Sonic VA2855Smh is a 28 Full HD 1080p display designed for both home entertainment and office use. Equipped with Super Clear Pro MVA technology, true 8-bit colors, and a 3000:1 static contrast ratio, the VA2855Smh delivers superior color performance with excellent color reproduction at nearly any viewing angle. Vivid 1920x1080 resolution and dual stereo speakers deliver an immersive viewing experience ideal for any multimedia application, while HDMI and VGA inputs provide flexible connectivity to PCs, laptops, and other multimedia devices. View Sonic's exclusive View Mode provides intuitive presets to deliver optimized screen performance in different applications. In addition, Flicker-Free technology and a Blue Light Filter help to eliminate eye strain from extended viewing periods. With an energy-saving Eco-mode feature and ENERGY STAR compliance, the VA2855Smh is a great long-term investment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I thought I was going blind until I bought these VA2759 Frameless 27\\\" displays\\n\\nReview: I had dual 24\\\" monitors in my office on a DS100 Dual-Monitor Desk Stand since 2013. I thought I was going blind since I just could not get the old displays bright enough like my laptop screens. Even my IPS display'd chromebook was much better. So I searched for IPS displays with VESA mounts and found these - reluctant because I already had Viewsonic displays, I thought I would check and see anyway.\\n\\nWow - what a difference these are. Hugely bright and crisp. The best part about it is these are half the weight of the old panels and with the frame-less models I can get two 27\\\" panels comfortably where before were two 23\\\" panels without room to spare.\\n\\nThese displays are staggeringly good. My old ones look sepia-toned compared to the new ones. And the price is great.\",\n \"Product: Shoe Goo 110212 Shoe Goo Black 3.7Oz\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I'll say it again, there are a zillion uses for this stuff\\n\\nReview: To call this Shoe Goo is a a bit of a disservice to this product. Yes, I have reattached soles to several pairs of shoes with this stuff, with the repair lasting for years. But another poster pointed out the shoe goo Japanese web site with additional tips for using and working with this product. Worth a look.\\n\\nThis material (I prefer the black) starts out somewhat sticky and thick and not a lot of structural rigidity, but can be easily formed and pushed with a wet finger or popsicle stick. Over the course of a day it hardens to a much sturdier form. I have used it for household repairs, insulating, waterproofing and bonding smaller items. It has a permanent place in my toolbox and I prefer it over any silicone style rtv or adhesive for repairs. I'll stick with silicone caulk for tile and tubs but everything else that I want to fix and stay fixed, I use this or plastex.\",\n \"Product: Gunzilla 8 oz World's Best CLP Gun Cleaner\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my go-to. And no smell either.\\n\\nReview: This is my go-to cleaner now. It works very well on all arms. I particularly like it for shotguns since a little bit seems to lean very well. My shotguns get used 3-4 times a week and only get cleaned once every few weeks. I have not found any plastics that it reacts with. Best of all it does not smell. At all. Granted, cleaner odors do not bother me (I think Hoppes #9 should be a cologne) but spouse entering the room after a cleaning session cannot detect a thing.\\n\\nI purchased the spray bottle first and then keep topping it up with the 16oz refill also available on Amazon. While it does seem to leave some lubrication behind, I do not use it as a unilateral CLP with nothing else, I use it primarily for it's cleaning and light lube properties. I use a separate lubrication or purpose-specific grease on the working or mating surfaces and protect the external surfaces with a finish from a silicone cloth. I don't like to leave my firearms greasy or oily/slippery in general.\\n\\nCleans great. No smell.\",\n \"Product: Gunzilla 16 oz World's Best CLP Gun Cleaner\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my go-to cleaner now\\n\\nReview: This is my go-to cleaner now. It works very well on all arms. I particularly like it for shotguns since a little bit seems to clean very well. My shotguns get used 3-4 times a week and only get cleaned once every few weeks. I have not found any plastics that it reacts with, but I have not gone looking for any either. Best of all it does not smell. At all. Granted, cleaner odors do not bother me (I think Hoppes #9 should be a cologne) but spouse entering the room after a cleaning session cannot detect a thing.\\n\\nI purchased the spray bottle first and then keep topping it up with the 16oz refill. While it does seem to leave some lubrication behind, I do not use it as a unilateral CLP with nothing else, I use it primarily for it's cleaning properties. I use a separate lubrication or purpose-specific grease on the working or mating surfaces and protect the external surfaces with a finish from a silicone cloth. I don't like to leave my firearms greasy or oily/slippery in general.\\n\\nDid I mention that it does not smell?\",\n \"Product: Gun Butter is an exotic blend of the finest lubricants available today. Specifically designed for: 1. Break-in protection and durability. 2. Clingability (film strength) to maintain its placement. 3. And enhanced lubricity to allow superior performance in all weather extremes; A) Heat - will not burn up in a jet engine. B) Cold - unabated in freezing conditions C) Wet - stays intact during pouring rain D) Dry - repels dust and airborne sand 4. Consistency in all weather extremes Needle oiler provided for precision application Yield roughly 50,000 rounds Not a grease, it's an oil.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: a little goes a long way - my bottle has lasted 5 years.\\n\\nReview: I use this on all my firearms. I have had one bottle for 5 years - a little goes a long way if you use this with it's needle applicator on the mating and wearing surfaces. Best of all, unlike gun oil, it does not seem to creep. I do not like to slather oil and grease over everything and this is great for carry weapons since there is never anything to leak on clothing. You put it on and it stays. Come back in a month and check and it is still where you put it ready to do its job.\\n\\nIt may be on the expensive side for a small bottle, but I use it quite a bit and I still have the same bottle I started with and it goes on everything after a range trip and clean.\",\n \"Product: The VHS tape is in great shape. The card board box is included. There is NOT a songbook with it though.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: They should have titled this Baby Magic\\n\\nReview: I was given Baby Songs as a gift when my first child was born over a couple of decades back. I scoffed originally despite the knowing smile from the mom gifting Hap Palmer's original Baby Songs tape, but it turned out was like magic; entertaining a fussy month or two old baby and held their interested until they were ready for preschool. They never got tired of it. Nothing soothed better for some reason. But it worked its magic on them.\\n\\nNow that I am a grandparent, the DVD I bought is doing the same magical and mesmerizing work on my first grandchild. Baby songs only gets played probably once a week but kids months old to years old are transfixed.\\n\\nYou'll be singing the songs in your head too, for better or for worse.\",\n \"Product: Adjustable creeper seat with height adjustment of 17 to 22 inches has a large high back padded seat which swivels 360 degrees. Has a tubular steel frame and is powder coated. Tray bottom includes magnetic strip. Has a wheel diameter of 3 inches. Features gas filled lift cylinder with fingertip adjustment.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I struggled with this choice\\n\\nReview: For my use I struggled with this purchase. What I was really looking for is a sturdy mechanic's seat that would do double duty as a low workbench seat (standard table height).\\n\\nI had been used to, and happy with, the round seat style but the cheap models I had been buying for about a 'Jackson' on-sale from the local Chinese tools store but they all had cheap casters that would give out after a couple of years of hard use. After a caster wore out and sent me flying, I decided to upgrade to something sturdier and purpose built. This chair seems to be very sturdy and very sturdy casters.\\n\\nI almost went with the Dale Adams Tail Bone stool, but these are really really low to the ground and not adjustable, a deal breaker when doubling as a low work bench seat. Fail.\\n\\nWhat I am not thrilled about is the seat itself. It seems to be made for smaller folks than me and the \\\"back\\\" part seems to start up half way back, if that makes sense. I would have preferred the round style seat. Hopefully I'll get used to it.\",\n \"Product: Exceeding all expectations and standards of its predecessors, the Aeron Chair, with its 12-year warranty, has become the new benchmark in the arena of ergonomic office, seating.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best chair I have used, despite broken arms\\n\\nReview: I bought this chair 10 years ago for my home office after sitting in one while visiting our head office. Nothing but the best for them but they did not care if we were sitting on apple crates at work... ahh, but I digress.\\n\\nThe chair has proven to be reliable and worthy of the price. Over the years one arm has snapped off from putting too much weight on it, but both times these were fixed under warranty by mailing a new arm.\\n\\nYou will have to remember to dust the underside of the chair with some regularity - the open fabric does tend to let dust fall through - maybe it is the cheese grater effect with clothes moving around on the surface with the inevitable dust particles falling through.\\n\\nIf mine were to die I would immediately buy another.\",\n \"Product: Plast-aid forms a strong, waterproof, durable plastic with thousands of uses in about 15 minutes. As it cures, it changes consistency to be used to cast, glue, fill and form. It chemically fuses to many plastics such as ABS, acrylic, and PVC, and those which become sticky after testing with a drop of Plast-aid liquid. Will not bond to all plastics such as polyethylene or nylon. Plast-aid mechanically bonds to rough surfaces such as wood, stone, and concrete.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An interesting product that deserves 5 stars\\n\\nReview: Being the Mr. Fixit for everything around here, I try to keep some of this around for certain types of repairs where there really is no substitute. Plast-aid is a powdered plastic that is activated by second bottle (sort of an acetone-like liquid). Once the powder is saturated it mixes up easily and, depending on how much activator you've added, can be quite thin, or if you've used less, a bit more viscous. If it is too thin, add a bit more powder.\\n\\nUsually you have a 10-15 minutes before thickens to a clay-like consistency, then it continues until it is no longer workable. And a few more minutes and it is rock (and I mean rock) solid. It sets slowly enough that you have plenty of time to pay attention to it, and even work it into forms or shapes as it hardens, and as it reaches the later stages, it does not stick to your fingers.\\n\\nI have used it to reinforce completely broken plastic parts, repair motorcycle plastics, and other things like this where there really is no good substitute. Unlike epoxies, it is very solid after an hour. If you leave some on the little mixing stick, you will not get it off after it hardens.\\n\\nI am convinced it is the same stuff in use at acrylic nail salons (smells just like a salon while you are working it). It has saved the day for me many times. UNLIKE opened 2-part epoxy, JB Weld, or even super(cyanoacrylate)glue that, once opened, the shelf life days are short, Plast-aid appears to last in the box indefinitely - the activator bottle is brown glass and well sealed, the powder is completely stable so nothing will go to waste and it will be there when you need it.\",\n \"Product: Our Dura-Thin Police Search Duty glove is one of the best-selling leather law enforcement models of all time. Their soft, second-skin thin leather construction provides a superior feel whether shooting, searching, handcuffing or driving.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: I wanted to like these gloves, I really did...\\n\\nReview: I really wanted to like these gloves; the leather is thick and seems nice, they are unlined and good for dexterity.\\n\\nBut the fit is just ridiculous. It is like they were made for some sort of alien hands.\\n\\n1. The palms are way to short and the part of the gloves that is the \\\"V\\\" between your fingers is thus jammed into the webs between your fingers - after an hour or so wearing them you are literally in pain between your fingers. Even after taking them off, my hands hurt for another hour.\\n\\n2. Secondly the fingers are between 1\\\" and 1/2\\\" too long. I have pretty normal XXL hands, but these things would not fit any human hand.\\n\\nIf you try to pull the gloves on more to take up the slack at the ends of the fingers (#2), you end up exacerbating the issue between the fingers (#1).\\n\\nI have never had gloves fit so badly.\",\n \"Product: G7 Power introduces the Terra Series of LED bulbs. At 900 lumens, this A21 size bulb will replace up to a 65-Watt incandescent bulb in nearly all fixtures and a 75-Watt bulb in down-light fixtures. This bulb will pay for itself in energy savings in six months when compared to a 65-Watt incandescent used eight hours a day at the rate of $0.12 per kilowatt hour. This versatile bulb has a standard E26 base and A21 size. It will replace A19 bulbs in nearly all fixtures and R20/R25/PAR20 reflector floods in most recessed and track lighting applications. Recommended uses include: recessed can lighting, kitchen, bathroom, garage, down-light fixtures and other high use areas. The bulb's warm white color temperature (3,000 Kelvin) falls between an incandescent's light and pure white light. The lens is designed to be shatter resistant. This bulb is for use in open luminaries only, enclosed fixtures can cause this bulb to overheat. It is for use with standard household switches; may not be compatible with some remote controlled switches, dimmers and back-lit switches. This bulb is RoHS and CE certified and does not emit UV light. G7 Power is located in Reno, Nevada and is dedicated to efficient solutions. Questions, comments and suggestions are welcomed at support@G7Power.com.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: For now I am pretty pleased with these! - NO LONGER!\\n\\nReview: If you purchase these bulbs you will be a dunce like me.\\n\\nI purchased one of these to test and am going to purchase another three to fill out my office fixture. I am in my office a lot and prefer bright light.\\n\\nI was hesitant to purchase these due to some of the dissapointing results I have had with LED bulbs. For this particular application, the sockets are open at the bottom (down facing bulbs) right over my desk in a ceiling fan fixture. I installed the bulb next to three other CFL bulbs (1600 lumen 23 watt '100 watt replacement') and other than a slight color temp difference, it seems as bright as the CFLs, maybe brighter.\\n\\nOther than the ever curious situation of one day ordering these as an Amazon Prime item, and two days later, not being able to get them via Prime, I am pretty happy. Will post a photo of the bulb comparison.\\n\\nUPDATE 3/15/12\\n\\nThe three bulbs finally arrived from G7 directly, with me paying shipping shipping, but I notice that Amazon now is doing fulfillment again (sigh, Prime). The new bulbs are all good and no hint of noise like other reviewers have posted. They run very cool to the touch. A CFL is too hot to touch in this fixture, even facing down, but these exhibit almost no heat at all. The new stock bulbs seem ever-so-slightly less bright, or maybe it is just a slightly warmer color temperature.\\n\\nUPDATE 10/26/13\\n\\nI again have had another one of these go \\\"strobe\\\" and flicker and die. Over the last year 3 of them have done the same thing (died). So the economics are pretty questionable - about a year lifetime and the electronics will flake out. This makes 3 out of 4 of these bulbs (75%) failure.\\n\\nDo yourself a favor, buy something other than these from a legitimate market leader (not G7).\",\n \"Product: G7 Power introduces the only 830 lumen, dimmable, omnidirectional LED bulb with a lifetime guarantee. At 830 lumens, it will replace a standard 60-Watt incandescent bulb in nearly all fixtures. A 60-Watt incandescent puts out approximately 840 lumens. Like an incandescent or CFL, this LED bulb distributes light in all directions. Its warm white color temperature falls between incandescent light and pure white light. It is constructed with a shatter resistant hard plastic lens and its nickel-coated copper base is uniquely designed to effectively dissipate heat. Rest assured knowing this bulb is UL certified, contains no mercury, does not emit UV light and is RoHS compliant. LED Light Review scores the G7 bulb higher than the Philips Ambient LED and the GE Energy Smart LED in quality of light. This bulb will pay for itself in energy savings after approximately one year when compared to a 60-Watt incandescent used eight hours a day at the rate of $0.12 per kilowatt hour.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Bought two, one bad - now two bad (strobe!!!), replacement then failed in a year - these bulbs are frankly cr*p, sorry\\n\\nReview: <div id=\\\"video-block-R2PAGM1U7136Z2\\\" class=\\\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\\\"></div><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91CwZjifutS.mp4\\\" class=\\\"video-url\\\"><input type=\\\"hidden\\\" name=\\\"\\\" value=\\\"https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61leVRG5LxS.png\\\" class=\\\"video-slate-img-url\\\"> I purchased two of these as soon as they came out, due to the great experience I had with the prior g7 bulbs.\\n\\nThese are somewhat similar in shape to the Philips LED bulbs with an odd segmented \\\"bulb\\\" and large heat sink, but they are white where the Philips are orange.\\n\\nOne of the bulbs I received had a malformed thread (almost looked stripped) and would not screw into any socket. It was returned using Amazon's standard policy.\\n\\nThe other lights well, seems not quite as warm as the Philips, but still very close. I have not tried the dimming feature.\\n\\nWho knows whether the lifetime warranty will work out - only time will tell since these will probably be updated after a year when G7 changes the models (the prior g7 bulbs are no longer available). But in the end, to get a replacement you have to spend more money to send them back to G7 - a big fail.\\n\\nUpdate 1/28/13 - Strobe Light!!\\n\\n6 months after purchase the bulb has turned into a strobe light. In the process of contacting the manufacturer for a replacement. For $20/bulb one would hope the quality was better than this (2 out of 2 fails). It might save money but if I have to keep mailing them in for a replacement... fail!\\n\\nUpdate 5/5/14 - Now the replacement failed after strobing for 3 days.\\n\\nFellow amazon shoppers, these bulbs are cr*p - I don't know any kinder way to say it. The savings with LED bulbs only exist if they don't fail. You're required to send the bulb back to G7 power in order to get a replacement (another $10 down the savings drain).\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":25,"string":"25"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":90,"string":"90"}}},{"rowIdx":91,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AXKOFQ3C2H0L1"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"3.0\" for a product with description \"LP35236-PEU Color: Black Features: -Belt pack.-3D contoured mesh lumbar belt with dual-adjust system evenly distributes weight and provides extra comfort.-Materials: 600D polyester, 420D nylon double velocity, 190T nylon rip stop (all weather cover), sport mesh high density, 3D padded mesh, 200D polyester, brushed tricot, nylon 25mm and 38mm dual adjust buckle, nylon arrowhead zipper pulls.-Quick-access top offers optimal ease-of-use while working out of pack.-Patented, built-in all weather cover protects gear from the elements.-Detachable, padded shoulder strap provides extra carrying option.-Locking straps help secure tripod or monopod to bottom of pack.-SlipLock attachment loops expand carrying capacity.-Memory card pockets on inside lid offer convenient access to spare memory.-Front compression system with zippered mesh pocket provides quick access to cables adaptors, small accessories and personal items.-Silent zipper pulls provide quiet access around wildlife or film/photo crew.-Fits pro DSLR with medium zoom lens attached, 2 extra lenses or 70-300mm lens attached in horizontal position, plus extra lens, memory cards and accessories.-Tricot-lined lid.-Stretch mesh side pockets.-Front compression system with zippered mesh pocket.-Adjustable compression pulls. Dimensions: -External dimensions: 12.9\" x 8.6\" x 8.8\".-Internal dimensions: 12\" x 6\" x 8.3\".-Overall dimensions: 8.27\" H x 11.9\" W x 5.97\" D, 2.2 lbs.\". The summary of the review text is \"Better bags out there\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I've been trying to find the perfect bag on Amazon - at this point, I've tried several (which I list at the end of the review). I would have to recommend the Dolica Shoulder Bag over this.\n\nWhy?\n\nI was expecting to love a belt pack camera bag, being easier to access than a shoulder bag. However, this bag is simply too large to be a comfortable and usable belt pack - it tips noticeably forward when loaded, and its large size makes it awkward to deal with while moving and walking.\n\nI've also tried the Amazon Basics shoulder bag bag ($25): http://amzn.to/1meJgNj\n\nA shoulder mounted bag about the same size and capacity as this bag\nPros:\n- cheap!\nCons:\n- hinges are plastic and squeak A LOT\n\nAnd the Dolica Shoulder Bag ($45): http://amzn.to/1meJjc2\n\nA shoulder mounted bag about the same size and capacity as this bag\nPros:\n- noticeably higher quality than the Amazon bag, including metal hinges that don't squeak\nCons:\n- $10-20 more expensive than the Amazon bag. Considering how much I use my camera bag, I was willing to pay the little extra to not have to deal with constant loud squeaking, but that's your decision.\n\nHope you found this helpful!"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I've been trying to find the perfect bag on Amazon - at this point, I've tried several (which I list at the end of the review). I would have to recommend the Dolica Shoulder Bag over this.\n\nWhy?\n\nI was expecting to love a belt pack camera bag, being easier to access than a shoulder bag. However, this bag is simply too large to be a comfortable and usable belt pack - it tips noticeably forward when loaded, and its large size makes it awkward to deal with while moving and walking.\n\nI've also tried the Amazon Basics shoulder bag bag ($25): http://amzn.to/1meJgNj\n\nA shoulder mounted bag about the same size and capacity as this bag\nPros:\n- cheap!\nCons:\n- hinges are plastic and squeak A LOT\n\nAnd the Dolica Shoulder Bag ($45): http://amzn.to/1meJjc2\n\nA shoulder mounted bag about the same size and capacity as this bag\nPros:\n- noticeably higher quality than the Amazon bag, including metal hinges that don't squeak\nCons:\n- $10-20 more expensive than the Amazon bag. Considering how much I use my camera bag, I was willing to pay the little extra to not have to deal with constant loud squeaking, but that's your decision.\n\nHope you found this helpful!"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: TASCAM's incredible DR-40 lets you take true 4-track recording on the go! This impressively affordable 4-track recorder gives you all of the tools you need to capture audio anywhere in any environment. Want to record live music? Plug the main feed from the board right into the DR-40 and use the built-in microphones to capture the room. Want to record audio for video? Just plug your shotgun microphone into an input and enable phantom power. Dual mode recording, automatic level adjustment, and a built-in limiter all ensure that your recordings will come out sounding great. And the TASCAM DR-40 includes great practice and studio-style recording tools, such as a built-in tuner and reverb, making it an amazing songwriting tool too.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Between this and the DR-100 MKII, not everything is black and white\n\nReview: I was divided between this and the DR-100 MKII, so I bought both and played around with them.\n\nI ended up returning this one, but the decision wasn't black and white. To help you make your decision without all of the hassle of returning one, here are the pro's for each model:\n\nDR-40:\n- $100 cheaper!\n- a bit smaller\n- can record four channels at once (aka you can record from the built-in mics, and the XLR mics at the same time). The DR-100 MKII cannot do this, which was rather disappointing\n- you can adjust the angle of the built-in mics, letting you capture narrower or wider soundscapes\n\nDR-100 MKII:\n- Sturdier (made of metal, built-in mics aren't as exposed)\n- Volume adjustment wheel, which gives much smoother control, and doesn't make really loud clicking noises every time you adjust the volume (the DR-40 only has buttons)\n- Comes with a rechargeable battery, and also takes AA's, which means you can live swap batteries while the device is still on and recording!\n- And, at least for me, I preferred that more of the controls were physical buttons instead of being nested inside of menus. Makes it easier to operate while focusing on other things, like recording.\n\nOverall, their sound quality was so similar that it really didn't factor into the decision.\n\nHope that helps!","Product: The rugged TASCAM DR-100mkII offers high-end recording features to musicians and engineers who demand more from their portable recorder. It features four built-in microphones, two cardioid and two omnidirectional, for great sounding recordings. A pair of XLR microphone inputs with phantom power welcomes pro-grade condenser microphones, and line in and out connectors are also provided. The markII version adds balanced line ins, S/PDIF digital inputs, locking connectors and more.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Between this and the DR-40, not everything is black and white,\n\nReview: I was divided between this and the DR-40, so I bought both and played around with them.\n\nI ended up buying this one, but the decision wasn't black and white. To help you make your decision without all of the hassle of returning one, here are the pro's for each model:\n\nDR-100 MKII:\n- Sturdier (made of metal, built-in mics aren't as exposed)\n- Volume adjustment wheel, which gives much smoother control, and doesn't make really loud clicking noises every time you adjust the volume (the DR-40 only has buttons)\n- Comes with a rechargeable battery, and also takes AA's, which means you can live swap batteries while the device is still on and recording!\n- And, at least for me, I preferred that more of the controls were physical buttons instead of being nested inside of menus. Makes it easier to operate while focusing on other things, like recording.\n\nDR-40:\n- $100 cheaper!\n- a bit smaller\n- can record four channels at once (aka you can record from the built-in mics, and the XLR mics at the same time). The DR-100 MKII cannot do this, which was rather disappointing\n- you can adjust the angle of the built-in mics, letting you capture narrower or wider soundscapes\n\nOverall, their sound quality was so similar that it really didn't factor into the decision.\n\nHope that helps!","Product: DeluxeFoam offers specially made foam to withstand elements like harsh, direct lighting, the physical contact of manual handling, and of course, sound waves. Unlike other brands, our soundproofing foam will never crumble or harden, so the only cleaning required is the occasional vacuuming of dust. You can trust that our foam will remain soft and in sound acoustical condition for years to come. All our soundproofing foam is cut and angled with nearly 100 percent accuracy, leaving you with clean, squared edges. Unlike other companies that manufacture irregular, jagged or mismatched edges, our foam can be aligned perfectly with the next piece to provide professional uniformity in your installation. Flammability Test Results: Class A, 25 Flame Spread Index, 250 Smoke Spread Index\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Turned green after 4 months\n\nReview: First off, if you're like me and this is your first time buying soundproofing foam, calm your expectations. It does nothing to quiet or block the sound - it just prevents sound from bouncing off that spot of wall. So, don't expect to be able to muffle out your loud roommate with this.\n\nSecondly, and perhaps more importantly, the foam turned GREEN after four months in my apartment. It's environmentally controlled, so there hasn't been an excess of humidity beyond what's normal for living quarters or anything. The blue panels just turned green - and now they look disgusting.\n\nSo, unless you want to rebuy every 4 months, I'd stay away from the blue. The black seems to be doing fine, though.","Product: The Zyliss Lock N Lift Can Opener is ergonomically designed for comfort and maximum efficiency. Opener locks onto can for easy pouring. Magnet with release lever lifts lid and releases it for safe and easy disposal. Hands never touch the lid!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An upgrade for your can opener - but is it worth it?\n\nReview: A few years back, I bought the cheapest can opener I could find, the $6 Amco - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CDEFK0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001CDEFK0&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=VMSEGYBOMNGAFDLN\n\nAbout a year later, it broke. The can grippers simply stopped doing their job. Rather than throwing $6 away every year at a frustrating can-opening experience, I thought I'd give a more premium model a try.\n\nAt $15, this opener will need to last about 2.5 years to mathematically be worth it - and one year in, it's still going strong! Besides the singular question of durability, I've also found this opener to be more comfortable to use. The only downside is the size - so if you're really tight on kitchen drawer space, it might not be worth the trouble.\n\nThe other difference is in all of the \"features\" this has. Locking handles. Magnetic opener. Marketing, marketing, marketing. I've maybe used them once or twice - so I wouldn't base your decision based on those.\n\nIn summary: if you don't want to deal with replacing your can opener every year, and have enough space in your drawers for a more ergonomic opener, this Zyliss is worth the buy!","Product: Bake delicious treats like cookies that can slide right off the tray with the GoodCook Nonstick Cookie Sheet! Made with heavy duty nonstick coating, this cookie sheet is sure to satisfy both your kitchen cleaning and your taste buds. And the durable tray ensures that you can continue to use our GoodCook Non-stick set, knowing that they will look brand new each and every time.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Exactly what we needed\n\nReview: After using the cheapest baking pans we could find, the biggest issue we had was things overflowing the edges and spilling into the oven.\n\nThese trays solve that quite well, with a small lip along the entire perimeter.\n\nThe pans are also coated in a nice, non stick surface, though I still recommend covering them in aluminum foil to save yourself a lot of cleaning effort later.\n\nFinally, the trays also stack. This is a huge space saving feature, and enables us to keep 3 trays in the space of one (really handy for the tight space under the oven).\n\nOverall, I'm very pleased with our upgrade to these trays and would definitely buy them again. I'll keep this review updated in case anything changes!","Product: Thirstystone Coasters are the leader in drink coaster innovation. The naturally absorbent sandstone material, combined with the cork backing, will add an additional layer of protection your furnishings, and provide a stylish accent piece to your home or business. Thirstystone coasters are a long lasting and environmentally friendly product. Sold as a set of 4, these 4 inch coasters are very stylish, useful, and affordable. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the benefits of Thirstystone!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Unique, beautiful and practical\n\nReview: After one too many coasters sticking to the bottom of my glass, I did some research on how to eliminate glass-stickiness (apparently caused by moisture-driven suction), and came across these.\n\nAfter several months of usage, I've yet to have a single glass-sticking episode! They dry out quickly - you can practically watch the moisture rings disappear.\n\nBut, that's not the only great thing about these coasters. They also look /amazing/. I've been complimented on them several times.\n\nAs far as durability goes, they all arrived in perfect condition, and have yet to crack or chip (as some other reviewers have experienced).\n\nIf I was being really picky, the cork bottoms aren't quite as grippy as I'd like.\n\nAll in all, 5 stars. I'll definitely be buying these again when I need more coasters!\n\nI hope you found this helpful,\n\nTodd","Product: Gibson's Green Soho Lounge Dinnerware Set features classic stoneware dinnerware. The set has an green exterior with an ivory interior and is made from ceramic material. Durable thick dinnerware is difficult to scratch or break. 16-piece stoneware set includes four place settings each of 12.75-inch dinner plate, 9-inch dessert plate, 6.25-inch bowl and 12 ounce mug (plates and bowls measured diagonally). Bold designs for the bold at heart. Traditional finishing techniques produce differences in color, size and texture, ensuring no two pieces are exactly alike. Set is dishwasher and microwave safe for easy clean.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent product overall - but not perfect\n\nReview: When I needed to purchase more plates and bowls, I was sad to discover that my favorite set was not available: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NNUFF0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004NNUFF0&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20\n\nSo, I thought I'd try these - with their attractive blue and black finish and interesting shape.\n\nPros:\n- They are beautiful. I get complimented on them frequently.\n- They work perfectly as a dinnerware set - none of them have broken or chipped yet.\n\nCons: (all minor nitpicks)\n- Because the plates aren't square, it makes stacking them with non-square plates quite awkward.\n- Being perfectly round, it is precarious to stack the bowls higher than two or three high.\n- Both plate sizes are a little smaller than my previous set. We haven't had an issue with it yet, but, if size matters for you, keep an eye out for that.","Product: This is considered the standard lens for use with Canon SLR cameras.What's in the box: Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens, E-52 52mm Snap-On Lens Cap, Lens Dust Cap E (Rear) and 1-Year Warranty.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A comparison of medium Canon primes - which should you buy?\n\nReview: Canon makes several excellent medium primes in the same price range - so you're likely asking yourself \"Which one should I buy?\"\n\nI'll be comparing:\n- The 'Nifty 50' f/1.8 ($100) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007E7JU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00007E7JU&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=RG6J3EUMWNVA23RK\n- The 50mm f/1.4 ($350) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009XVCZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00009XVCZ&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=BUALHTKV6Q6H4YFO\n- The 40mm f/2.8 ($150-200) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00894YP00/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00894YP00&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=OCPQQUFQMF2DGCJV\n\nSo which one should you buy?\n\nPros of the 50mm f/1.8\n- CHEAP. This is literally the best $100 lens available, so if you only have a $100, or money is tight, get this.\n\nPros of the 50mm f/1.4\n- The most professional of the three - the focus ring has the smoothest performance, and includes a focus distance indicator\n- The widest aperture of the three - great for low light and portraiture\n\nPros of the 40mm\n- TINY. By far the smallest Canon full frame lens (though it does weigh the same as the 50mm f/1.8 due to the metal construction)\n- Also inexpensive. You can generally buy this new for $150 (often it's $200 with a $50 rebate).\n- 40mm is, in my opinion, a better focal length. It's closer to the natural perspective of the eye, and works better for walk-around / travel photos. As one famous photographer put it, \"50mm is too narrow for walk-around shooting, but too wider for serious portraiture\"\n\nCons of the 50mm f/1.8\n- The construction quality isn't that great (all plastic)\n- Lacks focus distance indicators on the lens body\n\nCons of the 50mm f/1.4\n- The most expensive and largest of the three\n\nCons of the 40mm\n- f/2.8 is noticeably slower than even the cheapest 50mm's f/1.8\n- the focus is...wonky. There's no way to full manual focus it (twisting the ring triggers the motors, which means you already have to be trying to focus / have the motors on to be able to use it), and the auto focus wasn't very impressive either.\n\nFinally, let's talk about lens performance. I use DXOMark's lens comparison tool, because it provides a very powerful and numerical way to compare many lens characteristic such as sharpness and distortion (just make sure that you set all the lenses to the same camera body when comparing). Surprisingly....all three of these lenses have almost identical performance. Seriously, scores of 26, 25, and 24 - close enough that you should focus on the functionality that you need, and not their sharpness.\n\nIn summary, each of these lenses has a different combination of values and specialties, so let's do a quick run down. You should buy:\n- The Canon 40mm f/2.8, if you need a highly compact, slightly wider lens for traveling, if you don't use manual focus - and an extra stop of aperture for low light shooting won't be the end of you.\n- The $100 Canon 50mm f/1.8, if you need a cheap lens that still takes good pictures\n- The $350 Canon 50mm f/1.4, if money isn't quite much of an issue and you have a use for the slightly wider aperture (ie portraiture or low light)","Product: Directional Condenser Shotgun Microphone\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great mic, horrible mount\n\nReview: This is the first pro mic I've used, and I have no qualms with the sound quality (I'll update this when I have a chance to try out a few other mics)\n\nMy only problem, which may or may not be an issue for you, is that the mic stand it comes with is pretty much impossible to attach. It took myself and a friend 15 minutes and several pairs of pliers to insert the microphone. And then, of course, since it's a solid physical connection, every little bump to the stand gets amplified into the microphone.\n\nOverall, if you're going to spend ~$300 on this mic, I highly recommend that you get a $30 shock mount (like this one: <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/B00615M2CC/dp/B00615M2CC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">B00615M2CC</a> - much easier to install, and eliminates bumping noises!","Product: The Belkin 8-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector protects your electronic devices from surges and spikes. This 3550-Joule surge protector provides eight surge-protected outlets with sliding safety covers to supply complete, 3-line AC protection for your workstations, printers, broadband modems, home theater systems, and everyday household electronics. The surge protector features a slender, sleek design with a right angle plug and a detachable cord-management clip to help keep cables organized.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best surge protector for when you need /a lot/ of outlets - a comparison\n\nReview: We have a lot of different surge protectors in our apartment. We've found that different protectors work well for different situations.\n\nThis one is perfect for the home theater or office area, where you can hide it under / behind furniture and just need a huge amount of outlets. The six outlets going off to the side work really well for the big, bulky, annoying power bricks, and it seems to be just the right ratio of big-to-small outlets.\n\nFor tighter places where you need fewer outlets (ie kitchen or bathroom), we've found this Belkin with a rotating plug to work well: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JV3CKA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000JV3CKA&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=F5S4LSNEG23YC522\n\nThough it has half the outlets, it's slim profile and rotatable plug enables to squeeze into tight, awkward places.\n\nFinally, for a living-room type area where people are mainly charging their phones and laptops, we've found this cool 2x USB adapter + 3x outlet adapter to be quite handy: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088TAZ2S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0088TAZ2S&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=SPVICMFRI5DMCJGI\n\nI hope you found this helpful in your quest for the perfect surge protector! Feel free to ask any questions in the comments","Product: Designed to uplift. Made of a single sturdy piece of aluminum, mStand transforms your laptop into a stylish workstation with its elegant curves and silver-anodized finish. The single piece design solidly holds a laptop while the aluminum panel acts a heat sink to keep the laptop cool. A cable hole in the back of the stand routes wires to reduce clutter. Ergonomics Long-term use of a laptop as the main computing device can strain the body as the user hunches down to see the screen and type. mStand raises the screen 5.9 inches (150 mm) to meet the user's eye level, thus promoting better posture, while its tilt design brings the screen closer for easier viewing. With an external keyboard andmouse, mStand creates an ideal ergonomic desktop setup for laptop users. Compatible with all sizes of Apple MacBook, MacBook Pro. Also fits most 14\" standard PC and 15\" widescreen PC with depths not more than 10.4 inches.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nicely built, but cable management is a joke\n\nReview: As you can tell from the pictures, the stand looks amazing - really does look and feel like something made by Apple.\n\nThat being said, one of the points of having a laptop stand is to also have a more permanent and nice way of managing laptop cables. Although this stand has a hole in the back that you can stick cables through, it's kind of a joke. Did nobody user test this thing? Because the hole is several inches above the desk surface, cables don't lie flat... and because there's no built in cable management clamp, you're either forced to deal with cables that're constantly sliding away, or mar the beauty of the stand with some lame DIY cable clamp.\n\nIf Rain Design really wants to have the best designed stand, I'd suggest: 1) lowering the cable hole so that it's flush with the desk surface and 2) integrating some sort of clamp, twist or curve to pin cables down.","Product: The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens is the first mid-telephoto macro lens to include Canon's sophisticated Image Stabilization. With the highest quality optics available, combined with near-silent Ultrasonic focusing and life-size close-up capabilities without an adapter, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is simply unrivaled. The Hybrid Image Stabilization Technology effectively compensates for both angular and shift camera shake during close-up shooting. The lens was developed to expand users' photographing range and allow a wider range of users to easily enjoy macro photography. Suitable for Nature/concert/potrait and close up/product photography\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Product comparison - Canon macro lenses\n\nReview: I recently started doing product photography, and have been on the hunt for the macro lens with the best performance-per-buck. After doing extensive research looking for the perfect macro lens, I boiled it down to two lenses - this, and the non-L version: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004XOM3/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00004XOM3&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=RDR4DQCD5BA6QBQK\n\nLet's talk about the differences - both of these lenses are amazing, so it comes down to what's most important to you.\n\nThe non-L lens is fantastic. I had previously been using a $100 Sigma \"macro\" lens: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ALLMI8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000ALLMI8&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=IDRD7EREYJNRT3C5\n\nAfter switching, my product photography went from aggressively mediocre to top-tier. This lens enables you to get extremely close to your subject, perfect for product photography. It is very sharp, and the wide aperture gives you a tremendous range of depth of field.\n\nFor $550, the non-L version is an excellent lens to buy.\n\nBut there's another option. The \"L\" version of this lens, for $900 after rebates (this lens).\n\nThis lens is UNBELIEVABLY sharp. It is the sharpest lens I've ever tried, so sharp that my Canon 6D's 20MP sensor can't render all of the detail from the lens. If you're looking for the best macro lens that you can buy, one that you won't kind of regret in a few years when you get a 50MP camera, you cannot go wrong with the L version.\n\nSo there you have it. If money is an issue but you still want great photos, get this lens. If you want to make an investment in the best macro lens on the market, get the L version. It's not always the case with the L version, but in this case the L version is definitely worth the money if you can afford it.\n\nHope you found this helpful,\n\nTodd","Product: Designed for home entertainment and AV enthusiasts, the PowerLite Home Cinema 8350 delivers outstanding big screen entertainment at an affordable price. This native resolution 1080p 3LCD projector features improved contrast ratio of up to 50,000:1 and increased brightness of up to 2,000 lumens for amazing colors and image quality in dark or lighted rooms. Watch big screen movies, sports and live TV, and play video games or sing karaoke\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Having owned this projector for 3 years now\n\nReview: It's nice - really nice. Is it worth the money? Maybe not. I've purchased a few other projectors recently (for other rooms), and have found two other projectors that, if I had to do it again, I'd buy instead:\n\nThe $1,000 Epson 8345 - http://amzn.to/1nSkN7k\n\nFor $300 cheaper (at time of writing), there are almost no perceivable differences. Sure, this one's a little brighter...but, unless you really need that, I'd recommend using your savings to buy a nice projector screen (see the appendix below).\n\nThe $460 Optoma - http://amzn.to/1jVhl3E\n\nWAY cheaper. Surprisingly, movies and TV still look quite good on it. It's actually brighter than either Epson projector, though the picture is more washed out. It's true that it's not a native 1080p projector, but the sharpness difference wasn't uncomfortable (especially when streaming, which is generally a bit fuzzy anyway). Basically, if there are other awesome things you could spend your $800 savings on, I recommend this one.\n\nHope you found this helpful!\n\nAPPENDIX:\n\nI HIGHLY recommend this projector screen to get the most out of your projector. Also, it's automated, with remotes, so it immediately doubles the wow factor of your projector :) - http://amzn.to/1ofN6KB\n\nHere is the 8350's replacement bulb, which you'll need to buy every 1-2 years depending on your usage: http://amzn.to/1ofNb0V\n\nNote that if you do end up buying the 8350, the power cord is quite short (~4 feet), which, given that projectors are usually mounted in odd places, has never really worked out well. Plan on buying an extension cable - I've been using one of these: http://amzn.to/ThRjC0","Product: The Apple keyboard with numeric keypad features an elegant, ultrathin anodized aluminum enclosure with low-profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Solid, beautiful keyboard, not quite plug-and-play on Windows\n\nReview: I purchased this for my new Windows gaming rig (yes, I chose this over purpose-built gaming keyboards - I love how compact this keyboard is, which gives me plenty of desk space to work on homework, fit my G13 Gamepad and mouse, etc).\n\nOverall, I love this keyboard. Sturdy, trustworthy, well-designed, compact. My only qualm is that it takes a lot of effort to make the function keys work like they are supposed to with Windows. I had to install KeyTweak (free software) to remap F10-12 to control volume. And, even then, Windows doesn't seem to have any built-in screen brightness controls, so I still can't use F1 and F2 to control brightness (though I suppose that's more a gripe about Windows than this keyboard)\n\nIn the end, if you're willing to put in that little bit of extra effort to get it to work well with Windows, you'll be rewarded with a keyboard that'll basically last you forever (I've had mine for two years now), and whose design is appropriate in any situation (unlike a gaming keyboard).","Product: A superb new tool in optical lens cleaning technology. Perfect for cleaning camera lenses, binocular lenses, small aperture spotting scopes and telescopes, eyepieces, and other optical items. Comes with a handy retractable dust removal brush and a special non-liquid cleaning element, designed to never dry out. Safe and very easy to use.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not the best option to clean your lens\n\nReview: For many years, I used the Lens Pen cleaning system, from various brands and suppliers.\n\nI recently read some very informed opinions about proper lens cleaning - photographers with 30+ years experience recommending lens wipes instead of a reusable pen.\n\nWhy? Although these pens claim to be reusable, their testing found that dirt and oils stuck to the pen across cleanings - which means, after the first use, these pens are more effective at scratching your glass than cleaning it.\n\nWilling to try anything once, I gave their opinion a shot, and purchase the Zeiss 200-count lens wipes ($14) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030E4UIQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0030E4UIQ&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=L2URM5RGWP2FBFZP\n\nAfter using a single wipe to clean my lens, which I had just cleaned with my lens pen....All I can say is that I've thrown my lens pen away. My glass had started to look worn and damaged - but it turns out that that was entirely due to the lens pen failing to clean it. One lens wipe later, and my glass looks brand new.\n\nAlthough it feels inefficient to switch away from a \"reusable\" product to a single use one, consider: Given that these wipes only cost 7 cents per wipe, and your lens costs several hundred to several thousand dollars... it's well worth the minuscule investment to clean them properly!\n\nI hope you found this helpful! Feel free to ask questions in the comments below","Product: The brand new RF-603 is a remote shutter release as well as a multi-functional radio flash trigger which can synchronously trigger flashes and studio strobes. Through the transceiver based system each item can be used flexibly as trigger or receiver. Only 2 AAA batteries are required as power source for each item.\n\nThe 2.4GHz wireless frequency is suitable in most countries and guarantees high speed, distance and stability. Within capacious areas, the remote control distance may reach to 100m. The synchronization speed can reach to 1/320, depending on the situation it may reach to 1/250 or less.\n\nA set consist of 2 equal transceivers. Both of them can be a receiver as well as transmitter. It can trigger 1 flash with one set, since one serves as trigger and one as receiver. You can also buy additional transceivers to trigger 2 or more flashes at the same time. Includes (2) RF-603 transeivers (1) C3 shutter release cord\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A cheap price for so much possibility!\n\nReview: Taking your flash off camera is one of the biggest steps you can take to making your photos more artistic and beautiful...and these little adapters are the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way I've found to do it!\n\nSimple put in batteries, slot them in and turn them on, and your pictures will dramatically improve in quality!\n\nI highly recommend pairing these with the Yongnuo YN 560 III's - besides being great deals for such powerful flashes, I also discovered that the 560 III's have built in wireless receivers, so you don't have to buy more of these as you add more flashes!\n\nHere's the YN 560 III: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BXA7N6A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BXA7N6A&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20\n\nPros:\n- cheap\n- effective\n- paired with the YN 560 flashes, you don't even need to add them to your flashes, you just need one for your camera!\n\nCons:\n- Well, there might be something about not supporting automatic metering...but, given the price of the adapters that do support it, I think that shooting full manual isn't nearly the hassle it's made out to be! (Especially after reading several reviews about how automatic metering becomes significantly less reliable once the flashes are positioned off-camera)","Product: The Optima W316 will help you present with confidence and ease. With a powerful 3400 lumen bright image and superb 15,000:1 contrast ratio, the Optima W316 delivers widescreen presentations with rich, vibrant colors and sharp, easy to read text, graphics and video. Packed with an impressive array of connectivity options, a 1.1x zoom ratio projection lens for placement flexibility and up to 10,000 hour lamp life, the Optima W316 is ideal for use in classrooms, meeting rooms and training rooms. Featuring Full 3D compatibility, Rapid Shutdown, Quick Resume, Direct power On, Auto power Off, logo capture and much more, the Optima W316 will satisfy your most demanding application needs.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cutting to the chase - a product comparison\n\nReview: In trying to find a good projector for ~$400 for our work area, we did a lot of research. In the end, we couldn't decide between this and the ViewSonic PJD5533W ($430 at writing - http://amzn.to/1PphQCZ, so we purchased both.\n\nWhile both were pleasantly usable for the price (even though we'd been spoiled by a much more expensive home theater projector), we found the other projector to be worth the price - while this projector is only capable of 800x600, the other one is capable of 1200x800 - almost exactly twice as many pixels.\n\nOf course, it's also about a hundred dollars more, so what it really boils down to is your use case. For movies where you're sitting farther back from the projector, resolution makes less of a difference. We found movies to be quite watchable, even at the lower resolution.\n\nIf your use case is business-focused, where you might be sitting closer to the screen in a meeting room, projecting text and diagrams, the higher resolution projector is a good investment.\n\nI hope you found this helpful, and feel free to ask questions in the comments!\n\n--Appendix--\n\nYou might also want to consider getting a projector screen to maximize the image quality and brightness - I've had a wonderful experience with this FAVI 100 inch screen - plus, it's automated with a remote for maximum WOW factor! http://amzn.to/22XktWP","Product: The Optoma HD141X all-digital home entertainment projector is ideal for watching movies, TV shows, Sports and action-packed video games on screens up to 300\" diagonal. HD141X delivers high performance cinematic quality, HD 1080p video and produces a stunning 3000 lumens bright image with a remarkable 23,000:1 contrast ratio. Amaze your friends with fantastic image detail and superior color reproduction. Packed with advanced features, the Optoma HD141X will take your home entertainment to the next level: 2x HDMI ports, MHL compatibility, VESA 3D Sync port with full 3D compatibility for seamless integration with your favorite Blu-ray 3D player, Xbox, PS3, PS4 and other gaming consoles. It also has a powerful10-Watt audio, Dynamic black for enhanced black levels, 12V jack for motorized screen automation, back-lit remote, up to 6500 hours of lamp life and whisper quiet fan for maximum viewing enjoyment.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cutting to the chase - a product comparison\n\nReview: All their useless marketing aside (\"colors 3x brighter with Epson!\"), you just want to know one thing: is this the best projector for my money? Having tried a number of projectors, here's a rundown of your best options: (all prices at time of writing)\n\n$593: This, the Optoma HD141X. The best deal I've found for a quality 1080p projector. If you're using it as a computer monitor, or to play video games, or anything else where small details are important, you'll want 1080p.\n\n$450: The ViewSonic PJD5555W WXGA. Slightly fewer \"lumens\" in the specs, but in practice couldn't tell the difference. Image quality was on par with the more expensive HD141X - the only drawback is the lower resolution (1366x768 vs 1920x1080) - however, we found that we could barely tell the difference when watching movies from 7 or more feet away. If you're just watching movies, and don't plan on having your nose touching the projector screen (seriously, 7 feet is pretty close), there are better things that you can do with that money .... like buy a nice projector screen (see below) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RPJON8E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00RPJON8E&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=DWQVJOKQOY27LISG\n\n$400: The Epson VS330 XGA. Very similar to the above ViewSonic but a slightly lower resolution (1024x768 vs 1366x768). It's designed for 4:3 instead of 16:9, so if you're looking for a business projector, this is a better choice for you - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GMGDFPI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GMGDFPI&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=K6KSJ6G6IWDURDFM\n\nThere you have it - a quick rundown of your best options. I hope you found this helpful!\n\n--Addendum---\n\nIf you want to get the most out of your projector experience, I highly recommend getting a good projector screen. I've found that getting a $200 projector screen (vs projecting on a wall) generally leads to a better result than spending that $200 on a nicer projector (once you have at least a $400 projector). I've had a wonderful experience with this FAVI 100 inch screen - plus, it's automated with a remote for maximum WOW factor! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017S37IG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0017S37IG&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20","Product: Digital HDMI sources deliver sharper, clearer image quality, the Optima W311 provides 2x HDMI ports to display them. With a powerful 3200 lumens and a remarkable 20,000:1 contrast ratio the Optima W311 delivers bright, large, widescreen WXGA resolution presentations with incredible image clarity and vibrant, accurate colors. Displaying even the most subtle details in your presentations. Perfect for use in medium sized conference rooms, training rooms, classrooms, and houses of worship. The Optima W311 includes an extensive list of advanced features, including 2x HDMI v1.4a ports with full 3D compatibility, 1080p HD compatibility, USB type-A with 5V DC 1A power, USB mini-B for remote mouse convenience, 1.2x zoom lens, built-in 2W speaker, audio-out jack, RS-232 connectivity, ultra-long lamp life, whisper quiet fan and much more.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Cutting to the chase - a product comparison\n\nReview: All their useless marketing aside (\"colors 3x brighter with Epson!\"), you just want to know one thing: is this the best projector for my money? Having tried a number of projectors in this price range, here's a rundown of your best options: (all prices at time of writing)\n\n$350: ViewSonic PJD5134. It's a bit brighter than the Epson VS330, but that'll almost never matter - either is bright enough for daily use. This sacrifices some of the Epson's image quality for a lot of mostly unnecessary features like 120Hz refresh rate and 3D support (why would you watch a 3D BluRay on a low-res projector?). I recommend the Epson over this. http://amzn.to/1mgNKLp\n\n$400: Epson VS330. All around good for the price, and bright enough for lit rooms. The only thing it's weak on is resolution - it handles movies and PowerPoints pretty well, but if you plan on detailed diagrams or smaller text, you'd probably be better off with the two below, which have a few more pixels (1280x800 pixels vs 1024x768 pixels): http://amzn.to/1mOTID9\n\n~$430: This, the Optoma W311. My favorite projector for under $500, it's a bit brighter than the Epson VS330, but WAY sharper. It's basically the difference between SD and HD TV. Highly recommend.\n\n~$420: ViewSonic PJD5533W. Similar to this Optoma, but not quite as sharp. The prices of the two projectors has varied by up to $100 in the past, so I'd recommend just going for whichever is cheaper: http://amzn.to/1mgNOe7\n\nThere you have it - a quick rundown of your best options. Hope you found this helpful!","Product: The Intova EDGE X Waterproof HD Video Camera is a rugged, durable, and waterproof point-of-view video and still-photo camera for capturing high-quality videos and photos underwater or in any environment. The EDGE X's 160-degree wide-angle lens captures 1080p HD video up to 60 frames per second. The design allows the maximum view angle without the major distortion found in other wide-angle, point-of-view cameras. Intova's patented unibody design builds the electronics directly into the polycarbonate-injected and UV protected housing allowing the camera to be waterproof to 330 feet. The glass lens port has a proprietary UV treatment that increases scratch resistance and reduces reflection. Features include Motion Detection Mode which prompts video to start recording automatically when motion is detected; Time Lapse for recording video clips with adjustable intervals between clips to produce high-quality time lapse effects; Burst Mode which fires between 3, 5, 10, 20 or 30 photos in rapid succession; Picture in Video for taking a still picture while recording video; a built in LCD screen, and more. The Intova EDGE X Waterproof HD Video Camera's built in WiFi allows users to operate and see what is on the viewfinder remotely using an iOS or Android tablet or phone & also to enable wireless file transfer using the free Intova EDGE X app. Includes lithium-ion battery, micro USB cable for charging battery and downloading files, float strap, anti-glare hood, quick start guide; 1-year warranty.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An unexpected action camera competitor - a product comparison\n\nReview: Full disclosure: I was given an EDGE X for free in exchange for an honest review.\n\nAs an avid GoPro user (I've previously owned the 3 Silver, 3+ Black and 4 Black), I was very curious to see how Intova's product would compare to the industry leader. I'll be comparing this to the just-announced Hero+ LCD, which also costs $299. Though I haven't personally used the Hero+ LCD, I'll be combining my personal GoPro experiences with a comparison of their rated specifications.\n\nFirst, let's talk about GoPros.\n\nPros:\n[+] 1080p at 60fps is great for action. The more expensive GoPros can also shoot 4K - I rarely ever use the 4K footage directly (it's big and slow to work with), but when downsampled to 1080p, it becomes incredibly sharp and crisp. That being said, the only GoPro capable of shooting usable 4K is the 4 Black, which costs $500 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NIYNUF2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NIYNUF2&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=3Y43OJB7YICASC5U\n[+] Standardization - because they're the market leader, there are LOTS of accessories available - and lots of products integrate with them (such as my DJI Phantom drone - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AGOSQI8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AGOSQI8&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=LY3PRXOHQO6TN5GF\n[+] LCD for framing shots\n[.] Wifi controllable from a phone app (which, is really only a half plus, because a lot of the times that you'll be using an /action/ camera, you won't want to have your smartphone on you, ie underwater)\n\nCons:\n[-] Max filming frame rate is 60fps. I expect them to make this available via a firmware update in the future, but don't count on it.\n[-] Annoyingly short battery life. Better hope your adventure only lasts an hour!\n[-] While the extreme wide angle is great for capturing action, it also looks quite amateurish. It's possible to correct for some of it in GoPro Studios, but at a loss of quality around the edges.\n\nSo, how does the Intova compare to the GoPro Hero+ LCD?\n\n[=] It has the same great 1080p, 60fps footage.\n[-] It lacks the standardized support of the market leader\n[=] It has an LCD for framing shots\n[=] It also has wifi support\n[+] More footage options - if you want to capture slow motion, you can set it to 720p/120fps, or even 480p/240fps. The image quality definitely drops when you do so (because it forces the shutter speed to be faster), but it's great to have that options available.\n[+] It has better battery life, closer to two hours. Still not /great/, but an improvement!\n[+] While also wide angle, the distortion is less noticeable.\n\nIn summary, the main differences are the improved image quality (from reduced fisheye) and better battery, at the cost of being less standardized.\n\nIf you just need a good camera, and are able to find Intova-offered accessories to fit all of your shooting needs, then I would actually recommend the Intova over the GoPro. The better image quality and battery life are quite nice.\n\nIf you expect to use your camera in a place where standardization is important - on drones with GoPro mounts, film sets, or places where there will be other GoPros in usage, I would recommend sticking with a GoPro camera for simplicity's sake.\n\nI hope you found this helpful!","Product: The ViewSonic LightStream PJD5555w price-performance projector features 3200 lumens, native WXGA 1280x800 resolution, and intuitive, user-friendly design. Exclusive SuperColorTM technology offers a wider color range for true-to-life image projection, while sound enhancement technology delivers improved sound quality. The PJD5555w also features extensive connectivity including HDMI, 2 x VGA, Composite Video, S-Video, 1 x VGA output and Audio in/out. An energy-saving DynamicEco feature reduces power consumption by up to 70%, and extends the lamp life by up to 10,000 hours. With advanced audiovisual features, flexible connectivity options, and an affordable price, the PJD5555w is ideal for use in education and small business environments.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: In trying to find a good projector for ~$400 for our office\n\nReview: In trying to find a good projector for ~$400 for our office, we did a lot of research. In the end, we couldn't decide between this and the ViewSonic PJD5533W - $430 at writing - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00511ITEM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00511ITEM&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=6CFHOT62HY2C5LOJ , so we purchased both. If you'll notice, the 5533 is an earlier version of this model, which is certainly a statement about the quality / value of ViewSonic projectors that they were both of our top 2 projectors.\n\nAfter trying them both extensively, we came to the conclusion that they are nearly identical - and that the older model is a better value. Even if the marketing claims this has better image quality (which it doesn't seem to? they both claim the same contrast ratio), we couldn't tell a difference with our eyes. The newer version is a bit brighter (3,200 lumens vs 2,800 lumens) but we found both worked equally well, even for a well-lit office.\n\nIf you're looking for a fantastic projector for $430, we highly recommend the 5533. If you're really concerned about brightness (or plan on projecting it on a very large screen, 100\" or more) this projector is also a good choice.\n\nOk, fine, this projector also looks slightly \"sexier\" than the 5533, so if you're trying to impress business clients, that's worth taking into account. On the other hand, this one is slightly larger and heavier, so if you're traveling a lot, or dealing with tight spaces, that's also worth considering.\n\nI hope you found this helpful, and feel free to ask questions in the comments!\n\n--Appendix--\n\nIf you're on a tight budget and saving an extra $70 would make a big difference, you might also consider the Optoma X312. It has a slightly lower resolution, but we found the image quality and brightness to be comparable - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T98WI40/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00T98WI40&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=63IHMRM2G5RQRDT2\n\nYou might also want to consider getting a projector screen to maximize the image quality and brightness - I've had a wonderful experience with this FAVI 100 inch screen - plus, it's automated with a remote for maximum WOW factor! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017S37IG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0017S37IG&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20","Product: Ultralight slim skinny wallet for hiking, bicycling, camping, skiing, or nights on the town. Weighs less than a US Quarter. Saves 75% of the space in your pocket, bag, or purse!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The perfect ultralight wallet - pros and cons\n\nReview: I've owned both versions of this wallet (v1 and v2). Many of the concerns other reviewers have had (mainly the cards falling out) have been solved in version 2, which is what you're buying here.\n\nTo put it in perspective, this wallet weighs as much empty...as a single sheet of paper.\n\nAt present count, I have 5 bills and 10 cards in my wallet, and it's barely thicker than my phone. If you have tiny pockets - or just don't like having a bunch of huge things in your pocket - this wallet is for you.\n\nIt's also incredibly durable. I've had my current version for over a year, and there's absolutely no signs of damage (even if there was, they're only $12!)\n\nWhich leads me to the only con - some people might not like the appearance. It's sleek and modern, but it lacks the \"executive\" feel people usually look for in leather wallets. Depending on the color you get, dirt can also be fairly visible on it. Of course, since it's just tent fabric, it's easy enough to lightly wash.\n\nSo there you have it - an absurdly light, thin and practical wallet whose only drawback is that it doesn't look like you spent several hundred dollars on it... because it only cost $12.\n\nI hope you found this helpful! Feel free to ask questions in the comments","Product: Wool peacoat with oxford trim and inner zipper bib.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice style, but weird fit\n\nReview: In looking for a peacoat, I really liked the style of this coat. It's classy and warm. The zipper part was a bit weird, since you have to both zip up and button the jacket. But the bib around the neck (while not the true \"pea coat\" style) definitely makes it warmer! It does have epaulets and nautical themed buttons, though, so it could be considered over-the-top if you just want a plain peacoat.\n\nHowever, the fit just wasn't that great. I'm 6'2\" and 160lbs, tall and lanky, and the medium coat was the right length size for my arms (it was also a bit long in the armpits, which made lifting my arms difficult).... but I would have to put on another 30 pounds for the torso section to fit. Which makes me really sad, because I know that any smaller size won't fit my long arms.","Product: The Tacwise Heavy Duty Combi Cable Tacker/Staple Gun is truly versatile and one of a kind. It fires two different sizes of cable staple in 3/16 inch and 1/4 inch in diameter without the need for adjustment. The all metal construction makes the Combi Cable Tacker/Staple Gun a robust, heavy duty professional tool. It is ideal for the installation of telephone and alarm cables with the CT45 staple. With the CT60 staple (T18 type), it is perfect for installing coaxial, satellite, CAT5 & CAT6 cables and other low voltage cabling applications. No need for adjustment when changing staples, just load the required type and size and you are ready to go. This unique cable tacker is loaded with all of the necessary features including pull out handle lock, impact power adjuster, bottom loading magazine and full length cable guide. Tacwise is a new brand of rugged tools and accessories for the professional tradesman. The professional, Tacwise brand has evolved from 40 years of power tool know-how to best reflect the powerful and durable nature of the new products -which are high quality, feature packed and hard wearing with a robust and practical design.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A product comparison - and recommendations\n\nReview: Working on large home improvement projects, we found ourselves needing a way to cleanly attach cables to the walls - without crushing them.\n\n===Comparison===\n\nFor the sake of discovering the best product, we purchased this and the Arrow T50 (a stapler that many professionals recommended): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002ND61/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00002ND61&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=M24YJD74SF2GHR2A\n\nIn summary: we found that the Tacwise is easier to use and jams less than the T50. While the T50 may have once been the best on the market, it seems that their production quality has decreased significantly.\n\n===Recommendations===\n\nIf you've decided to go ahead and purchase the Tacwise, you'll need to pick out which staples are right for your job.\n\nIf you'll be stapling large wires like ethernet or coax, you'll want their 9/16: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NNPXHY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000NNPXHY&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=N3PAG5TEQA2NRFLV\n\nThe 9/16 staples fit our cat5 ethernet cable perfectly - it squeezed the cables just enough to allow you to have some tension (so that it doesn't sag between staples) but not enough to damage the cable or degrade performance.\n\nIf you're smart about it, the 9/16 staples also provide enough space to run two sets of speaker wires beneath one staple - which worked perfectly for our rear speakers.\n\nI hope you found this helpful!","Product: Compatible to: iP8720, MG6320, MG7120, MG7520\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Product comparison - significantly better value available\n\nReview: Like you, I'm skeptical of third party inks.\n\nBecause this ink is so expensive, I gave a third part ink package a shot - 20 ink packs for only $20 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CUTZTDW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CUTZTDW&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=PPJS6QDR2NRA63QP\n\nAfter hundreds of prints on both inks, all I can say is that the third party ink is an incredibly good deal. There was a small hiccup when I first installed this ink, but after a nozzle cleaning, everything has been working perfectly.\n\nWhich simply astounds me, because, when you do the math....the 3rd party ink 20 pack costs half as much as this Canon 4 pack...which means you get 10x more ink for the same price. For that big of a price difference, I would be willing to put up with a lower print quality...but, so far, I haven't even seen that.\n\nUnless you're doing gallery-quality, cost-no-object printing, I've come to find that the above third party ink is just so much cheaper that it makes sense. Why spend as much on ink as you did the printer?\n\nHope you found this helpful!","Product: rOtring 600 Mechanical Pencil, 0.5 mm, Silver (1852321). An iconic tool meant for a lifetime of use. The full-metal body provides ideal weight balance for fatigue-free writing and drawing. Brass mechanism allows precision lead advancement. Lead hardness grade indicator provides rapid identification when working. Hexagonal shape avoids sliding on drawing tables. Design, pattern and size of metallic grip zone enable working for long hours without slipping. The fixed lead guidance sleeve prevents breakage and gives you a clear page view for precise ruler-based drawing. Limited warranty: guaranteed for 2 years from original purchase date against defects in materials or workmanship.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The best I've found\n\nReview: I've been on a search for the perfect pencil, the one that I'll take with me to my grave. I think I've found it.\n\nI'm comparing this to another crowd favorite, the Uni Kuru Toga: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OHNTVC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004OHNTVC&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=4PEAIPJT3XWNZ54Y\n\nThe Kuru\n- a third the price ($10 vs $30)\n- if the rOtring is a tank, this is a Lexus. Not as sturdy / solid-feeling / well balanced...but a bit more comfortable (still wish it had a rubber grip)\n- unfortunately, looks a lot more like an ordinary pencil - not going to impress other people, if that's what you're going for\n- eraser is more difficult to access than the rOtring (the cap is awkward and the eraser small)\n\nThe rOtring\n- the sturdiest pencil I've ever used, made from solid metal\n- perfectly balanced\n- I trust this pencil. I'm not scared of it breaking.\n- hex shape = no more rolling pencils!\n- very intimidating, professional and unique appearance\n- unfortunately, not as comfortable as the Kuru\n\nBoth have their distinct qualities and advantages, so it really does come down to what you want in a pencil. Either way, both are of excellent quality and you will not be disappointed! But, if you're looking for the cost-no-object perfect pencil, I highly recommend the rOtring 600.\n\nI hope you found this helpful. Please feel free to ask question,\n\nTodd","Product: Unmask and defeat your enemies, keep up with the Indians and challenge your fate to bring your team to the victory! Fast and exciting game play - Based on the BANG! Game System. A very successful game line, with fans all over the world! You do not need BANG! to play.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Bang! Card Game vs Dice Game Comparison\n\nReview: As a huge fan of the Bang! card game, I recently purchased and started playing the dice game, so I thought I'd shed some light on the differences. Both games are amazing and a lot of fun, but one or the other might be better-suited for your gaming needs:\n\nThe Card Game: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RU7UNW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001RU7UNW&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=PTMQ4AT3CH2SJ5TF\n\n- harder to learn. I've had a lot of friends be confused / borderline frustrated learning their first game of Bang\n- longer games = more investment, more replayability. Prepare to budget up to an hour for a game.\n- more options & slower turns = more strategy. If you like games that you have to think about, the card game is better for this.\n- hidden hands / cards = more intrigue, harder to guess people's roles because you can't tell what their options are. If you like the hidden identity aspect, you'll probably prefer the card game.\n\nThe Dice Game\n\n- easier to learn, BY FAR. There aren't a hundred different cards to explain, there's just six possible dice rolls.\n- shorter games = great for parties, not great for regular gamers. You don't have to ask people to commit to a full hour, dice games generally only take 15 minutes or so. Because of that, don't expect to play this dozens of times with the same friends, it's just not as replayable.\n- fewer options & faster turns = easier to keep people's attention. Again, great for parties.\n- public dice roles = less intrigue, since people's strategies are pretty obvious. There's also a bigger chance component thanks to the dice rolls, so there's more excitement in the moment (and more shared excitement, since everyone is watching the rolling).\n\nIn conclusion, if you're looking for a game to dive into with the same group of thoughtful friends, you're better off with the card game. The dice game is better for parties where people don't want to learn new complicated rules, and families with younger children w/shorter attention spans.\n\nI hope you found this helpful!","Product: In Evolution, players create and adapt their own species in a dynamic ecosystem with hungry predators and limited resources. Traits like Hard Shell and Horns will protect you from carnivores, while a Long Neck will help you get food that others can't reach. With over 4,000 different species to create, every game becomes a different adventure. So gather your friends and family around the table and see who will best adapt their species to eat, multiply, and thrive.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very innovative game with educational backing\n\nReview: As a board game enthusiast, I've tried a lot of games - but I've never seen something quite like this.\n\nEach player is capable of creating and controlling multiple species, and player's actions have very direct consequences towards other players. It feels like all of the player-on-player fighting of Risk, combined with the thoughtful building strategies of Dominion.\n\nRisk Legacy: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1605842621/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1605842621&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=HSFFZ4HRYBGKABYZ\n\nDominion: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JQY6K4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001JQY6K4&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=7GKPYIOJHYHFN7E5\n\nWhile it's not great for big parties - there are lots of small pieces, and the game does require a lot of focus - it's a great game for a small, dedicated group of gamers.\n\nI can also imagine this as being great for families teaching their kids about evolution (probably for ~8th grade and up).\n\nThe play mechanisms are unique and interesting, but still easy to learn.\n\nWhile games generally have lasted around 45 minutes to an hour, the game does also provide rules to help you play faster games if needed. Though, if anything, I wish the games could go on for a bit longer - very rarely have I felt so invested in what I've built for a board game, and it's almost frustrating to have it go away so quickly.\n\nIf you're looking for a game that lasts longer / a whole night (with the same feeling of investment), check out Risk Legacy mentioned above. If you're looking for a game that's a bit more party-friendly, check out Dominion (mentioned above) or Bang! The Dice Game: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DH8D0HC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DH8D0HC&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=VG5S5UADY23I3T7R\n\nI hope you found this helpful!","Product: This 2-pack of 3 cell 2700mAh 35C lipos are the same size as a typical 2200mAh lipo but will provide you with nearly 25% more flight time! It includes an XT60 connector and is the perfect size, shape and weight for the DJI Phantom quadcopter.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A good deal - kind of\n\nReview: I've bought two of these packs now, and flown on the batteries about half a dozen times.\n\nThey are the cheapest LiPo option around, and they do work with quadcopters like the DJI Phantom (the one I own and love ) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AGOSQI8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AGOSQI8&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=Y4UKIDZWCGXSAGLG\n\nHOWEVER, even after only half a dozen flights, they seem to already be losing their ability to hold a charge - and several have expanded visibly.\n\nWhile I desperately want to love these (talk about DJI's batteries being overpriced), I must caution you to stay away. Not because they exploded (yet), but because they simply aren't proving to be as good a value as they seem - if they're beginning to fail so quickly, I expect I'll be needing to buy another set of batteries soon.\n\nSo much for saving money!"],"string":"[\n \"Product: TASCAM's incredible DR-40 lets you take true 4-track recording on the go! This impressively affordable 4-track recorder gives you all of the tools you need to capture audio anywhere in any environment. Want to record live music? Plug the main feed from the board right into the DR-40 and use the built-in microphones to capture the room. Want to record audio for video? Just plug your shotgun microphone into an input and enable phantom power. Dual mode recording, automatic level adjustment, and a built-in limiter all ensure that your recordings will come out sounding great. And the TASCAM DR-40 includes great practice and studio-style recording tools, such as a built-in tuner and reverb, making it an amazing songwriting tool too.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Between this and the DR-100 MKII, not everything is black and white\\n\\nReview: I was divided between this and the DR-100 MKII, so I bought both and played around with them.\\n\\nI ended up returning this one, but the decision wasn't black and white. To help you make your decision without all of the hassle of returning one, here are the pro's for each model:\\n\\nDR-40:\\n- $100 cheaper!\\n- a bit smaller\\n- can record four channels at once (aka you can record from the built-in mics, and the XLR mics at the same time). The DR-100 MKII cannot do this, which was rather disappointing\\n- you can adjust the angle of the built-in mics, letting you capture narrower or wider soundscapes\\n\\nDR-100 MKII:\\n- Sturdier (made of metal, built-in mics aren't as exposed)\\n- Volume adjustment wheel, which gives much smoother control, and doesn't make really loud clicking noises every time you adjust the volume (the DR-40 only has buttons)\\n- Comes with a rechargeable battery, and also takes AA's, which means you can live swap batteries while the device is still on and recording!\\n- And, at least for me, I preferred that more of the controls were physical buttons instead of being nested inside of menus. Makes it easier to operate while focusing on other things, like recording.\\n\\nOverall, their sound quality was so similar that it really didn't factor into the decision.\\n\\nHope that helps!\",\n \"Product: The rugged TASCAM DR-100mkII offers high-end recording features to musicians and engineers who demand more from their portable recorder. It features four built-in microphones, two cardioid and two omnidirectional, for great sounding recordings. A pair of XLR microphone inputs with phantom power welcomes pro-grade condenser microphones, and line in and out connectors are also provided. The markII version adds balanced line ins, S/PDIF digital inputs, locking connectors and more.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Between this and the DR-40, not everything is black and white,\\n\\nReview: I was divided between this and the DR-40, so I bought both and played around with them.\\n\\nI ended up buying this one, but the decision wasn't black and white. To help you make your decision without all of the hassle of returning one, here are the pro's for each model:\\n\\nDR-100 MKII:\\n- Sturdier (made of metal, built-in mics aren't as exposed)\\n- Volume adjustment wheel, which gives much smoother control, and doesn't make really loud clicking noises every time you adjust the volume (the DR-40 only has buttons)\\n- Comes with a rechargeable battery, and also takes AA's, which means you can live swap batteries while the device is still on and recording!\\n- And, at least for me, I preferred that more of the controls were physical buttons instead of being nested inside of menus. Makes it easier to operate while focusing on other things, like recording.\\n\\nDR-40:\\n- $100 cheaper!\\n- a bit smaller\\n- can record four channels at once (aka you can record from the built-in mics, and the XLR mics at the same time). The DR-100 MKII cannot do this, which was rather disappointing\\n- you can adjust the angle of the built-in mics, letting you capture narrower or wider soundscapes\\n\\nOverall, their sound quality was so similar that it really didn't factor into the decision.\\n\\nHope that helps!\",\n \"Product: DeluxeFoam offers specially made foam to withstand elements like harsh, direct lighting, the physical contact of manual handling, and of course, sound waves. Unlike other brands, our soundproofing foam will never crumble or harden, so the only cleaning required is the occasional vacuuming of dust. You can trust that our foam will remain soft and in sound acoustical condition for years to come. All our soundproofing foam is cut and angled with nearly 100 percent accuracy, leaving you with clean, squared edges. Unlike other companies that manufacture irregular, jagged or mismatched edges, our foam can be aligned perfectly with the next piece to provide professional uniformity in your installation. Flammability Test Results: Class A, 25 Flame Spread Index, 250 Smoke Spread Index\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Turned green after 4 months\\n\\nReview: First off, if you're like me and this is your first time buying soundproofing foam, calm your expectations. It does nothing to quiet or block the sound - it just prevents sound from bouncing off that spot of wall. So, don't expect to be able to muffle out your loud roommate with this.\\n\\nSecondly, and perhaps more importantly, the foam turned GREEN after four months in my apartment. It's environmentally controlled, so there hasn't been an excess of humidity beyond what's normal for living quarters or anything. The blue panels just turned green - and now they look disgusting.\\n\\nSo, unless you want to rebuy every 4 months, I'd stay away from the blue. The black seems to be doing fine, though.\",\n \"Product: The Zyliss Lock N Lift Can Opener is ergonomically designed for comfort and maximum efficiency. Opener locks onto can for easy pouring. Magnet with release lever lifts lid and releases it for safe and easy disposal. Hands never touch the lid!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An upgrade for your can opener - but is it worth it?\\n\\nReview: A few years back, I bought the cheapest can opener I could find, the $6 Amco - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CDEFK0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001CDEFK0&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=VMSEGYBOMNGAFDLN\\n\\nAbout a year later, it broke. The can grippers simply stopped doing their job. Rather than throwing $6 away every year at a frustrating can-opening experience, I thought I'd give a more premium model a try.\\n\\nAt $15, this opener will need to last about 2.5 years to mathematically be worth it - and one year in, it's still going strong! Besides the singular question of durability, I've also found this opener to be more comfortable to use. The only downside is the size - so if you're really tight on kitchen drawer space, it might not be worth the trouble.\\n\\nThe other difference is in all of the \\\"features\\\" this has. Locking handles. Magnetic opener. Marketing, marketing, marketing. I've maybe used them once or twice - so I wouldn't base your decision based on those.\\n\\nIn summary: if you don't want to deal with replacing your can opener every year, and have enough space in your drawers for a more ergonomic opener, this Zyliss is worth the buy!\",\n \"Product: Bake delicious treats like cookies that can slide right off the tray with the GoodCook Nonstick Cookie Sheet! Made with heavy duty nonstick coating, this cookie sheet is sure to satisfy both your kitchen cleaning and your taste buds. And the durable tray ensures that you can continue to use our GoodCook Non-stick set, knowing that they will look brand new each and every time.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Exactly what we needed\\n\\nReview: After using the cheapest baking pans we could find, the biggest issue we had was things overflowing the edges and spilling into the oven.\\n\\nThese trays solve that quite well, with a small lip along the entire perimeter.\\n\\nThe pans are also coated in a nice, non stick surface, though I still recommend covering them in aluminum foil to save yourself a lot of cleaning effort later.\\n\\nFinally, the trays also stack. This is a huge space saving feature, and enables us to keep 3 trays in the space of one (really handy for the tight space under the oven).\\n\\nOverall, I'm very pleased with our upgrade to these trays and would definitely buy them again. I'll keep this review updated in case anything changes!\",\n \"Product: Thirstystone Coasters are the leader in drink coaster innovation. The naturally absorbent sandstone material, combined with the cork backing, will add an additional layer of protection your furnishings, and provide a stylish accent piece to your home or business. Thirstystone coasters are a long lasting and environmentally friendly product. Sold as a set of 4, these 4 inch coasters are very stylish, useful, and affordable. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the benefits of Thirstystone!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Unique, beautiful and practical\\n\\nReview: After one too many coasters sticking to the bottom of my glass, I did some research on how to eliminate glass-stickiness (apparently caused by moisture-driven suction), and came across these.\\n\\nAfter several months of usage, I've yet to have a single glass-sticking episode! They dry out quickly - you can practically watch the moisture rings disappear.\\n\\nBut, that's not the only great thing about these coasters. They also look /amazing/. I've been complimented on them several times.\\n\\nAs far as durability goes, they all arrived in perfect condition, and have yet to crack or chip (as some other reviewers have experienced).\\n\\nIf I was being really picky, the cork bottoms aren't quite as grippy as I'd like.\\n\\nAll in all, 5 stars. I'll definitely be buying these again when I need more coasters!\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful,\\n\\nTodd\",\n \"Product: Gibson's Green Soho Lounge Dinnerware Set features classic stoneware dinnerware. The set has an green exterior with an ivory interior and is made from ceramic material. Durable thick dinnerware is difficult to scratch or break. 16-piece stoneware set includes four place settings each of 12.75-inch dinner plate, 9-inch dessert plate, 6.25-inch bowl and 12 ounce mug (plates and bowls measured diagonally). Bold designs for the bold at heart. Traditional finishing techniques produce differences in color, size and texture, ensuring no two pieces are exactly alike. Set is dishwasher and microwave safe for easy clean.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent product overall - but not perfect\\n\\nReview: When I needed to purchase more plates and bowls, I was sad to discover that my favorite set was not available: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NNUFF0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004NNUFF0&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20\\n\\nSo, I thought I'd try these - with their attractive blue and black finish and interesting shape.\\n\\nPros:\\n- They are beautiful. I get complimented on them frequently.\\n- They work perfectly as a dinnerware set - none of them have broken or chipped yet.\\n\\nCons: (all minor nitpicks)\\n- Because the plates aren't square, it makes stacking them with non-square plates quite awkward.\\n- Being perfectly round, it is precarious to stack the bowls higher than two or three high.\\n- Both plate sizes are a little smaller than my previous set. We haven't had an issue with it yet, but, if size matters for you, keep an eye out for that.\",\n \"Product: This is considered the standard lens for use with Canon SLR cameras.What's in the box: Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens, E-52 52mm Snap-On Lens Cap, Lens Dust Cap E (Rear) and 1-Year Warranty.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A comparison of medium Canon primes - which should you buy?\\n\\nReview: Canon makes several excellent medium primes in the same price range - so you're likely asking yourself \\\"Which one should I buy?\\\"\\n\\nI'll be comparing:\\n- The 'Nifty 50' f/1.8 ($100) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007E7JU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00007E7JU&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=RG6J3EUMWNVA23RK\\n- The 50mm f/1.4 ($350) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009XVCZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00009XVCZ&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=BUALHTKV6Q6H4YFO\\n- The 40mm f/2.8 ($150-200) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00894YP00/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00894YP00&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=OCPQQUFQMF2DGCJV\\n\\nSo which one should you buy?\\n\\nPros of the 50mm f/1.8\\n- CHEAP. This is literally the best $100 lens available, so if you only have a $100, or money is tight, get this.\\n\\nPros of the 50mm f/1.4\\n- The most professional of the three - the focus ring has the smoothest performance, and includes a focus distance indicator\\n- The widest aperture of the three - great for low light and portraiture\\n\\nPros of the 40mm\\n- TINY. By far the smallest Canon full frame lens (though it does weigh the same as the 50mm f/1.8 due to the metal construction)\\n- Also inexpensive. You can generally buy this new for $150 (often it's $200 with a $50 rebate).\\n- 40mm is, in my opinion, a better focal length. It's closer to the natural perspective of the eye, and works better for walk-around / travel photos. As one famous photographer put it, \\\"50mm is too narrow for walk-around shooting, but too wider for serious portraiture\\\"\\n\\nCons of the 50mm f/1.8\\n- The construction quality isn't that great (all plastic)\\n- Lacks focus distance indicators on the lens body\\n\\nCons of the 50mm f/1.4\\n- The most expensive and largest of the three\\n\\nCons of the 40mm\\n- f/2.8 is noticeably slower than even the cheapest 50mm's f/1.8\\n- the focus is...wonky. There's no way to full manual focus it (twisting the ring triggers the motors, which means you already have to be trying to focus / have the motors on to be able to use it), and the auto focus wasn't very impressive either.\\n\\nFinally, let's talk about lens performance. I use DXOMark's lens comparison tool, because it provides a very powerful and numerical way to compare many lens characteristic such as sharpness and distortion (just make sure that you set all the lenses to the same camera body when comparing). Surprisingly....all three of these lenses have almost identical performance. Seriously, scores of 26, 25, and 24 - close enough that you should focus on the functionality that you need, and not their sharpness.\\n\\nIn summary, each of these lenses has a different combination of values and specialties, so let's do a quick run down. You should buy:\\n- The Canon 40mm f/2.8, if you need a highly compact, slightly wider lens for traveling, if you don't use manual focus - and an extra stop of aperture for low light shooting won't be the end of you.\\n- The $100 Canon 50mm f/1.8, if you need a cheap lens that still takes good pictures\\n- The $350 Canon 50mm f/1.4, if money isn't quite much of an issue and you have a use for the slightly wider aperture (ie portraiture or low light)\",\n \"Product: Directional Condenser Shotgun Microphone\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great mic, horrible mount\\n\\nReview: This is the first pro mic I've used, and I have no qualms with the sound quality (I'll update this when I have a chance to try out a few other mics)\\n\\nMy only problem, which may or may not be an issue for you, is that the mic stand it comes with is pretty much impossible to attach. It took myself and a friend 15 minutes and several pairs of pliers to insert the microphone. And then, of course, since it's a solid physical connection, every little bump to the stand gets amplified into the microphone.\\n\\nOverall, if you're going to spend ~$300 on this mic, I highly recommend that you get a $30 shock mount (like this one: <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/B00615M2CC/dp/B00615M2CC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">B00615M2CC</a> - much easier to install, and eliminates bumping noises!\",\n \"Product: The Belkin 8-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector protects your electronic devices from surges and spikes. This 3550-Joule surge protector provides eight surge-protected outlets with sliding safety covers to supply complete, 3-line AC protection for your workstations, printers, broadband modems, home theater systems, and everyday household electronics. The surge protector features a slender, sleek design with a right angle plug and a detachable cord-management clip to help keep cables organized.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best surge protector for when you need /a lot/ of outlets - a comparison\\n\\nReview: We have a lot of different surge protectors in our apartment. We've found that different protectors work well for different situations.\\n\\nThis one is perfect for the home theater or office area, where you can hide it under / behind furniture and just need a huge amount of outlets. The six outlets going off to the side work really well for the big, bulky, annoying power bricks, and it seems to be just the right ratio of big-to-small outlets.\\n\\nFor tighter places where you need fewer outlets (ie kitchen or bathroom), we've found this Belkin with a rotating plug to work well: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JV3CKA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000JV3CKA&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=F5S4LSNEG23YC522\\n\\nThough it has half the outlets, it's slim profile and rotatable plug enables to squeeze into tight, awkward places.\\n\\nFinally, for a living-room type area where people are mainly charging their phones and laptops, we've found this cool 2x USB adapter + 3x outlet adapter to be quite handy: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088TAZ2S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0088TAZ2S&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=SPVICMFRI5DMCJGI\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful in your quest for the perfect surge protector! Feel free to ask any questions in the comments\",\n \"Product: Designed to uplift. Made of a single sturdy piece of aluminum, mStand transforms your laptop into a stylish workstation with its elegant curves and silver-anodized finish. The single piece design solidly holds a laptop while the aluminum panel acts a heat sink to keep the laptop cool. A cable hole in the back of the stand routes wires to reduce clutter. Ergonomics Long-term use of a laptop as the main computing device can strain the body as the user hunches down to see the screen and type. mStand raises the screen 5.9 inches (150 mm) to meet the user's eye level, thus promoting better posture, while its tilt design brings the screen closer for easier viewing. With an external keyboard andmouse, mStand creates an ideal ergonomic desktop setup for laptop users. Compatible with all sizes of Apple MacBook, MacBook Pro. Also fits most 14\\\" standard PC and 15\\\" widescreen PC with depths not more than 10.4 inches.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nicely built, but cable management is a joke\\n\\nReview: As you can tell from the pictures, the stand looks amazing - really does look and feel like something made by Apple.\\n\\nThat being said, one of the points of having a laptop stand is to also have a more permanent and nice way of managing laptop cables. Although this stand has a hole in the back that you can stick cables through, it's kind of a joke. Did nobody user test this thing? Because the hole is several inches above the desk surface, cables don't lie flat... and because there's no built in cable management clamp, you're either forced to deal with cables that're constantly sliding away, or mar the beauty of the stand with some lame DIY cable clamp.\\n\\nIf Rain Design really wants to have the best designed stand, I'd suggest: 1) lowering the cable hole so that it's flush with the desk surface and 2) integrating some sort of clamp, twist or curve to pin cables down.\",\n \"Product: The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens is the first mid-telephoto macro lens to include Canon's sophisticated Image Stabilization. With the highest quality optics available, combined with near-silent Ultrasonic focusing and life-size close-up capabilities without an adapter, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is simply unrivaled. The Hybrid Image Stabilization Technology effectively compensates for both angular and shift camera shake during close-up shooting. The lens was developed to expand users' photographing range and allow a wider range of users to easily enjoy macro photography. Suitable for Nature/concert/potrait and close up/product photography\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Product comparison - Canon macro lenses\\n\\nReview: I recently started doing product photography, and have been on the hunt for the macro lens with the best performance-per-buck. After doing extensive research looking for the perfect macro lens, I boiled it down to two lenses - this, and the non-L version: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004XOM3/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00004XOM3&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=RDR4DQCD5BA6QBQK\\n\\nLet's talk about the differences - both of these lenses are amazing, so it comes down to what's most important to you.\\n\\nThe non-L lens is fantastic. I had previously been using a $100 Sigma \\\"macro\\\" lens: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ALLMI8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000ALLMI8&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=IDRD7EREYJNRT3C5\\n\\nAfter switching, my product photography went from aggressively mediocre to top-tier. This lens enables you to get extremely close to your subject, perfect for product photography. It is very sharp, and the wide aperture gives you a tremendous range of depth of field.\\n\\nFor $550, the non-L version is an excellent lens to buy.\\n\\nBut there's another option. The \\\"L\\\" version of this lens, for $900 after rebates (this lens).\\n\\nThis lens is UNBELIEVABLY sharp. It is the sharpest lens I've ever tried, so sharp that my Canon 6D's 20MP sensor can't render all of the detail from the lens. If you're looking for the best macro lens that you can buy, one that you won't kind of regret in a few years when you get a 50MP camera, you cannot go wrong with the L version.\\n\\nSo there you have it. If money is an issue but you still want great photos, get this lens. If you want to make an investment in the best macro lens on the market, get the L version. It's not always the case with the L version, but in this case the L version is definitely worth the money if you can afford it.\\n\\nHope you found this helpful,\\n\\nTodd\",\n \"Product: Designed for home entertainment and AV enthusiasts, the PowerLite Home Cinema 8350 delivers outstanding big screen entertainment at an affordable price. This native resolution 1080p 3LCD projector features improved contrast ratio of up to 50,000:1 and increased brightness of up to 2,000 lumens for amazing colors and image quality in dark or lighted rooms. Watch big screen movies, sports and live TV, and play video games or sing karaoke\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Having owned this projector for 3 years now\\n\\nReview: It's nice - really nice. Is it worth the money? Maybe not. I've purchased a few other projectors recently (for other rooms), and have found two other projectors that, if I had to do it again, I'd buy instead:\\n\\nThe $1,000 Epson 8345 - http://amzn.to/1nSkN7k\\n\\nFor $300 cheaper (at time of writing), there are almost no perceivable differences. Sure, this one's a little brighter...but, unless you really need that, I'd recommend using your savings to buy a nice projector screen (see the appendix below).\\n\\nThe $460 Optoma - http://amzn.to/1jVhl3E\\n\\nWAY cheaper. Surprisingly, movies and TV still look quite good on it. It's actually brighter than either Epson projector, though the picture is more washed out. It's true that it's not a native 1080p projector, but the sharpness difference wasn't uncomfortable (especially when streaming, which is generally a bit fuzzy anyway). Basically, if there are other awesome things you could spend your $800 savings on, I recommend this one.\\n\\nHope you found this helpful!\\n\\nAPPENDIX:\\n\\nI HIGHLY recommend this projector screen to get the most out of your projector. Also, it's automated, with remotes, so it immediately doubles the wow factor of your projector :) - http://amzn.to/1ofN6KB\\n\\nHere is the 8350's replacement bulb, which you'll need to buy every 1-2 years depending on your usage: http://amzn.to/1ofNb0V\\n\\nNote that if you do end up buying the 8350, the power cord is quite short (~4 feet), which, given that projectors are usually mounted in odd places, has never really worked out well. Plan on buying an extension cable - I've been using one of these: http://amzn.to/ThRjC0\",\n \"Product: The Apple keyboard with numeric keypad features an elegant, ultrathin anodized aluminum enclosure with low-profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid, beautiful keyboard, not quite plug-and-play on Windows\\n\\nReview: I purchased this for my new Windows gaming rig (yes, I chose this over purpose-built gaming keyboards - I love how compact this keyboard is, which gives me plenty of desk space to work on homework, fit my G13 Gamepad and mouse, etc).\\n\\nOverall, I love this keyboard. Sturdy, trustworthy, well-designed, compact. My only qualm is that it takes a lot of effort to make the function keys work like they are supposed to with Windows. I had to install KeyTweak (free software) to remap F10-12 to control volume. And, even then, Windows doesn't seem to have any built-in screen brightness controls, so I still can't use F1 and F2 to control brightness (though I suppose that's more a gripe about Windows than this keyboard)\\n\\nIn the end, if you're willing to put in that little bit of extra effort to get it to work well with Windows, you'll be rewarded with a keyboard that'll basically last you forever (I've had mine for two years now), and whose design is appropriate in any situation (unlike a gaming keyboard).\",\n \"Product: A superb new tool in optical lens cleaning technology. Perfect for cleaning camera lenses, binocular lenses, small aperture spotting scopes and telescopes, eyepieces, and other optical items. Comes with a handy retractable dust removal brush and a special non-liquid cleaning element, designed to never dry out. Safe and very easy to use.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not the best option to clean your lens\\n\\nReview: For many years, I used the Lens Pen cleaning system, from various brands and suppliers.\\n\\nI recently read some very informed opinions about proper lens cleaning - photographers with 30+ years experience recommending lens wipes instead of a reusable pen.\\n\\nWhy? Although these pens claim to be reusable, their testing found that dirt and oils stuck to the pen across cleanings - which means, after the first use, these pens are more effective at scratching your glass than cleaning it.\\n\\nWilling to try anything once, I gave their opinion a shot, and purchase the Zeiss 200-count lens wipes ($14) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030E4UIQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0030E4UIQ&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=L2URM5RGWP2FBFZP\\n\\nAfter using a single wipe to clean my lens, which I had just cleaned with my lens pen....All I can say is that I've thrown my lens pen away. My glass had started to look worn and damaged - but it turns out that that was entirely due to the lens pen failing to clean it. One lens wipe later, and my glass looks brand new.\\n\\nAlthough it feels inefficient to switch away from a \\\"reusable\\\" product to a single use one, consider: Given that these wipes only cost 7 cents per wipe, and your lens costs several hundred to several thousand dollars... it's well worth the minuscule investment to clean them properly!\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful! Feel free to ask questions in the comments below\",\n \"Product: The brand new RF-603 is a remote shutter release as well as a multi-functional radio flash trigger which can synchronously trigger flashes and studio strobes. Through the transceiver based system each item can be used flexibly as trigger or receiver. Only 2 AAA batteries are required as power source for each item.\\n\\nThe 2.4GHz wireless frequency is suitable in most countries and guarantees high speed, distance and stability. Within capacious areas, the remote control distance may reach to 100m. The synchronization speed can reach to 1/320, depending on the situation it may reach to 1/250 or less.\\n\\nA set consist of 2 equal transceivers. Both of them can be a receiver as well as transmitter. It can trigger 1 flash with one set, since one serves as trigger and one as receiver. You can also buy additional transceivers to trigger 2 or more flashes at the same time. Includes (2) RF-603 transeivers (1) C3 shutter release cord\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A cheap price for so much possibility!\\n\\nReview: Taking your flash off camera is one of the biggest steps you can take to making your photos more artistic and beautiful...and these little adapters are the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way I've found to do it!\\n\\nSimple put in batteries, slot them in and turn them on, and your pictures will dramatically improve in quality!\\n\\nI highly recommend pairing these with the Yongnuo YN 560 III's - besides being great deals for such powerful flashes, I also discovered that the 560 III's have built in wireless receivers, so you don't have to buy more of these as you add more flashes!\\n\\nHere's the YN 560 III: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BXA7N6A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BXA7N6A&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20\\n\\nPros:\\n- cheap\\n- effective\\n- paired with the YN 560 flashes, you don't even need to add them to your flashes, you just need one for your camera!\\n\\nCons:\\n- Well, there might be something about not supporting automatic metering...but, given the price of the adapters that do support it, I think that shooting full manual isn't nearly the hassle it's made out to be! (Especially after reading several reviews about how automatic metering becomes significantly less reliable once the flashes are positioned off-camera)\",\n \"Product: The Optima W316 will help you present with confidence and ease. With a powerful 3400 lumen bright image and superb 15,000:1 contrast ratio, the Optima W316 delivers widescreen presentations with rich, vibrant colors and sharp, easy to read text, graphics and video. Packed with an impressive array of connectivity options, a 1.1x zoom ratio projection lens for placement flexibility and up to 10,000 hour lamp life, the Optima W316 is ideal for use in classrooms, meeting rooms and training rooms. Featuring Full 3D compatibility, Rapid Shutdown, Quick Resume, Direct power On, Auto power Off, logo capture and much more, the Optima W316 will satisfy your most demanding application needs.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cutting to the chase - a product comparison\\n\\nReview: In trying to find a good projector for ~$400 for our work area, we did a lot of research. In the end, we couldn't decide between this and the ViewSonic PJD5533W ($430 at writing - http://amzn.to/1PphQCZ, so we purchased both.\\n\\nWhile both were pleasantly usable for the price (even though we'd been spoiled by a much more expensive home theater projector), we found the other projector to be worth the price - while this projector is only capable of 800x600, the other one is capable of 1200x800 - almost exactly twice as many pixels.\\n\\nOf course, it's also about a hundred dollars more, so what it really boils down to is your use case. For movies where you're sitting farther back from the projector, resolution makes less of a difference. We found movies to be quite watchable, even at the lower resolution.\\n\\nIf your use case is business-focused, where you might be sitting closer to the screen in a meeting room, projecting text and diagrams, the higher resolution projector is a good investment.\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful, and feel free to ask questions in the comments!\\n\\n--Appendix--\\n\\nYou might also want to consider getting a projector screen to maximize the image quality and brightness - I've had a wonderful experience with this FAVI 100 inch screen - plus, it's automated with a remote for maximum WOW factor! http://amzn.to/22XktWP\",\n \"Product: The Optoma HD141X all-digital home entertainment projector is ideal for watching movies, TV shows, Sports and action-packed video games on screens up to 300\\\" diagonal. HD141X delivers high performance cinematic quality, HD 1080p video and produces a stunning 3000 lumens bright image with a remarkable 23,000:1 contrast ratio. Amaze your friends with fantastic image detail and superior color reproduction. Packed with advanced features, the Optoma HD141X will take your home entertainment to the next level: 2x HDMI ports, MHL compatibility, VESA 3D Sync port with full 3D compatibility for seamless integration with your favorite Blu-ray 3D player, Xbox, PS3, PS4 and other gaming consoles. It also has a powerful10-Watt audio, Dynamic black for enhanced black levels, 12V jack for motorized screen automation, back-lit remote, up to 6500 hours of lamp life and whisper quiet fan for maximum viewing enjoyment.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cutting to the chase - a product comparison\\n\\nReview: All their useless marketing aside (\\\"colors 3x brighter with Epson!\\\"), you just want to know one thing: is this the best projector for my money? Having tried a number of projectors, here's a rundown of your best options: (all prices at time of writing)\\n\\n$593: This, the Optoma HD141X. The best deal I've found for a quality 1080p projector. If you're using it as a computer monitor, or to play video games, or anything else where small details are important, you'll want 1080p.\\n\\n$450: The ViewSonic PJD5555W WXGA. Slightly fewer \\\"lumens\\\" in the specs, but in practice couldn't tell the difference. Image quality was on par with the more expensive HD141X - the only drawback is the lower resolution (1366x768 vs 1920x1080) - however, we found that we could barely tell the difference when watching movies from 7 or more feet away. If you're just watching movies, and don't plan on having your nose touching the projector screen (seriously, 7 feet is pretty close), there are better things that you can do with that money .... like buy a nice projector screen (see below) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RPJON8E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00RPJON8E&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=DWQVJOKQOY27LISG\\n\\n$400: The Epson VS330 XGA. Very similar to the above ViewSonic but a slightly lower resolution (1024x768 vs 1366x768). It's designed for 4:3 instead of 16:9, so if you're looking for a business projector, this is a better choice for you - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GMGDFPI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GMGDFPI&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=K6KSJ6G6IWDURDFM\\n\\nThere you have it - a quick rundown of your best options. I hope you found this helpful!\\n\\n--Addendum---\\n\\nIf you want to get the most out of your projector experience, I highly recommend getting a good projector screen. I've found that getting a $200 projector screen (vs projecting on a wall) generally leads to a better result than spending that $200 on a nicer projector (once you have at least a $400 projector). I've had a wonderful experience with this FAVI 100 inch screen - plus, it's automated with a remote for maximum WOW factor! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017S37IG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0017S37IG&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20\",\n \"Product: Digital HDMI sources deliver sharper, clearer image quality, the Optima W311 provides 2x HDMI ports to display them. With a powerful 3200 lumens and a remarkable 20,000:1 contrast ratio the Optima W311 delivers bright, large, widescreen WXGA resolution presentations with incredible image clarity and vibrant, accurate colors. Displaying even the most subtle details in your presentations. Perfect for use in medium sized conference rooms, training rooms, classrooms, and houses of worship. The Optima W311 includes an extensive list of advanced features, including 2x HDMI v1.4a ports with full 3D compatibility, 1080p HD compatibility, USB type-A with 5V DC 1A power, USB mini-B for remote mouse convenience, 1.2x zoom lens, built-in 2W speaker, audio-out jack, RS-232 connectivity, ultra-long lamp life, whisper quiet fan and much more.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Cutting to the chase - a product comparison\\n\\nReview: All their useless marketing aside (\\\"colors 3x brighter with Epson!\\\"), you just want to know one thing: is this the best projector for my money? Having tried a number of projectors in this price range, here's a rundown of your best options: (all prices at time of writing)\\n\\n$350: ViewSonic PJD5134. It's a bit brighter than the Epson VS330, but that'll almost never matter - either is bright enough for daily use. This sacrifices some of the Epson's image quality for a lot of mostly unnecessary features like 120Hz refresh rate and 3D support (why would you watch a 3D BluRay on a low-res projector?). I recommend the Epson over this. http://amzn.to/1mgNKLp\\n\\n$400: Epson VS330. All around good for the price, and bright enough for lit rooms. The only thing it's weak on is resolution - it handles movies and PowerPoints pretty well, but if you plan on detailed diagrams or smaller text, you'd probably be better off with the two below, which have a few more pixels (1280x800 pixels vs 1024x768 pixels): http://amzn.to/1mOTID9\\n\\n~$430: This, the Optoma W311. My favorite projector for under $500, it's a bit brighter than the Epson VS330, but WAY sharper. It's basically the difference between SD and HD TV. Highly recommend.\\n\\n~$420: ViewSonic PJD5533W. Similar to this Optoma, but not quite as sharp. The prices of the two projectors has varied by up to $100 in the past, so I'd recommend just going for whichever is cheaper: http://amzn.to/1mgNOe7\\n\\nThere you have it - a quick rundown of your best options. Hope you found this helpful!\",\n \"Product: The Intova EDGE X Waterproof HD Video Camera is a rugged, durable, and waterproof point-of-view video and still-photo camera for capturing high-quality videos and photos underwater or in any environment. The EDGE X's 160-degree wide-angle lens captures 1080p HD video up to 60 frames per second. The design allows the maximum view angle without the major distortion found in other wide-angle, point-of-view cameras. Intova's patented unibody design builds the electronics directly into the polycarbonate-injected and UV protected housing allowing the camera to be waterproof to 330 feet. The glass lens port has a proprietary UV treatment that increases scratch resistance and reduces reflection. Features include Motion Detection Mode which prompts video to start recording automatically when motion is detected; Time Lapse for recording video clips with adjustable intervals between clips to produce high-quality time lapse effects; Burst Mode which fires between 3, 5, 10, 20 or 30 photos in rapid succession; Picture in Video for taking a still picture while recording video; a built in LCD screen, and more. The Intova EDGE X Waterproof HD Video Camera's built in WiFi allows users to operate and see what is on the viewfinder remotely using an iOS or Android tablet or phone & also to enable wireless file transfer using the free Intova EDGE X app. Includes lithium-ion battery, micro USB cable for charging battery and downloading files, float strap, anti-glare hood, quick start guide; 1-year warranty.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An unexpected action camera competitor - a product comparison\\n\\nReview: Full disclosure: I was given an EDGE X for free in exchange for an honest review.\\n\\nAs an avid GoPro user (I've previously owned the 3 Silver, 3+ Black and 4 Black), I was very curious to see how Intova's product would compare to the industry leader. I'll be comparing this to the just-announced Hero+ LCD, which also costs $299. Though I haven't personally used the Hero+ LCD, I'll be combining my personal GoPro experiences with a comparison of their rated specifications.\\n\\nFirst, let's talk about GoPros.\\n\\nPros:\\n[+] 1080p at 60fps is great for action. The more expensive GoPros can also shoot 4K - I rarely ever use the 4K footage directly (it's big and slow to work with), but when downsampled to 1080p, it becomes incredibly sharp and crisp. That being said, the only GoPro capable of shooting usable 4K is the 4 Black, which costs $500 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NIYNUF2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NIYNUF2&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=3Y43OJB7YICASC5U\\n[+] Standardization - because they're the market leader, there are LOTS of accessories available - and lots of products integrate with them (such as my DJI Phantom drone - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AGOSQI8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AGOSQI8&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=LY3PRXOHQO6TN5GF\\n[+] LCD for framing shots\\n[.] Wifi controllable from a phone app (which, is really only a half plus, because a lot of the times that you'll be using an /action/ camera, you won't want to have your smartphone on you, ie underwater)\\n\\nCons:\\n[-] Max filming frame rate is 60fps. I expect them to make this available via a firmware update in the future, but don't count on it.\\n[-] Annoyingly short battery life. Better hope your adventure only lasts an hour!\\n[-] While the extreme wide angle is great for capturing action, it also looks quite amateurish. It's possible to correct for some of it in GoPro Studios, but at a loss of quality around the edges.\\n\\nSo, how does the Intova compare to the GoPro Hero+ LCD?\\n\\n[=] It has the same great 1080p, 60fps footage.\\n[-] It lacks the standardized support of the market leader\\n[=] It has an LCD for framing shots\\n[=] It also has wifi support\\n[+] More footage options - if you want to capture slow motion, you can set it to 720p/120fps, or even 480p/240fps. The image quality definitely drops when you do so (because it forces the shutter speed to be faster), but it's great to have that options available.\\n[+] It has better battery life, closer to two hours. Still not /great/, but an improvement!\\n[+] While also wide angle, the distortion is less noticeable.\\n\\nIn summary, the main differences are the improved image quality (from reduced fisheye) and better battery, at the cost of being less standardized.\\n\\nIf you just need a good camera, and are able to find Intova-offered accessories to fit all of your shooting needs, then I would actually recommend the Intova over the GoPro. The better image quality and battery life are quite nice.\\n\\nIf you expect to use your camera in a place where standardization is important - on drones with GoPro mounts, film sets, or places where there will be other GoPros in usage, I would recommend sticking with a GoPro camera for simplicity's sake.\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful!\",\n \"Product: The ViewSonic LightStream PJD5555w price-performance projector features 3200 lumens, native WXGA 1280x800 resolution, and intuitive, user-friendly design. Exclusive SuperColorTM technology offers a wider color range for true-to-life image projection, while sound enhancement technology delivers improved sound quality. The PJD5555w also features extensive connectivity including HDMI, 2 x VGA, Composite Video, S-Video, 1 x VGA output and Audio in/out. An energy-saving DynamicEco feature reduces power consumption by up to 70%, and extends the lamp life by up to 10,000 hours. With advanced audiovisual features, flexible connectivity options, and an affordable price, the PJD5555w is ideal for use in education and small business environments.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: In trying to find a good projector for ~$400 for our office\\n\\nReview: In trying to find a good projector for ~$400 for our office, we did a lot of research. In the end, we couldn't decide between this and the ViewSonic PJD5533W - $430 at writing - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00511ITEM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00511ITEM&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=6CFHOT62HY2C5LOJ , so we purchased both. If you'll notice, the 5533 is an earlier version of this model, which is certainly a statement about the quality / value of ViewSonic projectors that they were both of our top 2 projectors.\\n\\nAfter trying them both extensively, we came to the conclusion that they are nearly identical - and that the older model is a better value. Even if the marketing claims this has better image quality (which it doesn't seem to? they both claim the same contrast ratio), we couldn't tell a difference with our eyes. The newer version is a bit brighter (3,200 lumens vs 2,800 lumens) but we found both worked equally well, even for a well-lit office.\\n\\nIf you're looking for a fantastic projector for $430, we highly recommend the 5533. If you're really concerned about brightness (or plan on projecting it on a very large screen, 100\\\" or more) this projector is also a good choice.\\n\\nOk, fine, this projector also looks slightly \\\"sexier\\\" than the 5533, so if you're trying to impress business clients, that's worth taking into account. On the other hand, this one is slightly larger and heavier, so if you're traveling a lot, or dealing with tight spaces, that's also worth considering.\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful, and feel free to ask questions in the comments!\\n\\n--Appendix--\\n\\nIf you're on a tight budget and saving an extra $70 would make a big difference, you might also consider the Optoma X312. It has a slightly lower resolution, but we found the image quality and brightness to be comparable - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T98WI40/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00T98WI40&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=63IHMRM2G5RQRDT2\\n\\nYou might also want to consider getting a projector screen to maximize the image quality and brightness - I've had a wonderful experience with this FAVI 100 inch screen - plus, it's automated with a remote for maximum WOW factor! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017S37IG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0017S37IG&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20\",\n \"Product: Ultralight slim skinny wallet for hiking, bicycling, camping, skiing, or nights on the town. Weighs less than a US Quarter. Saves 75% of the space in your pocket, bag, or purse!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The perfect ultralight wallet - pros and cons\\n\\nReview: I've owned both versions of this wallet (v1 and v2). Many of the concerns other reviewers have had (mainly the cards falling out) have been solved in version 2, which is what you're buying here.\\n\\nTo put it in perspective, this wallet weighs as much empty...as a single sheet of paper.\\n\\nAt present count, I have 5 bills and 10 cards in my wallet, and it's barely thicker than my phone. If you have tiny pockets - or just don't like having a bunch of huge things in your pocket - this wallet is for you.\\n\\nIt's also incredibly durable. I've had my current version for over a year, and there's absolutely no signs of damage (even if there was, they're only $12!)\\n\\nWhich leads me to the only con - some people might not like the appearance. It's sleek and modern, but it lacks the \\\"executive\\\" feel people usually look for in leather wallets. Depending on the color you get, dirt can also be fairly visible on it. Of course, since it's just tent fabric, it's easy enough to lightly wash.\\n\\nSo there you have it - an absurdly light, thin and practical wallet whose only drawback is that it doesn't look like you spent several hundred dollars on it... because it only cost $12.\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful! Feel free to ask questions in the comments\",\n \"Product: Wool peacoat with oxford trim and inner zipper bib.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice style, but weird fit\\n\\nReview: In looking for a peacoat, I really liked the style of this coat. It's classy and warm. The zipper part was a bit weird, since you have to both zip up and button the jacket. But the bib around the neck (while not the true \\\"pea coat\\\" style) definitely makes it warmer! It does have epaulets and nautical themed buttons, though, so it could be considered over-the-top if you just want a plain peacoat.\\n\\nHowever, the fit just wasn't that great. I'm 6'2\\\" and 160lbs, tall and lanky, and the medium coat was the right length size for my arms (it was also a bit long in the armpits, which made lifting my arms difficult).... but I would have to put on another 30 pounds for the torso section to fit. Which makes me really sad, because I know that any smaller size won't fit my long arms.\",\n \"Product: The Tacwise Heavy Duty Combi Cable Tacker/Staple Gun is truly versatile and one of a kind. It fires two different sizes of cable staple in 3/16 inch and 1/4 inch in diameter without the need for adjustment. The all metal construction makes the Combi Cable Tacker/Staple Gun a robust, heavy duty professional tool. It is ideal for the installation of telephone and alarm cables with the CT45 staple. With the CT60 staple (T18 type), it is perfect for installing coaxial, satellite, CAT5 & CAT6 cables and other low voltage cabling applications. No need for adjustment when changing staples, just load the required type and size and you are ready to go. This unique cable tacker is loaded with all of the necessary features including pull out handle lock, impact power adjuster, bottom loading magazine and full length cable guide. Tacwise is a new brand of rugged tools and accessories for the professional tradesman. The professional, Tacwise brand has evolved from 40 years of power tool know-how to best reflect the powerful and durable nature of the new products -which are high quality, feature packed and hard wearing with a robust and practical design.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A product comparison - and recommendations\\n\\nReview: Working on large home improvement projects, we found ourselves needing a way to cleanly attach cables to the walls - without crushing them.\\n\\n===Comparison===\\n\\nFor the sake of discovering the best product, we purchased this and the Arrow T50 (a stapler that many professionals recommended): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002ND61/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00002ND61&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=M24YJD74SF2GHR2A\\n\\nIn summary: we found that the Tacwise is easier to use and jams less than the T50. While the T50 may have once been the best on the market, it seems that their production quality has decreased significantly.\\n\\n===Recommendations===\\n\\nIf you've decided to go ahead and purchase the Tacwise, you'll need to pick out which staples are right for your job.\\n\\nIf you'll be stapling large wires like ethernet or coax, you'll want their 9/16: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NNPXHY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000NNPXHY&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=N3PAG5TEQA2NRFLV\\n\\nThe 9/16 staples fit our cat5 ethernet cable perfectly - it squeezed the cables just enough to allow you to have some tension (so that it doesn't sag between staples) but not enough to damage the cable or degrade performance.\\n\\nIf you're smart about it, the 9/16 staples also provide enough space to run two sets of speaker wires beneath one staple - which worked perfectly for our rear speakers.\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful!\",\n \"Product: Compatible to: iP8720, MG6320, MG7120, MG7520\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Product comparison - significantly better value available\\n\\nReview: Like you, I'm skeptical of third party inks.\\n\\nBecause this ink is so expensive, I gave a third part ink package a shot - 20 ink packs for only $20 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CUTZTDW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CUTZTDW&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=PPJS6QDR2NRA63QP\\n\\nAfter hundreds of prints on both inks, all I can say is that the third party ink is an incredibly good deal. There was a small hiccup when I first installed this ink, but after a nozzle cleaning, everything has been working perfectly.\\n\\nWhich simply astounds me, because, when you do the math....the 3rd party ink 20 pack costs half as much as this Canon 4 pack...which means you get 10x more ink for the same price. For that big of a price difference, I would be willing to put up with a lower print quality...but, so far, I haven't even seen that.\\n\\nUnless you're doing gallery-quality, cost-no-object printing, I've come to find that the above third party ink is just so much cheaper that it makes sense. Why spend as much on ink as you did the printer?\\n\\nHope you found this helpful!\",\n \"Product: rOtring 600 Mechanical Pencil, 0.5 mm, Silver (1852321). An iconic tool meant for a lifetime of use. The full-metal body provides ideal weight balance for fatigue-free writing and drawing. Brass mechanism allows precision lead advancement. Lead hardness grade indicator provides rapid identification when working. Hexagonal shape avoids sliding on drawing tables. Design, pattern and size of metallic grip zone enable working for long hours without slipping. The fixed lead guidance sleeve prevents breakage and gives you a clear page view for precise ruler-based drawing. Limited warranty: guaranteed for 2 years from original purchase date against defects in materials or workmanship.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The best I've found\\n\\nReview: I've been on a search for the perfect pencil, the one that I'll take with me to my grave. I think I've found it.\\n\\nI'm comparing this to another crowd favorite, the Uni Kuru Toga: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OHNTVC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004OHNTVC&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=4PEAIPJT3XWNZ54Y\\n\\nThe Kuru\\n- a third the price ($10 vs $30)\\n- if the rOtring is a tank, this is a Lexus. Not as sturdy / solid-feeling / well balanced...but a bit more comfortable (still wish it had a rubber grip)\\n- unfortunately, looks a lot more like an ordinary pencil - not going to impress other people, if that's what you're going for\\n- eraser is more difficult to access than the rOtring (the cap is awkward and the eraser small)\\n\\nThe rOtring\\n- the sturdiest pencil I've ever used, made from solid metal\\n- perfectly balanced\\n- I trust this pencil. I'm not scared of it breaking.\\n- hex shape = no more rolling pencils!\\n- very intimidating, professional and unique appearance\\n- unfortunately, not as comfortable as the Kuru\\n\\nBoth have their distinct qualities and advantages, so it really does come down to what you want in a pencil. Either way, both are of excellent quality and you will not be disappointed! But, if you're looking for the cost-no-object perfect pencil, I highly recommend the rOtring 600.\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful. Please feel free to ask question,\\n\\nTodd\",\n \"Product: Unmask and defeat your enemies, keep up with the Indians and challenge your fate to bring your team to the victory! Fast and exciting game play - Based on the BANG! Game System. A very successful game line, with fans all over the world! You do not need BANG! to play.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Bang! Card Game vs Dice Game Comparison\\n\\nReview: As a huge fan of the Bang! card game, I recently purchased and started playing the dice game, so I thought I'd shed some light on the differences. Both games are amazing and a lot of fun, but one or the other might be better-suited for your gaming needs:\\n\\nThe Card Game: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RU7UNW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001RU7UNW&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=PTMQ4AT3CH2SJ5TF\\n\\n- harder to learn. I've had a lot of friends be confused / borderline frustrated learning their first game of Bang\\n- longer games = more investment, more replayability. Prepare to budget up to an hour for a game.\\n- more options & slower turns = more strategy. If you like games that you have to think about, the card game is better for this.\\n- hidden hands / cards = more intrigue, harder to guess people's roles because you can't tell what their options are. If you like the hidden identity aspect, you'll probably prefer the card game.\\n\\nThe Dice Game\\n\\n- easier to learn, BY FAR. There aren't a hundred different cards to explain, there's just six possible dice rolls.\\n- shorter games = great for parties, not great for regular gamers. You don't have to ask people to commit to a full hour, dice games generally only take 15 minutes or so. Because of that, don't expect to play this dozens of times with the same friends, it's just not as replayable.\\n- fewer options & faster turns = easier to keep people's attention. Again, great for parties.\\n- public dice roles = less intrigue, since people's strategies are pretty obvious. There's also a bigger chance component thanks to the dice rolls, so there's more excitement in the moment (and more shared excitement, since everyone is watching the rolling).\\n\\nIn conclusion, if you're looking for a game to dive into with the same group of thoughtful friends, you're better off with the card game. The dice game is better for parties where people don't want to learn new complicated rules, and families with younger children w/shorter attention spans.\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful!\",\n \"Product: In Evolution, players create and adapt their own species in a dynamic ecosystem with hungry predators and limited resources. Traits like Hard Shell and Horns will protect you from carnivores, while a Long Neck will help you get food that others can't reach. With over 4,000 different species to create, every game becomes a different adventure. So gather your friends and family around the table and see who will best adapt their species to eat, multiply, and thrive.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very innovative game with educational backing\\n\\nReview: As a board game enthusiast, I've tried a lot of games - but I've never seen something quite like this.\\n\\nEach player is capable of creating and controlling multiple species, and player's actions have very direct consequences towards other players. It feels like all of the player-on-player fighting of Risk, combined with the thoughtful building strategies of Dominion.\\n\\nRisk Legacy: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1605842621/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1605842621&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=HSFFZ4HRYBGKABYZ\\n\\nDominion: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JQY6K4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001JQY6K4&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=7GKPYIOJHYHFN7E5\\n\\nWhile it's not great for big parties - there are lots of small pieces, and the game does require a lot of focus - it's a great game for a small, dedicated group of gamers.\\n\\nI can also imagine this as being great for families teaching their kids about evolution (probably for ~8th grade and up).\\n\\nThe play mechanisms are unique and interesting, but still easy to learn.\\n\\nWhile games generally have lasted around 45 minutes to an hour, the game does also provide rules to help you play faster games if needed. Though, if anything, I wish the games could go on for a bit longer - very rarely have I felt so invested in what I've built for a board game, and it's almost frustrating to have it go away so quickly.\\n\\nIf you're looking for a game that lasts longer / a whole night (with the same feeling of investment), check out Risk Legacy mentioned above. If you're looking for a game that's a bit more party-friendly, check out Dominion (mentioned above) or Bang! The Dice Game: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DH8D0HC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DH8D0HC&linkCode=as2&tag=allofthetech-20&linkId=VG5S5UADY23I3T7R\\n\\nI hope you found this helpful!\",\n \"Product: This 2-pack of 3 cell 2700mAh 35C lipos are the same size as a typical 2200mAh lipo but will provide you with nearly 25% more flight time! It includes an XT60 connector and is the perfect size, shape and weight for the DJI Phantom quadcopter.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A good deal - kind of\\n\\nReview: I've bought two of these packs now, and flown on the batteries about half a dozen times.\\n\\nThey are the cheapest LiPo option around, and they do work with quadcopters like the DJI Phantom (the one I own and love ) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AGOSQI8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AGOSQI8&linkCode=as2&tag=todmedblo-20&linkId=Y4UKIDZWCGXSAGLG\\n\\nHOWEVER, even after only half a dozen flights, they seem to already be losing their ability to hold a charge - and several have expanded visibly.\\n\\nWhile I desperately want to love these (talk about DJI's batteries being overpriced), I must caution you to stay away. Not because they exploded (yet), but because they simply aren't proving to be as good a value as they seem - if they're beginning to fail so quickly, I expect I'll be needing to buy another set of batteries soon.\\n\\nSo much for saving money!\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":29,"string":"29"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":91,"string":"91"}}},{"rowIdx":92,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2GJX2KCUSR0EI"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Vintage paperback\". The summary of the review text is \"another enjoyable adventure for Garrett and crew\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This book is a little less of an adventure and a little more of a detective story than the first book in this series. As such, I think the detective story is pretty good. Glen Cook has dreamed up quite a few suspects, all with realistic motives. I could not predict the eventual culprit, and there were a few things even Garrett (the POV character) didn't figure out (or guess) on his own. It ended up being pretty complicated, but I thought the resolution of the mystery was done well. All the pieces fit together in the end, and the motive turns out to be pretty universal. And nothing felt \"out of the blue.\" The seeds were planted early on, so the eventual conclusion made sense.\n\nRegarding the characters: the Dead Man returns (this is complicated, and best explained by reading book 1 in the series as it would take up too much space here) as an adviser, only now he's situated under Garrett's roof. He occupies his days using insects to replay battles in a distant war but occasionally exerts his powers to defend the other occupants of the house. Garrett now has a cook/butler named Dean who is excellent at his job but who behaves, perhaps, with a little too much familiarity. Dean and the Dead Man are good for occasional comic relief. Morley Dotes and Saucerhead Tharpe provide backup, much as they did last time. We learn a bit more about Saucerhead in this book, but not a lot. There are also a few characters -- mostly women -- who show up for this book but who are pretty neatly tied to this particular story and who will probably not be around for future cases (Amiranda Crest, Amber daPena, Stormwarden Raver Styx, Willa Dount, Donni Pell). There are quite a few characters, but they're either easy to tell apart, or else they're hired muscle and their individual identities don't matter so much. No one is particularly well-developed except for Garrett, but that's not so unusual for a first-person POV hardboiled detective novel.\n\nWith respect to Garrett, he's basically the same as before. He has something of a sexist streak, but he's also protective of women. He's decent in a fight, and likes to keep his last few tricks close. As with the past book, he receives some spells from a witch and he uses them at convenient times. It does kind of read like Cook didn't plan this out too well, because Garrett doesn't tell us what the tricks are until he uses them. So it smacks a little bit of deus ex machina -- the perfect spell is ready just when Garrett needs it (even though he has no magical ability of his own). Minor spoiler follows, but I'll try to be really generic so as not to really give anything away. There's an opportunity for Garrett to make a choice at one point during the book. None of the options look good, and then someone intervenes with a third option that lets the \"good guys\" off the hook and means Garrett doesn't have to get his hands dirty. While this is a bit too convenient, I do like the implication that Garrett associates so much with the underside of society in his city that sometimes the obvious answer doesn't occur to him, especially in times of crisis. So Garrett is developed a little more in this book.\n\nThe entire story takes place in the city of TunFaire and the surrounding countryside. We didn't see a ton of the city in the previous book because of Garrett's travels, but only a few specific locations are referenced here -- mostly business establishments. It's never described in a lot of detail, but we get clues as to the level of technology (people ride around in carriages, for example, and travel long distances on ships) and we picture it as a standard sort of fantasy setting. We get a sense that there's a governing/ruling structure, but Garrett doesn't run in those circles, so we get only passing clues about how the city is run. The setting is really not the focus of the story, though -- the mystery is.\n\nThe writing style is pretty classic Glen Cook. I like that it's not heavy on the unnecessary detail (we might hear a word here or there about something Garrett eats, but there are no long descriptions of feasts or women's clothes or the weather). The pace is quick and the action scenes are well-spaced out. There's some degree of telling as opposed to showing, but this fits with the story -- Garrett is a detective and he has to interview witnesses. (I do like it that when Garrett passes information on to the Dead Man, we're just told that Garrett filled him in. We don't have to read the same stuff a second time.) For the most part, the prose is terse.\n\nI don't feel like there's much of a series arc unless something is going to happen in the war that's been going on for ages. This element is present in this volume only in the Dead Man's games with insects and a few comments about the prices of silver and gold (since silver is a focus of the war). Right now, these books are still episodic continuing adventures for me -- though that could change as I get further into the series.\n\nOverall, I enjoyed reading this, though I felt there were a few moments where events were too-conveniently resolved for Garrett (see above). I'm eager to start on the next volume! 3.5 stars."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"This book is a little less of an adventure and a little more of a detective story than the first book in this series. As such, I think the detective story is pretty good. Glen Cook has dreamed up quite a few suspects, all with realistic motives. I could not predict the eventual culprit, and there were a few things even Garrett (the POV character) didn't figure out (or guess) on his own. It ended up being pretty complicated, but I thought the resolution of the mystery was done well. All the pieces fit together in the end, and the motive turns out to be pretty universal. And nothing felt \"out of the blue.\" The seeds were planted early on, so the eventual conclusion made sense.\n\nRegarding the characters: the Dead Man returns (this is complicated, and best explained by reading book 1 in the series as it would take up too much space here) as an adviser, only now he's situated under Garrett's roof. He occupies his days using insects to replay battles in a distant war but occasionally exerts his powers to defend the other occupants of the house. Garrett now has a cook/butler named Dean who is excellent at his job but who behaves, perhaps, with a little too much familiarity. Dean and the Dead Man are good for occasional comic relief. Morley Dotes and Saucerhead Tharpe provide backup, much as they did last time. We learn a bit more about Saucerhead in this book, but not a lot. There are also a few characters -- mostly women -- who show up for this book but who are pretty neatly tied to this particular story and who will probably not be around for future cases (Amiranda Crest, Amber daPena, Stormwarden Raver Styx, Willa Dount, Donni Pell). There are quite a few characters, but they're either easy to tell apart, or else they're hired muscle and their individual identities don't matter so much. No one is particularly well-developed except for Garrett, but that's not so unusual for a first-person POV hardboiled detective novel.\n\nWith respect to Garrett, he's basically the same as before. He has something of a sexist streak, but he's also protective of women. He's decent in a fight, and likes to keep his last few tricks close. As with the past book, he receives some spells from a witch and he uses them at convenient times. It does kind of read like Cook didn't plan this out too well, because Garrett doesn't tell us what the tricks are until he uses them. So it smacks a little bit of deus ex machina -- the perfect spell is ready just when Garrett needs it (even though he has no magical ability of his own). Minor spoiler follows, but I'll try to be really generic so as not to really give anything away. There's an opportunity for Garrett to make a choice at one point during the book. None of the options look good, and then someone intervenes with a third option that lets the \"good guys\" off the hook and means Garrett doesn't have to get his hands dirty. While this is a bit too convenient, I do like the implication that Garrett associates so much with the underside of society in his city that sometimes the obvious answer doesn't occur to him, especially in times of crisis. So Garrett is developed a little more in this book.\n\nThe entire story takes place in the city of TunFaire and the surrounding countryside. We didn't see a ton of the city in the previous book because of Garrett's travels, but only a few specific locations are referenced here -- mostly business establishments. It's never described in a lot of detail, but we get clues as to the level of technology (people ride around in carriages, for example, and travel long distances on ships) and we picture it as a standard sort of fantasy setting. We get a sense that there's a governing/ruling structure, but Garrett doesn't run in those circles, so we get only passing clues about how the city is run. The setting is really not the focus of the story, though -- the mystery is.\n\nThe writing style is pretty classic Glen Cook. I like that it's not heavy on the unnecessary detail (we might hear a word here or there about something Garrett eats, but there are no long descriptions of feasts or women's clothes or the weather). The pace is quick and the action scenes are well-spaced out. There's some degree of telling as opposed to showing, but this fits with the story -- Garrett is a detective and he has to interview witnesses. (I do like it that when Garrett passes information on to the Dead Man, we're just told that Garrett filled him in. We don't have to read the same stuff a second time.) For the most part, the prose is terse.\n\nI don't feel like there's much of a series arc unless something is going to happen in the war that's been going on for ages. This element is present in this volume only in the Dead Man's games with insects and a few comments about the prices of silver and gold (since silver is a focus of the war). Right now, these books are still episodic continuing adventures for me -- though that could change as I get further into the series.\n\nOverall, I enjoyed reading this, though I felt there were a few moments where events were too-conveniently resolved for Garrett (see above). I'm eager to start on the next volume! 3.5 stars."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Foil liners for grease catch pan. The inside dimensions of the pan are 7 inch by 5 inch by 1 inch. The outside of the dimensions are 8 inch by 6 inch by 1 inch. The drip pans fit Weber Q grills, Spirit gas grills, Genesis gas grills, Genesis II / Genesis II LX 200 and 300 series gas grills.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: good for cooking veggies that don't skewer well (like cauliflower)\n\nReview: I actually use these in a charcoal grill. I am a vegetarian and I cook a lot of vegetables on skewers; I usually come up with combinations by referring to a vegetarian grilling cookbook.\n\nBut, sometimes I question the advice of the cookbook -- for example, it is really difficult to skewer cauliflower without it falling apart. So, when I've gone to all the bother of marinating cauliflower (along with some potatoes and carrots that DO skewer perfectly well), I don't want to leave that out of my meal. Enter these pans. I put all the cauliflower pieces and smaller bits of things like onion in here, and they cook quite well while my skewers are going with the other vegetables.\n\nThese are basically not clean-able without a LOT of elbow grease. I tend to trash them after one use (too much crud stuck to them to be suitable for recycling). But, they've already saved a few meals for me so I am definitely going to keep a package of them on hand.","Product: Replacement natural lava rocks. Poly bagged.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: great for supporting epiphytes (like certain orchids)\n\nReview: I am not using these for grilling. I wanted them as a substrate for a Vanda orchid. You are not supposed to bury Vanda roots, but rather leave them exposed to air. You put them in slat baskets and the roots grow around the slats, I just wanted something below the plant to keep it up at the top of the slat basket instead of buried inside, and I'd read that lava rocks worked pretty well for this purpose.\n\nThese are porous, as you'd expect, and thus weigh less than solid rocks of the same size. i like this because the pores capture a bit of water when I spray the plant in the afternoon and then slowly release it to increase the amount of moisture in the air around the plant's roots.\n\nThe color is basically just what you see in the official product image. These are not particularly bright or colorful. (If you are using them for grilling, I guess that doesn't matter.) There was a little dust in the package, but not much. There weren't any tiny broken pieces on the bottom of the bag, either. These were large, whole rocks, ranging in size from about the size of one golf ball to about the size of two golf balls put together (the shapes are rather irregular, though).\n\nThere are enough of these in the bag for me to support at least two plants this way. I am not sure how many Vandas I will end up with, but if it is more than two and I need to reorder to have enough rocks, I would definitely buy this same item again.","Product: Jiffy 50 Plant (42 mm) greenhouse\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: one of the easiest ways to start seeds indoors\n\nReview: I have fond childhood memories of watching my grandfather care for seedlings in his basement prior to planting his garden for the year. He started most of his garden from seed, and he did it in little peat pellets like this. Perhaps because of those memories, when I decided to attempt to grow plants on my back porch this year (sadly, I don't have a yard), I thought I would start them from seed in these pellets, as well.\n\nThese are very easy to use -- just add water to the trays and watch them expand. It took less than 15 minutes, although I left the room for a bit, so I couldn't give you a precise time. It did take quite a lot of water, although I wasn't measuring (might have been a gallon or more per tray). These are somewhat heavy once they're hydrated, so put the trays where you want them before you add the water. The plastic trays will hold the water if sitting on a flat surface, but they are kind of flimsy to carry.\n\nThen all you do is pull apart the netting on top and put the seeds in; whether you put the seeds on the surface or slightly below the surface will depend on the seeds (should have information on the seed packets about this).\n\nI planted a variety of vegetable and herb seeds in these. I haven't seen any mold or gnats. Nearly everything sprouted within a week (I soaked the seeds in water overnight first). I've had to remove the plastic tops because some of my sprouts are tall enough already to reach the plastic tops. I have not had to water these yet (you are supposed to wait until they are a lighter brown color -- they're quite dark when fully hydrated) although I suspect that will come soon, now that the clear plastic tops are off.\n\nWhen I transplant the seedlings to pots, I'll rip the netting on the bottom to make sure the roots can get through. What I like about transplanting these is that you can just set the whole peat pot into your potting soil, no need to try to remove it or dig the plant out of a plastic container.\n\nAt any rate, I am very happy with this purchase and would definitely buy these again.\n\nEdit 3/5/14: I still haven't had to water these, even with the tops off -- they hang onto water very well. My seedlings are looking great, so these must be providing suitable levels of nutrients.","Product: Add the proper utensils to your new grill with Weber utensils. A good barbecue tongs and spatula are necessary for grilling. Unique front end soft touch handle offers comfortable, non-slip grip. Tong handle locks for compact storage. Spatula angled neck reaches over edge of grill, keeping your hands and arms away from heat. Compact 14-inch length is perfect for camping, picnic and urban dwellers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: do the job I needed, well made, and easy to clean\n\nReview: I got these to go with a new grill (one of the Weber 22 inch round charcoal grills) I bought. I do not have much experience with grill tools since I have been a vegetarian for 23 years. But, with a new grill that has never cooked meat and a vegetarian grilling book, I figured some grill tools were in order. (I got this set instead of the 3-piece set since I didn't see much need for a meat fork...)\n\nThese are quite nice and sturdy. The black handle parts are heat resistant and the overall handle length is good for reaching even to the middle of the grill (though I generally cook vegetables, etc., on skewers). Because these are rather long, I have been hand-washing them since my dishwasher is on the small side and awkwardly arranged anyway. But, they should do well in the dishwasher as long as you make sure they are fully dry before you put them away. At any rate, they are pretty easy to clean, even when you have been playing around with fatty marinades including yogurt sauce, etc.\n\nYou can lock the handle of the tongs if you so desire. I think the spatula is neat. In addition to being longer than a standard kitchen spatula, it's really well-suited for cooking on a grill -- the bend in the handle makes it much more convenient to flip larger, flatter items (in my case, veggie burgers...), whereas with a standard spatula angle, you might be pushing the patty all over the grill. So that was really thought out well, and is useful for vegetarians as well.\n\nAnyway, these do the job I needed them to and appear to be high quality and well made, plus they're easy to clean. So I am happy with my purchase.","Product: A large selection of garden vegetables. Grow your own beans, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, okra, onions, peas, peppers, radishes, squash, zucchini, tomatoes and watermelon. Plenty to feed your family and varieties to meet everyones taste. Substitutions may be made for varieties that are out of stock\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: most germinated quickly, but uneven amounts of some seeds\n\nReview: Every year, I try to grow plants on my back patio. (I live in a condo and don't have a yard.) Most of the time I fail (last year, some aggressive Canada geese ate all my pepper and tomato plants, and a caterpillar ate 75% of my basil), but that doesn't stop me from trying. So I decided to give it another go this year and purchased this variety pack of vegetable seeds.\n\nI think the vegetables you get are listed on the product page and/or in the picture. My seed packets did not look like the ones in the picture, although all of them but one said \"Ferry-Morse\" on the packet. My packet of peas had a different label.\n\nI soaked the seeds overnight and planted them in either peat pellets (most things) or seed-starter mix (radishes and lettuce). I know this is not necessarily the recommended practice for some of these types of seeds, but since I can't sow anything directly into the soil because of the no yard thing, I figured I would at least see if these things will germinate inside. Stuff that doesn't die on me can go in pots outside in another month or two. I'm not expecting a huge amount of production based on the growing conditions I'm able to offer. However, I'll update this review over the course of the growing season.\n\nAfter one week, everything except the bell peppers has germinated. The larger seeds, especially the peas and beans, have impressive shoots already. The okra started germinating just from the overnight soaking.\n\nMy biggest complaint is that the amounts of seeds you get are uneven. The package of peas was filled to bursting. But there were only a few tomato seeds, by comparison (and tomato seeds are small, anyway).","Product: Weber 6678 Large Original Grill Basket; New; Free Shipping\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: perfect for my needs\n\nReview: I recently got a Weber charcoal grill. I am a vegetarian so I also bought a vegetarian grilling cookbook. A \"vegetable grill basket\" was referred to in many of the recipes. So I ordered this.\n\nI am quite happy with this. It does not take up the full amount of space on my grill but it is big enough to cook food for two people. If you were so inclined, you could use this on one side of a grill (say the 22 inch diameter ones) and put something else like veggie burgers on the other side.\n\nIt is sturdy metal. I cut the vegetables quite large so I didn't have much trouble with stirring, but if smaller pieces are your preference, it is possible to bend up the sides to make them higher (it will not be easy, but it *is* possible). It is shiny metal when you first get it but after about one use, it is pretty stained. It gets a finish rather like a seasoned wok. Which is honestly pretty much what was done since I cooked over an open flame with oils (marinated tofu and vegetables). It was small enough to fit in my kitchen sink for scrubbing.\n\nAnyway, I know this is going to get a lot of use. It is so much more convenient than skewers (which I also have) because you don't have to take all the time to skewer things, for one, and secondly it can be used for things that don't skewer well, like cauliflower. This is exactly what I needed and I am happy with the purchase.","Product: Grows Plants Twice as Big Feeds up to 6 months. More blooms for more color. Grow Plants in container gardens. Miracle-Gro Potting Mix helps consumers beautify their world with potted flowers- Indoor and out.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: good soil for potted vegetable plants\n\nReview: I am trying to grow vegetables and herbs on my back porch this year. I have used Miracle Gro potting soil in the past with good results, but I was feeling too lazy to drive to the home improvement store to buy it, so I ordered on Amazon.\n\nThe quality of the soil I received was excellent. There were very few large pieces and no gnats. It was easy to scoop out with a pot or a trowel and it holds moisture very well (so make sure your pots have adequate drainage and don't water your plants too often). The seedlings I transplanted into this soil are thriving thus far. My past experience with this soil has been that the fertilizers it already contains are good enough for one growing season, at least, so you don't need to add more fertilizer. Also, if you don't use it all up, it will usually last more than a year in the bag, although opened bags may dry out a bit.\n\nI would caution you to be careful what you're ordering when it comes to package size, since there are many package sizes with many different measurement units available on this page. I had no idea what the sizes of the bags I had bought in previous years were, so I ordered what I thought was the biggest bag (2.5 cubic feet). Indeed, that is a big bag -- it had a 55-lb shipping weight per bag! And now I have three of them. The good news is that this stuff is inexpensive, lasts a long time, and I've already used half a bag and have lots of planting left to go. But if you don't have a lot of storage space, you may want to opt for a smaller size.","Product: This 8-inch square slatted cedar wood basket makes a great planter for most orchids with or without potting medium. It's hand crafted for quality and strength with a classic shape. This attractive natural wood basket has commonly been called a Vanda basket, as it works particularly well with the Vanda type orchid. It can be used for a variety of other plants such as ferns and bromeliads as it provides excellent drainage. Coconut fiber and sphagnum moss make a good liner for use with plants potted in potting soil. Mesh onion/vegetable sacks also work great. Galvanized wire eyelets allow you to hang this basket inside or outside the home. Measures 8-Inch square by 4.75-Inch tall.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: wonderful for vanda orchids; you can put lava rocks in the bottom to support the plant as well\n\nReview: I bought this for a vanda orchid. Vandas' roots are not supposed to be buried in soil and putting the plant in a slat basket gives the roots a place to grip (they will grow through the slats) to keep the plant in place. I filled the bottom with some large lava rocks (fairly neutral color, porous to hold some water, lightweight) and set the plant on top, tucking a few roots through slats. So far my orchid has been in this for a few weeks and everything is great.\n\nThis looks exactly like the official product image. The description of the size is accurate (8 x 8 x 4.8 inches). Regarding drainage, there are sizeable gaps between the slats so pouring water in here is probably not the best idea. I spray my orchid's roots from a spray bottle every day for water (the lava rocks pick up a bit and release it via evaporation during the day, as well). I don't get water pooling underneath the basket because I am just spraying, not pouring water. (You could put some sort of liner in here, in which case the drainage would come into play, but the liner would show.)\n\nThe quality is great. No slats were loose, everything was well-sanded, there were no splinters, etc. I have mine on a shelf rather than hanging, but the eyelets in the corners do seem securely fastened and hanging is certainly a viable option. Air circulation around my plant in this basket is great; I think this is helping to prevent any sort of rotting.\n\nI do not know how this is finished. It looks like there could be some sort of stain but that also could be the natural color of the wood (I don't own any other objects made of cedar for comparison). I do know that my water spraying, which sometimes gets all over the basket as well as the plant roots, has not damaged the basket so far. The spacing between the slats allows for pretty quick evaporation. I think in my case, the wood is staying in great condition because it is not constantly in contact with moist soil (which, again, a liner would prevent).","Product: Instantly feed succulent plants, including cacti with Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food. The formula is designed for all cacti, jade, aloe, and other popular succulents. Apply directly to the soil, or mix it with water and apply to plants every 2 weeks. Enjoy beautiful succulents with Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I am bad with succulents but my plant is looking wonderful (and has some new growth) after using this for awhile\n\nReview: I have a single succulent. I'm not even sure what kind it is, so I can't even look up any care instructions and I have to use my best guess. I have not had the best luck with succulents in the past. I am watering this plant once per week and it seems to be doing all right. But I figured it might be good to start fertilizing it as well, so I bought this (just one bottle, since I only have the one plant).\n\nI apply a squirt of this to the soil (it does not foam for me, I don't know if I am using the pump incorrectly or the pump is broken or the product formulation has changed, because if you look in the second official product image, there is clearly foam). Then I water as usual, to make sure the undersides of the leaves didn't sit covered with concentrated fertilizer. (My plant takes up most of the pot it is in so there is no avoiding touching the leaves. It is a small pot so one squirt is enough.)\n\nI just fertilize on the first Sunday of the month. That seems to be often enough. The plant is thriving after a few months and there is even some new growth in the center, plus none of the old leaves have fallen off yet.\n\nThis is a clear liquid for me. It doesn't have a noticeable odor, though I am not getting down and sniffing it either. I got some on my hands and it didn't irritate the skin (I did wash my hands afterwards, though). I have had pretty good luck with Miracle Gro products in the past and, based on how my plant is doing, I am pretty happy with this as well.","Product: This organic formula is derived from sea kelp. It can be used on air plants, orchids and bromeliads. It is recommended to use the spray food right after regular watering, once a month. Over fertilizing the plants may cause damage to the plants, use as directed.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: has recommended N-P-K ratios for air plants, easy to use, working well so far\n\nReview: I have a couple of the Bliss Gardens air plant terrarium kits. I have not had very good luck keeping air plants alive in the past, so I am determined this time to follow the directions provided by Bliss Gardens this time around. I've been dutifully soaking my plants in water once a week, but it was recommended to use a fertilizer once a month as well, so I bought this.\n\nYou just spray this on the plants once a month. I take them out of their little glass enclosures, water them, and then spray them. I let them dry for a bit before putting them back in the enclosures (there are some decorations in there that I don't want to get wet, plus I don't want any mold to grow from excess moisture inside an enclosure). Can't be simpler, and I know it is balanced in nutrients because the N-P-K ratios match those in the instruction sheets from my Bliss Gardens kits. (I always water on Sundays and I use the fertilizer on the last Sunday of the month, so the plants are getting fertilized every 4-5 weeks without any elaborate record-keeping system.)\n\nThe bottle is a bit small, by the way, but my air plants (I have three) are pretty tiny and so this will last a long time. I didn't use fertilizer when I killed my last set of air plants, so I'm hoping this will make the difference to the little ones I have now. So far, so good!","Product: A good clumped. Pitchers are generally a deep pink to bright red colored form of purpurea. Receptacles hold a lot of water to trap bugs. Hardy from zones 7 - 10. Requires acidic soil that is usually moist and very little fertilizer. Partial to full sun. Grows to up to 12 inches tall. You will be receiving 1 plant between 3 & 8 inches in a 3 inch deep pot.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: plant is thriving, despite the fact I don't really know what I'm doing\n\nReview: I was into carnivorous plants a decade or two ago but I didn't do so well with them. Recently I started getting little moths in the room where I keep my pet birds (these are the type of moths that live in the *sealed* bags of bird seed) and I thought it would be fun to buy some more carnivorous plants and try again. I got a sundew, a Venus flytrap, and this pitcher plant.\n\nThis arrived in excellent shape. It has been over a month now and I haven't managed to kill it. It has well over a dozen pitchers and there are more growing at the center (a few of the older ones are dying off, but it is not so unusual for a plant to shed older leaves and such, and the center of the plant looks quite healthy). None of the pitchers are drooping or wilted.\n\nI left this in the container in which it arrived. It is threatening to outgrow that container, though. If you repot, I would not disturb the roots, but instead just remove this from the pot with all the potting material and repot in a potting material of your choice (since I have not gotten to the repotting stage, I haven't investigated the best medium just yet). Don't ever use fertilizer and only water with distilled water (I buy 2.5 gallon dispensers from the supermarket and they last a long time). I did put the pot it came in, in a plastic plant saucer, and once a week I water with distilled water from a squeeze bottle until the bottom of the saucer is full. I keep a cool mist humidifier running near this.\n\nI also do have a little LED light shining on this. There are plenty of options available on Amazon. You may have to adjust the position of the light a little bit; what you want is for pitchers with pigment that look like the product image. It will take a few days to be able to tell if your light is at the right position.\n\nSince I am keeping this plant inside, every now and then I give it a blood worm (some sort of desiccated larva you can buy to feed betta fish, also available here on Amazon) by dropping one into one of the pitchers. This seems to be sufficient to supply nutrients -- remember, these guys are used to growing in poor soil!","Product: Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food Recipes are healthy, natural cat foods for adult cats with excellent sources of protein and essential fatty acids for complete and balanced nutrition. Theyre made with high quality proteins, are free of added growth hormones and steroids and also include other key ingredients like sweet potatoes and carrots, essential vitamins and minerals, and fresh, whole cranberries and blueberries which are added to help maintain proper urinary tract health. In addition, hydration is extremely important to a cat's overall health and since cats do not have a strong thirst drive, Wellness Complete Health wet canned cat food recipes are a delicious and healthy way to increase your cat's moisture intake.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: even my seafood-hating cat ate this\n\nReview: This was a random PetSmart purchase that sat around my house for months. Then I ran out of one of my cats' regular food, so I decided to feed her this. She thought it was great. I normally give 1/3 a can at a time. The first serving is at room temperature and the second and third servings are cold (i.e., out of the refrigerator). She ate this pretty quickly each time, and other cats lined up to lick her bowl afterwards. So I'd say cats appreciate the taste. (And mine typically don't even like seafood, so that's saying something.)\n\nThe texture was pretty soft (pate-style). It had liquid but not overly much. It didn't have a strong seafood smell, thankfully.\n\nThis does contain rice, so it's not a grain-free food. It shouldn't be fed to cats with inflammatory bowel disease. It could be quite nice for cats with urinary tract issues, because it's wet food and because it has cranberry and blueberry in it. Overall, I have found Wellness brand products to be good and to use high-quality ingredients.\n\nAs with any new food, you may want to purchase a few individual cans to see how your cat responds, before investing in a whole case. However, if/when you decide to purchase a case, Amazon's price is competitive. It doesn't say on the Amazon page, but a 9 pound shipping weight (which is listed) would be equivalent to 24 cans of food, making this under a dollar and fifty cents a can.","Product: Keep your pets wet food fresh, when you have extra to store away. Kitty caps, and pup tops are the ideal solution. Comes in assorted colors. Patented designs fit multiple sizes of round cat, and dog food cans. Tight lock cap seals in odors, and keeps food fresh. Ear tabs allow for easy removal. Pre-loaded clip strip.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: works well for 5.5 ounce cans; use the ears to help remove instead of the middle tab\n\nReview: I received one of these in a subscription box. I like it, but it is probably not the best can lid I've ever tried.\n\nI have been using this pretty much only on 5.5 ounce cans (from Hill's and Royal Canin). It is great for those. It is difficult to pry this off a can *if* you try to use the center tab. But it is not hard at all if you use one of the ears as a tab instead (at least, not difficult with the 5.5 ounce cans). It is quite a stiff plastic, more so than other similar items. I think some of this stiffness is from the various concentric rings on the underside (basically guides for different types of cans).\n\nThis has held up through a few washes in the dishwasher (top rack only, no heat dry). If anything, it is a bit easier to use after washing. (That may just be because I have learned how to use it.) I find that it is still airtight and forms a good seal.\n\nPlease note this listing is for ONE can top. These come in various colors (mine is pink). One buck is a pretty good going rate for one of these. The only reason I am not buying more is that my vet gives the Hill's brand can tops that fit three can sizes away for free. ( I don't like those quite as much as this one.)","Product: Expect huge fun with Outward Hound Hedgehogz! These classic toys are made with irresistible squeakers, Molar-Tough shapes and soft faux-fur to keep your pup playing longer! Bound to become your best friends favorites, our lovable toys are durably designed with an engaging array of shapes, sounds and textures so you can have huge fun with your furry friend.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: dog loved it and it lasted slightly longer than average for a plush for us\n\nReview: I have the gray one in size \"large.\" My dog, for reference, is a super-destructive 84-pound Rottweiler.\n\nOF COURSE my dog thought this was awesome. She loves all plush toys and pretty much any toy I give to her, for that matter. Especially if it is something she can destroy. She did enjoy the noise this made (though *I* got tired of it after awhile...). It was an appropriate size for a large-breed dog, probably a bit too large for a dog 50 pounds or under (but this comes in smaller sizes as well, so there should be something that works for you).\n\nThis gets points for its nose not coming off right away because my dog did gnaw on it for awhile. She didn't show much interest in pulling the legs off, which was surprising to me as this is a common strategy for her. However, within about five minutes, she was able to open a hole in its back, at which point she gleefully started pulling out stuffing.\n\nSo, this lasted a slightly longer-than-average amount of time for us for a plush, and the dog liked it. If your dog is not as destructive as mine, you'll probably have better luck with this.","Product: Strong dogs need strong chew toys! Made with tough, durable nylon, the Power Chew Dura Chew Giant Bone is the long-lasting chew toy you need for your aggressive chewer. This power chew keeps dogs busy, satisfies their natural urge to chew, and encourages positive chewing habits. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar. This chew toy for dogs keeps dogs busy and helps discourage destructive chewing to keep everyone in your household happy!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my dog loves it!\n\nReview: I got my dog one of these when she was a (little) puppy. It lasted her maybe 7-8 months, but I recently had to take it away because she had chewed most of the ends away. Since she dearly loved this toy, I bought her another that was just the same, and she also loves the second one. However, now that she is almost full grown (82 pounds and counting), I don't expect this bone to last quite as long as the first one did.\n\nIt does not take long for the ends of these to become a bit rough. (Granted, my dog chewed on her new bone nonstop for hours after I gave it to her yesterday afternoon.) The ends do tend to look a little dirty after a couple of hours of active chewing, but I think that's mostly aesthetic. I don't know whether this helps keep her teeth clean or not, as my dog already has good teeth, but it certainly satisfies her need to gnaw on something.\n\nPlease note: I can only comment on my own (or rather, my dog's) experience with this toy. It is one of the few toys I feel I can leave her with, unsupervised, but I still check its condition a couple of times a day to make sure everything is OK. She does not show any inclination to swallow it whole and I am carefully monitoring the condition of the ends so that I can take it away when or if I feel it has become unsafe. I have not seen any pieces of this toy (or the previous, identical one) in her stools. In my own experience, these chew toys are safe, but it's also important to carefully monitor your dog with this (or any other) toy and the condition of the toy if you are at all concerned about the safety of the product.","Product: The Exo Terra Reptile Feeding Dishes are made from food-grade resin and have a very natural and realistic rock finish on the outside and a smooth non-pitted surface on the inside. Exo Terra's Reptile Feeding Dishes are coated to prevent the development of harmful bacteria and to make it easier to clean. The neutral color of Exo Terra accessories allows for easy integration in desert, tropical or rainforest terrarium environments. The Exo Terra Feeding Dish is sturdy, durable and not easily tipped over by larger reptiles.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: extremely durable; is also easy to clean\n\nReview: I've been using this food dish for my Russian tortoise for about ten years now. (Same exact dish!) I have the large one (you can tell from the shape; M, L, and XL each have different contours) and I'm not sure that I'd call it \"large,\" but I guess the term is relative. At any rate, it is an appropriate size for my Russian tortoise. (Russian tortoises stay pretty small.)\n\nThis dish has held up surprisingly well, considering the low price and the length of time I've used it. It sits out under my tortoise's UV lamp, but the surface seems resistant to degradation and breaking down. It's easy to clean the inside (I like that the inside is smooth). All it takes to clean is a little bit of dish soap and some hot water.\n\nAll I do is put ripped up greens in this every day, so it's not like it has a difficult task to perform. The color is neutral and works with a variety of cage decors (sometimes I change my tortoise's sand color). Definitely recommended.","Product: Exo Terra's Reptile Water Dishes are made from food-grade resin and have a very natural and realistic rock finish on the outside and a smooth non-pitted surface on the inside. The Exo Terra's Reptile Water Dishes are coated to prevent the development of harmful bacteria and are easy to clean. The neutral color of Exo Terra accessories allows for easy integration in desert, tropical or rainforest terrarium environments. Smaller reptiles, amphibians and insects can easily escape out of the Exo Terra's Reptile Water Dish by the 'safety steps' inside the bowl to prevent drowning.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: long-lasting but a little bit difficult to get clean\n\nReview: I have had a Russian tortoise for about 10 years. He has two of these (small) water dishes in his enclosure. I've been using the same dishes all that time, and they still look pretty good. They're low enough that he can get his head over the side to drink (Russian tortoises don't get very big). They're heavy so he can't move them or knock them over.\n\nI wash these in hot water with a little dish soap periodically and they've held up well for the entire time I've had them. The surfaces still look almost as good as the day I bought them.\n\nThe only thing I'd complain about is that these provide a really good surface for algae to grow on, and it doesn't take a long time for that to happen. I can get most of it out by scrubbing with an old toothbrush, but the uneven internal surface makes it a little difficult to remove every last bit.","Product: Freezable canvas bone for dogs\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: puppy loved it a little too much (didn't hold together very long)\n\nReview: The basic idea behind the Chilly Bone is that you soak it with water, freeze it, and then let your dog have at it. Well, I have a teething Rottweiler puppy. She is an absolutely ferocious chewer. I bought the large Chilly Bone thinking the cool temperature would be soothing to her teeth and gums during this stage of her development.\n\nMy puppy absolutely loved it, which is why I didn't knock off more stars. However, in under 10 minutes, she had chewed a hole in one end and pulled out a bunch of stuffing. Since I'm afraid she'll swallow the stuffing, I can't let her have the Chilly Bone any more. It's basically $10 down the drain. For what it's worth, it also didn't absorb nearly as much water as I thought it would, based on the weight after soaking.\n\nIf you have a dog who is not a big chewer, the Chilly Bone might still work for you. (My last Rottie generally did not pull the stuffing out of toys, for example. However, I am not sure what might be attractive to a dog about vanilla flavoring...)","Product: Plush Baby Duck White w/squeaker for dogs\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: funniest dog toy I've seen for a long time\n\nReview: I received this in a dog subscription box and it really is awesome. The name is totally deserved. This thing is huge and size-appropriate for my 90 pound Rottweiler in terms of size. The hands have some velcro type of fasteners on them so you can make the ape hug things, although my dog kept pulling this off herself when I would wrap the arms of the toy around her.\n\nMy dog was absolutely thrilled with this. Granted, she is just the sort of dog who is thrilled with most toys. But she doesn't get plushes too often because she's destructive. Anyway, she really had a lot of fun with it.\n\nOne of the funniest parts about this toy is the squeaker. It's not a typical squeaker but more of a button-activated playback device. The recording on it is a monkey howl. When my dog figured out how to activate this, it was so funny. The noise was so not what she expected, she would drop the toy and stare at it for a moment. (FYI, the noise seems to terrify cats. Mine would run away every time the dog activated the squeaker.) The dropping and staring happened over and over again. And it never got old.\n\nOne star off because this isn't the most durable toy in the world. After maybe 20 minutes with it, my dog was pulling pieces of fur off so I had to take it away. But she never managed to open up a hole in it and pull out stuffing, and she didn't remove any limbs or ears, which *is* worth something.","Product: Plush Baby Duck White w/squeaker for dogs\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: my cats like some parts of this and not others\n\nReview: This is a somewhat big toy for a cat -- too big to be tossed into the air. However, my cats do like it (especially after I put catnip in the catnip compartment). Please note, this does not come with catnip (or at least mine didn't); you have to supply your own.\n\nIn addition to the catnip, my cats like the feathers (not surprising) although they got bored with the feathers quickly (also not surprising -- they're cats, after all). The treat dispenser part works, although my cats are generally not smart enough to figure it out. (Well, one cat knocks the treats out and the others steal from him.) I like the sisal in theory, but in practice, I find that stationary objects like cat trees are better for scratching. A cat attempting to scratch this toy just moves the toy instead of getting a satisfying scratch.\n\nSo, there are some good things and some not-so-good things about this toy. If your cat likes big toys, or will use at least two of the four features (catnip, treat dispenser, feathers, sisal), this may be worth it for you.","Product: Give your dog something good to chew on. Made with tough, durable nylon, our Dura Chew Chicken Bone Dog Chew Toy satisfies powerful chewers. It provides long-lasting enjoyment, satisfies the natural urge to chew, and encourages positive chewing habits. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar. Different dogs have different chewing styles and strengths, even within the same breed, so be sure to choose the correct chew toy size and strength for your dog.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my dog loves it!\n\nReview: I got my dog one of these when she was a (little) puppy. It lasted her maybe 7-8 months, but I recently had to take it away because she had chewed most of the ends away. Since she dearly loved this toy, I bought her another that was just the same, and she also loves the second one. However, now that she is almost full grown (82 pounds and counting), I don't expect this bone to last quite as long as the first one did.\n\nIt does not take long for the ends of these to become a bit rough. (Granted, my dog chewed on her new bone nonstop for hours after I gave it to her yesterday afternoon.) The ends do tend to look a little dirty after a couple of hours of active chewing, but I think that's mostly aesthetic. I don't know whether this helps keep her teeth clean or not, as my dog already has good teeth, but it certainly satisfies her need to gnaw on something.\n\nPlease note: I can only comment on my own (or rather, my dog's) experience with this toy. It is one of the few toys I feel I can leave her with, unsupervised, but I still check its condition a couple of times a day to make sure everything is OK. She does not show any inclination to swallow it whole and I am carefully monitoring the condition of the ends so that I can take it away when or if I feel it has become unsafe. I have not seen any pieces of this toy (or the previous, identical one) in her stools. In my own experience, these chew toys are safe, but it's also important to carefully monitor your dog with this (or any other) toy and the condition of the toy if you are at all concerned about the safety of the product.","Product: Cat Charmer is an interactive cat toy designed to charm and not harm. With a polycarbonate wand and very colorful fabric, Cat Charmer provides excellent aerobic excercize and is a safe interactive toy for all kittens, cats, and kids. Now with bright new candy colored wands and a fun selection of colors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: all four of my cats liked this\n\nReview: This was recommended to me by an online friend so I added it to an order since it was inexpensive. I suspected this would be a winner with my crew, and I was right. They LOVE dangly toys on sticks and they LOVE ribbons, and this was basically both. (I find that they don't care so much about what is at the end of the ribbon/string, they mostly like chasing/catching/biting the string.)\n\nEven my old guy (he's 12) with eye problems (cataracts and some issues relating to his eye herpes) who can't see very well and who is a stick in the mud from his prednisolone (he has IBD) seems to enjoy this. He has always been a big fan of ribbons, though. He bites and slaps at the fabric part and it just makes me so happy to see him doing something active. My other cats all have their claws and they do hook their claws into the soft part and tug on it a bit.\n\nThe other nice thing is, this is on the end of a wand. So, you don't have to have your fingers close to cat claws and teeth. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten injured dragging non-wand toys across the ground when my cats pounce (luckily limited to finger and hand scratches thus far).\n\nAnyway, all four of my (older) cats enjoy this and we've been able to play with it multiple times without it getting destroyed.","Product: Poop-Off Bird Poop Remover Brush Top, 16-Ounce\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: only cleaner I need for my birds' cages\n\nReview: I've had pet birds (right now, zebra finches, parakeets, and cockatiels) for a long time and this is an indispensable product for me. I know that phenolic and antibacterial cleaners (like Lysol) can have fumes that are harmful to a bird's delicate respiratory system. And sometimes plain dish soap and water (and elbow grease) are not enough to get rid of all the bird poop buildup on my cages.\n\nI bought one of these brush-top dispensers years ago and just kept refilling it from a gallon refill jug. The brush has lasted me nearly a decade and works to scrub off both the plastic cage bottoms and trays as well as the metal grates at the bottom of my bird cages. I have never had any issues with leaking; I always squeezed the bottle a little to dispense the product, then used the brush to scrub. (There's a little ball inside that you don't want to lose; when the bottle is upside down, I think this is what keeps the product from leaking out.)\n\nI won't say this gets rid of 100% of the poo build up (maybe if I scrubbed a little harder), but it definitely works well enough that it is the only cleaner I feel I need to use. I like the enzyme-based formula; it's gentle (even if you get it on your hands) and it doesn't have much of an odor. After cleaning your bird cages with this, all you need to do is rinse with some hot water and dry. You don't really need to use a lot at once, so this bottle should last a long time.\n\nNote: My birds eat a seed-based diet (won't touch pellets or most fresh stuff, though I've repeatedly tried). So I am not sure how the droppings might change with a dietary change, and if that would affect the cleaning ability of this product. I have never found the need to use this on any type of fabric, only on plastic and metal.","Product: Expect long-lasting fun with Outward Hound firehose fetch toys! made with double-stitched seams and real firehose material, These toys are built to stand up to Tough chewers. Perfect for fetch, tug or toss games, firehose fetch toys will keep your pup having fun!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: not for super active chewers, although my dog liked it a lot\n\nReview: This review is for the large toy. I have a 90 pound Rottweiler and she is pretty destructive with toys. An employee at a local pet store suggested this to me so I decided to try it out.\n\nFirst of all, my dog really likes it. The large one is size-appropriate for a large-breed dog, as well. Mine did not squeak (despite the item name).\n\nHowever, these are not indestructible. My dog has this talent for finding the weakest point in a toy and chewing on it first. In this case, she went after the end flaps. It didn't take her long to start pulling pieces off. (I kept an eye on her and cut off pieces she'd worked loose.)\n\nIn the end, whether this will work for you will depend on how destructive your dog is. I'm glad I gave it a try but at this point, I can only give it to my dog when she is closely supervised.","Product: Old Mother Hubbard Crunchy Classic Natural Dog Treats are wholesome, all natural dog bone shaped dog biscuits oven-baked to preserve the natural flavors in all the varieties dogs love to catch, chew and eat. These Puppy Treats feature all natural ingredients, natural flavor with the delicious taste of chicken, apples and carrots, as well as a fun dog bone shape and natural crunch your puppy will really enjoy. Dog biscuits, treats and snacks are a great addition to a healthy diet. Snack time is a mutually rewarding show of love and positive reinforcement with your dog. You can feel good about training and rewarding your puppy with Old Mother Hubbard natural dog treats.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my dog likes these; please note they do contain grain\n\nReview: This review is for the \"P-Nuttier\" flavor. I got these in a subscription box; they're a little small for my dog (who weighs 95 pounds), but that just means I can give her more of them! I usually let her have 3 or 4 at a time and that seems to be a fine amount (no digestive issues as a result).\n\nOf course I have no idea what these taste like, but the dog seems to like them. She often sniffs tentatively at new treats, like she's not sure if they're food or not. She figured it out pretty quickly with these, so I'm guessing many dogs will find them appetizing.\n\nThese do contain wheat and oats, which should not be problems for most dogs. Please read the ingredients list if you are concerned about allergies and your dog. (If you have peanut allergies, you may not want to buy these, because they do contain peanut ingredients and you could come into contact with peanut proteins when handling these dog treats.)\n\nMy package says \"made in Canada,\" which I figure means these are safe to feed to my dog. Plus, she has been eating a handful of these a day for a few days now, and she seems fine. I like that the only preservatives are mixed tocopherols (basically vitamin E).\n\nAnyway, these seem to have high-quality ingredients and my dog likes them, so I'm quite happy with them.","Product: 100% certified organic and gluten-free wheatgrass\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: easy to grow and my cats love it\n\nReview: I got this in a subscription box and I finally got around to trying it out. It's pretty simple -- just poke a few holes in the bottom, open the seed packet and spread it around on the soil mixture (you don't really need to cover the seeds very well), and add water. I did put a saucer under mine, which ended up being a good idea, because the suggested amount of water (1 cup) was a little much. The saucer kept the water from getting everywhere. (Dump/clean the saucer often, though, or it will start to smell very bad.)\n\nThe seeds look like wheat and that's probably what they are. I'd say it took maybe a week to see sprouts and now, at two weeks, I have at least 2-3 inch blades of grass (even though I let this sit around for a long time, the seeds remained viable). I just watered every few days when I thought of it.\n\nMy cats -- especially the two older males -- like this stuff. One of them just chews and licks it and the other actively tries to eat it. I don't let them have much at once, but they do seem to enjoy it. I don't have a good, sunny window to keep this in, but it seems OK just in ambient room lighting.\n\nAnyway, if you're looking for something different to try with your cats (I get joy out of their reactions to pretty much any new item), or if you have one that really has a craving for green stuff and you want something safe, this could be good to try.","Product: Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Potato & Duck Dry Formula offers your dog potato and duck dog food without the extra ingredients. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets blend is our special grain-free diet, which provides high quality nutrition for your dog with a limited number of protein and carbohydrate sources. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Potato & Duck Dry Formula offers complete and balanced nutrition for all breeds of adult dogs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: helped my sensitive-stomach puppy\n\nReview: I have a 9.5-month-old Rottweiler puppy with a sensitive stomach. She's a little over 70 pounds now, and while she's still got a bit of growing to do, my vet told me I could switch her over to an adult food. He said that the premium puppy foods are sometimes a little too rich and recommend feeding a little more than the dog needs, which may have caused some of her problems. The vet also told me that he didn't feel there was a need to feed puppy food for 2 years (like the food manufacturers recommend) and that he often suggests his clients switch to adult food at around 6 months. (The occasion of this discussion was that my dog had yet another bout of diarrhea and no detectable parasites or bacteria in her stool.)\n\nAt any rate, I decided that perhaps I should try a novel protein and grain-free diet since my puppy had had so much bad luck on chicken/grain-based foods. I bought this food at Petco and started mixing it into her food a couple of months ago. She's been eating Natural Balance duck and potato exclusively for about a month now (including the jerky bars and cookies from the same product line), and she's doing really well. She has a good energy level, her coat is shiny and beautiful, her eyes and ears and gums look good, etc. She also has firmer stools now and hasn't had any diarrhea lately. Needless to say, she also enjoys the taste.\n\nNote: this is not specifically formulated for large breeds, so you may want to supplement with glucosamine and chondroitin. <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Joint-MAX-TRIPLE-Strength-SOFT-CHEWS-240-CHEWS/dp/B004OA5XNG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Joint MAX TRIPLE Strength SOFT CHEWS (240 CHEWS)</a> is one supplement I've had success with.\n\nAdditional note: Based on the negative reviews, there appears to have been a problem with the manufacture of this food in 2010/2011. I have purchased two bags in 2013 and the food from both of them has looked and smelled identical and hasn't caused my sensitive-stomach dog any problems. So I think the problem must have been resolved.","Product: Pet Tennis Balls for Dogs, Pet Safe Dog Toys for Exercise and Training, Pack of 4, Green\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: dog liked them, but they didn't last long\n\nReview: These didn't last too long with my dog. I got them in a subscription box, my dog loves tennis balls, and they said \"pet safe,\" so I figured I'd let my dog play with them. (She is an 82 pound Rottweiler and she is very destructive, generally speaking.)\n\nShe did like them. They're a little smaller than regular tennis balls, but not so small as to be dangerous. The orange color does make them easy to spot. They bounce as they should. I have not tested the floating because my dog, like many other Rotties, hates water.\n\nMy main problem is that it was very easy for my dog to rip the coating off. She hadn't had them for very long before I had to take them away. I actually think the coating on regular old Penn tennis balls stays on for a bit longer!","Product: Catnip Toy, Yellow Banana\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cats love these things\n\nReview: I get these in cat subscription boxes from time to time and they are always loved by multiple cats. (I have five cats. Most are older, although I do have one who is only a year and a half old or so.)\n\nThere is something about Yeowww toys in general that my cats really seem to love. I have several older guys (ages 13 and maybe 11?) who lick these toys until they're wet. There is usually biting involved as well. It really makes me happy to see my 13-year-old cat showing any interest in a toy at all because he is nearly blind and he is on pretty heavy medications for his IBD. But he actually bit the most recent Yeowww banana I got. It made me so happy.\n\nUnlike the other Yeowww catnip shapes (we also have a pumpkin and an apple), the banana is longer and thinner so the cats can easily toss it around. My kitten (well, the youngest one, anyway) does quite a lot of this. He has managed to put some holes in my most recent one, but overall, I'd say these were quite sturdy and well-made. I think they must have really good catnip in them, and the outer canvas texture seems to be popular with my crew as well.\n\nAnyway, these bananas are some of my cats' favorite toys and are enjoyed by both young and old cats. This is a pretty low-risk investment, even if you have an older or less-active cat.","Product: Cats go crazy for these bouncing, pouncing colorful springs sure to drive any feline crazy. Fun to bat and bobble.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: one of my cats really enjoyed these; best to take some safety precautions, though\n\nReview: I got a 10-pack of the thin, plastic springs (this item) in a cat subscription box. One of my cats, in particular, loves them. They were most popular on a hardwood floor with no rug (my dining room is not furnished yet); this cat batted them around all over the room and had lots of fun. It was great exercise for him.\n\nI did not find the ends to be particularly pointy. These weren't terribly springy, they were more just lightweight toys suitable for cats to chase. Mine did not have any smell at all and appeared to be solid-colored plastic. I am pretty sure they would break if a person in shoes stepped on them.\n\nPlease note: These do have the potential to be unsafe, but some commonsense precautions will help keep your cats safe. (I do have some foreign-object eaters among my cats, including the one who likes to play with these the most, and also a dog known to eat cat toys, bungee cords, harnesses, and some other improbable items.) First, always supervise your cat when s/he is playing with these. I wouldn't say that about EVERY cat toy, but I would for any toy that has thin parts, including these. Second, check the condition when your cat is done with them. If anything looks damaged, throw it away. You get 10 in this package so it will still last a long time, even if your cat is rough with toys.","Product: Feliway reduces or completely stops stress-related behavior including urine marking, vertical scratching, loss of appetite and the reduced desire to play or interact.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: calms my cats and is especially good for one who has health problems\n\nReview: I have four cats and they usually get along, but sometimes there are tense moments. Also, one of them is 12 years old and has had issues with his blood pressure as well as pretty constant eye issues for the past several months (don't worry, he has visits every few weeks to a veterinary ophthalmologist), plus he has inflammatory bowel disease. So, I really wanted something to help calm all the cats down as well as to deal specifically with the one who is having health problems. I had had a Feliway diffuser in the past (and still had the diffuser part) so I bought this replacement reservoir.\n\nI'm really happy with this. I do think the cats are less stressed. (I actually have one diffuser in the bedroom and one in the master bathroom, since I keep the cats up there when I am gone for the day.) The ill cat is having a very long string of good days. Of course part of that is keeping up with his medications and eye drops, but I think this is also helping. He is more up for exploring the house and he is pretty affectionate and he is not hiding under the bed as much.\n\nI find I have better luck with the Ceva product (as opposed to Comfort Zone, which also turns up if you search \"Feliway\" on Amazon). The pheromones are slightly different and, for whatever reason, the Ceva refills are more calming to my cats.\n\nThis only lasts maybe three weeks before it is pretty empty. My diffuser doesn't have any place to do an adjustment to the temperature or heat settings so it runs at a constant rate. But, I am willing to pay for one of these refills every three weeks because of the difference this is making for my cats, especially the older, chronically ill guy. (Actually, my calico cat recently started purring after 7.5 years of me never hearing a single purr from her. I can't positively link this to the diffuser but she does FINALLY seem to be mellowing out. It's possible there is some connection.)\n\nAlso, this doesn't have a smell to humans. If yours smells hot or like plastic or something, unplug it right away and get a new plug-in diffuser part (buy a starter kit instead of a refill).","Product: Feliway reduces or completely stops stress-related behavior including urine marking, vertical scratching, loss of appetite and the reduced desire to play or interact.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: really noticing a change in my cats' behavior\n\nReview: Note: This review will be pretty similar to my review of the diffuser, itself.\n\nI bought this from my vet's office after a recent vet visit. My old(ish), cranky, chronically ill cat was obsessed with the diffuser they had in their exam room. Plus, I had heard Feliway was supposed to make cats mellower in a multi-cat household. Since I do have one cat with lower urinary tract disease, which is aggravated by stress, I figured this would be good to try.\n\nSo far, I'm quite happy with it. Because you can't smell this (it's cat pheromones), you do have to remember to check the level periodically. It's clear liquid and doesn't leave any stains or marks on anything as it diffuses.\n\nI think this is having an effect on my cats, too. They seem to want to spend a lot of time in the bedroom these days (where I have this plugged in). I do think they're calmer, as well -- my black cat seems more affectionate and less skittish. I'll be honest, I've had the same group of cats for a couple of years now, so they're a bit older (the youngest is 6, the oldest 10) and used to each other. None of them was a terrible problem to begin with, and I never had any urine marking issues. So I wouldn't expect to see a huge turnaround in behavior. (However, if I ever get another cat, I'll update this review with Feliway's role in my integration experience.)\n\nI am using this in a medium-sized bedroom and one diffuser/refill combination seems sufficient for that amount of space. I have already used a couple of refills and I expect this will be a product I use for a long time to come. I'd say these last, on average, about a month, being plugged in constantly.","Product: Nothing ruins a day like finding a pet stain. OUT! Pet Stain and Odor Remover works to turn a bad situation around, completely eliminating all organic stains and odors, including a parade of nasties: urine, vomit, feces, blood, dirt, grass, red wine, juice, coffee, baby formula, and more. Our Pro-Bacteria and enzyme formula attacks stains and odor, and is perfect for carpet, rugs, bedding, tile, concrete, and any other water-safe surface. Safe around pets and children when used as directed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: works well on a variety of stain and odor types\n\nReview: I have four cats and an 11-month-old Rottweiler. Having pets means, unfortunately, that sometimes there are messes to clean up. I ran out of the orange variety of this spray and decided to try the regular (i.e., non-orange-scented) kind.\n\nI am happy to report that this spray works equally well to clean up pet messes and remove pet odors from carpet. I've used it to clean up cat vomit twice (once fresh and once older and dried up), and it worked very well on both. There's no stain on my carpet from either. Last weekend, my dog had an accident in the house (an 80 pound dog can hold a lot of urine), and after soaking up most of it with paper towels, I used this spray on that, as well. There's no lingering smell from the urine, so I'm happy.\n\nThe best way I've found to use this product is to clean up as much of the stain as possible, either by using paper towels to absorb it or by picking the majority of the mess up, if it's a hairball or something similar. Then I spray the area to be cleaned pretty thoroughly. You can tell you've gotten the whole area because this stain remover contains hydrogen peroxide, which bubbles when it contacts the material causing the stain. Depending on what I think the severity of the stain will be, I then let this sit for awhile and wipe it up. (The carpet may take a day or two to dry, afterwards, depending on how much of the spray you have to use.) For the dog urine, I repeated the process a second time, though I doubt it was necessary.\n\nI have used this on two types of carpet, one more expensive with a looser weave, and one that was pretty cheap but tightly woven. It worked on both, and both retained their color. (However, you may want to test this in a corner or under a piece of furniture before using it in the middle of the room. Better safe than sorry.) There is a slight smell to it, but it's not terribly noticeable and it doesn't linger. It's not a bad smell, more like a light fragrance.\n\nAll-in-all, I'm pleased with this product and would definitely consider buying it again.","Product: Petstages ORKA chew toys are made for power chewers, providing your pup with an appropriate chew while helping to reduce boredom and destructive behavior. Reinforced with inner ribs and raised diamond textures, these toys stand up to tough chewing while keeping dogs interested and satisfied. Orka Stick by Petstages is made of durable Orka material, specially designed to stand up to tough chewing. Textured surface massages gums while ropes remove plaque and tartar. Perfect for a game of fetch, toss, or just for your pup to carry around the house!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: dog liked it and didn't destroy it immediately\n\nReview: My dog loves rope toys as well as plastic toys (which are what she gets most often because she destroys so many plushes). So this was already a win before I even removed it from the packaging. She dog chewed all up and down the toy until she decided on a favorite spot (near one of the ends). Then she proceeded to gnaw and gnaw and gnaw.\n\nThis seemed small for my dog, but she is a Rottweiler and a lot of toys seem small for her at first. I did feel this was large enough to safely give to her (as long as I was paying attention and able to take it away ASAP if need be -- you will have to make that judgment on your own).\n\nThe rope part stood up to gnawing for quite some time. So did the plastic, comparatively speaking, though there was some damage to it by the end. No pieces actually got removed during my dog's play session, which is awesome for her since she is very destructive. This did not have a plastic or chemical smell. It appeared to be well made, even for heavy chewers (though I wouldn't let my dog have it if I wasn't there to supervise because I do not think it will last forever). Anyway, this is a nice option when you can't decide between a rope and something else, though it's not particularly good for tugging due to the positioning of the plastic part..","Product: KONG AirDog combines two classic dog toys -the tennis ball and the squeaker-to create the perfect fetch toy. The non-abrasive, high-quality material will not wear down dogs' teeth. Find your dog's favorite AirDog shape and let the games begin.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: depends on the dog, may not stand up to active chewers\n\nReview: I have tested this squeaker toy on two dogs now. The first was an adult Rottweiler (about 90 lbs.) who didn't care for it all that much. The second is a Rottie puppy (currently in the 50-60 lb. range) who adores it. This review will be based on my experience with the second dog, as she has actually been getting quite a bit of mileage out of it. (And to be fair, the first dog didn't like ANY tennis-ball-type toys or rubber toys.)\n\nAs I said, my puppy loves this toy. While she has numerous tennis-ball-type toys, this is one she keeps going back to. She did start pulling the outer coating off of it during the first month I had her, but about 2/3 to 3/4 of the coating is still on there after three months. I do have to monitor this closely so she doesn't swallow the coating, although it appears that at least small pieces \"pass through.\"\n\nOnce my dog got big enough to get her mouth around the end, so she could make the thing squeak on her own, she fell in love with the toy a second time. Unfortunately -- and this may be a result of the removed outer coating -- she did eventually puncture the toy all the way through. It no longer squeaks because of this. She still likes the toy, but the loss of sound has definitely equated to a loss of enthusiasm.\n\nFinal assessment: Three stars because the puppy loves it and I've gotten three months of use out of it with her (which is longer than many other toys have lasted with this puppy), but a couple of stars off for durability.","Product: Duralactin Feline L-lysine is a highly palatable paste preferred by both healthy cats and cats in isolation for respiratory signs. Give directly or mix with food. Each syringe is notched and marked for individual dose. One syringe will treat one cat twice a day for a week. Usually need 2 to 3 syringes per cat for treatment. Results seen in 4-7 days with peak effects in 10-14 days. Does not suppress immune system.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: easy to dispense, but there's not much in the tube\n\nReview: I'm a little bit torn on this product. There are things I definitely like about it, but also some things that I really don't care for. As background, I have five cats. One of them is a new(ish) kitten and he had eye herpes (several of my other cats already had this condition). The stress of having a new guy around was enough to cause flare-ups in some of my other cats. I have to deal with this in different ways, depending on the cat. I have two who will eat treats with lysine in them, and that is the easiest administration method. But one, I am pretty much stuck with either pills or paste. I've gone for the paste (i.e., this product here).\n\nWhat I like:\n\n*The cat seems to enjoy the flavor of this more than some competing products, so he doesn't fight me quite so much\n*It is easy to get the correct dose, and to get it out (this can be tricky, meanwhile, with squeeze tubes)\n\nWhat I don't like:\n\n*There simply aren't very many doses in this syringe; used twice a day, it's not even going to last me a week (I always need to treat much longer than a week to be sure the virus flare-up is under control)\n\nAnyway, if you are having a lot of trouble getting lysine into your cat, this could be an option. Just be prepared to buy a handful of these instead of just one. The Viralys gel that you are probably being recommended by Amazon on the product page for this paste has a lot more doses in the bottle (so it's an economical choice in the long run) but can be a pain to dispense since there is no mechanism for consistent dosing. If your cat will eat the Vetri-Lysine treats, that is probably the easiest option of all.\n\nPlease note: this does include some flavors including dairy- and chicken-based ingredients, so if your cat has inflammatory bowel disease or a dietary intolerance, do not use this product.","Product: For the elimination and prevention of hair balls in cats. Place a small amount on cat's paw and it will lick its paw and become accustomed to the pleasant taste.Directions: Many cats will accept CAT LAX readily. For finicky animals place a small amount on paw - cat will lick his paw and become accustomed to the pleasant taste.For Hair Ball Removal: For average weight adult cats, administer once daily. Squeeze approximately one inch of CAT LAX from tube. For smaller cats, vary amount accordingly.For Prevention of Hair Ball Formation: Administer two or three times per week.Your veterinarian may give specific directions for treatment, in which case follow veterinarian's instructions.Contains: Cod liver oil, caramel, lecithin, malt syrup, white petrolatum, 0.1% sodium benzoate (preservative), vitamin E (dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate equivalent to 0.033 mg/g d-alpha tocopherol) (antioxidant), purified water.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: really works well, vet recommended it, and cat seems to like the taste\n\nReview: I spent $350 at the vet's office to figure out that one of my cats had a hairball. Seriously. (It didn't present like a normal hairball, but the thing was SO big I'm not surprised.)\n\nAnyway, the vet sold me some of this. Since my vet stocks this regularly, I'm going to assume she stands behind the product. That's one point in its favor. Also good is the fact that my cat seems to like the taste (I just squeeze a bit in his mouth every other day or so, for maintenance, in combination with grooming him). And, when he's on this consistently (2-3 times a week), he passes most of his hairballs all the way through his digestive system instead of throwing up.\n\nI don't love that this contains petroleum-derived ingredients, but since it works so well, I'll continue to use it. (It honestly works better than some of the non-petroleum products. Believe me, I've tried most of the ones out there.)","Product: The Babble Balls are interactive toys that talk or make exciting animal sounds when touched. The improved technology is so sensitive it can be triggered by a pet breathing on it, or just by the vibration of a pet walking past it. When play is finished, the Babble Ball turns off automatically and waits to be touched again. Pets think it's actually alive! Babble Balls now come in the wisecracking "Talking" series, and the "Animal Sounds" series. Each ball has more than 20 different wisecracks or sounds, like "Rock 'n Roll Big Doggy," "Hey, What are you doing?," "Grrrrr!," "Sweet Puppy," and many more!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: a very funny dog toy\n\nReview: This came in a dog subscription box (I forget which one) and I finally got around to giving it to my dog last week. For reference, I have an adult female Rottweiler (about 84 pounds right now but that goes up and down as she has inflammatory bowel disease) and we have the large-sized ball. My dog is very destructive and ruins most toys within minutes but she has played with this twice so far (in itself, remarkable) and she'll be able to have it again because the worst she has managed to do to it is put a few scratches in the outer plastic, and that is after more than 10 minutes of dedicated chewing. (There are very few toys she can't completely destroy, usually in under 90 seconds...) The casing is a very hard plastic so if you notice your dog doing some determined chewing, you probably should take the toy away and inspect it -- this is not really meant to be chewed on, but tell that to a dog...However, on that front, so far, so good for my dog.\n\nThe large ball was just right for her; it did fit most of the way into her mouth but there was absolutely no possibility of her swallowing it. Anyway, when you tap this, or sometimes just when it rolls across the floor, it makes animal sounds, including a rooster, a barking dog, a cat, a big cat roaring, and various bird sounds (some of which sound a bit more like special effects in a science fiction movie than birds, but oh well). Now, my dog loves squeaky toys or really any toy that makes noise, but her reaction when she has a toy that doesn't make the expected sort of sound is priceless. She tilts her head and stares at the toy with obvious curiosity. Then she goes after it (usually chasing, since this can be a bit hard to catch due to the smooth sides). It is the funniest thing ever. I couldn't stop laughing while she was knocking it around the living room (it rolls very well, even on carpet).\n\nYou can replace the batteries but they are unusual (of course Amazon has them) and may be expensive. If your dog loves the toy that much, I'd suggest just buying a new one when the old one stops working. (Be sure to put the old one in electronics/e-waste recycling rather than throwing it away.) If this needs to be cleaned, wipe it down with a wipe or slightly damp paper towel. Don't immerse it in water or it will probably stop working (since it has batteries and all).\n\nThe only thing I regret is that I didn't let my dog have this sooner. She found it interesting and I had a great laugh.","Product: The \"all inclusive\" iCrate, folding metal dog crate by MidWest Homes for Pets includes all of the features you will need to provide a convenient, safe & secure pet home for your best friend. This metal dog crate includes a free divider panel allowing you to adjust the size of the dog crate while your dog is still growing, a plastic leak-proof pan for easy clean-up in the event of an accident, a strong plastic carrying handle for easy portability & rubber \"roller\" feet on the bottom of the crate to protect your floors inside the home. MidWest iCrates also feature our patented side clips which reinforce the dog crate & reduce possible sharp points ensuring a safe experience for you and your pet. Every iCrate metal dog crate folds down flat for convenient storage. The 48\" iCrate (model 1548) measures 48L x 30W x 33H inches & is suitable for \"extra-large\" dog breeds. **Please note the term extra-large dog is subjective. For the best fit, we advise that you check the measurements of the actual dog crate against your dogs adult weight & measurements. Your dog should be able to comfortably sit upright, lay down & easily turn-around inside the dog crate. When in doubt we suggest you purchase the larger crate option. We at MidWest Homes for Pets understand that your dog is a part of your family & that's why we ensure our dog crates are manufactured with the highest quality control standards creating a safe home for your pet that you can feel confident with. MidWest Homes for Pets stands behind the quality of our products with our MidWest Quality Guarantee 1-Year Manufacturer's Warranty. If you have any questions about our dog crates our customer service department would be glad to help you. MidWest customer service can be contacted at: 1-800-428-8560, available 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: perfect for a full-grown Rottie\n\nReview: My dog is on medication that causes her to drink a lot of extra water. While I do my best to take her out frequently, she occasionally has accidents anyway. Her old crate had a crack in the bottom tray so it was useless for keeping urine off the carpet. Plus, I recently moved to a new house and needed to move the dog over separately from her pen. So I needed a functional crate for her. I went with the 48 inch crate (single door) since she is a full grown Rottweiler (about 85-90 pounds). There was a bit of additional room for a water dish and toys, and my dog was able to stand up fully, turn around, etc., but not to go wild in this crate.\n\nThis crate was the perfect size. It was easy to put together and it was sturdy once assembled. (It comes with a divider in case you are training a large-breed puppy. So you only have to buy one crate instead of a series of larger and larger ones as your puppy grows. Instead, you can just move the divider. I am not using the divider since I bought this for an adult dog.) The door is easy to open and close and the coating on the bars is smooth and unbroken.\n\nIn the end, I was really happy with this. It was exactly what I was looking for. It replaces a much older crate used for something like 12 years and I definitely believe I will be getting at least that length of use out of this one, if not more. Well worth what I paid for it.","Product: Refillable catnip toys are by far the allow you to refresh the catnip in your cat's favorite toy for endless fun. The tantalizing refillable Mouse Full Catnip Toy comes with a tube of Pure Bliss organic catnip for multiple refills. Pure Bliss tubes are sealed to keep catnip fresh and have a small opening that makes it easy to refill your toy. Pet links products connect to how people and pets live and play together. Pet links is known for innovative, solution-based and environmentally responsible products that fulfill all of your pet's needs - from play and interaction to rest and privacy and more. A member of the Worldwide family of pet products, Pet links is grounded in the principles of pet safety, customer satisfaction and environmental responsibility. Pet links products are designed to meet or exceed all applicable safety standards. They are then tested against those standards to ensure they meet our strict quality and safety requirements ensuring they're safe for all members of your family. Pet links offers a complete satisfaction guarantee. If a customer is dissatisfied with a Pet links product for any reason, they will replace it or refund it - no questions asked. Since 1990, Worldwide and its brands have been committed to using environmentally responsible materials in its products. Whenever possible, Pet links products are made with recycled, reclaimed, organic and sustainable materials.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: well made but my cats just weren't into it\n\nReview: This is somewhat large for a cat toy, and thus heavy. My cats are somewhat disinclined to play with larger, heavier toys (they are harder to toss around, I guess) so they didn't show a ton of interest in this. A younger cat (mine are ages 7, 8, 10, and 11) might also be more playful with it.\n\nThis came with a vial of catnip to fill the toy with. The vial was a bit difficult to dispense catnip from (opening was too small) and I had to keep banging it on the table to dislodge more. For what it's worth, the toy, once shut, did keep all the catnip inside -- it didn't end up all over my carpet. So that is nice. (The bottom seals with velcro.)\n\nThis appears to be well-made. There were no holes or loose seams. It is possible the catnip in mine was old before I got it, but at any rate, my cats didn't play with this much so it was kind of a bust. (It came in a subscription box. Although I suspected my cats would not be interested in it, I gave it to them -- you never know what'll strike one's interest.)\n\nIf your cat is younger or is into larger toys, this may still be worth trying.","Product: Is your cat peeing outside the litter box, scratching or hiding? These behaviors are likely caused by fear and anxiety. FELIWAY products are a clinically proven, drug-free solution to help alleviate many of the unwanted behaviors cat owners deal with. FELIWAY CLASSIC provides happy messages to cats and makes them feel calm and comfortable at home. By mimicking the natural feline appeasing messages (pheromones), FELIWAY CLASSIC helps cats happily adjust to pace of modern life. Use FELIWAY CLASSIC Starter Kit if your cat shows signs of discomfort like peeing outside the litter box, hiding, or destructive scratching. Reduces urine spraying in 9/10 cats. Can see results within 7 days. You may also consider if you anticipate changes in your home (moving, renovation, redecorating, arrival of a new pet, arrival of a new family member). Use the diffuser in the room where your cat spends the most time. Plug the diffuser in an electric socket with a minimum clear distance above the diffuser of 5 ft. (The vapor carrying the FELIWAY messages rises in a column of warm air above the diffuser). One diffuser covers up to 700 sq. ft. You may need to use more than one diffuser for a large or multi-floor home. Be sure to replace your diffuser every 6 months and refill vials every 4 weeks. It is recommended to replace the refill every 4 weeks, even if a small amount of liquid remains in the vial (the vial will never be completely empty).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cats want to stay in the room where this is plugged in!\n\nReview: I bought this from my vet's office after a recent vet visit. My old(ish), cranky, chronically ill cat was obsessed with the diffuser they had in their exam room. Plus, I had heard it was supposed to make cats mellower in a multi-cat household. Since I do have one cat with lower urinary tract disease, which is aggravated by stress, I figured this would be good to try.\n\nSo far, I'm quite happy with it. The diffuser is much nicer than the cheapie Airwick diffusers for home fragrance. While I can't smell the Feliway product (it's cat pheromones, after all), I do notice a steady decrease in the liquid level over time. Because you can't smell it, you do have to remember to check the level periodically. It's clear liquid and doesn't leave any stains or marks on anything as it diffuses.\n\nI think this is having an effect on my cats, too. They seem to want to spend a lot of time in the bedroom these days (where I have this plugged in). I do think they're calmer, as well -- my black cat seems more affectionate and less skittish. I'll be honest, I've had the same group of cats for a couple of years now, so they're a bit older (the youngest is 6, the oldest 10) and used to each other. None of them was a terrible problem to begin with, and I never had any urine marking issues. So I wouldn't expect to see a huge turnaround in behavior. (However, if I ever get another cat, I'll update this review with Feliway's role in my integration experience.)\n\nI am using this in a medium-sized bedroom and it seems sufficient for that amount of space. I have already bought a couple of refills and I expect this will be a product I use for a long time to come.","Product: All Natural Vitamin-Fortified Calcium Carbonate Substrate . No artificial colors or color sealers. Excellent substrate for bearded dragons, uromastyx lizards, monitors, geckos (including leopard geckos), and desert tortoises. Increases calcium delivery in all desert species of reptiles. Fortified with vitamins and beta carotene for increased health benefits. Does not contain fat-soluble vitamins which can be toxic in large doses. Ultra fine grade to help prevent against impaction from over consumption.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: works as tortoise substrate although the white color shows EVERYTHING\n\nReview: I have a Russian tortoise and this is one of the brands of sand I use to line the bottom of his cage (an extra-long Rubbermaid bin). I use a single 10-pound bag and that covers the bottom of his cage with maybe 1/4\" to 1/2\" of sand. He seems to have an easy time getting around in it. I've never noticed him eating it, but I like that the fine grade of this stuff is supposed to prevent impaction.\n\nI scoop this with a wire mesh scoop periodically to extend its lifetime. That works well to remove solid waste and uneaten food. This does not really clump so spilled water and liquid waste kind of settle in.\n\nTwo things I'm not thrilled with, although they'd be problems with any similar product:\n\n(1) Cleaning my tortoise's cage stirs up a lot of dust. I don't like breathing it in (and should probably wear a mask to prevent inhalation). That's one problem with the small particle size.\n(2) Specific to the white color, there's not any other to say this, but every little bit of poop shows up. I tend to buy non-white colors more often (earth tones or, occasionally, bright colors) to hide this a little bit.\n\nFor what it's worth, this sticks to the bottom of my tortoise a bit, but I just rinse him off in the sink and pat him dry with a paper towel and he's good to go. (I don't think he enjoys the rinsing too much but it's quick, at least.)\n\nNote: this product page is currently only for the white Vita Sand. I would give the darker colors 4 stars.","Product: Supports healthy levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, and the liver's first line of defense. Use in dogs and cats to help support and maintain healthy liver function. Ideal for aging pets and for providing additional liver support to pets taking NSAIDs for arthritis management. Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Keep tablets in original blister pack until used. Tablets are sensitive to moisture and extreme heat and should not be split or crumbled.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: has helped my dog's liver enzymes get closer to \"normal\"\n\nReview: My dog has some elevated liver enzymes secondary to another medication she is on. My vet recommended this medication to provide support for her liver. She has been using it for about three weeks and the bloodwork indicates that the liver enzymes are getting better. So at a base level, it works.\n\nIt definitely pays to shop around with medications like this! Compared to Zentonil Plus (which also worked) and what my vet charges for this product, you are getting a bargain on Denamarin at Amazon.\n\nAnother important consideration for me is that this does not upset my dog's digestive system. She has eosinophilic inflammatory bowel disease and I prefer this form because it does not have any added flavors. Even the slightest bit of flavor can cause her symptoms to flare up (I have to wash the flavoring off her Sentinel prior to giving it to her, for example). So I appreciate that I am able to give this to her every day without giving her symptoms. (I just push it to the back of her throat and she swallows it.)\n\n(For what it's worth, I have an approximately three-year-old Rottweiler who is currently 82 pounds and she is getting the \"large\" tablets.)","Product: An incredible meal awaits your cat when you serve her Purina Fancy Feast Sliced Beef Feast in Gravy adult wet cat food. You love your cat enough to make sure she gets the most out of life, and Purina Fancy Feast definitely delivers. Tender, sliced cuts of beef immersed in a savory gravy sauce are sure to satisfy her discerning taste buds. Each serving contains 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats so she has the health she needs to jump right into whatever adventure her heart desires. This wet cat food takes gourmet feline dining to a new level, because Purina has spent 80 years as a leading innovator in the pet food industry. We're committed to making food nutritious and delicious, full of the same love and attention to detail that you give your pet. Your cat is sure to appreciate this level of quality when she devours this sliced beef feast. Help satisfy your furry feline's cravings with a taste she craves when serving Purina Fancy Feast wet cat food.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: fancy feast sliced beef feast\n\nReview: I'm trying to get one of my cats to gain a little weight. She normally eats a (more expensive) premium food most of the time, and I'm not planning on changing that, but I wanted to give her an extra meal each day. This particular cat is highly partial to beef (doesn't care for chicken or even some kinds of fish) so I bought a couple of cans of this food to try it out.\n\nFirst, the cat's assessment -- she practically inhales the food. I feed her a half a can of this as a treat each day and it doesn't take her very long to eat, at all. She gets excited when she sees me pick up cans off the counter.\n\nNext, the texture. To me, this food looks like chunks of some cat food \"composite\" and doesn't really look like \"sliced\" beef. The pieces are a little bigger than other cat foods with this texture. This food would not be appropriate for cats with dental problems, I think, but should work if your cat's teeth are healthy.\n\nAs for ingredients, this is definitely NOT a natural or premium food (which is why I'm not feeding it as a main food). It does include wheat gluten, corn starch, soy flour, soy protein, and a few other plant-derived ingredients that probably don't belong in great quantities in a cat's diet. There's also liver in this, pretty high on the ingredients list, so if your cat doesn't seem to like liver, you may want to stay away. (Mine isn't that picky, as long as it's beef.)\n\nThis food should certainly never be fed to cats with inflammatory bowel disease. However, for an otherwise healthy cat, this is a good treat or supplement. Since my cat likes it so much, I'll give it a pretty high rating.","Product: Satisfy your cat's desire for delicious poultry flavor with Purina Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Tuscany wet cat food. Accents of long grain rice and garden greens give this gourmet wet cat food an appealing look to get your curious cat interested at feeding time, and the real white meat chicken delivers the taste she craves. A savory gravy balances out this Fancy Feast Medleys Chicken Tuscany recipe, giving her a mouthwatering meal she's bound to love. Small, tender bites deliver a texture cats adore in a size she can manage. The essential vitamins and minerals in each serving help to support her overall health and wellness, so you can feel good about serving this delectable canned cat food to your beloved cat. Her well-being is important to you, and feeding her Purina Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Tuscany is an easy way to show her just how much you care.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cats love it\n\nReview: I've been trying to switch my cats over to wet food and one of them has been particularly resistant. He likes Fussie Cat Chicken and Sweet Potato, but he doesn't always eat all that he should, based on his body weight. So I decided to try a few additional kinds of cat food to see if I couldn't tempt him to finish a can of something else.\n\nHe's shown a real preference for turkey in the past (though his favorite turkey food was discontinued!), so I decided to try again with Fancy Feast Tender Turkey Tuscany. I took a chance and bought an entire case. This particular cat is normally very skittish (his mother was feral) and if I even come in the room while he's eating, he'll go run and hide under the bed. But with this food, he stays there and eats it. So he must really like it. He also almost completely cleans his plate and my other cats eagerly go lick up whatever tiny bits are left.\n\nHere are the ingredients for the Tender Turkey Tuscany flavor from the Fancy Feast website:\n\nPoultry broth, turkey, liver, wheat gluten, long grain rice, spinach, meat by-products, corn starch-modified, artificial and natural flavors, salt, calcium phosphate, soy protein concentrate, added color, potassium chloride, taurine, magnesium sulfate, choline chloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin e supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin k activity), copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B-12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, vitamin D-3 supplement, potassium iodide\n\nSo this does contain gluten and soy and would not be suitable for a cat with inflammatory bowel disease. However, my three healthy (non-IBD) cats love it and it's inexpensive and readily available. I'll definitely be adding this to the rotation.","Product: Elevate your favorite feline's dining experience when you serve her Purina Fancy Feast Marinated Morsels Chicken Feast in Gravy adult wet cat food. This is a truly fancy feast that is full of tender slices of chicken marinated in a rich, tasty sauce. Your cat can taste the Purina difference, because real poultry broth and chicken are the first ingredients. She can appreciate the delectable flavors, and you can appreciate the blend of nutrition and taste that your cat gets in each serving. With 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats, this gourmet wet cat food ensures that your cat is getting exactly the right vitamins and proteins she needs to have a long and full life of fun with you. There are no limits to the adventures she can choose, because Purina delivers the nutrients she needs to fuel the energy for all of them. Order this Purina Fancy Feast wet cat food from Amazon.com today, and show your feline just how special she is to you.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cats like it, ingredients are not wonderful\n\nReview: This is a pretty popular food with my cats. I've tried a lot of different varieties of Fancy Feast and Sheba lately, and this one disappeared more quickly than some of the others.\n\nI fed this to one cat who has been reluctant to eat wet food in the past. He finished the entire can pretty quickly the first time I gave it to him, so I gave him a second can the next day and he ate that one quickly, too. (You know how cats are: one day they're terribly excited about something and the next day they turn their noses up at it. So it was important to me to give it to this cat at least twice. If he ate it both times -- which he did -- that was my marker for success.) Other cats lined up to sniff and lick his food dish, so I guess the aroma and/or flavor appealed to them, as well.\n\nThe entire ingredients list is on the main product page. I'm not thrilled with all of the ingredients; I'll paste the first few here for discussion purposes (the rest of the components of this food consist of vitamin and mineral supplements):\n\nMeat Broth, Meat By-products, Beef, Wheat Gluten, Fish, Corn Starch-modified, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Soy Flour, Salt, Caramel Color\n\nEven though this is a beef-based food, supposedly, beef is only the third ingredient. This food also includes wheat, corn, and soy ingredients (which cats don't need, and which may not be good for some cats), as well as artificial colors.\n\nIn the end, cats really do like this. However, I'm not thrilled about the ingredients. As an occasional treat or food supplement for a HEALTHY cat, this would be fine. I'd be hesitant to feed it as a cat's entire diet. And, for what it's worth, if your cat has inflammatory bowel disease, this food would not be suitable. 3.5 stars.","Product: Multipet's Flea dog toy with squeaker designed to allow your dog to tug and enjoy this fun and playful plush toy.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: did not last super long although my dog thought it was awesome\n\nReview: I will start by saying that my current dog (an 84-pound Rottweiler) is the most destructive dog I have ever had when it comes to toys. So I did not have high expectations with respect to this toy. Which is good, because it did not last long. (This came in a dog subscription box.)\n\nThe only thing that saved me from having to pull stuffing out of my dog's mouth was that she couldn't decide which part she wanted to destroy first: the eyeball, which was apparently awesome for gnawing, the legs, which were easy to pull off, or the fur coating, which is what eventually led me to take this away from her (she pulled some off and started eating it). I do have to admit it was fun watching her work. (She was carefully supervised the whole time -- something I would recommend with any dog receiving a new toy.)\n\nNow, this toy is pretty cute (the back says \"bite me\") and my dog did LOVE it. I have the cat version and that one has held up much better (my cats are older and not very destructive). and other Multipet plush toys have done better for us. This one just wasn't very durable. If your dog is less destructive, it still may work (my last Rottie kept the same plush toys for YEARS).","Product: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Feline Probiotic Supplement contains a safe and effective strain of beneficial bacteria proven to promote normal intestinal microflora. FortiFlora is the #1 probiotic brand prescribed by veterinarians. The science behind our therapeutic products represents a collaboration between Purina nutritionists, researchers and veterinarians. Millward Brown Veterinary Tracker, 2016\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: worth a try, but not suitable for every cat\n\nReview: I have used this product on two cats. It was great for one of them and not so good for the other. I'll describe both their experiences and hopefully that will help you decide whether this product might be right for your own cat.\n\nMonkey: He is a lovely long-haired kitty with a tendency to get soft stools. I notice, because it gets stuck in his fur. There's not always an obvious cause for his problem -- he's resistant to eating anything other than his own food, and he never goes outside. But about a week of FortiFlora clears the problem right up, each and every time. There's been a time or two he's been on antibiotics, and FortiFlora has helped keep his stools firm then, too. He loves the taste and gets very excited whenever I get out one of the little packets. So it's been great for him.\n\nMouse: She was a sweet little short-haired gray tabby with a bad case of inflammatory bowel disease. We used this product for awhile, but it did not help. In fact, it may have made the problem worse. FortiFlora contains something called \"animal digest\" that is designed to enhance palatability (and seems to, in Monkey's case), but which is likely to contain some animal proteins that aggravate IBD symptoms. (If you are not familiar with feline IBD, many common proteins may trigger symptoms -- including, in some cases, chicken, pork, beef, turkey, etc. in addition to grains.)\n\nIn conclusion, if you have an otherwise healthy cat on a course of antibiotics or with occasional soft stools, you should definitely try FortiFlora. But if you have a cat with a food allergy or with IBD, you should probably not use it. Also, don't open the packets around your own food (the powder is light and can puff up a bit when you pour it out) and wash your hands after dispensing -- the bacterial strain is an Enterococcus one that you don't necessarily want in your own system.","Product: Mini 10-Inch Cottonblend Color 3 Knot Rope Tug. Made from premium cottonblend rope fibers. Rope fibers floss dogs' teeth as they chew and play. A tug shape great for creating interactive play. Great for petite dogs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: best when used for tugging (don't leave a dog alone to chew on it)\n\nReview: I have this in large although I probably could've gone with extra large (my dog is an approximately 83-pound Rottweiler). This is long enough to get a good tugging match going without your dog's jaws being right up against your hand (unless your dog is like mine and wants to chew on the end that is *in* your hand).\n\nAfter a couple of play sessions with my dog, this doesn't really have any loose threads. That already makes it better than the ones I can get at the local big box pet store, which my dog tends to shred quickly. I don't think this will last forever, but it is nice for my dog to have a toy she can play with more than once before I have to throw it away.\n\nThe rope I got seems strong. My dog will grab one end in her teeth and pull. She has incredible jaw strength -- she can pull me out of a chair if I am holding on to the other end and don't let go! So far this does not show any signs of coming apart (if it does very soon after I post the review, I'll update).\n\nI would only allow a dog to have this under supervision. It is more of a tugging/interactive toy than a chew toy. Overall I am very happy with it when using it as intended.","Product: Enjoy stress-free walks in the park with your dog, and help train your pet at the same time. The Gentle Leader Head collar is designed to let you communicate with your dog in a way he instinctively understands. It removes his natural tendency to pull on the leash by placing gentle pressure on calming points and eliminating uncomfortable pressure on the throat. No pain is involved, and the humane Gentle Leader never chokes. By reducing your pet's desire to pull away, the head collar helps combat lunging, jumping, excessive barking, and aggression. The supple nylon straps apply pressure at the back of the neck and front of the throat. It is not a muzzle, and your pet can use his mouth to eat, drink, bark, fetch, and pant. Ideal for dogs up to 5-pound and 8 weeks or older. Can be worn up to 18 hours per day. Includes easy-to-follow fitting instructions, abbreviated training guide, and comprehensive training DVD. Also converts to a regular collar after your dog's training is complete.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: has worked for two dogs with two different personalities\n\nReview: I originally bought the red Gentle Leader for my first Rottweiler, Jet (90 lbs). The use of these sorts of lead collars had been recommended to me by a trainer we'd hired to help with some of Jet's behavioral problems. As various lead collars wore out over the years (they don't last forever, but you usually get a couple of years of good use out of them), I tried other brands, but I prefer the Gentle Leader to the other brands.\n\nFirst of all, Gentle Leader prints dog weights on the packages instead of dog breeds (Halti makes a similar product but prints dog breeds on the package). This is important if you want to train a puppy, or if your dog is at the large end or the small end of the weight range for his or her breed, or if you have a mixed breed that doesn't fit any of the categories. You just couldn't use the same lead collar on a Rottie pup as you would on an adult Rottie. No amount of adjusting would make it fit.\n\nSecond, and perhaps this is just from long years of use of this particular brand, but I find the Gentle Leader easier to put on my dog than the other brands. What I do is take the nose loop and put it over my wrist, then snap the collar part around the dog's neck, then slide the nose loop over my dog's nose. (There is a DVD with training tips included in each package, though I've never actually bothered to watch it, since the trainer I hired back in the day showed me how to use the collar.)\n\nAt any rate, when Jet died last December, I tucked her Gentle Leader (this product I'm reviewing) away in a drawer. I got a new Rottweiler puppy in January, Nyx, and started her with a medium Gentle Leader. When she hit 60 pounds, the minimum weight for this product, I moved her up to this large one. Nyx's neck is going to be a bit bigger around than Jet's was, when Nyx is fully grown, but there is still plenty of room to adjust the neck part, and I think I'll be able to keep using this collar until it wears out.\n\nNyx and Jet had/have two very different personalities, but this has helped with both. Jet always wanted to run out in front of cars, so I'd root my feet into the ground and hold on to the leash, and this would keep her from darting out into traffic. (With such a big dog, it's best to use a thick nylon leash, and NOT a retractable one. A retractable leash would pretty much negate the effect of a Gentle Leader, anyway.) Nyx wants to play with much smaller dogs -- I don't think she realizes she's over 70 pounds at this point -- and I can use the Gentle Leader to keep her from jumping on them.\n\nIt is difficult for me to walk an adult Rottweiler (or a large, headstrong puppy) using only a leash attached to a regular neck collar. The Gentle Leader, however, reduces the amount of upper body strength required to retain a decent amount of control over the dog. (I am a woman with a fairly small frame.) I like the red color because it contrasts with the black Rottie snout fur, so I can easily see if the collar is on properly.\n\nThis type of collar is going to work best for dogs that don't have really flat faces, I think. Should be fine on your average Lab or Golden, definitely works on Rotties, etc. But if you have a bulldog or certain types of mastiffs or another similar breed, you may want to see if you can borrow a Gentle Leader or try one out before you buy.","Product: Is your cat peeing outside the litter box, scratching or hiding? These behaviors are likely caused by fear and anxiety. FELIWAY products are a clinically proven, drug-free solution to help alleviate many of the unwanted behaviors cat owners deal with. FELIWAY CLASSIC provides happy messages to cats and makes them feel calm and comfortable at home. By mimicking the natural feline appeasing messages (pheromones), FELIWAY CLASSIC helps cats happily adjust to pace of modern life. Use FELIWAY CLASSIC Starter Kit if your cat shows signs of discomfort like peeing outside the litter box, hiding, or destructive scratching. Reduces urine spraying in 9/10 cats. Can see results within 7 days. You may also consider if you anticipate changes in your home (moving, renovation, redecorating, arrival of a new pet, arrival of a new family member). Use the diffuser in the room where your cat spends the most time. Plug the diffuser in an electric socket with a minimum clear distance above the diffuser of 5 ft. (The vapor carrying the FELIWAY messages rises in a column of warm air above the diffuser). One diffuser covers up to 700 sq. ft. You may need to use more than one diffuser for a large or multi-floor home. Be sure to replace your diffuser every 6 months and refill vials every 4 weeks. It is recommended to replace the refill every 4 weeks, even if a small amount of liquid remains in the vial (the vial will never be completely empty).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cats want to stay in the room where this is plugged in!\n\nReview: I bought this from my vet's office after a recent vet visit. My old(ish), cranky, chronically ill cat was obsessed with the diffuser they had in their exam room. Plus, I had heard it was supposed to make cats mellower in a multi-cat household. Since I do have one cat with lower urinary tract disease, which is aggravated by stress, I figured this would be good to try.\n\nSo far, I'm quite happy with it. The diffuser is much nicer than the cheapie Airwick diffusers for home fragrance. While I can't smell the Feliway product (it's cat pheromones, after all), I do notice a steady decrease in the liquid level over time. Because you can't smell it, you do have to remember to check the level periodically. It's clear liquid and doesn't leave any stains or marks on anything as it diffuses.\n\nI think this is having an effect on my cats, too. They seem to want to spend a lot of time in the bedroom these days (where I have this plugged in). I do think they're calmer, as well -- my black cat seems more affectionate and less skittish. I'll be honest, I've had the same group of cats for a couple of years now, so they're a bit older (the youngest is 6, the oldest 10) and used to each other. None of them was a terrible problem to begin with, and I never had any urine marking issues. So I wouldn't expect to see a huge turnaround in behavior. (However, if I ever get another cat, I'll update this review with Feliway's role in my integration experience.)\n\nI am using this in a medium-sized bedroom and it seems sufficient for that amount of space. I have already bought a couple of refills and I expect this will be a product I use for a long time to come.","Product: All Natural Vitamin-Fortified Calcium Carbonate Substrate . No artificial colors or color sealers. Excellent substrate for bearded dragons, uromastyx lizards, monitors, geckos (including leopard geckos), and desert tortoises. Increases calcium delivery in all desert species of reptiles. Fortified with vitamins and beta carotene for increased health benefits. Does not contain fat-soluble vitamins which can be toxic in large doses. Ultra fine grade to help prevent against impaction from over consumption.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: works as tortoise substrate although the white color shows EVERYTHING\n\nReview: I have a Russian tortoise and this is one of the brands of sand I use to line the bottom of his cage (an extra-long Rubbermaid bin). I use a single 10-pound bag and that covers the bottom of his cage with maybe 1/4\" to 1/2\" of sand. He seems to have an easy time getting around in it. I've never noticed him eating it, but I like that the fine grade of this stuff is supposed to prevent impaction.\n\nI scoop this with a wire mesh scoop periodically to extend its lifetime. That works well to remove solid waste and uneaten food. This does not really clump so spilled water and liquid waste kind of settle in.\n\nTwo things I'm not thrilled with, although they'd be problems with any similar product:\n\n(1) Cleaning my tortoise's cage stirs up a lot of dust. I don't like breathing it in (and should probably wear a mask to prevent inhalation). That's one problem with the small particle size.\n(2) Specific to the white color, there's not any other to say this, but every little bit of poop shows up. I tend to buy non-white colors more often (earth tones or, occasionally, bright colors) to hide this a little bit.\n\nFor what it's worth, this sticks to the bottom of my tortoise a bit, but I just rinse him off in the sink and pat him dry with a paper towel and he's good to go. (I don't think he enjoys the rinsing too much but it's quick, at least.)\n\nNote: this product page is currently only for the white Vita Sand. I would give the darker colors 4 stars.","Product: Supports healthy levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, and the liver's first line of defense. Use in dogs and cats to help support and maintain healthy liver function. Ideal for aging pets and for providing additional liver support to pets taking NSAIDs for arthritis management. Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Keep tablets in original blister pack until used. Tablets are sensitive to moisture and extreme heat and should not be split or crumbled.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: has helped my dog's liver enzymes get closer to \"normal\"\n\nReview: My dog has some elevated liver enzymes secondary to another medication she is on. My vet recommended this medication to provide support for her liver. She has been using it for about three weeks and the bloodwork indicates that the liver enzymes are getting better. So at a base level, it works.\n\nIt definitely pays to shop around with medications like this! Compared to Zentonil Plus (which also worked) and what my vet charges for this product, you are getting a bargain on Denamarin at Amazon.\n\nAnother important consideration for me is that this does not upset my dog's digestive system. She has eosinophilic inflammatory bowel disease and I prefer this form because it does not have any added flavors. Even the slightest bit of flavor can cause her symptoms to flare up (I have to wash the flavoring off her Sentinel prior to giving it to her, for example). So I appreciate that I am able to give this to her every day without giving her symptoms. (I just push it to the back of her throat and she swallows it.)\n\n(For what it's worth, I have an approximately three-year-old Rottweiler who is currently 82 pounds and she is getting the \"large\" tablets.)","Product: An incredible meal awaits your cat when you serve her Purina Fancy Feast Sliced Beef Feast in Gravy adult wet cat food. You love your cat enough to make sure she gets the most out of life, and Purina Fancy Feast definitely delivers. Tender, sliced cuts of beef immersed in a savory gravy sauce are sure to satisfy her discerning taste buds. Each serving contains 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats so she has the health she needs to jump right into whatever adventure her heart desires. This wet cat food takes gourmet feline dining to a new level, because Purina has spent 80 years as a leading innovator in the pet food industry. We're committed to making food nutritious and delicious, full of the same love and attention to detail that you give your pet. Your cat is sure to appreciate this level of quality when she devours this sliced beef feast. Help satisfy your furry feline's cravings with a taste she craves when serving Purina Fancy Feast wet cat food.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: fancy feast sliced beef feast\n\nReview: I'm trying to get one of my cats to gain a little weight. She normally eats a (more expensive) premium food most of the time, and I'm not planning on changing that, but I wanted to give her an extra meal each day. This particular cat is highly partial to beef (doesn't care for chicken or even some kinds of fish) so I bought a couple of cans of this food to try it out.\n\nFirst, the cat's assessment -- she practically inhales the food. I feed her a half a can of this as a treat each day and it doesn't take her very long to eat, at all. She gets excited when she sees me pick up cans off the counter.\n\nNext, the texture. To me, this food looks like chunks of some cat food \"composite\" and doesn't really look like \"sliced\" beef. The pieces are a little bigger than other cat foods with this texture. This food would not be appropriate for cats with dental problems, I think, but should work if your cat's teeth are healthy.\n\nAs for ingredients, this is definitely NOT a natural or premium food (which is why I'm not feeding it as a main food). It does include wheat gluten, corn starch, soy flour, soy protein, and a few other plant-derived ingredients that probably don't belong in great quantities in a cat's diet. There's also liver in this, pretty high on the ingredients list, so if your cat doesn't seem to like liver, you may want to stay away. (Mine isn't that picky, as long as it's beef.)\n\nThis food should certainly never be fed to cats with inflammatory bowel disease. However, for an otherwise healthy cat, this is a good treat or supplement. Since my cat likes it so much, I'll give it a pretty high rating.","Product: Satisfy your cat's desire for delicious poultry flavor with Purina Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Tuscany wet cat food. Accents of long grain rice and garden greens give this gourmet wet cat food an appealing look to get your curious cat interested at feeding time, and the real white meat chicken delivers the taste she craves. A savory gravy balances out this Fancy Feast Medleys Chicken Tuscany recipe, giving her a mouthwatering meal she's bound to love. Small, tender bites deliver a texture cats adore in a size she can manage. The essential vitamins and minerals in each serving help to support her overall health and wellness, so you can feel good about serving this delectable canned cat food to your beloved cat. Her well-being is important to you, and feeding her Purina Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Tuscany is an easy way to show her just how much you care.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cats love it\n\nReview: I've been trying to switch my cats over to wet food and one of them has been particularly resistant. He likes Fussie Cat Chicken and Sweet Potato, but he doesn't always eat all that he should, based on his body weight. So I decided to try a few additional kinds of cat food to see if I couldn't tempt him to finish a can of something else.\n\nHe's shown a real preference for turkey in the past (though his favorite turkey food was discontinued!), so I decided to try again with Fancy Feast Tender Turkey Tuscany. I took a chance and bought an entire case. This particular cat is normally very skittish (his mother was feral) and if I even come in the room while he's eating, he'll go run and hide under the bed. But with this food, he stays there and eats it. So he must really like it. He also almost completely cleans his plate and my other cats eagerly go lick up whatever tiny bits are left.\n\nHere are the ingredients for the Tender Turkey Tuscany flavor from the Fancy Feast website:\n\nPoultry broth, turkey, liver, wheat gluten, long grain rice, spinach, meat by-products, corn starch-modified, artificial and natural flavors, salt, calcium phosphate, soy protein concentrate, added color, potassium chloride, taurine, magnesium sulfate, choline chloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin e supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin k activity), copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B-12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, vitamin D-3 supplement, potassium iodide\n\nSo this does contain gluten and soy and would not be suitable for a cat with inflammatory bowel disease. However, my three healthy (non-IBD) cats love it and it's inexpensive and readily available. I'll definitely be adding this to the rotation.","Product: Elevate your favorite feline's dining experience when you serve her Purina Fancy Feast Marinated Morsels Chicken Feast in Gravy adult wet cat food. This is a truly fancy feast that is full of tender slices of chicken marinated in a rich, tasty sauce. Your cat can taste the Purina difference, because real poultry broth and chicken are the first ingredients. She can appreciate the delectable flavors, and you can appreciate the blend of nutrition and taste that your cat gets in each serving. With 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats, this gourmet wet cat food ensures that your cat is getting exactly the right vitamins and proteins she needs to have a long and full life of fun with you. There are no limits to the adventures she can choose, because Purina delivers the nutrients she needs to fuel the energy for all of them. Order this Purina Fancy Feast wet cat food from Amazon.com today, and show your feline just how special she is to you.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cats like it, ingredients are not wonderful\n\nReview: This is a pretty popular food with my cats. I've tried a lot of different varieties of Fancy Feast and Sheba lately, and this one disappeared more quickly than some of the others.\n\nI fed this to one cat who has been reluctant to eat wet food in the past. He finished the entire can pretty quickly the first time I gave it to him, so I gave him a second can the next day and he ate that one quickly, too. (You know how cats are: one day they're terribly excited about something and the next day they turn their noses up at it. So it was important to me to give it to this cat at least twice. If he ate it both times -- which he did -- that was my marker for success.) Other cats lined up to sniff and lick his food dish, so I guess the aroma and/or flavor appealed to them, as well.\n\nThe entire ingredients list is on the main product page. I'm not thrilled with all of the ingredients; I'll paste the first few here for discussion purposes (the rest of the components of this food consist of vitamin and mineral supplements):\n\nMeat Broth, Meat By-products, Beef, Wheat Gluten, Fish, Corn Starch-modified, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Soy Flour, Salt, Caramel Color\n\nEven though this is a beef-based food, supposedly, beef is only the third ingredient. This food also includes wheat, corn, and soy ingredients (which cats don't need, and which may not be good for some cats), as well as artificial colors.\n\nIn the end, cats really do like this. However, I'm not thrilled about the ingredients. As an occasional treat or food supplement for a HEALTHY cat, this would be fine. I'd be hesitant to feed it as a cat's entire diet. And, for what it's worth, if your cat has inflammatory bowel disease, this food would not be suitable. 3.5 stars.","Product: Multipet's Flea dog toy with squeaker designed to allow your dog to tug and enjoy this fun and playful plush toy.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: did not last super long although my dog thought it was awesome\n\nReview: I will start by saying that my current dog (an 84-pound Rottweiler) is the most destructive dog I have ever had when it comes to toys. So I did not have high expectations with respect to this toy. Which is good, because it did not last long. (This came in a dog subscription box.)\n\nThe only thing that saved me from having to pull stuffing out of my dog's mouth was that she couldn't decide which part she wanted to destroy first: the eyeball, which was apparently awesome for gnawing, the legs, which were easy to pull off, or the fur coating, which is what eventually led me to take this away from her (she pulled some off and started eating it). I do have to admit it was fun watching her work. (She was carefully supervised the whole time -- something I would recommend with any dog receiving a new toy.)\n\nNow, this toy is pretty cute (the back says \"bite me\") and my dog did LOVE it. I have the cat version and that one has held up much better (my cats are older and not very destructive). and other Multipet plush toys have done better for us. This one just wasn't very durable. If your dog is less destructive, it still may work (my last Rottie kept the same plush toys for YEARS).","Product: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Feline Probiotic Supplement contains a safe and effective strain of beneficial bacteria proven to promote normal intestinal microflora. FortiFlora is the #1 probiotic brand prescribed by veterinarians. The science behind our therapeutic products represents a collaboration between Purina nutritionists, researchers and veterinarians. Millward Brown Veterinary Tracker, 2016\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: worth a try, but not suitable for every cat\n\nReview: I have used this product on two cats. It was great for one of them and not so good for the other. I'll describe both their experiences and hopefully that will help you decide whether this product might be right for your own cat.\n\nMonkey: He is a lovely long-haired kitty with a tendency to get soft stools. I notice, because it gets stuck in his fur. There's not always an obvious cause for his problem -- he's resistant to eating anything other than his own food, and he never goes outside. But about a week of FortiFlora clears the problem right up, each and every time. There's been a time or two he's been on antibiotics, and FortiFlora has helped keep his stools firm then, too. He loves the taste and gets very excited whenever I get out one of the little packets. So it's been great for him.\n\nMouse: She was a sweet little short-haired gray tabby with a bad case of inflammatory bowel disease. We used this product for awhile, but it did not help. In fact, it may have made the problem worse. FortiFlora contains something called \"animal digest\" that is designed to enhance palatability (and seems to, in Monkey's case), but which is likely to contain some animal proteins that aggravate IBD symptoms. (If you are not familiar with feline IBD, many common proteins may trigger symptoms -- including, in some cases, chicken, pork, beef, turkey, etc. in addition to grains.)\n\nIn conclusion, if you have an otherwise healthy cat on a course of antibiotics or with occasional soft stools, you should definitely try FortiFlora. But if you have a cat with a food allergy or with IBD, you should probably not use it. Also, don't open the packets around your own food (the powder is light and can puff up a bit when you pour it out) and wash your hands after dispensing -- the bacterial strain is an Enterococcus one that you don't necessarily want in your own system.","Product: Mini 10-Inch Cottonblend Color 3 Knot Rope Tug. Made from premium cottonblend rope fibers. Rope fibers floss dogs' teeth as they chew and play. A tug shape great for creating interactive play. Great for petite dogs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: best when used for tugging (don't leave a dog alone to chew on it)\n\nReview: I have this in large although I probably could've gone with extra large (my dog is an approximately 83-pound Rottweiler). This is long enough to get a good tugging match going without your dog's jaws being right up against your hand (unless your dog is like mine and wants to chew on the end that is *in* your hand).\n\nAfter a couple of play sessions with my dog, this doesn't really have any loose threads. That already makes it better than the ones I can get at the local big box pet store, which my dog tends to shred quickly. I don't think this will last forever, but it is nice for my dog to have a toy she can play with more than once before I have to throw it away.\n\nThe rope I got seems strong. My dog will grab one end in her teeth and pull. She has incredible jaw strength -- she can pull me out of a chair if I am holding on to the other end and don't let go! So far this does not show any signs of coming apart (if it does very soon after I post the review, I'll update).\n\nI would only allow a dog to have this under supervision. It is more of a tugging/interactive toy than a chew toy. Overall I am very happy with it when using it as intended.","Product: Enjoy stress-free walks in the park with your dog, and help train your pet at the same time. The Gentle Leader Head collar is designed to let you communicate with your dog in a way he instinctively understands. It removes his natural tendency to pull on the leash by placing gentle pressure on calming points and eliminating uncomfortable pressure on the throat. No pain is involved, and the humane Gentle Leader never chokes. By reducing your pet's desire to pull away, the head collar helps combat lunging, jumping, excessive barking, and aggression. The supple nylon straps apply pressure at the back of the neck and front of the throat. It is not a muzzle, and your pet can use his mouth to eat, drink, bark, fetch, and pant. Ideal for dogs up to 5-pound and 8 weeks or older. Can be worn up to 18 hours per day. Includes easy-to-follow fitting instructions, abbreviated training guide, and comprehensive training DVD. Also converts to a regular collar after your dog's training is complete.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: has worked for two dogs with two different personalities\n\nReview: I originally bought the red Gentle Leader for my first Rottweiler, Jet (90 lbs). The use of these sorts of lead collars had been recommended to me by a trainer we'd hired to help with some of Jet's behavioral problems. As various lead collars wore out over the years (they don't last forever, but you usually get a couple of years of good use out of them), I tried other brands, but I prefer the Gentle Leader to the other brands.\n\nFirst of all, Gentle Leader prints dog weights on the packages instead of dog breeds (Halti makes a similar product but prints dog breeds on the package). This is important if you want to train a puppy, or if your dog is at the large end or the small end of the weight range for his or her breed, or if you have a mixed breed that doesn't fit any of the categories. You just couldn't use the same lead collar on a Rottie pup as you would on an adult Rottie. No amount of adjusting would make it fit.\n\nSecond, and perhaps this is just from long years of use of this particular brand, but I find the Gentle Leader easier to put on my dog than the other brands. What I do is take the nose loop and put it over my wrist, then snap the collar part around the dog's neck, then slide the nose loop over my dog's nose. (There is a DVD with training tips included in each package, though I've never actually bothered to watch it, since the trainer I hired back in the day showed me how to use the collar.)\n\nAt any rate, when Jet died last December, I tucked her Gentle Leader (this product I'm reviewing) away in a drawer. I got a new Rottweiler puppy in January, Nyx, and started her with a medium Gentle Leader. When she hit 60 pounds, the minimum weight for this product, I moved her up to this large one. Nyx's neck is going to be a bit bigger around than Jet's was, when Nyx is fully grown, but there is still plenty of room to adjust the neck part, and I think I'll be able to keep using this collar until it wears out.\n\nNyx and Jet had/have two very different personalities, but this has helped with both. Jet always wanted to run out in front of cars, so I'd root my feet into the ground and hold on to the leash, and this would keep her from darting out into traffic. (With such a big dog, it's best to use a thick nylon leash, and NOT a retractable one. A retractable leash would pretty much negate the effect of a Gentle Leader, anyway.) Nyx wants to play with much smaller dogs -- I don't think she realizes she's over 70 pounds at this point -- and I can use the Gentle Leader to keep her from jumping on them.\n\nIt is difficult for me to walk an adult Rottweiler (or a large, headstrong puppy) using only a leash attached to a regular neck collar. The Gentle Leader, however, reduces the amount of upper body strength required to retain a decent amount of control over the dog. (I am a woman with a fairly small frame.) I like the red color because it contrasts with the black Rottie snout fur, so I can easily see if the collar is on properly.\n\nThis type of collar is going to work best for dogs that don't have really flat faces, I think. Should be fine on your average Lab or Golden, definitely works on Rotties, etc. But if you have a bulldog or certain types of mastiffs or another similar breed, you may want to see if you can borrow a Gentle Leader or try one out before you buy.","Product: Designed with a limited number of premium protein and carbohydrate sources, this grain-free cat food is an excellent choice when seeking alternative ingredients for your cat. Our L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets ® Duck & Green Pea Canned Cat Formula is designed to support healthy digestion and to maintain skin and coat health—all while providing complete, balanced nutrition for all life stages! Product Highlights: Complete, Balance\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: may even work for cats with inflammatory bowel disease\n\nReview: I have a cat with inflammatory bowel disease. He can't have any grain, and he's supposed to eat only \"novel proteins\" (i.e., proteins he hasn't likely encountered before). It's also better for his condition if he has wet food instead of dry food. That leaves me with very few food options for him. And, unfortunately, lately we've had to tweak his medicine, which is affecting his appetite. So I wanted to have a couple of extra kinds of food around to tempt him on days when he's not all that hungry. This is one of the foods I bought to try out.\n\nThis has fish oil, which isn't ideal, but he seems to be tolerating it. Other than that, the proteins are all from venison and pea, which is great. This doesn't have a strong smell. It's kind of a sticky/pasty texture (pate-style), but the cat I'm feeding it to has dental issues and I usually blend it with water before feeding. Two of the 3 ounce cans are about the right amount to feed a large, inactive, somewhat older cat for a day (mine is about 14.5 pounds and 10 years old). This is a little bit less than recommended on the can, but like I said, my cat is pretty inactive and he's also overweight. The 3 ounce cans are the same size as Fancy Feast cans, so it may be difficult to find a lid to cover them with.\n\nThe cat who has been eating this likes it fairly well (by that, I mean he finishes it off quickly). I definitely intend to keep this around so I can vary his food on the days when he's a bit reluctant to eat. In general, I've had good luck with the Natural Balance brand (my dog also their canned and dry food and treats), and this product is no exception.","Product: Proviable for cats and dogs helps restore your pet's digestive system by reestablishing the proper balance of good microorganisms in the intestines. Proviable contains a multi-strain probiotic that ensures your pet's health when diarrhea is caused by antibiotics, stress, food sensitivities, dietary indiscretion or a weakened immune system.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: has been helping my dog with her GI issues\n\nReview: My dog has been having a lot of digestive issues lately. We had her on metronidazole and are doing a food trial (among other veterinary interventions). But my vet thought a probiotic would be a good addition. This is the one she gave me. This probiotic may be particularly good for animals with food sensitivities, because it doesn't contain any flavoring compounds (unlike, say, FortiFlora).\n\nYou can open the capsules and sprinkle this over the food or you can just have your dog swallow the capsule. I like to give this just before a meal and at least a few hours apart from any other medications (like the metronidazole my dog was formerly on). My dog has been on this for a few weeks and I do think it's helping. She's not quite at 100% yet, but she is getting better (and don't worry, we're keeping in close touch with the vet).\n\nThis contains a variety of bacterial strains and it is definitely working for my dog better than FortiFlora ever did. You can see the list of strains in one of the product images. (It also contains some prebiotics, which are supposed to help the bacterial strains flourish in the gut.) I also like that you don't need to refrigerate it; I just leave the box out on the counter as a reminder to give my dog a pill each day.\n\nThis might not solve all your pet's problems, but it has some advantages over competing products and it can definitely be helpful as part of an overall strategy. (The unit price on Amazon is somewhat lower than what my vet charges, too.)","Product: Heavy duty scoop for spot cleaning. Angled edges for cleaning corners. Perfect for cleaning ReptiSand or VitaSand.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: almost perfect sand scooper\n\nReview: I have a Russian tortoise and I use Vita Sand or Calci Sand as his cage substrate (depending on whatever is available and/or has the best price). That stuff isn't cheap, so in order to be able to use it for longer, I scoop the tortoise's waste out out periodically. I bought this scoop years ago and it's *almost* a perfect fit for my needs (good enough that I don't feel the need to find an alternate product).\n\nThe mesh is a perfect size to sift out solid waste and leftover food. I just scoop and then shake, and the clean sand falls back into the cage, while the larger waste material stays in the scoop. Then all I have to do is toss the waste into the trash.\n\nThe only reason I don't absolutely *love* this is that the black handle came off fairly soon after I purchased this. (Unfortunately, I've since lost it.) The scoop still works, but it's not as comfortable to hold. If I could go back in time, I'd probably just superglue the handle back on.","Product: With the PetSafe Spray Commander Remote Trainer's 2 levels of spray and tone only features, your dog will quickly learn the association between his behavior and your correction; in no time youll have a better behaved pet. At the push of a button, your remote sends a signal activating your dogs receiver collar up to 250 feet away. The Spray Commander Remote Trainer has been proven safe, comfortable, and effective for pets 8 pounds and up. Features: For dogs 8 pounds and up, Range up to 250 feet, 2 levels of tone correction: high and low sound, Tone-only button, 1 dog training only and Waterproof collar submersible up to 5 feet. System Includes: Receiver & adjustable strap, Remote transmitter, Citronella spray can, 2 6-volt batteries, Wrist strap, and Product manual. If this product is not meeting your needs, please contact PetSafe Brand. PetSafe brand has been an industry leading US manufacturer of pet behavior, containment and lifestyle products since 1991, helping millions of people and pets each year. Call, chat or email the PetSafe US-based customer care specialists six days a week.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: good training tool for a variety of issues\n\nReview: I had previously bought one of these being sold under another brand name and printed with a different logo. They don't last forever, sadly, and I recently had to replace my last one. When I got the new one, it appeared to be a nearly identical item to the other collar, just with a different logo. (Great news for me -- I didn't have to re-learn how to put batteries in, re-fill the spray, or anything else.)\n\nTwo small improvements bear mentioning: (1) mine came with a wrist strap for holding the remote (awesome for walks when I'm trying to manage a full-grown Rottweiler, house keys, and doggie pick-up bags at the same time) and (2) the adjustable collar is MUCH more secure than it used to be (I actually lost an earlier version due to the darned thing falling off my dog as I walked, which is not cool for something that costs almost $90).\n\nAt any rate, love the new collar and the wrist strap, and find this very easy to use. I actually don't use it to stop barking as my current Rottie doesn't bark. What she does do, is pick up things off the ground when we walk. She loves sticks and pinecones and leaves and rocks and all sorts of other things that I don't want her to swallow and that I got tired of digging out of her mouth. (Once she picked up a vertebra, which I assume came from meat of some sort. Yuck.) So whenever she picks something up, I simply spray her and she drops it instantly. She learned this quickly and it's a highly effective training tool. (I've used this type of item, although not this particular item listing, to control barking in the past, as well, with a different dog.)\n\nUpdate: I haven't actually had to spray my dog for several months. She has effectively learned not to pick things up outside.\n\nIf you're at your wits' end when it comes to some bad doggie behavior, you might want to give one of these a try.","Product: OurPets Cosmic Catnip has been grown to achieve the strongest, most aromatic catnip ever produced! When catnip is pinched, the aroma stored in the dried leaves is released, driving cats wild! Catnip is a 100% natural herb that stimulates a harmless, playful reaction in most cats. The action of a cat playing with this catnip-stuffed toy will release an energizing aroma for long-lasting play.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cats really seem to like it; a bit on the large side\n\nReview: I received this in a cat subscription box. I forget which one (maybe Purr Packs?). Anyway, this was a hit with several of my cats. Now, my cats are a bit on the older side (ages 7, 8, 9, and 11 -- I think, since all are rescues). But the 7-year-old and 9-year-old particularly enjoyed this.\n\nThis is a pretty big toy by cat toy standards and is probably just at the upper limit of what my cats typically like. It is big enough for them to roll around biting it and also get a good grip with their back claws (or in some cases, their front claws). I am guessing the catnip is pretty strong, which is great, especially since this is not enclosed in any way but is just attached to a cardboard backing (i.e., exposed to air). We have had good luck with this brand of toys, in general.\n\nAlso, of course the feathers are very popular because my cats ALL love feathers. And so far, the feathers are still attached to the top of the toy, even though my cats have had access to it for a few days. So this is pretty durable.\n\nAnyway, this has pretty much everything I look for in a cat toy -- good catnip, durability, feathers, and the cats like it. If my entire bedroom floor wasn't covered in cat toys, I'd buy another one!","Product: Multipet's Empty Nester 18-inch pheasant dog toy with squeakers that contains no stuffing.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: strong stitching, love that it has no stuffing, but my dog was still able to destroy it\n\nReview: I have the pheasant.\n\nI love the idea of this -- a squeaky toy without any stuffing. Because my dog finds the weak spot in ANY toy and starts ripping out (and eating) stuffing. She is too quick for me sometimes. (For what it's worth, it has at least two squeakers.)\n\nHowever, this did not last long. After maybe five minutes, my dog had punctured the outside fabric near the squeaker that rests near the base of the tail, so I had to take it away. It was sad to have to do so, because she did really love it. A lot. (Maybe a little too much.) In the toy's defense, the stitching held up -- no parts were pulled off, at least.\n\nIf your dog is less destructive or you are more worried about stuffing coming out, this could work for you. It is a cute idea, for sure. But if your dog regularly destroys things within a few minutes, this probably isn't worth getting.","Product: The only dog treat made with organic wheatgrass\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: dog likes them and they seem fine for sensitive stomachs\n\nReview: This review is for the beef flavor, since several products are listed on the same page. My dog likes these. I give her 2 or 3 pieces as an alternative to hard dog biscuits, on occasion. As with many new treats, it took her a little while to figure out what they were, but once she understood, she began to get excited whenever I reached for the bag.\n\nThese are maybe 1 inch square, but they're soft enough you could break them down into smaller pieces if you wanted. (I don't need to break them down, as my dog weighs 95 pounds. But the option is there.) I love that they're grain free, since my dog seems to have trouble digesting grains (wheat grass is gluten free, for what it's worth). I also like that the only preservatives are natural (i.e., mixed tocopherols, or vitamin E).\n\nThese are made in the US (very important to check when it comes to pet treats, especially jerky-based ones). These have wheat grass powder, which is supposed to decrease a dog's tendency to chew on outdoor grass (which may be chemically treated). My dog does not naturally have a tendency to chew on grass (she's more interested in chasing squirrels) so I can't speak as to that aspect of these treats. I will say that sometimes she has a sensitive stomach, but she's been having a few of these a day for awhile now, and she isn't having any digestive issues. I think the fact that these are about 90% meat without a lot of additional filler makes these easier on her. Definitely interested in trying some of the other flavors.","Product: Proviable For Cats and Dogs is a multi-strain probiotic containing live beneficial microorganisms that restore the intestinal microfloral balance. Proviable helps reestablish a healthy digestive system for pets with diarrhea resulting from compromised immune systems, dietary indiscretions, antibiotic use, food sensitivities and stresses due to travel and kenneling.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: greatly helped my IBD cat after surgery\n\nReview: I am using this for a cat. My vet recommended it.\n\nHere is the situation: I have a 12.5-year-old cat with inflammatory bowel disease. He can't have anything with added flavors. He recently had eye surgery to remove something called a corneal sequestrum. This surgery requires general anesthesia. I had to keep him fasted for around 12-16 hours before the surgery. He does not do well without food for a long period of time because of his IBD. So anyway, his system was all messed up after the surgery. He would eat, then immediately run to the litterbox and have a loose bowel movement. His digestive system is pretty fragile and we didn't want him to get dehydrated. He is also stressed from his e-collar and from the new kitten I got a couple of weeks ago (before I knew he needed surgery). We also didn't want to have to increase his IBD medications, since those can halt the progression of healing of the eye ulcer left behind by the surgery.\n\nAnyway, he's been on this for about two days now. He gets about 1 mL of the paste per day. (I say \"about\" because I am not finding it so easy to distribute. It sticks to the syringe. Because it is flavorless and a little gritty, the cat doesn't enjoy it so much. I am currently having an easier time just putting the paste on my finger and then wiping it on his tongue, followed by a little water from a syringe to help him get it down.) His stools are already better after two days (not 100% back to where they were but definitely much improved). The paste contains some prebiotics (substances that help probiotic bacteria really take root in the gut) and fiber to firm the stools.\n\nI am also giving him one of the capsules every night. I have found that animals don't like the capsules opened and sprinkled on their food (my dog, who also has IBD, takes one capsule per day as well, and has been for years). So I just give it to him like I would any other pill. (I am pretty good at giving pills to cats.) I do this right before one of his meals. I think that makes sure the pill goes all the way down his esophagus without issue.\n\nThis is not going to keep IBD symptoms under control, although it helps. There is nothing in the paste that makes me think it would be unsafe to give over a longer time than the 48-72 hours recommended on the package. If your pet has really watery diarrhea, you may want to get an additional medication from the vet (mine was going to try Reglan if thi product didn't help, but the Reglan turned out not to be necessary), as well as having your pet checked for dehydration (and subcutaneous fluids given, if necessary). But for small incidents like post-surgery GI upset, or after the end of a course of antibiotics, this can really help get things back to normal.\n\nFor what it's worth, because this does not have added flavors, while animals may not like the taste, it is safe to give to animals with IBD and food allergies.","Product: Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health is a Seed-Based Blend of Fresh, Palatable Seeds, Grains and Fortified Supplements that provides the essential nutrients your pet needs for a long, healthy life. Rich in Natural Antioxidants - for general health and immune support Probiotics and Prebiotics -Natural ingredients that aid in digestive health Naturally Preserved - for ideal freshness Enhances feathers and coloring\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cockatiels are pretty healthy with this as their main food\n\nReview: I have two cockatiels, a male and a female; I got them as rescues and so I'm not sure how old they are, but I'd guess somewhere between 13 and 16 years of age. I have tried all kinds of food with them, including fresh veggies, sugar-free cereals, pellets, etc. This is the one they seem to like best.\n\nI like that this has only a low level of sunflower seeds, as my birds don't seem to care for those (but they appear in every cockatiel food I've seen in some amount). I also like that there aren't too many pellet pieces, as my birds won't eat those either. So there's less waste with this.\n\nAlso, my birds are pretty healthy. They have all their feathers, the feathers look good, and they maintain pretty constant weights. Their beaks and nails don't get overgrown and are not brittle, so it doesn't appear they have any nutritional deficiencies.\n\nSo, since my birds (1) seem to like this food and (2) remain healthy while eating this food, I'm happy with it! (For what it's worth, the price here is competitive with -- maybe slightly better than -- major pet store chains in my area.) I do wish you could reclose the bag, though. If you're worried about freshness, get a storage container.","Product: Made of all-natural Rubber, fun toy to hide treats. Helps clean dogs teeth and gums. :.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: of medium durability when given to a super heavy chewer\n\nReview: I received this in a dog subscription box recently (this is a review for the 4-inch toy; my dog is an 86 pound Rottweiler, for reference). My dog has inflammatory bowel disease so I opted not to put a treat inside the mouth (though it would be excellent for a bone or hard biscuit type of treat, especially one the dog had to work at to get it out of there), but my dog likes pretty much any toy, ever, including hard rubber ones, so I just let her have this as-is.\n\nThis was size-appropriate for a large breed dog (she couldn't fit the whole thing in her mouth, although she tried), did not have any sort of plastic or chemical smell, and is easy to clean.\n\nOn the plus side, she thought this was pretty awesome. She wouldn't let me have it back. After five minutes, she seemed like she was not managing to destroy it (this is usually more than enough time to tell, with her), so I left her alone for awhile.\n\nA half hour or so after that, I went back, and she had eaten the upper lip. Just maybe 1 millimeter or so of rubber, and she had not removed any of the teeth, but I have thus learned that with determined gnawing, this toy can, in fact, be destroyed.\n\nIf your dog can have treats, your dog will probably be more focused on the treats than on eating the rubber (don't worry, it passed through my dog and is now out in the yard somewhere). If your dog is not super destructive, this will be fine. On the other hand, if your dog is a determined heavy chewer, you will want to supervise closely and this may need to be taken away after awhile.","Product: These batteries are made for the following: Canon AE-1,Canon A1,Mamiya 645 Pro TL,Mamiya RZ67 PRO II,Pentax 67,Yashica FR II,Minox 35 ML,Zenith (Zenith)Cameras,Canon AV-1,Bronica SQ-B,INNOTEK Dog Collars\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: good option for remote-controlled dog training collars\n\nReview: Please note: This review is going to be quite similar to my review of the Vinnic batteries of the same size and type. The reason is that I have used both products and feel that they are interchangeable (of similar/equal quality). I usually compare prices at the time I need to buy more, and purchase whichever happens to be less expensive that day.\n\nI have been using a dog training collar for several years now. Previously, I was regularly frustrated at how short a time batteries seemed to last (two weeks). Nonetheless, the training collar was working, so I would keep going to Target and buying Energizer batteries. Then, the Target near me stopped carrying this size of batteries. I tried one of those batteries-only stores, where the clerk said I should use some \"premium\" Energizer batteries, and that those would last longer. Well, those things were $4 or $5 apiece and, in fact, didn't last any longer. I was nearly at my wits' end (my last dog barked A LOT and I was concerned the neighbors would report me or something).\n\nSo, I decided to go poking around on Amazon, and I found these batteries. The price was right, and I figured I wouldn't be out all that much if they didn't work. Well, they DID work, for at least the same amount of time as the Energizer ones, and for a whole lot less in terms of cost.\n\nMy first dog, for whom I was originally using a training collar that took these batteries, eventually passed away. Fast forward a couple of months. I got a puppy, she grew and grew, and finally she was big enough to inherit my old dog's training collar. This particular puppy's issue is picking things up off the ground that she shouldn't while we're out walking. I use a quick spray to get her to drop whatever it is that she's found.\n\nMy puppy has learned quickly and I don't need to spray her too often anymore. That means the batteries are lasting at least 3-4 weeks, if not longer. If you have a dog needing very little correction, you won't have to change the batteries often. If you have a stubborn barker, you may get a little less time out of them.\n\nTip: If you have the type of training collar I do (remote controlled spray collar), I find that the batteries in the remote don't get used up as fast as the batteries in the collar itself. So try replacing only the collar battery, instead of both at once, to get a little more life out of the ones in the remote.\n\nAlso, the bottom line is that these training collars just eat batteries quickly. Might as well buy inexpensive batteries, and I've been quite pleased with these. (I have not had occasion to use these batteries in any other devices, but based on Amazon's \"frequently bought together\" feature, my guess is that a lot of other people use them pretty much for the same purpose I do!)","Product: Powerful dogs wish for tough chew toys! Made with tough, durable nylon and a textured surface for extra chewing fun, the Power Chew DuraChew Textured Chicken chew toy is the long-lasting chew toy you need for your aggressive chewer. This extra-large dog chew keeps dogs busy, satisfies their natural urge to chew, and encourages positive chewing habits. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar buildup.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: one of my dog's favorites\n\nReview: I have a hyperactive, two-year-old Rottweiler (about 95 pounds right now). She chews and chews and chews and has destroyed nearly every toy I've given her. I like some of the smaller, white Nylabone bones, but she can get the whole ends of those in her mouth and she uses them up too fast. I went looking for something much larger, but made of a material with the same basic texture and flavor -- hopefully, something that would last much longer.\n\nI am pleased to say that the DuraChew bone seems to be working. She can get the end in her mouth if she really stretches her jaw, but it's much harder for her to destroy the whole end. She works on this constantly and hasn't managed to mar the surface very much yet. This is already doing better than the smaller, white ones -- and I LIKE those.\n\nShe's raised a few little grooves and edges; this is to be expected and is explained on the back of the package. Thankfully, due to the texture of the bone, there are no sharp parts, even after she's been chewing on it for a couple of months. (Actually, this is her second or third bone like this. Once I find a toy she can't destroy in 10 minutes, I just keep buying new ones when the old ones get thrown out.)\n\nI currently let her have it 100% of the time (even unsupervised). As with any dog toy, supervise your dog carefully the first several times s/he plays with it. If it becomes too damaged, you should take it away.","Product: Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Soft Gels products are an excellent source of the important omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. EPA and DHA help support skin and coat health, joint health, heart health, immune system health, cellular health, and brain and eye development and maintenance. Daily supplementation with Omega-3 Pet Soft Gels products is a proactive way to help maintain overall health for your dog companion. All Nordic Naturals pet products are made with the same exceptional quality oil as our human products, but have been specially formulated for dogs or cats. Please use only our pet products for your dog or cat, not our human products. Please refer to the product label for additional information and guidelines. Omega-3 Pet Soft Gels products should be used within two years of opening.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: have worked even though my dog has digestive issues; start slow and increase the dosage gradually\n\nReview: My dog has inflammatory bowel disease. I've tried other fish oil products with her but there were always gastrointestinal issues. Lately, though, as an effect of long-term prednisone use (this is what controls her IBD), she is starting to get a skin condition, with lots of flaking and crusting and general dry skin. Medicated shampoo helps, but it doesn't solve all her problems. So my vet recommended we try an omega 3 supplement again. This is the one I bought.\n\nAccording to the package directions, my dog can have 4 pills a day. I started her at one pill every 3 days, then every other day, and now we are on to one pill every day. The reason for this slow introduction was not to disturb the delicate balance that is her digestive system, since we have her IBD under control for the moment. I actually would recommend a slow introduction to any dog, even a healthy one, as too much oil added too fast can cause temporary GI issues.\n\nAnyway, after a few weeks on a low dose of this, my dog still does not have digestive trouble, but her skin condition is slowly improving. She had had this sore in her mouth that would bleed when she chewed on toys. The vet says it is from her having dry skin. But, she's had new toys for three days in a row and no bleeding, so her mouth is better. She also had some crusty spots around her neck and face and those are starting to go away (to be fair, she is also on an antibiotic for pyoderma). I feel confident enough so far that pretty soon I am going to add in additional pills.\n\nI give this once a day with food. These are quite large (probably should be considered \"horse pills\") but not too difficult for my dog to swallow. (She is an 84 pound Rottweiler, though. This might be difficult for a smaller dog to handle, though you could break open the softgels and spread over food or something, as an alternative method of administration.) They don't smell too bad and I have not been keeping them in the refrigerator. If your dog has joint pain (mine had torn ligaments in both knees last year) and is on a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement, I've seen research (peer reviewed in a scientific journal, not just random stuff someone posted online) that suggests taking such a supplement in combination with an omega 3 may be much more effective. (My dog is on a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement although I haven't yet seen the synergetic effects of the two supplements.)\n\nAnyway, I've been very happy with these and my dog can tolerate them, so I will definitely be buying again.","Product: Mighty dog toys rethink durability and approach it from a new angle. Durability is created for each toy with multiple layers of flexible materials that move with the dogs teeth instead of tearing. Compared to other toys, Mighty dog toys have no hard edges. The result is these toys do not promote chewing great when youre trying to discourage chewing habits. These toys may seem plush on the outside, but all the durability features are internal making these toys soft, yet MIGHTY strong. Please be a responsible dog owner and only allow your dog to play with the toy under supervision. Do not allow your pet to ingest any portion of the toy.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: dog loved it but it is not nearly as durable as claimed\n\nReview: I received this (the lion, in the Jr. size) in a subscription box. My dog loves plush toys. Now, they never last long with her. But this was described as being pretty durable. So I figured I would let her try it out, under close supervision.\n\nNaturally, she was quite excited by it. I wasn't sure if it had a squeaker or not, but it does. (I can't always find the squeaker. My dog totally can.) She held it in her mouth for a bit but then she started working at the legs. And she had one of the back legs off in just a few minutes.\n\nSo this is not nearly as durable as claimed. The weak points were exactly where I expected them to be -- the legs and tail.\n\nIf your dog is a power chewer, stay away from this. If you are concerned about pieces of toys being swallowed, stay away from this. This is also pretty small and is probably better suited to a small to medium sized dog (at least in the Jr. size -- I haven't seen the larger size up close for a comparison).","Product: Wahl's Cord/Cordless Pet Clipper is everything you need for grooming your dog with the convenience of cord free operation. The clipper comes with detachable blades for easy cleaning. The blades are specifically designed for animal hair. Wahl's PowerDrive motor give you the ability to cut though the thickest coats.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: definitely got rid of lots of hair, though didn't give a particularly close shave for my cat\n\nReview: I have four cats and one of them has very long, fine hair. He's decided to stop grooming himself (he goes to the vet regularly and she says some middle-aged male cats are just like that) and he gets really big knots of fur. Also, he had the most massive hairball of all time recently. It took him a few days to eliminate it and he acted so sick while it was still in his stomach that I spent $350 at the vet on X-rays and bloodwork. So, seeing as it was a problem that stemmed from his incredible amount of hair, I decided to try to give him a haircut and I bought this.\n\nI plugged this in for 24 hours to charge. It did not have an indicator light to tell me when it was done charging; sort of wish it would have. However, that was about a month ago and I've been using this maybe twice a week since then and the original charge is still good. I like that you can also run this with the cord plugged in. I feel like, in general, devices with both cords and internal rechargeable batteries are a bit more powerful, and that holds true for this shaver. This comes with a small amount of oil for the blades. I use it each time and there is still plenty left.\n\nThe noise level is not bad. It doesn't scare the cat when I'm shaving him (really a 2-person job, and that's for a laid-back cat). The other cats actually all came over to see what was going on. Yes, it does make noise, but it's the type of noise you'd expect and it's not terribly loud.\n\nThere are four blade guides/guards for different lengths of finished hair. I started with the maximum one and went down to the smallest, which is said to be about 1/8 inch. Unfortunately, my cat's hair is not 1/8 inch long now, it's still maybe 1/2 inch. I think this may be because the shaver has a bit of difficulty handling such wispy, fine hairs. I have definitely gotten a LOT of hair off my cat, though, and he's had fewer problems with hairballs as a result. (The shaver also comes with a pair of scissors. I use those to cut out the biggest clumps, first, so the shaver has an easier time of things.)\n\nWould definitely recommend brushing/combing after shaving, as the simple act of using the shaver seems to loosen a lot of hair, as well.\n\nIn the end, I'm basically happy with this. I've reduced the amount of my cat's hair to a more manageable level. One charge lasts a long time. The cat doesn't mind it so much (though he can only take maybe 5-10 minutes at a time before I give up). I just wish I could get a little bit of a closer shave. If you're going to use it on a cat, though, it's best to use it for a fairly easygoing cat...","Product: KONG Squiggles are stretchy, floppy, squeaky fun for dogs and their owners. These colorful toys come in an assortment of four cute characters and feature a long, stretchy body, plus squeakers at both ends. Designed with minimal stuffing for minimal mess.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: dog loved it, the stretchy part was a wonderful feature, but she destroyed part of the elephant head quickly\n\nReview: I have the elephant one. Or rather, I HAD the elephant one. I got it in a subscription box (forget which one, as I receive like 10 dog subscription boxes). My dog thought it was awesome. Now, she is not picky -- she thinks just about every toy is awesome. So, this is more a review about how it held up.\n\nFor reference, my dog is an 83 pound Rottweiler. She is super destructive. Her main way of destroying toys is to hold down one part of the toy under her front paws/legs and pull up with her teeth on another part of the toy. So there is one thing about the design of this toy that is great -- since it stretches, and it stretches quite a bit, she can't pull bits off by her usual method. But she still tried to do so, so it kept her entertained.\n\nAfter awhile, she started working on the elephant ears, and it wasn't too long (5 minutes, which is actually not bad for *my* dog) before she had a hole in one of them so I had to take it away. She did not damage the body or the ball end. She actually didn't deactivate the squeakers, either.\n\nIf I could change one thing about this toy (to increase my rating), I think I would just give it two ball ends with no ears/trunk/etc. It is not as cute, but the appearance of dog toys is mostly to please humans -- the dogs don't care whether it is a purple elephant or a long blue tube. I think it would last much longer without all the cute animal facial features.","Product: Catit Eco Terra Toys are made from all-natural materials such as linen, raffia, and cornhusk. These cat toys are designed to engage your cat's natural instincts and provide your pet with hours of chasing, pouncing and playing fun. Catit Eco Terra Toys use minimal recycled packaging to further reduce the ecological footprint. The Catit Eco Terra Toys are a great way to entice your cat while promoting exercise and activity.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my 11-month-old kitten thought these were great\n\nReview: I got these in a cat subscription box. I have five cats so most subscription box items, though surprises, are wins for someone in the household. These were absolutely AWESOME according to my 11-month-old kitten. (One of my older cats also likes the texture of these, but isn't as playful just because of his age.)\n\nI would toss one of these on the floor and the kitten would bat it everywhere. He would pick these up in his mouth, shake them, oss them into the air, pounce on them, etc. He only stopped playing with them because I had to take them upstairs since I was letting the dog out and I didn't want the dog to eat them (they are pretty small, about the size of your average catnip mouse).\n\nSo far, after a couple of days, mine are still in good shape. For whatever reason, my cat prefers to play with them on a hardwood floor (I guess they slide better there than on carpet). Of course you should always monitor the condition of cat toys and take anything away that looks like it is about to fall apart. Please note: these do not rattle. As far as I can tell, they are hollow inside. They are pretty lightweight.\n\nAnyway, if you have a younger cat, especially, or one who likes to play with small toys, these are worth checking out.","Product: The Catit Scratching Board with Catnip provides your cat with a corrugated scratching surface, while helping to protect your furniture from claw damage. A cat's need to scratch is instinctive. It helps them to sharpen and remove the dead outer layer of their claws, stretch and flex their bodies and work off energy. Catnip is included and by using the Catit Scratching Board, you are helping your cat stay active and healthy.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cats love them and they seem to be good quality\n\nReview: This review is for the large scratchers. I bought three of these recently. I'm very happy with the purchase and will no doubt be ordering a few more quite soon.\n\nThese are large enough for a full grown cat to sit on. I've put a couple of these scratchers in my dining room windows (the windows reach down to the floor) and various cats (I have five) enjoy sitting on these and looking out the window for most of the afternoon. The scratchers are also big enough that, even on a relatively smooth floor (my dining room has hardwood floors), a large cat (12+ pounds) scratching at one of these doesn't make it move across the floor. I've also put one upstairs on carpet and the cats like sitting there (and scratching it) too.\n\nThese come with a little packet of catnip and I guess it is good catnip. The cats seem enthusiastic, anyway. It takes quite a lot of vigorous scratching to do much damage to these, and you can always just flip the insert over for a fresh surface, so they last a pretty long time. (You can also add your own catnip to refresh from time to time.) Plus, most importantly, having these around helps keep my cats from scratching the upstairs carpet or the expensive dining room rug.\n\nIn the end, my cats are happy and I am happy so these were a definite win!","Product: High animal protein, grain-free recipe guided by our belief in raw, Instinct Original Real Lamb Recipe unlocks your cat's potential to thrive.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: good choice for IBD cats (and other cats like it too!)\n\nReview: I have a cat with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). His case is mild, and the only symptom was unexplained weight loss. After extensive (and expensive!) testing, we got the IBD diagnosis. Cats with this condition are notoriously picky, difficult to get to eat, etc. Vets will often recommend that cats with IBD have only wet food with no grain, and I've been told to keep this cat off chicken, turkey, beef, fish, and pork, as well, in case one of those aggravates his condition.\n\nHe was eating a prescription duck food for awhile, but started refusing it. I was running out of cat foods to try and had been holding out on getting the Instinct because of the price. (For what it's worth, Amazon has the best price I've been able to find on this product, and I've done a lot of shopping around.)\n\nI finally gave in and decided to try the lamb formula because it did not have any other proteins in it (the venison and rabbit contain pork liver and the duck contains turkey liver).\n\nWell, my cat (Mr. Kitty) loves the Instinct lamb. This is a high-calorie food -- about 260 calories per 5.5 ounce can. Mr. Kitty gets one and a half cans a day, or about 390 calories. Please be forewarned that that is a LOT more than you would want to give a cat in good health and/or at normal weight, but Mr. Kitty has lost 1.5 pounds and I'm trying to bring his weight back up. (His appetite is increased because of a medication he's on.)\n\nI am very happy with this food. All wet cat food smells a little bit, but the Instinct lamb doesn't smell very much compared to some of the others I've tried on my cats in recent months. You see broth and fat when you open the can, but these seem to have attractive flavors for Mr. Kitty. The lamb is a little crumbly although the moisture level is not particularly low compared to what I feed another of my cats (75% for Instinct lamb versus 78% for Merrick Cowboy Cookout).\n\nThe texture is also good for cats with tooth problems, for what it's worth. This food appears to be all meat, and none of those weird processed composite chunks you see in other wet cat foods. (Mr. Kitty has terrible teeth -- had six of them removed last month -- so this is a concern.) I do mash it up as it tends to retain the shape of the can. If I am taking it out of the refrigerator, I will heat it in the microwave for about 15 seconds, as Mr. Kitty seems to like that temperature better.\n\nMy other cats are jealous of Mr. Kitty! I do wish this food came in a package that contained more than 12 cans, though.\n\nUpdate, January 11, 2013: Mr. Kitty has gained 0.4 pounds in about two weeks, eating 1.5 cans of this food per day. (He's also on prednisolone.) For an IBD cat, this is amazing, and is exactly what I wanted!","Product: Oh joy. Your lovely pet made a crazy mess. No, seriously--oh joy! Because now you can reach for OUT! Orange Oxy Stain and Odor Remover! The powerful oxidizing formula is so effective, you will watch in amazement as stains and odors completely vanish. Tough stains, too. Were talking urine, vomit, feces, and blood. And those odors? Neutralized. Not covered up. Neutralized. Your pet wont be tempted by a lingering aroma to revisit and resoil the same areas. And best of all, its safe around pets and children, when used as directed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: my new spot cleaner for puppy messes\n\nReview: I think more than half of my recent reviews have been about products for cleaning up dog urine! I've tried multiple carpet sprays and this is my current favorite for dog urine. (I have a 5-month-old puppy who is not fully house-trained. Since she weighs 50 pounds, she has a big bladder...)\n\nOne thing I like about this spray is the orange scent. It's not overpowering, but it does provide some immediate odor control.\n\nAnother thing I like about this product is that it contains hydrogen peroxide, which reacts with biological substances to produce a foam (essentially just bubbles). This means it should be good for cleaning up blood stains, as well. (Before you go thinking the wrong thing, right now my puppy is teething and she therefore bleeds from the mouth occasionally when she loses a puppy tooth.) There's something psychological about the foaming that makes me feel like this product is really cleaning, as opposed to a spray that just sits on the carpet. The presence of the foam helps me to remember where to wipe up after I've let this sit for awhile.\n\nIn case you are concerned, this does not appear to bleach carpet. I use it on a fairly dark-colored carpet, and the color has stayed the same, even though the carpet was cheap and I have used the spray in the same area multiple times. (You would still want to test a small area to be safe.) At least with small urine stains, it's pretty good at getting rid of the odor. It seems to work with feces odors and stains, as well.\n\nThe reason I took off one star is because of the bottle design -- it is hard to dispense about the last 1/3 using the trigger spray. I have to tilt the bottle to spray onto a horizontal surface (i.e., the floor) and the bottle design is such that the tube inside that picks up liquid is no longer immersed in the liquid when the bottle is tilted and less than 1/3 full. So no liquid comes out. Because the bottle is opaque, you can't manipulate it to make sure the tube is still in the liquid. My solution has been to buy a new bottle, then when it gets low, refill with the leftovers from the first bottle. A pain, to be sure, but it's a good enough product that I will continue to use it.","Product: Fresh Breath Mint Stick freshens kittys breath and helps remove soft tartar from teeth! Filled with 100% sweet smelling mint to freshen breath as kitty chews, there are no fillers in this toy. Mint is a cousin of catnip and is appealing to most cats. Press and roll center to release more minty scent. Unique netting will not unravel and helps floss kittys teeth.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cats love it, but they don't chew on it...\n\nReview: OK, so my cats love this thing. One of my cats, who usually doesn't respond to catnip toys, just had the best time rolling all over this on the floor. She looked positively blissful. Another one licked it until it was wet (this is his standard response to catnip toys). And so forth.\n\nHowever, they're not chewing on the part that's supposed to help freshen their breath and remove tartar from their teeth. Also, there's not really a way for a cat to get this to the back teeth, which have usually been the worst when I've had cats get actual dental cleanings.\n\nThis appears to be well-made (the one I have has been through some pretty rough times these past few days) and is a good size for either a small or a large cat. You may want to cut the tags off before giving it to your cat. As a catnip toy, I'd give this 5 stars. As a dental toy, I'd give it 3. I suppose that averages out to 4.","Product: A piece of the special lure from Cat Dancer and a brightly colored piece of fleece combine in a cat's imagination to create irresistible play, chase and fun.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: two of four cats were pretty interested in these\n\nReview: I got a couple of these in a cat subscription box. My cats are fans of the regular Cat Dancer but I put it out of reach somewhere and forgot where so they haven't seen it for awhile. I was hoping these would be a good substitute. It wasn't quite the same, but they did seem to have fun.\n\nMy cats did like these. I have four cats and at least two of them played with these toys. One really liked biting the twine part. We played tug-of-war with it and had a lot of fun. She tossed it around quite a bit on her own, as well. Another cat was more interested in the fabric but he likes to lick fabric with interesting textures. I figure, two out of four liking the toys is a pretty good ratio since my cats are all older (ages 8, 9, 10 or 11, and 12).\n\nThese seemed well made. My calico was pretty violent with them (she's the one I tugged with) and they were in the same sort of shape after a vigorous play session as before. I feel like I would be safe leaving my cats alone with these.","Product: Halo uses real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and NO \"meat meal\" of ANY kind in our natural cat food. We also have cat food options for special diets, including kitten food, indoor cat food, sensitive stomach cat food, and senior cat food. At Halo, WHOLE Makes a Whole Lot of Difference is the philosophy that drives our holistic approach to ingredient sourcing, recipes, nutritional value, the welfare of ALL animals, and our overall mission to change the way companion animals are fed and farm animals are raisedfor the better!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: high quality food, but my cats aren't absolutely crazy about it (they will eat it, though)\n\nReview: I try to feed all of my cats wet food, but am not always successful. (Having had two cats with inflammatory bowel disease and seeing how much better wet food is for cats has been the motivation to at least try.) One of my current non-IBD cats prefers beef. She had been eating Merrick Cowboy Cookout but they changed the formula of that and it started making her throw up occasionally. So I went looking for an alternative.\n\nI have heard good things about the Halo brand so I decided to try it. I wish they had a plain beef version but the only variety I could find was beef and chicken. (As a side note -- I wish there were more single-protein cat foods, so that if another of my cats ever develops IBD, there are some proteins he or she hasn't had that I can experiment with for feeding purposes. So many cat foods with beef combine it with duck, venison, etc. -- I want to reserve these proteins for possible future use. At any rate, I figured beef and chicken was not a bad combination since all of my cats have had chicken before, so I wouldn't be putting anything \"novel\" off limits to them.)\n\nThis is a pate-style food with some visually identifiable pieces of vegetable in it (mostly peas and carrots). I've offered it to my three non-IBD cats (this is not a suitable food for IBD cats due to the presence of chicken, although I do appreciate that it is grain free since cats' digestive systems cannot properly process grains). They have all sniffed at it. They have all eaten at least a little on different days. This, in itself, is worthy of a pretty high rating. But they don't love it and I occasionally find bits left in the bowl. So my search is probably not over yet. (For what it's worth, this has *not* made any of them throw up. So that's good. Also, the smell level is not too bad for wet cat food, and it's easy to clean the remnants out of the bowl.)\n\nI'd suggest trying a few cans first and seeing if your cat will eat this on more than one day, before committing to a whole case. If your cat likes it, it *is* a high quality food.","Product: Tempt your cat's taste buds with two of her favorite flavors in Purina Fancy Feast Delights Grilled Whitefish & Cheddar Cheese Feast in Gravy cat food, and delight in her dash to her dish the moment you bring out the can. It's the details that matter most in life, and this delicious offering is infused with a cat-approved favorite: savory cheddar cheese. The tender bites of slow-grilled whitefish offer the texture cats crave, and a classic savory gravy ensures her bowl is licked clean. A delightful change from the ordinary, this flavorful wet cat food provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for cats from kitten to adult. Essential vitamins and minerals help support her health for an active life of chasing yarn or cuddling. You're always looking for new ways to engage your cat's curiosity, and this Purina Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar recipe offers an exciting mix of texture and taste for a healthy, delectable way to show your cat how much you love her.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cats like it, but has some ingredients I don't care for\n\nReview: I feel like I've reviewed 10 different cat foods lately. I'm trying to switch two reluctant cats over to wet food; it's supposed to be easier to digest and to provide moisture to cats that don't drink enough water. I figure I'll try a whole bunch of different kinds and assess texture and flavor preferences, then settle on something and begin the transition away from kibble.\n\nThese Fancy Feast with cheese foods have proven to be quite popular with my cats. Today and yesterday, I tried the turkey with cheddar on one of my cats. He kept trying to stick his head in the can before I could even get his food in the bowl. He ate it quickly (he seems to like foods like this one, with real meat pieces, the best) both the first and second days I gave it to him. Can't ask for more than that. (The other kitties investigated -- and licked -- his bowl afterwards, so that's even more feline approval.)\n\nOne thing I don't care for, though, is that this food has both wheat gluten and soy ingredients in it. Cats really don't need either of these. And if your cat has inflammatory bowel disease, this is probably not a good food to feed it. However, for a healthy cat, this would be all right as a part of the diet at least a couple of times a week. (I think it's the cheese that my cats love so much...)","Product: Tempt your cat's taste buds with two of her favorite flavors in Purina Fancy Feast Delights Grilled Whitefish & Cheddar Cheese Feast in Gravy cat food, and delight in her dash to her dish the moment you bring out the can. It's the details that matter most in life, and this delicious offering is infused with a cat-approved favorite: savory cheddar cheese. The tender bites of slow-grilled whitefish offer the texture cats crave, and a classic savory gravy ensures her bowl is licked clean. A delightful change from the ordinary, this flavorful wet cat food provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for cats from kitten to adult. Essential vitamins and minerals help support her health for an active life of chasing yarn or cuddling. You're always looking for new ways to engage your cat's curiosity, and this Purina Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar recipe offers an exciting mix of texture and taste for a healthy, delectable way to show your cat how much you love her.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: all four of my cats were interested in this one\n\nReview: I have had discussions with multiple vets in the past couple of years about whether it is better to feed cats kibble or wet food. Because I have had two cats diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (one has passed away and the other is doing fine) in the past two years, wet food is winning out. However, two of my current four cats are resistant to wet food. I've bought a bunch of different kinds to see if I can find something they'll like.\n\nI know my cats like cheese, so this variety of Fancy Feast (the chicken with cheddar) is one of the ones I bought. I've given it to one of my cats twice now, and he's eaten it pretty enthusiastically both times. (I bought two cans so I could see if he still wanted any after the first day!) He's a pretty big boy and he will eat a whole 3 ounce can of Fancy Feast in a few minutes.\n\nThis flavor was particularly popular. Not only did my black cat eat it, but all three of my other cats went over to sniff/lick the bowl after he was done. So in terms of taste, this one is a definite hit.\n\nThe first three ingredients are poultry broth, chicken, and liver. This is good. I am a bit disappointed that there are wheat, soy, and corn ingredients in this food, as these ingredients should really not be included in a cat's diet in a large proportion.\n\nIn the end, this food would definitely be suitable for an occasional treat. It also might be useful to entice a reluctant cat to try wet food (after which point I would slowly transition to something grain free). I would probably not feed it as the ONLY food to a cat. And this should never be given to a cat with inflammatory bowel disease (cats with IBD shouldn't have wheat, corn, cheese, or chicken!). However, for an otherwise healthy cat, this can certainly be introduced into the diet and will most likely be appreciated.","Product: Indulge your cat's love of rich, savory gravy with Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Beef Feast in Roasted Beef Flavor Gravy wet cat food. Tender bites of beef slow-roasted to perfection give her the taste cats crave, and the thick, gourmet gravy is sure to make her mouth water with anticipation. With its soft, appealing texture and small bites, this canned wet cat food is easy for both adult cats and kittens to manage. Each serving contains essential vitamins and minerals to support her overall health, and the 100% complete and balanced nutrition lets you feel good about serving up this gourmet wet cat food to your beloved cat. Follow the serving suggestions for her weight to give her perfectly portioned meals to satisfy her craving for delicious goodness, and watch her delight in devouring every last drop of the delicious gravy in her dish.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cat loves it; doesn't have the best ingredients\n\nReview: I was almost out of my black cat's favorite turkey-flavored Fancy Feast (\"tender turkey Tuscany\") and I didn't want to order a whole case before payday, so I found a couple of cans of this kind at a local store. It wasn't his favorite variety (I thought), but it was turkey (his favorite protein source) and it had the texture he likes (little chunks of meat), so I figured I would give it a try.\n\nTurns out, he likes this a lot. Probably more than the \"tender turkey Tuscany.\" He ate it at room temperature from the can one day and cold straight from the refrigerator another day (I give him half a can a day; he also gets some dry food because he is resistant to eating only wet food). He cleaned his plate to the point where there wasn't any residue left on it. And he did so quickly.\n\nI'm not thrilled about all the ingredients. This does include some byproducts and wheat gluten. It's probably OK in moderation for otherwise healthy cats (which is how I'm feeding it) but I wouldn't feed it exclusively.\n\nFor what it's worth, I had a hard time finding plastic lids to reseal the cans with. But there are some that vet's offices get with Hill's prescription food that are suitable for three different can sizes. Those fit on Fancy Feast cans. So ask your vet if they have any of those Hill's lids they can give you, and it solves the resealing problem for the 3 ounce cat food cans. (Note: It's a good idea to shop around for this product and make sure to take all charges into account.)","Product: Indulge your cat's love of rich, savory gravy with Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Beef Feast in Roasted Beef Flavor Gravy wet cat food. Tender bites of beef slow-roasted to perfection give her the taste cats crave, and the thick, gourmet gravy is sure to make her mouth water with anticipation. With its soft, appealing texture and small bites, this canned wet cat food is easy for both adult cats and kittens to manage. Each serving contains essential vitamins and minerals to support her overall health, and the 100% complete and balanced nutrition lets you feel good about serving up this gourmet wet cat food to your beloved cat. Follow the serving suggestions for her weight to give her perfectly portioned meals to satisfy her craving for delicious goodness, and watch her delight in devouring every last drop of the delicious gravy in her dish.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cats like it but don't love it\n\nReview: I've been trying to switch all my cats to wet food, but I have two holdouts. I've been trying different varieties of Fancy Feast with one of them to see if (1) I can entice him to eat wet food, (2) his favorite protein source, and (3) which textures of foods he prefers.\n\nI don't have a lot of criteria for rating a cat food, but the things I look for are:\n\n*Does the cat I give the food to actually eat it? How fast?\n*Do other cats express interest in the bowl and/or leftover food?\n*What is the quality of the ingredients?\n\nFor my first question, the cat did eat this food (in case it doesn't say elsewhere, this was the turkey variety), but maybe not quite as fast as some of the other types of Fancy Feast he's tried in the last week. He left a few (not many) pieces in the bowl, but there was a line of other cats waiting to finish it off (which answers the second question).\n\nFor the last question, while the first three ingredients are poultry broth, turkey, and liver, the next ingredient is wheat gluten, which doesn't really belong in a cat food. There are also corn- and soy-based ingredients.\n\nIn the end, the cats basically like this. It is having the intended effect of getting a kibble addict to try wet food. I would never feed this to a cat with inflammatory bowel disease (I've had several cats with this condition), but it would probably be all right as an occasional part of a healthy cat's diet. This is probably a 3.5 star product for me, but I'll round up.","Product: Joint MAXreg; Triple Strength (TS) Soft Chews is recommended for joint health with powerful active ingredients that enhance the functions of joint and connective tissue as well as antioxidants to help reduce oxidative stress. The Joint Max TS proprietary blend was selected to target every aspect of joint health: lubrication, cushioning of tissues, and support of cartilage, connective tissues, and bones. Use Joint MAX TS for Maximum Support This powerful joint supplement is intended for older or middle aged large dogs or smaller dogs with maximum joint health needs or soreness from daily activity or exercise. Joint MAX TS Active Ingredients The ingredients in Joint MAX, Glucosamine and Chondroitin, work together to support joint health by supporting the structural integrity of joints and connective tissues. Joint MAX is a highly palatable supplement. Joint MAX can be given with prescription drugs. Joint MAX Family of Supplements Available in a variety of formulas, Joint MAX supplements deliver customized support to match the specific health needs of your pet. Joint MAX comes in three strengths and a variety of delivery methods for easy administration. There is a proper strength of Joint MAX for every size and breed of dog, cat, and horse that needs it. Joint MAX also offers a HypoAllergenic (HA) formula specifically designed for animals with sensitivites to known allergens or animals on restricted diets. The HypoAllergenic formula is free from the top 9 most common dog allergens: beef, corn, soy, wheat, dairy, chicken, lamb, rabbit, and egg. Key Features: Targets Three Areas: maximum joint support, powerful antioxidants and skin health Intended for larger dogs or smaller dogs with advanced joint disease Contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, EPA, DHA, Creatine, Zinc, Manganese, Vitamin C and Nacetylcysteine Easy to administer, soft chew Veterinarian recommended\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: really helped my aging Rottie\n\nReview: My last Rottweiler, Jet, was diagnosed with arthritis and hip dysplasia at the age of five months. I was advised to start her on a joint supplement. My vet initially gave me SynoviG3, and I do think that's a good product, but when I started shopping around online, I found Joint MAX for a lot less. It appeared to be a comparable product, so I decided to try it.\n\nJet had a hip replacement when she was about a year and a half old. Between that and Joint MAX, she was able to stay off painkillers until the very last week of her life (she died of a heart attack in December at the age of 9).\n\nShe liked the taste of the soft chews a lot. In fact, if I'd put her in her pen at night without giving her the soft chews, she'd look up at me until I did (she was on a maintenance dose of 2 chews per day). They were like treats to her. (New tubs were a bit strong-smelling to me, but the smell dissipates after awhile.)\n\nI would buy three tubs of 240 chews at a time, and that would last me 360 days. While the chews do get a bit harder (and less smelly) after the tub has been open for awhile, Jet still enjoyed them at the end of the tub. She didn't have any trouble chewing them.\n\nNow I have an eight-month-old Rottie pup (Nyx), and while she is showing no signs of any joint trouble, I am starting her on Joint MAX early to hopefully prevent future problems. It worked for Jet, who had TERRIBLE joints, after all.","Product: Fussie Cat Canned Cat Food supports urinary tract health with low ash, magnesium, phosphorus, and lowers urinan pH to help maintain urinary health\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: worth the price for a whole case!\n\nReview: I have never seen this cat food in a store, but it had so many great reviews on Amazon that I bought an entire case. (I do have one cat who will eat anything, so I figured I could feed it to her if none of the others liked it.)\n\nI lucked out because ALL of my cats like this -- including the two who are reluctant to eat many/most other wet foods. You can see real shreds of chicken in this and can identify little pieces of vegetable. I'm not completely sold on feeding vegetables to cats, but they make up such a small part of the overall content of any one can of this that it doesn't seem like a big deal.\n\nThere's a bit of an odor to this, but nothing worse than any other wet cat food (and considerably better than some!). One of my cats will eat an entire can of this but leave all the vegetable pieces, but cats are funny like that. (I let other cats clean his plate so nothing gets wasted.)\n\nI did not see the ingredients listed on the product page, so I went to the Fussie Cat website. I am pleased to report that this food contains chicken and chicken broth (and no weird meat byproducts). There are a few thickeners. Brown rice is the only grain (so no wheat or corn) and there's also no soy. This would probably not be good for a cat with inflammatory bowel disease (because of the chicken and rice), but I love that it's formulated for cats with urinary tract problems. I have a cat with lower urinary tract disease and he has resisted all attempts to feed wet food -- until Fussie Cat. He is super interested in this stuff, even when he's just eaten and shouldn't be hungry.\n\nAnyway, this is a big hit with the cats and it has high-quality ingredients. I recently bought a second case.","Product: Adorable little wormish cat toy that's fun to flop around and play with, filled with catnip and is sure to become your cat's next favorite toy. Fun to bat and bobble.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: my cats were completely uninterested (also, this is VERY large)\n\nReview: This is kind of cute (not sure what it's supposed to be). But it's far too big for a cat toy. I have four cats and not a single one of them was interested in it. (However, my dog thought it was for her -- and she LOVES big plush toys.)\n\nIf this is supposed to have catnip in it, the catnip must be pretty weak/old in the toy I received. Because catnip would get at least 2 or 3 of my cats interested in just about anything. Perhaps because this is simply attached to a card instead of being sealed in a packet, the catnip oils evaporated away.\n\nIn the end, I can't really recommend this unless your cat likes extremely large toys.","Product: Touch-activated light ball.. A fun form of exercise for your cat.. This product contains pet mice and animal toys.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: great on hardwood floors, helps to have multiple cats or cats who like hard ball toys\n\nReview: I got one of these in a cat subscription box (a mystery assortment of cat items that I pay for each month). I have five cats and I knew one of them liked hard ball toys, so I figured this would be a win. I was right.\n\nFirst thing to note: there is a little plastic tab you need to pull out before this will light up. This separates the battery from the battery contacts in the device and keeps the battery to running out prior to purchase. If the tab has come out, or if you don't remove it, this will not work. So remove and discard the tab (it is not hard to do).\n\nNext thing to note: at least with my cats, this seems more popular on a hard floor. I gave it to my kitties in the dining room (has a hardwood floor with no rugs at the moment). It is a bit noisy on the hardwood floor but my cats have a lot of fun. One bat with the paw will send it rolling across the floor and if it gets stuck under the curtains or something, they can still see it (because of the lights) to retrieve it.\n\nMy cat who likes hard, noisy ball toys had a blast with this (he is probably getting close to 12 years old). So did my 11 month old kitten -- I love to watch him scamper across the floor after it. (My other three cats were not so enthused, but one of those three is nearly blind and the other two have never been much into ball toys.) It helps if you have multiple cats, especially young ones. Most cat toys are popular with some cat or other in my house.\n\nAnyway, this is especially recommended for young cats, multi-cat households, and cats you know like hard ball toys. If you don't want it to get lost, try putting it in the bathtub. My older cat who likes hard ball toys has so much fun chasing this and similar toys around the tub. And it is too big to fit in the drain.","Product: Go ahead, turn the bag around and look at our ingredients. PureBites are made with only 1 ingredient; 100% Pure USA Sourced & Made Duck Liver. Dogs love the taste of PureBites because our treats are freeze dried RAW to lock in the aroma, texture and freshness they crave. Dog parents love PureBites because our treats are 100% pure and rich in nutrients for a happy and healthy life.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: good for cats, too!\n\nReview: One of my cats was recently diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This means no grain, beef, chicken, pork, or turkey for him, as any of these could aggravate his condition. He is now on a \"novel\" protein diet, and in this case, the novel protein happens to be duck. Unfortunately, because of this diet, I had to stop buying the usual cat treats and find something else. My criteria were: (1) duck protein and (2) that all my cats (not just the IBD one) like the treat. If I put treats out, it's not as though I can tell the cats which treats they're allowed to eat and which they're not! I thought it would be a tall order to find a product that satisfied both criteria.\n\nI heard about the PureBites treats from another person who has a cat with IBD and I bought a bag from a local store to test them out (didn't want to place an order only to find out the cats hated them or something). Luckily, all four of my cats thought these were great -- even the cat who won't touch Temptations treats.\n\nThese treats come in pieces that are appropriate in size for a large-ish dog, but they are quite easy to break into smaller, cat-sized pieces using only your fingers. These treats have a texture similar to astronaut ice cream, if you've ever had that, which is not surprising as they are also freeze-dried.\n\nThey are duck liver, as a few other reviewers have mentioned. In my case, that's OK, as the cat's food has a large proportion of duck liver in it anyway, so I figure it's not really adding anything that he's not already getting in quantity. I also like that that's the ONLY ingredient; when you have an IBD cat, you really have to watch out for ingredients -- even minor ones -- that can aggravate the IBD.\n\nI should also mention that even though these are freeze-dried, they're not terribly hard. The IBD kitty had six teeth removed a couple of days ago (separate issue) but he has no trouble consuming these treats. I believe they soften considerably when exposed to moisture. One other thing -- they seem fine at room temperature (no need for refrigeration).\n\nAt any rate, if you have a cat with food allergies or IBD or some similar condition, these might be a good fit for you.","Product: OurPets Cosmic Catnip has been grown to achieve the strongest, most aromatic catnip ever produced! The irresistible aroma in OurPets Cosmic Catnip will bring forth the fun and frolic in your favorite feline! OurPets Cosmic Catnip is a 100% natural herb that encourages a harmless, playful reaction in most cats. Sprinkle it on scratchers to make them more appealing and deter damage to furniture. Store your cats favorite toys in a bag of catnip to spice them up and make playtime intoxicating. Or, just give the lose catnip to your cat and watch the fun unfurl!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cats were happy with it\n\nReview: My cats were all over the container of this before I had even opened it. I guess that means the scent travels outside the can -- probably because there were no safety seals on this. I do wish there had been a safety/freshness seal on this, because I'm not sure how long it would have sat in the warehouse and I know catnip can lose its potency if exposed to air.\n\nThat being said, my cats got pretty excited about this, so it must still be pretty strong. I use it on some of their cardboard scratch pads. I also sometimes put a few of their soft toys in a baggie with some of this. And occasionally, I just put this ON my cats. They seem to like it each of these ways.\n\nThe pieces are pretty small; a few of them are somewhat rough, though. It's not so different in texture/consistency from other, more expensive, dried catnip I've bought. (Also, for what it's worth, in tiny print on the label, it does say this is made in the US.) This would be a great item for anyone looking for large quantities of catnip!","Product: The Pet Qwerks Mini Doggone Times Newspaper Dog Toy features a fun newspaper design to entertain you and your pup. Made with durable canvas, this plush toy can withstand heavy play. Three squeakers and crinkle paper inside keep your pet intrigued. Durable canvas construction. Dimensions: 3W x 1.25D x 7.25H in.. Contains 3 squeakers and crinkle paper. Encourages play and exercise. Indoor or outdoor use.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: dog liked it but it didn't last long\n\nReview: This is a cute idea; it's a dog toy that looks like a newspaper, complete with silly little news stories. It squeaks (very important for my dog!) and it has some kind of crinkle paper in it. This is good for two reasons -- one, it makes the toy more like a \"real\" newspaper and two, your dog can't open a hole in the outer part and start pulling out stuffing.\n\nThis is a good size, as well. My dog is an 84-pound Rottweiler and this was an appropriate size for her. I think it best suited to medium or large dogs, probably too big for small breeds and too small for giant breeds.\n\nMy dog liked it. She wasn't so interested in the crinkle sound as she was in the squeaker. However. She lost interest in the squeaker and started gnawing on the corner, and maybe five minutes from getting this, she had opened a hole in the corner. What concerns me is that the outer coating seems very stringy. There were lots of long fibers sticking out around the hole she made. I would be concerned about a dog swallowing long fibers. Plus, you know, five minutes isn't long for a dog toy to last.","Product: Pet Zone`sInstinct cat toys are made to let cats be cats, allowing them to jump, pounce, and chase their prey.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: cats were not particularly interested in this\n\nReview: This is well-made and I have had success with this brand in the past. So I was happy to see this in a recent KitNip Box subscription box. However, my cats are not particularly interested in it. (For reference, my cats are roughly 8, 9, 10, and 12 years old, though. They do play with some toys but lately have mostly been into feathers. If you have a younger, more playful cat, my experience may not apply to your situation.)\n\nThis is large for a mouse toy and may be a little too big for a cat to toss around. It does have an interesting woolly texture and a little rattle or something inside. My cats have never really been interested in noisemaking toys, although this rattle was fairly quiet and did not scare them or anything.\n\nWatch the tail and ears carefully -- my cats are prone to removing and attempting to eat such things. If your cat is the same, you may want to supervise your cat during playtime. I may try to refresh this with some catnip spray to make it more interesting to my cats.","Product: Man'S best friend deserves the best in overall health and that health includes excellent canine dental hygiene. The Bullibone fully-permeated bacon flavored nylon chew is the perfect choice for your dog's daily oral health needs. The durable Bullibone dog chew helps to reduce tartar and plaque which not only freshens your dog's breath but also works to maintain healthier gums as part of a full canine dental hygiene program. What really sets the Bullibone chews apart from the pack is the fact that Bullibone dog chews are designed with the incredibly clever easy-hold paw pads. The easy-hold paw pads make it incredibly easy for your dog to grip the chew and get down to the important business of chewing.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: dog loved it and it did not aggravate her inflammatory bowel disease\n\nReview: We received this in a dog subscription box (and by \"we,\" I mean my dog and me). I am always a little reluctant to give flavored toys to my dog because she has inflammatory bowel disease and I am worried about her condition becoming aggravated by a flavor ingredient. But, after chewing on this a few times, she has not had any IBD flare-ups.\n\nMy dog is a super destructive chewer and this lasted long enough that she has been able to chew on it a few times (I always supervise, knowing her history). I have not noticed many of those sharp ridges you see from nylon toys (yet, anyway, although I am sure some will come with time).\n\nShe was definitely interested in this. And, although I had never really paid attention to how she held toys before, but the bottom cross-bar designed for the dogs to hold down with their paws really does work -- that's exactly how my dog used it (you can kind of see this in the official product image).\n\nAnyway, I'd strongly recommend supervision with this, and please remember it was not designed to be edible, so take it away if it becomes too damaged, but it seemed pretty durable even for my heavy chewer. (For reference, my dog is an adult female Rottweiler somewhere between 85 and 90 pounds at the moment.)","Product: SmartGrip Cat Litter Mat keeps cat litter off your floor! Soft material acts as a cushion to prevent litter from 'popping' into the air and onto your floors. Unique design and outer channel does the rest, holding litter in place and on the large surface area for easier cleaning. More practical than other cat litter mats that trap litter under carpet fibers, making cleaning difficult and leading to mold and mildew. Easy to clean with multiple options not available in other mats! Provides you the ability to sweep, vacuum with hand-held or attachment, or pour clean litter back into box. Wipe with damp sponge or cloth to eliminate odors. Finally a litter mat with a sense of style! Fits in any room of the house with neutral color and design. Flexible to fit in tight spaces, including closets or small bathrooms.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: large and helps keep my carpet clean!\n\nReview: I have four cats; two of them are on prednisolone (steroids, which increase urine output) for medical conditions and one of those also seems to have trouble hitting the inside of the box. I was deathly afraid she'd start peeing on the carpet. I was also tired of walking around on bits of litter that the cats had kicked out on the carpet. I got this mat to put under what seems to be the most popular litter box.\n\nI like that this is quite large; it fits under the box with at least several inches showing all around (more in the front because I've pushed the litter box back against the wall). It's also thick so it should last a long time. The plastic texture is easy to clean (I wash it in the bathtub; I have one of those detachable showerheads so I can spray over the surface from up close). And the neutral color should work with most decors.\n\nI didn't notice a plastic smell when I opened this, which is nice. Oddly, one of my cats really likes to hang out on the mat. Maybe it's just the novelty of the thing?\n\nAnyway, recommended as part of a general strategy to protect the floor around your litter box.","Product: The Pet Food Can Covers allow you to re-seal an open can of Dog or Cat Food. This allows you to keep and opened can of pet food fresh for future feedings. They fit three popular sizes of pet food cans to and are reusable. The set of six allows you to plenty for all your pet food needs. Also great to re-seal opened cans of human food.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: really like these can covers!\n\nReview: I'd been using the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Ethical-3-1-2-Inch-Pet-Food-Can-Covers-3-Pack/dp/B0002ARWTA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Ethical 3-1/2-Inch Pet Food Can Covers, 3-Pack</a> for my cat food cans for awhile, but wasn't happy with the quality. First of all, those only ever fit on one size of can and secondly, they had started falling apart after less than a year of use. So, I decided to shop for a different brand.\n\nI am pleased to say that these Molor pet food can covers appear to be a much better fit for my needs. They fit on 5.5 ounce cat food cans from several brands, they fit on 13 ounce dog food cans, and I have also used one to cover a can of pureed pumpkin (which I feed my dog a little bit each day to aid with some digestive issues). The pumpkin can is a standard size for human food, so I expect these can covers would work for canned vegetables and the like, as well (in the 13-15 ounce range).\n\nI find the plastic to be fairly sturdy. It takes a bit of effort to place these on or take them off the dog food cans, specifically (it's easier for the cat food cans), but I feel like a great seal has been formed. Edit December 17, 2013: I have put these through multiple dishwasher cycles on the top rack and they've held up just fine.\n\nMy package had six lids in it, two each of red, white, and blue (nice for color-coding, if you're into that). Only one lid (the one on top of the stack) had the sticker/label on it that you see in the picture. All-in-all, I am very happy with the purchase.\n\nAs always, opened cans of pet food should be covered and refrigerated promptly and any unused portion should be discarded after a few days.","Product: KONG Safestix are the perfect throw and fetch toys. They are bendable and flexible which provides interesting and engaging fun for dogs. KONG Safestix are made using durable plastic material and are great interactive dog toys. They are meant for indoor or outdoor use and they even float. Each size comes in assorted colors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: good toy for destructive dogs that like to tug\n\nReview: I have an 82-pound, 1-year-old Rottweiler, and she really likes to play tug-of-war with me. However, her plush toys have mostly been destroyed, she's managed to shred her rope, and there's not much else long enough to keep my hands a short distance away from her mouth. (She's not mean, just enthusiastic. And she has strong jaws.) I'd been reluctant to buy one of these because of the appearance, which has always seemed a bit naughty to me, but I have a ring-shaped toy made of a similar type of plastic/rubber, and that has lasted for months. The durability of the ring-shaped toy convinced me to give this toy a try. (I got a turquoise one.)\n\nI did follow the instructions. That is, I don't leave it with her when she's not supervised. At some point, I might actually feel safe doing so, because despite quite a lot of gnawing on it yesterday, she hasn't managed to mar the surface even a little bit. (With my dog, I always have to be on the lookout for small parts coming off and potentially getting swallowed.)\n\nThis is a good toy for tugging. It's easy for me to grip and it's easy for the dog to keep ahold of with her teeth. Plus, the dog likes it a lot. She keeps attempting to sneak it past me and into her pen; it's actually pretty cute to watch her try. Finally, because of the material this is made of, it's easy to clean with soap and water.\n\nAll-in-all, this is a good option for a dog tug-of-war toy, especially if you have a dog prone to destroying ropes and plush toys.","Product: Fresh Step Litter Multi-Cat Scoopable, Unscented - 25 lb\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: pretty good odor control\n\nReview: After a bad experience with the Arm & Hammer unscented cat litter, Fresh Step was the next one I tried. (I have a cat with a urinary tract condition and my vet has recommended unscented clumping litter as one of several strategies to help him with his condition.)\n\nAs the other reviewer has mentioned, there is an odor or fragrance when you first dispense the litter. I agree this is not quite unscented, and that's why I took a star off. For what it's worth, this fragrance does not persist for long; it pretty much dissipates within a few minutes. I'd say the dust level of this litter is average. It's not low-dust, but it's definitely not the dustiest I've tried.\n\nI like that this comes in 25-lb boxes instead of just 20-lb boxes. I can get by with buying three of them instead of four. This is easier on me financially, plus I don't have to cart around quite as many boxes each time I buy it.\n\nBut what I really am most enthusiastic about is that the odor control with this litter is very long-lasting. I have four cats and four litter boxes. Naturally, one litter box is more popular than the others (I don't claim to understand cats' thinking!). I scrub the boxes and fill them with litter about once a month, scoop about three times a week, and even in the most popular box, I never get a urine smell. The litter clumps as well at the end of the month as it does at the beginning. (Occasionally I add a refill box of litter partway through the month, to top off any low boxes.) I am thus able to remove the urine clumps, and my house does not smell like cat urine anymore!\n\nFor what it's worth, my cats are not at all picky about litter. They've gladly used whatever I've provided, which includes the Fresh Step.","Product: Finally, a healthy grain-free dental treat for cats with a taste they love! Smart n' Tasty all natural and nutritious crunchy treats are irresistible to cats. Pet owners love that theyre grain free, gluten free, soy free, dairy free and made in the U.S.A. with all natural US ingredients. Whimsical fish shaped treats are big enough to encourage chewing versus just swallowing for maximum dental health. With six formulas cats absolutely love, plus innovative ingredients used to fight plaque and tartar, these delicious treats are rewarding for cats and their parents. Calcium carbonate enhances the scraping action to clean your kittie's teeth. Promotes clean teeth and fresh breath!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: my cats think these are great, they have good ingredients, though I'm not sure if they clean teeth or not\n\nReview: My cats like these. I got them in some cat subscription box or other (I get so many of those, they kind of run together). Sadly, my cat with actual dental problems can't have these due to his inflammatory bowel disease, but my other three cats all like them.\n\nImportant to note: these are made in the USA from all US-origin ingredients. You can see the full ingredients list if you zoom in on the product image of the back of the package. What I like about these is that they are grain free and free of artificial colors and preservatives. They have what I consider to be better ingredients than some other dental treats my cats have tried lately.\n\nThese come in a resealable bag, seemed fresh, and thankfully don't have a fishy smell. They're a bit hard and somewhat large and I think the idea is that helps with the cats' teeth. (The little fish shape is cute, too.) Seeing as most cats don't want you to examine their teeth (unless they're under anesthesia and can't protest), it's hard to judge the results.\n\nIn the end, I like the ingredients in these and my cats seem to enjoy consuming them. The jury's out on whether they actually clean cats' teeth, as explained above, but overall they are good treats that I would definitely buy in the future if I ever run out of cat treats (which will be a loooong time in the future).","Product: Adorable Plush Sushi! Cat owners will love these unique and cute cat toys! Polyfill with a catnip packet inside.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cute, fairly sturdy, my cats showed a reasonable amount of interest\n\nReview: I have both the shrimp and the crab. (Actually, I have two of the crab.) These are about the most adorable cat toys I have seen. I love the little eyes.\n\nMy cats are older and not terribly violent with their toys, so these are holding up well. The eyes, tails, etc. are still securely attached. If your cat is particularly destructive, these may not be for you, as there are a lot of parts that could potentially come off.\n\nMy cats have an above average level of enthusiasm for these toys, though they are not the most exciting toys (in my cats' opinions, based on their interaction with the toys). They do play with them and I am assuming the catnip was at a reasonable level based on the amount of sniffing and licking of the toys that was going on.\n\nAnyway, if your cat likes little plush catnip toys, these are pretty good. And so cute.","Product: From the beginning, we wanted to make a positive impact on the quality of cat care and develop a cleaner litter. The result: ever clean litter, America's First clumping cat litter. Our premium granules set us apart. We are constantly striving to develop improved products, and we only sell our litter in pet specialty stores, where pet care comes First. from the litter specialists.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: new favorite cat litter\n\nReview: I have four cats sharing four litter boxes. I used to use the Fresh Step unscented (i.e., not Extreme) clumping litter, but lately I haven't been able to find it locally. I tried a cheaper store brand unscented clumping litter as a substitute and it was awful. I will spare you the details except to say that my house smelled TERRIBLE after the first couple of days with the store brand litter. So, since I had previously been pretty happy with the Fresh Step brand, I bought some of this to try.\n\nI think this is my favorite litter yet, and the one I will be using for the foreseeable future. It has all the features I came to love with the standard Fresh Step unscented clumping litter, but (to me) it seems less dusty and to have less of an odor. (Even though the earlier Fresh Step product I was using was supposed to be unscented, it did have a slight fragrance immediately upon opening the box. With THIS litter, that is greatly reduced.) This stuff is really long-lasting (I'm going on four weeks now) and clumps as well on day 28 as it does on day 1, so clean-up is simple. I normally use three 25-pound boxes of cat litter to fill my four litter boxes, and I have refilled with an additional 25-pound box once since I started using this. My house does not smell like I have cats, which is absolutely amazing, since three of my cats are on medications and/or foods that have the side effect of increasing urine output. (I do periodically empty and disinfect all the litter boxes.)\n\nFor what it's worth, I am interested in unscented clumping litter for several reasons. First, one of my cats has feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) and an unscented clumping litter was recommended for him. Second, another of my cats has asthma, so I wanted something without perfumes. (Low dust is a bonus, too, both for the asthmatic cat and for me with my allergies.) I've been having a really hard time finding one I liked, but I'm happy with this one.","Product: Naturally purrr-fect cat treats! now our feline friends have their very own buddy Biscuits to love! our all natural cat treats are made from the finest premium ingredients, like real meat and wholesome vegetables, with no grains or artificial flavors. These tender little morsels have an enticing aroma and irresistible flavor that your cats will crave.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cats liked these quite a bit\n\nReview: I got these in a subscription box. My cats used to not like fish but are slowly being won over, so I wasn't sure if they would like these. But it turns out these are pretty popular with my cats.\n\nThey are the semi-soft style of treats my cats prefer. They seem to be a little bit chewy (although I have my doubts about whether cats really chew their food) so they took my cats awhile to eat. But the texture was not a turn-off for the cats at all; as soon as a cat finished one treat, s/he would be looking for the next one (I fed these to three cats, two males and a female, all technically \"seniors\" at ages 7+).\n\nThe cats did not have any negative digestive reactions to these. These did not smell (always a concern with fish-based pet products). The package was resealable, which is nice, so the treats won't get dried out. Also I appreciate that they are grain free (cats don't need grain -- it may actually give them digestive problems) and made in the USA.","Product: Cats love our SHEBA Cuts in Gravy Whitefish and Tuna Entree for their mouthwatering flavors and tender cuts, and who can blame them? Even picky eaters will enjoy real, meaty morsels soaked in delectable gravy. Our wholesome, corn-free cat food is good for them, too. This premium cat food contains no corn, soy, or wheat; no artificial flavors; and no artificial preservatives. Give your fluffy companion a fresh tasting food for cats that uses real meat as the first ingredient with SHEBA Cuts in Gravy Wet Cat Food.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cats' favorite fish!\n\nReview: I've been buying a lot of different kinds of wet cat food lately. I have two cats I'm trying to transition to wet cat food and I am finding that there seem to be a lot of different factors going into whether or not the cats like particular kinds of wet food. These include: protein source (i.e., the type of meat, poultry, or fish that makes up most of the food), texture (composite chunks versus pate versus little pieces of meat), the presence or absence of gravy, and possibly some other things that only the cats can detect.\n\nThis is definitely a favorite of one of my two reluctant wet-food adopters. I'm surprised, because he doesn't finish other kinds of fish (he's had tuna and whitefish). But he really likes this salmon and eats it quickly. There's none left in the bowl for the other cats to investigate.\n\nThe full ingredients list is on the product page but here are the first few: Meat Broth, Salmon, Chicken, Meat By-Products, Chicken Liver. I'm pleased that so many meat-based ingredients are present in this. (Sheba cat foods are grain free.) I don't know what \"meat by-products\" are, specifically, but I'm glad that there's not a lot of filler in these (just a little bit of starch, probably to thicken the gravy). This salmon entree is a strong contender to be part of the daily wet food diet of at least one of my cats.","Product: Cats love our SHEBA Cuts in Gravy Whitefish and Tuna Entree for their mouthwatering flavors and tender cuts, and who can blame them? Even picky eaters will enjoy real, meaty morsels soaked in delectable gravy. Our wholesome, corn-free cat food is good for them, too. This premium cat food contains no corn, soy, or wheat; no artificial flavors; and no artificial preservatives. Give your fluffy companion a fresh tasting food for cats that uses real meat as the first ingredient with SHEBA Cuts in Gravy Wet Cat Food.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: not quite the same as the \"old\" Sheba, but still pretty good\n\nReview: I have four cats. Two of them are completely converted to wet food, but I have two holdouts. One of the holdouts used to love the old Sheba food (at least when he was sick and on prednisolone, which did increase his appetite quite a bit). However, Sheba went off the market for awhile and when it came back, it was different. Still, in an effort to entice this cat to eat wet food (which my vet tells me is better for cats -- easier to digest and a good source of water), I decided to buy half a dozen varieties of Sheba.\n\nThe former Sheba-lover wouldn't touch this. I gave his dish to two other cats, though, and they ate it quickly. Therefore, I don't think I'll knock off any points for taste because 2 of the 3 cats I offered it to liked it a great deal, and the one who didn't hasn't liked any wet food I've given him yet. I offered this food a second time to one of the cats who liked it, and he ate it again.\n\nThis food has little pieces of meat that you can actually see, in a gravy sort of sauce. I'm mostly OK with the ingredients. There is some starch, probably there as a thickener (it's pretty low on the ingredients list), but the first few ingredients are at least meat-related: poultry broth, chicken, turkey, meat by-products, chicken liver, beef liver, etc. I'm pleased that there's no wheat in here, and also that there's no soy. Cats don't really need those things, being obligate carnivores.\n\nAll-in-all, I'd consider this food a success.","Product: These lightweight sparkle balls as we call them can be called glitter balls, tinsel balls, glitter pom poms, tinsel pom poms. No matter what they are called your cat will love to toss, chase, bat these cat toys around.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: the cat I bought these for LOVES them\n\nReview: I bought these for my orange tabby cat. He loves to chew on this type of toy (don't ask me why, and he's the only one of my four cats who does this sort of thing.) He will also carry these around my condo in his mouth, which is so cute (and hilarious).\n\nAnyway, you get six assorted 2-inch sparkle balls. These are much larger than the craft pompons with a similar appearance, and are thus safer for cats. It didn't take long for my orange cat to decide he LOVED these. These are apparently made just for cats and are sturdier than the craft ones, too.\n\nIn the end, this was a wonderful purchase. The toys are high quality and my cat loves them.","Product: Mighty dog toys rethink durability and approach it from a new angle. Durability is created for each toy with multiple layers of flexible materials that move with the dog&rsquo;s teeth instead of tearing. Compared to other toys, Mighty dog toys have no hard edges. The result is these toys do not promote chewing &ndash; great when you&rsquo;re trying to discourage chewing habits. These toys may seem plush on the outside, but all the durability features are internal making these toys soft, yet MIGHTY strong. Please be a responsible dog owner and only allow your dog to play with the toy under supervision. Do not allow your pet to ingest any portion of the toy.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: my dog loved it but it did not last very long\n\nReview: I bought this because the packaging had a picture of a Rottweiler holding the toy in its mouth. My dog is a 90-lb Rottie and she is super destructive. But she has also been sick lately and I've been getting her a lot of toys to help cheer her up (since she is currently on a restricted diet, treats are out of the question). I was hoping this toy was Rottweiler-proof and that it might last longer than 30 minutes like most of the other toys I've given her lately.\n\nThis did last longer than 30 minutes, but not much longer. She ripped the fabric on both ends pretty quickly, exposing the plastic bone beneath. She also managed to extricate one of the squeakers, which meant I had to pry open her mouth and take the squeaker away.\n\nMine did have two layers of fabric -- the orange fleece and an inner, thinner white backing. The plastic bone inside is not very substantial and my dog has already managed to chew a hole in that, too.\n\nSo, she did like this -- a lot. But it only lasted an hour, maybe two, before I had to permanently take it away from her for safety reasons. If your dog isn't very destructive, this might work. And it gets points for not having any stuffing. But if your dog is destructive, this is simply not durable enough to be worth the purchase price.","Product: Made with real, responsibly sourced seafood as the first ingredient, SHEBA Pate in Natural Juices Salmon Entre Canned Cat Food satisfies even the pickiest eaters. Our wholesome, corn-free cat food contains no wheat or soy, and no artificial flavors or preservatives. Your fluffy companion deserves fresh-tasting, premium cat food. Treat them to a real feast with SHEBA Pate in Natural Juices Wet Food for Cats.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: grain free and 3 of my cats like it\n\nReview: I went out and bought 10 or 15 different kinds of wet cat food. I have two cats I'm trying to transition over to wet food, since several vets have told me wet food is better than dry food for cats. (The reasons for this are (1) that wet food is more easily digested than kibble and (2) many cats don't drink enough water and the moisture in wet food can help overcome this.) The idea behind this experiment is that I will find one combination of food texture and protein source that the cats prefer, and I can begin making the switch. The Sheba Beef Pat is the most recent food I've tried.\n\nI'm pleased to report that it was a success. The cat I gave it to liked it very much and he ate it quickly. Another two cats lined up to lick his bowl afterwards. I gave it to him again the next day and it was the same story. So, taste-wise, I'm going to count this one as a success.\n\nIt's also fairly good from an ingredients standpoint. All Sheba cats foods are free of corn and other grains. Here are the first few ingredients: Beef, Meat Broth, Meat By-Products, Chicken Liver, Chicken, Poultry By-Products. (Of course there are more, including other flavorings and vitamins. But I'm pleased that everything up front is meat or poultry-based.) This is somewhat similar to the Fancy Feast Classic Tender Beef Feast, although that has fish ingredients and this one has chicken ingredients.\n\nThe Sheba Beef Pat also would be good for cats with dental problems as it does not seem to require much chewing.\n\nI would generally not advise feeding beef to cats with inflammatory bowel disease (who shouldn't have beef or poultry), but since this is grain free, I am considering keeping some around for emergencies when my IBD cat stops eating his pricier food. This is also a strong contender for the wet food I decide on for my first reluctant wet-food eater. All-in-all, this is a decent food that could easily form part or all of the diet of a healthy cat.","Product: Give your bird its own natural nest to rest with the prevue pet products canary twig nest. Perfect for small birds.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: trying to keep my zebra finches from sleeping in their food dishes\n\nReview: I have three male zebra finches. They are brothers, the last of two clutches that hatched in 2009. They like to sit in their food dishes and in order to have room to do so, they throw a lot of seeds out onto the bottom of their cage. I got them some of these nests, thinking to give them an alternate place to sit so they wouldn't make quite such a big mess and waste quite so much food.\n\nWell, my birds were terrified of these at first. But that is not such a big deal. They are little birds, after all, and these were NEW THINGS in their cages. They are slowly becoming more accustomed to the presence of these, although they are not sitting in them yet. I'm giving it time.\n\nConstruction of these is solid. They will hold a fair amount of weight. There are one or two pieces of straw (or whatever they are made of) that stick out but that doesn't detract from the overall performance. I have put some strips of toilet paper in these for nesting material since it is cheap, biodegradable, easily replaceable, and non-hazardous (don't use cotton fluff or string as either of those can wrap around your birds' limbs and cut off circulation).\n\nThe only thing I am not thrilled about is the means of attachment to the cage. The metal (you can see it in the product image) is kind of stiff and difficult to bend, but you really need to bend it so the nest doesn't tip forward and fall. It would be far easier to do this in a cage without birds in it (so if you are just getting set up, add the nest first). Alternatively, it would be fairly easy to add your own attachment mechanism since you can slip narrow things between the twigs/straw pieces.\n\nOverall, though, I'm happy with the purchase. It's only been a few days and I'm sure my birds will come around. I've had pairs of birds (zebra finches or society finches only -- I think I'd go with something a little bigger for a canary or parakeet) in the past raise several chicks in similar nests, so if you are looking for something for that purpose, as long as you make sure it is secure, you should be fine.","Product: The Heavy Duty Litter Mat features a grassy surface that is gentle on cats' paws and tough on litter tracking. The generous 36\" x 30\" surface of the Heavy Duty Litter Mat provides floor coverage well beyond the edges of the cat litter box preventing litter from tracking throughout the home while protecting flooring from grit and accidents. Mat is tough, durable, fade resistant and repels liquids. Made in the USA from marine grade carpeting.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: works exactly as I had hoped it would\n\nReview: I recently moved to a new house. My four cats are confined to the bedroom until I finish unpacking. (It's a big bedroom, and they have full access to the large master bath and two walk-in closets as well.) But all of these areas are carpeted, save a tiny room with a shower and toilet. So I needed some better litter mats, preferably large ones. I bought three of these.\n\nI will say, the primary reason I chose this mat is because of the size. Also, I was mostly looking to control the spread of cat litter. (A secondary desire was to keep urine from cats who miss the box, off the carpet.) These mats are good for what I wanted. (I bought three of them.)\n\nMy cats have kicked out a lot of litter, but it all pretty much stays on the mats. I can either vacuum them or shake them over the trash to get the litter out. The mats are large enough to have at least a few inches (if not more) on all sides, with the box in the middle. They're flexible so I can do things like stick them under the vanity or partially protect the wall with one.\n\nThe texture is fine. The cats scratch at it a bit (I mean like scratching post scratching, not litterbox scratching). I have walked across one and it doesn't bother my feet.\n\nPlease note: these are plastic and should not be put in the washing machine! Wash them with soapy water and let air dry.\n\nI definitely made the right choice with these. They do everything I hoped they would and the cats are OK with them, too.","Product: Wellness Signature Selects Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food, White Meat Chicken & Beef Entree in Sauce is gourmet all natural grain free cat food with delicate cuts of real meat in delicious sauce delivering the delicious variety of flavor and texture your cat craves. Each simple recipe is prepared by hand and packed with irrestible taste. Each recipe is grain free and, like all Wellness products, does not contain any wheat, wheat gluten, soy or added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. In addition, hydration is extremely important to a cat's overall health and since cats do not have a strong thirst drive, Wellness wet canned cat food recipes are a delicious and healthy way to increase your cat's moisture intake.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: high quality ingredients, some cats like it better than others\n\nReview: I'm trying to convert my cats to wet food. One of them likes turkey best, so I'd been feeding him some turkey Fancy Feast once a day (trust me, he needs a slow transition). Well, I was distracted for a few days and neglected my cat-food-ordering duties and ran out of the Fancy Feast. I was going by an upscale pet-food store (too upscale to carry Fancy Feast) and this was the only kind of food that had shredded turkey (this cat is particular about the texture of his food) in any form. So I bought a couple of cans to get me through until my next order.\n\nAt first, it seemed like this was a pretty big hit. I always feed foods for at least two days before making a final decision. Sometimes a new food can be popular the first day and the cat will turn up his nose the second day. Because, well, that's how cats are. On the first day, I served half a can of this at room temperature and the cat in question ate it ALL in a very short period of time.\n\nI covered the can and put it in the refrigerator and served him the rest the next day. I'd say he ate about half of it the second day. It was cold, and the texture was a little different due to the refrigeration. I'm probably going to try warming the next batch of refrigerated food in the microwave for a few seconds before offering it. However, although the first cat I gave it to wouldn't eat it all, one of my other cats gobbled up the leftovers. On the third day, I opened a new can. Unfortunately, the cat this was intended for wouldn't touch it (he doesn't like change, I think). But another cat finished it off for him.\n\nSo, some cats like the stuff and some don't. I think of Wellness as a premium brand, and I love the ingredients: chicken, chicken broth, water, tapioca starch, dried egg product, turkey, natural flavor, and most of the rest of the ingredients are vitamins (there is some sunflower oil, and there's a little carrageenan). I love that this is grain free, since cats really can't process grains easily -- their digestive systems aren't constructed to handle it.\n\nOverall, this is a high quality food that at least one of my cats likes fairly well.","Product: Finally, a healthy grain-free dental treat for cats with a taste they love! Smart n' Tasty all natural and nutritious crunchy treats are irresistible to cats. Pet owners love that theyre grain free, gluten free, soy free, dairy free and made in the U.S.A. with all natural US ingredients. Whimsical fish shaped treats are big enough to encourage chewing versus just swallowing for maximum dental health. With six formulas cats absolutely love, plus innovative ingredients used to fight plaque and tartar, these delicious treats are rewarding for cats and their parents. Calcium carbonate enhances the scraping action to clean your kittie's teeth. Promotes clean teeth and fresh breath!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cats like (plus they're grain free and made in the US)\n\nReview: This review is for the \"Turducky\" flavor.\n\nThese are somewhat large, hard treats. I have three cats who can eat these and, of those three, two of my cats love these. (I won't dock the rating any for the third cat because he is rarely motivated by treats at all.) I throw a couple on the floor and they're all gone in under a few minutes.\n\nMy cats don't have particularly bad teeth, but I do think these are effective dental treats -- I actually hear the cats chewing, at least a little bit, so the treats are at least contacting some of their teeth (they're a little bit large, for cat treats, which probably makes them chew).\n\nI'm happy these are grain free as I try to avoid feeding grains to my cats whenever possible (their digestive systems really can't handle a lot of grain-based foods). These are made in the USA, which is important for pet treats (and the ingredients are also sourced in the US).","Product: Loving Pets' It's Purrfectly Natural Dried Buffalo Cat Treats are made from 100% pure buffalo. As an alternative to beef, buffalo is leaner, lower in cholesterol, higher in protein and has a higher concentration of iron and essential fatty acids. Healthy and delicious, It's Purrfectly Natural Buffalo does NOT contain any: additives, fillers, byproducts, artificial preservatives. It's Purrfectly Natural Buffalo is also:, wheat free, gluten free, soy free, grain free, glycerin free and bite-sized and soft to chew, this is the perfect cat treat!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: my cats were not thrilled with these, but might work if your cat likes shrimp\n\nReview: My cats weren't thrilled about these. I offered them to three cats and two of the cats did eat them. However, the third walked away without paying attention.\n\nThese are various sizes, as might be expected with a natural product. Mine did not have a smell at all, and my cats couldn't find all the pieces on the carpet (so I had to pick up after them). They seemed to have trouble eating the bigger pieces, especially. (I think they're not used to chewing...)\n\nIf your cat really likes shrimp, or the texture of freeze-dried food, these might be great for you. I know how picky cats can be, and sometimes it's just the luck of the draw whether they'll like a particular treat or not. (Mine do like freeze-dried duck liver, although they don't care for seafood-based wet foods, so maybe they just don't like shrimp.)\n\nThese are made in India, if that's something you care about.","Product: Loving Pets' It's Purrfectly Natural Dried Buffalo Cat Treats are made from 100% pure buffalo. As an alternative to beef, buffalo is leaner, lower in cholesterol, higher in protein and has a higher concentration of iron and essential fatty acids. Healthy and delicious, It's Purrfectly Natural Buffalo does NOT contain any: additives, fillers, byproducts, artificial preservatives. It's Purrfectly Natural Buffalo is also:, wheat free, gluten free, soy free, grain free, glycerin free and bite-sized and soft to chew, this is the perfect cat treat!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 2 of 3 cats I gave these to thought they were pretty awesome\n\nReview: I got these in a recent Meowbox. I guess they are making the cat subscription box rounds (hey, it's a good marketing tool). I have four cats and three of them can have treats (alas, the fourth has inflammatory bowel disease). I offered this to the three who can have treats.\n\nCat 1: She is a beef fanatic. That is about the only protein I can get her to eat on a consistent basis. So all her food is beef. If I let her, she would chew on bully sticks intended for dogs. It was not terribly surprising that she enjoyed these treats. She kept stealing them from the other cats, actually.\n\nCat 2: He will eat most treats. He actually prefers turkey over anything else. But he did enjoy these. (He let a few be stolen by Cat 1.)\n\nCat 3: He will not eat most treats. He is weirdly uninterested in food (he eats enough to stay alive, and he's a little on the thin side, but healthy). He licked these but did not actually eat them. That is honestly more enthusiasm than I see from him for a lot of other treats, so we'll count that one as a win.\n\nThese are lightweight, as are any freeze-dried treats. What was nice about these was that there wasn't a bunch of powder at the bottom of the bag (which happens with other, similar products). So all the package weight is stuff the cats are actually going to be able to consume. Other than that, these are made in the USA and have a single ingredient (since they are freeze dried), which I appreciate. They come in a resealable bag and they don't smell. So all-in-all, I was pretty happy with these.","Product: Omega Paw Cranberry Cabernet Cat Treats have a full bodied flavor for your cat's sophisticated taste. These soft and moist treats are made with real chicken and antioxidant-rich cranberries, providing a taste your cat will love and helping to support the urinary tract. The small portion size of these treats also makes them perfect for rewarding your cat often without compromising her health.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: my cats like these fairly well\n\nReview: I got these in a cat subscription box. (No idea which one. I get quite a few of those every month.) I think I like these better than some of the other treats from the same product line (we've also had the mojito ones -- don't contain lime, by the way -- and the margarita ones). One thing that draws me to these, as opposed to some of the others just mentioned, is that they have cranberry in them. One of my cats has urinary tract issues (he has FLUTD) and, though he hasn't had a flare-up in a few years, I like to take some preventive measures. (Because going to the emergency vet and having him pumped full of fluids, followed by a few weeks of amitriptyline, isn't fun.)\n\nNow, I don't know how much D-mannose is in these (that's the sugar from cranberry responsible for the anti-UTI effects), and I certainly wouldn't use these to treat an active bladder infection (that requires a urine culture and antibiotics), but these are a form of cranberry that cats will actually tolerate. Of my three cats who can eat these (I have one with IBD who can't have them, since they do contain chicken), two are quite enthusiastic and the third (the one with urinary tract issues) usually eats a few as well, which is more than I can say for other treats (he's not particularly food-motivated, though). So I guess he is getting some small amount of cranberry (and D-mannose) from these. That, alone, wouldn't get rid of all his problems, but coupled with other measures (prescription food, Feliway diffusers to cut stress), it forms part of an overall wellness strategy.\n\nThese are made in the USA, which is great, and they come in a resealable bag. They don't have a strong smell (thankfully), though they are semi-moist in consistency. And my cats do clean them up off the floor pretty quickly (they won't eat treats from my hand so I toss a handful on the floor). So they seem to like them. I think there is some artifiicial dye in here to make them red, but it hasn't caused any problems. These are not making my cats throw up; they seem to be tolerated quite well, even on an empty stomach.","Product: The DuraChew Marrow Bone chew toy is made to be long lasting for powerful chewers. The easy-to-fill middle is great for stuffing with peanut butter, wet canned food, cheese, and other treats. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar buildup. (Different dogs have different chewing styles and strengths, even within the same breed, so be sure to choose the correct chew size and type for your dog.)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my dog's new favorite thing\n\nReview: My dog is destructive. She cannot have plush toys. She cannot have rope toys. She cannot have certain types of plastic and rubber toys. She cannot be left unsupervised with tennis balls. And she once ATE a Gentle Leader (thankfully, it passed through...). However, she has had pretty good luck with Nylabone toys. She really likes the big \"beef bone\" toys, but I decided to get her something a little different the other day, and I chose this. (For reference, she is a 2-year-old Rottweiler and weighs about 95 pounds.)\n\nShe LOVES this thing. She has had it for about two days now and she hasn't left it alone for a minute. It was a little bit difficult for her to get off the floor at first, but she figured that out pretty quickly. It's already a little rough and discolored from the excessive amount of chewing, but it's still in one piece and should last her a good, long time (plus, these are easy to wash if that becomes necessary). She tries to fit the whole thing in her mouth (doesn't quite succeed).\n\nAnyway, probably most suitable for a fairly large dog. I think my dog's big mouth and strong jaw help her to get it up off the floor. I could tell by looking at this that my dog would like it, and I was right. So if your dog is a Nylabone fan, this is definitely worth checking out!","Product: A whole new way to squeak! Jigglerz are made with ZippyPaws exclusive noisemakers that squeak when shaken by a happy pup! Added crinkle paper inside the head and tail makes these adorable plush toys even more fun for dogs. Each toy is lined with an extra layer of tough Cordura material and cross-stitched for durability. Jigglerz are 21 inches long. ZippyPaws means design and quality. At our core, we stand for only giving your dogs the best. Sketching every design, hand-selecting the perfect materials, and running all finished products past our furry testing team allows us to ensure that every product sold is one that we're proud to call ours.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: dog loves it and it has held up quite well so far\n\nReview: This is pretty much the most annoying toy my dog has had for a very long time. However, she really does seem to love it, so I should probably just get some earplugs.\n\nThis is pretty large, over a foot and a half long (we have the rabbit, which came in a recent dog subscription box). It has no stuffing, which is wonderful (my dog is the mistress of finding the weak points in toys, exploiting them, and pulling out stuffing). It is very well made. I did remove the little hanging loop from the head (between the ears), but my dog has not managed to remove any parts -- not the ears, not the legs, not the tail. And I have a super destructive, 86-pound Rottweiler. (For what it's worth, this is a very good size for a large breed dog.)\n\nThis squeaks if squeezed but also if shaken. My dog did quite a lot of both. I could only take the sound for about five minutes (my dog had no such limitations) but it was constantly squeaking the whole time she had it. And it held up -- no squeakers broke, smashed, or got punctured. We tugged back and forth on this a little bit and it didn't even rip apart then. (Most plush toys are not suitable for tugging, as I have learned.)\n\nI generally find ZippyPaws toys (especially the ones that are size appropriate for my dog) to be of good quality, but this one is among the best even of those. My dog will get to play with it a few more times, which is pretty much unheard of for any type of plush.\n\nAnyway, I should probably stop raving about this thing now. One final note, the large (21-inch) size of these retails new elsewhere for about twelve bucks so getting it for under nine is a good deal.","Product: Feliway Spray controls urine marking and scratching, calms cats in transport and comforts cats in stressed environments. After cleaning urine-affected areas, spray directly onto the urine marks, as well as onto prominent objects including furniture, drapes, window frames and doorways. Feliway stops destructive behavior that can ruin your relationship with your cat. If something disturbs your cat's environment, such as a new pet, visitors, moving to a new home or even rearranging the furniture, he may start urine marking, scratching or even stop eating. Feliway products help control destructive urine marking and scratching associated with fear or stressful situations. Feliway Spray is odorless, colorless and nontoxic with no effect on other animals or people. It is not a drug or a tranquilizer.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: spray and let sit for a moment so the alcohol evaporates, and then your cat should like it\n\nReview: I was first introduced to this product at my vet's office and one of my cats, and older guy who has inflammatory bowel disease, really thought it was awesome (they sprayed it on a towel they had put on the exam room table). He licked and rubbed himself all over the towel. Well, now he has some additional problems as a side effect of his medications and condition, and he has to go back and forth to the vet and the ophthalmologist a lot (like a couple of times a week), and that can be pretty stressful on him. I don't want him to be stressed out because he already has hypertension and I don't want to make it worse! So I bought this to use on a towel that I put at the bottom of his pet carries. And I think it is helping.\n\nI did not have any luck with the Comfort Zone spray, but this one seems better. I took my cat to the vet for bloodwork and a blood pressure reading yesterday and he did really well! And his blood pressure reading was in the normal range, whereas it had been about twice normal at the emergency vet last week, so I think this is helping keep him calmed down. (I don't think it's the only thing -- his medications are working so he is feeling better -- but I believe in attacking the problem from all sides to get the best result, and this is one more tool!)\n\nThis does have an alcohol base (probably necessary to dissolve the active ingredient). I wish it didn't, but that may be the only thing that will work for the pheromones in this product. So, ideally you would spray it on something (cat bed, towel, blanket, etc.) and let it sit for a few minutes while the alcohol evaporates. (I tried spraying it near my cat to see his reaction, before I realized the alcohol was a problem, and he didn't like it. But he *did* like a towel that had been sprayed and allowed to sit for a moment.)\n\nSo anyway, this is working better for my cat than the Comfort Zone spray, and I will be getting a lot of use out of it as we travel back and forth to my cat's vet appointments in the coming weeks. (Hopefully not too many more of those.) I'll also be using it for taking my other cats to the vet for their annual exams and vaccinations.","Product: Wellness Kittles Grain Free Natural Cat Treats, Chicken & Cranberries Recipe are irresistibly tasty, 100% all-natural wheat free, grain free crunchy treats made in USA only. These natural crunchy dental cat treats not only are as tasty as they are healthy, but have a crunchy texture that helps to clean your cat's teeth. Each all-natural treat bite is packed with big taste from whole-food ingredients like chicken, cranberries and blueberries. With nothing artificial and under 2 calories each, you can show your cat extra love with Wellness Kittles natural cat treats.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: made in the USA and my cats love them\n\nReview: This review is for the \"chicken and cranberries\" flavor, since multiple items are listed on the same page.\n\nI got a package of these in last month's Meow Box and finally got around to opening them. I have three cats who are able to eat chicken (sadly, my fourth cat has a medical condition that precludes this), so I got them all together in a room and put a dozen or so of these on the floor.\n\nTwo of the three cats proceeded to gobble these up. The third showed some interest but he wasn't quick enough. So the cats like them, which is definitely worth a lot.\n\nThey're hard treats and they come in little shapes (flowers, hearts, stars). I don't think my cats chewed them, though...They come in a resealable plastic bag, similarly to many other cat treats.\n\nI trust the Wellness brand, in general. I've tried many cat and dog foods and treats from them in the past and have always been happy. These are made in the USA (always an important consideration when it comes to pet food/treats). They're grain-free, which is best for cats.\n\nI'm not sure how much cranberry and blueberry is in these. It must not be much, because my cats were pretty enthusiastic. I would imagine cranberry and blueberry would help with urinary tract issues; can't figure out another reason those ingredients would be included (sadly, the cat who hesitated a split second too long is the one with urinary tract issues...).\n\nAll-in-all, my cats liked these quite a bit. Would definitely consider buying these again sometime.","Product: What you see as bad behavior such as destructive scratching or urine marking may actually be your cat acting out due to stress. Cats are creatures of habit so when something in their environment changes such as a recent move or even rearranging furniture, can cause them stress. Good news! You don't have to live your life putting up with these behaviors and they can be modified and managed by using Comfort Zone and Comfort Zone with Feliway products. Our Spray & Scratch Control Spray is vet recommended and clinically proven to reduce urine marking and to limit destructive scratching. How does it work? Cats use pheromones which are scents to communicate to other cats and affect your cat's emotional well-being. We've mimicked these pheromones that help cats feel calm and safe. When the pheromones are sprayed onto a vertical surface, it naturally signals to your cat that their environment is safe which helps reduce their stress and reduce their need to scratch or spray. Simply spray onto the object(s) or area on the walls that your cat likes to target. The Comfort Zone Spray dispenses a drug-free, unscented and odorless vapor that only affects the cats. The spray is a great travel option to spray in the car or kennel if your cat gets nervous on the road or on the table at the vet's office to help keep them calm. It can be sprayed on fabrics, upholstery, hardwood, and doorframes.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: not as good as the stuff at the vet's office\n\nReview: I am just not seeing any results from using this product. I have tried it off and on over the past 6 or 8 months, specifically for one older cat who has been having some health problems that are exacerbated by stress. He LOVES the Feliway spray they have at the vet (tries to lick whatever they spray it on). But he just doesn't react to this. Well, I think he is reacting a little bit, but he is just not into this the way he is into the stuff at the vet's office.\n\nI notice there are two brands using the term \"Feliway.\" This item is from Comfort Zone and the others are from CEVA. The CEVA packaging looks more like what I am used to seeing (and buying) from my vet's office. So I suspect that is a better product, and I am going to pick some up this week.\n\nThe other thing I don't love about this is that when you spray it, you get a good whiff of alcohol. Now, I realize that it has to have a solvent if you are going to spray cat pheromones. It wouldn't be effective to spray without solvent. But if you are going to try this, I suggest spraying it on an item (towel, blanket, cat bed) while it is NOT near your cat, waiting for the alcohol to evaporate, and then give the item to your cat.","Product: The Categories Catty Coil combines two of a cat's favorite things, strings and springs, into one feline-friendly toy. Catty Coil's have a velvety soft outside but are also super springy! The erratic movements will keep your cat on it's toes as it bats, kicks, tosses and pounces.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: two of my cats really enjoyed these a lot\n\nReview: I got these in a cat subscription box and my cats really think they're fun. I have four older cats and two of them, the 8-year-old and the 10-year-old, particularly enjoy them. These cats do play with other toys, but usually they insist on catnip (which these do not have).\n\nThese are just simple springs (hard, with a soft almost powder type of coating), but my cats were biting them and tugging on them and tossing them around and it was really cute. I could tell they were having a lot of fun. You can also bunch them up and let them fly and the cats will chase after them.\n\nThese are pretty lightweight and seem to have held up to a fair amount of biting so far. They don't have sharp edges and there was no plastic or chemical odor. I would not have guessed my cats would've enjoyed these so much, but I'm happy to have been proven wrong.","Product: An easy way to keep your cat amused. Perfect for interacting with your cat and getting them to exercise. Tickly to the nose and paw pleasing to all cats and kittens, enjoy hours of healthy play and exercise. Warning: Choking hazard-small parts.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cat likes them, but somewhat lower quality than others I've bought in the past\n\nReview: One of my cats loves sparkle balls. Like, just loves them. He will chew on them so loudly it makes a sound (he is on some medication that may encourage this behavior). His saliva kind of solidifies parts of them into clumps, at which point I have to throw them away. His supply was dwindling so I ordered these.\n\nThese are an appropriate size for a cat (my cats are all in the 10-14 pound range). They are too big to swallow but not too big to fit (partially) in the cat's mouth. My sparkle-obsessed cat has already found a few of these and started playing with them. (He likes to bring them out into the living room and drop them in various spots.)\n\nThe only thing I don't love is that the sparkle density is a little low and these appear to be somewhat cheaper quality than others I've purchased. The cat likes them well enough, I just think they won't last as long as some of the others. I can already see some of the tinsel coming out of a few of them.\n\nAs always, supervise your cat around such toys until you know how s/he will react. Also, I would not give these to a dog of any size.","Product: Your cat is going to love Perfect arch groomer. Durable plastic bristles gently helps remove loose and shedding hair, while giving kitty a massage. Plus, the catnip-infused carpet base means kitty keeps coming back for more! The durable carpet base is perfect for scratching, so your kitty wont scratch your furniture!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: doesn't actually do much grooming, but all five of my cats think it is awesome\n\nReview: I have five cats. One of them has super long, wispy hair, and he stopped really grooming himself awhile ago, so he gets these huge, horrid knots that I have to cut out with scissors. He also gets hairballs the size of sausages. As it happens, he also really likes to rub himself on brushes of all kinds (including my hair brushes, which he eats the hair out of). So I got this, hoping it would help control his problems.\n\nWell, I am pleased to report that this has been a smashing success in at least one regard. All five of my cats think this is awesome -- especially the one I had it in mind for. It is like a cat attractor or trap. So much chin rubbing, a few little fights over who gets to be near it, etc.\n\nHowever, it doesn't really remove much in the way of loose hair. I wouldn't expect it to for my three short-haired cats, but both of my long-haired cats have spent a decent amount of time around it and I am just not finding tufts of hair in the bristles. (In fairness, brush-loving cat spends a good amount of time licking this and he may be eating hair out of it. Eating hair is something he does. No idea why.)\n\nThis was super easy to assemble and it seems sturdy. My cats range in size from a little over 10 pounds to almost 14 pounds and they haven't tipped this over. It comes with a little baggie of catnip and I just sprinkled that on the base and rubbed it in. The catnip was attractive to the cats for a few days, but they really seem to love the texture of the brush arch a lot more. (They don't walk through the middle.)\n\nAnyway, I did have to take a star off because this doesn't do much in the way of grooming. But since ALL five of my cats like it and I am getting a lot of amusement out of watching them, I still gave it a pretty good rating. I might pick up a couple more of these and put them in various places around the house.\n\nFor what it's worth, I got this somewhere else to hit a free delivery minimum. It ran me about ten bucks so do some comparison shopping before committing to a purchase.","Product: Kitty keeping you up at night with noisy toys and play? Weve got the solution! Nighttime Cuddle Toy by Petstages is a fun, glow-in-the-dark toy that your cat can play with at any hour without waking you up. Ultra-soft fur is fun to snuggle with as well as play. Best of all, it contains catnip to keep kittys interest.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: good quality but my cats were not really interested; I think it might work for kittens\n\nReview: This is quite large for a cat toy. (The 12 inches long includes the tail, however, so it's not quite *that* big...) I guess the idea is that they are supposed to cuddle with it. My cats don't really cuddle with toys, although they are older cats. I can see a kitten taking interest in this for cuddle purposes.\n\nIt's pretty soft and it may be the case that the one you receive is not quite the same color as the picture. Mine is a light blue color with a somewhat different face, but the item number (741) is the same.\n\nThis appears to be well made, and it may be just the thing for some cats. It's just that my four (ages 7.5 and up) weren't particularly interested in it.","Product: Petstages 599 Beyond Bone Synthetic Chew Dog Toy White, Large\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: dog loves it but probably not best for destructive chewers\n\nReview: This chew is made from some sort of synthetic material and infused with bone meal. My dog has loved some other Petstages flavor-infused chews in the past so I figured I would let her try this out (it came in a subscription box). For what it's worth, my dog is a Rottweiler (she's in the 80-90 pound range) and a super destructive chewer and we have the large version of this toy.\n\nThe good news is, my dog thinks this is awesome. There is something about the flavor-infused toys that keeps her much more interested, for much longer, than just plain nylon bones. And, the other piece of good news is, this did not aggravate her inflammatory bowel disease. I have to be super careful about what I give her because most animal proteins will set her off (and usually lead to throwing out a rug because she has had gastrointestinal issues all over it). But this did not cause that sort of problem.\n\nThe bad news is, this isn't super sturdy. After about 10 minutes, I had to take this away from her. (I've made the mistake of leaving her with Petstages flavor-infused chews in the past -- she ATE 3/4 of one of the stick toys, as little pieces, and it took her a couple of days to pass. I suppose the good news there is that she DID pass it...) She was already removing little pieces of plastic and swallowing them. I don't think they're likely to do harm, but if you have a very destructive chewer, this toy may not be the best for your dog. (If your dog is less destructive, it is probably fine, although I would definitely not leave any dog with this, unsupervised.)\n\nAnyway, your success with this toy is going to depend mostly on how destructive your dog is. But, it seems to be relatively safe for dogs with food issues.","Product: KONG Cuteseas Octopus Plush Dog Toy Under the sea fun and adventures await your pup with this adorable soft, corduroy plush Octopus dog toy. Made to durable, yet cuddling soft, the KONG Cuteseas Octopus Dog Toy features an internal squeaker and crinkle sound for added playtime fun. Collect all the whole KONG Cuteseas Collection for the cutest playtime ever! Features: Adorable under-the-sea collection Made from soft and snuggly corduroy Interior squeaker and crinkle sound for added playtime fun Collect them all for a mentally stimulating, fun toy box Item Specifications: Type: Octopus Size: Small: Toy is 2.3 inch x 2.3 inch x 10.8 inch. Recommended for: X-small and small size dogs Medium: Dimensions: (14.3 L x 3.5 W x 3.3 H) Recommended for: Small and medium size dogs Large: Dimensions: (16.5 L x 5.0 W x 4.3 H) Recommended for: Medium and large size dogs Click here to watch the product video.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: will work for some dogs, but not super destructive ones\n\nReview: I think KONG rubber toys are super durable but I have had mixed success with KONG plush toys. You just can't expect a plush toy to hold up as well -- too many weak points. Unfortunately, that was the case here.\n\nAnyway, this octopus came in a dog subscription box (forget which one, as I subscribe to quite a few of them). It is a good size for my dog (she is an 87 pound Rottweiler). It is super cute and it has a squeaker in addition to crinkly stuff in all the legs, so it makes a variety of interesting sounds. My dog was definitely interested in it, too. And it was fun to watch her playing with it, with all the legs going in different directions as she put this in her mouth.\n\nAfter a little while (maybe 10-15 minutes?), she did put a hole in one of the legs. It was at this point that I took it away from her. (My dog has a tendency to eat stuffing...) So the legs didn't come off, but just be aware there are other weak areas. For my dog, 10-15 minutes is about average for a toy destruction time. She has killed some other plush toys in as little as one minute.\n\nAt any rate, it is best to supervise your dog with any new toy until you see how it will hold up. This may be just fine with some dogs; my last Rottie would've kept this for years without damaging it. But this is not a very good choice for super destructive dogs or for dogs that like to pull stuffing out of plush toys.","Product: THE Original Dog Door Bell! Newly upgraded design with six large,loud bells and an adjustable length door handle strap! There is absolutely no skimping on the quality of our bells...EVER! We set ourselves apart from the competition with our quality, hands down. Our thousands of customer reviews speak for our unsurpassed Potty Bell quality. Don't expect to pay less for a better dog doorbell...it don't exist.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: not the right solution for me due to my dog's peculiar health situation, but ought to work in principle\n\nReview: I have a Rottweiler with inflammatory bowel disease. She is almost four years old and she is on prednisone. This makes her drink extra water, which dilutes her urine, plus she has a suppressed immune system. So, we were having problems with urinary tract infections. Unfortunately, this meant she sometimes \"forgot\" her house training and peed inside. Which is problematic, especially for an 80+ pound dog. (Never fear, there's no detectable bacteria in her urine now. She was on antibiotics for a LOOOOONG time.)\n\nI bought these in the hopes that I could re-housebreak her. Unfortunately, I am unable to follow the precise training directions. Because my dog has IBD, she can't have most foods, and she's unable to handle any treats. So, while she totally gets that the bell ringing means she is going outside (which is a good thing for her, and something she likes to do), she doesn't get that SHE can ring the bells when she wants to go out, and we can't reinforce that with a food reward (she can only eat a mushy, expensive canned food).\n\nFor what it's worth, this seems well made. It was easy to hang over the doorknob and does no lasting damage to any structures. It's simple -- just a loop in a strip of canvas with some bells sewn on. (The bells are securely attached. There is no plastic or chemical smell when you open the package.)\n\nBecause of my dog's particular situation, this is not the right item for me. I do think it was worth a try, and I expect the method would work very well for people whose dogs don't have such severe dietary restrictions. In the end, I am keeping this on the door in case my dog ever gets the hint (the cats sure like playing with the bells...) or I ever find treats she can actually consume.","Product: Whole earth farms recipes are made with high quality, all-natural ingredients to deliver complete & balanced nutrition for pets. Naturally nutritious with high quality protein as the first ingredient affordable goodness at a lower cost per day compared to mass and grocery brands. Made in the USA, meeting the highest quality standards.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cat liked it, even cold from the refrigerator\n\nReview: One of my cats only wants to eat beef. She'd been eating a different Merrick food (Cowboy Cookout) and, while she liked it, she started throwing up a little too often after a recent formula change. So I bought some other beef-flavored wet cat foods for her to try. She seems to like this one quite a bit.\n\nThis is a pate-style food. Although it has some chicken-based ingredients, the main components are beef and beef broth. It is pretty soft, so even if your cat has some dental issues, s/he should be able to eat this. It doesn't smell any worse than any other cat food. I love that it's grain free. Cats' digestive systems really don't handle grains well so I appreciate their absence here.\n\nMost importantly, my cat ate it not once but several times. I give her one can a day, split into three meals. So the second two meals are always from the refrigerator. But she doesn't seem to care -- she'll eat it anyway (even cold). (Please note that the feeding recommendations on the can may be a little high, especially for older or less active cats. According to those directions, my cat would need 3-4 cans a day!)\n\nThese are same size as regular 5.5 ounce cans and the normal can covers will fit them if you want to store the uneaten portion (although the weight of the contents has apparently been reduced to 5 ounces). Refrigerate after opening.","Product: NaturVet Hairball Aid Supplement Plus Pumpkin Helps Eliminate and Prevent Hairballs When Used on a Daily Basis. Pumpkin Adds Natural Fiber to Help Support a Healthy Digestive System. Larger Size 100ct is Great for Multi-Cat Households. Wheat Free, Tasty Soft Chews 100ct for Cats Over the Age of 12 Weeks, Give 2 Soft Chews per Day. All NaturVet Products are Veterinarian Formulated and Manufactured in the USA in an FDA Audited, cGMP Compliant Facility with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: cats weren't terribly enthusiastic about these compared to other treats\n\nReview: I am having a hard time deciding on a star rating for this product. Hopefully something I say below will resonate with you (or not) and help you make a decision about whether these might be right for your cat, one way or the other.\n\nI received this in a KitNip subscription box and I finally got around to trying them. I have four cats, three of whom can have treats (one has IBD and can't eat these) and two of those are long-haired and get hairballs frequently. I am sure they are tired of the endless forcing of Cat Lax on them, so I thought a treat might be a nice alternative option and I was happy to be able to try these.\n\nThe cats did eat these, just not very enthusiastically. As usual, I put a small handful on the floor (they don't want to take treats from my hands) and left them alone to finish up (my black cat is rather timid). However, when I went back later, only about 2/3 of the treats had been finished. (Usually 100% of treats are finished within a minute or two.) So my cats just really didn't like these as much as they like most other treats. That is a definite negative. (Although they did eat at least some of them.)\n\nThe ingredients are mostly OK (you can see the full list if you zoom in on the product images). If you pay attention to labels, you will know that a lot of cat hairball remedies include petroleum derivatives/mineral oil/etc. Now, those remedies definitely work (Cat Lax is one of them). But I totally understand the perspective of someone not wanting to feed their cat such things. And this product is free of any obviously petroleum-derived ingredients (though it does have glycerin and does not elaborate as to the source of the glycerin, but then cats are not vegetarians so that probably doesn't matter...). I do note that these are wheat free, which I appreciate (cats don't handle grains well), although they don't seem to have any meat in them at all, which may be why my cats don't care for them.\n\nThe active ingredient here is apparently psyllium husk. Now, I supplement my dog with psyllium husk (a source of fiber) for her IBD. But for her, it helps things along in the colon, not the stomach. So I am not sure why it is believed here that psyllium husk will help with hairballs, which are an upper GI issue. On the other hand, if your cat has loose stools, these might help firm things up. (However, the glycerin might help with the hairballs and that is the first ingredient in these. Although I'm not sure how many treats your cat would have to eat for it to have an effect. Since my cats didn't really like these, I am unable to fully assess whether they will stop hairballs, unfortunately.)\n\nIn the end, I'm not fully convinced the particular combination of ingredients (including their amounts) is going to be effective in stopping hairballs. My cats didn't really like these enough for me to evaluate them as well as I would like (which says something in itself -- no remedy is good if the cat won't eat it...). I suspect it was my (short-haired) calico cat who ate most of them anyway, and she doesn't have a hairball problem. On the other hand, these may be useful for lower GI issues and are probably easier than giving fiber pills to a cat, especially if you dip them in a little gravy from wet food to give them a more appetizing flavor first.","Product: NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin Helps Support the Nervous System in Reducing Stress and Tension and Helps Promote Rest and Relaxation. Our Unique Blend of Thiamine and L-Tryptophan Helps to Reduce Stress and Tension, Ginger Supports Sensitive Stomachs while Melatonin Helps to Promote Rest and Relaxation. Recommended for Cats when Traveling, Great for Storms, Fireworks, Grooming or Boarding. Wheat Free, Tasty Soft Chews 60ct for Cats Over the Age of 12 Weeks. Give 2 Soft Chews 30 Minutes Prior to Stressful Situation. Do Not Exceed Double the Daily Amount in a 12-hour Period. Active Ingredients per 2 Soft Chews: L-Tryptophan, Chamomile, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ginger and Melatonin. All NaturVet Products are Veterinarian Formulated and Manufactured in the USA, in an FDA Audited, cGMP Compliant Facility with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: cat will not eat these, no matter what I do\n\nReview: I have a calico cat who is a bit on the older side (9 maybe?) and she has asthma. Well, asthma can be exacerbated by stress and I recently got a kitten. The calico cat hates the kitten, so of course that adds to the stress of the situation. I have been trying various methods to calm the asthmatic cat (in addition to veterinary treatment, of course). I had been using the \"Composure\" treats from another company and found them OK but not great, so I wanted to see what else was out there. I bought a tub of these elsewhere.\n\nI should say two things before I go on. (1) The calico cat is a garbage disposal. She will eat anything. And she is on prednisolone for the asthma, which theoretically should make her even hungrier. (2) We have had other treats from this company before and several of my cats have liked them.\n\nHowever, the calico cat WILL NOT EAT THESE. She has occasionally picked one up, chewed it for a moment, and spit it out. Now she is totally ignoring them. I can't even evaluate how effective they are if she won't eat them. I have tried giving them to her alone. I have tried covering them in her wet food. It doesn't matter. She will eat around them, but she won't eat them.\n\nThey are semi-moist treats. They're a bit large but it didn't even work for me to cut them in half (she still wouldn't eat them). To me, anyway, they smell like plenty of other cat treats. I don't know if there is something the cat can detect that I can't, but she really just does not like these at all.\n\nAnyway, I was really hoping these would work, but I am back to the drawing board. I would still recommend other treats from this company; the hairball ones seemed popular with several of my cats. But these \"Quiet Moments\" ones were completely shunned by the cat who needed them most.","Product: Darwin the Frog Large is a squeaky natural rubber ball of amphibian fun for dogs. This chew toy is perfect for games of fetch as Darwin will bounce erratically when thrown --- dogs will have a hopping good time. Dogs and owners alike will love the durable Darwin - he's frogtastic. Suitable for medium and large breed dogs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my dog can't chew the feet off, unlike with some other toys from this company\n\nReview: I have the green one of these in the large size (not like the color matters). This is a very sturdy toy if your dog is destructive. Unlike some of the other JW Pet Company products we have tried, the feet are sort of attached to the body in this one, in a way that makes the toy not have ankles. So far, my very destructive dog has not managed to chew any bits of this off. So that is a definite plus.\n\nSize-wise, this is appropriate for a large dog. I have a 90-lb Rottweiler and she can fit this in her mouth and make it squeak. It's not the most interesting toy (to her) that she's ever had, but she does like it. I see that it moves around while I'm not at home, so I know she's playing with it. (And I actually feel safe leaving this one with her while I'm gone.)\n\nIn the end, if you have a large, destructive dog who likes rubber toys, this one is an excellent choice and should last you a long time.","Product: Inspired by nature, the Power Chew DuraChew Beef Bone Alternative is the splinter-free rawhide alternative you need for your aggressive chewer. Made with tough, durable nylon and savory beef flavor throughout, this long-lasting chew toy is cleaner and safer than real animal parts. This power chew keeps dogs busy, satisfies their natural urge to chew, and encourages positive chewing habits. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar buildup.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my dog loves this and it seems to be durable, too\n\nReview: This review is for the large antler, since several different products are listed on the same page.\n\nMy dog has inflammatory bowel disease and I have to watch it with the flavored toys. We've learned she can handle some, but not others. (Also, for reference, she is an 87-pound Rottweiler. The large antler is an appropriately-sized toy for her.) The antler is in the group of toys she can handle, so that's already one point in its favor.\n\nMy dog is also a super destructive chewer. Even some of the supposedly \"durable\" toys, she manages to destroy in under 15 minutes (e.g., one play session). This one, however, she's had access to several times now and it is still safe to give to her again. Yes, she has raised some little ridges (as with most Nylabone toys), but they're not sharp and they're not cutting up her gums (she has some problems with her gum tissue due to her IBD medications, so she is more sensitive to that than most dogs would be). They're also not slicing open my hand when I take the toy away from her. For reference, this is one of those toys you should probably supervise your dog with.\n\nThis last thing may be evident from the previous paragraph, but my dog LOVES this toy. She chews it nonstop when she has it. She has not been able to break any pieces off or anything. I would call this one of our more successful toy experiments of late. (I think it came in a dog subscription box, but I can't remember which one.)","Product: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Feline Probiotic Supplement contains a safe and effective strain of beneficial bacteria proven to promote normal intestinal microflora. FortiFlora is the #1 probiotic brand prescribed by veterinarians. The science behind our therapeutic products represents a collaboration between Purina nutritionists, researchers and veterinarians. Millward Brown Veterinary Tracker, 2016\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: worth a try, but not suitable for every cat\n\nReview: I have used this product on two cats. It was great for one of them and not so good for the other. I'll describe both their experiences and hopefully that will help you decide whether this product might be right for your own cat.\n\nMonkey: He is a lovely long-haired kitty with a tendency to get soft stools. I notice, because it gets stuck in his fur. There's not always an obvious cause for his problem -- he's resistant to eating anything other than his own food, and he never goes outside. But about a week of FortiFlora clears the problem right up, each and every time. There's been a time or two he's been on antibiotics, and FortiFlora has helped keep his stools firm then, too. He loves the taste and gets very excited whenever I get out one of the little packets. So it's been great for him.\n\nMouse: She was a sweet little short-haired gray tabby with a bad case of inflammatory bowel disease. We used this product for awhile, but it did not help. In fact, it may have made the problem worse. FortiFlora contains something called \"animal digest\" that is designed to enhance palatability (and seems to, in Monkey's case), but which is likely to contain some animal proteins that aggravate IBD symptoms. (If you are not familiar with feline IBD, many common proteins may trigger symptoms -- including, in some cases, chicken, pork, beef, turkey, etc. in addition to grains.)\n\nIn conclusion, if you have an otherwise healthy cat on a course of antibiotics or with occasional soft stools, you should definitely try FortiFlora. But if you have a cat with a food allergy or with IBD, you should probably not use it. Also, don't open the packets around your own food (the powder is light and can puff up a bit when you pour it out) and wash your hands after dispensing -- the bacterial strain is an Enterococcus one that you don't necessarily want in your own system.","Product: Play and be Jolly! Meet the flexible, floaty, bouncy, durable Jolly Bone. Made from a super pliable material, this bone is guaranteed to keep your dogs tail wagging! Ready to provide your dog hours of chewing Ideal for water based catch & fetch The ridges on the ends of thebonegive your dog the feeling that they are chewing through the toy while massaging his gums\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: seemed durable but, unfortunately, my dog's interest didn't last\n\nReview: This is a review of the 9 inch orange bone.\n\nWe got this in a dog subscription box. My dog was initially quite enthusiastic about it and spent a good few minutes chewing on it. She didn't even manage to damage the end she was chewing on, which is pretty impressive. We did a bit of tugging with it and it didn't get damaged, so that was wonderful.\n\nBut, after a few minutes, my dog decided she was no longer interested. (She is like this with a lot of rubber toys.) She dropped it and went back to looking longingly at the high-up shelf where I have temporarily stored all the many plush toys she has ruined.\n\nIn the end, her lack of interest drives my rating. It was durable while she played with it, but as I said, that wasn't a long time. I think if there was a hollow portion in the end where you could put a little peanut butter, kibble, or a small treat, that would make it much more interesting for dogs (mine included -- she has IBD and can't have any of the treats I listed just now, but a hollow part would allow me to put a piece of ice or a bit of her wet food, which would have the same effect as she goes nuts for both).","Product: 10", Loofa Cat Kicker Toy, Plush, Crinkle and Catnip Filled Toy, Great For Cats Who Like To Hug Their Toys and Do Bunny Kicks, Cat Will Hug It Close Because Of The Catnip and Crinkle and Love To Kick With Their Hind Legs, 5 Assorted Colors.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: kind of spendy but my calico cat thought it was awesome\n\nReview: My cats have the purple one. These are really quite large for cat toys. I got this in a recent Meowbox subscription box and I wasn't sure my cats would even like it.\n\nBut, I gave it to them and my calico really had a lot of fun. She was gripping it in her front claws and rolling around on her back and biting it, so I guess she enjoyed it. I certainly enjoyed watching her with it.\n\nIt seems well made. Not that my cats typically destroy toys, but I don't see any tears or punctures yet. The crinkle paper in it is only on the front. I am hoping my cats don't find this in the night, because the crinkle paper could be a bit annoying when I am trying to sleep. But, at least one of my cats really enjoyed this and that's what counts!","Product: Let your dogs express themselves with the Squeakie Emojiz line. From your favorite yellow faces to the pizza and poo; collect all the fun and silly toys for a variety of emotions. Endless entertainment doesn't have to break the bank. Made with quality material that can last longer than other dog toys, and of course ZippyPaws provides an extra cuteness factor! The durability is great for tug-of-war, and its bouncy nature leads to never-ending fetches. Oh, and this easy to chew toy contains two round squeakers to ensure your puppy can have a \"squeakin' good time\" on their own or with you.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: dog loved it but had the squeaker out in a few minutes\n\nReview: My dog has had a couple of these. Most recently it was the pizza slice, although we've had the poo in the past as well. They are of similar quality.\n\nThese do have stuffing so watch out if your dog is a stuffing puller. The pizza had two squeakers (average sounding). My dog had one of them out in maybe 5 minutes. So this is not the most durable of dog toys. However, if your dog is gentler with plushes, this may work (I have had dogs in the past who did not destroy every toy in sight).\n\nThis will work for a wide range of dog sizes. My dog is an 84-pound Rottweiler and this was a little on the small side for her, but not so small it wasn't safe. The pizza is fairly thin, so even a much smaller dog could get a grip in his/her mouth.\n\nIn the end, best for non-destructive dogs of various sizes.","Product: Madcap plush toys by Petstages are made of durable canvas on the outside, with enticing catnip on this inside. These lightweight toys are sure to be one of your kittys favorites. Great for interactive play between owner and cat, or for kitty to bat, toss, chew, and chase on their own! Comes in a variety of fun, cute characters.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: cats weren't particularly interested in this\n\nReview: Normally I am a huge fan of the Petstages Madcap toys. One of my cats, in particular, really seems to like the surface texture and licks these toys over and over again. But, my cats were not so into this particular one. I think they just really don't like large toys (I have four cats and usually at least one of them will enjoy a thing when I give them something new).\n\nThis is crinkly inside and if you have a cat that likes to wrestle with toys, don't let my rating stop you from getting this. This toy, like others from this product line, is well-made, with good stitching. The eyes and such are printed on the fabric instead of being detachable as with many cat toys. So you wouldn't have to worry about your cat tearing it apart. It has some crinkle paper inside which adds an interesting sound.\n\nIf there is catnip in this, I think there must not be very much, or it must be weak. Perhaps the reason my cats like the smaller toys from this line is that the catnip is more concentrated and/or closer to the surface of the toy, so they can sense it a little better.\n\nWorth getting if your cats like to wrestle with large toys. If they don't (like mine), I'd suggest passing on this one.","Product: Madcap plush toys by Petstages are made of durable canvas on the outside, with enticing catnip on this inside. These lightweight toys are sure to be one of your kittys favorites. Great for interactive play between owner and cat, or for kitty to bat, toss, chew, and chase on their own! Comes in a variety of fun, cute characters.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cats licked this until it was very wet (I guess that means they liked it)\n\nReview: Petstages catnip toys seem to be making the subscription box rounds lately. This is the second one I've gotten in a month or two.\n\nLuckily, my cats LOVE these. Sometimes I wonder with toys that are attached to cards instead of in baggies whether the catnip will be fresh with all the air exposure. However, with this toy, I am certain the catnip was fresh. There is no other explanation for how much one of my cats loved this. He would not stop licking it until it was soaking wet and I had to take it away...\n\nThis seems well-made. My cats mostly batted this around and/or licked it, but they were not able to pull any pieces off. It's small enough for an adult cat to be able to toss around. Do watch your cat, though, because if yours likes to pull bits off toys and swallow them, you'll want to be careful of the legs.\n\nOverall, though, my cats were quite happy with this. Recommended for cats who react to catnip!","Product: PetStages SlingSock Dog Toy Large Assorted 15" x 3.2" x 3.2"-A durable rubber ball is encased in the soft, yet tough sling to send the toy flying for long distances! The fun, floppy feel is also great for tug and play!. Features: Fetch fun with no launcher Durable rubber ball inside soft, yet tough sling It squeaks\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: dog likes it but wants to play tug with it instead of chase it\n\nReview: We received one of these in a dog subscription box. My dog likes it, but I think it is not really meant for destructive dogs or heavy chewers.\n\nI can fling this well enough across the living room (my dog can't play outside for various reasons related to her health) and my dog will chase it. But then she will want to play tug-of-war. And this isn't really meant for that, or for chewing. If I won't tug on it with her, she will put her front feet down on the end and pull at the ball with her teeth. It is kind of not holding up so well under those conditions (we're talking less than a week of use, albeit somewhat inappropriate use). She will give the end to me and if I hold it, she will back away and dig in to the carpet until she is pulling on the thing with all her weight (she is an 87 pound Rottweiler).\n\nIf your dog has a tendency to destroy fabric things of any kind, I'd definitely keep an eye on her/him when playing with this and not leave your dog unsupervised. Because if your dog rips off a piece and swallows it (dogs will definitely eat socks and such), that could be bad. That hasn't happened with us and seems unlikely to happen, because I'd throw this away before it got that damaged, but it is just something to keep in the back of your mind.\n\nIn the end, my dog really does like this, but I think there is a good chance that dogs will want to play with it in a way other than what was intended, and that's where the trouble can start to arise. I do think this is size appropriate for a large breed dog.","Product: Satisfy your pup's wild instincts with deer horn by pet stages! made with real Antler material, deer horn has a natural taste and smell your dog will love, but is safer than actual antlers. Your pooch will spend hours safely chewing and chomping away on this durable, Tough toy. Keep your best friend safely occupied for hours with deer horn by pet stages.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: dog loved it, long-lasting, didn't aggravate her IBD symptoms\n\nReview: I got this in a recent Bullymake box and it is awesome. I was a little worried because the package says it is made with real deer antler (embedded in the plastic, I guess), and my dog has severe inflammatory bowel disease. Odd proteins can really set her off with gastrointestinal symptoms (I'll spare you the details) and I had to take all her chicken-flavored Nylabone toys away (which is too bad, because she loves to gnaw on things).\n\nBut, I figured I'd give this to her once and see how it went. She loved it and chewed on it for a solid hour. Toys never last that long with her. As expected, she did bring up some ridges from the chewing action (but that is common with this type of toy). I was even able to give this to her a couple more times. Let me tell you, getting to play with a toy more than once is a momentous occasion for my dog. I did eventually have to take it away because she started taking little pieces off and swallowing them (they just passed through without causing harm). Probably if I let her chew this for 15 minutes instead of a whole hour at a time, this would last a couple of weeks at least...\n\nAnyway, also important was the fact that this did not cause my dog any gastrointestinal distress despite the presence of deer antler. Plus, when my dog wanders the house and is bored, she has a tendency to pee on the floor (she is on prednisone which makes it worse). But with this, she was occupied in the same place for a very long time and I didn't have to worry about \"accidents.\" It does make a lot of noise if you have a vigorous chewer but I will take that if it makes my dog happy and doesn't make her sick. I will definitely be getting another one or two of these.","Product: Alien Flex Plush Toys by Spunky Pup are your dogs new intergalactic friends. Each character has its own unique look, story and squeaking sound. Protected squeaker with double-layered stitching, Gnaw Guard 3-layer reinforced lining. Collect the whole crew!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: not for destructive chewers (but it's so cute!)\n\nReview: I'm sad to have to give this a low rating because it is adorable and I have been very happy with the other Spunky Pup toys I have received in subscription boxes. But, despite the company's best efforts to reinforce the lining and protect the squeaker, my dog had a hole in this and was pulling stuffing out in about three minutes.\n\nMy dog is a destructive 84-pound Rottweiler. As soon as she gets a new plush toy, she goes to work gnawing on some part of it (the squeaker may distract her for a second or two). She has an uncanny ability to find the weakest point in any toy and exploit it. (If there are no weak points, she quickly loses interest.) She thought this was pretty awesome, and was excited about playing with it, so that's great. I would not give this to a dog much larger than mine, so this would not be suitable for giant breeds. (Probably it is also too small for toy breeds. But I am guessing dogs in the 25-30 pound range and larger would find it interesting. There are also some mini versions that have come out for much smaller dogs.)\n\nThe particular weakness here was along the toy's spine. She had opened the seam there and was pulling stuffing out. There was also a rather long string that emerged from somewhere. So, sadly, I had to take this away from her after a short time.\n\nNote: This may be a great toy for some dogs. The Rottie I had before this one was very good with plush toys and never destroyed any of them. So it will depend on your dog, and I wouldn't shy away from the purchase if your dog behaves with plush toys. But if you have a destructive chewer, this is not for you.","Product: The hunt is on with the Pet Zone Fly By spinner toy! The Fly By brings the wild inside with a flying action that replicates the movement and fluttering of a real butterfly. Its not uncommon to see cats lunge, jump, and dive after insects and butterflies. Fly By allows your cat to stalk and hunt in a safe and engaging environment. When you flip the switch and turn the toy on, your cat will experience stimulating and interactive play providing healthy mental and physical stimulation. Pet Zone Fly By has an easy twist-off base that allows you to place one AAA battery into the toy. Flip the switch to on and watch your cat hat and the fluttering butterfly.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: cats found it interesting but movement mechanism didn't work well\n\nReview: I got this in a cat subscription box. I wasn't sure what to expect with my cats, going in, because they have largely ignored toys like this in the past. I have five cats and I saw a series of reactions, ranging from intense interest to complete indifference.\n\nCat 1 (13 years old, almost blind): didn't seem to know it was there, but this is not really surprising\n\nCat 2 (11 or 12 years old): not really interested\n\nCat 3 (10 years old): weirdly, was very interested in the base and not the butterfly part\n\nCat 4 (9 years old): she played with the butterfly some; I think she was in a bad mood that day or she might've played with it more\n\nCat 5 (1 year old): thought this was the awesomest toy ever, tried to drag it around by the butterfly\n\nSo, based on this admittedly small sample size, it seems this appeals most to younger cats. That is not so unusual -- I find it to be true of most toys. My kitten (I still call him that, even though he is 16 or 17 months old at this point) will play with pretty much anything, including junk mail and table legs.\n\nThe base has little legs. I'm not sure the point of these. They don't extend the surface area of the toy that's in contact with the floor all that much. They didn't really even contact the floor all that well, and my kitten grabbed the butterfly in his teeth and pulled the toy over. (I have had similar toys where the legs made the toy have a much larger footprint and made it harder to knock over. I think that was the idea here, but it failed in the execution.)\n\nThis also has a switch. Presumably this is supposed to make the butterfly go around in circles? I think the battery was almost completely dead in my unit when it arrived, because the butterfly moved, but not really all that much, and it couldn't complete a circle, although there was a definite difference in behavior between when the switch was in one position (no movement unless caused by a cat) and the other (halfhearted attempts to move).\n\nIn the end, even with the rather poorly-functioning movement mechanism, enough of my cats expressed interest in this that I don't want to give it a totally negative rating.","Product: Vital Essentials Vital Cat Treats are packed with vital nutrients, made with only fresh, whole, single-sourced USDA animal protein to provide essential nutrition that cats instinctively crave. A purr-fect way to reward your feline with healthy and nutritious treats.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: excellent ingredients but most of my cats don't want to eat it\n\nReview: It sort of pains me to give this product only three stars. I am a big fan of single-ingredient, grain-free treats for cats. And these are made in the USA from wild caught Alaskan salmon, which is wonderful.\n\nHowever, of my four cats who can have treats (one has inflammatory bowel disease and fish is off limits for him), only one of them will eat this eagerly. And she is on prednisolone for asthma, which increases her appetite (she is something of a garbage disposal in day-to-day life, so she might have liked them anyway). Another will nibble one piece of this slowly into smaller pieces, and he may eat those, but he is awfully slow about it.\n\nThe last two cats will sniff and lick this but ultimately won't eat it. They'll drop it and then look at me like I still owe them a treat.\n\nThis is lightweight and comes in a resealable bag. It is not too smelly, even though it is made from fish (and believe me, I have had come across some stinky fish flavored cat treats in the past).\n\nIf your cat likes freeze-dried meat, this is a fine product with great ingredients and you should definitely check it out. If your cat is less enthusiastic about freeze-dried meat, you probably want to look elsewhere. (With my cats, liking freeze-dried meat seems to be an all or nothing proposition. They will either eat salmon, turkey, chicken, etc. freeze-dried, or they will eat nothing freeze dried. It has never been a matter of liking chicken but not fish or fish but not turkey, etc.)","Product: Vital Essentials products are packed with vital nutrients. Just as humans thrive on fresh food, so do animals. The most natural ingredient in an animal's diet is raw food containing antioxidants, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, minerals and phytochemicals; the building blocks to a healthy, vital life!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: wonderful for my IBD cat\n\nReview: I have a cat with inflammatory bowel disease. There aren't many proteins he can have. Rabbit happens to be one of them. He also can't have grains, soy, etc. So it is hard to find a treat that will work for him. (So many include artificial flavors, natural flavors, chicken, etc.) He can have these.\n\nNow, this particular cat has bad teeth and kind of has to gum his food (I puree his regular food with water and he drinks it), but he can manage these. (We don't do a dental appointment for him because of his advanced age and all the immune-suppressing medications he is on.) He goes after them enthusiastically, in fact. They are a little bit tough for him but he can manage (and seems to take great joy in doing so).\n\nI know these get digested pretty quickly. This cat has acid reflux if he goes too long between meals. Although I feed him four times a day, sometimes there is a little extra time between normal feedings. When that happens, I give him a few of these to tide him over. He once vomited a few hours after having these (unrelated to the treats as he's had them many, many times without issue) and the treats weren't in it -- so even cats with slow, barely-functional digestion seem to be able to handle these. (By contrast, he has digestive trouble with the \"Simply Nourish\" freeze-dried treats from a big box petstore chain.)\n\nMy other cats (I have four healthy ones) are not so keen on freeze dried meat (one, who is on prednisolone for asthma, eats it enthusiastically, and the kitten nibbles at it). But if you have a cat with extremely specialized dietary needs -- something like IBD -- these are wonderful.","Product: (4 Packages) VetriScience Laboratories - Composure Feline, 120 Bite-Sized Chews Total (30 Per Pack)\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: my cat likes them but I can't say for sure if they're having any effect\n\nReview: I have a cat with asthma that is exacerbated by stress. We do a Flovent inhaler (with AeroKat adapter) twice a day but sometimes that is not enough. We also have Feliway diffusers around the room where she spends most of her time. I was hoping to use these treats to provide additional calm. I give her two of these, twice a day, about 12 hours apart.\n\nI have bought these in the past and thought they worked, but I'm less convinced now, and I probably won't buy them again. For what it's worth, they only come in small bags with about 30 treats, so if you want to use them for more than a week or more than one cat, you have to buy a lot. I guess I understand, in that they start to get hard once open, but the bags are really too small. (The lysine treats from the same company have a similar feel to them and come in larger bags, though.) They also almost never actually contain 30 treats (I keep getting odd numbers left over, giving two at a time...). The bags do reseal well.\n\nThese have a strong smell. It's difficult to describe. My cat will totally eat them, though, and that is the main thing. You may want to start with only one bag to see if your cat likes them; the cat I am giving these to will eat pretty much anything, including fuzz off the carpet.\n\nHowever, these don't seem to be helping her to calm down. It's possible that the benefit is really hard to define (how do you measure degrees of cat calmness?). But after three and a half weeks on these, I've actually had to put this cat back on every-other-day prednisolone (in addition to the inhaler) to control her asthma symptoms.\n\nAnyway, these are worth a try, especially if you have a food-motivated cat, but they may not do anything.","Product: Warriorz are a line of extra-tough plush toys reinforced with strong border webbing and stitched together with Z-Stitch Technology, a special sewing technique created exclusively by Zippy Paws! Warriorz can withstand some serious chewing, thanks to their fortifying inner layers of durable fabrics.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: very well-made; my dog didn't destroy it immediately!\n\nReview: I have received a lot of ZippyPaws plush toys in dog subscription boxes (which is where I go this one, \"Archibald the Archer\"). These ones with Z-stitch (a toughened stitching around the edges) are some of the best plush toys I've encountered.\n\nFirst off, my dog is definitely interested in them. She finds the squeakers and then it is squeak, squeak, squeak, for like 20 minutes. She thought this was pretty great. She got rather violent with it and broke a couple of her toenails (no bleeding, thankfully)! But, she was clearly having a good time. (For reference, she is an 87 pound Rottweiler.)\n\nSecond, she seems unable to destroy it. I think there are two things going on here. First, the Z-stitch around the edges is super strong (her past Z-stitch toys, including a snake, have similarly lasted through multiple play sessions). And, the fabric making up the plushy part didn't have any obvious weaknesses. Because my dog can totally rip a hole right in the middle of a stretch of fabric; she does not limit herself to ruining edges. But this stayed intact.\n\nNormally, my dog gets plush toys and destroys them in five minutes. But she had this one for quite awhile and didn't ruin it, so she will get to play with it a few more times. It is exceedingly rare that that ever happens, so this toy definitely gets a good rating from me!","Product: Engineered for aggressive chewers in mind. Tiny flavor cells are molded into both sides of the Flavorit bone so you can fill it with peanut butter, cheese, cream cheese, or any other spreadable treat your dog prefers. The tiny flavor cells hold just enough spread to lure your dog to chew, but not so much that they're getting so many calories. You can even add a different spreadable treat on each side to up the flavors! No mess because its concave design. Once your dog is done chewing, just run it through the top rack of the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning and it's ready for the next round of chewing. Or you can use a brush to clean up the leftover food. Even though it works great with all kinds of spreads, dogs love it on its own too! The Sweet Potato Flavorit bone is infused with human-grade sweet potato flavoring. It is generously flavored to the bone; you can literally smell the goodness of sweet potato even inside the packaging! The result is a double-yummy and drool-worthy bone your dog will love even without any spread! Giving your dog non-edible bones also massages their gums and provides scraping action on their teeth, much like a dental hygienist descaling the plaque from human teeth. Small Bone Is Recommended for Dogs Up to 15 Lbs. Medium Bone Is Recommended for Dogs Up to 30 Lbs. Large Bone Is Recommended for Dogs Up to 50 Lbs. Extra Large Bone Is Recommended for Dogs Over 50 Lbs. 100% Nylon, Dishwasher Safe, and made in the USA\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my dog loved it and it didn't aggravate her IBD\n\nReview: I have a lot of these from dog subscription boxes, but the sweet potato one is the most recent one I gave to my dog. First off, wow, is the smell strong. It's a pleasant sort of smell, as these things go -- not just sweet potato but there is some sort of buttery maple thing going on, as well. When I opened the subscription box this came in, I could smell it outside the packaging, but it got stronger when I opened the actual toy. So anyway, the \"infused\" part is accurate.\n\nMy dog thought this was pretty great, though she is not particularly picky. She likes basically everything I give her. (I'm lucky that way. Toys are usually a very low risk expenditure...) After chewing on this for a few minutes, she had left some tooth marks but nothing major. I'll be able to give it to her again. That is remarkable as I think I have one of the most destructive dogs in existence. (This is not to say you shouldn't supervise your dog with this toy -- you should.) I did not even put anything in the little holes, the toy itself was enough. But, in the past I have had other Flavorit toys and have put a little of my dog's wet food on them, and that made it even more fun for her. (My dog eats Hill's prescription diet z/d because she has inflammatory bowel disease. This has a uniform texture that is a bit like peanut butter, only somewhat less spreadable.)\n\nThis does not seem to have aggravated my dog's IBD, which makes me happy. I'm always a little reluctant to give her flavored toys because I don't want her to have digestive issues. But, well, she had this last night and she has been out this morning already and we'll just say things are fine and leave it at that.\n\nAnyway, if your dog likes nylon toys this should be interesting and if your dog is iffy on them, just put some peanut butter or spreadable cheese or wet food on here and that will make it more fun.\n\nFor reference, I have size \"large\" and my dog is a 90-pound Rottweiler. I do believe this is size appropriate for her, but I am not sure it would be for a St. Bernard or Great Dane or other 100+ pound dog.","Product: This jack o catnip will certainly put kitty into the YEOWWW!-loween spirit! Better than candy, this 3 pumpkin toy is 100% lled with YEOWWW! organically grown catnip. No tricks for kitty - its all treat!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: very popular with my cats\n\nReview: I got this in a cat subscription box. I suspected before I ever gave it to my cats that it would be popular (they have loved pretty much every Yeowww toy they've ever gotten), and I was right.\n\nUsually I am lucky to get one cat to show interest in a toy (I have four cats, ages 8, 9, 10, and 12, so they are not exactly young and playful). But at least three of mine showed varying degrees of interest in this. The 10-year-old monopolized this toy right away and bit it and tossed it around and licked it until it was wet. The 12-year-old was more subdued but he did cuddle with it a bit (his usual reaction to toys). And the 8-year-old found it the next day and repeated the experience of the 10-year-old.\n\nIt seems to have held up well to violent play with teeth and claws involved. My guys and gal haven't been able to tear it open or anything, and there are no loose threads or holes. So it seems well-made. And the canvas texture is definitely appealing to my crew. (They also like the Yeowww apple, which is quite similar to this pumpkin.)","Product: Cat gone fishin? At over 7 long and completely filled with YEOWWW! organically grown catnip, these fish are keepers!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cats LOVE this\n\nReview: I get a Yeowww! catnip toy in a subscription box about once per month and I am always happy to see them (I think I got this one, the green fish, in Purr Packs). My cats absolutely go crazy over these. One of my older guys jumped into the subscription box before I could even see the contents through all the crinkle paper and started licking this. Until it was wet. Kind of gross, but he was enjoying himself so much. And the sounds he made -- halfway between a purr and a slurp. I could listen to that for a long time.\n\nLater on, my black cat got ahold of this and started rubbing himself all over it and rolling all over the floor. He is normally pretty skittish (his mother was feral) but this emboldened him and allowed him to have a bit of fun.\n\nI find these to be pretty high quality. My cats are older (ages 8, 9, 10, and 12, or thereabouts) and they still like playing with this toy in particular and Yeowww toys in general (they have an apple and a pumpkin from months ago that I still catch them playing with -- the catnip is that strong, and apparently the outer canvas texture is also appealing). My cats are not particularly violent with toys, which may be contributing to how long this one is holding up.\n\nAnyway, I fully expected this to be a success and it was. So much fun. Definitely recommended.","Product: For dogs and cats that need a potassium supplement mixed with a B-Complex vitamin, the Vet Solutions Renal K+ Gel is the answer. Delivered as a gel, the product can be easily squeezed out in minimal amounts to provide sample for your pet to taste and acclimate to. Once your dog or cat realizes the material is palatable, the supplement can be delivered through an oral syringe or a common tea spoon, depending on the animal. Vet Solutions Renal K is made with water, potassium, maple flavor for sweetness, citric acid, various components for vitamin ingestion, and other artificial sweeteners. Designed to work as a supplement, the product helps pet owners solve potassium deficiencies in both dogs and cats. With a normal dose being 2.5 ml, Vet Solutions Renal Ks 5oz package provides more than enough supplement to last for a good month cycle, being delivered twice a day.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: helped get my cat's potassium levels back to normal\n\nReview: I have a cat with asthma and she was on prednisolone for awhile, while I waited for her inhaler to come in (I have to order that from Canada). Some cats I have had will do OK on prednisolone long-term, but this one was having issues. Bloodwork at the vet's office revealed that her potassium levels were low, so the vet had me use this product to get the cat's potassium levels back up while I weaned her off the prednisolone.\n\nFirst and foremost, this worked. You will need to periodically go to the vet for bloodwork in such a situation because you may have to change the dosage depending on the cat's response. We started with one dose per day, had to move up to two, and now we are back down to one. We give this in a 6 mL syringe with about 2.5 mL filled (give or take; as this is a gel, it is a little difficult to precisely measure). The 6 mL syringes (they are from Monoject, I don't think BD makes one in that size) are ideal because you can remove the plunger and squeeze the tube of gel over the syringe to fill it. It takes a bit of practice but you get pretty good at estimating how much you've put in there after awhile.\n\nAnyway, then I squeeze the gel from the syringe and into the cat's mouth. I aim near the back/side so she can't spit it out easily. I don't think she particularly likes the flavor of this stuff so I am pretty sure it would not work to put on top of her food. This is a little difficult to clean out of the end of the syringe after use so I have to replace the syringes every so often. One tube lasts quite a long time for us. I think my cat has been on this stuff for 3 months now and we are only partway through our third tube.\n\nNot all cats on prednisolone will need this. I have a cat with inflammatory bowel disease who has been on prednisolone for five years and his bloodwork is always remarkably good for a cat of his age (13 years) and condition. But my cat with asthma doesn't handle the medication as well and this product has definitely helped get her potassium levels back in a normal range.","Product: The JW Pet Company Cataction Featherlite series brings you this bouncy ball with a long feather tail that will delight your cat. The Bouncing Featherlite Catnip Boa has a catnip bell interwoven with the feathers to give your feline friend endless hours of enjoyment.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: all four of my (older) cats loved this\n\nReview: I have had a lot of JW Pet Company dog toys but didn't even realize they make cat toys until I received this in a cat subscription box. I immediately knew my cats would love it, though, because they are all interested in feathers. (They are much less interested in balls. And the bell really didn't make much noise. My star rating is mainly because all of my cats played with the toy, which is unusual when you have four older cats.)\n\nAnyway, we played with this on carpet so I don't know how well the ball bounces. What I like about the ball is it provides a little bit of weight so when you toss this, it'll actually kind of land where you want it to (whereas that would NOT work with a feather boa alone).\n\nThis is pretty well made. My cats were a little violent with it (biting, sticking their claws in it, etc.), and it stayed completely intact. That is impressive for a feather toy. What made me really love this, though, was that even my almost 12-year-old cat with serious eye issues (don't worry, he's seeing the vet regularly and has medication for the issues) played with this toy. And usually he is a stick in the mud.\n\nSo, a good time was had by all four of my cats. If your cat is into feathers, this is definitely worth looking into.","Product: The insight perch cleaner by JW pet company makes cleaning your bird's perches quick and easy. Keep your bird's environment healthy and clean with this convenient scrubber. Use: moisten perch with warm water to prevent excessive dust when cleaning and to loosen droppings. Gently move the scrubber over perch until clean. Can be used on perches inside or outside of the cage. Made for wooden or cement perches, not to be used on sand perches.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: use with a bit of enzymatic cleaner for good results on small diameter perches\n\nReview: I will start this review by saying that I have only ever had small birds (parakeets, cockatiels, canaries, zebra finches, society finches). Right now I have two cockatiels, two parakeets, and three zebra finches, so I only have three cages to clean. So this review will be from that perspective.\n\nI used to have one of these years ago and it was pretty amazing, but it got lost a few moves back. I have tried other things for cleaning perches -- steel wool, various brushes, etc. -- and none of them worked quite as well. Sometimes I would just completely replace perches that got too bad. I completely forgot about this item until I was shopping for Poop Off and saw this under recommended items.\n\nThis is not quite the same as the one I used to have (bristles aren't quite as stiff), but it is good enough for my purposes, especially since I have fewer birds now than I used to. The package says to wet the bird poo before scraping to prevent it making dust when you scrape. I squirt a little Poop Off onto the perches, let it sit for a minute, then use this. That way I get both enzymatic and mechanical removal, and it works much better than dry brushing. Yeah, it's an extra step, but it is better than any of the alternatives I've come up with.\n\nThis is a good diameter to use for small bird perches. The plastic on the back is comfortable to hold and to press down on. I have only used this on wood perches. Used wet, you do have to clean this from time to time. I would also leave it bristles down on a paper towel to dry after use and cleaning -- I doubt this is high quality stainless steel and making sure it is completely dry and that water doesn't pool around the bristles will mean that they don't rust, which means more use before having to replace it.\n\nAnyway, this has been useful to me, personally, so I am happy with the purchase.","Product: Large squeeki tiki are safe non-toxic toys for medium and large sized dogs! This cool Tiki dog toy will bring a taste of island life to your backyard or living room! Soft durable Bodies all squeek and are stylized like cool stone Polynesian Gods!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: gone in 60 seconds\n\nReview: I have one of the large ones. I probably would not have bought this for my dog, but it came in a dog subscription box, and I figured there was no harm in letting her have it under supervision. For the record, my dog is an 84-pound female Rottweiler and she does have a destructive streak.\n\nWell, this lasted all of 60 seconds before she had a dime-sized piece removed (and swallowed -- don't worry, it passed through the next day). Now, I've given this two stars because she DOES love it. Or rather DID love it. And it may last longer with non-destructive dogs. It is appropriately squeaky (well, until there is a big hole in it...), a sound that my dog loves and that I tolerate for my dog's sake. It is also easy to clean, which is great if you are able to play fetch with it outside.\n\nThis may not be best for heavy chewers. I understand it is not supposed to be a chew toy, per se, but (1) you try telling a dog how exactly the manufacturer recommends she use a toy and that you expect her to follow those directions and (2) at about a minute of use, my dog did not even get a chance to start chewing in earnest. This was that flimsy.","Product: Exercise your right to chew! Ruff Bone flavored bone shaped chew toy by Ruff Dawg is a durable toy designed for fetching, playing and chewing. A variety of savory flavors entice chewing to keep dogs busy! Ruff Bone chew toys help create good chewing habits and discourage destructive chewing. Good for puppies and adults, long lasting, durable Ruff Bone satisfies dogs' natural need to chew! Natural savory flavors are infused throughout the entire toy, keeping your dog happy for hours. These non-edible chew toys are made in the USA of FDA-approved Inert Recyclable Thermoplastic Polymer, with natural flavors. All Ruff Dawg toys are 100% Made safe in the USA of recyclable, FDA-approved materials, free of phthalates, latex and BPAs. Ruff Dawg is a family owned company that has been keeping dogs fit and active with premium quality Made-in-the USA toys since 1998.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: not for heavy chewers; dogs WILL try to eat this\n\nReview: We got one of these in a dog subscription box. My dog liked it (a lot) and the steak flavor didn't aggravate her inflammatory bowel disease, so I won't give it one star.\n\nBut, for a nylon bone, this is not really up to snuff. We've had toys from Nylabone and Benebone and BulliBone and several others that have lasted a LOT longer. I had to take this away after about two minutes, which is not really very much time for a nylon bone with my dog. Normally she gets to play with nylon bones at least a handful of times before I stop giving them to her. Specifically, she started getting small pieces off the end and swallowing them. (Now, I know this will happen with any nylon bone over time, but it usually takes a lot longer than two minutes.)\n\nThese are not supposed to be edible but dogs WILL try to eat them. Especially heavy chewers, which is what my dog is! (If you want to give your dog an edible bone, Nylabone makes ones called \"Healthy Edibles\" that may be worth looking into.) And you need to supervise your dog closely while s/he has this, because swallowing a big chunk could land him or her at the emergency vet clinic. I think these are just a little bit too soft to really be safe.","Product: KONG Ballistic is made using a patented, multi-layer design. Each toy has three layers of material (inner layer of 600 Denier Poly with PU Coating*, inner layer of 1050 Denier Ballistic Nylon with PU Coating* and outer layer of soft fleece) with eight rows of stitching to create a tough and durable dog toy. KONG Ballistic toys are gentle on teeth and gums and all toys squeak and float. Each squeaker is secured using individual nylon pouches inside the toy. KONG Ballistic - TOUGH enough to be called a KONG. *PU Coating is a water resistant coating that is gentle on teeth and gums and non-toxic .\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: not for the heaviest chewers, but probably fine for less destructive dogs\n\nReview: I got this in the August Blockhead Box (a dog subscription box). I have the \"large\" version and, for the record, my dog is an 83-84 pound Rottweiler who is super destructive.\n\nThis lasted my dog longer than a lot of cloth-covered toys (I hesitate to call it \"plush\" because it's not particularly soft and doesn't have stuffing). As in, like five minutes. Part of the reason was she had a bit of trouble picking it up, but I'm not blaming that on the toy, I'm blaming it on my dog. She kept trying to pick it up by the middle, while one of her feet was holding the outside part down...anyway, she did eventually get it up.\n\nMy dog has the uncanny ability to find the weak point in any toy. In this case, it is the embroidered KONG logo. She started gnawing on that after a few minutes and I did eventually have to take it away because she put a few small holes in it near the logo. For what it's worth, she did LOVE this toy and was sad to have it taken away, and it held up pretty well to tugging. Also, although there are squeakers, she really didn't squeak this too much (for once, much to my relief...).\n\nIn the end, maybe this is not for the heaviest of chewers, but I have no doubt it would work for some dogs (like my last Rottie, who was very gentle with toys). The large is appropriate for large breed dogs. Although my dog is on the small side for a Rottie, I would feel comfortable giving this to a dog 20 or 30 pounds heavier, as well. I would definitely supervise at first, especially if you know your dog is destructive.","Product: Hill's Prescription Diet z/d, Canine ULTRA Allergen-Free Formula is a nutritionally complete dog food which is balanced without animal proteins, reducing risk of allergic reactions in sensitive pets and promoting skin health.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: the only thing my dog can eat\n\nReview: First, please note that Hill's apparently doesn't offer the z/d \"ultra\" any longer (I spent awhile on their site looking for it, and my vet can't order it for me anymore) so you will probably get the regular z/d if you order this. The ultra z/d and regular z/d aren't all that different. Also note that this is a prescription food and should only be obtainable from a vet or somewhere like PetSmart where they will fill food prescriptions if you have one.\n\nThis is a last resort kind of food. It is super expensive and a lot of dogs won't eat it. (I get my best deal at the vet and the prices everywhere are different, so shop around. I have to feed my dog four cans of this a day -- she weighs 84 pounds -- so I am just throwing money away to get this.)\n\nBut, my dog can't have anything else. She has eosinophilic inflammatory bowel disease (and torn ligaments in both knees). She is on 20+ pills a day (including a bunch of fiber supplements, a probiotic, joint supplements, D-mannose to prevent UTIs, a B vitamin supplement, reglan, metronidazole, famotidine, tramadol, and of course prednisone). The prednisone makes her hungry so she will eat this.\n\nMost people will use this as a transition food. Like if your dog is exhibiting food allergies, you would feed this for awhile to get anything else out of his/her system, then introduce foods back in one at a time until you find the culprit. (Unfortunately pretty much everything seems to be the culprit in my dog's case, so she's been eating this exclusively since some time last year. It seems fine for long-term feeding but it is supplemented with vitamins and minerals.)\n\nEven if your dog can't handle the dry version of this, try the cans. There are added flavors for palatability in the dry version and these can cause digestive issues. But they are not present in the wet version. Anyway, I figured out this was OK out of desperation (my dog wouldn't eat, I had some of the cat version of this, I gave it to her, and she thought it was pretty good, so I went to the vet for the dog version) and I just wanted to share that in case anyone else was going through the same thing. My dog has been stable for almost a year now (with a few hiccups usually centering around medication changes) so I am happy.","Product: Hartz Bird Diet for Small Birds is a tasty and nutritious seed, grain and vitamin-fortified pellet blend that your pet bird will love. Our diet has been specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of Parakeets, Canaries, Finches and other birds with small-sized beaks: Contains precise levels of protein, fat and fiber to help your bird maintain a healthy weight and overall condition. Our ingredients have been carefully selected based on your birds beak size and the food preferences of pet birds to maximize consumption and minimize waste, which helps to provide balanced nutrition. Hartz Bird Diet for Small Birds is fortified with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and omega fatty acids for your pets overall well-being: Vitamin A helps support eye, skin and immune system health. Vitamin D helps your bird effectively use calcium and supports bone health. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and helps maintain healthy cells. Omega fatty acids-3 help support a healthy heart. Omega fatty acids-6 help promote healthy skin and vibrant feathers. Feeding Instructions: Feed 1 to 3 tablespoons in a clean bowl every day. Adjust amount as needed to maintain proper weight. Empty leftovers and refresh the cup every day. Always provide clean, fresh water. Tips: For best results when introducing a new food, begin with a mixture of current and new food to allow time for your pet bird to adjust to the transition. Gradually increase the amount of new food for 7-10 days. Store in a cool, dry place.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: birds like it and are doing well, but not enough quantity in the bag\n\nReview: I ordered two packages of this. I have two parakeets and three zebra finches (all hatched in early 2009). I have tried expensive diets, pellets, etc. in the past, but I would always find the fancy stuff on the bottom of the cage and the seeds being eaten. After going through many brands, I gave in and just started buying my birds seeds. They've survived like this for almost 7 years now and are doing pretty well, actually -- no signs of ill health or nutritional deficiency.\n\nAnyway, I was out of small bird food and I didn't have time to go out to the pet store where I usually buy it, so I ordered this. It arrived and I have some good news and some bad news.\n\nFirst, the good news. My birds like this, it does not appear old, it does not have those little moths in it that bird seed sometimes gets. The parakeets and the finches all seem just fine with the quality of this -- they are eating it and appear healthy and active.\n\nNow, the bad news. I assumed, based on the product image and listed weight, that I would be getting 8 pounds of food (I actually ordered two bags). I only received 2 pounds of food. Each bag was only 1 pound. These were almost too tiny to be useful for me, and the cost to product ratio was not favorable in terms of value. I did not send these back (consider it a semi-expensive mistake) because I was 100% out of small bird food and my birds needed something to eat and my cockatiels' food is not appropriate for parakeets and finches. So it is getting me by until I can get out to the big box pet store. But I will not be ordering it again.\n\nIf you are looking for an evaluation of this particular seed, in general, I would recommend it, especially if your birds are finicky. If you are looking for an evaluation of the product you get when you order from this Amazon page, I would suggest you keep looking unless you have only one finch or something.","Product: Grow your own edible cat treats using this larger size premium cat grass mixture kit. OurPet`s Cat grass is a fiber rich dietary supplement. Grass grows quickly\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cats love it and it was easy to get started\n\nReview: I'll be honest, I didn't read the directions. I opened the little dirt packet, threw one of the packets of seeds in here, mixed it up a bit, watered once when I started and once mid-week, and by the end of the week, I had a lot of grass growing in the dish. I didn't use the extra seed packet just yet (it appears to be just some wheat and related grains, so it might be possible to refresh from the bulk bins at Whole Foods).\n\nThe dish is pretty lightweight. However, I can't leave my cats alone with this or they would eat so much grass they threw up, and possibly some of the dirt and seeds (a couple are on prednisolone for allergy/inflammatory conditions, which makes them eat like little ravenous beasts). So I am always there to supervise. There is no drainage so don't overwater (it doesn't appear to need much).\n\nI like this better than some of the other cat grass kits I've tried; the one where you just add water to the bag (forget the manufacturer) is a little inconvenient and you have to keep it on a saucer (where the water gets super stinky), plus it doesn't come with extra seeds. By contrast, this one doesn't have a smell, and the cats like the grass, plus it was easy to get started and comes with extra seeds, so I'm happy (and so are the cats).","Product: Nature's Miracle Flashlight Dispenser attaches to any leash with the adjustable, durable strap. The heavy duty, antimicrobial bags easily dispense one at a time. The waste bags are extra thick with strong seams and trap and eliminate pet odors. Antimicrobial product protection inhibits odor-causing bacteria. The flashlight dispenser features steady, strobe and blinking L.E.D. light functions for safety. The flashlight dispenser is ideal for increasing visibility during evening walks.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: non-functional as a flashlight and as a bag dispenser\n\nReview: I received one of these in a dog subscription box last week and it has already gone into my e-waste recycling. It is that non-functional.\n\nI can't even assess the quality of the bags because I cannot get them out. The black rubberlike material around the opening for dispensing bags is so stiff, I can't get my fingers in there to peel a bag from the roll. I think I could use my jewelry pliers, but I don't want to be wrangling pliers and an 86-pound Rottweiler on a walk around the neighborhood, you know? I thought, maybe I could get the bags started through the opening by popping open the black cap on the end and feeding one through. Well, I couldn't get the black cap off.\n\nAll right, so was this good as a flashlight? Unfortunately, I can't tell that either. Because even though mine came with batteries (2 CR2032 batteries are what this takes), I couldn't get the battery compartment open. It is one of those screw-type doors that you are supposed to turn with a coin. Well, All that happened when I tried to turn the battery compartment door was I marred the plastic of the door. I didn't budge the compartment door one inch. I even had my husband, who is stronger than I am, try to open the battery compartment door, and he couldn't either, he just tore the plastic even more. There are now a bunch of grooves in this area from the coin slipping out of the slot where it is supposed to fit.\n\nIn sum, this is non-functional both as a flashlight and as a bag dispenser. Don't buy it.","Product: ZiwiPeak Good-Cat' Lamb & Liver Treats contain 100% natural, fresh, raw meat, just air-dried for convenience. Your cat is an obligate carnivore, so make sure your treats are pure New Zealand real meat ZiwiPeak treats Good-Cat' Lamb and Liver Rewards. Everything we create for your loved cat is made with their health, wellbeing and longevity top of mind. That philosophy stems to our treat range, which while rewarding your kitten or cat, also provides them with the energy and nutrition they need to live active, happy lives. Like our cuisine, our treats work on your cat's digestion, energy, vitality, healthy coat and skin, long term joint health and weight control. Thanks to the goodness in each ZiwiPeak treat, remember to modify your portion size of ZiwiPeak cuisine at feeding times your cat won't need as much if they have received a treat. ZiwiPeak treats are not intended as a complete daily diet, but as a premium real-meat jerky treat to occasionally reward your cat's good behavior.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: really glad I found these\n\nReview: I use cat treats to lure my cats into the bedroom before I leave the house. I have a hyperactive Rottweiler puppy and I'd prefer to keep the dog and cats apart while I'm gone. Unfortunately, one of my cats (who needs the incentive of treats most of all) was diagnosed last year with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This severely restricts what he is able to eat, and means that most brands of treats are off-limits. (He can't have chicken, fish, turkey, beef, pork, or any type of grain.)\n\nAt any rate, I was in a bit of a pinch, as the treats I'd been using are no longer available locally. I researched these online and decided to give them a try. I even took a risk and ordered 7 packages to get over the \"add-on\" item limit.\n\nWell, I am happy to report that I made a good investment. The packages contain a lot of treats and are resealable, so they should last a long time. The treats are small enough to be perfect for cats; they have the sort of texture you'd expect from a jerky treat -- flexible and a little chewy. The ingredients are: 70% lamb meat and 25% lamb liver, with the remainder being lecithin, chicory inulin, parsley, and mixed tocopherols. That is about the shortest list of ingredients I've ever seen for a cat treat, which is great. I also feel confident feeding these to my IBD cat (he eats a lamb-based wet food for his main diet).\n\nMost importantly, though, the cats like them. I have four cats; one has never been motivated by any kind of treats, though he did at least give these a sniff. Two cats gobbled up every treat that was in sight. And the final cat did eat a few, but he has tooth problems so it took him a bit longer.\n\nPlease note: these are treats and should not be used as a sole nutrition source. They should be suitable for a variety of food allergy and sensitivity conditions in cats, though. I'm glad I found them!","Product: Petstages catnip wrestle and romp is the perfect size for kitty to kick and play\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: my cats were only slightly more interested in this than in other large toys (but would work for cats that like to wrestle)\n\nReview: I got this in a subscription box recently. I will start by saying this is quite large and appears to be well-made. So if your cat likes to wrestle with toys, he or she may really enjoy this and it should hold up.\n\nHowever, I have four older cats (approximate ages 8, 9, 10 or 11, and 12) and they do play with toys, but they don't generally wrestle with toys. They showed more interest in this one than in several of the other large wrestler/kicker type toys we've received in subscription boxes lately, I think because of the little bits hanging off (tail and antennae? or just random pieces of fabric, not sure). But it was only a passing interest.\n\nIf there is catnip in this, my cats didn't react to it. Not sure if it was old (this comes attached to a cardboard backing but is just exposed to open air, so if the one I got was older, perhaps the essential oils had dissipated. (My cats do love catnip.)\n\nI am keeping this around because I am probably getting a kitten in the next six months. But, if you have older cats or cats that don't like larger toys, this is probably not for you.","Product: This potent organic catnip toy is just the perfect size for what we like to call bat and slap play. It sits on the floor looking up at your cat just daring it to give it a go. It's small size and potent catnip will keep your cat entertained for hours, until of course he needs to attend a nip head annonymous meeting or two\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cats like this fairly well and haven't destroyed it yet\n\nReview: First of all, please note that, despite the current photo showing a bowl of these, the listing is for one (assorted) clownfish toy.\n\nThese are cute and quite well-made. My rather destructive cats have had access to one for about a week now and it is still intact. I see it moving around the room, so I know they're playing with it. Because they're playing with it, I'm assuming that the catnip in it is fresh (my cats all like catnip).\n\nThese are an appropriate size for adult cats to play with -- small enough for them to toss into the air but large enough not to be a choking hazard (I suggest removing the tag before giving it to your cat, though). If your cat is a fan of stuffed catnip toys and you prefer organic catnip, these are worth checking out. (You may want to comparison shop, however.)","Product: OurPet`s Frisky Spritz contains pure catnip oil in an 2-ounce bottle. Use on toys and scratchers to renew catnip scent. Safe, non-toxic and dye free.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cats love this\n\nReview: I got the two ounce bottle in a subscription box. Last night I sprayed it inside a shoe box just to test it out. One of my cats (the biggest catnip fiend) got in the shoebox and started licking the cardboard and rubbing his chin all over the corner where I sprayed it. He did not want to lay off! It was actually pretty funny to watch. Seeing as he hadn't been interested in the shoe box before I sprayed this, I will say it works pretty well!\n\nI can't smell anything, which is nice, and it doesn't discolor what you spray it on. Although I would probably stick to spraying it on things you don't mind throwing away or having damaged, because my cats did attempt to scratch the carpet when I tested it out there.\n\nThe sprayer works well and doesn't stick and the spray pattern has pretty good coverage for a small bottle. I will be buying the 8 ounce bottle as soon as I run out of my little one!","Product: Holistic Health For Less-Active Dogs Made with all-natural ingredients, Solid Gold Holistique Blendz was specially designed to maintain vitality, immunity, and overall health in older and less-active adult dogs. Delicious low-fat ingredients like fish meal, salmon oil, lentils, and oatmeal contain proteins and nutrients that can help reduce cholesterol, improve heart health, and prevent colon disorders while benefiting your dogs entire body. Solid Gold Holistique Blendz is made without preservatives or other components that can cause allergic reactions, so its great for sensitive dogs. Youll feel good giving your dog this tasty and wholesome meal loaded with health benefits.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: good for dogs with food allergies\n\nReview: My 9-year-old Rottweiler passed away last month; she had a history of food allergies. When I attempted to switch her to senior food at age 7 -- even though I didn't switch brands -- she got a horrible month-long case of diarrhea. The vet and I pretty quickly figured out it was a food issue, so I went looking for a new food. I got some samples of Solid Gold Holistic Blendz and a couple of other limited-ingredient foods from a local independent pet store, so I was able to try it out before buying a large bag.\n\nAt any rate, I chose this food because it doesn't have any corn and because it says on the front of the bag that it's suitable for senior and less active dogs. My Rottie had severe joint problems, so I had to limit her activity. Plus, I didn't want her to get fat because that would've put more stress on her joints. And, she seemed to like the taste quite a bit. (My cats did too -- they'd seek out pieces of kibble she'd left behind -- although I'd never recommend this be used as a cat food.)\n\nMy dog did very well on this food for two years (she ultimately had a heart attack which was traceable to a congenital condition and had nothing to do with the food). Her coat looked beautiful, her elimination became normal once again, and her weight stayed at 87 pounds pretty consistently.\n\nThis food is not specifically labeled for large breeds. I did provide a separate joint supplement for my dog. The pieces are square shaped and less than a half-inch on a side. The food would be suitable for medium-sized dogs as well, although it might be a bit on the large side for small and/or toy breeds.","Product: Great for tough chewers, the Fetch & Chew Jr bone from Spunky Pup is made of a super tough nylon center with ends made of 100% natural rubber. The textured rubber promotes dental health by cleaning and stimulating your dogs teeth and gums. Place his favorite treats inside either end to keep your buddy entertained as he tries to retrieve them. For medium to small size dogs.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: dog thought this was pretty good\n\nReview: I have this in large (my dog is an 84-pound Rottweiler). Mine is blue so I suppose a few different colors are possible.\n\nMy dog wasn't super interested in this at first. Then we tried to play tug-of-war with her using this toy and one of the black balls popped off the end. My dog's hobby is destroying toys and the closer they are to falling apart, the more interested in them she is. And once the black ball had popped off, she was all over this. She chewed and chewed and chewed on the bone part (and the little knob that holds the ball) until I took it away from her.\n\nIt held up reasonably well to her chewing. It is not as sturdy as a Nylabone and she did raise some ridges in the nylon part right away. But she was not able to chew any pieces off, and that makes me happy. (My dog is REALLY destructive.) I was even able to put the black ball back on when she was done.\n\nThe black balls hold treats, or you can put wet food or peanut butter or something in there. I would probably not give this to my dog unsupervised because the black parts do come off. I think they are too big for a large dog to swallow, but better safe than sorry. However, supervised, my dog had a lot of fun with this. 3.5 stars.","Product: Feline Harvest grain-free dental treats offer quality proteins for delicious flavor and provide an easy way to battle kitty breath and plaque buildup. Grain- and gluten-free cat treats contain real chicken meal and pea protein as the First two ingredients, plus minimal other wholesome ingredients in a crunchy, crescent-shaped treat that assists your cat's at-home dental care. 3oz resealable bag. Chewing These wholesome and delicious treats helps to reduce your cat's plaque and tartar buildup. Feline Harvest treats are recommended for cats over 6 months old of age and 5 lbs. Made in the USA.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cats like them but they are pretty big and can't be eaten in one bite\n\nReview: These came in a recent Purr Packs subscription box (I have the chicken flavor). The brand is new to me, which is unusual -- I feel like I've seen most of the cat treat brands out there. Anyway, these are made in the USA and are grain free.\n\nThese are hard treats. They're shaped like little fish and are a bit bigger than goldfish crackers, if you want a size comparison. Unfortunately, my cat who needs dental work can't eat them (he has inflammatory bowel disease), but of my other three cats, two enjoyed these quite a bit. Don't mind the opinion of the third cat in all of this; he is not really all that food-motivated and usually doesn't go for treats.\n\nIt takes a bit of effort for cats to eat these since they are somewhat large. The cats will most likely bite them into smaller pieces with their teeth. This means some little pieces will probably end up on the floor, so watch out for that.\n\nThe bag is resealable and the treats don't have a strong odor. It is hard to tell if they are actually doing much to my cats' teeth, and they won't substitute for real dental cleanings, but they probably won't hurt either, and two of my cats really do like them.","Product: My Little Lion Cat Treats are soft and delicious little morsels made with over 40% unrendered premium protein. Feel no guilt when you reward your cat because they are grain free and are less than 1.3 calories per piece.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: these were a pretty big hit with my crew\n\nReview: Three of my cats can eat these and two of the three loved them. (The third is not very food-motivated, although he did sniff at them, which ought to count for something.)\n\nThey are semi-moist treats that are a bit on the harder side of being semi-moist, if that makes sense. I would not call them soft (not even deformable, really). They come in a resealable bag that actually closes properly and they don't have a strong odor (at least to me -- the cats did like sniffing them).\n\nAnyway, two of my cats ate all the treats I put out in just a minute or two. They were really enjoying these. Neither of them got sick the next day, either (it's been a few more days since then), so these seem agreeable in terms of kitty intestines.\n\nI love that these are grain free and made in the US. They do have a lot of chicken \"stuff\" in them, but then again, tuna is the first ingredient. (You can see the nutritional analysis and ingredients list if you zoom in on the product images.)\n\nOverall, these were a hit with my crew. (For what it's worth, you can find these for under three dollars if you go looking. So please do some comparison shopping before you buy!)","Product: My Little Lion Cat Treats are soft and delicious little morsels made with over 40% unrendered premium protein. Feel no guilt when you reward your cat because they are grain free and are less than 1.3 calories per piece.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cats seemed to like these a lot\n\nReview: I received these in a subscription box. I put the box up on a shelf and my cats kept knocking it down. They retrieved this bag more than once and when I found it, there were a bunch of chew holes in the bag. So I guess these smelled appealing to my cats!\n\nAnyway, I finally just opened the bag and gave out the treats to three of my four cats (the fourth has IBD and can't eat these treats because they contain chicken). My black cat hogged most of them, but my calico got a few and my tan and white cat, who normally is not motivated by treats at all, even had a couple. So all the cats who got the treats seemed to like them.\n\nMine were fairly soft. I'd classify them as semi-moist. The cats did not seem to have a problem with the texture and no one threw up afterwards. They did not have a strong smell to me, though I guess the cats would beg to differ, seeing as they tried to open the bag themselves. The bag these come in is resealable.\n\nThese are made in the USA and are grain free, which is great (cats have a hard time processing grains).","Product: Bamboo Pet Fat Cat kitty hoots assorted crackle cat toy is packed with boredom-busting secret weapons. The crackly paper bag thing that cats love fused with a cool cat toy design and stuffed with Zoom-Around-the-Room high-test organic catnip. Promotes maximum kitty frenzy. Includes 1 toy per pack.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: my cats fight over this thing\n\nReview: I have the lizard (or salamander?) one; it came in a cat subscription box. My cats think it is pretty great.\n\nOne of my older boys was licking this like crazy (something he tends to do with Fat Cat/Kitty Hoots toys; he really enjoys the texture) when my kitten came over and expressed interest. I got to watch a kitty boxing match after that, and anything that causes a kitty boxing match (aka slap fight) to break out is a lot of fun, in my book (they don't hurt each other). The kitten ended up with the toy and he rolled all over the dining room table, biting and clawing at it. So if I have a cat toy and 2 out of 5 cats are thrilled with it right out of the box, it is going to get a good rating.\n\nI'm honestly not sure why this is called a \"crackler,\" as it doesn't make any noise (for which I'm actually grateful; I don't want the kitten to decide it's AWESOME in the middle of the night and wake me up). It does seem to be holding up to pretty violent play from the kitten (well, he is now 15-16 months old and more than 10 pounds, so he's probably not considered a kitten any longer) -- I see no damage at all. So I would say this was well-made for a cat toy.\n\nIn the end, my cats loved this so much they (sort of) fought over it, and they loved different aspects of the toy -- one was into the outer texture and canvas, and another was interested in tossing it around. So I think this would be a pretty safe bet for a variety of cats.","Product: The sticks are a safer alternative for your dog to play with than a real stick and a whole lot more fun. They are extremely dog friendly. The rope also allows you to attach it to your doog walkie belt or hang them at your front door ready for their next adventure. Made from recycled rubber. The sticks all come with a handy grip moulded into the toy plus a slobber resistant rope for improved throwing and grappling. The sticks float in water and have glow in the dark eyes making them the perfect throw toy for your furry friend. Dimension: 4.5 x 1 x 14.5-inch. Stick style: These toys are not designed to be chewed. Please use them for chucking and chasing.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: dog took a piece off in under 30 seconds\n\nReview: I got one of these in a subscription box. My dog seemed quite excited about it and I thought it was cute. But, in under 30 seconds, she had taken a piece off the end and swallowed it. It was a small piece, and she is a large dog with a history of swallowing foreign objects and passing them through, so I am not worried about that. (At least not with my dog, based on her history. Some dogs could get intestinal blockages from swallowing bits of toys, however.)\n\nI know this says it is for tossing and fetching and not for chewing, but I have not known many dogs in my day (and I have had pet dogs for about 36 of my 38 years of life) who understood the distinction. There are a couple of questionable design choices. I cut off the rope part because I knew my dog would try to swallow it. And the arms are so thin, those are just asking to be bitten off and swallowed.\n\nI think this could have been a good idea but it failed in the execution. Dogs *do* chew on sticks. Trust me. So if you are going to make a toy that replicates a stick, it needs to be made from some material that is safe for chewing. This toy is not.","Product: Sassy cat treats are different. Made with no grain, fillers or artificial preservatives, Herbsmith's sassy cat treats help cats live naturally. Cats are carnivores, designed to primarily eat and digest meat with some vegetables and fruits or little to no grain. That's why sassy cat has real food treats made with simple basic ingredients based on a cat's optimal diet. At Herbsmith, we feel that pets should not simply eat to live... They should eat to thrive! the right diet can bring your cat into a whole new state of health and wellness. Grain-Free no fillers, additives or artificial preservatives sourced & made in the U.S.A.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: the duck ones are good for cats with food sensitivities/allergies/restricted diets\n\nReview: This review is for the duck and orange formula (which I bought somewhere else to meet a minimum order amount).\n\nI have four cats but one of them has inflammatory bowel disease. He can have duck, lamb, and rabbit, but no chicken, beef, pork, fish, turkey, wheat, corn, or soy. That means he often gets left out at treat time. Poor guy. I had been buying some lamb jerky treats for cats that he did all right with, but they seem to have been discontinued. So I went looking for something he could still have. (I should also mention at this point, he has really bad teeth, but we can't do much about it because his medications would interfere with various things during the dental cleaning and extraction process -- I've discussed this at length with my vet. He eats only wet food that I puree with water into a \"soup.\")\n\nI've given him these on a couple of occasions now, waiting a few days between, and his digestive system has been handling them quite well. No vomiting (his particular IBD symptom), no lack of appetite, nothing. He gets SO EXCITED for these and I am happy seeing him that way. Because these are freeze-dried, they are not too hard, and he seems to have no trouble eating them. He's a little slow (he's also practically blind due to eye issues -- which are also being treated, by the way), but if I put a bunch out, he gets his fair share before the other cats steal them away.\n\nFor what it's worth, my other three cats like these too. (They've also had some of the other flavors, like chicken and seafood, from cat subscription boxes, and those seem well-appreciated by healthy cats with no dietary restrictions.)\n\nI do think these are pretty stinky but then, so are a lot of other cat treats, so that's nothing new. They come in a resealable package and I love that the ingredients list is so short -- just duck and oranges (not sure why cats need oranges, but it doesn't seem to bother them). I will probably try the duck and rabbit ones for the IBD cat, too (listed as \"other\" on the Amazon product page).","Product: JW Pet Cataction Mouse w/ Rope Tail is infused with catnip. Each colorful, fun toy produces a strong aroma that drives cat's crazy, stimulating play. TPR Rubber infused with high-quality Made in the USA catnip oils. Designs & materials specifically geared for cats. Design based on natural instincts to prey & play!.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: two of my cats thought this was pretty great\n\nReview: I received this in a recent Purr Packs subscription box (monthly delivery of cat stuff that I pay for). I knew right away that my calico cat would love it. She loves all silicone toys (and other silicone items). Although this is actually made of a thermoplastic polymer rather than silicone, it has a rather silicone-like texture. So my calico cat was biting it a lot (so cute -- and this is just what she does with silicone and similar-textured items).\n\nWhat I was not prepared for is that one of my older male cats ALSO likes this toy very much. He is interested in both the tail and the thermoplastic polymer part (which he was also biting). He did not remove the tail from the mouse but my cats are seniors (for the most part) and not super destructive.\n\nThis has a small bell in it. It is really not too loud; my cats typically don't like noisy toys but they do enjoy this. I do take it away at night although it is far from the most annoying bell-containing cat toy I've ever seen.\n\nAnyway, it is quite rare for two of my cats to be interested in the same toy, so this one was a winner for us. (Actually, of the JW Cataction toys we've gotten in subscription boxes, most of them have been pretty popular with my crew.)","Product: Dura-fuse are dog toys made with durable real leather that as been fused with jute fabric and doubled stitched seams for added strength.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: dog absolutely loves it but it is not holding up very well\n\nReview: I don't even know where I got this, some dog subscription box probably. Anyway, I have really mixed feelings here.\n\nOn the one hand, my dog loves it, and I think it is the only toy she's ever played with designed for tugging where she tugs the end that is SUPPOSED to go in the dog's mouth (i.e., the ball) instead of the handle. She really likes the leather material. (Playing tug is one of her favorite activities, in general.)\n\nOn the other hand, it is not holding up very well. The ball part is starting to come apart at the seams. Allegedly this has a squeaker but my dog hasn't discovered it yet (normally she can find squeakers I didn't even know were there).\n\nFor reference, my dog is an 87 pound Rottweiler. She is fairly destructive, though she's become slightly less so as she gets older (she's 5 years old now). So destroying toys is nothing new for her. I would say this made it through about one play session (of 15 minutes or so) before it started having issues. It might work for a smaller, weaker (Rottie jaws are STRONG), or less destructive dog, but may not be best for a large breed.","Product: Kitty got fish breath? Pass them a mint! As catnips cousin, mint is appealing to cats and helps freshen their breath as they chew! These pressed leaves hold a solid form and are lightweight, so kitty will love batting, chasing, and chewing them. Made with all natural ingredients.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: two of my four cats did bite this\n\nReview: I have four cats and two of them (coincidentally, the ones with the worst teeth) actually did bite this. (By comparison, pretty much all of my cats will bite those 100% catnip balls. So mint is apparently not as exciting to them as catnip. But that's not surprising.)\n\nI can't say whether this is actually cleaning their teeth, but it is a smaller, flatter size than many of the pressed catnip objects out there, so it is easier for them to actually fit partially into their mouths for chewing purposes. (Even my old man kitty with eye problems was excited by this. And it takes a lot to get him off the bed.)\n\nThis seems to hold together well. It doesn't get batted around the floor too much (but my cats have hundreds of toys). Is it actually helping their teeth? It's hard to say. But since two of them *did* bite it, I have hope.\n\nYou may get the best results from this if (1) you have 3+ cats, which increases the likelihood that at least one of them will be interested and (2) if you hold this up to them (assuming your cats are the sort to sniff at or bite things you hold up to them -- mine are). I would love to see something like this with a bit of catnip added in to increase interest.","Product: Chicken & Turkey Soft-Moist Cat Treats BLUE Wilderness Chicken & Turkey soft-moist cat treats are the perfect way to cater to your felines inner carnivore. Loaded with real chicken and turkey, these soft-moist treats have the flavor your cat craves. BLUE Wilderness cat treats are: Made with real chicken and turkey 100% grain-free Free from chicken or poultry by-product meals Free from artificial flavors and preservatives Made with the best ingredients and with your cats favorite flavors in mind, BLUE Wilderness cat treats are the perfect way to reward your four-legged friend. Size: You get two separate 2 ounce packages\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cats liked them, plus they're grain free and made in the US\n\nReview: I wanted to take some photos of my black cat and he was hiding somewhere (I *thought* under the bed, but I couldn't find him down there). So, I opened a bag of this, which I had received in a cat subscription box, and scattered rather a lot of the treats on the floor. Naturally, my calico started eating them up. My orange tabby wanted in on them, too, but I had to lock him in the bathroom since he has inflammatory bowel disease and can't eat treats. My black cat did come out from wherever he was and started competing with the calico to see who could get the most. (I got my pictures.) No idea where my tan and white boy was, but he is not particularly food-motivated.\n\nMoral of the story, three out of my four cats really wanted these, and of the two who can actually eat them, both had probably 10-15 treats each (I kind of dropped a large handful). They were still eager about the treats near the end of their little gorge session, and a day later, neither one of them has had any kind of digestive issues. (My black cat really likes turkey so I'm sure that was an attraction for him. My calico will eat anything, including bits of carpet, bugs, and potato chips, so you can't use her as a guide.)\n\nThese are soft treats, maybe 1/3 by 1/2 inch (that's a rough estimate). They don't have a strong smell. The pouch is resealable for freshness, though I expect I'll have given the whole bag out before long. They drew a reluctant cat out from a secret hiding spot. And they're grain free, which is really important in cat treats and food. They're also made in the USA. So I'm happy. I originally got these in a subscription box, but would totally buy them again if I ever run out of cat treats.","Product: Kitty Yums - Salmon 2 ounce (pack of 3, 6 ounces total)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: cats like them and no fish smell; a little bit larger than I'd like, though\n\nReview: My cats think these treats are pretty awesome. I have three cats who can eat fish. One of these is not usually motivated by treats. But I offered these treats to all three cats and it became a competition to see who could get the most. Even the non-treat-motivated cat was happy.\n\nThese don't smell too much like fish, thankfully. I guess the cats can smell them? At any rate, the bag has a zip top for reclosing and it works pretty well. As long as it stays zipped, the treats don't dry out.\n\nThese are harder (almost rubber-like to me, but the cats like it so I guess my feelings aren't an issue here) than semi-soft or moist treats and they're a little bit large for cat treats. Texture-wise, they're homogeneous.\n\nHere are the ingredients:\n\nDeboned Salmon, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Maple Syrup, Vegetable Glycerin, Potatoes, Gelatin, Natural Flavor, Salt, Fish Oil, Brewer's Yeast, Taurine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Phosphoric, Sorbic, Ascorbic and Citric Acids, Oil of Rosemary\n\nThis is made in the USA and contains no wheat, corn, or soy, which is great for cats -- they don't need grains!","Product: KONG Active toys promote healthy exercise and fulfill cats' instinctual desires to chase, hunt and capture. KONG Cork Ball is made with all-natural cork and entices play with added catnip and feathers.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: one of my cats really loves the texture of the cork part\n\nReview: I always forget that Kong makes cat toys (we're big fans of a lot of their dog toys). This was a hit. My calico cat especially enjoyed it. She likes to bite things and she really found the texture of the cork part fascinating. She kept biting the cork -- it was adorable.\n\nI am pleased to report that despite lots of biting by my cats, the cork is still in good shape. I wasn't expecting it to last since it feels kind of soft, but it's been a few days and no pieces have been ripped off yet. The tail is also still attached. So this was a win.\n\nThere's not much else I can say about this toy. Whether or not your cat likes it will depend on a variety of factors. (For the record, my cats are ages 7, 8, 10, and 11, so they are not exactly young.) It helps to have a lot of cats because then usually everything will have at least one fan. If your cat likes chewing, biting, and interesting textures in toys, this could be a good match, though. It was for us!","Product: The KONG Air Dog Squeak air Ball combines two classic dog toys - the tennis ball and the squeaker toy to create the perfect fetch toy. It's made with a special non-abrasive felt (traditional tennis balls are abrasive and can harm teeth and gums) and is now available in the XL size.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: dog loves it and it has held up well\n\nReview: My dog has one of these in and she loves it. She has always been a fan of tennis balls and other shapes coated with tennis ball covering, but she is much more enthusiastic about this one, I guess because it squeaks. She is an 83-pound Rottweiler (has the bone structure of a larger Rottie but has lost weight due to some medication she's on) and she can fit this in her mouth, so she can get some really good squeaking going. (Enough that it's pretty annoying and I take this away from her after a little while to spare my ears.)\n\nIn the past, tennis ball toys made for pets haven't held up well for us. My dog has traditionally had better results with actual tennis balls from Penn. This is one of the highest-quality tennis ball toys for pets we've had. She hasn't managed to put a hole in it or to pull any of the green coating off, which is pretty remarkable. (I have a VERY destructive dog.) She also hasn't managed to destroy the squeaker yet, which is nice.\n\nAnyway, my dog loves this and it is still intact after much abuse. Would definitely buy more of these in the future (first one I had came in a subscription box).","Product: A bit of formal fun for your feline friend, Bowties are for special occasions, even if they do eventually end up under the refrigerator with your cats' other treasures.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: two of four cats were pretty interested in these\n\nReview: I got a couple of these in a cat subscription box. My cats are fans of the regular Cat Dancer but I put it out of reach somewhere and forgot where so they haven't seen it for awhile. I was hoping these would be a good substitute. It wasn't quite the same, but they did seem to have fun.\n\nMy cats did like these. I have four cats and at least two of them played with these toys. One really liked biting the twine part. We played tug-of-war with it and had a lot of fun. She tossed it around quite a bit on her own, as well. Another cat was more interested in the fabric but he likes to lick fabric with interesting textures. I figure, two out of four liking the toys is a pretty good ratio since my cats are all older (ages 8, 9, 10 or 11, and 12).\n\nThese seemed well made. My calico was pretty violent with them (she's the one I tugged with) and they were in the same sort of shape after a vigorous play session as before. I feel like I would be safe leaving my cats alone with these.","Product: Applaws Whole Mackerel Loin is a delicious and healthy treat for adult cats packed with lean protein goodness and no fillers, artificial flavours or preservatives. Using only natural ingredients including the finest handcut mackerel loins, we have created a dish that your cat will find irresistible. 100 Natural, Applaws is a complementary pet food for adult cats, feed alongside a complete wet or dry cat food including Applaws complete dry cat food, for a balanced diet. Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min): 25 Crude Fat (min): 2 Crude F1ber (max): 1 Moisture (max): 60 Ash (max): 3 Calorie Content: ME (calculated, as fed): 1960 kcal/kg, 58.8 kcal/pouch. No added artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: cats thought this was great and they all kept it down\n\nReview: I think these things are absolutely disgusting (I've been a vegetarian for 24 years), but I didn't get it for me! I have 5 cats and they are not vegetarians. Of them, one was interested but I couldn't let him eat it due to his inflammatory bowel disease and one was too shy to get in there with the three others (the shy one is young and I've only had him six months). Of the three who shared this, they thought it was amazing.\n\nThe excitement began as soon as I opened the package. I cut this up with a steak knife into smaller chunks (to a degree, it fell right apart). There's a little bit of skin there and I just left it. There was also a little bit of broth in the package with the fish. There are no bones and the smell is honestly not as strong as I was expecting (a very good thing; who wants a fishy-smelling kitchen?).\n\nI set this down on the floor on a plate and let my cats share it. They were all enthusiastic and I think they actually managed to share almost equally (one of the three is not very food motivated but this got him excited). And the best part -- they all kept it down. Sometimes when I give my cats odd or new foods and treats, they throw up again right away. But this? Stayed down for every single one.\n\nI'm actually now thinking about buying a whole bunch of this to give to the non-food-motivated cat to get him to gain weight.","Product: Bullibones are long lasting nylon dog chews that are naturally flavored all the way through with real bacon. Know for their innovative paw pad handles so dogs can easily hold the bones while they chew.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: good for heavy chewers and dogs with sensitive digestive systems\n\nReview: I've received a couple of these in dog subscription boxes now and they've worked out well for my dog. (For reference, she is an 87 pound Rottweiler. She's 4 years old and she has inflammatory bowel disease, so we have to be careful about flavorings in foods and toys -- too much of the wrong thing could upset her delicate system. My dog is also a super heavy, very destructive chewer.)\n\nThis is an appropriate size for a large breed dog. My dog has no trouble with it and I suspect dogs even somewhat larger could use the XL size. Although this is bacon flavored, it does not upset my dog's digestive system. (It also does not smell or stain the carpet.)\n\nThe idea here is that the dog puts his or her feet on the bottom (thinner) part and chews on the top. The first time my dog had one of these, that's what she did. The second time, she got it backwards. Oh well. I do like the idea, in theory, because I notice that whenever my dog has a bone-shaped toy, she does always try to hold the bottom with her feet.\n\nThis holds up for an average amount of time. As I said, my dog is pretty destructive. She can play with one of these a couple of times before I have to take it away. (They are nylon and start to get those little rough, raised ridges after a dog chews on them for awhile.) Getting a toy more than once is an accomplishment for my dog.\n\nThis is the sort of toy I would inspect after each play session and that I would not leave my dog alone with, but that may not be an issue for every dog. Check it a few times until you see how it will hold up with your dog. If your dog is less destructive than mine, it may last longer. Even though my dog has been chewing the foot-hold parts, this is actually still in decent shape. Also, in case you couldn't tell, my dog is very enthusiastic about chewing on this toy. She loves it.","Product: Is your cat a lover and a fighter? The Categories Owl Kicker cat toy is the perfect toy for kicking, pouncing, and even cuddling. Pure, pesticide-free catnip, crinkle, and natural feathers encourage your cat's natural instincts to hunt and play. The velvety soft plush even makes this toy a perfect cuddle buddy or pillow!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: if your cat likes kicker-type toys, this one is pretty well made and has FEATHERS\n\nReview: I got one of these in a recent Meowbox. This review is reflective of only my cats' experience and may not apply to everyone. It depends a lot on the kind of toys your cat likes. If your cat enjoys wrestling and kicker-type toys, I will say that this is quite well-made. The feathers actually all stayed in place, and I can definitely not say that about other feather cat toys I've tried out on my kitties lately.\n\nMy cats, unfortunately, are not particularly interested in these larger, kicker-type toys. (Mine are 8, 9, 10, and 12, which may have something to do with it. They will play with bubbles, the laser pointer, pretty much anything dangly on a string, and a few smaller stuffed catnip toys. So they are not too old for toys.) They liked this one a bit more than others, simply because of the feathers. Feathers are a huge hit with my crew.\n\nThere was a fair amount of biting and tugging on the feathers with claws, and they all stayed put. Additionally, this seemed well made with no loose threads, holes, etc. So it should hold up to some abuse. My cats are normally quite interested in catnip and I think this might not've had the strongest catnip scent because they didn't really want to rub all over it or lick it (their usual reaction to strong catnip). You could always refresh it with some catnip spray if you're worried about that, though.\n\nIn the end, I think this was high quality but it just didn't really suit my cats' interest.","Product: PLATO 170 SHEAR CUTTER, 1MM.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: exactly what I needed\n\nReview: I can't gush about these enough. I was working on a jewelry project with some chain that needed to be cut. My previous jewelry wire cutters would smash the tiny chain links but not actually cut through them. Also my previous cutters didn't have a fine enough tip to get at the smallest chain links. Out of desperation, I ordered these.\n\nAnd they were perfect. They can get into those tiny spaces, even for chain links less than 2 mm in diameter. They cut the chain instead of smashing it. You don't have to use a ridiculous amount of force. I think they sped up my pace on the project by a factor of about 5. The handles are easy to grip, even if you have very small hands like I do.\n\nThey have a warning on the handles to use safety goggles. That is not a bad idea, because little bits do go flying. Also if you are cutting a short length off of something (like the aforementioned chain), make sure you have ahold of the end, because a couple of my bits of cut chain went flying and got lost...","Product: Akro-Mils' 10164 cabinet stacks securely and can also be wall mounted with keyhole slots. The clarified polypropylene, dividable drawers offer easy content identification, and the finger-grip drawer pulls provide easy access while the rear stop tabs prevent contents from spilling. Akro-Mils products save time and money by helping to increase material handling efficiency in virtually any industry. their broad range of storage, organization, and transportation products are used to shorten assembly times, maintain accurate inventories, optimize storage space, and improve parts protection.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: not terribly stable (attach it to something or keept it against a wall) but does what I need it to\n\nReview: I ordered this to store beading supplies that are too large for your typical multi-compartment bead/craft organizer. For example, I have many spools of Nymo thread, I have longer packages with beading and twisted wire needles in them, and I have many, many headpins and eyepins that are too long to fit in any of the other organizers I own. I find this to work pretty well for holding all of these things, as well as baggies with hanks of seed beads in them (I would not put loose seed beads in here as they would go everywhere), bits of cord and leather, etc.\n\nIt is difficult to tell what is in the drawers just by looking at the front of this, even though the drawers are translucent/nearly transparent. You may want to add labels. (We used to have some of these in my lab in graduate school to store parts for repairing our HPLCs, and we did label those.)\n\nThis has 64 drawers but you can put dividers in them and double the number of compartments. This does not come with dividers and I don't really care that much about dividers, so I am not using any. You can buy dividers if you are so inclined, or just cut up a piece of thin cardboard.\n\nThis is not particularly stable as a free-standing unit. You can attach it to a wall, in which case it would be fine, or you can just push it up against something solid. I would not call t \"portable,\" either. There are no handles and the drawers start coming out if you pick it up and carry it.\n\nThe drawers open easily. This was in good shape, with no plastic or metal smell, no broken pieces, and nothing missing. All the drawers were intact (none cracked). This could easily get top heavy and tip or spill the contents of the drawers, so either give it a permanent home on a counter or wall, or at the very least, keep your heaviest items in the bottom few rows.\n\nOverall, though, this is doing exactly what I needed it to do so I am happy. I just have to be careful not to knock it over!","Product: When it comes to your home, you expect things to be neat and clean. You take steps to keep your home clean and in order. Unlike ordinary pleated filters, Filtrete clean living filters are electrostatically charged to help capture more particles from your air, including: lint, household dust, dust mite debris, mold spores, and pollen. For optimum performance, change your filter every 90 days or sooner.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: works well for a small home/condo with a lot of pets\n\nReview: I have pets -- birds, cats, a dog, and a tortoise (though the tortoise isn't very messy). My home furnace and AC system takes a lot of abuse because of all the extra dust, hair, and dander my animals generate. (Plus I have an aversion to cleaning.) I actually had blocked airflow over the summer because the AC coil got too dirty. I'd been using filters that were too cheap, and they weren't doing a very good job. Rather than face another huge repair bill, I decided to try nicer-quality filters, and these were the ones I bought.\n\nThese fit well into my furnace, so they're easy to use (the listed 14 x 25 x 1 size is accurate). I do change them once a month (recommended by my furnace repairman for homes with pets) and I can see an accumulation of junk (dust/hair/whatever) when I take them out, so I know they're doing their job.\n\nI don't have any devices to measure air flow in my home, but if I put my hand up to the vents when the furnace blower is on, I can feel the warm air coming out at an acceptable (to me) rate. My place is always appropriately heated or cooled depending on my thermostat settings. When my furnace is running, cooking smells, pet smells, even incense smells dissipate fairly rapidly. And I think these must be removing some allergens from the air, too, because even though it's winter, I've been able to breathe through my nose a little better than usual.\n\nMy place is pretty small -- a kitchen/living room and two bedrooms -- but these filters do everything I would want or expect them to and are reasonably priced for the quality you get. They're not the absolute top of the line, of course, but since I'm changing them once a month, they are working out quite well and I will most likely buy more pretty soon.","Product: Cross Locking Tweezers For Soldering, Beading & Jewelry Repair This is a new pair of cross locking tweezers These are heat resistant and have a fiber grip with curved jaws They measure approximately 6 1/8" (155 mm) long\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: heat resistant and great for soldering beginners\n\nReview: I have started playing around with soldering copper. I am mostly making small things (practice pieces with copper blanks and wire) plus I am doing some heating of wire in attempts to make headpins with little balls on the end. Although I need more practice with all of the above, I have found these tweezers to be quite helpful.\n\nThey are heat resistant although I am also usually wearing work gloves out of an abundance of caution (the gloves are made of a natural material, always a good idea when working with flame, because I am soldering with a handheld butane torch). So anyway, I use these tweezers to move or pick up items I've made that might be hot. This is pretty much what they were designed for, and they carry out that function quite well.\n\nWhat I particularly like is that they are cross-locking (squeeze to open, remove pressure to close). I am used to tweezers like this from my time in graduate school (in chemistry) so they were intuitive for me to use, but if you are used to using tweezers to pluck your eyebrows or remove splinters, these are a little different.\n\nI find them to be reasonably well-made. I don't think they're machined quite as nicely as more expensive items, but the quality, to me, is acceptable for the cost, and I do find them to be a good value. (Keep in mind, though, I am also a beginner at all this.)","Product: Uses a variety of innovative features to help you meet your respiratory protection and comfort needs.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: great for keeping particulate matter out of your respiratory system if you have allergies\n\nReview: I have a lot of trouble with my sinuses due to allergies. There are also a lot of risks of inhaling particulate matter around my house (I have pet birds, I scoop dusty cat litter, etc.). So I like to keep some of these around. Please note I am only using them to keep particles out of my respiratory system and I am not using them to ward off viruses, etc. (I'm not sure how good they would be for that.) I have also started using them when I am filing or sanding metal (or polymer clay) for jewelry making.\n\nI have a relatively small head (I am a small-boned woman) and these fit well enough. The metal around the bridge of the nose can be bent to help this better conform to your face. They do a great job of keeping dust out of my face when I am cleaning the room where I keep my birds; same for when I am scooping cat litter. If I remember to use these consistently when performing those tasks, I definitely breathe more easily at other times (without medication). For those tasks, I do tend to use the masks a few times, because I feel I am being wasteful if I only keep it on for 10 minutes or something. However, while you wear these and breathe, moisture can affect the mask material, rendering it less effective. If you are doing something like sanding or mowing the lawn (to avoid pollen here in Georgia) for a longer period of time, you would probably want to use a new one each time. And even for my scooping/cleaning tasks, I tend to not use one for more than an hour total. (I may be overcautious, but these are relatively inexpensive.)\n\nIf you wear glasses (I do a lot of the time, especially at home), they will probably fog up some when you wear these. There is no way around it. When you breathe out, the moisture has to go somewhere. I won't hold it against the mask because I'm fairly certain this would be an issue for any mask. (I had some generic ones from the home improvement store with the orange logo and I had the same problem, for example.) This is more of a problem if you are doing any mouth breathing (something I tend to slip into when I wear these without really thinking about it).","Product: Powerful and precise side cutting pliers that are small and portable. Jaws are induction hardened, and totally flush. Features black comfort grips and return spring. Use these cutting pliers for cutting soft wire, such as Tiger tail, accuflex, Soft Flex, Copper, aluminum, sterling, gold fill or gold wire.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: somewhat small (so be sure to read the description) but work really well for my purposes\n\nReview: I bought these because I used my last flush cutters inappropriately (I know better than to try to cut memory wire with them, but I did it anyway) and so on my last ones, the metal got marred. I wanted a new pair that wasn't damaged.\n\nFirst off, these are tiny. I have very small hands and they are a good size for me, but if you have large hands, you may not be as happy with them. (They are only 3.5 inches long.) For me, they are actually easier to use than larger ones -- I can get my whole hand around them and apply the appropriate amount of force to actually cut what I want to cut.\n\nWhat I have used these on: coated copper wire (Artistic Wire) and bare copper wire 16 gauge and smaller (I'm not saying they couldn't cut thicker wire, I just haven't tried it, and I get better results with 18-28 gauge wire), plus headpins and eyepins that were a bit too long for what I wanted. They'll also cut Accuflex and SoftFlex types of wire, although scissors will usually do that too. Use it only on soft metals -- brass, copper, silver, gold, etc., and nothing ferrous (like steel) to preserve the cutting edge.\n\nWhat not to use these on: memory wire or rivets and eyelets that are too long. There are separate memory wire cutters from Beadalon that are good for that purpose, and I got some industrial strength end cutters for rivets and eyelets. Of course these are also not appropriate for cutting sheet metal; you'd want shears for that.\n\nThese are made for jewelry making and, although it may be possible to use them for other applications, I can't speak to how they would perform.\n\nThese do make a nice flush cut if you put the flat side of the blade towards the section of wire you want to be flat. (I am assuming most people who want flush cutters will understand that, but if you were wondering why you'd get pinched wire on one side of the cut, you've been using them backwards.)\n\nOverall, I am happy with these after about four months of semi-regular use.","Product: This clamp-on full spectrum magnifier lamp features a fully adjustable metal swing-arm with a long 37 inch reach and a pivoting shade to optimize placement of the magnifier lens. The 3-diopter, 5 inch glass lens enlarges by 175% to improve visual clarity and acuity, and includes a protective cover to prevent scratches and dirt build-up. The full spectrum 22W circling bulb, which is included, provides a vivid and glare-free natural daylight effect, making this an ideal lamp for close up and detail work, hobbies, crafting, and more. The metal clamp is adjustable up to a 2-1/2 inch opening, making it adaptable to a wide variety of mounting surfaces. The clamp also includes a metal locking pin to prevent unintended lifting of the magnifier while in use. The on/off switch is located directly on the shade for user convenience. This lamp is ETL listed for a 22W circling fluorescent bulb, which is included. Includes a 90 day limited manufacturer's warranty.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: perfect for my needs\n\nReview: I do a lot of cross-stitch and beading and I find myself looking down over the tops of my glasses while holding my work inches from my face. This can't be good for me -- at a minimum, it is causing eye strain. Also, my living room (where I do most of my work) is very dark. So I wanted a magnifier lamp.\n\nI had previously been using one of those ones you hang around your neck but it wasn't a perfect solution. The light wasn't powerful at all and I had to hold my head at a weird angle (and it didn't rest correctly on a female chest, either, I might add). I was open to either floor or table-mount lamps and this is the one I settled on. I am happy with my decision and would make the same one again.\n\nThis was pretty easy to set up. There was very little assembly required. I put the clamp on my work surface (basically not much more than a TV tray). My tray is fairly thin but this will fit on something up to or maybe a little larger than 2 inches, so many tables should also be OK. Then I unscrewed a little screw in the clamp and inserted the entire top part of the lamp into the only opening in the top of the clamp. You put the screw back in (this keeps the arm and lamp from falling out and/or swiveling 360 degrees -- it does still turn pretty far, maybe 180 degrees). There are a few bits of cardboard and such to remove, but unboxing is basically hassle-free.\n\nThis is a little bit large for my current set-up; I find I have to work over on the far side of my tray because of how long the arm is. But it does work for me and I like that I can either have it up high for just some light, or down low for light and magnification. The arm stays in place wherever you adjust it to; there is a little screw for securing the light/magnifier part in the orientation of your choice.\n\nThis takes a circular fluorescent bulb (the relevant wattage information is printed on the bulb, which does come with the unit -- T9 22W 6400K is what it says). It gives off a white light (fine by me, I feel I can see colors more accurately that way). The cord is somewhat short (maybe 3-4 feet?) but I plugged it into a power strip and the cord from that gives me enough reach to get to the wall socket.\n\nThis is not the most powerful magnifier out there, but it represented a good compromise for me in terms of value, lighting, and magnification. I tried some cross-stitching under it and was really able to see much better -- I didn't have to hold my work up to my face, and the eye strain was a lot less. (I am 38 and while I have been nearsighted all my life, I do not have age-related vision problems. If you do, you might need stronger magnification. This does 1.75x.) This is much more comfortable than any solution I've tried in the past, which means I can work for longer without stopping.\n\nI have the black one and all the metal surfaces were evenly coated with no scratches. If you do put this on a TV tray, make sure it has a secure base because this does change the center of gravity of my work surface.\n\nOverall, I'm very pleased with this purchase and would buy the same one if I had it to do over again.","Product: The essential flat nose pliers, with a new angle! The bent nose will allow you to get into difficult spots with less hand and wrist fatigue. Use them to smooth down that last bit of wrapped wire, to hold small objects, and to pick out small beads and findings from their storage boxes (or from cracks in the furniture!) Measurements: Pliers are 4.5 inches long, tips are 1.5mm at the narrowest point. Sturdy box joint construction. Leaf spring. NOTE: These pliers are intended for beading and other fine hobby work. Not recommended for heavy duty applications such as automotive, home improvement, or maritime use.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: nice in conjunction with the roundnose pliers from the same product line\n\nReview: I bought both a pair of roundnose pliers and these. They are very similar tools, save for the shape of the noses, and they are from the same manufacturer and are of about the same size and same quality, so the reviews will be similar.\n\nI decided I wanted to start making chainmaille-style jewelry. I am not sure which metal I will eventually settle on (right now I am just playing around with copper since I have a lot of it and it is inexpensive) so I wanted a separate set of pliers that I could dip in Tool Magic in case I eventually start working with anodized or enameled metals. (I also got some roundnose pliers from the same brand.) These didn't break the bank and I can always use them for my other jewelry-making applications if I end up not liking chainmalle (though right now I find it pretty fun).\n\nAnyway, as I said, I've been using plain, bare copper (while I wait for my Tool Magic to arrive). It has a hard temper but I do all right bending the jump rings open and closed using these in my lefthand (the roundnose pliers, I use in my right hand). I think these work for me because they are relatively small. I have small hands, and I can get a good grip on these, and that makes it easier to manipulate the metal I am working with.\n\nThese are smooth but they do have an edge and I have marred the surface of some jump rings as I get the hang of using them. It doesn't bother me much because I am just doing practice weaves right now and I have a protective coating on order that should prevent that problem in the future.\n\nI would probably stick to using these on softer metals -- copper, silver, brass, maybe niobium or aluminum. I think using them on hardened steel would not work very well. I would also stick to using them for jewelry applications and not put them in a general toolbox for household work.\n\nAnyway, I was looking for a set of economy pliers to try with a new craft and that's what I got with these.","Product: EURO TOOL is proud to produce and present this high quality, 8 punch, Dapping Block Set. This is the essential dapping block, and includes eight dapping tools with matching block. Its really all one needs for virtually any job that has to do with metal media, dapping, punching, forming, sinking or dishing. Cavity sizes are 28, 24, 20, 18, 15, 12, 9 and 6mm with corresponding punch diameter. The wood block is completely smooth on the opposite side for use as a bench block. Sinking, also known asdoming,dishingordapping, is ametalworkingtechnique whereby flatsheet metalis formed into a non-flat object byhammeringit into a concave indentation. Sinking is used in the manufacture of items fromjewelrytoplate armor. This set is made of polished steel and comes in a functional wooden stand. The sets total weight is 5.5 lbs. EURO TOOL stands for excellence and is confident the quality, usefulness and durability of your EURO TOOL item will exceed your level of expectation. Please make sure your item has the EURO TOOL name. Other comparable competitor items are of inferior quality, design, production and will not meet your level of expectation as a EURO TOOL product will.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: great set for a beginner; works well with copper blanks\n\nReview: I am doing a lot of work with copper lately. I did want to be able to make my own bead caps as well as domes for soldering onto flat surfaces, and possibly even my own beads in the future (soldering two rounded halves together), but the expense of purchasing one of the larger dapping block/punch sets was putting me off. I thought this was a reasonable compromise. 8 punches seemed like more than enough for me at this point in my metalworking journey!\n\nPlease note mine arrived in an absolutely beat up old case (probably not so good for future storage) but the item, itself, was undamaged. (It would be hard to damage this. It is made from heavy steel and the wooden block for holding everything is also quite sturdy.) There may be some oil coating the parts when you receive yours (there was on mine but it wasn't a ton) but I have discovered this is common for steel jewelry-making tools (my steel bench block for stamping was like this, too). It keeps them from rusting. You would want to wipe it off before the first use. (I would not recommend using water or water-based cleaners, because if you don't get it 100% dry afterwards, rust can definitely still happen. Acetone will work for cleaning, just get the kind from the hardware store and don't use nail polish remover, which may have additional conditioners or oils in it.)\n\nI am using a one pound brass-headed hammer that I also use for stamping and work-hardening some wire work. For me, this is sufficient. I have not used every single punch yet but the ones I have used have worked well. My hammer has not damaged them and they fit back into the rack afterwards. But, I am hammering copper blanks right now, usually around 24 gauge, so perhaps not all that much force is required. I do feel I could go to thicker copper or another soft metal without much of an issue.\n\nThis does not contain a disc cutter, that is an item you would need to purchase separately (or just buy pre-cut metal blanks; these are available in a variety of metals here on Amazon).","Product: End cutters.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: good for small copper rivets and memory wire (for jewelry making)\n\nReview: I actually bought these for making jewelry. Although I usually work with copper, which is soft and easy to handle with regular cutters, I sometimes work with memory wire (will totally ruin your regular cutters) and use copper or brass rivets to do cold connections. When the rivets are much longer than the two or three pieces of metal I'm connecting together, I have to shorten them before hammering the end. My regular cutters were getting damaged because the rivets are quite a bit thicker than the wire I usually work with.\n\nAnyway, I bought these and they solved both of my problems. These will cut my memory wire (I am pretty sure it is steel) and also my rivets (I stick to 1/4 inch thickness and under rivets and actually usually even on the small side of that, since I don't want giant rivet heads on my jewelry pieces). It does not seem to damage the surface of these cutters.\n\nThese seem to be good quality. I have very small hands but can use them. The fulcrum works well. I don't really have to approach what I am cutting at strange angles but it has been pretty easy to get right in where I need to cut. I got these more because of the need to have a strong cutter (to preserve my lighter flush cutters for copper wire and things that won't ruin them) than anything else. To that end, they have served me quite well. Would definitely buy again if I had it to do over.","Product: The Frog and babies pull toy by Rich Frog lets you watch baby animals follow their parent as you pull the frog family around on sturdy wooden wheels.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: kills stink bugs, too\n\nReview: Every year, my kitchen gets invaded by little ants. I have taken great pains to put all food away in the refrigerator or in sealed plastic bags or containers. I guess the ants are looking for water. At any rate, I was all out of Raid from last year so I bought this.\n\nI spray this all over the back wall (outside) of my condo, around and under the kitchen window, where I think the ants are coming in. It hasn't completely gotten rid of them, but the numbers are drastically reduced over this time last year.\n\nThis doesn't have a huge smell when used outside. I've been hesitant to spray it inside so I can't speak to that. Raid, in general, has a tendency to smell like Raid. (Once you know the scent, you will recognize it when someone else has used it.)\n\nBut the real reason I'm happy about this is because a stink bug got into my kitchen and I was having trouble catching it. It kept taking flight. A shot of this (away from the stove and counter!) made that thing drop right out of the air. (Stink bugs are listed on the can.) So this product definitely kills bugs on contact. It's decent at preventing ants from coming in. And the smell doesn't bother me much/isn't very strong. So I'm a happy camper.","Product: HardCover. Pub Date :2014-02-27 Pages: 208 Language: English Publisher:. Fourth Estate Ltd If JJ Abrams and Margaret Atwood collaborated on a novel. it might look something like 'Annihilation'. the first in an extraordinary trilogy For thirty years. Area X. monitored by the secret agency known as the Southern Reach. has remained mysterious and remote behind its intangible border-an environmental disaster zone. though to all appearances an abundant wilderness Eleven expeditions have been sent in to investigate;. even for those that have made it out alive. there have been terrible consequences. 'Annihilation' is the story of the twelfth expedition and is told by its nameless biologist. Introverted but highly intelligent. the biologist brings her own secrets with her. She is accompanied by a psychologist. an anthropologist and a surveyor. their stated mission: to chart the land...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: so glad I picked this one up\n\nReview: Apparently I purchased this book in 2014. I have no memory of the event (am guessing there was a good deal on it; I had bought the other two volumes in this series as well), but I was scrolling through my Kindle library the other day, looking for something to read, and for some reason, I stopped on this cover. And I have to say, I am glad I did. I read 80% of this book in a few hours one afternoon and finished it the next day. I have not been reading so much lately and that is an unheard of speed for me. I was really into this; I wasn't stopping and checking things online. So, the reading experience was right up my alley.\n\nI will add a few other pieces of information before moving on to the substance of the review. This won a Nebula award. I am not always a fan of award-winning books (absolutely could not stand \"Among Others\" by Jo Walton, for example). But if you are looking for books with critical acclaim, this has it. Also, I am utterly unfamiliar with the television show \"Lost\" (other than knowing it exists) and other media references from some of the other reviews for this book.\n\nI am not sure how to describe this book. It is part ecological monograph, part travel/adventure novel, part personal diary, part character study, even part mystery (not in the traditional sense of solving a murder or some such, but in a sense of people being thrown into an environment they're totally unprepared for and trying to get to the root of some strange phenomena).\n\nThere are four characters at the start of the novel but we really only get to know one of them, the biologist of an expedition into an anomalous area called the Southern Reach. This book is written from her perspective, in the manner of a personal diary or journal. (One could argue that her dead husband is a fifth character due to flashbacks and the like. We learn more about him than about the mission's anthropologist, at any rate.) Expeditions keep getting sent into this area and things keep going dreadfully wrong -- everyone murdered, or lots of suicides, or people returning completely changed (in terms of personality). We learn a few details of the early expeditions and of the 11th (this book is an account of the 12th), but say 4-10 are still unknown to us. I think I don't mind this. It probably would've been clutter for the author to develop and include seven additional specific outcomes, especially if they weren't directly relevant to the story of this expedition.\n\nEarly on, the biologist begins to suspect something is not as she has been led to believe. (The members of the expedition received extensive training before leaving on their trip, but serious gaps in the training come to light as the story moves along.) It seems that other members of the expedition are feeling the same, and it causes cracks in the cohesiveness of their unit (which was never super cohesive in the first place -- how can it be if you are not even sharing your names with each other?).\n\nBut, I don't want to get into too much plot summary. Anyway, this book doesn't have a plot in a traditional sense. There is a lot of exploration through a fascinating environment and I honestly just enjoyed reading the descriptions here, which is not often the case for me. There's not much dialogue though there is a fair amount of introspection and some flashbacks, of a sort. (The flashbacks are well done and serve to further the plot!) There is a climax but it's not the sort of confrontation you might expect at the end of a work of speculative fiction (where there are usually battles and such).\n\nThe atmosphere created was wonderful. In a creepy sort of way. I also really did like the focus on a single character. This book is a good character study (albeit in weird circumstances). What might cause a person to go on an expedition from which few return? And, the biologist is a good proxy for the reader. She doesn't have all the answers (or really any of them), she is discovering them along with the rest of us. What is it that the higher-ups back home want to know about the Southern Reach? Why are they so adamant that people don't remember how they got into Area X? At the end of this book, we have started forming the questions, and hopefully in future novels we will start getting answers.\n\nMinor quibble, but at one point the biologist looks at some cells taken from a non-human mammal (a fox, I think) carcass and looks at them under a light microscope and says they are human. I don't think you could tell one mammal's cells from another using only a light microscope. You could tell cell types (neurons or smooth muscle or skin or whatever) if you were able to properly stain them. You could tell, say, a frog from a mammal (nucleated red blood cells in the frog but not in the mammal). But that is a minor point, and if there was some type of madness or neurodegenerative condition or residual effect of hypnosis affecting the biologist, it is possible she was reporting things that weren't true.\n\nOverall, I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to starting the sequel, Authority, this weekend!","Product: Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Business has been slow lately for Harry Dresden. Okay, business has been dead. Not undead - just dead. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work - magical or mundane. But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise. A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses. And the first two don't count ...Magic - it can get a guy killed.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I see a few improvements over book 1, but later books in the series are even better\n\nReview: I'm one of the people who bought the first seven of these when they were on Kindle special. I've read the first four of them so far. I'm definitely glad I made the purchase, but for whatever reason, this one stands out less than some of the others. It's definitely important to the series, overall, because some characters are introduced here who pop up in later volumes.\n\nI think the sexism is toned down from the previous volume -- a little, at least. There wasn't such a fixation on cheerleaders this time around, for one thing, as there was in \"Storm Front.\"\n\nWhat I think is best about this book is the gradual expansion of the Dresden universe. We met a vampire in the last book, now we're meeting some werewolves. I like that one element is added at a time -- we get to know a \"species\" or type of paranormal entity, including a few people who are members of that \"species,\" if you will, and some of the details of behavior and characteristics associated with the group. Vampires and werewolves and fairies and others are not all thrown at us at once. That being said, there is definitely some infodumping here, particularly when it comes to Dresden first getting information on werewolves. Ah, well, at least all of the information that is dumped is important to the story later on (can't say that for every instance of infodumping I've read in fantasy novels).\n\nOnce again, the book has a great pace and the climax of the action is carried out quite well. Dresden again has a bit of a hero complex (and does at least one thing that could prove dangerous to his mental well-being in order to help his comrades), but at least he's willing to accept help from non-wizards when he needs it. Once again he's not all-powerful, and sometimes he makes decisions that don't always end up having the consequences he expected them to have. Sometimes, he thinks he's protecting people by withholding information, and that turns out not to be the case. He then has to deal with the guilt that stems from his decisions. I don't quite feel like we're truly in his head, yet, because he's still tight-lipped about his past. But we're getting there.\n\nI didn't feel there was as much of a mystery to this volume as to the previous one, perhaps because several different events got intertwined and it was difficult for me to sort out all the clues (this is purely my failing and not the author's; you could say he keeps you guessing, keeps you wanting to read further to find out more). Everything did come together in the end -- in a good way. One thing I will say about Butcher's writing is that it is easy -- and quick -- to read. It's not overly flowery or dramatic but it gets the job done. It's written in a contemporary tone that fits well with the setting (modern-day Chicago).\n\nI'm starting to see a trend of Dresden getting close to people -- or gaining their sympathy -- and mucking it up. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out in future books. It sort of goes a long way towards explaining why he lives alone in a dark and forbidding sort of apartment, why I picture his office building as nearly deserted (though, by description in the novels, it doesn't necessarily sound that way), and so forth. However, he isn't really all that socially awkward in later volumes. I wouldn't say there's a ton of character development going on here, but have patience, because that really picks up in books 3 and 4 (and not just for Harry, but also for some of his associates).\n\nThe blood and gore is really turned up in this book, so watch out for that. It's appropriate for the subject matter, all things considered. And a particular scene I'm thinking of (don't want to spoil anything) needed to be shocking -- to dial up the intensity, the sense of urgency.\n\nLike \"Storm Front,\" \"Fool Moon\" is told from a first-person point of view (Harry's), which I think is appropriate for the genre. We, as readers, need to have the same information Harry has. It wouldn't be half as interesting or fun to know what other characters were thinking (granted, Dresden figures stuff out before I do and I have to read his explanation along with everyone else -- but it's never implausible, the clues were always there). I don't have much to add about the setting that I haven't said in the previous book; this one is also set in Chicago but is fairly light on actual geographical details. For me, anyway, it works.\n\nWish the character of Kim Delaney hadn't just been dropped on us at the beginning of this book. I like how what happened in her scene had later implications (in more ways than one), but I wish there'd been a proper introduction because I felt a little bit like I had missed a chapter somewhere else. Oh the other hand, I can see the utility of only talking about her here. Harry's close-mouthed about his personal life outside the events that are currently occurring, and we don't need his whole life story right now. So decisions have to be made about what to include and when, and I can at least see the reasoning behind Butcher's choice to bring Kim up here, in the way he did. I feel like some thought went into it, at least.\n\nThere are some loose ends here that I hope Butcher will come back to in a future novel. The main plot line is resolved, but we are left with a few questions. For that reason alone, I'd definitely recommend not skipping this book if you intend to read the rest of the series (some of my online acquaintances recommended starting with book 3, but I think this volume does contain some important details). It gives me hope that the main events from the first book will also tie into a grander narrative. I like the idea of an overall story arc with individual volumes that are basically self-contained stories, and that is where it looks like we are headed with this series.\n\nOverall, I'd put this about on par with \"Storm Front.\" I like where I think Butcher will be going with this series, but there's room for improvement (which I'm already beginning to see in books 3 and 4). 3.5 stars.","Product: Exclusive new adventure set in the Old Kingdom, set approximately six months after the events in ABHORSEN.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: helps make Nick more sympathetic\n\nReview: I read this coming off Clariel, which I found to be a bit disappointing. I was happier with this. I am not a fan of short fiction, in general, and typically don't like it when authors put key parts of stories in novellas that are easy to miss the existence of (and therefore you are left scratching your head, like I was at the start of Staked by Kevin Hearne). I mind less when the story contained within the novella is not essential to the main plot of the series, and I feel that was the case here. You do need to have read at least Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen to understand the setup in this book, but you can totally skip this and not really miss out on anything (plot-wise).\n\nThat is not to say this book doesn't serve a purpose. Nick from Lirael and Abhorsen continues to play a role in Goldenhand, the 5th book in the series, and he was honestly not very sympathetic or developed in the previous books (possibly through no fault of his own, as he was possessed by an evil entity for a good portion of those books). He is the POV character here and he is on the mend after his previous adventures. He is definitely more himself and although he is a bit egotistical (probably due to his privileged upbringing and social status), he shows himself here to care about others -- of all social classes -- and to have courage. So now I am a bit more invested in his character as I work my way through Goldenhand, and in that sense, I feel that reading this was worthwhile.\n\nI get the sense that the events here take place over the course of a very short period of time, a day or so (at most). There is a lot of action packed into that day. I understand that pacing and set-up are different in a novella than in a full-length book, and also that the stakes are usually lower (fighting, say, one creature instead of a sorcerer controlling dozens of powerful creatures), and that is reflected here. I will say, I didn't have time to be bored. On the other hand, the ending seems a bit rushed and even anti-climactic. I can't say more without spoiling it but if a few sentences earlier in the book hadn't been included, it would've been (to me, anyway) deus ex machina.\n\nFor reference, this takes place outside the Old Kingdom in Ancelstierre (I never know if I am spelling that right). You don't really learn anything new about the world, though you get a bit more of the worldview of folks from Ancelstierre who don't understand the Old Kingdom and/or don't believe what they have heard about it. There's a range of reactions there, and I think that part is well done. The writing style is similar to previous books in this series. I don't know that I would say Nick transforms in this book, but he is getting well and his old personality is back; we are getting to see it for the first time. So it feels like there is character development, anyway.\n\nFor what it's worth, there's a fair amount of violence here, but nothing outside the norm for this series. Overall, I enjoyed this and read it quickly.","Product: Mark Charan Newton was born in 1981 and lives in Nottingham. Nights of Villjamur is the first book in the Legends of the Red Sun series and he is now well into writing the next.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: some interesting concepts but flawed science\n\nReview: While what follows will include a fair amount of nitpicking, let me just say at the outset that I did enjoy the book (and the sequel) fairly well.\n\nWhat did I like? Well, the author is clearly a fan of Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun. (Possibly of Wolfe's other books, as well. Though the Book of the New Sun is the only writing of Wolfe's that I've read.) People either love or hate Wolfe, but even his admirers admit that he's not for everyone. I find his (Wolfe's) prose, both in terms of language and emphasis on certain plot points, difficult at times. Newton, by contrast, evokes a similar feel to his world, but it's much easier to figure out what's going on. Sometimes he uses big words, usually biological in nature (quercus instead of oak, which probably isn't really necessary). But Newton is just a LOT more approachable. Newton's characters are also mostly complex, sympathetic, and have suitable flaws (some of the Ovinists are a little one-dimensional). If you like Wolfe, you'll enjoy the nods to his writing in Nights of Villjamur and if you have a hard time with actually reading Wolfe, but like the idea behind his books, you might want to give Newton a try. (Note: unless I'm really missing the mark, I don't see all the obfuscatory allegory in Newton that I did in Wolfe.)\n\nNewton has also been described as belonging to the New Weird school of writers which includes China Mieville, among others. Because Nights of Villjamur has non-human species (rumels, garudas -- more on these later) interacting with humans, and a similar city type of environment, and some unexplainable technology, it's easy to start drawing comparisons. Here, though, I have a more mixed reaction. Both authors' non-human creatures are a little implausible, in terms of biology as we know it. I suppose you can excuse Mieville, who has a background in economics and not biology. But Newton's \"about the author\" in the back of the book says he has a degree in environmental science. And he uses a lot of biological terms in this book. So he ought to know better.\n\nBut then I started thinking, what if I wanted to write a book kind of like these two? I pondered, from an evolutionary standpoint (I have a BS in biology and did chemical evolution research in graduate school), what sorts of creatures do exist on earth today, having evolved on the same planet as humans. Which ones are noted for their intelligence? People always mention dolphins, but even allowing for super-intelligent dolphins, it's just not possible for dolphins to take part in society in the same way humans do. They don't have digits, they need to be in the water, etc. So it's a difficult exercise, and I feel like as long as there's an explanation (thaumaturgy does it more for me than ancient relics, as long as we're suspending disbelief), it's okay. So Mieville does a little better in that regard. But...Mieville, at least in Perdido Street Station, was obsessed with describing how filthy everything was, and while we do see some of the seedy underside of Villjamur, Newton is (thankfully) not quite so concerned on that front. I am making an assumption here, that Newton's planet is a far-future Earth. (Not called \"Urth\" like in Wolfe, but there are enough clues dropped to make you think that's the idea.)\n\nBut enough of comparing Newton to other authors. Now is the time for the nitpicking I promised.\n\nThe secret underground cult that wants to take over the city is called the \"Ovinists.\" So I'm not sure the origin of this word (\"ov\" is a root associated with eggs). But what it makes me think of is \"ovine\" in the biological sense. (You know, like \"bovine\" refers to cows and \"feline\" refers to cats.) This cult has some activities related to pigs and pig hearts. But...\"porcine\" refers to pigs. What does \"ovine\" relate to, then? SHEEP. Not pigs. So this kept throwing me off. This may not be at all what Newton had in mind with the use of this term for the cult. But it's what I keep thinking of.\n\nAs for the one-dimensional characters I mentioned earlier, most of these are Ovinists (Urtica, Tryst, etc.). We do also have a plucky princess (Eir) who learns to fight with a sword and falls in love with her dancing/swordsmanship teacher.\n\nI already talked a bit about the \"science\" in this book, but I am a scientist, and I think about these things. Here's a list of issues I have:\n\nThe rumels (reptiles)...where to start? They have HAIR. They have to shave. Rumels and humans sometimes find each other attractive, and it sounds like they're not all that different, other than thick skin and tails in the case of the rumels. They also seem to be able to handle life in a city full of humans, which suggests opposable thumbs, etc. Even though actual reptiles are cold-blooded, the rumels are doing just fine in the snow. They (the rumels) can also talk. Think about modern reptiles and the kinds of sounds they're capable of making. It's not a wide range.\n\nGarudas (named after either Vishnu's mount, or else a big evil boss bird in the Final Fantasy games, not sure which -- though guess Vishnu's mount was the inspiration for the Final Fantasy boss) are bird-people. They can't talk, and they use hand signals. Wait, what? Hand signals? For birds? When really, birds can actually perform a lot of vocalizations and some can even mimic human speech (e.g. African grays and other kinds of parrots). But birds don't have anything, anatomically, approaching a human hand. If you read on to City of Ruin, you find out the garudas have wings AND arms. And so are apparently hexapods instead of tetrapods, so there's the evolution problem rearing its head again.\n\nThe first mention of the crab creatures that become prominent later in the story bothers me for several reasons. One, they're unlikely to evolve in the size these ones are described as. If they came from the same world as the red rumels we see them with, the rumels would've outcompeted them (think natural selection when resources are scarce). Also, their shells are described as deep red at one point. While there are some crabs that are reddish in color, the reddish color we associated with most crabs, lobsters, crayfish, etc. comes AFTER cooking, when other pigments in the shells are destroyed. Anyway, the giant crabs are problematic.\n\nThe anticipated length of the ice age coming to Villjamur seems short, to say the least. It is implied that enough food and fuel can be stored to support at least some of the citizens of the city through the end of the ice age. It is also implied that some of the rumels (whose lifespans are measured in centuries instead of decades) will live through the entire Freeze. Head on over to Wikipedia and check out how long some of the ice ages described there, were. Tens of thousands of years for interglacial periods, and tens of millions of years for ice ages. It's an interesting idea, coping with an ice age. But maybe a little more research was in order.\n\nNow that I think I'm mostly through with the nitpicking, I'll say a few more things about the main characters and then wrap up. (Not the Ovinists, because even though that group supplies the chief antagonists, and sometimes they're even viewpoint characters, they're mostly concerned with taking over control of the empire and keeping their membership in the cult hidden.)\n\nBrynd is interesting; he's an albino who was adopted by a noble family. We don't know anything about his family background. He's a bit of an outcast because of the way he looks. But he's also terribly afraid he'll be outed -- he's gay. He is in charge of the empire's entire military, though he goes on a lot of small-group missions, which is a little unusual. (I'm sometimes a little surprised to see the military fighting with swords and arrows, because the setting makes me think they ought to have guns or something. I'm not sure precisely why I feel this way, because other technology is pretty primitive. People have to light lamps and such. But I digress.) I am hoping we hear more about him and his background in future books. I suspect someone will find out his sexuality in a future volume, but how he or she will use this information, I'm not sure. (Blackmail?) Anyway, Brynd has a liability in addition to a social distance from others due to his looks. But, he does appear to be a capable fighter and commander. Suitably complex as a character, though I've seen a lot of albinos in fantasy fiction lately.\n\nJeryd is a rumel Investigator with the Inquisition. He is estranged from his wife at the beginning of the book, but manages to win her back. He is probably the least flawed of the characters. While he has lost his wife and thrown himself into his work at the beginning of the book, he's won her (Marysa) back by the end. He's a little dense for an investigator, not recognizing treachery of those closest to him.\n\nRandur is the third main character; he's entered the city on false pretenses (using an assumed identity) and commits thefts, but he's trying to save his mother's life. He's failed her in the past, and he doesn't want to fail her again. However, he gets caught up in his relationship with Eir, and when the cultist who is supposed to help him with his mother disappears, he pretty much gives up looking to help his mother.\n\nAt any rate, Nights of Villjamur is, despite a few (scientific) flaws and perhaps too many plot lines set up at once, a pretty good effort from an up-and-coming young writer. Probably 3.5 stars but since I can't give half stars, I'll round up.","Product: Author Horace Goodhue, widely respected in the world of beadwork and well known as the author of \"Indian Bead-Weaving Patterns,\" died at home early in the morning on July 16, 1997. His book, which has sold thousands of copies, documents more Indian beadwork techniques than any other book ever published. The book was a labor of love for Goodhue. \"His mission was to carry on the beadwork of Indians, even when some of the younger people were not learning the traditions from their grandparents,\" said Orpha Goodhue, his wife. Although not a Native American, Goodhue held a deep respect for these people through many contacts over the years. \"Horace loved people and gained a great deal of energy from them. He listened to people and related to them through their perspective.\" All beaders are deeply in his debt.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: nice resource, though beware it is a bit dated\n\nReview: This book is really good for its time, but please notice it was first published in 1971. While the author has updated it and it has been reprinted several times, it is not what you would expect from a craft book published in the past 20 years or so. If you don't go into it with unreasonable expectations, you will probably be happier. Photos of many of the weaves are included, but they are black and white and are somewhat separated from the directions for how to make them.\n\nBasic instructions for peyote stitch and making/using a loom are included, as well as a variety of netting-type stitches, daisy chains, and similar. If the author learned a particular technique from a particular tribe, he gave appropriate credit. I really do feel like he was trying to help preserve native arts and expressed an interest in the culture behind them, and he addresses issues of respect and cultural appropriation (though not using that exact term) in his introduction. This book is definitely a product of its time, however.\n\nThis appears to have been set on a typewriter. Many of the bead path diagrams look to have been painstakingly laid out with the 0 from the typewriter, with later hand-drawn (sometimes assisted with a straight edge) lines. Others are clearly freehand (especially when the weave being described isn't conducive to a flat, linear diagram). If you are used to modern photo or video tutorials, these could be a challenge to follow. If, however, you are like me, and prefer diagrams and written text, and can easily pick up patterns after trying a few repeated motifs, you will have no trouble. I tested this out by starting a choker with the \"spider\" weave and really, it's turning out nicely.\n\nI don't know that I'd start with this book right away if you are a beginner (unless you also have a teacher to walk you through some of these stitches). One nice thing, though, is that you can get started with a minimum amount of material. You would want some seed beads (size 10 -- which are getting harder to find these days -- or size 11 would work), a needle, stringing material (something flexible but you have a lot of options these days), and some clasps. But that is pretty much it. You can choose whatever colors you want (you aren't given a lot of guidance in the book) and actually make a pattern into something simple and suitable for casual wear (say, by using opaque beads in single, common colors) or into a nighttime look by using metallic or iridescent seed beads, firepolished accent beads, etc.\n\n\"Pattern\" in the title is used in a different sense than people are used to today. You are not given an explicit list of bead types, sizes, and colors and directions to complete something from beginning to end. Rather, you are basically given thread paths for different weaves and such and you do have to use some of your own intuition to turn that into a finished piece.\n\nI think this book is a nice resource, in particular for bead chains and thin weaves that can be used alongside fancier elements made with popular contemporary beads (e.g., Czechmates).","Product: Born in Toronto, Canada, Ryan Pyle spent his early years close to home. After obtaining a degree in International Politics from the University of Toronto in 2001, Ryan realized a life long dream and traveled to China on an exploratory mission. In 2002 Ryan moved to China permanently and in 2004 Ryan became a regular contributor to the New York Times. In 2009 Ryan was listed by PDN Magazine as one of the 30 emerging photographers in the world. In 2010 Ryan began working full time on television and documentary film production and has produced and presented several large multi-episode television series for major broadcasters in the USA, Canada, UK, Asia, CHINA and continental Europe.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: interesting read, even if you haven't seen the companion television series\n\nReview: Despite the name, this is not a religious book. The author states fairly early on, and occasionally repeats, that he is not on a religious journey, and that he did not have any religious revelations on his treks (koras) around four mountains in China and Tibet. He was looking for adventure, to find himself, to get in touch with nature. And I think he was successful with all three. (Note: apparently there is a companion television series, which I have not seen. You do not need to be familiar with the television series to read this book.)\n\nThis is a rather thin volume that spends some time setting up the various treks, gives a little background on ethnic groups, religions, monasteries, etc., that are mentioned, and then delves into four separate journeys. (Please note that this background information is quite cursory. It provides a starting point, but if your interest is piqued, you will have to do more research on your own. Most of it is set apart in gray boxes in the chapters leading up to the treks, themselves.)\n\nAt first I was afraid that there would be too many similarities among the treks. Because I am not much of a hiker or mountaineer, I think I had inaccurate assumptions regarding mountains. In fact, they're not all the same and each presents a different set of challenges. Further, human factors come into play as well. An incompetent guide on one trip, a cameraman's illness on another, encroaching civilization and a police blockade to skirt around on a third.\n\nAlthough Mr. Pyle does focus a fair amount on himself (we hear frequently that he is wet, cold, ill, too tired to eat, etc.), for me, that just adds realism to the experience. He also spends a lot of time talking about the people he encounters, and those parts are fascinating. It amazed me how many people are simply available to hire as guides at the drop of a hat, or who are willing to accept pilgrims and strangers into their homes, or who ferry others around on motorcycles for a living. It was a good, up-close look at the day-to-day life of the people who lived in the area Mr. Pyle traveled through. (I also enjoyed the accounts of the other hikers and pilgrims, including a group of Russians who completed one trek in a super short time, a European couple who turned back when the going got tough, and many people of Indian descent who traveled from the US to, for example, Mount Kailash.)\n\nOf course there are several sections of color photographs, as well. I like the mix of people, buildings, and landscapes (and sometimes the food Mr. Pyle ate while on his treks, which was interesting in itself). You actually get to put faces with names, to see the wooden architecture of remote Tibet, etc. The photographs are a bit small and I think some of the grandeur of the mountains is lost due to size. But the photographs did definitely help set the scene.\n\nThis is billed as a \"how to\" and the final chapter about each trek ends with a summary of estimated costs and advice for having a successful trip. I am not really a cold weather sort of person (!) and won't be making these journeys myself. But if you are thinking of traveling to any of these areas, either as a pilgrim or just as a tourist, this book does have some helpful advice.\n\nIn the end, I learned something about a part of the world I knew very little about, including about the native peoples and their ways of life. I learned something about hiking in very challenging conditions. I learned about how modern ways of life are infiltrating traditional societies. Although this is a short book, there's really a lot of information packed in there. I look forward to more from Mr. Pyle in the future!\n\nReview copy provided by the author."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Foil liners for grease catch pan. The inside dimensions of the pan are 7 inch by 5 inch by 1 inch. The outside of the dimensions are 8 inch by 6 inch by 1 inch. The drip pans fit Weber Q grills, Spirit gas grills, Genesis gas grills, Genesis II / Genesis II LX 200 and 300 series gas grills.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: good for cooking veggies that don't skewer well (like cauliflower)\\n\\nReview: I actually use these in a charcoal grill. I am a vegetarian and I cook a lot of vegetables on skewers; I usually come up with combinations by referring to a vegetarian grilling cookbook.\\n\\nBut, sometimes I question the advice of the cookbook -- for example, it is really difficult to skewer cauliflower without it falling apart. So, when I've gone to all the bother of marinating cauliflower (along with some potatoes and carrots that DO skewer perfectly well), I don't want to leave that out of my meal. Enter these pans. I put all the cauliflower pieces and smaller bits of things like onion in here, and they cook quite well while my skewers are going with the other vegetables.\\n\\nThese are basically not clean-able without a LOT of elbow grease. I tend to trash them after one use (too much crud stuck to them to be suitable for recycling). But, they've already saved a few meals for me so I am definitely going to keep a package of them on hand.\",\n \"Product: Replacement natural lava rocks. Poly bagged.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: great for supporting epiphytes (like certain orchids)\\n\\nReview: I am not using these for grilling. I wanted them as a substrate for a Vanda orchid. You are not supposed to bury Vanda roots, but rather leave them exposed to air. You put them in slat baskets and the roots grow around the slats, I just wanted something below the plant to keep it up at the top of the slat basket instead of buried inside, and I'd read that lava rocks worked pretty well for this purpose.\\n\\nThese are porous, as you'd expect, and thus weigh less than solid rocks of the same size. i like this because the pores capture a bit of water when I spray the plant in the afternoon and then slowly release it to increase the amount of moisture in the air around the plant's roots.\\n\\nThe color is basically just what you see in the official product image. These are not particularly bright or colorful. (If you are using them for grilling, I guess that doesn't matter.) There was a little dust in the package, but not much. There weren't any tiny broken pieces on the bottom of the bag, either. These were large, whole rocks, ranging in size from about the size of one golf ball to about the size of two golf balls put together (the shapes are rather irregular, though).\\n\\nThere are enough of these in the bag for me to support at least two plants this way. I am not sure how many Vandas I will end up with, but if it is more than two and I need to reorder to have enough rocks, I would definitely buy this same item again.\",\n \"Product: Jiffy 50 Plant (42 mm) greenhouse\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: one of the easiest ways to start seeds indoors\\n\\nReview: I have fond childhood memories of watching my grandfather care for seedlings in his basement prior to planting his garden for the year. He started most of his garden from seed, and he did it in little peat pellets like this. Perhaps because of those memories, when I decided to attempt to grow plants on my back porch this year (sadly, I don't have a yard), I thought I would start them from seed in these pellets, as well.\\n\\nThese are very easy to use -- just add water to the trays and watch them expand. It took less than 15 minutes, although I left the room for a bit, so I couldn't give you a precise time. It did take quite a lot of water, although I wasn't measuring (might have been a gallon or more per tray). These are somewhat heavy once they're hydrated, so put the trays where you want them before you add the water. The plastic trays will hold the water if sitting on a flat surface, but they are kind of flimsy to carry.\\n\\nThen all you do is pull apart the netting on top and put the seeds in; whether you put the seeds on the surface or slightly below the surface will depend on the seeds (should have information on the seed packets about this).\\n\\nI planted a variety of vegetable and herb seeds in these. I haven't seen any mold or gnats. Nearly everything sprouted within a week (I soaked the seeds in water overnight first). I've had to remove the plastic tops because some of my sprouts are tall enough already to reach the plastic tops. I have not had to water these yet (you are supposed to wait until they are a lighter brown color -- they're quite dark when fully hydrated) although I suspect that will come soon, now that the clear plastic tops are off.\\n\\nWhen I transplant the seedlings to pots, I'll rip the netting on the bottom to make sure the roots can get through. What I like about transplanting these is that you can just set the whole peat pot into your potting soil, no need to try to remove it or dig the plant out of a plastic container.\\n\\nAt any rate, I am very happy with this purchase and would definitely buy these again.\\n\\nEdit 3/5/14: I still haven't had to water these, even with the tops off -- they hang onto water very well. My seedlings are looking great, so these must be providing suitable levels of nutrients.\",\n \"Product: Add the proper utensils to your new grill with Weber utensils. A good barbecue tongs and spatula are necessary for grilling. Unique front end soft touch handle offers comfortable, non-slip grip. Tong handle locks for compact storage. Spatula angled neck reaches over edge of grill, keeping your hands and arms away from heat. Compact 14-inch length is perfect for camping, picnic and urban dwellers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: do the job I needed, well made, and easy to clean\\n\\nReview: I got these to go with a new grill (one of the Weber 22 inch round charcoal grills) I bought. I do not have much experience with grill tools since I have been a vegetarian for 23 years. But, with a new grill that has never cooked meat and a vegetarian grilling book, I figured some grill tools were in order. (I got this set instead of the 3-piece set since I didn't see much need for a meat fork...)\\n\\nThese are quite nice and sturdy. The black handle parts are heat resistant and the overall handle length is good for reaching even to the middle of the grill (though I generally cook vegetables, etc., on skewers). Because these are rather long, I have been hand-washing them since my dishwasher is on the small side and awkwardly arranged anyway. But, they should do well in the dishwasher as long as you make sure they are fully dry before you put them away. At any rate, they are pretty easy to clean, even when you have been playing around with fatty marinades including yogurt sauce, etc.\\n\\nYou can lock the handle of the tongs if you so desire. I think the spatula is neat. In addition to being longer than a standard kitchen spatula, it's really well-suited for cooking on a grill -- the bend in the handle makes it much more convenient to flip larger, flatter items (in my case, veggie burgers...), whereas with a standard spatula angle, you might be pushing the patty all over the grill. So that was really thought out well, and is useful for vegetarians as well.\\n\\nAnyway, these do the job I needed them to and appear to be high quality and well made, plus they're easy to clean. So I am happy with my purchase.\",\n \"Product: A large selection of garden vegetables. Grow your own beans, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, okra, onions, peas, peppers, radishes, squash, zucchini, tomatoes and watermelon. Plenty to feed your family and varieties to meet everyones taste. Substitutions may be made for varieties that are out of stock\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: most germinated quickly, but uneven amounts of some seeds\\n\\nReview: Every year, I try to grow plants on my back patio. (I live in a condo and don't have a yard.) Most of the time I fail (last year, some aggressive Canada geese ate all my pepper and tomato plants, and a caterpillar ate 75% of my basil), but that doesn't stop me from trying. So I decided to give it another go this year and purchased this variety pack of vegetable seeds.\\n\\nI think the vegetables you get are listed on the product page and/or in the picture. My seed packets did not look like the ones in the picture, although all of them but one said \\\"Ferry-Morse\\\" on the packet. My packet of peas had a different label.\\n\\nI soaked the seeds overnight and planted them in either peat pellets (most things) or seed-starter mix (radishes and lettuce). I know this is not necessarily the recommended practice for some of these types of seeds, but since I can't sow anything directly into the soil because of the no yard thing, I figured I would at least see if these things will germinate inside. Stuff that doesn't die on me can go in pots outside in another month or two. I'm not expecting a huge amount of production based on the growing conditions I'm able to offer. However, I'll update this review over the course of the growing season.\\n\\nAfter one week, everything except the bell peppers has germinated. The larger seeds, especially the peas and beans, have impressive shoots already. The okra started germinating just from the overnight soaking.\\n\\nMy biggest complaint is that the amounts of seeds you get are uneven. The package of peas was filled to bursting. But there were only a few tomato seeds, by comparison (and tomato seeds are small, anyway).\",\n \"Product: Weber 6678 Large Original Grill Basket; New; Free Shipping\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: perfect for my needs\\n\\nReview: I recently got a Weber charcoal grill. I am a vegetarian so I also bought a vegetarian grilling cookbook. A \\\"vegetable grill basket\\\" was referred to in many of the recipes. So I ordered this.\\n\\nI am quite happy with this. It does not take up the full amount of space on my grill but it is big enough to cook food for two people. If you were so inclined, you could use this on one side of a grill (say the 22 inch diameter ones) and put something else like veggie burgers on the other side.\\n\\nIt is sturdy metal. I cut the vegetables quite large so I didn't have much trouble with stirring, but if smaller pieces are your preference, it is possible to bend up the sides to make them higher (it will not be easy, but it *is* possible). It is shiny metal when you first get it but after about one use, it is pretty stained. It gets a finish rather like a seasoned wok. Which is honestly pretty much what was done since I cooked over an open flame with oils (marinated tofu and vegetables). It was small enough to fit in my kitchen sink for scrubbing.\\n\\nAnyway, I know this is going to get a lot of use. It is so much more convenient than skewers (which I also have) because you don't have to take all the time to skewer things, for one, and secondly it can be used for things that don't skewer well, like cauliflower. This is exactly what I needed and I am happy with the purchase.\",\n \"Product: Grows Plants Twice as Big Feeds up to 6 months. More blooms for more color. Grow Plants in container gardens. Miracle-Gro Potting Mix helps consumers beautify their world with potted flowers- Indoor and out.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: good soil for potted vegetable plants\\n\\nReview: I am trying to grow vegetables and herbs on my back porch this year. I have used Miracle Gro potting soil in the past with good results, but I was feeling too lazy to drive to the home improvement store to buy it, so I ordered on Amazon.\\n\\nThe quality of the soil I received was excellent. There were very few large pieces and no gnats. It was easy to scoop out with a pot or a trowel and it holds moisture very well (so make sure your pots have adequate drainage and don't water your plants too often). The seedlings I transplanted into this soil are thriving thus far. My past experience with this soil has been that the fertilizers it already contains are good enough for one growing season, at least, so you don't need to add more fertilizer. Also, if you don't use it all up, it will usually last more than a year in the bag, although opened bags may dry out a bit.\\n\\nI would caution you to be careful what you're ordering when it comes to package size, since there are many package sizes with many different measurement units available on this page. I had no idea what the sizes of the bags I had bought in previous years were, so I ordered what I thought was the biggest bag (2.5 cubic feet). Indeed, that is a big bag -- it had a 55-lb shipping weight per bag! And now I have three of them. The good news is that this stuff is inexpensive, lasts a long time, and I've already used half a bag and have lots of planting left to go. But if you don't have a lot of storage space, you may want to opt for a smaller size.\",\n \"Product: This 8-inch square slatted cedar wood basket makes a great planter for most orchids with or without potting medium. It's hand crafted for quality and strength with a classic shape. This attractive natural wood basket has commonly been called a Vanda basket, as it works particularly well with the Vanda type orchid. It can be used for a variety of other plants such as ferns and bromeliads as it provides excellent drainage. Coconut fiber and sphagnum moss make a good liner for use with plants potted in potting soil. Mesh onion/vegetable sacks also work great. Galvanized wire eyelets allow you to hang this basket inside or outside the home. Measures 8-Inch square by 4.75-Inch tall.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: wonderful for vanda orchids; you can put lava rocks in the bottom to support the plant as well\\n\\nReview: I bought this for a vanda orchid. Vandas' roots are not supposed to be buried in soil and putting the plant in a slat basket gives the roots a place to grip (they will grow through the slats) to keep the plant in place. I filled the bottom with some large lava rocks (fairly neutral color, porous to hold some water, lightweight) and set the plant on top, tucking a few roots through slats. So far my orchid has been in this for a few weeks and everything is great.\\n\\nThis looks exactly like the official product image. The description of the size is accurate (8 x 8 x 4.8 inches). Regarding drainage, there are sizeable gaps between the slats so pouring water in here is probably not the best idea. I spray my orchid's roots from a spray bottle every day for water (the lava rocks pick up a bit and release it via evaporation during the day, as well). I don't get water pooling underneath the basket because I am just spraying, not pouring water. (You could put some sort of liner in here, in which case the drainage would come into play, but the liner would show.)\\n\\nThe quality is great. No slats were loose, everything was well-sanded, there were no splinters, etc. I have mine on a shelf rather than hanging, but the eyelets in the corners do seem securely fastened and hanging is certainly a viable option. Air circulation around my plant in this basket is great; I think this is helping to prevent any sort of rotting.\\n\\nI do not know how this is finished. It looks like there could be some sort of stain but that also could be the natural color of the wood (I don't own any other objects made of cedar for comparison). I do know that my water spraying, which sometimes gets all over the basket as well as the plant roots, has not damaged the basket so far. The spacing between the slats allows for pretty quick evaporation. I think in my case, the wood is staying in great condition because it is not constantly in contact with moist soil (which, again, a liner would prevent).\",\n \"Product: Instantly feed succulent plants, including cacti with Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food. The formula is designed for all cacti, jade, aloe, and other popular succulents. Apply directly to the soil, or mix it with water and apply to plants every 2 weeks. Enjoy beautiful succulents with Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I am bad with succulents but my plant is looking wonderful (and has some new growth) after using this for awhile\\n\\nReview: I have a single succulent. I'm not even sure what kind it is, so I can't even look up any care instructions and I have to use my best guess. I have not had the best luck with succulents in the past. I am watering this plant once per week and it seems to be doing all right. But I figured it might be good to start fertilizing it as well, so I bought this (just one bottle, since I only have the one plant).\\n\\nI apply a squirt of this to the soil (it does not foam for me, I don't know if I am using the pump incorrectly or the pump is broken or the product formulation has changed, because if you look in the second official product image, there is clearly foam). Then I water as usual, to make sure the undersides of the leaves didn't sit covered with concentrated fertilizer. (My plant takes up most of the pot it is in so there is no avoiding touching the leaves. It is a small pot so one squirt is enough.)\\n\\nI just fertilize on the first Sunday of the month. That seems to be often enough. The plant is thriving after a few months and there is even some new growth in the center, plus none of the old leaves have fallen off yet.\\n\\nThis is a clear liquid for me. It doesn't have a noticeable odor, though I am not getting down and sniffing it either. I got some on my hands and it didn't irritate the skin (I did wash my hands afterwards, though). I have had pretty good luck with Miracle Gro products in the past and, based on how my plant is doing, I am pretty happy with this as well.\",\n \"Product: This organic formula is derived from sea kelp. It can be used on air plants, orchids and bromeliads. It is recommended to use the spray food right after regular watering, once a month. Over fertilizing the plants may cause damage to the plants, use as directed.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: has recommended N-P-K ratios for air plants, easy to use, working well so far\\n\\nReview: I have a couple of the Bliss Gardens air plant terrarium kits. I have not had very good luck keeping air plants alive in the past, so I am determined this time to follow the directions provided by Bliss Gardens this time around. I've been dutifully soaking my plants in water once a week, but it was recommended to use a fertilizer once a month as well, so I bought this.\\n\\nYou just spray this on the plants once a month. I take them out of their little glass enclosures, water them, and then spray them. I let them dry for a bit before putting them back in the enclosures (there are some decorations in there that I don't want to get wet, plus I don't want any mold to grow from excess moisture inside an enclosure). Can't be simpler, and I know it is balanced in nutrients because the N-P-K ratios match those in the instruction sheets from my Bliss Gardens kits. (I always water on Sundays and I use the fertilizer on the last Sunday of the month, so the plants are getting fertilized every 4-5 weeks without any elaborate record-keeping system.)\\n\\nThe bottle is a bit small, by the way, but my air plants (I have three) are pretty tiny and so this will last a long time. I didn't use fertilizer when I killed my last set of air plants, so I'm hoping this will make the difference to the little ones I have now. So far, so good!\",\n \"Product: A good clumped. Pitchers are generally a deep pink to bright red colored form of purpurea. Receptacles hold a lot of water to trap bugs. Hardy from zones 7 - 10. Requires acidic soil that is usually moist and very little fertilizer. Partial to full sun. Grows to up to 12 inches tall. You will be receiving 1 plant between 3 & 8 inches in a 3 inch deep pot.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: plant is thriving, despite the fact I don't really know what I'm doing\\n\\nReview: I was into carnivorous plants a decade or two ago but I didn't do so well with them. Recently I started getting little moths in the room where I keep my pet birds (these are the type of moths that live in the *sealed* bags of bird seed) and I thought it would be fun to buy some more carnivorous plants and try again. I got a sundew, a Venus flytrap, and this pitcher plant.\\n\\nThis arrived in excellent shape. It has been over a month now and I haven't managed to kill it. It has well over a dozen pitchers and there are more growing at the center (a few of the older ones are dying off, but it is not so unusual for a plant to shed older leaves and such, and the center of the plant looks quite healthy). None of the pitchers are drooping or wilted.\\n\\nI left this in the container in which it arrived. It is threatening to outgrow that container, though. If you repot, I would not disturb the roots, but instead just remove this from the pot with all the potting material and repot in a potting material of your choice (since I have not gotten to the repotting stage, I haven't investigated the best medium just yet). Don't ever use fertilizer and only water with distilled water (I buy 2.5 gallon dispensers from the supermarket and they last a long time). I did put the pot it came in, in a plastic plant saucer, and once a week I water with distilled water from a squeeze bottle until the bottom of the saucer is full. I keep a cool mist humidifier running near this.\\n\\nI also do have a little LED light shining on this. There are plenty of options available on Amazon. You may have to adjust the position of the light a little bit; what you want is for pitchers with pigment that look like the product image. It will take a few days to be able to tell if your light is at the right position.\\n\\nSince I am keeping this plant inside, every now and then I give it a blood worm (some sort of desiccated larva you can buy to feed betta fish, also available here on Amazon) by dropping one into one of the pitchers. This seems to be sufficient to supply nutrients -- remember, these guys are used to growing in poor soil!\",\n \"Product: Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food Recipes are healthy, natural cat foods for adult cats with excellent sources of protein and essential fatty acids for complete and balanced nutrition. Theyre made with high quality proteins, are free of added growth hormones and steroids and also include other key ingredients like sweet potatoes and carrots, essential vitamins and minerals, and fresh, whole cranberries and blueberries which are added to help maintain proper urinary tract health. In addition, hydration is extremely important to a cat's overall health and since cats do not have a strong thirst drive, Wellness Complete Health wet canned cat food recipes are a delicious and healthy way to increase your cat's moisture intake.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: even my seafood-hating cat ate this\\n\\nReview: This was a random PetSmart purchase that sat around my house for months. Then I ran out of one of my cats' regular food, so I decided to feed her this. She thought it was great. I normally give 1/3 a can at a time. The first serving is at room temperature and the second and third servings are cold (i.e., out of the refrigerator). She ate this pretty quickly each time, and other cats lined up to lick her bowl afterwards. So I'd say cats appreciate the taste. (And mine typically don't even like seafood, so that's saying something.)\\n\\nThe texture was pretty soft (pate-style). It had liquid but not overly much. It didn't have a strong seafood smell, thankfully.\\n\\nThis does contain rice, so it's not a grain-free food. It shouldn't be fed to cats with inflammatory bowel disease. It could be quite nice for cats with urinary tract issues, because it's wet food and because it has cranberry and blueberry in it. Overall, I have found Wellness brand products to be good and to use high-quality ingredients.\\n\\nAs with any new food, you may want to purchase a few individual cans to see how your cat responds, before investing in a whole case. However, if/when you decide to purchase a case, Amazon's price is competitive. It doesn't say on the Amazon page, but a 9 pound shipping weight (which is listed) would be equivalent to 24 cans of food, making this under a dollar and fifty cents a can.\",\n \"Product: Keep your pets wet food fresh, when you have extra to store away. Kitty caps, and pup tops are the ideal solution. Comes in assorted colors. Patented designs fit multiple sizes of round cat, and dog food cans. Tight lock cap seals in odors, and keeps food fresh. Ear tabs allow for easy removal. Pre-loaded clip strip.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: works well for 5.5 ounce cans; use the ears to help remove instead of the middle tab\\n\\nReview: I received one of these in a subscription box. I like it, but it is probably not the best can lid I've ever tried.\\n\\nI have been using this pretty much only on 5.5 ounce cans (from Hill's and Royal Canin). It is great for those. It is difficult to pry this off a can *if* you try to use the center tab. But it is not hard at all if you use one of the ears as a tab instead (at least, not difficult with the 5.5 ounce cans). It is quite a stiff plastic, more so than other similar items. I think some of this stiffness is from the various concentric rings on the underside (basically guides for different types of cans).\\n\\nThis has held up through a few washes in the dishwasher (top rack only, no heat dry). If anything, it is a bit easier to use after washing. (That may just be because I have learned how to use it.) I find that it is still airtight and forms a good seal.\\n\\nPlease note this listing is for ONE can top. These come in various colors (mine is pink). One buck is a pretty good going rate for one of these. The only reason I am not buying more is that my vet gives the Hill's brand can tops that fit three can sizes away for free. ( I don't like those quite as much as this one.)\",\n \"Product: Expect huge fun with Outward Hound Hedgehogz! These classic toys are made with irresistible squeakers, Molar-Tough shapes and soft faux-fur to keep your pup playing longer! Bound to become your best friends favorites, our lovable toys are durably designed with an engaging array of shapes, sounds and textures so you can have huge fun with your furry friend.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: dog loved it and it lasted slightly longer than average for a plush for us\\n\\nReview: I have the gray one in size \\\"large.\\\" My dog, for reference, is a super-destructive 84-pound Rottweiler.\\n\\nOF COURSE my dog thought this was awesome. She loves all plush toys and pretty much any toy I give to her, for that matter. Especially if it is something she can destroy. She did enjoy the noise this made (though *I* got tired of it after awhile...). It was an appropriate size for a large-breed dog, probably a bit too large for a dog 50 pounds or under (but this comes in smaller sizes as well, so there should be something that works for you).\\n\\nThis gets points for its nose not coming off right away because my dog did gnaw on it for awhile. She didn't show much interest in pulling the legs off, which was surprising to me as this is a common strategy for her. However, within about five minutes, she was able to open a hole in its back, at which point she gleefully started pulling out stuffing.\\n\\nSo, this lasted a slightly longer-than-average amount of time for us for a plush, and the dog liked it. If your dog is not as destructive as mine, you'll probably have better luck with this.\",\n \"Product: Strong dogs need strong chew toys! Made with tough, durable nylon, the Power Chew Dura Chew Giant Bone is the long-lasting chew toy you need for your aggressive chewer. This power chew keeps dogs busy, satisfies their natural urge to chew, and encourages positive chewing habits. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar. This chew toy for dogs keeps dogs busy and helps discourage destructive chewing to keep everyone in your household happy!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my dog loves it!\\n\\nReview: I got my dog one of these when she was a (little) puppy. It lasted her maybe 7-8 months, but I recently had to take it away because she had chewed most of the ends away. Since she dearly loved this toy, I bought her another that was just the same, and she also loves the second one. However, now that she is almost full grown (82 pounds and counting), I don't expect this bone to last quite as long as the first one did.\\n\\nIt does not take long for the ends of these to become a bit rough. (Granted, my dog chewed on her new bone nonstop for hours after I gave it to her yesterday afternoon.) The ends do tend to look a little dirty after a couple of hours of active chewing, but I think that's mostly aesthetic. I don't know whether this helps keep her teeth clean or not, as my dog already has good teeth, but it certainly satisfies her need to gnaw on something.\\n\\nPlease note: I can only comment on my own (or rather, my dog's) experience with this toy. It is one of the few toys I feel I can leave her with, unsupervised, but I still check its condition a couple of times a day to make sure everything is OK. She does not show any inclination to swallow it whole and I am carefully monitoring the condition of the ends so that I can take it away when or if I feel it has become unsafe. I have not seen any pieces of this toy (or the previous, identical one) in her stools. In my own experience, these chew toys are safe, but it's also important to carefully monitor your dog with this (or any other) toy and the condition of the toy if you are at all concerned about the safety of the product.\",\n \"Product: The Exo Terra Reptile Feeding Dishes are made from food-grade resin and have a very natural and realistic rock finish on the outside and a smooth non-pitted surface on the inside. Exo Terra's Reptile Feeding Dishes are coated to prevent the development of harmful bacteria and to make it easier to clean. The neutral color of Exo Terra accessories allows for easy integration in desert, tropical or rainforest terrarium environments. The Exo Terra Feeding Dish is sturdy, durable and not easily tipped over by larger reptiles.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: extremely durable; is also easy to clean\\n\\nReview: I've been using this food dish for my Russian tortoise for about ten years now. (Same exact dish!) I have the large one (you can tell from the shape; M, L, and XL each have different contours) and I'm not sure that I'd call it \\\"large,\\\" but I guess the term is relative. At any rate, it is an appropriate size for my Russian tortoise. (Russian tortoises stay pretty small.)\\n\\nThis dish has held up surprisingly well, considering the low price and the length of time I've used it. It sits out under my tortoise's UV lamp, but the surface seems resistant to degradation and breaking down. It's easy to clean the inside (I like that the inside is smooth). All it takes to clean is a little bit of dish soap and some hot water.\\n\\nAll I do is put ripped up greens in this every day, so it's not like it has a difficult task to perform. The color is neutral and works with a variety of cage decors (sometimes I change my tortoise's sand color). Definitely recommended.\",\n \"Product: Exo Terra's Reptile Water Dishes are made from food-grade resin and have a very natural and realistic rock finish on the outside and a smooth non-pitted surface on the inside. The Exo Terra's Reptile Water Dishes are coated to prevent the development of harmful bacteria and are easy to clean. The neutral color of Exo Terra accessories allows for easy integration in desert, tropical or rainforest terrarium environments. Smaller reptiles, amphibians and insects can easily escape out of the Exo Terra's Reptile Water Dish by the 'safety steps' inside the bowl to prevent drowning.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: long-lasting but a little bit difficult to get clean\\n\\nReview: I have had a Russian tortoise for about 10 years. He has two of these (small) water dishes in his enclosure. I've been using the same dishes all that time, and they still look pretty good. They're low enough that he can get his head over the side to drink (Russian tortoises don't get very big). They're heavy so he can't move them or knock them over.\\n\\nI wash these in hot water with a little dish soap periodically and they've held up well for the entire time I've had them. The surfaces still look almost as good as the day I bought them.\\n\\nThe only thing I'd complain about is that these provide a really good surface for algae to grow on, and it doesn't take a long time for that to happen. I can get most of it out by scrubbing with an old toothbrush, but the uneven internal surface makes it a little difficult to remove every last bit.\",\n \"Product: Freezable canvas bone for dogs\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: puppy loved it a little too much (didn't hold together very long)\\n\\nReview: The basic idea behind the Chilly Bone is that you soak it with water, freeze it, and then let your dog have at it. Well, I have a teething Rottweiler puppy. She is an absolutely ferocious chewer. I bought the large Chilly Bone thinking the cool temperature would be soothing to her teeth and gums during this stage of her development.\\n\\nMy puppy absolutely loved it, which is why I didn't knock off more stars. However, in under 10 minutes, she had chewed a hole in one end and pulled out a bunch of stuffing. Since I'm afraid she'll swallow the stuffing, I can't let her have the Chilly Bone any more. It's basically $10 down the drain. For what it's worth, it also didn't absorb nearly as much water as I thought it would, based on the weight after soaking.\\n\\nIf you have a dog who is not a big chewer, the Chilly Bone might still work for you. (My last Rottie generally did not pull the stuffing out of toys, for example. However, I am not sure what might be attractive to a dog about vanilla flavoring...)\",\n \"Product: Plush Baby Duck White w/squeaker for dogs\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: funniest dog toy I've seen for a long time\\n\\nReview: I received this in a dog subscription box and it really is awesome. The name is totally deserved. This thing is huge and size-appropriate for my 90 pound Rottweiler in terms of size. The hands have some velcro type of fasteners on them so you can make the ape hug things, although my dog kept pulling this off herself when I would wrap the arms of the toy around her.\\n\\nMy dog was absolutely thrilled with this. Granted, she is just the sort of dog who is thrilled with most toys. But she doesn't get plushes too often because she's destructive. Anyway, she really had a lot of fun with it.\\n\\nOne of the funniest parts about this toy is the squeaker. It's not a typical squeaker but more of a button-activated playback device. The recording on it is a monkey howl. When my dog figured out how to activate this, it was so funny. The noise was so not what she expected, she would drop the toy and stare at it for a moment. (FYI, the noise seems to terrify cats. Mine would run away every time the dog activated the squeaker.) The dropping and staring happened over and over again. And it never got old.\\n\\nOne star off because this isn't the most durable toy in the world. After maybe 20 minutes with it, my dog was pulling pieces of fur off so I had to take it away. But she never managed to open up a hole in it and pull out stuffing, and she didn't remove any limbs or ears, which *is* worth something.\",\n \"Product: Plush Baby Duck White w/squeaker for dogs\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats like some parts of this and not others\\n\\nReview: This is a somewhat big toy for a cat -- too big to be tossed into the air. However, my cats do like it (especially after I put catnip in the catnip compartment). Please note, this does not come with catnip (or at least mine didn't); you have to supply your own.\\n\\nIn addition to the catnip, my cats like the feathers (not surprising) although they got bored with the feathers quickly (also not surprising -- they're cats, after all). The treat dispenser part works, although my cats are generally not smart enough to figure it out. (Well, one cat knocks the treats out and the others steal from him.) I like the sisal in theory, but in practice, I find that stationary objects like cat trees are better for scratching. A cat attempting to scratch this toy just moves the toy instead of getting a satisfying scratch.\\n\\nSo, there are some good things and some not-so-good things about this toy. If your cat likes big toys, or will use at least two of the four features (catnip, treat dispenser, feathers, sisal), this may be worth it for you.\",\n \"Product: Give your dog something good to chew on. Made with tough, durable nylon, our Dura Chew Chicken Bone Dog Chew Toy satisfies powerful chewers. It provides long-lasting enjoyment, satisfies the natural urge to chew, and encourages positive chewing habits. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar. Different dogs have different chewing styles and strengths, even within the same breed, so be sure to choose the correct chew toy size and strength for your dog.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my dog loves it!\\n\\nReview: I got my dog one of these when she was a (little) puppy. It lasted her maybe 7-8 months, but I recently had to take it away because she had chewed most of the ends away. Since she dearly loved this toy, I bought her another that was just the same, and she also loves the second one. However, now that she is almost full grown (82 pounds and counting), I don't expect this bone to last quite as long as the first one did.\\n\\nIt does not take long for the ends of these to become a bit rough. (Granted, my dog chewed on her new bone nonstop for hours after I gave it to her yesterday afternoon.) The ends do tend to look a little dirty after a couple of hours of active chewing, but I think that's mostly aesthetic. I don't know whether this helps keep her teeth clean or not, as my dog already has good teeth, but it certainly satisfies her need to gnaw on something.\\n\\nPlease note: I can only comment on my own (or rather, my dog's) experience with this toy. It is one of the few toys I feel I can leave her with, unsupervised, but I still check its condition a couple of times a day to make sure everything is OK. She does not show any inclination to swallow it whole and I am carefully monitoring the condition of the ends so that I can take it away when or if I feel it has become unsafe. I have not seen any pieces of this toy (or the previous, identical one) in her stools. In my own experience, these chew toys are safe, but it's also important to carefully monitor your dog with this (or any other) toy and the condition of the toy if you are at all concerned about the safety of the product.\",\n \"Product: Cat Charmer is an interactive cat toy designed to charm and not harm. With a polycarbonate wand and very colorful fabric, Cat Charmer provides excellent aerobic excercize and is a safe interactive toy for all kittens, cats, and kids. Now with bright new candy colored wands and a fun selection of colors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: all four of my cats liked this\\n\\nReview: This was recommended to me by an online friend so I added it to an order since it was inexpensive. I suspected this would be a winner with my crew, and I was right. They LOVE dangly toys on sticks and they LOVE ribbons, and this was basically both. (I find that they don't care so much about what is at the end of the ribbon/string, they mostly like chasing/catching/biting the string.)\\n\\nEven my old guy (he's 12) with eye problems (cataracts and some issues relating to his eye herpes) who can't see very well and who is a stick in the mud from his prednisolone (he has IBD) seems to enjoy this. He has always been a big fan of ribbons, though. He bites and slaps at the fabric part and it just makes me so happy to see him doing something active. My other cats all have their claws and they do hook their claws into the soft part and tug on it a bit.\\n\\nThe other nice thing is, this is on the end of a wand. So, you don't have to have your fingers close to cat claws and teeth. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten injured dragging non-wand toys across the ground when my cats pounce (luckily limited to finger and hand scratches thus far).\\n\\nAnyway, all four of my (older) cats enjoy this and we've been able to play with it multiple times without it getting destroyed.\",\n \"Product: Poop-Off Bird Poop Remover Brush Top, 16-Ounce\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: only cleaner I need for my birds' cages\\n\\nReview: I've had pet birds (right now, zebra finches, parakeets, and cockatiels) for a long time and this is an indispensable product for me. I know that phenolic and antibacterial cleaners (like Lysol) can have fumes that are harmful to a bird's delicate respiratory system. And sometimes plain dish soap and water (and elbow grease) are not enough to get rid of all the bird poop buildup on my cages.\\n\\nI bought one of these brush-top dispensers years ago and just kept refilling it from a gallon refill jug. The brush has lasted me nearly a decade and works to scrub off both the plastic cage bottoms and trays as well as the metal grates at the bottom of my bird cages. I have never had any issues with leaking; I always squeezed the bottle a little to dispense the product, then used the brush to scrub. (There's a little ball inside that you don't want to lose; when the bottle is upside down, I think this is what keeps the product from leaking out.)\\n\\nI won't say this gets rid of 100% of the poo build up (maybe if I scrubbed a little harder), but it definitely works well enough that it is the only cleaner I feel I need to use. I like the enzyme-based formula; it's gentle (even if you get it on your hands) and it doesn't have much of an odor. After cleaning your bird cages with this, all you need to do is rinse with some hot water and dry. You don't really need to use a lot at once, so this bottle should last a long time.\\n\\nNote: My birds eat a seed-based diet (won't touch pellets or most fresh stuff, though I've repeatedly tried). So I am not sure how the droppings might change with a dietary change, and if that would affect the cleaning ability of this product. I have never found the need to use this on any type of fabric, only on plastic and metal.\",\n \"Product: Expect long-lasting fun with Outward Hound firehose fetch toys! made with double-stitched seams and real firehose material, These toys are built to stand up to Tough chewers. Perfect for fetch, tug or toss games, firehose fetch toys will keep your pup having fun!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: not for super active chewers, although my dog liked it a lot\\n\\nReview: This review is for the large toy. I have a 90 pound Rottweiler and she is pretty destructive with toys. An employee at a local pet store suggested this to me so I decided to try it out.\\n\\nFirst of all, my dog really likes it. The large one is size-appropriate for a large-breed dog, as well. Mine did not squeak (despite the item name).\\n\\nHowever, these are not indestructible. My dog has this talent for finding the weakest point in a toy and chewing on it first. In this case, she went after the end flaps. It didn't take her long to start pulling pieces off. (I kept an eye on her and cut off pieces she'd worked loose.)\\n\\nIn the end, whether this will work for you will depend on how destructive your dog is. I'm glad I gave it a try but at this point, I can only give it to my dog when she is closely supervised.\",\n \"Product: Old Mother Hubbard Crunchy Classic Natural Dog Treats are wholesome, all natural dog bone shaped dog biscuits oven-baked to preserve the natural flavors in all the varieties dogs love to catch, chew and eat. These Puppy Treats feature all natural ingredients, natural flavor with the delicious taste of chicken, apples and carrots, as well as a fun dog bone shape and natural crunch your puppy will really enjoy. Dog biscuits, treats and snacks are a great addition to a healthy diet. Snack time is a mutually rewarding show of love and positive reinforcement with your dog. You can feel good about training and rewarding your puppy with Old Mother Hubbard natural dog treats.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my dog likes these; please note they do contain grain\\n\\nReview: This review is for the \\\"P-Nuttier\\\" flavor. I got these in a subscription box; they're a little small for my dog (who weighs 95 pounds), but that just means I can give her more of them! I usually let her have 3 or 4 at a time and that seems to be a fine amount (no digestive issues as a result).\\n\\nOf course I have no idea what these taste like, but the dog seems to like them. She often sniffs tentatively at new treats, like she's not sure if they're food or not. She figured it out pretty quickly with these, so I'm guessing many dogs will find them appetizing.\\n\\nThese do contain wheat and oats, which should not be problems for most dogs. Please read the ingredients list if you are concerned about allergies and your dog. (If you have peanut allergies, you may not want to buy these, because they do contain peanut ingredients and you could come into contact with peanut proteins when handling these dog treats.)\\n\\nMy package says \\\"made in Canada,\\\" which I figure means these are safe to feed to my dog. Plus, she has been eating a handful of these a day for a few days now, and she seems fine. I like that the only preservatives are mixed tocopherols (basically vitamin E).\\n\\nAnyway, these seem to have high-quality ingredients and my dog likes them, so I'm quite happy with them.\",\n \"Product: 100% certified organic and gluten-free wheatgrass\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: easy to grow and my cats love it\\n\\nReview: I got this in a subscription box and I finally got around to trying it out. It's pretty simple -- just poke a few holes in the bottom, open the seed packet and spread it around on the soil mixture (you don't really need to cover the seeds very well), and add water. I did put a saucer under mine, which ended up being a good idea, because the suggested amount of water (1 cup) was a little much. The saucer kept the water from getting everywhere. (Dump/clean the saucer often, though, or it will start to smell very bad.)\\n\\nThe seeds look like wheat and that's probably what they are. I'd say it took maybe a week to see sprouts and now, at two weeks, I have at least 2-3 inch blades of grass (even though I let this sit around for a long time, the seeds remained viable). I just watered every few days when I thought of it.\\n\\nMy cats -- especially the two older males -- like this stuff. One of them just chews and licks it and the other actively tries to eat it. I don't let them have much at once, but they do seem to enjoy it. I don't have a good, sunny window to keep this in, but it seems OK just in ambient room lighting.\\n\\nAnyway, if you're looking for something different to try with your cats (I get joy out of their reactions to pretty much any new item), or if you have one that really has a craving for green stuff and you want something safe, this could be good to try.\",\n \"Product: Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Potato & Duck Dry Formula offers your dog potato and duck dog food without the extra ingredients. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets blend is our special grain-free diet, which provides high quality nutrition for your dog with a limited number of protein and carbohydrate sources. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Potato & Duck Dry Formula offers complete and balanced nutrition for all breeds of adult dogs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: helped my sensitive-stomach puppy\\n\\nReview: I have a 9.5-month-old Rottweiler puppy with a sensitive stomach. She's a little over 70 pounds now, and while she's still got a bit of growing to do, my vet told me I could switch her over to an adult food. He said that the premium puppy foods are sometimes a little too rich and recommend feeding a little more than the dog needs, which may have caused some of her problems. The vet also told me that he didn't feel there was a need to feed puppy food for 2 years (like the food manufacturers recommend) and that he often suggests his clients switch to adult food at around 6 months. (The occasion of this discussion was that my dog had yet another bout of diarrhea and no detectable parasites or bacteria in her stool.)\\n\\nAt any rate, I decided that perhaps I should try a novel protein and grain-free diet since my puppy had had so much bad luck on chicken/grain-based foods. I bought this food at Petco and started mixing it into her food a couple of months ago. She's been eating Natural Balance duck and potato exclusively for about a month now (including the jerky bars and cookies from the same product line), and she's doing really well. She has a good energy level, her coat is shiny and beautiful, her eyes and ears and gums look good, etc. She also has firmer stools now and hasn't had any diarrhea lately. Needless to say, she also enjoys the taste.\\n\\nNote: this is not specifically formulated for large breeds, so you may want to supplement with glucosamine and chondroitin. <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Joint-MAX-TRIPLE-Strength-SOFT-CHEWS-240-CHEWS/dp/B004OA5XNG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Joint MAX TRIPLE Strength SOFT CHEWS (240 CHEWS)</a> is one supplement I've had success with.\\n\\nAdditional note: Based on the negative reviews, there appears to have been a problem with the manufacture of this food in 2010/2011. I have purchased two bags in 2013 and the food from both of them has looked and smelled identical and hasn't caused my sensitive-stomach dog any problems. So I think the problem must have been resolved.\",\n \"Product: Pet Tennis Balls for Dogs, Pet Safe Dog Toys for Exercise and Training, Pack of 4, Green\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: dog liked them, but they didn't last long\\n\\nReview: These didn't last too long with my dog. I got them in a subscription box, my dog loves tennis balls, and they said \\\"pet safe,\\\" so I figured I'd let my dog play with them. (She is an 82 pound Rottweiler and she is very destructive, generally speaking.)\\n\\nShe did like them. They're a little smaller than regular tennis balls, but not so small as to be dangerous. The orange color does make them easy to spot. They bounce as they should. I have not tested the floating because my dog, like many other Rotties, hates water.\\n\\nMy main problem is that it was very easy for my dog to rip the coating off. She hadn't had them for very long before I had to take them away. I actually think the coating on regular old Penn tennis balls stays on for a bit longer!\",\n \"Product: Catnip Toy, Yellow Banana\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats love these things\\n\\nReview: I get these in cat subscription boxes from time to time and they are always loved by multiple cats. (I have five cats. Most are older, although I do have one who is only a year and a half old or so.)\\n\\nThere is something about Yeowww toys in general that my cats really seem to love. I have several older guys (ages 13 and maybe 11?) who lick these toys until they're wet. There is usually biting involved as well. It really makes me happy to see my 13-year-old cat showing any interest in a toy at all because he is nearly blind and he is on pretty heavy medications for his IBD. But he actually bit the most recent Yeowww banana I got. It made me so happy.\\n\\nUnlike the other Yeowww catnip shapes (we also have a pumpkin and an apple), the banana is longer and thinner so the cats can easily toss it around. My kitten (well, the youngest one, anyway) does quite a lot of this. He has managed to put some holes in my most recent one, but overall, I'd say these were quite sturdy and well-made. I think they must have really good catnip in them, and the outer canvas texture seems to be popular with my crew as well.\\n\\nAnyway, these bananas are some of my cats' favorite toys and are enjoyed by both young and old cats. This is a pretty low-risk investment, even if you have an older or less-active cat.\",\n \"Product: Cats go crazy for these bouncing, pouncing colorful springs sure to drive any feline crazy. Fun to bat and bobble.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: one of my cats really enjoyed these; best to take some safety precautions, though\\n\\nReview: I got a 10-pack of the thin, plastic springs (this item) in a cat subscription box. One of my cats, in particular, loves them. They were most popular on a hardwood floor with no rug (my dining room is not furnished yet); this cat batted them around all over the room and had lots of fun. It was great exercise for him.\\n\\nI did not find the ends to be particularly pointy. These weren't terribly springy, they were more just lightweight toys suitable for cats to chase. Mine did not have any smell at all and appeared to be solid-colored plastic. I am pretty sure they would break if a person in shoes stepped on them.\\n\\nPlease note: These do have the potential to be unsafe, but some commonsense precautions will help keep your cats safe. (I do have some foreign-object eaters among my cats, including the one who likes to play with these the most, and also a dog known to eat cat toys, bungee cords, harnesses, and some other improbable items.) First, always supervise your cat when s/he is playing with these. I wouldn't say that about EVERY cat toy, but I would for any toy that has thin parts, including these. Second, check the condition when your cat is done with them. If anything looks damaged, throw it away. You get 10 in this package so it will still last a long time, even if your cat is rough with toys.\",\n \"Product: Feliway reduces or completely stops stress-related behavior including urine marking, vertical scratching, loss of appetite and the reduced desire to play or interact.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: calms my cats and is especially good for one who has health problems\\n\\nReview: I have four cats and they usually get along, but sometimes there are tense moments. Also, one of them is 12 years old and has had issues with his blood pressure as well as pretty constant eye issues for the past several months (don't worry, he has visits every few weeks to a veterinary ophthalmologist), plus he has inflammatory bowel disease. So, I really wanted something to help calm all the cats down as well as to deal specifically with the one who is having health problems. I had had a Feliway diffuser in the past (and still had the diffuser part) so I bought this replacement reservoir.\\n\\nI'm really happy with this. I do think the cats are less stressed. (I actually have one diffuser in the bedroom and one in the master bathroom, since I keep the cats up there when I am gone for the day.) The ill cat is having a very long string of good days. Of course part of that is keeping up with his medications and eye drops, but I think this is also helping. He is more up for exploring the house and he is pretty affectionate and he is not hiding under the bed as much.\\n\\nI find I have better luck with the Ceva product (as opposed to Comfort Zone, which also turns up if you search \\\"Feliway\\\" on Amazon). The pheromones are slightly different and, for whatever reason, the Ceva refills are more calming to my cats.\\n\\nThis only lasts maybe three weeks before it is pretty empty. My diffuser doesn't have any place to do an adjustment to the temperature or heat settings so it runs at a constant rate. But, I am willing to pay for one of these refills every three weeks because of the difference this is making for my cats, especially the older, chronically ill guy. (Actually, my calico cat recently started purring after 7.5 years of me never hearing a single purr from her. I can't positively link this to the diffuser but she does FINALLY seem to be mellowing out. It's possible there is some connection.)\\n\\nAlso, this doesn't have a smell to humans. If yours smells hot or like plastic or something, unplug it right away and get a new plug-in diffuser part (buy a starter kit instead of a refill).\",\n \"Product: Feliway reduces or completely stops stress-related behavior including urine marking, vertical scratching, loss of appetite and the reduced desire to play or interact.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: really noticing a change in my cats' behavior\\n\\nReview: Note: This review will be pretty similar to my review of the diffuser, itself.\\n\\nI bought this from my vet's office after a recent vet visit. My old(ish), cranky, chronically ill cat was obsessed with the diffuser they had in their exam room. Plus, I had heard Feliway was supposed to make cats mellower in a multi-cat household. Since I do have one cat with lower urinary tract disease, which is aggravated by stress, I figured this would be good to try.\\n\\nSo far, I'm quite happy with it. Because you can't smell this (it's cat pheromones), you do have to remember to check the level periodically. It's clear liquid and doesn't leave any stains or marks on anything as it diffuses.\\n\\nI think this is having an effect on my cats, too. They seem to want to spend a lot of time in the bedroom these days (where I have this plugged in). I do think they're calmer, as well -- my black cat seems more affectionate and less skittish. I'll be honest, I've had the same group of cats for a couple of years now, so they're a bit older (the youngest is 6, the oldest 10) and used to each other. None of them was a terrible problem to begin with, and I never had any urine marking issues. So I wouldn't expect to see a huge turnaround in behavior. (However, if I ever get another cat, I'll update this review with Feliway's role in my integration experience.)\\n\\nI am using this in a medium-sized bedroom and one diffuser/refill combination seems sufficient for that amount of space. I have already used a couple of refills and I expect this will be a product I use for a long time to come. I'd say these last, on average, about a month, being plugged in constantly.\",\n \"Product: Nothing ruins a day like finding a pet stain. OUT! Pet Stain and Odor Remover works to turn a bad situation around, completely eliminating all organic stains and odors, including a parade of nasties: urine, vomit, feces, blood, dirt, grass, red wine, juice, coffee, baby formula, and more. Our Pro-Bacteria and enzyme formula attacks stains and odor, and is perfect for carpet, rugs, bedding, tile, concrete, and any other water-safe surface. Safe around pets and children when used as directed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: works well on a variety of stain and odor types\\n\\nReview: I have four cats and an 11-month-old Rottweiler. Having pets means, unfortunately, that sometimes there are messes to clean up. I ran out of the orange variety of this spray and decided to try the regular (i.e., non-orange-scented) kind.\\n\\nI am happy to report that this spray works equally well to clean up pet messes and remove pet odors from carpet. I've used it to clean up cat vomit twice (once fresh and once older and dried up), and it worked very well on both. There's no stain on my carpet from either. Last weekend, my dog had an accident in the house (an 80 pound dog can hold a lot of urine), and after soaking up most of it with paper towels, I used this spray on that, as well. There's no lingering smell from the urine, so I'm happy.\\n\\nThe best way I've found to use this product is to clean up as much of the stain as possible, either by using paper towels to absorb it or by picking the majority of the mess up, if it's a hairball or something similar. Then I spray the area to be cleaned pretty thoroughly. You can tell you've gotten the whole area because this stain remover contains hydrogen peroxide, which bubbles when it contacts the material causing the stain. Depending on what I think the severity of the stain will be, I then let this sit for awhile and wipe it up. (The carpet may take a day or two to dry, afterwards, depending on how much of the spray you have to use.) For the dog urine, I repeated the process a second time, though I doubt it was necessary.\\n\\nI have used this on two types of carpet, one more expensive with a looser weave, and one that was pretty cheap but tightly woven. It worked on both, and both retained their color. (However, you may want to test this in a corner or under a piece of furniture before using it in the middle of the room. Better safe than sorry.) There is a slight smell to it, but it's not terribly noticeable and it doesn't linger. It's not a bad smell, more like a light fragrance.\\n\\nAll-in-all, I'm pleased with this product and would definitely consider buying it again.\",\n \"Product: Petstages ORKA chew toys are made for power chewers, providing your pup with an appropriate chew while helping to reduce boredom and destructive behavior. Reinforced with inner ribs and raised diamond textures, these toys stand up to tough chewing while keeping dogs interested and satisfied. Orka Stick by Petstages is made of durable Orka material, specially designed to stand up to tough chewing. Textured surface massages gums while ropes remove plaque and tartar. Perfect for a game of fetch, toss, or just for your pup to carry around the house!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: dog liked it and didn't destroy it immediately\\n\\nReview: My dog loves rope toys as well as plastic toys (which are what she gets most often because she destroys so many plushes). So this was already a win before I even removed it from the packaging. She dog chewed all up and down the toy until she decided on a favorite spot (near one of the ends). Then she proceeded to gnaw and gnaw and gnaw.\\n\\nThis seemed small for my dog, but she is a Rottweiler and a lot of toys seem small for her at first. I did feel this was large enough to safely give to her (as long as I was paying attention and able to take it away ASAP if need be -- you will have to make that judgment on your own).\\n\\nThe rope part stood up to gnawing for quite some time. So did the plastic, comparatively speaking, though there was some damage to it by the end. No pieces actually got removed during my dog's play session, which is awesome for her since she is very destructive. This did not have a plastic or chemical smell. It appeared to be well made, even for heavy chewers (though I wouldn't let my dog have it if I wasn't there to supervise because I do not think it will last forever). Anyway, this is a nice option when you can't decide between a rope and something else, though it's not particularly good for tugging due to the positioning of the plastic part..\",\n \"Product: KONG AirDog combines two classic dog toys -the tennis ball and the squeaker-to create the perfect fetch toy. The non-abrasive, high-quality material will not wear down dogs' teeth. Find your dog's favorite AirDog shape and let the games begin.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: depends on the dog, may not stand up to active chewers\\n\\nReview: I have tested this squeaker toy on two dogs now. The first was an adult Rottweiler (about 90 lbs.) who didn't care for it all that much. The second is a Rottie puppy (currently in the 50-60 lb. range) who adores it. This review will be based on my experience with the second dog, as she has actually been getting quite a bit of mileage out of it. (And to be fair, the first dog didn't like ANY tennis-ball-type toys or rubber toys.)\\n\\nAs I said, my puppy loves this toy. While she has numerous tennis-ball-type toys, this is one she keeps going back to. She did start pulling the outer coating off of it during the first month I had her, but about 2/3 to 3/4 of the coating is still on there after three months. I do have to monitor this closely so she doesn't swallow the coating, although it appears that at least small pieces \\\"pass through.\\\"\\n\\nOnce my dog got big enough to get her mouth around the end, so she could make the thing squeak on her own, she fell in love with the toy a second time. Unfortunately -- and this may be a result of the removed outer coating -- she did eventually puncture the toy all the way through. It no longer squeaks because of this. She still likes the toy, but the loss of sound has definitely equated to a loss of enthusiasm.\\n\\nFinal assessment: Three stars because the puppy loves it and I've gotten three months of use out of it with her (which is longer than many other toys have lasted with this puppy), but a couple of stars off for durability.\",\n \"Product: Duralactin Feline L-lysine is a highly palatable paste preferred by both healthy cats and cats in isolation for respiratory signs. Give directly or mix with food. Each syringe is notched and marked for individual dose. One syringe will treat one cat twice a day for a week. Usually need 2 to 3 syringes per cat for treatment. Results seen in 4-7 days with peak effects in 10-14 days. Does not suppress immune system.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: easy to dispense, but there's not much in the tube\\n\\nReview: I'm a little bit torn on this product. There are things I definitely like about it, but also some things that I really don't care for. As background, I have five cats. One of them is a new(ish) kitten and he had eye herpes (several of my other cats already had this condition). The stress of having a new guy around was enough to cause flare-ups in some of my other cats. I have to deal with this in different ways, depending on the cat. I have two who will eat treats with lysine in them, and that is the easiest administration method. But one, I am pretty much stuck with either pills or paste. I've gone for the paste (i.e., this product here).\\n\\nWhat I like:\\n\\n*The cat seems to enjoy the flavor of this more than some competing products, so he doesn't fight me quite so much\\n*It is easy to get the correct dose, and to get it out (this can be tricky, meanwhile, with squeeze tubes)\\n\\nWhat I don't like:\\n\\n*There simply aren't very many doses in this syringe; used twice a day, it's not even going to last me a week (I always need to treat much longer than a week to be sure the virus flare-up is under control)\\n\\nAnyway, if you are having a lot of trouble getting lysine into your cat, this could be an option. Just be prepared to buy a handful of these instead of just one. The Viralys gel that you are probably being recommended by Amazon on the product page for this paste has a lot more doses in the bottle (so it's an economical choice in the long run) but can be a pain to dispense since there is no mechanism for consistent dosing. If your cat will eat the Vetri-Lysine treats, that is probably the easiest option of all.\\n\\nPlease note: this does include some flavors including dairy- and chicken-based ingredients, so if your cat has inflammatory bowel disease or a dietary intolerance, do not use this product.\",\n \"Product: For the elimination and prevention of hair balls in cats. Place a small amount on cat's paw and it will lick its paw and become accustomed to the pleasant taste.Directions: Many cats will accept CAT LAX readily. For finicky animals place a small amount on paw - cat will lick his paw and become accustomed to the pleasant taste.For Hair Ball Removal: For average weight adult cats, administer once daily. Squeeze approximately one inch of CAT LAX from tube. For smaller cats, vary amount accordingly.For Prevention of Hair Ball Formation: Administer two or three times per week.Your veterinarian may give specific directions for treatment, in which case follow veterinarian's instructions.Contains: Cod liver oil, caramel, lecithin, malt syrup, white petrolatum, 0.1% sodium benzoate (preservative), vitamin E (dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate equivalent to 0.033 mg/g d-alpha tocopherol) (antioxidant), purified water.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: really works well, vet recommended it, and cat seems to like the taste\\n\\nReview: I spent $350 at the vet's office to figure out that one of my cats had a hairball. Seriously. (It didn't present like a normal hairball, but the thing was SO big I'm not surprised.)\\n\\nAnyway, the vet sold me some of this. Since my vet stocks this regularly, I'm going to assume she stands behind the product. That's one point in its favor. Also good is the fact that my cat seems to like the taste (I just squeeze a bit in his mouth every other day or so, for maintenance, in combination with grooming him). And, when he's on this consistently (2-3 times a week), he passes most of his hairballs all the way through his digestive system instead of throwing up.\\n\\nI don't love that this contains petroleum-derived ingredients, but since it works so well, I'll continue to use it. (It honestly works better than some of the non-petroleum products. Believe me, I've tried most of the ones out there.)\",\n \"Product: The Babble Balls are interactive toys that talk or make exciting animal sounds when touched. The improved technology is so sensitive it can be triggered by a pet breathing on it, or just by the vibration of a pet walking past it. When play is finished, the Babble Ball turns off automatically and waits to be touched again. Pets think it's actually alive! Babble Balls now come in the wisecracking "Talking" series, and the "Animal Sounds" series. Each ball has more than 20 different wisecracks or sounds, like "Rock 'n Roll Big Doggy," "Hey, What are you doing?," "Grrrrr!," "Sweet Puppy," and many more!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: a very funny dog toy\\n\\nReview: This came in a dog subscription box (I forget which one) and I finally got around to giving it to my dog last week. For reference, I have an adult female Rottweiler (about 84 pounds right now but that goes up and down as she has inflammatory bowel disease) and we have the large-sized ball. My dog is very destructive and ruins most toys within minutes but she has played with this twice so far (in itself, remarkable) and she'll be able to have it again because the worst she has managed to do to it is put a few scratches in the outer plastic, and that is after more than 10 minutes of dedicated chewing. (There are very few toys she can't completely destroy, usually in under 90 seconds...) The casing is a very hard plastic so if you notice your dog doing some determined chewing, you probably should take the toy away and inspect it -- this is not really meant to be chewed on, but tell that to a dog...However, on that front, so far, so good for my dog.\\n\\nThe large ball was just right for her; it did fit most of the way into her mouth but there was absolutely no possibility of her swallowing it. Anyway, when you tap this, or sometimes just when it rolls across the floor, it makes animal sounds, including a rooster, a barking dog, a cat, a big cat roaring, and various bird sounds (some of which sound a bit more like special effects in a science fiction movie than birds, but oh well). Now, my dog loves squeaky toys or really any toy that makes noise, but her reaction when she has a toy that doesn't make the expected sort of sound is priceless. She tilts her head and stares at the toy with obvious curiosity. Then she goes after it (usually chasing, since this can be a bit hard to catch due to the smooth sides). It is the funniest thing ever. I couldn't stop laughing while she was knocking it around the living room (it rolls very well, even on carpet).\\n\\nYou can replace the batteries but they are unusual (of course Amazon has them) and may be expensive. If your dog loves the toy that much, I'd suggest just buying a new one when the old one stops working. (Be sure to put the old one in electronics/e-waste recycling rather than throwing it away.) If this needs to be cleaned, wipe it down with a wipe or slightly damp paper towel. Don't immerse it in water or it will probably stop working (since it has batteries and all).\\n\\nThe only thing I regret is that I didn't let my dog have this sooner. She found it interesting and I had a great laugh.\",\n \"Product: The \\\"all inclusive\\\" iCrate, folding metal dog crate by MidWest Homes for Pets includes all of the features you will need to provide a convenient, safe & secure pet home for your best friend. This metal dog crate includes a free divider panel allowing you to adjust the size of the dog crate while your dog is still growing, a plastic leak-proof pan for easy clean-up in the event of an accident, a strong plastic carrying handle for easy portability & rubber \\\"roller\\\" feet on the bottom of the crate to protect your floors inside the home. MidWest iCrates also feature our patented side clips which reinforce the dog crate & reduce possible sharp points ensuring a safe experience for you and your pet. Every iCrate metal dog crate folds down flat for convenient storage. The 48\\\" iCrate (model 1548) measures 48L x 30W x 33H inches & is suitable for \\\"extra-large\\\" dog breeds. **Please note the term extra-large dog is subjective. For the best fit, we advise that you check the measurements of the actual dog crate against your dogs adult weight & measurements. Your dog should be able to comfortably sit upright, lay down & easily turn-around inside the dog crate. When in doubt we suggest you purchase the larger crate option. We at MidWest Homes for Pets understand that your dog is a part of your family & that's why we ensure our dog crates are manufactured with the highest quality control standards creating a safe home for your pet that you can feel confident with. MidWest Homes for Pets stands behind the quality of our products with our MidWest Quality Guarantee 1-Year Manufacturer's Warranty. If you have any questions about our dog crates our customer service department would be glad to help you. MidWest customer service can be contacted at: 1-800-428-8560, available 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: perfect for a full-grown Rottie\\n\\nReview: My dog is on medication that causes her to drink a lot of extra water. While I do my best to take her out frequently, she occasionally has accidents anyway. Her old crate had a crack in the bottom tray so it was useless for keeping urine off the carpet. Plus, I recently moved to a new house and needed to move the dog over separately from her pen. So I needed a functional crate for her. I went with the 48 inch crate (single door) since she is a full grown Rottweiler (about 85-90 pounds). There was a bit of additional room for a water dish and toys, and my dog was able to stand up fully, turn around, etc., but not to go wild in this crate.\\n\\nThis crate was the perfect size. It was easy to put together and it was sturdy once assembled. (It comes with a divider in case you are training a large-breed puppy. So you only have to buy one crate instead of a series of larger and larger ones as your puppy grows. Instead, you can just move the divider. I am not using the divider since I bought this for an adult dog.) The door is easy to open and close and the coating on the bars is smooth and unbroken.\\n\\nIn the end, I was really happy with this. It was exactly what I was looking for. It replaces a much older crate used for something like 12 years and I definitely believe I will be getting at least that length of use out of this one, if not more. Well worth what I paid for it.\",\n \"Product: Refillable catnip toys are by far the allow you to refresh the catnip in your cat's favorite toy for endless fun. The tantalizing refillable Mouse Full Catnip Toy comes with a tube of Pure Bliss organic catnip for multiple refills. Pure Bliss tubes are sealed to keep catnip fresh and have a small opening that makes it easy to refill your toy. Pet links products connect to how people and pets live and play together. Pet links is known for innovative, solution-based and environmentally responsible products that fulfill all of your pet's needs - from play and interaction to rest and privacy and more. A member of the Worldwide family of pet products, Pet links is grounded in the principles of pet safety, customer satisfaction and environmental responsibility. Pet links products are designed to meet or exceed all applicable safety standards. They are then tested against those standards to ensure they meet our strict quality and safety requirements ensuring they're safe for all members of your family. Pet links offers a complete satisfaction guarantee. If a customer is dissatisfied with a Pet links product for any reason, they will replace it or refund it - no questions asked. Since 1990, Worldwide and its brands have been committed to using environmentally responsible materials in its products. Whenever possible, Pet links products are made with recycled, reclaimed, organic and sustainable materials.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: well made but my cats just weren't into it\\n\\nReview: This is somewhat large for a cat toy, and thus heavy. My cats are somewhat disinclined to play with larger, heavier toys (they are harder to toss around, I guess) so they didn't show a ton of interest in this. A younger cat (mine are ages 7, 8, 10, and 11) might also be more playful with it.\\n\\nThis came with a vial of catnip to fill the toy with. The vial was a bit difficult to dispense catnip from (opening was too small) and I had to keep banging it on the table to dislodge more. For what it's worth, the toy, once shut, did keep all the catnip inside -- it didn't end up all over my carpet. So that is nice. (The bottom seals with velcro.)\\n\\nThis appears to be well-made. There were no holes or loose seams. It is possible the catnip in mine was old before I got it, but at any rate, my cats didn't play with this much so it was kind of a bust. (It came in a subscription box. Although I suspected my cats would not be interested in it, I gave it to them -- you never know what'll strike one's interest.)\\n\\nIf your cat is younger or is into larger toys, this may still be worth trying.\",\n \"Product: Is your cat peeing outside the litter box, scratching or hiding? These behaviors are likely caused by fear and anxiety. FELIWAY products are a clinically proven, drug-free solution to help alleviate many of the unwanted behaviors cat owners deal with. FELIWAY CLASSIC provides happy messages to cats and makes them feel calm and comfortable at home. By mimicking the natural feline appeasing messages (pheromones), FELIWAY CLASSIC helps cats happily adjust to pace of modern life. Use FELIWAY CLASSIC Starter Kit if your cat shows signs of discomfort like peeing outside the litter box, hiding, or destructive scratching. Reduces urine spraying in 9/10 cats. Can see results within 7 days. You may also consider if you anticipate changes in your home (moving, renovation, redecorating, arrival of a new pet, arrival of a new family member). Use the diffuser in the room where your cat spends the most time. Plug the diffuser in an electric socket with a minimum clear distance above the diffuser of 5 ft. (The vapor carrying the FELIWAY messages rises in a column of warm air above the diffuser). One diffuser covers up to 700 sq. ft. You may need to use more than one diffuser for a large or multi-floor home. Be sure to replace your diffuser every 6 months and refill vials every 4 weeks. It is recommended to replace the refill every 4 weeks, even if a small amount of liquid remains in the vial (the vial will never be completely empty).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats want to stay in the room where this is plugged in!\\n\\nReview: I bought this from my vet's office after a recent vet visit. My old(ish), cranky, chronically ill cat was obsessed with the diffuser they had in their exam room. Plus, I had heard it was supposed to make cats mellower in a multi-cat household. Since I do have one cat with lower urinary tract disease, which is aggravated by stress, I figured this would be good to try.\\n\\nSo far, I'm quite happy with it. The diffuser is much nicer than the cheapie Airwick diffusers for home fragrance. While I can't smell the Feliway product (it's cat pheromones, after all), I do notice a steady decrease in the liquid level over time. Because you can't smell it, you do have to remember to check the level periodically. It's clear liquid and doesn't leave any stains or marks on anything as it diffuses.\\n\\nI think this is having an effect on my cats, too. They seem to want to spend a lot of time in the bedroom these days (where I have this plugged in). I do think they're calmer, as well -- my black cat seems more affectionate and less skittish. I'll be honest, I've had the same group of cats for a couple of years now, so they're a bit older (the youngest is 6, the oldest 10) and used to each other. None of them was a terrible problem to begin with, and I never had any urine marking issues. So I wouldn't expect to see a huge turnaround in behavior. (However, if I ever get another cat, I'll update this review with Feliway's role in my integration experience.)\\n\\nI am using this in a medium-sized bedroom and it seems sufficient for that amount of space. I have already bought a couple of refills and I expect this will be a product I use for a long time to come.\",\n \"Product: All Natural Vitamin-Fortified Calcium Carbonate Substrate . No artificial colors or color sealers. Excellent substrate for bearded dragons, uromastyx lizards, monitors, geckos (including leopard geckos), and desert tortoises. Increases calcium delivery in all desert species of reptiles. Fortified with vitamins and beta carotene for increased health benefits. Does not contain fat-soluble vitamins which can be toxic in large doses. Ultra fine grade to help prevent against impaction from over consumption.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: works as tortoise substrate although the white color shows EVERYTHING\\n\\nReview: I have a Russian tortoise and this is one of the brands of sand I use to line the bottom of his cage (an extra-long Rubbermaid bin). I use a single 10-pound bag and that covers the bottom of his cage with maybe 1/4\\\" to 1/2\\\" of sand. He seems to have an easy time getting around in it. I've never noticed him eating it, but I like that the fine grade of this stuff is supposed to prevent impaction.\\n\\nI scoop this with a wire mesh scoop periodically to extend its lifetime. That works well to remove solid waste and uneaten food. This does not really clump so spilled water and liquid waste kind of settle in.\\n\\nTwo things I'm not thrilled with, although they'd be problems with any similar product:\\n\\n(1) Cleaning my tortoise's cage stirs up a lot of dust. I don't like breathing it in (and should probably wear a mask to prevent inhalation). That's one problem with the small particle size.\\n(2) Specific to the white color, there's not any other to say this, but every little bit of poop shows up. I tend to buy non-white colors more often (earth tones or, occasionally, bright colors) to hide this a little bit.\\n\\nFor what it's worth, this sticks to the bottom of my tortoise a bit, but I just rinse him off in the sink and pat him dry with a paper towel and he's good to go. (I don't think he enjoys the rinsing too much but it's quick, at least.)\\n\\nNote: this product page is currently only for the white Vita Sand. I would give the darker colors 4 stars.\",\n \"Product: Supports healthy levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, and the liver's first line of defense. Use in dogs and cats to help support and maintain healthy liver function. Ideal for aging pets and for providing additional liver support to pets taking NSAIDs for arthritis management. Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Keep tablets in original blister pack until used. Tablets are sensitive to moisture and extreme heat and should not be split or crumbled.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: has helped my dog's liver enzymes get closer to \\\"normal\\\"\\n\\nReview: My dog has some elevated liver enzymes secondary to another medication she is on. My vet recommended this medication to provide support for her liver. She has been using it for about three weeks and the bloodwork indicates that the liver enzymes are getting better. So at a base level, it works.\\n\\nIt definitely pays to shop around with medications like this! Compared to Zentonil Plus (which also worked) and what my vet charges for this product, you are getting a bargain on Denamarin at Amazon.\\n\\nAnother important consideration for me is that this does not upset my dog's digestive system. She has eosinophilic inflammatory bowel disease and I prefer this form because it does not have any added flavors. Even the slightest bit of flavor can cause her symptoms to flare up (I have to wash the flavoring off her Sentinel prior to giving it to her, for example). So I appreciate that I am able to give this to her every day without giving her symptoms. (I just push it to the back of her throat and she swallows it.)\\n\\n(For what it's worth, I have an approximately three-year-old Rottweiler who is currently 82 pounds and she is getting the \\\"large\\\" tablets.)\",\n \"Product: An incredible meal awaits your cat when you serve her Purina Fancy Feast Sliced Beef Feast in Gravy adult wet cat food. You love your cat enough to make sure she gets the most out of life, and Purina Fancy Feast definitely delivers. Tender, sliced cuts of beef immersed in a savory gravy sauce are sure to satisfy her discerning taste buds. Each serving contains 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats so she has the health she needs to jump right into whatever adventure her heart desires. This wet cat food takes gourmet feline dining to a new level, because Purina has spent 80 years as a leading innovator in the pet food industry. We're committed to making food nutritious and delicious, full of the same love and attention to detail that you give your pet. Your cat is sure to appreciate this level of quality when she devours this sliced beef feast. Help satisfy your furry feline's cravings with a taste she craves when serving Purina Fancy Feast wet cat food.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: fancy feast sliced beef feast\\n\\nReview: I'm trying to get one of my cats to gain a little weight. She normally eats a (more expensive) premium food most of the time, and I'm not planning on changing that, but I wanted to give her an extra meal each day. This particular cat is highly partial to beef (doesn't care for chicken or even some kinds of fish) so I bought a couple of cans of this food to try it out.\\n\\nFirst, the cat's assessment -- she practically inhales the food. I feed her a half a can of this as a treat each day and it doesn't take her very long to eat, at all. She gets excited when she sees me pick up cans off the counter.\\n\\nNext, the texture. To me, this food looks like chunks of some cat food \\\"composite\\\" and doesn't really look like \\\"sliced\\\" beef. The pieces are a little bigger than other cat foods with this texture. This food would not be appropriate for cats with dental problems, I think, but should work if your cat's teeth are healthy.\\n\\nAs for ingredients, this is definitely NOT a natural or premium food (which is why I'm not feeding it as a main food). It does include wheat gluten, corn starch, soy flour, soy protein, and a few other plant-derived ingredients that probably don't belong in great quantities in a cat's diet. There's also liver in this, pretty high on the ingredients list, so if your cat doesn't seem to like liver, you may want to stay away. (Mine isn't that picky, as long as it's beef.)\\n\\nThis food should certainly never be fed to cats with inflammatory bowel disease. However, for an otherwise healthy cat, this is a good treat or supplement. Since my cat likes it so much, I'll give it a pretty high rating.\",\n \"Product: Satisfy your cat's desire for delicious poultry flavor with Purina Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Tuscany wet cat food. Accents of long grain rice and garden greens give this gourmet wet cat food an appealing look to get your curious cat interested at feeding time, and the real white meat chicken delivers the taste she craves. A savory gravy balances out this Fancy Feast Medleys Chicken Tuscany recipe, giving her a mouthwatering meal she's bound to love. Small, tender bites deliver a texture cats adore in a size she can manage. The essential vitamins and minerals in each serving help to support her overall health and wellness, so you can feel good about serving this delectable canned cat food to your beloved cat. Her well-being is important to you, and feeding her Purina Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Tuscany is an easy way to show her just how much you care.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats love it\\n\\nReview: I've been trying to switch my cats over to wet food and one of them has been particularly resistant. He likes Fussie Cat Chicken and Sweet Potato, but he doesn't always eat all that he should, based on his body weight. So I decided to try a few additional kinds of cat food to see if I couldn't tempt him to finish a can of something else.\\n\\nHe's shown a real preference for turkey in the past (though his favorite turkey food was discontinued!), so I decided to try again with Fancy Feast Tender Turkey Tuscany. I took a chance and bought an entire case. This particular cat is normally very skittish (his mother was feral) and if I even come in the room while he's eating, he'll go run and hide under the bed. But with this food, he stays there and eats it. So he must really like it. He also almost completely cleans his plate and my other cats eagerly go lick up whatever tiny bits are left.\\n\\nHere are the ingredients for the Tender Turkey Tuscany flavor from the Fancy Feast website:\\n\\nPoultry broth, turkey, liver, wheat gluten, long grain rice, spinach, meat by-products, corn starch-modified, artificial and natural flavors, salt, calcium phosphate, soy protein concentrate, added color, potassium chloride, taurine, magnesium sulfate, choline chloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin e supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin k activity), copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B-12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, vitamin D-3 supplement, potassium iodide\\n\\nSo this does contain gluten and soy and would not be suitable for a cat with inflammatory bowel disease. However, my three healthy (non-IBD) cats love it and it's inexpensive and readily available. I'll definitely be adding this to the rotation.\",\n \"Product: Elevate your favorite feline's dining experience when you serve her Purina Fancy Feast Marinated Morsels Chicken Feast in Gravy adult wet cat food. This is a truly fancy feast that is full of tender slices of chicken marinated in a rich, tasty sauce. Your cat can taste the Purina difference, because real poultry broth and chicken are the first ingredients. She can appreciate the delectable flavors, and you can appreciate the blend of nutrition and taste that your cat gets in each serving. With 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats, this gourmet wet cat food ensures that your cat is getting exactly the right vitamins and proteins she needs to have a long and full life of fun with you. There are no limits to the adventures she can choose, because Purina delivers the nutrients she needs to fuel the energy for all of them. Order this Purina Fancy Feast wet cat food from Amazon.com today, and show your feline just how special she is to you.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cats like it, ingredients are not wonderful\\n\\nReview: This is a pretty popular food with my cats. I've tried a lot of different varieties of Fancy Feast and Sheba lately, and this one disappeared more quickly than some of the others.\\n\\nI fed this to one cat who has been reluctant to eat wet food in the past. He finished the entire can pretty quickly the first time I gave it to him, so I gave him a second can the next day and he ate that one quickly, too. (You know how cats are: one day they're terribly excited about something and the next day they turn their noses up at it. So it was important to me to give it to this cat at least twice. If he ate it both times -- which he did -- that was my marker for success.) Other cats lined up to sniff and lick his food dish, so I guess the aroma and/or flavor appealed to them, as well.\\n\\nThe entire ingredients list is on the main product page. I'm not thrilled with all of the ingredients; I'll paste the first few here for discussion purposes (the rest of the components of this food consist of vitamin and mineral supplements):\\n\\nMeat Broth, Meat By-products, Beef, Wheat Gluten, Fish, Corn Starch-modified, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Soy Flour, Salt, Caramel Color\\n\\nEven though this is a beef-based food, supposedly, beef is only the third ingredient. This food also includes wheat, corn, and soy ingredients (which cats don't need, and which may not be good for some cats), as well as artificial colors.\\n\\nIn the end, cats really do like this. However, I'm not thrilled about the ingredients. As an occasional treat or food supplement for a HEALTHY cat, this would be fine. I'd be hesitant to feed it as a cat's entire diet. And, for what it's worth, if your cat has inflammatory bowel disease, this food would not be suitable. 3.5 stars.\",\n \"Product: Multipet's Flea dog toy with squeaker designed to allow your dog to tug and enjoy this fun and playful plush toy.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: did not last super long although my dog thought it was awesome\\n\\nReview: I will start by saying that my current dog (an 84-pound Rottweiler) is the most destructive dog I have ever had when it comes to toys. So I did not have high expectations with respect to this toy. Which is good, because it did not last long. (This came in a dog subscription box.)\\n\\nThe only thing that saved me from having to pull stuffing out of my dog's mouth was that she couldn't decide which part she wanted to destroy first: the eyeball, which was apparently awesome for gnawing, the legs, which were easy to pull off, or the fur coating, which is what eventually led me to take this away from her (she pulled some off and started eating it). I do have to admit it was fun watching her work. (She was carefully supervised the whole time -- something I would recommend with any dog receiving a new toy.)\\n\\nNow, this toy is pretty cute (the back says \\\"bite me\\\") and my dog did LOVE it. I have the cat version and that one has held up much better (my cats are older and not very destructive). and other Multipet plush toys have done better for us. This one just wasn't very durable. If your dog is less destructive, it still may work (my last Rottie kept the same plush toys for YEARS).\",\n \"Product: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Feline Probiotic Supplement contains a safe and effective strain of beneficial bacteria proven to promote normal intestinal microflora. FortiFlora is the #1 probiotic brand prescribed by veterinarians. The science behind our therapeutic products represents a collaboration between Purina nutritionists, researchers and veterinarians. Millward Brown Veterinary Tracker, 2016\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: worth a try, but not suitable for every cat\\n\\nReview: I have used this product on two cats. It was great for one of them and not so good for the other. I'll describe both their experiences and hopefully that will help you decide whether this product might be right for your own cat.\\n\\nMonkey: He is a lovely long-haired kitty with a tendency to get soft stools. I notice, because it gets stuck in his fur. There's not always an obvious cause for his problem -- he's resistant to eating anything other than his own food, and he never goes outside. But about a week of FortiFlora clears the problem right up, each and every time. There's been a time or two he's been on antibiotics, and FortiFlora has helped keep his stools firm then, too. He loves the taste and gets very excited whenever I get out one of the little packets. So it's been great for him.\\n\\nMouse: She was a sweet little short-haired gray tabby with a bad case of inflammatory bowel disease. We used this product for awhile, but it did not help. In fact, it may have made the problem worse. FortiFlora contains something called \\\"animal digest\\\" that is designed to enhance palatability (and seems to, in Monkey's case), but which is likely to contain some animal proteins that aggravate IBD symptoms. (If you are not familiar with feline IBD, many common proteins may trigger symptoms -- including, in some cases, chicken, pork, beef, turkey, etc. in addition to grains.)\\n\\nIn conclusion, if you have an otherwise healthy cat on a course of antibiotics or with occasional soft stools, you should definitely try FortiFlora. But if you have a cat with a food allergy or with IBD, you should probably not use it. Also, don't open the packets around your own food (the powder is light and can puff up a bit when you pour it out) and wash your hands after dispensing -- the bacterial strain is an Enterococcus one that you don't necessarily want in your own system.\",\n \"Product: Mini 10-Inch Cottonblend Color 3 Knot Rope Tug. Made from premium cottonblend rope fibers. Rope fibers floss dogs' teeth as they chew and play. A tug shape great for creating interactive play. Great for petite dogs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: best when used for tugging (don't leave a dog alone to chew on it)\\n\\nReview: I have this in large although I probably could've gone with extra large (my dog is an approximately 83-pound Rottweiler). This is long enough to get a good tugging match going without your dog's jaws being right up against your hand (unless your dog is like mine and wants to chew on the end that is *in* your hand).\\n\\nAfter a couple of play sessions with my dog, this doesn't really have any loose threads. That already makes it better than the ones I can get at the local big box pet store, which my dog tends to shred quickly. I don't think this will last forever, but it is nice for my dog to have a toy she can play with more than once before I have to throw it away.\\n\\nThe rope I got seems strong. My dog will grab one end in her teeth and pull. She has incredible jaw strength -- she can pull me out of a chair if I am holding on to the other end and don't let go! So far this does not show any signs of coming apart (if it does very soon after I post the review, I'll update).\\n\\nI would only allow a dog to have this under supervision. It is more of a tugging/interactive toy than a chew toy. Overall I am very happy with it when using it as intended.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy stress-free walks in the park with your dog, and help train your pet at the same time. The Gentle Leader Head collar is designed to let you communicate with your dog in a way he instinctively understands. It removes his natural tendency to pull on the leash by placing gentle pressure on calming points and eliminating uncomfortable pressure on the throat. No pain is involved, and the humane Gentle Leader never chokes. By reducing your pet's desire to pull away, the head collar helps combat lunging, jumping, excessive barking, and aggression. The supple nylon straps apply pressure at the back of the neck and front of the throat. It is not a muzzle, and your pet can use his mouth to eat, drink, bark, fetch, and pant. Ideal for dogs up to 5-pound and 8 weeks or older. Can be worn up to 18 hours per day. Includes easy-to-follow fitting instructions, abbreviated training guide, and comprehensive training DVD. Also converts to a regular collar after your dog's training is complete.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: has worked for two dogs with two different personalities\\n\\nReview: I originally bought the red Gentle Leader for my first Rottweiler, Jet (90 lbs). The use of these sorts of lead collars had been recommended to me by a trainer we'd hired to help with some of Jet's behavioral problems. As various lead collars wore out over the years (they don't last forever, but you usually get a couple of years of good use out of them), I tried other brands, but I prefer the Gentle Leader to the other brands.\\n\\nFirst of all, Gentle Leader prints dog weights on the packages instead of dog breeds (Halti makes a similar product but prints dog breeds on the package). This is important if you want to train a puppy, or if your dog is at the large end or the small end of the weight range for his or her breed, or if you have a mixed breed that doesn't fit any of the categories. You just couldn't use the same lead collar on a Rottie pup as you would on an adult Rottie. No amount of adjusting would make it fit.\\n\\nSecond, and perhaps this is just from long years of use of this particular brand, but I find the Gentle Leader easier to put on my dog than the other brands. What I do is take the nose loop and put it over my wrist, then snap the collar part around the dog's neck, then slide the nose loop over my dog's nose. (There is a DVD with training tips included in each package, though I've never actually bothered to watch it, since the trainer I hired back in the day showed me how to use the collar.)\\n\\nAt any rate, when Jet died last December, I tucked her Gentle Leader (this product I'm reviewing) away in a drawer. I got a new Rottweiler puppy in January, Nyx, and started her with a medium Gentle Leader. When she hit 60 pounds, the minimum weight for this product, I moved her up to this large one. Nyx's neck is going to be a bit bigger around than Jet's was, when Nyx is fully grown, but there is still plenty of room to adjust the neck part, and I think I'll be able to keep using this collar until it wears out.\\n\\nNyx and Jet had/have two very different personalities, but this has helped with both. Jet always wanted to run out in front of cars, so I'd root my feet into the ground and hold on to the leash, and this would keep her from darting out into traffic. (With such a big dog, it's best to use a thick nylon leash, and NOT a retractable one. A retractable leash would pretty much negate the effect of a Gentle Leader, anyway.) Nyx wants to play with much smaller dogs -- I don't think she realizes she's over 70 pounds at this point -- and I can use the Gentle Leader to keep her from jumping on them.\\n\\nIt is difficult for me to walk an adult Rottweiler (or a large, headstrong puppy) using only a leash attached to a regular neck collar. The Gentle Leader, however, reduces the amount of upper body strength required to retain a decent amount of control over the dog. (I am a woman with a fairly small frame.) I like the red color because it contrasts with the black Rottie snout fur, so I can easily see if the collar is on properly.\\n\\nThis type of collar is going to work best for dogs that don't have really flat faces, I think. Should be fine on your average Lab or Golden, definitely works on Rotties, etc. But if you have a bulldog or certain types of mastiffs or another similar breed, you may want to see if you can borrow a Gentle Leader or try one out before you buy.\",\n \"Product: Is your cat peeing outside the litter box, scratching or hiding? These behaviors are likely caused by fear and anxiety. FELIWAY products are a clinically proven, drug-free solution to help alleviate many of the unwanted behaviors cat owners deal with. FELIWAY CLASSIC provides happy messages to cats and makes them feel calm and comfortable at home. By mimicking the natural feline appeasing messages (pheromones), FELIWAY CLASSIC helps cats happily adjust to pace of modern life. Use FELIWAY CLASSIC Starter Kit if your cat shows signs of discomfort like peeing outside the litter box, hiding, or destructive scratching. Reduces urine spraying in 9/10 cats. Can see results within 7 days. You may also consider if you anticipate changes in your home (moving, renovation, redecorating, arrival of a new pet, arrival of a new family member). Use the diffuser in the room where your cat spends the most time. Plug the diffuser in an electric socket with a minimum clear distance above the diffuser of 5 ft. (The vapor carrying the FELIWAY messages rises in a column of warm air above the diffuser). One diffuser covers up to 700 sq. ft. You may need to use more than one diffuser for a large or multi-floor home. Be sure to replace your diffuser every 6 months and refill vials every 4 weeks. It is recommended to replace the refill every 4 weeks, even if a small amount of liquid remains in the vial (the vial will never be completely empty).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats want to stay in the room where this is plugged in!\\n\\nReview: I bought this from my vet's office after a recent vet visit. My old(ish), cranky, chronically ill cat was obsessed with the diffuser they had in their exam room. Plus, I had heard it was supposed to make cats mellower in a multi-cat household. Since I do have one cat with lower urinary tract disease, which is aggravated by stress, I figured this would be good to try.\\n\\nSo far, I'm quite happy with it. The diffuser is much nicer than the cheapie Airwick diffusers for home fragrance. While I can't smell the Feliway product (it's cat pheromones, after all), I do notice a steady decrease in the liquid level over time. Because you can't smell it, you do have to remember to check the level periodically. It's clear liquid and doesn't leave any stains or marks on anything as it diffuses.\\n\\nI think this is having an effect on my cats, too. They seem to want to spend a lot of time in the bedroom these days (where I have this plugged in). I do think they're calmer, as well -- my black cat seems more affectionate and less skittish. I'll be honest, I've had the same group of cats for a couple of years now, so they're a bit older (the youngest is 6, the oldest 10) and used to each other. None of them was a terrible problem to begin with, and I never had any urine marking issues. So I wouldn't expect to see a huge turnaround in behavior. (However, if I ever get another cat, I'll update this review with Feliway's role in my integration experience.)\\n\\nI am using this in a medium-sized bedroom and it seems sufficient for that amount of space. I have already bought a couple of refills and I expect this will be a product I use for a long time to come.\",\n \"Product: All Natural Vitamin-Fortified Calcium Carbonate Substrate . No artificial colors or color sealers. Excellent substrate for bearded dragons, uromastyx lizards, monitors, geckos (including leopard geckos), and desert tortoises. Increases calcium delivery in all desert species of reptiles. Fortified with vitamins and beta carotene for increased health benefits. Does not contain fat-soluble vitamins which can be toxic in large doses. Ultra fine grade to help prevent against impaction from over consumption.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: works as tortoise substrate although the white color shows EVERYTHING\\n\\nReview: I have a Russian tortoise and this is one of the brands of sand I use to line the bottom of his cage (an extra-long Rubbermaid bin). I use a single 10-pound bag and that covers the bottom of his cage with maybe 1/4\\\" to 1/2\\\" of sand. He seems to have an easy time getting around in it. I've never noticed him eating it, but I like that the fine grade of this stuff is supposed to prevent impaction.\\n\\nI scoop this with a wire mesh scoop periodically to extend its lifetime. That works well to remove solid waste and uneaten food. This does not really clump so spilled water and liquid waste kind of settle in.\\n\\nTwo things I'm not thrilled with, although they'd be problems with any similar product:\\n\\n(1) Cleaning my tortoise's cage stirs up a lot of dust. I don't like breathing it in (and should probably wear a mask to prevent inhalation). That's one problem with the small particle size.\\n(2) Specific to the white color, there's not any other to say this, but every little bit of poop shows up. I tend to buy non-white colors more often (earth tones or, occasionally, bright colors) to hide this a little bit.\\n\\nFor what it's worth, this sticks to the bottom of my tortoise a bit, but I just rinse him off in the sink and pat him dry with a paper towel and he's good to go. (I don't think he enjoys the rinsing too much but it's quick, at least.)\\n\\nNote: this product page is currently only for the white Vita Sand. I would give the darker colors 4 stars.\",\n \"Product: Supports healthy levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, and the liver's first line of defense. Use in dogs and cats to help support and maintain healthy liver function. Ideal for aging pets and for providing additional liver support to pets taking NSAIDs for arthritis management. Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Keep tablets in original blister pack until used. Tablets are sensitive to moisture and extreme heat and should not be split or crumbled.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: has helped my dog's liver enzymes get closer to \\\"normal\\\"\\n\\nReview: My dog has some elevated liver enzymes secondary to another medication she is on. My vet recommended this medication to provide support for her liver. She has been using it for about three weeks and the bloodwork indicates that the liver enzymes are getting better. So at a base level, it works.\\n\\nIt definitely pays to shop around with medications like this! Compared to Zentonil Plus (which also worked) and what my vet charges for this product, you are getting a bargain on Denamarin at Amazon.\\n\\nAnother important consideration for me is that this does not upset my dog's digestive system. She has eosinophilic inflammatory bowel disease and I prefer this form because it does not have any added flavors. Even the slightest bit of flavor can cause her symptoms to flare up (I have to wash the flavoring off her Sentinel prior to giving it to her, for example). So I appreciate that I am able to give this to her every day without giving her symptoms. (I just push it to the back of her throat and she swallows it.)\\n\\n(For what it's worth, I have an approximately three-year-old Rottweiler who is currently 82 pounds and she is getting the \\\"large\\\" tablets.)\",\n \"Product: An incredible meal awaits your cat when you serve her Purina Fancy Feast Sliced Beef Feast in Gravy adult wet cat food. You love your cat enough to make sure she gets the most out of life, and Purina Fancy Feast definitely delivers. Tender, sliced cuts of beef immersed in a savory gravy sauce are sure to satisfy her discerning taste buds. Each serving contains 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats so she has the health she needs to jump right into whatever adventure her heart desires. This wet cat food takes gourmet feline dining to a new level, because Purina has spent 80 years as a leading innovator in the pet food industry. We're committed to making food nutritious and delicious, full of the same love and attention to detail that you give your pet. Your cat is sure to appreciate this level of quality when she devours this sliced beef feast. Help satisfy your furry feline's cravings with a taste she craves when serving Purina Fancy Feast wet cat food.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: fancy feast sliced beef feast\\n\\nReview: I'm trying to get one of my cats to gain a little weight. She normally eats a (more expensive) premium food most of the time, and I'm not planning on changing that, but I wanted to give her an extra meal each day. This particular cat is highly partial to beef (doesn't care for chicken or even some kinds of fish) so I bought a couple of cans of this food to try it out.\\n\\nFirst, the cat's assessment -- she practically inhales the food. I feed her a half a can of this as a treat each day and it doesn't take her very long to eat, at all. She gets excited when she sees me pick up cans off the counter.\\n\\nNext, the texture. To me, this food looks like chunks of some cat food \\\"composite\\\" and doesn't really look like \\\"sliced\\\" beef. The pieces are a little bigger than other cat foods with this texture. This food would not be appropriate for cats with dental problems, I think, but should work if your cat's teeth are healthy.\\n\\nAs for ingredients, this is definitely NOT a natural or premium food (which is why I'm not feeding it as a main food). It does include wheat gluten, corn starch, soy flour, soy protein, and a few other plant-derived ingredients that probably don't belong in great quantities in a cat's diet. There's also liver in this, pretty high on the ingredients list, so if your cat doesn't seem to like liver, you may want to stay away. (Mine isn't that picky, as long as it's beef.)\\n\\nThis food should certainly never be fed to cats with inflammatory bowel disease. However, for an otherwise healthy cat, this is a good treat or supplement. Since my cat likes it so much, I'll give it a pretty high rating.\",\n \"Product: Satisfy your cat's desire for delicious poultry flavor with Purina Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Tuscany wet cat food. Accents of long grain rice and garden greens give this gourmet wet cat food an appealing look to get your curious cat interested at feeding time, and the real white meat chicken delivers the taste she craves. A savory gravy balances out this Fancy Feast Medleys Chicken Tuscany recipe, giving her a mouthwatering meal she's bound to love. Small, tender bites deliver a texture cats adore in a size she can manage. The essential vitamins and minerals in each serving help to support her overall health and wellness, so you can feel good about serving this delectable canned cat food to your beloved cat. Her well-being is important to you, and feeding her Purina Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Tuscany is an easy way to show her just how much you care.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats love it\\n\\nReview: I've been trying to switch my cats over to wet food and one of them has been particularly resistant. He likes Fussie Cat Chicken and Sweet Potato, but he doesn't always eat all that he should, based on his body weight. So I decided to try a few additional kinds of cat food to see if I couldn't tempt him to finish a can of something else.\\n\\nHe's shown a real preference for turkey in the past (though his favorite turkey food was discontinued!), so I decided to try again with Fancy Feast Tender Turkey Tuscany. I took a chance and bought an entire case. This particular cat is normally very skittish (his mother was feral) and if I even come in the room while he's eating, he'll go run and hide under the bed. But with this food, he stays there and eats it. So he must really like it. He also almost completely cleans his plate and my other cats eagerly go lick up whatever tiny bits are left.\\n\\nHere are the ingredients for the Tender Turkey Tuscany flavor from the Fancy Feast website:\\n\\nPoultry broth, turkey, liver, wheat gluten, long grain rice, spinach, meat by-products, corn starch-modified, artificial and natural flavors, salt, calcium phosphate, soy protein concentrate, added color, potassium chloride, taurine, magnesium sulfate, choline chloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin e supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin k activity), copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B-12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, vitamin D-3 supplement, potassium iodide\\n\\nSo this does contain gluten and soy and would not be suitable for a cat with inflammatory bowel disease. However, my three healthy (non-IBD) cats love it and it's inexpensive and readily available. I'll definitely be adding this to the rotation.\",\n \"Product: Elevate your favorite feline's dining experience when you serve her Purina Fancy Feast Marinated Morsels Chicken Feast in Gravy adult wet cat food. This is a truly fancy feast that is full of tender slices of chicken marinated in a rich, tasty sauce. Your cat can taste the Purina difference, because real poultry broth and chicken are the first ingredients. She can appreciate the delectable flavors, and you can appreciate the blend of nutrition and taste that your cat gets in each serving. With 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats, this gourmet wet cat food ensures that your cat is getting exactly the right vitamins and proteins she needs to have a long and full life of fun with you. There are no limits to the adventures she can choose, because Purina delivers the nutrients she needs to fuel the energy for all of them. Order this Purina Fancy Feast wet cat food from Amazon.com today, and show your feline just how special she is to you.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cats like it, ingredients are not wonderful\\n\\nReview: This is a pretty popular food with my cats. I've tried a lot of different varieties of Fancy Feast and Sheba lately, and this one disappeared more quickly than some of the others.\\n\\nI fed this to one cat who has been reluctant to eat wet food in the past. He finished the entire can pretty quickly the first time I gave it to him, so I gave him a second can the next day and he ate that one quickly, too. (You know how cats are: one day they're terribly excited about something and the next day they turn their noses up at it. So it was important to me to give it to this cat at least twice. If he ate it both times -- which he did -- that was my marker for success.) Other cats lined up to sniff and lick his food dish, so I guess the aroma and/or flavor appealed to them, as well.\\n\\nThe entire ingredients list is on the main product page. I'm not thrilled with all of the ingredients; I'll paste the first few here for discussion purposes (the rest of the components of this food consist of vitamin and mineral supplements):\\n\\nMeat Broth, Meat By-products, Beef, Wheat Gluten, Fish, Corn Starch-modified, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Soy Flour, Salt, Caramel Color\\n\\nEven though this is a beef-based food, supposedly, beef is only the third ingredient. This food also includes wheat, corn, and soy ingredients (which cats don't need, and which may not be good for some cats), as well as artificial colors.\\n\\nIn the end, cats really do like this. However, I'm not thrilled about the ingredients. As an occasional treat or food supplement for a HEALTHY cat, this would be fine. I'd be hesitant to feed it as a cat's entire diet. And, for what it's worth, if your cat has inflammatory bowel disease, this food would not be suitable. 3.5 stars.\",\n \"Product: Multipet's Flea dog toy with squeaker designed to allow your dog to tug and enjoy this fun and playful plush toy.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: did not last super long although my dog thought it was awesome\\n\\nReview: I will start by saying that my current dog (an 84-pound Rottweiler) is the most destructive dog I have ever had when it comes to toys. So I did not have high expectations with respect to this toy. Which is good, because it did not last long. (This came in a dog subscription box.)\\n\\nThe only thing that saved me from having to pull stuffing out of my dog's mouth was that she couldn't decide which part she wanted to destroy first: the eyeball, which was apparently awesome for gnawing, the legs, which were easy to pull off, or the fur coating, which is what eventually led me to take this away from her (she pulled some off and started eating it). I do have to admit it was fun watching her work. (She was carefully supervised the whole time -- something I would recommend with any dog receiving a new toy.)\\n\\nNow, this toy is pretty cute (the back says \\\"bite me\\\") and my dog did LOVE it. I have the cat version and that one has held up much better (my cats are older and not very destructive). and other Multipet plush toys have done better for us. This one just wasn't very durable. If your dog is less destructive, it still may work (my last Rottie kept the same plush toys for YEARS).\",\n \"Product: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Feline Probiotic Supplement contains a safe and effective strain of beneficial bacteria proven to promote normal intestinal microflora. FortiFlora is the #1 probiotic brand prescribed by veterinarians. The science behind our therapeutic products represents a collaboration between Purina nutritionists, researchers and veterinarians. Millward Brown Veterinary Tracker, 2016\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: worth a try, but not suitable for every cat\\n\\nReview: I have used this product on two cats. It was great for one of them and not so good for the other. I'll describe both their experiences and hopefully that will help you decide whether this product might be right for your own cat.\\n\\nMonkey: He is a lovely long-haired kitty with a tendency to get soft stools. I notice, because it gets stuck in his fur. There's not always an obvious cause for his problem -- he's resistant to eating anything other than his own food, and he never goes outside. But about a week of FortiFlora clears the problem right up, each and every time. There's been a time or two he's been on antibiotics, and FortiFlora has helped keep his stools firm then, too. He loves the taste and gets very excited whenever I get out one of the little packets. So it's been great for him.\\n\\nMouse: She was a sweet little short-haired gray tabby with a bad case of inflammatory bowel disease. We used this product for awhile, but it did not help. In fact, it may have made the problem worse. FortiFlora contains something called \\\"animal digest\\\" that is designed to enhance palatability (and seems to, in Monkey's case), but which is likely to contain some animal proteins that aggravate IBD symptoms. (If you are not familiar with feline IBD, many common proteins may trigger symptoms -- including, in some cases, chicken, pork, beef, turkey, etc. in addition to grains.)\\n\\nIn conclusion, if you have an otherwise healthy cat on a course of antibiotics or with occasional soft stools, you should definitely try FortiFlora. But if you have a cat with a food allergy or with IBD, you should probably not use it. Also, don't open the packets around your own food (the powder is light and can puff up a bit when you pour it out) and wash your hands after dispensing -- the bacterial strain is an Enterococcus one that you don't necessarily want in your own system.\",\n \"Product: Mini 10-Inch Cottonblend Color 3 Knot Rope Tug. Made from premium cottonblend rope fibers. Rope fibers floss dogs' teeth as they chew and play. A tug shape great for creating interactive play. Great for petite dogs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: best when used for tugging (don't leave a dog alone to chew on it)\\n\\nReview: I have this in large although I probably could've gone with extra large (my dog is an approximately 83-pound Rottweiler). This is long enough to get a good tugging match going without your dog's jaws being right up against your hand (unless your dog is like mine and wants to chew on the end that is *in* your hand).\\n\\nAfter a couple of play sessions with my dog, this doesn't really have any loose threads. That already makes it better than the ones I can get at the local big box pet store, which my dog tends to shred quickly. I don't think this will last forever, but it is nice for my dog to have a toy she can play with more than once before I have to throw it away.\\n\\nThe rope I got seems strong. My dog will grab one end in her teeth and pull. She has incredible jaw strength -- she can pull me out of a chair if I am holding on to the other end and don't let go! So far this does not show any signs of coming apart (if it does very soon after I post the review, I'll update).\\n\\nI would only allow a dog to have this under supervision. It is more of a tugging/interactive toy than a chew toy. Overall I am very happy with it when using it as intended.\",\n \"Product: Enjoy stress-free walks in the park with your dog, and help train your pet at the same time. The Gentle Leader Head collar is designed to let you communicate with your dog in a way he instinctively understands. It removes his natural tendency to pull on the leash by placing gentle pressure on calming points and eliminating uncomfortable pressure on the throat. No pain is involved, and the humane Gentle Leader never chokes. By reducing your pet's desire to pull away, the head collar helps combat lunging, jumping, excessive barking, and aggression. The supple nylon straps apply pressure at the back of the neck and front of the throat. It is not a muzzle, and your pet can use his mouth to eat, drink, bark, fetch, and pant. Ideal for dogs up to 5-pound and 8 weeks or older. Can be worn up to 18 hours per day. Includes easy-to-follow fitting instructions, abbreviated training guide, and comprehensive training DVD. Also converts to a regular collar after your dog's training is complete.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: has worked for two dogs with two different personalities\\n\\nReview: I originally bought the red Gentle Leader for my first Rottweiler, Jet (90 lbs). The use of these sorts of lead collars had been recommended to me by a trainer we'd hired to help with some of Jet's behavioral problems. As various lead collars wore out over the years (they don't last forever, but you usually get a couple of years of good use out of them), I tried other brands, but I prefer the Gentle Leader to the other brands.\\n\\nFirst of all, Gentle Leader prints dog weights on the packages instead of dog breeds (Halti makes a similar product but prints dog breeds on the package). This is important if you want to train a puppy, or if your dog is at the large end or the small end of the weight range for his or her breed, or if you have a mixed breed that doesn't fit any of the categories. You just couldn't use the same lead collar on a Rottie pup as you would on an adult Rottie. No amount of adjusting would make it fit.\\n\\nSecond, and perhaps this is just from long years of use of this particular brand, but I find the Gentle Leader easier to put on my dog than the other brands. What I do is take the nose loop and put it over my wrist, then snap the collar part around the dog's neck, then slide the nose loop over my dog's nose. (There is a DVD with training tips included in each package, though I've never actually bothered to watch it, since the trainer I hired back in the day showed me how to use the collar.)\\n\\nAt any rate, when Jet died last December, I tucked her Gentle Leader (this product I'm reviewing) away in a drawer. I got a new Rottweiler puppy in January, Nyx, and started her with a medium Gentle Leader. When she hit 60 pounds, the minimum weight for this product, I moved her up to this large one. Nyx's neck is going to be a bit bigger around than Jet's was, when Nyx is fully grown, but there is still plenty of room to adjust the neck part, and I think I'll be able to keep using this collar until it wears out.\\n\\nNyx and Jet had/have two very different personalities, but this has helped with both. Jet always wanted to run out in front of cars, so I'd root my feet into the ground and hold on to the leash, and this would keep her from darting out into traffic. (With such a big dog, it's best to use a thick nylon leash, and NOT a retractable one. A retractable leash would pretty much negate the effect of a Gentle Leader, anyway.) Nyx wants to play with much smaller dogs -- I don't think she realizes she's over 70 pounds at this point -- and I can use the Gentle Leader to keep her from jumping on them.\\n\\nIt is difficult for me to walk an adult Rottweiler (or a large, headstrong puppy) using only a leash attached to a regular neck collar. The Gentle Leader, however, reduces the amount of upper body strength required to retain a decent amount of control over the dog. (I am a woman with a fairly small frame.) I like the red color because it contrasts with the black Rottie snout fur, so I can easily see if the collar is on properly.\\n\\nThis type of collar is going to work best for dogs that don't have really flat faces, I think. Should be fine on your average Lab or Golden, definitely works on Rotties, etc. But if you have a bulldog or certain types of mastiffs or another similar breed, you may want to see if you can borrow a Gentle Leader or try one out before you buy.\",\n \"Product: Designed with a limited number of premium protein and carbohydrate sources, this grain-free cat food is an excellent choice when seeking alternative ingredients for your cat. Our L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets ® Duck & Green Pea Canned Cat Formula is designed to support healthy digestion and to maintain skin and coat health—all while providing complete, balanced nutrition for all life stages! Product Highlights: Complete, Balance\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: may even work for cats with inflammatory bowel disease\\n\\nReview: I have a cat with inflammatory bowel disease. He can't have any grain, and he's supposed to eat only \\\"novel proteins\\\" (i.e., proteins he hasn't likely encountered before). It's also better for his condition if he has wet food instead of dry food. That leaves me with very few food options for him. And, unfortunately, lately we've had to tweak his medicine, which is affecting his appetite. So I wanted to have a couple of extra kinds of food around to tempt him on days when he's not all that hungry. This is one of the foods I bought to try out.\\n\\nThis has fish oil, which isn't ideal, but he seems to be tolerating it. Other than that, the proteins are all from venison and pea, which is great. This doesn't have a strong smell. It's kind of a sticky/pasty texture (pate-style), but the cat I'm feeding it to has dental issues and I usually blend it with water before feeding. Two of the 3 ounce cans are about the right amount to feed a large, inactive, somewhat older cat for a day (mine is about 14.5 pounds and 10 years old). This is a little bit less than recommended on the can, but like I said, my cat is pretty inactive and he's also overweight. The 3 ounce cans are the same size as Fancy Feast cans, so it may be difficult to find a lid to cover them with.\\n\\nThe cat who has been eating this likes it fairly well (by that, I mean he finishes it off quickly). I definitely intend to keep this around so I can vary his food on the days when he's a bit reluctant to eat. In general, I've had good luck with the Natural Balance brand (my dog also their canned and dry food and treats), and this product is no exception.\",\n \"Product: Proviable for cats and dogs helps restore your pet's digestive system by reestablishing the proper balance of good microorganisms in the intestines. Proviable contains a multi-strain probiotic that ensures your pet's health when diarrhea is caused by antibiotics, stress, food sensitivities, dietary indiscretion or a weakened immune system.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: has been helping my dog with her GI issues\\n\\nReview: My dog has been having a lot of digestive issues lately. We had her on metronidazole and are doing a food trial (among other veterinary interventions). But my vet thought a probiotic would be a good addition. This is the one she gave me. This probiotic may be particularly good for animals with food sensitivities, because it doesn't contain any flavoring compounds (unlike, say, FortiFlora).\\n\\nYou can open the capsules and sprinkle this over the food or you can just have your dog swallow the capsule. I like to give this just before a meal and at least a few hours apart from any other medications (like the metronidazole my dog was formerly on). My dog has been on this for a few weeks and I do think it's helping. She's not quite at 100% yet, but she is getting better (and don't worry, we're keeping in close touch with the vet).\\n\\nThis contains a variety of bacterial strains and it is definitely working for my dog better than FortiFlora ever did. You can see the list of strains in one of the product images. (It also contains some prebiotics, which are supposed to help the bacterial strains flourish in the gut.) I also like that you don't need to refrigerate it; I just leave the box out on the counter as a reminder to give my dog a pill each day.\\n\\nThis might not solve all your pet's problems, but it has some advantages over competing products and it can definitely be helpful as part of an overall strategy. (The unit price on Amazon is somewhat lower than what my vet charges, too.)\",\n \"Product: Heavy duty scoop for spot cleaning. Angled edges for cleaning corners. Perfect for cleaning ReptiSand or VitaSand.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: almost perfect sand scooper\\n\\nReview: I have a Russian tortoise and I use Vita Sand or Calci Sand as his cage substrate (depending on whatever is available and/or has the best price). That stuff isn't cheap, so in order to be able to use it for longer, I scoop the tortoise's waste out out periodically. I bought this scoop years ago and it's *almost* a perfect fit for my needs (good enough that I don't feel the need to find an alternate product).\\n\\nThe mesh is a perfect size to sift out solid waste and leftover food. I just scoop and then shake, and the clean sand falls back into the cage, while the larger waste material stays in the scoop. Then all I have to do is toss the waste into the trash.\\n\\nThe only reason I don't absolutely *love* this is that the black handle came off fairly soon after I purchased this. (Unfortunately, I've since lost it.) The scoop still works, but it's not as comfortable to hold. If I could go back in time, I'd probably just superglue the handle back on.\",\n \"Product: With the PetSafe Spray Commander Remote Trainer's 2 levels of spray and tone only features, your dog will quickly learn the association between his behavior and your correction; in no time youll have a better behaved pet. At the push of a button, your remote sends a signal activating your dogs receiver collar up to 250 feet away. The Spray Commander Remote Trainer has been proven safe, comfortable, and effective for pets 8 pounds and up. Features: For dogs 8 pounds and up, Range up to 250 feet, 2 levels of tone correction: high and low sound, Tone-only button, 1 dog training only and Waterproof collar submersible up to 5 feet. System Includes: Receiver & adjustable strap, Remote transmitter, Citronella spray can, 2 6-volt batteries, Wrist strap, and Product manual. If this product is not meeting your needs, please contact PetSafe Brand. PetSafe brand has been an industry leading US manufacturer of pet behavior, containment and lifestyle products since 1991, helping millions of people and pets each year. Call, chat or email the PetSafe US-based customer care specialists six days a week.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: good training tool for a variety of issues\\n\\nReview: I had previously bought one of these being sold under another brand name and printed with a different logo. They don't last forever, sadly, and I recently had to replace my last one. When I got the new one, it appeared to be a nearly identical item to the other collar, just with a different logo. (Great news for me -- I didn't have to re-learn how to put batteries in, re-fill the spray, or anything else.)\\n\\nTwo small improvements bear mentioning: (1) mine came with a wrist strap for holding the remote (awesome for walks when I'm trying to manage a full-grown Rottweiler, house keys, and doggie pick-up bags at the same time) and (2) the adjustable collar is MUCH more secure than it used to be (I actually lost an earlier version due to the darned thing falling off my dog as I walked, which is not cool for something that costs almost $90).\\n\\nAt any rate, love the new collar and the wrist strap, and find this very easy to use. I actually don't use it to stop barking as my current Rottie doesn't bark. What she does do, is pick up things off the ground when we walk. She loves sticks and pinecones and leaves and rocks and all sorts of other things that I don't want her to swallow and that I got tired of digging out of her mouth. (Once she picked up a vertebra, which I assume came from meat of some sort. Yuck.) So whenever she picks something up, I simply spray her and she drops it instantly. She learned this quickly and it's a highly effective training tool. (I've used this type of item, although not this particular item listing, to control barking in the past, as well, with a different dog.)\\n\\nUpdate: I haven't actually had to spray my dog for several months. She has effectively learned not to pick things up outside.\\n\\nIf you're at your wits' end when it comes to some bad doggie behavior, you might want to give one of these a try.\",\n \"Product: OurPets Cosmic Catnip has been grown to achieve the strongest, most aromatic catnip ever produced! When catnip is pinched, the aroma stored in the dried leaves is released, driving cats wild! Catnip is a 100% natural herb that stimulates a harmless, playful reaction in most cats. The action of a cat playing with this catnip-stuffed toy will release an energizing aroma for long-lasting play.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cats really seem to like it; a bit on the large side\\n\\nReview: I received this in a cat subscription box. I forget which one (maybe Purr Packs?). Anyway, this was a hit with several of my cats. Now, my cats are a bit on the older side (ages 7, 8, 9, and 11 -- I think, since all are rescues). But the 7-year-old and 9-year-old particularly enjoyed this.\\n\\nThis is a pretty big toy by cat toy standards and is probably just at the upper limit of what my cats typically like. It is big enough for them to roll around biting it and also get a good grip with their back claws (or in some cases, their front claws). I am guessing the catnip is pretty strong, which is great, especially since this is not enclosed in any way but is just attached to a cardboard backing (i.e., exposed to air). We have had good luck with this brand of toys, in general.\\n\\nAlso, of course the feathers are very popular because my cats ALL love feathers. And so far, the feathers are still attached to the top of the toy, even though my cats have had access to it for a few days. So this is pretty durable.\\n\\nAnyway, this has pretty much everything I look for in a cat toy -- good catnip, durability, feathers, and the cats like it. If my entire bedroom floor wasn't covered in cat toys, I'd buy another one!\",\n \"Product: Multipet's Empty Nester 18-inch pheasant dog toy with squeakers that contains no stuffing.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: strong stitching, love that it has no stuffing, but my dog was still able to destroy it\\n\\nReview: I have the pheasant.\\n\\nI love the idea of this -- a squeaky toy without any stuffing. Because my dog finds the weak spot in ANY toy and starts ripping out (and eating) stuffing. She is too quick for me sometimes. (For what it's worth, it has at least two squeakers.)\\n\\nHowever, this did not last long. After maybe five minutes, my dog had punctured the outside fabric near the squeaker that rests near the base of the tail, so I had to take it away. It was sad to have to do so, because she did really love it. A lot. (Maybe a little too much.) In the toy's defense, the stitching held up -- no parts were pulled off, at least.\\n\\nIf your dog is less destructive or you are more worried about stuffing coming out, this could work for you. It is a cute idea, for sure. But if your dog regularly destroys things within a few minutes, this probably isn't worth getting.\",\n \"Product: The only dog treat made with organic wheatgrass\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: dog likes them and they seem fine for sensitive stomachs\\n\\nReview: This review is for the beef flavor, since several products are listed on the same page. My dog likes these. I give her 2 or 3 pieces as an alternative to hard dog biscuits, on occasion. As with many new treats, it took her a little while to figure out what they were, but once she understood, she began to get excited whenever I reached for the bag.\\n\\nThese are maybe 1 inch square, but they're soft enough you could break them down into smaller pieces if you wanted. (I don't need to break them down, as my dog weighs 95 pounds. But the option is there.) I love that they're grain free, since my dog seems to have trouble digesting grains (wheat grass is gluten free, for what it's worth). I also like that the only preservatives are natural (i.e., mixed tocopherols, or vitamin E).\\n\\nThese are made in the US (very important to check when it comes to pet treats, especially jerky-based ones). These have wheat grass powder, which is supposed to decrease a dog's tendency to chew on outdoor grass (which may be chemically treated). My dog does not naturally have a tendency to chew on grass (she's more interested in chasing squirrels) so I can't speak as to that aspect of these treats. I will say that sometimes she has a sensitive stomach, but she's been having a few of these a day for awhile now, and she isn't having any digestive issues. I think the fact that these are about 90% meat without a lot of additional filler makes these easier on her. Definitely interested in trying some of the other flavors.\",\n \"Product: Proviable For Cats and Dogs is a multi-strain probiotic containing live beneficial microorganisms that restore the intestinal microfloral balance. Proviable helps reestablish a healthy digestive system for pets with diarrhea resulting from compromised immune systems, dietary indiscretions, antibiotic use, food sensitivities and stresses due to travel and kenneling.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: greatly helped my IBD cat after surgery\\n\\nReview: I am using this for a cat. My vet recommended it.\\n\\nHere is the situation: I have a 12.5-year-old cat with inflammatory bowel disease. He can't have anything with added flavors. He recently had eye surgery to remove something called a corneal sequestrum. This surgery requires general anesthesia. I had to keep him fasted for around 12-16 hours before the surgery. He does not do well without food for a long period of time because of his IBD. So anyway, his system was all messed up after the surgery. He would eat, then immediately run to the litterbox and have a loose bowel movement. His digestive system is pretty fragile and we didn't want him to get dehydrated. He is also stressed from his e-collar and from the new kitten I got a couple of weeks ago (before I knew he needed surgery). We also didn't want to have to increase his IBD medications, since those can halt the progression of healing of the eye ulcer left behind by the surgery.\\n\\nAnyway, he's been on this for about two days now. He gets about 1 mL of the paste per day. (I say \\\"about\\\" because I am not finding it so easy to distribute. It sticks to the syringe. Because it is flavorless and a little gritty, the cat doesn't enjoy it so much. I am currently having an easier time just putting the paste on my finger and then wiping it on his tongue, followed by a little water from a syringe to help him get it down.) His stools are already better after two days (not 100% back to where they were but definitely much improved). The paste contains some prebiotics (substances that help probiotic bacteria really take root in the gut) and fiber to firm the stools.\\n\\nI am also giving him one of the capsules every night. I have found that animals don't like the capsules opened and sprinkled on their food (my dog, who also has IBD, takes one capsule per day as well, and has been for years). So I just give it to him like I would any other pill. (I am pretty good at giving pills to cats.) I do this right before one of his meals. I think that makes sure the pill goes all the way down his esophagus without issue.\\n\\nThis is not going to keep IBD symptoms under control, although it helps. There is nothing in the paste that makes me think it would be unsafe to give over a longer time than the 48-72 hours recommended on the package. If your pet has really watery diarrhea, you may want to get an additional medication from the vet (mine was going to try Reglan if thi product didn't help, but the Reglan turned out not to be necessary), as well as having your pet checked for dehydration (and subcutaneous fluids given, if necessary). But for small incidents like post-surgery GI upset, or after the end of a course of antibiotics, this can really help get things back to normal.\\n\\nFor what it's worth, because this does not have added flavors, while animals may not like the taste, it is safe to give to animals with IBD and food allergies.\",\n \"Product: Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health is a Seed-Based Blend of Fresh, Palatable Seeds, Grains and Fortified Supplements that provides the essential nutrients your pet needs for a long, healthy life. Rich in Natural Antioxidants - for general health and immune support Probiotics and Prebiotics -Natural ingredients that aid in digestive health Naturally Preserved - for ideal freshness Enhances feathers and coloring\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cockatiels are pretty healthy with this as their main food\\n\\nReview: I have two cockatiels, a male and a female; I got them as rescues and so I'm not sure how old they are, but I'd guess somewhere between 13 and 16 years of age. I have tried all kinds of food with them, including fresh veggies, sugar-free cereals, pellets, etc. This is the one they seem to like best.\\n\\nI like that this has only a low level of sunflower seeds, as my birds don't seem to care for those (but they appear in every cockatiel food I've seen in some amount). I also like that there aren't too many pellet pieces, as my birds won't eat those either. So there's less waste with this.\\n\\nAlso, my birds are pretty healthy. They have all their feathers, the feathers look good, and they maintain pretty constant weights. Their beaks and nails don't get overgrown and are not brittle, so it doesn't appear they have any nutritional deficiencies.\\n\\nSo, since my birds (1) seem to like this food and (2) remain healthy while eating this food, I'm happy with it! (For what it's worth, the price here is competitive with -- maybe slightly better than -- major pet store chains in my area.) I do wish you could reclose the bag, though. If you're worried about freshness, get a storage container.\",\n \"Product: Made of all-natural Rubber, fun toy to hide treats. Helps clean dogs teeth and gums. :.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: of medium durability when given to a super heavy chewer\\n\\nReview: I received this in a dog subscription box recently (this is a review for the 4-inch toy; my dog is an 86 pound Rottweiler, for reference). My dog has inflammatory bowel disease so I opted not to put a treat inside the mouth (though it would be excellent for a bone or hard biscuit type of treat, especially one the dog had to work at to get it out of there), but my dog likes pretty much any toy, ever, including hard rubber ones, so I just let her have this as-is.\\n\\nThis was size-appropriate for a large breed dog (she couldn't fit the whole thing in her mouth, although she tried), did not have any sort of plastic or chemical smell, and is easy to clean.\\n\\nOn the plus side, she thought this was pretty awesome. She wouldn't let me have it back. After five minutes, she seemed like she was not managing to destroy it (this is usually more than enough time to tell, with her), so I left her alone for awhile.\\n\\nA half hour or so after that, I went back, and she had eaten the upper lip. Just maybe 1 millimeter or so of rubber, and she had not removed any of the teeth, but I have thus learned that with determined gnawing, this toy can, in fact, be destroyed.\\n\\nIf your dog can have treats, your dog will probably be more focused on the treats than on eating the rubber (don't worry, it passed through my dog and is now out in the yard somewhere). If your dog is not super destructive, this will be fine. On the other hand, if your dog is a determined heavy chewer, you will want to supervise closely and this may need to be taken away after awhile.\",\n \"Product: These batteries are made for the following: Canon AE-1,Canon A1,Mamiya 645 Pro TL,Mamiya RZ67 PRO II,Pentax 67,Yashica FR II,Minox 35 ML,Zenith (Zenith)Cameras,Canon AV-1,Bronica SQ-B,INNOTEK Dog Collars\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: good option for remote-controlled dog training collars\\n\\nReview: Please note: This review is going to be quite similar to my review of the Vinnic batteries of the same size and type. The reason is that I have used both products and feel that they are interchangeable (of similar/equal quality). I usually compare prices at the time I need to buy more, and purchase whichever happens to be less expensive that day.\\n\\nI have been using a dog training collar for several years now. Previously, I was regularly frustrated at how short a time batteries seemed to last (two weeks). Nonetheless, the training collar was working, so I would keep going to Target and buying Energizer batteries. Then, the Target near me stopped carrying this size of batteries. I tried one of those batteries-only stores, where the clerk said I should use some \\\"premium\\\" Energizer batteries, and that those would last longer. Well, those things were $4 or $5 apiece and, in fact, didn't last any longer. I was nearly at my wits' end (my last dog barked A LOT and I was concerned the neighbors would report me or something).\\n\\nSo, I decided to go poking around on Amazon, and I found these batteries. The price was right, and I figured I wouldn't be out all that much if they didn't work. Well, they DID work, for at least the same amount of time as the Energizer ones, and for a whole lot less in terms of cost.\\n\\nMy first dog, for whom I was originally using a training collar that took these batteries, eventually passed away. Fast forward a couple of months. I got a puppy, she grew and grew, and finally she was big enough to inherit my old dog's training collar. This particular puppy's issue is picking things up off the ground that she shouldn't while we're out walking. I use a quick spray to get her to drop whatever it is that she's found.\\n\\nMy puppy has learned quickly and I don't need to spray her too often anymore. That means the batteries are lasting at least 3-4 weeks, if not longer. If you have a dog needing very little correction, you won't have to change the batteries often. If you have a stubborn barker, you may get a little less time out of them.\\n\\nTip: If you have the type of training collar I do (remote controlled spray collar), I find that the batteries in the remote don't get used up as fast as the batteries in the collar itself. So try replacing only the collar battery, instead of both at once, to get a little more life out of the ones in the remote.\\n\\nAlso, the bottom line is that these training collars just eat batteries quickly. Might as well buy inexpensive batteries, and I've been quite pleased with these. (I have not had occasion to use these batteries in any other devices, but based on Amazon's \\\"frequently bought together\\\" feature, my guess is that a lot of other people use them pretty much for the same purpose I do!)\",\n \"Product: Powerful dogs wish for tough chew toys! Made with tough, durable nylon and a textured surface for extra chewing fun, the Power Chew DuraChew Textured Chicken chew toy is the long-lasting chew toy you need for your aggressive chewer. This extra-large dog chew keeps dogs busy, satisfies their natural urge to chew, and encourages positive chewing habits. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar buildup.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: one of my dog's favorites\\n\\nReview: I have a hyperactive, two-year-old Rottweiler (about 95 pounds right now). She chews and chews and chews and has destroyed nearly every toy I've given her. I like some of the smaller, white Nylabone bones, but she can get the whole ends of those in her mouth and she uses them up too fast. I went looking for something much larger, but made of a material with the same basic texture and flavor -- hopefully, something that would last much longer.\\n\\nI am pleased to say that the DuraChew bone seems to be working. She can get the end in her mouth if she really stretches her jaw, but it's much harder for her to destroy the whole end. She works on this constantly and hasn't managed to mar the surface very much yet. This is already doing better than the smaller, white ones -- and I LIKE those.\\n\\nShe's raised a few little grooves and edges; this is to be expected and is explained on the back of the package. Thankfully, due to the texture of the bone, there are no sharp parts, even after she's been chewing on it for a couple of months. (Actually, this is her second or third bone like this. Once I find a toy she can't destroy in 10 minutes, I just keep buying new ones when the old ones get thrown out.)\\n\\nI currently let her have it 100% of the time (even unsupervised). As with any dog toy, supervise your dog carefully the first several times s/he plays with it. If it becomes too damaged, you should take it away.\",\n \"Product: Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Soft Gels products are an excellent source of the important omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. EPA and DHA help support skin and coat health, joint health, heart health, immune system health, cellular health, and brain and eye development and maintenance. Daily supplementation with Omega-3 Pet Soft Gels products is a proactive way to help maintain overall health for your dog companion. All Nordic Naturals pet products are made with the same exceptional quality oil as our human products, but have been specially formulated for dogs or cats. Please use only our pet products for your dog or cat, not our human products. Please refer to the product label for additional information and guidelines. Omega-3 Pet Soft Gels products should be used within two years of opening.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: have worked even though my dog has digestive issues; start slow and increase the dosage gradually\\n\\nReview: My dog has inflammatory bowel disease. I've tried other fish oil products with her but there were always gastrointestinal issues. Lately, though, as an effect of long-term prednisone use (this is what controls her IBD), she is starting to get a skin condition, with lots of flaking and crusting and general dry skin. Medicated shampoo helps, but it doesn't solve all her problems. So my vet recommended we try an omega 3 supplement again. This is the one I bought.\\n\\nAccording to the package directions, my dog can have 4 pills a day. I started her at one pill every 3 days, then every other day, and now we are on to one pill every day. The reason for this slow introduction was not to disturb the delicate balance that is her digestive system, since we have her IBD under control for the moment. I actually would recommend a slow introduction to any dog, even a healthy one, as too much oil added too fast can cause temporary GI issues.\\n\\nAnyway, after a few weeks on a low dose of this, my dog still does not have digestive trouble, but her skin condition is slowly improving. She had had this sore in her mouth that would bleed when she chewed on toys. The vet says it is from her having dry skin. But, she's had new toys for three days in a row and no bleeding, so her mouth is better. She also had some crusty spots around her neck and face and those are starting to go away (to be fair, she is also on an antibiotic for pyoderma). I feel confident enough so far that pretty soon I am going to add in additional pills.\\n\\nI give this once a day with food. These are quite large (probably should be considered \\\"horse pills\\\") but not too difficult for my dog to swallow. (She is an 84 pound Rottweiler, though. This might be difficult for a smaller dog to handle, though you could break open the softgels and spread over food or something, as an alternative method of administration.) They don't smell too bad and I have not been keeping them in the refrigerator. If your dog has joint pain (mine had torn ligaments in both knees last year) and is on a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement, I've seen research (peer reviewed in a scientific journal, not just random stuff someone posted online) that suggests taking such a supplement in combination with an omega 3 may be much more effective. (My dog is on a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement although I haven't yet seen the synergetic effects of the two supplements.)\\n\\nAnyway, I've been very happy with these and my dog can tolerate them, so I will definitely be buying again.\",\n \"Product: Mighty dog toys rethink durability and approach it from a new angle. Durability is created for each toy with multiple layers of flexible materials that move with the dogs teeth instead of tearing. Compared to other toys, Mighty dog toys have no hard edges. The result is these toys do not promote chewing great when youre trying to discourage chewing habits. These toys may seem plush on the outside, but all the durability features are internal making these toys soft, yet MIGHTY strong. Please be a responsible dog owner and only allow your dog to play with the toy under supervision. Do not allow your pet to ingest any portion of the toy.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: dog loved it but it is not nearly as durable as claimed\\n\\nReview: I received this (the lion, in the Jr. size) in a subscription box. My dog loves plush toys. Now, they never last long with her. But this was described as being pretty durable. So I figured I would let her try it out, under close supervision.\\n\\nNaturally, she was quite excited by it. I wasn't sure if it had a squeaker or not, but it does. (I can't always find the squeaker. My dog totally can.) She held it in her mouth for a bit but then she started working at the legs. And she had one of the back legs off in just a few minutes.\\n\\nSo this is not nearly as durable as claimed. The weak points were exactly where I expected them to be -- the legs and tail.\\n\\nIf your dog is a power chewer, stay away from this. If you are concerned about pieces of toys being swallowed, stay away from this. This is also pretty small and is probably better suited to a small to medium sized dog (at least in the Jr. size -- I haven't seen the larger size up close for a comparison).\",\n \"Product: Wahl's Cord/Cordless Pet Clipper is everything you need for grooming your dog with the convenience of cord free operation. The clipper comes with detachable blades for easy cleaning. The blades are specifically designed for animal hair. Wahl's PowerDrive motor give you the ability to cut though the thickest coats.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: definitely got rid of lots of hair, though didn't give a particularly close shave for my cat\\n\\nReview: I have four cats and one of them has very long, fine hair. He's decided to stop grooming himself (he goes to the vet regularly and she says some middle-aged male cats are just like that) and he gets really big knots of fur. Also, he had the most massive hairball of all time recently. It took him a few days to eliminate it and he acted so sick while it was still in his stomach that I spent $350 at the vet on X-rays and bloodwork. So, seeing as it was a problem that stemmed from his incredible amount of hair, I decided to try to give him a haircut and I bought this.\\n\\nI plugged this in for 24 hours to charge. It did not have an indicator light to tell me when it was done charging; sort of wish it would have. However, that was about a month ago and I've been using this maybe twice a week since then and the original charge is still good. I like that you can also run this with the cord plugged in. I feel like, in general, devices with both cords and internal rechargeable batteries are a bit more powerful, and that holds true for this shaver. This comes with a small amount of oil for the blades. I use it each time and there is still plenty left.\\n\\nThe noise level is not bad. It doesn't scare the cat when I'm shaving him (really a 2-person job, and that's for a laid-back cat). The other cats actually all came over to see what was going on. Yes, it does make noise, but it's the type of noise you'd expect and it's not terribly loud.\\n\\nThere are four blade guides/guards for different lengths of finished hair. I started with the maximum one and went down to the smallest, which is said to be about 1/8 inch. Unfortunately, my cat's hair is not 1/8 inch long now, it's still maybe 1/2 inch. I think this may be because the shaver has a bit of difficulty handling such wispy, fine hairs. I have definitely gotten a LOT of hair off my cat, though, and he's had fewer problems with hairballs as a result. (The shaver also comes with a pair of scissors. I use those to cut out the biggest clumps, first, so the shaver has an easier time of things.)\\n\\nWould definitely recommend brushing/combing after shaving, as the simple act of using the shaver seems to loosen a lot of hair, as well.\\n\\nIn the end, I'm basically happy with this. I've reduced the amount of my cat's hair to a more manageable level. One charge lasts a long time. The cat doesn't mind it so much (though he can only take maybe 5-10 minutes at a time before I give up). I just wish I could get a little bit of a closer shave. If you're going to use it on a cat, though, it's best to use it for a fairly easygoing cat...\",\n \"Product: KONG Squiggles are stretchy, floppy, squeaky fun for dogs and their owners. These colorful toys come in an assortment of four cute characters and feature a long, stretchy body, plus squeakers at both ends. Designed with minimal stuffing for minimal mess.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: dog loved it, the stretchy part was a wonderful feature, but she destroyed part of the elephant head quickly\\n\\nReview: I have the elephant one. Or rather, I HAD the elephant one. I got it in a subscription box (forget which one, as I receive like 10 dog subscription boxes). My dog thought it was awesome. Now, she is not picky -- she thinks just about every toy is awesome. So, this is more a review about how it held up.\\n\\nFor reference, my dog is an 83 pound Rottweiler. She is super destructive. Her main way of destroying toys is to hold down one part of the toy under her front paws/legs and pull up with her teeth on another part of the toy. So there is one thing about the design of this toy that is great -- since it stretches, and it stretches quite a bit, she can't pull bits off by her usual method. But she still tried to do so, so it kept her entertained.\\n\\nAfter awhile, she started working on the elephant ears, and it wasn't too long (5 minutes, which is actually not bad for *my* dog) before she had a hole in one of them so I had to take it away. She did not damage the body or the ball end. She actually didn't deactivate the squeakers, either.\\n\\nIf I could change one thing about this toy (to increase my rating), I think I would just give it two ball ends with no ears/trunk/etc. It is not as cute, but the appearance of dog toys is mostly to please humans -- the dogs don't care whether it is a purple elephant or a long blue tube. I think it would last much longer without all the cute animal facial features.\",\n \"Product: Catit Eco Terra Toys are made from all-natural materials such as linen, raffia, and cornhusk. These cat toys are designed to engage your cat's natural instincts and provide your pet with hours of chasing, pouncing and playing fun. Catit Eco Terra Toys use minimal recycled packaging to further reduce the ecological footprint. The Catit Eco Terra Toys are a great way to entice your cat while promoting exercise and activity.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my 11-month-old kitten thought these were great\\n\\nReview: I got these in a cat subscription box. I have five cats so most subscription box items, though surprises, are wins for someone in the household. These were absolutely AWESOME according to my 11-month-old kitten. (One of my older cats also likes the texture of these, but isn't as playful just because of his age.)\\n\\nI would toss one of these on the floor and the kitten would bat it everywhere. He would pick these up in his mouth, shake them, oss them into the air, pounce on them, etc. He only stopped playing with them because I had to take them upstairs since I was letting the dog out and I didn't want the dog to eat them (they are pretty small, about the size of your average catnip mouse).\\n\\nSo far, after a couple of days, mine are still in good shape. For whatever reason, my cat prefers to play with them on a hardwood floor (I guess they slide better there than on carpet). Of course you should always monitor the condition of cat toys and take anything away that looks like it is about to fall apart. Please note: these do not rattle. As far as I can tell, they are hollow inside. They are pretty lightweight.\\n\\nAnyway, if you have a younger cat, especially, or one who likes to play with small toys, these are worth checking out.\",\n \"Product: The Catit Scratching Board with Catnip provides your cat with a corrugated scratching surface, while helping to protect your furniture from claw damage. A cat's need to scratch is instinctive. It helps them to sharpen and remove the dead outer layer of their claws, stretch and flex their bodies and work off energy. Catnip is included and by using the Catit Scratching Board, you are helping your cat stay active and healthy.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cats love them and they seem to be good quality\\n\\nReview: This review is for the large scratchers. I bought three of these recently. I'm very happy with the purchase and will no doubt be ordering a few more quite soon.\\n\\nThese are large enough for a full grown cat to sit on. I've put a couple of these scratchers in my dining room windows (the windows reach down to the floor) and various cats (I have five) enjoy sitting on these and looking out the window for most of the afternoon. The scratchers are also big enough that, even on a relatively smooth floor (my dining room has hardwood floors), a large cat (12+ pounds) scratching at one of these doesn't make it move across the floor. I've also put one upstairs on carpet and the cats like sitting there (and scratching it) too.\\n\\nThese come with a little packet of catnip and I guess it is good catnip. The cats seem enthusiastic, anyway. It takes quite a lot of vigorous scratching to do much damage to these, and you can always just flip the insert over for a fresh surface, so they last a pretty long time. (You can also add your own catnip to refresh from time to time.) Plus, most importantly, having these around helps keep my cats from scratching the upstairs carpet or the expensive dining room rug.\\n\\nIn the end, my cats are happy and I am happy so these were a definite win!\",\n \"Product: High animal protein, grain-free recipe guided by our belief in raw, Instinct Original Real Lamb Recipe unlocks your cat's potential to thrive.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: good choice for IBD cats (and other cats like it too!)\\n\\nReview: I have a cat with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). His case is mild, and the only symptom was unexplained weight loss. After extensive (and expensive!) testing, we got the IBD diagnosis. Cats with this condition are notoriously picky, difficult to get to eat, etc. Vets will often recommend that cats with IBD have only wet food with no grain, and I've been told to keep this cat off chicken, turkey, beef, fish, and pork, as well, in case one of those aggravates his condition.\\n\\nHe was eating a prescription duck food for awhile, but started refusing it. I was running out of cat foods to try and had been holding out on getting the Instinct because of the price. (For what it's worth, Amazon has the best price I've been able to find on this product, and I've done a lot of shopping around.)\\n\\nI finally gave in and decided to try the lamb formula because it did not have any other proteins in it (the venison and rabbit contain pork liver and the duck contains turkey liver).\\n\\nWell, my cat (Mr. Kitty) loves the Instinct lamb. This is a high-calorie food -- about 260 calories per 5.5 ounce can. Mr. Kitty gets one and a half cans a day, or about 390 calories. Please be forewarned that that is a LOT more than you would want to give a cat in good health and/or at normal weight, but Mr. Kitty has lost 1.5 pounds and I'm trying to bring his weight back up. (His appetite is increased because of a medication he's on.)\\n\\nI am very happy with this food. All wet cat food smells a little bit, but the Instinct lamb doesn't smell very much compared to some of the others I've tried on my cats in recent months. You see broth and fat when you open the can, but these seem to have attractive flavors for Mr. Kitty. The lamb is a little crumbly although the moisture level is not particularly low compared to what I feed another of my cats (75% for Instinct lamb versus 78% for Merrick Cowboy Cookout).\\n\\nThe texture is also good for cats with tooth problems, for what it's worth. This food appears to be all meat, and none of those weird processed composite chunks you see in other wet cat foods. (Mr. Kitty has terrible teeth -- had six of them removed last month -- so this is a concern.) I do mash it up as it tends to retain the shape of the can. If I am taking it out of the refrigerator, I will heat it in the microwave for about 15 seconds, as Mr. Kitty seems to like that temperature better.\\n\\nMy other cats are jealous of Mr. Kitty! I do wish this food came in a package that contained more than 12 cans, though.\\n\\nUpdate, January 11, 2013: Mr. Kitty has gained 0.4 pounds in about two weeks, eating 1.5 cans of this food per day. (He's also on prednisolone.) For an IBD cat, this is amazing, and is exactly what I wanted!\",\n \"Product: Oh joy. Your lovely pet made a crazy mess. No, seriously--oh joy! Because now you can reach for OUT! Orange Oxy Stain and Odor Remover! The powerful oxidizing formula is so effective, you will watch in amazement as stains and odors completely vanish. Tough stains, too. Were talking urine, vomit, feces, and blood. And those odors? Neutralized. Not covered up. Neutralized. Your pet wont be tempted by a lingering aroma to revisit and resoil the same areas. And best of all, its safe around pets and children, when used as directed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: my new spot cleaner for puppy messes\\n\\nReview: I think more than half of my recent reviews have been about products for cleaning up dog urine! I've tried multiple carpet sprays and this is my current favorite for dog urine. (I have a 5-month-old puppy who is not fully house-trained. Since she weighs 50 pounds, she has a big bladder...)\\n\\nOne thing I like about this spray is the orange scent. It's not overpowering, but it does provide some immediate odor control.\\n\\nAnother thing I like about this product is that it contains hydrogen peroxide, which reacts with biological substances to produce a foam (essentially just bubbles). This means it should be good for cleaning up blood stains, as well. (Before you go thinking the wrong thing, right now my puppy is teething and she therefore bleeds from the mouth occasionally when she loses a puppy tooth.) There's something psychological about the foaming that makes me feel like this product is really cleaning, as opposed to a spray that just sits on the carpet. The presence of the foam helps me to remember where to wipe up after I've let this sit for awhile.\\n\\nIn case you are concerned, this does not appear to bleach carpet. I use it on a fairly dark-colored carpet, and the color has stayed the same, even though the carpet was cheap and I have used the spray in the same area multiple times. (You would still want to test a small area to be safe.) At least with small urine stains, it's pretty good at getting rid of the odor. It seems to work with feces odors and stains, as well.\\n\\nThe reason I took off one star is because of the bottle design -- it is hard to dispense about the last 1/3 using the trigger spray. I have to tilt the bottle to spray onto a horizontal surface (i.e., the floor) and the bottle design is such that the tube inside that picks up liquid is no longer immersed in the liquid when the bottle is tilted and less than 1/3 full. So no liquid comes out. Because the bottle is opaque, you can't manipulate it to make sure the tube is still in the liquid. My solution has been to buy a new bottle, then when it gets low, refill with the leftovers from the first bottle. A pain, to be sure, but it's a good enough product that I will continue to use it.\",\n \"Product: Fresh Breath Mint Stick freshens kittys breath and helps remove soft tartar from teeth! Filled with 100% sweet smelling mint to freshen breath as kitty chews, there are no fillers in this toy. Mint is a cousin of catnip and is appealing to most cats. Press and roll center to release more minty scent. Unique netting will not unravel and helps floss kittys teeth.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cats love it, but they don't chew on it...\\n\\nReview: OK, so my cats love this thing. One of my cats, who usually doesn't respond to catnip toys, just had the best time rolling all over this on the floor. She looked positively blissful. Another one licked it until it was wet (this is his standard response to catnip toys). And so forth.\\n\\nHowever, they're not chewing on the part that's supposed to help freshen their breath and remove tartar from their teeth. Also, there's not really a way for a cat to get this to the back teeth, which have usually been the worst when I've had cats get actual dental cleanings.\\n\\nThis appears to be well-made (the one I have has been through some pretty rough times these past few days) and is a good size for either a small or a large cat. You may want to cut the tags off before giving it to your cat. As a catnip toy, I'd give this 5 stars. As a dental toy, I'd give it 3. I suppose that averages out to 4.\",\n \"Product: A piece of the special lure from Cat Dancer and a brightly colored piece of fleece combine in a cat's imagination to create irresistible play, chase and fun.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: two of four cats were pretty interested in these\\n\\nReview: I got a couple of these in a cat subscription box. My cats are fans of the regular Cat Dancer but I put it out of reach somewhere and forgot where so they haven't seen it for awhile. I was hoping these would be a good substitute. It wasn't quite the same, but they did seem to have fun.\\n\\nMy cats did like these. I have four cats and at least two of them played with these toys. One really liked biting the twine part. We played tug-of-war with it and had a lot of fun. She tossed it around quite a bit on her own, as well. Another cat was more interested in the fabric but he likes to lick fabric with interesting textures. I figure, two out of four liking the toys is a pretty good ratio since my cats are all older (ages 8, 9, 10 or 11, and 12).\\n\\nThese seemed well made. My calico was pretty violent with them (she's the one I tugged with) and they were in the same sort of shape after a vigorous play session as before. I feel like I would be safe leaving my cats alone with these.\",\n \"Product: Halo uses real WHOLE meat, poultry, or fish, and NO \\\"meat meal\\\" of ANY kind in our natural cat food. We also have cat food options for special diets, including kitten food, indoor cat food, sensitive stomach cat food, and senior cat food. At Halo, WHOLE Makes a Whole Lot of Difference is the philosophy that drives our holistic approach to ingredient sourcing, recipes, nutritional value, the welfare of ALL animals, and our overall mission to change the way companion animals are fed and farm animals are raisedfor the better!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: high quality food, but my cats aren't absolutely crazy about it (they will eat it, though)\\n\\nReview: I try to feed all of my cats wet food, but am not always successful. (Having had two cats with inflammatory bowel disease and seeing how much better wet food is for cats has been the motivation to at least try.) One of my current non-IBD cats prefers beef. She had been eating Merrick Cowboy Cookout but they changed the formula of that and it started making her throw up occasionally. So I went looking for an alternative.\\n\\nI have heard good things about the Halo brand so I decided to try it. I wish they had a plain beef version but the only variety I could find was beef and chicken. (As a side note -- I wish there were more single-protein cat foods, so that if another of my cats ever develops IBD, there are some proteins he or she hasn't had that I can experiment with for feeding purposes. So many cat foods with beef combine it with duck, venison, etc. -- I want to reserve these proteins for possible future use. At any rate, I figured beef and chicken was not a bad combination since all of my cats have had chicken before, so I wouldn't be putting anything \\\"novel\\\" off limits to them.)\\n\\nThis is a pate-style food with some visually identifiable pieces of vegetable in it (mostly peas and carrots). I've offered it to my three non-IBD cats (this is not a suitable food for IBD cats due to the presence of chicken, although I do appreciate that it is grain free since cats' digestive systems cannot properly process grains). They have all sniffed at it. They have all eaten at least a little on different days. This, in itself, is worthy of a pretty high rating. But they don't love it and I occasionally find bits left in the bowl. So my search is probably not over yet. (For what it's worth, this has *not* made any of them throw up. So that's good. Also, the smell level is not too bad for wet cat food, and it's easy to clean the remnants out of the bowl.)\\n\\nI'd suggest trying a few cans first and seeing if your cat will eat this on more than one day, before committing to a whole case. If your cat likes it, it *is* a high quality food.\",\n \"Product: Tempt your cat's taste buds with two of her favorite flavors in Purina Fancy Feast Delights Grilled Whitefish & Cheddar Cheese Feast in Gravy cat food, and delight in her dash to her dish the moment you bring out the can. It's the details that matter most in life, and this delicious offering is infused with a cat-approved favorite: savory cheddar cheese. The tender bites of slow-grilled whitefish offer the texture cats crave, and a classic savory gravy ensures her bowl is licked clean. A delightful change from the ordinary, this flavorful wet cat food provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for cats from kitten to adult. Essential vitamins and minerals help support her health for an active life of chasing yarn or cuddling. You're always looking for new ways to engage your cat's curiosity, and this Purina Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar recipe offers an exciting mix of texture and taste for a healthy, delectable way to show your cat how much you love her.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cats like it, but has some ingredients I don't care for\\n\\nReview: I feel like I've reviewed 10 different cat foods lately. I'm trying to switch two reluctant cats over to wet food; it's supposed to be easier to digest and to provide moisture to cats that don't drink enough water. I figure I'll try a whole bunch of different kinds and assess texture and flavor preferences, then settle on something and begin the transition away from kibble.\\n\\nThese Fancy Feast with cheese foods have proven to be quite popular with my cats. Today and yesterday, I tried the turkey with cheddar on one of my cats. He kept trying to stick his head in the can before I could even get his food in the bowl. He ate it quickly (he seems to like foods like this one, with real meat pieces, the best) both the first and second days I gave it to him. Can't ask for more than that. (The other kitties investigated -- and licked -- his bowl afterwards, so that's even more feline approval.)\\n\\nOne thing I don't care for, though, is that this food has both wheat gluten and soy ingredients in it. Cats really don't need either of these. And if your cat has inflammatory bowel disease, this is probably not a good food to feed it. However, for a healthy cat, this would be all right as a part of the diet at least a couple of times a week. (I think it's the cheese that my cats love so much...)\",\n \"Product: Tempt your cat's taste buds with two of her favorite flavors in Purina Fancy Feast Delights Grilled Whitefish & Cheddar Cheese Feast in Gravy cat food, and delight in her dash to her dish the moment you bring out the can. It's the details that matter most in life, and this delicious offering is infused with a cat-approved favorite: savory cheddar cheese. The tender bites of slow-grilled whitefish offer the texture cats crave, and a classic savory gravy ensures her bowl is licked clean. A delightful change from the ordinary, this flavorful wet cat food provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for cats from kitten to adult. Essential vitamins and minerals help support her health for an active life of chasing yarn or cuddling. You're always looking for new ways to engage your cat's curiosity, and this Purina Fancy Feast Delights With Cheddar recipe offers an exciting mix of texture and taste for a healthy, delectable way to show your cat how much you love her.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: all four of my cats were interested in this one\\n\\nReview: I have had discussions with multiple vets in the past couple of years about whether it is better to feed cats kibble or wet food. Because I have had two cats diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (one has passed away and the other is doing fine) in the past two years, wet food is winning out. However, two of my current four cats are resistant to wet food. I've bought a bunch of different kinds to see if I can find something they'll like.\\n\\nI know my cats like cheese, so this variety of Fancy Feast (the chicken with cheddar) is one of the ones I bought. I've given it to one of my cats twice now, and he's eaten it pretty enthusiastically both times. (I bought two cans so I could see if he still wanted any after the first day!) He's a pretty big boy and he will eat a whole 3 ounce can of Fancy Feast in a few minutes.\\n\\nThis flavor was particularly popular. Not only did my black cat eat it, but all three of my other cats went over to sniff/lick the bowl after he was done. So in terms of taste, this one is a definite hit.\\n\\nThe first three ingredients are poultry broth, chicken, and liver. This is good. I am a bit disappointed that there are wheat, soy, and corn ingredients in this food, as these ingredients should really not be included in a cat's diet in a large proportion.\\n\\nIn the end, this food would definitely be suitable for an occasional treat. It also might be useful to entice a reluctant cat to try wet food (after which point I would slowly transition to something grain free). I would probably not feed it as the ONLY food to a cat. And this should never be given to a cat with inflammatory bowel disease (cats with IBD shouldn't have wheat, corn, cheese, or chicken!). However, for an otherwise healthy cat, this can certainly be introduced into the diet and will most likely be appreciated.\",\n \"Product: Indulge your cat's love of rich, savory gravy with Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Beef Feast in Roasted Beef Flavor Gravy wet cat food. Tender bites of beef slow-roasted to perfection give her the taste cats crave, and the thick, gourmet gravy is sure to make her mouth water with anticipation. With its soft, appealing texture and small bites, this canned wet cat food is easy for both adult cats and kittens to manage. Each serving contains essential vitamins and minerals to support her overall health, and the 100% complete and balanced nutrition lets you feel good about serving up this gourmet wet cat food to your beloved cat. Follow the serving suggestions for her weight to give her perfectly portioned meals to satisfy her craving for delicious goodness, and watch her delight in devouring every last drop of the delicious gravy in her dish.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cat loves it; doesn't have the best ingredients\\n\\nReview: I was almost out of my black cat's favorite turkey-flavored Fancy Feast (\\\"tender turkey Tuscany\\\") and I didn't want to order a whole case before payday, so I found a couple of cans of this kind at a local store. It wasn't his favorite variety (I thought), but it was turkey (his favorite protein source) and it had the texture he likes (little chunks of meat), so I figured I would give it a try.\\n\\nTurns out, he likes this a lot. Probably more than the \\\"tender turkey Tuscany.\\\" He ate it at room temperature from the can one day and cold straight from the refrigerator another day (I give him half a can a day; he also gets some dry food because he is resistant to eating only wet food). He cleaned his plate to the point where there wasn't any residue left on it. And he did so quickly.\\n\\nI'm not thrilled about all the ingredients. This does include some byproducts and wheat gluten. It's probably OK in moderation for otherwise healthy cats (which is how I'm feeding it) but I wouldn't feed it exclusively.\\n\\nFor what it's worth, I had a hard time finding plastic lids to reseal the cans with. But there are some that vet's offices get with Hill's prescription food that are suitable for three different can sizes. Those fit on Fancy Feast cans. So ask your vet if they have any of those Hill's lids they can give you, and it solves the resealing problem for the 3 ounce cat food cans. (Note: It's a good idea to shop around for this product and make sure to take all charges into account.)\",\n \"Product: Indulge your cat's love of rich, savory gravy with Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Beef Feast in Roasted Beef Flavor Gravy wet cat food. Tender bites of beef slow-roasted to perfection give her the taste cats crave, and the thick, gourmet gravy is sure to make her mouth water with anticipation. With its soft, appealing texture and small bites, this canned wet cat food is easy for both adult cats and kittens to manage. Each serving contains essential vitamins and minerals to support her overall health, and the 100% complete and balanced nutrition lets you feel good about serving up this gourmet wet cat food to your beloved cat. Follow the serving suggestions for her weight to give her perfectly portioned meals to satisfy her craving for delicious goodness, and watch her delight in devouring every last drop of the delicious gravy in her dish.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cats like it but don't love it\\n\\nReview: I've been trying to switch all my cats to wet food, but I have two holdouts. I've been trying different varieties of Fancy Feast with one of them to see if (1) I can entice him to eat wet food, (2) his favorite protein source, and (3) which textures of foods he prefers.\\n\\nI don't have a lot of criteria for rating a cat food, but the things I look for are:\\n\\n*Does the cat I give the food to actually eat it? How fast?\\n*Do other cats express interest in the bowl and/or leftover food?\\n*What is the quality of the ingredients?\\n\\nFor my first question, the cat did eat this food (in case it doesn't say elsewhere, this was the turkey variety), but maybe not quite as fast as some of the other types of Fancy Feast he's tried in the last week. He left a few (not many) pieces in the bowl, but there was a line of other cats waiting to finish it off (which answers the second question).\\n\\nFor the last question, while the first three ingredients are poultry broth, turkey, and liver, the next ingredient is wheat gluten, which doesn't really belong in a cat food. There are also corn- and soy-based ingredients.\\n\\nIn the end, the cats basically like this. It is having the intended effect of getting a kibble addict to try wet food. I would never feed this to a cat with inflammatory bowel disease (I've had several cats with this condition), but it would probably be all right as an occasional part of a healthy cat's diet. This is probably a 3.5 star product for me, but I'll round up.\",\n \"Product: Joint MAXreg; Triple Strength (TS) Soft Chews is recommended for joint health with powerful active ingredients that enhance the functions of joint and connective tissue as well as antioxidants to help reduce oxidative stress. The Joint Max TS proprietary blend was selected to target every aspect of joint health: lubrication, cushioning of tissues, and support of cartilage, connective tissues, and bones. Use Joint MAX TS for Maximum Support This powerful joint supplement is intended for older or middle aged large dogs or smaller dogs with maximum joint health needs or soreness from daily activity or exercise. Joint MAX TS Active Ingredients The ingredients in Joint MAX, Glucosamine and Chondroitin, work together to support joint health by supporting the structural integrity of joints and connective tissues. Joint MAX is a highly palatable supplement. Joint MAX can be given with prescription drugs. Joint MAX Family of Supplements Available in a variety of formulas, Joint MAX supplements deliver customized support to match the specific health needs of your pet. Joint MAX comes in three strengths and a variety of delivery methods for easy administration. There is a proper strength of Joint MAX for every size and breed of dog, cat, and horse that needs it. Joint MAX also offers a HypoAllergenic (HA) formula specifically designed for animals with sensitivites to known allergens or animals on restricted diets. The HypoAllergenic formula is free from the top 9 most common dog allergens: beef, corn, soy, wheat, dairy, chicken, lamb, rabbit, and egg. Key Features: Targets Three Areas: maximum joint support, powerful antioxidants and skin health Intended for larger dogs or smaller dogs with advanced joint disease Contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, EPA, DHA, Creatine, Zinc, Manganese, Vitamin C and Nacetylcysteine Easy to administer, soft chew Veterinarian recommended\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: really helped my aging Rottie\\n\\nReview: My last Rottweiler, Jet, was diagnosed with arthritis and hip dysplasia at the age of five months. I was advised to start her on a joint supplement. My vet initially gave me SynoviG3, and I do think that's a good product, but when I started shopping around online, I found Joint MAX for a lot less. It appeared to be a comparable product, so I decided to try it.\\n\\nJet had a hip replacement when she was about a year and a half old. Between that and Joint MAX, she was able to stay off painkillers until the very last week of her life (she died of a heart attack in December at the age of 9).\\n\\nShe liked the taste of the soft chews a lot. In fact, if I'd put her in her pen at night without giving her the soft chews, she'd look up at me until I did (she was on a maintenance dose of 2 chews per day). They were like treats to her. (New tubs were a bit strong-smelling to me, but the smell dissipates after awhile.)\\n\\nI would buy three tubs of 240 chews at a time, and that would last me 360 days. While the chews do get a bit harder (and less smelly) after the tub has been open for awhile, Jet still enjoyed them at the end of the tub. She didn't have any trouble chewing them.\\n\\nNow I have an eight-month-old Rottie pup (Nyx), and while she is showing no signs of any joint trouble, I am starting her on Joint MAX early to hopefully prevent future problems. It worked for Jet, who had TERRIBLE joints, after all.\",\n \"Product: Fussie Cat Canned Cat Food supports urinary tract health with low ash, magnesium, phosphorus, and lowers urinan pH to help maintain urinary health\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: worth the price for a whole case!\\n\\nReview: I have never seen this cat food in a store, but it had so many great reviews on Amazon that I bought an entire case. (I do have one cat who will eat anything, so I figured I could feed it to her if none of the others liked it.)\\n\\nI lucked out because ALL of my cats like this -- including the two who are reluctant to eat many/most other wet foods. You can see real shreds of chicken in this and can identify little pieces of vegetable. I'm not completely sold on feeding vegetables to cats, but they make up such a small part of the overall content of any one can of this that it doesn't seem like a big deal.\\n\\nThere's a bit of an odor to this, but nothing worse than any other wet cat food (and considerably better than some!). One of my cats will eat an entire can of this but leave all the vegetable pieces, but cats are funny like that. (I let other cats clean his plate so nothing gets wasted.)\\n\\nI did not see the ingredients listed on the product page, so I went to the Fussie Cat website. I am pleased to report that this food contains chicken and chicken broth (and no weird meat byproducts). There are a few thickeners. Brown rice is the only grain (so no wheat or corn) and there's also no soy. This would probably not be good for a cat with inflammatory bowel disease (because of the chicken and rice), but I love that it's formulated for cats with urinary tract problems. I have a cat with lower urinary tract disease and he has resisted all attempts to feed wet food -- until Fussie Cat. He is super interested in this stuff, even when he's just eaten and shouldn't be hungry.\\n\\nAnyway, this is a big hit with the cats and it has high-quality ingredients. I recently bought a second case.\",\n \"Product: Adorable little wormish cat toy that's fun to flop around and play with, filled with catnip and is sure to become your cat's next favorite toy. Fun to bat and bobble.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats were completely uninterested (also, this is VERY large)\\n\\nReview: This is kind of cute (not sure what it's supposed to be). But it's far too big for a cat toy. I have four cats and not a single one of them was interested in it. (However, my dog thought it was for her -- and she LOVES big plush toys.)\\n\\nIf this is supposed to have catnip in it, the catnip must be pretty weak/old in the toy I received. Because catnip would get at least 2 or 3 of my cats interested in just about anything. Perhaps because this is simply attached to a card instead of being sealed in a packet, the catnip oils evaporated away.\\n\\nIn the end, I can't really recommend this unless your cat likes extremely large toys.\",\n \"Product: Touch-activated light ball.. A fun form of exercise for your cat.. This product contains pet mice and animal toys.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: great on hardwood floors, helps to have multiple cats or cats who like hard ball toys\\n\\nReview: I got one of these in a cat subscription box (a mystery assortment of cat items that I pay for each month). I have five cats and I knew one of them liked hard ball toys, so I figured this would be a win. I was right.\\n\\nFirst thing to note: there is a little plastic tab you need to pull out before this will light up. This separates the battery from the battery contacts in the device and keeps the battery to running out prior to purchase. If the tab has come out, or if you don't remove it, this will not work. So remove and discard the tab (it is not hard to do).\\n\\nNext thing to note: at least with my cats, this seems more popular on a hard floor. I gave it to my kitties in the dining room (has a hardwood floor with no rugs at the moment). It is a bit noisy on the hardwood floor but my cats have a lot of fun. One bat with the paw will send it rolling across the floor and if it gets stuck under the curtains or something, they can still see it (because of the lights) to retrieve it.\\n\\nMy cat who likes hard, noisy ball toys had a blast with this (he is probably getting close to 12 years old). So did my 11 month old kitten -- I love to watch him scamper across the floor after it. (My other three cats were not so enthused, but one of those three is nearly blind and the other two have never been much into ball toys.) It helps if you have multiple cats, especially young ones. Most cat toys are popular with some cat or other in my house.\\n\\nAnyway, this is especially recommended for young cats, multi-cat households, and cats you know like hard ball toys. If you don't want it to get lost, try putting it in the bathtub. My older cat who likes hard ball toys has so much fun chasing this and similar toys around the tub. And it is too big to fit in the drain.\",\n \"Product: Go ahead, turn the bag around and look at our ingredients. PureBites are made with only 1 ingredient; 100% Pure USA Sourced & Made Duck Liver. Dogs love the taste of PureBites because our treats are freeze dried RAW to lock in the aroma, texture and freshness they crave. Dog parents love PureBites because our treats are 100% pure and rich in nutrients for a happy and healthy life.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: good for cats, too!\\n\\nReview: One of my cats was recently diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This means no grain, beef, chicken, pork, or turkey for him, as any of these could aggravate his condition. He is now on a \\\"novel\\\" protein diet, and in this case, the novel protein happens to be duck. Unfortunately, because of this diet, I had to stop buying the usual cat treats and find something else. My criteria were: (1) duck protein and (2) that all my cats (not just the IBD one) like the treat. If I put treats out, it's not as though I can tell the cats which treats they're allowed to eat and which they're not! I thought it would be a tall order to find a product that satisfied both criteria.\\n\\nI heard about the PureBites treats from another person who has a cat with IBD and I bought a bag from a local store to test them out (didn't want to place an order only to find out the cats hated them or something). Luckily, all four of my cats thought these were great -- even the cat who won't touch Temptations treats.\\n\\nThese treats come in pieces that are appropriate in size for a large-ish dog, but they are quite easy to break into smaller, cat-sized pieces using only your fingers. These treats have a texture similar to astronaut ice cream, if you've ever had that, which is not surprising as they are also freeze-dried.\\n\\nThey are duck liver, as a few other reviewers have mentioned. In my case, that's OK, as the cat's food has a large proportion of duck liver in it anyway, so I figure it's not really adding anything that he's not already getting in quantity. I also like that that's the ONLY ingredient; when you have an IBD cat, you really have to watch out for ingredients -- even minor ones -- that can aggravate the IBD.\\n\\nI should also mention that even though these are freeze-dried, they're not terribly hard. The IBD kitty had six teeth removed a couple of days ago (separate issue) but he has no trouble consuming these treats. I believe they soften considerably when exposed to moisture. One other thing -- they seem fine at room temperature (no need for refrigeration).\\n\\nAt any rate, if you have a cat with food allergies or IBD or some similar condition, these might be a good fit for you.\",\n \"Product: OurPets Cosmic Catnip has been grown to achieve the strongest, most aromatic catnip ever produced! The irresistible aroma in OurPets Cosmic Catnip will bring forth the fun and frolic in your favorite feline! OurPets Cosmic Catnip is a 100% natural herb that encourages a harmless, playful reaction in most cats. Sprinkle it on scratchers to make them more appealing and deter damage to furniture. Store your cats favorite toys in a bag of catnip to spice them up and make playtime intoxicating. Or, just give the lose catnip to your cat and watch the fun unfurl!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cats were happy with it\\n\\nReview: My cats were all over the container of this before I had even opened it. I guess that means the scent travels outside the can -- probably because there were no safety seals on this. I do wish there had been a safety/freshness seal on this, because I'm not sure how long it would have sat in the warehouse and I know catnip can lose its potency if exposed to air.\\n\\nThat being said, my cats got pretty excited about this, so it must still be pretty strong. I use it on some of their cardboard scratch pads. I also sometimes put a few of their soft toys in a baggie with some of this. And occasionally, I just put this ON my cats. They seem to like it each of these ways.\\n\\nThe pieces are pretty small; a few of them are somewhat rough, though. It's not so different in texture/consistency from other, more expensive, dried catnip I've bought. (Also, for what it's worth, in tiny print on the label, it does say this is made in the US.) This would be a great item for anyone looking for large quantities of catnip!\",\n \"Product: The Pet Qwerks Mini Doggone Times Newspaper Dog Toy features a fun newspaper design to entertain you and your pup. Made with durable canvas, this plush toy can withstand heavy play. Three squeakers and crinkle paper inside keep your pet intrigued. Durable canvas construction. Dimensions: 3W x 1.25D x 7.25H in.. Contains 3 squeakers and crinkle paper. Encourages play and exercise. Indoor or outdoor use.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: dog liked it but it didn't last long\\n\\nReview: This is a cute idea; it's a dog toy that looks like a newspaper, complete with silly little news stories. It squeaks (very important for my dog!) and it has some kind of crinkle paper in it. This is good for two reasons -- one, it makes the toy more like a \\\"real\\\" newspaper and two, your dog can't open a hole in the outer part and start pulling out stuffing.\\n\\nThis is a good size, as well. My dog is an 84-pound Rottweiler and this was an appropriate size for her. I think it best suited to medium or large dogs, probably too big for small breeds and too small for giant breeds.\\n\\nMy dog liked it. She wasn't so interested in the crinkle sound as she was in the squeaker. However. She lost interest in the squeaker and started gnawing on the corner, and maybe five minutes from getting this, she had opened a hole in the corner. What concerns me is that the outer coating seems very stringy. There were lots of long fibers sticking out around the hole she made. I would be concerned about a dog swallowing long fibers. Plus, you know, five minutes isn't long for a dog toy to last.\",\n \"Product: Pet Zone`sInstinct cat toys are made to let cats be cats, allowing them to jump, pounce, and chase their prey.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: cats were not particularly interested in this\\n\\nReview: This is well-made and I have had success with this brand in the past. So I was happy to see this in a recent KitNip Box subscription box. However, my cats are not particularly interested in it. (For reference, my cats are roughly 8, 9, 10, and 12 years old, though. They do play with some toys but lately have mostly been into feathers. If you have a younger, more playful cat, my experience may not apply to your situation.)\\n\\nThis is large for a mouse toy and may be a little too big for a cat to toss around. It does have an interesting woolly texture and a little rattle or something inside. My cats have never really been interested in noisemaking toys, although this rattle was fairly quiet and did not scare them or anything.\\n\\nWatch the tail and ears carefully -- my cats are prone to removing and attempting to eat such things. If your cat is the same, you may want to supervise your cat during playtime. I may try to refresh this with some catnip spray to make it more interesting to my cats.\",\n \"Product: Man'S best friend deserves the best in overall health and that health includes excellent canine dental hygiene. The Bullibone fully-permeated bacon flavored nylon chew is the perfect choice for your dog's daily oral health needs. The durable Bullibone dog chew helps to reduce tartar and plaque which not only freshens your dog's breath but also works to maintain healthier gums as part of a full canine dental hygiene program. What really sets the Bullibone chews apart from the pack is the fact that Bullibone dog chews are designed with the incredibly clever easy-hold paw pads. The easy-hold paw pads make it incredibly easy for your dog to grip the chew and get down to the important business of chewing.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: dog loved it and it did not aggravate her inflammatory bowel disease\\n\\nReview: We received this in a dog subscription box (and by \\\"we,\\\" I mean my dog and me). I am always a little reluctant to give flavored toys to my dog because she has inflammatory bowel disease and I am worried about her condition becoming aggravated by a flavor ingredient. But, after chewing on this a few times, she has not had any IBD flare-ups.\\n\\nMy dog is a super destructive chewer and this lasted long enough that she has been able to chew on it a few times (I always supervise, knowing her history). I have not noticed many of those sharp ridges you see from nylon toys (yet, anyway, although I am sure some will come with time).\\n\\nShe was definitely interested in this. And, although I had never really paid attention to how she held toys before, but the bottom cross-bar designed for the dogs to hold down with their paws really does work -- that's exactly how my dog used it (you can kind of see this in the official product image).\\n\\nAnyway, I'd strongly recommend supervision with this, and please remember it was not designed to be edible, so take it away if it becomes too damaged, but it seemed pretty durable even for my heavy chewer. (For reference, my dog is an adult female Rottweiler somewhere between 85 and 90 pounds at the moment.)\",\n \"Product: SmartGrip Cat Litter Mat keeps cat litter off your floor! Soft material acts as a cushion to prevent litter from 'popping' into the air and onto your floors. Unique design and outer channel does the rest, holding litter in place and on the large surface area for easier cleaning. More practical than other cat litter mats that trap litter under carpet fibers, making cleaning difficult and leading to mold and mildew. Easy to clean with multiple options not available in other mats! Provides you the ability to sweep, vacuum with hand-held or attachment, or pour clean litter back into box. Wipe with damp sponge or cloth to eliminate odors. Finally a litter mat with a sense of style! Fits in any room of the house with neutral color and design. Flexible to fit in tight spaces, including closets or small bathrooms.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: large and helps keep my carpet clean!\\n\\nReview: I have four cats; two of them are on prednisolone (steroids, which increase urine output) for medical conditions and one of those also seems to have trouble hitting the inside of the box. I was deathly afraid she'd start peeing on the carpet. I was also tired of walking around on bits of litter that the cats had kicked out on the carpet. I got this mat to put under what seems to be the most popular litter box.\\n\\nI like that this is quite large; it fits under the box with at least several inches showing all around (more in the front because I've pushed the litter box back against the wall). It's also thick so it should last a long time. The plastic texture is easy to clean (I wash it in the bathtub; I have one of those detachable showerheads so I can spray over the surface from up close). And the neutral color should work with most decors.\\n\\nI didn't notice a plastic smell when I opened this, which is nice. Oddly, one of my cats really likes to hang out on the mat. Maybe it's just the novelty of the thing?\\n\\nAnyway, recommended as part of a general strategy to protect the floor around your litter box.\",\n \"Product: The Pet Food Can Covers allow you to re-seal an open can of Dog or Cat Food. This allows you to keep and opened can of pet food fresh for future feedings. They fit three popular sizes of pet food cans to and are reusable. The set of six allows you to plenty for all your pet food needs. Also great to re-seal opened cans of human food.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: really like these can covers!\\n\\nReview: I'd been using the <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Ethical-3-1-2-Inch-Pet-Food-Can-Covers-3-Pack/dp/B0002ARWTA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Ethical 3-1/2-Inch Pet Food Can Covers, 3-Pack</a> for my cat food cans for awhile, but wasn't happy with the quality. First of all, those only ever fit on one size of can and secondly, they had started falling apart after less than a year of use. So, I decided to shop for a different brand.\\n\\nI am pleased to say that these Molor pet food can covers appear to be a much better fit for my needs. They fit on 5.5 ounce cat food cans from several brands, they fit on 13 ounce dog food cans, and I have also used one to cover a can of pureed pumpkin (which I feed my dog a little bit each day to aid with some digestive issues). The pumpkin can is a standard size for human food, so I expect these can covers would work for canned vegetables and the like, as well (in the 13-15 ounce range).\\n\\nI find the plastic to be fairly sturdy. It takes a bit of effort to place these on or take them off the dog food cans, specifically (it's easier for the cat food cans), but I feel like a great seal has been formed. Edit December 17, 2013: I have put these through multiple dishwasher cycles on the top rack and they've held up just fine.\\n\\nMy package had six lids in it, two each of red, white, and blue (nice for color-coding, if you're into that). Only one lid (the one on top of the stack) had the sticker/label on it that you see in the picture. All-in-all, I am very happy with the purchase.\\n\\nAs always, opened cans of pet food should be covered and refrigerated promptly and any unused portion should be discarded after a few days.\",\n \"Product: KONG Safestix are the perfect throw and fetch toys. They are bendable and flexible which provides interesting and engaging fun for dogs. KONG Safestix are made using durable plastic material and are great interactive dog toys. They are meant for indoor or outdoor use and they even float. Each size comes in assorted colors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: good toy for destructive dogs that like to tug\\n\\nReview: I have an 82-pound, 1-year-old Rottweiler, and she really likes to play tug-of-war with me. However, her plush toys have mostly been destroyed, she's managed to shred her rope, and there's not much else long enough to keep my hands a short distance away from her mouth. (She's not mean, just enthusiastic. And she has strong jaws.) I'd been reluctant to buy one of these because of the appearance, which has always seemed a bit naughty to me, but I have a ring-shaped toy made of a similar type of plastic/rubber, and that has lasted for months. The durability of the ring-shaped toy convinced me to give this toy a try. (I got a turquoise one.)\\n\\nI did follow the instructions. That is, I don't leave it with her when she's not supervised. At some point, I might actually feel safe doing so, because despite quite a lot of gnawing on it yesterday, she hasn't managed to mar the surface even a little bit. (With my dog, I always have to be on the lookout for small parts coming off and potentially getting swallowed.)\\n\\nThis is a good toy for tugging. It's easy for me to grip and it's easy for the dog to keep ahold of with her teeth. Plus, the dog likes it a lot. She keeps attempting to sneak it past me and into her pen; it's actually pretty cute to watch her try. Finally, because of the material this is made of, it's easy to clean with soap and water.\\n\\nAll-in-all, this is a good option for a dog tug-of-war toy, especially if you have a dog prone to destroying ropes and plush toys.\",\n \"Product: Fresh Step Litter Multi-Cat Scoopable, Unscented - 25 lb\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: pretty good odor control\\n\\nReview: After a bad experience with the Arm & Hammer unscented cat litter, Fresh Step was the next one I tried. (I have a cat with a urinary tract condition and my vet has recommended unscented clumping litter as one of several strategies to help him with his condition.)\\n\\nAs the other reviewer has mentioned, there is an odor or fragrance when you first dispense the litter. I agree this is not quite unscented, and that's why I took a star off. For what it's worth, this fragrance does not persist for long; it pretty much dissipates within a few minutes. I'd say the dust level of this litter is average. It's not low-dust, but it's definitely not the dustiest I've tried.\\n\\nI like that this comes in 25-lb boxes instead of just 20-lb boxes. I can get by with buying three of them instead of four. This is easier on me financially, plus I don't have to cart around quite as many boxes each time I buy it.\\n\\nBut what I really am most enthusiastic about is that the odor control with this litter is very long-lasting. I have four cats and four litter boxes. Naturally, one litter box is more popular than the others (I don't claim to understand cats' thinking!). I scrub the boxes and fill them with litter about once a month, scoop about three times a week, and even in the most popular box, I never get a urine smell. The litter clumps as well at the end of the month as it does at the beginning. (Occasionally I add a refill box of litter partway through the month, to top off any low boxes.) I am thus able to remove the urine clumps, and my house does not smell like cat urine anymore!\\n\\nFor what it's worth, my cats are not at all picky about litter. They've gladly used whatever I've provided, which includes the Fresh Step.\",\n \"Product: Finally, a healthy grain-free dental treat for cats with a taste they love! Smart n' Tasty all natural and nutritious crunchy treats are irresistible to cats. Pet owners love that theyre grain free, gluten free, soy free, dairy free and made in the U.S.A. with all natural US ingredients. Whimsical fish shaped treats are big enough to encourage chewing versus just swallowing for maximum dental health. With six formulas cats absolutely love, plus innovative ingredients used to fight plaque and tartar, these delicious treats are rewarding for cats and their parents. Calcium carbonate enhances the scraping action to clean your kittie's teeth. Promotes clean teeth and fresh breath!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats think these are great, they have good ingredients, though I'm not sure if they clean teeth or not\\n\\nReview: My cats like these. I got them in some cat subscription box or other (I get so many of those, they kind of run together). Sadly, my cat with actual dental problems can't have these due to his inflammatory bowel disease, but my other three cats all like them.\\n\\nImportant to note: these are made in the USA from all US-origin ingredients. You can see the full ingredients list if you zoom in on the product image of the back of the package. What I like about these is that they are grain free and free of artificial colors and preservatives. They have what I consider to be better ingredients than some other dental treats my cats have tried lately.\\n\\nThese come in a resealable bag, seemed fresh, and thankfully don't have a fishy smell. They're a bit hard and somewhat large and I think the idea is that helps with the cats' teeth. (The little fish shape is cute, too.) Seeing as most cats don't want you to examine their teeth (unless they're under anesthesia and can't protest), it's hard to judge the results.\\n\\nIn the end, I like the ingredients in these and my cats seem to enjoy consuming them. The jury's out on whether they actually clean cats' teeth, as explained above, but overall they are good treats that I would definitely buy in the future if I ever run out of cat treats (which will be a loooong time in the future).\",\n \"Product: Adorable Plush Sushi! Cat owners will love these unique and cute cat toys! Polyfill with a catnip packet inside.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cute, fairly sturdy, my cats showed a reasonable amount of interest\\n\\nReview: I have both the shrimp and the crab. (Actually, I have two of the crab.) These are about the most adorable cat toys I have seen. I love the little eyes.\\n\\nMy cats are older and not terribly violent with their toys, so these are holding up well. The eyes, tails, etc. are still securely attached. If your cat is particularly destructive, these may not be for you, as there are a lot of parts that could potentially come off.\\n\\nMy cats have an above average level of enthusiasm for these toys, though they are not the most exciting toys (in my cats' opinions, based on their interaction with the toys). They do play with them and I am assuming the catnip was at a reasonable level based on the amount of sniffing and licking of the toys that was going on.\\n\\nAnyway, if your cat likes little plush catnip toys, these are pretty good. And so cute.\",\n \"Product: From the beginning, we wanted to make a positive impact on the quality of cat care and develop a cleaner litter. The result: ever clean litter, America's First clumping cat litter. Our premium granules set us apart. We are constantly striving to develop improved products, and we only sell our litter in pet specialty stores, where pet care comes First. from the litter specialists.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: new favorite cat litter\\n\\nReview: I have four cats sharing four litter boxes. I used to use the Fresh Step unscented (i.e., not Extreme) clumping litter, but lately I haven't been able to find it locally. I tried a cheaper store brand unscented clumping litter as a substitute and it was awful. I will spare you the details except to say that my house smelled TERRIBLE after the first couple of days with the store brand litter. So, since I had previously been pretty happy with the Fresh Step brand, I bought some of this to try.\\n\\nI think this is my favorite litter yet, and the one I will be using for the foreseeable future. It has all the features I came to love with the standard Fresh Step unscented clumping litter, but (to me) it seems less dusty and to have less of an odor. (Even though the earlier Fresh Step product I was using was supposed to be unscented, it did have a slight fragrance immediately upon opening the box. With THIS litter, that is greatly reduced.) This stuff is really long-lasting (I'm going on four weeks now) and clumps as well on day 28 as it does on day 1, so clean-up is simple. I normally use three 25-pound boxes of cat litter to fill my four litter boxes, and I have refilled with an additional 25-pound box once since I started using this. My house does not smell like I have cats, which is absolutely amazing, since three of my cats are on medications and/or foods that have the side effect of increasing urine output. (I do periodically empty and disinfect all the litter boxes.)\\n\\nFor what it's worth, I am interested in unscented clumping litter for several reasons. First, one of my cats has feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) and an unscented clumping litter was recommended for him. Second, another of my cats has asthma, so I wanted something without perfumes. (Low dust is a bonus, too, both for the asthmatic cat and for me with my allergies.) I've been having a really hard time finding one I liked, but I'm happy with this one.\",\n \"Product: Naturally purrr-fect cat treats! now our feline friends have their very own buddy Biscuits to love! our all natural cat treats are made from the finest premium ingredients, like real meat and wholesome vegetables, with no grains or artificial flavors. These tender little morsels have an enticing aroma and irresistible flavor that your cats will crave.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cats liked these quite a bit\\n\\nReview: I got these in a subscription box. My cats used to not like fish but are slowly being won over, so I wasn't sure if they would like these. But it turns out these are pretty popular with my cats.\\n\\nThey are the semi-soft style of treats my cats prefer. They seem to be a little bit chewy (although I have my doubts about whether cats really chew their food) so they took my cats awhile to eat. But the texture was not a turn-off for the cats at all; as soon as a cat finished one treat, s/he would be looking for the next one (I fed these to three cats, two males and a female, all technically \\\"seniors\\\" at ages 7+).\\n\\nThe cats did not have any negative digestive reactions to these. These did not smell (always a concern with fish-based pet products). The package was resealable, which is nice, so the treats won't get dried out. Also I appreciate that they are grain free (cats don't need grain -- it may actually give them digestive problems) and made in the USA.\",\n \"Product: Cats love our SHEBA Cuts in Gravy Whitefish and Tuna Entree for their mouthwatering flavors and tender cuts, and who can blame them? Even picky eaters will enjoy real, meaty morsels soaked in delectable gravy. Our wholesome, corn-free cat food is good for them, too. This premium cat food contains no corn, soy, or wheat; no artificial flavors; and no artificial preservatives. Give your fluffy companion a fresh tasting food for cats that uses real meat as the first ingredient with SHEBA Cuts in Gravy Wet Cat Food.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats' favorite fish!\\n\\nReview: I've been buying a lot of different kinds of wet cat food lately. I have two cats I'm trying to transition to wet cat food and I am finding that there seem to be a lot of different factors going into whether or not the cats like particular kinds of wet food. These include: protein source (i.e., the type of meat, poultry, or fish that makes up most of the food), texture (composite chunks versus pate versus little pieces of meat), the presence or absence of gravy, and possibly some other things that only the cats can detect.\\n\\nThis is definitely a favorite of one of my two reluctant wet-food adopters. I'm surprised, because he doesn't finish other kinds of fish (he's had tuna and whitefish). But he really likes this salmon and eats it quickly. There's none left in the bowl for the other cats to investigate.\\n\\nThe full ingredients list is on the product page but here are the first few: Meat Broth, Salmon, Chicken, Meat By-Products, Chicken Liver. I'm pleased that so many meat-based ingredients are present in this. (Sheba cat foods are grain free.) I don't know what \\\"meat by-products\\\" are, specifically, but I'm glad that there's not a lot of filler in these (just a little bit of starch, probably to thicken the gravy). This salmon entree is a strong contender to be part of the daily wet food diet of at least one of my cats.\",\n \"Product: Cats love our SHEBA Cuts in Gravy Whitefish and Tuna Entree for their mouthwatering flavors and tender cuts, and who can blame them? Even picky eaters will enjoy real, meaty morsels soaked in delectable gravy. Our wholesome, corn-free cat food is good for them, too. This premium cat food contains no corn, soy, or wheat; no artificial flavors; and no artificial preservatives. Give your fluffy companion a fresh tasting food for cats that uses real meat as the first ingredient with SHEBA Cuts in Gravy Wet Cat Food.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: not quite the same as the \\\"old\\\" Sheba, but still pretty good\\n\\nReview: I have four cats. Two of them are completely converted to wet food, but I have two holdouts. One of the holdouts used to love the old Sheba food (at least when he was sick and on prednisolone, which did increase his appetite quite a bit). However, Sheba went off the market for awhile and when it came back, it was different. Still, in an effort to entice this cat to eat wet food (which my vet tells me is better for cats -- easier to digest and a good source of water), I decided to buy half a dozen varieties of Sheba.\\n\\nThe former Sheba-lover wouldn't touch this. I gave his dish to two other cats, though, and they ate it quickly. Therefore, I don't think I'll knock off any points for taste because 2 of the 3 cats I offered it to liked it a great deal, and the one who didn't hasn't liked any wet food I've given him yet. I offered this food a second time to one of the cats who liked it, and he ate it again.\\n\\nThis food has little pieces of meat that you can actually see, in a gravy sort of sauce. I'm mostly OK with the ingredients. There is some starch, probably there as a thickener (it's pretty low on the ingredients list), but the first few ingredients are at least meat-related: poultry broth, chicken, turkey, meat by-products, chicken liver, beef liver, etc. I'm pleased that there's no wheat in here, and also that there's no soy. Cats don't really need those things, being obligate carnivores.\\n\\nAll-in-all, I'd consider this food a success.\",\n \"Product: These lightweight sparkle balls as we call them can be called glitter balls, tinsel balls, glitter pom poms, tinsel pom poms. No matter what they are called your cat will love to toss, chase, bat these cat toys around.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: the cat I bought these for LOVES them\\n\\nReview: I bought these for my orange tabby cat. He loves to chew on this type of toy (don't ask me why, and he's the only one of my four cats who does this sort of thing.) He will also carry these around my condo in his mouth, which is so cute (and hilarious).\\n\\nAnyway, you get six assorted 2-inch sparkle balls. These are much larger than the craft pompons with a similar appearance, and are thus safer for cats. It didn't take long for my orange cat to decide he LOVED these. These are apparently made just for cats and are sturdier than the craft ones, too.\\n\\nIn the end, this was a wonderful purchase. The toys are high quality and my cat loves them.\",\n \"Product: Mighty dog toys rethink durability and approach it from a new angle. Durability is created for each toy with multiple layers of flexible materials that move with the dog&rsquo;s teeth instead of tearing. Compared to other toys, Mighty dog toys have no hard edges. The result is these toys do not promote chewing &ndash; great when you&rsquo;re trying to discourage chewing habits. These toys may seem plush on the outside, but all the durability features are internal making these toys soft, yet MIGHTY strong. Please be a responsible dog owner and only allow your dog to play with the toy under supervision. Do not allow your pet to ingest any portion of the toy.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: my dog loved it but it did not last very long\\n\\nReview: I bought this because the packaging had a picture of a Rottweiler holding the toy in its mouth. My dog is a 90-lb Rottie and she is super destructive. But she has also been sick lately and I've been getting her a lot of toys to help cheer her up (since she is currently on a restricted diet, treats are out of the question). I was hoping this toy was Rottweiler-proof and that it might last longer than 30 minutes like most of the other toys I've given her lately.\\n\\nThis did last longer than 30 minutes, but not much longer. She ripped the fabric on both ends pretty quickly, exposing the plastic bone beneath. She also managed to extricate one of the squeakers, which meant I had to pry open her mouth and take the squeaker away.\\n\\nMine did have two layers of fabric -- the orange fleece and an inner, thinner white backing. The plastic bone inside is not very substantial and my dog has already managed to chew a hole in that, too.\\n\\nSo, she did like this -- a lot. But it only lasted an hour, maybe two, before I had to permanently take it away from her for safety reasons. If your dog isn't very destructive, this might work. And it gets points for not having any stuffing. But if your dog is destructive, this is simply not durable enough to be worth the purchase price.\",\n \"Product: Made with real, responsibly sourced seafood as the first ingredient, SHEBA Pate in Natural Juices Salmon Entre Canned Cat Food satisfies even the pickiest eaters. Our wholesome, corn-free cat food contains no wheat or soy, and no artificial flavors or preservatives. Your fluffy companion deserves fresh-tasting, premium cat food. Treat them to a real feast with SHEBA Pate in Natural Juices Wet Food for Cats.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: grain free and 3 of my cats like it\\n\\nReview: I went out and bought 10 or 15 different kinds of wet cat food. I have two cats I'm trying to transition over to wet food, since several vets have told me wet food is better than dry food for cats. (The reasons for this are (1) that wet food is more easily digested than kibble and (2) many cats don't drink enough water and the moisture in wet food can help overcome this.) The idea behind this experiment is that I will find one combination of food texture and protein source that the cats prefer, and I can begin making the switch. The Sheba Beef Pat is the most recent food I've tried.\\n\\nI'm pleased to report that it was a success. The cat I gave it to liked it very much and he ate it quickly. Another two cats lined up to lick his bowl afterwards. I gave it to him again the next day and it was the same story. So, taste-wise, I'm going to count this one as a success.\\n\\nIt's also fairly good from an ingredients standpoint. All Sheba cats foods are free of corn and other grains. Here are the first few ingredients: Beef, Meat Broth, Meat By-Products, Chicken Liver, Chicken, Poultry By-Products. (Of course there are more, including other flavorings and vitamins. But I'm pleased that everything up front is meat or poultry-based.) This is somewhat similar to the Fancy Feast Classic Tender Beef Feast, although that has fish ingredients and this one has chicken ingredients.\\n\\nThe Sheba Beef Pat also would be good for cats with dental problems as it does not seem to require much chewing.\\n\\nI would generally not advise feeding beef to cats with inflammatory bowel disease (who shouldn't have beef or poultry), but since this is grain free, I am considering keeping some around for emergencies when my IBD cat stops eating his pricier food. This is also a strong contender for the wet food I decide on for my first reluctant wet-food eater. All-in-all, this is a decent food that could easily form part or all of the diet of a healthy cat.\",\n \"Product: Give your bird its own natural nest to rest with the prevue pet products canary twig nest. Perfect for small birds.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: trying to keep my zebra finches from sleeping in their food dishes\\n\\nReview: I have three male zebra finches. They are brothers, the last of two clutches that hatched in 2009. They like to sit in their food dishes and in order to have room to do so, they throw a lot of seeds out onto the bottom of their cage. I got them some of these nests, thinking to give them an alternate place to sit so they wouldn't make quite such a big mess and waste quite so much food.\\n\\nWell, my birds were terrified of these at first. But that is not such a big deal. They are little birds, after all, and these were NEW THINGS in their cages. They are slowly becoming more accustomed to the presence of these, although they are not sitting in them yet. I'm giving it time.\\n\\nConstruction of these is solid. They will hold a fair amount of weight. There are one or two pieces of straw (or whatever they are made of) that stick out but that doesn't detract from the overall performance. I have put some strips of toilet paper in these for nesting material since it is cheap, biodegradable, easily replaceable, and non-hazardous (don't use cotton fluff or string as either of those can wrap around your birds' limbs and cut off circulation).\\n\\nThe only thing I am not thrilled about is the means of attachment to the cage. The metal (you can see it in the product image) is kind of stiff and difficult to bend, but you really need to bend it so the nest doesn't tip forward and fall. It would be far easier to do this in a cage without birds in it (so if you are just getting set up, add the nest first). Alternatively, it would be fairly easy to add your own attachment mechanism since you can slip narrow things between the twigs/straw pieces.\\n\\nOverall, though, I'm happy with the purchase. It's only been a few days and I'm sure my birds will come around. I've had pairs of birds (zebra finches or society finches only -- I think I'd go with something a little bigger for a canary or parakeet) in the past raise several chicks in similar nests, so if you are looking for something for that purpose, as long as you make sure it is secure, you should be fine.\",\n \"Product: The Heavy Duty Litter Mat features a grassy surface that is gentle on cats' paws and tough on litter tracking. The generous 36\\\" x 30\\\" surface of the Heavy Duty Litter Mat provides floor coverage well beyond the edges of the cat litter box preventing litter from tracking throughout the home while protecting flooring from grit and accidents. Mat is tough, durable, fade resistant and repels liquids. Made in the USA from marine grade carpeting.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: works exactly as I had hoped it would\\n\\nReview: I recently moved to a new house. My four cats are confined to the bedroom until I finish unpacking. (It's a big bedroom, and they have full access to the large master bath and two walk-in closets as well.) But all of these areas are carpeted, save a tiny room with a shower and toilet. So I needed some better litter mats, preferably large ones. I bought three of these.\\n\\nI will say, the primary reason I chose this mat is because of the size. Also, I was mostly looking to control the spread of cat litter. (A secondary desire was to keep urine from cats who miss the box, off the carpet.) These mats are good for what I wanted. (I bought three of them.)\\n\\nMy cats have kicked out a lot of litter, but it all pretty much stays on the mats. I can either vacuum them or shake them over the trash to get the litter out. The mats are large enough to have at least a few inches (if not more) on all sides, with the box in the middle. They're flexible so I can do things like stick them under the vanity or partially protect the wall with one.\\n\\nThe texture is fine. The cats scratch at it a bit (I mean like scratching post scratching, not litterbox scratching). I have walked across one and it doesn't bother my feet.\\n\\nPlease note: these are plastic and should not be put in the washing machine! Wash them with soapy water and let air dry.\\n\\nI definitely made the right choice with these. They do everything I hoped they would and the cats are OK with them, too.\",\n \"Product: Wellness Signature Selects Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food, White Meat Chicken & Beef Entree in Sauce is gourmet all natural grain free cat food with delicate cuts of real meat in delicious sauce delivering the delicious variety of flavor and texture your cat craves. Each simple recipe is prepared by hand and packed with irrestible taste. Each recipe is grain free and, like all Wellness products, does not contain any wheat, wheat gluten, soy or added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. In addition, hydration is extremely important to a cat's overall health and since cats do not have a strong thirst drive, Wellness wet canned cat food recipes are a delicious and healthy way to increase your cat's moisture intake.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: high quality ingredients, some cats like it better than others\\n\\nReview: I'm trying to convert my cats to wet food. One of them likes turkey best, so I'd been feeding him some turkey Fancy Feast once a day (trust me, he needs a slow transition). Well, I was distracted for a few days and neglected my cat-food-ordering duties and ran out of the Fancy Feast. I was going by an upscale pet-food store (too upscale to carry Fancy Feast) and this was the only kind of food that had shredded turkey (this cat is particular about the texture of his food) in any form. So I bought a couple of cans to get me through until my next order.\\n\\nAt first, it seemed like this was a pretty big hit. I always feed foods for at least two days before making a final decision. Sometimes a new food can be popular the first day and the cat will turn up his nose the second day. Because, well, that's how cats are. On the first day, I served half a can of this at room temperature and the cat in question ate it ALL in a very short period of time.\\n\\nI covered the can and put it in the refrigerator and served him the rest the next day. I'd say he ate about half of it the second day. It was cold, and the texture was a little different due to the refrigeration. I'm probably going to try warming the next batch of refrigerated food in the microwave for a few seconds before offering it. However, although the first cat I gave it to wouldn't eat it all, one of my other cats gobbled up the leftovers. On the third day, I opened a new can. Unfortunately, the cat this was intended for wouldn't touch it (he doesn't like change, I think). But another cat finished it off for him.\\n\\nSo, some cats like the stuff and some don't. I think of Wellness as a premium brand, and I love the ingredients: chicken, chicken broth, water, tapioca starch, dried egg product, turkey, natural flavor, and most of the rest of the ingredients are vitamins (there is some sunflower oil, and there's a little carrageenan). I love that this is grain free, since cats really can't process grains easily -- their digestive systems aren't constructed to handle it.\\n\\nOverall, this is a high quality food that at least one of my cats likes fairly well.\",\n \"Product: Finally, a healthy grain-free dental treat for cats with a taste they love! Smart n' Tasty all natural and nutritious crunchy treats are irresistible to cats. Pet owners love that theyre grain free, gluten free, soy free, dairy free and made in the U.S.A. with all natural US ingredients. Whimsical fish shaped treats are big enough to encourage chewing versus just swallowing for maximum dental health. With six formulas cats absolutely love, plus innovative ingredients used to fight plaque and tartar, these delicious treats are rewarding for cats and their parents. Calcium carbonate enhances the scraping action to clean your kittie's teeth. Promotes clean teeth and fresh breath!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cats like (plus they're grain free and made in the US)\\n\\nReview: This review is for the \\\"Turducky\\\" flavor.\\n\\nThese are somewhat large, hard treats. I have three cats who can eat these and, of those three, two of my cats love these. (I won't dock the rating any for the third cat because he is rarely motivated by treats at all.) I throw a couple on the floor and they're all gone in under a few minutes.\\n\\nMy cats don't have particularly bad teeth, but I do think these are effective dental treats -- I actually hear the cats chewing, at least a little bit, so the treats are at least contacting some of their teeth (they're a little bit large, for cat treats, which probably makes them chew).\\n\\nI'm happy these are grain free as I try to avoid feeding grains to my cats whenever possible (their digestive systems really can't handle a lot of grain-based foods). These are made in the USA, which is important for pet treats (and the ingredients are also sourced in the US).\",\n \"Product: Loving Pets' It's Purrfectly Natural Dried Buffalo Cat Treats are made from 100% pure buffalo. As an alternative to beef, buffalo is leaner, lower in cholesterol, higher in protein and has a higher concentration of iron and essential fatty acids. Healthy and delicious, It's Purrfectly Natural Buffalo does NOT contain any: additives, fillers, byproducts, artificial preservatives. It's Purrfectly Natural Buffalo is also:, wheat free, gluten free, soy free, grain free, glycerin free and bite-sized and soft to chew, this is the perfect cat treat!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats were not thrilled with these, but might work if your cat likes shrimp\\n\\nReview: My cats weren't thrilled about these. I offered them to three cats and two of the cats did eat them. However, the third walked away without paying attention.\\n\\nThese are various sizes, as might be expected with a natural product. Mine did not have a smell at all, and my cats couldn't find all the pieces on the carpet (so I had to pick up after them). They seemed to have trouble eating the bigger pieces, especially. (I think they're not used to chewing...)\\n\\nIf your cat really likes shrimp, or the texture of freeze-dried food, these might be great for you. I know how picky cats can be, and sometimes it's just the luck of the draw whether they'll like a particular treat or not. (Mine do like freeze-dried duck liver, although they don't care for seafood-based wet foods, so maybe they just don't like shrimp.)\\n\\nThese are made in India, if that's something you care about.\",\n \"Product: Loving Pets' It's Purrfectly Natural Dried Buffalo Cat Treats are made from 100% pure buffalo. As an alternative to beef, buffalo is leaner, lower in cholesterol, higher in protein and has a higher concentration of iron and essential fatty acids. Healthy and delicious, It's Purrfectly Natural Buffalo does NOT contain any: additives, fillers, byproducts, artificial preservatives. It's Purrfectly Natural Buffalo is also:, wheat free, gluten free, soy free, grain free, glycerin free and bite-sized and soft to chew, this is the perfect cat treat!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 2 of 3 cats I gave these to thought they were pretty awesome\\n\\nReview: I got these in a recent Meowbox. I guess they are making the cat subscription box rounds (hey, it's a good marketing tool). I have four cats and three of them can have treats (alas, the fourth has inflammatory bowel disease). I offered this to the three who can have treats.\\n\\nCat 1: She is a beef fanatic. That is about the only protein I can get her to eat on a consistent basis. So all her food is beef. If I let her, she would chew on bully sticks intended for dogs. It was not terribly surprising that she enjoyed these treats. She kept stealing them from the other cats, actually.\\n\\nCat 2: He will eat most treats. He actually prefers turkey over anything else. But he did enjoy these. (He let a few be stolen by Cat 1.)\\n\\nCat 3: He will not eat most treats. He is weirdly uninterested in food (he eats enough to stay alive, and he's a little on the thin side, but healthy). He licked these but did not actually eat them. That is honestly more enthusiasm than I see from him for a lot of other treats, so we'll count that one as a win.\\n\\nThese are lightweight, as are any freeze-dried treats. What was nice about these was that there wasn't a bunch of powder at the bottom of the bag (which happens with other, similar products). So all the package weight is stuff the cats are actually going to be able to consume. Other than that, these are made in the USA and have a single ingredient (since they are freeze dried), which I appreciate. They come in a resealable bag and they don't smell. So all-in-all, I was pretty happy with these.\",\n \"Product: Omega Paw Cranberry Cabernet Cat Treats have a full bodied flavor for your cat's sophisticated taste. These soft and moist treats are made with real chicken and antioxidant-rich cranberries, providing a taste your cat will love and helping to support the urinary tract. The small portion size of these treats also makes them perfect for rewarding your cat often without compromising her health.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats like these fairly well\\n\\nReview: I got these in a cat subscription box. (No idea which one. I get quite a few of those every month.) I think I like these better than some of the other treats from the same product line (we've also had the mojito ones -- don't contain lime, by the way -- and the margarita ones). One thing that draws me to these, as opposed to some of the others just mentioned, is that they have cranberry in them. One of my cats has urinary tract issues (he has FLUTD) and, though he hasn't had a flare-up in a few years, I like to take some preventive measures. (Because going to the emergency vet and having him pumped full of fluids, followed by a few weeks of amitriptyline, isn't fun.)\\n\\nNow, I don't know how much D-mannose is in these (that's the sugar from cranberry responsible for the anti-UTI effects), and I certainly wouldn't use these to treat an active bladder infection (that requires a urine culture and antibiotics), but these are a form of cranberry that cats will actually tolerate. Of my three cats who can eat these (I have one with IBD who can't have them, since they do contain chicken), two are quite enthusiastic and the third (the one with urinary tract issues) usually eats a few as well, which is more than I can say for other treats (he's not particularly food-motivated, though). So I guess he is getting some small amount of cranberry (and D-mannose) from these. That, alone, wouldn't get rid of all his problems, but coupled with other measures (prescription food, Feliway diffusers to cut stress), it forms part of an overall wellness strategy.\\n\\nThese are made in the USA, which is great, and they come in a resealable bag. They don't have a strong smell (thankfully), though they are semi-moist in consistency. And my cats do clean them up off the floor pretty quickly (they won't eat treats from my hand so I toss a handful on the floor). So they seem to like them. I think there is some artifiicial dye in here to make them red, but it hasn't caused any problems. These are not making my cats throw up; they seem to be tolerated quite well, even on an empty stomach.\",\n \"Product: The DuraChew Marrow Bone chew toy is made to be long lasting for powerful chewers. The easy-to-fill middle is great for stuffing with peanut butter, wet canned food, cheese, and other treats. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar buildup. (Different dogs have different chewing styles and strengths, even within the same breed, so be sure to choose the correct chew size and type for your dog.)\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my dog's new favorite thing\\n\\nReview: My dog is destructive. She cannot have plush toys. She cannot have rope toys. She cannot have certain types of plastic and rubber toys. She cannot be left unsupervised with tennis balls. And she once ATE a Gentle Leader (thankfully, it passed through...). However, she has had pretty good luck with Nylabone toys. She really likes the big \\\"beef bone\\\" toys, but I decided to get her something a little different the other day, and I chose this. (For reference, she is a 2-year-old Rottweiler and weighs about 95 pounds.)\\n\\nShe LOVES this thing. She has had it for about two days now and she hasn't left it alone for a minute. It was a little bit difficult for her to get off the floor at first, but she figured that out pretty quickly. It's already a little rough and discolored from the excessive amount of chewing, but it's still in one piece and should last her a good, long time (plus, these are easy to wash if that becomes necessary). She tries to fit the whole thing in her mouth (doesn't quite succeed).\\n\\nAnyway, probably most suitable for a fairly large dog. I think my dog's big mouth and strong jaw help her to get it up off the floor. I could tell by looking at this that my dog would like it, and I was right. So if your dog is a Nylabone fan, this is definitely worth checking out!\",\n \"Product: A whole new way to squeak! Jigglerz are made with ZippyPaws exclusive noisemakers that squeak when shaken by a happy pup! Added crinkle paper inside the head and tail makes these adorable plush toys even more fun for dogs. Each toy is lined with an extra layer of tough Cordura material and cross-stitched for durability. Jigglerz are 21 inches long. ZippyPaws means design and quality. At our core, we stand for only giving your dogs the best. Sketching every design, hand-selecting the perfect materials, and running all finished products past our furry testing team allows us to ensure that every product sold is one that we're proud to call ours.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: dog loves it and it has held up quite well so far\\n\\nReview: This is pretty much the most annoying toy my dog has had for a very long time. However, she really does seem to love it, so I should probably just get some earplugs.\\n\\nThis is pretty large, over a foot and a half long (we have the rabbit, which came in a recent dog subscription box). It has no stuffing, which is wonderful (my dog is the mistress of finding the weak points in toys, exploiting them, and pulling out stuffing). It is very well made. I did remove the little hanging loop from the head (between the ears), but my dog has not managed to remove any parts -- not the ears, not the legs, not the tail. And I have a super destructive, 86-pound Rottweiler. (For what it's worth, this is a very good size for a large breed dog.)\\n\\nThis squeaks if squeezed but also if shaken. My dog did quite a lot of both. I could only take the sound for about five minutes (my dog had no such limitations) but it was constantly squeaking the whole time she had it. And it held up -- no squeakers broke, smashed, or got punctured. We tugged back and forth on this a little bit and it didn't even rip apart then. (Most plush toys are not suitable for tugging, as I have learned.)\\n\\nI generally find ZippyPaws toys (especially the ones that are size appropriate for my dog) to be of good quality, but this one is among the best even of those. My dog will get to play with it a few more times, which is pretty much unheard of for any type of plush.\\n\\nAnyway, I should probably stop raving about this thing now. One final note, the large (21-inch) size of these retails new elsewhere for about twelve bucks so getting it for under nine is a good deal.\",\n \"Product: Feliway Spray controls urine marking and scratching, calms cats in transport and comforts cats in stressed environments. After cleaning urine-affected areas, spray directly onto the urine marks, as well as onto prominent objects including furniture, drapes, window frames and doorways. Feliway stops destructive behavior that can ruin your relationship with your cat. If something disturbs your cat's environment, such as a new pet, visitors, moving to a new home or even rearranging the furniture, he may start urine marking, scratching or even stop eating. Feliway products help control destructive urine marking and scratching associated with fear or stressful situations. Feliway Spray is odorless, colorless and nontoxic with no effect on other animals or people. It is not a drug or a tranquilizer.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: spray and let sit for a moment so the alcohol evaporates, and then your cat should like it\\n\\nReview: I was first introduced to this product at my vet's office and one of my cats, and older guy who has inflammatory bowel disease, really thought it was awesome (they sprayed it on a towel they had put on the exam room table). He licked and rubbed himself all over the towel. Well, now he has some additional problems as a side effect of his medications and condition, and he has to go back and forth to the vet and the ophthalmologist a lot (like a couple of times a week), and that can be pretty stressful on him. I don't want him to be stressed out because he already has hypertension and I don't want to make it worse! So I bought this to use on a towel that I put at the bottom of his pet carries. And I think it is helping.\\n\\nI did not have any luck with the Comfort Zone spray, but this one seems better. I took my cat to the vet for bloodwork and a blood pressure reading yesterday and he did really well! And his blood pressure reading was in the normal range, whereas it had been about twice normal at the emergency vet last week, so I think this is helping keep him calmed down. (I don't think it's the only thing -- his medications are working so he is feeling better -- but I believe in attacking the problem from all sides to get the best result, and this is one more tool!)\\n\\nThis does have an alcohol base (probably necessary to dissolve the active ingredient). I wish it didn't, but that may be the only thing that will work for the pheromones in this product. So, ideally you would spray it on something (cat bed, towel, blanket, etc.) and let it sit for a few minutes while the alcohol evaporates. (I tried spraying it near my cat to see his reaction, before I realized the alcohol was a problem, and he didn't like it. But he *did* like a towel that had been sprayed and allowed to sit for a moment.)\\n\\nSo anyway, this is working better for my cat than the Comfort Zone spray, and I will be getting a lot of use out of it as we travel back and forth to my cat's vet appointments in the coming weeks. (Hopefully not too many more of those.) I'll also be using it for taking my other cats to the vet for their annual exams and vaccinations.\",\n \"Product: Wellness Kittles Grain Free Natural Cat Treats, Chicken & Cranberries Recipe are irresistibly tasty, 100% all-natural wheat free, grain free crunchy treats made in USA only. These natural crunchy dental cat treats not only are as tasty as they are healthy, but have a crunchy texture that helps to clean your cat's teeth. Each all-natural treat bite is packed with big taste from whole-food ingredients like chicken, cranberries and blueberries. With nothing artificial and under 2 calories each, you can show your cat extra love with Wellness Kittles natural cat treats.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: made in the USA and my cats love them\\n\\nReview: This review is for the \\\"chicken and cranberries\\\" flavor, since multiple items are listed on the same page.\\n\\nI got a package of these in last month's Meow Box and finally got around to opening them. I have three cats who are able to eat chicken (sadly, my fourth cat has a medical condition that precludes this), so I got them all together in a room and put a dozen or so of these on the floor.\\n\\nTwo of the three cats proceeded to gobble these up. The third showed some interest but he wasn't quick enough. So the cats like them, which is definitely worth a lot.\\n\\nThey're hard treats and they come in little shapes (flowers, hearts, stars). I don't think my cats chewed them, though...They come in a resealable plastic bag, similarly to many other cat treats.\\n\\nI trust the Wellness brand, in general. I've tried many cat and dog foods and treats from them in the past and have always been happy. These are made in the USA (always an important consideration when it comes to pet food/treats). They're grain-free, which is best for cats.\\n\\nI'm not sure how much cranberry and blueberry is in these. It must not be much, because my cats were pretty enthusiastic. I would imagine cranberry and blueberry would help with urinary tract issues; can't figure out another reason those ingredients would be included (sadly, the cat who hesitated a split second too long is the one with urinary tract issues...).\\n\\nAll-in-all, my cats liked these quite a bit. Would definitely consider buying these again sometime.\",\n \"Product: What you see as bad behavior such as destructive scratching or urine marking may actually be your cat acting out due to stress. Cats are creatures of habit so when something in their environment changes such as a recent move or even rearranging furniture, can cause them stress. Good news! You don't have to live your life putting up with these behaviors and they can be modified and managed by using Comfort Zone and Comfort Zone with Feliway products. Our Spray & Scratch Control Spray is vet recommended and clinically proven to reduce urine marking and to limit destructive scratching. How does it work? Cats use pheromones which are scents to communicate to other cats and affect your cat's emotional well-being. We've mimicked these pheromones that help cats feel calm and safe. When the pheromones are sprayed onto a vertical surface, it naturally signals to your cat that their environment is safe which helps reduce their stress and reduce their need to scratch or spray. Simply spray onto the object(s) or area on the walls that your cat likes to target. The Comfort Zone Spray dispenses a drug-free, unscented and odorless vapor that only affects the cats. The spray is a great travel option to spray in the car or kennel if your cat gets nervous on the road or on the table at the vet's office to help keep them calm. It can be sprayed on fabrics, upholstery, hardwood, and doorframes.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: not as good as the stuff at the vet's office\\n\\nReview: I am just not seeing any results from using this product. I have tried it off and on over the past 6 or 8 months, specifically for one older cat who has been having some health problems that are exacerbated by stress. He LOVES the Feliway spray they have at the vet (tries to lick whatever they spray it on). But he just doesn't react to this. Well, I think he is reacting a little bit, but he is just not into this the way he is into the stuff at the vet's office.\\n\\nI notice there are two brands using the term \\\"Feliway.\\\" This item is from Comfort Zone and the others are from CEVA. The CEVA packaging looks more like what I am used to seeing (and buying) from my vet's office. So I suspect that is a better product, and I am going to pick some up this week.\\n\\nThe other thing I don't love about this is that when you spray it, you get a good whiff of alcohol. Now, I realize that it has to have a solvent if you are going to spray cat pheromones. It wouldn't be effective to spray without solvent. But if you are going to try this, I suggest spraying it on an item (towel, blanket, cat bed) while it is NOT near your cat, waiting for the alcohol to evaporate, and then give the item to your cat.\",\n \"Product: The Categories Catty Coil combines two of a cat's favorite things, strings and springs, into one feline-friendly toy. Catty Coil's have a velvety soft outside but are also super springy! The erratic movements will keep your cat on it's toes as it bats, kicks, tosses and pounces.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: two of my cats really enjoyed these a lot\\n\\nReview: I got these in a cat subscription box and my cats really think they're fun. I have four older cats and two of them, the 8-year-old and the 10-year-old, particularly enjoy them. These cats do play with other toys, but usually they insist on catnip (which these do not have).\\n\\nThese are just simple springs (hard, with a soft almost powder type of coating), but my cats were biting them and tugging on them and tossing them around and it was really cute. I could tell they were having a lot of fun. You can also bunch them up and let them fly and the cats will chase after them.\\n\\nThese are pretty lightweight and seem to have held up to a fair amount of biting so far. They don't have sharp edges and there was no plastic or chemical odor. I would not have guessed my cats would've enjoyed these so much, but I'm happy to have been proven wrong.\",\n \"Product: An easy way to keep your cat amused. Perfect for interacting with your cat and getting them to exercise. Tickly to the nose and paw pleasing to all cats and kittens, enjoy hours of healthy play and exercise. Warning: Choking hazard-small parts.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cat likes them, but somewhat lower quality than others I've bought in the past\\n\\nReview: One of my cats loves sparkle balls. Like, just loves them. He will chew on them so loudly it makes a sound (he is on some medication that may encourage this behavior). His saliva kind of solidifies parts of them into clumps, at which point I have to throw them away. His supply was dwindling so I ordered these.\\n\\nThese are an appropriate size for a cat (my cats are all in the 10-14 pound range). They are too big to swallow but not too big to fit (partially) in the cat's mouth. My sparkle-obsessed cat has already found a few of these and started playing with them. (He likes to bring them out into the living room and drop them in various spots.)\\n\\nThe only thing I don't love is that the sparkle density is a little low and these appear to be somewhat cheaper quality than others I've purchased. The cat likes them well enough, I just think they won't last as long as some of the others. I can already see some of the tinsel coming out of a few of them.\\n\\nAs always, supervise your cat around such toys until you know how s/he will react. Also, I would not give these to a dog of any size.\",\n \"Product: Your cat is going to love Perfect arch groomer. Durable plastic bristles gently helps remove loose and shedding hair, while giving kitty a massage. Plus, the catnip-infused carpet base means kitty keeps coming back for more! The durable carpet base is perfect for scratching, so your kitty wont scratch your furniture!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: doesn't actually do much grooming, but all five of my cats think it is awesome\\n\\nReview: I have five cats. One of them has super long, wispy hair, and he stopped really grooming himself awhile ago, so he gets these huge, horrid knots that I have to cut out with scissors. He also gets hairballs the size of sausages. As it happens, he also really likes to rub himself on brushes of all kinds (including my hair brushes, which he eats the hair out of). So I got this, hoping it would help control his problems.\\n\\nWell, I am pleased to report that this has been a smashing success in at least one regard. All five of my cats think this is awesome -- especially the one I had it in mind for. It is like a cat attractor or trap. So much chin rubbing, a few little fights over who gets to be near it, etc.\\n\\nHowever, it doesn't really remove much in the way of loose hair. I wouldn't expect it to for my three short-haired cats, but both of my long-haired cats have spent a decent amount of time around it and I am just not finding tufts of hair in the bristles. (In fairness, brush-loving cat spends a good amount of time licking this and he may be eating hair out of it. Eating hair is something he does. No idea why.)\\n\\nThis was super easy to assemble and it seems sturdy. My cats range in size from a little over 10 pounds to almost 14 pounds and they haven't tipped this over. It comes with a little baggie of catnip and I just sprinkled that on the base and rubbed it in. The catnip was attractive to the cats for a few days, but they really seem to love the texture of the brush arch a lot more. (They don't walk through the middle.)\\n\\nAnyway, I did have to take a star off because this doesn't do much in the way of grooming. But since ALL five of my cats like it and I am getting a lot of amusement out of watching them, I still gave it a pretty good rating. I might pick up a couple more of these and put them in various places around the house.\\n\\nFor what it's worth, I got this somewhere else to hit a free delivery minimum. It ran me about ten bucks so do some comparison shopping before committing to a purchase.\",\n \"Product: Kitty keeping you up at night with noisy toys and play? Weve got the solution! Nighttime Cuddle Toy by Petstages is a fun, glow-in-the-dark toy that your cat can play with at any hour without waking you up. Ultra-soft fur is fun to snuggle with as well as play. Best of all, it contains catnip to keep kittys interest.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: good quality but my cats were not really interested; I think it might work for kittens\\n\\nReview: This is quite large for a cat toy. (The 12 inches long includes the tail, however, so it's not quite *that* big...) I guess the idea is that they are supposed to cuddle with it. My cats don't really cuddle with toys, although they are older cats. I can see a kitten taking interest in this for cuddle purposes.\\n\\nIt's pretty soft and it may be the case that the one you receive is not quite the same color as the picture. Mine is a light blue color with a somewhat different face, but the item number (741) is the same.\\n\\nThis appears to be well made, and it may be just the thing for some cats. It's just that my four (ages 7.5 and up) weren't particularly interested in it.\",\n \"Product: Petstages 599 Beyond Bone Synthetic Chew Dog Toy White, Large\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: dog loves it but probably not best for destructive chewers\\n\\nReview: This chew is made from some sort of synthetic material and infused with bone meal. My dog has loved some other Petstages flavor-infused chews in the past so I figured I would let her try this out (it came in a subscription box). For what it's worth, my dog is a Rottweiler (she's in the 80-90 pound range) and a super destructive chewer and we have the large version of this toy.\\n\\nThe good news is, my dog thinks this is awesome. There is something about the flavor-infused toys that keeps her much more interested, for much longer, than just plain nylon bones. And, the other piece of good news is, this did not aggravate her inflammatory bowel disease. I have to be super careful about what I give her because most animal proteins will set her off (and usually lead to throwing out a rug because she has had gastrointestinal issues all over it). But this did not cause that sort of problem.\\n\\nThe bad news is, this isn't super sturdy. After about 10 minutes, I had to take this away from her. (I've made the mistake of leaving her with Petstages flavor-infused chews in the past -- she ATE 3/4 of one of the stick toys, as little pieces, and it took her a couple of days to pass. I suppose the good news there is that she DID pass it...) She was already removing little pieces of plastic and swallowing them. I don't think they're likely to do harm, but if you have a very destructive chewer, this toy may not be the best for your dog. (If your dog is less destructive, it is probably fine, although I would definitely not leave any dog with this, unsupervised.)\\n\\nAnyway, your success with this toy is going to depend mostly on how destructive your dog is. But, it seems to be relatively safe for dogs with food issues.\",\n \"Product: KONG Cuteseas Octopus Plush Dog Toy Under the sea fun and adventures await your pup with this adorable soft, corduroy plush Octopus dog toy. Made to durable, yet cuddling soft, the KONG Cuteseas Octopus Dog Toy features an internal squeaker and crinkle sound for added playtime fun. Collect all the whole KONG Cuteseas Collection for the cutest playtime ever! Features: Adorable under-the-sea collection Made from soft and snuggly corduroy Interior squeaker and crinkle sound for added playtime fun Collect them all for a mentally stimulating, fun toy box Item Specifications: Type: Octopus Size: Small: Toy is 2.3 inch x 2.3 inch x 10.8 inch. Recommended for: X-small and small size dogs Medium: Dimensions: (14.3 L x 3.5 W x 3.3 H) Recommended for: Small and medium size dogs Large: Dimensions: (16.5 L x 5.0 W x 4.3 H) Recommended for: Medium and large size dogs Click here to watch the product video.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: will work for some dogs, but not super destructive ones\\n\\nReview: I think KONG rubber toys are super durable but I have had mixed success with KONG plush toys. You just can't expect a plush toy to hold up as well -- too many weak points. Unfortunately, that was the case here.\\n\\nAnyway, this octopus came in a dog subscription box (forget which one, as I subscribe to quite a few of them). It is a good size for my dog (she is an 87 pound Rottweiler). It is super cute and it has a squeaker in addition to crinkly stuff in all the legs, so it makes a variety of interesting sounds. My dog was definitely interested in it, too. And it was fun to watch her playing with it, with all the legs going in different directions as she put this in her mouth.\\n\\nAfter a little while (maybe 10-15 minutes?), she did put a hole in one of the legs. It was at this point that I took it away from her. (My dog has a tendency to eat stuffing...) So the legs didn't come off, but just be aware there are other weak areas. For my dog, 10-15 minutes is about average for a toy destruction time. She has killed some other plush toys in as little as one minute.\\n\\nAt any rate, it is best to supervise your dog with any new toy until you see how it will hold up. This may be just fine with some dogs; my last Rottie would've kept this for years without damaging it. But this is not a very good choice for super destructive dogs or for dogs that like to pull stuffing out of plush toys.\",\n \"Product: THE Original Dog Door Bell! Newly upgraded design with six large,loud bells and an adjustable length door handle strap! There is absolutely no skimping on the quality of our bells...EVER! We set ourselves apart from the competition with our quality, hands down. Our thousands of customer reviews speak for our unsurpassed Potty Bell quality. Don't expect to pay less for a better dog doorbell...it don't exist.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: not the right solution for me due to my dog's peculiar health situation, but ought to work in principle\\n\\nReview: I have a Rottweiler with inflammatory bowel disease. She is almost four years old and she is on prednisone. This makes her drink extra water, which dilutes her urine, plus she has a suppressed immune system. So, we were having problems with urinary tract infections. Unfortunately, this meant she sometimes \\\"forgot\\\" her house training and peed inside. Which is problematic, especially for an 80+ pound dog. (Never fear, there's no detectable bacteria in her urine now. She was on antibiotics for a LOOOOONG time.)\\n\\nI bought these in the hopes that I could re-housebreak her. Unfortunately, I am unable to follow the precise training directions. Because my dog has IBD, she can't have most foods, and she's unable to handle any treats. So, while she totally gets that the bell ringing means she is going outside (which is a good thing for her, and something she likes to do), she doesn't get that SHE can ring the bells when she wants to go out, and we can't reinforce that with a food reward (she can only eat a mushy, expensive canned food).\\n\\nFor what it's worth, this seems well made. It was easy to hang over the doorknob and does no lasting damage to any structures. It's simple -- just a loop in a strip of canvas with some bells sewn on. (The bells are securely attached. There is no plastic or chemical smell when you open the package.)\\n\\nBecause of my dog's particular situation, this is not the right item for me. I do think it was worth a try, and I expect the method would work very well for people whose dogs don't have such severe dietary restrictions. In the end, I am keeping this on the door in case my dog ever gets the hint (the cats sure like playing with the bells...) or I ever find treats she can actually consume.\",\n \"Product: Whole earth farms recipes are made with high quality, all-natural ingredients to deliver complete & balanced nutrition for pets. Naturally nutritious with high quality protein as the first ingredient affordable goodness at a lower cost per day compared to mass and grocery brands. Made in the USA, meeting the highest quality standards.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cat liked it, even cold from the refrigerator\\n\\nReview: One of my cats only wants to eat beef. She'd been eating a different Merrick food (Cowboy Cookout) and, while she liked it, she started throwing up a little too often after a recent formula change. So I bought some other beef-flavored wet cat foods for her to try. She seems to like this one quite a bit.\\n\\nThis is a pate-style food. Although it has some chicken-based ingredients, the main components are beef and beef broth. It is pretty soft, so even if your cat has some dental issues, s/he should be able to eat this. It doesn't smell any worse than any other cat food. I love that it's grain free. Cats' digestive systems really don't handle grains well so I appreciate their absence here.\\n\\nMost importantly, my cat ate it not once but several times. I give her one can a day, split into three meals. So the second two meals are always from the refrigerator. But she doesn't seem to care -- she'll eat it anyway (even cold). (Please note that the feeding recommendations on the can may be a little high, especially for older or less active cats. According to those directions, my cat would need 3-4 cans a day!)\\n\\nThese are same size as regular 5.5 ounce cans and the normal can covers will fit them if you want to store the uneaten portion (although the weight of the contents has apparently been reduced to 5 ounces). Refrigerate after opening.\",\n \"Product: NaturVet Hairball Aid Supplement Plus Pumpkin Helps Eliminate and Prevent Hairballs When Used on a Daily Basis. Pumpkin Adds Natural Fiber to Help Support a Healthy Digestive System. Larger Size 100ct is Great for Multi-Cat Households. Wheat Free, Tasty Soft Chews 100ct for Cats Over the Age of 12 Weeks, Give 2 Soft Chews per Day. All NaturVet Products are Veterinarian Formulated and Manufactured in the USA in an FDA Audited, cGMP Compliant Facility with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: cats weren't terribly enthusiastic about these compared to other treats\\n\\nReview: I am having a hard time deciding on a star rating for this product. Hopefully something I say below will resonate with you (or not) and help you make a decision about whether these might be right for your cat, one way or the other.\\n\\nI received this in a KitNip subscription box and I finally got around to trying them. I have four cats, three of whom can have treats (one has IBD and can't eat these) and two of those are long-haired and get hairballs frequently. I am sure they are tired of the endless forcing of Cat Lax on them, so I thought a treat might be a nice alternative option and I was happy to be able to try these.\\n\\nThe cats did eat these, just not very enthusiastically. As usual, I put a small handful on the floor (they don't want to take treats from my hands) and left them alone to finish up (my black cat is rather timid). However, when I went back later, only about 2/3 of the treats had been finished. (Usually 100% of treats are finished within a minute or two.) So my cats just really didn't like these as much as they like most other treats. That is a definite negative. (Although they did eat at least some of them.)\\n\\nThe ingredients are mostly OK (you can see the full list if you zoom in on the product images). If you pay attention to labels, you will know that a lot of cat hairball remedies include petroleum derivatives/mineral oil/etc. Now, those remedies definitely work (Cat Lax is one of them). But I totally understand the perspective of someone not wanting to feed their cat such things. And this product is free of any obviously petroleum-derived ingredients (though it does have glycerin and does not elaborate as to the source of the glycerin, but then cats are not vegetarians so that probably doesn't matter...). I do note that these are wheat free, which I appreciate (cats don't handle grains well), although they don't seem to have any meat in them at all, which may be why my cats don't care for them.\\n\\nThe active ingredient here is apparently psyllium husk. Now, I supplement my dog with psyllium husk (a source of fiber) for her IBD. But for her, it helps things along in the colon, not the stomach. So I am not sure why it is believed here that psyllium husk will help with hairballs, which are an upper GI issue. On the other hand, if your cat has loose stools, these might help firm things up. (However, the glycerin might help with the hairballs and that is the first ingredient in these. Although I'm not sure how many treats your cat would have to eat for it to have an effect. Since my cats didn't really like these, I am unable to fully assess whether they will stop hairballs, unfortunately.)\\n\\nIn the end, I'm not fully convinced the particular combination of ingredients (including their amounts) is going to be effective in stopping hairballs. My cats didn't really like these enough for me to evaluate them as well as I would like (which says something in itself -- no remedy is good if the cat won't eat it...). I suspect it was my (short-haired) calico cat who ate most of them anyway, and she doesn't have a hairball problem. On the other hand, these may be useful for lower GI issues and are probably easier than giving fiber pills to a cat, especially if you dip them in a little gravy from wet food to give them a more appetizing flavor first.\",\n \"Product: NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin Helps Support the Nervous System in Reducing Stress and Tension and Helps Promote Rest and Relaxation. Our Unique Blend of Thiamine and L-Tryptophan Helps to Reduce Stress and Tension, Ginger Supports Sensitive Stomachs while Melatonin Helps to Promote Rest and Relaxation. Recommended for Cats when Traveling, Great for Storms, Fireworks, Grooming or Boarding. Wheat Free, Tasty Soft Chews 60ct for Cats Over the Age of 12 Weeks. Give 2 Soft Chews 30 Minutes Prior to Stressful Situation. Do Not Exceed Double the Daily Amount in a 12-hour Period. Active Ingredients per 2 Soft Chews: L-Tryptophan, Chamomile, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ginger and Melatonin. All NaturVet Products are Veterinarian Formulated and Manufactured in the USA, in an FDA Audited, cGMP Compliant Facility with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: cat will not eat these, no matter what I do\\n\\nReview: I have a calico cat who is a bit on the older side (9 maybe?) and she has asthma. Well, asthma can be exacerbated by stress and I recently got a kitten. The calico cat hates the kitten, so of course that adds to the stress of the situation. I have been trying various methods to calm the asthmatic cat (in addition to veterinary treatment, of course). I had been using the \\\"Composure\\\" treats from another company and found them OK but not great, so I wanted to see what else was out there. I bought a tub of these elsewhere.\\n\\nI should say two things before I go on. (1) The calico cat is a garbage disposal. She will eat anything. And she is on prednisolone for the asthma, which theoretically should make her even hungrier. (2) We have had other treats from this company before and several of my cats have liked them.\\n\\nHowever, the calico cat WILL NOT EAT THESE. She has occasionally picked one up, chewed it for a moment, and spit it out. Now she is totally ignoring them. I can't even evaluate how effective they are if she won't eat them. I have tried giving them to her alone. I have tried covering them in her wet food. It doesn't matter. She will eat around them, but she won't eat them.\\n\\nThey are semi-moist treats. They're a bit large but it didn't even work for me to cut them in half (she still wouldn't eat them). To me, anyway, they smell like plenty of other cat treats. I don't know if there is something the cat can detect that I can't, but she really just does not like these at all.\\n\\nAnyway, I was really hoping these would work, but I am back to the drawing board. I would still recommend other treats from this company; the hairball ones seemed popular with several of my cats. But these \\\"Quiet Moments\\\" ones were completely shunned by the cat who needed them most.\",\n \"Product: Darwin the Frog Large is a squeaky natural rubber ball of amphibian fun for dogs. This chew toy is perfect for games of fetch as Darwin will bounce erratically when thrown --- dogs will have a hopping good time. Dogs and owners alike will love the durable Darwin - he's frogtastic. Suitable for medium and large breed dogs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my dog can't chew the feet off, unlike with some other toys from this company\\n\\nReview: I have the green one of these in the large size (not like the color matters). This is a very sturdy toy if your dog is destructive. Unlike some of the other JW Pet Company products we have tried, the feet are sort of attached to the body in this one, in a way that makes the toy not have ankles. So far, my very destructive dog has not managed to chew any bits of this off. So that is a definite plus.\\n\\nSize-wise, this is appropriate for a large dog. I have a 90-lb Rottweiler and she can fit this in her mouth and make it squeak. It's not the most interesting toy (to her) that she's ever had, but she does like it. I see that it moves around while I'm not at home, so I know she's playing with it. (And I actually feel safe leaving this one with her while I'm gone.)\\n\\nIn the end, if you have a large, destructive dog who likes rubber toys, this one is an excellent choice and should last you a long time.\",\n \"Product: Inspired by nature, the Power Chew DuraChew Beef Bone Alternative is the splinter-free rawhide alternative you need for your aggressive chewer. Made with tough, durable nylon and savory beef flavor throughout, this long-lasting chew toy is cleaner and safer than real animal parts. This power chew keeps dogs busy, satisfies their natural urge to chew, and encourages positive chewing habits. Plus, the bristles raised during chewing promote clean teeth and help control plaque and tartar buildup.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my dog loves this and it seems to be durable, too\\n\\nReview: This review is for the large antler, since several different products are listed on the same page.\\n\\nMy dog has inflammatory bowel disease and I have to watch it with the flavored toys. We've learned she can handle some, but not others. (Also, for reference, she is an 87-pound Rottweiler. The large antler is an appropriately-sized toy for her.) The antler is in the group of toys she can handle, so that's already one point in its favor.\\n\\nMy dog is also a super destructive chewer. Even some of the supposedly \\\"durable\\\" toys, she manages to destroy in under 15 minutes (e.g., one play session). This one, however, she's had access to several times now and it is still safe to give to her again. Yes, she has raised some little ridges (as with most Nylabone toys), but they're not sharp and they're not cutting up her gums (she has some problems with her gum tissue due to her IBD medications, so she is more sensitive to that than most dogs would be). They're also not slicing open my hand when I take the toy away from her. For reference, this is one of those toys you should probably supervise your dog with.\\n\\nThis last thing may be evident from the previous paragraph, but my dog LOVES this toy. She chews it nonstop when she has it. She has not been able to break any pieces off or anything. I would call this one of our more successful toy experiments of late. (I think it came in a dog subscription box, but I can't remember which one.)\",\n \"Product: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Feline Probiotic Supplement contains a safe and effective strain of beneficial bacteria proven to promote normal intestinal microflora. FortiFlora is the #1 probiotic brand prescribed by veterinarians. The science behind our therapeutic products represents a collaboration between Purina nutritionists, researchers and veterinarians. Millward Brown Veterinary Tracker, 2016\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: worth a try, but not suitable for every cat\\n\\nReview: I have used this product on two cats. It was great for one of them and not so good for the other. I'll describe both their experiences and hopefully that will help you decide whether this product might be right for your own cat.\\n\\nMonkey: He is a lovely long-haired kitty with a tendency to get soft stools. I notice, because it gets stuck in his fur. There's not always an obvious cause for his problem -- he's resistant to eating anything other than his own food, and he never goes outside. But about a week of FortiFlora clears the problem right up, each and every time. There's been a time or two he's been on antibiotics, and FortiFlora has helped keep his stools firm then, too. He loves the taste and gets very excited whenever I get out one of the little packets. So it's been great for him.\\n\\nMouse: She was a sweet little short-haired gray tabby with a bad case of inflammatory bowel disease. We used this product for awhile, but it did not help. In fact, it may have made the problem worse. FortiFlora contains something called \\\"animal digest\\\" that is designed to enhance palatability (and seems to, in Monkey's case), but which is likely to contain some animal proteins that aggravate IBD symptoms. (If you are not familiar with feline IBD, many common proteins may trigger symptoms -- including, in some cases, chicken, pork, beef, turkey, etc. in addition to grains.)\\n\\nIn conclusion, if you have an otherwise healthy cat on a course of antibiotics or with occasional soft stools, you should definitely try FortiFlora. But if you have a cat with a food allergy or with IBD, you should probably not use it. Also, don't open the packets around your own food (the powder is light and can puff up a bit when you pour it out) and wash your hands after dispensing -- the bacterial strain is an Enterococcus one that you don't necessarily want in your own system.\",\n \"Product: Play and be Jolly! Meet the flexible, floaty, bouncy, durable Jolly Bone. Made from a super pliable material, this bone is guaranteed to keep your dogs tail wagging! Ready to provide your dog hours of chewing Ideal for water based catch & fetch The ridges on the ends of thebonegive your dog the feeling that they are chewing through the toy while massaging his gums\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: seemed durable but, unfortunately, my dog's interest didn't last\\n\\nReview: This is a review of the 9 inch orange bone.\\n\\nWe got this in a dog subscription box. My dog was initially quite enthusiastic about it and spent a good few minutes chewing on it. She didn't even manage to damage the end she was chewing on, which is pretty impressive. We did a bit of tugging with it and it didn't get damaged, so that was wonderful.\\n\\nBut, after a few minutes, my dog decided she was no longer interested. (She is like this with a lot of rubber toys.) She dropped it and went back to looking longingly at the high-up shelf where I have temporarily stored all the many plush toys she has ruined.\\n\\nIn the end, her lack of interest drives my rating. It was durable while she played with it, but as I said, that wasn't a long time. I think if there was a hollow portion in the end where you could put a little peanut butter, kibble, or a small treat, that would make it much more interesting for dogs (mine included -- she has IBD and can't have any of the treats I listed just now, but a hollow part would allow me to put a piece of ice or a bit of her wet food, which would have the same effect as she goes nuts for both).\",\n \"Product: 10", Loofa Cat Kicker Toy, Plush, Crinkle and Catnip Filled Toy, Great For Cats Who Like To Hug Their Toys and Do Bunny Kicks, Cat Will Hug It Close Because Of The Catnip and Crinkle and Love To Kick With Their Hind Legs, 5 Assorted Colors.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: kind of spendy but my calico cat thought it was awesome\\n\\nReview: My cats have the purple one. These are really quite large for cat toys. I got this in a recent Meowbox subscription box and I wasn't sure my cats would even like it.\\n\\nBut, I gave it to them and my calico really had a lot of fun. She was gripping it in her front claws and rolling around on her back and biting it, so I guess she enjoyed it. I certainly enjoyed watching her with it.\\n\\nIt seems well made. Not that my cats typically destroy toys, but I don't see any tears or punctures yet. The crinkle paper in it is only on the front. I am hoping my cats don't find this in the night, because the crinkle paper could be a bit annoying when I am trying to sleep. But, at least one of my cats really enjoyed this and that's what counts!\",\n \"Product: Let your dogs express themselves with the Squeakie Emojiz line. From your favorite yellow faces to the pizza and poo; collect all the fun and silly toys for a variety of emotions. Endless entertainment doesn't have to break the bank. Made with quality material that can last longer than other dog toys, and of course ZippyPaws provides an extra cuteness factor! The durability is great for tug-of-war, and its bouncy nature leads to never-ending fetches. Oh, and this easy to chew toy contains two round squeakers to ensure your puppy can have a \\\"squeakin' good time\\\" on their own or with you.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: dog loved it but had the squeaker out in a few minutes\\n\\nReview: My dog has had a couple of these. Most recently it was the pizza slice, although we've had the poo in the past as well. They are of similar quality.\\n\\nThese do have stuffing so watch out if your dog is a stuffing puller. The pizza had two squeakers (average sounding). My dog had one of them out in maybe 5 minutes. So this is not the most durable of dog toys. However, if your dog is gentler with plushes, this may work (I have had dogs in the past who did not destroy every toy in sight).\\n\\nThis will work for a wide range of dog sizes. My dog is an 84-pound Rottweiler and this was a little on the small side for her, but not so small it wasn't safe. The pizza is fairly thin, so even a much smaller dog could get a grip in his/her mouth.\\n\\nIn the end, best for non-destructive dogs of various sizes.\",\n \"Product: Madcap plush toys by Petstages are made of durable canvas on the outside, with enticing catnip on this inside. These lightweight toys are sure to be one of your kittys favorites. Great for interactive play between owner and cat, or for kitty to bat, toss, chew, and chase on their own! Comes in a variety of fun, cute characters.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: cats weren't particularly interested in this\\n\\nReview: Normally I am a huge fan of the Petstages Madcap toys. One of my cats, in particular, really seems to like the surface texture and licks these toys over and over again. But, my cats were not so into this particular one. I think they just really don't like large toys (I have four cats and usually at least one of them will enjoy a thing when I give them something new).\\n\\nThis is crinkly inside and if you have a cat that likes to wrestle with toys, don't let my rating stop you from getting this. This toy, like others from this product line, is well-made, with good stitching. The eyes and such are printed on the fabric instead of being detachable as with many cat toys. So you wouldn't have to worry about your cat tearing it apart. It has some crinkle paper inside which adds an interesting sound.\\n\\nIf there is catnip in this, I think there must not be very much, or it must be weak. Perhaps the reason my cats like the smaller toys from this line is that the catnip is more concentrated and/or closer to the surface of the toy, so they can sense it a little better.\\n\\nWorth getting if your cats like to wrestle with large toys. If they don't (like mine), I'd suggest passing on this one.\",\n \"Product: Madcap plush toys by Petstages are made of durable canvas on the outside, with enticing catnip on this inside. These lightweight toys are sure to be one of your kittys favorites. Great for interactive play between owner and cat, or for kitty to bat, toss, chew, and chase on their own! Comes in a variety of fun, cute characters.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cats licked this until it was very wet (I guess that means they liked it)\\n\\nReview: Petstages catnip toys seem to be making the subscription box rounds lately. This is the second one I've gotten in a month or two.\\n\\nLuckily, my cats LOVE these. Sometimes I wonder with toys that are attached to cards instead of in baggies whether the catnip will be fresh with all the air exposure. However, with this toy, I am certain the catnip was fresh. There is no other explanation for how much one of my cats loved this. He would not stop licking it until it was soaking wet and I had to take it away...\\n\\nThis seems well-made. My cats mostly batted this around and/or licked it, but they were not able to pull any pieces off. It's small enough for an adult cat to be able to toss around. Do watch your cat, though, because if yours likes to pull bits off toys and swallow them, you'll want to be careful of the legs.\\n\\nOverall, though, my cats were quite happy with this. Recommended for cats who react to catnip!\",\n \"Product: PetStages SlingSock Dog Toy Large Assorted 15" x 3.2" x 3.2"-A durable rubber ball is encased in the soft, yet tough sling to send the toy flying for long distances! The fun, floppy feel is also great for tug and play!. Features: Fetch fun with no launcher Durable rubber ball inside soft, yet tough sling It squeaks\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: dog likes it but wants to play tug with it instead of chase it\\n\\nReview: We received one of these in a dog subscription box. My dog likes it, but I think it is not really meant for destructive dogs or heavy chewers.\\n\\nI can fling this well enough across the living room (my dog can't play outside for various reasons related to her health) and my dog will chase it. But then she will want to play tug-of-war. And this isn't really meant for that, or for chewing. If I won't tug on it with her, she will put her front feet down on the end and pull at the ball with her teeth. It is kind of not holding up so well under those conditions (we're talking less than a week of use, albeit somewhat inappropriate use). She will give the end to me and if I hold it, she will back away and dig in to the carpet until she is pulling on the thing with all her weight (she is an 87 pound Rottweiler).\\n\\nIf your dog has a tendency to destroy fabric things of any kind, I'd definitely keep an eye on her/him when playing with this and not leave your dog unsupervised. Because if your dog rips off a piece and swallows it (dogs will definitely eat socks and such), that could be bad. That hasn't happened with us and seems unlikely to happen, because I'd throw this away before it got that damaged, but it is just something to keep in the back of your mind.\\n\\nIn the end, my dog really does like this, but I think there is a good chance that dogs will want to play with it in a way other than what was intended, and that's where the trouble can start to arise. I do think this is size appropriate for a large breed dog.\",\n \"Product: Satisfy your pup's wild instincts with deer horn by pet stages! made with real Antler material, deer horn has a natural taste and smell your dog will love, but is safer than actual antlers. Your pooch will spend hours safely chewing and chomping away on this durable, Tough toy. Keep your best friend safely occupied for hours with deer horn by pet stages.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: dog loved it, long-lasting, didn't aggravate her IBD symptoms\\n\\nReview: I got this in a recent Bullymake box and it is awesome. I was a little worried because the package says it is made with real deer antler (embedded in the plastic, I guess), and my dog has severe inflammatory bowel disease. Odd proteins can really set her off with gastrointestinal symptoms (I'll spare you the details) and I had to take all her chicken-flavored Nylabone toys away (which is too bad, because she loves to gnaw on things).\\n\\nBut, I figured I'd give this to her once and see how it went. She loved it and chewed on it for a solid hour. Toys never last that long with her. As expected, she did bring up some ridges from the chewing action (but that is common with this type of toy). I was even able to give this to her a couple more times. Let me tell you, getting to play with a toy more than once is a momentous occasion for my dog. I did eventually have to take it away because she started taking little pieces off and swallowing them (they just passed through without causing harm). Probably if I let her chew this for 15 minutes instead of a whole hour at a time, this would last a couple of weeks at least...\\n\\nAnyway, also important was the fact that this did not cause my dog any gastrointestinal distress despite the presence of deer antler. Plus, when my dog wanders the house and is bored, she has a tendency to pee on the floor (she is on prednisone which makes it worse). But with this, she was occupied in the same place for a very long time and I didn't have to worry about \\\"accidents.\\\" It does make a lot of noise if you have a vigorous chewer but I will take that if it makes my dog happy and doesn't make her sick. I will definitely be getting another one or two of these.\",\n \"Product: Alien Flex Plush Toys by Spunky Pup are your dogs new intergalactic friends. Each character has its own unique look, story and squeaking sound. Protected squeaker with double-layered stitching, Gnaw Guard 3-layer reinforced lining. Collect the whole crew!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: not for destructive chewers (but it's so cute!)\\n\\nReview: I'm sad to have to give this a low rating because it is adorable and I have been very happy with the other Spunky Pup toys I have received in subscription boxes. But, despite the company's best efforts to reinforce the lining and protect the squeaker, my dog had a hole in this and was pulling stuffing out in about three minutes.\\n\\nMy dog is a destructive 84-pound Rottweiler. As soon as she gets a new plush toy, she goes to work gnawing on some part of it (the squeaker may distract her for a second or two). She has an uncanny ability to find the weakest point in any toy and exploit it. (If there are no weak points, she quickly loses interest.) She thought this was pretty awesome, and was excited about playing with it, so that's great. I would not give this to a dog much larger than mine, so this would not be suitable for giant breeds. (Probably it is also too small for toy breeds. But I am guessing dogs in the 25-30 pound range and larger would find it interesting. There are also some mini versions that have come out for much smaller dogs.)\\n\\nThe particular weakness here was along the toy's spine. She had opened the seam there and was pulling stuffing out. There was also a rather long string that emerged from somewhere. So, sadly, I had to take this away from her after a short time.\\n\\nNote: This may be a great toy for some dogs. The Rottie I had before this one was very good with plush toys and never destroyed any of them. So it will depend on your dog, and I wouldn't shy away from the purchase if your dog behaves with plush toys. But if you have a destructive chewer, this is not for you.\",\n \"Product: The hunt is on with the Pet Zone Fly By spinner toy! The Fly By brings the wild inside with a flying action that replicates the movement and fluttering of a real butterfly. Its not uncommon to see cats lunge, jump, and dive after insects and butterflies. Fly By allows your cat to stalk and hunt in a safe and engaging environment. When you flip the switch and turn the toy on, your cat will experience stimulating and interactive play providing healthy mental and physical stimulation. Pet Zone Fly By has an easy twist-off base that allows you to place one AAA battery into the toy. Flip the switch to on and watch your cat hat and the fluttering butterfly.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: cats found it interesting but movement mechanism didn't work well\\n\\nReview: I got this in a cat subscription box. I wasn't sure what to expect with my cats, going in, because they have largely ignored toys like this in the past. I have five cats and I saw a series of reactions, ranging from intense interest to complete indifference.\\n\\nCat 1 (13 years old, almost blind): didn't seem to know it was there, but this is not really surprising\\n\\nCat 2 (11 or 12 years old): not really interested\\n\\nCat 3 (10 years old): weirdly, was very interested in the base and not the butterfly part\\n\\nCat 4 (9 years old): she played with the butterfly some; I think she was in a bad mood that day or she might've played with it more\\n\\nCat 5 (1 year old): thought this was the awesomest toy ever, tried to drag it around by the butterfly\\n\\nSo, based on this admittedly small sample size, it seems this appeals most to younger cats. That is not so unusual -- I find it to be true of most toys. My kitten (I still call him that, even though he is 16 or 17 months old at this point) will play with pretty much anything, including junk mail and table legs.\\n\\nThe base has little legs. I'm not sure the point of these. They don't extend the surface area of the toy that's in contact with the floor all that much. They didn't really even contact the floor all that well, and my kitten grabbed the butterfly in his teeth and pulled the toy over. (I have had similar toys where the legs made the toy have a much larger footprint and made it harder to knock over. I think that was the idea here, but it failed in the execution.)\\n\\nThis also has a switch. Presumably this is supposed to make the butterfly go around in circles? I think the battery was almost completely dead in my unit when it arrived, because the butterfly moved, but not really all that much, and it couldn't complete a circle, although there was a definite difference in behavior between when the switch was in one position (no movement unless caused by a cat) and the other (halfhearted attempts to move).\\n\\nIn the end, even with the rather poorly-functioning movement mechanism, enough of my cats expressed interest in this that I don't want to give it a totally negative rating.\",\n \"Product: Vital Essentials Vital Cat Treats are packed with vital nutrients, made with only fresh, whole, single-sourced USDA animal protein to provide essential nutrition that cats instinctively crave. A purr-fect way to reward your feline with healthy and nutritious treats.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: excellent ingredients but most of my cats don't want to eat it\\n\\nReview: It sort of pains me to give this product only three stars. I am a big fan of single-ingredient, grain-free treats for cats. And these are made in the USA from wild caught Alaskan salmon, which is wonderful.\\n\\nHowever, of my four cats who can have treats (one has inflammatory bowel disease and fish is off limits for him), only one of them will eat this eagerly. And she is on prednisolone for asthma, which increases her appetite (she is something of a garbage disposal in day-to-day life, so she might have liked them anyway). Another will nibble one piece of this slowly into smaller pieces, and he may eat those, but he is awfully slow about it.\\n\\nThe last two cats will sniff and lick this but ultimately won't eat it. They'll drop it and then look at me like I still owe them a treat.\\n\\nThis is lightweight and comes in a resealable bag. It is not too smelly, even though it is made from fish (and believe me, I have had come across some stinky fish flavored cat treats in the past).\\n\\nIf your cat likes freeze-dried meat, this is a fine product with great ingredients and you should definitely check it out. If your cat is less enthusiastic about freeze-dried meat, you probably want to look elsewhere. (With my cats, liking freeze-dried meat seems to be an all or nothing proposition. They will either eat salmon, turkey, chicken, etc. freeze-dried, or they will eat nothing freeze dried. It has never been a matter of liking chicken but not fish or fish but not turkey, etc.)\",\n \"Product: Vital Essentials products are packed with vital nutrients. Just as humans thrive on fresh food, so do animals. The most natural ingredient in an animal's diet is raw food containing antioxidants, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, minerals and phytochemicals; the building blocks to a healthy, vital life!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: wonderful for my IBD cat\\n\\nReview: I have a cat with inflammatory bowel disease. There aren't many proteins he can have. Rabbit happens to be one of them. He also can't have grains, soy, etc. So it is hard to find a treat that will work for him. (So many include artificial flavors, natural flavors, chicken, etc.) He can have these.\\n\\nNow, this particular cat has bad teeth and kind of has to gum his food (I puree his regular food with water and he drinks it), but he can manage these. (We don't do a dental appointment for him because of his advanced age and all the immune-suppressing medications he is on.) He goes after them enthusiastically, in fact. They are a little bit tough for him but he can manage (and seems to take great joy in doing so).\\n\\nI know these get digested pretty quickly. This cat has acid reflux if he goes too long between meals. Although I feed him four times a day, sometimes there is a little extra time between normal feedings. When that happens, I give him a few of these to tide him over. He once vomited a few hours after having these (unrelated to the treats as he's had them many, many times without issue) and the treats weren't in it -- so even cats with slow, barely-functional digestion seem to be able to handle these. (By contrast, he has digestive trouble with the \\\"Simply Nourish\\\" freeze-dried treats from a big box petstore chain.)\\n\\nMy other cats (I have four healthy ones) are not so keen on freeze dried meat (one, who is on prednisolone for asthma, eats it enthusiastically, and the kitten nibbles at it). But if you have a cat with extremely specialized dietary needs -- something like IBD -- these are wonderful.\",\n \"Product: (4 Packages) VetriScience Laboratories - Composure Feline, 120 Bite-Sized Chews Total (30 Per Pack)\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: my cat likes them but I can't say for sure if they're having any effect\\n\\nReview: I have a cat with asthma that is exacerbated by stress. We do a Flovent inhaler (with AeroKat adapter) twice a day but sometimes that is not enough. We also have Feliway diffusers around the room where she spends most of her time. I was hoping to use these treats to provide additional calm. I give her two of these, twice a day, about 12 hours apart.\\n\\nI have bought these in the past and thought they worked, but I'm less convinced now, and I probably won't buy them again. For what it's worth, they only come in small bags with about 30 treats, so if you want to use them for more than a week or more than one cat, you have to buy a lot. I guess I understand, in that they start to get hard once open, but the bags are really too small. (The lysine treats from the same company have a similar feel to them and come in larger bags, though.) They also almost never actually contain 30 treats (I keep getting odd numbers left over, giving two at a time...). The bags do reseal well.\\n\\nThese have a strong smell. It's difficult to describe. My cat will totally eat them, though, and that is the main thing. You may want to start with only one bag to see if your cat likes them; the cat I am giving these to will eat pretty much anything, including fuzz off the carpet.\\n\\nHowever, these don't seem to be helping her to calm down. It's possible that the benefit is really hard to define (how do you measure degrees of cat calmness?). But after three and a half weeks on these, I've actually had to put this cat back on every-other-day prednisolone (in addition to the inhaler) to control her asthma symptoms.\\n\\nAnyway, these are worth a try, especially if you have a food-motivated cat, but they may not do anything.\",\n \"Product: Warriorz are a line of extra-tough plush toys reinforced with strong border webbing and stitched together with Z-Stitch Technology, a special sewing technique created exclusively by Zippy Paws! Warriorz can withstand some serious chewing, thanks to their fortifying inner layers of durable fabrics.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: very well-made; my dog didn't destroy it immediately!\\n\\nReview: I have received a lot of ZippyPaws plush toys in dog subscription boxes (which is where I go this one, \\\"Archibald the Archer\\\"). These ones with Z-stitch (a toughened stitching around the edges) are some of the best plush toys I've encountered.\\n\\nFirst off, my dog is definitely interested in them. She finds the squeakers and then it is squeak, squeak, squeak, for like 20 minutes. She thought this was pretty great. She got rather violent with it and broke a couple of her toenails (no bleeding, thankfully)! But, she was clearly having a good time. (For reference, she is an 87 pound Rottweiler.)\\n\\nSecond, she seems unable to destroy it. I think there are two things going on here. First, the Z-stitch around the edges is super strong (her past Z-stitch toys, including a snake, have similarly lasted through multiple play sessions). And, the fabric making up the plushy part didn't have any obvious weaknesses. Because my dog can totally rip a hole right in the middle of a stretch of fabric; she does not limit herself to ruining edges. But this stayed intact.\\n\\nNormally, my dog gets plush toys and destroys them in five minutes. But she had this one for quite awhile and didn't ruin it, so she will get to play with it a few more times. It is exceedingly rare that that ever happens, so this toy definitely gets a good rating from me!\",\n \"Product: Engineered for aggressive chewers in mind. Tiny flavor cells are molded into both sides of the Flavorit bone so you can fill it with peanut butter, cheese, cream cheese, or any other spreadable treat your dog prefers. The tiny flavor cells hold just enough spread to lure your dog to chew, but not so much that they're getting so many calories. You can even add a different spreadable treat on each side to up the flavors! No mess because its concave design. Once your dog is done chewing, just run it through the top rack of the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning and it's ready for the next round of chewing. Or you can use a brush to clean up the leftover food. Even though it works great with all kinds of spreads, dogs love it on its own too! The Sweet Potato Flavorit bone is infused with human-grade sweet potato flavoring. It is generously flavored to the bone; you can literally smell the goodness of sweet potato even inside the packaging! The result is a double-yummy and drool-worthy bone your dog will love even without any spread! Giving your dog non-edible bones also massages their gums and provides scraping action on their teeth, much like a dental hygienist descaling the plaque from human teeth. Small Bone Is Recommended for Dogs Up to 15 Lbs. Medium Bone Is Recommended for Dogs Up to 30 Lbs. Large Bone Is Recommended for Dogs Up to 50 Lbs. Extra Large Bone Is Recommended for Dogs Over 50 Lbs. 100% Nylon, Dishwasher Safe, and made in the USA\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my dog loved it and it didn't aggravate her IBD\\n\\nReview: I have a lot of these from dog subscription boxes, but the sweet potato one is the most recent one I gave to my dog. First off, wow, is the smell strong. It's a pleasant sort of smell, as these things go -- not just sweet potato but there is some sort of buttery maple thing going on, as well. When I opened the subscription box this came in, I could smell it outside the packaging, but it got stronger when I opened the actual toy. So anyway, the \\\"infused\\\" part is accurate.\\n\\nMy dog thought this was pretty great, though she is not particularly picky. She likes basically everything I give her. (I'm lucky that way. Toys are usually a very low risk expenditure...) After chewing on this for a few minutes, she had left some tooth marks but nothing major. I'll be able to give it to her again. That is remarkable as I think I have one of the most destructive dogs in existence. (This is not to say you shouldn't supervise your dog with this toy -- you should.) I did not even put anything in the little holes, the toy itself was enough. But, in the past I have had other Flavorit toys and have put a little of my dog's wet food on them, and that made it even more fun for her. (My dog eats Hill's prescription diet z/d because she has inflammatory bowel disease. This has a uniform texture that is a bit like peanut butter, only somewhat less spreadable.)\\n\\nThis does not seem to have aggravated my dog's IBD, which makes me happy. I'm always a little reluctant to give her flavored toys because I don't want her to have digestive issues. But, well, she had this last night and she has been out this morning already and we'll just say things are fine and leave it at that.\\n\\nAnyway, if your dog likes nylon toys this should be interesting and if your dog is iffy on them, just put some peanut butter or spreadable cheese or wet food on here and that will make it more fun.\\n\\nFor reference, I have size \\\"large\\\" and my dog is a 90-pound Rottweiler. I do believe this is size appropriate for her, but I am not sure it would be for a St. Bernard or Great Dane or other 100+ pound dog.\",\n \"Product: This jack o catnip will certainly put kitty into the YEOWWW!-loween spirit! Better than candy, this 3 pumpkin toy is 100% lled with YEOWWW! organically grown catnip. No tricks for kitty - its all treat!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: very popular with my cats\\n\\nReview: I got this in a cat subscription box. I suspected before I ever gave it to my cats that it would be popular (they have loved pretty much every Yeowww toy they've ever gotten), and I was right.\\n\\nUsually I am lucky to get one cat to show interest in a toy (I have four cats, ages 8, 9, 10, and 12, so they are not exactly young and playful). But at least three of mine showed varying degrees of interest in this. The 10-year-old monopolized this toy right away and bit it and tossed it around and licked it until it was wet. The 12-year-old was more subdued but he did cuddle with it a bit (his usual reaction to toys). And the 8-year-old found it the next day and repeated the experience of the 10-year-old.\\n\\nIt seems to have held up well to violent play with teeth and claws involved. My guys and gal haven't been able to tear it open or anything, and there are no loose threads or holes. So it seems well-made. And the canvas texture is definitely appealing to my crew. (They also like the Yeowww apple, which is quite similar to this pumpkin.)\",\n \"Product: Cat gone fishin? At over 7 long and completely filled with YEOWWW! organically grown catnip, these fish are keepers!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats LOVE this\\n\\nReview: I get a Yeowww! catnip toy in a subscription box about once per month and I am always happy to see them (I think I got this one, the green fish, in Purr Packs). My cats absolutely go crazy over these. One of my older guys jumped into the subscription box before I could even see the contents through all the crinkle paper and started licking this. Until it was wet. Kind of gross, but he was enjoying himself so much. And the sounds he made -- halfway between a purr and a slurp. I could listen to that for a long time.\\n\\nLater on, my black cat got ahold of this and started rubbing himself all over it and rolling all over the floor. He is normally pretty skittish (his mother was feral) but this emboldened him and allowed him to have a bit of fun.\\n\\nI find these to be pretty high quality. My cats are older (ages 8, 9, 10, and 12, or thereabouts) and they still like playing with this toy in particular and Yeowww toys in general (they have an apple and a pumpkin from months ago that I still catch them playing with -- the catnip is that strong, and apparently the outer canvas texture is also appealing). My cats are not particularly violent with toys, which may be contributing to how long this one is holding up.\\n\\nAnyway, I fully expected this to be a success and it was. So much fun. Definitely recommended.\",\n \"Product: For dogs and cats that need a potassium supplement mixed with a B-Complex vitamin, the Vet Solutions Renal K+ Gel is the answer. Delivered as a gel, the product can be easily squeezed out in minimal amounts to provide sample for your pet to taste and acclimate to. Once your dog or cat realizes the material is palatable, the supplement can be delivered through an oral syringe or a common tea spoon, depending on the animal. Vet Solutions Renal K is made with water, potassium, maple flavor for sweetness, citric acid, various components for vitamin ingestion, and other artificial sweeteners. Designed to work as a supplement, the product helps pet owners solve potassium deficiencies in both dogs and cats. With a normal dose being 2.5 ml, Vet Solutions Renal Ks 5oz package provides more than enough supplement to last for a good month cycle, being delivered twice a day.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: helped get my cat's potassium levels back to normal\\n\\nReview: I have a cat with asthma and she was on prednisolone for awhile, while I waited for her inhaler to come in (I have to order that from Canada). Some cats I have had will do OK on prednisolone long-term, but this one was having issues. Bloodwork at the vet's office revealed that her potassium levels were low, so the vet had me use this product to get the cat's potassium levels back up while I weaned her off the prednisolone.\\n\\nFirst and foremost, this worked. You will need to periodically go to the vet for bloodwork in such a situation because you may have to change the dosage depending on the cat's response. We started with one dose per day, had to move up to two, and now we are back down to one. We give this in a 6 mL syringe with about 2.5 mL filled (give or take; as this is a gel, it is a little difficult to precisely measure). The 6 mL syringes (they are from Monoject, I don't think BD makes one in that size) are ideal because you can remove the plunger and squeeze the tube of gel over the syringe to fill it. It takes a bit of practice but you get pretty good at estimating how much you've put in there after awhile.\\n\\nAnyway, then I squeeze the gel from the syringe and into the cat's mouth. I aim near the back/side so she can't spit it out easily. I don't think she particularly likes the flavor of this stuff so I am pretty sure it would not work to put on top of her food. This is a little difficult to clean out of the end of the syringe after use so I have to replace the syringes every so often. One tube lasts quite a long time for us. I think my cat has been on this stuff for 3 months now and we are only partway through our third tube.\\n\\nNot all cats on prednisolone will need this. I have a cat with inflammatory bowel disease who has been on prednisolone for five years and his bloodwork is always remarkably good for a cat of his age (13 years) and condition. But my cat with asthma doesn't handle the medication as well and this product has definitely helped get her potassium levels back in a normal range.\",\n \"Product: The JW Pet Company Cataction Featherlite series brings you this bouncy ball with a long feather tail that will delight your cat. The Bouncing Featherlite Catnip Boa has a catnip bell interwoven with the feathers to give your feline friend endless hours of enjoyment.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: all four of my (older) cats loved this\\n\\nReview: I have had a lot of JW Pet Company dog toys but didn't even realize they make cat toys until I received this in a cat subscription box. I immediately knew my cats would love it, though, because they are all interested in feathers. (They are much less interested in balls. And the bell really didn't make much noise. My star rating is mainly because all of my cats played with the toy, which is unusual when you have four older cats.)\\n\\nAnyway, we played with this on carpet so I don't know how well the ball bounces. What I like about the ball is it provides a little bit of weight so when you toss this, it'll actually kind of land where you want it to (whereas that would NOT work with a feather boa alone).\\n\\nThis is pretty well made. My cats were a little violent with it (biting, sticking their claws in it, etc.), and it stayed completely intact. That is impressive for a feather toy. What made me really love this, though, was that even my almost 12-year-old cat with serious eye issues (don't worry, he's seeing the vet regularly and has medication for the issues) played with this toy. And usually he is a stick in the mud.\\n\\nSo, a good time was had by all four of my cats. If your cat is into feathers, this is definitely worth looking into.\",\n \"Product: The insight perch cleaner by JW pet company makes cleaning your bird's perches quick and easy. Keep your bird's environment healthy and clean with this convenient scrubber. Use: moisten perch with warm water to prevent excessive dust when cleaning and to loosen droppings. Gently move the scrubber over perch until clean. Can be used on perches inside or outside of the cage. Made for wooden or cement perches, not to be used on sand perches.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: use with a bit of enzymatic cleaner for good results on small diameter perches\\n\\nReview: I will start this review by saying that I have only ever had small birds (parakeets, cockatiels, canaries, zebra finches, society finches). Right now I have two cockatiels, two parakeets, and three zebra finches, so I only have three cages to clean. So this review will be from that perspective.\\n\\nI used to have one of these years ago and it was pretty amazing, but it got lost a few moves back. I have tried other things for cleaning perches -- steel wool, various brushes, etc. -- and none of them worked quite as well. Sometimes I would just completely replace perches that got too bad. I completely forgot about this item until I was shopping for Poop Off and saw this under recommended items.\\n\\nThis is not quite the same as the one I used to have (bristles aren't quite as stiff), but it is good enough for my purposes, especially since I have fewer birds now than I used to. The package says to wet the bird poo before scraping to prevent it making dust when you scrape. I squirt a little Poop Off onto the perches, let it sit for a minute, then use this. That way I get both enzymatic and mechanical removal, and it works much better than dry brushing. Yeah, it's an extra step, but it is better than any of the alternatives I've come up with.\\n\\nThis is a good diameter to use for small bird perches. The plastic on the back is comfortable to hold and to press down on. I have only used this on wood perches. Used wet, you do have to clean this from time to time. I would also leave it bristles down on a paper towel to dry after use and cleaning -- I doubt this is high quality stainless steel and making sure it is completely dry and that water doesn't pool around the bristles will mean that they don't rust, which means more use before having to replace it.\\n\\nAnyway, this has been useful to me, personally, so I am happy with the purchase.\",\n \"Product: Large squeeki tiki are safe non-toxic toys for medium and large sized dogs! This cool Tiki dog toy will bring a taste of island life to your backyard or living room! Soft durable Bodies all squeek and are stylized like cool stone Polynesian Gods!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: gone in 60 seconds\\n\\nReview: I have one of the large ones. I probably would not have bought this for my dog, but it came in a dog subscription box, and I figured there was no harm in letting her have it under supervision. For the record, my dog is an 84-pound female Rottweiler and she does have a destructive streak.\\n\\nWell, this lasted all of 60 seconds before she had a dime-sized piece removed (and swallowed -- don't worry, it passed through the next day). Now, I've given this two stars because she DOES love it. Or rather DID love it. And it may last longer with non-destructive dogs. It is appropriately squeaky (well, until there is a big hole in it...), a sound that my dog loves and that I tolerate for my dog's sake. It is also easy to clean, which is great if you are able to play fetch with it outside.\\n\\nThis may not be best for heavy chewers. I understand it is not supposed to be a chew toy, per se, but (1) you try telling a dog how exactly the manufacturer recommends she use a toy and that you expect her to follow those directions and (2) at about a minute of use, my dog did not even get a chance to start chewing in earnest. This was that flimsy.\",\n \"Product: Exercise your right to chew! Ruff Bone flavored bone shaped chew toy by Ruff Dawg is a durable toy designed for fetching, playing and chewing. A variety of savory flavors entice chewing to keep dogs busy! Ruff Bone chew toys help create good chewing habits and discourage destructive chewing. Good for puppies and adults, long lasting, durable Ruff Bone satisfies dogs' natural need to chew! Natural savory flavors are infused throughout the entire toy, keeping your dog happy for hours. These non-edible chew toys are made in the USA of FDA-approved Inert Recyclable Thermoplastic Polymer, with natural flavors. All Ruff Dawg toys are 100% Made safe in the USA of recyclable, FDA-approved materials, free of phthalates, latex and BPAs. Ruff Dawg is a family owned company that has been keeping dogs fit and active with premium quality Made-in-the USA toys since 1998.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: not for heavy chewers; dogs WILL try to eat this\\n\\nReview: We got one of these in a dog subscription box. My dog liked it (a lot) and the steak flavor didn't aggravate her inflammatory bowel disease, so I won't give it one star.\\n\\nBut, for a nylon bone, this is not really up to snuff. We've had toys from Nylabone and Benebone and BulliBone and several others that have lasted a LOT longer. I had to take this away after about two minutes, which is not really very much time for a nylon bone with my dog. Normally she gets to play with nylon bones at least a handful of times before I stop giving them to her. Specifically, she started getting small pieces off the end and swallowing them. (Now, I know this will happen with any nylon bone over time, but it usually takes a lot longer than two minutes.)\\n\\nThese are not supposed to be edible but dogs WILL try to eat them. Especially heavy chewers, which is what my dog is! (If you want to give your dog an edible bone, Nylabone makes ones called \\\"Healthy Edibles\\\" that may be worth looking into.) And you need to supervise your dog closely while s/he has this, because swallowing a big chunk could land him or her at the emergency vet clinic. I think these are just a little bit too soft to really be safe.\",\n \"Product: KONG Ballistic is made using a patented, multi-layer design. Each toy has three layers of material (inner layer of 600 Denier Poly with PU Coating*, inner layer of 1050 Denier Ballistic Nylon with PU Coating* and outer layer of soft fleece) with eight rows of stitching to create a tough and durable dog toy. KONG Ballistic toys are gentle on teeth and gums and all toys squeak and float. Each squeaker is secured using individual nylon pouches inside the toy. KONG Ballistic - TOUGH enough to be called a KONG. *PU Coating is a water resistant coating that is gentle on teeth and gums and non-toxic .\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: not for the heaviest chewers, but probably fine for less destructive dogs\\n\\nReview: I got this in the August Blockhead Box (a dog subscription box). I have the \\\"large\\\" version and, for the record, my dog is an 83-84 pound Rottweiler who is super destructive.\\n\\nThis lasted my dog longer than a lot of cloth-covered toys (I hesitate to call it \\\"plush\\\" because it's not particularly soft and doesn't have stuffing). As in, like five minutes. Part of the reason was she had a bit of trouble picking it up, but I'm not blaming that on the toy, I'm blaming it on my dog. She kept trying to pick it up by the middle, while one of her feet was holding the outside part down...anyway, she did eventually get it up.\\n\\nMy dog has the uncanny ability to find the weak point in any toy. In this case, it is the embroidered KONG logo. She started gnawing on that after a few minutes and I did eventually have to take it away because she put a few small holes in it near the logo. For what it's worth, she did LOVE this toy and was sad to have it taken away, and it held up pretty well to tugging. Also, although there are squeakers, she really didn't squeak this too much (for once, much to my relief...).\\n\\nIn the end, maybe this is not for the heaviest of chewers, but I have no doubt it would work for some dogs (like my last Rottie, who was very gentle with toys). The large is appropriate for large breed dogs. Although my dog is on the small side for a Rottie, I would feel comfortable giving this to a dog 20 or 30 pounds heavier, as well. I would definitely supervise at first, especially if you know your dog is destructive.\",\n \"Product: Hill's Prescription Diet z/d, Canine ULTRA Allergen-Free Formula is a nutritionally complete dog food which is balanced without animal proteins, reducing risk of allergic reactions in sensitive pets and promoting skin health.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: the only thing my dog can eat\\n\\nReview: First, please note that Hill's apparently doesn't offer the z/d \\\"ultra\\\" any longer (I spent awhile on their site looking for it, and my vet can't order it for me anymore) so you will probably get the regular z/d if you order this. The ultra z/d and regular z/d aren't all that different. Also note that this is a prescription food and should only be obtainable from a vet or somewhere like PetSmart where they will fill food prescriptions if you have one.\\n\\nThis is a last resort kind of food. It is super expensive and a lot of dogs won't eat it. (I get my best deal at the vet and the prices everywhere are different, so shop around. I have to feed my dog four cans of this a day -- she weighs 84 pounds -- so I am just throwing money away to get this.)\\n\\nBut, my dog can't have anything else. She has eosinophilic inflammatory bowel disease (and torn ligaments in both knees). She is on 20+ pills a day (including a bunch of fiber supplements, a probiotic, joint supplements, D-mannose to prevent UTIs, a B vitamin supplement, reglan, metronidazole, famotidine, tramadol, and of course prednisone). The prednisone makes her hungry so she will eat this.\\n\\nMost people will use this as a transition food. Like if your dog is exhibiting food allergies, you would feed this for awhile to get anything else out of his/her system, then introduce foods back in one at a time until you find the culprit. (Unfortunately pretty much everything seems to be the culprit in my dog's case, so she's been eating this exclusively since some time last year. It seems fine for long-term feeding but it is supplemented with vitamins and minerals.)\\n\\nEven if your dog can't handle the dry version of this, try the cans. There are added flavors for palatability in the dry version and these can cause digestive issues. But they are not present in the wet version. Anyway, I figured out this was OK out of desperation (my dog wouldn't eat, I had some of the cat version of this, I gave it to her, and she thought it was pretty good, so I went to the vet for the dog version) and I just wanted to share that in case anyone else was going through the same thing. My dog has been stable for almost a year now (with a few hiccups usually centering around medication changes) so I am happy.\",\n \"Product: Hartz Bird Diet for Small Birds is a tasty and nutritious seed, grain and vitamin-fortified pellet blend that your pet bird will love. Our diet has been specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of Parakeets, Canaries, Finches and other birds with small-sized beaks: Contains precise levels of protein, fat and fiber to help your bird maintain a healthy weight and overall condition. Our ingredients have been carefully selected based on your birds beak size and the food preferences of pet birds to maximize consumption and minimize waste, which helps to provide balanced nutrition. Hartz Bird Diet for Small Birds is fortified with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and omega fatty acids for your pets overall well-being: Vitamin A helps support eye, skin and immune system health. Vitamin D helps your bird effectively use calcium and supports bone health. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and helps maintain healthy cells. Omega fatty acids-3 help support a healthy heart. Omega fatty acids-6 help promote healthy skin and vibrant feathers. Feeding Instructions: Feed 1 to 3 tablespoons in a clean bowl every day. Adjust amount as needed to maintain proper weight. Empty leftovers and refresh the cup every day. Always provide clean, fresh water. Tips: For best results when introducing a new food, begin with a mixture of current and new food to allow time for your pet bird to adjust to the transition. Gradually increase the amount of new food for 7-10 days. Store in a cool, dry place.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: birds like it and are doing well, but not enough quantity in the bag\\n\\nReview: I ordered two packages of this. I have two parakeets and three zebra finches (all hatched in early 2009). I have tried expensive diets, pellets, etc. in the past, but I would always find the fancy stuff on the bottom of the cage and the seeds being eaten. After going through many brands, I gave in and just started buying my birds seeds. They've survived like this for almost 7 years now and are doing pretty well, actually -- no signs of ill health or nutritional deficiency.\\n\\nAnyway, I was out of small bird food and I didn't have time to go out to the pet store where I usually buy it, so I ordered this. It arrived and I have some good news and some bad news.\\n\\nFirst, the good news. My birds like this, it does not appear old, it does not have those little moths in it that bird seed sometimes gets. The parakeets and the finches all seem just fine with the quality of this -- they are eating it and appear healthy and active.\\n\\nNow, the bad news. I assumed, based on the product image and listed weight, that I would be getting 8 pounds of food (I actually ordered two bags). I only received 2 pounds of food. Each bag was only 1 pound. These were almost too tiny to be useful for me, and the cost to product ratio was not favorable in terms of value. I did not send these back (consider it a semi-expensive mistake) because I was 100% out of small bird food and my birds needed something to eat and my cockatiels' food is not appropriate for parakeets and finches. So it is getting me by until I can get out to the big box pet store. But I will not be ordering it again.\\n\\nIf you are looking for an evaluation of this particular seed, in general, I would recommend it, especially if your birds are finicky. If you are looking for an evaluation of the product you get when you order from this Amazon page, I would suggest you keep looking unless you have only one finch or something.\",\n \"Product: Grow your own edible cat treats using this larger size premium cat grass mixture kit. OurPet`s Cat grass is a fiber rich dietary supplement. Grass grows quickly\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cats love it and it was easy to get started\\n\\nReview: I'll be honest, I didn't read the directions. I opened the little dirt packet, threw one of the packets of seeds in here, mixed it up a bit, watered once when I started and once mid-week, and by the end of the week, I had a lot of grass growing in the dish. I didn't use the extra seed packet just yet (it appears to be just some wheat and related grains, so it might be possible to refresh from the bulk bins at Whole Foods).\\n\\nThe dish is pretty lightweight. However, I can't leave my cats alone with this or they would eat so much grass they threw up, and possibly some of the dirt and seeds (a couple are on prednisolone for allergy/inflammatory conditions, which makes them eat like little ravenous beasts). So I am always there to supervise. There is no drainage so don't overwater (it doesn't appear to need much).\\n\\nI like this better than some of the other cat grass kits I've tried; the one where you just add water to the bag (forget the manufacturer) is a little inconvenient and you have to keep it on a saucer (where the water gets super stinky), plus it doesn't come with extra seeds. By contrast, this one doesn't have a smell, and the cats like the grass, plus it was easy to get started and comes with extra seeds, so I'm happy (and so are the cats).\",\n \"Product: Nature's Miracle Flashlight Dispenser attaches to any leash with the adjustable, durable strap. The heavy duty, antimicrobial bags easily dispense one at a time. The waste bags are extra thick with strong seams and trap and eliminate pet odors. Antimicrobial product protection inhibits odor-causing bacteria. The flashlight dispenser features steady, strobe and blinking L.E.D. light functions for safety. The flashlight dispenser is ideal for increasing visibility during evening walks.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: non-functional as a flashlight and as a bag dispenser\\n\\nReview: I received one of these in a dog subscription box last week and it has already gone into my e-waste recycling. It is that non-functional.\\n\\nI can't even assess the quality of the bags because I cannot get them out. The black rubberlike material around the opening for dispensing bags is so stiff, I can't get my fingers in there to peel a bag from the roll. I think I could use my jewelry pliers, but I don't want to be wrangling pliers and an 86-pound Rottweiler on a walk around the neighborhood, you know? I thought, maybe I could get the bags started through the opening by popping open the black cap on the end and feeding one through. Well, I couldn't get the black cap off.\\n\\nAll right, so was this good as a flashlight? Unfortunately, I can't tell that either. Because even though mine came with batteries (2 CR2032 batteries are what this takes), I couldn't get the battery compartment open. It is one of those screw-type doors that you are supposed to turn with a coin. Well, All that happened when I tried to turn the battery compartment door was I marred the plastic of the door. I didn't budge the compartment door one inch. I even had my husband, who is stronger than I am, try to open the battery compartment door, and he couldn't either, he just tore the plastic even more. There are now a bunch of grooves in this area from the coin slipping out of the slot where it is supposed to fit.\\n\\nIn sum, this is non-functional both as a flashlight and as a bag dispenser. Don't buy it.\",\n \"Product: ZiwiPeak Good-Cat' Lamb & Liver Treats contain 100% natural, fresh, raw meat, just air-dried for convenience. Your cat is an obligate carnivore, so make sure your treats are pure New Zealand real meat ZiwiPeak treats Good-Cat' Lamb and Liver Rewards. Everything we create for your loved cat is made with their health, wellbeing and longevity top of mind. That philosophy stems to our treat range, which while rewarding your kitten or cat, also provides them with the energy and nutrition they need to live active, happy lives. Like our cuisine, our treats work on your cat's digestion, energy, vitality, healthy coat and skin, long term joint health and weight control. Thanks to the goodness in each ZiwiPeak treat, remember to modify your portion size of ZiwiPeak cuisine at feeding times your cat won't need as much if they have received a treat. ZiwiPeak treats are not intended as a complete daily diet, but as a premium real-meat jerky treat to occasionally reward your cat's good behavior.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: really glad I found these\\n\\nReview: I use cat treats to lure my cats into the bedroom before I leave the house. I have a hyperactive Rottweiler puppy and I'd prefer to keep the dog and cats apart while I'm gone. Unfortunately, one of my cats (who needs the incentive of treats most of all) was diagnosed last year with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This severely restricts what he is able to eat, and means that most brands of treats are off-limits. (He can't have chicken, fish, turkey, beef, pork, or any type of grain.)\\n\\nAt any rate, I was in a bit of a pinch, as the treats I'd been using are no longer available locally. I researched these online and decided to give them a try. I even took a risk and ordered 7 packages to get over the \\\"add-on\\\" item limit.\\n\\nWell, I am happy to report that I made a good investment. The packages contain a lot of treats and are resealable, so they should last a long time. The treats are small enough to be perfect for cats; they have the sort of texture you'd expect from a jerky treat -- flexible and a little chewy. The ingredients are: 70% lamb meat and 25% lamb liver, with the remainder being lecithin, chicory inulin, parsley, and mixed tocopherols. That is about the shortest list of ingredients I've ever seen for a cat treat, which is great. I also feel confident feeding these to my IBD cat (he eats a lamb-based wet food for his main diet).\\n\\nMost importantly, though, the cats like them. I have four cats; one has never been motivated by any kind of treats, though he did at least give these a sniff. Two cats gobbled up every treat that was in sight. And the final cat did eat a few, but he has tooth problems so it took him a bit longer.\\n\\nPlease note: these are treats and should not be used as a sole nutrition source. They should be suitable for a variety of food allergy and sensitivity conditions in cats, though. I'm glad I found them!\",\n \"Product: Petstages catnip wrestle and romp is the perfect size for kitty to kick and play\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats were only slightly more interested in this than in other large toys (but would work for cats that like to wrestle)\\n\\nReview: I got this in a subscription box recently. I will start by saying this is quite large and appears to be well-made. So if your cat likes to wrestle with toys, he or she may really enjoy this and it should hold up.\\n\\nHowever, I have four older cats (approximate ages 8, 9, 10 or 11, and 12) and they do play with toys, but they don't generally wrestle with toys. They showed more interest in this one than in several of the other large wrestler/kicker type toys we've received in subscription boxes lately, I think because of the little bits hanging off (tail and antennae? or just random pieces of fabric, not sure). But it was only a passing interest.\\n\\nIf there is catnip in this, my cats didn't react to it. Not sure if it was old (this comes attached to a cardboard backing but is just exposed to open air, so if the one I got was older, perhaps the essential oils had dissipated. (My cats do love catnip.)\\n\\nI am keeping this around because I am probably getting a kitten in the next six months. But, if you have older cats or cats that don't like larger toys, this is probably not for you.\",\n \"Product: This potent organic catnip toy is just the perfect size for what we like to call bat and slap play. It sits on the floor looking up at your cat just daring it to give it a go. It's small size and potent catnip will keep your cat entertained for hours, until of course he needs to attend a nip head annonymous meeting or two\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cats like this fairly well and haven't destroyed it yet\\n\\nReview: First of all, please note that, despite the current photo showing a bowl of these, the listing is for one (assorted) clownfish toy.\\n\\nThese are cute and quite well-made. My rather destructive cats have had access to one for about a week now and it is still intact. I see it moving around the room, so I know they're playing with it. Because they're playing with it, I'm assuming that the catnip in it is fresh (my cats all like catnip).\\n\\nThese are an appropriate size for adult cats to play with -- small enough for them to toss into the air but large enough not to be a choking hazard (I suggest removing the tag before giving it to your cat, though). If your cat is a fan of stuffed catnip toys and you prefer organic catnip, these are worth checking out. (You may want to comparison shop, however.)\",\n \"Product: OurPet`s Frisky Spritz contains pure catnip oil in an 2-ounce bottle. Use on toys and scratchers to renew catnip scent. Safe, non-toxic and dye free.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats love this\\n\\nReview: I got the two ounce bottle in a subscription box. Last night I sprayed it inside a shoe box just to test it out. One of my cats (the biggest catnip fiend) got in the shoebox and started licking the cardboard and rubbing his chin all over the corner where I sprayed it. He did not want to lay off! It was actually pretty funny to watch. Seeing as he hadn't been interested in the shoe box before I sprayed this, I will say it works pretty well!\\n\\nI can't smell anything, which is nice, and it doesn't discolor what you spray it on. Although I would probably stick to spraying it on things you don't mind throwing away or having damaged, because my cats did attempt to scratch the carpet when I tested it out there.\\n\\nThe sprayer works well and doesn't stick and the spray pattern has pretty good coverage for a small bottle. I will be buying the 8 ounce bottle as soon as I run out of my little one!\",\n \"Product: Holistic Health For Less-Active Dogs Made with all-natural ingredients, Solid Gold Holistique Blendz was specially designed to maintain vitality, immunity, and overall health in older and less-active adult dogs. Delicious low-fat ingredients like fish meal, salmon oil, lentils, and oatmeal contain proteins and nutrients that can help reduce cholesterol, improve heart health, and prevent colon disorders while benefiting your dogs entire body. Solid Gold Holistique Blendz is made without preservatives or other components that can cause allergic reactions, so its great for sensitive dogs. Youll feel good giving your dog this tasty and wholesome meal loaded with health benefits.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: good for dogs with food allergies\\n\\nReview: My 9-year-old Rottweiler passed away last month; she had a history of food allergies. When I attempted to switch her to senior food at age 7 -- even though I didn't switch brands -- she got a horrible month-long case of diarrhea. The vet and I pretty quickly figured out it was a food issue, so I went looking for a new food. I got some samples of Solid Gold Holistic Blendz and a couple of other limited-ingredient foods from a local independent pet store, so I was able to try it out before buying a large bag.\\n\\nAt any rate, I chose this food because it doesn't have any corn and because it says on the front of the bag that it's suitable for senior and less active dogs. My Rottie had severe joint problems, so I had to limit her activity. Plus, I didn't want her to get fat because that would've put more stress on her joints. And, she seemed to like the taste quite a bit. (My cats did too -- they'd seek out pieces of kibble she'd left behind -- although I'd never recommend this be used as a cat food.)\\n\\nMy dog did very well on this food for two years (she ultimately had a heart attack which was traceable to a congenital condition and had nothing to do with the food). Her coat looked beautiful, her elimination became normal once again, and her weight stayed at 87 pounds pretty consistently.\\n\\nThis food is not specifically labeled for large breeds. I did provide a separate joint supplement for my dog. The pieces are square shaped and less than a half-inch on a side. The food would be suitable for medium-sized dogs as well, although it might be a bit on the large side for small and/or toy breeds.\",\n \"Product: Great for tough chewers, the Fetch & Chew Jr bone from Spunky Pup is made of a super tough nylon center with ends made of 100% natural rubber. The textured rubber promotes dental health by cleaning and stimulating your dogs teeth and gums. Place his favorite treats inside either end to keep your buddy entertained as he tries to retrieve them. For medium to small size dogs.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: dog thought this was pretty good\\n\\nReview: I have this in large (my dog is an 84-pound Rottweiler). Mine is blue so I suppose a few different colors are possible.\\n\\nMy dog wasn't super interested in this at first. Then we tried to play tug-of-war with her using this toy and one of the black balls popped off the end. My dog's hobby is destroying toys and the closer they are to falling apart, the more interested in them she is. And once the black ball had popped off, she was all over this. She chewed and chewed and chewed on the bone part (and the little knob that holds the ball) until I took it away from her.\\n\\nIt held up reasonably well to her chewing. It is not as sturdy as a Nylabone and she did raise some ridges in the nylon part right away. But she was not able to chew any pieces off, and that makes me happy. (My dog is REALLY destructive.) I was even able to put the black ball back on when she was done.\\n\\nThe black balls hold treats, or you can put wet food or peanut butter or something in there. I would probably not give this to my dog unsupervised because the black parts do come off. I think they are too big for a large dog to swallow, but better safe than sorry. However, supervised, my dog had a lot of fun with this. 3.5 stars.\",\n \"Product: Feline Harvest grain-free dental treats offer quality proteins for delicious flavor and provide an easy way to battle kitty breath and plaque buildup. Grain- and gluten-free cat treats contain real chicken meal and pea protein as the First two ingredients, plus minimal other wholesome ingredients in a crunchy, crescent-shaped treat that assists your cat's at-home dental care. 3oz resealable bag. Chewing These wholesome and delicious treats helps to reduce your cat's plaque and tartar buildup. Feline Harvest treats are recommended for cats over 6 months old of age and 5 lbs. Made in the USA.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cats like them but they are pretty big and can't be eaten in one bite\\n\\nReview: These came in a recent Purr Packs subscription box (I have the chicken flavor). The brand is new to me, which is unusual -- I feel like I've seen most of the cat treat brands out there. Anyway, these are made in the USA and are grain free.\\n\\nThese are hard treats. They're shaped like little fish and are a bit bigger than goldfish crackers, if you want a size comparison. Unfortunately, my cat who needs dental work can't eat them (he has inflammatory bowel disease), but of my other three cats, two enjoyed these quite a bit. Don't mind the opinion of the third cat in all of this; he is not really all that food-motivated and usually doesn't go for treats.\\n\\nIt takes a bit of effort for cats to eat these since they are somewhat large. The cats will most likely bite them into smaller pieces with their teeth. This means some little pieces will probably end up on the floor, so watch out for that.\\n\\nThe bag is resealable and the treats don't have a strong odor. It is hard to tell if they are actually doing much to my cats' teeth, and they won't substitute for real dental cleanings, but they probably won't hurt either, and two of my cats really do like them.\",\n \"Product: My Little Lion Cat Treats are soft and delicious little morsels made with over 40% unrendered premium protein. Feel no guilt when you reward your cat because they are grain free and are less than 1.3 calories per piece.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: these were a pretty big hit with my crew\\n\\nReview: Three of my cats can eat these and two of the three loved them. (The third is not very food-motivated, although he did sniff at them, which ought to count for something.)\\n\\nThey are semi-moist treats that are a bit on the harder side of being semi-moist, if that makes sense. I would not call them soft (not even deformable, really). They come in a resealable bag that actually closes properly and they don't have a strong odor (at least to me -- the cats did like sniffing them).\\n\\nAnyway, two of my cats ate all the treats I put out in just a minute or two. They were really enjoying these. Neither of them got sick the next day, either (it's been a few more days since then), so these seem agreeable in terms of kitty intestines.\\n\\nI love that these are grain free and made in the US. They do have a lot of chicken \\\"stuff\\\" in them, but then again, tuna is the first ingredient. (You can see the nutritional analysis and ingredients list if you zoom in on the product images.)\\n\\nOverall, these were a hit with my crew. (For what it's worth, you can find these for under three dollars if you go looking. So please do some comparison shopping before you buy!)\",\n \"Product: My Little Lion Cat Treats are soft and delicious little morsels made with over 40% unrendered premium protein. Feel no guilt when you reward your cat because they are grain free and are less than 1.3 calories per piece.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cats seemed to like these a lot\\n\\nReview: I received these in a subscription box. I put the box up on a shelf and my cats kept knocking it down. They retrieved this bag more than once and when I found it, there were a bunch of chew holes in the bag. So I guess these smelled appealing to my cats!\\n\\nAnyway, I finally just opened the bag and gave out the treats to three of my four cats (the fourth has IBD and can't eat these treats because they contain chicken). My black cat hogged most of them, but my calico got a few and my tan and white cat, who normally is not motivated by treats at all, even had a couple. So all the cats who got the treats seemed to like them.\\n\\nMine were fairly soft. I'd classify them as semi-moist. The cats did not seem to have a problem with the texture and no one threw up afterwards. They did not have a strong smell to me, though I guess the cats would beg to differ, seeing as they tried to open the bag themselves. The bag these come in is resealable.\\n\\nThese are made in the USA and are grain free, which is great (cats have a hard time processing grains).\",\n \"Product: Bamboo Pet Fat Cat kitty hoots assorted crackle cat toy is packed with boredom-busting secret weapons. The crackly paper bag thing that cats love fused with a cool cat toy design and stuffed with Zoom-Around-the-Room high-test organic catnip. Promotes maximum kitty frenzy. Includes 1 toy per pack.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: my cats fight over this thing\\n\\nReview: I have the lizard (or salamander?) one; it came in a cat subscription box. My cats think it is pretty great.\\n\\nOne of my older boys was licking this like crazy (something he tends to do with Fat Cat/Kitty Hoots toys; he really enjoys the texture) when my kitten came over and expressed interest. I got to watch a kitty boxing match after that, and anything that causes a kitty boxing match (aka slap fight) to break out is a lot of fun, in my book (they don't hurt each other). The kitten ended up with the toy and he rolled all over the dining room table, biting and clawing at it. So if I have a cat toy and 2 out of 5 cats are thrilled with it right out of the box, it is going to get a good rating.\\n\\nI'm honestly not sure why this is called a \\\"crackler,\\\" as it doesn't make any noise (for which I'm actually grateful; I don't want the kitten to decide it's AWESOME in the middle of the night and wake me up). It does seem to be holding up to pretty violent play from the kitten (well, he is now 15-16 months old and more than 10 pounds, so he's probably not considered a kitten any longer) -- I see no damage at all. So I would say this was well-made for a cat toy.\\n\\nIn the end, my cats loved this so much they (sort of) fought over it, and they loved different aspects of the toy -- one was into the outer texture and canvas, and another was interested in tossing it around. So I think this would be a pretty safe bet for a variety of cats.\",\n \"Product: The sticks are a safer alternative for your dog to play with than a real stick and a whole lot more fun. They are extremely dog friendly. The rope also allows you to attach it to your doog walkie belt or hang them at your front door ready for their next adventure. Made from recycled rubber. The sticks all come with a handy grip moulded into the toy plus a slobber resistant rope for improved throwing and grappling. The sticks float in water and have glow in the dark eyes making them the perfect throw toy for your furry friend. Dimension: 4.5 x 1 x 14.5-inch. Stick style: These toys are not designed to be chewed. Please use them for chucking and chasing.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: dog took a piece off in under 30 seconds\\n\\nReview: I got one of these in a subscription box. My dog seemed quite excited about it and I thought it was cute. But, in under 30 seconds, she had taken a piece off the end and swallowed it. It was a small piece, and she is a large dog with a history of swallowing foreign objects and passing them through, so I am not worried about that. (At least not with my dog, based on her history. Some dogs could get intestinal blockages from swallowing bits of toys, however.)\\n\\nI know this says it is for tossing and fetching and not for chewing, but I have not known many dogs in my day (and I have had pet dogs for about 36 of my 38 years of life) who understood the distinction. There are a couple of questionable design choices. I cut off the rope part because I knew my dog would try to swallow it. And the arms are so thin, those are just asking to be bitten off and swallowed.\\n\\nI think this could have been a good idea but it failed in the execution. Dogs *do* chew on sticks. Trust me. So if you are going to make a toy that replicates a stick, it needs to be made from some material that is safe for chewing. This toy is not.\",\n \"Product: Sassy cat treats are different. Made with no grain, fillers or artificial preservatives, Herbsmith's sassy cat treats help cats live naturally. Cats are carnivores, designed to primarily eat and digest meat with some vegetables and fruits or little to no grain. That's why sassy cat has real food treats made with simple basic ingredients based on a cat's optimal diet. At Herbsmith, we feel that pets should not simply eat to live... They should eat to thrive! the right diet can bring your cat into a whole new state of health and wellness. Grain-Free no fillers, additives or artificial preservatives sourced & made in the U.S.A.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: the duck ones are good for cats with food sensitivities/allergies/restricted diets\\n\\nReview: This review is for the duck and orange formula (which I bought somewhere else to meet a minimum order amount).\\n\\nI have four cats but one of them has inflammatory bowel disease. He can have duck, lamb, and rabbit, but no chicken, beef, pork, fish, turkey, wheat, corn, or soy. That means he often gets left out at treat time. Poor guy. I had been buying some lamb jerky treats for cats that he did all right with, but they seem to have been discontinued. So I went looking for something he could still have. (I should also mention at this point, he has really bad teeth, but we can't do much about it because his medications would interfere with various things during the dental cleaning and extraction process -- I've discussed this at length with my vet. He eats only wet food that I puree with water into a \\\"soup.\\\")\\n\\nI've given him these on a couple of occasions now, waiting a few days between, and his digestive system has been handling them quite well. No vomiting (his particular IBD symptom), no lack of appetite, nothing. He gets SO EXCITED for these and I am happy seeing him that way. Because these are freeze-dried, they are not too hard, and he seems to have no trouble eating them. He's a little slow (he's also practically blind due to eye issues -- which are also being treated, by the way), but if I put a bunch out, he gets his fair share before the other cats steal them away.\\n\\nFor what it's worth, my other three cats like these too. (They've also had some of the other flavors, like chicken and seafood, from cat subscription boxes, and those seem well-appreciated by healthy cats with no dietary restrictions.)\\n\\nI do think these are pretty stinky but then, so are a lot of other cat treats, so that's nothing new. They come in a resealable package and I love that the ingredients list is so short -- just duck and oranges (not sure why cats need oranges, but it doesn't seem to bother them). I will probably try the duck and rabbit ones for the IBD cat, too (listed as \\\"other\\\" on the Amazon product page).\",\n \"Product: JW Pet Cataction Mouse w/ Rope Tail is infused with catnip. Each colorful, fun toy produces a strong aroma that drives cat's crazy, stimulating play. TPR Rubber infused with high-quality Made in the USA catnip oils. Designs & materials specifically geared for cats. Design based on natural instincts to prey & play!.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: two of my cats thought this was pretty great\\n\\nReview: I received this in a recent Purr Packs subscription box (monthly delivery of cat stuff that I pay for). I knew right away that my calico cat would love it. She loves all silicone toys (and other silicone items). Although this is actually made of a thermoplastic polymer rather than silicone, it has a rather silicone-like texture. So my calico cat was biting it a lot (so cute -- and this is just what she does with silicone and similar-textured items).\\n\\nWhat I was not prepared for is that one of my older male cats ALSO likes this toy very much. He is interested in both the tail and the thermoplastic polymer part (which he was also biting). He did not remove the tail from the mouse but my cats are seniors (for the most part) and not super destructive.\\n\\nThis has a small bell in it. It is really not too loud; my cats typically don't like noisy toys but they do enjoy this. I do take it away at night although it is far from the most annoying bell-containing cat toy I've ever seen.\\n\\nAnyway, it is quite rare for two of my cats to be interested in the same toy, so this one was a winner for us. (Actually, of the JW Cataction toys we've gotten in subscription boxes, most of them have been pretty popular with my crew.)\",\n \"Product: Dura-fuse are dog toys made with durable real leather that as been fused with jute fabric and doubled stitched seams for added strength.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: dog absolutely loves it but it is not holding up very well\\n\\nReview: I don't even know where I got this, some dog subscription box probably. Anyway, I have really mixed feelings here.\\n\\nOn the one hand, my dog loves it, and I think it is the only toy she's ever played with designed for tugging where she tugs the end that is SUPPOSED to go in the dog's mouth (i.e., the ball) instead of the handle. She really likes the leather material. (Playing tug is one of her favorite activities, in general.)\\n\\nOn the other hand, it is not holding up very well. The ball part is starting to come apart at the seams. Allegedly this has a squeaker but my dog hasn't discovered it yet (normally she can find squeakers I didn't even know were there).\\n\\nFor reference, my dog is an 87 pound Rottweiler. She is fairly destructive, though she's become slightly less so as she gets older (she's 5 years old now). So destroying toys is nothing new for her. I would say this made it through about one play session (of 15 minutes or so) before it started having issues. It might work for a smaller, weaker (Rottie jaws are STRONG), or less destructive dog, but may not be best for a large breed.\",\n \"Product: Kitty got fish breath? Pass them a mint! As catnips cousin, mint is appealing to cats and helps freshen their breath as they chew! These pressed leaves hold a solid form and are lightweight, so kitty will love batting, chasing, and chewing them. Made with all natural ingredients.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: two of my four cats did bite this\\n\\nReview: I have four cats and two of them (coincidentally, the ones with the worst teeth) actually did bite this. (By comparison, pretty much all of my cats will bite those 100% catnip balls. So mint is apparently not as exciting to them as catnip. But that's not surprising.)\\n\\nI can't say whether this is actually cleaning their teeth, but it is a smaller, flatter size than many of the pressed catnip objects out there, so it is easier for them to actually fit partially into their mouths for chewing purposes. (Even my old man kitty with eye problems was excited by this. And it takes a lot to get him off the bed.)\\n\\nThis seems to hold together well. It doesn't get batted around the floor too much (but my cats have hundreds of toys). Is it actually helping their teeth? It's hard to say. But since two of them *did* bite it, I have hope.\\n\\nYou may get the best results from this if (1) you have 3+ cats, which increases the likelihood that at least one of them will be interested and (2) if you hold this up to them (assuming your cats are the sort to sniff at or bite things you hold up to them -- mine are). I would love to see something like this with a bit of catnip added in to increase interest.\",\n \"Product: Chicken & Turkey Soft-Moist Cat Treats BLUE Wilderness Chicken & Turkey soft-moist cat treats are the perfect way to cater to your felines inner carnivore. Loaded with real chicken and turkey, these soft-moist treats have the flavor your cat craves. BLUE Wilderness cat treats are: Made with real chicken and turkey 100% grain-free Free from chicken or poultry by-product meals Free from artificial flavors and preservatives Made with the best ingredients and with your cats favorite flavors in mind, BLUE Wilderness cat treats are the perfect way to reward your four-legged friend. Size: You get two separate 2 ounce packages\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cats liked them, plus they're grain free and made in the US\\n\\nReview: I wanted to take some photos of my black cat and he was hiding somewhere (I *thought* under the bed, but I couldn't find him down there). So, I opened a bag of this, which I had received in a cat subscription box, and scattered rather a lot of the treats on the floor. Naturally, my calico started eating them up. My orange tabby wanted in on them, too, but I had to lock him in the bathroom since he has inflammatory bowel disease and can't eat treats. My black cat did come out from wherever he was and started competing with the calico to see who could get the most. (I got my pictures.) No idea where my tan and white boy was, but he is not particularly food-motivated.\\n\\nMoral of the story, three out of my four cats really wanted these, and of the two who can actually eat them, both had probably 10-15 treats each (I kind of dropped a large handful). They were still eager about the treats near the end of their little gorge session, and a day later, neither one of them has had any kind of digestive issues. (My black cat really likes turkey so I'm sure that was an attraction for him. My calico will eat anything, including bits of carpet, bugs, and potato chips, so you can't use her as a guide.)\\n\\nThese are soft treats, maybe 1/3 by 1/2 inch (that's a rough estimate). They don't have a strong smell. The pouch is resealable for freshness, though I expect I'll have given the whole bag out before long. They drew a reluctant cat out from a secret hiding spot. And they're grain free, which is really important in cat treats and food. They're also made in the USA. So I'm happy. I originally got these in a subscription box, but would totally buy them again if I ever run out of cat treats.\",\n \"Product: Kitty Yums - Salmon 2 ounce (pack of 3, 6 ounces total)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: cats like them and no fish smell; a little bit larger than I'd like, though\\n\\nReview: My cats think these treats are pretty awesome. I have three cats who can eat fish. One of these is not usually motivated by treats. But I offered these treats to all three cats and it became a competition to see who could get the most. Even the non-treat-motivated cat was happy.\\n\\nThese don't smell too much like fish, thankfully. I guess the cats can smell them? At any rate, the bag has a zip top for reclosing and it works pretty well. As long as it stays zipped, the treats don't dry out.\\n\\nThese are harder (almost rubber-like to me, but the cats like it so I guess my feelings aren't an issue here) than semi-soft or moist treats and they're a little bit large for cat treats. Texture-wise, they're homogeneous.\\n\\nHere are the ingredients:\\n\\nDeboned Salmon, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Maple Syrup, Vegetable Glycerin, Potatoes, Gelatin, Natural Flavor, Salt, Fish Oil, Brewer's Yeast, Taurine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Phosphoric, Sorbic, Ascorbic and Citric Acids, Oil of Rosemary\\n\\nThis is made in the USA and contains no wheat, corn, or soy, which is great for cats -- they don't need grains!\",\n \"Product: KONG Active toys promote healthy exercise and fulfill cats' instinctual desires to chase, hunt and capture. KONG Cork Ball is made with all-natural cork and entices play with added catnip and feathers.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: one of my cats really loves the texture of the cork part\\n\\nReview: I always forget that Kong makes cat toys (we're big fans of a lot of their dog toys). This was a hit. My calico cat especially enjoyed it. She likes to bite things and she really found the texture of the cork part fascinating. She kept biting the cork -- it was adorable.\\n\\nI am pleased to report that despite lots of biting by my cats, the cork is still in good shape. I wasn't expecting it to last since it feels kind of soft, but it's been a few days and no pieces have been ripped off yet. The tail is also still attached. So this was a win.\\n\\nThere's not much else I can say about this toy. Whether or not your cat likes it will depend on a variety of factors. (For the record, my cats are ages 7, 8, 10, and 11, so they are not exactly young.) It helps to have a lot of cats because then usually everything will have at least one fan. If your cat likes chewing, biting, and interesting textures in toys, this could be a good match, though. It was for us!\",\n \"Product: The KONG Air Dog Squeak air Ball combines two classic dog toys - the tennis ball and the squeaker toy to create the perfect fetch toy. It's made with a special non-abrasive felt (traditional tennis balls are abrasive and can harm teeth and gums) and is now available in the XL size.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: dog loves it and it has held up well\\n\\nReview: My dog has one of these in and she loves it. She has always been a fan of tennis balls and other shapes coated with tennis ball covering, but she is much more enthusiastic about this one, I guess because it squeaks. She is an 83-pound Rottweiler (has the bone structure of a larger Rottie but has lost weight due to some medication she's on) and she can fit this in her mouth, so she can get some really good squeaking going. (Enough that it's pretty annoying and I take this away from her after a little while to spare my ears.)\\n\\nIn the past, tennis ball toys made for pets haven't held up well for us. My dog has traditionally had better results with actual tennis balls from Penn. This is one of the highest-quality tennis ball toys for pets we've had. She hasn't managed to put a hole in it or to pull any of the green coating off, which is pretty remarkable. (I have a VERY destructive dog.) She also hasn't managed to destroy the squeaker yet, which is nice.\\n\\nAnyway, my dog loves this and it is still intact after much abuse. Would definitely buy more of these in the future (first one I had came in a subscription box).\",\n \"Product: A bit of formal fun for your feline friend, Bowties are for special occasions, even if they do eventually end up under the refrigerator with your cats' other treasures.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: two of four cats were pretty interested in these\\n\\nReview: I got a couple of these in a cat subscription box. My cats are fans of the regular Cat Dancer but I put it out of reach somewhere and forgot where so they haven't seen it for awhile. I was hoping these would be a good substitute. It wasn't quite the same, but they did seem to have fun.\\n\\nMy cats did like these. I have four cats and at least two of them played with these toys. One really liked biting the twine part. We played tug-of-war with it and had a lot of fun. She tossed it around quite a bit on her own, as well. Another cat was more interested in the fabric but he likes to lick fabric with interesting textures. I figure, two out of four liking the toys is a pretty good ratio since my cats are all older (ages 8, 9, 10 or 11, and 12).\\n\\nThese seemed well made. My calico was pretty violent with them (she's the one I tugged with) and they were in the same sort of shape after a vigorous play session as before. I feel like I would be safe leaving my cats alone with these.\",\n \"Product: Applaws Whole Mackerel Loin is a delicious and healthy treat for adult cats packed with lean protein goodness and no fillers, artificial flavours or preservatives. Using only natural ingredients including the finest handcut mackerel loins, we have created a dish that your cat will find irresistible. 100 Natural, Applaws is a complementary pet food for adult cats, feed alongside a complete wet or dry cat food including Applaws complete dry cat food, for a balanced diet. Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min): 25 Crude Fat (min): 2 Crude F1ber (max): 1 Moisture (max): 60 Ash (max): 3 Calorie Content: ME (calculated, as fed): 1960 kcal/kg, 58.8 kcal/pouch. No added artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: cats thought this was great and they all kept it down\\n\\nReview: I think these things are absolutely disgusting (I've been a vegetarian for 24 years), but I didn't get it for me! I have 5 cats and they are not vegetarians. Of them, one was interested but I couldn't let him eat it due to his inflammatory bowel disease and one was too shy to get in there with the three others (the shy one is young and I've only had him six months). Of the three who shared this, they thought it was amazing.\\n\\nThe excitement began as soon as I opened the package. I cut this up with a steak knife into smaller chunks (to a degree, it fell right apart). There's a little bit of skin there and I just left it. There was also a little bit of broth in the package with the fish. There are no bones and the smell is honestly not as strong as I was expecting (a very good thing; who wants a fishy-smelling kitchen?).\\n\\nI set this down on the floor on a plate and let my cats share it. They were all enthusiastic and I think they actually managed to share almost equally (one of the three is not very food motivated but this got him excited). And the best part -- they all kept it down. Sometimes when I give my cats odd or new foods and treats, they throw up again right away. But this? Stayed down for every single one.\\n\\nI'm actually now thinking about buying a whole bunch of this to give to the non-food-motivated cat to get him to gain weight.\",\n \"Product: Bullibones are long lasting nylon dog chews that are naturally flavored all the way through with real bacon. Know for their innovative paw pad handles so dogs can easily hold the bones while they chew.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: good for heavy chewers and dogs with sensitive digestive systems\\n\\nReview: I've received a couple of these in dog subscription boxes now and they've worked out well for my dog. (For reference, she is an 87 pound Rottweiler. She's 4 years old and she has inflammatory bowel disease, so we have to be careful about flavorings in foods and toys -- too much of the wrong thing could upset her delicate system. My dog is also a super heavy, very destructive chewer.)\\n\\nThis is an appropriate size for a large breed dog. My dog has no trouble with it and I suspect dogs even somewhat larger could use the XL size. Although this is bacon flavored, it does not upset my dog's digestive system. (It also does not smell or stain the carpet.)\\n\\nThe idea here is that the dog puts his or her feet on the bottom (thinner) part and chews on the top. The first time my dog had one of these, that's what she did. The second time, she got it backwards. Oh well. I do like the idea, in theory, because I notice that whenever my dog has a bone-shaped toy, she does always try to hold the bottom with her feet.\\n\\nThis holds up for an average amount of time. As I said, my dog is pretty destructive. She can play with one of these a couple of times before I have to take it away. (They are nylon and start to get those little rough, raised ridges after a dog chews on them for awhile.) Getting a toy more than once is an accomplishment for my dog.\\n\\nThis is the sort of toy I would inspect after each play session and that I would not leave my dog alone with, but that may not be an issue for every dog. Check it a few times until you see how it will hold up with your dog. If your dog is less destructive than mine, it may last longer. Even though my dog has been chewing the foot-hold parts, this is actually still in decent shape. Also, in case you couldn't tell, my dog is very enthusiastic about chewing on this toy. She loves it.\",\n \"Product: Is your cat a lover and a fighter? The Categories Owl Kicker cat toy is the perfect toy for kicking, pouncing, and even cuddling. Pure, pesticide-free catnip, crinkle, and natural feathers encourage your cat's natural instincts to hunt and play. The velvety soft plush even makes this toy a perfect cuddle buddy or pillow!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: if your cat likes kicker-type toys, this one is pretty well made and has FEATHERS\\n\\nReview: I got one of these in a recent Meowbox. This review is reflective of only my cats' experience and may not apply to everyone. It depends a lot on the kind of toys your cat likes. If your cat enjoys wrestling and kicker-type toys, I will say that this is quite well-made. The feathers actually all stayed in place, and I can definitely not say that about other feather cat toys I've tried out on my kitties lately.\\n\\nMy cats, unfortunately, are not particularly interested in these larger, kicker-type toys. (Mine are 8, 9, 10, and 12, which may have something to do with it. They will play with bubbles, the laser pointer, pretty much anything dangly on a string, and a few smaller stuffed catnip toys. So they are not too old for toys.) They liked this one a bit more than others, simply because of the feathers. Feathers are a huge hit with my crew.\\n\\nThere was a fair amount of biting and tugging on the feathers with claws, and they all stayed put. Additionally, this seemed well made with no loose threads, holes, etc. So it should hold up to some abuse. My cats are normally quite interested in catnip and I think this might not've had the strongest catnip scent because they didn't really want to rub all over it or lick it (their usual reaction to strong catnip). You could always refresh it with some catnip spray if you're worried about that, though.\\n\\nIn the end, I think this was high quality but it just didn't really suit my cats' interest.\",\n \"Product: PLATO 170 SHEAR CUTTER, 1MM.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: exactly what I needed\\n\\nReview: I can't gush about these enough. I was working on a jewelry project with some chain that needed to be cut. My previous jewelry wire cutters would smash the tiny chain links but not actually cut through them. Also my previous cutters didn't have a fine enough tip to get at the smallest chain links. Out of desperation, I ordered these.\\n\\nAnd they were perfect. They can get into those tiny spaces, even for chain links less than 2 mm in diameter. They cut the chain instead of smashing it. You don't have to use a ridiculous amount of force. I think they sped up my pace on the project by a factor of about 5. The handles are easy to grip, even if you have very small hands like I do.\\n\\nThey have a warning on the handles to use safety goggles. That is not a bad idea, because little bits do go flying. Also if you are cutting a short length off of something (like the aforementioned chain), make sure you have ahold of the end, because a couple of my bits of cut chain went flying and got lost...\",\n \"Product: Akro-Mils' 10164 cabinet stacks securely and can also be wall mounted with keyhole slots. The clarified polypropylene, dividable drawers offer easy content identification, and the finger-grip drawer pulls provide easy access while the rear stop tabs prevent contents from spilling. Akro-Mils products save time and money by helping to increase material handling efficiency in virtually any industry. their broad range of storage, organization, and transportation products are used to shorten assembly times, maintain accurate inventories, optimize storage space, and improve parts protection.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: not terribly stable (attach it to something or keept it against a wall) but does what I need it to\\n\\nReview: I ordered this to store beading supplies that are too large for your typical multi-compartment bead/craft organizer. For example, I have many spools of Nymo thread, I have longer packages with beading and twisted wire needles in them, and I have many, many headpins and eyepins that are too long to fit in any of the other organizers I own. I find this to work pretty well for holding all of these things, as well as baggies with hanks of seed beads in them (I would not put loose seed beads in here as they would go everywhere), bits of cord and leather, etc.\\n\\nIt is difficult to tell what is in the drawers just by looking at the front of this, even though the drawers are translucent/nearly transparent. You may want to add labels. (We used to have some of these in my lab in graduate school to store parts for repairing our HPLCs, and we did label those.)\\n\\nThis has 64 drawers but you can put dividers in them and double the number of compartments. This does not come with dividers and I don't really care that much about dividers, so I am not using any. You can buy dividers if you are so inclined, or just cut up a piece of thin cardboard.\\n\\nThis is not particularly stable as a free-standing unit. You can attach it to a wall, in which case it would be fine, or you can just push it up against something solid. I would not call t \\\"portable,\\\" either. There are no handles and the drawers start coming out if you pick it up and carry it.\\n\\nThe drawers open easily. This was in good shape, with no plastic or metal smell, no broken pieces, and nothing missing. All the drawers were intact (none cracked). This could easily get top heavy and tip or spill the contents of the drawers, so either give it a permanent home on a counter or wall, or at the very least, keep your heaviest items in the bottom few rows.\\n\\nOverall, though, this is doing exactly what I needed it to do so I am happy. I just have to be careful not to knock it over!\",\n \"Product: When it comes to your home, you expect things to be neat and clean. You take steps to keep your home clean and in order. Unlike ordinary pleated filters, Filtrete clean living filters are electrostatically charged to help capture more particles from your air, including: lint, household dust, dust mite debris, mold spores, and pollen. For optimum performance, change your filter every 90 days or sooner.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: works well for a small home/condo with a lot of pets\\n\\nReview: I have pets -- birds, cats, a dog, and a tortoise (though the tortoise isn't very messy). My home furnace and AC system takes a lot of abuse because of all the extra dust, hair, and dander my animals generate. (Plus I have an aversion to cleaning.) I actually had blocked airflow over the summer because the AC coil got too dirty. I'd been using filters that were too cheap, and they weren't doing a very good job. Rather than face another huge repair bill, I decided to try nicer-quality filters, and these were the ones I bought.\\n\\nThese fit well into my furnace, so they're easy to use (the listed 14 x 25 x 1 size is accurate). I do change them once a month (recommended by my furnace repairman for homes with pets) and I can see an accumulation of junk (dust/hair/whatever) when I take them out, so I know they're doing their job.\\n\\nI don't have any devices to measure air flow in my home, but if I put my hand up to the vents when the furnace blower is on, I can feel the warm air coming out at an acceptable (to me) rate. My place is always appropriately heated or cooled depending on my thermostat settings. When my furnace is running, cooking smells, pet smells, even incense smells dissipate fairly rapidly. And I think these must be removing some allergens from the air, too, because even though it's winter, I've been able to breathe through my nose a little better than usual.\\n\\nMy place is pretty small -- a kitchen/living room and two bedrooms -- but these filters do everything I would want or expect them to and are reasonably priced for the quality you get. They're not the absolute top of the line, of course, but since I'm changing them once a month, they are working out quite well and I will most likely buy more pretty soon.\",\n \"Product: Cross Locking Tweezers For Soldering, Beading & Jewelry Repair This is a new pair of cross locking tweezers These are heat resistant and have a fiber grip with curved jaws They measure approximately 6 1/8" (155 mm) long\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: heat resistant and great for soldering beginners\\n\\nReview: I have started playing around with soldering copper. I am mostly making small things (practice pieces with copper blanks and wire) plus I am doing some heating of wire in attempts to make headpins with little balls on the end. Although I need more practice with all of the above, I have found these tweezers to be quite helpful.\\n\\nThey are heat resistant although I am also usually wearing work gloves out of an abundance of caution (the gloves are made of a natural material, always a good idea when working with flame, because I am soldering with a handheld butane torch). So anyway, I use these tweezers to move or pick up items I've made that might be hot. This is pretty much what they were designed for, and they carry out that function quite well.\\n\\nWhat I particularly like is that they are cross-locking (squeeze to open, remove pressure to close). I am used to tweezers like this from my time in graduate school (in chemistry) so they were intuitive for me to use, but if you are used to using tweezers to pluck your eyebrows or remove splinters, these are a little different.\\n\\nI find them to be reasonably well-made. I don't think they're machined quite as nicely as more expensive items, but the quality, to me, is acceptable for the cost, and I do find them to be a good value. (Keep in mind, though, I am also a beginner at all this.)\",\n \"Product: Uses a variety of innovative features to help you meet your respiratory protection and comfort needs.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: great for keeping particulate matter out of your respiratory system if you have allergies\\n\\nReview: I have a lot of trouble with my sinuses due to allergies. There are also a lot of risks of inhaling particulate matter around my house (I have pet birds, I scoop dusty cat litter, etc.). So I like to keep some of these around. Please note I am only using them to keep particles out of my respiratory system and I am not using them to ward off viruses, etc. (I'm not sure how good they would be for that.) I have also started using them when I am filing or sanding metal (or polymer clay) for jewelry making.\\n\\nI have a relatively small head (I am a small-boned woman) and these fit well enough. The metal around the bridge of the nose can be bent to help this better conform to your face. They do a great job of keeping dust out of my face when I am cleaning the room where I keep my birds; same for when I am scooping cat litter. If I remember to use these consistently when performing those tasks, I definitely breathe more easily at other times (without medication). For those tasks, I do tend to use the masks a few times, because I feel I am being wasteful if I only keep it on for 10 minutes or something. However, while you wear these and breathe, moisture can affect the mask material, rendering it less effective. If you are doing something like sanding or mowing the lawn (to avoid pollen here in Georgia) for a longer period of time, you would probably want to use a new one each time. And even for my scooping/cleaning tasks, I tend to not use one for more than an hour total. (I may be overcautious, but these are relatively inexpensive.)\\n\\nIf you wear glasses (I do a lot of the time, especially at home), they will probably fog up some when you wear these. There is no way around it. When you breathe out, the moisture has to go somewhere. I won't hold it against the mask because I'm fairly certain this would be an issue for any mask. (I had some generic ones from the home improvement store with the orange logo and I had the same problem, for example.) This is more of a problem if you are doing any mouth breathing (something I tend to slip into when I wear these without really thinking about it).\",\n \"Product: Powerful and precise side cutting pliers that are small and portable. Jaws are induction hardened, and totally flush. Features black comfort grips and return spring. Use these cutting pliers for cutting soft wire, such as Tiger tail, accuflex, Soft Flex, Copper, aluminum, sterling, gold fill or gold wire.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: somewhat small (so be sure to read the description) but work really well for my purposes\\n\\nReview: I bought these because I used my last flush cutters inappropriately (I know better than to try to cut memory wire with them, but I did it anyway) and so on my last ones, the metal got marred. I wanted a new pair that wasn't damaged.\\n\\nFirst off, these are tiny. I have very small hands and they are a good size for me, but if you have large hands, you may not be as happy with them. (They are only 3.5 inches long.) For me, they are actually easier to use than larger ones -- I can get my whole hand around them and apply the appropriate amount of force to actually cut what I want to cut.\\n\\nWhat I have used these on: coated copper wire (Artistic Wire) and bare copper wire 16 gauge and smaller (I'm not saying they couldn't cut thicker wire, I just haven't tried it, and I get better results with 18-28 gauge wire), plus headpins and eyepins that were a bit too long for what I wanted. They'll also cut Accuflex and SoftFlex types of wire, although scissors will usually do that too. Use it only on soft metals -- brass, copper, silver, gold, etc., and nothing ferrous (like steel) to preserve the cutting edge.\\n\\nWhat not to use these on: memory wire or rivets and eyelets that are too long. There are separate memory wire cutters from Beadalon that are good for that purpose, and I got some industrial strength end cutters for rivets and eyelets. Of course these are also not appropriate for cutting sheet metal; you'd want shears for that.\\n\\nThese are made for jewelry making and, although it may be possible to use them for other applications, I can't speak to how they would perform.\\n\\nThese do make a nice flush cut if you put the flat side of the blade towards the section of wire you want to be flat. (I am assuming most people who want flush cutters will understand that, but if you were wondering why you'd get pinched wire on one side of the cut, you've been using them backwards.)\\n\\nOverall, I am happy with these after about four months of semi-regular use.\",\n \"Product: This clamp-on full spectrum magnifier lamp features a fully adjustable metal swing-arm with a long 37 inch reach and a pivoting shade to optimize placement of the magnifier lens. The 3-diopter, 5 inch glass lens enlarges by 175% to improve visual clarity and acuity, and includes a protective cover to prevent scratches and dirt build-up. The full spectrum 22W circling bulb, which is included, provides a vivid and glare-free natural daylight effect, making this an ideal lamp for close up and detail work, hobbies, crafting, and more. The metal clamp is adjustable up to a 2-1/2 inch opening, making it adaptable to a wide variety of mounting surfaces. The clamp also includes a metal locking pin to prevent unintended lifting of the magnifier while in use. The on/off switch is located directly on the shade for user convenience. This lamp is ETL listed for a 22W circling fluorescent bulb, which is included. Includes a 90 day limited manufacturer's warranty.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: perfect for my needs\\n\\nReview: I do a lot of cross-stitch and beading and I find myself looking down over the tops of my glasses while holding my work inches from my face. This can't be good for me -- at a minimum, it is causing eye strain. Also, my living room (where I do most of my work) is very dark. So I wanted a magnifier lamp.\\n\\nI had previously been using one of those ones you hang around your neck but it wasn't a perfect solution. The light wasn't powerful at all and I had to hold my head at a weird angle (and it didn't rest correctly on a female chest, either, I might add). I was open to either floor or table-mount lamps and this is the one I settled on. I am happy with my decision and would make the same one again.\\n\\nThis was pretty easy to set up. There was very little assembly required. I put the clamp on my work surface (basically not much more than a TV tray). My tray is fairly thin but this will fit on something up to or maybe a little larger than 2 inches, so many tables should also be OK. Then I unscrewed a little screw in the clamp and inserted the entire top part of the lamp into the only opening in the top of the clamp. You put the screw back in (this keeps the arm and lamp from falling out and/or swiveling 360 degrees -- it does still turn pretty far, maybe 180 degrees). There are a few bits of cardboard and such to remove, but unboxing is basically hassle-free.\\n\\nThis is a little bit large for my current set-up; I find I have to work over on the far side of my tray because of how long the arm is. But it does work for me and I like that I can either have it up high for just some light, or down low for light and magnification. The arm stays in place wherever you adjust it to; there is a little screw for securing the light/magnifier part in the orientation of your choice.\\n\\nThis takes a circular fluorescent bulb (the relevant wattage information is printed on the bulb, which does come with the unit -- T9 22W 6400K is what it says). It gives off a white light (fine by me, I feel I can see colors more accurately that way). The cord is somewhat short (maybe 3-4 feet?) but I plugged it into a power strip and the cord from that gives me enough reach to get to the wall socket.\\n\\nThis is not the most powerful magnifier out there, but it represented a good compromise for me in terms of value, lighting, and magnification. I tried some cross-stitching under it and was really able to see much better -- I didn't have to hold my work up to my face, and the eye strain was a lot less. (I am 38 and while I have been nearsighted all my life, I do not have age-related vision problems. If you do, you might need stronger magnification. This does 1.75x.) This is much more comfortable than any solution I've tried in the past, which means I can work for longer without stopping.\\n\\nI have the black one and all the metal surfaces were evenly coated with no scratches. If you do put this on a TV tray, make sure it has a secure base because this does change the center of gravity of my work surface.\\n\\nOverall, I'm very pleased with this purchase and would buy the same one if I had it to do over again.\",\n \"Product: The essential flat nose pliers, with a new angle! The bent nose will allow you to get into difficult spots with less hand and wrist fatigue. Use them to smooth down that last bit of wrapped wire, to hold small objects, and to pick out small beads and findings from their storage boxes (or from cracks in the furniture!) Measurements: Pliers are 4.5 inches long, tips are 1.5mm at the narrowest point. Sturdy box joint construction. Leaf spring. NOTE: These pliers are intended for beading and other fine hobby work. Not recommended for heavy duty applications such as automotive, home improvement, or maritime use.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: nice in conjunction with the roundnose pliers from the same product line\\n\\nReview: I bought both a pair of roundnose pliers and these. They are very similar tools, save for the shape of the noses, and they are from the same manufacturer and are of about the same size and same quality, so the reviews will be similar.\\n\\nI decided I wanted to start making chainmaille-style jewelry. I am not sure which metal I will eventually settle on (right now I am just playing around with copper since I have a lot of it and it is inexpensive) so I wanted a separate set of pliers that I could dip in Tool Magic in case I eventually start working with anodized or enameled metals. (I also got some roundnose pliers from the same brand.) These didn't break the bank and I can always use them for my other jewelry-making applications if I end up not liking chainmalle (though right now I find it pretty fun).\\n\\nAnyway, as I said, I've been using plain, bare copper (while I wait for my Tool Magic to arrive). It has a hard temper but I do all right bending the jump rings open and closed using these in my lefthand (the roundnose pliers, I use in my right hand). I think these work for me because they are relatively small. I have small hands, and I can get a good grip on these, and that makes it easier to manipulate the metal I am working with.\\n\\nThese are smooth but they do have an edge and I have marred the surface of some jump rings as I get the hang of using them. It doesn't bother me much because I am just doing practice weaves right now and I have a protective coating on order that should prevent that problem in the future.\\n\\nI would probably stick to using these on softer metals -- copper, silver, brass, maybe niobium or aluminum. I think using them on hardened steel would not work very well. I would also stick to using them for jewelry applications and not put them in a general toolbox for household work.\\n\\nAnyway, I was looking for a set of economy pliers to try with a new craft and that's what I got with these.\",\n \"Product: EURO TOOL is proud to produce and present this high quality, 8 punch, Dapping Block Set. This is the essential dapping block, and includes eight dapping tools with matching block. Its really all one needs for virtually any job that has to do with metal media, dapping, punching, forming, sinking or dishing. Cavity sizes are 28, 24, 20, 18, 15, 12, 9 and 6mm with corresponding punch diameter. The wood block is completely smooth on the opposite side for use as a bench block. Sinking, also known asdoming,dishingordapping, is ametalworkingtechnique whereby flatsheet metalis formed into a non-flat object byhammeringit into a concave indentation. Sinking is used in the manufacture of items fromjewelrytoplate armor. This set is made of polished steel and comes in a functional wooden stand. The sets total weight is 5.5 lbs. EURO TOOL stands for excellence and is confident the quality, usefulness and durability of your EURO TOOL item will exceed your level of expectation. Please make sure your item has the EURO TOOL name. Other comparable competitor items are of inferior quality, design, production and will not meet your level of expectation as a EURO TOOL product will.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: great set for a beginner; works well with copper blanks\\n\\nReview: I am doing a lot of work with copper lately. I did want to be able to make my own bead caps as well as domes for soldering onto flat surfaces, and possibly even my own beads in the future (soldering two rounded halves together), but the expense of purchasing one of the larger dapping block/punch sets was putting me off. I thought this was a reasonable compromise. 8 punches seemed like more than enough for me at this point in my metalworking journey!\\n\\nPlease note mine arrived in an absolutely beat up old case (probably not so good for future storage) but the item, itself, was undamaged. (It would be hard to damage this. It is made from heavy steel and the wooden block for holding everything is also quite sturdy.) There may be some oil coating the parts when you receive yours (there was on mine but it wasn't a ton) but I have discovered this is common for steel jewelry-making tools (my steel bench block for stamping was like this, too). It keeps them from rusting. You would want to wipe it off before the first use. (I would not recommend using water or water-based cleaners, because if you don't get it 100% dry afterwards, rust can definitely still happen. Acetone will work for cleaning, just get the kind from the hardware store and don't use nail polish remover, which may have additional conditioners or oils in it.)\\n\\nI am using a one pound brass-headed hammer that I also use for stamping and work-hardening some wire work. For me, this is sufficient. I have not used every single punch yet but the ones I have used have worked well. My hammer has not damaged them and they fit back into the rack afterwards. But, I am hammering copper blanks right now, usually around 24 gauge, so perhaps not all that much force is required. I do feel I could go to thicker copper or another soft metal without much of an issue.\\n\\nThis does not contain a disc cutter, that is an item you would need to purchase separately (or just buy pre-cut metal blanks; these are available in a variety of metals here on Amazon).\",\n \"Product: End cutters.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: good for small copper rivets and memory wire (for jewelry making)\\n\\nReview: I actually bought these for making jewelry. Although I usually work with copper, which is soft and easy to handle with regular cutters, I sometimes work with memory wire (will totally ruin your regular cutters) and use copper or brass rivets to do cold connections. When the rivets are much longer than the two or three pieces of metal I'm connecting together, I have to shorten them before hammering the end. My regular cutters were getting damaged because the rivets are quite a bit thicker than the wire I usually work with.\\n\\nAnyway, I bought these and they solved both of my problems. These will cut my memory wire (I am pretty sure it is steel) and also my rivets (I stick to 1/4 inch thickness and under rivets and actually usually even on the small side of that, since I don't want giant rivet heads on my jewelry pieces). It does not seem to damage the surface of these cutters.\\n\\nThese seem to be good quality. I have very small hands but can use them. The fulcrum works well. I don't really have to approach what I am cutting at strange angles but it has been pretty easy to get right in where I need to cut. I got these more because of the need to have a strong cutter (to preserve my lighter flush cutters for copper wire and things that won't ruin them) than anything else. To that end, they have served me quite well. Would definitely buy again if I had it to do over.\",\n \"Product: The Frog and babies pull toy by Rich Frog lets you watch baby animals follow their parent as you pull the frog family around on sturdy wooden wheels.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: kills stink bugs, too\\n\\nReview: Every year, my kitchen gets invaded by little ants. I have taken great pains to put all food away in the refrigerator or in sealed plastic bags or containers. I guess the ants are looking for water. At any rate, I was all out of Raid from last year so I bought this.\\n\\nI spray this all over the back wall (outside) of my condo, around and under the kitchen window, where I think the ants are coming in. It hasn't completely gotten rid of them, but the numbers are drastically reduced over this time last year.\\n\\nThis doesn't have a huge smell when used outside. I've been hesitant to spray it inside so I can't speak to that. Raid, in general, has a tendency to smell like Raid. (Once you know the scent, you will recognize it when someone else has used it.)\\n\\nBut the real reason I'm happy about this is because a stink bug got into my kitchen and I was having trouble catching it. It kept taking flight. A shot of this (away from the stove and counter!) made that thing drop right out of the air. (Stink bugs are listed on the can.) So this product definitely kills bugs on contact. It's decent at preventing ants from coming in. And the smell doesn't bother me much/isn't very strong. So I'm a happy camper.\",\n \"Product: HardCover. Pub Date :2014-02-27 Pages: 208 Language: English Publisher:. Fourth Estate Ltd If JJ Abrams and Margaret Atwood collaborated on a novel. it might look something like 'Annihilation'. the first in an extraordinary trilogy For thirty years. Area X. monitored by the secret agency known as the Southern Reach. has remained mysterious and remote behind its intangible border-an environmental disaster zone. though to all appearances an abundant wilderness Eleven expeditions have been sent in to investigate;. even for those that have made it out alive. there have been terrible consequences. 'Annihilation' is the story of the twelfth expedition and is told by its nameless biologist. Introverted but highly intelligent. the biologist brings her own secrets with her. She is accompanied by a psychologist. an anthropologist and a surveyor. their stated mission: to chart the land...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: so glad I picked this one up\\n\\nReview: Apparently I purchased this book in 2014. I have no memory of the event (am guessing there was a good deal on it; I had bought the other two volumes in this series as well), but I was scrolling through my Kindle library the other day, looking for something to read, and for some reason, I stopped on this cover. And I have to say, I am glad I did. I read 80% of this book in a few hours one afternoon and finished it the next day. I have not been reading so much lately and that is an unheard of speed for me. I was really into this; I wasn't stopping and checking things online. So, the reading experience was right up my alley.\\n\\nI will add a few other pieces of information before moving on to the substance of the review. This won a Nebula award. I am not always a fan of award-winning books (absolutely could not stand \\\"Among Others\\\" by Jo Walton, for example). But if you are looking for books with critical acclaim, this has it. Also, I am utterly unfamiliar with the television show \\\"Lost\\\" (other than knowing it exists) and other media references from some of the other reviews for this book.\\n\\nI am not sure how to describe this book. It is part ecological monograph, part travel/adventure novel, part personal diary, part character study, even part mystery (not in the traditional sense of solving a murder or some such, but in a sense of people being thrown into an environment they're totally unprepared for and trying to get to the root of some strange phenomena).\\n\\nThere are four characters at the start of the novel but we really only get to know one of them, the biologist of an expedition into an anomalous area called the Southern Reach. This book is written from her perspective, in the manner of a personal diary or journal. (One could argue that her dead husband is a fifth character due to flashbacks and the like. We learn more about him than about the mission's anthropologist, at any rate.) Expeditions keep getting sent into this area and things keep going dreadfully wrong -- everyone murdered, or lots of suicides, or people returning completely changed (in terms of personality). We learn a few details of the early expeditions and of the 11th (this book is an account of the 12th), but say 4-10 are still unknown to us. I think I don't mind this. It probably would've been clutter for the author to develop and include seven additional specific outcomes, especially if they weren't directly relevant to the story of this expedition.\\n\\nEarly on, the biologist begins to suspect something is not as she has been led to believe. (The members of the expedition received extensive training before leaving on their trip, but serious gaps in the training come to light as the story moves along.) It seems that other members of the expedition are feeling the same, and it causes cracks in the cohesiveness of their unit (which was never super cohesive in the first place -- how can it be if you are not even sharing your names with each other?).\\n\\nBut, I don't want to get into too much plot summary. Anyway, this book doesn't have a plot in a traditional sense. There is a lot of exploration through a fascinating environment and I honestly just enjoyed reading the descriptions here, which is not often the case for me. There's not much dialogue though there is a fair amount of introspection and some flashbacks, of a sort. (The flashbacks are well done and serve to further the plot!) There is a climax but it's not the sort of confrontation you might expect at the end of a work of speculative fiction (where there are usually battles and such).\\n\\nThe atmosphere created was wonderful. In a creepy sort of way. I also really did like the focus on a single character. This book is a good character study (albeit in weird circumstances). What might cause a person to go on an expedition from which few return? And, the biologist is a good proxy for the reader. She doesn't have all the answers (or really any of them), she is discovering them along with the rest of us. What is it that the higher-ups back home want to know about the Southern Reach? Why are they so adamant that people don't remember how they got into Area X? At the end of this book, we have started forming the questions, and hopefully in future novels we will start getting answers.\\n\\nMinor quibble, but at one point the biologist looks at some cells taken from a non-human mammal (a fox, I think) carcass and looks at them under a light microscope and says they are human. I don't think you could tell one mammal's cells from another using only a light microscope. You could tell cell types (neurons or smooth muscle or skin or whatever) if you were able to properly stain them. You could tell, say, a frog from a mammal (nucleated red blood cells in the frog but not in the mammal). But that is a minor point, and if there was some type of madness or neurodegenerative condition or residual effect of hypnosis affecting the biologist, it is possible she was reporting things that weren't true.\\n\\nOverall, I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to starting the sequel, Authority, this weekend!\",\n \"Product: Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Business has been slow lately for Harry Dresden. Okay, business has been dead. Not undead - just dead. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work - magical or mundane. But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise. A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses. And the first two don't count ...Magic - it can get a guy killed.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I see a few improvements over book 1, but later books in the series are even better\\n\\nReview: I'm one of the people who bought the first seven of these when they were on Kindle special. I've read the first four of them so far. I'm definitely glad I made the purchase, but for whatever reason, this one stands out less than some of the others. It's definitely important to the series, overall, because some characters are introduced here who pop up in later volumes.\\n\\nI think the sexism is toned down from the previous volume -- a little, at least. There wasn't such a fixation on cheerleaders this time around, for one thing, as there was in \\\"Storm Front.\\\"\\n\\nWhat I think is best about this book is the gradual expansion of the Dresden universe. We met a vampire in the last book, now we're meeting some werewolves. I like that one element is added at a time -- we get to know a \\\"species\\\" or type of paranormal entity, including a few people who are members of that \\\"species,\\\" if you will, and some of the details of behavior and characteristics associated with the group. Vampires and werewolves and fairies and others are not all thrown at us at once. That being said, there is definitely some infodumping here, particularly when it comes to Dresden first getting information on werewolves. Ah, well, at least all of the information that is dumped is important to the story later on (can't say that for every instance of infodumping I've read in fantasy novels).\\n\\nOnce again, the book has a great pace and the climax of the action is carried out quite well. Dresden again has a bit of a hero complex (and does at least one thing that could prove dangerous to his mental well-being in order to help his comrades), but at least he's willing to accept help from non-wizards when he needs it. Once again he's not all-powerful, and sometimes he makes decisions that don't always end up having the consequences he expected them to have. Sometimes, he thinks he's protecting people by withholding information, and that turns out not to be the case. He then has to deal with the guilt that stems from his decisions. I don't quite feel like we're truly in his head, yet, because he's still tight-lipped about his past. But we're getting there.\\n\\nI didn't feel there was as much of a mystery to this volume as to the previous one, perhaps because several different events got intertwined and it was difficult for me to sort out all the clues (this is purely my failing and not the author's; you could say he keeps you guessing, keeps you wanting to read further to find out more). Everything did come together in the end -- in a good way. One thing I will say about Butcher's writing is that it is easy -- and quick -- to read. It's not overly flowery or dramatic but it gets the job done. It's written in a contemporary tone that fits well with the setting (modern-day Chicago).\\n\\nI'm starting to see a trend of Dresden getting close to people -- or gaining their sympathy -- and mucking it up. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out in future books. It sort of goes a long way towards explaining why he lives alone in a dark and forbidding sort of apartment, why I picture his office building as nearly deserted (though, by description in the novels, it doesn't necessarily sound that way), and so forth. However, he isn't really all that socially awkward in later volumes. I wouldn't say there's a ton of character development going on here, but have patience, because that really picks up in books 3 and 4 (and not just for Harry, but also for some of his associates).\\n\\nThe blood and gore is really turned up in this book, so watch out for that. It's appropriate for the subject matter, all things considered. And a particular scene I'm thinking of (don't want to spoil anything) needed to be shocking -- to dial up the intensity, the sense of urgency.\\n\\nLike \\\"Storm Front,\\\" \\\"Fool Moon\\\" is told from a first-person point of view (Harry's), which I think is appropriate for the genre. We, as readers, need to have the same information Harry has. It wouldn't be half as interesting or fun to know what other characters were thinking (granted, Dresden figures stuff out before I do and I have to read his explanation along with everyone else -- but it's never implausible, the clues were always there). I don't have much to add about the setting that I haven't said in the previous book; this one is also set in Chicago but is fairly light on actual geographical details. For me, anyway, it works.\\n\\nWish the character of Kim Delaney hadn't just been dropped on us at the beginning of this book. I like how what happened in her scene had later implications (in more ways than one), but I wish there'd been a proper introduction because I felt a little bit like I had missed a chapter somewhere else. Oh the other hand, I can see the utility of only talking about her here. Harry's close-mouthed about his personal life outside the events that are currently occurring, and we don't need his whole life story right now. So decisions have to be made about what to include and when, and I can at least see the reasoning behind Butcher's choice to bring Kim up here, in the way he did. I feel like some thought went into it, at least.\\n\\nThere are some loose ends here that I hope Butcher will come back to in a future novel. The main plot line is resolved, but we are left with a few questions. For that reason alone, I'd definitely recommend not skipping this book if you intend to read the rest of the series (some of my online acquaintances recommended starting with book 3, but I think this volume does contain some important details). It gives me hope that the main events from the first book will also tie into a grander narrative. I like the idea of an overall story arc with individual volumes that are basically self-contained stories, and that is where it looks like we are headed with this series.\\n\\nOverall, I'd put this about on par with \\\"Storm Front.\\\" I like where I think Butcher will be going with this series, but there's room for improvement (which I'm already beginning to see in books 3 and 4). 3.5 stars.\",\n \"Product: Exclusive new adventure set in the Old Kingdom, set approximately six months after the events in ABHORSEN.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: helps make Nick more sympathetic\\n\\nReview: I read this coming off Clariel, which I found to be a bit disappointing. I was happier with this. I am not a fan of short fiction, in general, and typically don't like it when authors put key parts of stories in novellas that are easy to miss the existence of (and therefore you are left scratching your head, like I was at the start of Staked by Kevin Hearne). I mind less when the story contained within the novella is not essential to the main plot of the series, and I feel that was the case here. You do need to have read at least Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen to understand the setup in this book, but you can totally skip this and not really miss out on anything (plot-wise).\\n\\nThat is not to say this book doesn't serve a purpose. Nick from Lirael and Abhorsen continues to play a role in Goldenhand, the 5th book in the series, and he was honestly not very sympathetic or developed in the previous books (possibly through no fault of his own, as he was possessed by an evil entity for a good portion of those books). He is the POV character here and he is on the mend after his previous adventures. He is definitely more himself and although he is a bit egotistical (probably due to his privileged upbringing and social status), he shows himself here to care about others -- of all social classes -- and to have courage. So now I am a bit more invested in his character as I work my way through Goldenhand, and in that sense, I feel that reading this was worthwhile.\\n\\nI get the sense that the events here take place over the course of a very short period of time, a day or so (at most). There is a lot of action packed into that day. I understand that pacing and set-up are different in a novella than in a full-length book, and also that the stakes are usually lower (fighting, say, one creature instead of a sorcerer controlling dozens of powerful creatures), and that is reflected here. I will say, I didn't have time to be bored. On the other hand, the ending seems a bit rushed and even anti-climactic. I can't say more without spoiling it but if a few sentences earlier in the book hadn't been included, it would've been (to me, anyway) deus ex machina.\\n\\nFor reference, this takes place outside the Old Kingdom in Ancelstierre (I never know if I am spelling that right). You don't really learn anything new about the world, though you get a bit more of the worldview of folks from Ancelstierre who don't understand the Old Kingdom and/or don't believe what they have heard about it. There's a range of reactions there, and I think that part is well done. The writing style is similar to previous books in this series. I don't know that I would say Nick transforms in this book, but he is getting well and his old personality is back; we are getting to see it for the first time. So it feels like there is character development, anyway.\\n\\nFor what it's worth, there's a fair amount of violence here, but nothing outside the norm for this series. Overall, I enjoyed this and read it quickly.\",\n \"Product: Mark Charan Newton was born in 1981 and lives in Nottingham. Nights of Villjamur is the first book in the Legends of the Red Sun series and he is now well into writing the next.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: some interesting concepts but flawed science\\n\\nReview: While what follows will include a fair amount of nitpicking, let me just say at the outset that I did enjoy the book (and the sequel) fairly well.\\n\\nWhat did I like? Well, the author is clearly a fan of Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun. (Possibly of Wolfe's other books, as well. Though the Book of the New Sun is the only writing of Wolfe's that I've read.) People either love or hate Wolfe, but even his admirers admit that he's not for everyone. I find his (Wolfe's) prose, both in terms of language and emphasis on certain plot points, difficult at times. Newton, by contrast, evokes a similar feel to his world, but it's much easier to figure out what's going on. Sometimes he uses big words, usually biological in nature (quercus instead of oak, which probably isn't really necessary). But Newton is just a LOT more approachable. Newton's characters are also mostly complex, sympathetic, and have suitable flaws (some of the Ovinists are a little one-dimensional). If you like Wolfe, you'll enjoy the nods to his writing in Nights of Villjamur and if you have a hard time with actually reading Wolfe, but like the idea behind his books, you might want to give Newton a try. (Note: unless I'm really missing the mark, I don't see all the obfuscatory allegory in Newton that I did in Wolfe.)\\n\\nNewton has also been described as belonging to the New Weird school of writers which includes China Mieville, among others. Because Nights of Villjamur has non-human species (rumels, garudas -- more on these later) interacting with humans, and a similar city type of environment, and some unexplainable technology, it's easy to start drawing comparisons. Here, though, I have a more mixed reaction. Both authors' non-human creatures are a little implausible, in terms of biology as we know it. I suppose you can excuse Mieville, who has a background in economics and not biology. But Newton's \\\"about the author\\\" in the back of the book says he has a degree in environmental science. And he uses a lot of biological terms in this book. So he ought to know better.\\n\\nBut then I started thinking, what if I wanted to write a book kind of like these two? I pondered, from an evolutionary standpoint (I have a BS in biology and did chemical evolution research in graduate school), what sorts of creatures do exist on earth today, having evolved on the same planet as humans. Which ones are noted for their intelligence? People always mention dolphins, but even allowing for super-intelligent dolphins, it's just not possible for dolphins to take part in society in the same way humans do. They don't have digits, they need to be in the water, etc. So it's a difficult exercise, and I feel like as long as there's an explanation (thaumaturgy does it more for me than ancient relics, as long as we're suspending disbelief), it's okay. So Mieville does a little better in that regard. But...Mieville, at least in Perdido Street Station, was obsessed with describing how filthy everything was, and while we do see some of the seedy underside of Villjamur, Newton is (thankfully) not quite so concerned on that front. I am making an assumption here, that Newton's planet is a far-future Earth. (Not called \\\"Urth\\\" like in Wolfe, but there are enough clues dropped to make you think that's the idea.)\\n\\nBut enough of comparing Newton to other authors. Now is the time for the nitpicking I promised.\\n\\nThe secret underground cult that wants to take over the city is called the \\\"Ovinists.\\\" So I'm not sure the origin of this word (\\\"ov\\\" is a root associated with eggs). But what it makes me think of is \\\"ovine\\\" in the biological sense. (You know, like \\\"bovine\\\" refers to cows and \\\"feline\\\" refers to cats.) This cult has some activities related to pigs and pig hearts. But...\\\"porcine\\\" refers to pigs. What does \\\"ovine\\\" relate to, then? SHEEP. Not pigs. So this kept throwing me off. This may not be at all what Newton had in mind with the use of this term for the cult. But it's what I keep thinking of.\\n\\nAs for the one-dimensional characters I mentioned earlier, most of these are Ovinists (Urtica, Tryst, etc.). We do also have a plucky princess (Eir) who learns to fight with a sword and falls in love with her dancing/swordsmanship teacher.\\n\\nI already talked a bit about the \\\"science\\\" in this book, but I am a scientist, and I think about these things. Here's a list of issues I have:\\n\\nThe rumels (reptiles)...where to start? They have HAIR. They have to shave. Rumels and humans sometimes find each other attractive, and it sounds like they're not all that different, other than thick skin and tails in the case of the rumels. They also seem to be able to handle life in a city full of humans, which suggests opposable thumbs, etc. Even though actual reptiles are cold-blooded, the rumels are doing just fine in the snow. They (the rumels) can also talk. Think about modern reptiles and the kinds of sounds they're capable of making. It's not a wide range.\\n\\nGarudas (named after either Vishnu's mount, or else a big evil boss bird in the Final Fantasy games, not sure which -- though guess Vishnu's mount was the inspiration for the Final Fantasy boss) are bird-people. They can't talk, and they use hand signals. Wait, what? Hand signals? For birds? When really, birds can actually perform a lot of vocalizations and some can even mimic human speech (e.g. African grays and other kinds of parrots). But birds don't have anything, anatomically, approaching a human hand. If you read on to City of Ruin, you find out the garudas have wings AND arms. And so are apparently hexapods instead of tetrapods, so there's the evolution problem rearing its head again.\\n\\nThe first mention of the crab creatures that become prominent later in the story bothers me for several reasons. One, they're unlikely to evolve in the size these ones are described as. If they came from the same world as the red rumels we see them with, the rumels would've outcompeted them (think natural selection when resources are scarce). Also, their shells are described as deep red at one point. While there are some crabs that are reddish in color, the reddish color we associated with most crabs, lobsters, crayfish, etc. comes AFTER cooking, when other pigments in the shells are destroyed. Anyway, the giant crabs are problematic.\\n\\nThe anticipated length of the ice age coming to Villjamur seems short, to say the least. It is implied that enough food and fuel can be stored to support at least some of the citizens of the city through the end of the ice age. It is also implied that some of the rumels (whose lifespans are measured in centuries instead of decades) will live through the entire Freeze. Head on over to Wikipedia and check out how long some of the ice ages described there, were. Tens of thousands of years for interglacial periods, and tens of millions of years for ice ages. It's an interesting idea, coping with an ice age. But maybe a little more research was in order.\\n\\nNow that I think I'm mostly through with the nitpicking, I'll say a few more things about the main characters and then wrap up. (Not the Ovinists, because even though that group supplies the chief antagonists, and sometimes they're even viewpoint characters, they're mostly concerned with taking over control of the empire and keeping their membership in the cult hidden.)\\n\\nBrynd is interesting; he's an albino who was adopted by a noble family. We don't know anything about his family background. He's a bit of an outcast because of the way he looks. But he's also terribly afraid he'll be outed -- he's gay. He is in charge of the empire's entire military, though he goes on a lot of small-group missions, which is a little unusual. (I'm sometimes a little surprised to see the military fighting with swords and arrows, because the setting makes me think they ought to have guns or something. I'm not sure precisely why I feel this way, because other technology is pretty primitive. People have to light lamps and such. But I digress.) I am hoping we hear more about him and his background in future books. I suspect someone will find out his sexuality in a future volume, but how he or she will use this information, I'm not sure. (Blackmail?) Anyway, Brynd has a liability in addition to a social distance from others due to his looks. But, he does appear to be a capable fighter and commander. Suitably complex as a character, though I've seen a lot of albinos in fantasy fiction lately.\\n\\nJeryd is a rumel Investigator with the Inquisition. He is estranged from his wife at the beginning of the book, but manages to win her back. He is probably the least flawed of the characters. While he has lost his wife and thrown himself into his work at the beginning of the book, he's won her (Marysa) back by the end. He's a little dense for an investigator, not recognizing treachery of those closest to him.\\n\\nRandur is the third main character; he's entered the city on false pretenses (using an assumed identity) and commits thefts, but he's trying to save his mother's life. He's failed her in the past, and he doesn't want to fail her again. However, he gets caught up in his relationship with Eir, and when the cultist who is supposed to help him with his mother disappears, he pretty much gives up looking to help his mother.\\n\\nAt any rate, Nights of Villjamur is, despite a few (scientific) flaws and perhaps too many plot lines set up at once, a pretty good effort from an up-and-coming young writer. Probably 3.5 stars but since I can't give half stars, I'll round up.\",\n \"Product: Author Horace Goodhue, widely respected in the world of beadwork and well known as the author of \\\"Indian Bead-Weaving Patterns,\\\" died at home early in the morning on July 16, 1997. His book, which has sold thousands of copies, documents more Indian beadwork techniques than any other book ever published. The book was a labor of love for Goodhue. \\\"His mission was to carry on the beadwork of Indians, even when some of the younger people were not learning the traditions from their grandparents,\\\" said Orpha Goodhue, his wife. Although not a Native American, Goodhue held a deep respect for these people through many contacts over the years. \\\"Horace loved people and gained a great deal of energy from them. He listened to people and related to them through their perspective.\\\" All beaders are deeply in his debt.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: nice resource, though beware it is a bit dated\\n\\nReview: This book is really good for its time, but please notice it was first published in 1971. While the author has updated it and it has been reprinted several times, it is not what you would expect from a craft book published in the past 20 years or so. If you don't go into it with unreasonable expectations, you will probably be happier. Photos of many of the weaves are included, but they are black and white and are somewhat separated from the directions for how to make them.\\n\\nBasic instructions for peyote stitch and making/using a loom are included, as well as a variety of netting-type stitches, daisy chains, and similar. If the author learned a particular technique from a particular tribe, he gave appropriate credit. I really do feel like he was trying to help preserve native arts and expressed an interest in the culture behind them, and he addresses issues of respect and cultural appropriation (though not using that exact term) in his introduction. This book is definitely a product of its time, however.\\n\\nThis appears to have been set on a typewriter. Many of the bead path diagrams look to have been painstakingly laid out with the 0 from the typewriter, with later hand-drawn (sometimes assisted with a straight edge) lines. Others are clearly freehand (especially when the weave being described isn't conducive to a flat, linear diagram). If you are used to modern photo or video tutorials, these could be a challenge to follow. If, however, you are like me, and prefer diagrams and written text, and can easily pick up patterns after trying a few repeated motifs, you will have no trouble. I tested this out by starting a choker with the \\\"spider\\\" weave and really, it's turning out nicely.\\n\\nI don't know that I'd start with this book right away if you are a beginner (unless you also have a teacher to walk you through some of these stitches). One nice thing, though, is that you can get started with a minimum amount of material. You would want some seed beads (size 10 -- which are getting harder to find these days -- or size 11 would work), a needle, stringing material (something flexible but you have a lot of options these days), and some clasps. But that is pretty much it. You can choose whatever colors you want (you aren't given a lot of guidance in the book) and actually make a pattern into something simple and suitable for casual wear (say, by using opaque beads in single, common colors) or into a nighttime look by using metallic or iridescent seed beads, firepolished accent beads, etc.\\n\\n\\\"Pattern\\\" in the title is used in a different sense than people are used to today. You are not given an explicit list of bead types, sizes, and colors and directions to complete something from beginning to end. Rather, you are basically given thread paths for different weaves and such and you do have to use some of your own intuition to turn that into a finished piece.\\n\\nI think this book is a nice resource, in particular for bead chains and thin weaves that can be used alongside fancier elements made with popular contemporary beads (e.g., Czechmates).\",\n \"Product: Born in Toronto, Canada, Ryan Pyle spent his early years close to home. After obtaining a degree in International Politics from the University of Toronto in 2001, Ryan realized a life long dream and traveled to China on an exploratory mission. In 2002 Ryan moved to China permanently and in 2004 Ryan became a regular contributor to the New York Times. In 2009 Ryan was listed by PDN Magazine as one of the 30 emerging photographers in the world. In 2010 Ryan began working full time on television and documentary film production and has produced and presented several large multi-episode television series for major broadcasters in the USA, Canada, UK, Asia, CHINA and continental Europe.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: interesting read, even if you haven't seen the companion television series\\n\\nReview: Despite the name, this is not a religious book. The author states fairly early on, and occasionally repeats, that he is not on a religious journey, and that he did not have any religious revelations on his treks (koras) around four mountains in China and Tibet. He was looking for adventure, to find himself, to get in touch with nature. And I think he was successful with all three. (Note: apparently there is a companion television series, which I have not seen. You do not need to be familiar with the television series to read this book.)\\n\\nThis is a rather thin volume that spends some time setting up the various treks, gives a little background on ethnic groups, religions, monasteries, etc., that are mentioned, and then delves into four separate journeys. (Please note that this background information is quite cursory. It provides a starting point, but if your interest is piqued, you will have to do more research on your own. Most of it is set apart in gray boxes in the chapters leading up to the treks, themselves.)\\n\\nAt first I was afraid that there would be too many similarities among the treks. Because I am not much of a hiker or mountaineer, I think I had inaccurate assumptions regarding mountains. In fact, they're not all the same and each presents a different set of challenges. Further, human factors come into play as well. An incompetent guide on one trip, a cameraman's illness on another, encroaching civilization and a police blockade to skirt around on a third.\\n\\nAlthough Mr. Pyle does focus a fair amount on himself (we hear frequently that he is wet, cold, ill, too tired to eat, etc.), for me, that just adds realism to the experience. He also spends a lot of time talking about the people he encounters, and those parts are fascinating. It amazed me how many people are simply available to hire as guides at the drop of a hat, or who are willing to accept pilgrims and strangers into their homes, or who ferry others around on motorcycles for a living. It was a good, up-close look at the day-to-day life of the people who lived in the area Mr. Pyle traveled through. (I also enjoyed the accounts of the other hikers and pilgrims, including a group of Russians who completed one trek in a super short time, a European couple who turned back when the going got tough, and many people of Indian descent who traveled from the US to, for example, Mount Kailash.)\\n\\nOf course there are several sections of color photographs, as well. I like the mix of people, buildings, and landscapes (and sometimes the food Mr. Pyle ate while on his treks, which was interesting in itself). You actually get to put faces with names, to see the wooden architecture of remote Tibet, etc. The photographs are a bit small and I think some of the grandeur of the mountains is lost due to size. But the photographs did definitely help set the scene.\\n\\nThis is billed as a \\\"how to\\\" and the final chapter about each trek ends with a summary of estimated costs and advice for having a successful trip. I am not really a cold weather sort of person (!) and won't be making these journeys myself. But if you are thinking of traveling to any of these areas, either as a pilgrim or just as a tourist, this book does have some helpful advice.\\n\\nIn the end, I learned something about a part of the world I knew very little about, including about the native peoples and their ways of life. I learned something about hiking in very challenging conditions. I learned about how modern ways of life are infiltrating traditional societies. Although this is a short book, there's really a lot of information packed in there. I look forward to more from Mr. Pyle in the future!\\n\\nReview copy provided by the author.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":200,"string":"200"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":92,"string":"92"}}},{"rowIdx":93,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AD3EX5UG7UZPB"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Record live music, lectures and notes with this digital voice recorder featuring a built-in 2GB flash memory, a memory card slot and an easy-to-read display. Press record and capture every sound. This compact and convenient ICD-PX312 digital voice recorder goes wherever you do to confidently capture and store audio with a built-in 2GB flash memory providing up to 530 hours of recording time, plus additional storage available through the microSD memory card slot (memory card sold separately). With Intelligent Noise Cut technology greatly reducing background sound, your recordings will be crisp and clear in quality. Other features include Voice Operated Recording technology, a built-in speaker and an easy-to-read display. So slip this digital voice recorder into your pocket and know you'll never miss a beat even during the longest of lectures or an epic all-night jam session.Compatible Memory Cards : MicroSD.Inputs and Outputs: Headphone Output(s) : 1 (Minijack, Stereo), Microphone Input : 1 (Minijack, Stereo) and USB Port(s) : 1 (Mini-B jack), High-Speed USB Compatible.What's in the box: USB connecting cable (1), IC Recorder (1), Application Software, Sound Organizer (CD-ROM) (1), LR03 (size AAA) Alkaline batteries (2) and Operating Instructions (1).\". The summary of the review text is \"Very over-priced here, however excellent digital mini recorder\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Okay, let's start with WAY OVERPRICED, However, a very good unit... I got this on super clearance at a Walgreens of all places for a cool 20 bucks - brand new, unopened. I don't think it is worth the retail price here (I think the retail at Walgreens on this was about 70, MAYBE 80) but it is a recorder of high quality. I prefer the mini disc format when you get into a price range at or above one hundred dollars, so for 150 which is where this is currently at, you are far better off looking at those types of recorders, or DAT recorders, so again, I think this is VERY pricey (and very surprised that the Walgreens retail of 70-80 was way less than that of Amazon; I'm definitely not confusing models either, I have the ICD-PX312, the exact one shown/sold here).\n\nThat being said, however, this is a dynamite digital mini recorder. It replaced a previous model I had, a gray colored Sony with internal memory that was a great gift (I think it ran about 30 dollars retail new) and had excellent sound, lots of internal memory, but I'm not sure of the model number, but was only good for memos, really, because that had no digital method of transfer - no USB or memory card slot (i.e. if I wanted to transfer the audio to my computer I had to do it manually and in mono mode through the headphone output, which of course I did do a few times but that of course compromised the sound).\n\nThis instead of course allows digital to digital transfer, offering an sd card slot and 2 gigs of internal flash memory with a USB output.\n\nI popped one of my extra micro M2 sd cards in it... a 4 gig (later I used a larger micro sd, sandisk 16gb) - i did a format of it within the unit, and it worked beautifully. This unit is outstanding because you can choose to record to either the internal flash memory or the SD and use that in your PC or simply use the mini USB output on the unit to send the flash or SD MP3 files to your PC. I am using this for podcasting, with two other people, so sort of a dialogue setting. I found that Lecture or Interview settings work best for my application (more on settings later in review). The onboard mic is better than some external mics, and you can record a decent podcast, dictation, memo, lecture, interview, or even a basic music recording on it (ideas or even a small jam), and I also recently recorded a live outdoor concert (2014 Aurora, IL 18th Annual Blues on the Fox with Taj Mahal, Jimmy Vaughan, Tab Benoit, etc.) and it turned out being an awesome bootleg after I did some editing in Audacity... Soooo, its applications are versatile.\n\nAgain the on-board mic is very good, better than some of the external mics I have tried on it, but wow, even better sound than already had when I plugged in one of my Shure studio mics (however I lost a lot of input level). I have also used a quality headset mic on it and gotten good results. Sony offers several mics specifically for this model as well, each are useful for different contexts... they have a clip on, a small condenser mic and others that go right into the 1/8\" stereo microphone jack. I plan on trying the condenser mic, which runs about thirty something dollars. I haven't yet tried any of them to date, though.\n\nThere is no hiss or buzz, interference, and it picks up minimal background noise. Depending on the settings, you can adjust the onboard sensitivity/input level (and also effects the recorded sound if you are using an external mic) and will get less or more range therefore less or more background. Sometimes I want background noise or a wider spectrum of pickup, so it is excellent that the settings allow this.\n\nTransferring tracks to your PC: It records by default in MP3 so the transfer to PC is lickity split... very smooth. Again, if you are recording to the built in flash memory of 2 gigs you would use the built in mini usb jack to USB, if you are recording to the SD card you can pop it out and put it directly into your PC if you have card slots or use an SD to USB adapter if not, or you can also simply use the built in mini usb jack to USB as you would with transferring the internal flash memory.\n\nThis unit has lots of bells and whistles, comes with software (I heard its not really necessary but hey, free software is free software), a noise cut option (used to be called \"Noise Reduction\") as its own button right on the unit, not to mention all the options in the menus.\n\nEnded up reading most of the manual online, and there are a host of different recording options. You can control the gain manually or use preset settings with names like \"lecture\" \"meeting\" \"interview\" \"memo\" etc. You can toggle between using the memory in the unit or your sd card. it will take an M2 sd or a reg. micro sd. I ALWAYS suggest sandisk, i won't buy any other brand. You can even edit within the unit itself - e.g. erase sections of a track, insert new recording within a track, etc. etc. etc.\n\nIt has a built in speaker for reviewing all recordings. This is probably its weakest feature... if you're using this for an application where you want to be able to playback the recordings on the same unit (as opposed to your PC/laptop/tablet), I suggest using headphones, because the speaker is pretty weak. It does not represent the quality of the recording at all. It is okay for just listening to voice notes, but anything more complex, say with music, or multiple voices, a lecture, again, use headphones for quick playback.\n\nSUMMARY:\n\nSound from onboard mic: 8.5\nEase of use: 9\nMemory: 8 (2 gigs of internal flash and as much SD data you can afford via micro or M2 SD)\nCompatibility with external microphones: 9\nVersatility: 7.5\nRecording Options: 9\nValue: 5 (100 is too steep. 150 is outrageous. I would pay no more than 80 for this unit)\nEase of formatting and transferring to PC: 10\nPlayback sound on built in speaker or headphones: 7 (as I said the onboard speaker is probably its weakest feature, the tracks actually sound way better than the speaker plays them, so I suggest headphones for quick playback. They sound fantastic when transferred to PC)"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Okay, let's start with WAY OVERPRICED, However, a very good unit... I got this on super clearance at a Walgreens of all places for a cool 20 bucks - brand new, unopened. I don't think it is worth the retail price here (I think the retail at Walgreens on this was about 70, MAYBE 80) but it is a recorder of high quality. I prefer the mini disc format when you get into a price range at or above one hundred dollars, so for 150 which is where this is currently at, you are far better off looking at those types of recorders, or DAT recorders, so again, I think this is VERY pricey (and very surprised that the Walgreens retail of 70-80 was way less than that of Amazon; I'm definitely not confusing models either, I have the ICD-PX312, the exact one shown/sold here).\n\nThat being said, however, this is a dynamite digital mini recorder. It replaced a previous model I had, a gray colored Sony with internal memory that was a great gift (I think it ran about 30 dollars retail new) and had excellent sound, lots of internal memory, but I'm not sure of the model number, but was only good for memos, really, because that had no digital method of transfer - no USB or memory card slot (i.e. if I wanted to transfer the audio to my computer I had to do it manually and in mono mode through the headphone output, which of course I did do a few times but that of course compromised the sound).\n\nThis instead of course allows digital to digital transfer, offering an sd card slot and 2 gigs of internal flash memory with a USB output.\n\nI popped one of my extra micro M2 sd cards in it... a 4 gig (later I used a larger micro sd, sandisk 16gb) - i did a format of it within the unit, and it worked beautifully. This unit is outstanding because you can choose to record to either the internal flash memory or the SD and use that in your PC or simply use the mini USB output on the unit to send the flash or SD MP3 files to your PC. I am using this for podcasting, with two other people, so sort of a dialogue setting. I found that Lecture or Interview settings work best for my application (more on settings later in review). The onboard mic is better than some external mics, and you can record a decent podcast, dictation, memo, lecture, interview, or even a basic music recording on it (ideas or even a small jam), and I also recently recorded a live outdoor concert (2014 Aurora, IL 18th Annual Blues on the Fox with Taj Mahal, Jimmy Vaughan, Tab Benoit, etc.) and it turned out being an awesome bootleg after I did some editing in Audacity... Soooo, its applications are versatile.\n\nAgain the on-board mic is very good, better than some of the external mics I have tried on it, but wow, even better sound than already had when I plugged in one of my Shure studio mics (however I lost a lot of input level). I have also used a quality headset mic on it and gotten good results. Sony offers several mics specifically for this model as well, each are useful for different contexts... they have a clip on, a small condenser mic and others that go right into the 1/8\" stereo microphone jack. I plan on trying the condenser mic, which runs about thirty something dollars. I haven't yet tried any of them to date, though.\n\nThere is no hiss or buzz, interference, and it picks up minimal background noise. Depending on the settings, you can adjust the onboard sensitivity/input level (and also effects the recorded sound if you are using an external mic) and will get less or more range therefore less or more background. Sometimes I want background noise or a wider spectrum of pickup, so it is excellent that the settings allow this.\n\nTransferring tracks to your PC: It records by default in MP3 so the transfer to PC is lickity split... very smooth. Again, if you are recording to the built in flash memory of 2 gigs you would use the built in mini usb jack to USB, if you are recording to the SD card you can pop it out and put it directly into your PC if you have card slots or use an SD to USB adapter if not, or you can also simply use the built in mini usb jack to USB as you would with transferring the internal flash memory.\n\nThis unit has lots of bells and whistles, comes with software (I heard its not really necessary but hey, free software is free software), a noise cut option (used to be called \"Noise Reduction\") as its own button right on the unit, not to mention all the options in the menus.\n\nEnded up reading most of the manual online, and there are a host of different recording options. You can control the gain manually or use preset settings with names like \"lecture\" \"meeting\" \"interview\" \"memo\" etc. You can toggle between using the memory in the unit or your sd card. it will take an M2 sd or a reg. micro sd. I ALWAYS suggest sandisk, i won't buy any other brand. You can even edit within the unit itself - e.g. erase sections of a track, insert new recording within a track, etc. etc. etc.\n\nIt has a built in speaker for reviewing all recordings. This is probably its weakest feature... if you're using this for an application where you want to be able to playback the recordings on the same unit (as opposed to your PC/laptop/tablet), I suggest using headphones, because the speaker is pretty weak. It does not represent the quality of the recording at all. It is okay for just listening to voice notes, but anything more complex, say with music, or multiple voices, a lecture, again, use headphones for quick playback.\n\nSUMMARY:\n\nSound from onboard mic: 8.5\nEase of use: 9\nMemory: 8 (2 gigs of internal flash and as much SD data you can afford via micro or M2 SD)\nCompatibility with external microphones: 9\nVersatility: 7.5\nRecording Options: 9\nValue: 5 (100 is too steep. 150 is outrageous. I would pay no more than 80 for this unit)\nEase of formatting and transferring to PC: 10\nPlayback sound on built in speaker or headphones: 7 (as I said the onboard speaker is probably its weakest feature, the tracks actually sound way better than the speaker plays them, so I suggest headphones for quick playback. They sound fantastic when transferred to PC)"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: What's so special about the Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar? The super-low price for starters and that's not all. It gives you all the essential elements of a Les Paul. Made with a mahogany body, bolt-on mahogany neck, smooth 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, this baby is every bit as handsome as its uptown cousins. Features 700T/650R open-coil humbucking pickups that deliver long, singing sustain and true Les Paul tones. The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add more sustain and make string changing easier. Limited lifetime warranty. Strings: D'Addario; 10, 13, 17, 26, 36, 46\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Epiphone Les Paul for next to nothing JUST DON\"T GET THE AMP\n\nReview: A Les-Paul Special II for around a hundred bucks? (Update: the price has gone up and down since I purchased it for 159) And there are people actually complaining??? I don't care if it is an Epiphone and not a full blown Gibson, this sounds like a Les Paul Special, it certainly plays like one. The only thing is, I paid about a buck for it, not several hundred. It came setup just fine, with manual, an alin wrench for the kneck, which I checked, and needed no adjustment. There were only a couple of legitimate complaints about the guitar, the rest were people who ordered the package deal and had problems with the crappy amp. One: A user received his paint chipped, body blemishes, etc. Weird, obvious anomaly. Two: A user plugged into the amp with another guitar and it worked, so the problem lied with the electronics in the git.\nThis is a great take on the classic Les Paul is excellent for multiple applications, especially METAL, which isn't my main genre but I do play metal riffs occasionally, especially now on this guitar among my 12 other guitars.\nWhat a deal.\nWhen it comes to major guitar makers who make their own budget guitar, i.e. Fender Squier, etc. Epiphone is by far an exception. It is made by Gibson but there are Epiphone's for over a grand - it is by far different than \"budget guitars\" and has its own identity. Epiphone guitars are RARELY beneath a mediocre standard, and often excellent quality.\nDON\"T PASS THIS UP.","Product: Concert size body, High gloss finish, Select spruce top, Catalpa sides & back, Rosewood fingerboard & bridge, Mahogany neck, Multi-ply binding, Fully adjustable truss rod, Chrome die cast tuners, WT92 preamp system\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not bad for the value, but BUYER BEWARE\n\nReview: This guitar is a good buy for the money, but with the new wave budget Oscar Schmidts, you have to watch out. They come up horribly setup from the factory and if they don't go through a good dealer you're going to get problems that other reviewers have listed... bad setup, electronics don't work, etc. Unfortunately Oscar Schmidt was bought by the same company that also now owns the Washburn name (which also come terrible half the time nowadays... though they sell upper scale models they also sell budget Washburns at Target).\nYou're welcome to read my \"So you want to own an Oscar Schmidt Guitar?\" review under product review guides. Amazon always deletes the link but it will come up under that name.","Product: Concert size body, High gloss finish, Select spruce top, Catalpa sides & back, Rosewood fingerboard & bridge, Mahogany neck, Multi-ply binding, Fully adjustable truss rod, Chrome die cast tuners, WT92 preamp system\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not bad for the value, but BUYER BEWARE\n\nReview: This guitar is a good buy for the money, but with the new wave budget Oscar Schmidts, you have to watch out. They come up horribly setup from the factory and if they don't go through a good dealer you're going to get problems that other reviewers have listed... bad setup, electronics don't work, etc. Unfortunately Oscar Schmidt was bought by the same company that also now owns the Washburn name (which also come terrible half the time nowadays... though they sell upper scale models they also sell budget Washburns at Target).\nYou're welcome to read my \"So you want to own an Oscar Schmidt Guitar?\" review under product review guides. Amazon always deletes the link but it will come up under that name.","Product: Dreadnought style, High gloss finish, Select spruce top, Catalpa sides & back, Standard X bracing, Rosewood fingerboard & bridge, Mahogany neck, Fully adjustable truss rod, Chrome die cast tuners\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: MOVE ON... Not a good buy despite low price.\n\nReview: This is not a totally horrible guitar for the price, however, I would recommend moving on: this is built to be a budget guitar, its action is not good past the fifth fret, and you get what you pay for... I do not own this model but I am familiar with it, have played it, models like it, and the entire O.S. line - I strongly recommend NOT PURCHASING THIS GUITAR FOR A BEGINNER. Do some more research, spend a little more if you can, read my Oscar Schmidt guide (link provided below) which points to both some decent OS guitars and other not so good ones. If you want a beater guitar, its pretty and the value is OK. With Oscar Schmidt you need to know what you're buying, so check out my Buyer's Guide at\n[...]\n\nOscar Schmidt is now owned by the same company that currently owns Washburn - the company is US Music Corporation. They bought both brand names around the same time (circa 2000 - the exact year is virtually impossible to find via the web) from Fretted Industries, and while they continued to make some good guitars under the Washburn name, they made the once highly respectable Oscar Schmidt into a budget line guitar. Any Oscar Schmidts pre circa 2000 are of a higher quality, both Fretted Industry made ('79 to circa 2000) as well as vintage ones owned by the company of origin.","Product: Pro-Series Tunable Bongo Drums. These 6 inch and 7 inch drums feature Hickory shells and natural hide heads. 4 Tunable lugs per drum with tuning wrench. Nickel-plated rim and cast base rim. Clear finish highlights the wood's natural grain. Protective rubber feet.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Dont pass the deal up for a student or budget set at this value!!!!!!!!!\n\nReview: If you're looking for a budget set of bongos or something for a beginning drummer in the way of bongos for value, look no further. These came with the correct tuning wrench in a nice canvas case (for the wrench that is as pictured) and required a very minimal amount of tuning, and the shipping crew was smart by loosening the wing nut that holds the bass and tonal drum together so no damage would be caused in shipping. I tightened it, had my drummer do a light tuning on them, and they play perfect. I wanted a value set like this because i have 12 guitars, 2 basses, a banjo, an accordion, a piano, amps, recording equip, a sampler, DJ turntables with felt mats a dulcimer, a wooden xylephone, a flute, harmonica set, etc. and needed a percussion item so any type of player can join the jam if they don't have their equipment with them. I even ordered a second set after i got them for my other drummer friend who because of losing his home no longer has his set so as a new housewarming gift i couldn't pass it up for another measly 26 bux with free shipping!!!!!!!!! don't pass it up","Product: This Guitar is an original design crafted from components and features beyond what you expect from instruments in this price range. This Beauty features an ultra light, hand contoured body with a single humbucker and a fixed Bridge and Adjustable Saddles system designed for better sustain. The Telecaster Lovers will come to love this guitar and find it to more than just meet your expectations!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best valued tele copy EVER\n\nReview: I own about 15 guitars, all ranging in value from about this... $100, although I think its worth more, to $2000. I play out of a vintage VOX tube amp that I got for a steal. When I go to grab an electric, I grab this one more often than any other, despite having a '61 Gretcsh, a beautiful 12 string Danelectro, a '71 American Strat, etc. etc.\nIt's finish is gorgeous and just screams \"Play Me!\" and it sounds nothing like your average tele knock off. With the amp I own, I can make just about any guitar sound like any other guitar, to a degree, but again, this baby just screams play me and it delivers. While it doesn't exactly sound like a tele, and of course an actual telecaster would be better, for the price of this guitar, there is no reason not to buy it. I'm not a guitar expert, just an average player and a collector, but I know a good guitar between a crappy knock off. This is a great guitar, I love to play it, and it has a dynamite sound for 99 bux.\nThe brand is \"Huntington\" which is something I would never pick up in a shop, but after looking at the reviews, and having always wanted a tele in my collection, I couldn't pass this up and I'm glad I didn't.","Product: Everything you need to start jamming out at an amazing low price! Learn how to play acoustic guitar and start jamming like a pro in no time. This 38 inch guitar with starter pack is perfect for all beginners!\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: spend a little more quantity and get a lot more quality\n\nReview: This is about as low quality a guitar as they get that is passable to sell as a beginner/student guitar. The brand, which the seller doesn't even bother noting, is Bridgecraft. It comes with all the little extras... a pick guard and other decorative piece, both of which that you would need to install yourself if you care to, an extra pack of cheap strings, picks, a strap, a cheap pitch pipe (fyi for beginners, pitch pipes are horrible method of tuning because a beginner guitar player, unless they play another instrument well and are now picking up the guitar, has not developed a good sense of pitch yet,so it is difficult for them to match the different sounding noise out of a pitch pipe and that of a guitar string... they need an electric tuner) and a carrying bag - NOT A GIG BAG (not that I can imagine performing with this, it is only meant for learning), and just a nylon bag that has no insulation and offers no protection for the guitar outside of scratches and simply serves as a bag to transport the guitar,\nI bought this for my niece, and highly suggest that you spend the extra 30 dollars or so to get a decent starter guitar... there are PLENTY of decent starter guitars out there for 80 to 100+ dollars.\nWhen this arrived, it was strung but no attempt had been made to tune them. I tuned it up and naturally they had to stretch, so I gave them an hour, re-tuned, another hour, re-tuned, and finally a third hour and a final tune. For the most part, with this guitar you're only going to play in first position anyway, but past the fifth fret it loses it begins to lose its tuning continuity.\nThe action is high, even in first position. The neck is slightly bowed to the right on the one I received, but there is no truss rod in this guitar,\nIt falls out of tune even after the strings have been stretched quite easily. It has cheap, plastic tuning keys. The sound hole is small so if it ever were to be used to perform or rehearse with louder instruments it would have to be mic'ed with a lapel mic or something similar as it would not fit a dean markley or anything the likes of inside the sound hold... which brings me to my idea for anyone who actually buys this junk: put nylon strings on it, as both the head stock and the small sound hole lends itself to a cheap Latin guitar. I tried it, and it sounded a world better. It still gets one star, however, because\nAs for the sound goes out of the box with a tune, well, you can probably make an educated guess from this review that it is nothing to be said for. One thing I can say is I didn't get any buzz in the first position. It sounds like a very cheaply made guitar that is good for lessons or as a wall hanger, and nothing else... it is pretty though, I like the green finish. The design around the sound hole is nice, and it looks like a Latin / Classical guitar for that matter.","Product: Built with a solid spruce top, mahogany sides, and arched mahogany back, the full-bodied and powerful tone of this Guild dreadnought provides guitarists with a classic acoustic sound and balanced voicing. Guilds signature arched back design allows for great volume and projection, long sustain, and a lush, full sound. The D-240E features Guilds AP-1 pickup, an Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, pearloid rosette, period-correct tortoiseshell pickguard, and a matte polyurethane finish. This model also includes Guilds new lightweight deluxe gig bag. Available in Natural.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A BEAUTIFUL GUILD FOR AN UNBELIEVABLE PRICE\n\nReview: Ever since my 2nd band (which was 5 or 6 bands ago) recorded at what was a cozy, mostly acoustic guitar shop nestled in the third (top) floor of an old building with hardwood floors which had a recording studio in the back, I've wanted a Guild. They played like a songbird and I fell in love with one at the shop. Needless to say, I never got that Guild, as I was putting all my money into recording and I was a poor undergraduate at the time.\nI am now 38, 19 years later, and I got my Guild. I also have about 10 other guitars, an electric piano, a dulcimer, a banjo, spanish guitar, recording equipment, etc., but I couldn't help from telling this story. This BEAUTIFUL guitar came PERFECTLY SETUP, so well packaged a bomb could have went off and it would remain unharmed, and it came perfectly in tune. I finally got to the guitar (I had to cut my way open into one very large box like it was a safe, take out tons of packing material, then take out the triangle guitar box, open that, lift out the guitar that was placed ever so gently among more packing, then remove the protective material around the neck). I strummed it and it was a beautiful, bright sound. The plug to amplify it is at the bottom also serves as the place for a strap to go, like it does on some other acoustic/electric guitars. (This itself is a sign of quality... that the electronics are built into the bottom strap peg). Again, when I finally put this gorgeous dreadnought in my hands, put my fingers in the position of a C chord, strummed it with just my fingers, it was like heaven's gates opened up. It was in PERFECT TUNE. In fact, I didn't need to do a single thing to this guitar, it was setup perfectly...the bridge, the nut, the pickup, the strings, the tuning keys, all PERFECT. I own a 1961 Gretsch in near mint condition, but I reach for this guitar first. This incredible Guild for the price simply cannot be beat... I own guitars I paid way more money for. I still reach for my Guild. Extremely bright, loud Dreadnought sound. Sleek plug at the bottom, like I mentioned. This guitar played dry is almost as loud as my National Resonator. Can sound like a strat, an SG, a Les Paul, a Gretsch etc. out of my 45 watt Vox tube amp.\nIf you've ever wanted a Guild but don't have the dough to buy a fully U.S. model, this \"designed in California\" model is JUST AS GOOD. It is built to the specs without a flaw. It comes with a specially padded gig bag that braces the neck to boot. One of my favorite guitars ever.","Product: Folk style, High gloss finish, Select spruce top, Catalpa sides & back, Rosewood fingerboard & bridge, Mahogany neck, Fully adjustable truss rod, Chrome die cast tuners\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent valued student/learner/budget guitar\n\nReview: Although Oscar Schmidt is not the line of quality guitars it once was (read on) this particular model, for the price, is not a bad guitar, especially for a beginner: make no mistake though, this is built to be a budget guitar, and doesn't have much in line of adjustments/setup outside of the truss rod that can be made to improve the quality of its sound/action/etc...however, for 76 plus shipping, this isn't a bad internet buy esp. if you're looking for a student/learner guitar or just a cheap acoustic to bang on... Also note that when a guitar is labeled as a \"folk\" guitar it is usually a very general term that merely refers to its size (meaning it is larger than a 3/4 size but smaller than a dreadnought), and doesn't mean much else in terms of its craftsmanship, especially when its used to describe a budget guitar like this.\n\nRegarding my opening comment, Oscar Schmidt is now owned by the same company that currently owns Washburn - the company is US Music Corporation. They bought both brand names around the same time (circa 2000 - the exact year is virtually impossible to find via the web) from Fretted Industries, and while they continued to make good guitars under the Washburn name, they made the once highly respectable Oscar Schmidt into a budget line guitar. Any Oscar Schmidts pre circa 2000 are of a higher quality, both Fretted Industry made ('79 to circa 2000) as well as vintage ones owned by the company of origin. Read my buyers guide on both Oscar Schmidt and Washburn by searching the \"So You'd like to\" Buyer Guides under \"So you'd like to own an Oscar Schmidt\"","Product: *** Original and authentic. Made not from scented wooden beads but rather from cooked Rose petals that grow in the Jerusalem area. A very special and meaningful Rosary. Open this Rosary box and a bouquet of sweet fragrance of roses will linger softly in the air! Made of crushed Rose-Petals grown in the Holy City of Jerusalem then converted into large beads and assembled into gorgeous Rosary. Enclosed in a gift box and includes the story of the Scented Rosary in English and Spanish (story inclusion is optional depending on box). Keep this Keepsake in your purse for your special Rosary veneration to the Blessed Mother. May all your prayers be answered through Our Lady's Intercession. Let it be your reminder of the Holy Land. Give it as a gift from the heart. It will be treasured forever!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Probably wood. Verified purchaser. Read on...\n\nReview: It is difficult to tell if these are real roses or not. each bead is the same, and they are OBVIOUSLY sprayed with extra scent. There is also a score on each bead, suggesting that these are simply manufactured wood and a hoax. Generally, rosaries made of REAL PRESSED ROSES have non spherical beads, each bead is different. this is NOT THE CASE WITH THIS ROSARY. However, I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt and say these beads MAY BE PARTLY MADE OF REAL ROSES, but there is obviously a MECHANICAL PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH, AS EACH BEAD IS IDENTICAL, BUT THIS ROSARY AS A WHOLE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER FAKE, WOOD BEADS THAT ARE SPRAYED (THESE ARE SPRAYED TOO.) If these are real roses, or partially real roses, that is wonderful. Either way, it is a beautiful rosary. Unfortunately, the beads are NOT HAND MADE, but again, MACHINE PRESSED. However, if this is not made of any real roses, SHAME ON THIS SELLER.","Product: .\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Creative, vast, and difficult\n\nReview: Kid Icarus became available in its original form with enhanced 3D graphics for the 3DS via download from the Nintendo eShop about a couple of years ago, and I immediately downloaded the classic for a cool 6 bucks. They also made a highly regarded new Kid Icarus (Kid Icarus: Uprising) for the 3DS with some breathtaking 3D visuals and brilliant graphics, but I digress. Although I still owned the original cartridge and could play it with relative ease - plug in the old NES via the 'rca' style video cords - I was excited to play it via the comfort of my 3DS (not to mention the convenience of the save point feature for all of the 'Digital Console' games for the 3DS and DSi). When I revisited the game, I was astonished at the difficulty - and frustrated, actually, as I recalled loving this game. I think, however, the variable at hand is that throughout the many years I didn't continue playing action-arcade and platformers, at least not challenging ones. I opted for turn-based and strategic RPGs as I got older, and while I can still enjoy a game of Galaga, Mario, Metroid or Punch-Out (I can still reach Tyson... or Mr. Dream... I have both versions), Kid Icarus is just too hard for this old man. I gave the game more than a justified try, too - but after several hours and over 10 revisits and barely making it to level 2, I had to hang up the gloves, or, in this case wings, in favor of a different, romantic visit to nostalgic video game past by downloading something like the original Legend of Zelda or perhaps blowing the dust off of my NES and playing a round of Archon, as much as I wanted to relive the days when I could blast through the difficult levels in Kid Icarus.\nTo be completely fair, though, even though my trip down memory lane left me a bit disillusioned and wishing for an 'easy' setting, this title was pretty fantastic. Perhaps a bit too challenging right off the bat, Kid Icarus was extremely creative. It offered both side-scrolling and vertical play, a touch of roleplaying elements with regards to character development and purchased upgrades, and a very vast playing environment - lots of levels, varied enemies and bosses. The graphics are decent for NES and if you have a 3DS, enjoy the added 3D effects (only a handful of the original NES games available from the eShop have been 'amped' up to 3D, and these are therefore only available on the 3DS. Other classics like SMB, Metroid, Mega Man, etc. are also available on the DSi).\nOn a final note, if you enjoy challenging platformers/action games and aren't stuck on first-person, this classic should not only be in your collection but is just as worthy playing today - the only thing new platform based games have on such a well developed classic is graphics: which, if you're a well-rounded gamer, you can look past.","Product: CTA DIGITAL PS-LCP PSP Case with Pockets. The Super Travel Case is constructed of a durable rubber shell, double zipper enclosure and a heavy-duty bag clip. The interior has two separate compartments that are divided by a flap with slots that holds 2 UMD disks. The PSP is securely held by locking the center flap; a super design feature that provides maximum interior space. It also has a huge additional slot for storing up to 4 UMD disks or other small accessories such as headphones. The Super Travel Case is the quintessential accessory for storing all of your PSP's bare necessities\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent case for PSP 3000\n\nReview: I don't understand why anyone would give this item a bad review as long as they were purchasing it for the proper PSP model. It perfectly fits my PSP 3000. It only has two UMD slots, but you can fit more on the other side in the pocket. It is sturdy and protective - the case is practically \"hardshell,\" and has room for, like I said, two UMDs. It also comes with an optional clip that you could clip onto a belt or a bag.\n\nI myself fit, in addition to my unit with its plastic case, my PSP headset (headphones with microphone and remote control) and several games/videos.\n\nThe case really doesn't have much room for any other accessories... you could squeeze in a car charger I'm sure, a USB /data cable, and MAYBE a PSP camera (ONE of the three, that is), but its really too small to fit in the standard wall charger. You might be able to squeeze that in if you didn't put anything else in the other side, but it would be a very tight fit. That doesn't bother me, though, I just assume carry it along separate.\n\nNo complaints, I love it.","Product: The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector provides a dedicated wireless access point that plugs into the USB port on a PC (Windows XP only). This connector does not plug into the Wii console. Use the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector if you do not have access to a wireless network connection, or are unable to connect your Wii console or Nintendo DS to the internet with your current connection.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Great idea however Numerous problems\n\nReview: As said in other reviews, Nintendo offers little support for this. The idea is if you don't have a wireless modem or router, but do have an internet connection (i.e. via a wired DSL modem or broadband modem) you can use this device to connect your DS, DS lite, DSi, and I suppose 3DS (not sure) to the internet via your computer's USB.\nThe problem is, it doesn't always work, and, it is very expensive new. IF you do purchase one of these, buy it used and cheap so if you don't have luck with it you don't waste a lot of money. It doesn't matter if it comes with the disk, you can get the drivers off of Nintendo's website, the last I knew. Beyond that, though, Nintendo offers no support for the device. A shame, since it is a good idea.\nI don't think this works with Vista or 7, not sure about MAC, only tried on XP. If you do buy a device like this, however, I do recommend that you buy THIS ONE, the one made by Nintendo - I tried another device from a 3rd party company that was supposed to do the same thing and it was complete junk. The software didn't work, the hardware was shoddy (it felt like the device was going to fall apart).","Product: Even the odds by arming yourself with infinite health, bullets, and time. Unlock secret levels, characters and vehicles. Now you can become all poerful and beat any game. Action Replay is already pre-loaded with totally unauthorized cheat codes for all the latest and greatest Nintendo DS games and you can easliy update the Action Replay with new codes. Action Replays contains everything you need to put the power in your hands today!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: A lot of issues\n\nReview: This is a cool product with a lot of support online, however despite the online support, updates, etc., this product still is far from perfect. ALMOST EVERY GAME I use with it initially says \"UNKNOWN GAME\" even though in the manual it states this \"rarely happens\" and is due to different versions of the game being released. It doesn't rarely happen, it almost always happens. It is a lengthly process to get by this which the support for the product describes, and even after going through it, it still doesn't always recognize the game and therefore you cannot use the provided codes with it.\nits a shame, because it is a cool product, and like I said, its obvious that the company has put in a lot of work to provide support for it. Unfortunately, at least in my experience, its more of a pain then its worth. Beware of this.","Product: In FINAL FANTASY II, a malevolent emperor has called upon monsters from a demonic realm to take over the world, ending what seemed to be an eternal period of peace. Thousands of lives succumb to their attacks, leaving many children orphaned. From the destruction rise four young survivors who will take it upon themselves to stop the merciless ruler and avenge the death of their parents.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A classic reborn on the PSP leaves you pining for an updated version!\n\nReview: It needn't be said, FFII is a classic that laid the groundwork, as did the other early Final Fantasies and the early Dragon Quests (i.e. Dragon Warrior) for almost all RPG's to follow. It is fun to revisit whether playing on your original SNES console or on the PSP or Gameboy Advance.\nWhat I will say, however, is it leaves you pining for an updated version of the game. Why is it that Square Enix only updated FF IV, and only on the DS for that matter?? I guess it all comes down to money, but ALL of these epic games deserve a 3D overhaul - I absolutely LOVED playing the updated version of IV on the DS- it was amazing.\nI originally bought a used copy of Final Fantasy I & II (Dawn of Souls, I think) remake for the Gameboy Advance and played it via the GBA slot on my DS lite (on a side note, I'm glad I kept my DS lite after I got a DSi and eventually the 3DS so I could still utilize the GBA slot).\nPlaying the remake on the PSP is essentially the same... I enjoy it slightly more on the PSP as it does have a wider screen and a few extras, but, again, I so wish Square Enix would release more updated versions of these epic classics for both the DS and the PSP.","Product: Jeanne D'Arc PSP\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Great SRPG for the PSP\n\nReview: Perhaps the best SRPG for the PSP, Jeanne D'arc (Joan of Arc in French - thank you commenters!) is a RPG play off of the history of Joan of Arc, and is the story of a French peasant whose village is burned by the English and decides to wage her own war against the English. Her friends join the fight, and she finds others along the way that fight with her to liberate France.\nSet in the time of Joan of Arc, being an RPG it is obviously infused with many fantasy elements, such as magic (spells), the ability for Jeanne to \"transform\" herself via a mysterious bracelet she finds or rather chooses her (she herein becomes France's \"Savior\"), and of course monster warriors that the English use as part of their army.\n\nSTORY 8\nThe story is not incredibly original, however, it uses the fantasy elements well to enhance it. It includes corruption on both sides - English and French, and other twists that make it engaging and never boring. The cut scenes are beautifully done - excellent graphics and sound, and are just enough that you never get the sense that there are too many.\n\nGRAPHICS 9\nThe cut scenes graphics are beautifully animated. The rest of the game is played on the battlefield, looking at the world map, or from menus. I would have enjoyed the opportunity to enter the actual towns outside of battlefield play... instead, you can choose to \"SHOP\" which takes you to a menu where you can purchase items, weapons and spells from the town that you are occupying on the world map, which is typical for an SRPG, but I always am looking for a hybrid between RPG genres. As far as graphics go, though, the world map is also well illustrated.\n\nSOUND 9\nAs I said, the sound in the cut scenes is excellent... the voices sound real, and outside of the cut scenes the music is never annoying, whether in battle or world map.\n\nGAMEPLAY 7\nI separate battle play (next) from gameplay because the battle part of the gameplay deserves a higher rating. Like I said, I would have enjoyed the opportunity to enter actual cities outside of just battlefield play instead of just a menu (again, I always ask myself why SRPGs don't hybrid that way). The other reason gameplay gets a 7 instead of an 8 or 9 is because the game is too linear. There aren't many opportunities to deviate from the storyline that has been set for you, such as random exploration or side quests. This is one of the most fun parts of an RPG for me, and one of the only big things that makes Jeanne D'arc less than perfect. You can replay past battles to level up at anytime (see below), but there are few purely optional side quests.\nOn the positive side, you'll see that battle play gets a 10 below, and also, the element of \"Open Combat\" is great... after clearing certain levels, you can go back to those towns and engage in open battle play for the sake of leveling up your characters and aquiring gold, items, spells, and other treasure.\n\nBATTLE PLAY 10\nBattle takes place on a grid, classic SRPG style, and harmoniously unites turn based play with strategy. You're goal is usually either to defeat all enemies or to reach a certain point without either being wiped out, or, sometimes you have to make sure not a single ally dies. You spend turns moving and attacking, and making strategic choices with regards to the placement of your army. When you have allies on adjacent squares, it aids in your defense, however it can also work against you if you, for instance, have a large group in a row and an enemy has a spell like \"Impale\" which allows them to slice through any and all characters lined up in a row (you can get the impale spell as well).\nLike I said, it is an excellent melding of turn play combat with strategy based battle. Also as mentioned before, you have spells, and the main character (as well as another character met along the way early in the game) have the option of \"transforming\" into a stronger warrior based on their bracelet and what gems they hold to enhance their transformation.\nOpen combat is another great addition, as stated before, to level up your characters and gain gold to buy new weapons, spells and equipment.\n\nOVERALL 8\nThere are not enough great SRPGs for the PSP, and this is one of them. My only major complaints are the story/gameplay being too linear. Aside from that, Jeanne D'arc is an excellent SRPG for the reasons given above that most of you RPG'ers will enjoy.","Product: Product InformationExplore an ancient Dwarven citadel riddled with legendary beasts and untoldtreasures. Wield flaming swords deadly crossbows and other mystical weapons.Use your wits to solve devious puzzles and overe deadly traps. Equip yourselfwith arcane gear like magic potions enchanted rings dragon scale armor and amagical talking wand. Escape to a place of adventure mystery and sorcery withOrcs & Elves the new first-person adventure from id Software andFountainhead Entertainment the creators of DOOM RPG! Save anywhere featureallows you to resume the action from where you left off in a world thatremembers your actions. Features high graphic fidelity and an original audioscore. Replayability with tons of secrets and an end-game ranking based on yourperformance.Product Features Explore a Dwarven citadel with the help of your talking wand to take on an evil witch and her army of dark minions Hybrid Game-play - First-person action meets tactical RPG Explore locations like a dragon's lair and mysterious catabs Wield 11 mystical weapons including swords crossbows and magical artifacts Legendary Beasts - Take on over 35 enemies with A.I. including trolls dark elves and the undead\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Buyer Beware - Not turn based and not that much fun\n\nReview: I purchased this game used on a pre-played discount rack. Cartridge based games are a bit safer used purchased then a disc, but now I'm wishing I would have bought something for my PSP that day.\nThe box clearly advertises that it is \"TURN BASED COMBAT\" This is not what most RPG players would define as turn based battle. You encounter enemies and, depending on what weapon you have, slash them with it as many times as possible by pressing the A button as fast as you can, and have no control over the damage you take.\nThis had potential to be a good dungeon crawler, but falls short in many areas, the worst being the combat. The graphics are fairly cheap and outdated. I actually don't mind the element of dungeon crawler gameplay that consists of moving one space at a time -- the Etrian Oddyssey series as well as others are like that. That comparison being drawn, this game is nothing like E.O. series (which is why there is no sequel to this one!).\n\nIt's a poorly developed makeshift RPG slapped together to make a few bucks off of RPG fans looking for a good old school style dungeon crawler to enjoy and instead find this. I didn't even get the \"free wand stylus\" since it was used... a gimmick that would have made me feel a little bit better about my wasted 8 dollars.\n\nFinal words on Orcs and Elves for the DS: Don't buy it.","Product: eForCity Branded Accessory. Enjoy 30-Days Money Back Guarantee if purchased through eForCity. NOTE: Please apply the screen protector gently in order to avoid too much pressure onto the screen\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Buyer Beware - Unremovable air bubbles and residue from sticker\n\nReview: Though this is not a bad screen protector for the price, and with any protector you are going to have to work out the air bubbles, this particular one is virtually impossible to get them out regardless of how careful you are during application.\nWith the screen on, you don't notice them really, except for dim lit scenes, but that's still no good. And further more, there is an adhesive sticker that is to be removed after application. This sticker leaves a practically un-removable residue... I've tried alcohol even and it still leaves gunk in the upper right hand corner where the sticker was.\n\nMaybe someone else might have better luck with these then me, but this was my experience.","Product: eForCity Branded Accessory. Enjoy 30-Days Money Back Guarantee if purchased through eForCity. NOTE: Please apply the screen protector gently in order to avoid too much pressure onto the screen\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Buyer Beware - Unremovable air bubbles and residue from sticker\n\nReview: Though this is not a bad screen protector for the price, and with any protector you are going to have to work out the air bubbles, this particular one is virtually impossible to get them out regardless of how careful you are during application.\nWith the screen on, you don't notice them really, except for dim lit scenes, but that's still no good. And further more, there is an adhesive sticker that is to be removed after application. This sticker leaves a practically un-removable residue... I've tried alcohol even and it still leaves gunk in the upper right hand corner where the sticker was.\n\nMaybe someone else might have better luck with these then me, but this was my experience.","Product: The dark knight Cecil, stripped of his command of the Red Wings, set out for the distant Valley of Mist. Together with Kain, commander of the Dragoons, he would pursue a faceless quarry―and a chance for redemption. The advent of the airship had marked the realization of mankind's most ancient dream. But man is a creature seldom sated, and he was quick to dream anew. With the unparalleled might of the Red Wings, Baron's military soon reigned supreme. Why, then, does its king now seek the Crystals? And why have fearsome monsters suddenly begun to overrun the once calm land? If the Crystals know, they share no answers―only their pure and silent light.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Amazing remake of an epic classic - A MUST for all FF fans.\n\nReview: I don't have too much to say that hasn't already been said in the other reviews, but wanted to write my own in support of urging anyone who has not played this remake to do so. Whether you played the original or not, you will likely fall in love with the remake. Much better than the DS Final Fantasy III remake (which was great in its own right), this epic classic remade is an example of what Square Enix needs to do with ALL of the early Final Fantasies. It is a shame that they haven't done this with I or II or even V.\nThe only complaint here is that the difficulty level towards the latter part of the game is quite ramped up, perhaps a little too much. But its worth the challenge. This is one of the most superb remakes I have ever played.","Product: Replace a worn-out or lost battery for your Sony PSP-2000 or PSP-3000 with this rechargeable Li-ion battery pack.\nFeatures\n\tFor Sony PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 ONLY\n\tRechargeable Li-ion 3.6V, 2400mAh\n\tReplace a worn-out or lost battery\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent replacement but not retail packaged and not what is pictured\n\nReview: I purchased this as a replacement battery, as my PSP battery started holding much less of a charge than it used to.\n\nFirst off, this is not the battery pictured. It does not come in retail packaging, and is the black, standard PSP battery. For the price, however, this isn't a bad backup battery.\n\nI had in the past always considered getting one of the additional battery packs that snap on below the battery and give you longer play time, acting as a separate back up battery I think. I did not purchase one though and can't comment how well they work or not.\n\nSo far, so good, and it is inexpensive. I may update this review after some heavy use dependent on what I detect, but for the value, this is a decent battery.","Product: eForCity Clip on Crystal Case for Sony PSP 3000, Clear\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Excellent case as long as accompanied by carrying case\n\nReview: This case is great - WAY better than any silicon case... It keeps your PSP cleaner and it looks MUCH nicer. It is easy to install and un-install, has proper openings for all needed buttons, a swing open door for the UMD slot, and a swing open door for the front screen for easy access to clean (you don't need to open it to play since it is clear)... This is, however, as long as you are a person that takes care of your electronics and also, you should have a travel case to protect the whole thing when not in use, since this is plastic and the screen can get cracked.\nIf the PSP is dropped, this case certainly has enough to it that it will absorb shock and protect your unit, but it will most likely break the case... the case is very inexpensive though, so it's not a huge loss if that is the case. With the silicon protective cases, they stay in place in case of a drop but would not protect as much, and they aren't as nice looking nor do they keep your PSP as clean.\nSo, buy this if you take care of your equipment and you should also have a travel case to put the unit away in.","Product: Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume DS\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Boring, tedious let down.\n\nReview: While I like the type of strategic battle - turn based mixed with grid based movement - i.e. SRPG; I could not get into this game. The feather element is inventive (strategic sacrifice of a party member in battle). The \"sin\" element is inventive, but feels flawed, for lack of a better term, and makes battles either too hard (usually) or too easy.\nI have a feeling I picked the worst Valkyrie Profile game to start with.\nAside from that: The graphics look like 8 bit or worse!, the story felt REALLY boring to me, and the game, in general, is tedious. The 3rd battle you're in is a bit too difficult for the beginning of the game. I can look past that since eventually I progressed, but the game continued to be, as my title states, and forgive my redundancy, tedious and boring. A big let down for a Square Enix game. Perhaps I'll try my luck with a different V.P. game.","Product: PSP Clear Skin Case\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nice, well fitting skin case with a few draw backs\n\nReview: This case fits like a glove - its very well made and \"tailored\" to fit great. Its somewhat protective... it protects the unit from scratches and rubbing off lettering and designs on the unit. It isn't the best case to get for, say, protecting your PSP from water damage or especially dropping. It of course has some \"shock\" protection, better than without anything on it, but again, not much but that is to be expected. The value is very good, btw... i paid only a few bucks for it and it does the job. The only other drawback is this: as with any of the silicone style cases, it is easy to get the unit dirty. It doesn't keep the unit clean from gunk but rather it seems to do the opposite and attract it to the inside and it requires regular cleaning of both the case and your unit.\nOverall, a nice skin for the price. If you have a travel case to put your psp inside of, this is especially a good choice since you don't need a lot of extra protection, just enough while you're playing.","Product: The most comprehensive card games collection for Nintendo 3DS plus you get over 1,000 unique puzzle challenges!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of the best card collection games:Everything you'll ever need\n\nReview: The title is appropriate: This game really is an \"overload\" of card games, puzzle games and other mind games, with local wireless play. The price/value is fantastic at 20 bucks retail for both the version on cartridge and the downloadable version from the Nintendo eShop for the number of both classic card games, casino card games, probably every version of solitaire ever made, mahjong at different difficulty levels, hundreds of tangram puzzles, and hundreds of picture puzzles. I bought the digital download version for 20 dollars from the Nintendo 3DS online store. The classic card games include many trump based and other card games you would not expect to be in your average card game collection for a portable or console system, such as bridge, euchre, gin rummy (very hard to find), rummy (Romme), canasta, cribbage, and skat, as well as standards like spades, hearts, and even fun standards like crazy eights (the original \"uno\" --- what uno is based off of)and even Go Fish. It keeps records/statistics, you can play everything at different difficulty levels and choose your opponents (e.g. play against one difficult player and two easy players, etc. whatever combination, decide in partner games how good your partner is and opponents) and tons of options based on the game, such as variations on the game rules, special regional style rules, and aesthetic options as well (deck style, background, etc.) and you can also even set a playlist in the main game settings for the background music, and make a profile, and use one of your \"Mii\" characters from the built in \"Mii\" game in every 3DS that allows you to create different faces/avatars. The only game I would like to also be on it is pinochle (it has euchre, spades, bridge, etc. so I was surprised not to see it). While there are no tutorials, the manual offers instructions on every game (I have the digital version so just have the electronic manual but I imagine the physical manual that comes with the cartridge based version has more). Like I said, the variations on solitaire are staggering... literally HUNDREDS! and all stats are recorded, and you have options for those as well. For poker, video poker, and blackjack, you can bet and play for virtual money, and the versions of poker are varied, such as different Texas Hold 'em versions, 5 draw, 7 stud, pineapple, etc. etc. and video poker.\n\nWiFi options are local wireless only. Oh well, still a five star game for the genre.\n\nIf you like classic card games, this is for you. If you like card games and puzzle games, it is a must.","Product: Blast from the past.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A widely undiscovered gem for the NES\n\nReview: Though they surprisingly made a DS remake for Legend of Kage, the original was one of those cult, somewhat underground classics that seems to have become a forgotten gem... It preceded the likes of Ninja Gaiden, for instance, and was wonderfully imaginative, challenging to the point where it took a good amount of practice to reach the higher levels but not too difficult to where you were throwing the controller across the room, and a lot of fun - there is no other game like it and even today its a lot of fun to play. Square Enix made a cool updated version for the ds that includes rpg elements, however the original was strictly an action/arcade platform. The first level actually scrolls from right to left! You don't see that in 'western' gaming! The music was a series of fun, synthesized \"oriental\" tracks, and the gameplay was awesome - in early stages you scaled and jumped/flew through giant trees, and the vertical height you could reach in these levels was incredible, and your jumping power was, well, really cool. The power ups changed your characters colors that corresponded to shielding i.e. you could get hit without dying a number of times relative to your color. You have a katana for close attacks and throwing stars for distance. You also found well hidden kill all charms. The background colors changed in the forest levels and though it was obviously 8bit, it pushed the edge with creative use of design, colors, fantastic use of side and vertical scrolling (sometimes in the same level), and just about every other element an action video game can have.\n\nIf you're looking for some NES classics to revisit (or play for the first time), Legend of Kage should be towards the top of your list.","Product: Cartridge only - game is in good condition with a fully intact label. However there are normal signs of wear such as scratches or other normal marks from aging. All of our games are fully tested before being put into our inventory.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Nostalgic early NES title\n\nReview: I revisited Trojan years later. I have fond memories of playing this early, somewhat esoteric NES title with my best friend. I wasn't really surprised to find that it was not as fun as it was then, but to review the game in reference to the time it was made, it was a rather average platformer, with a somewhat above average difficulty level. If you're looking to increase you're NES collection with some earlier titles, this is not necessarily a 'must-have,' but it's still an impressive addition, but probably one that will collect more dust than others after you play it once or twice. For a great NES platformer that wasn't as popular as the likes of the SMB series and other sensations for the NES but should have been, try something like The Legend of Kage.","Product: An original title developed specifically for the PSP (PlayStationPortable) system, Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground offers addictive gameplay with a simulation dungeon creation element and real-time battles hunting for monsters to collect gold and items, and complete various quests offered by the townspeople.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: One of my favorite PSP Role Players\n\nReview: This is, as the title says, one of my favorite PSP RPGs, next to Joan of Arc and FF Dissidia 012.\n\nIt is available in UMD form (to buy as a game) for the PSP or you can download it to your PSP, as well as Vita or PS3 from the playstation network.\n\nThis is a blast to create your own dungeon, and the graphics are very good. If you like dungeon crawlers, or particularly ever played any of the Etrian Odysseys for the DS and liked them (you don't create the dungeons in E.O. games, but you are responsible for mapping them), you'll enjoy this. As stated, the E.O. series wasn't dungeon creating but rather dungeon mapping, the dungeons were already developed, but they're similar enough that most who like one will like the other.\n\nThere are plenty of other elements to the game to keep you busy... quests (see complaint below), different ways to power up your character aside from just weapons/armor/accessories, such as bracelets, rings and most interesting and fun \"roots\" which you foster and upgrade with special items you find in the dungeon. This is a great game to come back to and continue at any time without really losing too much feel of where you left off. That's not to say the game is too simple either, like I said, its got enough layers beside just building mazes to make it a lot of fun.\n\nThe quests are mostly fetch quests, nothing too in depth. Find such and such an item and bring it back. Others are find a specific monster and slay them (aside from the game's bosses). On an RPG scale I'd give this game maybe 3 or 3.5, but compared to what is available for the PSP in terms of good RPGs, I decided to give it a solid 4.\n\nAnother important thing to note is that I tend to shy away from games with real time based combat. I much prefer either grid based battle or head to head menu - either way, turn based battle where I have time to make my choices, I'm very old school in that way. Although you can use magic and items in Dungeon Maker, it is real time action based combat, you swing with your weapon, there are special moves based on the weapon, and you can pause battle to cast a spell or use items. The battle is simple but well done, enough to make even me enjoy the battle element of the game.\n\nA lot of fun.","Product: With the start of the shogun clan Tokugawas reign, the long years of bloodshed and strife have come to an end. People expected the peace to last forever. But old resentments from the past had yet to die...Holding a grudge towards Tokugawa, Yoshiro Yukikusa kidnaps Kirihime, the sole priestess, in order to combine his own demonic powers with the priestesss and overthrow the shoguns reign. Kage and Chihiro are ninjas of Iga, each on a mission to rescue the priestess. But their fates are yet unknown beyond the demons they must slay in their paths...\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Incredible Remake of a Cult Classic\n\nReview: MY ORIGINAL REVIEW:\nThis is based off of a kind of \"underground\" NES cult classic. As for the DS version, I think it's really cool that this was released in the first place, given that the original was sort of an lesser known gem and may only be remembered by a lot less people than games like, for instance, Ninja Gaiden - a similar title, or all of the other greats like the Mario franchise or Contra, Zelda, Metroid, Punch Out... the list goes on and on, as there were a lot of greats for the NES.\nLegend of Kage for the DS though was an unexpected pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed playing an improved version of an already fantastic game\nThe graphics and gameplay are much improved, obviously, and the integrity of the original game remains intact. I'm not sure exactly how popular Legend of Kage was for the original NES - like I said, I think it was one of those gems that was undiscovered by a lot of NES players, but was a fantastic platformer/action/arcade game as is the DS remake. The story is simple in the original - you are a ninja who must save the captured princess, but the new version has a fantastically updated storyline and cutaway scenes.\nADDED AFTER PLAYING THE GAME FOR LONGER\nThis is a solid platformer, and it maintains some of the excellent elements of the original, while adding great updates and RPG elements and a storyline/cut scenes. You can save your progress and it also offers really neat upgrades...\none thing i have to mention is that, like most standard, western platforms, this scrolls from left to right, while the original, at least in the first stage, scrolled right to left. While jarring for some gamers, I think they should have kept one level like this in tradition of the original. Just a personal note.\nThat aside, this is a great platformer and revival and upgrade of a cult classic.","Product: This compact and portable MicroSD/TransFlash memory card from SanDisk is the world's smallest memory storage device. It's mainly designed for mobile phones that have multimedia applications such as digital cameras, video capture and playback, MP3 players, video games, personal organizers, Multimedia Message Service (MMS), email and voicemail capabilities! This MicroSD/TransFlash memory card can be inserted into an adapter (2 included), for use with devices that have a Secure Digital slot or a MinISD slot. Get your SanDisk 2 GB MicroSD/TransFlash Card today! This item is Brand New but is bulk packaged (Comes in protetive plastic case only, no retail packaging).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: genuine sandisk at reasonable price\n\nReview: Here is a genuine san disk micro sd card for a reasonable price with both sd and mini sd adapters. San disk is the only way to go, and I don't care if it is bulk packaging (not in a retail package)... although I know there are some legalities behind bulk selling, some people equate bulk packaging with knock-offs, which is 99.99% of the time completely inaccurate. I can almost guarantee you that almost any bulk packaged (as opposed to retail packaged, i.e. the card is in a factory sealed package, like you would see in a store) sandisk sd card is genuine, there is not some conspiracy of cheap sds being stamped with SanDisk and being sold in masses.\nwith that said, I am once again happy with my sandisk sd purchase from an Amazon seller... I have bought 2, 8, 16 and 32 gig sandisk sds for my many devices from my psp, 3ds, and camera to sds for additional storage for my pocket digital recorder, phone, MP3 player, and to use as a flash drive for videos and media as well as for backup. Again, I will only buy sandisk and suggest the same to anyone.","Product: SANOXY Micro SDHC to to Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bulk Static Package) Taking advantage of the fact that different digital products today support different memory card specifications, this adapter converts microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter. When the Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter is paired with the microSD card, it becomes compatible with with all devices supporting Sony Memory Pro Duo - including your beloved PSPs. digital cameras, and mobile phones But if you don't want to use it for your sony products, you can select the SD adapter and use it for SD Digital cameras, PDAs, some mobile phones. About the Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo & Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDA's and gaming consoles such as the Sony PSP (Playstation Portable) Memory Stick Duo & Pro Duo are smaller than standard Memory Stick and specifically designed to enable manufacturers to make their new products even smaller. When used in conjunction with an adapter they can be used as a full size Memory Stick Pro in devices such as readers or cameras. Micro SD card to Memory Stick Duo Adapter Features/Specifications: General Features: Fits Memory Stick Duo cards\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Any size Micro SD to Pro Duo - Great value, Limitations to note\n\nReview: I bought this along with a sandisk 16 gig SD to quadruple the memory in my PSP 3000. The adapter works perfect, not only as an adapter within a card reader on the PC but inside the PSP.\n\nThis was a much more inexpensive way for me to upgrade my memory on my PSP. I paid an incredible less than ten dollars for the sandisk 16 gig bulk packaging (it was advertised as retail packaging, but I don't care, as long as its a genuine sandisk and new, which it was) with no shipping charges (look around and you can find sandisks sold on amazon very cheap!), and then paid a couple of bucks for this reader/adapter, also with no shipping costs, and it works marvelous.\n\nIts main limitation is that you cannot hot swap it... once you format the SD inside the reader inside the PSP you cannot take it out and use it without reformatting. The workaround is to use the USB cable for your PSP and you can swap data that way - such as add pictures, music, even videos if you've figured out how to format videos that don't come from PSP network for the PSP (there's a way Fyi, use format factory and tutorials on the web), and you can also take data out this way.","Product: SANOXY Micro SDHC to to Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bulk Static Package) Taking advantage of the fact that different digital products today support different memory card specifications, this adapter converts microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter. When the Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter is paired with the microSD card, it becomes compatible with with all devices supporting Sony Memory Pro Duo - including your beloved PSPs. digital cameras, and mobile phones But if you don't want to use it for your sony products, you can select the SD adapter and use it for SD Digital cameras, PDAs, some mobile phones. About the Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo & Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDA's and gaming consoles such as the Sony PSP (Playstation Portable) Memory Stick Duo & Pro Duo are smaller than standard Memory Stick and specifically designed to enable manufacturers to make their new products even smaller. When used in conjunction with an adapter they can be used as a full size Memory Stick Pro in devices such as readers or cameras. Micro SD card to Memory Stick Duo Adapter Features/Specifications: General Features: Fits Memory Stick Duo cards\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Any size Micro SD to Pro Duo - Great value, Limitations to note\n\nReview: I bought this along with a sandisk 16 gig SD to quadruple the memory in my PSP 3000. The adapter works perfect, not only as an adapter within a card reader on the PC but inside the PSP.\n\nThis was a much more inexpensive way for me to upgrade my memory on my PSP. I paid an incredible less than ten dollars for the sandisk 16 gig bulk packaging (it was advertised as retail packaging, but I don't care, as long as its a genuine sandisk and new, which it was) with no shipping charges (look around and you can find sandisks sold on amazon very cheap!), and then paid a couple of bucks for this reader/adapter, also with no shipping costs, and it works marvelous.\n\nIts main limitation is that you cannot hot swap it... once you format the SD inside the reader inside the PSP you cannot take it out and use it without reformatting. The workaround is to use the USB cable for your PSP and you can swap data that way - such as add pictures, music, even videos if you've figured out how to format videos that don't come from PSP network for the PSP (there's a way Fyi, use format factory and tutorials on the web), and you can also take data out this way.","Product: PhotoFast CR-5400 Micro SD(HC) to MS Pro Duo Adapter 1. Holds 2 cards for super large capacity Get maximum storage capacity with 2 microSDHC or 2 microSD cards. CR-5400 converts 2 microSD(HC) cards into one MS Pro Duo stick. You can get twice the capacity at a lower price. 2. Card types can be mixed Cards of different capacity and different type can be used concurrently (i.e. microSD+microSDHC). 3. Freedom of expansion and upgrade The adapter works with only one microSDHC card as well. The second slot can be equipped anytime later. You can exchange the cards and upgrade the max. capacity at will! 4. Super high read/write speeds of 10MB/s and up CR-5400 is made of high quality components and preserves the original speed of the inserted microsd(HC) cards(when two different types of microSD(HC) cards are used, the slower card sets the speed rate) Product description: Supports 2 microSD/microSDHC cards. 2 microSD(HC) cards of different capacity can be used. If only 1 microSD(HC) cards is used, it must be inserted into slot#1 in order to work When using new microSD(HC) cads, you need to format with a SONY product before you can store data. In order to copy or delete data directly, insert CR-5400 in your card reader. Don't take out the microSD(HC) cards and perform write operations on the single card. Your data will be corrupt. Product Specification: Product name: CR-5400 Supported card types: microSD 256MB 2GB / microSDHC 4GB -16GB Maximum capacity: Depends on the capacity of used microSD/microSDHC System requirements: Works on all OS (PSP/ Windows/ Mac) Dimensions: 31.1mm x 20mm x 1.6mm Weight: 2g Note 1: Data Transfer can only be done with micro SDHC cards inserted in CR-5400. Direct PC to micro SDHC card data transfer and then inserting in CR-5400 won't work. Note 2: Re-using your micro SDHC cards for other devices than CR-5400: Should you experience formatting problems(i.e. only half of the original capacity\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Rare dual slot adapter with limitations, shipped from Hong Kong\n\nReview: This took awhile to get to me as it was air mailed, but I didn't have to pay much shipping for it. Granted, it is incredibly light. This is more rare than your average SD adapter and was only available this way. I was thrilled when I got it though, because it allows me to put in up to 128 gigs of memory on one Pro Duo... I mean, that is what I could do maximum, not what I used it for, since the 64gb SDs are very expensive. However, you can get genuine sandisk SD cards if you shop around at 32gb for under 20 dollars with shipping. Two of those is less than 40, and with this adapter, you have 64 gigs at your disposal in a pro duo, excellent for taking extensive video or for your PSP.\n\nIMPORTANT LIMITATIONS:\n\n*It can only be formatted and used in a device (Do not format or transfer data to it with computer's card reader).\nONE SOLUTION: Use your PSP and USB cord as your memory stick reader/connection rather than popping the card and putting it in a \"drive\" type reader.\n\n*It is essentially a RAID device, so once you stick two cards in, they aren't hot-swappable (you'll have to reformat to use it after changing out a card).\n\n*The micro SDs will have to be reformatted before use in another device (again, because it's a RAID).\nSame as above, if you want to backup certain things then reformat, you can do so by using your PSP usb cable.","Product: Description:\nThis wireless FM transmitter wirelessly connects portable music players to your car or home stereo quickly and easily. Just plug the FM Transmitter into the headphone jack of your MP3 or any audio source including your PDA, CD Player, Cassette player or connect it to your PC or laptop computer. Tune your card stereo or receiver to the clearest FM frequency, and enjoy your digital music with full sound and convenience.\nProducts description\n100% BRAND NEW! \nThis FM Transmitter is the perfect way to get sound from your iPod, PDA, MP3 into your car. \nThis device transmit stereo audio from your portable music player (such as ipod, MP3, CD Player, PDA, PC, Laptops, etc) directly to your car's radio or home radio. \nSimply plug FM Transmitter into the line output or headphone jack of the portable music player. \nJust tune your car radio into one of the defaulted FM channel. It lets you enjoy music from your portable music player through the car's radio. \nFrequency Channel : A. 88.1MHz, B.88.3 MHz,C.88.5 MHz, D.88.7 MHz, E. 88.9 MHz\nA. 107.1MHz, B.107.3MHz, C.107.5MHz, D.107.7MHz, E.107.9MHz\nOperating Range: 10 feet to 30 feet (less distance will minimize interference and provide strongest signal) \nPower by 2 x AAA Batteries or Car Charger \nSpecification:\nFrequency response: 20Hz-20KHz\nSeperation: 50db\nOperating current: 38mA\nTransmission range: 87.5-108.0MHz(interval 0.1MHz)\nPower source: 2AAA batteries or the cars power source\nTransmit distance >5m\nDistortion 3% (F=75KHz.F=1KHz)\nSignal to noise ratio 45db\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not good for metropolitan areas\n\nReview: This device only transmits on higher range frequencies, i.e. on the top of the FM dial. Most of these frequencies are taken by radio stations in any metro, urban area, and you will not overpower their signal with this small device and the light wattage it puts out to your antenna.\nIn a rural area... sure. The same company makes a model that lets you select between some of the bottom frequencies, but even that device has its issues... not a strong signal, cheap design, etc. Go for one of the better FM transmitters that are only in the ten dollar range and you can choose any station across the entire FM band on a digital LED display. Many of them also allow you to use a flash drive or an SD card as well as an external MP3 player or phone as inputs, so you have more functionality there, too than just a 1/8\" input for sound.","Product: Exact replacement belt. Used in many models of Belt Driven Stereo Turntables and Audio Equipment , including the BIC SL3200, BSR TB33, Curtis Mathes OM40, OM41, Fisher MT35, MT6115, Fuji L220, JVC 5250U, JLA1, JLA15, JLA20, JLF30 JLF35, JLP30, LA10, LA11, LA21, SRP473E, VL8, Kenwood 4033TT, JP2021, KD2033, KD2055, KD2500, KD3033, KD3055, KP2021, KP3021, KP3022, KR2035, MGA DP330, DP410, DP420, DP430, Panasonic/Tecnics H204, RD3500, RD3600, SC1600B, SGTQ80, SCT090, SE9500, SEP7, SF620, SFGB029-1, SFGB321-1, SGH10, SGV03, SGV05, SGV11, SL20, SL42, SL101, SL210, SL220, SL230, SL235, SL301, SL303, SLB1, SLB2, SLB3, SLB5, SLB10, SLB20, SLB23, SLB30, SLB35, SLB100, SLB101, SLB200, SLB202, SLB205, SLB210, SLB220, SLB300, SLB303, SLB350, SLB500, SLBD2, SLBD20, SLBD270, SLH204, SLH301, SLH305, SLQ202, SP916, Phantone TA33, TA55, Pioneer KEB004, KEB006, KH8833, KH8855, N28-612, N28-616, PL2, PL12A, PL15C, PL16, PL33, PL45D, PL61, PL100, PL112, PL115, PL117D, PL120, PL220, PL510, PL514, PL516, PLA25, PLA25, PLA35, PLA45, SX8400, Quasar CS9, Sampo SA1919, SA3030, Sansui SR2020BC, SR3030BC, SR404Q, SR4050, Sony EX1K, EX1M, EX2K, HRK313, Teknika RP100, RP230, Toyo TA101, TA520, TA950, Visonik VT3300, Yamaha P350 plus others..\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Quality belt at the right price.\n\nReview: A quality belt, you can tell the material is the same as factory standard.\n\nMost turntable sites that sell turntable supplies such as cartridges, needles, belts, mats, and other parts charge at least 14 dollars for this belt and upwards to thirty, and their other items are inflated as well. I don't mind getting bulk packaging (as opposed to retail packaged - it comes in a zip lock bag with the item number on it just like in the picture, and carefully packaged in a bubble wrapped shipment envelope) as opposed to retail (which with this belt may be the only option anymore anyway since it is for older models), and paying half the price.\n\nLike I said, this was carefully packaged, the correct belt for the Panasonic (Technics) model that it listed that I needed it for, and installed easy as pie.","Product: Condition: Brand New. Package includes:3 pcs Branded AUTHENTIC stylus pen (aqua blue, black, red) 3 items in the original packaging!! and a branded Cable Tie for the AUTHENTIC items! Built in soft head for protecting your screen and increase the sensitivity. Light weight design, easy to carry. Including Clip for easy storage in your pocket, book or diary. Compatible with Apple iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or other touch screen .\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Decent lower end \"Capacitive\" stylus\n\nReview: These are a great value... three styluses for a few bucks plus a couple bucks shipping. They are modeled to be \"capacitive\" styluses - which are made to work on touch screens, aka screens made to respond to your finger.\n\nI tried one immediately on my touch phone when I got them. It worked great for everything (all phone functions and inside the browser fairly well, not perfectly though) but texting, which requires multiple touches on the same \"button\" (unless you're using T9 or a full QWERTY virtual keypad, usually used horizontally when you flip a touch phone that way). When using a standard text mode, this stylus model is very frustrating and difficult. You get better at using it in this context, but it never fully remedies itself even with practice... its better just using your finger.\n\nSo, you get what you pay for... if you want a very good Capacitive stylus, shop around, read reviews, and likely pay a little more money, especially if you want to use it for a lot of texting. I imagine a Capacitive stylus could be used for other uses then a phone - and these would probably work better on a larger screen, e.g. an I-Pad. But if you are buying them for a smaller screened touch device such as a phone, heed the warning regarding texting, as well as some issues with the browser... The smaller the screen, the tougher ANY Capacitive stylus is going to be to use, though.","Product: \"IMATION\"HIGH BIAS AUDIO CASSETTE\n\n * 2 Pack\n * High Bias\n * 90 Minute Cassette\n * For recording from digital sources\n * Greater Range Of Recording\n * Offers unmatched music reproduction\n * Capability Than In Normal Bias Tape.\n * Type II high bias tape\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Slightly cheaper than other Hi-Bias, but still a little overpriced\n\nReview: These are 7.29 for 2, shipping included, which is roughly 3.65 per tape...\nWe who still love the warm sound that only analog provides and are still die hard, DIY recorders using analog 4tracks are forced to pay exorbitant prices for OLD overstock hi-bias tapes from the 90s since the only brand name cassettes you can buy at a store like Walgreens is a 5 pack cheapo Maxell normal bias (even these are becoming hard to come by). This is the case with Amazon and eBay - all I can find are overpriced overstock still sealed high bias cassettes for an average of five bucks each plus shipping (again, these are a bit cheaper) -\n\nNeither TDK nor Maxell make Hi-Bias anymore so all we have is old leftover stock and these sellers exploit that fact. I'm not sure if the cassettes lose any of their quality after a certain amount of time (please comment if someone knows), but regardless, I don't recall paying these prices when they were new!\n\nI also don't know if anyone manufactures new Hi-Bias tapes... if anyone knows that, please comment!... although unfortunately I doubt it.\n\nAnyway, this is very discouraging. A home made tape was a labor of love and a sound you cannot get from digital. I still am a die hard analog DIY recorder, and I use an 8 channel analog Tascam 4track, one of the best models of 4 tracks made, using Shure studio mics, and I often master to a CD burner, not a PC (depending on what I'm working with). The tracks only become mp3s when I rip the master CD into the computer. It has become increasingly harder to do this because of this. Now I use my 4track mostly to record solo recordings but I have used it to record full band demos (even drums included) and have been able to produce near professional quality recordings! Sublime's \"Robbin' in the Hood\" was recorded entirely on an analog 4track, as have others.\nDoubtful, but any sellers reading this? Your 10-15 year old overstock hi-bias tapes aren't gold, jerks.\n\nOn a final, more positive note, this is probably the best value I have been able to find so far.","Product: Plug WiFi Max into any internet enabled PC to create a high speed wireless access point. WiFi Max provides a true wireless 'G' access point. Five times faster than a standard WiFi connection. With WiFi Max you can connect multiple consoles and even other WiFi devices including laptops and PDAs. Compatible with Nintendo DS WiFi games including: Mariokart, Animal Crossing, Tony Hawk's American Sk8land, Metroid Prime: Hunters, and more. Connect up to 5 Ninetndo DS consoles at one time at full 802.11B speed. Includes desktop stand. Allows you to position your adapter for optimal wireless performance.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: 3rd party device problematic\n\nReview: The idea of these devices is if you have for instance a DS, but don't have a wireless broadband connection but you DO have an internet connection (through a wired modem), you can still pick up wifi on your DS by attaching this device through a USB slot on your PC and your DS, ideally, will wirelessly connect that way. Apparently it also works with other devices like the Wii and PSP, etc.\n\nHowever, this is a third party made device (Nintendo makes one you can find by searching for DS wi-fi USB connector), and has all kinds of problems. The software it comes with is shoddy and so is the device... I bought a new one and it felt like it was going to fall apart.\n\nUnfortunately, Nintendo's isn't much better. They offer little support for the device aside from the drivers if you buy one without the disc, and it doesn't always work. However, I highly recommend passing this third party device up and getting the Nintendo made one if you are going to buy it for the DS. I got both and the Nintendo one, despite tons of problems, was still better than this piece of junk. If you're buying it for other devices, good luck!","Product: The Umarex Smith and Wesson CO2 air pistol has a 6 shot capacity with a swing out loading mechanism and a unique barrel design. This handgun has a fiber optic front mounted sight and features a 5.5 inch length for round stabilization with every shot.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Excellent air pistol not without its problems\n\nReview: Cons: 1. The grips where the CO2 cartirdge hides slip easily.\n 2. The pistol gets locked up OFTEN. I had the crossman chrome version of this gun which is essentially the same exact thing. So I\n expected more out of Smith & Wesson. Nope Locks up just as much. oil helps but doesn't fix it.\n\nPros: 1. This is a powerful air pistol. When operating don't underestimate it. With a fresh CO2 cartridge is in it, and depending on the ammunition you choose (the .177 lead hollow points being the most dangerous), this is far from just a bb gun. Don't buy this for your 9 year old son or daughter, in other words, and don''t underestimate it yourself either. Like I said, with a fresh CO2 and lead pellets with points, this is close to the FPS of your run of the mill deuce deuce (.22 caliber, the next size ammo up and requires a FOID card)\n\n2. Accuracy: If you're a good shot, you won't be disappointed.\n\n3. Handling: This is a HEAVY gun, heavier than my .25, probably about twice the weight, at least 2 lb. All the better for accuracy, all the more reason not to give this to anyone under 17.\n\nSUMMARY: Great fun to save money on target practice and also so realistic looking that it achieves the illusion of terror so it is good for home protection if you don't want to have a .22 or above inside the house (I won't say \"real gun\" because this is very much a \"real\" gun and should be treated as such. With a brand new CO2 and hollow point lead pellets this is a dangerous firearm, even though it is \"only\" an air pistol. It should be treated with the same respect as any other gun)","Product: Flextone technology in the barrel and bell gives this call the most natural sound available by more accurately mimicking the soft flexible tissue of a ducks neck and tongue. The single reed tone board will do anything from loud hail calls to soft nasally finesse calls.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A fine piece of equipment\n\nReview: I'm not a hunter. I'm a musician. So this review may not help a lot of its audience, or, perhaps it will.\nI bought this in order to make strange noises, sort of a Spike Jones Band type thing, for those old enough to remember the Spike Jones Band.\nThis sounds like a duck, that is for sure. Its built very very well, sturdy, and easy to use. It can be blown from both ends but the correct way to use it is to blow it from the softer end, but, as a musician, I experimented with it and it if you inhale from the wrong end you get a different sound.\nSo, to wrap this up, this is a well built, well priced duck caller for hunters, and a great noisemaker for fun when used as an instrument.","Product: The fifth season of the Fox series about the Griffin family will be released in a three-disc set. Bonuses: deleted scenes, extra episodes, commentaries, featurettes.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: One of my favorite out of all 9 volumes.\n\nReview: The episodes on volume five still make me laugh after seeing them over and over, and I am a family guy nerd (although I do think the show has lost its consistency recently... they do still come out with some good episodes, but the ratio is more like 3 good episodes to every 2 bad ones, whereas it was a rarity that you ever had a subpar episode around this time).\nThe only problem is that this is deceiving for a 3 disc box set... only 2 discs contain episodes, the third disc is just special features. I think a lot of the Family Guy box sets are slight rip offs, but the seasons are the best values, compared to the insulting additional F.G. DVDs.... including the separation of the star wars episodes on three different dvds, Stewie Griffin the Untold Story (the DVD that started the shameless ripping off of the fans) which is 2 episodes played off as a movie, Partial Terms of Endearment - ONE unaired episode with a few cheapo special features...)\nAnyway, back to season five... a must own season despite the fact that it's really a two disc box set. One of the best collections of F.G. episodes ever!","Product: REFLECTIONS AND WARNINGS\nALEX JONES INTERVIEWS AARON RUSSO\n\nDESCRIPTION:\nIn an historic final interview, filmmaker and music promoter Aaron Russo goes in depth on the insider-knowledge given to him by a member of the Rockefeller family. Russo was told-- prior to 9/11-- of plans to stage terror attacks, invade foreign nations, and kickstart a high-tech police state control grid that would track the populations' every move with implantable RFID microchips.\n\nThis information-packed presentation is filled with never-before seen footage. Throughout the film, Alex Jones breaks down the latest activities of the New World Order and how it ties into what Russo predicted.\n\nAaron explains how the elite created the women's liberation movement to break up the family and tax working women. Russo breaks down the deception of democracy-- which is nothing more than mob rule guaranteed to produce tyranny.\n\nRusso also exposes the IRS & Federal Reserve. He blasts the unconstitutional and predatory institutions that have crippled the American Republic and crushed the people with bogus taxes, inflation and loss of privacy. Russo explains that he himself was persecuted in the late 80s by a criminal 'retroactive' tax scheme that attempted to levy new taxes on years already passed.\n\nAs night falls on the Republic, Aaron Russo delivers a powerful call for the forces of liberty to rise and crush tyranny. Only then can the Republic be restored.\n\n\nTHIS DVD INCLUDES:\n\n- Never-before seen behind the scenes footage\n- An exclusive interview with Aaron about his life\n- Aaron Russo radio interviews from the Alex Jones Show\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Must watch for every American/every human in its FULL form\n\nReview: Part of this has existed on the internet for years. It is an absolute must own for anyone seeking the real truth behind the atrocities and crimes against humanity by the world's hidden elite/ruling class, the tyranny we are up against as a society, and the ruling classes agenda for a dark new world order future. This and Alex Jone's \"End Game,\" Russo's \"Freedom to Fascism\" and also perhaps the Zeitgeist films are the most important documentaries and pieces of knowledge available to us. Everyone needs to watch them with an open mind for any chance of avoiding a dark age - As heavy handed as it sounds, it is, unfortunately, true, and you must see it for yourself.\nFor the skeptics I only have one thing to say - don't let fear of truth and conditioning cloud your vision and chance to reprogram yourself, and lead you to the so easily delusional conclusion of \"conspiracy theory,\" that so easily discards and casts away all facts, simply because they are so horrific and difficult to believe given our social upbringing.","Product: SAMSUNG's quick charging technology allows you to use your mobile phone while it is charging. The SAMSUNG travel charger plugs into any standard wall outlet. The compact and durable design makes it convenient to charge your battery while home or on the go. Features: Detachable USB Data Cable - USB cable can be used to charge from any USB port. Package Contents: Wall Charger, USB Cable. Compatible with the following Samsung models: Zeal SCH-U750, SPH-M340, SGH-T255G, Jitterbug J SPH-A310, Sunburst SGH-A697, SGH-T105g, SGH-T139, Gravity SGH-T459 (not compatible with newer Gravity Models), Convoy SCH-U640,\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Works great, great value, nice inclusion of wall charger transformation adapter\n\nReview: This charger serves many purposes -\n\n1. It allows you to charge your samsung compatible phone via PC though a USB outlet\n2. (and send data depending on what phone your using),\n3. it also serves as a regular wall charger since it comes with the transforming wall charger adapter that plugs into the USB end of the cable,\n4. and, if you have a USB adapter for your car liter / 9 volt outlet, you can use this as a car charger!\n\nFor use number 4, Just plug it into your phone and into the USB adapter for your car outlet, which are available fairly cheaply (normally for under 10 dollars on your average electronics accessory rack, or probably even cheaper on amazon... I actually found one at a dollar store for, you guessed it, one dollar, and it is perfectly functioning and has two USB outlets! Either way, you can get one fairly cheaply).\n\nGiven the multi-purpose qualities of this product and the price, I have to give it a solid five star rating and suggest it to anyone that has a samsung compatible phone. PLUS... If I ever lose my wall adapter, I've got one, I can charge via PC (and send data), and I can charge it in the car - didn't need to buy a car charger! (does require a 9 volt cigarette lighter outlet to USB adapter, however, as mentioned).","Product: If you want to buy a durable, affordable smart phone with plenty of interesting features, the Straight Talk Samsung T528G GSM Prepaid Smartphone is a great option. Features such as Wi-Fi connectivity and 3G let you connect to your world even if you are on the go. Capture memorable moments with this video-capable 3G smart phone that comes with a 2 megapixel camera. You can save up to 2000 entries in the phone book. The large 3.0\" touch screen allows you to access menu and other features with ease. With nearly six hours of talk time and ten hours of standby, the Straight Talk GSM Phone is a great choice for people who are looking for a smart phone at an inexpensive price. This prepaid phone kit comes with a battery, charger, and a service guide.\n\nFeatures:\nMP3 player\nVoice recorder\nSpeakerphone\n2,000 entry phone directory\nBluetooth wireless technology\n3G connectivity\nWi-Fi connectivity\nMobile web services\n2 megapixel camera\nVideo capable\nApp capable\nMicroSD card slot\nGravity sensor/tilt and shake\nTalk Time: Up to 6 h\nStand-by Time: Up to 10 days\n3.0 inch touchscreen\nSMS and MMS\nBattery\nCharger\nServices guide\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: An excellent phone for the price despite negative reviews\n\nReview: UPDATED 2/17/13\nThis phone has received a considerable amount of negative reviews - compared against similar phones of the same price range, this is an excellent phone. Many of the negative reviewers seem to obviously be expecting the features of a $200 phone from a $80 Trac phone (UPDATE: Thanks to a commenter the Walmart retail of this phone is now only $28. I have not verified this, but if that be the case, this phone is an INCREDIBLE VALUE).\n\nFirst off the OS on this system is NOT AN ANDROID (it is a Windows based OS), and it is technically NOT A SMART PHONE but has MANY of the features of a smart phone. The browser is Dolphin, used by many Android based phones, so it is a decent browser, with some things you can do, some things you cannot. The phone supports some apps, others it does not...\n\nThis phone is a 3G pseudo-smart phone (it has many of the qualities of a smart phone but is technically not one because it lacks a few things, all of which I will mention) with a mid-sized touch screen and runs a Windows based operating system, as opposed to Android, for instance. The screen flips so it can be viewed horizontally or vertically in any screen/view, and texts can be done via regular virtual phone keys or a horizontal virtual keyboard. It is not loaded with apps, but has pre-loaded practical apps that will be covered in this review, as well as additional optional apps available from samsung... it doesn't have nearly the available apps of say an iPhone, which, while they are very very cool, especially things like, for instance, meditation breathing apps to transportation apps, mimic police scanners, and dining/store finders/reviews, and apps that allow you to practically run full programs, etc., however, for the value, the apps available (some installed with the phone, others available via samsung) are within reason and, like I said, are predominately very practical ones, and it also has a sizable amount of available game downloads as well, which run pretty well on this phone's CPU. It includes a decent but not an excellent dolphin based browser, facebook app (w/facebook sync option), an MP3 player, voice recorder, wi-fi capability, downloadable games, email sync, etc., and, again, other samsung apps are available for download. It is bluetooth compatible, and has wifi (which works excellently - when I'm at home or somewhere with free wifi I have no problem using it so I don't use up any of my data plan, which, btw, the 3G data plan on straight talk for $30 is generous - one reviewer had a problem with the wifi but likely was not finding a close enough signal). It also has manageable widgets for your apps that you can place on your phone's home screen(s)... 3 home screens you can slide through, and customize each with whatever widgets you want for quick app access as well as a different wallpaper/photos for each home screen.\n\nOne reviewer complained that it does not have a GPS option - there is a legal \"hack\" where you can get GPS on it by paying via a separate plan - you would have to do your own research. If GPS is a big thing for you and you're not a techie, this phone may not be for you. I have mapquest bookmarked on my browser as an alternative. It has very intuitive voice recognition app that has worked great for me, just as good as an iPhone, it is excellent for dialing in the car without actually dialing and then just using the speaker phone, for instance... however it will not type a text for you via voice (it will bring the create text screen up and address it, but won't type it by your voice, but, again, for 90 (28?) bucks it's awesome that it has the voice recognition features it has). It has a Micro SD card slot that can hold up to a 64 gig card (a very expensive card, however, the 32 gigs you can get for around $15, name brand Sandisk, if you shop around amazon - I have dozens of tv shows, and full length movies, and tons of pics and other docs and MUSIC as the phone can be used as an mp3 player and for viewing video) plus plenty of phone memory - It also has a SIM card you can save/backup contacts to. It takes photo and video and for only 2 mega pixel (I think) it is very decent quality (If you plan on taking regular video you should definitely purchase a micro SD card of 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB size). There is no zoom or flash, but there are video and photo effects you can apply. You can watch video on it (I've put movies and TV shows on it using format factory (reformat files using mobile phone setting) and they play and look and sound perfect). You can also stream video via the browser which has Flash but it has some limitations... read on) It works great as an MP3 player in the car, through headphones, speakers, or even through the phones speaker which goes to a decent volume, and although the PC sync is limited (you can't sync your contacts or back them up via data cable, or some other sync options - however - you can do this through straight talk website), you can sync it to your PC via data cable to read and manage your SD card data. You can also use a data cable to use the MP3 player (or just use the line out/headphone jack), and to charge the phone.\n\nIt has all the expected contact and phone personalization features you would expect from a normal phone, downloadable ringtones as well as the option to make any audio file (from the phone's audio recorder or MP3s on SD) a personalized or general ringtone, provided it is short enough (I've used Audacity to make my own snipets of songs and put them on the SD card for purpose of ringtone), it has a speakerphone and hands free of course as well as bluetooth as I mentioned, and all other contact personalizations (photo and ring personalization for each contact, customizable voice command for each contact, etc.) The phone charges INCREDIBLY quickly via the normal wall charger, and the charge lasts for a long time, even when you watch videos and use apps, browser, etc. (another user complained about battery life - I have had the exact opposite experience, and have had the phone for many months).\n\nA couple things about the browser - for not running Android or iPhone, its pretty decent. However, it only supports Flash on certain levels... regular sites are no problem, but you tube does not work from the phone's network, but will work via wi-fi (i.e. when you have wi-fi on and are picking up a home pc network for instance or at a coffee shop, McDonalds, school, etc.), and I was a bit disappointed when I found out it would not support Pandora... its a fairly simple program to run as it is just audio stream (I have not tried this via wifi). It is not compatible with the Pandora mobile app unfortunately either... oh well...\n\nThe only other reasonable complaint about this phone, which is blown out of proportion by some other reviewers, is problems with the touch screen... It is not the most intuitive touch screen by any means... It is difficult to get used to at first and not as easy as others off the bat, but as with any phone, it merely takes some getting used to and you eventually use it as fast as any other phone. In many ways, for 100 bucks or less (now presumably only about 30), it rivals an Android, early iPhone, or basic smart phone... with a plan of 30 dollars a month for 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and 30mb of data time, it's unbeatable, and the unlimited plan is only $45. The Android for Straight Talk is much more money and you can only do the unlimited plan with the Android, and I am very happy with the $30 plan, so I chose this phone and am very very happy with it. Samsung I think, next to Nokia, makes the best quality phones out there. There is a similar model that is actually cheaper but has an actual flip out keyboard and a touch screen - I chose this phone, however, because it has a larger touch screen.\n\nOne of the only apps I do miss is Skype - this phone has no skype option. For 100 bucks, I don't expect a flash on the camera. Speaking of the word \"flash\" the limited Flash capabilities are no big deal to me but might be to others that want youtube and other streaming video on their phone anywhere (many sites, however, like yahoo and other major sites will stream video on this phone just fine however)... As mentioned, I miss the pandora option, but it holds tons of music with an SD card. It does not support Drop Box app, which is no big deal since you can put whatever docs you want on it anyway. A zoom and flash would be nice but again for the price its unbeatable. To round up the negatives, again GPS is only available via a legal hack, and like I said before, but mapquest will work, and the PC sync options are limited, as is the voice recognition. In addition, there are a couple of settings that are not adjustable, such as alerts, e.g. you cannot turn off and on the beep alert when you receive a new text or voice message, except by putting the phone in full silent mode.\n\nOther than that, I feel like I got more than my money's worth. Like I said, its just a small step down from the Android, for me, anyway, and the features that you may miss are all in this paragraph, but, and not to be redundant, the value is great.\n\nUPDATE: Someone asked about games. Their are downloadable games, but I can't comment on their quality since I never got any since I have a 3ds and a Vita.","Product: LG Optimus L90 D415 4G GSM Android Smartphone, T-Mobile, Grey\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Dynamite phone with all the options most phone users need with ease of use, competitive with much pricier phones\n\nReview: This phone is perfect for almost any user.\nIt is compatible with all your Android apps, and comes with a good bunch pre-installed, although most users will want to add more.\nIt is INCREDIBLY easy to use. I had a 3g \"pseudo\" smart phone before this one, touch screen, limited apps, sort of mimicked a smart phone but had limited browser capabilities and very limited apps and a Dolphin microsoft browser, so this was a big step up for me.\nBack to this phone:\nThe browser is very very easy to use and chrome based. It also has another browser, works well. Again, it has everything you need while being easier to use than, for example, an i-Phone.\nEverything is personalizable, the camera is very nice at 4 mega pixels and comes with a flash and takes stills and video, there is also an inner camera for selfies and pictures with friends, and a voice recorder for voice memos.\nYou can sync your contacts, easy backup, easy communication between phone and PC and it comes with a wall charger that doubles as a USB data chord.\nIt has an option for local wifi, which you can use dependent on the limits of your plan or just to get better bandwidth, although I haven't had streaming problems on the Tmoblie 4g network as of yet. You can make your own ringtones by putting them in the right format with something like format factory and loading them or simply download the app \"Ringtone Maker\" - I HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT APP.\nNetwork tethering works awesome. I've used it when I'm playing a game on my 3DS that requires a network hookup and I'm not at home or someplace with free wifi. I also used it once when our internet was off. It provides a good amount of bandwidth for your other devices when needed.\nIt is GPS compatible. It has a built in \"Maps\" app that pinpoints your location and can find another and give a linear direction, very basic, but it is compatible with much more complex GPS apps that will tell you where to go verbally, etc. I've used both with no problems.\nGood sound in and out from the speakerphone.\nBluetooth compatible.\nGood app for MP3 player, will accept songs from your SD or direct from PC, can send to the jack in your car or an FM transmitter, whatever you've got.\nSeems to be a decent phone for games, I can't comment much on it as I haven't tried any games yet. Lots of free ones available on Google Play (btw this is a T-Mobile phone)\nYou can add a micro SD card for more data, up to 32gb.\nDropbox and other similar apps work well on it, good way to put MP3s or pics on it as well, even documents - it can read and display a lot of different formats of docs, Pandora works great, so does you tube and Netflix.\nVideo streaming is above average.\nThis phone is also Skype compatible... I've installed it and it works on an average level. I've had some people say they couldn't hear me very well.\nIt has 5 customizable home screens to glide through. You can customize the apps/widgets on those screens, the background photo, etc.\nThe phone has voice command options, such as voice recognition for text or anything you're writing like a memo, a calendar entry, whatever. It works great and I think it is a self learning one as it seems to have gotten better. I love this feature.\nThe before-mentioned essentially contains the pros... the only cons are as follows:\nCons:\n I've had it misinterpret my viewing perspective a lot and it goes horizontal when I don't want it to. Not all the time, but enough, so I shut it off and I just use it vertically.\n It is true that the internal storage out of the box is 4 gigs not 8, as 8 is what it has before the pre-installed apps, etc. you almost\n have to get an additional micro SD card for it.\n The phone does apparently overheat over 60 percent brightness. This is no issue for me, however, 60 percent brightness is PLENTY bright, so its\n not much of an issue unless you like your phone to be super, ultra bright, which is unneeded and wastes battery. I think the default is\n like 60 percent which looks bright to me, so even brighter would hurt my eyes. I've never gone above 60 because I don't need to so I really don't know if it's true.\nOverall rating is still a five star because of its functionality, ease of use and personalization.\nI've read some of the lower reviews and am surprised. These people obviously got buggy phones and should of got them replaced. The model is fine.\nIt can run a little expensive but not overly considering it is just as good as some 300 dollar phones I've looked at and tried out... with a contract this phone is usually pretty inexpensive.","Product: The Optimus L90 features a magnificent qHD multi-touchscreen allows you to enjoy your favorite media in clear, and immersive detail.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: This phone is perfect for almost any user\n\nReview: This phone is perfect for almost any user.\nIt is compatible with all your Android apps, and comes with a good bunch pre-installed, although most users will want to add more.\nIt is INCREDIBLY easy to use. I had a 3g \"pseudo\" smart phone before this one, touch screen, limited apps, sort of mimicked a smart phone but had limited browser capabilities and very limited apps and a Dolphin microsoft browser, so this was a big step up for me.\nBack to this phone:\nThe browser is very very easy to use and chrome based. Again, it has everything you need while being easier to use than, for example, an i-Phone.\nEverything is personalizable, the camera is very nice at 4 mega pixels and comes with a flash and takes stills and video, there is also an inner camera for selfies and pictures with friends, and a voice recorder for voice memos.\nYou can sync your contacts, easy backup, easy communication between phone and PC and it comes with a wall charger that doubles as a USB data chord.\nIt has an option for local wifi, which you can use dependent on the limits of your plan or just to get better bandwidth, although I haven't had streaming problems on the Tmoblie 4g network as of yet. You can make your own ringtones by putting them in the right format with something like format factory and loading them or simply download the app \"Ringtone Maker\" - I HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT APP.\nNetwork tethering works awesome. I've used it when I'm playing a game on my 3DS that requires a network hookup and I'm not at home or someplace with free wifi. I also used it once when our internet was off. It provides a good amount of bandwidth for your other devices when needed.\nIt has GPS, in fact that is one of the line items in the description of this phone, although I have not used it yet.\nGood sound in and out from the speakerphone.\nBluetooth compatible.\nGood app for MP3 player, will accept songs from your SD or direct from PC.\nA ton of free and cheap, good games available, I can't comment too much on it as I haven't tried many games yet, but the phone seems intuitive in terms of games that require phone movement...\nYou can add a micro SD card for more data, up to 32gb.\nDropbox and other similar apps work well on it, good way to put MP3s or pics on it as well, though I've mostly been using Pandora lately.\nVideo streaming is above average.\nThis phone is also Skype compatible... I've installed it but haven't used it yet, though.\nIt has 5 customizable home screens to glide through. You can customize the apps/widgets, the background photo, etc.\nThe phone has voice command options, such as talk text. I haven't checked into that feature yet. I'm not sure about dialing voice command.\nIt has a good amount of physical reverb on the buttons when typing... I'm not sure if that is an adjustable feature as far as how strong or how light the vibration is when you press buttons, but the default is good.\nIt doesn't come with a flashlight app but you can certainly download one, which is good for multiple \"applications\" no pun intended, not only as a flashlight but also to use for brightening slides and photographing them, for instance.\nThe before-mentioned essentially contains the pros... the only cons are as follows:\nCons:\nI've had it misinterpret my viewing perspective a lot and it goes horizontal when I don't want it to. Not all the time, but enough\nthat it is worth mentioning. so i turned the auto flip off, i don't know how to manually flip it, but I don't really use the phone horizontally, except for photos, which this doesn't affect.\nIt is true that the internal storage out of the box is 4 gigs not 8, as 8 is what it has before the pre-installed apps, etc. you almost\nhave to get an additional micro SD card for it.\nThe phone does apparently overheat over 60 percent brightness. This is an issue, however 60 percent brightness is PLENTY bright, so its\nnot much of an issue unless you like your phone to be super, ultra bright, which is unneeded and wastes battery. I think the default is\nlike 40 percent which looks normal to me, so you can go even brighter than that without a problem.\nOverall rating is still a five star because of its functionality, ease of use and personalization.\nI've read some of the lower reviews and am surprised. These people obviously got buggy phones and should of got them replaced. The model is fine.\nIt can run a little expensive but not overly considering it is just as good as some 300 dollar phones I've looked at and tried out... with a contract this phone is usually pretty inexpensive.","Product: This Schumacher Instant Portable Power Source has a built-in charger for automatic charging of the internal battery; just connect an extension cord to the plug to recharge (cord not included). The battery status LEDs tell when a battery is charged or needs to be charged. The Sure-Grip Clamps fit both top and side-mount batteries. The cable will stay flexible in the coldest weather. A maintenance-free, sealed lead acid battery allow for storage in any position.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Buyer beware: You Get What You Pay For\n\nReview: You get what you pay for. This unit worked for about a year. Now it will only take a very small charge - there is a button that shows the level with 3 colors, red, yellow, and green - the cells in it are obviously not that good, it will not charge past level one anymore. It will only jump if the battery needs a small kick to turn over the car and it is a good battery that just got worn down with a dome light or something. the handles for the jumpers are also cheap. The light is decent. There is no on and off switch, which is an indicator of a cheaper model, too. Buy something slightly more expensive with a five star average, you'll be glad.","Product: SOUNDTRACK GREAT BALLS OF FIRE\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Review of the soundtrack, not the film, as it should be!\n\nReview: Most of the reviews under this product are reviews of the film, not of the soundtrack. This is another thing that bothers me about some reviewers on amazon, along with people who complain about shipping in a review (seller comments are appropriate in a review sometimes, but only in how they relate directly to the product), and people who turn the comment option into a back and forth personal fight blog.\n\nAnyway, review the product, in this case the soundtrack not the film...\n\nAfter that sound-off, I'd like to say that this is a finely put together soundtrack. It is true to the music and versions actually in the film as a soundtrack should be, i.e It has the versions played in the film, and it includes some of the songs by other musicians that also were played in the film, e.g. Booker T. Laury's version of the classic Big Legged Woman (\"Beg Legged Woman\") written by Champion Jack Dupree / Israel Tolbert and popularized by Jimmy Reed and other blues greats, Valerie Wellington on Whole Lotta Shakin,' it even has the mix of Crazy Arms with Lewis and Quaid. It also begins with Great Balls of Fire as played in the movie and ends with the album version. It also has songs that were in the movie that Lewis is not known for doing but appeared in the sound track, like Jackin Brenston and the Delta Cats doing Rocket 88.\n\nI LOVE the fact that they are very true to the film especially by using the recorded version of Lucky Old Sun that appears in the film - Lewis recorded several versions, and this is my FAVORITE... ...in the movie. In the others he sings the classic lyrics, in this one he adds a little personal touches, such as \"Wash Jerry Lee's troubles away\" instead of my troubles.\"\n\nThis album gets 4 stars instead of 5 though because it is short and could be longer - there were more songs in the film both by Jerry and especially by other musicians. One of the Lewis songs missing is his version of Big Legged Woman which I'm pretty sure was also in the film, and tons of songs by other musicians, though it does highlight some of the good ones. Also, I like how the album is almost chronological and it works that way, but it's off especially at the end, for instance Lucky Old Sun appears in the film before Wild One (which is the last song in the film). Perhaps they thought album-wise it would flow better the way they did it. This is a smaller complaint and much more subjective, but the album should have been longer, and, the cover is ridiculous... terrible font and a silly shot of Quaid as a young Jerry Lee that looks nothing like Lewis, even a young Lewis. I don't know if they were trying to market to a younger crowd, or what, but the artwork in general is terrible.\n\nAnyway, aside from the shortness of the slbum, it's fantastic.","Product: Out-of-print in the US. Originally released in 1992. Universal.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Redeeming Album from a (former?) Pop Hair Metal Band\n\nReview: Extreme was indeed part of the 2nd wave hair metal bands that stood out because that was the garbage pop that was selling at the time - just like all of pop music - it is the image that is more important, and back then it was long hair and borrowed riffs from real metal with bad solos inserted wherever they felt like it... their first (or second?) album was awful except for the minor songwriting prowess behind More than Words. They had an amazing guitarist, but so did Ratt!\n\nWhile I found that the 3 side thing was a little gimmicky, and it didn't totally work (each \"side\" wasn't different enough but also fluid enough from one to the next at the same time) I do give them credit for what they did with this album. I think Extreme III deserves not five stars, but a huge pat on the back as an attempt to do something different and worthwhile. There are great songs on the album such as Rest In Peace, Politicalamity, Tragic Comic, Am I Ever Gonna Change, and more. True, I think it was an overrated album at a 5 star average here and overrated by the music community in general, but they were going for something different (and better than the garbage they had previously put out) and I think they succeeded. To what level? At least three 1/2 stars, I would say. but I round it up to four since 1/2 stars aren't available here.\n\nI think the album stands on its own and that is one of its strengths... the songs are very original.\nThe tone of the guitar is perfect, and, Nuno's craft truly shines, Gary Cherone's voice sounds good for once.\n\nExtreme III stood out for all those reasons and more and deserves its recognition.","Product: This began as a thank you from Tim to Rancid fans, to be released one track at a time on the Internet to tide fans over until the next Rancid full-length. But when KROQ in LA began heavily playing the explosive track, \"Into Action\", plans changed. So here's Armstrong's first solo release, backed by some of the strongest radio support since the days of \"Time Bomb\" and \"Ruby Soho\". With a killer old-school two-tone groove, helped along by Hellcat label mates The Aggrolites, \"A Poet's Life\" is loose, punky, infectious, and shamelessly danceable. Bonus DVD features videos of every song and a cool featurette on the making of the album and videos.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Long Awaited full-on reggae effort displays Armstong's roots\n\nReview: This was a long awaited album that finally displays Armstrong's ska/reggae roots full on... Rancid's Life won't wait, albeit a great album in and of itself, leaves a feeling of an identity crisis instead of a harmonious fusion, while this album is Armstrong really going at reggae straight on without a punk fusion, with wonderful dashes of Desmond Dekker and Joe Strummer, and couldn't be more natural sounding songwriting. When I heard \"Policeman\" under the name of \"The Silencers\" on the first \"Give 'em the boot\" album I thought \"I want more of this,\" and this album finally delivers that. I found this album to be enjoyable throughout, not totally solid, but rather with only a couple of weaker tunes. While its true tracks 1-3 are the strongest songwriting wise, I can rock to this record the whole way through without a skip. The other great thing is you don't have to be a Rancid, Op Ivy or Transplants song to love this album. While that doesn't apply to me... I really love just about every effort from Op Ivy, Rancid and The Transplants, for those that don't but like more straight-on ska/reggae, this is a fantastic effort that many will love. While I'm not quite old enough to have seen Op Ivy live - I think Tim is about 6 years older than me - I remember when Let's Go was first released and seeing Rancid perform at Chicago's once respectable The Metro - back when that was a good venue. And for the reviewers that feel like Armstrong has somehow sold out or lost his way on this album because its not \"punk,\" well, that's not really even worth addressing since this sort of songwriting is part of the very essence of Tim Armstrong, and couldn't be more natural!","Product: In the Spring of 1970, poet Charles Bukowski packed his overnight bag and took a plane ride to Washington to read at Bellevue Community College. This reading was videotaped in black and white by two students and the film lay forgotten for 18 years. Although technically shaky the film captures Bukowski at his best.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: NOTHING ON DISC, blank, Good reading though.\n\nReview: I always preach that product feedback is for the actual product and any problems with the shipping or a damaged product should go in seller feedback. This is a decent black and white video of a reading, I watched it on youtube then downloaded it.... heck I may as well burn it to the blank disc they sent me, its a CDRW. so you see this is a gray area as to wear to post this warning. I don't want the average to go down on the actual \"Bukowski at Bellevue\" recording, also hence the three stars, as they won't allow seller feedback on Amazon items. THERE WAS NOTHING ON DISC. I tried it on two DVD players, a newer HDMI sony and an older cheapy Sanyo AV connected player and neither worked. I put it in my PC and discovered it was a BLANK DVD-RW. So I found the film on a torrent and like I said, may as well burn it to the cheap blank DVD-RW they sent me. WORTH THE CASE AND THE BLANK DISC ONLY.","Product: Conway Twitty (1933 -1993) was one of the US's most successful country music artists of the 20th century. He had the most singles (55) reach Number 1 on various national music charts. Most commonly thought of as a country music singer, he also enjoyed success in early Rock and Roll, R&B, and Pop music (among others).\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Best of Conway Twitty Rockabilly\n\nReview: If you want an album that features the best of Conway's early, rockabilly tunes, this one is it. The MGM Years is a great compilation of some of his earliest hits and the rockabilly style that he somewhat abandoned after his first few albums for a more traditional country sound.\nWhile I appreciate some of Twitty's more country efforts which made up the bulk of his career (how can you not love \"Hello Darlin\"?), my favorites are all the hard swingin' rock and roll tunes of his early days that remind me a lot of Johnny Burnette's \"non-mainstream\" rockabilly stuff that never got played, except for perhaps the infamous sexual innuendo filled \"Train Kept 'a Rollin'\" which was later popularized by Aerosmith, which is a horrible version if you've heard the original.\nEven if you've never been into Conway Twitty or didn't know that he had a rockabilly era to his career, if you're a rockabilly fan, pick this up.","Product: Maximize your daily efficiency with the PIXMA MX472 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer. The PIXMA MX472 excels in connectivity. With Google Cloud Print and Air Print, you can print wirelessly from your compatible smartphone or tablet from virtually anywhere around the office. It's loaded with timesaving features as well, including an automatic document feeder which holds up to 30 sheets. And when it comes time to change ink or add paper, the Fast Front feature makes it quick and easy-right at the front of the printer! Plus, the optional XL or XXL pigment black ink cartridges mean you can print longer before having to replace your cartridges.;;Another great feature of the PIXMA MX472 is My Image Garden software. My Image Garden puts all your favorite printing features, such as Special Filters and full HD Movie Print, in one convenient software application. It helps you organize your photos with calendar view and facial recognition.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: INFLATED PRICE, Paper jams, system issues...\n\nReview: I paid FORTY DOLLARS for this printer just before last Christmas ON AMAZON. That is about what this printer is worth. Though it is multi-purpose and has wi-fi capability, there are tons of flaws.\nThe first and the biggest is paper jams. To say it short and simply, it jams up all the time, and you end up spending 10 minutes making sure you get every bit of paper out, afraid that you might have to take the thing a part (I haven't had to do that)\nSecondly, it has issues with switching from the secondary functions such as scan, copy, fax... back to print. It took me forever to get it off copy and back on to what should be the default setting, print.\nFinally, the wifi screws up intermittently. I finally just plugged it in to my computer via USB.\n\nAgain, a huge bargain for what I paid for it, but do not buy this printer for the price listed which right now is $145... 3 1/2 times the price I paid and a pretty penny. I'm still happy I got it, but only because I got it for 40 DOLLARS NEW OFF OF AMAZON LAST YEAR.","Product: Brand: Grover\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Great for beginner Spoon Players\n\nReview: Cool for beginning spoon players... once you become advanced, you don't need the bottom par to hold them together, because you become apt at doing that yourself. It is a neat musician's gadget to have, though, for anyone who plays a main instrument, particularly in this case drums and percussion, but likes to have gadgets around. I actually bought them for my girlfriend who is a pianist but incredibly talented at backup percussion and other small instruments like tambourine, bongos, spoons, jaw harp, harmonica, etc. Again, she didn't really need them since she can play well enough without the connection at the end, but it was a fun gift to give and is excellent for beginner players that want to learn the spoons.","Product: Compatible with NES games, plus a variety of GFactor-5 game cartridges, the GFactor 5 delivers hours of old-school fun.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Cheaply made but works perfectly.\n\nReview: Good value - I payed 13.00 for a new one at a local record store that sells movies and games as well. It did not come with five games though, just the gun, controllers, AC adapter, AV cables and the unit of course. It is pretty shoddy construction, but the fact is, it works. It is a top loader, very small. btw You must use the controllers that come with it. I tried plugging in an original NES controller and it did not work... My friend lost my original NES in his attic but I found some extra controllers for it. Only issue is that I had to tape the back of the AC adapter back on... it fell off shortly after getting it. Again, shoddy construction, but it works perfectly."],"string":"[\n \"Product: What's so special about the Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar? The super-low price for starters and that's not all. It gives you all the essential elements of a Les Paul. Made with a mahogany body, bolt-on mahogany neck, smooth 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, this baby is every bit as handsome as its uptown cousins. Features 700T/650R open-coil humbucking pickups that deliver long, singing sustain and true Les Paul tones. The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add more sustain and make string changing easier. Limited lifetime warranty. Strings: D'Addario; 10, 13, 17, 26, 36, 46\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Epiphone Les Paul for next to nothing JUST DON\\\"T GET THE AMP\\n\\nReview: A Les-Paul Special II for around a hundred bucks? (Update: the price has gone up and down since I purchased it for 159) And there are people actually complaining??? I don't care if it is an Epiphone and not a full blown Gibson, this sounds like a Les Paul Special, it certainly plays like one. The only thing is, I paid about a buck for it, not several hundred. It came setup just fine, with manual, an alin wrench for the kneck, which I checked, and needed no adjustment. There were only a couple of legitimate complaints about the guitar, the rest were people who ordered the package deal and had problems with the crappy amp. One: A user received his paint chipped, body blemishes, etc. Weird, obvious anomaly. Two: A user plugged into the amp with another guitar and it worked, so the problem lied with the electronics in the git.\\nThis is a great take on the classic Les Paul is excellent for multiple applications, especially METAL, which isn't my main genre but I do play metal riffs occasionally, especially now on this guitar among my 12 other guitars.\\nWhat a deal.\\nWhen it comes to major guitar makers who make their own budget guitar, i.e. Fender Squier, etc. Epiphone is by far an exception. It is made by Gibson but there are Epiphone's for over a grand - it is by far different than \\\"budget guitars\\\" and has its own identity. Epiphone guitars are RARELY beneath a mediocre standard, and often excellent quality.\\nDON\\\"T PASS THIS UP.\",\n \"Product: Concert size body, High gloss finish, Select spruce top, Catalpa sides & back, Rosewood fingerboard & bridge, Mahogany neck, Multi-ply binding, Fully adjustable truss rod, Chrome die cast tuners, WT92 preamp system\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not bad for the value, but BUYER BEWARE\\n\\nReview: This guitar is a good buy for the money, but with the new wave budget Oscar Schmidts, you have to watch out. They come up horribly setup from the factory and if they don't go through a good dealer you're going to get problems that other reviewers have listed... bad setup, electronics don't work, etc. Unfortunately Oscar Schmidt was bought by the same company that also now owns the Washburn name (which also come terrible half the time nowadays... though they sell upper scale models they also sell budget Washburns at Target).\\nYou're welcome to read my \\\"So you want to own an Oscar Schmidt Guitar?\\\" review under product review guides. Amazon always deletes the link but it will come up under that name.\",\n \"Product: Concert size body, High gloss finish, Select spruce top, Catalpa sides & back, Rosewood fingerboard & bridge, Mahogany neck, Multi-ply binding, Fully adjustable truss rod, Chrome die cast tuners, WT92 preamp system\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not bad for the value, but BUYER BEWARE\\n\\nReview: This guitar is a good buy for the money, but with the new wave budget Oscar Schmidts, you have to watch out. They come up horribly setup from the factory and if they don't go through a good dealer you're going to get problems that other reviewers have listed... bad setup, electronics don't work, etc. Unfortunately Oscar Schmidt was bought by the same company that also now owns the Washburn name (which also come terrible half the time nowadays... though they sell upper scale models they also sell budget Washburns at Target).\\nYou're welcome to read my \\\"So you want to own an Oscar Schmidt Guitar?\\\" review under product review guides. Amazon always deletes the link but it will come up under that name.\",\n \"Product: Dreadnought style, High gloss finish, Select spruce top, Catalpa sides & back, Standard X bracing, Rosewood fingerboard & bridge, Mahogany neck, Fully adjustable truss rod, Chrome die cast tuners\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: MOVE ON... Not a good buy despite low price.\\n\\nReview: This is not a totally horrible guitar for the price, however, I would recommend moving on: this is built to be a budget guitar, its action is not good past the fifth fret, and you get what you pay for... I do not own this model but I am familiar with it, have played it, models like it, and the entire O.S. line - I strongly recommend NOT PURCHASING THIS GUITAR FOR A BEGINNER. Do some more research, spend a little more if you can, read my Oscar Schmidt guide (link provided below) which points to both some decent OS guitars and other not so good ones. If you want a beater guitar, its pretty and the value is OK. With Oscar Schmidt you need to know what you're buying, so check out my Buyer's Guide at\\n[...]\\n\\nOscar Schmidt is now owned by the same company that currently owns Washburn - the company is US Music Corporation. They bought both brand names around the same time (circa 2000 - the exact year is virtually impossible to find via the web) from Fretted Industries, and while they continued to make some good guitars under the Washburn name, they made the once highly respectable Oscar Schmidt into a budget line guitar. Any Oscar Schmidts pre circa 2000 are of a higher quality, both Fretted Industry made ('79 to circa 2000) as well as vintage ones owned by the company of origin.\",\n \"Product: Pro-Series Tunable Bongo Drums. These 6 inch and 7 inch drums feature Hickory shells and natural hide heads. 4 Tunable lugs per drum with tuning wrench. Nickel-plated rim and cast base rim. Clear finish highlights the wood's natural grain. Protective rubber feet.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Dont pass the deal up for a student or budget set at this value!!!!!!!!!\\n\\nReview: If you're looking for a budget set of bongos or something for a beginning drummer in the way of bongos for value, look no further. These came with the correct tuning wrench in a nice canvas case (for the wrench that is as pictured) and required a very minimal amount of tuning, and the shipping crew was smart by loosening the wing nut that holds the bass and tonal drum together so no damage would be caused in shipping. I tightened it, had my drummer do a light tuning on them, and they play perfect. I wanted a value set like this because i have 12 guitars, 2 basses, a banjo, an accordion, a piano, amps, recording equip, a sampler, DJ turntables with felt mats a dulcimer, a wooden xylephone, a flute, harmonica set, etc. and needed a percussion item so any type of player can join the jam if they don't have their equipment with them. I even ordered a second set after i got them for my other drummer friend who because of losing his home no longer has his set so as a new housewarming gift i couldn't pass it up for another measly 26 bux with free shipping!!!!!!!!! don't pass it up\",\n \"Product: This Guitar is an original design crafted from components and features beyond what you expect from instruments in this price range. This Beauty features an ultra light, hand contoured body with a single humbucker and a fixed Bridge and Adjustable Saddles system designed for better sustain. The Telecaster Lovers will come to love this guitar and find it to more than just meet your expectations!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best valued tele copy EVER\\n\\nReview: I own about 15 guitars, all ranging in value from about this... $100, although I think its worth more, to $2000. I play out of a vintage VOX tube amp that I got for a steal. When I go to grab an electric, I grab this one more often than any other, despite having a '61 Gretcsh, a beautiful 12 string Danelectro, a '71 American Strat, etc. etc.\\nIt's finish is gorgeous and just screams \\\"Play Me!\\\" and it sounds nothing like your average tele knock off. With the amp I own, I can make just about any guitar sound like any other guitar, to a degree, but again, this baby just screams play me and it delivers. While it doesn't exactly sound like a tele, and of course an actual telecaster would be better, for the price of this guitar, there is no reason not to buy it. I'm not a guitar expert, just an average player and a collector, but I know a good guitar between a crappy knock off. This is a great guitar, I love to play it, and it has a dynamite sound for 99 bux.\\nThe brand is \\\"Huntington\\\" which is something I would never pick up in a shop, but after looking at the reviews, and having always wanted a tele in my collection, I couldn't pass this up and I'm glad I didn't.\",\n \"Product: Everything you need to start jamming out at an amazing low price! Learn how to play acoustic guitar and start jamming like a pro in no time. This 38 inch guitar with starter pack is perfect for all beginners!\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: spend a little more quantity and get a lot more quality\\n\\nReview: This is about as low quality a guitar as they get that is passable to sell as a beginner/student guitar. The brand, which the seller doesn't even bother noting, is Bridgecraft. It comes with all the little extras... a pick guard and other decorative piece, both of which that you would need to install yourself if you care to, an extra pack of cheap strings, picks, a strap, a cheap pitch pipe (fyi for beginners, pitch pipes are horrible method of tuning because a beginner guitar player, unless they play another instrument well and are now picking up the guitar, has not developed a good sense of pitch yet,so it is difficult for them to match the different sounding noise out of a pitch pipe and that of a guitar string... they need an electric tuner) and a carrying bag - NOT A GIG BAG (not that I can imagine performing with this, it is only meant for learning), and just a nylon bag that has no insulation and offers no protection for the guitar outside of scratches and simply serves as a bag to transport the guitar,\\nI bought this for my niece, and highly suggest that you spend the extra 30 dollars or so to get a decent starter guitar... there are PLENTY of decent starter guitars out there for 80 to 100+ dollars.\\nWhen this arrived, it was strung but no attempt had been made to tune them. I tuned it up and naturally they had to stretch, so I gave them an hour, re-tuned, another hour, re-tuned, and finally a third hour and a final tune. For the most part, with this guitar you're only going to play in first position anyway, but past the fifth fret it loses it begins to lose its tuning continuity.\\nThe action is high, even in first position. The neck is slightly bowed to the right on the one I received, but there is no truss rod in this guitar,\\nIt falls out of tune even after the strings have been stretched quite easily. It has cheap, plastic tuning keys. The sound hole is small so if it ever were to be used to perform or rehearse with louder instruments it would have to be mic'ed with a lapel mic or something similar as it would not fit a dean markley or anything the likes of inside the sound hold... which brings me to my idea for anyone who actually buys this junk: put nylon strings on it, as both the head stock and the small sound hole lends itself to a cheap Latin guitar. I tried it, and it sounded a world better. It still gets one star, however, because\\nAs for the sound goes out of the box with a tune, well, you can probably make an educated guess from this review that it is nothing to be said for. One thing I can say is I didn't get any buzz in the first position. It sounds like a very cheaply made guitar that is good for lessons or as a wall hanger, and nothing else... it is pretty though, I like the green finish. The design around the sound hole is nice, and it looks like a Latin / Classical guitar for that matter.\",\n \"Product: Built with a solid spruce top, mahogany sides, and arched mahogany back, the full-bodied and powerful tone of this Guild dreadnought provides guitarists with a classic acoustic sound and balanced voicing. Guilds signature arched back design allows for great volume and projection, long sustain, and a lush, full sound. The D-240E features Guilds AP-1 pickup, an Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, pearloid rosette, period-correct tortoiseshell pickguard, and a matte polyurethane finish. This model also includes Guilds new lightweight deluxe gig bag. Available in Natural.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A BEAUTIFUL GUILD FOR AN UNBELIEVABLE PRICE\\n\\nReview: Ever since my 2nd band (which was 5 or 6 bands ago) recorded at what was a cozy, mostly acoustic guitar shop nestled in the third (top) floor of an old building with hardwood floors which had a recording studio in the back, I've wanted a Guild. They played like a songbird and I fell in love with one at the shop. Needless to say, I never got that Guild, as I was putting all my money into recording and I was a poor undergraduate at the time.\\nI am now 38, 19 years later, and I got my Guild. I also have about 10 other guitars, an electric piano, a dulcimer, a banjo, spanish guitar, recording equipment, etc., but I couldn't help from telling this story. This BEAUTIFUL guitar came PERFECTLY SETUP, so well packaged a bomb could have went off and it would remain unharmed, and it came perfectly in tune. I finally got to the guitar (I had to cut my way open into one very large box like it was a safe, take out tons of packing material, then take out the triangle guitar box, open that, lift out the guitar that was placed ever so gently among more packing, then remove the protective material around the neck). I strummed it and it was a beautiful, bright sound. The plug to amplify it is at the bottom also serves as the place for a strap to go, like it does on some other acoustic/electric guitars. (This itself is a sign of quality... that the electronics are built into the bottom strap peg). Again, when I finally put this gorgeous dreadnought in my hands, put my fingers in the position of a C chord, strummed it with just my fingers, it was like heaven's gates opened up. It was in PERFECT TUNE. In fact, I didn't need to do a single thing to this guitar, it was setup perfectly...the bridge, the nut, the pickup, the strings, the tuning keys, all PERFECT. I own a 1961 Gretsch in near mint condition, but I reach for this guitar first. This incredible Guild for the price simply cannot be beat... I own guitars I paid way more money for. I still reach for my Guild. Extremely bright, loud Dreadnought sound. Sleek plug at the bottom, like I mentioned. This guitar played dry is almost as loud as my National Resonator. Can sound like a strat, an SG, a Les Paul, a Gretsch etc. out of my 45 watt Vox tube amp.\\nIf you've ever wanted a Guild but don't have the dough to buy a fully U.S. model, this \\\"designed in California\\\" model is JUST AS GOOD. It is built to the specs without a flaw. It comes with a specially padded gig bag that braces the neck to boot. One of my favorite guitars ever.\",\n \"Product: Folk style, High gloss finish, Select spruce top, Catalpa sides & back, Rosewood fingerboard & bridge, Mahogany neck, Fully adjustable truss rod, Chrome die cast tuners\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent valued student/learner/budget guitar\\n\\nReview: Although Oscar Schmidt is not the line of quality guitars it once was (read on) this particular model, for the price, is not a bad guitar, especially for a beginner: make no mistake though, this is built to be a budget guitar, and doesn't have much in line of adjustments/setup outside of the truss rod that can be made to improve the quality of its sound/action/etc...however, for 76 plus shipping, this isn't a bad internet buy esp. if you're looking for a student/learner guitar or just a cheap acoustic to bang on... Also note that when a guitar is labeled as a \\\"folk\\\" guitar it is usually a very general term that merely refers to its size (meaning it is larger than a 3/4 size but smaller than a dreadnought), and doesn't mean much else in terms of its craftsmanship, especially when its used to describe a budget guitar like this.\\n\\nRegarding my opening comment, Oscar Schmidt is now owned by the same company that currently owns Washburn - the company is US Music Corporation. They bought both brand names around the same time (circa 2000 - the exact year is virtually impossible to find via the web) from Fretted Industries, and while they continued to make good guitars under the Washburn name, they made the once highly respectable Oscar Schmidt into a budget line guitar. Any Oscar Schmidts pre circa 2000 are of a higher quality, both Fretted Industry made ('79 to circa 2000) as well as vintage ones owned by the company of origin. Read my buyers guide on both Oscar Schmidt and Washburn by searching the \\\"So You'd like to\\\" Buyer Guides under \\\"So you'd like to own an Oscar Schmidt\\\"\",\n \"Product: *** Original and authentic. Made not from scented wooden beads but rather from cooked Rose petals that grow in the Jerusalem area. A very special and meaningful Rosary. Open this Rosary box and a bouquet of sweet fragrance of roses will linger softly in the air! Made of crushed Rose-Petals grown in the Holy City of Jerusalem then converted into large beads and assembled into gorgeous Rosary. Enclosed in a gift box and includes the story of the Scented Rosary in English and Spanish (story inclusion is optional depending on box). Keep this Keepsake in your purse for your special Rosary veneration to the Blessed Mother. May all your prayers be answered through Our Lady's Intercession. Let it be your reminder of the Holy Land. Give it as a gift from the heart. It will be treasured forever!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Probably wood. Verified purchaser. Read on...\\n\\nReview: It is difficult to tell if these are real roses or not. each bead is the same, and they are OBVIOUSLY sprayed with extra scent. There is also a score on each bead, suggesting that these are simply manufactured wood and a hoax. Generally, rosaries made of REAL PRESSED ROSES have non spherical beads, each bead is different. this is NOT THE CASE WITH THIS ROSARY. However, I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt and say these beads MAY BE PARTLY MADE OF REAL ROSES, but there is obviously a MECHANICAL PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH, AS EACH BEAD IS IDENTICAL, BUT THIS ROSARY AS A WHOLE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER FAKE, WOOD BEADS THAT ARE SPRAYED (THESE ARE SPRAYED TOO.) If these are real roses, or partially real roses, that is wonderful. Either way, it is a beautiful rosary. Unfortunately, the beads are NOT HAND MADE, but again, MACHINE PRESSED. However, if this is not made of any real roses, SHAME ON THIS SELLER.\",\n \"Product: .\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Creative, vast, and difficult\\n\\nReview: Kid Icarus became available in its original form with enhanced 3D graphics for the 3DS via download from the Nintendo eShop about a couple of years ago, and I immediately downloaded the classic for a cool 6 bucks. They also made a highly regarded new Kid Icarus (Kid Icarus: Uprising) for the 3DS with some breathtaking 3D visuals and brilliant graphics, but I digress. Although I still owned the original cartridge and could play it with relative ease - plug in the old NES via the 'rca' style video cords - I was excited to play it via the comfort of my 3DS (not to mention the convenience of the save point feature for all of the 'Digital Console' games for the 3DS and DSi). When I revisited the game, I was astonished at the difficulty - and frustrated, actually, as I recalled loving this game. I think, however, the variable at hand is that throughout the many years I didn't continue playing action-arcade and platformers, at least not challenging ones. I opted for turn-based and strategic RPGs as I got older, and while I can still enjoy a game of Galaga, Mario, Metroid or Punch-Out (I can still reach Tyson... or Mr. Dream... I have both versions), Kid Icarus is just too hard for this old man. I gave the game more than a justified try, too - but after several hours and over 10 revisits and barely making it to level 2, I had to hang up the gloves, or, in this case wings, in favor of a different, romantic visit to nostalgic video game past by downloading something like the original Legend of Zelda or perhaps blowing the dust off of my NES and playing a round of Archon, as much as I wanted to relive the days when I could blast through the difficult levels in Kid Icarus.\\nTo be completely fair, though, even though my trip down memory lane left me a bit disillusioned and wishing for an 'easy' setting, this title was pretty fantastic. Perhaps a bit too challenging right off the bat, Kid Icarus was extremely creative. It offered both side-scrolling and vertical play, a touch of roleplaying elements with regards to character development and purchased upgrades, and a very vast playing environment - lots of levels, varied enemies and bosses. The graphics are decent for NES and if you have a 3DS, enjoy the added 3D effects (only a handful of the original NES games available from the eShop have been 'amped' up to 3D, and these are therefore only available on the 3DS. Other classics like SMB, Metroid, Mega Man, etc. are also available on the DSi).\\nOn a final note, if you enjoy challenging platformers/action games and aren't stuck on first-person, this classic should not only be in your collection but is just as worthy playing today - the only thing new platform based games have on such a well developed classic is graphics: which, if you're a well-rounded gamer, you can look past.\",\n \"Product: CTA DIGITAL PS-LCP PSP Case with Pockets. The Super Travel Case is constructed of a durable rubber shell, double zipper enclosure and a heavy-duty bag clip. The interior has two separate compartments that are divided by a flap with slots that holds 2 UMD disks. The PSP is securely held by locking the center flap; a super design feature that provides maximum interior space. It also has a huge additional slot for storing up to 4 UMD disks or other small accessories such as headphones. The Super Travel Case is the quintessential accessory for storing all of your PSP's bare necessities\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent case for PSP 3000\\n\\nReview: I don't understand why anyone would give this item a bad review as long as they were purchasing it for the proper PSP model. It perfectly fits my PSP 3000. It only has two UMD slots, but you can fit more on the other side in the pocket. It is sturdy and protective - the case is practically \\\"hardshell,\\\" and has room for, like I said, two UMDs. It also comes with an optional clip that you could clip onto a belt or a bag.\\n\\nI myself fit, in addition to my unit with its plastic case, my PSP headset (headphones with microphone and remote control) and several games/videos.\\n\\nThe case really doesn't have much room for any other accessories... you could squeeze in a car charger I'm sure, a USB /data cable, and MAYBE a PSP camera (ONE of the three, that is), but its really too small to fit in the standard wall charger. You might be able to squeeze that in if you didn't put anything else in the other side, but it would be a very tight fit. That doesn't bother me, though, I just assume carry it along separate.\\n\\nNo complaints, I love it.\",\n \"Product: The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector provides a dedicated wireless access point that plugs into the USB port on a PC (Windows XP only). This connector does not plug into the Wii console. Use the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector if you do not have access to a wireless network connection, or are unable to connect your Wii console or Nintendo DS to the internet with your current connection.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Great idea however Numerous problems\\n\\nReview: As said in other reviews, Nintendo offers little support for this. The idea is if you don't have a wireless modem or router, but do have an internet connection (i.e. via a wired DSL modem or broadband modem) you can use this device to connect your DS, DS lite, DSi, and I suppose 3DS (not sure) to the internet via your computer's USB.\\nThe problem is, it doesn't always work, and, it is very expensive new. IF you do purchase one of these, buy it used and cheap so if you don't have luck with it you don't waste a lot of money. It doesn't matter if it comes with the disk, you can get the drivers off of Nintendo's website, the last I knew. Beyond that, though, Nintendo offers no support for the device. A shame, since it is a good idea.\\nI don't think this works with Vista or 7, not sure about MAC, only tried on XP. If you do buy a device like this, however, I do recommend that you buy THIS ONE, the one made by Nintendo - I tried another device from a 3rd party company that was supposed to do the same thing and it was complete junk. The software didn't work, the hardware was shoddy (it felt like the device was going to fall apart).\",\n \"Product: Even the odds by arming yourself with infinite health, bullets, and time. Unlock secret levels, characters and vehicles. Now you can become all poerful and beat any game. Action Replay is already pre-loaded with totally unauthorized cheat codes for all the latest and greatest Nintendo DS games and you can easliy update the Action Replay with new codes. Action Replays contains everything you need to put the power in your hands today!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: A lot of issues\\n\\nReview: This is a cool product with a lot of support online, however despite the online support, updates, etc., this product still is far from perfect. ALMOST EVERY GAME I use with it initially says \\\"UNKNOWN GAME\\\" even though in the manual it states this \\\"rarely happens\\\" and is due to different versions of the game being released. It doesn't rarely happen, it almost always happens. It is a lengthly process to get by this which the support for the product describes, and even after going through it, it still doesn't always recognize the game and therefore you cannot use the provided codes with it.\\nits a shame, because it is a cool product, and like I said, its obvious that the company has put in a lot of work to provide support for it. Unfortunately, at least in my experience, its more of a pain then its worth. Beware of this.\",\n \"Product: In FINAL FANTASY II, a malevolent emperor has called upon monsters from a demonic realm to take over the world, ending what seemed to be an eternal period of peace. Thousands of lives succumb to their attacks, leaving many children orphaned. From the destruction rise four young survivors who will take it upon themselves to stop the merciless ruler and avenge the death of their parents.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A classic reborn on the PSP leaves you pining for an updated version!\\n\\nReview: It needn't be said, FFII is a classic that laid the groundwork, as did the other early Final Fantasies and the early Dragon Quests (i.e. Dragon Warrior) for almost all RPG's to follow. It is fun to revisit whether playing on your original SNES console or on the PSP or Gameboy Advance.\\nWhat I will say, however, is it leaves you pining for an updated version of the game. Why is it that Square Enix only updated FF IV, and only on the DS for that matter?? I guess it all comes down to money, but ALL of these epic games deserve a 3D overhaul - I absolutely LOVED playing the updated version of IV on the DS- it was amazing.\\nI originally bought a used copy of Final Fantasy I & II (Dawn of Souls, I think) remake for the Gameboy Advance and played it via the GBA slot on my DS lite (on a side note, I'm glad I kept my DS lite after I got a DSi and eventually the 3DS so I could still utilize the GBA slot).\\nPlaying the remake on the PSP is essentially the same... I enjoy it slightly more on the PSP as it does have a wider screen and a few extras, but, again, I so wish Square Enix would release more updated versions of these epic classics for both the DS and the PSP.\",\n \"Product: Jeanne D'Arc PSP\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Great SRPG for the PSP\\n\\nReview: Perhaps the best SRPG for the PSP, Jeanne D'arc (Joan of Arc in French - thank you commenters!) is a RPG play off of the history of Joan of Arc, and is the story of a French peasant whose village is burned by the English and decides to wage her own war against the English. Her friends join the fight, and she finds others along the way that fight with her to liberate France.\\nSet in the time of Joan of Arc, being an RPG it is obviously infused with many fantasy elements, such as magic (spells), the ability for Jeanne to \\\"transform\\\" herself via a mysterious bracelet she finds or rather chooses her (she herein becomes France's \\\"Savior\\\"), and of course monster warriors that the English use as part of their army.\\n\\nSTORY 8\\nThe story is not incredibly original, however, it uses the fantasy elements well to enhance it. It includes corruption on both sides - English and French, and other twists that make it engaging and never boring. The cut scenes are beautifully done - excellent graphics and sound, and are just enough that you never get the sense that there are too many.\\n\\nGRAPHICS 9\\nThe cut scenes graphics are beautifully animated. The rest of the game is played on the battlefield, looking at the world map, or from menus. I would have enjoyed the opportunity to enter the actual towns outside of battlefield play... instead, you can choose to \\\"SHOP\\\" which takes you to a menu where you can purchase items, weapons and spells from the town that you are occupying on the world map, which is typical for an SRPG, but I always am looking for a hybrid between RPG genres. As far as graphics go, though, the world map is also well illustrated.\\n\\nSOUND 9\\nAs I said, the sound in the cut scenes is excellent... the voices sound real, and outside of the cut scenes the music is never annoying, whether in battle or world map.\\n\\nGAMEPLAY 7\\nI separate battle play (next) from gameplay because the battle part of the gameplay deserves a higher rating. Like I said, I would have enjoyed the opportunity to enter actual cities outside of just battlefield play instead of just a menu (again, I always ask myself why SRPGs don't hybrid that way). The other reason gameplay gets a 7 instead of an 8 or 9 is because the game is too linear. There aren't many opportunities to deviate from the storyline that has been set for you, such as random exploration or side quests. This is one of the most fun parts of an RPG for me, and one of the only big things that makes Jeanne D'arc less than perfect. You can replay past battles to level up at anytime (see below), but there are few purely optional side quests.\\nOn the positive side, you'll see that battle play gets a 10 below, and also, the element of \\\"Open Combat\\\" is great... after clearing certain levels, you can go back to those towns and engage in open battle play for the sake of leveling up your characters and aquiring gold, items, spells, and other treasure.\\n\\nBATTLE PLAY 10\\nBattle takes place on a grid, classic SRPG style, and harmoniously unites turn based play with strategy. You're goal is usually either to defeat all enemies or to reach a certain point without either being wiped out, or, sometimes you have to make sure not a single ally dies. You spend turns moving and attacking, and making strategic choices with regards to the placement of your army. When you have allies on adjacent squares, it aids in your defense, however it can also work against you if you, for instance, have a large group in a row and an enemy has a spell like \\\"Impale\\\" which allows them to slice through any and all characters lined up in a row (you can get the impale spell as well).\\nLike I said, it is an excellent melding of turn play combat with strategy based battle. Also as mentioned before, you have spells, and the main character (as well as another character met along the way early in the game) have the option of \\\"transforming\\\" into a stronger warrior based on their bracelet and what gems they hold to enhance their transformation.\\nOpen combat is another great addition, as stated before, to level up your characters and gain gold to buy new weapons, spells and equipment.\\n\\nOVERALL 8\\nThere are not enough great SRPGs for the PSP, and this is one of them. My only major complaints are the story/gameplay being too linear. Aside from that, Jeanne D'arc is an excellent SRPG for the reasons given above that most of you RPG'ers will enjoy.\",\n \"Product: Product InformationExplore an ancient Dwarven citadel riddled with legendary beasts and untoldtreasures. Wield flaming swords deadly crossbows and other mystical weapons.Use your wits to solve devious puzzles and overe deadly traps. Equip yourselfwith arcane gear like magic potions enchanted rings dragon scale armor and amagical talking wand. Escape to a place of adventure mystery and sorcery withOrcs & Elves the new first-person adventure from id Software andFountainhead Entertainment the creators of DOOM RPG! Save anywhere featureallows you to resume the action from where you left off in a world thatremembers your actions. Features high graphic fidelity and an original audioscore. Replayability with tons of secrets and an end-game ranking based on yourperformance.Product Features Explore a Dwarven citadel with the help of your talking wand to take on an evil witch and her army of dark minions Hybrid Game-play - First-person action meets tactical RPG Explore locations like a dragon's lair and mysterious catabs Wield 11 mystical weapons including swords crossbows and magical artifacts Legendary Beasts - Take on over 35 enemies with A.I. including trolls dark elves and the undead\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Buyer Beware - Not turn based and not that much fun\\n\\nReview: I purchased this game used on a pre-played discount rack. Cartridge based games are a bit safer used purchased then a disc, but now I'm wishing I would have bought something for my PSP that day.\\nThe box clearly advertises that it is \\\"TURN BASED COMBAT\\\" This is not what most RPG players would define as turn based battle. You encounter enemies and, depending on what weapon you have, slash them with it as many times as possible by pressing the A button as fast as you can, and have no control over the damage you take.\\nThis had potential to be a good dungeon crawler, but falls short in many areas, the worst being the combat. The graphics are fairly cheap and outdated. I actually don't mind the element of dungeon crawler gameplay that consists of moving one space at a time -- the Etrian Oddyssey series as well as others are like that. That comparison being drawn, this game is nothing like E.O. series (which is why there is no sequel to this one!).\\n\\nIt's a poorly developed makeshift RPG slapped together to make a few bucks off of RPG fans looking for a good old school style dungeon crawler to enjoy and instead find this. I didn't even get the \\\"free wand stylus\\\" since it was used... a gimmick that would have made me feel a little bit better about my wasted 8 dollars.\\n\\nFinal words on Orcs and Elves for the DS: Don't buy it.\",\n \"Product: eForCity Branded Accessory. Enjoy 30-Days Money Back Guarantee if purchased through eForCity. NOTE: Please apply the screen protector gently in order to avoid too much pressure onto the screen\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Buyer Beware - Unremovable air bubbles and residue from sticker\\n\\nReview: Though this is not a bad screen protector for the price, and with any protector you are going to have to work out the air bubbles, this particular one is virtually impossible to get them out regardless of how careful you are during application.\\nWith the screen on, you don't notice them really, except for dim lit scenes, but that's still no good. And further more, there is an adhesive sticker that is to be removed after application. This sticker leaves a practically un-removable residue... I've tried alcohol even and it still leaves gunk in the upper right hand corner where the sticker was.\\n\\nMaybe someone else might have better luck with these then me, but this was my experience.\",\n \"Product: eForCity Branded Accessory. Enjoy 30-Days Money Back Guarantee if purchased through eForCity. NOTE: Please apply the screen protector gently in order to avoid too much pressure onto the screen\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Buyer Beware - Unremovable air bubbles and residue from sticker\\n\\nReview: Though this is not a bad screen protector for the price, and with any protector you are going to have to work out the air bubbles, this particular one is virtually impossible to get them out regardless of how careful you are during application.\\nWith the screen on, you don't notice them really, except for dim lit scenes, but that's still no good. And further more, there is an adhesive sticker that is to be removed after application. This sticker leaves a practically un-removable residue... I've tried alcohol even and it still leaves gunk in the upper right hand corner where the sticker was.\\n\\nMaybe someone else might have better luck with these then me, but this was my experience.\",\n \"Product: The dark knight Cecil, stripped of his command of the Red Wings, set out for the distant Valley of Mist. Together with Kain, commander of the Dragoons, he would pursue a faceless quarry―and a chance for redemption. The advent of the airship had marked the realization of mankind's most ancient dream. But man is a creature seldom sated, and he was quick to dream anew. With the unparalleled might of the Red Wings, Baron's military soon reigned supreme. Why, then, does its king now seek the Crystals? And why have fearsome monsters suddenly begun to overrun the once calm land? If the Crystals know, they share no answers―only their pure and silent light.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Amazing remake of an epic classic - A MUST for all FF fans.\\n\\nReview: I don't have too much to say that hasn't already been said in the other reviews, but wanted to write my own in support of urging anyone who has not played this remake to do so. Whether you played the original or not, you will likely fall in love with the remake. Much better than the DS Final Fantasy III remake (which was great in its own right), this epic classic remade is an example of what Square Enix needs to do with ALL of the early Final Fantasies. It is a shame that they haven't done this with I or II or even V.\\nThe only complaint here is that the difficulty level towards the latter part of the game is quite ramped up, perhaps a little too much. But its worth the challenge. This is one of the most superb remakes I have ever played.\",\n \"Product: Replace a worn-out or lost battery for your Sony PSP-2000 or PSP-3000 with this rechargeable Li-ion battery pack.\\nFeatures\\n\\tFor Sony PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 ONLY\\n\\tRechargeable Li-ion 3.6V, 2400mAh\\n\\tReplace a worn-out or lost battery\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent replacement but not retail packaged and not what is pictured\\n\\nReview: I purchased this as a replacement battery, as my PSP battery started holding much less of a charge than it used to.\\n\\nFirst off, this is not the battery pictured. It does not come in retail packaging, and is the black, standard PSP battery. For the price, however, this isn't a bad backup battery.\\n\\nI had in the past always considered getting one of the additional battery packs that snap on below the battery and give you longer play time, acting as a separate back up battery I think. I did not purchase one though and can't comment how well they work or not.\\n\\nSo far, so good, and it is inexpensive. I may update this review after some heavy use dependent on what I detect, but for the value, this is a decent battery.\",\n \"Product: eForCity Clip on Crystal Case for Sony PSP 3000, Clear\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent case as long as accompanied by carrying case\\n\\nReview: This case is great - WAY better than any silicon case... It keeps your PSP cleaner and it looks MUCH nicer. It is easy to install and un-install, has proper openings for all needed buttons, a swing open door for the UMD slot, and a swing open door for the front screen for easy access to clean (you don't need to open it to play since it is clear)... This is, however, as long as you are a person that takes care of your electronics and also, you should have a travel case to protect the whole thing when not in use, since this is plastic and the screen can get cracked.\\nIf the PSP is dropped, this case certainly has enough to it that it will absorb shock and protect your unit, but it will most likely break the case... the case is very inexpensive though, so it's not a huge loss if that is the case. With the silicon protective cases, they stay in place in case of a drop but would not protect as much, and they aren't as nice looking nor do they keep your PSP as clean.\\nSo, buy this if you take care of your equipment and you should also have a travel case to put the unit away in.\",\n \"Product: Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume DS\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Boring, tedious let down.\\n\\nReview: While I like the type of strategic battle - turn based mixed with grid based movement - i.e. SRPG; I could not get into this game. The feather element is inventive (strategic sacrifice of a party member in battle). The \\\"sin\\\" element is inventive, but feels flawed, for lack of a better term, and makes battles either too hard (usually) or too easy.\\nI have a feeling I picked the worst Valkyrie Profile game to start with.\\nAside from that: The graphics look like 8 bit or worse!, the story felt REALLY boring to me, and the game, in general, is tedious. The 3rd battle you're in is a bit too difficult for the beginning of the game. I can look past that since eventually I progressed, but the game continued to be, as my title states, and forgive my redundancy, tedious and boring. A big let down for a Square Enix game. Perhaps I'll try my luck with a different V.P. game.\",\n \"Product: PSP Clear Skin Case\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice, well fitting skin case with a few draw backs\\n\\nReview: This case fits like a glove - its very well made and \\\"tailored\\\" to fit great. Its somewhat protective... it protects the unit from scratches and rubbing off lettering and designs on the unit. It isn't the best case to get for, say, protecting your PSP from water damage or especially dropping. It of course has some \\\"shock\\\" protection, better than without anything on it, but again, not much but that is to be expected. The value is very good, btw... i paid only a few bucks for it and it does the job. The only other drawback is this: as with any of the silicone style cases, it is easy to get the unit dirty. It doesn't keep the unit clean from gunk but rather it seems to do the opposite and attract it to the inside and it requires regular cleaning of both the case and your unit.\\nOverall, a nice skin for the price. If you have a travel case to put your psp inside of, this is especially a good choice since you don't need a lot of extra protection, just enough while you're playing.\",\n \"Product: The most comprehensive card games collection for Nintendo 3DS plus you get over 1,000 unique puzzle challenges!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of the best card collection games:Everything you'll ever need\\n\\nReview: The title is appropriate: This game really is an \\\"overload\\\" of card games, puzzle games and other mind games, with local wireless play. The price/value is fantastic at 20 bucks retail for both the version on cartridge and the downloadable version from the Nintendo eShop for the number of both classic card games, casino card games, probably every version of solitaire ever made, mahjong at different difficulty levels, hundreds of tangram puzzles, and hundreds of picture puzzles. I bought the digital download version for 20 dollars from the Nintendo 3DS online store. The classic card games include many trump based and other card games you would not expect to be in your average card game collection for a portable or console system, such as bridge, euchre, gin rummy (very hard to find), rummy (Romme), canasta, cribbage, and skat, as well as standards like spades, hearts, and even fun standards like crazy eights (the original \\\"uno\\\" --- what uno is based off of)and even Go Fish. It keeps records/statistics, you can play everything at different difficulty levels and choose your opponents (e.g. play against one difficult player and two easy players, etc. whatever combination, decide in partner games how good your partner is and opponents) and tons of options based on the game, such as variations on the game rules, special regional style rules, and aesthetic options as well (deck style, background, etc.) and you can also even set a playlist in the main game settings for the background music, and make a profile, and use one of your \\\"Mii\\\" characters from the built in \\\"Mii\\\" game in every 3DS that allows you to create different faces/avatars. The only game I would like to also be on it is pinochle (it has euchre, spades, bridge, etc. so I was surprised not to see it). While there are no tutorials, the manual offers instructions on every game (I have the digital version so just have the electronic manual but I imagine the physical manual that comes with the cartridge based version has more). Like I said, the variations on solitaire are staggering... literally HUNDREDS! and all stats are recorded, and you have options for those as well. For poker, video poker, and blackjack, you can bet and play for virtual money, and the versions of poker are varied, such as different Texas Hold 'em versions, 5 draw, 7 stud, pineapple, etc. etc. and video poker.\\n\\nWiFi options are local wireless only. Oh well, still a five star game for the genre.\\n\\nIf you like classic card games, this is for you. If you like card games and puzzle games, it is a must.\",\n \"Product: Blast from the past.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A widely undiscovered gem for the NES\\n\\nReview: Though they surprisingly made a DS remake for Legend of Kage, the original was one of those cult, somewhat underground classics that seems to have become a forgotten gem... It preceded the likes of Ninja Gaiden, for instance, and was wonderfully imaginative, challenging to the point where it took a good amount of practice to reach the higher levels but not too difficult to where you were throwing the controller across the room, and a lot of fun - there is no other game like it and even today its a lot of fun to play. Square Enix made a cool updated version for the ds that includes rpg elements, however the original was strictly an action/arcade platform. The first level actually scrolls from right to left! You don't see that in 'western' gaming! The music was a series of fun, synthesized \\\"oriental\\\" tracks, and the gameplay was awesome - in early stages you scaled and jumped/flew through giant trees, and the vertical height you could reach in these levels was incredible, and your jumping power was, well, really cool. The power ups changed your characters colors that corresponded to shielding i.e. you could get hit without dying a number of times relative to your color. You have a katana for close attacks and throwing stars for distance. You also found well hidden kill all charms. The background colors changed in the forest levels and though it was obviously 8bit, it pushed the edge with creative use of design, colors, fantastic use of side and vertical scrolling (sometimes in the same level), and just about every other element an action video game can have.\\n\\nIf you're looking for some NES classics to revisit (or play for the first time), Legend of Kage should be towards the top of your list.\",\n \"Product: Cartridge only - game is in good condition with a fully intact label. However there are normal signs of wear such as scratches or other normal marks from aging. All of our games are fully tested before being put into our inventory.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Nostalgic early NES title\\n\\nReview: I revisited Trojan years later. I have fond memories of playing this early, somewhat esoteric NES title with my best friend. I wasn't really surprised to find that it was not as fun as it was then, but to review the game in reference to the time it was made, it was a rather average platformer, with a somewhat above average difficulty level. If you're looking to increase you're NES collection with some earlier titles, this is not necessarily a 'must-have,' but it's still an impressive addition, but probably one that will collect more dust than others after you play it once or twice. For a great NES platformer that wasn't as popular as the likes of the SMB series and other sensations for the NES but should have been, try something like The Legend of Kage.\",\n \"Product: An original title developed specifically for the PSP (PlayStationPortable) system, Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground offers addictive gameplay with a simulation dungeon creation element and real-time battles hunting for monsters to collect gold and items, and complete various quests offered by the townspeople.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: One of my favorite PSP Role Players\\n\\nReview: This is, as the title says, one of my favorite PSP RPGs, next to Joan of Arc and FF Dissidia 012.\\n\\nIt is available in UMD form (to buy as a game) for the PSP or you can download it to your PSP, as well as Vita or PS3 from the playstation network.\\n\\nThis is a blast to create your own dungeon, and the graphics are very good. If you like dungeon crawlers, or particularly ever played any of the Etrian Odysseys for the DS and liked them (you don't create the dungeons in E.O. games, but you are responsible for mapping them), you'll enjoy this. As stated, the E.O. series wasn't dungeon creating but rather dungeon mapping, the dungeons were already developed, but they're similar enough that most who like one will like the other.\\n\\nThere are plenty of other elements to the game to keep you busy... quests (see complaint below), different ways to power up your character aside from just weapons/armor/accessories, such as bracelets, rings and most interesting and fun \\\"roots\\\" which you foster and upgrade with special items you find in the dungeon. This is a great game to come back to and continue at any time without really losing too much feel of where you left off. That's not to say the game is too simple either, like I said, its got enough layers beside just building mazes to make it a lot of fun.\\n\\nThe quests are mostly fetch quests, nothing too in depth. Find such and such an item and bring it back. Others are find a specific monster and slay them (aside from the game's bosses). On an RPG scale I'd give this game maybe 3 or 3.5, but compared to what is available for the PSP in terms of good RPGs, I decided to give it a solid 4.\\n\\nAnother important thing to note is that I tend to shy away from games with real time based combat. I much prefer either grid based battle or head to head menu - either way, turn based battle where I have time to make my choices, I'm very old school in that way. Although you can use magic and items in Dungeon Maker, it is real time action based combat, you swing with your weapon, there are special moves based on the weapon, and you can pause battle to cast a spell or use items. The battle is simple but well done, enough to make even me enjoy the battle element of the game.\\n\\nA lot of fun.\",\n \"Product: With the start of the shogun clan Tokugawas reign, the long years of bloodshed and strife have come to an end. People expected the peace to last forever. But old resentments from the past had yet to die...Holding a grudge towards Tokugawa, Yoshiro Yukikusa kidnaps Kirihime, the sole priestess, in order to combine his own demonic powers with the priestesss and overthrow the shoguns reign. Kage and Chihiro are ninjas of Iga, each on a mission to rescue the priestess. But their fates are yet unknown beyond the demons they must slay in their paths...\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Incredible Remake of a Cult Classic\\n\\nReview: MY ORIGINAL REVIEW:\\nThis is based off of a kind of \\\"underground\\\" NES cult classic. As for the DS version, I think it's really cool that this was released in the first place, given that the original was sort of an lesser known gem and may only be remembered by a lot less people than games like, for instance, Ninja Gaiden - a similar title, or all of the other greats like the Mario franchise or Contra, Zelda, Metroid, Punch Out... the list goes on and on, as there were a lot of greats for the NES.\\nLegend of Kage for the DS though was an unexpected pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed playing an improved version of an already fantastic game\\nThe graphics and gameplay are much improved, obviously, and the integrity of the original game remains intact. I'm not sure exactly how popular Legend of Kage was for the original NES - like I said, I think it was one of those gems that was undiscovered by a lot of NES players, but was a fantastic platformer/action/arcade game as is the DS remake. The story is simple in the original - you are a ninja who must save the captured princess, but the new version has a fantastically updated storyline and cutaway scenes.\\nADDED AFTER PLAYING THE GAME FOR LONGER\\nThis is a solid platformer, and it maintains some of the excellent elements of the original, while adding great updates and RPG elements and a storyline/cut scenes. You can save your progress and it also offers really neat upgrades...\\none thing i have to mention is that, like most standard, western platforms, this scrolls from left to right, while the original, at least in the first stage, scrolled right to left. While jarring for some gamers, I think they should have kept one level like this in tradition of the original. Just a personal note.\\nThat aside, this is a great platformer and revival and upgrade of a cult classic.\",\n \"Product: This compact and portable MicroSD/TransFlash memory card from SanDisk is the world's smallest memory storage device. It's mainly designed for mobile phones that have multimedia applications such as digital cameras, video capture and playback, MP3 players, video games, personal organizers, Multimedia Message Service (MMS), email and voicemail capabilities! This MicroSD/TransFlash memory card can be inserted into an adapter (2 included), for use with devices that have a Secure Digital slot or a MinISD slot. Get your SanDisk 2 GB MicroSD/TransFlash Card today! This item is Brand New but is bulk packaged (Comes in protetive plastic case only, no retail packaging).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: genuine sandisk at reasonable price\\n\\nReview: Here is a genuine san disk micro sd card for a reasonable price with both sd and mini sd adapters. San disk is the only way to go, and I don't care if it is bulk packaging (not in a retail package)... although I know there are some legalities behind bulk selling, some people equate bulk packaging with knock-offs, which is 99.99% of the time completely inaccurate. I can almost guarantee you that almost any bulk packaged (as opposed to retail packaged, i.e. the card is in a factory sealed package, like you would see in a store) sandisk sd card is genuine, there is not some conspiracy of cheap sds being stamped with SanDisk and being sold in masses.\\nwith that said, I am once again happy with my sandisk sd purchase from an Amazon seller... I have bought 2, 8, 16 and 32 gig sandisk sds for my many devices from my psp, 3ds, and camera to sds for additional storage for my pocket digital recorder, phone, MP3 player, and to use as a flash drive for videos and media as well as for backup. Again, I will only buy sandisk and suggest the same to anyone.\",\n \"Product: SANOXY Micro SDHC to to Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bulk Static Package) Taking advantage of the fact that different digital products today support different memory card specifications, this adapter converts microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter. When the Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter is paired with the microSD card, it becomes compatible with with all devices supporting Sony Memory Pro Duo - including your beloved PSPs. digital cameras, and mobile phones But if you don't want to use it for your sony products, you can select the SD adapter and use it for SD Digital cameras, PDAs, some mobile phones. About the Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo & Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDA's and gaming consoles such as the Sony PSP (Playstation Portable) Memory Stick Duo & Pro Duo are smaller than standard Memory Stick and specifically designed to enable manufacturers to make their new products even smaller. When used in conjunction with an adapter they can be used as a full size Memory Stick Pro in devices such as readers or cameras. Micro SD card to Memory Stick Duo Adapter Features/Specifications: General Features: Fits Memory Stick Duo cards\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Any size Micro SD to Pro Duo - Great value, Limitations to note\\n\\nReview: I bought this along with a sandisk 16 gig SD to quadruple the memory in my PSP 3000. The adapter works perfect, not only as an adapter within a card reader on the PC but inside the PSP.\\n\\nThis was a much more inexpensive way for me to upgrade my memory on my PSP. I paid an incredible less than ten dollars for the sandisk 16 gig bulk packaging (it was advertised as retail packaging, but I don't care, as long as its a genuine sandisk and new, which it was) with no shipping charges (look around and you can find sandisks sold on amazon very cheap!), and then paid a couple of bucks for this reader/adapter, also with no shipping costs, and it works marvelous.\\n\\nIts main limitation is that you cannot hot swap it... once you format the SD inside the reader inside the PSP you cannot take it out and use it without reformatting. The workaround is to use the USB cable for your PSP and you can swap data that way - such as add pictures, music, even videos if you've figured out how to format videos that don't come from PSP network for the PSP (there's a way Fyi, use format factory and tutorials on the web), and you can also take data out this way.\",\n \"Product: SANOXY Micro SDHC to to Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bulk Static Package) Taking advantage of the fact that different digital products today support different memory card specifications, this adapter converts microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter. When the Memory Stick Pro Duo Adapter is paired with the microSD card, it becomes compatible with with all devices supporting Sony Memory Pro Duo - including your beloved PSPs. digital cameras, and mobile phones But if you don't want to use it for your sony products, you can select the SD adapter and use it for SD Digital cameras, PDAs, some mobile phones. About the Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick Duo & Memory Stick Pro Duo can be used in digital cameras, mobile phones, PDA's and gaming consoles such as the Sony PSP (Playstation Portable) Memory Stick Duo & Pro Duo are smaller than standard Memory Stick and specifically designed to enable manufacturers to make their new products even smaller. When used in conjunction with an adapter they can be used as a full size Memory Stick Pro in devices such as readers or cameras. Micro SD card to Memory Stick Duo Adapter Features/Specifications: General Features: Fits Memory Stick Duo cards\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Any size Micro SD to Pro Duo - Great value, Limitations to note\\n\\nReview: I bought this along with a sandisk 16 gig SD to quadruple the memory in my PSP 3000. The adapter works perfect, not only as an adapter within a card reader on the PC but inside the PSP.\\n\\nThis was a much more inexpensive way for me to upgrade my memory on my PSP. I paid an incredible less than ten dollars for the sandisk 16 gig bulk packaging (it was advertised as retail packaging, but I don't care, as long as its a genuine sandisk and new, which it was) with no shipping charges (look around and you can find sandisks sold on amazon very cheap!), and then paid a couple of bucks for this reader/adapter, also with no shipping costs, and it works marvelous.\\n\\nIts main limitation is that you cannot hot swap it... once you format the SD inside the reader inside the PSP you cannot take it out and use it without reformatting. The workaround is to use the USB cable for your PSP and you can swap data that way - such as add pictures, music, even videos if you've figured out how to format videos that don't come from PSP network for the PSP (there's a way Fyi, use format factory and tutorials on the web), and you can also take data out this way.\",\n \"Product: PhotoFast CR-5400 Micro SD(HC) to MS Pro Duo Adapter 1. Holds 2 cards for super large capacity Get maximum storage capacity with 2 microSDHC or 2 microSD cards. CR-5400 converts 2 microSD(HC) cards into one MS Pro Duo stick. You can get twice the capacity at a lower price. 2. Card types can be mixed Cards of different capacity and different type can be used concurrently (i.e. microSD+microSDHC). 3. Freedom of expansion and upgrade The adapter works with only one microSDHC card as well. The second slot can be equipped anytime later. You can exchange the cards and upgrade the max. capacity at will! 4. Super high read/write speeds of 10MB/s and up CR-5400 is made of high quality components and preserves the original speed of the inserted microsd(HC) cards(when two different types of microSD(HC) cards are used, the slower card sets the speed rate) Product description: Supports 2 microSD/microSDHC cards. 2 microSD(HC) cards of different capacity can be used. If only 1 microSD(HC) cards is used, it must be inserted into slot#1 in order to work When using new microSD(HC) cads, you need to format with a SONY product before you can store data. In order to copy or delete data directly, insert CR-5400 in your card reader. Don't take out the microSD(HC) cards and perform write operations on the single card. Your data will be corrupt. Product Specification: Product name: CR-5400 Supported card types: microSD 256MB 2GB / microSDHC 4GB -16GB Maximum capacity: Depends on the capacity of used microSD/microSDHC System requirements: Works on all OS (PSP/ Windows/ Mac) Dimensions: 31.1mm x 20mm x 1.6mm Weight: 2g Note 1: Data Transfer can only be done with micro SDHC cards inserted in CR-5400. Direct PC to micro SDHC card data transfer and then inserting in CR-5400 won't work. Note 2: Re-using your micro SDHC cards for other devices than CR-5400: Should you experience formatting problems(i.e. only half of the original capacity\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Rare dual slot adapter with limitations, shipped from Hong Kong\\n\\nReview: This took awhile to get to me as it was air mailed, but I didn't have to pay much shipping for it. Granted, it is incredibly light. This is more rare than your average SD adapter and was only available this way. I was thrilled when I got it though, because it allows me to put in up to 128 gigs of memory on one Pro Duo... I mean, that is what I could do maximum, not what I used it for, since the 64gb SDs are very expensive. However, you can get genuine sandisk SD cards if you shop around at 32gb for under 20 dollars with shipping. Two of those is less than 40, and with this adapter, you have 64 gigs at your disposal in a pro duo, excellent for taking extensive video or for your PSP.\\n\\nIMPORTANT LIMITATIONS:\\n\\n*It can only be formatted and used in a device (Do not format or transfer data to it with computer's card reader).\\nONE SOLUTION: Use your PSP and USB cord as your memory stick reader/connection rather than popping the card and putting it in a \\\"drive\\\" type reader.\\n\\n*It is essentially a RAID device, so once you stick two cards in, they aren't hot-swappable (you'll have to reformat to use it after changing out a card).\\n\\n*The micro SDs will have to be reformatted before use in another device (again, because it's a RAID).\\nSame as above, if you want to backup certain things then reformat, you can do so by using your PSP usb cable.\",\n \"Product: Description:\\nThis wireless FM transmitter wirelessly connects portable music players to your car or home stereo quickly and easily. Just plug the FM Transmitter into the headphone jack of your MP3 or any audio source including your PDA, CD Player, Cassette player or connect it to your PC or laptop computer. Tune your card stereo or receiver to the clearest FM frequency, and enjoy your digital music with full sound and convenience.\\nProducts description\\n100% BRAND NEW! \\nThis FM Transmitter is the perfect way to get sound from your iPod, PDA, MP3 into your car. \\nThis device transmit stereo audio from your portable music player (such as ipod, MP3, CD Player, PDA, PC, Laptops, etc) directly to your car's radio or home radio. \\nSimply plug FM Transmitter into the line output or headphone jack of the portable music player. \\nJust tune your car radio into one of the defaulted FM channel. It lets you enjoy music from your portable music player through the car's radio. \\nFrequency Channel : A. 88.1MHz, B.88.3 MHz,C.88.5 MHz, D.88.7 MHz, E. 88.9 MHz\\nA. 107.1MHz, B.107.3MHz, C.107.5MHz, D.107.7MHz, E.107.9MHz\\nOperating Range: 10 feet to 30 feet (less distance will minimize interference and provide strongest signal) \\nPower by 2 x AAA Batteries or Car Charger \\nSpecification:\\nFrequency response: 20Hz-20KHz\\nSeperation: 50db\\nOperating current: 38mA\\nTransmission range: 87.5-108.0MHz(interval 0.1MHz)\\nPower source: 2AAA batteries or the cars power source\\nTransmit distance >5m\\nDistortion 3% (F=75KHz.F=1KHz)\\nSignal to noise ratio 45db\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not good for metropolitan areas\\n\\nReview: This device only transmits on higher range frequencies, i.e. on the top of the FM dial. Most of these frequencies are taken by radio stations in any metro, urban area, and you will not overpower their signal with this small device and the light wattage it puts out to your antenna.\\nIn a rural area... sure. The same company makes a model that lets you select between some of the bottom frequencies, but even that device has its issues... not a strong signal, cheap design, etc. Go for one of the better FM transmitters that are only in the ten dollar range and you can choose any station across the entire FM band on a digital LED display. Many of them also allow you to use a flash drive or an SD card as well as an external MP3 player or phone as inputs, so you have more functionality there, too than just a 1/8\\\" input for sound.\",\n \"Product: Exact replacement belt. Used in many models of Belt Driven Stereo Turntables and Audio Equipment , including the BIC SL3200, BSR TB33, Curtis Mathes OM40, OM41, Fisher MT35, MT6115, Fuji L220, JVC 5250U, JLA1, JLA15, JLA20, JLF30 JLF35, JLP30, LA10, LA11, LA21, SRP473E, VL8, Kenwood 4033TT, JP2021, KD2033, KD2055, KD2500, KD3033, KD3055, KP2021, KP3021, KP3022, KR2035, MGA DP330, DP410, DP420, DP430, Panasonic/Tecnics H204, RD3500, RD3600, SC1600B, SGTQ80, SCT090, SE9500, SEP7, SF620, SFGB029-1, SFGB321-1, SGH10, SGV03, SGV05, SGV11, SL20, SL42, SL101, SL210, SL220, SL230, SL235, SL301, SL303, SLB1, SLB2, SLB3, SLB5, SLB10, SLB20, SLB23, SLB30, SLB35, SLB100, SLB101, SLB200, SLB202, SLB205, SLB210, SLB220, SLB300, SLB303, SLB350, SLB500, SLBD2, SLBD20, SLBD270, SLH204, SLH301, SLH305, SLQ202, SP916, Phantone TA33, TA55, Pioneer KEB004, KEB006, KH8833, KH8855, N28-612, N28-616, PL2, PL12A, PL15C, PL16, PL33, PL45D, PL61, PL100, PL112, PL115, PL117D, PL120, PL220, PL510, PL514, PL516, PLA25, PLA25, PLA35, PLA45, SX8400, Quasar CS9, Sampo SA1919, SA3030, Sansui SR2020BC, SR3030BC, SR404Q, SR4050, Sony EX1K, EX1M, EX2K, HRK313, Teknika RP100, RP230, Toyo TA101, TA520, TA950, Visonik VT3300, Yamaha P350 plus others..\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Quality belt at the right price.\\n\\nReview: A quality belt, you can tell the material is the same as factory standard.\\n\\nMost turntable sites that sell turntable supplies such as cartridges, needles, belts, mats, and other parts charge at least 14 dollars for this belt and upwards to thirty, and their other items are inflated as well. I don't mind getting bulk packaging (as opposed to retail packaged - it comes in a zip lock bag with the item number on it just like in the picture, and carefully packaged in a bubble wrapped shipment envelope) as opposed to retail (which with this belt may be the only option anymore anyway since it is for older models), and paying half the price.\\n\\nLike I said, this was carefully packaged, the correct belt for the Panasonic (Technics) model that it listed that I needed it for, and installed easy as pie.\",\n \"Product: Condition: Brand New. Package includes:3 pcs Branded AUTHENTIC stylus pen (aqua blue, black, red) 3 items in the original packaging!! and a branded Cable Tie for the AUTHENTIC items! Built in soft head for protecting your screen and increase the sensitivity. Light weight design, easy to carry. Including Clip for easy storage in your pocket, book or diary. Compatible with Apple iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or other touch screen .\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent lower end \\\"Capacitive\\\" stylus\\n\\nReview: These are a great value... three styluses for a few bucks plus a couple bucks shipping. They are modeled to be \\\"capacitive\\\" styluses - which are made to work on touch screens, aka screens made to respond to your finger.\\n\\nI tried one immediately on my touch phone when I got them. It worked great for everything (all phone functions and inside the browser fairly well, not perfectly though) but texting, which requires multiple touches on the same \\\"button\\\" (unless you're using T9 or a full QWERTY virtual keypad, usually used horizontally when you flip a touch phone that way). When using a standard text mode, this stylus model is very frustrating and difficult. You get better at using it in this context, but it never fully remedies itself even with practice... its better just using your finger.\\n\\nSo, you get what you pay for... if you want a very good Capacitive stylus, shop around, read reviews, and likely pay a little more money, especially if you want to use it for a lot of texting. I imagine a Capacitive stylus could be used for other uses then a phone - and these would probably work better on a larger screen, e.g. an I-Pad. But if you are buying them for a smaller screened touch device such as a phone, heed the warning regarding texting, as well as some issues with the browser... The smaller the screen, the tougher ANY Capacitive stylus is going to be to use, though.\",\n \"Product: \\\"IMATION\\\"HIGH BIAS AUDIO CASSETTE\\n\\n * 2 Pack\\n * High Bias\\n * 90 Minute Cassette\\n * For recording from digital sources\\n * Greater Range Of Recording\\n * Offers unmatched music reproduction\\n * Capability Than In Normal Bias Tape.\\n * Type II high bias tape\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Slightly cheaper than other Hi-Bias, but still a little overpriced\\n\\nReview: These are 7.29 for 2, shipping included, which is roughly 3.65 per tape...\\nWe who still love the warm sound that only analog provides and are still die hard, DIY recorders using analog 4tracks are forced to pay exorbitant prices for OLD overstock hi-bias tapes from the 90s since the only brand name cassettes you can buy at a store like Walgreens is a 5 pack cheapo Maxell normal bias (even these are becoming hard to come by). This is the case with Amazon and eBay - all I can find are overpriced overstock still sealed high bias cassettes for an average of five bucks each plus shipping (again, these are a bit cheaper) -\\n\\nNeither TDK nor Maxell make Hi-Bias anymore so all we have is old leftover stock and these sellers exploit that fact. I'm not sure if the cassettes lose any of their quality after a certain amount of time (please comment if someone knows), but regardless, I don't recall paying these prices when they were new!\\n\\nI also don't know if anyone manufactures new Hi-Bias tapes... if anyone knows that, please comment!... although unfortunately I doubt it.\\n\\nAnyway, this is very discouraging. A home made tape was a labor of love and a sound you cannot get from digital. I still am a die hard analog DIY recorder, and I use an 8 channel analog Tascam 4track, one of the best models of 4 tracks made, using Shure studio mics, and I often master to a CD burner, not a PC (depending on what I'm working with). The tracks only become mp3s when I rip the master CD into the computer. It has become increasingly harder to do this because of this. Now I use my 4track mostly to record solo recordings but I have used it to record full band demos (even drums included) and have been able to produce near professional quality recordings! Sublime's \\\"Robbin' in the Hood\\\" was recorded entirely on an analog 4track, as have others.\\nDoubtful, but any sellers reading this? Your 10-15 year old overstock hi-bias tapes aren't gold, jerks.\\n\\nOn a final, more positive note, this is probably the best value I have been able to find so far.\",\n \"Product: Plug WiFi Max into any internet enabled PC to create a high speed wireless access point. WiFi Max provides a true wireless 'G' access point. Five times faster than a standard WiFi connection. With WiFi Max you can connect multiple consoles and even other WiFi devices including laptops and PDAs. Compatible with Nintendo DS WiFi games including: Mariokart, Animal Crossing, Tony Hawk's American Sk8land, Metroid Prime: Hunters, and more. Connect up to 5 Ninetndo DS consoles at one time at full 802.11B speed. Includes desktop stand. Allows you to position your adapter for optimal wireless performance.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: 3rd party device problematic\\n\\nReview: The idea of these devices is if you have for instance a DS, but don't have a wireless broadband connection but you DO have an internet connection (through a wired modem), you can still pick up wifi on your DS by attaching this device through a USB slot on your PC and your DS, ideally, will wirelessly connect that way. Apparently it also works with other devices like the Wii and PSP, etc.\\n\\nHowever, this is a third party made device (Nintendo makes one you can find by searching for DS wi-fi USB connector), and has all kinds of problems. The software it comes with is shoddy and so is the device... I bought a new one and it felt like it was going to fall apart.\\n\\nUnfortunately, Nintendo's isn't much better. They offer little support for the device aside from the drivers if you buy one without the disc, and it doesn't always work. However, I highly recommend passing this third party device up and getting the Nintendo made one if you are going to buy it for the DS. I got both and the Nintendo one, despite tons of problems, was still better than this piece of junk. If you're buying it for other devices, good luck!\",\n \"Product: The Umarex Smith and Wesson CO2 air pistol has a 6 shot capacity with a swing out loading mechanism and a unique barrel design. This handgun has a fiber optic front mounted sight and features a 5.5 inch length for round stabilization with every shot.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Excellent air pistol not without its problems\\n\\nReview: Cons: 1. The grips where the CO2 cartirdge hides slip easily.\\n 2. The pistol gets locked up OFTEN. I had the crossman chrome version of this gun which is essentially the same exact thing. So I\\n expected more out of Smith & Wesson. Nope Locks up just as much. oil helps but doesn't fix it.\\n\\nPros: 1. This is a powerful air pistol. When operating don't underestimate it. With a fresh CO2 cartridge is in it, and depending on the ammunition you choose (the .177 lead hollow points being the most dangerous), this is far from just a bb gun. Don't buy this for your 9 year old son or daughter, in other words, and don''t underestimate it yourself either. Like I said, with a fresh CO2 and lead pellets with points, this is close to the FPS of your run of the mill deuce deuce (.22 caliber, the next size ammo up and requires a FOID card)\\n\\n2. Accuracy: If you're a good shot, you won't be disappointed.\\n\\n3. Handling: This is a HEAVY gun, heavier than my .25, probably about twice the weight, at least 2 lb. All the better for accuracy, all the more reason not to give this to anyone under 17.\\n\\nSUMMARY: Great fun to save money on target practice and also so realistic looking that it achieves the illusion of terror so it is good for home protection if you don't want to have a .22 or above inside the house (I won't say \\\"real gun\\\" because this is very much a \\\"real\\\" gun and should be treated as such. With a brand new CO2 and hollow point lead pellets this is a dangerous firearm, even though it is \\\"only\\\" an air pistol. It should be treated with the same respect as any other gun)\",\n \"Product: Flextone technology in the barrel and bell gives this call the most natural sound available by more accurately mimicking the soft flexible tissue of a ducks neck and tongue. The single reed tone board will do anything from loud hail calls to soft nasally finesse calls.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A fine piece of equipment\\n\\nReview: I'm not a hunter. I'm a musician. So this review may not help a lot of its audience, or, perhaps it will.\\nI bought this in order to make strange noises, sort of a Spike Jones Band type thing, for those old enough to remember the Spike Jones Band.\\nThis sounds like a duck, that is for sure. Its built very very well, sturdy, and easy to use. It can be blown from both ends but the correct way to use it is to blow it from the softer end, but, as a musician, I experimented with it and it if you inhale from the wrong end you get a different sound.\\nSo, to wrap this up, this is a well built, well priced duck caller for hunters, and a great noisemaker for fun when used as an instrument.\",\n \"Product: The fifth season of the Fox series about the Griffin family will be released in a three-disc set. Bonuses: deleted scenes, extra episodes, commentaries, featurettes.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: One of my favorite out of all 9 volumes.\\n\\nReview: The episodes on volume five still make me laugh after seeing them over and over, and I am a family guy nerd (although I do think the show has lost its consistency recently... they do still come out with some good episodes, but the ratio is more like 3 good episodes to every 2 bad ones, whereas it was a rarity that you ever had a subpar episode around this time).\\nThe only problem is that this is deceiving for a 3 disc box set... only 2 discs contain episodes, the third disc is just special features. I think a lot of the Family Guy box sets are slight rip offs, but the seasons are the best values, compared to the insulting additional F.G. DVDs.... including the separation of the star wars episodes on three different dvds, Stewie Griffin the Untold Story (the DVD that started the shameless ripping off of the fans) which is 2 episodes played off as a movie, Partial Terms of Endearment - ONE unaired episode with a few cheapo special features...)\\nAnyway, back to season five... a must own season despite the fact that it's really a two disc box set. One of the best collections of F.G. episodes ever!\",\n \"Product: REFLECTIONS AND WARNINGS\\nALEX JONES INTERVIEWS AARON RUSSO\\n\\nDESCRIPTION:\\nIn an historic final interview, filmmaker and music promoter Aaron Russo goes in depth on the insider-knowledge given to him by a member of the Rockefeller family. Russo was told-- prior to 9/11-- of plans to stage terror attacks, invade foreign nations, and kickstart a high-tech police state control grid that would track the populations' every move with implantable RFID microchips.\\n\\nThis information-packed presentation is filled with never-before seen footage. Throughout the film, Alex Jones breaks down the latest activities of the New World Order and how it ties into what Russo predicted.\\n\\nAaron explains how the elite created the women's liberation movement to break up the family and tax working women. Russo breaks down the deception of democracy-- which is nothing more than mob rule guaranteed to produce tyranny.\\n\\nRusso also exposes the IRS & Federal Reserve. He blasts the unconstitutional and predatory institutions that have crippled the American Republic and crushed the people with bogus taxes, inflation and loss of privacy. Russo explains that he himself was persecuted in the late 80s by a criminal 'retroactive' tax scheme that attempted to levy new taxes on years already passed.\\n\\nAs night falls on the Republic, Aaron Russo delivers a powerful call for the forces of liberty to rise and crush tyranny. Only then can the Republic be restored.\\n\\n\\nTHIS DVD INCLUDES:\\n\\n- Never-before seen behind the scenes footage\\n- An exclusive interview with Aaron about his life\\n- Aaron Russo radio interviews from the Alex Jones Show\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Must watch for every American/every human in its FULL form\\n\\nReview: Part of this has existed on the internet for years. It is an absolute must own for anyone seeking the real truth behind the atrocities and crimes against humanity by the world's hidden elite/ruling class, the tyranny we are up against as a society, and the ruling classes agenda for a dark new world order future. This and Alex Jone's \\\"End Game,\\\" Russo's \\\"Freedom to Fascism\\\" and also perhaps the Zeitgeist films are the most important documentaries and pieces of knowledge available to us. Everyone needs to watch them with an open mind for any chance of avoiding a dark age - As heavy handed as it sounds, it is, unfortunately, true, and you must see it for yourself.\\nFor the skeptics I only have one thing to say - don't let fear of truth and conditioning cloud your vision and chance to reprogram yourself, and lead you to the so easily delusional conclusion of \\\"conspiracy theory,\\\" that so easily discards and casts away all facts, simply because they are so horrific and difficult to believe given our social upbringing.\",\n \"Product: SAMSUNG's quick charging technology allows you to use your mobile phone while it is charging. The SAMSUNG travel charger plugs into any standard wall outlet. The compact and durable design makes it convenient to charge your battery while home or on the go. Features: Detachable USB Data Cable - USB cable can be used to charge from any USB port. Package Contents: Wall Charger, USB Cable. Compatible with the following Samsung models: Zeal SCH-U750, SPH-M340, SGH-T255G, Jitterbug J SPH-A310, Sunburst SGH-A697, SGH-T105g, SGH-T139, Gravity SGH-T459 (not compatible with newer Gravity Models), Convoy SCH-U640,\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Works great, great value, nice inclusion of wall charger transformation adapter\\n\\nReview: This charger serves many purposes -\\n\\n1. It allows you to charge your samsung compatible phone via PC though a USB outlet\\n2. (and send data depending on what phone your using),\\n3. it also serves as a regular wall charger since it comes with the transforming wall charger adapter that plugs into the USB end of the cable,\\n4. and, if you have a USB adapter for your car liter / 9 volt outlet, you can use this as a car charger!\\n\\nFor use number 4, Just plug it into your phone and into the USB adapter for your car outlet, which are available fairly cheaply (normally for under 10 dollars on your average electronics accessory rack, or probably even cheaper on amazon... I actually found one at a dollar store for, you guessed it, one dollar, and it is perfectly functioning and has two USB outlets! Either way, you can get one fairly cheaply).\\n\\nGiven the multi-purpose qualities of this product and the price, I have to give it a solid five star rating and suggest it to anyone that has a samsung compatible phone. PLUS... If I ever lose my wall adapter, I've got one, I can charge via PC (and send data), and I can charge it in the car - didn't need to buy a car charger! (does require a 9 volt cigarette lighter outlet to USB adapter, however, as mentioned).\",\n \"Product: If you want to buy a durable, affordable smart phone with plenty of interesting features, the Straight Talk Samsung T528G GSM Prepaid Smartphone is a great option. Features such as Wi-Fi connectivity and 3G let you connect to your world even if you are on the go. Capture memorable moments with this video-capable 3G smart phone that comes with a 2 megapixel camera. You can save up to 2000 entries in the phone book. The large 3.0\\\" touch screen allows you to access menu and other features with ease. With nearly six hours of talk time and ten hours of standby, the Straight Talk GSM Phone is a great choice for people who are looking for a smart phone at an inexpensive price. This prepaid phone kit comes with a battery, charger, and a service guide.\\n\\nFeatures:\\nMP3 player\\nVoice recorder\\nSpeakerphone\\n2,000 entry phone directory\\nBluetooth wireless technology\\n3G connectivity\\nWi-Fi connectivity\\nMobile web services\\n2 megapixel camera\\nVideo capable\\nApp capable\\nMicroSD card slot\\nGravity sensor/tilt and shake\\nTalk Time: Up to 6 h\\nStand-by Time: Up to 10 days\\n3.0 inch touchscreen\\nSMS and MMS\\nBattery\\nCharger\\nServices guide\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: An excellent phone for the price despite negative reviews\\n\\nReview: UPDATED 2/17/13\\nThis phone has received a considerable amount of negative reviews - compared against similar phones of the same price range, this is an excellent phone. Many of the negative reviewers seem to obviously be expecting the features of a $200 phone from a $80 Trac phone (UPDATE: Thanks to a commenter the Walmart retail of this phone is now only $28. I have not verified this, but if that be the case, this phone is an INCREDIBLE VALUE).\\n\\nFirst off the OS on this system is NOT AN ANDROID (it is a Windows based OS), and it is technically NOT A SMART PHONE but has MANY of the features of a smart phone. The browser is Dolphin, used by many Android based phones, so it is a decent browser, with some things you can do, some things you cannot. The phone supports some apps, others it does not...\\n\\nThis phone is a 3G pseudo-smart phone (it has many of the qualities of a smart phone but is technically not one because it lacks a few things, all of which I will mention) with a mid-sized touch screen and runs a Windows based operating system, as opposed to Android, for instance. The screen flips so it can be viewed horizontally or vertically in any screen/view, and texts can be done via regular virtual phone keys or a horizontal virtual keyboard. It is not loaded with apps, but has pre-loaded practical apps that will be covered in this review, as well as additional optional apps available from samsung... it doesn't have nearly the available apps of say an iPhone, which, while they are very very cool, especially things like, for instance, meditation breathing apps to transportation apps, mimic police scanners, and dining/store finders/reviews, and apps that allow you to practically run full programs, etc., however, for the value, the apps available (some installed with the phone, others available via samsung) are within reason and, like I said, are predominately very practical ones, and it also has a sizable amount of available game downloads as well, which run pretty well on this phone's CPU. It includes a decent but not an excellent dolphin based browser, facebook app (w/facebook sync option), an MP3 player, voice recorder, wi-fi capability, downloadable games, email sync, etc., and, again, other samsung apps are available for download. It is bluetooth compatible, and has wifi (which works excellently - when I'm at home or somewhere with free wifi I have no problem using it so I don't use up any of my data plan, which, btw, the 3G data plan on straight talk for $30 is generous - one reviewer had a problem with the wifi but likely was not finding a close enough signal). It also has manageable widgets for your apps that you can place on your phone's home screen(s)... 3 home screens you can slide through, and customize each with whatever widgets you want for quick app access as well as a different wallpaper/photos for each home screen.\\n\\nOne reviewer complained that it does not have a GPS option - there is a legal \\\"hack\\\" where you can get GPS on it by paying via a separate plan - you would have to do your own research. If GPS is a big thing for you and you're not a techie, this phone may not be for you. I have mapquest bookmarked on my browser as an alternative. It has very intuitive voice recognition app that has worked great for me, just as good as an iPhone, it is excellent for dialing in the car without actually dialing and then just using the speaker phone, for instance... however it will not type a text for you via voice (it will bring the create text screen up and address it, but won't type it by your voice, but, again, for 90 (28?) bucks it's awesome that it has the voice recognition features it has). It has a Micro SD card slot that can hold up to a 64 gig card (a very expensive card, however, the 32 gigs you can get for around $15, name brand Sandisk, if you shop around amazon - I have dozens of tv shows, and full length movies, and tons of pics and other docs and MUSIC as the phone can be used as an mp3 player and for viewing video) plus plenty of phone memory - It also has a SIM card you can save/backup contacts to. It takes photo and video and for only 2 mega pixel (I think) it is very decent quality (If you plan on taking regular video you should definitely purchase a micro SD card of 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB size). There is no zoom or flash, but there are video and photo effects you can apply. You can watch video on it (I've put movies and TV shows on it using format factory (reformat files using mobile phone setting) and they play and look and sound perfect). You can also stream video via the browser which has Flash but it has some limitations... read on) It works great as an MP3 player in the car, through headphones, speakers, or even through the phones speaker which goes to a decent volume, and although the PC sync is limited (you can't sync your contacts or back them up via data cable, or some other sync options - however - you can do this through straight talk website), you can sync it to your PC via data cable to read and manage your SD card data. You can also use a data cable to use the MP3 player (or just use the line out/headphone jack), and to charge the phone.\\n\\nIt has all the expected contact and phone personalization features you would expect from a normal phone, downloadable ringtones as well as the option to make any audio file (from the phone's audio recorder or MP3s on SD) a personalized or general ringtone, provided it is short enough (I've used Audacity to make my own snipets of songs and put them on the SD card for purpose of ringtone), it has a speakerphone and hands free of course as well as bluetooth as I mentioned, and all other contact personalizations (photo and ring personalization for each contact, customizable voice command for each contact, etc.) The phone charges INCREDIBLY quickly via the normal wall charger, and the charge lasts for a long time, even when you watch videos and use apps, browser, etc. (another user complained about battery life - I have had the exact opposite experience, and have had the phone for many months).\\n\\nA couple things about the browser - for not running Android or iPhone, its pretty decent. However, it only supports Flash on certain levels... regular sites are no problem, but you tube does not work from the phone's network, but will work via wi-fi (i.e. when you have wi-fi on and are picking up a home pc network for instance or at a coffee shop, McDonalds, school, etc.), and I was a bit disappointed when I found out it would not support Pandora... its a fairly simple program to run as it is just audio stream (I have not tried this via wifi). It is not compatible with the Pandora mobile app unfortunately either... oh well...\\n\\nThe only other reasonable complaint about this phone, which is blown out of proportion by some other reviewers, is problems with the touch screen... It is not the most intuitive touch screen by any means... It is difficult to get used to at first and not as easy as others off the bat, but as with any phone, it merely takes some getting used to and you eventually use it as fast as any other phone. In many ways, for 100 bucks or less (now presumably only about 30), it rivals an Android, early iPhone, or basic smart phone... with a plan of 30 dollars a month for 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and 30mb of data time, it's unbeatable, and the unlimited plan is only $45. The Android for Straight Talk is much more money and you can only do the unlimited plan with the Android, and I am very happy with the $30 plan, so I chose this phone and am very very happy with it. Samsung I think, next to Nokia, makes the best quality phones out there. There is a similar model that is actually cheaper but has an actual flip out keyboard and a touch screen - I chose this phone, however, because it has a larger touch screen.\\n\\nOne of the only apps I do miss is Skype - this phone has no skype option. For 100 bucks, I don't expect a flash on the camera. Speaking of the word \\\"flash\\\" the limited Flash capabilities are no big deal to me but might be to others that want youtube and other streaming video on their phone anywhere (many sites, however, like yahoo and other major sites will stream video on this phone just fine however)... As mentioned, I miss the pandora option, but it holds tons of music with an SD card. It does not support Drop Box app, which is no big deal since you can put whatever docs you want on it anyway. A zoom and flash would be nice but again for the price its unbeatable. To round up the negatives, again GPS is only available via a legal hack, and like I said before, but mapquest will work, and the PC sync options are limited, as is the voice recognition. In addition, there are a couple of settings that are not adjustable, such as alerts, e.g. you cannot turn off and on the beep alert when you receive a new text or voice message, except by putting the phone in full silent mode.\\n\\nOther than that, I feel like I got more than my money's worth. Like I said, its just a small step down from the Android, for me, anyway, and the features that you may miss are all in this paragraph, but, and not to be redundant, the value is great.\\n\\nUPDATE: Someone asked about games. Their are downloadable games, but I can't comment on their quality since I never got any since I have a 3ds and a Vita.\",\n \"Product: LG Optimus L90 D415 4G GSM Android Smartphone, T-Mobile, Grey\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Dynamite phone with all the options most phone users need with ease of use, competitive with much pricier phones\\n\\nReview: This phone is perfect for almost any user.\\nIt is compatible with all your Android apps, and comes with a good bunch pre-installed, although most users will want to add more.\\nIt is INCREDIBLY easy to use. I had a 3g \\\"pseudo\\\" smart phone before this one, touch screen, limited apps, sort of mimicked a smart phone but had limited browser capabilities and very limited apps and a Dolphin microsoft browser, so this was a big step up for me.\\nBack to this phone:\\nThe browser is very very easy to use and chrome based. It also has another browser, works well. Again, it has everything you need while being easier to use than, for example, an i-Phone.\\nEverything is personalizable, the camera is very nice at 4 mega pixels and comes with a flash and takes stills and video, there is also an inner camera for selfies and pictures with friends, and a voice recorder for voice memos.\\nYou can sync your contacts, easy backup, easy communication between phone and PC and it comes with a wall charger that doubles as a USB data chord.\\nIt has an option for local wifi, which you can use dependent on the limits of your plan or just to get better bandwidth, although I haven't had streaming problems on the Tmoblie 4g network as of yet. You can make your own ringtones by putting them in the right format with something like format factory and loading them or simply download the app \\\"Ringtone Maker\\\" - I HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT APP.\\nNetwork tethering works awesome. I've used it when I'm playing a game on my 3DS that requires a network hookup and I'm not at home or someplace with free wifi. I also used it once when our internet was off. It provides a good amount of bandwidth for your other devices when needed.\\nIt is GPS compatible. It has a built in \\\"Maps\\\" app that pinpoints your location and can find another and give a linear direction, very basic, but it is compatible with much more complex GPS apps that will tell you where to go verbally, etc. I've used both with no problems.\\nGood sound in and out from the speakerphone.\\nBluetooth compatible.\\nGood app for MP3 player, will accept songs from your SD or direct from PC, can send to the jack in your car or an FM transmitter, whatever you've got.\\nSeems to be a decent phone for games, I can't comment much on it as I haven't tried any games yet. Lots of free ones available on Google Play (btw this is a T-Mobile phone)\\nYou can add a micro SD card for more data, up to 32gb.\\nDropbox and other similar apps work well on it, good way to put MP3s or pics on it as well, even documents - it can read and display a lot of different formats of docs, Pandora works great, so does you tube and Netflix.\\nVideo streaming is above average.\\nThis phone is also Skype compatible... I've installed it and it works on an average level. I've had some people say they couldn't hear me very well.\\nIt has 5 customizable home screens to glide through. You can customize the apps/widgets on those screens, the background photo, etc.\\nThe phone has voice command options, such as voice recognition for text or anything you're writing like a memo, a calendar entry, whatever. It works great and I think it is a self learning one as it seems to have gotten better. I love this feature.\\nThe before-mentioned essentially contains the pros... the only cons are as follows:\\nCons:\\n I've had it misinterpret my viewing perspective a lot and it goes horizontal when I don't want it to. Not all the time, but enough, so I shut it off and I just use it vertically.\\n It is true that the internal storage out of the box is 4 gigs not 8, as 8 is what it has before the pre-installed apps, etc. you almost\\n have to get an additional micro SD card for it.\\n The phone does apparently overheat over 60 percent brightness. This is no issue for me, however, 60 percent brightness is PLENTY bright, so its\\n not much of an issue unless you like your phone to be super, ultra bright, which is unneeded and wastes battery. I think the default is\\n like 60 percent which looks bright to me, so even brighter would hurt my eyes. I've never gone above 60 because I don't need to so I really don't know if it's true.\\nOverall rating is still a five star because of its functionality, ease of use and personalization.\\nI've read some of the lower reviews and am surprised. These people obviously got buggy phones and should of got them replaced. The model is fine.\\nIt can run a little expensive but not overly considering it is just as good as some 300 dollar phones I've looked at and tried out... with a contract this phone is usually pretty inexpensive.\",\n \"Product: The Optimus L90 features a magnificent qHD multi-touchscreen allows you to enjoy your favorite media in clear, and immersive detail.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: This phone is perfect for almost any user\\n\\nReview: This phone is perfect for almost any user.\\nIt is compatible with all your Android apps, and comes with a good bunch pre-installed, although most users will want to add more.\\nIt is INCREDIBLY easy to use. I had a 3g \\\"pseudo\\\" smart phone before this one, touch screen, limited apps, sort of mimicked a smart phone but had limited browser capabilities and very limited apps and a Dolphin microsoft browser, so this was a big step up for me.\\nBack to this phone:\\nThe browser is very very easy to use and chrome based. Again, it has everything you need while being easier to use than, for example, an i-Phone.\\nEverything is personalizable, the camera is very nice at 4 mega pixels and comes with a flash and takes stills and video, there is also an inner camera for selfies and pictures with friends, and a voice recorder for voice memos.\\nYou can sync your contacts, easy backup, easy communication between phone and PC and it comes with a wall charger that doubles as a USB data chord.\\nIt has an option for local wifi, which you can use dependent on the limits of your plan or just to get better bandwidth, although I haven't had streaming problems on the Tmoblie 4g network as of yet. You can make your own ringtones by putting them in the right format with something like format factory and loading them or simply download the app \\\"Ringtone Maker\\\" - I HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT APP.\\nNetwork tethering works awesome. I've used it when I'm playing a game on my 3DS that requires a network hookup and I'm not at home or someplace with free wifi. I also used it once when our internet was off. It provides a good amount of bandwidth for your other devices when needed.\\nIt has GPS, in fact that is one of the line items in the description of this phone, although I have not used it yet.\\nGood sound in and out from the speakerphone.\\nBluetooth compatible.\\nGood app for MP3 player, will accept songs from your SD or direct from PC.\\nA ton of free and cheap, good games available, I can't comment too much on it as I haven't tried many games yet, but the phone seems intuitive in terms of games that require phone movement...\\nYou can add a micro SD card for more data, up to 32gb.\\nDropbox and other similar apps work well on it, good way to put MP3s or pics on it as well, though I've mostly been using Pandora lately.\\nVideo streaming is above average.\\nThis phone is also Skype compatible... I've installed it but haven't used it yet, though.\\nIt has 5 customizable home screens to glide through. You can customize the apps/widgets, the background photo, etc.\\nThe phone has voice command options, such as talk text. I haven't checked into that feature yet. I'm not sure about dialing voice command.\\nIt has a good amount of physical reverb on the buttons when typing... I'm not sure if that is an adjustable feature as far as how strong or how light the vibration is when you press buttons, but the default is good.\\nIt doesn't come with a flashlight app but you can certainly download one, which is good for multiple \\\"applications\\\" no pun intended, not only as a flashlight but also to use for brightening slides and photographing them, for instance.\\nThe before-mentioned essentially contains the pros... the only cons are as follows:\\nCons:\\nI've had it misinterpret my viewing perspective a lot and it goes horizontal when I don't want it to. Not all the time, but enough\\nthat it is worth mentioning. so i turned the auto flip off, i don't know how to manually flip it, but I don't really use the phone horizontally, except for photos, which this doesn't affect.\\nIt is true that the internal storage out of the box is 4 gigs not 8, as 8 is what it has before the pre-installed apps, etc. you almost\\nhave to get an additional micro SD card for it.\\nThe phone does apparently overheat over 60 percent brightness. This is an issue, however 60 percent brightness is PLENTY bright, so its\\nnot much of an issue unless you like your phone to be super, ultra bright, which is unneeded and wastes battery. I think the default is\\nlike 40 percent which looks normal to me, so you can go even brighter than that without a problem.\\nOverall rating is still a five star because of its functionality, ease of use and personalization.\\nI've read some of the lower reviews and am surprised. These people obviously got buggy phones and should of got them replaced. The model is fine.\\nIt can run a little expensive but not overly considering it is just as good as some 300 dollar phones I've looked at and tried out... with a contract this phone is usually pretty inexpensive.\",\n \"Product: This Schumacher Instant Portable Power Source has a built-in charger for automatic charging of the internal battery; just connect an extension cord to the plug to recharge (cord not included). The battery status LEDs tell when a battery is charged or needs to be charged. The Sure-Grip Clamps fit both top and side-mount batteries. The cable will stay flexible in the coldest weather. A maintenance-free, sealed lead acid battery allow for storage in any position.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Buyer beware: You Get What You Pay For\\n\\nReview: You get what you pay for. This unit worked for about a year. Now it will only take a very small charge - there is a button that shows the level with 3 colors, red, yellow, and green - the cells in it are obviously not that good, it will not charge past level one anymore. It will only jump if the battery needs a small kick to turn over the car and it is a good battery that just got worn down with a dome light or something. the handles for the jumpers are also cheap. The light is decent. There is no on and off switch, which is an indicator of a cheaper model, too. Buy something slightly more expensive with a five star average, you'll be glad.\",\n \"Product: SOUNDTRACK GREAT BALLS OF FIRE\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Review of the soundtrack, not the film, as it should be!\\n\\nReview: Most of the reviews under this product are reviews of the film, not of the soundtrack. This is another thing that bothers me about some reviewers on amazon, along with people who complain about shipping in a review (seller comments are appropriate in a review sometimes, but only in how they relate directly to the product), and people who turn the comment option into a back and forth personal fight blog.\\n\\nAnyway, review the product, in this case the soundtrack not the film...\\n\\nAfter that sound-off, I'd like to say that this is a finely put together soundtrack. It is true to the music and versions actually in the film as a soundtrack should be, i.e It has the versions played in the film, and it includes some of the songs by other musicians that also were played in the film, e.g. Booker T. Laury's version of the classic Big Legged Woman (\\\"Beg Legged Woman\\\") written by Champion Jack Dupree / Israel Tolbert and popularized by Jimmy Reed and other blues greats, Valerie Wellington on Whole Lotta Shakin,' it even has the mix of Crazy Arms with Lewis and Quaid. It also begins with Great Balls of Fire as played in the movie and ends with the album version. It also has songs that were in the movie that Lewis is not known for doing but appeared in the sound track, like Jackin Brenston and the Delta Cats doing Rocket 88.\\n\\nI LOVE the fact that they are very true to the film especially by using the recorded version of Lucky Old Sun that appears in the film - Lewis recorded several versions, and this is my FAVORITE... ...in the movie. In the others he sings the classic lyrics, in this one he adds a little personal touches, such as \\\"Wash Jerry Lee's troubles away\\\" instead of my troubles.\\\"\\n\\nThis album gets 4 stars instead of 5 though because it is short and could be longer - there were more songs in the film both by Jerry and especially by other musicians. One of the Lewis songs missing is his version of Big Legged Woman which I'm pretty sure was also in the film, and tons of songs by other musicians, though it does highlight some of the good ones. Also, I like how the album is almost chronological and it works that way, but it's off especially at the end, for instance Lucky Old Sun appears in the film before Wild One (which is the last song in the film). Perhaps they thought album-wise it would flow better the way they did it. This is a smaller complaint and much more subjective, but the album should have been longer, and, the cover is ridiculous... terrible font and a silly shot of Quaid as a young Jerry Lee that looks nothing like Lewis, even a young Lewis. I don't know if they were trying to market to a younger crowd, or what, but the artwork in general is terrible.\\n\\nAnyway, aside from the shortness of the slbum, it's fantastic.\",\n \"Product: Out-of-print in the US. Originally released in 1992. Universal.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A Redeeming Album from a (former?) Pop Hair Metal Band\\n\\nReview: Extreme was indeed part of the 2nd wave hair metal bands that stood out because that was the garbage pop that was selling at the time - just like all of pop music - it is the image that is more important, and back then it was long hair and borrowed riffs from real metal with bad solos inserted wherever they felt like it... their first (or second?) album was awful except for the minor songwriting prowess behind More than Words. They had an amazing guitarist, but so did Ratt!\\n\\nWhile I found that the 3 side thing was a little gimmicky, and it didn't totally work (each \\\"side\\\" wasn't different enough but also fluid enough from one to the next at the same time) I do give them credit for what they did with this album. I think Extreme III deserves not five stars, but a huge pat on the back as an attempt to do something different and worthwhile. There are great songs on the album such as Rest In Peace, Politicalamity, Tragic Comic, Am I Ever Gonna Change, and more. True, I think it was an overrated album at a 5 star average here and overrated by the music community in general, but they were going for something different (and better than the garbage they had previously put out) and I think they succeeded. To what level? At least three 1/2 stars, I would say. but I round it up to four since 1/2 stars aren't available here.\\n\\nI think the album stands on its own and that is one of its strengths... the songs are very original.\\nThe tone of the guitar is perfect, and, Nuno's craft truly shines, Gary Cherone's voice sounds good for once.\\n\\nExtreme III stood out for all those reasons and more and deserves its recognition.\",\n \"Product: This began as a thank you from Tim to Rancid fans, to be released one track at a time on the Internet to tide fans over until the next Rancid full-length. But when KROQ in LA began heavily playing the explosive track, \\\"Into Action\\\", plans changed. So here's Armstrong's first solo release, backed by some of the strongest radio support since the days of \\\"Time Bomb\\\" and \\\"Ruby Soho\\\". With a killer old-school two-tone groove, helped along by Hellcat label mates The Aggrolites, \\\"A Poet's Life\\\" is loose, punky, infectious, and shamelessly danceable. Bonus DVD features videos of every song and a cool featurette on the making of the album and videos.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Long Awaited full-on reggae effort displays Armstong's roots\\n\\nReview: This was a long awaited album that finally displays Armstrong's ska/reggae roots full on... Rancid's Life won't wait, albeit a great album in and of itself, leaves a feeling of an identity crisis instead of a harmonious fusion, while this album is Armstrong really going at reggae straight on without a punk fusion, with wonderful dashes of Desmond Dekker and Joe Strummer, and couldn't be more natural sounding songwriting. When I heard \\\"Policeman\\\" under the name of \\\"The Silencers\\\" on the first \\\"Give 'em the boot\\\" album I thought \\\"I want more of this,\\\" and this album finally delivers that. I found this album to be enjoyable throughout, not totally solid, but rather with only a couple of weaker tunes. While its true tracks 1-3 are the strongest songwriting wise, I can rock to this record the whole way through without a skip. The other great thing is you don't have to be a Rancid, Op Ivy or Transplants song to love this album. While that doesn't apply to me... I really love just about every effort from Op Ivy, Rancid and The Transplants, for those that don't but like more straight-on ska/reggae, this is a fantastic effort that many will love. While I'm not quite old enough to have seen Op Ivy live - I think Tim is about 6 years older than me - I remember when Let's Go was first released and seeing Rancid perform at Chicago's once respectable The Metro - back when that was a good venue. And for the reviewers that feel like Armstrong has somehow sold out or lost his way on this album because its not \\\"punk,\\\" well, that's not really even worth addressing since this sort of songwriting is part of the very essence of Tim Armstrong, and couldn't be more natural!\",\n \"Product: In the Spring of 1970, poet Charles Bukowski packed his overnight bag and took a plane ride to Washington to read at Bellevue Community College. This reading was videotaped in black and white by two students and the film lay forgotten for 18 years. Although technically shaky the film captures Bukowski at his best.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: NOTHING ON DISC, blank, Good reading though.\\n\\nReview: I always preach that product feedback is for the actual product and any problems with the shipping or a damaged product should go in seller feedback. This is a decent black and white video of a reading, I watched it on youtube then downloaded it.... heck I may as well burn it to the blank disc they sent me, its a CDRW. so you see this is a gray area as to wear to post this warning. I don't want the average to go down on the actual \\\"Bukowski at Bellevue\\\" recording, also hence the three stars, as they won't allow seller feedback on Amazon items. THERE WAS NOTHING ON DISC. I tried it on two DVD players, a newer HDMI sony and an older cheapy Sanyo AV connected player and neither worked. I put it in my PC and discovered it was a BLANK DVD-RW. So I found the film on a torrent and like I said, may as well burn it to the cheap blank DVD-RW they sent me. WORTH THE CASE AND THE BLANK DISC ONLY.\",\n \"Product: Conway Twitty (1933 -1993) was one of the US's most successful country music artists of the 20th century. He had the most singles (55) reach Number 1 on various national music charts. Most commonly thought of as a country music singer, he also enjoyed success in early Rock and Roll, R&B, and Pop music (among others).\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Best of Conway Twitty Rockabilly\\n\\nReview: If you want an album that features the best of Conway's early, rockabilly tunes, this one is it. The MGM Years is a great compilation of some of his earliest hits and the rockabilly style that he somewhat abandoned after his first few albums for a more traditional country sound.\\nWhile I appreciate some of Twitty's more country efforts which made up the bulk of his career (how can you not love \\\"Hello Darlin\\\"?), my favorites are all the hard swingin' rock and roll tunes of his early days that remind me a lot of Johnny Burnette's \\\"non-mainstream\\\" rockabilly stuff that never got played, except for perhaps the infamous sexual innuendo filled \\\"Train Kept 'a Rollin'\\\" which was later popularized by Aerosmith, which is a horrible version if you've heard the original.\\nEven if you've never been into Conway Twitty or didn't know that he had a rockabilly era to his career, if you're a rockabilly fan, pick this up.\",\n \"Product: Maximize your daily efficiency with the PIXMA MX472 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer. The PIXMA MX472 excels in connectivity. With Google Cloud Print and Air Print, you can print wirelessly from your compatible smartphone or tablet from virtually anywhere around the office. It's loaded with timesaving features as well, including an automatic document feeder which holds up to 30 sheets. And when it comes time to change ink or add paper, the Fast Front feature makes it quick and easy-right at the front of the printer! Plus, the optional XL or XXL pigment black ink cartridges mean you can print longer before having to replace your cartridges.;;Another great feature of the PIXMA MX472 is My Image Garden software. My Image Garden puts all your favorite printing features, such as Special Filters and full HD Movie Print, in one convenient software application. It helps you organize your photos with calendar view and facial recognition.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: INFLATED PRICE, Paper jams, system issues...\\n\\nReview: I paid FORTY DOLLARS for this printer just before last Christmas ON AMAZON. That is about what this printer is worth. Though it is multi-purpose and has wi-fi capability, there are tons of flaws.\\nThe first and the biggest is paper jams. To say it short and simply, it jams up all the time, and you end up spending 10 minutes making sure you get every bit of paper out, afraid that you might have to take the thing a part (I haven't had to do that)\\nSecondly, it has issues with switching from the secondary functions such as scan, copy, fax... back to print. It took me forever to get it off copy and back on to what should be the default setting, print.\\nFinally, the wifi screws up intermittently. I finally just plugged it in to my computer via USB.\\n\\nAgain, a huge bargain for what I paid for it, but do not buy this printer for the price listed which right now is $145... 3 1/2 times the price I paid and a pretty penny. I'm still happy I got it, but only because I got it for 40 DOLLARS NEW OFF OF AMAZON LAST YEAR.\",\n \"Product: Brand: Grover\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Great for beginner Spoon Players\\n\\nReview: Cool for beginning spoon players... once you become advanced, you don't need the bottom par to hold them together, because you become apt at doing that yourself. It is a neat musician's gadget to have, though, for anyone who plays a main instrument, particularly in this case drums and percussion, but likes to have gadgets around. I actually bought them for my girlfriend who is a pianist but incredibly talented at backup percussion and other small instruments like tambourine, bongos, spoons, jaw harp, harmonica, etc. Again, she didn't really need them since she can play well enough without the connection at the end, but it was a fun gift to give and is excellent for beginner players that want to learn the spoons.\",\n \"Product: Compatible with NES games, plus a variety of GFactor-5 game cartridges, the GFactor 5 delivers hours of old-school fun.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Cheaply made but works perfectly.\\n\\nReview: Good value - I payed 13.00 for a new one at a local record store that sells movies and games as well. It did not come with five games though, just the gun, controllers, AC adapter, AV cables and the unit of course. It is pretty shoddy construction, but the fact is, it works. It is a top loader, very small. btw You must use the controllers that come with it. I tried plugging in an original NES controller and it did not work... My friend lost my original NES in his attic but I found some extra controllers for it. Only issue is that I had to tape the back of the AC adapter back on... it fell off shortly after getting it. Again, shoddy construction, but it works perfectly.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":55,"string":"55"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":93,"string":"93"}}},{"rowIdx":94,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A93AYSDMVYD8W"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"Produced by FOGERTY, one of rock's most important artists and a national treasure who s sold over 100 million records, WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE is a celebration of his iconic songbook and a collection of 12 classics and deep tracks from his remarkable canon of hits as well as two brand new songs, Mystic Highway and Train of Fools. FOGERTY performed alongside an array of today's biggest superstars from the country, pop and rock worlds including Foo Fighters, Bob Seger, Keith Urban, Jennifer Hudson, Kid Rock, Brad Paisley, the Zac Brown Band, My Morning Jacket, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert and more. The album also sees FOGERTY teaming with an acclaimed new band like Dawes, who were eager to acknowledge the groundbreaking songwriter/guitarist's titanic influence. FOGERTY also recorded his classic Lodi with his sons Shane and Tyler Fogerty at Abbey Road Studios in London.\". The summary of the review text is \"Not perfect, but still very, very good!\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I have to admit that I approached this album with some trepidation, after all, we are talking Creedence Classics, and any re-working of those great songs are sure to ruffle some feathers. As it turns out, there was no need for concern, for it has been managed very, very well. Mind you, it's not without its faults, but these are minimal & seem more related to who performs with Fogerty, rather than the production of the numbers, which on a scale of 1-10, I would rate a 9.5. The variety of supporting performers is interesting to say the least, & sadly, there are some who seem totally out of place here, with the result that some of the numbers do disappoint. 'Fortunate Son' is one of the great Creedence songs, but the presence of the Foo Fighters fails to render it the awesome rock re-make that perhaps Steven Tyler & Aerosmith could have. Similarly, Kid Rock fails to lift 'Born On The Bayou\" above the level of average, while the inclusion of Dawes in 'Someday never Comes', results in the album's greatest disappointment. The album would have been better served if Fogerty had gone this one alone. On the plus side, the rest of the album is excellent, with each of the supporting artists combining with Fogerty to show that there are times when you can improve on greatness. The album's 'new' Fogerty songs, 'Mystic Highway' & 'Train of Fools', show that he has lost none of his songwriting talent & is still a force to be reckoned with in the world of rock'n'roll. As for the other tracks, Miranda Lambert proves her worth yet again on the title track, Brad Paisley adds his superb guitar playing skills to Hot Rod Heart (to great effect), Alan Jackson is as accomplished as ever on 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain', the Zac Brown Band are an outstanding addition to 'Bad Moon Rising', and finally, Jennifer Hudson proves once again that she has one of the best voices on the planet on the album's stand-out track (in my humble opinion), 'Proud Mary'. Her soaring voice, along with accompaniment from Fogerty, Allen Toussaint, & the Rebirth Brass band, and an outstanding re-arrangement of this classic number, provide a superb finale to an album, that while not perfect, is still very, very, very good. Despite its flaws (and what album doesn't have flaws), it deserves the five stars given to it. And judging by the comments already lodged, I'm certainly not in the minority for saying so."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I have to admit that I approached this album with some trepidation, after all, we are talking Creedence Classics, and any re-working of those great songs are sure to ruffle some feathers. As it turns out, there was no need for concern, for it has been managed very, very well. Mind you, it's not without its faults, but these are minimal & seem more related to who performs with Fogerty, rather than the production of the numbers, which on a scale of 1-10, I would rate a 9.5. The variety of supporting performers is interesting to say the least, & sadly, there are some who seem totally out of place here, with the result that some of the numbers do disappoint. 'Fortunate Son' is one of the great Creedence songs, but the presence of the Foo Fighters fails to render it the awesome rock re-make that perhaps Steven Tyler & Aerosmith could have. Similarly, Kid Rock fails to lift 'Born On The Bayou\" above the level of average, while the inclusion of Dawes in 'Someday never Comes', results in the album's greatest disappointment. The album would have been better served if Fogerty had gone this one alone. On the plus side, the rest of the album is excellent, with each of the supporting artists combining with Fogerty to show that there are times when you can improve on greatness. The album's 'new' Fogerty songs, 'Mystic Highway' & 'Train of Fools', show that he has lost none of his songwriting talent & is still a force to be reckoned with in the world of rock'n'roll. As for the other tracks, Miranda Lambert proves her worth yet again on the title track, Brad Paisley adds his superb guitar playing skills to Hot Rod Heart (to great effect), Alan Jackson is as accomplished as ever on 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain', the Zac Brown Band are an outstanding addition to 'Bad Moon Rising', and finally, Jennifer Hudson proves once again that she has one of the best voices on the planet on the album's stand-out track (in my humble opinion), 'Proud Mary'. Her soaring voice, along with accompaniment from Fogerty, Allen Toussaint, & the Rebirth Brass band, and an outstanding re-arrangement of this classic number, provide a superb finale to an album, that while not perfect, is still very, very, very good. Despite its flaws (and what album doesn't have flaws), it deserves the five stars given to it. And judging by the comments already lodged, I'm certainly not in the minority for saying so."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James' true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: How war films should be made.\n\nReview: This is a classic example of how good movies should be made, & it's heartening to see that this superb example of film making, has been directed by a woman. But is is good enough to garner the Oscars for Best Film & Director. Absolutely! However, since the Academy has never awarded the Best Director statuette to a woman in the past, the odds are truly against Kathryn Bigelow. However, if it's to happen, then this is the film to bring it off. It's an exceptional piece of film making in every aspect. Great story, great cinematography, great acting, & exceptional directing. Bigelow brings it all together beautifully. It's simply the best war film I've seen since Full Metal Jacket. There's none of the patriotic graveside scenes that spoilt Saving Private Ryan, & none of the extreme blood & gore scenes so prevalent in most of the recently made war films. Amazingly, they have managed to produce a brilliant war film, that presents the horror & dangers of war, without the endless blood-letting. A great cinematic experience that no fan of this genre should miss.","Product: Liam Neeson stars in A Walk Among the Tombstones, an action-thriller based on Lawrence Block's bestselling series of mystery novels. Neeson plays Matt Scudder, an ex-cop turned unlicensed private investigator who reluctantly agrees to help a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens, TV's Downton Abbey) hunt down the men who brutally murdered his wife. When the PI learns that this is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that these men have committed this sort of twisted crime, he must blur the line between right and wrong as he races to track the deviants through the backstreets of New York City before they kill again.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: That's all I can say about Scott Frank's adaptation of what must be one of Lawrence Block's best Matt Scudder mysteries\n\nReview: Liam delivers, but the film fails. That's all I can say about Scott Frank's adaptation of what must be one of Lawrence Block's best Matt Scudder mysteries. And that's a pity. No fault of the actors mind you, they do their best with a script that fails to convey the meat in Block's great story. Block is one of my favourite writers; he shared the stage with the late Bob Parker as America's greatest crime writers - in a class by themselves. And while I agree totally with casting Neeson as Scudder, Frank fails with a dismal interpretation of the story, and directing that is mundane at best. The film simply fails to grip the viewer as it should. The bad guys, despite their horrendous crimes, are given no depth of character by Frank, and seem superfluous at best, and the action, which comes only in spasmodic bursts, is sacrificed to developing the relationship between Leeson & his young protege, which in the end, becomes an unnecessary distraction in the overall story. The result is a film that is long on talk-time & short on action, that the excellent cast are unable to lift above the mediocre. The downside of films like this is that they may put readers off reading the original books on which they are based, & in the case of the Matt Scudder series', that would be unforgivable. Had Scott Frank opted to just direct A Walk Among The Tombstones, & placed the screenplay in more capable hands, the outcome could have been (and probably would have been), much better for all concerned.","Product: Haggard's master phrasing and characteristically rough-toned vocals deliver all the resonant interpretive impact he's prized for, his band the Strangers operate throughout at their reliably superlative level, and the contributions from exceptional guitar veteran (and longtime Haggard cohort) Reggie Young lends the set a bewitching, jazz-informed radiance. from the ideal Western swing workout of the title track opener-a wild, left handed bale of sly metaphor that underscores Hag's oft-confrontational relationship with Music City USA- to the stark, wounded vulnerability of \"Sometimes I Dream,\" to the glorious, cannabis-enriched goof of \"Laugh It Off\" Haggard displays a high-voltage involvement that pushes each track into the impressive, and intense, territory that's his alone.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: You are what you are Merle, & we are all better for it!\n\nReview: The only word that I can think of that truly defines this maestro of country music, is unrivalled. Damn, but they simply don't get better than Merle Haggard, and \"I Am What I Am\" is testament to that fact. This is the master at his best, and this album is, in my humble opinion, a superb achievement. Country singers come and go, but like that other great country stalwart, Willie Nelson, Merle just keeps rolling along. I just love the honesty in his music, that despite that age-worn grizzled & time hardened exterior, exists an inner self of passion, compassion, & tenderness, all if which comes out in his singing. He has that rare interpretive skill, whereby he could take even the most mundane of songs, & turn them into instant classics. But don't misunderstand me, there are no mundane songs on this album, they are all the real deal, & Merle sings them like nobody else could. I love them all, but if I was asked for my favourites, I would have to say the title track, \" I Am What I Am\", \"I've Seen It Go Away\", \"Old Tanker Train\" (my first choice), and \"The Road To My Heart\", which shows that Merle can croon with the best of them.\nIf you listen to just one country album this year, make it this one. And if you've never listened to Merle Haggard before (no, that can't be possible), then start right here with \"I Am What I Am\".","Product: Cliff Richard returns to his rockin' roots for his 100th album the Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll Songbook. This new studio album features a collection of Rock 'n' Roll classics, including Johnny B. Goode, Wake Up Little Susie, Dream Lover and Stood Up. The album was recorded live at the Blackbird Studios and the Parlor in Nashville, Tennessee, and is Cliff Richard's tribute to the greats of Rock 'n' Roll who inspired and influenced him, such as Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Who says you can'r rock 'n' roll when you get old?\n\nReview: This guy is 73, but don't let his age fool you. This guy is one solid rocker still, & this album proves it - in spades! The problem for any artist recording classic numbers is that they will inevitably be compared with the originals, and if they fall short - as they so often do - it does the performer no good. Not so with Cliff & this album, recorded in 2013, when he was 72. His interpretations of the old classics featured here is inspirational - good singing, a driving beat, & loud, loud guitars. The result is some of the best rock 'n' roll recordings I've heard in years! And if this album doesn't make you get up & dance, then the problem is yours, not the album's. There are 2 low points - Rip It Up & Such A Night - both of which fail to capture the impact of the originals (by Little Richard & Elvis Presley respectively), but the remainder of the tracks are outstanding, with Cliff's interpretations of Wake Up Little Suzie & Johnny B. Goode being the album's standouts. An exceptional rock 'n' roll album, with 'real' rock'n'roll! Let's hope there's going to be a second volume; Lord knows there's enough great material to choose from, and Cliff has shown that age is no barrier to making these songs sound so good.","Product: The origins of the novelty song, at least on the British side of the Atlantic, lie in the music-hall tradition which began in the mid-Victorian era. Music hall consisted of a mixture of comedy, popular songs, variety entertainment and specialty acts. The twentieth century brought a new generation of music-hall performers. These included Harry Champion with songs such as Boiled Beef And Carrots , George Formby, accompanied by his ukulele with When I m Cleaning Windows and many more included here on this excellent 3 disc compilation, guaranteed to raise a smile! VARIOUS ARTISTS (3CD) THE GREATEST NOVELTY SONGS DAY3CD077 CD1 . 1. My Old Man's A Dustman - Lonnie Donegan 2. Right, Said Fred - Bernard Cribbins 3. My Boomerang Won't Come Back - Charlie Drake 4. Speedy Gonzales - Pat Boone 5. Beep Beep - The Playmates 6. Donald Where's Your Troosers - Andy Stewart 7. Mr Custer - Larry Verne 8. What A Mouth - Tommy Steele 9. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Brian Hyland 10. Monster Mash - Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & The Crypt Kickers 11. Come Outside - Mike Sarne 12. Funny All Over - The Vernons Girls 13. The Sewers Of The Strand - Spike Milligan 14. Western Movies - The Olympics 15. Transistor Radio - Benny Hill 16. My Brother - Terry Scott 17. The Ying Tong Song - The Goons 18. Hoots Mon - Lord Rockingham's XI 19. Delaware - Perry Como 20. Charlie Brown - The Coasters And Many More... CD2 1. Alley Oop - The Hollywood Argyles 2. Hole In The Ground - Bernard Cribbins 3. A Pub With No Beer - Slim Dusty 4. Me And My Shadow - Morecambe & Wise 5. Gather In The Mushrooms - Benny Hill 6. Kookie Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) - Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes & Connie Stevens 7. Baby Sittin' Boogie - Buzz Clifford 8. Green Door - Frankie Vaughan 9. Witch Doctor - David Seville 10. Dinner With Drac - John Zacherle 11. (How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window? - Lita Roza 12. Don't Jump Off The Roof, Dad - Tommy Cooper 13. Don't Bring Lulu - Dorothy Provine 14. Ape Call - Nervous Norvus 15. Any Old Iron - Peter Sellers 16. My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Elvis - Billy Boyle 17. Where Will The Dimple Be - Rosemary Clooney 18. Cocktails For Two - Spike Jones & His City Slickers 19. Hello My Darlings - Charlie Drake 20. The Great Pretender - Stan Freberg And Many More... CD3 1. In The Middle Of The House - Alma Cogan 2. Seven Little Girls - Paul Evans & The Curls 3. Heartbreak Hotel - Stan Freberg 4. Will I What? - Mike Sarne & Billie Davis 5. Goodness Gracious Me - Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren 6. The Mole In The Hole - The Southlanders 7. Pop Goes The Weasel - Anthony Newley 8. Yogi - The Ivy Three 9. Ahab The Arab - Ray Stevens 10. Mad Passionate Love - Bernard Bresslaw 11. Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On The Bedpost Overnight?) - Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group 12. You're Driving Me Crazy - Temperance Seven 13. Bloodnok's Rock 'n' Roll Call - The Goons 14. The Mummy - Bob McFadden 15. Gun-Totin' Critter Called Jack - The Hollywood Argyles 16. Jellied Eels - Joe Brown 17. Rubber Biscuit - The Chips 18. Striped Purple Shirt - Alan Klein 19. When I'm Cleaning Windows - George Formby 20. Big Mouth Bill - Phil McLean And Many More...\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: To mislead or not to mislead - that is the question.\n\nReview: In a recent review I criticised an author & his publisher for making claims on the cover of their book, which I believe, misled the reader about the aspects of the book's contents. It would therefore be remiss of me to allow this album set to do the same, & yet escape criticism. Not by a long shot could this 3CD set be called The Greatest Novelty Songs. Certainly the set has an impressive array of iconic novelty songs, but it also features a multitude of lesser-known numbers, plus quite a few that are not (& were never intended to be) novelty songs at all. Furthermore, in several instances, some artists are represented by lesser-known songs, while their most famous, are overlooked. For example, Sheb Wooley's relatively unknown 'Skin Tight, Pin Striped, Purple Pedal Pushers' is featured, rather then 'The Purple People Eater' which is not. And Benny hill appears twice, with 'Transistor Radio' & 'Gather In The Mushrooms', at the expense of the more famous, 'Ernie'.\nAlso, there are a lot of numbers by English comedians, many of which would be unheard outside the UK. And it is the inclusion of so many\nof these lesser- known tracks, that is the set's downfall, & the reason that it does not qualify to be called 'The Greatest Novelty Songs'. The list of songs (& their artists) ignored by this set, is staggering. Consider the following: 'Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah', 'Cows With Guns', 'The Voice Changing Song', 'They're Coming To Take Me Away', 'Martian Hop', 'Blah Blah Blah', 'Old Man Emu'. 'Little Blue Man', 'Hot Rod Lincoln', 'The Ballad Of Irving', 'Calling Dr. Casey', 'Little Red Rented Rowboat', 'I'm A Nut', 'Tie My Kangaroo Down Sport', 'Surfin' Bird', 'Call\nUp The Groups', 'Little Eefin' Annie', 'Humphrey The Camel', 'I'm My Own Granpaw', Tennessee Bird Walk', ' Battle Of Kookomanga', '& 'All\nAmerican Boy', to name just a few. Now had tracks like these been included, instead of so many unknowns, then this set would have had the right to be called 'The Greatest Novelty Songs'. As it is, it doesn't, & as such, misleads the buyer into thinking it's something that it's not. To it's credit, all of the real iconic novelty songs featured are original recordings, not re-recordings by the original artists, and that alone, is worth 2 of the three points I gave it.","Product: Their second album on Blue Corn contains more than the usual share of songs about current events. In 2005, the Lizards were commissioned to write five songs for various consumer advocacy groups. \"The Drugs I Need\" tackles the prescription drug industry, \"The Tower\" concerns the monopolization of big media, \"Christmastime For Visa\" takes on credit card debt, \"Go Ahead And Die\" is about health insurance, and \"Toast The Earth\" is concerned with a boycott of Exxon/Mobil. All five songs are on this release and they've been paired with hilarious animation, available for viewing on the Internet. \"The Drugs I Need\" is featured on Jib Jab and is one of the site's most popular numbers. Other songs here feature gospel-tinged tunes, a bilingual Tex Mex tune, a Les Barker poem set to music, an American folk classic, and a German hip-hop song.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"A Great Drug For All\"\n\nReview: I must confess to being totally ignorant of the Austin Lounge Lizards until I happened upon this album at a friend's place - unfortunately, many of the great artists of Texas don't get a play Down Under, & as a result, if we don't go looking on the internet, we miss out on so much. With \"The Drugs I Need\", I didn't know quite what to expect, but I sure got a lot more than I anticipated. This is really, one fun album. OK, not every track is outstanding, but they are all fun, and if they are not poking fun at some area of the establismnet, then they are just entertaining the listener. And on \"The Drugs I Need\", they do that very well. From the title track, to the riotous, one-of a kind Bluegarss hip-hop number, \"Wer Ist Da?\" (which I encourage listeners to play over & over again for full appreciation), to the story of the resident living at house number 667 (street & city un-named), who is \"The Neighbour of the Beast\", this album just gets better & better. My personal favourites however, are \"Banjo Players in Heaven\" & the absolutely brilliant \"Arnold\", the saga of an armadillo that falls head over heels for a somewhat inanimate object that he confuses as one of his kind. It's absolutely hilarious, especially when you try to picture in your mind, what happens in each verse. What is also good about the Lizards, is that they are great performers also - great voices, great harmonies, & great musicians - something most often than not, lacking from comedy records. This is one drug that will do you good.","Product: Sam Eastland lives in the US and the UK. He is the grandson of a London police detective. His first novel in the Inspector Pekkala series was Eye of the Red Tsar.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: A disappointing second novel.\n\nReview: \"The Red Coffin\", the second novel from Sam Eastland, author of \"Eye Of THe Red Tzar\" is a real disappointment. His earlier novel was excellent, and a great thriller, with sound plotting, strong characters, & a refreshingly new 'hero' in Inspector Pekkala, originally an investigator for Tzar Nicholas, & later of Stalin's Bureau of Special Operations. But where \"Eye\" was a winner, \"The Red Coffin\" is the opposite. The storyline is simple (too simple really): Colonel Nagorski, designer of the F-34, thirty-ton super tank, with which Stalin hopes to use to repel any threat from Nazi Germany, is murdered, and Pekkala is assigned to the case. But there are others trying to get hold of Nagorski's tank, & their leader is quite willing to kill for it. So, who killed Nagorski? The problem here is that there are 2 separate crimes & 2 separate villains, and the astute reader will figure out who they are without much effort. In the first, the answer is predictable, having been used by many other authors before Eastland. As for the second, well it's just common sense. And no, I'm not giving anything away by saying so; it really is a no-brainer. What I found really annoying about \"The Red Coffin\" however, is the incessant flashback's that Pekkala has as the case proceeds, flashback that have absolutely nothing to do with the case. The copy I read had a total of 352 written pages, and of these, 65 were devoted to Pekkala's episodes; that's a staggering 18.47% of the total reading pages in the book. If only Eastland had devoted more of the book to developing his storyline & characters, expanded on the plot somewhat to make it more interesting, and made a greater effort to conceal the identites of the main 2 villains of the piece, at least until the last chapter or two, then \"The Red Coffin\" could justifiably be called a 'thriller'."],"string":"[\n \"Product: When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James' true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: How war films should be made.\\n\\nReview: This is a classic example of how good movies should be made, & it's heartening to see that this superb example of film making, has been directed by a woman. But is is good enough to garner the Oscars for Best Film & Director. Absolutely! However, since the Academy has never awarded the Best Director statuette to a woman in the past, the odds are truly against Kathryn Bigelow. However, if it's to happen, then this is the film to bring it off. It's an exceptional piece of film making in every aspect. Great story, great cinematography, great acting, & exceptional directing. Bigelow brings it all together beautifully. It's simply the best war film I've seen since Full Metal Jacket. There's none of the patriotic graveside scenes that spoilt Saving Private Ryan, & none of the extreme blood & gore scenes so prevalent in most of the recently made war films. Amazingly, they have managed to produce a brilliant war film, that presents the horror & dangers of war, without the endless blood-letting. A great cinematic experience that no fan of this genre should miss.\",\n \"Product: Liam Neeson stars in A Walk Among the Tombstones, an action-thriller based on Lawrence Block's bestselling series of mystery novels. Neeson plays Matt Scudder, an ex-cop turned unlicensed private investigator who reluctantly agrees to help a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens, TV's Downton Abbey) hunt down the men who brutally murdered his wife. When the PI learns that this is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that these men have committed this sort of twisted crime, he must blur the line between right and wrong as he races to track the deviants through the backstreets of New York City before they kill again.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: That's all I can say about Scott Frank's adaptation of what must be one of Lawrence Block's best Matt Scudder mysteries\\n\\nReview: Liam delivers, but the film fails. That's all I can say about Scott Frank's adaptation of what must be one of Lawrence Block's best Matt Scudder mysteries. And that's a pity. No fault of the actors mind you, they do their best with a script that fails to convey the meat in Block's great story. Block is one of my favourite writers; he shared the stage with the late Bob Parker as America's greatest crime writers - in a class by themselves. And while I agree totally with casting Neeson as Scudder, Frank fails with a dismal interpretation of the story, and directing that is mundane at best. The film simply fails to grip the viewer as it should. The bad guys, despite their horrendous crimes, are given no depth of character by Frank, and seem superfluous at best, and the action, which comes only in spasmodic bursts, is sacrificed to developing the relationship between Leeson & his young protege, which in the end, becomes an unnecessary distraction in the overall story. The result is a film that is long on talk-time & short on action, that the excellent cast are unable to lift above the mediocre. The downside of films like this is that they may put readers off reading the original books on which they are based, & in the case of the Matt Scudder series', that would be unforgivable. Had Scott Frank opted to just direct A Walk Among The Tombstones, & placed the screenplay in more capable hands, the outcome could have been (and probably would have been), much better for all concerned.\",\n \"Product: Haggard's master phrasing and characteristically rough-toned vocals deliver all the resonant interpretive impact he's prized for, his band the Strangers operate throughout at their reliably superlative level, and the contributions from exceptional guitar veteran (and longtime Haggard cohort) Reggie Young lends the set a bewitching, jazz-informed radiance. from the ideal Western swing workout of the title track opener-a wild, left handed bale of sly metaphor that underscores Hag's oft-confrontational relationship with Music City USA- to the stark, wounded vulnerability of \\\"Sometimes I Dream,\\\" to the glorious, cannabis-enriched goof of \\\"Laugh It Off\\\" Haggard displays a high-voltage involvement that pushes each track into the impressive, and intense, territory that's his alone.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: You are what you are Merle, & we are all better for it!\\n\\nReview: The only word that I can think of that truly defines this maestro of country music, is unrivalled. Damn, but they simply don't get better than Merle Haggard, and \\\"I Am What I Am\\\" is testament to that fact. This is the master at his best, and this album is, in my humble opinion, a superb achievement. Country singers come and go, but like that other great country stalwart, Willie Nelson, Merle just keeps rolling along. I just love the honesty in his music, that despite that age-worn grizzled & time hardened exterior, exists an inner self of passion, compassion, & tenderness, all if which comes out in his singing. He has that rare interpretive skill, whereby he could take even the most mundane of songs, & turn them into instant classics. But don't misunderstand me, there are no mundane songs on this album, they are all the real deal, & Merle sings them like nobody else could. I love them all, but if I was asked for my favourites, I would have to say the title track, \\\" I Am What I Am\\\", \\\"I've Seen It Go Away\\\", \\\"Old Tanker Train\\\" (my first choice), and \\\"The Road To My Heart\\\", which shows that Merle can croon with the best of them.\\nIf you listen to just one country album this year, make it this one. And if you've never listened to Merle Haggard before (no, that can't be possible), then start right here with \\\"I Am What I Am\\\".\",\n \"Product: Cliff Richard returns to his rockin' roots for his 100th album the Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll Songbook. This new studio album features a collection of Rock 'n' Roll classics, including Johnny B. Goode, Wake Up Little Susie, Dream Lover and Stood Up. The album was recorded live at the Blackbird Studios and the Parlor in Nashville, Tennessee, and is Cliff Richard's tribute to the greats of Rock 'n' Roll who inspired and influenced him, such as Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Who says you can'r rock 'n' roll when you get old?\\n\\nReview: This guy is 73, but don't let his age fool you. This guy is one solid rocker still, & this album proves it - in spades! The problem for any artist recording classic numbers is that they will inevitably be compared with the originals, and if they fall short - as they so often do - it does the performer no good. Not so with Cliff & this album, recorded in 2013, when he was 72. His interpretations of the old classics featured here is inspirational - good singing, a driving beat, & loud, loud guitars. The result is some of the best rock 'n' roll recordings I've heard in years! And if this album doesn't make you get up & dance, then the problem is yours, not the album's. There are 2 low points - Rip It Up & Such A Night - both of which fail to capture the impact of the originals (by Little Richard & Elvis Presley respectively), but the remainder of the tracks are outstanding, with Cliff's interpretations of Wake Up Little Suzie & Johnny B. Goode being the album's standouts. An exceptional rock 'n' roll album, with 'real' rock'n'roll! Let's hope there's going to be a second volume; Lord knows there's enough great material to choose from, and Cliff has shown that age is no barrier to making these songs sound so good.\",\n \"Product: The origins of the novelty song, at least on the British side of the Atlantic, lie in the music-hall tradition which began in the mid-Victorian era. Music hall consisted of a mixture of comedy, popular songs, variety entertainment and specialty acts. The twentieth century brought a new generation of music-hall performers. These included Harry Champion with songs such as Boiled Beef And Carrots , George Formby, accompanied by his ukulele with When I m Cleaning Windows and many more included here on this excellent 3 disc compilation, guaranteed to raise a smile! VARIOUS ARTISTS (3CD) THE GREATEST NOVELTY SONGS DAY3CD077 CD1 . 1. My Old Man's A Dustman - Lonnie Donegan 2. Right, Said Fred - Bernard Cribbins 3. My Boomerang Won't Come Back - Charlie Drake 4. Speedy Gonzales - Pat Boone 5. Beep Beep - The Playmates 6. Donald Where's Your Troosers - Andy Stewart 7. Mr Custer - Larry Verne 8. What A Mouth - Tommy Steele 9. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Brian Hyland 10. Monster Mash - Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & The Crypt Kickers 11. Come Outside - Mike Sarne 12. Funny All Over - The Vernons Girls 13. The Sewers Of The Strand - Spike Milligan 14. Western Movies - The Olympics 15. Transistor Radio - Benny Hill 16. My Brother - Terry Scott 17. The Ying Tong Song - The Goons 18. Hoots Mon - Lord Rockingham's XI 19. Delaware - Perry Como 20. Charlie Brown - The Coasters And Many More... CD2 1. Alley Oop - The Hollywood Argyles 2. Hole In The Ground - Bernard Cribbins 3. A Pub With No Beer - Slim Dusty 4. Me And My Shadow - Morecambe & Wise 5. Gather In The Mushrooms - Benny Hill 6. Kookie Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) - Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes & Connie Stevens 7. Baby Sittin' Boogie - Buzz Clifford 8. Green Door - Frankie Vaughan 9. Witch Doctor - David Seville 10. Dinner With Drac - John Zacherle 11. (How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window? - Lita Roza 12. Don't Jump Off The Roof, Dad - Tommy Cooper 13. Don't Bring Lulu - Dorothy Provine 14. Ape Call - Nervous Norvus 15. Any Old Iron - Peter Sellers 16. My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Elvis - Billy Boyle 17. Where Will The Dimple Be - Rosemary Clooney 18. Cocktails For Two - Spike Jones & His City Slickers 19. Hello My Darlings - Charlie Drake 20. The Great Pretender - Stan Freberg And Many More... CD3 1. In The Middle Of The House - Alma Cogan 2. Seven Little Girls - Paul Evans & The Curls 3. Heartbreak Hotel - Stan Freberg 4. Will I What? - Mike Sarne & Billie Davis 5. Goodness Gracious Me - Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren 6. The Mole In The Hole - The Southlanders 7. Pop Goes The Weasel - Anthony Newley 8. Yogi - The Ivy Three 9. Ahab The Arab - Ray Stevens 10. Mad Passionate Love - Bernard Bresslaw 11. Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On The Bedpost Overnight?) - Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group 12. You're Driving Me Crazy - Temperance Seven 13. Bloodnok's Rock 'n' Roll Call - The Goons 14. The Mummy - Bob McFadden 15. Gun-Totin' Critter Called Jack - The Hollywood Argyles 16. Jellied Eels - Joe Brown 17. Rubber Biscuit - The Chips 18. Striped Purple Shirt - Alan Klein 19. When I'm Cleaning Windows - George Formby 20. Big Mouth Bill - Phil McLean And Many More...\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: To mislead or not to mislead - that is the question.\\n\\nReview: In a recent review I criticised an author & his publisher for making claims on the cover of their book, which I believe, misled the reader about the aspects of the book's contents. It would therefore be remiss of me to allow this album set to do the same, & yet escape criticism. Not by a long shot could this 3CD set be called The Greatest Novelty Songs. Certainly the set has an impressive array of iconic novelty songs, but it also features a multitude of lesser-known numbers, plus quite a few that are not (& were never intended to be) novelty songs at all. Furthermore, in several instances, some artists are represented by lesser-known songs, while their most famous, are overlooked. For example, Sheb Wooley's relatively unknown 'Skin Tight, Pin Striped, Purple Pedal Pushers' is featured, rather then 'The Purple People Eater' which is not. And Benny hill appears twice, with 'Transistor Radio' & 'Gather In The Mushrooms', at the expense of the more famous, 'Ernie'.\\nAlso, there are a lot of numbers by English comedians, many of which would be unheard outside the UK. And it is the inclusion of so many\\nof these lesser- known tracks, that is the set's downfall, & the reason that it does not qualify to be called 'The Greatest Novelty Songs'. The list of songs (& their artists) ignored by this set, is staggering. Consider the following: 'Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah', 'Cows With Guns', 'The Voice Changing Song', 'They're Coming To Take Me Away', 'Martian Hop', 'Blah Blah Blah', 'Old Man Emu'. 'Little Blue Man', 'Hot Rod Lincoln', 'The Ballad Of Irving', 'Calling Dr. Casey', 'Little Red Rented Rowboat', 'I'm A Nut', 'Tie My Kangaroo Down Sport', 'Surfin' Bird', 'Call\\nUp The Groups', 'Little Eefin' Annie', 'Humphrey The Camel', 'I'm My Own Granpaw', Tennessee Bird Walk', ' Battle Of Kookomanga', '& 'All\\nAmerican Boy', to name just a few. Now had tracks like these been included, instead of so many unknowns, then this set would have had the right to be called 'The Greatest Novelty Songs'. As it is, it doesn't, & as such, misleads the buyer into thinking it's something that it's not. To it's credit, all of the real iconic novelty songs featured are original recordings, not re-recordings by the original artists, and that alone, is worth 2 of the three points I gave it.\",\n \"Product: Their second album on Blue Corn contains more than the usual share of songs about current events. In 2005, the Lizards were commissioned to write five songs for various consumer advocacy groups. \\\"The Drugs I Need\\\" tackles the prescription drug industry, \\\"The Tower\\\" concerns the monopolization of big media, \\\"Christmastime For Visa\\\" takes on credit card debt, \\\"Go Ahead And Die\\\" is about health insurance, and \\\"Toast The Earth\\\" is concerned with a boycott of Exxon/Mobil. All five songs are on this release and they've been paired with hilarious animation, available for viewing on the Internet. \\\"The Drugs I Need\\\" is featured on Jib Jab and is one of the site's most popular numbers. Other songs here feature gospel-tinged tunes, a bilingual Tex Mex tune, a Les Barker poem set to music, an American folk classic, and a German hip-hop song.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"A Great Drug For All\\\"\\n\\nReview: I must confess to being totally ignorant of the Austin Lounge Lizards until I happened upon this album at a friend's place - unfortunately, many of the great artists of Texas don't get a play Down Under, & as a result, if we don't go looking on the internet, we miss out on so much. With \\\"The Drugs I Need\\\", I didn't know quite what to expect, but I sure got a lot more than I anticipated. This is really, one fun album. OK, not every track is outstanding, but they are all fun, and if they are not poking fun at some area of the establismnet, then they are just entertaining the listener. And on \\\"The Drugs I Need\\\", they do that very well. From the title track, to the riotous, one-of a kind Bluegarss hip-hop number, \\\"Wer Ist Da?\\\" (which I encourage listeners to play over & over again for full appreciation), to the story of the resident living at house number 667 (street & city un-named), who is \\\"The Neighbour of the Beast\\\", this album just gets better & better. My personal favourites however, are \\\"Banjo Players in Heaven\\\" & the absolutely brilliant \\\"Arnold\\\", the saga of an armadillo that falls head over heels for a somewhat inanimate object that he confuses as one of his kind. It's absolutely hilarious, especially when you try to picture in your mind, what happens in each verse. What is also good about the Lizards, is that they are great performers also - great voices, great harmonies, & great musicians - something most often than not, lacking from comedy records. This is one drug that will do you good.\",\n \"Product: Sam Eastland lives in the US and the UK. He is the grandson of a London police detective. His first novel in the Inspector Pekkala series was Eye of the Red Tsar.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: A disappointing second novel.\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Red Coffin\\\", the second novel from Sam Eastland, author of \\\"Eye Of THe Red Tzar\\\" is a real disappointment. His earlier novel was excellent, and a great thriller, with sound plotting, strong characters, & a refreshingly new 'hero' in Inspector Pekkala, originally an investigator for Tzar Nicholas, & later of Stalin's Bureau of Special Operations. But where \\\"Eye\\\" was a winner, \\\"The Red Coffin\\\" is the opposite. The storyline is simple (too simple really): Colonel Nagorski, designer of the F-34, thirty-ton super tank, with which Stalin hopes to use to repel any threat from Nazi Germany, is murdered, and Pekkala is assigned to the case. But there are others trying to get hold of Nagorski's tank, & their leader is quite willing to kill for it. So, who killed Nagorski? The problem here is that there are 2 separate crimes & 2 separate villains, and the astute reader will figure out who they are without much effort. In the first, the answer is predictable, having been used by many other authors before Eastland. As for the second, well it's just common sense. And no, I'm not giving anything away by saying so; it really is a no-brainer. What I found really annoying about \\\"The Red Coffin\\\" however, is the incessant flashback's that Pekkala has as the case proceeds, flashback that have absolutely nothing to do with the case. The copy I read had a total of 352 written pages, and of these, 65 were devoted to Pekkala's episodes; that's a staggering 18.47% of the total reading pages in the book. If only Eastland had devoted more of the book to developing his storyline & characters, expanded on the plot somewhat to make it more interesting, and made a greater effort to conceal the identites of the main 2 villains of the piece, at least until the last chapter or two, then \\\"The Red Coffin\\\" could justifiably be called a 'thriller'.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":7,"string":"7"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":94,"string":"94"}}},{"rowIdx":95,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1LK03QPWLVTGM"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"5.0\" for a product with description \"This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages.\". The summary of the review text is \"A Particular and Unique Account of WW1 Trench Warfare.\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Very enjoyable vernacular account of one very enterprising American who went to war with the Canadians in WW1. He was a machine gunner, but brought his naturally developed marksmanship, and above all field craft skills, to bear as a part time sniper, when the Canadians first got round to employing and training snipers.\n\nThe first hand account is fine in itself. His observations and suggestions about how military conduct could be improved is probably well out of date now, but very sharp and apposite at the time.\n\nAlong with - First Day of the Somme, Middlebrook, Her Privates We, Manning and the most amazing of them all - Ernst Younger's Storm of Steel it is possible to create a sense of what trench warfare was like. Though there is more in what they do not say than in what they describe - elided or passed over because of the unspoken values with which these men understood and endured their circumstances. Those of us old enough to have known a few of these old soldiers probably understand what is meant here. For the they rest, those of each generation that place themselves in harm's way will understand. The rest of us must just wonder at it.\n\nMr Mc Bride was quite a character! One thing I particularly appreciated is his ability to connect the experiences of the Civil War which he learned from his Iowa relatives and fellow reserve soldiers - to the WW1 experience. And he has some pithy comments about how the higher ups forget the experience learned by the lower downs in each war. Only to have to re learn them again each time.\n\nHighly recommended"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"Very enjoyable vernacular account of one very enterprising American who went to war with the Canadians in WW1. He was a machine gunner, but brought his naturally developed marksmanship, and above all field craft skills, to bear as a part time sniper, when the Canadians first got round to employing and training snipers.\n\nThe first hand account is fine in itself. His observations and suggestions about how military conduct could be improved is probably well out of date now, but very sharp and apposite at the time.\n\nAlong with - First Day of the Somme, Middlebrook, Her Privates We, Manning and the most amazing of them all - Ernst Younger's Storm of Steel it is possible to create a sense of what trench warfare was like. Though there is more in what they do not say than in what they describe - elided or passed over because of the unspoken values with which these men understood and endured their circumstances. Those of us old enough to have known a few of these old soldiers probably understand what is meant here. For the they rest, those of each generation that place themselves in harm's way will understand. The rest of us must just wonder at it.\n\nMr Mc Bride was quite a character! One thing I particularly appreciated is his ability to connect the experiences of the Civil War which he learned from his Iowa relatives and fellow reserve soldiers - to the WW1 experience. And he has some pithy comments about how the higher ups forget the experience learned by the lower downs in each war. Only to have to re learn them again each time.\n\nHighly recommended"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Cleanblend has designed the perfect blender to help you through the journey to better health. It is an all-in-one appliance that makes smoothies, fresh juice, ice cream, milk shakes, cappuccinos, margaritas, soups, sauces, batters, dressings, salsas and more! It replaces up to 9 other appliances with 1 fast, easy-to-use machine! It is a 3 horsepower, dynamo of a blender, that will liquefy fruits and vegetables to get the most vitamins, proteins and antioxidants from the whole food into one delicious drink. The Cleanblend blender is less expensive than its competition but with all the same features. We guarantee the blenders for five (5) years and have focused on quality in every detail. For example, unlike most blenders, weve swapped out those plastic bearings for high quality stainless steel. Compared to other home and commercial blenders, the Cleanblend has more traction and power. In addition, BPA-Free means you get all of the vitamins and nutrients from your foodand none of the chemicals found in other plastics. From soup to smoothies, youre always safe with Cleanblend. Also, The blade of a blender is crucial. Cleanblend uses high end, food-grade stainless steel with a 6-blade system configuration that chops, pulverizes and liquefies everything it touches. So, when you look under our hood, Cleanblend features a 3 HP, 1800 watt motor. This power to the blade is the key to the unrivaled commercial grade performance of the Cleanblend. Welcome to the next generation of commercial blenders. Welcome to Cleanblend.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very Pleased - This is a good quality blender\n\nReview: Very pleased with this blender. It replaced a similar machine from another manufacturer. (The way the motor cog that meshes with the blender was installed was poorly designed. It came loose, rendering the entire machine useless) What do I like about the Cleanblend? - The serrated blades are very effective. - The way the cog is attached to the motor, for easy replacement if necessary. The surprisingly quiet motor, which even sounds efficient! This is a solid 3HP motor. The question is whether it is an effective all purpose blender. In our kitchen this machine has to tackle a broad range of items from raw potatoes and carrots to chicken bones and everything in between. So far it has worked really well with everything I've tried. The blade cog meshes perfectly with the motor cog. The rest is just learned technique to deal with hard lumps or relatively dry material that needs to be pulsed a few times before it starts to blend and swirl around inside the jug.\n- One other thing, customer service. Other reviewers have commented positively on this. My experience is equally positive. The first one I ordered went astray and didn't arrive. Amazon was brilliant about getting it replaced but I also got an email from Cleanblend concerned to fix any problem. - Very nice all round. - Highly recommended.","Product: We are offering these Brand New GLS Audio Generation 4 Safe-Connect! Series Gold Banana Plugs at an awesome savings. They feature the Sure-Grip technology which allows for an incredible wire connection. These \"Generation II\" models have 9 High Tension Blades with Flex-Compression technology for maximum conductivity. The back shell case has a rubber grip which minimizes shorting if 2 plugs touch together. These GLS Audio Safe-Connect! Series Banana Plugs work best with 10 gauge, 12 gauge, 14 gauge, 16 gauge, and 18 gauge wire. These plugs are made of high quality 24k Gold Plated H59-1 Brass. The hole diameter in the back is 6.5mm. No soldering and no crimping required!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Solid and Easy to use.\n\nReview: I bought the small pack of 8 to try them on my new speakers. Liked them so much I went back and ordered the bigger pack so I could use them on all five speakers.\n\nNo screw driver needed. These are solidly made. unscrew top from bottom easily and with a nice \"precise\" feel. There's a trick to using them that requires just the right length of overlap of the bare wire to tamp down round the crown. Too much and the top is hard to screw down. Too little and there's not enough wire to curl over the crown for a good tight fit. BUT: Once you have this figured they are an absolute breeze to fix to the wire ends. I use 12 gauge wire and these accommodate perfectly.\n\nAlso impressed with the service from the seller.","Product: The highest fidelity sound amplification available at any cost comes from the BEAN Quiet Sound Amplifier from Etymotic Research. BEAN boosts soft high-pitched sounds heard in speech, which helps provide clarity for conversations, particularly in less-than-ideal listening environments. Amplifies soft sounds, while keeping the volume steady on louder noises or even reducing it for extremely loud sounds. This pair is featured in a platinum design.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Enhanced hearing with fitting issues\n\nReview: UPDATE #2 - This really does work and work well, but you really need patience and perseverance. Why these updates? Being able to hear well is important to me (music) and I think also for others too. So: The first one developed a short circuit, got hot and buzzed. Amazon replaced it within two days. This one seems fine. The problem has been finding a decent fitting for my right ear, which is the bad one. I tried the regular fitting, that didn't work well. I tried the longer fitting but it kept popping out and only worked when I kept pushing it back in. Awkward in social settings because it is a distraction for me and my interlocutor(s). FINALY I went back to the sponge fitting, which works perfectly! Now I'll have to find out how to get replacements. The company web site wasn't that helpful. Bottom line: Be patient and determined and this little bean will work well for you.\n((UPDATE: Ten days later. I realized I might have left a more negative impression than I intended. The manufacturer's recommendation to persevere with the fitting/comfort does pay off. Once my right ear healed and I could try again, things got better. I'm right handed and surprised the bean fitted my left ear easily and worked well. But it was my right ear that needed the help and I couldn't seat the bean easily or comfortably. At first. Still not perfect but...\n\nBut persevere. It is worth it. You'll get used to the whistling when you put it in. TV watching and conversation in a noisy room are much improved with this device. It just might take a while to get things working properly. But it will.))\n\nThis does everything it says it will. It does it very well and very effectively. But there are issues.\nI have hearing problems, worst in my right ear. But I am using this bean in my left ear because fitting it into my right ear caused problems of fit and, finally, left me bleeding from that ear. The problem is fitting it in properly.\n\nI can imagine that for people who are sensitive about their ears, this would be a problem. (My late mother, who was claustrophobic and hated anything touching her ears is a good example.) Sure, it whistles as you put it in. Sure, it can leave a background hiss if it is not seated properly. Sure, it can get easily blocked if there has been a wax buildup. So fitting it takes some patience and forbearance.\n\nBut I find it is worth it to persevere. I can hear the conversations on the TV, which had gotten very foggy before. And I can enjoy conversations in noisy social occasions. The basic background sound stays the same, but the high end frequencies are enhanced and much sharper. I don;t enjoy using the bean when people are using knives and forks. The clatter is too enhanced and unpleasant. But for all those times when I was losing speech this device is wonderful.\n\nAs to fitting it. In my left ear it just pops in, using the smallest of the three band plugs. A small twist as it is going in and it is perfectly seated. But not so in my right ear. It is painful to insert, won't seat easily, and, after a couple of evenings of use, caused a sharp pain in my eustachian canal, was hard to extract and left that ear bleeding. Presumably from a scratch in the channel just after the initial bump and bend.\n\nI'm giving it five stars because it does what it is supposed to do and for a decent price (compared with hearing aids). But the fitting issues will probably limit the customers who would otherwise take beneficial and life improving advantage of this device.","Product: Drama\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Richardson is perfect for this role\n\nReview: Richardson is perfect for this role. I've seen other reviews who are not usually enamored of Brit sardonic humor. But who loved this. Rightly so.\n\nIt is just very clever in the best sense. Very dark. And rather too close to the truth for comfort.\n\nI've not seen Spacey's American adaptation on Netflix yet. But I'd guess he would have done a different but equally brilliant take on the main character. Spacey would be \"knowing\" - \"in on the fix\". Richardson's character is something else. And darker. Flawed, sure, but not \"knowing\", more \"understanding\" and arranging the fix rather than being in on it. I imagine Spacey playing the smart boy who got into the game and proved good at it as he grew into it. Richardson's character is one of a class that has been arranging the game for generations. -\n\nA different perspective on power.","Product: vhs\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Kate Winslet & Harvey Keitel: Perfect together.\n\nReview: I was never a great fan of Campion's movies. Though moving and compelling, I'd always felt she was too didactic, too emphatic, too stark in her metaphors, too obvious. Until reading what appeared to me to be utterly benighted reviews, especially of The Piano, Holy Smoke and An Angel at my Table. (I mean among the 2-3 star reviews)\n\nIn these movies she explores the idea of integrity, specifically feminine integrity. As opposed to the more thoroughly explored idea of masculine integrity. The lone hero: the against all odds hero, the self absorbed artist hero, the driven scientist hero. Campion's female \"heroes\" (sic. because \"heroine\" has an entirely different connotation) - are driven by their own sense of worth and value - In Holy smoke the erotic and religious mysticism are played off each other as fundamental passion. In The Piano the erotic and musical inspiration are played off each other. In \"Angel\" an utterly unconventional woman feels driven to express herself through her writing, and is mis-diagnosed as schizophrenic and incarcerated in an institution. (Because she can't conform to conventional expectations.) The main difference between the conventional male hero and Campion's female heroes is that the conventional male hero is OPPOSED by social elements. Campion's female heroes are REPRESSED, denied, discounted.\n\nFemale erotic drive and yearning: As religious and mystical revelation (Holy Smoke). As music and piano playing and composition (The Piano). As writing (An Angel AT My Table) - And in each movie there is denial and repression from an outside force, usually male, but more generally from petty bourgeois sentiment and complacency. And, of course, fear.\n\nMy takeaway from all three movies is that whether or not we regard the principle female as \"attractive\" or not, Campion offers us insights into women with deep and powerful drives. And the conventional societal, fear driven, repression and denial of those drives and passions.\n\nCampion does not provide a pleasant evening of mild entertainment. Her movies are disturbing and fierce and provocative. As they should be.","Product: Originally released in 2012. Directed by Susanna White. Starring Adelaide Clemens, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anne-Marie Duff.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Better Than The Book\n\nReview: This is NOT Downtown Abbey soap opera! Cumberbach and the cast are excellent. Stoppard has a very difficult task scripting a swamp of a book and mining it for its essential thrust. Which is an account of how the English governing class and World War 1 did for the British Empire. The story line follows the (usually) hysterical self absorption of ALL its characters. Teijens, the main character, an 18th Century Parsival is serially undone by his class - contemporaries. Ably abetted by his Madam Bovery of a wife.\n\nThe problem wit the book is Ford Maddox Ford's writing approach. He attempts a series of impressionistic sketches around each character, trying, I suppose, to make a three dimensional image. Which fails and leaves us with a series of unsatisfying caricatures.\n\nStoppard is a premier craftsman with an acute eye for scene setting and an ear for the defining dialog. I felt the second and third acts got as well into the story as is possible, setting up an excellent fourth act. Stoppard simply cuts the last book, which is, in any case, mostly another attempt to reprise the points Ford fails to ground in the first three books. Act 1 is problematic, if you read what Stoppard has to work with from the book. The characters are still caricatures, so that the events surrounding them seem like place holders for what might come out if Ford can, eventually find focus. (For me he never does.)\n\nI recommend this very fine production. Even for those who are not wild about BBC trawling English period drama for product, this is rather better than usual.","Product: In this uplifting drama about romance and second chances, childhood sweethearts Alan and Celia, both widowed and in their 70s, fall for each other all over again when they are reunited on the internet after nearly 60 years. Their relationship is a celebratory tale of the power of love at any age. But this is also a story about family, and with family comes baggage. Celia's respectable, head teacher daughter Caroline is juggling bringing up two boys and dealing with her husband's infidelity, while Alan's rebellious, complicated middle-aged daughter Gillian struggles to make a living on a beautiful but bleak farm. How will these two very different women cope with their parents' announcement that they've decided to get married?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: What a pain it is getting old! But it needn't be....\n\nReview: A great idea that offered very promising script possibilities. Season one sustained itself on the idea that old people (no, dear, not \"the elderly\")(Up in West Yorkshire they call a spade a spade.) not only have needs and wants, just like everyone else, they also have memories and unrequited hopes, and handicaps. Yes, still able to enjoy sex and (pills, not drugs) and rock and roll. This first series, as long as it is focused on two very fine and perfectly cast actors is a delight. But the writers do not seem to have the imagination to run with the essential premise and tend to wander off to soap opera distractions. But this first season has a delightful enough start and good enough actors to carry through to the end of the season. Season 2? Not so much.","Product: Japanese SHM-CD pressing. Universal. 2014.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Not my favorite, but these recording yield so much\n\nReview: I find it almost impossible to review Pollini. Two months since buying this recording and I'm still working back and forth listening to all the other artists whose recordings I own and who have recorded these extraordinary sonatas. Pollini is a marvelous, technially brilliant artist and, to my ears a true musician. And sometimes his performance is breathtaking. But not always. These recordings span forty years of Pollini's career. Even though it is clear after just a couple of times listening through them all that Pollini is extraordinarily consistent over those years at least in technical brilliance of execution... nevertheless... The more I listen through them, or pick out certain individual sonatas for a compare and contrast with other recordings.. Well, it amounts to this. The couple of live performances included on these recordings are wonderful. I do not doubt that his musical intelligence was on full throttle during preparation for the studio recordings. And one value of these recordings is that in every case they bring something out of the score. So that listening to other performers before and after listening to Pollini's version, changes one's perception. Nevertheless there are Beethoven sonatas that benefit from the purity musical intelligence, but others that really need to allow the emotions and feeling in the music to breath more. I can't think of any other way to put it. Always Pollini offers us insights into the music, if we are prepared to go along with him. Sometimes these are very compelling. Other times the insights crowd out or suppress the emotional aspect that must be included in the performance to make it complete. Five stars because this is a wonderful collection that can be used profitably for reference with other great performances. - It never hurts to revisit another artist's performance, especially a favorite performance, after listening to Pollini. - Over these past couple months and for the next couple I'm incorporating listening to Pollini with Gulda, Badura - Skoda, Richter, (various) Schnabel, Arrau, and various others...","Product: Claudio Abbado conducts the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in the summer of 2004.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Outstanding Performance - The live audience thought so too.\n\nReview: This is a very fine and rewarding performance.\n\nThe orchestra is very special. Outstanding individual and ensemble musicianship of the highest quality. Abbados reading of Mahler 5 seemed cool to me. The adagietto was performed more like a lullaby, and I missed the underlying irony and hysteria typical in earlier recordings I am more familiar with. On the other hand Abbados articulation and the extraordinary intensity and ensemble interaction of this orchestra is special. A joy to behold! - Superb conducting and performance and exceptional sound recording quality revealed chromatic and structural elements Id not heard before. Particularly in the middle movements.\n\nAttending live concerts I tend to keep my eyes closed most of the time, to get as close as possible to the music. And so I have never been keen on classical music videos. All that jumping around by the camera. But I confess to being very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the performances and sound in this and similar videos Amazon has made available. A treat, especially because of all those Abbado performances I missed, when he was with us.\n\nIt was also a treat to see Pollini in the audience to watch his friend conduct with such great artistry.\n\nHighly recommended.","Product: Box set of Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas by Friedrich Gulda - ADD recordings made in 1967 on 9 CDs and supplied with 8 page booklet of non-English text. Piano Sonatas laid out as follows:\nCD1: 1, 2, 3/ CD2: 4, 5, 6/ CD3:7, 8, 9, 10/ CD4: 11, 12, 13, 14/ CD5:15, 16, 17/ CD6:18, 19, 20, 21, 22/ CD7: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27/ CD:8 28, 29/ CD9: 30, 31, 32\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Five Stars Isn't Enough!\n\nReview: Not quite 50 years since I first heard a Beethoven sonata. (Pathetique, Backhaus, Mono vinyl) In all this time I have never had such a powerful, visceral, response to a recording. Gulda's tempo is on the quicker side. Here the issue is between two approaches. (1)\"I have brilliant technique, I'll translate the music in these terms\". Or (2) Beethoven requires this intensity and tempo. I have the necessary technical skill. So lets deploy it.\" Gulda is unquestionably in the second category. Those in the first...You know who you are!\n\nThe most striking thing, consistently throughout the cycle, is the unselfconscious, almost \"simple\" or naive playing, on a Bosendorfer, I believe. It felt, at times, as though I had never heard these sonatas before. I found myself thinking the most absurd thought, \"This is how Beethoven would want it played.\" As I say, absurd. (Who can know? And what would even this mean?) Nevertheless....That was the feeling... Point is the impression was one of absolute authenticity and truth to the score. And Beethoven's vision... And a revalation, after so many years of listening to these works...\n\nOver fifty years I've collected several sets of the Beethoven sonatas. Schnabel, the wonderful Poetical Solomon, some Intense Backhaus, Grand Arrau, Precise Pollini. And others. Each has brought great pleasure and insight into these wonderful sonatas. None, ever, has had this intense an impact, on first hearing.\n\nIf you can get this particular recording! 1967 Amadeo - Brilliant. There are two earlier published recordings which get mixed reviews.\n\nBut if you want the absolute best, probably have to pay a premium as there seem very few copies available..Mine was a used version. And the best $75 I've ever spent on music. Pity I can't transfer them to my Kindle Fire...But that's commerce for you.\n Most highly recommended. Not surprised the other reviewers feel the same way.","Product: One of Pierre Fournier's great recordings - arguably the best recording of the Beethoven Complete Cello works - that will form part of our Fournier 100 celebrations (the anniversary of his birth falls on 24 June this year). The recordings were made when Fournier was at his technical peak, and partnered by the keenly-insightful Friedrich Gulda. The CD booklet includes a fascinating memoir by the son of Pierre Fournier - Jean Fonda - on \"Fournier and Fritz [Gulda]\", plus a couple of delightful Fifties photos !\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Clash of the Titans\n\nReview: They make sublime music together! Fournier first paired with Schnabel and later with Kempf. I've seen reviews to the effect that the Fournier - Gulda and Fournier - Kempf partnerships have equal merit and receive equally high praise. -- But while it makes sense that Fournier and Kempf should make a natural partnership in musical temperament and style of play, Gulda partnering with Fournier might appear to be a surprising collaboration!... Until you hear them engage in a profound and brilliant (technically) conversation that spans the early, middle and late sonatas...\n\nThis is not merely a partnership of very high quality performers. There is something about the way they make this music come alive, together, that strips each of them of their respective stereotypes. Elegant, restrained extraordinary bowing technique essentially of the French school...together with the wild Austrian extrovert with great technique of the Austrian school who once performed a flute work with his equally naked girlfriend....The \"terrorist pianist\" No, no no...We are treated to a collaboration between two sublime artists and the result speaks for itself....\n\nSound balance seems about right. Gulda \"plays back\" a bit, so as not to drown the subtle resonances of the cello. The \"give and take\" between them is entirely driven by the demands of Beethoven's score. It feels to me that, somehow, together, they get a richer sense of the musical (tonal and register) dynamics Beethoven was driving for. So it feels as though each sublimates himself, or predominates not to each the other, but each as the music demands.\n\nTruly remarkable performance.","Product: EMI Classics relaunches the popular EMI Masters Series: The definitive series of great classical music from a trove of the most notable and revered classical recordings ever made. Available on CD and for digital download, this newly repackaged installment of 30 masters celebrates EMI Classics' greatest artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Yehudi Menuhin and Angela Gheorghiu. All performances in this series were recorded, mastered, or re-mastered at the internationally renowned Abbey Road Studios in London.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Great Classic Recording\n\nReview: This is a 2002 remastering of the 1967 Kingsway Hall recording. Presumably to replace the remastering from the 1990's.\n\nThis is a widely praised and critically acclaimed classic recording of Bach's phenomenal B minor Mass. There are several very good reasons for this acclaim. Essentially that all the planets were in alignment when it was recorded. All the elements seem to fall into place.\n\nThe vocal artists were as good as could be at the time, and it shows. Agnes Giebel was the premier Bach vocalist of her generation. Janet Baker was at the very top of her form and achingly beautiful in her rendition of the Agnus Dei. The two voices combined for Christie elision is remarkable. I defy anyone not to be deeply moved by it. Nicolai Gedda (tenor) had performed this several years before with Karajan and had received much praise for his musical intelligence and lovely voice. I think the engineers did him no favors on this re-mastering. Nevertheless....Herman Prey and Franz Crass are memorable. Just listen to the Aria Quoniam tu souls Sanctus, and especially Et in spiritum Sanctum Dominum.... Above all it is the vocals that are the crown jewel in this recording. WHich couldn't have worked if Klemperer and the forces he commanded were not at peak performance.....\n\nThe New Philharmonia was about at its peak around this time. And the BBC chorus produces a very high standard. Marred by the limited sonics, even in Kingsway Hall. There is still some buzz in this latest remastering...\n\nKlemperer elected to use reduced forces with modern instruments. And was clearly appreciative of the \"authentic performance\" sensibility. -- As an aside, I like to pair this performance with Philippe Hereweghe's second recording with the Collegium Vocale Ghent, on Harmonia Mundi. For my taste these two performances are as good as it gets. Without disparaging other very highly regarded performances, both modern instrument and \"authentic performance\" varieties. I have not yet heard how the Rifkin version works out for the Dunedin Consort. Except to note that John Butt elects to add voices for the choral parts...\n\nIn the end, though, it is about Bach's vision... And whether the particular conductor masters it and presents it to us.\n\nA matter of taste and preference no doubt. But regardless, Klemperer's reading is very special.\n\nThis is Klemperer: So you should expect a slower, grander, tempo and delivery. His way of communicating the absolute majesty and reverence of Bach's conception. This is why I so much appreciate the Herreweghe performance as a comparator: And companion. I often play them back to back, alternating which goes first... Sure a lot of listening. But then...Bach! Herreweghe's is a more sprightly tempo, when the text permits. But still maintains a calm, hushed reverence throughout.\n\nThe sonics, even for the Kingsway Hall, and despite this latest re-mastering, do not permit the clarity of individual line you get with a contemporary all-digital recording. But we can feel the articulation and structural attention by Klemperer are all there - to produce a truly spiritual and musically highly informed listening experience.\n\nA final word about the sonics. Hard to compare as I have the 1990's mastering as an MP3 download from Amazon. I've been fiddling with the parameters and different processors on my audio system to try to get optimum fidelity to the engineer's intentions. So far with mixed results. The original recording has sonic limitations - The choir can be buzzy at times. The \"walking base\" is too prominent at times, overwhelming the rest of the strings. Which sometimes disappear into the background. The most bizarre effect occurs in the Benedictus aria given by Gedda. On direct stereo through Sennheiser headphones - The flautist is about 8 foot tall front and center; the strings sit far behind and to the (stage)left. And poor Nicholas is placed in a cardboard box somewhere in the middle of the ensemble. The effect is to have Gedda accompany the flute from the background.... There are other examples where the sound engineering seems odd. HOWEVER, playing with the Dolby parameters and blowing the recording through decent speakers reduces the effect and suggests what the engineers were trying for to overcome the sonic limitations of the original. Seems they were tailoring the sonic field to modern multi channel audio receivers. A little fiddling with these parameters did much to produce an extraordinarily clear sound picture - overall. But you'll need to get an all digital modern recording if you're anxious to hear the entire contrapuntal and internal structure we have more recently come to appreciate.\n\nThis does not in the least detract from the fact that Klemperer's reading carries all the mystery and spiritual reverence Bach intended. (At least for me and, apparently for many others.) And, being a truly great classical rendition, it is very well worth owning.","Product: Watchers\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Shallow portrayal and endless scene setting\n\nReview: The book is divided into three sections.\nPart 1 is \"Spying Out the Land\" - in which Alford tells us what he intends to tell us, diverges to a fantasy of Elizabeth's assassination and what would have then happened. So we understand just how anxious and fraught were the times. - Hardly necessary when we have been reminded that Elizabeth was a woman in a King's role, and a woman as head of the English Church. And a Protestant in country that had been Catholic for more than thousand years, surrounded by Catholic powers. OK, so sometimes paranoid's are not wrong. Why does it take us ten percent of the book to say this? Elizabeth's secretary Cecil doesn't appear until ten percent into the book. We are 14% into the book before Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's ambassador to the court Charles IX is first mentioned.\nPart 2 is \"Enemies of the State - concerned with the many efforts to undermine Protestantism and reestablish Catholicism. And, of course Mary of Scotland as the primary focus for such efforts. After all, if Elizabeth could be killed, Mary had strong claims to succeed her and was a staunch Catholic. But she gets bumped off by Elizabeth shortly after having been introduced. After which we get her summary biography.\nPart 3 is \"Politics and Money. A nice round topic to finish up with. Which reprises Mary of Scotland's execution, again, for five pages....and on to the Armada.\n\nTook me an evening to read it and didn't feel I'd learned anything of substance about Elizabeth, Cecil or Walsingham. Or anything else. There are better , much more substantive and more keenly forensic sources elsewhere. Unless you are looking for a mild entertainment for an evening or two.\n\nAm still not sure what was secret about this history...."],"string":"[\n \"Product: Cleanblend has designed the perfect blender to help you through the journey to better health. It is an all-in-one appliance that makes smoothies, fresh juice, ice cream, milk shakes, cappuccinos, margaritas, soups, sauces, batters, dressings, salsas and more! It replaces up to 9 other appliances with 1 fast, easy-to-use machine! It is a 3 horsepower, dynamo of a blender, that will liquefy fruits and vegetables to get the most vitamins, proteins and antioxidants from the whole food into one delicious drink. The Cleanblend blender is less expensive than its competition but with all the same features. We guarantee the blenders for five (5) years and have focused on quality in every detail. For example, unlike most blenders, weve swapped out those plastic bearings for high quality stainless steel. Compared to other home and commercial blenders, the Cleanblend has more traction and power. In addition, BPA-Free means you get all of the vitamins and nutrients from your foodand none of the chemicals found in other plastics. From soup to smoothies, youre always safe with Cleanblend. Also, The blade of a blender is crucial. Cleanblend uses high end, food-grade stainless steel with a 6-blade system configuration that chops, pulverizes and liquefies everything it touches. So, when you look under our hood, Cleanblend features a 3 HP, 1800 watt motor. This power to the blade is the key to the unrivaled commercial grade performance of the Cleanblend. Welcome to the next generation of commercial blenders. Welcome to Cleanblend.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very Pleased - This is a good quality blender\\n\\nReview: Very pleased with this blender. It replaced a similar machine from another manufacturer. (The way the motor cog that meshes with the blender was installed was poorly designed. It came loose, rendering the entire machine useless) What do I like about the Cleanblend? - The serrated blades are very effective. - The way the cog is attached to the motor, for easy replacement if necessary. The surprisingly quiet motor, which even sounds efficient! This is a solid 3HP motor. The question is whether it is an effective all purpose blender. In our kitchen this machine has to tackle a broad range of items from raw potatoes and carrots to chicken bones and everything in between. So far it has worked really well with everything I've tried. The blade cog meshes perfectly with the motor cog. The rest is just learned technique to deal with hard lumps or relatively dry material that needs to be pulsed a few times before it starts to blend and swirl around inside the jug.\\n- One other thing, customer service. Other reviewers have commented positively on this. My experience is equally positive. The first one I ordered went astray and didn't arrive. Amazon was brilliant about getting it replaced but I also got an email from Cleanblend concerned to fix any problem. - Very nice all round. - Highly recommended.\",\n \"Product: We are offering these Brand New GLS Audio Generation 4 Safe-Connect! Series Gold Banana Plugs at an awesome savings. They feature the Sure-Grip technology which allows for an incredible wire connection. These \\\"Generation II\\\" models have 9 High Tension Blades with Flex-Compression technology for maximum conductivity. The back shell case has a rubber grip which minimizes shorting if 2 plugs touch together. These GLS Audio Safe-Connect! Series Banana Plugs work best with 10 gauge, 12 gauge, 14 gauge, 16 gauge, and 18 gauge wire. These plugs are made of high quality 24k Gold Plated H59-1 Brass. The hole diameter in the back is 6.5mm. No soldering and no crimping required!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Solid and Easy to use.\\n\\nReview: I bought the small pack of 8 to try them on my new speakers. Liked them so much I went back and ordered the bigger pack so I could use them on all five speakers.\\n\\nNo screw driver needed. These are solidly made. unscrew top from bottom easily and with a nice \\\"precise\\\" feel. There's a trick to using them that requires just the right length of overlap of the bare wire to tamp down round the crown. Too much and the top is hard to screw down. Too little and there's not enough wire to curl over the crown for a good tight fit. BUT: Once you have this figured they are an absolute breeze to fix to the wire ends. I use 12 gauge wire and these accommodate perfectly.\\n\\nAlso impressed with the service from the seller.\",\n \"Product: The highest fidelity sound amplification available at any cost comes from the BEAN Quiet Sound Amplifier from Etymotic Research. BEAN boosts soft high-pitched sounds heard in speech, which helps provide clarity for conversations, particularly in less-than-ideal listening environments. Amplifies soft sounds, while keeping the volume steady on louder noises or even reducing it for extremely loud sounds. This pair is featured in a platinum design.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Enhanced hearing with fitting issues\\n\\nReview: UPDATE #2 - This really does work and work well, but you really need patience and perseverance. Why these updates? Being able to hear well is important to me (music) and I think also for others too. So: The first one developed a short circuit, got hot and buzzed. Amazon replaced it within two days. This one seems fine. The problem has been finding a decent fitting for my right ear, which is the bad one. I tried the regular fitting, that didn't work well. I tried the longer fitting but it kept popping out and only worked when I kept pushing it back in. Awkward in social settings because it is a distraction for me and my interlocutor(s). FINALY I went back to the sponge fitting, which works perfectly! Now I'll have to find out how to get replacements. The company web site wasn't that helpful. Bottom line: Be patient and determined and this little bean will work well for you.\\n((UPDATE: Ten days later. I realized I might have left a more negative impression than I intended. The manufacturer's recommendation to persevere with the fitting/comfort does pay off. Once my right ear healed and I could try again, things got better. I'm right handed and surprised the bean fitted my left ear easily and worked well. But it was my right ear that needed the help and I couldn't seat the bean easily or comfortably. At first. Still not perfect but...\\n\\nBut persevere. It is worth it. You'll get used to the whistling when you put it in. TV watching and conversation in a noisy room are much improved with this device. It just might take a while to get things working properly. But it will.))\\n\\nThis does everything it says it will. It does it very well and very effectively. But there are issues.\\nI have hearing problems, worst in my right ear. But I am using this bean in my left ear because fitting it into my right ear caused problems of fit and, finally, left me bleeding from that ear. The problem is fitting it in properly.\\n\\nI can imagine that for people who are sensitive about their ears, this would be a problem. (My late mother, who was claustrophobic and hated anything touching her ears is a good example.) Sure, it whistles as you put it in. Sure, it can leave a background hiss if it is not seated properly. Sure, it can get easily blocked if there has been a wax buildup. So fitting it takes some patience and forbearance.\\n\\nBut I find it is worth it to persevere. I can hear the conversations on the TV, which had gotten very foggy before. And I can enjoy conversations in noisy social occasions. The basic background sound stays the same, but the high end frequencies are enhanced and much sharper. I don;t enjoy using the bean when people are using knives and forks. The clatter is too enhanced and unpleasant. But for all those times when I was losing speech this device is wonderful.\\n\\nAs to fitting it. In my left ear it just pops in, using the smallest of the three band plugs. A small twist as it is going in and it is perfectly seated. But not so in my right ear. It is painful to insert, won't seat easily, and, after a couple of evenings of use, caused a sharp pain in my eustachian canal, was hard to extract and left that ear bleeding. Presumably from a scratch in the channel just after the initial bump and bend.\\n\\nI'm giving it five stars because it does what it is supposed to do and for a decent price (compared with hearing aids). But the fitting issues will probably limit the customers who would otherwise take beneficial and life improving advantage of this device.\",\n \"Product: Drama\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Richardson is perfect for this role\\n\\nReview: Richardson is perfect for this role. I've seen other reviews who are not usually enamored of Brit sardonic humor. But who loved this. Rightly so.\\n\\nIt is just very clever in the best sense. Very dark. And rather too close to the truth for comfort.\\n\\nI've not seen Spacey's American adaptation on Netflix yet. But I'd guess he would have done a different but equally brilliant take on the main character. Spacey would be \\\"knowing\\\" - \\\"in on the fix\\\". Richardson's character is something else. And darker. Flawed, sure, but not \\\"knowing\\\", more \\\"understanding\\\" and arranging the fix rather than being in on it. I imagine Spacey playing the smart boy who got into the game and proved good at it as he grew into it. Richardson's character is one of a class that has been arranging the game for generations. -\\n\\nA different perspective on power.\",\n \"Product: vhs\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Kate Winslet & Harvey Keitel: Perfect together.\\n\\nReview: I was never a great fan of Campion's movies. Though moving and compelling, I'd always felt she was too didactic, too emphatic, too stark in her metaphors, too obvious. Until reading what appeared to me to be utterly benighted reviews, especially of The Piano, Holy Smoke and An Angel at my Table. (I mean among the 2-3 star reviews)\\n\\nIn these movies she explores the idea of integrity, specifically feminine integrity. As opposed to the more thoroughly explored idea of masculine integrity. The lone hero: the against all odds hero, the self absorbed artist hero, the driven scientist hero. Campion's female \\\"heroes\\\" (sic. because \\\"heroine\\\" has an entirely different connotation) - are driven by their own sense of worth and value - In Holy smoke the erotic and religious mysticism are played off each other as fundamental passion. In The Piano the erotic and musical inspiration are played off each other. In \\\"Angel\\\" an utterly unconventional woman feels driven to express herself through her writing, and is mis-diagnosed as schizophrenic and incarcerated in an institution. (Because she can't conform to conventional expectations.) The main difference between the conventional male hero and Campion's female heroes is that the conventional male hero is OPPOSED by social elements. Campion's female heroes are REPRESSED, denied, discounted.\\n\\nFemale erotic drive and yearning: As religious and mystical revelation (Holy Smoke). As music and piano playing and composition (The Piano). As writing (An Angel AT My Table) - And in each movie there is denial and repression from an outside force, usually male, but more generally from petty bourgeois sentiment and complacency. And, of course, fear.\\n\\nMy takeaway from all three movies is that whether or not we regard the principle female as \\\"attractive\\\" or not, Campion offers us insights into women with deep and powerful drives. And the conventional societal, fear driven, repression and denial of those drives and passions.\\n\\nCampion does not provide a pleasant evening of mild entertainment. Her movies are disturbing and fierce and provocative. As they should be.\",\n \"Product: Originally released in 2012. Directed by Susanna White. Starring Adelaide Clemens, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anne-Marie Duff.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Better Than The Book\\n\\nReview: This is NOT Downtown Abbey soap opera! Cumberbach and the cast are excellent. Stoppard has a very difficult task scripting a swamp of a book and mining it for its essential thrust. Which is an account of how the English governing class and World War 1 did for the British Empire. The story line follows the (usually) hysterical self absorption of ALL its characters. Teijens, the main character, an 18th Century Parsival is serially undone by his class - contemporaries. Ably abetted by his Madam Bovery of a wife.\\n\\nThe problem wit the book is Ford Maddox Ford's writing approach. He attempts a series of impressionistic sketches around each character, trying, I suppose, to make a three dimensional image. Which fails and leaves us with a series of unsatisfying caricatures.\\n\\nStoppard is a premier craftsman with an acute eye for scene setting and an ear for the defining dialog. I felt the second and third acts got as well into the story as is possible, setting up an excellent fourth act. Stoppard simply cuts the last book, which is, in any case, mostly another attempt to reprise the points Ford fails to ground in the first three books. Act 1 is problematic, if you read what Stoppard has to work with from the book. The characters are still caricatures, so that the events surrounding them seem like place holders for what might come out if Ford can, eventually find focus. (For me he never does.)\\n\\nI recommend this very fine production. Even for those who are not wild about BBC trawling English period drama for product, this is rather better than usual.\",\n \"Product: In this uplifting drama about romance and second chances, childhood sweethearts Alan and Celia, both widowed and in their 70s, fall for each other all over again when they are reunited on the internet after nearly 60 years. Their relationship is a celebratory tale of the power of love at any age. But this is also a story about family, and with family comes baggage. Celia's respectable, head teacher daughter Caroline is juggling bringing up two boys and dealing with her husband's infidelity, while Alan's rebellious, complicated middle-aged daughter Gillian struggles to make a living on a beautiful but bleak farm. How will these two very different women cope with their parents' announcement that they've decided to get married?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: What a pain it is getting old! But it needn't be....\\n\\nReview: A great idea that offered very promising script possibilities. Season one sustained itself on the idea that old people (no, dear, not \\\"the elderly\\\")(Up in West Yorkshire they call a spade a spade.) not only have needs and wants, just like everyone else, they also have memories and unrequited hopes, and handicaps. Yes, still able to enjoy sex and (pills, not drugs) and rock and roll. This first series, as long as it is focused on two very fine and perfectly cast actors is a delight. But the writers do not seem to have the imagination to run with the essential premise and tend to wander off to soap opera distractions. But this first season has a delightful enough start and good enough actors to carry through to the end of the season. Season 2? Not so much.\",\n \"Product: Japanese SHM-CD pressing. Universal. 2014.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Not my favorite, but these recording yield so much\\n\\nReview: I find it almost impossible to review Pollini. Two months since buying this recording and I'm still working back and forth listening to all the other artists whose recordings I own and who have recorded these extraordinary sonatas. Pollini is a marvelous, technially brilliant artist and, to my ears a true musician. And sometimes his performance is breathtaking. But not always. These recordings span forty years of Pollini's career. Even though it is clear after just a couple of times listening through them all that Pollini is extraordinarily consistent over those years at least in technical brilliance of execution... nevertheless... The more I listen through them, or pick out certain individual sonatas for a compare and contrast with other recordings.. Well, it amounts to this. The couple of live performances included on these recordings are wonderful. I do not doubt that his musical intelligence was on full throttle during preparation for the studio recordings. And one value of these recordings is that in every case they bring something out of the score. So that listening to other performers before and after listening to Pollini's version, changes one's perception. Nevertheless there are Beethoven sonatas that benefit from the purity musical intelligence, but others that really need to allow the emotions and feeling in the music to breath more. I can't think of any other way to put it. Always Pollini offers us insights into the music, if we are prepared to go along with him. Sometimes these are very compelling. Other times the insights crowd out or suppress the emotional aspect that must be included in the performance to make it complete. Five stars because this is a wonderful collection that can be used profitably for reference with other great performances. - It never hurts to revisit another artist's performance, especially a favorite performance, after listening to Pollini. - Over these past couple months and for the next couple I'm incorporating listening to Pollini with Gulda, Badura - Skoda, Richter, (various) Schnabel, Arrau, and various others...\",\n \"Product: Claudio Abbado conducts the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in the summer of 2004.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Outstanding Performance - The live audience thought so too.\\n\\nReview: This is a very fine and rewarding performance.\\n\\nThe orchestra is very special. Outstanding individual and ensemble musicianship of the highest quality. Abbados reading of Mahler 5 seemed cool to me. The adagietto was performed more like a lullaby, and I missed the underlying irony and hysteria typical in earlier recordings I am more familiar with. On the other hand Abbados articulation and the extraordinary intensity and ensemble interaction of this orchestra is special. A joy to behold! - Superb conducting and performance and exceptional sound recording quality revealed chromatic and structural elements Id not heard before. Particularly in the middle movements.\\n\\nAttending live concerts I tend to keep my eyes closed most of the time, to get as close as possible to the music. And so I have never been keen on classical music videos. All that jumping around by the camera. But I confess to being very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the performances and sound in this and similar videos Amazon has made available. A treat, especially because of all those Abbado performances I missed, when he was with us.\\n\\nIt was also a treat to see Pollini in the audience to watch his friend conduct with such great artistry.\\n\\nHighly recommended.\",\n \"Product: Box set of Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas by Friedrich Gulda - ADD recordings made in 1967 on 9 CDs and supplied with 8 page booklet of non-English text. Piano Sonatas laid out as follows:\\nCD1: 1, 2, 3/ CD2: 4, 5, 6/ CD3:7, 8, 9, 10/ CD4: 11, 12, 13, 14/ CD5:15, 16, 17/ CD6:18, 19, 20, 21, 22/ CD7: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27/ CD:8 28, 29/ CD9: 30, 31, 32\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Five Stars Isn't Enough!\\n\\nReview: Not quite 50 years since I first heard a Beethoven sonata. (Pathetique, Backhaus, Mono vinyl) In all this time I have never had such a powerful, visceral, response to a recording. Gulda's tempo is on the quicker side. Here the issue is between two approaches. (1)\\\"I have brilliant technique, I'll translate the music in these terms\\\". Or (2) Beethoven requires this intensity and tempo. I have the necessary technical skill. So lets deploy it.\\\" Gulda is unquestionably in the second category. Those in the first...You know who you are!\\n\\nThe most striking thing, consistently throughout the cycle, is the unselfconscious, almost \\\"simple\\\" or naive playing, on a Bosendorfer, I believe. It felt, at times, as though I had never heard these sonatas before. I found myself thinking the most absurd thought, \\\"This is how Beethoven would want it played.\\\" As I say, absurd. (Who can know? And what would even this mean?) Nevertheless....That was the feeling... Point is the impression was one of absolute authenticity and truth to the score. And Beethoven's vision... And a revalation, after so many years of listening to these works...\\n\\nOver fifty years I've collected several sets of the Beethoven sonatas. Schnabel, the wonderful Poetical Solomon, some Intense Backhaus, Grand Arrau, Precise Pollini. And others. Each has brought great pleasure and insight into these wonderful sonatas. None, ever, has had this intense an impact, on first hearing.\\n\\nIf you can get this particular recording! 1967 Amadeo - Brilliant. There are two earlier published recordings which get mixed reviews.\\n\\nBut if you want the absolute best, probably have to pay a premium as there seem very few copies available..Mine was a used version. And the best $75 I've ever spent on music. Pity I can't transfer them to my Kindle Fire...But that's commerce for you.\\n Most highly recommended. Not surprised the other reviewers feel the same way.\",\n \"Product: One of Pierre Fournier's great recordings - arguably the best recording of the Beethoven Complete Cello works - that will form part of our Fournier 100 celebrations (the anniversary of his birth falls on 24 June this year). The recordings were made when Fournier was at his technical peak, and partnered by the keenly-insightful Friedrich Gulda. The CD booklet includes a fascinating memoir by the son of Pierre Fournier - Jean Fonda - on \\\"Fournier and Fritz [Gulda]\\\", plus a couple of delightful Fifties photos !\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Clash of the Titans\\n\\nReview: They make sublime music together! Fournier first paired with Schnabel and later with Kempf. I've seen reviews to the effect that the Fournier - Gulda and Fournier - Kempf partnerships have equal merit and receive equally high praise. -- But while it makes sense that Fournier and Kempf should make a natural partnership in musical temperament and style of play, Gulda partnering with Fournier might appear to be a surprising collaboration!... Until you hear them engage in a profound and brilliant (technically) conversation that spans the early, middle and late sonatas...\\n\\nThis is not merely a partnership of very high quality performers. There is something about the way they make this music come alive, together, that strips each of them of their respective stereotypes. Elegant, restrained extraordinary bowing technique essentially of the French school...together with the wild Austrian extrovert with great technique of the Austrian school who once performed a flute work with his equally naked girlfriend....The \\\"terrorist pianist\\\" No, no no...We are treated to a collaboration between two sublime artists and the result speaks for itself....\\n\\nSound balance seems about right. Gulda \\\"plays back\\\" a bit, so as not to drown the subtle resonances of the cello. The \\\"give and take\\\" between them is entirely driven by the demands of Beethoven's score. It feels to me that, somehow, together, they get a richer sense of the musical (tonal and register) dynamics Beethoven was driving for. So it feels as though each sublimates himself, or predominates not to each the other, but each as the music demands.\\n\\nTruly remarkable performance.\",\n \"Product: EMI Classics relaunches the popular EMI Masters Series: The definitive series of great classical music from a trove of the most notable and revered classical recordings ever made. Available on CD and for digital download, this newly repackaged installment of 30 masters celebrates EMI Classics' greatest artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Yehudi Menuhin and Angela Gheorghiu. All performances in this series were recorded, mastered, or re-mastered at the internationally renowned Abbey Road Studios in London.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Great Classic Recording\\n\\nReview: This is a 2002 remastering of the 1967 Kingsway Hall recording. Presumably to replace the remastering from the 1990's.\\n\\nThis is a widely praised and critically acclaimed classic recording of Bach's phenomenal B minor Mass. There are several very good reasons for this acclaim. Essentially that all the planets were in alignment when it was recorded. All the elements seem to fall into place.\\n\\nThe vocal artists were as good as could be at the time, and it shows. Agnes Giebel was the premier Bach vocalist of her generation. Janet Baker was at the very top of her form and achingly beautiful in her rendition of the Agnus Dei. The two voices combined for Christie elision is remarkable. I defy anyone not to be deeply moved by it. Nicolai Gedda (tenor) had performed this several years before with Karajan and had received much praise for his musical intelligence and lovely voice. I think the engineers did him no favors on this re-mastering. Nevertheless....Herman Prey and Franz Crass are memorable. Just listen to the Aria Quoniam tu souls Sanctus, and especially Et in spiritum Sanctum Dominum.... Above all it is the vocals that are the crown jewel in this recording. WHich couldn't have worked if Klemperer and the forces he commanded were not at peak performance.....\\n\\nThe New Philharmonia was about at its peak around this time. And the BBC chorus produces a very high standard. Marred by the limited sonics, even in Kingsway Hall. There is still some buzz in this latest remastering...\\n\\nKlemperer elected to use reduced forces with modern instruments. And was clearly appreciative of the \\\"authentic performance\\\" sensibility. -- As an aside, I like to pair this performance with Philippe Hereweghe's second recording with the Collegium Vocale Ghent, on Harmonia Mundi. For my taste these two performances are as good as it gets. Without disparaging other very highly regarded performances, both modern instrument and \\\"authentic performance\\\" varieties. I have not yet heard how the Rifkin version works out for the Dunedin Consort. Except to note that John Butt elects to add voices for the choral parts...\\n\\nIn the end, though, it is about Bach's vision... And whether the particular conductor masters it and presents it to us.\\n\\nA matter of taste and preference no doubt. But regardless, Klemperer's reading is very special.\\n\\nThis is Klemperer: So you should expect a slower, grander, tempo and delivery. His way of communicating the absolute majesty and reverence of Bach's conception. This is why I so much appreciate the Herreweghe performance as a comparator: And companion. I often play them back to back, alternating which goes first... Sure a lot of listening. But then...Bach! Herreweghe's is a more sprightly tempo, when the text permits. But still maintains a calm, hushed reverence throughout.\\n\\nThe sonics, even for the Kingsway Hall, and despite this latest re-mastering, do not permit the clarity of individual line you get with a contemporary all-digital recording. But we can feel the articulation and structural attention by Klemperer are all there - to produce a truly spiritual and musically highly informed listening experience.\\n\\nA final word about the sonics. Hard to compare as I have the 1990's mastering as an MP3 download from Amazon. I've been fiddling with the parameters and different processors on my audio system to try to get optimum fidelity to the engineer's intentions. So far with mixed results. The original recording has sonic limitations - The choir can be buzzy at times. The \\\"walking base\\\" is too prominent at times, overwhelming the rest of the strings. Which sometimes disappear into the background. The most bizarre effect occurs in the Benedictus aria given by Gedda. On direct stereo through Sennheiser headphones - The flautist is about 8 foot tall front and center; the strings sit far behind and to the (stage)left. And poor Nicholas is placed in a cardboard box somewhere in the middle of the ensemble. The effect is to have Gedda accompany the flute from the background.... There are other examples where the sound engineering seems odd. HOWEVER, playing with the Dolby parameters and blowing the recording through decent speakers reduces the effect and suggests what the engineers were trying for to overcome the sonic limitations of the original. Seems they were tailoring the sonic field to modern multi channel audio receivers. A little fiddling with these parameters did much to produce an extraordinarily clear sound picture - overall. But you'll need to get an all digital modern recording if you're anxious to hear the entire contrapuntal and internal structure we have more recently come to appreciate.\\n\\nThis does not in the least detract from the fact that Klemperer's reading carries all the mystery and spiritual reverence Bach intended. (At least for me and, apparently for many others.) And, being a truly great classical rendition, it is very well worth owning.\",\n \"Product: Watchers\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Shallow portrayal and endless scene setting\\n\\nReview: The book is divided into three sections.\\nPart 1 is \\\"Spying Out the Land\\\" - in which Alford tells us what he intends to tell us, diverges to a fantasy of Elizabeth's assassination and what would have then happened. So we understand just how anxious and fraught were the times. - Hardly necessary when we have been reminded that Elizabeth was a woman in a King's role, and a woman as head of the English Church. And a Protestant in country that had been Catholic for more than thousand years, surrounded by Catholic powers. OK, so sometimes paranoid's are not wrong. Why does it take us ten percent of the book to say this? Elizabeth's secretary Cecil doesn't appear until ten percent into the book. We are 14% into the book before Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's ambassador to the court Charles IX is first mentioned.\\nPart 2 is \\\"Enemies of the State - concerned with the many efforts to undermine Protestantism and reestablish Catholicism. And, of course Mary of Scotland as the primary focus for such efforts. After all, if Elizabeth could be killed, Mary had strong claims to succeed her and was a staunch Catholic. But she gets bumped off by Elizabeth shortly after having been introduced. After which we get her summary biography.\\nPart 3 is \\\"Politics and Money. A nice round topic to finish up with. Which reprises Mary of Scotland's execution, again, for five pages....and on to the Armada.\\n\\nTook me an evening to read it and didn't feel I'd learned anything of substance about Elizabeth, Cecil or Walsingham. Or anything else. There are better , much more substantive and more keenly forensic sources elsewhere. Unless you are looking for a mild entertainment for an evening or two.\\n\\nAm still not sure what was secret about this history....\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":13,"string":"13"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":95,"string":"95"}}},{"rowIdx":96,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"AHBU2B13R5SVF"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are grateful. After penning five file-drawer novels in high school, she took a break from writing to pursue college and earn her doctorate in Educational Psychology. After 16 years of university teaching, she returned to her first love, fiction writing. She has one husband, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, six more novels in draft form, waiting for editing, seven published novels, sewn eight Regency era costumes, shared her life with nine cats through the years and tries to run at least ten miles a week. She can be contacted at: author.MariaGrace@gmail.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorMariaGrace G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103065128923801481737/posts On Amazon.com: http://amazon.com/author/mariagrace Random Bits of Fascination (http://RandomBitsofFascination.com) Austen Variations (http://AustenVariations.com) English Historical Fiction Authors (http://EnglshHistoryAuthors.blogspot.com) On Twitter @WriteMariaGrace On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mariagrace423/\". The summary of the review text is \"You had a treasure in your hands and let it fly away\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"4.5 stars\n\nI read this as a WIP and then having obtained the book when it was published put off writing a review until I reread it. There is little resemblance to canon although we do have most of our main characters from such.\n\nSet at Rosings and then in London the Bennets are living nearby the former as Dr. Bennet has been hired by Lady C. due to Annes worsening condition and upon Mr. Collins recommendation.\n\nCaroline is barely mentioned. But Lady Catherine plays a major role going so far as to arrange marriages between her physicians two older daughters as well as between Darcy and Anne (enter Mr. Collins, then Charles Bingley and Wickham). Woebegone to any who attempt to usurp her role as advisor to the masses much less disobey her. Mr. Bennet now has a second wife and is not in possession of an estate...plus he plays a truly cruel role in the life of our dear Elizabeth, using her much like he would a scapegoat. The present Mrs. Bennet favors her three biological daughters over her two step-daughters but Elizabeth never concedes to her plans and thus is daily subjected to reminders of her failures. The Gardiners have been pushed aside as Mrs. Bennet considers people of trade beneath her and her familys recognition. Aunt Gardiner is above all a staunch supporter of all that is good and as she says to Elizabeth, You are too accustomed to sacrificing your happiness to the convenience of others we want to hug her and say, Well done.\n\nAs Debbie B. states in her review this story has echoes of the story of Cinderella. However for me it is much more about how Elizabeth perceives herself above everything else. A worse case of negative self image you may never find in reading. Although Jane is her main friend, even she offers not only no solutions to how Elizabeth is treated and to daily choices Elizabeth is forced to make for all around her but also Jane NEVER stands up for Elizabeth even among the family members. Jane seems to always think that Elizabeth needs to make changes in her opinions and her reactions. Finally at the end we read of Jane saying, I shall never have your happiness apart from your goodness in a twist from canon.\n\nDarcy quickly assesses Elizabeths relationship to all around her: Lady Catherine, Anne, Dr. Bennet but also the entire staff at Rosings. Long Toms reactions to Elizabeth give him an early clue of her goodness. And when he hears her time and again blame herself or give excuses for how others treat her we read, More (self) criticism? Why do you not let me be the judge of what I will call foolish? Why did he have to be so persistent? Could he not allow her this? When one knows fault will be found with them, it ismore manageable if one Offers up what is to be criticized, like a sacrifice? It is less painful than having it torn from you?\n\nThere are situations which do resemble canon, Lydia has not changed. And Jane has her Bingley. But Mary does better in this story.\n\nThe servants respond so well after Elizabeth, with no prompts or reminders, keeps attending to their woes secretly so as not to arouse the dragon lady nor to allow her father to heap more dung on her head. Long Tom and his nephew reward Elizabeth in the final chapters with a unique and long lasting recognition.\n\nThis is a well done variation which brings us to love both Elizabeth, above all others, and Darcy as he has the wisdom to see all that is good in her character."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"4.5 stars\n\nI read this as a WIP and then having obtained the book when it was published put off writing a review until I reread it. There is little resemblance to canon although we do have most of our main characters from such.\n\nSet at Rosings and then in London the Bennets are living nearby the former as Dr. Bennet has been hired by Lady C. due to Annes worsening condition and upon Mr. Collins recommendation.\n\nCaroline is barely mentioned. But Lady Catherine plays a major role going so far as to arrange marriages between her physicians two older daughters as well as between Darcy and Anne (enter Mr. Collins, then Charles Bingley and Wickham). Woebegone to any who attempt to usurp her role as advisor to the masses much less disobey her. Mr. Bennet now has a second wife and is not in possession of an estate...plus he plays a truly cruel role in the life of our dear Elizabeth, using her much like he would a scapegoat. The present Mrs. Bennet favors her three biological daughters over her two step-daughters but Elizabeth never concedes to her plans and thus is daily subjected to reminders of her failures. The Gardiners have been pushed aside as Mrs. Bennet considers people of trade beneath her and her familys recognition. Aunt Gardiner is above all a staunch supporter of all that is good and as she says to Elizabeth, You are too accustomed to sacrificing your happiness to the convenience of others we want to hug her and say, Well done.\n\nAs Debbie B. states in her review this story has echoes of the story of Cinderella. However for me it is much more about how Elizabeth perceives herself above everything else. A worse case of negative self image you may never find in reading. Although Jane is her main friend, even she offers not only no solutions to how Elizabeth is treated and to daily choices Elizabeth is forced to make for all around her but also Jane NEVER stands up for Elizabeth even among the family members. Jane seems to always think that Elizabeth needs to make changes in her opinions and her reactions. Finally at the end we read of Jane saying, I shall never have your happiness apart from your goodness in a twist from canon.\n\nDarcy quickly assesses Elizabeths relationship to all around her: Lady Catherine, Anne, Dr. Bennet but also the entire staff at Rosings. Long Toms reactions to Elizabeth give him an early clue of her goodness. And when he hears her time and again blame herself or give excuses for how others treat her we read, More (self) criticism? Why do you not let me be the judge of what I will call foolish? Why did he have to be so persistent? Could he not allow her this? When one knows fault will be found with them, it ismore manageable if one Offers up what is to be criticized, like a sacrifice? It is less painful than having it torn from you?\n\nThere are situations which do resemble canon, Lydia has not changed. And Jane has her Bingley. But Mary does better in this story.\n\nThe servants respond so well after Elizabeth, with no prompts or reminders, keeps attending to their woes secretly so as not to arouse the dragon lady nor to allow her father to heap more dung on her head. Long Tom and his nephew reward Elizabeth in the final chapters with a unique and long lasting recognition.\n\nThis is a well done variation which brings us to love both Elizabeth, above all others, and Darcy as he has the wisdom to see all that is good in her character."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: In the years before the Civil War, the Mains and Hazards achieve their triumphs and suffer their tragedies against the panorama of American history. 2 cassettes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"To pause and look back when thou hearest the sound of my name\": Gerald Griffin\n\nReview: Each chapter has a quote from a different source - \"Look back, look back\" is not part of the text but oh, so poignant in the movie.\n\nUntil this past month every time someone mentioned the TV series, North and South, I thought of John Jakes' book/TV adaptation. So when in an interview with a JAFF author online \"the kiss\" at the end of the movie, North and South, was mentioned with a link to the scene on You Tube (And ironically some links show it with Heathcliff's, Rochester's and Darcy's as the best movie kisses.) I had to explore. (Those men are all from favorite books/movies of mine.) I then bought the DVD and the book...by Elizabeth Gaskell.\n\nI am not going to go over the story - there are 435 reviews on 44 pages here on Amazon, giving story, character, author, period, etc. details. I do want to say that my illustrated kindle version @ $.99 had NO footnotes and I am thinking of going out to buy a book in which such are included BECAUSE the cant of the northern mill workers is difficult to understand. [\"Clem\" - is this \"starve\"?] And also because there are French, Spanish and Latin words and/or phrases which I cannot translate despite HS courses in 2 of those languages.\n\nI found so much going on in this book. The relationships for both Margaret Hale and John Thornton were complex. I am not just talking about their own relationship (hate/love) but also that with the working class, the society in which they lived at different times, and then their families and acquaintances. Margaret is sent to be raised by an aunt and with a female cousin, Edith, at a young age so how does this affect the relationship with her own mother? Then there are: Mr. Bell and Mr. Hale, Higgins, other workers and John Thornton, Henry Lennox and Margaret, Mr. Hale and his relationship with his church, the unions, the working class and the Masters and even the imported (We call them SCABS) Irish workers. And one has to include the relationship with Dixon for Mrs. Maria Hale. Higgins' family relationships, Margaret, his neighbors and then his Master, John Thornton, and even GOD, were also something to ponder. I found it very gratifying when Higgins went to work for John Thornton how they learned about each other and thus made changes/concessions in their relationships. John learning of Higgins' care of the orphaned children and Higgins taking John Thornton's suggestion to pool money for meals for workers, thus using wholesale pricing on foods, and less labor cooking in one kitchen, etc.\n\nThere are many social issues introduced in this book, and mentioned by other reviews, i.e., class relationships, racial relationships, the industrial revolution, the Navy and the issue of mutiny with Frederick Hale and his marrying (oh, no) a Roman Catholic, the Anglican Church and dissention within.\n\nSomeone mentioned that transitions in the book were handled poorly - I agree. You're reading along and \"Lo, and behold\", you are suddenly in another setting with different characters. Was this because of the original publication for a weekly series in Charles Dickens' work? The ending left me with mixed feelings. Yes, it was humorous and appropriate that they both reflected on how their mother/mother figure would react to their having finally come to an understanding...\"That man\"....\"That woman\" but I would love to have had an epilogue, not just about their relationship, marriage, extended family, etc. but also the factory and the workers. We all hope it is a HEA for all but I would just love to know a little more.\n\nI read the book and have the DVD of Wives and Daughters and have now bought the book, Cranford, and borrowed the DVDs. Although I did see that latter series on Masterpiece Theater here in the States. This author has become one of my favorites.","Product: Grand Sophy\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: How would you feel about a hurricane coming into your life and rearranging everything?\n\nReview: I will say that I am glad that I read the other reviews (of length) because I was having doubts about my opinions concerning this book. So many people praise Georgette Heyer that I was thinking I must be flawed to think a short way into the plot that I didn't like Sophy. Some think she is wonderful, spunky, independent, etc. but there are a few who join me in thinking she is manipulative and scheming and she never suffers any consequences for her rash acts. Further, as noted by some, this book is anti-Semitic. Lastly, I don't care if it was the custom of the time in England or in California, I do not care to read about first cousins marrying each other.\n\nThe main characters were so \"opposite\" that it was pretty obvious that they would end up together. I never had a clear picture as to why cousin, Charles Rivenhall, was engaged to Eugenia Wraxton to start with. After all he was a catch, even if he is working to set the estate in the clear. He should have had no reason to settle for a marriage of convenience. And she was very straight laced, which would not do.\n\nAs another review stated, \"Sophy is much too perfect at everything\" and she can't lose, which was annoying: going into parts of the city most men would not frequent, taking off with the horses after tricking the servant into chasing after her hat, taking new horses out by lying to the servants that she had permission, bringing animals as gifts into a house without knowing if they are allowed or even if there are allergies, (and did the monkey relieve himself all over the furniture and rugs, etc.), planning a ball when the aunt was under the illusion that a small affair of, say 20 couples, was in the offing, chasing off to her home without informing the staff so as a consequence, there is no food, no fires in the fire places and dust covers galore, inviting everyone and his brother to show up at the same time, carrying a gun and shooting a man to further her plot to \"fix\" his love problem - really?\n\nSo the Riverhall family was all mucked up. How did Sophy manage to be so \"perfect\", when her father admits he really did nothing to parent her after her mother died while Sophy was quite young. This story would have you believe she had all the right contacts, could flirt with impunity, ride and shoot like the devil, and knew how to manage all her finances. She did have a loving heart in caring for her young sick cousin, Amabel. And, yes, everything turned out right in the end (if you want first cousins to marry) but does the end justify the means?\n\n3.5 stars","Product: Ms. Mason-Milks says, Writing stories inspired by Austens books offers a way to spend more time with characters Ive grown to love. Just because the book ends, it doesnt have to be the end of the story. In addition to writing, her other loves include singing in \"a cappella joy\" (a women's barbershop chorus), reading, and yoga. She currently lives in Seattle with her husband and their three cats. In addition to her blog at http://www.austen-whatif-stories.com, she is also part of a group blog called austenauthors.net.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not enough sexual tension and oh, so frustrating\n\nReview: This tale had angst but not the type I prefer. In this story (and I won't go over the story line as other reviewers handle it well) the frustrations and misunderstandings just got to be a little too much. Even towards the end when Elizabeth knew Darcy still loved her and when he overheard her tell his Aunt, Lady C., how much she loved him, they still couldn't come together and declare or show their love. A marriage of convenience with a man of his age not expecting just a little more physical contact is just tad unreal to me. And some of the misunderstandings: Lizzy has a temper tantrum in her mind but actually does nothing? (She did ask Mrs. Reynolds but didn't confront Darcy.) I would have been rearranging the furniture so quickly! And then thinking he had a love child with a servant? I don't believe she could really think that after all the things he did for her and her family and how he kept his hands off her in waiting for her to learn to love him. Lizzie's reactions sometimes were very sudden and unexpected, almost seemed ungrateful, (not that he wanted her to act out of a sense of obligation). I did read this story twice and it was a page turner but I was disappointed that it took so long for them to come to an understanding.","Product: Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are grateful. She has one husband, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, six cats, seven Regency-era fiction projects and notes for eight more writing projects in progress. To round out the list, she cooks for nine in order to accommodate the growing boys and usually makes ten meals at a time so she only cooks twice a month. She can be contacted at: author.MariaGrace@gmail.com. You can find her profile on Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorMariaGrace or visit her website at: AuthorMariaGrace.com\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Digging into the making of Lizzie's character\n\nReview: Again - having read the third in this trilogy by mistake first, I went back and read the first two before posting a review on either one. I agree with some of the other reviewers in that: 1.) There were just too many footnotes, which, as a new Kindle user I could not figure out how to access and 2.) Yes, she did use many of JA's quotes but, then, so do many of the authors of the 88 other JAFF books I have read. I was not comfortable with the relationship between Elizabeth and her father in this story. He doesn't seem at all receptive to her opinions and treats her poorly, in my viewpoint. And the whole footstool thing seemed contrived (a small detail but one that bothered me). I did appreciate the author having the four sisters ban together and having Lizzie change her perspective on her sisters and learning to appreciate their separate talents. Lydia needs a good shaking as did Georgina in the first of these stories. Although this story did keep my attention and makes me want to re-read the third volume I find it lacking in comparison to some of my other favorite JAFF authors, i.e., Abigail Reynolds, Kara Louise, Linda Wells, etc. Yes, read it if you are so into every JA sequel, \"what-if\", prequel, etc. but know that I find better stories out there.","Product: Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are grateful. After penning five file-drawer novels in high school, she took a break from writing to pursue college and earn her doctorate in Educational Psychology. After 16 years of university teaching, she returned to her first love, fiction writing. She has one husband, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, sown six Regency era costumes, written seven Regency-era fiction projects, and designed eight websites. To round out the list, she cooks for nine in order to accommodate the growing boys and usually makes ten meals at a time so she only cooks twice a month. She can be contacted at: author.MariaGrace@gmail.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorMariaGrace On Amazon.com: http://amazon.com/author/mariagrace Random Bits of Fascination (http://RandomBitsofFascination.com) Austen Variations (http://AustenVariations.com) English Historical Fiction Authors (http://EnglshHistoryAuthors.blogspot.com) White Soup Press (http://whitesouppress.com/) On Twitter @WriteMariaGrace On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mariagrace423/\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: But the past can shape and have effects here and now!\n\nReview: I read this story as a WIP on a blog and truly enjoyed it so purchased it when it was published. BUT I didn't want to write a review until I read the newer version so as to make sure I had a sense of the story in its final edition as well as after it was read front to back in its entirety.\n\nIf you don't like to read versions in which the variation is completely different from canon, be warned: this story has few similarities to Pride and Prejudice. Oh, the names of most of the principle characters are there and Pemberley figures in as the main residence but the estate of Alston Hall is new. The characters seem to be almost new creations, other than their names. And there are a few new players who play significant roles: Piper and four children named Francis, Philip, David and George. Mr. Bennet is now a retired Admiral Bennet, a twice-over widower but with only 2 daughters and with identical twin sons.\n\nHowever in this tale Bennet has lost the estate of Longbourn to a brother and is settling in a new estateone neighboring Pemberley. And upon finding it in an uninhabitable condition finds he must accept the offer to be the guests of Mr. Darcy and his mother-in-law (and) AuntCatherine de Bourgh. But Darcys life is complete. Or so he thinks. He has married, he has two sons and he is now a widower, himself. He has no desires for any changes in his life.\n\nBut there is one circumstance in his life which I found hard to swallow. Darcy feels a sense of obligation to George Wickham due to Georges not only saving his life years ago but also for intervening and paving the way at university when Darcys reticence and awkwardness have made him feel like an outsider. As a reader my hackles were up and I thought of Darcy as a fool here, to accept that Georges motivations were that of a friend, and that he continued to know his place in the circles of family and acquaintances, just didn't sit right. And Georges lechery upon meeting certain young ladies began to make me feel my instincts were correct. But Darcy seeks to place Wickham in a new post as steward due to the fact that Wickham has lost his apprenticeship with Darcys attorney in Londonmore about that in the story was not surprising to me.\n\nEven though this story is a wide departure from canon, I enjoyed it. Cathy: oh, my! And Admiral Bennet really? As a senior citizen myself I have to say that it was heartwarming to read of a romance for some who have already passed middle age. Yes, some of us can still have stirringsbut enough of that. It was at times comical to learn about how to use ones fan effectively.\n\nThe story seems to emphasize the relationship between Elizabeth with both her father and with Darcy. Jane has little mention in this story and her love interest is NOT a man named Bingley as he and his sisters do not exist here. The admiral has traveled the world and taken his family with him. In doing such he has taught his daughters self defense and they each carry knives with them. Plus the girls are not sheltered in having met many a man and having learned early to judge new acquaintances. You see, each daughter now has not only her looks to recommend her but also a dowry AND the Princes friendship with their father to help introduce them into society. So imagine our chagrin when we read of how Elizabeth has been repudiated as she uses her intuition and skills of assessment to refuse more than one suitor who in turn starts gossip to seek revenge for her denial of their suit.\n\nThis story also uses the natural exuberance of four young boys, of their daring-do and competitiveness to lead events to a culmination and to show the mettle of several lead actors.\n\nIn remembering the past (and in this story it is significant in shaping our characters) we have Adm. Bennets loss of Longbourn and the way his daughter was treated by suitors (and the ton) in London. We have Lady Catherines experience with her faithless husband, Colonel Fitzwilliams relationship with her own father and his being disowned. We have all that went on between Wickham and Darcy growing up and even at university. And for Elizabeth we have how fickle and then treacherous men have revealed themselves in seeking but being denied their suit of her. So although in canon Elizabeth wants to only remember the past as it gives her pleasure, in this story the past has present sway in hers and others outlooks and judgments.\n\nThis story is one that had enough pleasure for me that I was able to remember it from my past reading of such, even though I may have read a hundred or more stories since my first perusal of this tale. Yes, I recommend it, canon or NOT.","Product: Jack Caldwell is an author, amateur historian, professional economic developer, playwright, and like many Cajuns, a darn good cook. Born and raised in the Bayou County of Louisiana, Jack and his wife, Barbara, are Hurricane Katrina victims who now make Florida their home. His nickname -- The Cajun Cheesehead -- came from his devotion to his two favorite NFL teams: the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. When not writing or traveling with Barbara, Jack attempts to play golf. A devout convert to Roman Catholicism, Jack is married with three grown sons. Jack's blog postings -- The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles -- appear regularly at Austen Authors.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very close to our original P&P with some pleasing changes in characters\n\nReview: If one loves JA's P&P, one knows the lines very well. Mr. Caldwell uses many of them with no attempt to disguise such. Does that offend me? NO. My thoughts are that Mr. Caldwell was very clever and had to have given a lot of thought as to how to use those lines and in whose mouth. But, honestly, I did skim through many of those sections as I knew the words so well. Many of his changes are changes which I, frankly, have opined about for the original. Don't we all think Mary should have married Mr. Collins, what with her reading of Fordyce's Sermons and her holier-than-thou attitude? However, in marrying Mary to Mr. Collins our author gives her the wisdom (and body) to be able to handle her husband. Him \"begging\" to be allowed to visit her bedroom - I think I will be ill also if not die from laughing so hard first! I enjoyed reading that Mary and Anne de Bourgh became best of friends. What a nice surprise! Many authors have married Col. Fitzwilliam off to Anne in JAFF stories, but in this version, Col. Fitzwilliam doesn't seem to have a clue that this is to be his fate. Is he in denial? The scene in which he is entering Rosings and 3 females have his destiny all tied up is priceless.\n\nI did NOT like when Elizabeth, at Lambton, after having received the letters about Lydia's elopement with Wickham, said, \"Find them and I am yours.\" It just doesn't sound right...sorry. Yes, we know Darcy is honorable and would only have Elizabeth in marriage but I just don't think our Lizzy would have said it quite that way. It opens up too many negative connotations. He has not proposed for a second time, She has just realized that, yes, she can love him. But she also thinks that this disgrace because of Lydia's actions would now totally justify his views of her family, even though he takes the blame in not exposing Wickham. And there is that whole thing about him not wanting her out of gratitude, which her words imply. Doesn't she know that he is not going to want her for that reason by now. She has been learning so much about his honor and how loyal he is to those he loves and how he takes care of them and protects them.\n\nIn creating a different Anne I found it very interesting that Mr. Caldwell now gives her an accomplishment which her mother was bragging about in the original story (and which she didn't have) and additional accomplishments, which would draw attention from a man looking for an \"ideal woman\"...learning to play the piano, learning to shot billiards, drawing, handling her dog cart and wanting to learn to ride are sure to please.\n\nWe have a new Jane who suddenly has the discernment to realize that Bingley can't stand on his own two feet and that a couple cannot live on love alone. This is not JA's Jane. We do see Bingley's character being more developed in this version and, for me, that was pleasing. (Even if the steward he hires and works with was sent his way via Darcy and Matlock.)\n\nAll in all a very interesting twist to the original story. The author kept very close to the original story line making changes more in characters' personalities and then their actions without changes in the final outcome for the most part.","Product: Victoria has a Ph.D. in English literature and has taught composition to unwilling college students. Today she is a freelance writer/editor who teaches business writing to willing office professionals and tries to give voice to the demanding cast of characters in her head. She lives in Virginia with an overly affectionate cat, two children who are learning how much fun Austens characters can be, and a husband who fortunately is not jealous of Mr. Darcy. A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Not exactly a knight in shining armor but still he doesn't give up as twists keeps coming\n\nReview: 4.5 stars\n\nHe would rescue Elizabeth and in the process - he now realized rescue himself from a lifetime of loneliness. So ODB is off and running.\n\nI must say that this Darcy had a few surprises for me. In canon, and most stories, he is a man who stands at the window, or in the corners of a room, stares at Elizabeth and then makes inappropriate or completely misinterpreted remarks. His famous...\"tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.\" reverberates in our minds when we think of the beginnings of ODC's relationship. In this delightfully humorous variation, Darcy does utter that, but we only read of it in retrospection when he meets Elizabeth at Oakham Mount while he is riding to Longbourn. (If only he could go back in time and slap himself.) He has returned to the area alone, to attempt to change the course of events he has learned about in a letter from Jane to Caroline.\n\nDarcy, in grasping for solutions, is very quick with his verbal responses in two major twists with first, Mr. Collins, and then with his Aunt Catherine. I, along with Elizabeth, could not believe what came out of his mouth. Isn't this the man who in canon said \"disguise of every sort is my abhorrence\"? And then to hope that Elizabeth does not call him on it! (Mouths agape.) Really adorable and laughable at the same time. But he doesn't have all the facts as to why Elizabeth acted as she did and in reaching for his own happiness he might just be ensuring Elizabeth's disgrace and disaster for her family. When he visit at Longbourn he overhears just what the entire family thinks of him through an open doorway as his presence is discussed by the women of the family. How mistaken he is about his status in their eyes. And then we also read of a man who goes to great lengths to manipulate events. (Do I know this man?)\n\nElizabeth cannot determine why this man is even in the neighborhood much less visiting in their home frequently. He says he is there for the hunting. As things progress from Elizabeth we read thoughts of clearly she had not appreciated before the degree to which honor and a sense of justice provoked Mr. Darcys actions.\n\nAt one point I nearly lost my breakfast as I read of Collins words, My dearest Elizabeth and I seem to have been formed for each other. BARF! Darcy thinks he is so clever but, oh, my, the results of that manipulation jump up like stepping on a hoe which springs up and hits one in the face. As he bumbles about trying to untwist the disaster he has now causedwell, readers, please read for your selves.\n\nI did so enjoy this version. It was a very short read and helped to make a day more enjoyable as I read of this man who arranged pieces for a Happily Ever After.\n\n(I did agree with the one review questioning things such as \"How did the Gardiners know of Jane's and Elizabeth's visit at Pemberley?\")","Product: New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Catherine Bybee has been addicted to romance since her teens. After spending a decade of her life working as an RN in urban emergency rooms, Catherine is now dedicated to writing happily-ever-afters for the world to love. Catherine is married and raising two sons in Southern California.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Control from a grave - tsk, tsk, Daddy!\n\nReview: After reading Single by Saturday and thoroughly enjoying it and then seeing this was available on kindle Unlimited I jumped right on it and read it in less than a day. It was a nice romance to escape into on a rainy day.\n\nWith so many other reviews posted I have no desire to go into details. But I was happy to be looking backwards in this series to learn just what the \"Duke and Duchess\" references were from that first book I read. Complications from both fathers make for a couple who are both leery to place trust in anyone. But then sparks do fly when they touch much less after marrying and being in close quarters. Sam (Samantha) Elliott, in giving Blake five minutes to state his case in the first chapter set in a Starbucks, won my heart - a no nonsense woman. Blake in expecting a man and then in turning the tables in a proposition for a marriage on paper only, (with her, not with any of the 3 candidates she screened for him) - not even a marriage of convenience - seems a perfect foil. But then we learn the family history for both and our hearts pull for love's magic touch to make this a HEA marriage for both. The author does not fail us.","Product: Laura Landon taught high school for ten years before leaving the classroom to open her own ice-cream shop. As much as she loved serving up sundaes and malts from behind the counter, she closed up shop after penning her first novel. Now she spends nearly every waking minute writing, guiding her heroes and heroines to happily ever after. She is the author of more than a dozen historical novels, and her books are enjoyed by readers around the world. She lives with her family in the rural Midwest, where she devotes what free time she has to volunteering in her community.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: New author for me - very enjoyable!\n\nReview: I had never read any of this author's books before so when it was offered for one-day only @ $1.99 I read the sample and looked at the nearly 300 reviews and decided it was worth the price. I was happily surprised to find an author whose books I will buy and read beyond this one.\n\nThe story line is described in the book description and in other's reviews so I will not repeat such. I believe the thing I like most was that in describing bedroom scenes the author did NOT go into gory details. There was just enough to satisfy my tastes. I read this in one day, despite plans to put it down and go out shopping. I found it thoroughly enjoyable and now will order another book, even at a higher price. I recommend this book for all who enjoy historical romances or just plain old romances.","Product: Elizabeth Ann West is a jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none. After spending three years selling her non-fiction articles to websites and marketing firms, she made the jump to writing fiction in 2011. Before choosing a career in writing, she made magic at the Walt Disney World Resort and performed as a Quality Technician for Alcoa. Since then, she's learned to code apps, build websites, and make a mean cup of coffee! Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, her family now moves wherever the Navy sends them. Currently, the Navy needs her family in Connecticut.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: So just when is the marriage?\n\nReview: 3.5 stars\n\nI was not going to read this second in a series of three but this book was gifted to me by Loren. Please note that this is not a standalone book. And while I do not mind content of a sexual nature (This book has none.) I do mind domestic violence!!! And on top of all that are the coarse and rude manners displayed by members of genteel society.\nFor me this story moved forward slowly. Part of this is a result of the time between reading the first book and finally picking up this second part of the story. The book itself is a short novella; one which really could have united the first and/or the third together to make a complete book at a more reasonable overall price for most readers. Darcy and Elizabeth are finding throughout events many frustrations to not only announcing their engagement and forwarding their marriage ceremony but also just in trying to meet together. Vile accusations as well as punishments result as various persons accuse ODC of immoral behaviors.\n\nThings at Longbourn are not at all comfortable and many there continue to walk on eggshells. DO NOT MENTION a certain sister who is now disowned it seems.\n\nThe Colonel is playing his part in Darcys plans to obtain his hearts desires, but Richard has his own motivations as well as the desire to help his cousin. Much of this story concerns slinking around and acting the part of roles to throw Lady Catherine, Mr. Collins and others off the scent. There is also the treatment of a family of tenants who have fallen on harsh times and for whom Elizabeth has to use deceit in order to give help. A Parson cant give charity oh, no, never!\n\nBack in London, dastardly Wickham and his all-so-nave and, frankly, stupid wife, Georgiana act as if brother, Fitzwilliam is never returning home. Caroline makes use of that situation with a show of gutsy behavior. Then in another act of abuse as part of the script, Wickham charges his friends toWHAT?! No author has used this act in a variation. Here I was quite frankly dismayed that such was part of the story.\n\nThe author has some new ideas and it is obvious she is striving to use creative phrases in her writing but at times the style was confusing and then there was also little attention to editing. In my opinion, this story would have benefitted by time taken to fill in the background and give us more details in the ongoing events and motivations for such. We still do not have our couple united in Holy Matrimony.","Product: Regina Jeffers is an award-winning author of cozy mysteries, Austenesque sequels and retellings, and Regency era romances. A teacher for thirty-nine years, Jeffers often serves as a consultant for Language Arts and Media Literacy programs. With multiple degrees, Regina has been a Time Warner Star Teacher, Columbus (OH) Teacher of the Year, and a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar. With 5 new releases coming out in 2015, Jeffers is considered one of publishings most prolific authors. Come check out some of her 19 novels: Darcys Passions, Captain Frederick Wentworths Persuasion, The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy, A Touch of Grace, A Touch of Honor, and The First Wives Club.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Oh, what a web of misunderstandings - can it get any worse?\n\nReview: Regina Jeffers does not disappoint. I have read other of her books (although not all - bucket list: read all her books) and have enjoyed every one of them. She has quite an impressive list. I do have to mention that this is a short story which only took up 90% of my kindle's volume as a preview to another book takes up most of the rest of that same volume, along with credits, lists of other books, etc. The latter of which we expect.\n\n(Do read the book description before thinking of purchasing this book. I am not going to repeat all that is said there.)\n\nTo me this book was the height of misunderstandings between our dear couple ever in any book in the JAFF genre. But if you enjoy angst, mix-ups, stubbornness, etc. you will find this tale delightful. The story begins with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner's and Elizabeth's visit to Pemberley. The events change at this point. They do not meet Darcy here although he learns later that it was, indeed, Elizabeth he viewed from her back going out with the head gardener to stroll the property.\n\nI have read reviews in which other readers want to shake this person or that person in their misconstrued thoughts or actions. In this tale I wanted, for the first time, to severely shake Elizabeth...as Jane (our quiet, unassuming, passive Jane) tries to convince Elizabeth of the error in judgment she has made and continues to make about a certain man. And on the eve of a wedding, when thoughts should be only on that event - yes, Elizabeth you are distracting your dear sister.\n\nI was reminded of a scene, which I loathe, in which Anne Elliot races about Bath in search of Captain Wentworth in the latest screen version of Persuasion. Elizabeth travels or, at time, rushes posthaste between Pemberley, Lambton, Gracechurch Street, Darcy House, Pemberley, Gracechurch Street, Longbourn and Netherfield. Yes, she is a busy young lady. And an epidemic of measles helps to influence reactions to her showing up in one place or another.\n\nElizabeth is very sly and conniving in this tale and, boy, can she tell whoppers! With outright lying to more than one person, all of whom are attempting to save her reputation and/or her physical well-being. Darcy is the romantic...he won't give up. And I loved his one letter. Finally - \"Good for you, Darcy, old chap - finally put your foot down with a deadline!\" Other familiar faces take part in this twisting tale: Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, Wickham, Lydia, Caroline, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, the Gardiners, and all the sisters as well as Bingley and the Hursts.\n\nI did enjoy reading the different thoughts and convoluted conclusions and reactions to events for both Elizabeth and Darcy. Although I think Elizabeth takes the cake for misconstruing intentions, actions, etc. There is once when she does stop and take what she knows of Darcy step-by-step in her thoughts to consider a situation and what is meant or what is reality.\n\nI read this book in about half-a-day so I was not kept up late at night trying to reach the end. I am sure all lovers of JAFF will enjoy the creativity and imagination which went into the writing of another variation here. Enjoy.","Product: Nicole Clarkston is the pen name of a very bashful writer who will not allow any of her family or friends to read what she writes. She grew up in Idaho on horseback, and if she could have figured out how to read a book at the same time, she would have. She initially pursued a degree in foreign languages and education, and then lost patience with it, switched her major, and changed schools. She now resides in Oregon with her husband of 14 years, 3 homeschooled kids, and a very worthless degree in Poultry Science (don't ask). Nicole discovered Jane Austen rather by guilt in her early thirties- how does any book worm really live that long without a little P&P? She has never looked back. A year or so later, during a major house renovation project (undertaken when her husband unsuspectingly left town for a few days) she discovered Elizabeth Gaskell and fell completely in love. Nicole's first two published books are her pitiful homage to two authors who have so deeply inspired her.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I'm marrying her. NO, I'm marrying her!!!\n\nReview: 4.5 stars\n\nThe main premise here is that with Mr. Bennet incapacitated and unconscious for who-knows-how-long due to a fall from his horse, Mr. Collins (working under the assumption that Mr. Bennet may never recover or may be mentally impaired if he awakens at all) steps up his plan to have Elizabeth as his bride and announces that she is his choice of wife and he will manage Longbourn in the stead of his predecessor. BUT, his biggest mistake is that he does this in the presence of Mr. Darcy. There are other there as witnesses, the rest of the Bennet family, Bingley, servants, etc.; they may be shocked but will do little to object to this. And we know Mrs. Bennet will only grab on to this assurance that, if her husband does not recover or recover fully, the family will not be thrown out into the hedgerows if Elizabeth is married to Mr. Collins.\n\nTo backtrack just a little: this scene is the day after the Netherfield Ball and both Darcy and Bingley are on their way to London. They are approached by the apothecary bringing to their notice what has happened to Mr. Bennet and \"suggesting\" that as a close neighbor Mr. Bingley might want to help with advising the Bennet family while Mr. Bennet is bed ridden. Thus Bingley's and Darcy's presence at the onset of this misfortune is explained.\n\nWe have had a look into Darcys thoughts. You know those of which he pondered after meeting Elizabeth and witnessing her sisters behaviors and her mothers matchmaking efforts while learning of their poor prospects with little to speak of in the way of dowries. So he has realized towards whom his heart is leaning but has had all those misgivings. But to have thrown in his face the possibility that this cretin might touch Elizabeth, that she would bear Collins children, forces Darcy to make a bold move, an unexpected move, one which has all the makings of a forced engagement. Elizabeth is sputtering, a wet hen, hissing and coiling in her anger. About half this book is about that relationship. Then guess who comes up with a very wise decision about how to sort out and bring to fruition what Darcy has set in motion? OK, youll never guess so Ill tell you, Bingley. Yes, Bingley sends for Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana.\n\nSo much of this book is reading of how ODC sorts out this rocky start. Darcy loves Elizabeth but she is anything but in love with him. (The Hunsford proposal is brought to mind.) Then there are matters to address in the management of the estate and here we read of this pair working in unison to a wise conclusion. Wickham is part of the story but is dealt with to the applause of the readers in a solid and permanent manner at the end. Lady Catherine has her say but it is her daughter who has some new surprises for us. Some readers have said they cant quite accept this turn but with variations we do at times have to let the author have her twists and turns. It may be a surprise but Anne herself has a backbone and you will be cheering for her part in this tale, despite some of her personal history. The Colonel, as usual, plays a supportive role but he has some feelings to deal with, which are handled briefly in the epilogue as another review mentioned. Georgiana has much more of a role in this novel than in canon. She develops relationships with several of the Bennet sisters but at the same time continues to conceal the Ramsgate matter.\n\nThere are no scenes for mature audiences only but Darcy does have his moments of wishing the wedding was imminent and there is some kissing, etc. But I remember nothing which would offend.\n\nThis was an enjoyable book but I was forced to spread it out over several days as I read it before and after the Christmas holiday. I did note some of the errata spoken of in other reviews. But those didn't lessen my enjoyment of a good read. I noticed that this author also wrote a variation of North and South and, as that is one of my favorites, I will buy and read that as I found this book so delightful.","Product: I am from California and have been reading Pride and Prejudice fan fiction for a while. I first discovered Pride and Prejudice on a long day of travel out of Mexico as a teenager. I recall being very impressed with myself for getting the jokes. I constantly read nineteenth century literature that year, of which Austen and Charlotte Bronte, of course, were my favorites. It was years later that I discovered and repeatedly binge read Pride and Prejudice fan fiction. Now I am adding to the collection available for future binge readers to binge upon.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Enter reality: not all is as we dream\n\nReview: 4.5 stars\n\nThis tale for me was a very melancholy story for about two-thirds of the way through. I was entrapped wanting to get to a happy part, an uplifting part, and so could not put this book down until the sun peeked through in the telling at 1 am. Then I picked it up first thing this morning.\n\nDarcys Uncle Matlock has reared him along with his two cousins, Derwent and Richard. Darcy has become an orphan at the young of 13, as his father could not stand to live on without his beloved wife. The tale put abroad was that he had a hunting accident. So Matlock cursed the love factor that pushed his brother-in-law over the edge and determined that his philosophy of keeping a mistress was the best and so made sure those he had charge of were initiated into the practice as soon as those male urgings developed.\n\nSo when Darcys last mistress has been paid off some six months earlier and his uncle is seeking to put another one in place, Darcy resists and relates that he wants to find someone he can talk to, laugh with, not just someone to warm his bed. He wants to be able to quote Latin and have the lady understand what he is saying.\n\nIn this novel Darcy is very different and it is explained that his cousins groomed him in the art of not only conversation, but also in how to smile, how often to dance and how to NOT stand around the corners in a ballroom looking on in disdain. He has even learned to count how many dances he has danced so as to reach a certain quota. Then he studies the art on the walls.\n\nSo as he goes off to visit his friend Bingley in Hertfordshire and attends an assembly he witnesses a young lady sitting by the wall with her eyes closed and a myriad of expressions crossing her face. He wants to meet her and thus begins the acquaintance of Darcy and Elizabeth. But as he is attracted more and more to her spirit and her conversation he also keeps his hard resolve that he will not be his father; he will not fall in loveever.\n\nAnd as for Elizabeth we have a dreamer. She accepts reality but her twist is that she has enough to be happy and there is a better outcome over the horizon. So she thinks only happy thoughts. She knows that the poverty into which her fathers death and her mothers spendthrift behaviors have thrown the sisters puts them on the brink of unacceptability in even the circles of Meryton. Her Uncle Philips ridicules the girls as no good since Lydia is forced to marry a blacksmith and further lowers their connections. But she dreams of happiness for her perfect sister Jane and she posits maybeDarcy will realize. Darcy does make an offer. But to whom and for what position in his life? Dont think you can predict this one, dear readers.\n\nBut also as an aside: I was laughing out loud at the use of Darcys famous Meryton Assembly insult near the end in a way I would never have imagined.\n\nEven with the topic of mistresses being so prevalent in this story it does not have graphic sex scenes. But the topic of mistresses is throughout the book. Much to-do is made of the novel Pamela and comparisons to ODCs situation. I had to look that book up and it is available for free on kindle. While I was captivated by the story I did not find it to be very warm and fuzzy until almost the last 10% of the story. If you like angst and all the emotions such evokes then this might be a story you want to read.","Product: Nicole Clarkston is the pen name of a very bashful writer who will not allow any of her family or friends to read what she writes. She grew up in Idaho on horseback, and if she could have figured out how to read a book at the same time, she would have. She initially pursued a degree in foreign languages and education, and then lost patience with it, switched her major, and changed schools. She now resides in Oregon with her husband of 15 years, 3 homeschooled kids, and a very worthless degree in Poultry Science (don't ask). Nicole discovered Jane Austen rather by guilt in her early thirties- how does any book worm really live that long without a little P&P? She has never looked back. A year or so later, during a major house renovation project (undertaken when her husband unsuspectingly left town for a few days) she discovered Elizabeth Gaskell and fell completely in love. Nicole's books are her pitiful homage to two authors who have so deeply inspired her.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sharing an umbrella? Who would imagine that sheltering comfort would open communications?\n\nReview: 4.5 stars\n\nI am a huge reader of P&P variations but have read several sequels for North and South; it being another favorite story for me. When someone recommended Northern Rain to me and compared it to P&P and it then was available on kindle Unlimited I decided to vary my reading pattern for this book. I am very glad I took that step.\n\nThe title is immediately brought into play as John Thornton makes his annual visit of homage to his father's grave site. And despite his intuition that it was going to rain makes a decision not to bring an umbrella. After all, rain hides any tears which might escape and trickle down one's face. Margaret Hale has also sought an out-of-the way place to read the letter containing results into the investigation as to hopes that her brother has a chance of exoneration and, thus, a chance to once again return to his homeland and the arms of his family. She is sorely disappointed.\n\nThen as she is leaving her spot of contemplation she realizes that she will pass near a man standing in a grave yard and she realizes it is HIM. She ponders an attempt to pass unnoticed but he turns and their eyes meet. After some awkward silence she offers her umbrella to the man and with small back and forth niceties she accepts his offer to walk her home. Thus the ice is broken.\n\nYes, you do have to know the story, This is not a stand alone novel. There is that prior proposal during which many hateful and harmful words were spoken and misunderstandings directing those words exchanged. But in this story John is urged to take up again his \"lessons\" with Mr. Hale and seeing that this will give him a chance to perhaps be in her presence, even exchange a word or two, he takes up that weekly appointment again. And he also becomes friendlier with Nicholas and in visits to that man's humble abode \"runs\" into Margaret.\n\nSo John is not without hope and as Margaret smiles and allows him to walk with her on occasion and talk with her sees some warm regard from her smiles and shy glances...he thinks.\n\nThis story proceeds slowly in the first half of the book. It is reflective of the original story...BUT hold on....what might seem to be developing into a romance has been noticed and other people from various walks of life in Milton are not going to allow that to happen without their own plans to foil and redirect attentions in romance, in business and in the goals for their own satisfaction.\n\nThings become very twisted as John's sister, Fanny and several new acquaintances Genevieve and Rupert Hamilton, Randall and Emmeline Draper seem to vie for their own purposesbe it a romance or even works of charity. Then there remain our old friends: Mr. Bell and Mr. Watson and not to mention Margarets London family and friends. The plot seems hell bent to take away any chance for ODC and even to send them back to roles as indifferent strangers but don't despair.\n\nThe author has us now turning pages quickly and encountering much angst but we do get what we wanta happy ending, an Oh, so sweet ending. I did enjoy this story but there were times when I had to question Margarets part in the scheme of things, Is she to be a martyr here or is she really so good, so altruistica saint? Self denial is not a pretty picture.","Product: Joy Dawn King started telling stories from an early age. However, she did not write any of them down until she was 57 years old. While living high in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador with her husband and family, she read Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice for the first time. It was love at first page. After she was done, she longed for more. When searching for another copy of Jane Austens writings, she happened upon several books that offered alternative paths to happily ever after for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. She purchased and read as many as she could find. Finally, in early 2014, she had an idea for a story about the couple that would not go away. Thus, her first book, A Fathers Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation, was born. Since then, Joy and her husband moved back to the U.S. and plot bunnies kept hopping in and out of her imagination. Now, its all she can do to keep up with them. But, she tries.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Teasing, teasing man: to allow his letter sign-offs to be visible.\n\nReview: As in many variations we are in Kent, at Hunsford and that insulting proposal has been offered.\n\nYes, the focus is on letters in this lovely feel-good tale; beginning with the one in which he responds to her accusations. And it is not just Darcys letters delivered into Elizabeths possession but not readLady Catherine gets her hands on information not intended for her ears or eyes. And as per her MO, she attempts to use the knowledge now in her possession to gain the accomplishment of her long-time goal. I don't have to tell you what that is. And the hateful lady is not above bait-and-switch to get obstacles removed from her gaining that.\n\nOne of the interesting ways the author handles this story is that Elizabeth refuses to read any of the letters from Darcybut she is intrigued by the sign-off on the back of each. They are not the same but they convey feelings with just a few words.\n\nAnd speaking of few words, Elizabeth in sensing that her feelings are confused or even possibly changing demands a separation of 30 days during which she will not see Darcy nor speak with him. Now the Colonel has spoken of waging a campaign and laying out plans. I smile as I think of the ingenuity written here. Can you imagine? Could you come up with30 one-word communications oh, so sweet? I do love how the men involved covered any possible impediments to those plans.\n\nAs another review mentions, the author reminds us that if we look hard enough we can find something good in most men. Mr. Collins has a daily practice which he does not brag about or put forth in conversation. I was truly touched as I read of this and of Elizabeth being given pause in this revelation about her cousin.\n\nAs an aside: did you know ODG has a talent for skimming smooth pebbles across a pool of water? Read how she challenges a couple of He-Men to best her accomplishment here.\n\nI have to say that Anne de Bourgh almost came across as having a split personality: one minute she is all gumption with plans for her future and then next she meekly retreats back to Rosings to think about what she wants\".\n\nI enjoyed this story both as a Work-in-Progress and as a published novella, as I have also enjoyed the authors other works.","Product: Regina Jeffers, an award-winning author of historical cozy mysteries, Austenesque sequels and retellings, as well as Regency era romances, has worn many hats over her lifetime: daughter, student, military brat, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, tax preparer, journalist, choreographer, Broadway dancer, theatre director, history buff, grant writer, media literacy consultant, and author. Living outside of Charlotte, NC, Jeffers writes novels that take the ordinary and adds a bit of mayhem, while mastering tension in her own life with a bit of gardening and the exuberance of her grand joys.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: His hand and protection, her fulfilling a legal need for the reunification of his family\n\nReview: This was a tense drama with two plans of action drawing and keeping my attentions. Like a tennis match my attention was on edge as the evil known as Wickham was able to involve the entire community of Meryton and its surrounds in a plot depriving citizens of hard earned and saved revenue. And then I was heart torn in reading of Darcy's bargain...just when we think he has his life's desire, the lady, knowing where her own love was pledged places his honor and respectability above their joining.\n\nWhile it is really a big stretch of the imagination to think that everyone could be drawn in...after all has no one learned that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is...just go with it. It sets the stage for Elizabeth in company with her uncle to travel to the Darcy town house and plead for Darcy's help. He sees it as a chance to gain what he has never been able to set aside in his thoughts. He makes a bargain with Elizabeth: his help, her hand.\n\nWith Mr. Bennet on what could be his death bed, plans must be very carefully drawn and there are several times when it seems that Wickham must have a fly on the wall as he sniffs out and confronts members of the Bennet family hoping to trip up and find out if they know of his real nature or if they have ceased to be charmed by him.\n\nSneaking back and forth to London, seeking out forgers, researching background of accomplices, and using sticky fingers to lift the journal of misdeeds...all add up to tense page turning. And in the end, when all is said and done...it still seems as if it is for naught. Stupid, stupid girl!\n\nMr. Bennet may surprise you...he did me. Usually he is portrayed as a man of sloth and indolence but as he sees his favorite cast away her own happiness he plots a different outcome and takes action to implement such. I was teary eyed but then sighing as we do get our HEA.","Product: KaraLynne is an amazing mother who never makes mistakes, never gets upset with her children and never ever has a dirty house. Ever. She always has her dishes done and the floors spotless and dinner is always prepared and ready on time. Her kids are always clean, polite, respectful and loving, especially to each other. She never gets irritated with her husband when he doesn't turn his socks right side out for the laundry and they always agree on everything. She delights in nothing else but to serve her family and never wants or needs time for herself. She takes great care to shower every day and put make up on so that she is always beautiful and presentable. She never wears her pajamas all day or for days in a row and she is the epitome of womanhood. Most of all, she has a great sense of humor and loves to write.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Beautiful cover and the tale does not disappoint either!\n\nReview: I laughed, I cried, I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt and I sighed many times...so this is how a romance reads?!\n\nSometimes I had to cry with sorrow - any parent, any family that loses a child, whether small or grown loses a part of their heart. Then to later learn...no, can't say...would reveal part of the tragedy...but learning that additional fact made it even that much more sorrowful. Wickham truly got what he deserved, even if some secrets are not revealed.\n\nAs in so many of the stories about ODC, Elizabeth and Darcy just can't seem to communicate; they have the biggest knack for misunderstanding, I believe, of any couple about whom I read. In this tale our dear Georgiana takes the lead in attempting to unravel the mess. And she has to make the effort more than once. There are surprises in other's relating what they perceive about just what a person feels.\n\nAnd then there is Anne. She certainly grew a backbone. Enjoyed reading how she manipulated her own household and that of the Hunsford Parsonage to help ODC achieve their HEA without any interference. She made sure she had it all covered and was rewarded in unexpected ways.\n\nThis book has more than one surprise - endearing and totally catching one off guard near the end. As others have said it was so sweet to read of the determination on Mr. Bennet's part to revamp his relationship with his wife and then to read of her change in character. Will wonders never cease?\n\nThe Epilogue was everything you could wish, bringing together loose ends and unwed dear ones as well as letting us know about the Darcy succession. I even liked that Col. Fitzwilliam's army pals came into play at the end.\n\nI could not put this down and finished it in half a day. I am sure I will re-read it as I was rushing to get to the \"good\" parts this first time through. Loved, loved, loved how Darcy was taking off his cravat and coat as he was entering his study - oh, to imagine that thin material left covering his chest (This is almost as good as the wet shirt in the 1995 movie.) and his uncovered neckline. \"The library/his study\" a memory for years to come.","Product: A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 6 novels and 9 novellas, 14 of which are story variations of Jane Austens Pride & Prejudice. Her books have won reader conference awards and hit the Historical Bestseller lists on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBooks stores multiple times. A lover of all things geeky, Elizabeth codes websites, dabbles in graphic design, and is always looking for new technology to learn and master. A Navy wife and mother of two, her family has lived all over the United States, currently residing in upstate New York. Originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, you can keep up with Elizabeth on Twitter @Eawwrites and on her website, http://elizabethannwest.com where she posts new fiction as she writes it! On Fanfiction.net her stories can be found under user: elizabethann.west.7\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Amnesia: is it due to an injury or to the imbibing of that drink?\n\nReview: 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars\n\nWritten in three volumes this story is reminiscent of \"Groundhog Day\" in that Elizabeth finds herself waking up over and over again in similar circumstances to previous days. And as in \"50 First Dates\" she even writes herself a letter so she can move forward.\n\nElizabeth is at Longbourn as the story begins. The Gardiners are there as they are about to set out on their summer trip to visit The Peaks together. However, the Bennets receive the news that Lydia has eloped from Brighton with Wickham. The family decides that Mr. Gardiner, Jane and Mr. Bennet will go to search in London, doubting Wickham's intentions to truly marry over the anvil with Lydia. But to cover all the bases Mrs. Gardiner, her children and Elizabeth will travel to Gretna Green and ask at each inn along the way in a attempt to discover if they truly did intend to act as reported.\n\nMr. Bennet in this variation is the worst of indolent hide-your-head-in-the-sand fathers. He refuses to spend one minute searching London and sits in Gardiner's study with a bottle and a book. Jane is told she cannot go out and search for Lydia due to the reputation of the areas in which Lydia might be hidden. Jane makes her own plans.\n\nMeanwhile upon reaching Gretna Green and finding no trace of Lydia and/or Wickham Mrs. Gardiner determines that they will return to London and search no further. Elizabeth makes her own plans.\n\nSo it is that Elizabeth goes off (Father has given her some money.) to search further along the Scottish border. However, just before she and the servant she persuaded to travel with her, the post carriage in which they are traveling is in an accident. Elizabeth suffers a head injury but is unaware of it until later. She and Peter drag themselves and her luggage to the Grey Sheep Inn at Canonbie and find no rooms available but also find, of all things, Mr. Darcy. He offers to take her to his estate at Broadmeadow, only 15 miles distant. She reluctantly agrees as she really has no other choice.\n\nWhile talking at the inn Darcy has ordered food and whiskey. Elizabeth imbibes and finds it helps to soothe her spirits. Thus it is that Elizabeth finds herself the next morning awakening...in bed...with a naked man and no memory of how she got there...but with a ring on her finger.\n\nThis story has lots of adventure for Elizabeth, for Darcy and for those in London as well. There are trips back and forth from Canonbie to Broadmeadow and finally to London. The Colonel is recruited but he also has had to bargain for time off from his duties by promising to accept a post in Spain but Darcy is his best friend and like a brother so he feels compelled to help. He finds Jane Bennet to be not only very lovely but willing to join him in his part of the search in London.\n\nThis was an enthralling tale and there are many facets you will find enjoyable which I could not share here. I have wanted to read this book for awhile and the title in itself draws one in and then as this book went on sale recently my wish was more easily granted.","Product: Nicole Clarkston is a book lover and a happily married mom of three. Originally from Idaho, she now lives in Oregon with her own romantic hero, several horses, and one very fat dog. She has loved crafting alternate stories and sequels since she was a child watching Disneys Robin Hood, and is never found sitting quietly without a book of some sort. Nicole discovered Jane Austen rather by guilt in her early thirties- how does any book worm really live that long without a little P&P? She has never looked back. A year or so later, during a major house renovation project she discovered Elizabeth Gaskell and fell completely in love. Her need for more time with these characters led her to simultaneously write Rumours and Recklessness, a P&P inspired novel, and No Such Thing as Luck a N&S inspired novel which immediately became best selling books. The success she had with her first attempt at writing led her to write 3 other novels that are her pitiful homage to two authors who have so deeply inspired her. Nicole was recently invited to join Austenvariations.com, a group of talented authors in the Jane Austen Fiction genre. In addition to her work with the Austen Variations blog, Nicole can be reached through Facebook at http://fb.me/NicoleClarkstonAuthor, Twitter @N_Clarkston, her blog at Goodreads.com, or her personal blog and website, NicoleClarkston.com\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Do you believe...can ones who love deeply communicate over the miles?\n\nReview: Excellent book!\n\nSo many friends warned me and/or I read in the other readers' reviews that this story was full of angst. Yes, there is angst, but I do love angst and when I finally did pick it up, having found a day not full of appointments or activities, I found the angst bearable. I read this over two days. What I kept in mind (and remember I am a reader of approximately 1000 JAFF books - not all are reviewed as I read them long before I was posting reviews.) is that in this genre we lovers of P&P know that a HEA is a guarantee. I was trying to imagine how this couple would react when they finally do see each other again. Huge Sigh when I did come to that part.\n\nAs another readers mentioned Jane Eyre also has a connection over miles between the two would-be lovers. And so it is that we read of both Darcy and Elizabeth living for those dream connections.\nI was brought to tears more than once in reading of both their thoughts.\n\nElizabeth and the rest of Darcy's family, friends and acquaintances have been told he is dead. We do learn that the Colonel is the only one who finally doubts this but, as he has no evidence as to why someone wants the world to believe him dead or where they might have taken him, keeps that opinion/knowledge to himself.\n\nThe Fitzwilliam family acts unfeelingly and even greedily towards Georgiana, who is now worth so much more that her 30,000 dowry. I hated Lady Catherine who pushed in and intimidates Georgiana and begins to redecorate Pemberley as if she is now the mistress. Thank goodness someone locked off Darcy's study.\n\nThen there are those women from the edges of other stories and canon: Mrs. Younge and Mrs. Annesley. My brain immediately clicked into gear and I was looking for clues as to what role they were playing.\n\nWe meet some new characters; ones whose sadism and manipulations will horrify you. Amlie is part of their world but you will come to love her and want a savior for her.\n\nThis story actually has three \"couples\" whose relationships are rough and whose futures are not promised to be \"a walk in a rose garden\". It is interesting how the author, with twists and hidden connections and/or past history, gives them happy or satisfactory futures. (I reserve my opinion on Lydia.) Lydia is like a bad penny who just keeps turning up but she is written to have more insight into what Wickham actually did do to her. And we read of her on the edge of thse love/hate emotions that we know are so closely bound together.\n\nThis is a story I would recommend to all JAFF readers. It is long but so well developed. Good work, Nicole.","Product: Jeanna Ellsworth Lake entered a new era in her life in December 2015. Through all her single years, she kept searching for a Mr. Darcy, but didnt realize that what she needed was a Colonel Fitzwilliam! And she found him: a second son with a passionate heart, who never fails to make her laugh. She is so proud of her three daughters, who have supported her through her writing, and have always been her inspiration. She also proudly states she is the eighth of thirteen children. When she isnt writing, blogging, gardening, cooking, or raising chickens, she is thoroughly ignoring her house for a few hours at a time in order to read yet another romance novel, and does not feel the least bit guilty in doing so. She absolutely loves her chance to influence lives as a Registered Nurse in a Neurological ICU. She finds great joy in her many roles she juggles, but writing especially has been her therapy. She claims she has never been happier. Jeanna fell in love again with Jane Austen when she was introduced to the incredible world of Jane Austen-inspired fiction. She can never adequately thank the fellow authors who mentored her and encouraged her to write her first novel. She is a member of Austen Authors and regularly blogs at www.austenauthors.net. She loves hearing from her readers and cherishes the chance to interact with them. For more information on her books and writing, please visit her website: www.HeyLadyPublications.com.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A change of heart when \"the light\" reveals purposes\n\nReview: 3.5 stars\n\nI realize I am going against the flow here but reviews are a matter of opinion. This one was just not hitting the mark with me. It is the first of three as the title tells us.\n\nWhile there is no doubt of the author's, Jeanna's, faith, which is evident in her other books also, I found in this book it came across as preaching. For instance: there is a long sermon just before the middle. Then there is much to do about a near-death experience and \"walking to or towards the sun or the son (the light in real life versions). Near death experiences do interest me and I have bought and read several true stories in novel form so I am not calling this unrealistic. I just was uncomfortable with it as written in this book.\n\nYes, Elizabeth has turned Mr. Darcy down and then is given his letter to read but sickens before even returning to the Hunsford parsonage as she walked and read that epistle.\n\nIn addition our heroine's reactions to the letter from Mr. Darcy and her sudden reversal of opinion due to a combination of the near death event she was undergoing and of the \"voice\" of Mr. Darcy calling her back and giving her an admonishment about unfinished business just didn't sit right in my mind. Im sorry; I am sure this was a touching passage for many but I have to report on how my feelings responded to the writings. It didn't pull me init didn't enthrall me. I had to put this book down and delayed getting back into reading it as it just wasn't keeping my interest.\n\nWhen ODC finally reaches the point when they have reconciled their differences there is much billing and cooing. For me it was redundant. I thought it was more of the same, too much I love you, You are my life My life is nothing without you over and over again.\n\nI truly am not against Christian values being written into stories but this version didn't appeal to me and I am sorry to say that but I must be honest.\n\nWe have here a story to be continued and it was NOT a stand-alone novel; there is a mystery to be solved, a friend in need and a wedding to yet come.","Product: Leenie Brown has always been a girl with an active imagination, which, while growing up, was a both an asset, providing many hours of fun as she played out stories, and a liability, when her older sister and aunt would tell her frightening tales. At one time, they had her convinced Dracula lived in the trunk at the end of the bed she slept in when visiting her grandparents! Although it has been years since she cowered in her bed in her grandparents' basement, she still has an imagination that occasionally runs away with her, and she feeds it now as she did then -- by reading! Her heroes, when growing up, were authors, and the worlds they painted with words were (and still are) her favourite playgrounds! She was that child, under the covers with the flashlight, reading until the wee hours of the morning...and pretending not to be tired the next day so her mother wouldn't find out. Today, she fits, or is that squeezes, reading in around caring for her family of two fabulous (most of the time) teenage boys and one sweet and thoughtful husband while working full time as a junior-high teacher. In addition to feeding her imagination, she also exercises it -- by writing. While writing has been an activity she has dabbled in over the years, it blossomed into a full-fledged obsession when she stumbled upon the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction. As the second born of five sisters, just like Elizabeth Bennet, her imagination was soon captured. And now, she spends much time in the regency world playing with the characters from her favourite Jane Austen novels and a few that are of her own creation. When she is not traipsing down a trail in an attempt to keep up with her imagination, she resides in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia. Her other published work is Oxford Cottage: A Pride and Prejudice Variation.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: \"Sweet dreams are made of this, who am I to disagree?\"\n\nReview: 3.5 stars\n\nThe language in this story is modern and I must say the characters and the repartee seemed much like a gathering at a fraternity party at times. Everyone was very open about their feelings and about their observations and then their plans. I found little angst, of which I like a lot. So, if you like a perfectly sweet and straight forward romance with few misunderstanding and little, if any, pitfalls on the way to HEA, then this is the story for you.\n\nAs we read in the book description or in the sample, Elizabeth and Jane are sent to London, by their father, after Elizabeth turns down Mr. Collins proposal and Mrs. Bennet cannot stop haranguing Elizabeth about her ungratefulness, etc. Charlotte and her sister, Mariah, soon follow as Lady Lucas is aware of that event and wants to protect Charlotte from those same advances. As another review stated, there are just too many chance connections and coincidences in this story. Darcy and Lord Matlock have business arrangements with Mr. Gardiner. The Gardiners are aware of Wickham's propensities due to a family circumstance. Elizabeth has \"martial arts\" skills and Jane stands as her \"second\". These are not characters from canon.\n\nWhat I did like about this tale is the relationships described between Elizabeth and the four Gardiner children, especially Master Andrew and then Darcy very comfortably also entering into playful and teasing relationship with those same children. Loved standing under the gauge at the end of a court. Those moments of interaction were precious.\n\nNowwho are you and what have you done with our Mary? Mary and Anne was completely different people in this storynot that I didn't like them, but they certainly acted out of turn. Good for them! One found her voice and the other her backboneor maybe each found both.\n\nEveryone liked everyone else it seemed except for Wickedman and Miss Bingley. But what else did you expect. I did like with Lady Matlock first met Elizabeth and was checking off the good qualities she observed against an internal list. Even standing up to the ladies in the ton met with approval as Lady Matlock observed Elizabeth handled Carolines barbs.\n\nEveryone seems to find their mate if not their soul mate.\n\nLet's play \"Match the correct partners\":\n Jane................ Col. Fitzwilliam\n Elizabeth.......... Mr. Collins\n Mary................ Mr. Darcy\n Anne................ Mr. Bingley\n Charlotte.......... Thaddeus Fitzwilliam, Viscount Bladen","Product: The author of numerous best-selling Pride and Prejudice variations, historical romance writer Victoria Kincaid has a Ph.D. in English literature and runs a small business, er, household with two children, a hyperactive dog, an overly affectionate cat, and a husband who is not threatened by Mr. Darcy. They live near Washington DC, where the inhabitants occasionally stop talking about politics long enough to complain about the traffic. On weekdays she is a freelance writer/editor who specializes in IT marketing (its more interesting than it sounds) and teaches business writing. A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: We have a situation in the oval office.\n\nReview: 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.\n\nAs I was reading this story I kept thinking about gossip concerning presidents and other politicians...even today's men and women, and how their lives are on display but then also how gossip can be used to paint those as immoral, corrupt, etc. individuals even if untrue and so many believe what they hear and/or read.\n\nWe do have this modern variation beginning as did canon. Elizabeth, attending a social event, with her nouveau riche family, gets caught where she should not be and when she can't seem to get her foot out of her mouth is thought to be a stupid and not so pretty and thus an ignorable young lady by the president of the USA. But when he expresses his opinion within her hearing and God-awful Lydia uses social media to relate his words to all who subscribe to that channel of communication the stage is set to make any apologies or second chances to change his opinion almost impossible.\n\nWhat I did like about this is how Elizabeth is involved with bettering the world by her work with the Red Cross and how the president is forced to learn just how wrong he is about not only her intelligence and her motivations but also her beauty as sexual chemistry is thrown into their relationship.\n\nBut several things work against them. He has sworn not to date while in the presidency and with all the rumors is now forced to step back. Any overtures at this point would seem politically motivated. Plus Lydia has gone on to paint an even wider gap between her sister and the president. (Guess who is helping her?) Elizabeth decides to bow out of the picture.\n\nI loved the solution the author came up with. I had an inkling that this was the only possibility but it was so well staged - much better than I had painted in my brain.\n\nWell done - and don't you love the cover -drool!","Product: Mr. Darcy's Angel of Mercy - A Novella: Two years after the conclusion of The Great War, those affected by the conflagration are still trying to put their lives back together, including Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. While Darcy grapples with horrific memories from the war, Elizabeth, who had served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment, suppresses most recollections of her service in France. But Darcy suspects that there is one memory that the two share: a beautiful night in a hospital ward in France when Darcy was visited by an angel of mercy, an angel who might just possibly be Elizabeth Bennet.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Sweet story, another romance but from WWI times\n\nReview: I read this book twice. And it is a lovely story. However, in my opinion, it has little to do with P&P except in that it uses the names and places JA used in her writing. This novella is a very quick read placed first in France during WWI and then back on English soil, mostly at Netherfield and briefly at Pemberley. Elizabeth, working as an aide in a hospital on the battlefields is called to the side of one of the Lucas brothers from her home town. She is there as he dies and then wants nothing more than to walk straight home. She is suffering from the trauma of seeing too much suffering and dying. However in hearing a soldier call out for water her nurse's aide training kicks in and she takes water to a man partitioned off due the his contagious flu. In comforting him and in seeking comfort for what she has just seen they hold on to each other and end up sleeping together on his cot for a time through the night. She awakens, horrified that she is on his cot, leaves and soon is in the throes of flu and sent back to England. He, awakens, finds her gone but his desire to find his angel gives him a reason to go on. Back in England after the war they meet again at a dance in Meryton where his friend, Bingley, has just purchased an estate. Neither recognizes the other and the story is then devoted to the development of that relationship and lost memory. PSTD is touched on. Bingley and Jane - well, you know their story.\n\nI found this to be a page turner and will look for other books by this author.","Product: Melanie Kerr studied linguistics, English and theatre at the University of British Columbia and law at the University of Alberta. She lives in Edmonton, where she raises her three young children, sews her own Regency costumes, runs a Regency costume events company, blogs on all things old and English, endeavours to take over the world and occasionally practices law. Follies Past is her first novel.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: So before Hereforeshire there was London and Ramsgate\n\nReview: 4.5 stars *spoiler alert*\n\nThis story began slowly for me, probably due to the fact that it dealt with Caroline Bingley's scheming and then musing about marrying Darcy. Then after a month at Pemberley, the party is back in London. So while waiting for his proposal Caroline meets and falls for (of all people) Wickham. The outcome of that, while interesting, was never in doubt. There were other stages begin set, with Georgiana being brought to London to gradually acquaint herself with society and her best friend, Clare, from school accompanying her. Background is given on the friend and she is of no more consequence in society than is Elizabeth Bennet. But her parents are much more practical, even stoic, in their outlook on rearing their offspring than the Bennets. Clare is clear on proprieties and expectations, even when her future happiness is threatened. And no truer friend could Georgiana have in this tale.\n\nSo after Caroline gives Wickham a huge set down, his old friend, Mrs. Younge shows up and leads him in the plot that takes us to Ramsgate. Before that event, however, we interconnect with other characters. Darcy goes off to look at properties with Bingley, Col. Fitzwilliam is nowhere around. Lord Ashwell, a friend, Lady Sofia, Georgiana and Clare make up most of the story line here, with Mrs. Younge and Wickham showing up after the coast is clear of Darcy.\n\nLord Ashwell is in very poor health, basically a recluse and surrounded by rumors, which Darcy warns Georgiana to ignore without telling her why. Upon meeting Clare Ashwell feels an attraction: she knows they are of difference classes and then she is warned of the rumors by a cousin who is to inherit her family's estates. Practical Clare must treat the cousin with all courtesy as her family needs his regard in that they have nowhere else to live but in the estate he is to inherit. Clare's mother tells her to basically accept him if he proposes and it seems like that is exactly what we are to expect.\n\nMeanwhile, Wickham is clandestinely meeting Georgiana as arranged by Mrs. Younge. When Ramsgate is planned Clare thinks that they are finally separated but learns upon trying to track Wickham down and confront him about Georiana, that he, too is in Ramsgate. A chase, with dramatic results ensues.\n\nThis tale had very little of Darcy, almost none of Bingley and less of Col. Fitzwilliam. Anne de Bourgh is a delight here but continues to have her moments of silence and mystery. I liked her in this story. This story is definitely centered on Wickham, Georgiana, Lord Ashwell and Clare with a minor role for Caroline.\n\nI found this to be a very realistic prequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and recommend it to all JAFF readers.","Product: Barbara Silkstone is the author of over thirty-six novels and novellas. She has currently written sixteen Pride & Prejudice variations both Regency and Contemporaryalways with a light comic touch. Look for Darcy and Elizabeth Serendipity and Darcy and Elizabeth Wills First Christmas. Enjoy her Mister Darcy series comedic mysteries\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Emma just can't keep from meddling when she thinks her forte is matchmaking\n\nReview: I have liked other stories by this author better. For some reason the language did not fall upon my ears in a gracious manner at all. And the telling seemed rather trite.\n\nA mash-up of Emma and of Pride & Prejudice this story has Emma as a cousin to the Bingleys and going to visit them, along with Mr. Knightly, now that Charles has leased Netherfield. While there Emma decides to set a record for match-making by matching Jane & Charles, Lizzy & Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins & Mary. But as time goes on she also decides it would be rather easy to take credit for Caroline and Mr. Wickham. Plus Charlotte Lucas needs a man in her life.\n\nThings do not go smoothly as the participants in this game are not cooperating; they are not following her advice and there seem to be other Yentas who are offering their differing advice.\n\nCan she have any success in the two weeks allowed for this venture out of Highbury?\n\nThere is little angst and few surprises in this story but it is short (about 77 pages) and a fair way to pass time.","Product: Syrie James is the bestselling author of eight critically acclaimed novels, including The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte, Nocturne, Dracula My Love, Forbidden, and The Harrison Duet: Songbird and Propositions. Her books have been translated into eighteen foreign languages.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A Sweet Duet: story one\n\nReview: I don't read many modern romances, usually sticking to Jane Austen Fan Fiction or historical romances, but I read both Songbird and Propositions as a whole in The Harrison Duet and they were both delightful. Amazon has reviews of the stories from the previous publications which one can read. The stories involve modern women, with previous relationships, which have gone bad, and now, a new chance at romance but with obstacles, of course. The author makes a point of saying that in her experience it is possible to fall in love \"at first sight\" and she cites several examples, including her own. I do not have that experience but found the handling of this event in her books well done. Both stories are not without angst. And there are sex scenes but they are not offensive, in my opinion. It only took me a little over one day to read both as they kept me turning pages.\n\nIn the first story we have a deejay, Desiree, who offers a negative opinion of a product over the airwaves only to have the company owner, Kyle Harrison, phone in during a trivia contest and \"call\" her on the pan of his product. He then wins the trivia contest and when he shows up to collect, is allowed (against rules) to go back to her broadcasting booth where he subsequently asks her out. He lives in Seattle and she lives in Anaheim and her first marriage failed basically because the deejay business kept her from staying in her husband's town, and having to commute long distance on weekends didn't work for the relationship. So can they work out another (for her) long-distance relationship when she is set against such because of her first experience?\n\nEnjoyable","Product: Syrie James is the bestselling author of eight critically acclaimed novels, including The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte, Nocturne, Dracula My Love, Forbidden, and The Harrison Duet: Songbird and Propositions. Her books have been translated into eighteen foreign languages.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Can one live with this Proposition?\n\nReview: I don't read many modern romances, usually sticking to Jane Austen Fan Fiction or historical romances, but Songbird and Propositions in The Harrison Duet were both delightful. Amazon has reviews of the stories from the previous publications which one can read. The stories involve modern women, with previous relationships, which have gone bad, and now, a new chance at romance but with obstacles, of course. The author makes a point of saying that in her experience it is possible to fall in love \"at first sight\" and she cites several examples, including her own. I do not have that experience but found the handling of this event in her books well done. Both stories are not without angst. And there are sex scenes but they are not offensive, in my opinion. It only took me a little over one day to read both as they kept me turning pages.\n\nIn the second story our heroine, Kelli Harrison, (sister to the male protagonist in the first story) is in advertising. In an elevator, going to a meeting with a possible new account for a prospective new firm located in Lake Tahoe, she meets a man, Grant Pembroke. He persuades her to get him into the party she is going to because his \"host\" forgot to put his name on the list at the door. THEN while at the party she finds out he is after the same account for which she was to be interviewing. But she also overhears the owner of the business she was considering going to work for spreading malicious gossip about Grant's firm. So she takes the initiative and, without even an \"if I may\" steps in to contradict the rumors. Grant and Kelli strike sparks off each other but as two very creative and very independent advertising professionals can they reach any type of \"compromise\" when each is used to being in control in their own advertising worlds? As an aside Kelli is also trying to handle the final contracting on her brother's new vacation house near Lake Tahoe. And Grant's firm is located in San Francisco, while she works out of Seattle, usually. So imagine the pressures that, not only all these various working demands with deadlines but also of intense physical attraction, place on the couple. Kelli has recently ended employment with a firm which did not give recognition to her talents and had a romance end because her boyfriend had a controlling personality which did not sit well with Kelli.\n\nGood reading.","Product: Marilyn Brant is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary fiction, and she was named the 2013 Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She wrote ACCORDING TO JANE, the story of a modern woman who receives dating advice from the spirit of Jane Austen (October 2009); FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE, a tale about three suburban moms, their marriages and what happens a decade or two after the \"Happily Ever After\" (a Doubleday Book Club and Book-of-the-Month Club pick in 2010); and A SUMMER IN EUROPE, a novel about a woman's journey of self discovery as she travels through Europe with her adventurous aunt's Sudoku & Mahjongg Club (a Literary Guild and BOMC2 featured alternate in 2011, and a Rhapsody Book Club Top 20 Bestseller in \"Fiction & Literature\" in 2012), all women's fiction releases from Kensington Books. She's also a #1 Kindle & #1 Nook Bestseller and has written a series of fun and flirty contemporary romantic comedies, available as original ebooks. ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE and PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH were Top 100 Bestsellers on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon. THE ROAD TO YOU, a coming-of-age romantic mystery (October 2013), was a Top 100 B&N Bestseller. PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT BET (July 2014) is her latest romance, and many of her novels will soon be available as audiobooks from Post Hypnotic Press. Look for them in late 2014 and beyond. As a former teacher, library staff member, freelance magazine writer and national book reviewer for Romantic Times, Marilyn has spent much of her life lost in literature. She received her M.A. in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago, dabbled in both fiction and art at Northwestern University, studied the works of Austen at Oxford University and is a Lifetime Member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Her debut novel won RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Award in 2007 and a number of awards since -- including the Single Titles Reviewers' Choice, the Booksellers' Best and the Aspen Gold. Marilyn lives in the northern Chicago suburbs with her family. When she isn't rereading Jane's books or enjoying the latest releases by her writer friends, she's working on her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry. Visit her website: www.marilynbrant.com\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 4.5 stars: mysteries galore along Route 66 from age 18 to age 60\n\nReview: Well, here I am barely able to see through my tears! I had read the shorter book, The Road to You last year and then won a copy of this expanded version in a raffle on a blog.\n\nThere are two missing persons' mysteries going on in this story, told from a mother's viewpoint looking back some 30 years and also relating her present day trauma. AND I was also asking myself, \"Who is her husband? Did she ever marry Donovan?\" We are not really told that until the end, as the author continues to refer to \"her husband\" in talking about the second/later mystery.\n\nThe tale is full of angst and one must really concentrate to keep all the clues, the names, the aliases, etc. straight. There are lies to Aurora's parents, excuses made at work to get time off and a journal whose words, dates, and symbols only a code breaker could unravel. And, like the protagonists, you just can't trust anyone. Witness faces that seem to look familiar and voices that have accents but what are we hearing under that \"false\" accent? And then there is the lingering angst of a first crush, not forgotten, and the sexual chemistry going on between Aurora and Donovan (or is it just on her side?) while they spend days and nights in each other's company, trusting no one and having only each other with whom to share \"everything\".\n\nThe \"mob\", motorcyclists tailing them, arson, murders, explosives, no bodies or unidentified bodies, spliced together movies, suppressed news of interest and post cards from along Route 66...all making for a page turning story to draw you in.\n\nDoes Gideon, one of the missing, ever come home? - The answer to that is what made me sob. But I am a mother and the position is a unique one and some children just don't realize that the strings are never really cut.\n\nI could not remember enough of this story to make this easy reading. So it was as if I had a new book in my hands and I clearly enjoyed it.\n\nThere is a Q&A at the end as well as a list of the songs loved or hated by our protagonists. You younger readers may have to download some of the best music ever to get feel for the times.","Product: Marilyn Brant is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary womens fiction, romantic comedy & mystery. She was named the Author of the Year (2013) by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She loves all things Jane Austen, has a passion for Sherlock Holmes, is a travel addict and a music junkie, and lives on chocolate and gelato. Visit her website: www.marilynbrant.com\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: They say all of life is a stage....\n\nReview: Oh, this is one that definitely not only pulled me into its pages and kept my nose there but also pulled at my heart strings and had me blurry eyed more than once in the reading thereof.\n\nThe book description does tell you that this story is about a widow of about 7 months who has a 10 year old daughter: both are having a difficult time overcoming their grief. I am sure most of us are aware of the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. But in this story Julia Meriwether Crane can't allow herself to take her time getting through these stages. Her daughter, Analise, is sinking further and further into depression and although her mom has sought professional help it is her girlfriend, Shar, who gives her the best advice. It is advice which Julia acts upon even though it creates another empty space in her life for the month Analise is away at camp.\n\nAnd Shar also does a very convincing job of getting her out of the house, to socialize with a group of individuals who are singles through divorce or death. That one event has the curiously ironic effect of reintroducing into her life three men from her past. One is so far out there that as a reader I was sure he was only incidentally part of the circle. Her old crush from HS shows up at the restaurant where the group is meeting and as they re-connect says he was a fool to drop her as he went off to college. Then one of the other group members turns out to be a graduate of the same university and gets Julia to RSVP to go to their reunion there together...the reunion of which her old college flame is in charge. Finally the group decides to go to the dress rehearsal of a play in which the Hollywood star of whose fan club she was a member as a teen is starring.\n\nThis author did a magnificent job of revealing the characters of these three men through the eyes of Julia. We watch as she observes and learns that past opinions did or did not have validity in how that relationship played out. I particularly found very gripping how the author had Julia peeling away the layers of each character to determine who was playing at the role that was on stage in public and who had laid it all on the table.\n\nShe didn't really have a \"relationship\" with the actor-man but BOY does she get to have a slap-in-the-face of just what he is all about upon their first up close and personal contact.\n\nWe eventually learn about the past history of each man (histories of which she has been unaware) and how it made them into what they are today. This is a modern story in that the media plays a large role in revealing who each person may be: newspapers, gossip columns, Google, white pages, etc. are used to mold events and precepts.\nTrust, fear, other emotions and the need to protect her young daughter play a role here and Shar is a huge help in gathering her most trusted friends to have a support group help Julia sort out some of the events and feelings in the drama that plays out.\n\nOnce again we are left with a couple who have sorted it out and found love but we don't get full closure, just as the first in this series left us with some questions about that couples future. For me this is not a stand alone. I am trusting that the author will wrap all the stories in this series more tightly together at some end point. But meanwhile she has pulled me in to want to go on to Blakes story.\n\nI highly recommend this story.","Product: Sarah Johnson is a freelance writer and longtime lover of the written word. Her love of the classics began early, with Jane Austen becoming a clear favorite by her early teen years. When the world of fan fiction was introduced to her, she was happy to find so many wonderful stories based on the dearly loved characters. It was a few years before a new writers challenge, posted at one of the Jane Austen Fan Fiction forums, drew her to put pen to paper and begin creating the stories that have always unfolded in her mind. What began as a picture has become a muse that will not stop forming ideas for more stories. After fifteen years of military life, she and her husband, along with their six children, have now settled in Texas, where she continues to write of an era gone by and of characters that will forever live in the hearts of Jane Austens admirers.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Can you imagine forced confinement with Lydia? For two nights?\n\nReview: 4.5 stars\n\nI was looking for something short to read and having bought 4 of this author's book on sale just yesterday, decided to choose one of hers. Kissing games - now are we going to step outside the boundaries of propriety? I was curious to read if this was stretched beyond acceptable variations for me (and others) in the JAFF community.\n\nI have to say that this author did an exemplary job here and created a wonderfully sweet rendition. If you are a stickler about adhering to canon then this is not your cup of tea. As Sophia said in her review the setting here is placed in time before revelations from Wickham or even his appearance occur and the Netherfield party has not left for London. Instead the author has Elizabeth determined to accompany Jane to the neighboring estate when Caroline and Louisa invite Jane. Lydia, in this tale being the sneakiest of busy bodies, decides to follow them, hoping to hear or learn of some juicy development. But a mile before the ladies arrive at their destination Mother Nature prevents any further progress with heavy snowfall and a weakening Jane.\n\nThe events with the ladies snowed in an abandoned renter's cottage and with the two gentlemen finally locating them the next day help to forward the understanding between certain players. Not to worry, games played are innocent enough but just perfect to uncover some truths about behaviors, feelings and even truths about arrivals in Meryton. This was played out so inventively, so creatively - well done.\n\nAnd as the couples finally are able to leave the cottage after being stormed in for two nights they return to Netherfield and we get some further developments which lead to our happy ending.\n\nThis is only 76 pages in the paperback version but I did not feel that it was rushed nor that it did not reach completion satisfactorily. I enjoyed it thoroughly.","Product: A devoted reader of Jane Austen since her childhood, Alexa Adams is the author of Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice (First Impressions, Second Glances, and Holidays at Pemberley), Emma & Elton: Something Truly Horrid, Jane & Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling, and the short story collection And Who Can be in Doubt of What Followed?: The Novels of Jane Austen Continued. Alexa resides in Delaware with her husband, daughter, and cat. She blogs about Austen and Austenesque literature at alexaadams.blogspot.com.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: From the depths of despair all hope is gone and a man turns in on himself!\n\nReview: This book was one which grabbed me on the first page. I didn't want to put it down. Parts of this story are indeed dark. I did appreciate all the research the author did: parts of which are included in the storyline while others are explained with footnotes. This would have been a 5 star rating except for one fact.\n\nA significant part of the story tells about the mental health system and some changes of the time while some pages are dedicated to giving us the backgrounds of the \"guests\" who will live with Darcy at Ramsey House...yes, Darcy signs himself in. (We have John Knightley from Emma, Mrs. Clay/Mrs. Elliot from Persuasion and Maria Rushworth from Mansfield with their own stories.)\n\nTragically, as we learn very early in this story, after learning from Elizabeth in Lambton about the elopement, Darcy finds Wickham but is told that he sold Lydia...into prostitution. Darcy is unable to track her down and the Bennet family is in disgrace. Darcy has Georgiana to present and he puts all his attention on that. 20 years have passed since Darcy and Elizabeth met in Lambton.\n\nBut as we read about the intervening time that has passed fate is not done with Darcy and here, I am not going to related the next dire event. BUT Darcy becomes rather quickly a recluse, and is unable to sleep as he is tormented with dreams of his ancestors setting upon him for his handling of the family honor and estate. He turns to alcohol and walks the estate during the nighttime hours. He doesn't eat much and THEN in a moment of madness triggered by a name which has followed him and cursed those he loves Darcy commits a heinous act!\n\nHis two cousins, who are now married, finally convince him to use the services of a man, an earl, who is attempting revolutionary ways to treat those insane who are not completely delusional and distraught...wild madmen or women. Darcy meets the man, interviews him and questions the regime. He is shaken when he learns that the matron in charge of activities with some of the \"guests\" is a Mrs. Bennet.\n\nThis author presents a premise that I have not read in any other JAFF book and she does an excellent job. I had tears in more than one place. Letters are read and just about break your heart...but they are messages of hope to a hopeless man!\n\nI highly recommend this book.\n\n2/21/17: In my initial review I subtracted a 1/2 star b/c: SPOILER: I wanted Elizabeth and Darcy to have one of those late in life babies so that a Darcy could inherit Pemberley. Lord and Lady Matlock's son didn't need it. End of SPOILER\n\nThen Claudine located and sent to me this: Mr. Darcy's Christmas Present- The Madness of Mr. Darcy Continues and I was completely happy. So the rating is now a full 5 stars.","Product: Zoe Burton first fell in love with Jane Austens books in 2010, after seeing the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice on television. While making her pur-chases of Miss Austens novels, she dis-covered Jane Austen Fan Fiction; soon after that she found websites full of JAFF. Her life has never been the same. She began writing her own stories when she ran out of new ones to read. Zoe lives in a 107-year-old house in the snow-belt of Ohio with her two Boxers. She is a former Special Educa-tion Teacher, and has a passion for ro-mance in general, Pride and Prejudice in particular, and NASCAR. Zoe is a PAN member of the Ro-mance Writers of America, the Northeast Ohio chapter of the RWA, and the Beau Monde chapter of the RWA. She is also a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, and JASNAs Ohio North Coast chapter.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Short and sweet but Mrs. Bennet begs to differ\n\nReview: The author's story description is very complete. ODC meets in London, where Jane and Elizabeth have gone to have a season. Darcy has been looking for a woman who fits his needs as a wife and Elizabeth beguiles him. Their romance is not a long one.\n\nThe bit of angst in this story occurs when Darcy and Bingley travel to Longbourn, as do the two sisters. Bingley is investigating the possibility of leasing Netherfield. Mrs. Bennet completely ignores Elizabeth in front of the two gentlemen and her family. This mother does not deserve that title. And it actually makes no sense as to her reasoning. The next Meryton Assembly brought some satisfaction to the situation, IMHO.\n\nThis is the first in a series. It was short and sweet.","Product: Jack Caldwell is an author, amateur historian, professional economic developer, playwright, and like many Cajuns, a darn good cook. Born and raised in the Bayou County of Louisiana, Jack and his wife, Barbara, are Hurricane Katrina victims who now make the Suncoast of Florida their home. Jack is the author of four Jane Austen-themed books. PEMBERLEY RANCH is a retelling of Pride & Prejudice set in Reconstruction Texas. THE THREE COLONELS: JANE AUSTENS FIGHTING MEN is a sequel to Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility. MR. DARCY CAME TO DINNER and THE COMPANION OF HIS FUTURE LIFE are Pride & Prejudice-flavored farces. In 2015, he released a series of historical novels about New Orleans, titled THE CRESCENT CITY SERIES. THE PLAINS OF CHALMETTE begins the series, commemorating the Bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans. He marks the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with three modern novels: BOURBON STREET NIGHTS, ELYSIAN DREAMS, and RUIN AND RENEWAL. When not writing or traveling with Barbara, Jack attempts to play golf. A devout convert to Roman Catholicism, Jack is married with three grown sons. Jacks blog postings The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles appear regularly at Austen Variations. Web site: Rambling of a Cajun in Exile: https://cajuncheesehead.com Austen Variations - http://austenvariations.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Caldwell-author/132047236805555 Twitter: @JCaldwell25\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: And as we follow our friends some find love but a storm looms\n\nReview: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars\n\nThis story gives us the romantic pairings and various employment positions of the people we met in the first book. We do have our bad guy and the man who opened the door to the college ranks for him so that his drugs could be peddled there. As we read about the pairings we also read of how Elizabeth and William revisit and learn of all that was part of the history that separated them so bitterly five years ago. Mari has become a singer, Emma sees what has been in front of her eyes all along and Elizabeth and William find themselves working together as their two companies join forces.\n\nBut we also find the beginning of hurricane season affecting the story...slowly...surely and with lasting affects. It was so apropos for me to be reading this as Hurricane Harvey and then Irma were blasting the states that border the Caribbean."],"string":"[\n \"Product: In the years before the Civil War, the Mains and Hazards achieve their triumphs and suffer their tragedies against the panorama of American history. 2 cassettes.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"To pause and look back when thou hearest the sound of my name\\\": Gerald Griffin\\n\\nReview: Each chapter has a quote from a different source - \\\"Look back, look back\\\" is not part of the text but oh, so poignant in the movie.\\n\\nUntil this past month every time someone mentioned the TV series, North and South, I thought of John Jakes' book/TV adaptation. So when in an interview with a JAFF author online \\\"the kiss\\\" at the end of the movie, North and South, was mentioned with a link to the scene on You Tube (And ironically some links show it with Heathcliff's, Rochester's and Darcy's as the best movie kisses.) I had to explore. (Those men are all from favorite books/movies of mine.) I then bought the DVD and the book...by Elizabeth Gaskell.\\n\\nI am not going to go over the story - there are 435 reviews on 44 pages here on Amazon, giving story, character, author, period, etc. details. I do want to say that my illustrated kindle version @ $.99 had NO footnotes and I am thinking of going out to buy a book in which such are included BECAUSE the cant of the northern mill workers is difficult to understand. [\\\"Clem\\\" - is this \\\"starve\\\"?] And also because there are French, Spanish and Latin words and/or phrases which I cannot translate despite HS courses in 2 of those languages.\\n\\nI found so much going on in this book. The relationships for both Margaret Hale and John Thornton were complex. I am not just talking about their own relationship (hate/love) but also that with the working class, the society in which they lived at different times, and then their families and acquaintances. Margaret is sent to be raised by an aunt and with a female cousin, Edith, at a young age so how does this affect the relationship with her own mother? Then there are: Mr. Bell and Mr. Hale, Higgins, other workers and John Thornton, Henry Lennox and Margaret, Mr. Hale and his relationship with his church, the unions, the working class and the Masters and even the imported (We call them SCABS) Irish workers. And one has to include the relationship with Dixon for Mrs. Maria Hale. Higgins' family relationships, Margaret, his neighbors and then his Master, John Thornton, and even GOD, were also something to ponder. I found it very gratifying when Higgins went to work for John Thornton how they learned about each other and thus made changes/concessions in their relationships. John learning of Higgins' care of the orphaned children and Higgins taking John Thornton's suggestion to pool money for meals for workers, thus using wholesale pricing on foods, and less labor cooking in one kitchen, etc.\\n\\nThere are many social issues introduced in this book, and mentioned by other reviews, i.e., class relationships, racial relationships, the industrial revolution, the Navy and the issue of mutiny with Frederick Hale and his marrying (oh, no) a Roman Catholic, the Anglican Church and dissention within.\\n\\nSomeone mentioned that transitions in the book were handled poorly - I agree. You're reading along and \\\"Lo, and behold\\\", you are suddenly in another setting with different characters. Was this because of the original publication for a weekly series in Charles Dickens' work? The ending left me with mixed feelings. Yes, it was humorous and appropriate that they both reflected on how their mother/mother figure would react to their having finally come to an understanding...\\\"That man\\\"....\\\"That woman\\\" but I would love to have had an epilogue, not just about their relationship, marriage, extended family, etc. but also the factory and the workers. We all hope it is a HEA for all but I would just love to know a little more.\\n\\nI read the book and have the DVD of Wives and Daughters and have now bought the book, Cranford, and borrowed the DVDs. Although I did see that latter series on Masterpiece Theater here in the States. This author has become one of my favorites.\",\n \"Product: Grand Sophy\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: How would you feel about a hurricane coming into your life and rearranging everything?\\n\\nReview: I will say that I am glad that I read the other reviews (of length) because I was having doubts about my opinions concerning this book. So many people praise Georgette Heyer that I was thinking I must be flawed to think a short way into the plot that I didn't like Sophy. Some think she is wonderful, spunky, independent, etc. but there are a few who join me in thinking she is manipulative and scheming and she never suffers any consequences for her rash acts. Further, as noted by some, this book is anti-Semitic. Lastly, I don't care if it was the custom of the time in England or in California, I do not care to read about first cousins marrying each other.\\n\\nThe main characters were so \\\"opposite\\\" that it was pretty obvious that they would end up together. I never had a clear picture as to why cousin, Charles Rivenhall, was engaged to Eugenia Wraxton to start with. After all he was a catch, even if he is working to set the estate in the clear. He should have had no reason to settle for a marriage of convenience. And she was very straight laced, which would not do.\\n\\nAs another review stated, \\\"Sophy is much too perfect at everything\\\" and she can't lose, which was annoying: going into parts of the city most men would not frequent, taking off with the horses after tricking the servant into chasing after her hat, taking new horses out by lying to the servants that she had permission, bringing animals as gifts into a house without knowing if they are allowed or even if there are allergies, (and did the monkey relieve himself all over the furniture and rugs, etc.), planning a ball when the aunt was under the illusion that a small affair of, say 20 couples, was in the offing, chasing off to her home without informing the staff so as a consequence, there is no food, no fires in the fire places and dust covers galore, inviting everyone and his brother to show up at the same time, carrying a gun and shooting a man to further her plot to \\\"fix\\\" his love problem - really?\\n\\nSo the Riverhall family was all mucked up. How did Sophy manage to be so \\\"perfect\\\", when her father admits he really did nothing to parent her after her mother died while Sophy was quite young. This story would have you believe she had all the right contacts, could flirt with impunity, ride and shoot like the devil, and knew how to manage all her finances. She did have a loving heart in caring for her young sick cousin, Amabel. And, yes, everything turned out right in the end (if you want first cousins to marry) but does the end justify the means?\\n\\n3.5 stars\",\n \"Product: Ms. Mason-Milks says, Writing stories inspired by Austens books offers a way to spend more time with characters Ive grown to love. Just because the book ends, it doesnt have to be the end of the story. In addition to writing, her other loves include singing in \\\"a cappella joy\\\" (a women's barbershop chorus), reading, and yoga. She currently lives in Seattle with her husband and their three cats. In addition to her blog at http://www.austen-whatif-stories.com, she is also part of a group blog called austenauthors.net.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not enough sexual tension and oh, so frustrating\\n\\nReview: This tale had angst but not the type I prefer. In this story (and I won't go over the story line as other reviewers handle it well) the frustrations and misunderstandings just got to be a little too much. Even towards the end when Elizabeth knew Darcy still loved her and when he overheard her tell his Aunt, Lady C., how much she loved him, they still couldn't come together and declare or show their love. A marriage of convenience with a man of his age not expecting just a little more physical contact is just tad unreal to me. And some of the misunderstandings: Lizzy has a temper tantrum in her mind but actually does nothing? (She did ask Mrs. Reynolds but didn't confront Darcy.) I would have been rearranging the furniture so quickly! And then thinking he had a love child with a servant? I don't believe she could really think that after all the things he did for her and her family and how he kept his hands off her in waiting for her to learn to love him. Lizzie's reactions sometimes were very sudden and unexpected, almost seemed ungrateful, (not that he wanted her to act out of a sense of obligation). I did read this story twice and it was a page turner but I was disappointed that it took so long for them to come to an understanding.\",\n \"Product: Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are grateful. She has one husband, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, six cats, seven Regency-era fiction projects and notes for eight more writing projects in progress. To round out the list, she cooks for nine in order to accommodate the growing boys and usually makes ten meals at a time so she only cooks twice a month. She can be contacted at: author.MariaGrace@gmail.com. You can find her profile on Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorMariaGrace or visit her website at: AuthorMariaGrace.com\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Digging into the making of Lizzie's character\\n\\nReview: Again - having read the third in this trilogy by mistake first, I went back and read the first two before posting a review on either one. I agree with some of the other reviewers in that: 1.) There were just too many footnotes, which, as a new Kindle user I could not figure out how to access and 2.) Yes, she did use many of JA's quotes but, then, so do many of the authors of the 88 other JAFF books I have read. I was not comfortable with the relationship between Elizabeth and her father in this story. He doesn't seem at all receptive to her opinions and treats her poorly, in my viewpoint. And the whole footstool thing seemed contrived (a small detail but one that bothered me). I did appreciate the author having the four sisters ban together and having Lizzie change her perspective on her sisters and learning to appreciate their separate talents. Lydia needs a good shaking as did Georgina in the first of these stories. Although this story did keep my attention and makes me want to re-read the third volume I find it lacking in comparison to some of my other favorite JAFF authors, i.e., Abigail Reynolds, Kara Louise, Linda Wells, etc. Yes, read it if you are so into every JA sequel, \\\"what-if\\\", prequel, etc. but know that I find better stories out there.\",\n \"Product: Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are grateful. After penning five file-drawer novels in high school, she took a break from writing to pursue college and earn her doctorate in Educational Psychology. After 16 years of university teaching, she returned to her first love, fiction writing. She has one husband, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, sown six Regency era costumes, written seven Regency-era fiction projects, and designed eight websites. To round out the list, she cooks for nine in order to accommodate the growing boys and usually makes ten meals at a time so she only cooks twice a month. She can be contacted at: author.MariaGrace@gmail.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorMariaGrace On Amazon.com: http://amazon.com/author/mariagrace Random Bits of Fascination (http://RandomBitsofFascination.com) Austen Variations (http://AustenVariations.com) English Historical Fiction Authors (http://EnglshHistoryAuthors.blogspot.com) White Soup Press (http://whitesouppress.com/) On Twitter @WriteMariaGrace On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/mariagrace423/\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: But the past can shape and have effects here and now!\\n\\nReview: I read this story as a WIP on a blog and truly enjoyed it so purchased it when it was published. BUT I didn't want to write a review until I read the newer version so as to make sure I had a sense of the story in its final edition as well as after it was read front to back in its entirety.\\n\\nIf you don't like to read versions in which the variation is completely different from canon, be warned: this story has few similarities to Pride and Prejudice. Oh, the names of most of the principle characters are there and Pemberley figures in as the main residence but the estate of Alston Hall is new. The characters seem to be almost new creations, other than their names. And there are a few new players who play significant roles: Piper and four children named Francis, Philip, David and George. Mr. Bennet is now a retired Admiral Bennet, a twice-over widower but with only 2 daughters and with identical twin sons.\\n\\nHowever in this tale Bennet has lost the estate of Longbourn to a brother and is settling in a new estateone neighboring Pemberley. And upon finding it in an uninhabitable condition finds he must accept the offer to be the guests of Mr. Darcy and his mother-in-law (and) AuntCatherine de Bourgh. But Darcys life is complete. Or so he thinks. He has married, he has two sons and he is now a widower, himself. He has no desires for any changes in his life.\\n\\nBut there is one circumstance in his life which I found hard to swallow. Darcy feels a sense of obligation to George Wickham due to Georges not only saving his life years ago but also for intervening and paving the way at university when Darcys reticence and awkwardness have made him feel like an outsider. As a reader my hackles were up and I thought of Darcy as a fool here, to accept that Georges motivations were that of a friend, and that he continued to know his place in the circles of family and acquaintances, just didn't sit right. And Georges lechery upon meeting certain young ladies began to make me feel my instincts were correct. But Darcy seeks to place Wickham in a new post as steward due to the fact that Wickham has lost his apprenticeship with Darcys attorney in Londonmore about that in the story was not surprising to me.\\n\\nEven though this story is a wide departure from canon, I enjoyed it. Cathy: oh, my! And Admiral Bennet really? As a senior citizen myself I have to say that it was heartwarming to read of a romance for some who have already passed middle age. Yes, some of us can still have stirringsbut enough of that. It was at times comical to learn about how to use ones fan effectively.\\n\\nThe story seems to emphasize the relationship between Elizabeth with both her father and with Darcy. Jane has little mention in this story and her love interest is NOT a man named Bingley as he and his sisters do not exist here. The admiral has traveled the world and taken his family with him. In doing such he has taught his daughters self defense and they each carry knives with them. Plus the girls are not sheltered in having met many a man and having learned early to judge new acquaintances. You see, each daughter now has not only her looks to recommend her but also a dowry AND the Princes friendship with their father to help introduce them into society. So imagine our chagrin when we read of how Elizabeth has been repudiated as she uses her intuition and skills of assessment to refuse more than one suitor who in turn starts gossip to seek revenge for her denial of their suit.\\n\\nThis story also uses the natural exuberance of four young boys, of their daring-do and competitiveness to lead events to a culmination and to show the mettle of several lead actors.\\n\\nIn remembering the past (and in this story it is significant in shaping our characters) we have Adm. Bennets loss of Longbourn and the way his daughter was treated by suitors (and the ton) in London. We have Lady Catherines experience with her faithless husband, Colonel Fitzwilliams relationship with her own father and his being disowned. We have all that went on between Wickham and Darcy growing up and even at university. And for Elizabeth we have how fickle and then treacherous men have revealed themselves in seeking but being denied their suit of her. So although in canon Elizabeth wants to only remember the past as it gives her pleasure, in this story the past has present sway in hers and others outlooks and judgments.\\n\\nThis story is one that had enough pleasure for me that I was able to remember it from my past reading of such, even though I may have read a hundred or more stories since my first perusal of this tale. Yes, I recommend it, canon or NOT.\",\n \"Product: Jack Caldwell is an author, amateur historian, professional economic developer, playwright, and like many Cajuns, a darn good cook. Born and raised in the Bayou County of Louisiana, Jack and his wife, Barbara, are Hurricane Katrina victims who now make Florida their home. His nickname -- The Cajun Cheesehead -- came from his devotion to his two favorite NFL teams: the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. When not writing or traveling with Barbara, Jack attempts to play golf. A devout convert to Roman Catholicism, Jack is married with three grown sons. Jack's blog postings -- The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles -- appear regularly at Austen Authors.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very close to our original P&P with some pleasing changes in characters\\n\\nReview: If one loves JA's P&P, one knows the lines very well. Mr. Caldwell uses many of them with no attempt to disguise such. Does that offend me? NO. My thoughts are that Mr. Caldwell was very clever and had to have given a lot of thought as to how to use those lines and in whose mouth. But, honestly, I did skim through many of those sections as I knew the words so well. Many of his changes are changes which I, frankly, have opined about for the original. Don't we all think Mary should have married Mr. Collins, what with her reading of Fordyce's Sermons and her holier-than-thou attitude? However, in marrying Mary to Mr. Collins our author gives her the wisdom (and body) to be able to handle her husband. Him \\\"begging\\\" to be allowed to visit her bedroom - I think I will be ill also if not die from laughing so hard first! I enjoyed reading that Mary and Anne de Bourgh became best of friends. What a nice surprise! Many authors have married Col. Fitzwilliam off to Anne in JAFF stories, but in this version, Col. Fitzwilliam doesn't seem to have a clue that this is to be his fate. Is he in denial? The scene in which he is entering Rosings and 3 females have his destiny all tied up is priceless.\\n\\nI did NOT like when Elizabeth, at Lambton, after having received the letters about Lydia's elopement with Wickham, said, \\\"Find them and I am yours.\\\" It just doesn't sound right...sorry. Yes, we know Darcy is honorable and would only have Elizabeth in marriage but I just don't think our Lizzy would have said it quite that way. It opens up too many negative connotations. He has not proposed for a second time, She has just realized that, yes, she can love him. But she also thinks that this disgrace because of Lydia's actions would now totally justify his views of her family, even though he takes the blame in not exposing Wickham. And there is that whole thing about him not wanting her out of gratitude, which her words imply. Doesn't she know that he is not going to want her for that reason by now. She has been learning so much about his honor and how loyal he is to those he loves and how he takes care of them and protects them.\\n\\nIn creating a different Anne I found it very interesting that Mr. Caldwell now gives her an accomplishment which her mother was bragging about in the original story (and which she didn't have) and additional accomplishments, which would draw attention from a man looking for an \\\"ideal woman\\\"...learning to play the piano, learning to shot billiards, drawing, handling her dog cart and wanting to learn to ride are sure to please.\\n\\nWe have a new Jane who suddenly has the discernment to realize that Bingley can't stand on his own two feet and that a couple cannot live on love alone. This is not JA's Jane. We do see Bingley's character being more developed in this version and, for me, that was pleasing. (Even if the steward he hires and works with was sent his way via Darcy and Matlock.)\\n\\nAll in all a very interesting twist to the original story. The author kept very close to the original story line making changes more in characters' personalities and then their actions without changes in the final outcome for the most part.\",\n \"Product: Victoria has a Ph.D. in English literature and has taught composition to unwilling college students. Today she is a freelance writer/editor who teaches business writing to willing office professionals and tries to give voice to the demanding cast of characters in her head. She lives in Virginia with an overly affectionate cat, two children who are learning how much fun Austens characters can be, and a husband who fortunately is not jealous of Mr. Darcy. A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Not exactly a knight in shining armor but still he doesn't give up as twists keeps coming\\n\\nReview: 4.5 stars\\n\\nHe would rescue Elizabeth and in the process - he now realized rescue himself from a lifetime of loneliness. So ODB is off and running.\\n\\nI must say that this Darcy had a few surprises for me. In canon, and most stories, he is a man who stands at the window, or in the corners of a room, stares at Elizabeth and then makes inappropriate or completely misinterpreted remarks. His famous...\\\"tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.\\\" reverberates in our minds when we think of the beginnings of ODC's relationship. In this delightfully humorous variation, Darcy does utter that, but we only read of it in retrospection when he meets Elizabeth at Oakham Mount while he is riding to Longbourn. (If only he could go back in time and slap himself.) He has returned to the area alone, to attempt to change the course of events he has learned about in a letter from Jane to Caroline.\\n\\nDarcy, in grasping for solutions, is very quick with his verbal responses in two major twists with first, Mr. Collins, and then with his Aunt Catherine. I, along with Elizabeth, could not believe what came out of his mouth. Isn't this the man who in canon said \\\"disguise of every sort is my abhorrence\\\"? And then to hope that Elizabeth does not call him on it! (Mouths agape.) Really adorable and laughable at the same time. But he doesn't have all the facts as to why Elizabeth acted as she did and in reaching for his own happiness he might just be ensuring Elizabeth's disgrace and disaster for her family. When he visit at Longbourn he overhears just what the entire family thinks of him through an open doorway as his presence is discussed by the women of the family. How mistaken he is about his status in their eyes. And then we also read of a man who goes to great lengths to manipulate events. (Do I know this man?)\\n\\nElizabeth cannot determine why this man is even in the neighborhood much less visiting in their home frequently. He says he is there for the hunting. As things progress from Elizabeth we read thoughts of clearly she had not appreciated before the degree to which honor and a sense of justice provoked Mr. Darcys actions.\\n\\nAt one point I nearly lost my breakfast as I read of Collins words, My dearest Elizabeth and I seem to have been formed for each other. BARF! Darcy thinks he is so clever but, oh, my, the results of that manipulation jump up like stepping on a hoe which springs up and hits one in the face. As he bumbles about trying to untwist the disaster he has now causedwell, readers, please read for your selves.\\n\\nI did so enjoy this version. It was a very short read and helped to make a day more enjoyable as I read of this man who arranged pieces for a Happily Ever After.\\n\\n(I did agree with the one review questioning things such as \\\"How did the Gardiners know of Jane's and Elizabeth's visit at Pemberley?\\\")\",\n \"Product: New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Catherine Bybee has been addicted to romance since her teens. After spending a decade of her life working as an RN in urban emergency rooms, Catherine is now dedicated to writing happily-ever-afters for the world to love. Catherine is married and raising two sons in Southern California.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Control from a grave - tsk, tsk, Daddy!\\n\\nReview: After reading Single by Saturday and thoroughly enjoying it and then seeing this was available on kindle Unlimited I jumped right on it and read it in less than a day. It was a nice romance to escape into on a rainy day.\\n\\nWith so many other reviews posted I have no desire to go into details. But I was happy to be looking backwards in this series to learn just what the \\\"Duke and Duchess\\\" references were from that first book I read. Complications from both fathers make for a couple who are both leery to place trust in anyone. But then sparks do fly when they touch much less after marrying and being in close quarters. Sam (Samantha) Elliott, in giving Blake five minutes to state his case in the first chapter set in a Starbucks, won my heart - a no nonsense woman. Blake in expecting a man and then in turning the tables in a proposition for a marriage on paper only, (with her, not with any of the 3 candidates she screened for him) - not even a marriage of convenience - seems a perfect foil. But then we learn the family history for both and our hearts pull for love's magic touch to make this a HEA marriage for both. The author does not fail us.\",\n \"Product: Laura Landon taught high school for ten years before leaving the classroom to open her own ice-cream shop. As much as she loved serving up sundaes and malts from behind the counter, she closed up shop after penning her first novel. Now she spends nearly every waking minute writing, guiding her heroes and heroines to happily ever after. She is the author of more than a dozen historical novels, and her books are enjoyed by readers around the world. She lives with her family in the rural Midwest, where she devotes what free time she has to volunteering in her community.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: New author for me - very enjoyable!\\n\\nReview: I had never read any of this author's books before so when it was offered for one-day only @ $1.99 I read the sample and looked at the nearly 300 reviews and decided it was worth the price. I was happily surprised to find an author whose books I will buy and read beyond this one.\\n\\nThe story line is described in the book description and in other's reviews so I will not repeat such. I believe the thing I like most was that in describing bedroom scenes the author did NOT go into gory details. There was just enough to satisfy my tastes. I read this in one day, despite plans to put it down and go out shopping. I found it thoroughly enjoyable and now will order another book, even at a higher price. I recommend this book for all who enjoy historical romances or just plain old romances.\",\n \"Product: Elizabeth Ann West is a jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none. After spending three years selling her non-fiction articles to websites and marketing firms, she made the jump to writing fiction in 2011. Before choosing a career in writing, she made magic at the Walt Disney World Resort and performed as a Quality Technician for Alcoa. Since then, she's learned to code apps, build websites, and make a mean cup of coffee! Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, her family now moves wherever the Navy sends them. Currently, the Navy needs her family in Connecticut.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: So just when is the marriage?\\n\\nReview: 3.5 stars\\n\\nI was not going to read this second in a series of three but this book was gifted to me by Loren. Please note that this is not a standalone book. And while I do not mind content of a sexual nature (This book has none.) I do mind domestic violence!!! And on top of all that are the coarse and rude manners displayed by members of genteel society.\\nFor me this story moved forward slowly. Part of this is a result of the time between reading the first book and finally picking up this second part of the story. The book itself is a short novella; one which really could have united the first and/or the third together to make a complete book at a more reasonable overall price for most readers. Darcy and Elizabeth are finding throughout events many frustrations to not only announcing their engagement and forwarding their marriage ceremony but also just in trying to meet together. Vile accusations as well as punishments result as various persons accuse ODC of immoral behaviors.\\n\\nThings at Longbourn are not at all comfortable and many there continue to walk on eggshells. DO NOT MENTION a certain sister who is now disowned it seems.\\n\\nThe Colonel is playing his part in Darcys plans to obtain his hearts desires, but Richard has his own motivations as well as the desire to help his cousin. Much of this story concerns slinking around and acting the part of roles to throw Lady Catherine, Mr. Collins and others off the scent. There is also the treatment of a family of tenants who have fallen on harsh times and for whom Elizabeth has to use deceit in order to give help. A Parson cant give charity oh, no, never!\\n\\nBack in London, dastardly Wickham and his all-so-nave and, frankly, stupid wife, Georgiana act as if brother, Fitzwilliam is never returning home. Caroline makes use of that situation with a show of gutsy behavior. Then in another act of abuse as part of the script, Wickham charges his friends toWHAT?! No author has used this act in a variation. Here I was quite frankly dismayed that such was part of the story.\\n\\nThe author has some new ideas and it is obvious she is striving to use creative phrases in her writing but at times the style was confusing and then there was also little attention to editing. In my opinion, this story would have benefitted by time taken to fill in the background and give us more details in the ongoing events and motivations for such. We still do not have our couple united in Holy Matrimony.\",\n \"Product: Regina Jeffers is an award-winning author of cozy mysteries, Austenesque sequels and retellings, and Regency era romances. A teacher for thirty-nine years, Jeffers often serves as a consultant for Language Arts and Media Literacy programs. With multiple degrees, Regina has been a Time Warner Star Teacher, Columbus (OH) Teacher of the Year, and a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar. With 5 new releases coming out in 2015, Jeffers is considered one of publishings most prolific authors. Come check out some of her 19 novels: Darcys Passions, Captain Frederick Wentworths Persuasion, The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy, A Touch of Grace, A Touch of Honor, and The First Wives Club.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Oh, what a web of misunderstandings - can it get any worse?\\n\\nReview: Regina Jeffers does not disappoint. I have read other of her books (although not all - bucket list: read all her books) and have enjoyed every one of them. She has quite an impressive list. I do have to mention that this is a short story which only took up 90% of my kindle's volume as a preview to another book takes up most of the rest of that same volume, along with credits, lists of other books, etc. The latter of which we expect.\\n\\n(Do read the book description before thinking of purchasing this book. I am not going to repeat all that is said there.)\\n\\nTo me this book was the height of misunderstandings between our dear couple ever in any book in the JAFF genre. But if you enjoy angst, mix-ups, stubbornness, etc. you will find this tale delightful. The story begins with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner's and Elizabeth's visit to Pemberley. The events change at this point. They do not meet Darcy here although he learns later that it was, indeed, Elizabeth he viewed from her back going out with the head gardener to stroll the property.\\n\\nI have read reviews in which other readers want to shake this person or that person in their misconstrued thoughts or actions. In this tale I wanted, for the first time, to severely shake Elizabeth...as Jane (our quiet, unassuming, passive Jane) tries to convince Elizabeth of the error in judgment she has made and continues to make about a certain man. And on the eve of a wedding, when thoughts should be only on that event - yes, Elizabeth you are distracting your dear sister.\\n\\nI was reminded of a scene, which I loathe, in which Anne Elliot races about Bath in search of Captain Wentworth in the latest screen version of Persuasion. Elizabeth travels or, at time, rushes posthaste between Pemberley, Lambton, Gracechurch Street, Darcy House, Pemberley, Gracechurch Street, Longbourn and Netherfield. Yes, she is a busy young lady. And an epidemic of measles helps to influence reactions to her showing up in one place or another.\\n\\nElizabeth is very sly and conniving in this tale and, boy, can she tell whoppers! With outright lying to more than one person, all of whom are attempting to save her reputation and/or her physical well-being. Darcy is the romantic...he won't give up. And I loved his one letter. Finally - \\\"Good for you, Darcy, old chap - finally put your foot down with a deadline!\\\" Other familiar faces take part in this twisting tale: Colonel Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, Wickham, Lydia, Caroline, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, the Gardiners, and all the sisters as well as Bingley and the Hursts.\\n\\nI did enjoy reading the different thoughts and convoluted conclusions and reactions to events for both Elizabeth and Darcy. Although I think Elizabeth takes the cake for misconstruing intentions, actions, etc. There is once when she does stop and take what she knows of Darcy step-by-step in her thoughts to consider a situation and what is meant or what is reality.\\n\\nI read this book in about half-a-day so I was not kept up late at night trying to reach the end. I am sure all lovers of JAFF will enjoy the creativity and imagination which went into the writing of another variation here. Enjoy.\",\n \"Product: Nicole Clarkston is the pen name of a very bashful writer who will not allow any of her family or friends to read what she writes. She grew up in Idaho on horseback, and if she could have figured out how to read a book at the same time, she would have. She initially pursued a degree in foreign languages and education, and then lost patience with it, switched her major, and changed schools. She now resides in Oregon with her husband of 14 years, 3 homeschooled kids, and a very worthless degree in Poultry Science (don't ask). Nicole discovered Jane Austen rather by guilt in her early thirties- how does any book worm really live that long without a little P&P? She has never looked back. A year or so later, during a major house renovation project (undertaken when her husband unsuspectingly left town for a few days) she discovered Elizabeth Gaskell and fell completely in love. Nicole's first two published books are her pitiful homage to two authors who have so deeply inspired her.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I'm marrying her. NO, I'm marrying her!!!\\n\\nReview: 4.5 stars\\n\\nThe main premise here is that with Mr. Bennet incapacitated and unconscious for who-knows-how-long due to a fall from his horse, Mr. Collins (working under the assumption that Mr. Bennet may never recover or may be mentally impaired if he awakens at all) steps up his plan to have Elizabeth as his bride and announces that she is his choice of wife and he will manage Longbourn in the stead of his predecessor. BUT, his biggest mistake is that he does this in the presence of Mr. Darcy. There are other there as witnesses, the rest of the Bennet family, Bingley, servants, etc.; they may be shocked but will do little to object to this. And we know Mrs. Bennet will only grab on to this assurance that, if her husband does not recover or recover fully, the family will not be thrown out into the hedgerows if Elizabeth is married to Mr. Collins.\\n\\nTo backtrack just a little: this scene is the day after the Netherfield Ball and both Darcy and Bingley are on their way to London. They are approached by the apothecary bringing to their notice what has happened to Mr. Bennet and \\\"suggesting\\\" that as a close neighbor Mr. Bingley might want to help with advising the Bennet family while Mr. Bennet is bed ridden. Thus Bingley's and Darcy's presence at the onset of this misfortune is explained.\\n\\nWe have had a look into Darcys thoughts. You know those of which he pondered after meeting Elizabeth and witnessing her sisters behaviors and her mothers matchmaking efforts while learning of their poor prospects with little to speak of in the way of dowries. So he has realized towards whom his heart is leaning but has had all those misgivings. But to have thrown in his face the possibility that this cretin might touch Elizabeth, that she would bear Collins children, forces Darcy to make a bold move, an unexpected move, one which has all the makings of a forced engagement. Elizabeth is sputtering, a wet hen, hissing and coiling in her anger. About half this book is about that relationship. Then guess who comes up with a very wise decision about how to sort out and bring to fruition what Darcy has set in motion? OK, youll never guess so Ill tell you, Bingley. Yes, Bingley sends for Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana.\\n\\nSo much of this book is reading of how ODC sorts out this rocky start. Darcy loves Elizabeth but she is anything but in love with him. (The Hunsford proposal is brought to mind.) Then there are matters to address in the management of the estate and here we read of this pair working in unison to a wise conclusion. Wickham is part of the story but is dealt with to the applause of the readers in a solid and permanent manner at the end. Lady Catherine has her say but it is her daughter who has some new surprises for us. Some readers have said they cant quite accept this turn but with variations we do at times have to let the author have her twists and turns. It may be a surprise but Anne herself has a backbone and you will be cheering for her part in this tale, despite some of her personal history. The Colonel, as usual, plays a supportive role but he has some feelings to deal with, which are handled briefly in the epilogue as another review mentioned. Georgiana has much more of a role in this novel than in canon. She develops relationships with several of the Bennet sisters but at the same time continues to conceal the Ramsgate matter.\\n\\nThere are no scenes for mature audiences only but Darcy does have his moments of wishing the wedding was imminent and there is some kissing, etc. But I remember nothing which would offend.\\n\\nThis was an enjoyable book but I was forced to spread it out over several days as I read it before and after the Christmas holiday. I did note some of the errata spoken of in other reviews. But those didn't lessen my enjoyment of a good read. I noticed that this author also wrote a variation of North and South and, as that is one of my favorites, I will buy and read that as I found this book so delightful.\",\n \"Product: I am from California and have been reading Pride and Prejudice fan fiction for a while. I first discovered Pride and Prejudice on a long day of travel out of Mexico as a teenager. I recall being very impressed with myself for getting the jokes. I constantly read nineteenth century literature that year, of which Austen and Charlotte Bronte, of course, were my favorites. It was years later that I discovered and repeatedly binge read Pride and Prejudice fan fiction. Now I am adding to the collection available for future binge readers to binge upon.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Enter reality: not all is as we dream\\n\\nReview: 4.5 stars\\n\\nThis tale for me was a very melancholy story for about two-thirds of the way through. I was entrapped wanting to get to a happy part, an uplifting part, and so could not put this book down until the sun peeked through in the telling at 1 am. Then I picked it up first thing this morning.\\n\\nDarcys Uncle Matlock has reared him along with his two cousins, Derwent and Richard. Darcy has become an orphan at the young of 13, as his father could not stand to live on without his beloved wife. The tale put abroad was that he had a hunting accident. So Matlock cursed the love factor that pushed his brother-in-law over the edge and determined that his philosophy of keeping a mistress was the best and so made sure those he had charge of were initiated into the practice as soon as those male urgings developed.\\n\\nSo when Darcys last mistress has been paid off some six months earlier and his uncle is seeking to put another one in place, Darcy resists and relates that he wants to find someone he can talk to, laugh with, not just someone to warm his bed. He wants to be able to quote Latin and have the lady understand what he is saying.\\n\\nIn this novel Darcy is very different and it is explained that his cousins groomed him in the art of not only conversation, but also in how to smile, how often to dance and how to NOT stand around the corners in a ballroom looking on in disdain. He has even learned to count how many dances he has danced so as to reach a certain quota. Then he studies the art on the walls.\\n\\nSo as he goes off to visit his friend Bingley in Hertfordshire and attends an assembly he witnesses a young lady sitting by the wall with her eyes closed and a myriad of expressions crossing her face. He wants to meet her and thus begins the acquaintance of Darcy and Elizabeth. But as he is attracted more and more to her spirit and her conversation he also keeps his hard resolve that he will not be his father; he will not fall in loveever.\\n\\nAnd as for Elizabeth we have a dreamer. She accepts reality but her twist is that she has enough to be happy and there is a better outcome over the horizon. So she thinks only happy thoughts. She knows that the poverty into which her fathers death and her mothers spendthrift behaviors have thrown the sisters puts them on the brink of unacceptability in even the circles of Meryton. Her Uncle Philips ridicules the girls as no good since Lydia is forced to marry a blacksmith and further lowers their connections. But she dreams of happiness for her perfect sister Jane and she posits maybeDarcy will realize. Darcy does make an offer. But to whom and for what position in his life? Dont think you can predict this one, dear readers.\\n\\nBut also as an aside: I was laughing out loud at the use of Darcys famous Meryton Assembly insult near the end in a way I would never have imagined.\\n\\nEven with the topic of mistresses being so prevalent in this story it does not have graphic sex scenes. But the topic of mistresses is throughout the book. Much to-do is made of the novel Pamela and comparisons to ODCs situation. I had to look that book up and it is available for free on kindle. While I was captivated by the story I did not find it to be very warm and fuzzy until almost the last 10% of the story. If you like angst and all the emotions such evokes then this might be a story you want to read.\",\n \"Product: Nicole Clarkston is the pen name of a very bashful writer who will not allow any of her family or friends to read what she writes. She grew up in Idaho on horseback, and if she could have figured out how to read a book at the same time, she would have. She initially pursued a degree in foreign languages and education, and then lost patience with it, switched her major, and changed schools. She now resides in Oregon with her husband of 15 years, 3 homeschooled kids, and a very worthless degree in Poultry Science (don't ask). Nicole discovered Jane Austen rather by guilt in her early thirties- how does any book worm really live that long without a little P&P? She has never looked back. A year or so later, during a major house renovation project (undertaken when her husband unsuspectingly left town for a few days) she discovered Elizabeth Gaskell and fell completely in love. Nicole's books are her pitiful homage to two authors who have so deeply inspired her.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sharing an umbrella? Who would imagine that sheltering comfort would open communications?\\n\\nReview: 4.5 stars\\n\\nI am a huge reader of P&P variations but have read several sequels for North and South; it being another favorite story for me. When someone recommended Northern Rain to me and compared it to P&P and it then was available on kindle Unlimited I decided to vary my reading pattern for this book. I am very glad I took that step.\\n\\nThe title is immediately brought into play as John Thornton makes his annual visit of homage to his father's grave site. And despite his intuition that it was going to rain makes a decision not to bring an umbrella. After all, rain hides any tears which might escape and trickle down one's face. Margaret Hale has also sought an out-of-the way place to read the letter containing results into the investigation as to hopes that her brother has a chance of exoneration and, thus, a chance to once again return to his homeland and the arms of his family. She is sorely disappointed.\\n\\nThen as she is leaving her spot of contemplation she realizes that she will pass near a man standing in a grave yard and she realizes it is HIM. She ponders an attempt to pass unnoticed but he turns and their eyes meet. After some awkward silence she offers her umbrella to the man and with small back and forth niceties she accepts his offer to walk her home. Thus the ice is broken.\\n\\nYes, you do have to know the story, This is not a stand alone novel. There is that prior proposal during which many hateful and harmful words were spoken and misunderstandings directing those words exchanged. But in this story John is urged to take up again his \\\"lessons\\\" with Mr. Hale and seeing that this will give him a chance to perhaps be in her presence, even exchange a word or two, he takes up that weekly appointment again. And he also becomes friendlier with Nicholas and in visits to that man's humble abode \\\"runs\\\" into Margaret.\\n\\nSo John is not without hope and as Margaret smiles and allows him to walk with her on occasion and talk with her sees some warm regard from her smiles and shy glances...he thinks.\\n\\nThis story proceeds slowly in the first half of the book. It is reflective of the original story...BUT hold on....what might seem to be developing into a romance has been noticed and other people from various walks of life in Milton are not going to allow that to happen without their own plans to foil and redirect attentions in romance, in business and in the goals for their own satisfaction.\\n\\nThings become very twisted as John's sister, Fanny and several new acquaintances Genevieve and Rupert Hamilton, Randall and Emmeline Draper seem to vie for their own purposesbe it a romance or even works of charity. Then there remain our old friends: Mr. Bell and Mr. Watson and not to mention Margarets London family and friends. The plot seems hell bent to take away any chance for ODC and even to send them back to roles as indifferent strangers but don't despair.\\n\\nThe author has us now turning pages quickly and encountering much angst but we do get what we wanta happy ending, an Oh, so sweet ending. I did enjoy this story but there were times when I had to question Margarets part in the scheme of things, Is she to be a martyr here or is she really so good, so altruistica saint? Self denial is not a pretty picture.\",\n \"Product: Joy Dawn King started telling stories from an early age. However, she did not write any of them down until she was 57 years old. While living high in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador with her husband and family, she read Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice for the first time. It was love at first page. After she was done, she longed for more. When searching for another copy of Jane Austens writings, she happened upon several books that offered alternative paths to happily ever after for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. She purchased and read as many as she could find. Finally, in early 2014, she had an idea for a story about the couple that would not go away. Thus, her first book, A Fathers Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation, was born. Since then, Joy and her husband moved back to the U.S. and plot bunnies kept hopping in and out of her imagination. Now, its all she can do to keep up with them. But, she tries.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Teasing, teasing man: to allow his letter sign-offs to be visible.\\n\\nReview: As in many variations we are in Kent, at Hunsford and that insulting proposal has been offered.\\n\\nYes, the focus is on letters in this lovely feel-good tale; beginning with the one in which he responds to her accusations. And it is not just Darcys letters delivered into Elizabeths possession but not readLady Catherine gets her hands on information not intended for her ears or eyes. And as per her MO, she attempts to use the knowledge now in her possession to gain the accomplishment of her long-time goal. I don't have to tell you what that is. And the hateful lady is not above bait-and-switch to get obstacles removed from her gaining that.\\n\\nOne of the interesting ways the author handles this story is that Elizabeth refuses to read any of the letters from Darcybut she is intrigued by the sign-off on the back of each. They are not the same but they convey feelings with just a few words.\\n\\nAnd speaking of few words, Elizabeth in sensing that her feelings are confused or even possibly changing demands a separation of 30 days during which she will not see Darcy nor speak with him. Now the Colonel has spoken of waging a campaign and laying out plans. I smile as I think of the ingenuity written here. Can you imagine? Could you come up with30 one-word communications oh, so sweet? I do love how the men involved covered any possible impediments to those plans.\\n\\nAs another review mentions, the author reminds us that if we look hard enough we can find something good in most men. Mr. Collins has a daily practice which he does not brag about or put forth in conversation. I was truly touched as I read of this and of Elizabeth being given pause in this revelation about her cousin.\\n\\nAs an aside: did you know ODG has a talent for skimming smooth pebbles across a pool of water? Read how she challenges a couple of He-Men to best her accomplishment here.\\n\\nI have to say that Anne de Bourgh almost came across as having a split personality: one minute she is all gumption with plans for her future and then next she meekly retreats back to Rosings to think about what she wants\\\".\\n\\nI enjoyed this story both as a Work-in-Progress and as a published novella, as I have also enjoyed the authors other works.\",\n \"Product: Regina Jeffers, an award-winning author of historical cozy mysteries, Austenesque sequels and retellings, as well as Regency era romances, has worn many hats over her lifetime: daughter, student, military brat, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, tax preparer, journalist, choreographer, Broadway dancer, theatre director, history buff, grant writer, media literacy consultant, and author. Living outside of Charlotte, NC, Jeffers writes novels that take the ordinary and adds a bit of mayhem, while mastering tension in her own life with a bit of gardening and the exuberance of her grand joys.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: His hand and protection, her fulfilling a legal need for the reunification of his family\\n\\nReview: This was a tense drama with two plans of action drawing and keeping my attentions. Like a tennis match my attention was on edge as the evil known as Wickham was able to involve the entire community of Meryton and its surrounds in a plot depriving citizens of hard earned and saved revenue. And then I was heart torn in reading of Darcy's bargain...just when we think he has his life's desire, the lady, knowing where her own love was pledged places his honor and respectability above their joining.\\n\\nWhile it is really a big stretch of the imagination to think that everyone could be drawn in...after all has no one learned that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is...just go with it. It sets the stage for Elizabeth in company with her uncle to travel to the Darcy town house and plead for Darcy's help. He sees it as a chance to gain what he has never been able to set aside in his thoughts. He makes a bargain with Elizabeth: his help, her hand.\\n\\nWith Mr. Bennet on what could be his death bed, plans must be very carefully drawn and there are several times when it seems that Wickham must have a fly on the wall as he sniffs out and confronts members of the Bennet family hoping to trip up and find out if they know of his real nature or if they have ceased to be charmed by him.\\n\\nSneaking back and forth to London, seeking out forgers, researching background of accomplices, and using sticky fingers to lift the journal of misdeeds...all add up to tense page turning. And in the end, when all is said and done...it still seems as if it is for naught. Stupid, stupid girl!\\n\\nMr. Bennet may surprise you...he did me. Usually he is portrayed as a man of sloth and indolence but as he sees his favorite cast away her own happiness he plots a different outcome and takes action to implement such. I was teary eyed but then sighing as we do get our HEA.\",\n \"Product: KaraLynne is an amazing mother who never makes mistakes, never gets upset with her children and never ever has a dirty house. Ever. She always has her dishes done and the floors spotless and dinner is always prepared and ready on time. Her kids are always clean, polite, respectful and loving, especially to each other. She never gets irritated with her husband when he doesn't turn his socks right side out for the laundry and they always agree on everything. She delights in nothing else but to serve her family and never wants or needs time for herself. She takes great care to shower every day and put make up on so that she is always beautiful and presentable. She never wears her pajamas all day or for days in a row and she is the epitome of womanhood. Most of all, she has a great sense of humor and loves to write.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Beautiful cover and the tale does not disappoint either!\\n\\nReview: I laughed, I cried, I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt and I sighed many times...so this is how a romance reads?!\\n\\nSometimes I had to cry with sorrow - any parent, any family that loses a child, whether small or grown loses a part of their heart. Then to later learn...no, can't say...would reveal part of the tragedy...but learning that additional fact made it even that much more sorrowful. Wickham truly got what he deserved, even if some secrets are not revealed.\\n\\nAs in so many of the stories about ODC, Elizabeth and Darcy just can't seem to communicate; they have the biggest knack for misunderstanding, I believe, of any couple about whom I read. In this tale our dear Georgiana takes the lead in attempting to unravel the mess. And she has to make the effort more than once. There are surprises in other's relating what they perceive about just what a person feels.\\n\\nAnd then there is Anne. She certainly grew a backbone. Enjoyed reading how she manipulated her own household and that of the Hunsford Parsonage to help ODC achieve their HEA without any interference. She made sure she had it all covered and was rewarded in unexpected ways.\\n\\nThis book has more than one surprise - endearing and totally catching one off guard near the end. As others have said it was so sweet to read of the determination on Mr. Bennet's part to revamp his relationship with his wife and then to read of her change in character. Will wonders never cease?\\n\\nThe Epilogue was everything you could wish, bringing together loose ends and unwed dear ones as well as letting us know about the Darcy succession. I even liked that Col. Fitzwilliam's army pals came into play at the end.\\n\\nI could not put this down and finished it in half a day. I am sure I will re-read it as I was rushing to get to the \\\"good\\\" parts this first time through. Loved, loved, loved how Darcy was taking off his cravat and coat as he was entering his study - oh, to imagine that thin material left covering his chest (This is almost as good as the wet shirt in the 1995 movie.) and his uncovered neckline. \\\"The library/his study\\\" a memory for years to come.\",\n \"Product: A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 6 novels and 9 novellas, 14 of which are story variations of Jane Austens Pride & Prejudice. Her books have won reader conference awards and hit the Historical Bestseller lists on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBooks stores multiple times. A lover of all things geeky, Elizabeth codes websites, dabbles in graphic design, and is always looking for new technology to learn and master. A Navy wife and mother of two, her family has lived all over the United States, currently residing in upstate New York. Originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, you can keep up with Elizabeth on Twitter @Eawwrites and on her website, http://elizabethannwest.com where she posts new fiction as she writes it! On Fanfiction.net her stories can be found under user: elizabethann.west.7\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Amnesia: is it due to an injury or to the imbibing of that drink?\\n\\nReview: 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars\\n\\nWritten in three volumes this story is reminiscent of \\\"Groundhog Day\\\" in that Elizabeth finds herself waking up over and over again in similar circumstances to previous days. And as in \\\"50 First Dates\\\" she even writes herself a letter so she can move forward.\\n\\nElizabeth is at Longbourn as the story begins. The Gardiners are there as they are about to set out on their summer trip to visit The Peaks together. However, the Bennets receive the news that Lydia has eloped from Brighton with Wickham. The family decides that Mr. Gardiner, Jane and Mr. Bennet will go to search in London, doubting Wickham's intentions to truly marry over the anvil with Lydia. But to cover all the bases Mrs. Gardiner, her children and Elizabeth will travel to Gretna Green and ask at each inn along the way in a attempt to discover if they truly did intend to act as reported.\\n\\nMr. Bennet in this variation is the worst of indolent hide-your-head-in-the-sand fathers. He refuses to spend one minute searching London and sits in Gardiner's study with a bottle and a book. Jane is told she cannot go out and search for Lydia due to the reputation of the areas in which Lydia might be hidden. Jane makes her own plans.\\n\\nMeanwhile upon reaching Gretna Green and finding no trace of Lydia and/or Wickham Mrs. Gardiner determines that they will return to London and search no further. Elizabeth makes her own plans.\\n\\nSo it is that Elizabeth goes off (Father has given her some money.) to search further along the Scottish border. However, just before she and the servant she persuaded to travel with her, the post carriage in which they are traveling is in an accident. Elizabeth suffers a head injury but is unaware of it until later. She and Peter drag themselves and her luggage to the Grey Sheep Inn at Canonbie and find no rooms available but also find, of all things, Mr. Darcy. He offers to take her to his estate at Broadmeadow, only 15 miles distant. She reluctantly agrees as she really has no other choice.\\n\\nWhile talking at the inn Darcy has ordered food and whiskey. Elizabeth imbibes and finds it helps to soothe her spirits. Thus it is that Elizabeth finds herself the next morning awakening...in bed...with a naked man and no memory of how she got there...but with a ring on her finger.\\n\\nThis story has lots of adventure for Elizabeth, for Darcy and for those in London as well. There are trips back and forth from Canonbie to Broadmeadow and finally to London. The Colonel is recruited but he also has had to bargain for time off from his duties by promising to accept a post in Spain but Darcy is his best friend and like a brother so he feels compelled to help. He finds Jane Bennet to be not only very lovely but willing to join him in his part of the search in London.\\n\\nThis was an enthralling tale and there are many facets you will find enjoyable which I could not share here. I have wanted to read this book for awhile and the title in itself draws one in and then as this book went on sale recently my wish was more easily granted.\",\n \"Product: Nicole Clarkston is a book lover and a happily married mom of three. Originally from Idaho, she now lives in Oregon with her own romantic hero, several horses, and one very fat dog. She has loved crafting alternate stories and sequels since she was a child watching Disneys Robin Hood, and is never found sitting quietly without a book of some sort. Nicole discovered Jane Austen rather by guilt in her early thirties- how does any book worm really live that long without a little P&P? She has never looked back. A year or so later, during a major house renovation project she discovered Elizabeth Gaskell and fell completely in love. Her need for more time with these characters led her to simultaneously write Rumours and Recklessness, a P&P inspired novel, and No Such Thing as Luck a N&S inspired novel which immediately became best selling books. The success she had with her first attempt at writing led her to write 3 other novels that are her pitiful homage to two authors who have so deeply inspired her. Nicole was recently invited to join Austenvariations.com, a group of talented authors in the Jane Austen Fiction genre. In addition to her work with the Austen Variations blog, Nicole can be reached through Facebook at http://fb.me/NicoleClarkstonAuthor, Twitter @N_Clarkston, her blog at Goodreads.com, or her personal blog and website, NicoleClarkston.com\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Do you believe...can ones who love deeply communicate over the miles?\\n\\nReview: Excellent book!\\n\\nSo many friends warned me and/or I read in the other readers' reviews that this story was full of angst. Yes, there is angst, but I do love angst and when I finally did pick it up, having found a day not full of appointments or activities, I found the angst bearable. I read this over two days. What I kept in mind (and remember I am a reader of approximately 1000 JAFF books - not all are reviewed as I read them long before I was posting reviews.) is that in this genre we lovers of P&P know that a HEA is a guarantee. I was trying to imagine how this couple would react when they finally do see each other again. Huge Sigh when I did come to that part.\\n\\nAs another readers mentioned Jane Eyre also has a connection over miles between the two would-be lovers. And so it is that we read of both Darcy and Elizabeth living for those dream connections.\\nI was brought to tears more than once in reading of both their thoughts.\\n\\nElizabeth and the rest of Darcy's family, friends and acquaintances have been told he is dead. We do learn that the Colonel is the only one who finally doubts this but, as he has no evidence as to why someone wants the world to believe him dead or where they might have taken him, keeps that opinion/knowledge to himself.\\n\\nThe Fitzwilliam family acts unfeelingly and even greedily towards Georgiana, who is now worth so much more that her 30,000 dowry. I hated Lady Catherine who pushed in and intimidates Georgiana and begins to redecorate Pemberley as if she is now the mistress. Thank goodness someone locked off Darcy's study.\\n\\nThen there are those women from the edges of other stories and canon: Mrs. Younge and Mrs. Annesley. My brain immediately clicked into gear and I was looking for clues as to what role they were playing.\\n\\nWe meet some new characters; ones whose sadism and manipulations will horrify you. Amlie is part of their world but you will come to love her and want a savior for her.\\n\\nThis story actually has three \\\"couples\\\" whose relationships are rough and whose futures are not promised to be \\\"a walk in a rose garden\\\". It is interesting how the author, with twists and hidden connections and/or past history, gives them happy or satisfactory futures. (I reserve my opinion on Lydia.) Lydia is like a bad penny who just keeps turning up but she is written to have more insight into what Wickham actually did do to her. And we read of her on the edge of thse love/hate emotions that we know are so closely bound together.\\n\\nThis is a story I would recommend to all JAFF readers. It is long but so well developed. Good work, Nicole.\",\n \"Product: Jeanna Ellsworth Lake entered a new era in her life in December 2015. Through all her single years, she kept searching for a Mr. Darcy, but didnt realize that what she needed was a Colonel Fitzwilliam! And she found him: a second son with a passionate heart, who never fails to make her laugh. She is so proud of her three daughters, who have supported her through her writing, and have always been her inspiration. She also proudly states she is the eighth of thirteen children. When she isnt writing, blogging, gardening, cooking, or raising chickens, she is thoroughly ignoring her house for a few hours at a time in order to read yet another romance novel, and does not feel the least bit guilty in doing so. She absolutely loves her chance to influence lives as a Registered Nurse in a Neurological ICU. She finds great joy in her many roles she juggles, but writing especially has been her therapy. She claims she has never been happier. Jeanna fell in love again with Jane Austen when she was introduced to the incredible world of Jane Austen-inspired fiction. She can never adequately thank the fellow authors who mentored her and encouraged her to write her first novel. She is a member of Austen Authors and regularly blogs at www.austenauthors.net. She loves hearing from her readers and cherishes the chance to interact with them. For more information on her books and writing, please visit her website: www.HeyLadyPublications.com.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A change of heart when \\\"the light\\\" reveals purposes\\n\\nReview: 3.5 stars\\n\\nI realize I am going against the flow here but reviews are a matter of opinion. This one was just not hitting the mark with me. It is the first of three as the title tells us.\\n\\nWhile there is no doubt of the author's, Jeanna's, faith, which is evident in her other books also, I found in this book it came across as preaching. For instance: there is a long sermon just before the middle. Then there is much to do about a near-death experience and \\\"walking to or towards the sun or the son (the light in real life versions). Near death experiences do interest me and I have bought and read several true stories in novel form so I am not calling this unrealistic. I just was uncomfortable with it as written in this book.\\n\\nYes, Elizabeth has turned Mr. Darcy down and then is given his letter to read but sickens before even returning to the Hunsford parsonage as she walked and read that epistle.\\n\\nIn addition our heroine's reactions to the letter from Mr. Darcy and her sudden reversal of opinion due to a combination of the near death event she was undergoing and of the \\\"voice\\\" of Mr. Darcy calling her back and giving her an admonishment about unfinished business just didn't sit right in my mind. Im sorry; I am sure this was a touching passage for many but I have to report on how my feelings responded to the writings. It didn't pull me init didn't enthrall me. I had to put this book down and delayed getting back into reading it as it just wasn't keeping my interest.\\n\\nWhen ODC finally reaches the point when they have reconciled their differences there is much billing and cooing. For me it was redundant. I thought it was more of the same, too much I love you, You are my life My life is nothing without you over and over again.\\n\\nI truly am not against Christian values being written into stories but this version didn't appeal to me and I am sorry to say that but I must be honest.\\n\\nWe have here a story to be continued and it was NOT a stand-alone novel; there is a mystery to be solved, a friend in need and a wedding to yet come.\",\n \"Product: Leenie Brown has always been a girl with an active imagination, which, while growing up, was a both an asset, providing many hours of fun as she played out stories, and a liability, when her older sister and aunt would tell her frightening tales. At one time, they had her convinced Dracula lived in the trunk at the end of the bed she slept in when visiting her grandparents! Although it has been years since she cowered in her bed in her grandparents' basement, she still has an imagination that occasionally runs away with her, and she feeds it now as she did then -- by reading! Her heroes, when growing up, were authors, and the worlds they painted with words were (and still are) her favourite playgrounds! She was that child, under the covers with the flashlight, reading until the wee hours of the morning...and pretending not to be tired the next day so her mother wouldn't find out. Today, she fits, or is that squeezes, reading in around caring for her family of two fabulous (most of the time) teenage boys and one sweet and thoughtful husband while working full time as a junior-high teacher. In addition to feeding her imagination, she also exercises it -- by writing. While writing has been an activity she has dabbled in over the years, it blossomed into a full-fledged obsession when she stumbled upon the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction. As the second born of five sisters, just like Elizabeth Bennet, her imagination was soon captured. And now, she spends much time in the regency world playing with the characters from her favourite Jane Austen novels and a few that are of her own creation. When she is not traipsing down a trail in an attempt to keep up with her imagination, she resides in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia. Her other published work is Oxford Cottage: A Pride and Prejudice Variation.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Sweet dreams are made of this, who am I to disagree?\\\"\\n\\nReview: 3.5 stars\\n\\nThe language in this story is modern and I must say the characters and the repartee seemed much like a gathering at a fraternity party at times. Everyone was very open about their feelings and about their observations and then their plans. I found little angst, of which I like a lot. So, if you like a perfectly sweet and straight forward romance with few misunderstanding and little, if any, pitfalls on the way to HEA, then this is the story for you.\\n\\nAs we read in the book description or in the sample, Elizabeth and Jane are sent to London, by their father, after Elizabeth turns down Mr. Collins proposal and Mrs. Bennet cannot stop haranguing Elizabeth about her ungratefulness, etc. Charlotte and her sister, Mariah, soon follow as Lady Lucas is aware of that event and wants to protect Charlotte from those same advances. As another review stated, there are just too many chance connections and coincidences in this story. Darcy and Lord Matlock have business arrangements with Mr. Gardiner. The Gardiners are aware of Wickham's propensities due to a family circumstance. Elizabeth has \\\"martial arts\\\" skills and Jane stands as her \\\"second\\\". These are not characters from canon.\\n\\nWhat I did like about this tale is the relationships described between Elizabeth and the four Gardiner children, especially Master Andrew and then Darcy very comfortably also entering into playful and teasing relationship with those same children. Loved standing under the gauge at the end of a court. Those moments of interaction were precious.\\n\\nNowwho are you and what have you done with our Mary? Mary and Anne was completely different people in this storynot that I didn't like them, but they certainly acted out of turn. Good for them! One found her voice and the other her backboneor maybe each found both.\\n\\nEveryone liked everyone else it seemed except for Wickedman and Miss Bingley. But what else did you expect. I did like with Lady Matlock first met Elizabeth and was checking off the good qualities she observed against an internal list. Even standing up to the ladies in the ton met with approval as Lady Matlock observed Elizabeth handled Carolines barbs.\\n\\nEveryone seems to find their mate if not their soul mate.\\n\\nLet's play \\\"Match the correct partners\\\":\\n Jane................ Col. Fitzwilliam\\n Elizabeth.......... Mr. Collins\\n Mary................ Mr. Darcy\\n Anne................ Mr. Bingley\\n Charlotte.......... Thaddeus Fitzwilliam, Viscount Bladen\",\n \"Product: The author of numerous best-selling Pride and Prejudice variations, historical romance writer Victoria Kincaid has a Ph.D. in English literature and runs a small business, er, household with two children, a hyperactive dog, an overly affectionate cat, and a husband who is not threatened by Mr. Darcy. They live near Washington DC, where the inhabitants occasionally stop talking about politics long enough to complain about the traffic. On weekdays she is a freelance writer/editor who specializes in IT marketing (its more interesting than it sounds) and teaches business writing. A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: We have a situation in the oval office.\\n\\nReview: 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.\\n\\nAs I was reading this story I kept thinking about gossip concerning presidents and other politicians...even today's men and women, and how their lives are on display but then also how gossip can be used to paint those as immoral, corrupt, etc. individuals even if untrue and so many believe what they hear and/or read.\\n\\nWe do have this modern variation beginning as did canon. Elizabeth, attending a social event, with her nouveau riche family, gets caught where she should not be and when she can't seem to get her foot out of her mouth is thought to be a stupid and not so pretty and thus an ignorable young lady by the president of the USA. But when he expresses his opinion within her hearing and God-awful Lydia uses social media to relate his words to all who subscribe to that channel of communication the stage is set to make any apologies or second chances to change his opinion almost impossible.\\n\\nWhat I did like about this is how Elizabeth is involved with bettering the world by her work with the Red Cross and how the president is forced to learn just how wrong he is about not only her intelligence and her motivations but also her beauty as sexual chemistry is thrown into their relationship.\\n\\nBut several things work against them. He has sworn not to date while in the presidency and with all the rumors is now forced to step back. Any overtures at this point would seem politically motivated. Plus Lydia has gone on to paint an even wider gap between her sister and the president. (Guess who is helping her?) Elizabeth decides to bow out of the picture.\\n\\nI loved the solution the author came up with. I had an inkling that this was the only possibility but it was so well staged - much better than I had painted in my brain.\\n\\nWell done - and don't you love the cover -drool!\",\n \"Product: Mr. Darcy's Angel of Mercy - A Novella: Two years after the conclusion of The Great War, those affected by the conflagration are still trying to put their lives back together, including Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. While Darcy grapples with horrific memories from the war, Elizabeth, who had served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment, suppresses most recollections of her service in France. But Darcy suspects that there is one memory that the two share: a beautiful night in a hospital ward in France when Darcy was visited by an angel of mercy, an angel who might just possibly be Elizabeth Bennet.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Sweet story, another romance but from WWI times\\n\\nReview: I read this book twice. And it is a lovely story. However, in my opinion, it has little to do with P&P except in that it uses the names and places JA used in her writing. This novella is a very quick read placed first in France during WWI and then back on English soil, mostly at Netherfield and briefly at Pemberley. Elizabeth, working as an aide in a hospital on the battlefields is called to the side of one of the Lucas brothers from her home town. She is there as he dies and then wants nothing more than to walk straight home. She is suffering from the trauma of seeing too much suffering and dying. However in hearing a soldier call out for water her nurse's aide training kicks in and she takes water to a man partitioned off due the his contagious flu. In comforting him and in seeking comfort for what she has just seen they hold on to each other and end up sleeping together on his cot for a time through the night. She awakens, horrified that she is on his cot, leaves and soon is in the throes of flu and sent back to England. He, awakens, finds her gone but his desire to find his angel gives him a reason to go on. Back in England after the war they meet again at a dance in Meryton where his friend, Bingley, has just purchased an estate. Neither recognizes the other and the story is then devoted to the development of that relationship and lost memory. PSTD is touched on. Bingley and Jane - well, you know their story.\\n\\nI found this to be a page turner and will look for other books by this author.\",\n \"Product: Melanie Kerr studied linguistics, English and theatre at the University of British Columbia and law at the University of Alberta. She lives in Edmonton, where she raises her three young children, sews her own Regency costumes, runs a Regency costume events company, blogs on all things old and English, endeavours to take over the world and occasionally practices law. Follies Past is her first novel.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: So before Hereforeshire there was London and Ramsgate\\n\\nReview: 4.5 stars *spoiler alert*\\n\\nThis story began slowly for me, probably due to the fact that it dealt with Caroline Bingley's scheming and then musing about marrying Darcy. Then after a month at Pemberley, the party is back in London. So while waiting for his proposal Caroline meets and falls for (of all people) Wickham. The outcome of that, while interesting, was never in doubt. There were other stages begin set, with Georgiana being brought to London to gradually acquaint herself with society and her best friend, Clare, from school accompanying her. Background is given on the friend and she is of no more consequence in society than is Elizabeth Bennet. But her parents are much more practical, even stoic, in their outlook on rearing their offspring than the Bennets. Clare is clear on proprieties and expectations, even when her future happiness is threatened. And no truer friend could Georgiana have in this tale.\\n\\nSo after Caroline gives Wickham a huge set down, his old friend, Mrs. Younge shows up and leads him in the plot that takes us to Ramsgate. Before that event, however, we interconnect with other characters. Darcy goes off to look at properties with Bingley, Col. Fitzwilliam is nowhere around. Lord Ashwell, a friend, Lady Sofia, Georgiana and Clare make up most of the story line here, with Mrs. Younge and Wickham showing up after the coast is clear of Darcy.\\n\\nLord Ashwell is in very poor health, basically a recluse and surrounded by rumors, which Darcy warns Georgiana to ignore without telling her why. Upon meeting Clare Ashwell feels an attraction: she knows they are of difference classes and then she is warned of the rumors by a cousin who is to inherit her family's estates. Practical Clare must treat the cousin with all courtesy as her family needs his regard in that they have nowhere else to live but in the estate he is to inherit. Clare's mother tells her to basically accept him if he proposes and it seems like that is exactly what we are to expect.\\n\\nMeanwhile, Wickham is clandestinely meeting Georgiana as arranged by Mrs. Younge. When Ramsgate is planned Clare thinks that they are finally separated but learns upon trying to track Wickham down and confront him about Georiana, that he, too is in Ramsgate. A chase, with dramatic results ensues.\\n\\nThis tale had very little of Darcy, almost none of Bingley and less of Col. Fitzwilliam. Anne de Bourgh is a delight here but continues to have her moments of silence and mystery. I liked her in this story. This story is definitely centered on Wickham, Georgiana, Lord Ashwell and Clare with a minor role for Caroline.\\n\\nI found this to be a very realistic prequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and recommend it to all JAFF readers.\",\n \"Product: Barbara Silkstone is the author of over thirty-six novels and novellas. She has currently written sixteen Pride & Prejudice variations both Regency and Contemporaryalways with a light comic touch. Look for Darcy and Elizabeth Serendipity and Darcy and Elizabeth Wills First Christmas. Enjoy her Mister Darcy series comedic mysteries\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Emma just can't keep from meddling when she thinks her forte is matchmaking\\n\\nReview: I have liked other stories by this author better. For some reason the language did not fall upon my ears in a gracious manner at all. And the telling seemed rather trite.\\n\\nA mash-up of Emma and of Pride & Prejudice this story has Emma as a cousin to the Bingleys and going to visit them, along with Mr. Knightly, now that Charles has leased Netherfield. While there Emma decides to set a record for match-making by matching Jane & Charles, Lizzy & Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins & Mary. But as time goes on she also decides it would be rather easy to take credit for Caroline and Mr. Wickham. Plus Charlotte Lucas needs a man in her life.\\n\\nThings do not go smoothly as the participants in this game are not cooperating; they are not following her advice and there seem to be other Yentas who are offering their differing advice.\\n\\nCan she have any success in the two weeks allowed for this venture out of Highbury?\\n\\nThere is little angst and few surprises in this story but it is short (about 77 pages) and a fair way to pass time.\",\n \"Product: Syrie James is the bestselling author of eight critically acclaimed novels, including The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte, Nocturne, Dracula My Love, Forbidden, and The Harrison Duet: Songbird and Propositions. Her books have been translated into eighteen foreign languages.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A Sweet Duet: story one\\n\\nReview: I don't read many modern romances, usually sticking to Jane Austen Fan Fiction or historical romances, but I read both Songbird and Propositions as a whole in The Harrison Duet and they were both delightful. Amazon has reviews of the stories from the previous publications which one can read. The stories involve modern women, with previous relationships, which have gone bad, and now, a new chance at romance but with obstacles, of course. The author makes a point of saying that in her experience it is possible to fall in love \\\"at first sight\\\" and she cites several examples, including her own. I do not have that experience but found the handling of this event in her books well done. Both stories are not without angst. And there are sex scenes but they are not offensive, in my opinion. It only took me a little over one day to read both as they kept me turning pages.\\n\\nIn the first story we have a deejay, Desiree, who offers a negative opinion of a product over the airwaves only to have the company owner, Kyle Harrison, phone in during a trivia contest and \\\"call\\\" her on the pan of his product. He then wins the trivia contest and when he shows up to collect, is allowed (against rules) to go back to her broadcasting booth where he subsequently asks her out. He lives in Seattle and she lives in Anaheim and her first marriage failed basically because the deejay business kept her from staying in her husband's town, and having to commute long distance on weekends didn't work for the relationship. So can they work out another (for her) long-distance relationship when she is set against such because of her first experience?\\n\\nEnjoyable\",\n \"Product: Syrie James is the bestselling author of eight critically acclaimed novels, including The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte, Nocturne, Dracula My Love, Forbidden, and The Harrison Duet: Songbird and Propositions. Her books have been translated into eighteen foreign languages.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Can one live with this Proposition?\\n\\nReview: I don't read many modern romances, usually sticking to Jane Austen Fan Fiction or historical romances, but Songbird and Propositions in The Harrison Duet were both delightful. Amazon has reviews of the stories from the previous publications which one can read. The stories involve modern women, with previous relationships, which have gone bad, and now, a new chance at romance but with obstacles, of course. The author makes a point of saying that in her experience it is possible to fall in love \\\"at first sight\\\" and she cites several examples, including her own. I do not have that experience but found the handling of this event in her books well done. Both stories are not without angst. And there are sex scenes but they are not offensive, in my opinion. It only took me a little over one day to read both as they kept me turning pages.\\n\\nIn the second story our heroine, Kelli Harrison, (sister to the male protagonist in the first story) is in advertising. In an elevator, going to a meeting with a possible new account for a prospective new firm located in Lake Tahoe, she meets a man, Grant Pembroke. He persuades her to get him into the party she is going to because his \\\"host\\\" forgot to put his name on the list at the door. THEN while at the party she finds out he is after the same account for which she was to be interviewing. But she also overhears the owner of the business she was considering going to work for spreading malicious gossip about Grant's firm. So she takes the initiative and, without even an \\\"if I may\\\" steps in to contradict the rumors. Grant and Kelli strike sparks off each other but as two very creative and very independent advertising professionals can they reach any type of \\\"compromise\\\" when each is used to being in control in their own advertising worlds? As an aside Kelli is also trying to handle the final contracting on her brother's new vacation house near Lake Tahoe. And Grant's firm is located in San Francisco, while she works out of Seattle, usually. So imagine the pressures that, not only all these various working demands with deadlines but also of intense physical attraction, place on the couple. Kelli has recently ended employment with a firm which did not give recognition to her talents and had a romance end because her boyfriend had a controlling personality which did not sit well with Kelli.\\n\\nGood reading.\",\n \"Product: Marilyn Brant is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary fiction, and she was named the 2013 Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She wrote ACCORDING TO JANE, the story of a modern woman who receives dating advice from the spirit of Jane Austen (October 2009); FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE, a tale about three suburban moms, their marriages and what happens a decade or two after the \\\"Happily Ever After\\\" (a Doubleday Book Club and Book-of-the-Month Club pick in 2010); and A SUMMER IN EUROPE, a novel about a woman's journey of self discovery as she travels through Europe with her adventurous aunt's Sudoku & Mahjongg Club (a Literary Guild and BOMC2 featured alternate in 2011, and a Rhapsody Book Club Top 20 Bestseller in \\\"Fiction & Literature\\\" in 2012), all women's fiction releases from Kensington Books. She's also a #1 Kindle & #1 Nook Bestseller and has written a series of fun and flirty contemporary romantic comedies, available as original ebooks. ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE and PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH were Top 100 Bestsellers on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon. THE ROAD TO YOU, a coming-of-age romantic mystery (October 2013), was a Top 100 B&N Bestseller. PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT BET (July 2014) is her latest romance, and many of her novels will soon be available as audiobooks from Post Hypnotic Press. Look for them in late 2014 and beyond. As a former teacher, library staff member, freelance magazine writer and national book reviewer for Romantic Times, Marilyn has spent much of her life lost in literature. She received her M.A. in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago, dabbled in both fiction and art at Northwestern University, studied the works of Austen at Oxford University and is a Lifetime Member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Her debut novel won RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Award in 2007 and a number of awards since -- including the Single Titles Reviewers' Choice, the Booksellers' Best and the Aspen Gold. Marilyn lives in the northern Chicago suburbs with her family. When she isn't rereading Jane's books or enjoying the latest releases by her writer friends, she's working on her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry. Visit her website: www.marilynbrant.com\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 4.5 stars: mysteries galore along Route 66 from age 18 to age 60\\n\\nReview: Well, here I am barely able to see through my tears! I had read the shorter book, The Road to You last year and then won a copy of this expanded version in a raffle on a blog.\\n\\nThere are two missing persons' mysteries going on in this story, told from a mother's viewpoint looking back some 30 years and also relating her present day trauma. AND I was also asking myself, \\\"Who is her husband? Did she ever marry Donovan?\\\" We are not really told that until the end, as the author continues to refer to \\\"her husband\\\" in talking about the second/later mystery.\\n\\nThe tale is full of angst and one must really concentrate to keep all the clues, the names, the aliases, etc. straight. There are lies to Aurora's parents, excuses made at work to get time off and a journal whose words, dates, and symbols only a code breaker could unravel. And, like the protagonists, you just can't trust anyone. Witness faces that seem to look familiar and voices that have accents but what are we hearing under that \\\"false\\\" accent? And then there is the lingering angst of a first crush, not forgotten, and the sexual chemistry going on between Aurora and Donovan (or is it just on her side?) while they spend days and nights in each other's company, trusting no one and having only each other with whom to share \\\"everything\\\".\\n\\nThe \\\"mob\\\", motorcyclists tailing them, arson, murders, explosives, no bodies or unidentified bodies, spliced together movies, suppressed news of interest and post cards from along Route 66...all making for a page turning story to draw you in.\\n\\nDoes Gideon, one of the missing, ever come home? - The answer to that is what made me sob. But I am a mother and the position is a unique one and some children just don't realize that the strings are never really cut.\\n\\nI could not remember enough of this story to make this easy reading. So it was as if I had a new book in my hands and I clearly enjoyed it.\\n\\nThere is a Q&A at the end as well as a list of the songs loved or hated by our protagonists. You younger readers may have to download some of the best music ever to get feel for the times.\",\n \"Product: Marilyn Brant is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary womens fiction, romantic comedy & mystery. She was named the Author of the Year (2013) by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She loves all things Jane Austen, has a passion for Sherlock Holmes, is a travel addict and a music junkie, and lives on chocolate and gelato. Visit her website: www.marilynbrant.com\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: They say all of life is a stage....\\n\\nReview: Oh, this is one that definitely not only pulled me into its pages and kept my nose there but also pulled at my heart strings and had me blurry eyed more than once in the reading thereof.\\n\\nThe book description does tell you that this story is about a widow of about 7 months who has a 10 year old daughter: both are having a difficult time overcoming their grief. I am sure most of us are aware of the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. But in this story Julia Meriwether Crane can't allow herself to take her time getting through these stages. Her daughter, Analise, is sinking further and further into depression and although her mom has sought professional help it is her girlfriend, Shar, who gives her the best advice. It is advice which Julia acts upon even though it creates another empty space in her life for the month Analise is away at camp.\\n\\nAnd Shar also does a very convincing job of getting her out of the house, to socialize with a group of individuals who are singles through divorce or death. That one event has the curiously ironic effect of reintroducing into her life three men from her past. One is so far out there that as a reader I was sure he was only incidentally part of the circle. Her old crush from HS shows up at the restaurant where the group is meeting and as they re-connect says he was a fool to drop her as he went off to college. Then one of the other group members turns out to be a graduate of the same university and gets Julia to RSVP to go to their reunion there together...the reunion of which her old college flame is in charge. Finally the group decides to go to the dress rehearsal of a play in which the Hollywood star of whose fan club she was a member as a teen is starring.\\n\\nThis author did a magnificent job of revealing the characters of these three men through the eyes of Julia. We watch as she observes and learns that past opinions did or did not have validity in how that relationship played out. I particularly found very gripping how the author had Julia peeling away the layers of each character to determine who was playing at the role that was on stage in public and who had laid it all on the table.\\n\\nShe didn't really have a \\\"relationship\\\" with the actor-man but BOY does she get to have a slap-in-the-face of just what he is all about upon their first up close and personal contact.\\n\\nWe eventually learn about the past history of each man (histories of which she has been unaware) and how it made them into what they are today. This is a modern story in that the media plays a large role in revealing who each person may be: newspapers, gossip columns, Google, white pages, etc. are used to mold events and precepts.\\nTrust, fear, other emotions and the need to protect her young daughter play a role here and Shar is a huge help in gathering her most trusted friends to have a support group help Julia sort out some of the events and feelings in the drama that plays out.\\n\\nOnce again we are left with a couple who have sorted it out and found love but we don't get full closure, just as the first in this series left us with some questions about that couples future. For me this is not a stand alone. I am trusting that the author will wrap all the stories in this series more tightly together at some end point. But meanwhile she has pulled me in to want to go on to Blakes story.\\n\\nI highly recommend this story.\",\n \"Product: Sarah Johnson is a freelance writer and longtime lover of the written word. Her love of the classics began early, with Jane Austen becoming a clear favorite by her early teen years. When the world of fan fiction was introduced to her, she was happy to find so many wonderful stories based on the dearly loved characters. It was a few years before a new writers challenge, posted at one of the Jane Austen Fan Fiction forums, drew her to put pen to paper and begin creating the stories that have always unfolded in her mind. What began as a picture has become a muse that will not stop forming ideas for more stories. After fifteen years of military life, she and her husband, along with their six children, have now settled in Texas, where she continues to write of an era gone by and of characters that will forever live in the hearts of Jane Austens admirers.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Can you imagine forced confinement with Lydia? For two nights?\\n\\nReview: 4.5 stars\\n\\nI was looking for something short to read and having bought 4 of this author's book on sale just yesterday, decided to choose one of hers. Kissing games - now are we going to step outside the boundaries of propriety? I was curious to read if this was stretched beyond acceptable variations for me (and others) in the JAFF community.\\n\\nI have to say that this author did an exemplary job here and created a wonderfully sweet rendition. If you are a stickler about adhering to canon then this is not your cup of tea. As Sophia said in her review the setting here is placed in time before revelations from Wickham or even his appearance occur and the Netherfield party has not left for London. Instead the author has Elizabeth determined to accompany Jane to the neighboring estate when Caroline and Louisa invite Jane. Lydia, in this tale being the sneakiest of busy bodies, decides to follow them, hoping to hear or learn of some juicy development. But a mile before the ladies arrive at their destination Mother Nature prevents any further progress with heavy snowfall and a weakening Jane.\\n\\nThe events with the ladies snowed in an abandoned renter's cottage and with the two gentlemen finally locating them the next day help to forward the understanding between certain players. Not to worry, games played are innocent enough but just perfect to uncover some truths about behaviors, feelings and even truths about arrivals in Meryton. This was played out so inventively, so creatively - well done.\\n\\nAnd as the couples finally are able to leave the cottage after being stormed in for two nights they return to Netherfield and we get some further developments which lead to our happy ending.\\n\\nThis is only 76 pages in the paperback version but I did not feel that it was rushed nor that it did not reach completion satisfactorily. I enjoyed it thoroughly.\",\n \"Product: A devoted reader of Jane Austen since her childhood, Alexa Adams is the author of Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice (First Impressions, Second Glances, and Holidays at Pemberley), Emma & Elton: Something Truly Horrid, Jane & Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling, and the short story collection And Who Can be in Doubt of What Followed?: The Novels of Jane Austen Continued. Alexa resides in Delaware with her husband, daughter, and cat. She blogs about Austen and Austenesque literature at alexaadams.blogspot.com.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: From the depths of despair all hope is gone and a man turns in on himself!\\n\\nReview: This book was one which grabbed me on the first page. I didn't want to put it down. Parts of this story are indeed dark. I did appreciate all the research the author did: parts of which are included in the storyline while others are explained with footnotes. This would have been a 5 star rating except for one fact.\\n\\nA significant part of the story tells about the mental health system and some changes of the time while some pages are dedicated to giving us the backgrounds of the \\\"guests\\\" who will live with Darcy at Ramsey House...yes, Darcy signs himself in. (We have John Knightley from Emma, Mrs. Clay/Mrs. Elliot from Persuasion and Maria Rushworth from Mansfield with their own stories.)\\n\\nTragically, as we learn very early in this story, after learning from Elizabeth in Lambton about the elopement, Darcy finds Wickham but is told that he sold Lydia...into prostitution. Darcy is unable to track her down and the Bennet family is in disgrace. Darcy has Georgiana to present and he puts all his attention on that. 20 years have passed since Darcy and Elizabeth met in Lambton.\\n\\nBut as we read about the intervening time that has passed fate is not done with Darcy and here, I am not going to related the next dire event. BUT Darcy becomes rather quickly a recluse, and is unable to sleep as he is tormented with dreams of his ancestors setting upon him for his handling of the family honor and estate. He turns to alcohol and walks the estate during the nighttime hours. He doesn't eat much and THEN in a moment of madness triggered by a name which has followed him and cursed those he loves Darcy commits a heinous act!\\n\\nHis two cousins, who are now married, finally convince him to use the services of a man, an earl, who is attempting revolutionary ways to treat those insane who are not completely delusional and distraught...wild madmen or women. Darcy meets the man, interviews him and questions the regime. He is shaken when he learns that the matron in charge of activities with some of the \\\"guests\\\" is a Mrs. Bennet.\\n\\nThis author presents a premise that I have not read in any other JAFF book and she does an excellent job. I had tears in more than one place. Letters are read and just about break your heart...but they are messages of hope to a hopeless man!\\n\\nI highly recommend this book.\\n\\n2/21/17: In my initial review I subtracted a 1/2 star b/c: SPOILER: I wanted Elizabeth and Darcy to have one of those late in life babies so that a Darcy could inherit Pemberley. Lord and Lady Matlock's son didn't need it. End of SPOILER\\n\\nThen Claudine located and sent to me this: Mr. Darcy's Christmas Present- The Madness of Mr. Darcy Continues and I was completely happy. So the rating is now a full 5 stars.\",\n \"Product: Zoe Burton first fell in love with Jane Austens books in 2010, after seeing the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice on television. While making her pur-chases of Miss Austens novels, she dis-covered Jane Austen Fan Fiction; soon after that she found websites full of JAFF. Her life has never been the same. She began writing her own stories when she ran out of new ones to read. Zoe lives in a 107-year-old house in the snow-belt of Ohio with her two Boxers. She is a former Special Educa-tion Teacher, and has a passion for ro-mance in general, Pride and Prejudice in particular, and NASCAR. Zoe is a PAN member of the Ro-mance Writers of America, the Northeast Ohio chapter of the RWA, and the Beau Monde chapter of the RWA. She is also a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, and JASNAs Ohio North Coast chapter.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Short and sweet but Mrs. Bennet begs to differ\\n\\nReview: The author's story description is very complete. ODC meets in London, where Jane and Elizabeth have gone to have a season. Darcy has been looking for a woman who fits his needs as a wife and Elizabeth beguiles him. Their romance is not a long one.\\n\\nThe bit of angst in this story occurs when Darcy and Bingley travel to Longbourn, as do the two sisters. Bingley is investigating the possibility of leasing Netherfield. Mrs. Bennet completely ignores Elizabeth in front of the two gentlemen and her family. This mother does not deserve that title. And it actually makes no sense as to her reasoning. The next Meryton Assembly brought some satisfaction to the situation, IMHO.\\n\\nThis is the first in a series. It was short and sweet.\",\n \"Product: Jack Caldwell is an author, amateur historian, professional economic developer, playwright, and like many Cajuns, a darn good cook. Born and raised in the Bayou County of Louisiana, Jack and his wife, Barbara, are Hurricane Katrina victims who now make the Suncoast of Florida their home. Jack is the author of four Jane Austen-themed books. PEMBERLEY RANCH is a retelling of Pride & Prejudice set in Reconstruction Texas. THE THREE COLONELS: JANE AUSTENS FIGHTING MEN is a sequel to Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility. MR. DARCY CAME TO DINNER and THE COMPANION OF HIS FUTURE LIFE are Pride & Prejudice-flavored farces. In 2015, he released a series of historical novels about New Orleans, titled THE CRESCENT CITY SERIES. THE PLAINS OF CHALMETTE begins the series, commemorating the Bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans. He marks the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with three modern novels: BOURBON STREET NIGHTS, ELYSIAN DREAMS, and RUIN AND RENEWAL. When not writing or traveling with Barbara, Jack attempts to play golf. A devout convert to Roman Catholicism, Jack is married with three grown sons. Jacks blog postings The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles appear regularly at Austen Variations. Web site: Rambling of a Cajun in Exile: https://cajuncheesehead.com Austen Variations - http://austenvariations.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Caldwell-author/132047236805555 Twitter: @JCaldwell25\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: And as we follow our friends some find love but a storm looms\\n\\nReview: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars\\n\\nThis story gives us the romantic pairings and various employment positions of the people we met in the first book. We do have our bad guy and the man who opened the door to the college ranks for him so that his drugs could be peddled there. As we read about the pairings we also read of how Elizabeth and William revisit and learn of all that was part of the history that separated them so bitterly five years ago. Mari has become a singer, Emma sees what has been in front of her eyes all along and Elizabeth and William find themselves working together as their two companies join forces.\\n\\nBut we also find the beginning of hurricane season affecting the story...slowly...surely and with lasting affects. It was so apropos for me to be reading this as Hurricane Harvey and then Irma were blasting the states that border the Caribbean.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":33,"string":"33"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":96,"string":"96"}}},{"rowIdx":97,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A2H587O1MJCEL9"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Paul Barach is a stand up comic, storyteller, producer, and writer from Seattle, Washington. After graduating from Carleton College, he backpacked across Europe, taught English in South Korea, ran the Seattle marathon, and bicycled across the United States. In his off-time, he is an avid cyclist, runner, and hiker. His proudest achievements so far are earning his black belt in Kyokushin karate and only falling into the La Brea Tar Pits once. You can follow him on Twitter @PaulBarach and find other videos and travel photos on his website www.PaulBarachComic.com Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains is his first book.\". The summary of the review text is \"Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"A reader who doesnt get a sense of where this travel memoir is headed from the description surely will if they pause to consider the two quotes that proceed the prologue.\n\nEvery day some new fact comes to lightsome new obstacle which threatens the gravest obstruction. I suppose this is the reason which makes the game so well worth playing. --- Robert Falcon Scott (Died exploring the South Pole)\n\nAdventure is the result of poor planning. --- Roald Amundsen (Did not die exploring the South Pole)\n\nBarach chronicles plenty of adventure in this story of his pilgrimage. I hesitate to call it a pilgrimage as the choice of hiking this trail seems to be driven by the authors obsession with Japanese culture more than any particular religious belief, but at its root, his goals for this trip were not all that different than a typical pilgrims might be. He describes this as enlightenment, which is going to be different for each individual, but will boil down to making some kind of major decision or coming to terms with some aspect of life. In Barachs case, figuring out his future direction, not wanting to become an office drone, but also not seeing an alternative.\n\nIm always drawn to travel books that involve a quest, some specific goal that might not mean anything to many people, but does to the author. This book fits, as would books from Amundsen or Scott (if hed only survived to write it), as I think there is something to be gleaned from the story of the attempt, successful or not. Im amused that at least part of Barachs goal in this trip was to escape the repetitiveness of an office job, only to replace it by a trip that in many ways was just as repetitive, although with much more of a struggle to adequately satisfy basic human needs like food, water, and sleep. Does the author find enlightenment or come to terms with his future? Ill leave it to you to decide. I will say that his journey was a positive step in lifes journey for me.\n\n**Originally written for \"Books and Pals\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **"},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"A reader who doesnt get a sense of where this travel memoir is headed from the description surely will if they pause to consider the two quotes that proceed the prologue.\n\nEvery day some new fact comes to lightsome new obstacle which threatens the gravest obstruction. I suppose this is the reason which makes the game so well worth playing. --- Robert Falcon Scott (Died exploring the South Pole)\n\nAdventure is the result of poor planning. --- Roald Amundsen (Did not die exploring the South Pole)\n\nBarach chronicles plenty of adventure in this story of his pilgrimage. I hesitate to call it a pilgrimage as the choice of hiking this trail seems to be driven by the authors obsession with Japanese culture more than any particular religious belief, but at its root, his goals for this trip were not all that different than a typical pilgrims might be. He describes this as enlightenment, which is going to be different for each individual, but will boil down to making some kind of major decision or coming to terms with some aspect of life. In Barachs case, figuring out his future direction, not wanting to become an office drone, but also not seeing an alternative.\n\nIm always drawn to travel books that involve a quest, some specific goal that might not mean anything to many people, but does to the author. This book fits, as would books from Amundsen or Scott (if hed only survived to write it), as I think there is something to be gleaned from the story of the attempt, successful or not. Im amused that at least part of Barachs goal in this trip was to escape the repetitiveness of an office job, only to replace it by a trip that in many ways was just as repetitive, although with much more of a struggle to adequately satisfy basic human needs like food, water, and sleep. Does the author find enlightenment or come to terms with his future? Ill leave it to you to decide. I will say that his journey was a positive step in lifes journey for me.\n\n**Originally written for \"Books and Pals\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **"},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: Maria is the author of the Sedona O'Hala mystery series, the Moon Shadow urban fantasy series and several short stories, including two anthologies for Kindle. She has published stories in Coyote Wild Magazine, TownDrunkMag.com and "Over My Dead Body." Her latest novel is a fantasy adventure: Dragons of Wendal.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Laughing all the way\n\nReview: Some might remember a movie called \"The Hot Rock\" starring Robert Redford during his prime. This was based on a book from Donald Westlake's \"comic caper\" series featuring John Dortmunder. Dormunder and his crew always had the perfect plan. They executed it almost flawlessly. Yet always came up empty handed in the end.\n\nSedona O'Hala seems like the mirror image of Westlake's Dortmunder, at least if series opener \"Executive Lunch\" is representative of what we can expect. It starts with O'Hala stumbling into what may or may not be a mugging-in-progress in her office hallway. Somehow she saves the day, fighting off multiple attackers. Management seems to think this makes her the perfect person to help them uncover who's been behind some financial shenanigans at the office. Reluctantly she goes along. Her plans are, at best, vague. She fumbles and bumbles along. Yet in the end she gets her man.\n\nBut there are some qualities O'Hala and Dortmunder have in common. Both have you chuckling on every page and you're hoping in the end they'll succeed. At least if success means making it through relatively unscathed.","Product: RJ McDonnell is the son of a Pennsylvania State Police Detective, who received several decorations for solving complex and high-profile crimes. In addition to a traditional education, RJ also had the benefit of seeing every police detective drama on television and in the movies. His father would frequently critique these stories for believability of characters and police procedures. He earned a Bachelors Degree at Penn State University and a Masters at Marywood University. During his college years RJ was a rhythm guitarist and vocalist in two bands. Shortly thereafter, he moved to San Diego where he went to work for a professional writing service. In addition, he wrote a monthly column for the Military Press, and another for a San Diego publication, providing advice to job seekers. In the 90s, RJ got into comedy writing. He wrote for a local San Diego cable television show that had a Saturday Night Live-type format. Over its two seasons on the air, 34 of his skits were produced. Rock & Roll Homicide was the first novel in his Rock & Roll Mystery Series. The second novel, Rock & Roll Rip-Off, was selected 2010 Mystery/Thriller of the Year by Premier Book Awards. Third novel, The Concert Killer, features an original book trailer song that serves as a prequel to this serial killer novel. McDonnell locates the 4th novel, The Classic Rockers Reunion with Death, in Northeastern PA where he was born and raised.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Classic Rockers Reunion with Death\n\nReview: The fourth installment of McDonnell's The Rock & Roll Mystery Series finds rocker-turned-PI Jason Duffy looking into a murder at the behest of his uncle on the other side of the country from home. As in the previous book I read in this series, the story is a murder-mystery set within the world of rock music. As with any good mystery, not everyone is how they first appear, which keeps the reader guessing as to who's hiding what along with the obvious question of who done it.\n\nOne aspect of this story that complicates matters for Jason and adds a strong secondary storyline is the matter of the strained relationship between Jason's ex-cop Dad and his brother (Jason's Uncle). How his Dad reacts to Jason helping out his Uncle and how that evolves as the story progresses not only adds to the story, but complicates the case for Jason.\n\n**Originally written for \"Books and Pals\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **","Product: Jeff Posey writes historical, contemporary, and near-future novels inspired and informed by his research and interest in the Anasazi culture of a thousand years ago in southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico. Cultures that have dramatically collapsed, he says, should at least compel us to dream up stories about how such things can happen. He plans to write novels until his physical body betrays him. Find out more at http://jeffposey.net/. He does not, under any circumstances, advocate violence against anyone, including the too rich to exist.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Price on Their Heads\n\nReview: All fiction requires a reader to be able to suspend disbelief. Some genres (much science fiction and fantasy) ask more of the reader in this regard than others (contemporary fiction, romance, and chick-lit, for example). Books in the thriller genre tend to fall toward the high end of this scale. Regular readers of a genre learn to buy into the less believable aspects of a story or abandon the genre. The reason I mention this is because when reflecting on this story after finishing, I found that some aspects of it seemed far-fetched. However, while reading it (which is where believing matters) I was immersed in the story and not questioning events at all.\n\nThe premise of the book is intriguing. The issue of income inequality is one that has been getting a lot of attention in certain US political circles the last several years. Jackie Key, the protagonist who is an economist, has spent years studying the effect the concentration of assets and income has on the function of the economy and has developed formulas that quantify these effects. Just as hes ready to publish a paper outlining his findings, those in power find out, and all heck breaks loose.\n\nI liked this story. As a thought experiment (what if an economist actually could and did show the detrimental effects of income inequality on the economy) it worked for me. I cared about what happened to Jackie and Maura, a reporter who becomes his sidekick and romantic interest. The thriller part of the story was good, and thats what matters more than any underlying themes or points the reader might or might not care about.\n\nHowever, there were a few places where I thought the author stumbled. One example is when Jackie meets Maura for the first time. Jackies feelings, just before Maura came into his office, were foreshadowing that she was going to be extremely important in some way. I felt the way the author did this was overdone and way too obvious. Another example was a spot that talked about monopolies that, while it didn't detract from the story, I also believe was far from reality.\n\nBut what I thought was the best aspect about Price on their Heads was what it didn't do. So many of the books I read that are premised around a hot button political issue feel like the author cared more about trying to make political points than telling a good story. Im okay with attempting to make a political point, whether I agree with the point or not. But the hard sell approach many of these books take turns me off, whether I agree with them or not. Here, I didn't feel that way. It felt like the author cared more about the story than the politics, which is as it should be.\n\n**Originally written for \"Books and Pals\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **","Product: Margaret Eleanor Leigh is a writer without roots. Born and raised in apartheid South Africa, she's lived in Wales, New Zealand, England, Greece and Scotland. Now she's back in Wales, the land of her fathers. Her working past is just as colourful: she's been a journalist, a bureaucrat, a university tutor, a bookseller, and a proof-reader. This unsettled and chaotic life has its drawbacks. The only place she can honestly call home is the seat in front of her computer. But it also has its advantages: giving her a rich seam of experiences to mine-an invaluable resource for any writer.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Wrong Shade of Yellow\n\nReview: Most travel memoirs have several common qualities. Some adventure. An educational aspect as the author discovers new things about the part of the world where they're traveling. There are times when everything goes according to plan and those where nothing does. In retrospect, those challenging times turn out to be opportunities for growth, where the author learns something about the world and their place in it. Lessons we might be able to apply to our own lives.\n\nThe Wrong Shade of Yellow has most of the standard pieces. The exception seems to be the everything goes according to plan times, as the story felt like one growth opportunity after another. In spite of that, Leigh kept soldiering on. That she was able to do so must contain some lessons for the reader. One has to be that the ability to laugh at the ridiculous situations you can find yourself in is a great way to survive them.\n\n**Originally written for \"Books and Pals\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **","Product: New York Times Bestselling Author Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. Shes worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life. She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesnt get to do those things as much as shed like. Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: While You Were Gone\n\nReview: While You Were Gone is billed as a companion novella to Moretti's NYT bestseller, While You Were Out and has a brief note at the beginning that explains the connection. The extremely short version of that is one of the characters in the first novel disappears and this story adds some perspective to what happened. I read the note and immediately forgot it. It's been a few years since I read the first book and I didn't go back and refresh my memory until I was done reading. It turns out that you don't need to remember the first to enjoy the second.\n\nAs for the story itself, it's a good one. It explores themes of family, love, and loss. It also delves into how we often start down a path in life, not always through a conscious decision, and can become committed to that path for no good reason. There's a lesson in there for some of us.\n\n**Originally written for \"Books and Pals\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **","Product: Monica M. Brinkman was born and raised in Pennsylvania before moving to San Jose, California, where she co-wrote and appeared in the musical \"How Lucky Can You Get\", the proceeds of which were donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation. A lover of the arts, she has performed as a singer, actress, and radio commercial voice. Monica now lives in Missouri.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: The Turn of the Karmic Wheel\n\nReview: \"The Turn of the Karmic Wheel\" is one of those genre-bending stories you're more likely to see among Indie authors than from a traditional publisher. The book has some mystery (what is happening and finding the underlying cause of it is the main story conflict for some of the characters). There is a supernatural, some might say mystical or spiritual, component to much of the story. Some of the scenes would fit in a horror novel.\n\nThe structure of the story, with multiple characters, each with their own story line which eventually joins with the others, is different, but well suited for where the story goes. My only complaint is that there are times when the reader needs to pay close attention to the chronology of the different story lines in relation to each other because changing story lines often involves a move back in time. However, the characters are well developed and easily distinguishable, so telling them apart and remembering what has happened with them isn't a problem.\n\nI've read thousands of books. \"The Turn of the Karmic Wheel\" is one that stands out for being different. If this is any indication, John Lennon was right, \"Karma's gonna get you.\"\n\n**Originally written for \"Books and Pals\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **","Product: John Vorhaus is now known to one and all as the man who brought Radar Hoverlander - con artist extraordinaire - to life in the \"sunshine noir\" mystery novel, THE CALIFORNIA ROLL, and its acclaimed sequel, THE ALBUQUERQUE TURKEY. His other novels include UNDER THE GUN and WORLD SERIES OF MURDER, the latter available exclusively through Kindle. John is also well known as the author of THE COMIC TOOLBOX: HOW TO BE FUNNY EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT. This seminal book on writing comedy for television and film is now in its fifth printing, and continues to be a definitive source of information and inspiration for writers from Santa Monica to Scandinavia. Its companion volume, CREATIVITY RULES, is similarly a crucial book for writers at any stage of development. Not content to rest on those laurels, Vorhaus is also the author of ten books on poker, including the KILLER POKER series and, with Annie Duke, the revolutionary DECIDE TO PLAY GREAT POKER. \"As a poker player,\" confesses Vorhaus, \"I'm a pretty good writer.\" An international consultant in television and film script development, Vorhaus has worked for television networks, film schools, production companies and film funding bodies in 26 countries on four continents. He recently worked in Moscow, running the writing staff of the Russian version of Married... with Children, and in Tel Aviv, consulting on the Israeli version of The Golden Girls. He also travels regularly to Nicaragua, where he builds social-action comedy/dramas to provide positive role modeling for the poor, young and disenfranchised of that embattled country.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: How to Write Good\n\nReview: The dedication of How to Write Good is \"to everyone who has the itch,\" and its aim seems as much motivational as instructional, to get those who are writing wannabes to start, and encourage those who have tried and struggled, to try, try again. If there is an overriding theme, it is that the key to figuring out what works, not for other writers, but what works for you, is not being afraid to give an idea a try. Be whimsical. Heck, you can even try a grammatically questionable title.\n\nVorhaus says \"in writing, there are no wrong choices,\" and he's not afraid to make what seems like a wrong choice. For example, this snippet from early in the book:\n\n(Boy, here comes a convoluted sentence - get ready for it.) I figure you figure what I figure you figure because if I were you I would be figuring the exact same thing. (Told ya. Convoluted as hell.)\n\nConfused? I can't blame you, yet, this sentence worked for me. Vorhaus' books are always spiked with humor, and as the above shows, he's not afraid of poking fun at himself. In this section he's talking about reading the mind of the reader, specifically how they'll react, by evaluating how you react (this is also one of the keys to success in poker, one of Vorhaus' other areas of expertise).\n\nAfter reading How to Write Well, even the worst writer in the world should be encouraged to keep plugging away. As Vorhaus says, even that worst writer who is \"spewing drivel onto the page every day,\" will eventually reach the point where it \"will cease being drivel, or at least evolve into drivel of a finer sort.\" For some of us, drivel of a finer sort is a worthy goal, at least for now.\n\n**Originally written for \"Books and Pals\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **"],"string":"[\n \"Product: Maria is the author of the Sedona O'Hala mystery series, the Moon Shadow urban fantasy series and several short stories, including two anthologies for Kindle. She has published stories in Coyote Wild Magazine, TownDrunkMag.com and "Over My Dead Body." Her latest novel is a fantasy adventure: Dragons of Wendal.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Laughing all the way\\n\\nReview: Some might remember a movie called \\\"The Hot Rock\\\" starring Robert Redford during his prime. This was based on a book from Donald Westlake's \\\"comic caper\\\" series featuring John Dortmunder. Dormunder and his crew always had the perfect plan. They executed it almost flawlessly. Yet always came up empty handed in the end.\\n\\nSedona O'Hala seems like the mirror image of Westlake's Dortmunder, at least if series opener \\\"Executive Lunch\\\" is representative of what we can expect. It starts with O'Hala stumbling into what may or may not be a mugging-in-progress in her office hallway. Somehow she saves the day, fighting off multiple attackers. Management seems to think this makes her the perfect person to help them uncover who's been behind some financial shenanigans at the office. Reluctantly she goes along. Her plans are, at best, vague. She fumbles and bumbles along. Yet in the end she gets her man.\\n\\nBut there are some qualities O'Hala and Dortmunder have in common. Both have you chuckling on every page and you're hoping in the end they'll succeed. At least if success means making it through relatively unscathed.\",\n \"Product: RJ McDonnell is the son of a Pennsylvania State Police Detective, who received several decorations for solving complex and high-profile crimes. In addition to a traditional education, RJ also had the benefit of seeing every police detective drama on television and in the movies. His father would frequently critique these stories for believability of characters and police procedures. He earned a Bachelors Degree at Penn State University and a Masters at Marywood University. During his college years RJ was a rhythm guitarist and vocalist in two bands. Shortly thereafter, he moved to San Diego where he went to work for a professional writing service. In addition, he wrote a monthly column for the Military Press, and another for a San Diego publication, providing advice to job seekers. In the 90s, RJ got into comedy writing. He wrote for a local San Diego cable television show that had a Saturday Night Live-type format. Over its two seasons on the air, 34 of his skits were produced. Rock & Roll Homicide was the first novel in his Rock & Roll Mystery Series. The second novel, Rock & Roll Rip-Off, was selected 2010 Mystery/Thriller of the Year by Premier Book Awards. Third novel, The Concert Killer, features an original book trailer song that serves as a prequel to this serial killer novel. McDonnell locates the 4th novel, The Classic Rockers Reunion with Death, in Northeastern PA where he was born and raised.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Classic Rockers Reunion with Death\\n\\nReview: The fourth installment of McDonnell's The Rock & Roll Mystery Series finds rocker-turned-PI Jason Duffy looking into a murder at the behest of his uncle on the other side of the country from home. As in the previous book I read in this series, the story is a murder-mystery set within the world of rock music. As with any good mystery, not everyone is how they first appear, which keeps the reader guessing as to who's hiding what along with the obvious question of who done it.\\n\\nOne aspect of this story that complicates matters for Jason and adds a strong secondary storyline is the matter of the strained relationship between Jason's ex-cop Dad and his brother (Jason's Uncle). How his Dad reacts to Jason helping out his Uncle and how that evolves as the story progresses not only adds to the story, but complicates the case for Jason.\\n\\n**Originally written for \\\"Books and Pals\\\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **\",\n \"Product: Jeff Posey writes historical, contemporary, and near-future novels inspired and informed by his research and interest in the Anasazi culture of a thousand years ago in southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico. Cultures that have dramatically collapsed, he says, should at least compel us to dream up stories about how such things can happen. He plans to write novels until his physical body betrays him. Find out more at http://jeffposey.net/. He does not, under any circumstances, advocate violence against anyone, including the too rich to exist.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Price on Their Heads\\n\\nReview: All fiction requires a reader to be able to suspend disbelief. Some genres (much science fiction and fantasy) ask more of the reader in this regard than others (contemporary fiction, romance, and chick-lit, for example). Books in the thriller genre tend to fall toward the high end of this scale. Regular readers of a genre learn to buy into the less believable aspects of a story or abandon the genre. The reason I mention this is because when reflecting on this story after finishing, I found that some aspects of it seemed far-fetched. However, while reading it (which is where believing matters) I was immersed in the story and not questioning events at all.\\n\\nThe premise of the book is intriguing. The issue of income inequality is one that has been getting a lot of attention in certain US political circles the last several years. Jackie Key, the protagonist who is an economist, has spent years studying the effect the concentration of assets and income has on the function of the economy and has developed formulas that quantify these effects. Just as hes ready to publish a paper outlining his findings, those in power find out, and all heck breaks loose.\\n\\nI liked this story. As a thought experiment (what if an economist actually could and did show the detrimental effects of income inequality on the economy) it worked for me. I cared about what happened to Jackie and Maura, a reporter who becomes his sidekick and romantic interest. The thriller part of the story was good, and thats what matters more than any underlying themes or points the reader might or might not care about.\\n\\nHowever, there were a few places where I thought the author stumbled. One example is when Jackie meets Maura for the first time. Jackies feelings, just before Maura came into his office, were foreshadowing that she was going to be extremely important in some way. I felt the way the author did this was overdone and way too obvious. Another example was a spot that talked about monopolies that, while it didn't detract from the story, I also believe was far from reality.\\n\\nBut what I thought was the best aspect about Price on their Heads was what it didn't do. So many of the books I read that are premised around a hot button political issue feel like the author cared more about trying to make political points than telling a good story. Im okay with attempting to make a political point, whether I agree with the point or not. But the hard sell approach many of these books take turns me off, whether I agree with them or not. Here, I didn't feel that way. It felt like the author cared more about the story than the politics, which is as it should be.\\n\\n**Originally written for \\\"Books and Pals\\\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **\",\n \"Product: Margaret Eleanor Leigh is a writer without roots. Born and raised in apartheid South Africa, she's lived in Wales, New Zealand, England, Greece and Scotland. Now she's back in Wales, the land of her fathers. Her working past is just as colourful: she's been a journalist, a bureaucrat, a university tutor, a bookseller, and a proof-reader. This unsettled and chaotic life has its drawbacks. The only place she can honestly call home is the seat in front of her computer. But it also has its advantages: giving her a rich seam of experiences to mine-an invaluable resource for any writer.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Wrong Shade of Yellow\\n\\nReview: Most travel memoirs have several common qualities. Some adventure. An educational aspect as the author discovers new things about the part of the world where they're traveling. There are times when everything goes according to plan and those where nothing does. In retrospect, those challenging times turn out to be opportunities for growth, where the author learns something about the world and their place in it. Lessons we might be able to apply to our own lives.\\n\\nThe Wrong Shade of Yellow has most of the standard pieces. The exception seems to be the everything goes according to plan times, as the story felt like one growth opportunity after another. In spite of that, Leigh kept soldiering on. That she was able to do so must contain some lessons for the reader. One has to be that the ability to laugh at the ridiculous situations you can find yourself in is a great way to survive them.\\n\\n**Originally written for \\\"Books and Pals\\\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **\",\n \"Product: New York Times Bestselling Author Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. Shes worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life. She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesnt get to do those things as much as shed like. Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: While You Were Gone\\n\\nReview: While You Were Gone is billed as a companion novella to Moretti's NYT bestseller, While You Were Out and has a brief note at the beginning that explains the connection. The extremely short version of that is one of the characters in the first novel disappears and this story adds some perspective to what happened. I read the note and immediately forgot it. It's been a few years since I read the first book and I didn't go back and refresh my memory until I was done reading. It turns out that you don't need to remember the first to enjoy the second.\\n\\nAs for the story itself, it's a good one. It explores themes of family, love, and loss. It also delves into how we often start down a path in life, not always through a conscious decision, and can become committed to that path for no good reason. There's a lesson in there for some of us.\\n\\n**Originally written for \\\"Books and Pals\\\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **\",\n \"Product: Monica M. Brinkman was born and raised in Pennsylvania before moving to San Jose, California, where she co-wrote and appeared in the musical \\\"How Lucky Can You Get\\\", the proceeds of which were donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation. A lover of the arts, she has performed as a singer, actress, and radio commercial voice. Monica now lives in Missouri.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: The Turn of the Karmic Wheel\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Turn of the Karmic Wheel\\\" is one of those genre-bending stories you're more likely to see among Indie authors than from a traditional publisher. The book has some mystery (what is happening and finding the underlying cause of it is the main story conflict for some of the characters). There is a supernatural, some might say mystical or spiritual, component to much of the story. Some of the scenes would fit in a horror novel.\\n\\nThe structure of the story, with multiple characters, each with their own story line which eventually joins with the others, is different, but well suited for where the story goes. My only complaint is that there are times when the reader needs to pay close attention to the chronology of the different story lines in relation to each other because changing story lines often involves a move back in time. However, the characters are well developed and easily distinguishable, so telling them apart and remembering what has happened with them isn't a problem.\\n\\nI've read thousands of books. \\\"The Turn of the Karmic Wheel\\\" is one that stands out for being different. If this is any indication, John Lennon was right, \\\"Karma's gonna get you.\\\"\\n\\n**Originally written for \\\"Books and Pals\\\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **\",\n \"Product: John Vorhaus is now known to one and all as the man who brought Radar Hoverlander - con artist extraordinaire - to life in the \\\"sunshine noir\\\" mystery novel, THE CALIFORNIA ROLL, and its acclaimed sequel, THE ALBUQUERQUE TURKEY. His other novels include UNDER THE GUN and WORLD SERIES OF MURDER, the latter available exclusively through Kindle. John is also well known as the author of THE COMIC TOOLBOX: HOW TO BE FUNNY EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT. This seminal book on writing comedy for television and film is now in its fifth printing, and continues to be a definitive source of information and inspiration for writers from Santa Monica to Scandinavia. Its companion volume, CREATIVITY RULES, is similarly a crucial book for writers at any stage of development. Not content to rest on those laurels, Vorhaus is also the author of ten books on poker, including the KILLER POKER series and, with Annie Duke, the revolutionary DECIDE TO PLAY GREAT POKER. \\\"As a poker player,\\\" confesses Vorhaus, \\\"I'm a pretty good writer.\\\" An international consultant in television and film script development, Vorhaus has worked for television networks, film schools, production companies and film funding bodies in 26 countries on four continents. He recently worked in Moscow, running the writing staff of the Russian version of Married... with Children, and in Tel Aviv, consulting on the Israeli version of The Golden Girls. He also travels regularly to Nicaragua, where he builds social-action comedy/dramas to provide positive role modeling for the poor, young and disenfranchised of that embattled country.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: How to Write Good\\n\\nReview: The dedication of How to Write Good is \\\"to everyone who has the itch,\\\" and its aim seems as much motivational as instructional, to get those who are writing wannabes to start, and encourage those who have tried and struggled, to try, try again. If there is an overriding theme, it is that the key to figuring out what works, not for other writers, but what works for you, is not being afraid to give an idea a try. Be whimsical. Heck, you can even try a grammatically questionable title.\\n\\nVorhaus says \\\"in writing, there are no wrong choices,\\\" and he's not afraid to make what seems like a wrong choice. For example, this snippet from early in the book:\\n\\n(Boy, here comes a convoluted sentence - get ready for it.) I figure you figure what I figure you figure because if I were you I would be figuring the exact same thing. (Told ya. Convoluted as hell.)\\n\\nConfused? I can't blame you, yet, this sentence worked for me. Vorhaus' books are always spiked with humor, and as the above shows, he's not afraid of poking fun at himself. In this section he's talking about reading the mind of the reader, specifically how they'll react, by evaluating how you react (this is also one of the keys to success in poker, one of Vorhaus' other areas of expertise).\\n\\nAfter reading How to Write Well, even the worst writer in the world should be encouraged to keep plugging away. As Vorhaus says, even that worst writer who is \\\"spewing drivel onto the page every day,\\\" will eventually reach the point where it \\\"will cease being drivel, or at least evolve into drivel of a finer sort.\\\" For some of us, drivel of a finer sort is a worthy goal, at least for now.\\n\\n**Originally written for \\\"Books and Pals\\\" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":7,"string":"7"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":97,"string":"97"}}},{"rowIdx":98,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A1UWPSFAJKKAW0"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"Catherine Fisher is an acclaimed novelist and poet, and has written many fantasy books for young people. She lives in Wales.\". The summary of the review text is \"3.5 Stars - Not quite as good as the first, but it answered all of my questions\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"lot Summary: Finn has finally escaped the sentient prison known as Incarceron, but he's tormented with guilt because his oath-brother Keiro is still trapped inside. The Warden himself is now trapped in the prison, and his daughter Claudia is trying to hold his place on the Outside, but the Queen wants to undermine both Finn and Claudia. While a delicate political battle is being waged at court, Keiro and Attia are hunting through the vast depths of the prison for Sapphique's magical glove. The legend of Sapphique says that he was the only prisoner ever to escape from Incarceron, but the prison itself is searching for the glove, because it wants to escape too.\n\n(Incarceron: Book Two)\n\nIncarceron was one of my favorite dystopian novels this year, but I'm sorry to say that Sapphique is an inferior sequel. It seems that everything took a backseat to solving the mystery of Incarceron, and while that burning question drove the plot at a speedy, page-turning pace, it also sacrificed much of what I loved about the first book. It's like comparing the first Matrix movie to the sequels. The first film was a complete package with a mind-bending enigma. By the time the third movie rolled around, all that was left was the enigma (and the special effects). The heart of the story had died.\n\nThe world-building that dazzled me in Incarceron was barely present in Sapphique. The characters never seemed to grow or change, and a few even stagnated in sameness (I'm thinking of Claudia in particular). I found the beginning to be a rough, confusing ride, and I needed more help transitioning back into this world.\n\nThat's a lot of criticism, but by the second half I was carried away by the pace and I never looked back. I enjoyed seeing how the pieces of the puzzle fit together, and the action made up for many of the short comings I discussed above. If you read Incarceron, then you'll want to read Sapphique because all of the mysteries are revealed. That's right, this isn't a series or a trilogy. This is a two-book deal according to Catherine Fisher's website, and in a way, I'm glad. The first book bowled me over, and the second book answered the riddle. I'm satisfied."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"lot Summary: Finn has finally escaped the sentient prison known as Incarceron, but he's tormented with guilt because his oath-brother Keiro is still trapped inside. The Warden himself is now trapped in the prison, and his daughter Claudia is trying to hold his place on the Outside, but the Queen wants to undermine both Finn and Claudia. While a delicate political battle is being waged at court, Keiro and Attia are hunting through the vast depths of the prison for Sapphique's magical glove. The legend of Sapphique says that he was the only prisoner ever to escape from Incarceron, but the prison itself is searching for the glove, because it wants to escape too.\n\n(Incarceron: Book Two)\n\nIncarceron was one of my favorite dystopian novels this year, but I'm sorry to say that Sapphique is an inferior sequel. It seems that everything took a backseat to solving the mystery of Incarceron, and while that burning question drove the plot at a speedy, page-turning pace, it also sacrificed much of what I loved about the first book. It's like comparing the first Matrix movie to the sequels. The first film was a complete package with a mind-bending enigma. By the time the third movie rolled around, all that was left was the enigma (and the special effects). The heart of the story had died.\n\nThe world-building that dazzled me in Incarceron was barely present in Sapphique. The characters never seemed to grow or change, and a few even stagnated in sameness (I'm thinking of Claudia in particular). I found the beginning to be a rough, confusing ride, and I needed more help transitioning back into this world.\n\nThat's a lot of criticism, but by the second half I was carried away by the pace and I never looked back. I enjoyed seeing how the pieces of the puzzle fit together, and the action made up for many of the short comings I discussed above. If you read Incarceron, then you'll want to read Sapphique because all of the mysteries are revealed. That's right, this isn't a series or a trilogy. This is a two-book deal according to Catherine Fisher's website, and in a way, I'm glad. The first book bowled me over, and the second book answered the riddle. I'm satisfied."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: We've built in all of the best features for function and comfort into our Deluxe Grocery Bag. These rugged bags can comfortably carry a load full of bottles or other heavy items without tearing or breaking. The 6 pop-out bottle sleeves help keep tall items upright and in place, or leave them empty for the full capacity! The extra-wide 1.5 x 24 in. long handles makes carrying comfortable either by hand or on the shoulder. The long lasting, heavy-duty construction will allow you to save paper and plastic bags for many years!...Made of heavy duty durable 11 oz. organic cotton fabric. GOTS certified for both ECOLOGY and SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY for the entire production process, including growing, harvesting, spinning yarn, weaving/knitting fabric, and sewing bags. Since they're made of organic cotton, they bring additional benefits to our health and environment by avoiding highly toxic pesticides, fertilizers, and bleaches used in regular cotton crops. Designed, packaged, and shipped in the United States, cotton grown and bags manufactured in India...USE TIP...Shopping Bag Bottom Support: a rigid bottom support will help keep bottles and heavy items in place, and allow the bag to stand up much easier. To make one, just cut a piece of heavy cardboard to size, 12 x 7 inches, and place it into the bottom of the bag. This also helps keep the bottom clean, when the cardboard gets worn and dirty, just recycle it and replace it with a new one...CARE INSTRUCTIONS...Easy to care for by machine or hand washing in COLD water and flat or line drying. Color bags are prewashed during dyeing, so the fabric is softer and shrinkage is minimal. Natural bags are organic canvas so they are initially much stiffer, but will appear loosened and shrunk after washing. You can stretch them back out and reduce wrinkles by pulling on the fabric when the bag is wet, then flat air dry. The Natural bags permanent shrinkage will be 7-10% (~1 in.) in length and 5% (~3/4 in.) in width.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Flip, flop, it's a joke trying to fill these bags since they don't stand up\n\nReview: I bought a three-pack of the dark green bags, and I've used them for about a week. I read through quite a few reviews before I bought them, and I'm surprised that no one mentioned how floppy they are. In fact, these bags are embarrassingly flaccid! They won't stand up on their own, and there are no small hooks to help them stand up, so watching a bagger try to fill them is comical (and fills me with guilt for bringing such lame bags). On my next trip to the store I decided to go through the \"self-check\" line and deal with the wilting bags myself, but then the machine freaked out when it detected \"a foreign item in the bagging area!\" and froze my machine until a clerk came over. I could have been my own Seinfeld episode this week.\n\nNow, these bags aren't all bad. I used one to walk to the store and back, and the handles are nice, long, and comfortable. I think this bag would be fabulous for shopping in a farmer's market, or any place where it doesn't need to stand up on its own while being loaded.\n\nThe container pockets inside are kind of cool, although I haven't tried to squeeze anything big in there yet. I would much rather have some small hooks at the top that would let me hang this bag off the plastic bag rack in the store for filling it up.\n\nOh, and I haven't tried washing them, and I probably won't for a long, long time. That's why I bought the dark green instead of the attractive khaki. It should hide stains better.","Product: Our best weather-defeating technologies integrated into a sweet jacket that he'll love - with a price tag that is equally awesome, waterproof-breathable, fully seam-sealed and quick-wicking, this piece has serious outdoor credibilitydetails in bright pop colors give this a hit of fun but when you get down to the nitty-gritty, this jacket is all business, the attached storm hood adjusts for perfect protection without disrupting peripheral vision, lining facilitates moisture wicking to keep him dry from the inside out, the drop tail provides additional protection and waterproof zip-closed pockets ensure that essentials stay dry\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Nice Jacket, but the sizes are on the small size\n\nReview: We ordered this coat for my son for an upcoming trip to Portland, and it's a nice, lightweight jacket that was easy to pack. We ended up getting the hot rod red, and I particularly like the color because this will easily turn into a hand-me-down for my daughter later on. It was also easy to pick him out of a crowd with his bright red coat, which was useful at busy places, like the zoo.\n\nMy son is on the small size for his age (he's in the 20 percentile for height and weight) and this jacket fits him like a glove. We ordered a size 8 and he's 8-years-old. So unfortunately, it won't last as long as I'd like, and I do recommend ordering a size larger to be on the safe side.","Product: Bring sleek sophistication to your table or desk with the OttLite Vero Table Lamp. Plus, youll enjoy the benefits of OttLite 508 Illumination. By delivering the right mix of brightness and contrast, OttLite lets you see fine print and details with ease under this unique low heat, low glare illumination that helps reduce eyestrain. Available in a contemporary burnished nickel finish, this versatile lamp features a 24 long shade that pivots up and down allowing you to read, work and see comfortably.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Mine stopped working after 7 days!\n\nReview: I can't believe this, but I was trying to be good and buy this lamp at my local store. You know, I wanted to keep my dollars here in town, since I buy way too much stuff off Amazon as it is. However, if I had shopping for it here on Amazon, I would have seen all of these reviews about the lamp spontaneously dying and bought something else. Argh!\n\nI no longer have the original packaging--I foolishly expected it to work--and now I'll have to see if the store will take it back, although after reading all of these reviews, I realize that the best I can hope for is an exchange, and I don't want another one of these lamps.","Product: The first volume in a noirish, gritty urban fantasy for adults from the bestselling Children's author. Quick-witted and cocksure, young upstart Capac Raimi arrives in the City determined to make his mark. As he learns the tricks of his new trade from his Uncle Theo -- extortion, racketeering, threatening behaviour -- he's soon well on his way to becoming a promising new gangster. Then he crosses paths with The Cardinal, and his life changes forever. The Cardinal is the City and the City is The Cardinal. They are joined at the soul. Nothing moves on the streets, or below them, without the Cardinal's knowledge. His rule is absolute. As Capac begins to discover more about the extent of the Cardinal's influence on his own life he is faced with hard choices. And as his ambition soars ever higher he will learn all there is to know about loss, and the true cost of ultimate power!\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A dark urban fantasy that reads like a mafia/crime thriller\n\nReview: Plot Summary: Capac Raimi arrives in The City, eager to carve out a name for himself in the criminal underworld that flourishes under the top man, known to one and all as The Cardinal. When Raimi tries to think about his life before he arrived, it's like one big hole. He can't remember a thing, but that doesn't bother him as much as how people can disappear without a trace. Even their own relatives won't remember who they were, and Raimi's chances to get in good with The Cardinal will depend on whether he's willing to stay loyal, or whether he wants to know more about his own missing identity.\n\nThis is the kind of story where the last hundred pages makes me glad that I stuck with the first two hundred. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy Procession of the Dead until the end, but that last third was fantastic. I see how some readers wouldn't get into this story, so I think my job here is doubly important. I need to make sure that you get a feel for this book without spoiling it in any way.\n\nI was confused when I first started reading, because I heard somewhere that this is an urban fantasy. It is, but that won't become apparent until the end, and that's wildly different from the usual UFs I read. I also think it's important to point out that this is a dark urban fantasy. You know what that means right? Don't look for somebody to ride in wearing a white hat for a triumphant finale of good over evil.\n\nMuch of this book reads like a piece of mafia/crime fiction. Everything spins around the criminal elements in The City (we never learn which one), and our hero is a wannabe gangster whose grandiose ambitions intersects with the head honcho, The Cardinal. The way the fantasy elements unfold completely took me by surprise. I never saw a hint of what was coming, and every few pages I was shocked again and again and again. I like being surprised as much as anything, and that's why this book ended on such a high note for me. I'm marveling at how this was crafted, rather than the content itself, which is closer to a horror novel than anything else by the end.\n\nProcession of the Dead will be released in the U.S. on June 4, 2010. As far as I know, it's already available in many other countries. The next two books in the series are Hell's Horizon (January 5, 2011), and City of the Snakes (TBA).","Product: 1st trade edition paperback new\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: 3.5 Stars - A Tolkien-esq epic fantasy for patient young adult fans\n\nReview: Plot Summary: A former streetlord and a princess cross paths in this historical fantasy that alternates between harsh city living and forest-dwelling clans. Han has turned his back on his former life of crime, and he's trying to support his mother and sister on honest wages, but they're barely hanging on. His one item of value are two silver cuffs that have been on his wrists for as long as he can remember, but no one has been able to remove them. In the same city is a young princess who is nearing marriage age, and she feels trapped by her mother's plans and expectations. Raisa wants to become a good queen, but she also wants to flirt, dance, and enjoy stolen kisses from her many admirers.\n\n(Seven Realms Novel: Book One)\n\nI'd heard so many great things about this series by Cinda Williams Chima, and after reading The Demon King, I see what all the fuss is about, but I'm still having a tricky time reviewing this book. Here's the problem... this 528 page novel reads like one huge introduction for the story that will come, and if you're an impatient reader, like myself, then you may get itchy feet waiting for the action to unfold. Ms. Chima is meticulous in building each of her many characters, and if you appreciate that kind of epic, fantasy storytelling, then this one is for you. It almost reminded me of J. R. R. Tolkien and Robert Jordan in that regard, but it's written for young adult readers, and so it's even more approachable despite this drawn-out introduction.\n\nThe other reason I'm giving this 3.5 stars is because of the plot. The characterizations may be great, but the plot didn't manage to surprise me once. It was way too predictable, and it's irritating when I can see stuff coming from five chapters away. Still, even with these criticisms, I was impressed with Ms. Chima's writing, which was incredibly easy to read. I can see this series introducing a whole new generation of readers to the grandeur of epic fantasy.","Product: The 7th stirring instalment of the urban fantasy-thriller series starring Rachel Morgan. A pacey and addictive novel of sexy bounty-hunting witches, cunning demons and vicious vampires. The demon, Algaliarept, although banished back into the everafter has infected others of his kind with his interest in a witch who can channel demon magic. Rachel soon finds herself with not one but three hellions on her tail; and one of them is even crazier and more dangerous than all the fairy assassins, weres and vampires on the planet.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Expect the unexpected when it comes to this series and you won't be disappointed\n\nReview: Plot Summary: It's been six months since Kisten's death, and Rachel and Ivy are still trying to find his killer. They're short on clues, but Rachel's memory is coming back in painful fragments. The FIB want Rachel's help to bring in a murdering couple who are too dangerous to be human, and while on the job she keeps running into Tom, the black witch who tried to have Al murder her in the last book. Rachel is visiting Al for her weekly tutorial in the demon arts, and just when she thinks everything is working out fine, she faces complete rejection from an unexpected source.\n\nNow that I'm finally caught up with the Hollows series, I can go back and read all the reviews on Amazon to discover why White Witch, Black Curse is the lowest rated book of the series. After reading through some one- and two-star reviews (harsh people, very harsh) it seems that folks got mad at either 1) Rachel's new love interest, 2) her old love interest, or 3) the lack of a love interest with certain parties. I hate to point out the obvious, but this is an urban fantasy after all. Readers who are looking for a neat, tidy, satisfying relationship story should turn to a paranormal romance. Rachel's love life will remain a chaotic wreck until the end of time. When Rachel finds true love, then you'll know that Kim Harrison is tired, and the series will be over.\n\nMost of all it seemed that fans were upset at how a new character was introduced, and I'm wondering how these readers expect authors to keep a series alive without fresh blood? The true bone of contention is not that he's new exactly, but that he (yes, I'm keeping his identity secret) had an important impact on Rachel that is now coming to light, but we (the readers) had never heard of him before. For some reason this revelation has ruffled some fur. Haven't we all have crushes or boyfriends or sweethearts from our youth that are locked in our heart? Why should we know everything about Rachel's past?\n\nAlright, I confess that I'm baffled by the bad reviews. While this book lacked a strong central story-line and the usual breathless conclusion, it was still a highly entertaining tangle of messy little subplots. No, it's not my favorite installment, but I defy anyone to tell me they were bored by this book. Confused? Maybe. Frustrated? Okay. But bored? No, I won't buy it, and that's why it doesn't deserve one- or two-star reviews. A book that I'd give one-star to doesn't hold a candle to anything I've ever read by Kim Harrison.\n\nI suppose the only flaws that bugged me were sins of omission. A lot of my favorite characters, like Al, Ceri, and Trent, got very little page time for such a big book. The good news is that I think Ms. Harrison has finally shut the door on the whole business with Kisten, and Rachel has a new complication regarding her fellow witches that will provide plenty of angst for the next book. I'm kind of glad it has taken me so long to get caught up, because I only have to wait one month to read <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Black-Magic-Sanction-Rachel-Morgan/dp/B0030BJEAS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Black Magic Sanction (Rachel Morgan)</a>, which comes out on February 23, 2010.","Product: The sixth book in Harrison's New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series starring Rachel Morgan. A pacey and addictive novel of sexy bounty-hunting witches, cunning demons and menacing vampires. Having barely escaped being skewered by the criminal vampire overlord of Cinncinati, Rachel now has even bigger problems to contend with. The demon, Algaliarept, although banished back into the everafter has infected others of his kind with his interest in a witch who can channel demon magic. Rachel soon finds herself with not one but three hellions on her tail; and one of them is even crazier and more dangerous than all the fairy assassins, weres and vampires on the planet. Published as 'The Outlaw Demon Wails' in the US.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I tried to read it in one go and almost killed my poor eyes - I couldn't put it down\n\nReview: Plot Summary: The demon Al is back, and he lets Rachel Morgan know that all deals are off. Once the sun sets she becomes his prey, because someone is summoning him out of prison each night. Rachel must find the summoner, but making up a list of everyone who wants her dead is actually quite challenging, and not for a lack of names. Fortunately all of Rachel's friends, Ivy, Jenks, Ciri, and David, are ready to help. If Rachel can't kill Al, then she must find a way to neutralize him, and the solution is so crazy-stupid it just might work.\n\nLet me start by saying that The Outlaw Demon Wails is my favorite installment in The Hollows series so far, hence I think it deserves my top rating. Kim Harrison's urban fantasy series is always highly entertaining, but this time around the surprises had my jaw dropping, the relationships grew by leaps and bounds, and no, I couldn't put it down. Just try reading 500 pages in a tiny font size in one shot and see how your eyes feel. My eyes resemble grainy pebbles right now but I have no regrets.\n\nMs. Harrison keeps introducing new characters into the mix, and for the first time Rachel spends some quality time with her mother. I know that sounds a little dull, but Mom has some secrets that are going to be revealed, and it's pretty amazing stuff. Once again, I'm sitting here with my hands tied, because it's impossible to discuss anything about the plot for fear of spewing spoilers.\n\nAt this point in the series, it feels like it's shifting away from non-stop action mode, and we're spending more time on the character relationships. The world is built, the enemies are vicious, but it's Rachel's friends who are precious. Whereas the earlier books seemed to have Rachel running from one bad situation to another, I feel like a lot of time was devoted to exploring Rachel's relationship with Ivy, Ciri, Trent, her mother, Al, and so on. It worked well for me, and I found myself pulled deeper into the story than I had been previously.\n\nSo I'm nearly caught up, with the next book, <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/White-Witch-Black-Curse-The-Hollows-Book-7/dp/0061138029/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7)</a> in my TBR pile. Then in February 2010 comes the treat Hollows fans are waiting for, the release of <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Black-Magic-Sanction-Rachel-Morgan/dp/0061138037/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\">Black Magic Sanction (Rachel Morgan)</a>.","Product: Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series and the Night Huntress World novels. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to nineteen different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling - by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: This wasn't the Cat and Bones I've come to love... I'm waiting for the next book already\n\nReview: Plot Summary: Cat and Bones travel to Paris, city of love, for an overdue vacation only to find that a 1,000 year old vampire named Gregor is stalking Cat's dreams. Gregor claims to be Cat's true vampire husband, and some startling evidence shows that he may be right. Under this kind of pressure, Bones and Cat's relationship falls apart like a flimsy house of cards. Gregor manipulates the situation nicely, but the true problem lies between our lovers, who let themselves become divided just when they should support each other the most.\n\nI suppose that sooner or later this was bound to happen. I find myself disappointed by this entry in the Night Huntress series. That's not to say that this book isn't good, but frankly I'm like a spoiled brat who has been gorging on candy without restraint, and somebody just handed me a raw carrot. Compared to the first three novels, this one just isn't up to par, and I'm wondering in hindsight if this series should have stopped at a trilogy? Is it asking the impossible to keep things humming at a fever pitch for book after book, especially when it features the same couple? I just don't know.\n\nWhat I do know, is that my favorite balls-to-the-walls heroine was sadly missing. There were a few flickers here and there of that sassy woman I love, but mostly Cat was a disappointment to me. She was either grouchy, or scared, or guzzling gin, or eating ice cream, but I kept waiting for her to strap on some silver and kill somebody. She was just too passive this whole thing through, and that is not the young girl who killed vampires on her weekends off, or the woman who lead a secret government team to protect the innocent. It seems that my favorite tough cookie would rather eat one than be one this time around.\n\nBones is also in my penalty box for spewing some pretty harsh stuff in the heat of the moment. That charming, cocky, tougher-than-nails guy we all fell in love with? Well, he's constantly on edge, he's a grouch, and he won't open up with Cat until the very end, and I kept wondering where my sexy Bones went? Oh sure, he looked good, that was made abundantly clear, but Bones's appeal has always his personality. It's like someone turned the light out, along with his sense of humor. I'm mourning the loss.\n\nAm I still a fan of this series? Of course. Most of the series I follow have at least one book that feels like a stumble, but I fully expect to be wowed again by Jeaniene Frost's writing. It just didn't happen this time, for the first time.","Product: Grand Sophy\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: My first Heyer book, and all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW!\n\nReview: Plot Summary: Sir Horace Stanton-Lacy drops a bomb on his sister; he's going to Brazil and he needs her to watch over his 20-year-old daughter, Sophia. Picturing a meek, biddable young lady, the aunt agrees, and receives another shock when a tall vibrant woman arrives with three animals in tow. Sophy is a force of nature, and there is no middle ground in how people feel about her - they either love her or hate her. Fortunately all but the most small-minded stick-in-the-muds treasure her, and benefit from her grand domestic schemes.\n\nThis book is going on my keeper shelf for life, and I'm sitting here regretting that this is the first Heyer book I've read. I have been wasting precious time! Now I'll have to play catch up, and start reading her books, posthaste. This story was such a treat to read, and I had a smile on my face whenever Sophy entered the scene. There are several books and movies that attempt to do this kind of screwball comedy, but they're sad imitations next to this grand master. The humor keeps building until the final crescendo, which is equal parts chaos, comedy, and closure. I wish I could see this book acted out on the stage. No one could ask for a better cast of characters.\n\nSophy is a dust devil that blows her aunt's family into turmoil, and unlike the hapless Emma by Jane Austen, Sophy knows precisely what she is doing with all the cunning of chess master. If I have any criticisms it is that Sophy does not have any flaws, but I love her too much to wish her any different. Pitted against her are the sour-faced Miss Wraxton and her fiance, Charles Rivenhall, who is Sophy's cousin and a veritable wet blanket. In true English fashion, Lord and Lady Ombersley's family have been quietly unhappy for some time, but Sophy is the one who illuminates all the problems that have been festering in the family's bosom.\n\nIn perfect Regency romance tradition, all the ladies find love, propriety is satisfied, and the puckered sourpusses slink back into their holes. I had a grand time.","Product: After years at the bottom of the pack, Anna has learned never to trust dominant males, until Charles Cornick, the enforcer and leader of the North American werewolves, declares her his mate, revealing her destiny as an Omega wolf.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good start to a Mercy Thompson spin off series - looking forward to 2\n\nReview: Now this is more like it! I knew Briggs could do urban fantasy and romance combined. I love the Mercy Thompson series, but I was griping on my review of Bone Crossed that Briggs doesn't deliver on the romance/sex side as I'd wish. Happily, this does not apply to Cry Wolf.\n\nCharles is the spooky assassin who enforces alpha-wolf Bran's directives, and he's also Bran's son. When Charles visits a dysfunctional wolf pack, he discovers Anna, a rare Omega wolf who is neither dominant nor submissive, she's just zen. Supposedly an Omega wolf can calm the violent inclinations in other wolves, and stop the despair that comes with living forever and alone. Unfortunately the pack leader hated Anna and had her brutalized for being different. Charles sees more than a valuable wolf for Bran, he sees his mate as well. The story focuses on their growing connection while they're tracking an evil threat to the pack.\n\nWhen reading this, I felt like I had missed a prior book, but this is book one in the series, so I thought I must be wrong. Briggs plops us right in the middle of Charles extracting Anna from her tribe of misfits, and it's obvious that a lot has happened. Charles has already told Anna that she's his mate when the story begins. I find out later that Briggs started this series with a novella, which you can read if you buy On The Prowl, an anthology with short stories, including other authors. Grrrrrr. Frankly, I'd prefer to save the eight bucks, since I always feel short-changed by novellas. They aren't long enough to develop the kind of character interaction I'm after. Your choice though.\n\nCorrection: My intrepid sister tells me that you can buy \"Alpha and Omega\", the prequel novella as an Ebook, and low and behold, she's right. So now it's more like a $3 gamble instead of $8.\n\n***Okay, since writing the above, I have read the prequel novella, and I have to say I WISH I HAD READ IT FIRST! It really enhances the story in Cry Wolf, and you get to experience Charles and Anna's first week together. Don't be cheap, just buy them both together.","Product: Magic is dangerous but love is more dangerous still... When sixteen-year-old tessa gray arrives in england during the reign of queen victoria, something terrifying is waiting for her in london's downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural fold stalk the gaslit streets. Friendless and hunted, tessa seeks refuge with the shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Drawn ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by and torn between two best friends and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An excellent historical/steampunk mash-up\n\nReview: Plot Summary: Sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray leaves America after her Aunt passes away. She's bound for London where her older brother has a job, but when she arrives Tessa is picked up by a pair of ladies known as the Dark Sisters. They imprison Tessa in their large, damp home, and begin her training in a skill she never knew she possessed - Tessa can shapeshift into another person by holding one of their personal items. The Dark Sisters tell Tessa that they're preparing her for their master, known only as The Magister, but before the ceremony can take place, Tessa escapes with the help of a Shadowhunter named Will. The Shadowhunters are half angel/half human beings who police the Downworlders - vampires, werewolves, warlocks, etc. - and Tessa learns that her abilities put her under their jurisdiction. Tessa agrees to use her shapeshifting skills to help Will and his friend Jem in their investigation if they'll help her find her missing brother.\n\n(The Infernal Devices Trilogy: Book One)\n\nI had a good time in this gloomy, Victorian London setting filled with all kinds of supernatural creatures and steampunkish gadgetry. Clockwork Angel wasn't really challenging in any way, but this is the kind of young adult adventure that can be enjoyed by all kinds of readers, most especially those who want a fast story that's easy to digest (think of the recent Sherlock Holmes movie, but add vampires and angelic warriors). I thought Cassandra Clare kept both the setting and her heroine in character, and by that I mean that it stayed true to the times. Tessa was constantly appalled by any kind of informality or breach of propriety, and London was resolutely gray, gray, gray.\n\nClockwork Angel also reminds me strongly of The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan. I mention this because if you like one, then there's a very good chance that you'll like the other as well. Both stories feature two boys who are brothers in arms, and while one is drop-dead gorgeous, deadly in combat, and completely standoffish, the other is friendly, weaker, and hampered by some physical illness or injury. This sets up a triangle where the heroine is attracted to the gorgeous bad boy while the good boy pines for her in silent misery. It's not an original formula, perhaps, but it works.\n\nI think this story is riding the big wave of mashup fantasies that have a little bit of everything, and are therefore pleasing to a wide audience. According to Ms. Clare's website, the next two books in the series will be Clockwork Prince (September 2011) and Clockwork Princess (Fall 2012).","Product: Courtney Milans debut novel was published in 2010. Since then, her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Shes been a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller, a RITA finalist and an RT Reviewers Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance. Her second book was chosen as a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010. Courtney lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband, a marginally-trained dog, and an attack cat. Courtney has had several occupations--computer programmer, scientist, lawyer--but her favorite job is the one she is now doing full time: Writing romance novels.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: This one didn't do it for me\n\nReview: I have absolutely loved several of Ms. Milan's novels, but for some reason this one didn't do it for me. Normally I can't put her romances down, but I found it all too easy to walk away from THE DUCHESS WAR. I think it's because I'm having a hardtime accepting the hero at face value. He has too much virtue and not enough vice, given his upbringing. The heroine was delightful, and her background has to be one of the most unique creations I've come across in a regency romance, but I wasn't feeling the sparks between the two leads. Still, I'd rather spend my money on an \"okay\" Courtney Milan romance than most other books out there. Her writing is always high quality stuff.","Product: How does an LA sophisticate like rock star Bryan Spencer woo a small-town African-American girl like Callie Lawson? Bryan has come to a small Alabama town to recover after the death of his best friend. The small town is suffocating him until he meets Callie, triggering a contest between LA sin and Southern Sunday school. Bryan and Callie must overcome racial issues, the treacherous nature of the entertainment industry and the clash between urban sophistication and rural values if they are going to stay together.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The story has good bones, but too much flab and filler slows it down\n\nReview: Plot Summary: Callie Lawson is a successful bookstore owner in her small hometown in Alabama. She's a proud African-American woman with a tight network of friends, family, and church members who all admire and respect her. Bryan Spencer is the sexy lead singer and guitarist of a rock band who recently lost his best friend to a heroine overdose. Bryan is oblivious to the underlying stigma that an interracial couple will face, but Callie is hyper-aware of their situation, and she makes every attempt to keep their relationship platonic. When Callie succumbs to the passion, their troubles begin.\n\nThis is a fairly realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by interracial couples. Instead of glossing over the issue, Holcomb dove deep and laid it all out, no matter how ugly it got. It's easy to shake off disapproval from bigoted strangers, but it's another thing entirely when it's family and their most trusted friends simmering with anger over the color of someone's skin. The approbation was not universal by any means, and there were also touching allies who defended the couple with a bulldog's tenacity.\n\nThe relationship was further complicated by the difference between a small-town, church-going family woman, and a sexually dissolute, rock-star hunk. Even if Bryan were black instead of white, their problems would still have been marked because of their cultural separation, especially when the paparazzi set their sights on Callie. Holcomb planted every possible trip wire imaginable, and forced the couple through a social obstacle course that would have had most folks calling it quits long ago.\n\nBryan's attraction and love for Callie definitely drives their relationship until Callie is willing to open her eyes. I can't say I blame her, even though I found Callie's timidity and indecisiveness trying at times. As a black woman dating a white man, Callie faced the brunt of the criticism, and it cut deep when other black women, even at her church no less, called her a whore or a kept woman. Still, a niggling voice in my mind kept shouting at her to stand up, be strong, and fight back for the man she loves.\n\nI'd give this book a higher rating, but it's too long by a third. I was longing for a tighter, faster-paced story about halfway through the book. I was also frustrated a few times when in the middle of a critical scene, Holcomb would divert into a descriptive passage on another character. If I were the editor, I would have been hacking and slashing through the manuscript until I reached the pure, undiluted heart at the center of the story.","Product: Unabridged CD Audiobook 8 CDs / 10 Hours long\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I see why this is a must-read for UF fans; excellent blood, guts, and action\n\nReview: Plot Summary: Anita Blake may resemble a diminutive china doll (don't ever call her that), but she's known amongst vampires as The Executioner. It's an impressive title, since killing vamps is only her side-business. Anita's first calling is being an animator, someone who can raise the dead as a zombie. Someone in town is slaughtering master vampires, and their ancient leader, Nikolaos, wants Anita to find the killer. It sounds simple, but Nikolaos is evil incarnate, and there's no guarantee that Anita will survive after she solves the case.\n\nIn the foreword Hamilton said she considers this novel to be part mystery and part dark fantasy. She said this book defied all the typical categories when it was written, being neither straight-up horror, mystery, or fantasy, and how some people assumed this type of vampire story would flop around like a fish out of water. I have no problem categorizing this as a dark urban fantasy, and I also have no qualms stating that it is very, very good. The only thing holding me back on the rating is the lack of romance, but I enjoyed every page of this intro book, and I'll be looking up book two as soon as I can.\n\nThe quality of the writing is right up there with all my favorite PNR and UF authors. The whole premise of vampires living openly with humans is no longer a novel idea (I'm guessing it was when this book was written), but Anita's `animator' powers are unique. Hamilton doesn't give the reader much background on how Anita came to have this strange zombie-making talent, and I hope she'll explain it more in the later books. Suffice to say, this book has a creative fantasy world, with ghouls, vampires, zombies, weres, and a hair-raising nemesis. The action is flat-out gory, and I love it so much that it's easy for me to forget that some people don't care to read about blood, guts, and brains splattering on the walls. Consider yourself warned.\n\nI liked Anita Blake after only a few chapters. She starts the book with a black and white view of the world; humans are good and vampires are bad. It's a promising beginning, because the best characters have to evolve, and Anita has a long way to go. She seems far too frail to battle all the monsters who want to eat a piece of her (literally), but Anita manages to hang onto her life like a scrappy featherweight fighter. I dig her false bravado in the face of extreme peril, and we alone get to know her innermost thoughts, which are full of fear, self-doubt, and honorable intentions. I look forward to spending more time with her."],"string":"[\n \"Product: We've built in all of the best features for function and comfort into our Deluxe Grocery Bag. These rugged bags can comfortably carry a load full of bottles or other heavy items without tearing or breaking. The 6 pop-out bottle sleeves help keep tall items upright and in place, or leave them empty for the full capacity! The extra-wide 1.5 x 24 in. long handles makes carrying comfortable either by hand or on the shoulder. The long lasting, heavy-duty construction will allow you to save paper and plastic bags for many years!...Made of heavy duty durable 11 oz. organic cotton fabric. GOTS certified for both ECOLOGY and SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY for the entire production process, including growing, harvesting, spinning yarn, weaving/knitting fabric, and sewing bags. Since they're made of organic cotton, they bring additional benefits to our health and environment by avoiding highly toxic pesticides, fertilizers, and bleaches used in regular cotton crops. Designed, packaged, and shipped in the United States, cotton grown and bags manufactured in India...USE TIP...Shopping Bag Bottom Support: a rigid bottom support will help keep bottles and heavy items in place, and allow the bag to stand up much easier. To make one, just cut a piece of heavy cardboard to size, 12 x 7 inches, and place it into the bottom of the bag. This also helps keep the bottom clean, when the cardboard gets worn and dirty, just recycle it and replace it with a new one...CARE INSTRUCTIONS...Easy to care for by machine or hand washing in COLD water and flat or line drying. Color bags are prewashed during dyeing, so the fabric is softer and shrinkage is minimal. Natural bags are organic canvas so they are initially much stiffer, but will appear loosened and shrunk after washing. You can stretch them back out and reduce wrinkles by pulling on the fabric when the bag is wet, then flat air dry. The Natural bags permanent shrinkage will be 7-10% (~1 in.) in length and 5% (~3/4 in.) in width.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Flip, flop, it's a joke trying to fill these bags since they don't stand up\\n\\nReview: I bought a three-pack of the dark green bags, and I've used them for about a week. I read through quite a few reviews before I bought them, and I'm surprised that no one mentioned how floppy they are. In fact, these bags are embarrassingly flaccid! They won't stand up on their own, and there are no small hooks to help them stand up, so watching a bagger try to fill them is comical (and fills me with guilt for bringing such lame bags). On my next trip to the store I decided to go through the \\\"self-check\\\" line and deal with the wilting bags myself, but then the machine freaked out when it detected \\\"a foreign item in the bagging area!\\\" and froze my machine until a clerk came over. I could have been my own Seinfeld episode this week.\\n\\nNow, these bags aren't all bad. I used one to walk to the store and back, and the handles are nice, long, and comfortable. I think this bag would be fabulous for shopping in a farmer's market, or any place where it doesn't need to stand up on its own while being loaded.\\n\\nThe container pockets inside are kind of cool, although I haven't tried to squeeze anything big in there yet. I would much rather have some small hooks at the top that would let me hang this bag off the plastic bag rack in the store for filling it up.\\n\\nOh, and I haven't tried washing them, and I probably won't for a long, long time. That's why I bought the dark green instead of the attractive khaki. It should hide stains better.\",\n \"Product: Our best weather-defeating technologies integrated into a sweet jacket that he'll love - with a price tag that is equally awesome, waterproof-breathable, fully seam-sealed and quick-wicking, this piece has serious outdoor credibilitydetails in bright pop colors give this a hit of fun but when you get down to the nitty-gritty, this jacket is all business, the attached storm hood adjusts for perfect protection without disrupting peripheral vision, lining facilitates moisture wicking to keep him dry from the inside out, the drop tail provides additional protection and waterproof zip-closed pockets ensure that essentials stay dry\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Nice Jacket, but the sizes are on the small size\\n\\nReview: We ordered this coat for my son for an upcoming trip to Portland, and it's a nice, lightweight jacket that was easy to pack. We ended up getting the hot rod red, and I particularly like the color because this will easily turn into a hand-me-down for my daughter later on. It was also easy to pick him out of a crowd with his bright red coat, which was useful at busy places, like the zoo.\\n\\nMy son is on the small size for his age (he's in the 20 percentile for height and weight) and this jacket fits him like a glove. We ordered a size 8 and he's 8-years-old. So unfortunately, it won't last as long as I'd like, and I do recommend ordering a size larger to be on the safe side.\",\n \"Product: Bring sleek sophistication to your table or desk with the OttLite Vero Table Lamp. Plus, youll enjoy the benefits of OttLite 508 Illumination. By delivering the right mix of brightness and contrast, OttLite lets you see fine print and details with ease under this unique low heat, low glare illumination that helps reduce eyestrain. Available in a contemporary burnished nickel finish, this versatile lamp features a 24 long shade that pivots up and down allowing you to read, work and see comfortably.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Mine stopped working after 7 days!\\n\\nReview: I can't believe this, but I was trying to be good and buy this lamp at my local store. You know, I wanted to keep my dollars here in town, since I buy way too much stuff off Amazon as it is. However, if I had shopping for it here on Amazon, I would have seen all of these reviews about the lamp spontaneously dying and bought something else. Argh!\\n\\nI no longer have the original packaging--I foolishly expected it to work--and now I'll have to see if the store will take it back, although after reading all of these reviews, I realize that the best I can hope for is an exchange, and I don't want another one of these lamps.\",\n \"Product: The first volume in a noirish, gritty urban fantasy for adults from the bestselling Children's author. Quick-witted and cocksure, young upstart Capac Raimi arrives in the City determined to make his mark. As he learns the tricks of his new trade from his Uncle Theo -- extortion, racketeering, threatening behaviour -- he's soon well on his way to becoming a promising new gangster. Then he crosses paths with The Cardinal, and his life changes forever. The Cardinal is the City and the City is The Cardinal. They are joined at the soul. Nothing moves on the streets, or below them, without the Cardinal's knowledge. His rule is absolute. As Capac begins to discover more about the extent of the Cardinal's influence on his own life he is faced with hard choices. And as his ambition soars ever higher he will learn all there is to know about loss, and the true cost of ultimate power!\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A dark urban fantasy that reads like a mafia/crime thriller\\n\\nReview: Plot Summary: Capac Raimi arrives in The City, eager to carve out a name for himself in the criminal underworld that flourishes under the top man, known to one and all as The Cardinal. When Raimi tries to think about his life before he arrived, it's like one big hole. He can't remember a thing, but that doesn't bother him as much as how people can disappear without a trace. Even their own relatives won't remember who they were, and Raimi's chances to get in good with The Cardinal will depend on whether he's willing to stay loyal, or whether he wants to know more about his own missing identity.\\n\\nThis is the kind of story where the last hundred pages makes me glad that I stuck with the first two hundred. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy Procession of the Dead until the end, but that last third was fantastic. I see how some readers wouldn't get into this story, so I think my job here is doubly important. I need to make sure that you get a feel for this book without spoiling it in any way.\\n\\nI was confused when I first started reading, because I heard somewhere that this is an urban fantasy. It is, but that won't become apparent until the end, and that's wildly different from the usual UFs I read. I also think it's important to point out that this is a dark urban fantasy. You know what that means right? Don't look for somebody to ride in wearing a white hat for a triumphant finale of good over evil.\\n\\nMuch of this book reads like a piece of mafia/crime fiction. Everything spins around the criminal elements in The City (we never learn which one), and our hero is a wannabe gangster whose grandiose ambitions intersects with the head honcho, The Cardinal. The way the fantasy elements unfold completely took me by surprise. I never saw a hint of what was coming, and every few pages I was shocked again and again and again. I like being surprised as much as anything, and that's why this book ended on such a high note for me. I'm marveling at how this was crafted, rather than the content itself, which is closer to a horror novel than anything else by the end.\\n\\nProcession of the Dead will be released in the U.S. on June 4, 2010. As far as I know, it's already available in many other countries. The next two books in the series are Hell's Horizon (January 5, 2011), and City of the Snakes (TBA).\",\n \"Product: 1st trade edition paperback new\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: 3.5 Stars - A Tolkien-esq epic fantasy for patient young adult fans\\n\\nReview: Plot Summary: A former streetlord and a princess cross paths in this historical fantasy that alternates between harsh city living and forest-dwelling clans. Han has turned his back on his former life of crime, and he's trying to support his mother and sister on honest wages, but they're barely hanging on. His one item of value are two silver cuffs that have been on his wrists for as long as he can remember, but no one has been able to remove them. In the same city is a young princess who is nearing marriage age, and she feels trapped by her mother's plans and expectations. Raisa wants to become a good queen, but she also wants to flirt, dance, and enjoy stolen kisses from her many admirers.\\n\\n(Seven Realms Novel: Book One)\\n\\nI'd heard so many great things about this series by Cinda Williams Chima, and after reading The Demon King, I see what all the fuss is about, but I'm still having a tricky time reviewing this book. Here's the problem... this 528 page novel reads like one huge introduction for the story that will come, and if you're an impatient reader, like myself, then you may get itchy feet waiting for the action to unfold. Ms. Chima is meticulous in building each of her many characters, and if you appreciate that kind of epic, fantasy storytelling, then this one is for you. It almost reminded me of J. R. R. Tolkien and Robert Jordan in that regard, but it's written for young adult readers, and so it's even more approachable despite this drawn-out introduction.\\n\\nThe other reason I'm giving this 3.5 stars is because of the plot. The characterizations may be great, but the plot didn't manage to surprise me once. It was way too predictable, and it's irritating when I can see stuff coming from five chapters away. Still, even with these criticisms, I was impressed with Ms. Chima's writing, which was incredibly easy to read. I can see this series introducing a whole new generation of readers to the grandeur of epic fantasy.\",\n \"Product: The 7th stirring instalment of the urban fantasy-thriller series starring Rachel Morgan. A pacey and addictive novel of sexy bounty-hunting witches, cunning demons and vicious vampires. The demon, Algaliarept, although banished back into the everafter has infected others of his kind with his interest in a witch who can channel demon magic. Rachel soon finds herself with not one but three hellions on her tail; and one of them is even crazier and more dangerous than all the fairy assassins, weres and vampires on the planet.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Expect the unexpected when it comes to this series and you won't be disappointed\\n\\nReview: Plot Summary: It's been six months since Kisten's death, and Rachel and Ivy are still trying to find his killer. They're short on clues, but Rachel's memory is coming back in painful fragments. The FIB want Rachel's help to bring in a murdering couple who are too dangerous to be human, and while on the job she keeps running into Tom, the black witch who tried to have Al murder her in the last book. Rachel is visiting Al for her weekly tutorial in the demon arts, and just when she thinks everything is working out fine, she faces complete rejection from an unexpected source.\\n\\nNow that I'm finally caught up with the Hollows series, I can go back and read all the reviews on Amazon to discover why White Witch, Black Curse is the lowest rated book of the series. After reading through some one- and two-star reviews (harsh people, very harsh) it seems that folks got mad at either 1) Rachel's new love interest, 2) her old love interest, or 3) the lack of a love interest with certain parties. I hate to point out the obvious, but this is an urban fantasy after all. Readers who are looking for a neat, tidy, satisfying relationship story should turn to a paranormal romance. Rachel's love life will remain a chaotic wreck until the end of time. When Rachel finds true love, then you'll know that Kim Harrison is tired, and the series will be over.\\n\\nMost of all it seemed that fans were upset at how a new character was introduced, and I'm wondering how these readers expect authors to keep a series alive without fresh blood? The true bone of contention is not that he's new exactly, but that he (yes, I'm keeping his identity secret) had an important impact on Rachel that is now coming to light, but we (the readers) had never heard of him before. For some reason this revelation has ruffled some fur. Haven't we all have crushes or boyfriends or sweethearts from our youth that are locked in our heart? Why should we know everything about Rachel's past?\\n\\nAlright, I confess that I'm baffled by the bad reviews. While this book lacked a strong central story-line and the usual breathless conclusion, it was still a highly entertaining tangle of messy little subplots. No, it's not my favorite installment, but I defy anyone to tell me they were bored by this book. Confused? Maybe. Frustrated? Okay. But bored? No, I won't buy it, and that's why it doesn't deserve one- or two-star reviews. A book that I'd give one-star to doesn't hold a candle to anything I've ever read by Kim Harrison.\\n\\nI suppose the only flaws that bugged me were sins of omission. A lot of my favorite characters, like Al, Ceri, and Trent, got very little page time for such a big book. The good news is that I think Ms. Harrison has finally shut the door on the whole business with Kisten, and Rachel has a new complication regarding her fellow witches that will provide plenty of angst for the next book. I'm kind of glad it has taken me so long to get caught up, because I only have to wait one month to read <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Black-Magic-Sanction-Rachel-Morgan/dp/B0030BJEAS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Black Magic Sanction (Rachel Morgan)</a>, which comes out on February 23, 2010.\",\n \"Product: The sixth book in Harrison's New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series starring Rachel Morgan. A pacey and addictive novel of sexy bounty-hunting witches, cunning demons and menacing vampires. Having barely escaped being skewered by the criminal vampire overlord of Cinncinati, Rachel now has even bigger problems to contend with. The demon, Algaliarept, although banished back into the everafter has infected others of his kind with his interest in a witch who can channel demon magic. Rachel soon finds herself with not one but three hellions on her tail; and one of them is even crazier and more dangerous than all the fairy assassins, weres and vampires on the planet. Published as 'The Outlaw Demon Wails' in the US.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I tried to read it in one go and almost killed my poor eyes - I couldn't put it down\\n\\nReview: Plot Summary: The demon Al is back, and he lets Rachel Morgan know that all deals are off. Once the sun sets she becomes his prey, because someone is summoning him out of prison each night. Rachel must find the summoner, but making up a list of everyone who wants her dead is actually quite challenging, and not for a lack of names. Fortunately all of Rachel's friends, Ivy, Jenks, Ciri, and David, are ready to help. If Rachel can't kill Al, then she must find a way to neutralize him, and the solution is so crazy-stupid it just might work.\\n\\nLet me start by saying that The Outlaw Demon Wails is my favorite installment in The Hollows series so far, hence I think it deserves my top rating. Kim Harrison's urban fantasy series is always highly entertaining, but this time around the surprises had my jaw dropping, the relationships grew by leaps and bounds, and no, I couldn't put it down. Just try reading 500 pages in a tiny font size in one shot and see how your eyes feel. My eyes resemble grainy pebbles right now but I have no regrets.\\n\\nMs. Harrison keeps introducing new characters into the mix, and for the first time Rachel spends some quality time with her mother. I know that sounds a little dull, but Mom has some secrets that are going to be revealed, and it's pretty amazing stuff. Once again, I'm sitting here with my hands tied, because it's impossible to discuss anything about the plot for fear of spewing spoilers.\\n\\nAt this point in the series, it feels like it's shifting away from non-stop action mode, and we're spending more time on the character relationships. The world is built, the enemies are vicious, but it's Rachel's friends who are precious. Whereas the earlier books seemed to have Rachel running from one bad situation to another, I feel like a lot of time was devoted to exploring Rachel's relationship with Ivy, Ciri, Trent, her mother, Al, and so on. It worked well for me, and I found myself pulled deeper into the story than I had been previously.\\n\\nSo I'm nearly caught up, with the next book, <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/White-Witch-Black-Curse-The-Hollows-Book-7/dp/0061138029/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7)</a> in my TBR pile. Then in February 2010 comes the treat Hollows fans are waiting for, the release of <a data-hook=\\\"product-link-linked\\\" class=\\\"a-link-normal\\\" href=\\\"/Black-Magic-Sanction-Rachel-Morgan/dp/0061138037/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8\\\">Black Magic Sanction (Rachel Morgan)</a>.\",\n \"Product: Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series and the Night Huntress World novels. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to nineteen different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling - by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: This wasn't the Cat and Bones I've come to love... I'm waiting for the next book already\\n\\nReview: Plot Summary: Cat and Bones travel to Paris, city of love, for an overdue vacation only to find that a 1,000 year old vampire named Gregor is stalking Cat's dreams. Gregor claims to be Cat's true vampire husband, and some startling evidence shows that he may be right. Under this kind of pressure, Bones and Cat's relationship falls apart like a flimsy house of cards. Gregor manipulates the situation nicely, but the true problem lies between our lovers, who let themselves become divided just when they should support each other the most.\\n\\nI suppose that sooner or later this was bound to happen. I find myself disappointed by this entry in the Night Huntress series. That's not to say that this book isn't good, but frankly I'm like a spoiled brat who has been gorging on candy without restraint, and somebody just handed me a raw carrot. Compared to the first three novels, this one just isn't up to par, and I'm wondering in hindsight if this series should have stopped at a trilogy? Is it asking the impossible to keep things humming at a fever pitch for book after book, especially when it features the same couple? I just don't know.\\n\\nWhat I do know, is that my favorite balls-to-the-walls heroine was sadly missing. There were a few flickers here and there of that sassy woman I love, but mostly Cat was a disappointment to me. She was either grouchy, or scared, or guzzling gin, or eating ice cream, but I kept waiting for her to strap on some silver and kill somebody. She was just too passive this whole thing through, and that is not the young girl who killed vampires on her weekends off, or the woman who lead a secret government team to protect the innocent. It seems that my favorite tough cookie would rather eat one than be one this time around.\\n\\nBones is also in my penalty box for spewing some pretty harsh stuff in the heat of the moment. That charming, cocky, tougher-than-nails guy we all fell in love with? Well, he's constantly on edge, he's a grouch, and he won't open up with Cat until the very end, and I kept wondering where my sexy Bones went? Oh sure, he looked good, that was made abundantly clear, but Bones's appeal has always his personality. It's like someone turned the light out, along with his sense of humor. I'm mourning the loss.\\n\\nAm I still a fan of this series? Of course. Most of the series I follow have at least one book that feels like a stumble, but I fully expect to be wowed again by Jeaniene Frost's writing. It just didn't happen this time, for the first time.\",\n \"Product: Grand Sophy\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: My first Heyer book, and all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW!\\n\\nReview: Plot Summary: Sir Horace Stanton-Lacy drops a bomb on his sister; he's going to Brazil and he needs her to watch over his 20-year-old daughter, Sophia. Picturing a meek, biddable young lady, the aunt agrees, and receives another shock when a tall vibrant woman arrives with three animals in tow. Sophy is a force of nature, and there is no middle ground in how people feel about her - they either love her or hate her. Fortunately all but the most small-minded stick-in-the-muds treasure her, and benefit from her grand domestic schemes.\\n\\nThis book is going on my keeper shelf for life, and I'm sitting here regretting that this is the first Heyer book I've read. I have been wasting precious time! Now I'll have to play catch up, and start reading her books, posthaste. This story was such a treat to read, and I had a smile on my face whenever Sophy entered the scene. There are several books and movies that attempt to do this kind of screwball comedy, but they're sad imitations next to this grand master. The humor keeps building until the final crescendo, which is equal parts chaos, comedy, and closure. I wish I could see this book acted out on the stage. No one could ask for a better cast of characters.\\n\\nSophy is a dust devil that blows her aunt's family into turmoil, and unlike the hapless Emma by Jane Austen, Sophy knows precisely what she is doing with all the cunning of chess master. If I have any criticisms it is that Sophy does not have any flaws, but I love her too much to wish her any different. Pitted against her are the sour-faced Miss Wraxton and her fiance, Charles Rivenhall, who is Sophy's cousin and a veritable wet blanket. In true English fashion, Lord and Lady Ombersley's family have been quietly unhappy for some time, but Sophy is the one who illuminates all the problems that have been festering in the family's bosom.\\n\\nIn perfect Regency romance tradition, all the ladies find love, propriety is satisfied, and the puckered sourpusses slink back into their holes. I had a grand time.\",\n \"Product: After years at the bottom of the pack, Anna has learned never to trust dominant males, until Charles Cornick, the enforcer and leader of the North American werewolves, declares her his mate, revealing her destiny as an Omega wolf.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good start to a Mercy Thompson spin off series - looking forward to 2\\n\\nReview: Now this is more like it! I knew Briggs could do urban fantasy and romance combined. I love the Mercy Thompson series, but I was griping on my review of Bone Crossed that Briggs doesn't deliver on the romance/sex side as I'd wish. Happily, this does not apply to Cry Wolf.\\n\\nCharles is the spooky assassin who enforces alpha-wolf Bran's directives, and he's also Bran's son. When Charles visits a dysfunctional wolf pack, he discovers Anna, a rare Omega wolf who is neither dominant nor submissive, she's just zen. Supposedly an Omega wolf can calm the violent inclinations in other wolves, and stop the despair that comes with living forever and alone. Unfortunately the pack leader hated Anna and had her brutalized for being different. Charles sees more than a valuable wolf for Bran, he sees his mate as well. The story focuses on their growing connection while they're tracking an evil threat to the pack.\\n\\nWhen reading this, I felt like I had missed a prior book, but this is book one in the series, so I thought I must be wrong. Briggs plops us right in the middle of Charles extracting Anna from her tribe of misfits, and it's obvious that a lot has happened. Charles has already told Anna that she's his mate when the story begins. I find out later that Briggs started this series with a novella, which you can read if you buy On The Prowl, an anthology with short stories, including other authors. Grrrrrr. Frankly, I'd prefer to save the eight bucks, since I always feel short-changed by novellas. They aren't long enough to develop the kind of character interaction I'm after. Your choice though.\\n\\nCorrection: My intrepid sister tells me that you can buy \\\"Alpha and Omega\\\", the prequel novella as an Ebook, and low and behold, she's right. So now it's more like a $3 gamble instead of $8.\\n\\n***Okay, since writing the above, I have read the prequel novella, and I have to say I WISH I HAD READ IT FIRST! It really enhances the story in Cry Wolf, and you get to experience Charles and Anna's first week together. Don't be cheap, just buy them both together.\",\n \"Product: Magic is dangerous but love is more dangerous still... When sixteen-year-old tessa gray arrives in england during the reign of queen victoria, something terrifying is waiting for her in london's downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural fold stalk the gaslit streets. Friendless and hunted, tessa seeks refuge with the shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Drawn ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by and torn between two best friends and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An excellent historical/steampunk mash-up\\n\\nReview: Plot Summary: Sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray leaves America after her Aunt passes away. She's bound for London where her older brother has a job, but when she arrives Tessa is picked up by a pair of ladies known as the Dark Sisters. They imprison Tessa in their large, damp home, and begin her training in a skill she never knew she possessed - Tessa can shapeshift into another person by holding one of their personal items. The Dark Sisters tell Tessa that they're preparing her for their master, known only as The Magister, but before the ceremony can take place, Tessa escapes with the help of a Shadowhunter named Will. The Shadowhunters are half angel/half human beings who police the Downworlders - vampires, werewolves, warlocks, etc. - and Tessa learns that her abilities put her under their jurisdiction. Tessa agrees to use her shapeshifting skills to help Will and his friend Jem in their investigation if they'll help her find her missing brother.\\n\\n(The Infernal Devices Trilogy: Book One)\\n\\nI had a good time in this gloomy, Victorian London setting filled with all kinds of supernatural creatures and steampunkish gadgetry. Clockwork Angel wasn't really challenging in any way, but this is the kind of young adult adventure that can be enjoyed by all kinds of readers, most especially those who want a fast story that's easy to digest (think of the recent Sherlock Holmes movie, but add vampires and angelic warriors). I thought Cassandra Clare kept both the setting and her heroine in character, and by that I mean that it stayed true to the times. Tessa was constantly appalled by any kind of informality or breach of propriety, and London was resolutely gray, gray, gray.\\n\\nClockwork Angel also reminds me strongly of The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan. I mention this because if you like one, then there's a very good chance that you'll like the other as well. Both stories feature two boys who are brothers in arms, and while one is drop-dead gorgeous, deadly in combat, and completely standoffish, the other is friendly, weaker, and hampered by some physical illness or injury. This sets up a triangle where the heroine is attracted to the gorgeous bad boy while the good boy pines for her in silent misery. It's not an original formula, perhaps, but it works.\\n\\nI think this story is riding the big wave of mashup fantasies that have a little bit of everything, and are therefore pleasing to a wide audience. According to Ms. Clare's website, the next two books in the series will be Clockwork Prince (September 2011) and Clockwork Princess (Fall 2012).\",\n \"Product: Courtney Milans debut novel was published in 2010. Since then, her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Shes been a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller, a RITA finalist and an RT Reviewers Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance. Her second book was chosen as a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010. Courtney lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband, a marginally-trained dog, and an attack cat. Courtney has had several occupations--computer programmer, scientist, lawyer--but her favorite job is the one she is now doing full time: Writing romance novels.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: This one didn't do it for me\\n\\nReview: I have absolutely loved several of Ms. Milan's novels, but for some reason this one didn't do it for me. Normally I can't put her romances down, but I found it all too easy to walk away from THE DUCHESS WAR. I think it's because I'm having a hardtime accepting the hero at face value. He has too much virtue and not enough vice, given his upbringing. The heroine was delightful, and her background has to be one of the most unique creations I've come across in a regency romance, but I wasn't feeling the sparks between the two leads. Still, I'd rather spend my money on an \\\"okay\\\" Courtney Milan romance than most other books out there. Her writing is always high quality stuff.\",\n \"Product: How does an LA sophisticate like rock star Bryan Spencer woo a small-town African-American girl like Callie Lawson? Bryan has come to a small Alabama town to recover after the death of his best friend. The small town is suffocating him until he meets Callie, triggering a contest between LA sin and Southern Sunday school. Bryan and Callie must overcome racial issues, the treacherous nature of the entertainment industry and the clash between urban sophistication and rural values if they are going to stay together.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The story has good bones, but too much flab and filler slows it down\\n\\nReview: Plot Summary: Callie Lawson is a successful bookstore owner in her small hometown in Alabama. She's a proud African-American woman with a tight network of friends, family, and church members who all admire and respect her. Bryan Spencer is the sexy lead singer and guitarist of a rock band who recently lost his best friend to a heroine overdose. Bryan is oblivious to the underlying stigma that an interracial couple will face, but Callie is hyper-aware of their situation, and she makes every attempt to keep their relationship platonic. When Callie succumbs to the passion, their troubles begin.\\n\\nThis is a fairly realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by interracial couples. Instead of glossing over the issue, Holcomb dove deep and laid it all out, no matter how ugly it got. It's easy to shake off disapproval from bigoted strangers, but it's another thing entirely when it's family and their most trusted friends simmering with anger over the color of someone's skin. The approbation was not universal by any means, and there were also touching allies who defended the couple with a bulldog's tenacity.\\n\\nThe relationship was further complicated by the difference between a small-town, church-going family woman, and a sexually dissolute, rock-star hunk. Even if Bryan were black instead of white, their problems would still have been marked because of their cultural separation, especially when the paparazzi set their sights on Callie. Holcomb planted every possible trip wire imaginable, and forced the couple through a social obstacle course that would have had most folks calling it quits long ago.\\n\\nBryan's attraction and love for Callie definitely drives their relationship until Callie is willing to open her eyes. I can't say I blame her, even though I found Callie's timidity and indecisiveness trying at times. As a black woman dating a white man, Callie faced the brunt of the criticism, and it cut deep when other black women, even at her church no less, called her a whore or a kept woman. Still, a niggling voice in my mind kept shouting at her to stand up, be strong, and fight back for the man she loves.\\n\\nI'd give this book a higher rating, but it's too long by a third. I was longing for a tighter, faster-paced story about halfway through the book. I was also frustrated a few times when in the middle of a critical scene, Holcomb would divert into a descriptive passage on another character. If I were the editor, I would have been hacking and slashing through the manuscript until I reached the pure, undiluted heart at the center of the story.\",\n \"Product: Unabridged CD Audiobook 8 CDs / 10 Hours long\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I see why this is a must-read for UF fans; excellent blood, guts, and action\\n\\nReview: Plot Summary: Anita Blake may resemble a diminutive china doll (don't ever call her that), but she's known amongst vampires as The Executioner. It's an impressive title, since killing vamps is only her side-business. Anita's first calling is being an animator, someone who can raise the dead as a zombie. Someone in town is slaughtering master vampires, and their ancient leader, Nikolaos, wants Anita to find the killer. It sounds simple, but Nikolaos is evil incarnate, and there's no guarantee that Anita will survive after she solves the case.\\n\\nIn the foreword Hamilton said she considers this novel to be part mystery and part dark fantasy. She said this book defied all the typical categories when it was written, being neither straight-up horror, mystery, or fantasy, and how some people assumed this type of vampire story would flop around like a fish out of water. I have no problem categorizing this as a dark urban fantasy, and I also have no qualms stating that it is very, very good. The only thing holding me back on the rating is the lack of romance, but I enjoyed every page of this intro book, and I'll be looking up book two as soon as I can.\\n\\nThe quality of the writing is right up there with all my favorite PNR and UF authors. The whole premise of vampires living openly with humans is no longer a novel idea (I'm guessing it was when this book was written), but Anita's `animator' powers are unique. Hamilton doesn't give the reader much background on how Anita came to have this strange zombie-making talent, and I hope she'll explain it more in the later books. Suffice to say, this book has a creative fantasy world, with ghouls, vampires, zombies, weres, and a hair-raising nemesis. The action is flat-out gory, and I love it so much that it's easy for me to forget that some people don't care to read about blood, guts, and brains splattering on the walls. Consider yourself warned.\\n\\nI liked Anita Blake after only a few chapters. She starts the book with a black and white view of the world; humans are good and vampires are bad. It's a promising beginning, because the best characters have to evolve, and Anita has a long way to go. She seems far too frail to battle all the monsters who want to eat a piece of her (literally), but Anita manages to hang onto her life like a scrappy featherweight fighter. I dig her false bravado in the face of extreme peril, and we alone get to know her innermost thoughts, which are full of fear, self-doubt, and honorable intentions. I look forward to spending more time with her.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":14,"string":"14"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":98,"string":"98"}}},{"rowIdx":99,"cells":{"question_id":{"kind":"string","value":"A3KEZLJ59C1JVH"},"question":{"kind":"string","value":"Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of \"4.0\" for a product with description \"BBC Ones much praised, multi-award-winning drama Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, returns for an eagerly awaited third series of three, 90-minute films The Empty Hearse, The Sign Of Three and His Last Vow. Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Sherlock Holmes, with Martin Freeman as John Watson, Mark Gatiss as Mycroft, Rupert Graves as Inspector Lestrade, Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson, Amanda Abbington as Mary Morstan and Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper.\". The summary of the review text is \"The weakest season yet, but still excellent\"."},"answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I had a feeling \"Sherlock\" would slowly start getting a bit wobbly as the seasons wore on and the producers focused on the best and most well-known of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, leaving less and less material to work with. I was right. Season 3 consists of three episodes, the best being \"The Sign of Three,\" which is actually one of my favorite episodes of the entire series. The first episode, \"The Empty Hearse,\" answers the question of how Sherlock survived his apparent death in the Season 2 cliffhanger. The final episode, \"His Last Vow,\" starts off strong and includes some unexpected twists, but it left me a bit unsettled, as I have a hard time accepting that Sherlock would actually commit the crime he does at the end. It's so out of character, in my opinion. Still, the cliffhanger for next season was great, and I hope the return of a memorable villain will bring some great stories in Season 4."},"correct_answer":{"kind":"string","value":"I had a feeling \"Sherlock\" would slowly start getting a bit wobbly as the seasons wore on and the producers focused on the best and most well-known of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, leaving less and less material to work with. I was right. Season 3 consists of three episodes, the best being \"The Sign of Three,\" which is actually one of my favorite episodes of the entire series. The first episode, \"The Empty Hearse,\" answers the question of how Sherlock survived his apparent death in the Season 2 cliffhanger. The final episode, \"His Last Vow,\" starts off strong and includes some unexpected twists, but it left me a bit unsettled, as I have a hard time accepting that Sherlock would actually commit the crime he does at the end. It's so out of character, in my opinion. Still, the cliffhanger for next season was great, and I hope the return of a memorable villain will bring some great stories in Season 4."},"documents":{"kind":"list like","value":["Product: ATTENTION: Touch Screen Sensitivity *Touch Sensitivity Adjustment: Go to your phone Settings menu - Advanced Features - Turn On Touch Sensitivity *Sensitivity of the Home Button: Go to your phone Settings menu - Display - Navigation Bar , youll see the Hard Press Home Button feature. The default setting is 3, but you can increase this up to a stronger setting of 5. There is a test at the bottom of the screen that lets you gauge the sensitivity at each level, so go with what works for you. Features: Material: Tempered Glass Touch screen will function as normal Prevent scratches, dust, wear and glare Anti-glare, anti-bubble, anti-fingerprint and anti-slip It provides great security at 45 degree viewing angle Offers tough and durable surface while keeping the LCD screen clean Made of high-quality material that is very lightweight and impact resistant Package Content: 2 X Tempered Glass Screen Protectors 2 X Dust Removal Stickers 2 X Wet/Dry Wipes\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The ultimate vacuum cleaner\n\nReview: Let's get something straight: I love to clean. Other women like to bake and sew, but I get my kicks from vacuuming. I vacuum pretty often and always thought I kept a pretty clean house...until I got a Dyson. I always knew that my old Hoover was a piece of crap...it literally fell apart after less than three years of use. Several of my girlfriends have Dysons and swear by them, and I have a cat who sheds a lot so I wanted a vacuum that would work wonders with pet hair. My husband bought me the Dyson DC14 as an early Christmas gift. It was very easy to assemble and comes with clear understand instructions and a bunch of extras: attachments, carpet cleaner, you name it!\n\nThe vacuum is very lightweight and easy to maneuver. I was amazed (and disgusted) by how much pet hair and DIRT the Dyson sucked out of my carpet! I had vacuumed the day before we got the Dyson, but I used the DC14 in three rooms and the collection cup was completely full by the time I was done. AMAZING!\n\nOverall, I am extremely impressed with my new vacuum. It really gets the job done! I'm not sure how often I'll use all of the attachments...so far I've tried the smaller ones that attach to the base of the vacuum itself, and they were both very effective. The 17-foot cord is very nice...it would be even nicer if it automatically wound itself up, but oh well. Also, I wish the DC14 had a headlight, but that's something I can live without.\n\nI will never go back to a Hoover or any other vacuum-wannabe brand! Dyson is the only one for me. If you have pets and are looking for a way to manage all that shedding, a Dyson Animal vacuum is exactly what you need. Also, the Dyson is a bit of a miracle worker: even my husband gets excited about cleaning when he uses this thing!","Product: This Sony kitchen CD clock radio's sleek, under-the-cabinet design, keeps it out of the way while you listen to your favorite music or radio programs in the kitchen. Features a built-in 2-position selectable Mega Bass sound system with a 2-5/8\" speaker; clock with easy-set kitchen timer; AM/FM/TV/Weather tuner with 15 memory presets; and a CD player with CD-R/RW playback functionality. Includes remote control and mounting hardware. Silver. 2-7/8Hx13-7/8Wx12-1/4D\".\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great sound and excellent quality\n\nReview: I bought this Sony kitchen CD player/radio for my husband as a Christmas gift, and we both love it. Not only was it incredibly easy to install, but it's just the right size and fits perfectly under our cabinets. I hardly ever listen to the radio, so I really can't comment on the FM/AM reception quality, although it seemed to work just fine when we tested everything to make sure it worked. The unit was easy to program and the CD player works great. I was pretty amazed by the sound quality, which is very good. The bass is also very impressive, and the volume can be turned up very loud so we can enjoy music throughout the main floor of our house. The remote control is also very handy, and it even has a magnet on the back so we can stick it on the refrigerator without worrying that it might get lost. All in all, this radio is excellent, and it's a great value for the price.","Product: Take Hello Kitty everywhere you go. This personal CD player has 45-second ASP; CD-R/RW capabilities; programmable memory; intro/random play; bass boost; skip/search forward and back; and repeat 1 or all. Headphones included. Imported. 2-1/4Wx8-1/4Lx11H\".\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Very cute, good quality.\n\nReview: Hmm...why is this thing classified as a toy? I bought it at Target in the CD/audio section with all the other CD players. Adults like me will love this CD player just as much as kids will (and maybe more!).\n\nWell, the reason I picked this particular CD player is because I love Hello Kitty and I thought the design of this product was very cute. The quality of the CD player is also very good. I've been able to play regular CDs and burned CDs without a problem, and the skip protection feature on this thing actually WORKS, unlike many other models.\n\nThe CD player is easy to operate. It has your typical play/stop/pause/rewind/fast-forward buttons as well as a repeat track or entire disc feature and a special jogging mode for when you exercise. The headphones that come with the player are pretty decent, too, which is shocking.\n\nOverall, this is a great CD player that Hello Kitty fans of all ages will enjoy. It's easy to use, the sound quality is fantastic, and it's Hello Kitty, for god's sake! What more could you ask for?","Product: Created in a blend of fashion and class, this Swiss Legend timepiece exhibits a bold style that adds flare to your collection.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: A waste of a pretty watch\n\nReview: This watch is awful. I cannot even explain it to you. The face of the watch is beautiful. However, it's completely impractical. It's so heavy to the point that it's uncomfortable to wear, and it's also impossible to loosen the middle dial to change the time. I've been messing with it for two hours and still haven't been able to do it. Secondly, the band is ridiculous. It's a combination buckle/clasp that is stupid, hard to use, and completely unnecessary as you can't even see the clasp when the watch is on, so what the heck is the point?! I guess I could swap out the band, but that won't solve the issue of the watch being too heavy. I will never, ever wear this.","Product: A classic Disney animated fairy tale meets with the modern, live-action romantic comedy in Walt Disney Pictures ENCHANTED. Featuring an all-star cast, the film follows the beautiful princess Giselle (AMY ADAMS) as she is banished by an evil queen (SUSAN SARANDON) from her magical, musical animated land and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that doesn't operate on a happily ever after basis, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer (PATRICK DEMPSEY) who has come to her aid -- even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy tale prince (JAMES MARSDEN) back home -- she has to wonder: can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"Once upon a time...\"\n\nReview: I absolutely adored this movie, and I can't believe the Walt Disney company actually made it! \"Enchanted\" is a hilarious film in which a classic Disney fairytale collides with modern-day New York City. Prince Edward meets his true love, Giselle, in the fairytale world of Andalasia. Unfortunately, the prince's wicked stepmother doesn't want him to get married because she will forced up to give up her position as queen. Evil Queen Narissa pushes Giselle down a magical wishing well, and the poor princess-to-be ends up in a New York City sewer (where she also ceases to be animated).\n\nNeedless to say, Giselle (Amy Adams) and her fairytale mentality don't mesh well with the big city lifestyle. Fortunately, she runs into Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a kindhearted lawyer whose young daughter convinces him to lend Giselle a helping hand. Robert's kindness ends up causing a major rift between him and his girlfriend (Idina Menzel), and when Price Edward (James Marsden) finally arrives in the Big Apple to rescue his true love, Giselle realizes that her \"happily ever after\" story isn't all it's cracked up to be, and her heart may actually belong to someone else.\n\nThis is a fantastic film that celebrates (and slightly satirizes) many classic Disney animated films, especially \"Snow White\" and \"Sleeping Beauty.\" It's such a clever film, and the concept of fairytale characters walking around New York City in the year 2007 is every bit as funny to watch on-screen as you can possibly imagine. I really enjoyed the twist with Giselle's happily ever after ending, which I didn't see coming at first but suited the film perfectly. \"Enchanted\" also benefits from an outstanding cast. Dempsey and Marsden are excellent, and Susan Sarandon delivers an entertaining performance in the role of Queen Narissa (although I wish she'd been given a bit more screen time). However, this movie belongs to Amy Adams, who is absolutely brilliant and deserves an Academy Award nomination for her performance. She is amazing!\n\nOverall, \"Enchanted\" is a very enchanting movie that deserves a place of honor in the Disney vault! Children and adults will adore this film.","Product: PLEASE READ!!! THIS IS VHS VIDEO NOT DVD!!! New!!! (3-Tapes Box Set) VHS TAPE Sealed (as shown) \"Star Wars Trilogy (VHS Boxed Set)\" Fast shipping..(T6)\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I'm thankful to have these movies on DVD, but still...\n\nReview: ...George Lucas could have done a better job. The bottom line for me is that I've waited a very long time for the \"Star Wars\" movies to come out on DVD, and I'm happy to finally own them. However, the boxed set could have been a little nicer. The actual box that the DVDs come in is quite flimsy, which is disappointing. It is also disappointing to see all the little tweaks and changes Lucas has made to all three movies, none of which really make anything better and a few of which have actually pissed a lot of fans off. (For example, in one of the final scenes in \"Return of the Jedi,\" the ghost version of Darth Vader/Old Anakin that appears next to the ghosts of Yoda and Obi-Wan has been replaced with Hayden Christensen/20-something Anakin. It doesn't make any SENSE! They didn't replace Alec Guinness with Ewan McGregor, so why mess with Anakin at all? I don't understand!)\n\nDespite the little indescrepancies, it's nice to have a version (any version) of the \"Star Wars\" films to enjoy. Maybe Lucas will decide to release the original film versions on DVD one of these days, thereby making a lot of extra money for himself and satisfying his bewildered fans.","Product: home decorating vhs\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"Proof\" adds up perfectly\n\nReview: Based on David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, \"Proof\" revolves around Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow), the daughter of a brilliant, recently deceased mathematician (Anthony Hopkins). Although Catherine has inherited her father's mathematical genius, she fears that her knowledge might come with a heavy price. Her father had a history of mental illness for many years, and Catherine is worried that the disease has been passed on to her. To make matters more complicated, Catherine's pushy sister (Hope Davis) returns to town for her father's funeral and is intent on bringing Catherine back to New York City to stay with her. However, when Catherine shares a breakthrough mathematical proof with her new lover, who also happens to be her father's former graduate strudent (Jake Gyllenhaal), tensions arise as the authorship of the proof is questioned. Did Catherine's father write this amazing proof before his death, or is Catherine its true author?\n\nI thought this film was an excellent adaptation of Auburn's play. Paltrow gives an outstanding performance as a young woman coping with the death of her father, her own personal regrets, and mental instability. Hopkins also delivers a great performance as the delusional father figure, although I wish he had a bit more screen time. The only performance I was slightly disappointed with was Gyllenhaal's, who is kind of a putz. However, his character is a bit of a putz, too, so I guess I can't hold it against him too much.\n\n\"Proof\" is an excellent movie about family obligations, mental illness, and self-discovery. Put this one on your must-see list.","Product: Mrs. Claus tells us about the time Santa had a bad cold and decided to take a vacation from Christmas. Two of his elves, Jingle Bells and Jangle Bells decided to go out (with Vixen) to find children to convince Santa that the Christmas spirit is still important to everybody else. But they have to get past Heat Miser and Snow Miser, first, before they land in Southtown, USA, where it never snows for Christmas. But the Miser Brothers can't agree to let it snow in Southtown. But Mrs. Santa knows their mom--Mother Nature. Written by Kathy Li\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: What's Christmas without Nestor?!\n\nReview: I'm sure the other two cartoons on this DVD are good, but the only one I really care about is \"Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey.\" I remember watching this special on television each year when I was little, and I absolutely loved it. The story is about Nestor, an adorable little donkey who was born with two ears as long as a pair of elephant trunks. Poor Nestor has a hard time managing with those ears, and everyone makes fun of him. When his mother gives her life to save him on a cold winter night (a scene that makes me cry harder than when Bambi's mother dies), he finds himself all alone in the world. Soon Nestor meets a friendly little cherub who guides him on a quest that puts his ears to good use. Nestor SINGLEHANDEDLY (or maybe singleEARdedly?) saves the Virgin Mary's life when she is carrying Baby Jesus to Bethlehem! How cool is that?! (I guess you have to see it to believe it, but trust me, it's quite entertaining!)\n\nAll religious undertones aside, this is still a great holiday classic that everyone will enjoy. Nestor is irresistible, and I'm thrilled that I finally own the DVD and can watch it whenever I want.","Product: Animated\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A holiday cartoon classic!\n\nReview: I am so glad that \"He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special\" will be released on DVD in time for the holidays! I still have my old VHS copy of the show that I recorded from television back in the 80s, and I still watch it every year.\n\nCharacters from the \"He-Man\" and \"She-Ra\" cartoons come together in this special holiday episode. Adora has returned to Eternia to celebrate Christmas with her parents and her twin brother, Adam. She's also brought a bunch of friends from Etheria with her to join in the fun. The holiday celebrations turn sour when Orko is playing in one of Man-at-Arms' new defensive devices, a Sky Spy. Poor Orko inadvertently launches the ship, and he ends up taking a trip into space and landing on a mysterious planet called Earth. Orko meets two children, Alishia and Miguel, who are lost in the woods. They join Orko in the Sky Spy to get out of the cold just as Man-at-Arms figures out how to bring the ship back to Eternia...with Orko and the kids in tow.\n\nOf course, Christmas with He-Man and She-Ra wouldn't be complete without everyone's favorite villains. Skeletor and Hordak are commissioned by their boss, Horde Prime, to kidnap the children and deliver them to him...Horde Prime believes that they are the source of the \"disgusting Christmas spirit\" that is polluting his universe, and he is determined to get rid of them! Skeletor and Hordak compete against each other to see who can kidnap the children first. Alishia and Miguel end up spending a good portion of time with Skeletor, and in my opinion, that's the best part of the show. We get to witness the evil Skeletor become attached to these two kids and their Manchine puppy, Relay. It's hilarious!\n\nIn the end, Skeletor becomes filled with the Christmas spirit, and he saves the children from what would have been certain doom at the hands of Horde Prime. The kids get to enjoy Christmas and are eventually returned to their Earthen parents safe and sound.\n\nOverall, this Christmas special is one of my favorite parts of the \"He-Man\" and \"She-Ra\" series. All of our favorite characters are together in one place, which is a lot of fun. There are also plenty of new characters, including the Manchines, who are a bunch of little robotic people and animals. Even though we get to see a lot of He-Man and She-Ra in this episode, Skeletor is the real star of the show...I crack up every time I see him get all sentimental on the screen!\n\nI'm thrilled that this DVD is finally being released. Now that the \"He-Man\" series has slowly started to trickle out on DVD, hopefully \"She-Ra\" won't be far behind!","Product: VHS TAPE\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Two Ewans are better than one\n\nReview: The big thing about \"The Island\" is...there is no island. It's just a ploy to lure unsuspecting clones to their deaths. The year is 2014 and a corporation has developed a method to produce human clones. The clones have been led to believe that the Earth has been contaminated, which is why they're all being quarantined indoors. Every so often the facility has a lottery drawing, and one lucky winner is offered the chance to go to \"the island,\" which is supposedly the one place on the planet that hasn't been destroyed.\n\nOne of the clones, Lincoln Six-Echo (Ewan McGregor) finally discovers the truth when his friend Jordan Two-Delta (Scarlett Johansson) is chosen as a lucky lottery winner...in order to protect her from being killed, he convinces her to break out of the facility and find out the truth behind their existence. A man who Lincoln befriended at the facility (Steve Buschemi) informs the clones that they are only several years old and have been implanted with the memories of their \"owners\"...filthy rich people who paid a fee of $5 million apiece to have clones provided as \"insurance policies.\"\n\nUnfamiliar with their new surroundings, Lincoln and Jordan set off to find their owners and enlist their help in bringing down the cloning facility. They manage to avoid being captured killed by the facility cronies, the FBI, and the LAPD, and Lincoln finally comes face to face with his owner, Tom Lincoln (also played by Ewan McGregor). Unfortunately for Lincoln, his owner isn't thrilled about the fact that his insurance policy just wandered into his living room, and Lincoln and Jordan have to take it upon themselves to try and stop the mastermind of the cloning facility (Sean Bean) from killing more innocent \"copies.\"\n\n\"The Island\" is both a great action/sci-fi movie and a very emotional story about two people who are forced to examine the purpose and validity of their own existence. McGregor and Johannson deliver superb performances and have great onscreen chemistry. I also enjoyed the chemistry that McGregor has with...himself! The scenes between Lincoln and Tom were very enjoyable. (It would have been nice to see Jordan's character encounter her owner in person, but the movie is over 2.5 hours long, so there really wasn't any room for extra footage.) The cinematography is also very impressive: in typical Michael Bay style, many of the scenes flash by in extremely fast sequences, which is unique and really sets the film apart from other action movies.\n\nIn an age where cloning is a very hot topic, \"The Island\" definitely raises some interesting questions. There are a few cheesy moments in the film (such as when Sean Bean borrows a line from Cliff Huxtable in \"The Cosby Show\"...that was so lame!), and the first 40 minutes of the movie drag a bit. Things pick up quickly when Lincoln and Jordan finally manage to escape the cloning facility: from then on it's nothing but non-stop action and adventure.\n\nOverall, \"The Island\" is a very interesting sci-fi thriller, and those are pretty hard to come by these days. Fans of McGregor and Johansson will be treated to great performances by two very fine actors, and the plot will give you plenty to talk about when you go out for drinks after the film. :)","Product: A pleasantly surprising comedy.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: There's something about this movie...\n\nReview: It took me ten years to see this movie, and I'm glad I finally did! \"There's Something About Mary\" is the story of Ted (Ben Stiller), a lonely guy who has been in love with his high school prom date, Mary (Cameron Diaz), ever since they shared the most horrifying pre-date experience possible. Thirteen years later, Ted still can't get Mary out of his mind. He hires Patrick (Matt Dillon), a sleazy private investigator, to track Mary down. Unfortunately, when Patrick gets a good look at Mary, he decides that he wants her all to himself. Patrick concocts a wild scheme to keep Ted and Mary apart, but Ted eventually figures out what's going on and embarks on a hellish journey down to Florida to set things straight. It turns out that many more men have become smitten with Mary, and it's anyone's guess what will happen in the end.\n\nThis movie is incredibly funny. There is definitely some humor in it that I would usually consider uncouth (bathroom scenes, anyone?), but even I couldn't keep myself from laughing. The bits with the dog are hilarious, and the actors are all fantastic. Overall, \"There's Something About Mary\" is great for a lot of laughs. Don't wait as long as I have to see it!","Product: Thrill-seeking billionaire Thomas Crown (Brosnan) loves nothing more than courting disasterand winning! So when his world becomes too stiflingly safe, he pulls off his boldest stunt ever: stealing a priceless paintingin broad daylightfrom one of Manhattan's most heavily guarded museums. But his post-heist excitement soon pales beside an even greater challenge: Catherine Banning (Russo). A beautiful insurance investigator hired to retrieve the artwork, Catherine's every bit as intelligent, cunning and hungry for adventure as he is. And just when Thomas realizes he's finally met his match, she skillfully leads him into a daring game of cat and mouse that's more intoxicating and dangerous than anything either of them has ever experienced before!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: One of my favorite movies ever!\n\nReview: Pierce Brosnan plays Thomas Crown, a billionaire executive who decides to have a little fun by stealing a priceless Monet from his own museum, basically just to see if he can get away with it. Enter Renee Russo's character, Catherine Banning, a high-class bounty hunter hired by the company that insures the painting who is intent on proving that Brosnan is guilty. Despite her professional obligations, she cannot help but fall for Crown's charm, and the two enjoy a fabulous romance while still trying to outmatch each other.\nBrosnan and Russo have incredible chemistry. They compliment each other perfectly on screen and make the most out of every scene, both the silly ones and the serious ones. Denis Leary has a great supporting role as the detective working on the Crown heist, and his scenes with Russo are excellent as well.\nThe plot is very enjoyable, and there are a lot of twists and turns along the way that the audience doesn't see coming. Crown's final \"prank\" at the end of the film is absolutely priceless, as is his final scene with Russo. This is one instance where a movie remake is ten times better than the original. I'm glad that there are plans to make a sequel.","Product: With Russell Crowe (THE INSIDER, A BEAUTIFUL MIND), Hank Azaria (GODZILLA, THE BIRD CAGE), and Burt Reynolds leading an incredible all-star cast, here's a fun, uplifting, action-packed story that everyone will love! A remote hockey-obsessed town populated by 633 of the most eccentric characters you'd ever want to meet, Mystery is the kind of place where nothing ever changes. But then life as they know it gets turned completely upside down! When a publicity stunt brings the world-famous New York Rangers -- and the national spotlight -- to Mystery for a game with the local team of weekend warriors, the whole town rises to meet the challenge of a lifetime! Also starring Mary McCormack (TRUE CRIME, DEEP IMPACT) and Lolita Davidovich (PLAY IT TO THE BONE, JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE) in another critical favorite from the hit-making director of AUSTIN POWERS 1&2 -- you'll stand and cheer as this ragtag bunch shows that nothing can melt their dreams of a miracle on ice!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Decent screenplay overshadowed by a lousy leading man\n\nReview: There is one major problem with this movie, and the problem's name is Russell Crowe. I CAN'T STAND Russell Crowe! I think he is one of the most overrated actors around, and his arrogance bleeds into every single movie he appears in. He is not particularly talented and makes the same faces in every film, and it drives me CRAZY! In this case, we have what could have been an okay movie, but Russell Crowe poisoned the whole thing with his very presence.\n\n\"Mystery, Alaska\" has the potential to be a decent movie. It's about the small Alaskan town of Mystery, a place where everybody knows everyone else and each resident is obsessed with the game of hockey. One day a former Mystery resident turned sports promoter returns to town with very exciting news: he's set up an exhibition game between Mystery amateur hockey players and the New York Rangers. The people of Mystery must learn to put aside their various differences and pull together in preparation for the event of a lifetime.\n\nThis film is sentimental and can basically be summed up in one cliche: \"It's not about whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game.\" There are several strong performances in this movie, including Hank Azaria as Mystery's prodigal son and Burt Reynolds as the town judge/coach. However, Russell Crowe spoiled the whole film for me. He plays the town sheriff/hockey player/coach, and he's basically just a big cocky oaf on ice. There's this one scene where Crowe's character is supposed to have a \"touching\" moment with his wife. He crosses out a bunch of words in a newspaper column and instructs his wife to read the remaining characters out loud. I think the intention of the scene was for Crowe's character to come across as being all sentimental and deep, but it was just incredibly stupid and serves as a perfect example of how every movie Crowe is in basically turns to garbage.\n\nIf ANYONE but Russell Crowe had been cast in the role of John, \"Mystery, Alaska\" might be worth watching. Sadly, though, I must advise you to skip it.","Product: Pixar genius reigns in this funny romantic comedy, which stars a robot who says absolutely nothing for a full 25 minutes yet somehow completely transfixes and endears himself to the audience within the first few minutes of the film. As the last robot left on earth, Wall-E (voiced by Ben Burtt) is one small robot--with a big, big heart--who holds the future of earth and mankind squarely in the palm of his metal hand. He's outlasted all the \"Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class\" robots that were assigned some 700 years ago to clean up the environmental mess that man made of earth while man vacationed aboard the luxury spaceship Axiom. Wall-E has dutifully gone about his job compacting trash, the extreme solitude broken only by his pet cockroach, but he's developed some oddly human habits and ideas. When the Axiom sends its regularly scheduled robotic EVE probe (Elissa Knight) to earth, Wall-E is instantly smitten and proceeds to try to impress EVE with his collection of human memorabilia. EVE's directive compels her to bring Wall-E's newly collected plant sprout to the captain of the Axiom and Wall-E follows in hot pursuit. Suddenly, the human world is turned upside down and the Captain (Jeff Garlin) joins forces with Wall-E and a cast of other misfit robots to lead the now lethargic people back home to earth. Wall-E is a great family film with the most impressive aspect being the depth of emotion conveyed by a simple robot--a machine typically considered devoid of emotion, but made so absolutely touching by the magic of Pixar animation. Also well-worth admiring are the sweeping views from space, the creative yet disturbing vision of what strange luxuries a future space vacation might offer, and the innovative use of trash in a future cityscape. Underneath the slapstick comedy and touching love story is a poignant message about the folly of human greed and its potential effects on earth and the entire human race.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Good movie, but it sends the wrong message\n\nReview: \"Wall-E\" is the story of a small robot with a big heart. The last of the \"Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class\" robots, Wall-E's job is to compact the garbage that's taken over Earth and caused humans to abandon the planet some 700 years ago. Wall-E dutifully goes about his job, but demonstrates many human characteristics, including a desire to love. When an EVE probe is sent to Earth, Wall-E falls hard for her and follows her back to the Axiom, a luxury spaceships where what remains of the human race has been loafing around for the past several centuries. The captain of the ship ultimately joins forces with Wall-E and EVE in an effort to return to Earth, but they must overcome powerful technology that's been in place for a very long time.\n\nI appreciated this movie's charm and innovation, but didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would. I appreciate the eco-friendly messages \"Wall-E\" is trying to send, but the ending of the film bothered me because it seemed too easy. What happened to all of the waste that had been polluting the Earth for many hundreds of years? Did it just disappear? I think it sends the wrong message that pollution can always be overcome, even if it takes hundreds of years, but the reality is that if we destroy Earth, it may never be habitable again. I would have preferred to see the humans in the film colonize a new planet and take better care of it instead of have Earth magically restored to its past splendor.\n\nEnough of my soapbox, however. \"Wall-E\" is still a very cute movie. Also, Fred Willard is in it, and he's absolutely hilarious. What more could you want?","Product: Hugh Grant (Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary) is simply brilliant in this comedy hit the critics are hailing as \"Hilarious!\" (Premiere). Will Lightman (Grant) is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up. About A Boy is the irresistible comedy smash that Time Magazine says is \"smart, funny and winsome.\"\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Just not up to par\n\nReview: I wanted to like this movie, I really did. But I was disappointed by it.\n\nThe premise of the film is that Will (Hugh Grant), a selfish slacker who has no job and lives off his father's old royalty fees, decides to start preying on single mothers who are looking for a little romance. He then meets Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), the young son of a suicidal woman who is desperately seeking help and friendship. Will eventually asks Marcus to pretend to be his son in order to have a shot at dating an attractive single mom (Rachel Weisz), and everything goes downhill from there.\n\n\"About a Boy\" isn't at all what I expected it to be. I didn't think it was all that funny or moving, and I probably wouldn't have sat through the entire thing if it weren't for the fact that I adore Hugh Grant, and he really does a great job in the film. I think my biggest problem with the movie is that the kid who plays Marcus is kind of freaky, and I cringed every time his creepy little face popped up on the screen. I do not recommend seeing this film unless you are a big fan of Hugh Grant, in which case I suggest tuning in only for the final fifteen minutes so you can see him sing a rousing rendition of \"Killing Me Softly,\" which is pretty freakin' hilarious. Otherwise, this is definitely a film to pass up.","Product: \"Get ready for fun!\" (Leah Rozen, People) with the \"feel good movie of the year!\" (Clay Smith, Access Hollywood) Love Actually is the ultimate romantic comedy from the makers of Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill. Funny, irresistible and heartwarming, an all-star cast (Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth and Emma Thompson, to name a few!) will take you on a breathtaking tour of love's delightful twists and turns. Fall under the spell of Love Actually and share the laughs and charm again and again.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: I can't believe it took me so long to see this movie!\n\nReview: I bought the DVD because I knew I'd love the film, and I do. First of all, every single notable British actor that you can think of is in this movie. The plot follows approximately ten different couples who are struggling through their respective relationships. Some of my favorite couples are Hugh Grant's character (the Prime Minister) and his outspoken assistant, Liam Neeson and his adorable son, and Colin Firth and his Portuguese maid. The best scenes in the film are between Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman, who portray a married couple going through a rough patch. This is an amazing movie that will have you in fits of laughter one minute and fighting back tears the next. The DVD is great because it contains over 20 minutes of deleted scenes, most of which are very good.","Product: As Harry Potter readies himself for his third year at Hogwarts, an incident in which he is unable to control his anger forces him on the lam. At the same time, a dangerous man named Sirius Black escapes from the Azkaban prison with one thought on his mind: to track down and kill Harry Potter. The third year at Hogwarts is full of excitement and danger for Harry and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: The best of the Harry Potter films so far!\n\nReview: \"Prisoner of Azkaban\" is probably my favorite book in the Harry Potter series, so I guess I'm a little biased when I say that it's the best of the three films. However, I think Alfonso Cuaron is the real reason behind that. This is a BEAUTIFUL movie. What struck me the most about it was how many gorgeous \"pictures\" of Hogwarts Cuaron created throughout the film. He's always been one of my favorite directors, and I think \"Prisoner of Azkaban\" is his best film to date.\nThe kids have grown up even more since the last film, especially Neville, who doesn't look like the same person he was in the last film. (He got really tall and lost all his baby fat!) Harry's voice is deeper now (Ron shocked us all with his mature voice in \"Chamber of Secrets\"), and Emma is becoming a very pretty young woman. It was nice to see all \"my kids\" again!\nAs always, the entire cast gives an amazing performance. The kids were fabulous, of course, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed David Thewlis as Professor Lupin. I was very disappointed when I initially learned of that casting decision because I had always envisioned Ralph Fiennes in the role, but Thewlis was perfect. (They've yet to make any casting mistakes with these films, so I won't let myself worry about things like that ever again.) Except for his voice, Michael Gambon's Dumbledore is almost identical to the way Richard Harris played the character, which is comforting (albeit a bit creepy).\nEmma Thompson is hilarious as Sybil Trelawney, but she was only in two scenes, which was very disappointing. My favorite new character was Gary Oldman as Sirius Black. Everything Oldman does is amazing, and this role was no exception. Oldman doesn't have much screen time in \"Azkaban,\" but he was brilliant. I can't wait to watch him in the next two films.\nThe music and special effects were amazing, for the most part. I liked the fact that John Williams threw some jazzy melodies into the mix to liven things up a bit. And the special effects were amazing! Lupin as a werewolf, Sirius as a dog, the dementors (so creepy!), the Whomping Willow, Aunt Petunia's inflating incident...everything was great. The only special effect I was actually disappointed in was Harry's patronus. I always envisioned the stag being much larger than it was portrayed in the film. It was just this regular-size stag that was on the screen for a fraction of a second. I expected a lot more than that.\nObviously, some material from the book had to be cut. The only real gripe I have with this movie is that, unlike the first two films which stand pretty well on their own, I think that people who haven't read \"Prisoner of Azkaban\" will be a bit lost at several points in the movie. This film glosses over several details that are relatively minor, but which could easily lead to some confusion for those who haven't read J.K. Rowling's novel (Harry's permission slip for Hogsmeade, the tension between Ron and Hermione over Crookshanks and Scabbers, Buckbeack's trial, etc.)\nThe biggest thing that was omitted from the film was the story behind the Animagi. We never find out who Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs really are and why they all became Animagi in the first place. That's one of the best (and most important) parts of the book and it was completely omitted from the movie.\nSince most people who see this film have (hopefully!) already read the book, it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. However, if you analyze the movie by itself, there are definitely a few minor holes in the plot. And since the film only ran for two hours and fifteen minutes, there's no reason at all why Cuaron couldn't have allotted himself another fifteen or twenty minutes to tie up some loose ends. (\"Goblet of Fire\" and \"Order of the Phoenix\" are going to have to be at least three to three and a half hours long to cover enough material, don't you think?\n\"Prisoner of Azkaban\" was rated PG, and I personally think that some of the scenes were pushing into PG-13 mode. However, think of what will happen in the next two films. If \"Azkaban\" had been given a PG-13 rating, then \"Goblet of Fire\" and \"Phoenix\" would probably have to be rated R, and that's just not right. These are supposed to for kids, after all.","Product: After ten years of being away from home, a young man returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral. A young woman from his past helps him to reconnect with his family and his roots.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Why is this guy wasting his time on \"Scrubs?!\"\n\nReview: I think \"Scrubs\" is a terrible show, so I had no desire to see Zach Braff's movie \"Garden State\" when it was released. I heard a lot of good things about it, though, and the soundtrack rocks, so I finally decided to watch it when it was on cable, and OH MY GOD! This is SUCH an amazing movie! Braff wrote the script as well as directed and starred in the film, and he did a fabulous job. Braff's character, Andrew, is a small-time actor in L.A. who returns to his home state of New Jersey following the death of his mother. Andrew's emotions are in high gear and he passes the time by hanging out with some old school buddies (including the very talented Peter Sarsgaard, who plays Mark) and beginning a tentative relationship with a slightly crazy girl (Natalie Portman) who somehow brings him comfort.\n\nBraff, Sarsgaard, and the rest of the cast of \"Garden State\" are amazing in this film, but Portman steals the show with her hilarious performance as Sam. This movie is very touching but also very funny, and I enjoyed it so much that I watched it twice in a row! It's a wonderful story about seeking out what you want in life and making the most of it. I highly recommend it!","Product: The year's most disturbing thriller explores the unsettling possibility that the dead can contact usall we have to do is listen. When architect Jonathan Rivers (Michael Keaton) loses his wife in a tragic accident, he turns to the shadowy, unnerving world of Electronic Voice Phenomenon - communication from beyond the grave. But as he begins to penetrate the mysteries of EVP, Jonathan makes a shocking discovery: once a portal to the other world is opened, there's no telling what will come through it.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Is a decent ending too much to ask for? Apparently so!\n\nReview: It is rumored that prior to his death, Thomas Edison was working on an invention that would allow people to communicate with the dead. \"White Noise\" is based on the concept of electronic voice phenomenon (EVP), which is the alleged communication of the deceased through tape recorders and other electronic devices. It's an intriguing concept, but unfortunately \"White Noise\" is one of those horror movies that start out fabulous but then fall apart at the very end.\n\nMichael Keaton plays Jonathan Rivers, a man who is grieving over the tragic death of his wife, Anna (Chandra West). Shortly after his wife's death, Jonathan received a visit from a mysterious man (Ian McNeice) who claims that Anna has contacted him \"from the other side.\" Jonathan becomes obsessed with EVP, desperate to communicate with his late wife. In doing so, however, Jonathan unwittingly becomes entangled in the lives (and deaths) of others, and ultimately puts his own life at risk.\n\n\"White Noise\" boasts an excellent cast and an intriguing storyline. Good horror movies are few and far between these days, but I was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time while watching this, completely freaked out by what was happening on the screen. Unfortunately, though, the film completely crapped out during the last five minutes or so, like most modern horror movies tend to do. I don't even really understand what happened at the end of the film because it was so freakin' WEIRD! The ending completely ruined the movie for me, and instead of being spooked, I'm just pissed off. Why can't these films keep it together at the end?!\n\n\"White Noise\" disappointed me the same way films like \"Secret Window\" and \"Hide and Seek\" did...they were all great nail-biting thrillers until the last few minutes, when everything went to hell. Why can't these movies have decent endings?! I swear to god, the last good quality thriller that was released in theatres was \"What Lies Beneath,\" and that came out all the way back in 2000. How hard is it to make a decent scary movie?! Hollywood should be ashamed.","Product: New The Namesake [dvd]\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Good movie, but the book is so much better\n\nReview: Based on Jhumpa Lahiri's acclaimed novel, \"The Namesake\" tells the story of a young engineer, Ashoke Ganguli (Irfan Khan), and his new wife, Ashima (Tabu), who move from Calcutta to New York shortly after their marriage. Adjusting to life in a new country is difficult, especially for Ashima, but the Ganguli's children have an easier time blending in with American culture, because it's what they were born into. However, being an American-born child with Bengali parents is a difficulty in itself, and it's something that Ashoke and Ashima's son, Gogol (Kal Penn), has a very hard time dealing with. As Gogol grows into a young man, he distances himself from his family and embraces the American way of life. However, when tragedy strikes, Gogol realizes that his priorities are completely out of whack, and he attempts to make some changes in his life, but not everything goes according to plan.\n\nThis is a decent adaptation of a stunning book. The cast is fantastic, and I was especially impressed by Khan and Tabu's performances. I think that I expected more out of the film because I am such a huge fan of Lahiri's novel, so it was probably impossible for the film to measure up in my eyes. Lahiri's writing is just so incredibly descriptive and emotional, and it's impossible to transfer her beautiful words onto the screen, so the movie didn't really do it for me...the book is just so much richer and more powerful. I encourage everyone to read the book prior to watching the film adaptation.","Product: Kate Hudson twinkles as the heroine of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. She's a magazine writer assigned to date a guy, make all the mistakes girls make that drive guys away (being clingy, talking in baby-talk and so on) and records the process like a sociological experiment. However, the guy she picks-- Matthew McConaughey--is an advertising executive who's just bet that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days; if he succeeds, he'll win a huge account that will make his career. The set-up is completely absurd, but the collision of their efforts to woo and repel creates some pretty funny scenes. McConaughey's easy charm and Hudson's lightweight impishness play well together and the plot, though strictly Hollywood formula, chugs along efficiently. At moments Hudson seems to channel her mother, Goldie Hawn, to slightly unnerving effect. --Bret Fetzer\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A surprisingly good little movie\n\nReview: I never had a desire to see this movie when it was in theatres, but there was nothing on television the other day so I started watching this, and I was amazed at how good it is! Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey have great chemistry as two people who are attempting to use each other to advance their own careers: Andie (Hudson) is a journalist attempting to write a feature article on things women do to drive men away (hence the title \"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days\"), and McConaughey plays an advertising executive who makes a bet with his coworkers that he can make a woman fall in love with him in ten days, and if he wins the bet, he'll land a major account with his firm. The plot isn't exactly relaistic, but there are some hilarious scenes in this movie. Hudson's psychotic episodes are hysterical, and I gained a whole new respect for her as an actress after seeing her in this role. The pace kind of slows down in the last third of the film, and the ending is kind of predictable and could have been a lot funnier, in my opinion. Overall, though, this is one of the best romantic comedies I've seen in a while.","Product: Academy Award(r)-winner Julia Roberts (Best Actress in a Leading Role, Erin Brockovich, 2000) leads an all-star cast featuring Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhall and Marcia Gay Harden. MONA LISA SMILE is a funny, inspiring and uplifting film about an art history professor with a lot to teach about life and much to learn about romance.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A catfight or two would have made the movie even better!\n\nReview: This isn't a brilliant cinematic accomplishment by any means, but it is definitely an entertaining story. Julia Roberts portrays an art history professor from Wellesly who has a difficult time adjusting to the fact that most of her brilliant students have no professional ambitions of their own and simply want to get married and have babies when they graduate from college. Roberts is excellent in the film, but the younger actresses are also very good, most notably Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Ginnifer Goodwin.\nSome people will probably be turned off by the attitudes about women that are depicted in the film, but that's the way things were done 50 years ago, and the fact that we're so bothered by it when we watch the film shows that the director has done a fine job. What bothered me about the movie was the way that several of the characters interacted with each other. Dunst's character was NASTY, and in the course of a two-hour film, she exposes her best friend's deepest secret to a large crowd, lies to one of her friends and convinces her that her boyfriend is cheating on her (he's not), calls another friend of hers a tramp (once again, in front of a crowd), and writes several controversial editorials in the school paper that everyone disagrees with. After all of that, no one really lashes out at her at all. It's true that Dunst's character is coping with her own problems, but I don't think that any girls would let their friend get away with all the crap that Dunst pulls in the movie. I was hoping that someone would haul off and slap her at the end, but no one did, and that was disappointing.\nThere were also some things that bothered me about Julia's character, especially the fact that such a strong and independent woman would have an affair with a professor who was openly sleeping with his students. That was a major thing that I didn't understand at all.\nAll that aside, though, it was still an entertaining movie. My boyfriend called it a \"chick flick,\" and I agree that the film probably appeals to women more than it does to men. It's worth watching, though, and I'd recommend it to everyone.","Product: Cold Mountain [VHS]\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not nearly as good as the book\n\nReview: The biggest problem with this movie is that it simply cannot compare to Charles Frazier's novel. However, there's only so much you can expect when a film is adapted from a book, and overall, the movie \"Cold Mountain\" isn't all that bad...but I still think it could have been better.\n\nIn the film, Jude Law plays Inman, a Confederate soldier who deserts the battlefront after surviving a serious injury. He encounters many hurdles in his attempt to return to Cold Mountain and to Ada (Nicole Kidman), a woman he fell in love with following a very brief encounter prior to his departure. The film flashes back and forth to Inman's adventures and Ada's struggle to survive on her farm following the death of her father. She is fortunate to have the assistance of the free-spirited Ruby (Renée Zellweger), with whom she forms a powerful friendship that feeds her spirit and gives her the strength to keep on believing that Inman will return to her someday.\n\nI'm usually a big fan of Kidman's work, but her performance in \"Cold Mountain\" was a bit disappointing. I'm not sure if that's a reflection on her as an actress or on Ada's character, which is kind on one-dimensional. Law's performance is acceptable but not extraordinary, and the real star of the film is Zellweger, whose portrayal of Ruby is vibrant and also downright hilarious at times. Natalie Portman also has a small but strong part as a woman that Law's character encounters along his journey home, and Brendan Gleeson does a great job in the role of Ruby's deadbeat father, Stobrod.\n\nThe first forty minutes of the film are incredibly dry...I almost had to turn it off. However, things picked up after a while and the film got much better as it went along. The movie just doesn't have the same emotional appeal as the novel, which is why I can't give it a high recommendation.","Product: Academy Award(R) nominated stars Joaquin Phoenix (Best Supporting Actor, GLADIATOR, 2000) and John Travolta (Best Actor, PULP FICTION, 1994) ignite the intense action in this heroic tale of ordinary men with uncommon courage! As part of a tightly knit brotherhood of skilled firefighters, Jack Morrison (Phoenix) grows from inexperienced rookie to seasoned veteran as he faces a dangerous job that makes him a hero to strangers but often shortchanges his wife (Jacinda Barrett -- THE HUMAN STAIN) and kids. Then, when he becomes trapped in the worst blaze of his career, the things Jack holds most important -- family, duty, courage -- come sharply into focus.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Don't worry, this is not another \"Backdraft!\"\n\nReview: I first saw \"Ladder 49\" when it was released in theatres, and I was amazed at how good of a movie it actually was. Joaquin Phoenix plays Jack Morrison, a firefighter who finds himself trapped inside a burning building. As he waits for his rescuers to arrive, Jack reflects back on his career and family, flashing back to his days as a rookie and his relationship with his wife Linda (Jacinda Barrett).\n\nThe reason this movie is so good is because it has so much to offer: amazing action sequences and special effects (some of the best fire scenes ever are in this film), humor (John Travolta's flowered boxer shorts), human drama (the reality of the dangers involved in being a firefighter), friendship, and a love story. I guess you could say that the story is a little predictable, but I can almost guarantee that you'll be surprised by the way the movie ends.\n\n\"Ladder 49\" is definitely worth watching. The DVD doesn't do the amazing fire scenes justice...it was really awesome to see that on the big screen. However, this movie has something for everyone, and the cast is really great. I think you'll enjoy it.","Product: M. Night Shyamalan (SIGNS, UNBREAKABLE, THE SIXTH SENSE), the director who brought you the world's greatest thrillers on DVD, now creates his most thought-provoking triumph yet ... breaking international records and dazzling audiences around the globe! THE VILLAGE is a smart, edge-of-your-seat chiller crawling with terrifying surprises and frightening twists and turns. An isolated, tight-knit community lives in mortal fear of an oppressive evil inhabiting the forbidden forest just beyond their tiny village. So frightening that no one ventures into the woods ... until one villager dares to face the unknown. With unforgettable performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, Adrien Brody, and newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard, this powerful motion picture is one of Hollywood's best psychological thrillers and ranks with the best of Hitchcock!\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Another stupid Shyamalan flick\n\nReview: With the exception of \"Signs,\" every film that M. Night Shyamalan has made is extremely overrated. \"The Village\" tells the story of a group of people living in an isolated community that is surrounded by woods. Everyone in the village is warned not to go into the woods, which are patrolled by evil \"creatures\" decked out in red hooded capes. Beyond the woods are \"the towns,\" and all anyone knows about the towns is that they are BAD, and NO ONE is supposed to venture into the woods or the towns, or TERRIBLE THINGS WILL HAPPEN!\n\nSound intriguing? Maybe a little bit...but trust me, Shyamalan manages to screw it up.\n\n\"The Village\" has a typical Shyamalan \"twist\" ending, which anyone with half a brain will be able to figure out long before the \"secret\" of the village is revealed to the audience. Overall, though, there isn't anything remotely scary or suspenseful about this movie. There are a few decent performances (Bryce Howard is very convincing in the role of Ivy), but even a collection of very talented actors can't compensate for 108 minutes of Shyamalan crap. In some ways \"The Village\" is even worse than \"The Sixth Sense,\" which is another movie that I hated. There's nothing scary about the endings of these films at all...nothing creepy or supernatural actually happens. (At least there are actual aliens in \"Signs,\" which is probably the only thing that saved that movie.)\n\nI wish Shyamalan could figure out a way to make another thriller/horror movie that was actually SCARY. So far the only film he has succeeded with is \"Signs\"...whether he'll ever make another decent movie remains to be seen.","Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Kind of lame, as most horror movies are\n\nReview: I'm not usually one for horror movies, but a friend of mine made me watch \"The Descent\" with her, and it wasn't as awful as I thought it would be. The first half of the movie is scarier than the rest, because it involves a group of six women exploring a dangerous underground cave. Being extremely claustrophobic, that alone was scary enough for me! However, then the women start being hunted by evil Gollum-like creatures who live deep within the cave, and the film takes a turn for the worse. If you're a fan of horror films, you'll probably enjoy \"The Descent\" because it's gruesome and relatively scary, unlike most of the ridiculous films that currently pepper this film genre. However, if you're like me and don't care much for these type of movies at all, definitely skip this one.","Product: For six seasons Carrie Bradshaw and friends Samantha Miranda and Charlotte offered us their hilarious outspoken and outrageous look at dating mating and relating in the big city. Celebrate the show that explores the day-to-day -- and night-to-night -- world of single women in this the definitive collector's edition.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 026359866128 Manufacturer No: 98861\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Too little, too late\n\nReview: Let me start out by saying that my review of this product is completely biased. If I was judging this DVD set solely based on its design, content, and value, I'd have to give it five stars. The elegant suede photo album packaging and the extra bonus DVD are fabulous, and the cost is a real bargain...the entire \"Sex and the City\" series for under $200? You can't beat that, especially when you look at the way HBO jacks up the prices on its other TV DVD sets.\n\nHowever, I'm very bitter right now, which is why I'm only giving this item one star. I bought all the original \"Sex and the City\" DVDs when they first came out. The plastic packaging of the single-season DVD sets is unbelievably shabby...the covers are extremely flimsy and I have Scotch tape holding several of my DVD sets together. Also, I paid the full price for each DVD set, which averaged out to about $40 a pop. (It looks like the price of the old sets has since been lowered, at least on Amazon's site.) Plus, HBO screwed its fans by releasing the fifth and final season of the show in two parts, so we had to shell out even MORE money. Now they're coming out with this gorgeous collector's set a year later, and it's such a bargain, which makes me very ANGRY! Why the hell did I shell out all that money to begin with? I'll tell you why: because I love \"Sex and the City\" and I was willing to put up with the crappy plastic packaging just so I could watch my show whenever I felt like it. There is NO WAY I'm shelling out another $200, even though I want this gift set SO BADLY! ARRGH!\n\nI hate HBO.","Product: Corpse Bride\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"And in other news, THE DEAD WALK THE EARTH!\"\n\nReview: I have been looking forward to seeing \"Corpse Bride\" ever since I learned that it was in production. I was not disappointed...Tim Burton always makes amazing films, and this one is no exception.\n\nThe animated tale revolves around Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp), a young and somewhat jumpy young man who is betrothed to Victoria (voiced by Emily Watson), a girl he's never even met before. The parents of the newlyweds-to-be are both hoping that the union of their children will better their own reputations and ease their financial burdens. Victor and Victoria finally meet and are pleasantly surprised to discover that they actually like each other. When Victor botches the wedding rehearsal, he rushes out into the woods to practice his wedding vows. He places Victoria's wedding ring on a tree branch, which suddenly grips his hand and emerges from the earth attached to a corpse bride (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter). She takes the unwilling Victor to her home, the land of the undead, which exists beneath the surface of the earth. Victor struggles with his new bride while poor Victoria must cope with the evil man her parents have found to fill in for Victor at the wedding ceremony.\n\nThe animation in \"Corpse Bride\" is phenomenal...if this movie doesn't win the Best Animated Feature category at the Academy Awards, I'll be furious! But the animation isn't the only amazing thing about this movie. The storyline is fun (and perhaps slightly predictable, but what can you do?) and the characters are extremely well-developed. There are several musical numbers in this film, all of which are very enjoyable. (I especially enjoyed the skeleton jazz band!) I guess the only complaint I have is that I wish it was a slightly darker film. Burton is famous for his extreme creepiness...I was basically expecting to see an animated version of \"Sleepy Hollow,\" but this is much more along the lines of \"The Nightmare Before Christmas,\" which was an amazing Burton movie but is still geared toward children. There's nothing wrong with that, of course...it's just that I'm an adult and I prefer Burton when he's at his most macabre. :)\n\nOverall, \"Corpse Bride\" is a wonderful film. It's a great movie to take the kids to see before Halloween, but adults who are fans of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp will enjoy it as well.","Product: This two-disc set includes the five best episodes of the long-running series She-Ra: Princess of Power, as voted on by fans. It also includes the 1985 feature film \"The Secret of the Sword.\" The set is packed with special features including a documentary featurette, a feature length audio commentary, a music video featurette, trivia, collectibles and more! She-Ra: Princess of Power first aired on television in 1985, as a female-directed spin-off of the popular He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"For the honor of Grayskull!\"\n\nReview: My life is complete.\n\nI have spent MANY, MANY YEARS waiting for \"She-Ra\" to come out on DVD, and it's FINALLY happening! HOORAY!\n\nThe release of the \"She-Ra\" DVD sets will be similar to that of the \"He-Man\" DVDs. The first \"She-Ra\" DVD set will consist of the movie \"The Secret of the Sword\" (which features He-Man and explains how Adam has a twin sister, how Adora became She-Ra, etc.) as well as five of the most popular episodes from the series, which were voted on by fans at He-Man.org. The five episodes that will be featured on the \"Best of She-Ra\" DVD are \"The Price of Freedom,\" \"The Sword in the Stone,\" \"Horde Prime Takes a Holiday,\" \"Of Shadows and Skulls,\" and (my personal favorite) \"Sweet Bee's Home.\"\n\nThe quality of the \"He-Man\" DVD sets is incredible, and the \"She-Ra\" DVDs are expected to be just as good, if not better. In addition to the fully restored episodes, the \"Best of She-Ra\" DVD set will include a documentary, feature-length audio commentary, a music video, storyboard spreads, DVD-ROM scripts, \"She-Ra\" trivia, hidden Easter eggs, and two collectible comic book art cards. How cool is that?!\n\nAlso, just like the \"He-Man\" DVDs, the complete \"She-Ra: Princess of Power\" series will be released on DVD in three separate volumes beginning this fall. Each DVD set will contain a variety of special bonus features.\n\nWords cannot express how excited I am about this DVD set! I grew up obsessed with She-Ra, and I am STILL obsessed with She-Ra! When I was a young girl I owned all the She-Ra action figures, the Crystal Castle...even that awful Crystal Falls playset that had a pump shaped like a seashell and squirted water all over everything! I had She-Ra books, She-Ra clothes, a She-Ra birthday cake...EVERYTHING! For the past 20 years I've had to settle for watching my treasured yet crappy VHS copies of the series that I always feared would fall apart at any moment. Now I'm finally going to have the entire series on DVD to enjoy in all its glory for the rest of my life! I couldn't be happier!\n\nJuly 18 is already marked on my calendar...I am probably going to take the day off work so I can sit at home and watch \"She-Ra\" all day! I'll be able to recite the words to every episode, too, since I watched them all about a thousand times! \"I am Adora, He-man's twin sister and defender of the Crystal Castle.\" AHHHH! I get goosebumps just thinking about it!\n\nSHE-RA FOREVER!!!","Product: Battlestar Galactica's season 2.5 (i.e., the final 10 episodes of the second season) picks up where season 2.0 (the first 10 episodes) left off: Galactica's giddy reunion with the Pegasus had taken a sour turn when Admiral Cain (Mich\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A bit predictable in places, but still frackin' amazing!\n\nReview: I'm really looking forward to this DVD release. A lot of \"Battlestar Galactica\" fans have had negative things to say about Season 2.0, Volume 2. I agree with some of the criticism, but not all of it. The one real problem I have with this show is that most episodes are very predictable and many of the storylines just keep recycling themselves. Almost every episode in this season seems to revolve around Adama, Starbuck, or Apollo being in mortal peril...that gets kind of old after a while. However, in spite of that, this is still a great show. It's so FRACKIN' INTENSE! A lot of important things happened during this season involving Adama's clash with the commander of the Pegasus ship, President Roslin's terminal cancer diagnosis, Starbuck and Apollo's personal relationships and professional development, Gaius Baltar's rise to power, and the cylon's infiltration into what is left of the human race.\n\nI don't want to spoil the season for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but there are plenty of \"shock and awe\" moments to look forward to. Beloved characters will die, surprise relationships will form, and the season finale cliffhanger is unlike anything you've ever seen in the series before! NOTHING will prepare you for what happens during the last 15 minutes of the final episode!\n\nI can't wait until the new season debuts this fall, but until then, I'm looking forward to catching last season's episodes for the second time with this DVD set.","Product: Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. \"Measuring their lives in love,\" these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic. RENT is based on Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical, one of the longest running shows on Broadway. The raw and riveting musical stars Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Tracie Thoms and is directed by Chris Columbus.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pretty impressive, but sloppy in parts\n\nReview: It wouldn't be fair to expect the film version of \"Rent\" to completely live up to the original Broadway show, but Chris Columbus' production does a pretty good job. This is a great example of a musical that has been successfully adapted to the big screen. However, there are definitely some kinks that prevent me from giving this movie five stars.\n\n\"Rent\" is a rock opera that was loosely based on Puccini's \"La Bohème\" and also contains elements reminiscent of \"West Side Story.\" The story revolves around an eclectic group of young people living in New York City that are coping with a world filled with corruption, anger, and disease. With the exception of Rosario Dawson as Mimi and Tracie Thoms as Joanne, the entire Broadway cast returned to star in the film version of the show, and that's what makes this movie so great. The performances are emotionally riveting and the music is absolutely phenomenal.\n\nI don't understand why it took Hollywood almost ten years to turn \"Rent\" into a movie. Even though the cast is every bit as it was ten years ago, it's kind of weird to see that all of the characters are a decade older than they're supposed to be. The film feels kind of dated when you watch it: although Aids and homosexuality are still topics of discussion, they aren't the issues at the forefront of our lives anymore, and I hope that doesn't turn off people who are experiencing \"Rent\" for the first time.\n\nThere are a couple of nitpicky issues I have with the movie, and the first is the omission of the song \"Goodbye Love.\" Ordinarily, I can completely understand that directors have to cut material for film adaptations, but I read an interview with Columbus in which he said that he chose to cut the song because he thought it was \"too emotional to deal with after Angel's death.\" WHAT?! Talk about disrespecting someone else's artistic choices and completely belittling the mentality of your audience in the process! That was just ridiculous. Also, the film was supposed to be set in 1989, but I never would have picked up on that if the characters hadn't made reference to it a couple of times...everything looked like it was supposed to be set in the present day. The only other \"clue\" about the time period that Columbus threw into the film was a poorly-placed shot of the World Trade Center, which I thought was tasteless and kind of sloppy. There were also some very stupid camera shots in the film, such as that awful close-up of Adam Pascal when he's singing \"Your Eyes\" to his beloved Mimi...he looked so ridiculous that it completely ruined the moment. Also, there were some issues with poor character development in the film. That had nothing to do with the actors' performances: certain elements of the story just didn't transfer very well to the big screen. For example, poor Taye Diggs (who is a very good actor) had nothing to do during most of the film and just wandered around looking like a lost puppy dog. It was a real waste of some extraordinary talent. Oh well.\n\nOverall, this is a very good movie. The cast is wonderful and the music is spectacular. The not-so-great things about the film are all Chris Columbus' fault, so maybe someone should tell him not to make any movies for a while.","Product: Who knows what American journalist Jake Geismer (George Clooney) expected to find in postwar Berlin? Peace, maybe. Or at least a story. But certainly not Lena (Cate Blanchett), his beautiful, embittered one-time love. And not the trail of secrecy and deception that leads from Lena to the scheming young corporal (Tobey Maguire) who's her new lover...and to a murder no one seems interested in solving. Except Jake. Steven Soderbergh directs three of today's top talents in this zigzag thriller that's both an atmospheric homage to 1940s filmmaking and a deft modern film noir. The Good German is \"haunting and hypnotic, it's pure moviegoing bliss\" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A good movie, but it could have been much better\n\nReview: \"The Good German\" is a tribute to the old Hollywood classics like \"Casablanca,\" which is the movie that this film tries so hard to emulate. Stylistically, \"The Good German\" is incredible. The entire movie is filmed in glistening black and white, and it's very hard to distinguish it from a movie that was made 60 years ago. The basic plot is pretty good, too: an American military journalist (George Clooney) arrives in post-war Berlin to cover the Potsdam conference, only to stumble into a murder plot involving his newly-appointed driver (Toby Maguire), a former flame (Cate Blanchett) and her not-quite-dead husband. Unfortunately, \"The Good German\" fails to generate a strong emotional response from the audience the way \"Casablanca\" does, which really takes away from the other wonderful accomplishments the talented director and cast managed to achieve.\n\nClooney delivers an excellent performance, but I was disappointed in Maguire, who seemed very out of place in the film. (Fortunately, his character doesn't stick around for very long.) However, the two shining stars of this film are Blanchett, who delivers a stunning performance in her mysterious role, and the cinematography itself, which is absolutely breathtaking. Being a huge fan of old movies, I really enjoyed this modern throwback to 1940s filmmaking. In my opinion, though, the graphic sexual content and foul language really took away from the classic aesthetic feel director Steven Soderbergh tried so desperately to recreate: it was unnecessary, and it really took away from all the other old-fashioned movie elements.\n\nThe final scene in the film is very obviously a recreation of the last scene in \"Casablanca.\" Again, while I enjoyed the tribute, I felt that the last scene of \"The Good German\" severely lacked the same kind of emotion and passion that \"Casablanca\" has, which is a real shame. The acting was good, but I really didn't care about what happened to any of the characters, which signifies a major problem with the script.\n\nI hope Soderbergh attempts to do another \"modern film noir\" movie eventually. He has the look of it down pat: now all he needs is a slightly stronger script, and we'll be back to the days of Bogart and Bergman in no time!","Product: NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Pretty to look at, but the whole story feels very forced\n\nReview: \"Becoming Jane\" is a so-so film that depicts events which may have shaped the life of author Jane Austen (played by Anne Hathaway). In the movie, Jane's parents (James Cromwell and Julie Walters) are anxious for their daughter to marry, but no one is able to meet Jane's high standards. When Tom (James McAvoy), a brash Irish law student, arrives in town, Jane is instantly irritated by his very presence, à la Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. However, annoyance quickly blossoms into affection, but unfortunately for Jane and Tom, they don't seem destined for a happy ending.\n\nI had high expectations for this film, and was disappointed. I'm not a big fan of Anne Hathaway, and she didn't win me over playing Jane Austen. I didn't sense any real chemistry between Jane and Tom, which pretty much ruined the whole movie. \"Becoming Jane\" has beautiful scenery, fun costumes, an exquisite musical score, and a great supporting cast, but all that isn't enough to carry this film. My advice is to skip this movie and watch \"Pride and Prejudice\" instead.","Product: A slightly different slant on the 'slacker' comedy genre directed by 'Friends' star David Schwimmer. Five years ago Dennis (Simon Pegg) was at the altar about to marry Libby (Thandie Newton), his pregnant fiancee. He got cold feet and headed for the hills, and he's been going in circles ever since. When Dennis discovers Libby's now hooked up with high-flying go-getter Whit (Hank Azaria), he realises it's now or never. Assisted by his friend Gordon (Dylan Moran), he decides to enter a marathon to show he's not a quitter but then finds out just how much sweat, strain and pain it takes to run for 26 miles. No one rates his chances, but Dennis knows this is the only way to stop being a running joke.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A fantastic feel-good film\n\nReview: \"Run, Fatboy, Run\" is a hilarious and uplifting film about a guy named Dennis (Simon Pegg) who is a loser in every sense of the word. He leaves his pregnant fiancee, Libby (Thandie Newton), at the altar because of pathetic insecurity issues and doesn't realize the gravity of his mistake until five years later, when Libby is involved with the pretentious and wealthy Whit (Hank Azaria). Determined to prove to Libby that he's actually capable of following through with something, Dennis decides to run in a 26-mile charity marathon, which proves to be a bit of a challenge considering the fact that he's completely out of shape and only has three weeks to train.\n\nI was pleasantly surprised by this film, which is an incredibly funny, feel-good movie. I lost a bit of respect for it because there's a bit of unnecessary crude humor (close your eyes during the blister scene), but even in spite of that, this is a great movie that I highly recommend.","Product: Meet Ally McBeal, a single lawyer both blessed and cursed with eccentric colleagues, a now-married-to-someone-else childhood sweetheart , and an incredibly overactive imagination that's working overtime! With guest stars including Robert Downey Jr, Elton John, Christina Ricci, Dame Edna Everage, Jon Bon Jovi and the soul legend Barry White.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Long live Ally McBeal!\n\nReview: \"Ally McBeal\" is hands-down my favorite show of all time. I've literally been waiting more than a decade for the series to come out on DVD. I'm so thrilled to finally own this amazing boxed set, which is every bit as fabulous as I hoped it would be.\n\nThe best thing about the set is obviously the episodes themselves. They're completely unedited in any way, and yes, they do contain all the original music from the show, which is something fans were worried about. Let me tell you, watching Ally McBeal on my big flat-screen TV is absolutely fantastic! The boxed set itself is very nicely designed and encased in high-quality packaging, which I really appreciate. Best of all, the set comes with a bunch of extras, like a new \"Ally McBeal\" CD, the crossover episode from \"The Practice,\" featurettes, and more.\n\nThe only slight letdown is the soundtrack CD, which only contains one previously unreleased song. I own all the other \"Ally McBeal\" CDs, so this album really doesn't offer anything new, but I can live with that because I NOW OWN \"ALLY MCBEAL: THE COMPLETE SERIES\" ON DVD!!! WOO-HOO!!!!","Product: A slightly different slant on the 'slacker' comedy genre directed by 'Friends' star David Schwimmer. Five years ago Dennis (Simon Pegg) was at the altar about to marry Libby (Thandie Newton), his pregnant fiancee. He got cold feet and headed for the hills, and he's been going in circles ever since. When Dennis discovers Libby's now hooked up with high-flying go-getter Whit (Hank Azaria), he realises it's now or never. Assisted by his friend Gordon (Dylan Moran), he decides to enter a marathon to show he's not a quitter but then finds out just how much sweat, strain and pain it takes to run for 26 miles. No one rates his chances, but Dennis knows this is the only way to stop being a running joke.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A fantastic feel-good film\n\nReview: \"Run, Fatboy, Run\" is a hilarious and uplifting film about a guy named Dennis (Simon Pegg) who is a loser in every sense of the word. He leaves his pregnant fiancee, Libby (Thandie Newton), at the altar because of pathetic insecurity issues and doesn't realize the gravity of his mistake until five years later, when Libby is involved with the pretentious and wealthy Whit (Hank Azaria). Determined to prove to Libby that he's actually capable of following through with something, Dennis decides to run in a 26-mile charity marathon, which proves to be a bit of a challenge considering the fact that he's completely out of shape and only has three weeks to train.\n\nI was pleasantly surprised by this film, which is an incredibly funny, feel-good movie. I lost a bit of respect for it because there's a bit of unnecessary crude humor (close your eyes during the blister scene), but even in spite of that, this is a great movie that I highly recommend.","Product: Meet Ally McBeal, a single lawyer both blessed and cursed with eccentric colleagues, a now-married-to-someone-else childhood sweetheart , and an incredibly overactive imagination that's working overtime! With guest stars including Robert Downey Jr, Elton John, Christina Ricci, Dame Edna Everage, Jon Bon Jovi and the soul legend Barry White.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Long live Ally McBeal!\n\nReview: \"Ally McBeal\" is hands-down my favorite show of all time. I've literally been waiting more than a decade for the series to come out on DVD. I'm so thrilled to finally own this amazing boxed set, which is every bit as fabulous as I hoped it would be.\n\nThe best thing about the set is obviously the episodes themselves. They're completely unedited in any way, and yes, they do contain all the original music from the show, which is something fans were worried about. Let me tell you, watching Ally McBeal on my big flat-screen TV is absolutely fantastic! The boxed set itself is very nicely designed and encased in high-quality packaging, which I really appreciate. Best of all, the set comes with a bunch of extras, like a new \"Ally McBeal\" CD, the crossover episode from \"The Practice,\" featurettes, and more.\n\nThe only slight letdown is the soundtrack CD, which only contains one previously unreleased song. I own all the other \"Ally McBeal\" CDs, so this album really doesn't offer anything new, but I can live with that because I NOW OWN \"ALLY MCBEAL: THE COMPLETE SERIES\" ON DVD!!! WOO-HOO!!!!","Product: Driven by a clever script and fine performances, SMART PEOPLE is set in the land of academia, a place where both Lawrence and Vanessa have taken refuge and plunged themselves into as escape from the external world. In spite of their high IQs, both father and daughter are equally clueless when it comes to navigating relationships. This becomes obvious as Vanessa develops a line-blurring relationship with her uncle, and Lawrence stumbles in romancing his doctor. If Vanessa wants a shot at happiness and Lawrence wants to make things work in his love life, both will have to adopt new attitudes or risk further alienation. Starring Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, and Thomas Hayden Church.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Should be called \"Stupid People\"...or better yet, \"Stupid Movie\"\n\nReview: I really wanted to like this movie, but I kind of hated it. The film is about a widow/college professor, Lawrence (Dennis Quaid), who is a complete jerk and unable to form any type of meaningful relationship with another person. His daughter, Vanessa (Ellen Page), is exactly like her dad. She's so obsessed with her SATs and other everyday responsibilities that she forgets to have any type of social life. Eventually, Lawrence becomes involved with Janet (Sarah Jessica Parker), a physician who also happens to be a former student of his, and Vanessa develops an unhealthy fixation with her \"adopted uncle,\" Chuck (Thomas Hayden Church).\n\n\"Smart People\" boasts a very talented cast, and Quaid's portrayal as a stodgy English professor is the best part of the movie. However, he has absolutely no chemistry with Parker whatsoever, and Janet's character makes absolutely no sense to me at all, so this whole part of the story was a total loss to me. The Vanessa/Chuck storyline was also kind of creepy, and I was very glad when the film was finally over. Definitely skip this one...watch \"Sideways\" instead.","Product: ALICE IN WONDERLAND - BD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: It's the WRONG ALICE! (The better Alice!)\n\nReview: For someone who is not a big fan of the story \"Alice in Wonderland,\" I am surprised that I enjoyed this movie as much as I did. In Tim Burton's film, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is all grown up and escapes from an unwanted marriage proposal by falling down a rabbit hole and returning to the strange world she visited during her childhood. The kingdom is in peril, suffering under the rule of the Red Queen (played brilliantly by Helena Bonham Cater, who is by far the best part of the movie). Alice encounters many old friends, including the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), who attempts to help Alice slay the Red Queen's Jabberwocky and save the kingdom.\n\nThis is a very good film. The story is clever and the cast is very good, with the exception of Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. (Her idea of acting in this film is keeping her arms raised above her head the entire time. So annoying.) I saw the movie in 3D, which is something I didn't think I would enjoy but actually did. Instead of being a distraction, the 3D effects just served to make Alice's world look even stranger.\n\n\"Alice in Wonderland\" still isn't my favorite fairy tale, but this new and improved version is much more enjoyable than the original Disney cartoon, and I recommend seeing it in the theatre for the 3D experience.","Product: Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemorts immortality and destruction the Horcruxes. On their own and on the run, the three friends must now rely on one another more than everbut Dark Forces in their midst threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile the wizarding world has become a dangerous place. The long-feared war has begun and the Dark Lord has seized control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting all who might oppose him. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemortalive.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A few flaws, but overall a fantastic film\n\nReview: As a die-hard fan of the Harry Potter books, I can honestly say that I enjoyed this movie very much, although a few things about the film could have been better.\n\nThe best thing about \"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows\" is that the producers were smart enough to split the final installment of J.K. Rowling's brilliant wizard saga into two films. As a result, not nearly as much content from the book was cut for Part I of \"Deathly Hallows\" as has been the case with the other HP movies. The book chronicles Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they decide to abandon their final year of education at Hogwarts and set off on a quest to take down the evil Lord Voldemort. What begins as a search for Voldemort's horcruxes also turns into a hunt for the three mysterious Deathly Hallows, along with a struggle for survival.\n\nThis is a very dark and intense film, and rightfully so, as the seventh book in the HP series is the most grim of all. The filmmakers got a lot of things right, but there were a few disappointments. (Note: a few spoilers are ahead.) I understand the need to omit material from movies to meet time requirements, and I even understand the desire to make small alterations so certain things translate better from page to screen. However, changing things just for the sake of changing them really irritates me. One thing that really disappointed me was the sequence where Harry is taken away from the Dursley residence, and a bunch of Harry Potters undergo an airborne attack by Death Eaters. That scene was way too short in the film, and for some reason half of it took place in the middle of a busy London street, which made no sense at all. Hedwig's death was also rewritten a bit, and in my opinion it happened way too fast and didn't do the poor owl justice. (At least the Dobby death scene was much better.)\n\nI also wasn't happy that the film added some scenes that weren't in the book at all. This takes away from an opportunity to showcase more of the original plot from the novel. Why, for instance, include that stupid scene with Harry and Hermione dancing in the tent and cut the Harry/Lupin fight that occurs in Grimmauld Place? Most of the scenes that were new to the movie easily could have been omitted in favor of Rowling's original material.\n\nIn spite of those shortcomings, however. this is truly an excellent film. It was made for fans of the books, so critics who blast the film for being too long and dragging in the beginning obviously have no idea what they're talking about. The cast is amazing, the effects are phenomenal, and you REALLY need to see this movie in the theatre. I cannot wait to see the final movie next spring.","Product: Den andra filmen i Mileniumtrilogin.I uppfljaren till Mn som hatar kvinnor r det Lisbeth Salander som str i centrum. Hon blir anklagad fr trippelmord och dras in i en hrva som leder tillbaka till hennes mrka frflutna.Mikael Blomkvist p Millennium har ftt korn p hett nyhetsstoff. Journalisten Dag Svensson och hans sambo Mia Bergman har hittat avsljande uppgifter om en omfattande sexhandel mellan steuropa och Sverige. Mnga av de personer som utpekas i traffickinghrvan har hga positioner i samhllet.Samtidigt tervnder Lisbeth Salander till Sverige och hndelser i hennes mrka frflutna brjar gra sig pminda. Nr Dag och Mia blir brutalt mrdade riktas misstankarna mot Salander och en stor polisjakt drar igng. Salander bestmmer sig fr att en gng fr alla gra upp med det frgngna och straffa dem som frtjnar det. Blomkvist och Salanders vgar korsas nnu en gng.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Could have been better\n\nReview: \"The Girl Who Played With Fire\" is not as good of a film adaptation as \"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo\" was. Although the acting is excellent, I was disappointed with the screenplay itself. So much material from the book was cut, and while I understand that not everything can be included in the movie version, I think the filmmakers cut too much in this case. Many details from the book were also changed for reasons I do not understand. Why deliberately change something if it has no impact on the movie plot? I was also disappointed with the way Erika Berger and Zala were portrayed in the movie...they are watered-down versions of their literary characters. Ultimately, I didn't think this film was nearly as powerful as the book, especially the ending. It was entertaining, but could have been a lot better.","Product: David Finchers The Social Network is the stunningtale of a new breed of cultural insurgent: a punkgenius who sparked a revolution and changedthe face of human interaction for a generation,and perhaps forever. Shot through with emotionalbrutality and unexpected humor, this superbly craftedfilm chronicles the formation of Facebook andthe battles over ownership that followed upon thewebsites unfathomable success. With a complex,incisive screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and a brilliantcast including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield andJustin Timberlake, The Social Network bears witness tothe birth of an idea that rewove the fabric of societyeven as it unraveled the friendship of its creators.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very good, but a bit overhyped\n\nReview: It's ironic that I manage most of my company's social media channels, and only tonight did I get around to watching \"The Social Network.\" I thought it was a very good movie about how the global phenomenon that is Facebook originated at Harvard University. This is more than just the story of a successful business launch, however. It also chronicles the way Facebook destroyed the friendship between its two co-founders.\n\nI thought \"The Social Network\" was a very smart movie, but I was expecting a bit more, probably due to all the hype that surrounded the film upon its release. It's not a bad movie in any sense, but it's not a movie I'd ever take the time to watch again. Still, Facebook addicts will surely get a kick out of it.","Product: Sandra Bullock is at her funniest in THE PROPOSAL -- the fresh, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy on Blu-ray Disc(TM) with its hi-def picture and theater-quality sound. On the verge of being deported and losing the high-powered job she lives for, the controlling Margaret (Bullock) announces she's engaged to her unsuspecting, put-upon assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds). After proposing a few demands of his own, the mismatched couple heads to Alaska, where they have four short days to convince his quirky family and a very skeptical immigration agent that their charade is real. Featuring a star-studded supporting cast, including Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson and the delightfully inappropriate Betty White, this madcap comedy will have you saying \"yes\" to THE PROPOSAL again and again -- especially in Blu-ray High Definition.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A great romantic comedy\n\nReview: In \"The Proposal,\" Sandra Bullock goes against her usual girl-next-door roles and plays Margaret, a no-nonsense Manhattan publishing executive her employees affectionately refer to as \"Satan's Mistress.\" Unfortunately for Margaret, she's a Canadian whose visa is about to expire, and so she ropes her assistant, Drew (Ryan Reynolds), into agreeing to marry her. The fake couple carries their scheme all the way to Drew's home state of Alaska, where they inform Drew's family of the news and continue the fiasco all the way to the altar.\n\nI didn't expect to like this movie as much as I did, but Bullock and Reynolds are hysterical. The film also boasts a great supporting cast, including the sassy Betty White as Drew's outlandish grandmother. \"The Proposal\" is a hilarious romantic comedy that I will definitely want to purchase on DVD and watch again and again.","Product: Homeland makes its triumphant return after winning six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress for Claire Danes, Outstanding Lead Actor for Damian Lewis and Outstanding Drama Series. Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brody (Lewis) is now a U.S. congressman, and former CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Danes) has returned to civilian life. But when a new and potentially devastating terrorist threat emerges, Brody and Carries lives become intertwined once again and they resume their delicate dance of suspicion, deceit and desire. Delve deeper into the edge-of-your seat suspense and mystery with the thrilling second season of TVs most acclaimed show. Contains all 12 episodes and prologue to Season 3. Bonus features The Border: A Prologue to Season 3 A Super 8 Film Diary by Damian Lewis Return to the Homeland: Filming in Israel The Choice: The Making of a Season Finale Deleted Scenes\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Such a great show\n\nReview: \"Homeland\" is probably the best show on television right now. I was afraid that its second season couldn't possibly top the first, and it didn't....but it's still unbelievably fabulous. I don't want to give away all the gory details, but let's just say that as is always the case with this show, nothing went along as I expected it would, and the season finale was INSANE and leaves everything completely up in the air for Season 3.\n\nI will gripe for a moment about my only (very, very small) gripes with this show. One, Jessica's character has become even more annoying, and while I sympathize with her plight, she does something with her kids in the next room that should earn her the title of Worst Mom of the Year. Seriously, what was up with that? Second, there is not and never has been any chemistry between Brody and Jessica at all. I guess you can easily explain that by saying that obviously there's no chemistry, because they both changed so much in the eight years that they were apart and have nothing in common anymore. Fine, I get that (though it would be interesting to incorporate some flashbacks of what they were like together before Brody went to war and was taken prisoner). My other gripe, though, is that there's no real chemistry between Brody and Carrie either. It just makes me wonder what their deal truly is as a couple. Are there really feelings there? It never seems like it to me. Or are they just two super messed up people taking comfort in the fact that they've found someone who is just as crazy as they are? I guess only time will tell.\n\nAnyway, aside from my ranting...great show, great show, great show! Can't wait for Season 3.","Product: The Bellas, an all-girl singing group thriving on female pop songs and their perfect looks, are forced to regroup after an epic fail at last years final. Among the new recruits is freshman Beca (Anna Kendrick, Twilight), an independent, aspiring DJ with no interest in the college life. But after getting to know the group of oddballs and misfits, including Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson, Bridesmaids), Beca has a new outlook and takes it upon herself to help the Bellas find their new look and sound and get back into the competition. Full of hilarious jokes, witty one-liners and awesome music, Pitch Perfect is the ultimate feel-good comedy. Bonus Features: Starships: The Pitch Perfect Music Video Deleted and Extended Scenes: Parents Say Bye/Beca Lays Down Rules, Radio Station, Dad Gives Beca Incentive, Trebles Initiation, Trebles Tag Tonehanger Van, Training Montage, Welcome To The Riff Off, Holiday Transitional, Burritos and Benji, Beca Goes Out With Luke, Benji Goes To ICCA's, Beca Goes To Dad Meanwhile... (Activities Fair, Hood Night, Burrito Hit, Tonehangers, Confessional) Line-O-Ramas: Line-O-Rama, Line-O-Rama: The Aca- Inappropriate Version, Announcer Line-O-Rama Backstage at Barden: Benji Goes To Barden, A Capella Beat: Gail Interviews Bumper, A Cappella Beat: Gail Interviews Benji On the Set: Burrito Drive By! A Look Inside Feature Commentary with Director Jason Moore and Producers Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Like \"Mean Girls\" for music majors\n\nReview: I cannot believe I waited so long to watch this movie! I freakin' LOVE IT! So much fun.\n\nAnna Kendrick stars as Beca, a disenchanted college student who dreams of leaving school as soon as possible and moving to L.A. to try her hand as a D.J. Her father, a professor at the college she's attending, promises to support her dream if she gives college a real try for at least a year. Compelled by her dad to get involved, Beca joins the Bellas, an all-girls a cappella group. The Bellas are in a bit of a rebuilding year after an embarrassing performance the prior semester in which they lost the international a cappella singing competition to their rivals, the college's all-male singing group, the Treblemakers.\n\nUnfortunately, Beca finds that the Bellas are a bit old-fashioned in their way of thinking, performing outdated standards that will never vault them to the top of the competitions. Beca attempts to spice things up in the group, all while fighting her growing attraction to Jesse (Skylar Astin), a member of the Trebles.\n\nI cannot say enough great things about this movie. It's super fun, well-written, and hilarious, with great performances all-around. And the singing is so awesome!!! \"Pitch Perfect\" is a must-see, and it's a movie I will be adding to my permanent movie collection.","Product: new\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An endearing little movie\n\nReview: I didn't think Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymoore could make a movie that topped \"The Wedding Singer,\" but I was wrong. Providing that you abide by the rules of suspension of disbelief, you'll really enjoy \"50 First Dates.\"\n\nSandler's character Henry meets a spirited girl named Lucy (Barrymoore) who has suffered a brain injury as a result of a car accident that happened a year ago. Lucy has no short term memory, and she wakes up every morning with no memory of the day before...and no memory of Henry.\n\nThe chemistry between Sandler and Barrymoore is incredible, and that's the real reason why this movie works. There is also a great supporting cast, including Sean Astin as Lucy's dimwitted, steroid-addicted brother, and Rob Schneider as Henry's uncouth (and hilarious) Hawaiian friend.\n\nRegardless of the fact that there are a lot of holes in the plot, the characters are fantastic and you'll be rooting for them until the end. I was a bit disappointed with the ending (why couldn't Lucy have slammed into another cow and had her memory restored?), but I guess it was as good as it could be under the circumstances. Still, if you're in the mood for a unique romantic comedy, you won't be disappointed.","Product: NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio and subtitles.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The weakest season by far\n\nReview: I have nothing but sympathy for Julian Fellowes. Last season, \"Downton Abbey\" lost two lead characters when the actors portraying them decided they wanted to leave the show. No one could have anticipated that, so Season 4 of the show is really a rebuilding season. I was very, very worried for the first half of the season, which is just....really bad. Things do pick up considerably halfway through, but I still think this is the weakest season of the show by far. Without giving too much away, there is a terrible plot involving Anna that I absolutely hated...LEAVE THE BATES'S ALONE!!!!\n\nMany of the other plots this season are either bad, annoying, or just downright stupid. Daisy has never been my favorite character, but the dull love triangle between her, Ivy, and Alfred quickly grows tiresome. Edna returns to Downton for a stint as Cora's new lady's maid, and she is such a troublemaker! I hate her! Edith has always been an annoying and stupid character, and her storyline takes some ridiculous turns this season. Fellowes couldn't even really come up with anything original for her; he just recycles another character's storyline from earlier in the season. I also think that Maggie Smith is drastically underutilized for the first half of the season (fortunately she compensates for it in the later episodes, with some of her best zingers to date). Sherley MacLaine returns for the final episode reprising her role as Cora's mother, and again I was very disappointed in her performance, feeling that she was vastly underutilized. Paul Giamatti's guest role as Cora's brother is slightly more interesting, but just kind of odd.\n\nThe best thing about the season by far is Lady Mary's storyline, focusing how she deals with Matthew's sudden death and takes on a more central leadership role at Downton. While I loved the Mary/Matthew romance and was very sad when Dan Stevens departed from the cast, I have come to believe that Matthew was sort of holding Mary back. We see more of the old Mary this season, the strong, unyielding Mary, who will likely be the reason for Downton's survival. There's also some romance as Mary considers getting back into the dating game, but she takes the whole courtship thing slow. We are left with two primary suitors for Mary, and while they're both okay blokes, I have to wonder if someone better suited for Mary might come along next season.\n\nAnother surprise for me this season was how entertaining Rose's character has become. She was super annoying last season, but provided some much-needed comic relief this time around. Also, Isobel has always irritated me to no end, but that wasn't the case this season. Her character undergoes a bit of a transformation as she copes with the death of her only son and slowly returns back to life. Penelope Wilton delivers some great performances.\n\nAside from Anna's tragedy, there wasn't anything super shocking this season. I think Fellowes let the audience off easy, and Season 5 will probably consist of many more deaths and dramas. I hope that's the case, and that it's much better than Season 4.","Product: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock star in this award-winning sci-fi thriller directed by Alfonso Cuarn. Seasoned astronaut Matt Kowalsky (Clooney) is on his final mission in space, while medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is making her first outing on the NASA Space Shuttle Explorer. While they are engaged in extra-vehicular activity, debris collides into the shuttle, damaging it irreparably. Kowalsky and Stone now find themselves drifting in space with low oxygen supplies and cut off from all communication on Earth. They work together in their attempt to survive but will they make it back to solid ground? The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won seven including Best Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki), Best Director (Cuarn) and Best Original Score (Steven Price), and also picked up the Golden Globe for Best Director and BAFTAs for Best Director and Outstanding British Film.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: you won't be able to fully absorb the special effects that make the film so awesome. It's a great movie because of the strides .\n\nReview: This is one of those movies that was made to be seen in theaters. If you watch \"Gravity\" at home, you won't be able to fully absorb the special effects that make the film so awesome. It's a great movie because of the strides it makes with filmmaking in general, and also with acting: if you watch some of the behind-the-scenes footage and see what Sandra Bullock and George Clooney had to go through to actually film this movie, and make it so emotional and believable, you will gain a whole new respect for the film. It's a great movie, unlike anything else I've ever seen before. I'd classify it as an action film, unlike any other one you've ever seen, but an action film nonetheless. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you need a final sell, just remember that George Clooney is in it. That's good enough for me!!!!","Product: Bates Motel has vacancies and welcomes you for a second season, starring Academy Award -nominated actress Vera Farmiga andFreddie Highmore. In the aftermath of Miss Watson's murder, Norman's (Highmore) innocence is buried under blackouts, suspicious characters, and his strangebehavior. Meanwhile, Norma (Farmiga) faces dark truths of her own when family secrets begin to unravel and looming threats from local villainsjeopardize Norma's stab at happiness. No matter where you turn there's no escaping what bubbles beneath the surface in White Pine Bay.Experience every thrilling twist and turn with all 10 episodes, back-to-back and uninterrupted, from Bates Motel Season Two.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Super lame compared to last season\n\nReview: I don't understand all the five-star reviews this season is receiving. The first season was great, but I think Season 2 started out strong and then fell steadily downhill all season. The subplots involving Dylan and the town's drug cartels really bring the rest of the story down. They're stupid and no one cares about any of it. On top of that, there are so many ridiculous elements to he show this year that would just NEVER happen, especially in regards to the way the police force operates. It's just ridiculous. The Norman/Norma scenes remain the best part of the show, but even those are a bit much at times. I hope Season 3 is better, or else I will probably stop watching.","Product: From Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, and Jon Turteltaub, director of PHENOMENON, comes NATIONAL TREASURE. It's the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat adventure starring Academy Award(R) winner Nicolas Cage (1995 Best Actor, LEAVING LAS VEGAS) as Benjamin Franklin Gates. Ever since he was a boy, Gates has been obsessed with finding the legendary Knights Templar Treasure, the greatest fortune known to man. As Gates tries to find and decipher ancient riddles that will lead him to it, he's dogged by a ruthless enemy (Sean Bean, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) who wants the riches for himself. Now in a race against time, Gates must steal one of America's most sacred and guarded documents -- the Declaration of Independence -- or let it, and a key clue to the mystery, fall into dangerous hands. Heart-pounding chases, close calls, and the FBI turn Gates's quest into a high-stakes crime caper and the most exciting treasure hunt you've ever experienced.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A fun, fast-paced adventure\n\nReview: Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicholas Cage) has spent his whole life searching for the famous Knights Templar Treasure, which is supposed to be a priceless collection of artifacts and gold. As Ben and his friends get closer to finding the treasure, they face multiple challenges, including a nasty enemy (Sean Bean) intent on finding the treasure and keeping it all for himself, and a team of FBI agents (led by Harvey Keitel) who are after Ben for committing the minor infraction of stealing the Declaration of Independence. The film is full of suspenseful chases and an exciting treasure hunt that keeps the audience guessing until the very end.\n\nIt's true that this movie is completely unrealistic and also rather silly at times, but it's also a lot of fun and provides quality entertainment: I don't think there's anyone out there that wouldn't relish in the idea of such a large-scale treasure hunt. The one thing about the film that bugged me was the character of Abigail (Diane Kruger), who works at the National Archives and ends up assisting Ben and his partner Riley (Justin Bartha) in their quest. I could buy the fact that Abigail would refuse to let Ben take off with the Declaration of Independence in hand, but the fact that she was so quick to join up with them in the end was just a little out there for me, and not at all true to the character that was sketched out for her in the beginning. Still, that's a relatively minor gripe. \"National Treasure\" is a fun adventure for the whole family, and I'm looking forward to the highly-anticipated sequel that will be released later this year.","Product: Immerse yourself in a whole new dimension of family entertainment. Bring the 3D experience home with this hilariously uplifting adventure from the creators of MONSTERS, INC. and FINDING NEMO. Part rascal, part dreamer, retired balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. But unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time -- Carl's front porch! Experience every thrilling moment of their adventure as it comes to life before your eyes in spectacular Disney Blu-ray 3D that will send your spirits soaring UP, up and away!\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Another brilliant installment from Pixar\n\nReview: \"Up\" tells the story of Carl, an elderly man who recently lost his beloved wife, Ellie, and is determined to abide by a promise he made her long ago to take their house to the top of South America's beautiful Paradise Falls. A retired balloon seller, Carl devises a plan to lift his home off its foundation and fly to the Falls using thousands of helium balloons. Once his journey begins, Carl is shocked to discover that he has a stowaway on board: Russell, a neighborhood Wilderness Explorer Scout who's desperate to earn his Elderly Assistance Badge by helping Carl. Over the course of their adventure, Carl and Russell encounter a gang of talking dogs, a giant exotic bird, and a dangerous explorer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Carl ultimately discovers that he still has a whole lot of living to do.\n\nI love that Pixar is brave enough to roll with such ingenious ideas that go completely against the norm when it comes to making children's films. \"Up\" is a great story that will touch the hearts of kids and adults alike. In fact, the first 10 minutes of the movie are so incredibly touching and heartbreaking that they left me, a 30-year-old woman, literally in tears. I don't think any other animated film has ever affected me so much. \"Up\" is fantastic. See it ASAP.","Product: TMOBILE POSTPAID MOTOROLA RAZR V3\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Get the pink one!\n\nReview: I have a pink Motorola RAZR from T-Mobile and I LOVE it! I'm going to be honest...the only reason I wanted this phone is because it's pink. And it's not just pink...it's a beautiful shiny pinkish-red MAGENTA! How can any girl resist that color?! I love it, love it, LOVE IT!\n\nAside from the fact that it's very fashionable, the RAZR has also proven to be very functional. It has more features than I really need in a phone...I don't use my phone for e-mailing or instant messaging or even much text messaging, but if I did, this phone would perform all those functions very well. The color screen is HUGE and is ridiculously bright and clear. Also, the screen is very customizable and all the different menus and options on the phone are pretty easy to figure out. The camera function is easy to use and produces decent images. I love the overall design of the phone, too. It's stylishly thin but isn't flimsy. I love the fact that it's not bulky at all but when you open it, it's much longer than other flip phones...most cell phones are way too tiny for me, but the RAZR is just right. Most importantly, the reception on this phone is AMAZING! I called my dad on my RAZR and then called him back a while later on my home phone, and he said that the RAZR was a thousand times clearer than the cordless in my living room. Rock on!\n\nI've read a lot of bad reviews that claim this phone is too fragile and breaks/scratches easily. I bought a case to keep my RAZR in so it doesn't bang around too much in my purse, so hopefully that will protect it. (However, I noticed that a lot of the people who wrote the negative reviews complained that the phone broke after they dropped it several times. Well, what the hell do you expect? Things tend to break if you don't take care of them.)\n\nThere are a couple of things about the phone that I don't like, but I think they're all Motorola-specific things and not RAZR-specific things. The phone comes with an insane amount of ring tones, and 98% of them suck. I don't think there's a way to delete any of the crappy ring tones to free up memory on the phone, either (or if there is, I haven't been able to figure it out). I also don't like the fact that Motorola doesn't offer one-digit speed dial (again, if it does, I haven't been able to figure out how to program it yet). Why would I set up a four-digit speed dial when I can dial the whole number just by pushing three extra buttons? The only reason that doesn't bug me enormously is because the phone book only takes about five seconds to initialize after you turn on the phone, unlike my old phone, which took two minutes to load. TWO ENTIRE MINUTES! (Stupid Samsung phone...)\n\nOverall, I am in love with my pink phone. It's very pretty but it's also a great quality phone. I highly recommend it!","Product: Madonna I'm Going To Tell You A Secret - DVD Case Edition UK 2-disc CD/DVD set\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: FINALLY...a live Madonna album (and a great DVD)!\n\nReview: I don't understand why this CD is generating so many bad reviews. I agree that people who aren't big Madonna fans probably won't enjoy the documentary...however, why would a non-Madonna fan buy her film anyway?! That makes no sense to me! Anyway, anyone who loves the Material Girl will surely enjoy watching her latest documentary. However, the CD is the best part of this compilation. I've seen Madonna in concert several times, and the Re-Invention World Tour was by far my favorite experience. Live Madonna recordings are few and far between, and the fourteen songs on this CD are of incredible quality and make me want to get up and dance every time I listen to them! In addition to many of Madonna's greatest hits (\"Vogue,\" \"Like a Prayer,\" \"Die Another Day\"), the CD includes a great version of John Lennon's \"Imagine,\" which was one of my favorite aspects of the Re-Invention Tour.\n\nMy only real complaint is that there aren't enough songs on this CD. I am especially disappointed that the version of \"Material Girl\" Madonna performed on tour isn't included on the CD, but oh well.\n\nThe bottom line is that this album is a must for all Madonna fans! I can't wait for the Confessions Tour album to come out in 2007.","Product: Rock Collections ~ Notes From The Underworld\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Get stung by Persephone's Bees!\n\nReview: I have been waiting a long time for this CD to come out! I first heard Persephone's Bees perform their most famous song, \"City of Love,\" in the movie \"Bewitched\" a few years ago. Since then, I have been following this San Francisco-based pop band with much interest, and I'm thrilled that their first major album has finally been released! \"Notes from the Underworld\" is everything I expected it to be. It's a fun, refreshing pop album with a lot of spunk and style. Lead singer Angelina Moysov has an incredibly sultry and captivating voice that controls all 11 tracks on the CD. In addition to \"City of Love\" (which is a slightly different version than the track included on the \"Bewitched\" soundtrack), the other songs are incredibly breezy, catchy, and engaging. I especially like \"Muzika Dyla Fil'ma,\" which is performed in Moysov's native Russian language, and the rocking \"Way to Your Heart.\" In reality, there is not a single bad song on this entire CD. Persephone's Bees has a very unique and fun sound that everyone will enjoy. Pick up this album today!","Product: 2007 release of the soundtrack to the motion picture adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy along with Brenda Blethyn and Vanessa Redgrave and directed by Joe Wright. Marianelli is known also for the soundtracks of \"The Brothers Grimm\" and \"Pride & Predjudice\".\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A stunning musical score\n\nReview: \"Atonement\" is hands-down the best original film score of 2007. Dario Marianelli composed intense, dramatic, passionate music to enhance this amazing movie. This CD is an incredible collection of edgy classical music. All of the tracks blend together seamlessly, and there isn't a single bad song on this album. My personal favorites include \"Briony,\" \"With My Own Eyes,\" and \"Come Back,\" which incorporate clicking typewriter keys into the music for an amazing effect. Other noteworthy tracks include \"Love Letters,\" a sweeping romantic piano melody, and \"The Half Killed,\" which is chilling and dramatic. This is a fantastic score, and if you are a fan of the film \"Atonement\" or are just looking for some great music to enjoy, you should definitely purchase this CD.","Product: SPRINGSTEEN BRUCE MAGIC\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Quite good, though it could use a bit more \"magic\"\n\nReview: I really like this CD, but it doesn't live up to its hype. The best song on the album is hands-down \"Radio Nowhere,\" which was also the first single taken from the CD. The tune is fast and catchy, and as soon as I heard it, it became one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs of all time. I expected the rest of the album to follow suit, but it really doesn't. I think the biggest issue is that most of the other tracks on the CD are pretty mellow, so to lead off with \"Radio Nowhere\" kind of sets an inappropriate mood for the rest of the disc. Still, all that aside, the rest of the songs on \"Magic\" are very good. I especially like the breezy \"Girls in Their Summer Clothes,\" the heartfelt \"I'll Work For Your Love,\" and \"Last to Die,\" which reminds me of a lot of Springsteen's songs from 20 years ago.\n\nMaybe I had unrealistic expectations for this CD, and considering the amazing Springsteen CDs of days gone by that I'm comparing it to, it's understandable why I'm a little critical. I think \"Magic\" is an excellent album, certainly better than many of Springsteen's more recent efforts, but it's definitely not one of his best albums ever. Still, it's a very good CD, and I recommend it.","Product: Now this is more like it - Bruce and the E Street Band together again, writing, singing and playing great and memorable music. Lead single \"Radio Nowhere\" begins with `80s pop-rock rhythms, and then moves into a rockin' beat reminiscent of Bruce back in the \"Born in the USA\" period. You may even feel motivated to dig up those old school dance steps (a la Courtney Cox in that famous video) but try not to do it in the presence of the younger generation.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Quite good, though it could use a bit more \"magic\"\n\nReview: I really like this CD, but it doesn't live up to its hype. The best song on the album is hands-down \"Radio Nowhere,\" which was also the first single taken from the CD. The tune is fast and catchy, and as soon as I heard it, it became one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs of all time. I expected the rest of the album to follow suit, but it really doesn't. I think the biggest issue is that most of the other tracks on the CD are pretty mellow, so to lead off with \"Radio Nowhere\" kind of sets an inappropriate mood for the rest of the disc. Still, all that aside, the rest of the songs on \"Magic\" are very good. I especially like the breezy \"Girls in Their Summer Clothes,\" the heartfelt \"I'll Work For Your Love,\" and \"Last to Die,\" which reminds me of a lot of Springsteen's songs from 20 years ago.\n\nMaybe I had unrealistic expectations for this CD, and considering the amazing Springsteen CDs of days gone by that I'm comparing it to, it's understandable why I'm a little critical. I think \"Magic\" is an excellent album, certainly better than many of Springsteen's more recent efforts, but it's definitely not one of his best albums ever. Still, it's a very good CD, and I recommend it.","Product: Japanese pressing of Madonna's 2008 full-length album includes one bonus track, 'Ring My Bell'. Hard Candy is a brilliant uptempo collection that adds a hip-hop beat to the cultural icon's club sensibilities, thanks to collaborations with Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, and Nate \"Danja\" Hills. Hard Candy punctuates the first 25 years of the album career of the most successful female artist in history with a musical exclamation point. 12 tracks..\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A girl in a \"Candy\" store\n\nReview: To hell with the likes of Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Christina Aguilera: Madonna is and always will be the hottest female artist on the music scene. (Can you believe she's almost 50 years old?!) I didn't think the Material Girl could possibly top her last album, \"Confessions on a Dance Floor\" (which is probably my favorite Madonna album of all time), but I was wrong! \"Hard Candy\" is every bit as fabulous as I hoped it would be, and it's Madonna's sexiest album ever.\n\nWhen I listened to \"4 Minutes,\" the album's first single, I thought \"Hard Candy\" would have an overall hip-hop flavor to it. Luckily, I was wrong. Madonna's duet with Justin Timberlake is good, but it doesn't even begin to compare to the other tracks on this CD. \"Hard Candy\" is more of a dance album than anything else, with traces of electronica and, yes, a bit of hip-hop to boot. But have no fear, hip-hop haters of the world: This CD is awesome! It opens with \"Candy Shop,\" a breathy pop number that sets the tone for the rest of this sexy album. \"Give It 2 Me\" is a fantastic dance track that's all about girl power. Other highlights include \"Miles Away,\" which Madonna says was inspired by the difficulties of maintaining a long-distance relationship with her husband, Guy Ritchie; \"She's Not Me,\" a story of two women competing for the same man; \"Incredible,\" my favorite track on the CD, which starts off as a bittersweet recollection of a former lover and quickly turns into a frantic craving for sex; \"Dance 2 Nite,\" a slinky, mellow little number; and \"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You,\" a sad reflection on a relationship gone wrong.\n\nI cannot get enough of this album! It's energetic, powerful, and soulful...concrete proof that Madonna just keeps getting better and better! Run out and buy this CD so you can hear the magic for yourself.","Product: Japanese pressing of Madonna's 2008 full-length album includes one bonus track, 'Ring My Bell'. Hard Candy is a brilliant uptempo collection that adds a hip-hop beat to the cultural icon's club sensibilities, thanks to collaborations with Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, and Nate \"Danja\" Hills. Hard Candy punctuates the first 25 years of the album career of the most successful female artist in history with a musical exclamation point. 12 tracks..\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A girl in a \"Candy\" store\n\nReview: To hell with the likes of Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Christina Aguilera: Madonna is and always will be the hottest female artist on the music scene. (Can you believe she's almost 50 years old?!) I didn't think the Material Girl could possibly top her last album, \"Confessions on a Dance Floor\" (which is probably my favorite Madonna album of all time), but I was wrong! \"Hard Candy\" is every bit as fabulous as I hoped it would be, and it's Madonna's sexiest album ever.\n\nWhen I listened to \"4 Minutes,\" the album's first single, I thought \"Hard Candy\" would have an overall hip-hop flavor to it. Luckily, I was wrong. Madonna's duet with Justin Timberlake is good, but it doesn't even begin to compare to the other tracks on this CD. \"Hard Candy\" is more of a dance album than anything else, with traces of electronica and, yes, a bit of hip-hop to boot. But have no fear, hip-hop haters of the world: This CD is awesome! It opens with \"Candy Shop,\" a breathy pop number that sets the tone for the rest of this sexy album. \"Give It 2 Me\" is a fantastic dance track that's all about girl power. Other highlights include \"Miles Away,\" which Madonna says was inspired by the difficulties of maintaining a long-distance relationship with her husband, Guy Ritchie; \"She's Not Me,\" a story of two women competing for the same man; \"Incredible,\" my favorite track on the CD, which starts off as a bittersweet recollection of a former lover and quickly turns into a frantic craving for sex; \"Dance 2 Nite,\" a slinky, mellow little number; and \"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You,\" a sad reflection on a relationship gone wrong.\n\nI cannot get enough of this album! It's energetic, powerful, and soulful...concrete proof that Madonna just keeps getting better and better! Run out and buy this CD so you can hear the magic for yourself.","Product: 2 CD edition. Madonna, who has racked up a record 37 top 10 hits as well as seven No. 1 albums (including her last four) on the Billboard Pop Charts, has given her fans yet another opportunity to 'celebrate' her musical achievements. The songs on 'Celebration' have all been remastered and selected by Madonna and her fans. They cover the expanse of the Material Girl's extraordinary career of hits\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 36 Madonna songs...what's not to love?!\n\nReview: This is a fantastic CD collection. Even though I already own all of these songs on other albums, I needed to get this CD for three reasons.\n\n1. It's Madonna! And I buy all of her CDs no matter what! She is a GODDESS!\n\n2. Who cares if I already own 34 of these songs already? Now I have all of Madonna's Top 10 hits in one place. The track sequence is perfect and the sound quality is phenomenal.\n\n3. There are two awesome new songs on here, \"Celebration\" and \"Revolver.\" Love them, love them, LOVE THEM!\n\nOne criticism...what happened to \"4 Minutes\"?! The editing team butchered that track for some reason. Major bummer! However, I forgive them, because Madonna is Queen. Enough said!","Product: Import only budget vinyl pressing of this classic 1994 release. Debut release from NAS (Nasir Jones) that features DJ Premier and Q-Tip from a Tribe Called Quest.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very, very, VERY good...but just shy of great\n\nReview: I've never heard a Goldfrapp album that I didn't like, and \"Head First\" is no exception. This album goes back to the group's electro-roots and is much different from their last CD, the much mellower \"Seventh Tree.\" \"Head First\" contains pulsating, flowy, fantastic songs that almost have an 80's feel to them, for some reason. Every song is great, and my personal favorites are \"Believer\" and \"Voicething,\" a breathy song without words that is truly, truly, truly outrageous. (Yes, I stole that from Jem. So what?) I guess my only complaints about the CD are that it's so short (only nine songs?!), and although I really like all of the tracks, none of them really stand out the way \"Train,\" \"Ooh La La,\" and \"A&E\" did on their respective albums. Still, \"Head First\" really is a work of art.","Product: Double vinyl LP pressing. Long awaited 2010 album from the multi-platinum and Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter, her first studio album of new material in seven years. Laws Of Illusions was recorded in Montreal and Vancouver with Sarah's longtime collaborator/producer Pierre Marchand. Sarah has sold over 40 million recordings worldwide since her recording career began in 1988 with her debut album. Each and every one of her albums has been certified Gold or Platinum. Features the first single 'Loving You Is Easy'.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Dare I say a tad disappointing?\n\nReview: I love Sarah McLachlan and I am very happy that she has released her first studio album in seven years. However, after all that build-up, I was expecting something more, and I was a little let down with \"Laws of Illusion.\" Don't get me wrong: this is a very solid album. My favorite tracks are \"Loving You is Easy,\" \"Changes,\" and \"Forgiveness.\" However, I think the album is lacking an absolutely amazing, knock 'em out of the park song, which all of Sarah's other CDs boast. I also don't think the songs on this CD are as emotional as most of Sarah's previous releases. Admittedly, the tone of this album is different from previous ones: it's not as melancholy, and perhaps that's what Sarah was going for. Still, although \"Laws of Illusion\" is a good album, it's not one of Sarah's best.","Product: Original soundtrack to the 2013 motion picture directed by Baz Luhrman. The soundtrack features songs performed by Jay -Z, Beyonce & Andre 3000, will.i.am, Florence & The Machine, Lana Del Rey and many others. The film is an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Don't listen to the naysayers...\n\nReview: ...this is a great soundtrack. It really is. I haven't seen the film yet, but I was really excited to hear the music, as it features such a great collection of dynamic artists. There are some songs that I think are just okay, but I like most of them very much. Highlights include the hypnotic \"A Little party never Killed nobody\" by Fergie...this will be the club track of choice this summer, methinks. The Florence + The Machine track, \"Over the Love,\" is my other fave, and this deluxe version contains two versions of the song. The Jay-Z song is just okay, but honestly I'm not a fan of his anyway. The other songs are great, too...high energy and fun, with some desperately longing ballads in thee for good measure. It's no \"Moulin Rouge,\" but the album invokes a similar spirit. I'm glad I bought it and sprung for the deluxe version.","Product: Wellness CORE Air Dried Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food is healthy, grain free puppy food for puppies featuring tender protein morsels made with 70% natural, raw protein fortified with vitamins and minerals for healthy growth and development and then air dried for the taste of raw and the ease and convenience of kibble, yet no refrigeration required. Wellness CORE grain free dog food formulas are based on the nutritional philosophy that dogs thrive on a diet mainly comprised of meat. Each grain free, nutrient-rich formula provides high quality protein for your dog.\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: If you love doggie diarrhea, by all means, feed this to your pooch.\n\nReview: My dog has a very sensitive stomach, and he regularly eats the regular Core Wellness dry food with no problems. I was offered a free bag of this new air-dried version of the food via Amazon Vine and thought I'd use it as a special treat for my dog (because seriously, who would pay almost THIRTY FREAKING DOLLARS for a two pound bag of this stuff?! What is the company THINKING?!). I assumed that it would be fine since it is from a company I trust and is basically a different version of the food my dog already eats every day. I WAS WRONG.\n\nI gave my dog just a tiny amount of this food, for three consecutive days...not as a replacement for his meals, but as a small treat. He absolutely loved it. And then, let's just say his Number 2 turned into a bunch of slimy goo. NOT GOOD. I have no idea if this is due to my dog's particular stomach sensitivity or not, but just a very small amount of this food made him sick, and for that I am very angry. I see other reviewers on here have had problems with their dogs as well. I strongly urge other pet owners NOT to feed their dogs this food. I am extremely disappointed in the Wellness brand as a result.","Product: Littlest Pet Shop Slide and Dive Playset\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Okay for a waterless water toy\n\nReview: I am not a parent, and most parents probably think toys that involve real water are THE ENEMY. But when I was a kid, I hated \"fake water\" toys that you couldn't add real water to. This Littlest Pet Shop Slide and Dive Playset reminds me of that. Yeah, the setup is okay and the little penguin is cute, but this toy could have been a lot cooler if the moveable penguin were replaced with a non-battery-operated penguin in exchange for the slide and pool actually using real water. It doesn't do that, so I think it's kind of lame...and my niece agrees. (The waddling penguin is pretty cute, though, I will admit.) I wish this thing were more along the lines of the Barbie swimming pool you could actually fill up with water, or (my personal favorite) the She-Ra Crystal Falls playset...does anyone remember that? It was basically a seashell lagoon with real running water that I played with for HOURS as a girl, and as I recall did not make a huge mess, either. The Littlest Pet Shop toys are all so cute, but this particular playset could have been better, in my opinion. Of course, kids can use their little imaginations to envision the water, but seriously, splashing around in real water would be much more fun (for niece and auntie alike).","Product: Oprah's book club...A very interesting read.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: 90% fabulous, 10% god-awful\n\nReview: I really enjoyed the majority of this book, but it completely fell apart at the end.\n\n\"Daughter of Fortune\" is the story of Eliza Sommers, an orphaned girl who is taken in by a well-off family in Chile during the late 1800's. Eliza grows into a spirited young woman and experiences true love, which she keeps hidden from her family. When her lover leaves for California in search of a gold fortune, Eliza discovers that she is pregnant and sets off on a harrowing sea voyage, determined to be reunited with the man she loves. Along the way, Eliza is helped by a young Chinese man, doctor Tao Chi'en, and together they make their way to San Francisco in search of their dreams.\n\nThis is a well-written story with dynamic characters, and I couldn't put it down. However, the ending totally sucks! It was stupid, and in my opinion wasn't even a real ending, so I feel completely gypped and therefore will only give this novel three stars. Hmph!","Product: The God of Small Things\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: A bit of a let-down\n\nReview: \"The God of Small Things\" is set in India in the 1960's. The story revolves around a set of twins, Rahel and Estha, and the family secrets and scandals that lead to the death of the twins' cousin, Sophie Mol.\n\nI expected to like this book more than I did, given all of its critical acclaim. However, although the core of the story is intriguing and the writing itself is good, the author spins off in many different directions and weighs down the book with excessive verbiage, which caused me to severely lose interest. Also, I never felt fully vested in any of the characters, which is unfortunate given the high emotional stakes in this novel.\n\nOverall, I was disappointed. I expected much more from a Booker Prize winner.","Product: 'The Namesake' is the story of a boy brought up Indian in America. 'When her grandmother learned of Ashima's pregnancy, she was particularly thrilled at the prospect of naming the family's first sahib. And so Ashima and Ashoke have agreed to put off the decision of what to name the baby until a letter comes!' For now, the label on his hospital cot reads simply BABY BOY GANGULI. But as time passes and still no letter arrives from India, American bureaucracy takes over and demands that 'baby boy Ganguli' be given a name. In a panic, his father decides to nickname him 'Gogol' -- after his favourite writer. Brought up as an Indian in suburban America, Gogol Ganguli soon finds himself itching to cast off his awkward name, just as he longs to leave behind the inherited values of his Bengali parents. And so he sets off on his own path through life, a path strewn with conflicting loyalties, love and loss! Spanning three decades and crossing continents, Jhumpa Lahiri's much-anticipated first novel is a triumph of humane story-telling. Elegant, subtle and moving, 'The Namesake' is for everyone who loved the clarity, sympathy and grace of Lahiri's Pulitzer Prize-winning debut story collection, 'Interpreter of Maladies'.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Caught between two cultures\n\nReview: \"The Namesake\" is the story of Gogol Ganguli, a man born to Indian parents who moved to America shortly after they were married. Gogol's name has always been a source of deep resentment for him, as it is neither Indian or American. Eventually Gogol opts to have his name legally changed before he leaves for college. In addition to adjusting to his new name, Gogol continues with a struggle he's faced his entire life: How to relate to and maintain his Indian culture while living on American soil. Gogol rejects most things about his heritage, preferring to lead a more \"Americanized\" lifestyle. His choices create a barrier between him and his family, but try as he might, Gogol never feels completely at ease within the American culture, either. He establishes a successful career for himself and has has several serious relationships, but Gogol never really finds a comfortable place for himself in this world. Eventually he finds happiness with an Indian woman, of all people, who relates to him on so many levels. However, Moushumi has her own way of rebelling, and at the end of the novel we find Gogol back at the very place his life began, where he begins to rediscover himself.\n\nI fell in love with this book after reading the first few pages, and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed it even more than author Jhumpa Lahiri's collection of short stories, \"Interpreter of Maladies.\" Lahiri writes in a simple yet emotional style that is rich in detail. Although the novel revolves around Gogol, Lahiri occasionally shifts perspective and gives the reader a glimpse of the story from the eyes of Gogol's parents and Moushumi. All of the characters make a lot of mistakes, but I was able to easily relate to and empathize with each of them.\n\nThis is a book about family, identity, heritage, and self-discovery. You don't have to be the child of immigrants in order to relate to the process of pulling apart from your family and discovering the person you're destined to become. I think this book has something to offer everyone, and it also happens to be a beautiful, poignant story. \"The Namesake\" is a must-read.","Product: Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"Virtuous women did not open their mouths in paintings...\"\n\nReview: \"Girl With a Pearl Earring\" is based on the Johannes Vermeer painting with the same name. Sixteen-year-old Griet is forced to leave home and go to work as a maid for a painter and his family in order to provide for her family. Although she faces numerous challenges with most members of the Vermeer household, Griet slowly begins to bond with her master, who commissions her to help him in his studio and eventually has her sit for one of his paintings.\n\nThis book is interesting on many different levels. For one thing, creating this fictitious tale based on such a famous piece of art is intriguing, and Tracy Chevalier's characters are all very believable. Having the story narrated from Griet's point of view was also an excellent choice. The reader is treated to a description of how life was for a young woman living in poverty during the 17th century. Griet is forced into so much during the course of this novel, and all her options seem vert limited: there could be serious consequences if she continues to work for the Vermeer family, but her family will starve if she chooses to leave. There is also the potential of romance with a young suitor, but Griet is torn between a \"sensible\" relationship with Pieter and the growing feeling she has for her master.\n\nThe relationship between Griet and Vermeer is very mysterious and still leaves a lot of questions until the very end. We become aware of Griet's feelings for her master, but how does Vermeer really feel about her? Griet's interaction with the other women is also interesting to follow...Vermeer's wife sees her as a threat, Tanneke sees her as a rival, and Cornelia sees her as someone to destroy. The relationships between all of the women in her life escalate as the story progresses, which makes the final confrontation in the last few pages of the book even more powerful.\n\nI would recommend \"Girl With a Pearl Earring\" to anyone. Now that I've read the novel, I am very eager to see the movie version...hopefully Hollywood didn't butcher it beyond repair. :)","Product: Book by Coelho, Paulo\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Too warm and fuzzy for my taste\n\nReview: I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for this, but I don't think \"The Alchemist\" lives up to all the hype surrounding it. The story revolves around Santiago, a young shepherd boy who decides to leave his flock behind and journey to the Pyramids, where he hopes to find his \"treasure.\" Along the way, Santiago encounters a variety of colorful characters, including gypsies, kings, warriors, and an alchemist who warns Santiago not to give up on his dream.\n\nThis book is a parable, which is why it was kind of lost on me. (I'm not a big fan of parables...they generate unpleasant flashbacks of my Sunday School days.) The moral of the story is a good one: never give up on your dreams, your life is what you make of it, blah blah blah. I can appreciate the writer's simple yet effective prose, and while some people may be inspired by Santiago's tale, I really didn't think it was all that insightful. The whole \"follow your dreams\" concept has been around for a long time, and \"The Alchemist\" doesn't take that idea to a new or remarkable level.\n\nYes, I'm being incredibly cynical, but so be it. If you're a cynic like me, don't waste your time with this book. However, if you're into all that touchy-feely, Oprah-esque stuff, I'm sure you'll enjoy \"The Alchemist.\"","Product: Shipped from UK, please allow 10 to 21 business days for arrival. Very Good, A very good, near fine copy in black cloth boards, gilt title on spine with a very good, near fine dust jacket. Mayflower: a voyage to war. xvii, 461 p. : ill., ports. ; 24 cm.. . Includes bibliographical references (p. [415]-443).. .\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not what I was hoping for\n\nReview: I couldn't get into this book because it was very different from what I thought it would be. I expected \"Mayflower\" to be a detailed account of why the pilgrims decided to journey to America, and also a vivid description of what life aboard the Mayflower was actually like. The book did cover those things, but only for a few short pages. Most of the book is devoted to the history of Plymouth Colony and King Philip's War. Author Nataniel Philbrick does an excellent job of shooting down the myths many people believe about what the pilgrim settlement was actually like, but I was much more interested in reading about the actual Mayflower journey and was disappointed that so little information about that event was included in this 400+ page book. \"Mayflower\" should be called \"King Philip's War\" so readers know what they're getting into.","Product: The Constant Princess\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Not the author's best work\n\nReview: \"The Constant Princess\" was written by Philippa Gregory, the author of many excellent books including \"The Other Boleyn Girl\" and \"The Virgin's Lover.\" I expected it to be a lot better than it actually is.\n\nThis book is about Catalina, the daughter of Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Catalina has been betrothed to Prince Arthur, son of the King of England, ever since she was a young girl. Catalina grows up and fulfills her destiny by marrying Arthur when she is 15 years old. Their marriage is uncertain at first, but soon the newlyweds fall in love and plan their future together. Their happiness is cut short when Arthur falls ill and dies several months after the wedding. Catalina is forced to grieve for her husband in secret so she can find a way to honor the deathbed promise she made to him, which was to marry his younger brother instead so that Catalina can still become Queen of England.\n\nIt takes many years of waiting (and fending off the unwanted advances of her father-in-law) before Catalina finally gets her way. She marries the headstrong Henry VIII and becomes Queen Katherine of England. Never letting go of her love for Arthur, Katherine carries on with her life and struggles to carry a child to term, maintain her husband's affections, and rule a country.\n\nThere are parts of this book that are very interesting, but a lot of the content is repetitive and dull. Catalina is an admirable character, but her whole \"I am the Infanta of Spain!\" song and dance gets really annoying after a while, as does her constant whining about her \"destiny.\" Also, the portion of the book devoted to Catalina and Arthur's romance is supposed to be very touching, but I think it contains way too many chapters detailing the two of them telling stories and singing songs in bed. How boring. Finally, the whole concept of Henry VIII's father lusting after Catalina seemed a bit farfetched to me, and that aspect of the story took away from the rest of the book.\n\nThis is the fourth book of Gregory's that I've read so far, and it is definitely my least favorite. If you're interested in learning more about Katherine of Aragon, I'm sure you will appreciate bits and pieces of the story, but it just isn't as gripping of a novel as Gregory's other works.","Product: Book by Lamb, Wally\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Very good, but drags at the end\n\nReview: \"The Hour I First Believed\" largely revolves around the real-life Columbine school shootings, but it quickly evolves into so much more than that. Caelum Quirk and his wife, Maureen, are both employed at Columbine High School, but only Maureen is present during the horrific school shootings. She is unable to fully recover from what she witnessed at Columbine. In an effort to help his wife, Caelum moves himself and Maureen back to the Connecticut farm he grew up on. Eventually it seems like Maureen is finally making progress, but then another catastrophe unfolds, and the Quirks' lives spiral dangerously out of control.\n\nThis is the first book by Wally Lamb I've read, and I really enjoyed his writing style. The story itself is intriguing, and this is one of those books that I didn't want to put down. I was a bit disappointed by the last fourth of the novel, however. Much time is devoted to rehashing the Quirk family history, and all those letters and paper excerpts became kind of boring after a while. Also, there was almost TOO MUCH tragedy in this book. By the time the last 200 pages rolled around, I was thinking, \"Seriously? How much more can happen to any two people?\" It was just a little over the top. Still, I enjoyed the book and will likely check out Lamb's other work.","Product: The Banks children, Jane and Michael, change nannies just about as often as most people change their clothes. It's not that they're naughty, exactly -- just awkward. Everyone in the household is at their wits' end with them -- until Mary Poppins arrives! The Classic tale from P.L Travers. This, the first book about Mary Poppins, will be familiar to everyone who has seen the film. For it is in this book that Jane and Michael draw up their advertisement for a nanny, and Mary Poppins appears out of the sky with her parrot-headed umbrella which talks. She is strict but fair, slides happily up the banisters, and takes the children on the most extraordinary outings -- to a funfair inside a pavement picture; to uncle Andrew who sails up to the ceiling when he laughs -- which she firmly denies afterwards. Needless to say, the children are devastated when she leaves, but by then, they and their parents are far more of a family than they ever were before Mary Poppins appeared.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Practically perfect in every way\n\nReview: As a child, I was obsessed with all things Mary Poppins. I remember finding this book in our school library and checking it out again and again every couple of weeks until my teacher finally caught on and made me check out something else. Now, as an adult, I am STILL obsessed with Mary Poppins, and I still adore this book. It's very different from the iconic Disney film, but it's brilliant in its own right. P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins is much harder and at times even darker than her sunny Julie Andrews counterpart, but she's every bit as magical and magnificent as you can imagine. The book itself is incredibly well-written and is something that can be enjoyed by children and grown-ups alike.","Product: Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010! The misadventures of Tallulah Casey! Hilarious new series from Queen of Teen -- laugh your tights off at the (VERY) amateur dramatic antics of Talullah and her bonkers mates. Boys, snogging and bad acting guaranteed! Picture the scene: Dother Hall performing arts college somewhere Up North, surrounded by rolling dales, bearded cheesemaking villagers (male and female) and wildlife of the squirrely-type. On the whole, it's not quite the showbiz experience Tallulah was expecting! but once her mates turn up and they start their 'FAME! I'm gonna liiiiive foreeeeeever, I'm gonna fill my tiiiiights' summer course things are bound to perk up. Especially when the boys arrive. (When DO the boys arrive?) Six weeks of parent-free freedom. BOY freedom. Freedom of expression! cos it's the THEATRE dahling, theatre!!\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Funny tween Brit chick lit\n\nReview: I am not typically a reader of YA novels, but on a recent trip to London I saw a bunch of promotions for this book, and it intrigued me. I had to check it out. \"Withering Tights\" (love, love, LOVE that title!) is about 14-year-old Tallulah Casey, who embarks on a journey to Yorkshire to spend her summer at a performing arts college. Tallulah is hilarious, but she's also a hardcore portrait of a stereotypical teenager, which was a bit cliche. Still, her clever observations and offhand remarks kept me laughing from beginning to end. I love the fact that this book includes a glossary at the end so readers can easily define many of Tallulah's obscure references. Perhaps the best thing about this book is Tallulah's candidness and honesty throughout the entire story. I think most teenage girls, regardless of whether they are British or American, will be able to relate to her.","Product: \"Breathing Lessons\" covers the events of a day in the life of Maggie Moran, nearing fifty, married to Ira and with two children. Her eternal optimism and her inexhaustible passion for sorting out other people's lives and willing them to fall in love is severely tested one hot summer day. Maggie and Ira drive from Baltimore to Deer Lick to attend the funeral of the husband of Serena, Maggie's childhood friend. During the course of the journey, with its several unexpected detours - into the lives of old friends and grown children - Anne Tyler shows us all there is to know about a marriage: the expectations; the disappointments; the way children can create storms in a family; the way the wife and husband can fall in love all over again; the way that everything - and nothing - changes.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A moving story, although it dragged a bit at times\n\nReview: \"Breathing Lessons\" is a very subtle and touching novel about the Moran family. Maggie Moran is a loveable yet meddling woman who makes it her business to interfere in other people's lives. When Maggie and her husband, Ira, embark on a road trip to attend the funeral of a friend, Maggie hatches a plan to reunite her son Jesse with his estranged wife and daughter.\n\nIn some ways, this book kind of drags because not much happens in the story. The events in the novel take place over the course of a single day, and at the end of the book, nothing about these people's lives has really changed. However, I think the fact that the Morans are so ordinary is what makes the story work so well.\n\n\"Breathing Lessons\" is about loving people in spite of their many differences and shortcomings. Certain passages are quite funny, but much of the novel is bittersweet and even slightly depressing at times. I enjoyed the book, although I have to admit that there are other Anne Tyler novels I liked more.","Product: Tom Sullivan is about to graduate from Princeton. He's intelligent and popular, but haunted by the violent death several years earlier of his father, an academic who devoted his life to studying one of the rarest, most complex and most valuable books in the world. Since its publication in 1499, \"The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili\" has baffled scholars who have tried to understand its many mysteries. Coded in seven languages, the text is at once a passionate love story, an intricate mathematical labyrinth, and a tale of arcane brutality. Paul Harris, Tom's room-mate, has deeply personal reasons of his own for wanting to unveil the secrets the book hides. When a long-lost diary surfaces, it seems the two friends have found the key to the labyrinth - but when a fellow researcher is murdered only hours later, they suddenly find themselves in great danger. And what they discover embedded in the text stuns them: a narrative detailing the passion of a Renaissance prince, a hidden crypt, and a secret worth dying to protect.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: I give \"The Rule of Four\" four stars\n\nReview: I really wish that I could give \"The Rule of Four\" five stars, but I can't do that in good conscience. Still, I want to stress to you how absolutely fabulous this book is! A lot of comparisons have been made between this novel and \"The Da Vinci Code.\" Both books have the same kind of high-stakes historical mystery going on, but \"The Rule of Four\" is much better written than \"The Da Vinci Code.\" It's also a fantastic story! \"The Rule of Four\" revolves around four friends who are about to graduate from Princeton University. All four guys have been busy writing their senior theses, and two of them have ties to the mysterious \"Hypnerotomachia Poliphili,\" a book that has baffled scholars for centuries. As the students get closer to decoding the literary mystery, strange things begin happening on campus: there is a break-in and then a murder, and as the group of friends gets closer to solving the mystery of the \"Hypnerotomachia,\" more and more things keep happening that ultimately put the students' lives in danger.\n\nI enjoyed every page of this book. I was slightly disappointed by the ending, though, because I cannot accept what ultimately happened to Paul. I think the authors' choice to do what they did to that character was a poor one and it kind of ruined the ending for me. The only way I could forgive them of this error is if they wrote \"The Rule of Four II\" and let us know what happens in Italy...I'm sure that adventure could fill several more books!\n\n\"The Rule of Four\" is a great historical mystery/thriller. Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason referenced a lot of material from the actual \"Hypnerotomachia\" and also wrote about Renaissance history and the history of Princeton University, which was very enjoyable to read. I also liked the fact that two young guys who are very good friends wrote this book...I think that's pretty cool. And it's SUCH a good book! I hope the authors collaborate on another novel in the near future.","Product: They spend their days - and too many of their nights - at work. Away from friends and family, they share a stretch of stained carpet with a group of strangers they call colleagues. There's Chris Yop, clinging to his ergonomic chair; Lynn Mason, the boss, whose breast cancer everyone pretends not to talk about; Carl Garbedian, secretly taking someone else's medication; Marcia Dwyer, whose hair is stuck in the eighties; and Benny, who's just - well, just Benny. Amidst the boredom, redundancies, water cooler moments, meetings, flirtations and pure rage, life is happening, to their great surprise, all around them. \"Then We Came to the End\" is about sitting all morning next to someone you cross the road to avoid at lunch. It's the story of your life and mine.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not at all enjoyable\n\nReview: I was surprised that I disliked this book as much as I did. I can recognize the talent of the author, but for me, this book was unbelievably depressing and miserable from the very beginning, and I did not like any of the characters, so this was a very long almost 400 pages to get through.\n\nThere are several things that the author of this book does very well. The entire book is written in the \"we\" first-person narrative, which must have been very hard to pull off, and yet it works very well, especially as a sort of mockery of modern day corporate culture. Also, the book captures a lot of pretty office drama (gossip, policies, relationships, etc.) as I have seen it play out in real life. I'm sure anyone who has worked in an office environment will be able to relate to this book on some level. Finally, the book is set in Chicago on Michigan Ave., which happens to be where I work. I always enjoy reading books that are set in Chicago, and the author does a good job of making Chicago a small supporting character in this novel.\n\nAll that aside, however, I still did not enjoy the book. It's so miserable and depressing with so many people getting fired and having all of these people's personal lives so messed up. I cannot in good conscience recommend the book to anyone, unless they are looking to read something that will make them feel unhappy for almost 400 pages straight.","Product: The year I turned ninety, I wanted to give myself the gift of a night of wild love with an adolescent virgin. I thought of Rosa Cabarcas, the owner of an illicit house who would inform her good clients when she had a new girl available. I never succumbed to that or to any of her many other lewd temptations, but she did not\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: An interesting plot gone wrong\n\nReview: \"Memories of My Melancholy Whores\" started out great but ended up a bit of a dud. The premise of the book is interesting enough: a 90-year-old man decides to treat himself to a young virgin on his birthday. He ends up falling in love with her, and spends the next year obsessing over her and reflecting back on all the prostitutes he's slept with over the years. The book also touches on what it's like to age and fear one's imminent death. Unfortunately, though, many of the narrator's recollections are incredibly bland, making this short novel difficult to plow through. I suppose the author was trying to show us how uneventful the narrator's previous relationships have been, but that technique lost my interest in the process.","Product: Controversial and compelling, \"In Cold Blood\" reconstructs the murder in 1959 of a Kansas farmer, his wife and both their children. Truman Capote's comprehensive study of the killings and subsequent investigation explores the circumstances surrounding this terrible crime and the effect it had on those involved. At the centre of his study are the amoral young killers Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock, who, vividly drawn by Capote, are shown to be reprehensible yet entirely and frighteningly human. The book that made Capote's name, In Cold Blood is a seminal work of modern prose, a remarkable synthesis of journalistic skill and powerfully evocative narrative.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: An excellent book, but not for the faint of heart\n\nReview: I know, I know...you are probably thinking, who does this girl think she is, giving Truman Capote's masterpiece only four out of five stars? The thing is, I know \"In Cold Blood\" is an amazing book. If you are a big fan of crime novels, I am sure you will love it and it will become one of your favorite books of all time. However, I am not big on crime novels myself, and although I recognize that this is a brilliantly composed book, I didn't particularly enjoy it. That's partially because murder stories in general give me the willies, but also because this particular book kind of drags. I realize that what I deem as a dragging sensation actually parallels a stalled criminal investigation that goes nowhere until the detectives finally stumble upon their first big lead, but still...IT DRAGS. Which doesn't make it fun to read. And the descriptions in this book, while wonderful and thorough and all that jazz, are kind of overkill, which enhances that whole dragging problem. Bottom line: great book...for true crime fans. If you are not a fan of the genre, you may appreciate this book as I do, but it will not become a favorite.","Product: The Nanny Diaries Full Screen DVD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A modern-day Mary Poppins\n\nReview: I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, which is an adaptation of the hilarious book by the same name. \"The Nanny Diaries\" stars Scarlett Johansson as Annie, a recent college grad who decides to postpone her impending business career and takes a job as a nanny for Grayer, a young boy who lives on the Upper East Side in New York City. Annie quickly discovers that her new life as \"Nanny\" isn't all it's cracked up to be. Grayer's father, Mr. X (Paul Giamatti), is an adulterous workaholic who's never at home, and Mrs. X (Laura Linney) is a completely hands-off mom who is also the Employer from Hell. Even though she desperately wants to quit her job, Annie decides to stick it out because she can't bear to leave poor little Grayer alone with his crazy inattentive parents.\n\nOverall, I enjoyed this film. It wasn't quite as funny as the book, but the cast is excellent, especially Johansson and Linney. This is one of those rare instances where a lot of elements from the book were changed for the big screen adaptation, and most of the changes didn't bother me all that much (having Annie live with the X's, Mr. X making a pass at Annie, etc.). The ending of the movie is different from the book, in that Mrs. X actually manages to grow a heart at the end of the film, which SO does not happen in the novel! I prefer the way the book gave an honest depiction of the fact that there are a lot of horrible parents in the world who will just never change, but I'm sure the Hollywood types prefer a happy ending whenever possible, and that's what they gave this film. As a standalone movie, I think the ending was perfectly fine...I just like the book version better, that's all.\n\nIn spite of a few minor flaws, \"The Nanny Diaries\" really delivers. It's a light, fun little movie that I recommend.","Product: The Nanny Diaries Full Screen DVD\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A modern-day Mary Poppins\n\nReview: I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, which is an adaptation of the hilarious book by the same name. \"The Nanny Diaries\" stars Scarlett Johansson as Annie, a recent college grad who decides to postpone her impending business career and takes a job as a nanny for Grayer, a young boy who lives on the Upper East Side in New York City. Annie quickly discovers that her new life as \"Nanny\" isn't all it's cracked up to be. Grayer's father, Mr. X (Paul Giamatti), is an adulterous workaholic who's never at home, and Mrs. X (Laura Linney) is a completely hands-off mom who is also the Employer from Hell. Even though she desperately wants to quit her job, Annie decides to stick it out because she can't bear to leave poor little Grayer alone with his crazy inattentive parents.\n\nOverall, I enjoyed this film. It wasn't quite as funny as the book, but the cast is excellent, especially Johansson and Linney. This is one of those rare instances where a lot of elements from the book were changed for the big screen adaptation, and most of the changes didn't bother me all that much (having Annie live with the X's, Mr. X making a pass at Annie, etc.). The ending of the movie is different from the book, in that Mrs. X actually manages to grow a heart at the end of the film, which SO does not happen in the novel! I prefer the way the book gave an honest depiction of the fact that there are a lot of horrible parents in the world who will just never change, but I'm sure the Hollywood types prefer a happy ending whenever possible, and that's what they gave this film. As a standalone movie, I think the ending was perfectly fine...I just like the book version better, that's all.\n\nIn spite of a few minor flaws, \"The Nanny Diaries\" really delivers. It's a light, fun little movie that I recommend.","Product: Brand New. Never opened\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The first boring thing J.K. Rowling has ever written\n\nReview: Like 99.97% of everyone who has read this book so far, I am a huge \"Harry Potter\" fan. However, I love to read books from many genres, and I was very well aware that \"The Casual Vacancy\" was J.K. Rowling's foray into a whole new world. I wasn't expecting wizards or magic or broomsticks or even humor. What I was expecting was a novel that wasn't super dull to read, and unfortunately for me, that's exactly what \"The Casual Vacancy\" is, from start to finish: boring, boring, boring. And my goodness, how it DRAGS! Rowling's extremely vivid descriptions and characterizations were apparent in this book, but the problem is that all of the characters are basically selfish and one-dimensional, not to mention completely uninteresting. This book paints a dark picture of the lives of the residents who inhabit a small English town and come to blows over its politics, but there's nothing for the reader to really grab onto or care about, and the pacing of the story is unbelievably slow, especially for the first half of the book.\n\nI don't think it's fair to call this a BAD book, but its certainly one that I thought I'd enjoy much more than I did. Some reviewers are aghast because of the sex scenes, foul language, and other adult material depicted in this book. None of that bothered me in the least. Again, I wasn't expecting another \"Harry Potter\" novel, and I give mad props to Rowling for wanting to try something so entirely different from her other books. I just hope that her next book is...better. I'd give \"The Casual Vacancy\" two and a half stars if I could, but Amazon forced me to round up to three (lucky for Rowling, I guess).","Product: Book\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Be careful what you wish for!\n\nReview: Michael Blasco is a 38-year-old British scientist who spends most of his time conducting experiments on baby chicks. Trapped in a sexless relationship with his partner, Phil, Michael indulges in a fantasy about an attractive man from his gym and is shocked when the man suddenly materializes in front of him and drops his trousers. It turns out that Michael has developed an unexplainable ability to bring his sexual fantasies to life. He has the power to summon any person, living or dead, and make them do anything he wants them to. As you can probably imagine, Michael begins to ignore his other responsibilities and concentrates on his new extracurricular activity, summoning everyone from a security guard to Billie Holiday to Pablo Picasso. Michael's magical power isn't all it's cracked up to be, though, and instead of satisfying his lust and finding true love, Michael's life begins to unravel in ways he never imagined possible as he discovers disturbing truths about himself and realizes what is really important to him.\n\n\"Lust\" is a very entertaining story filled with humor, tenderness, and romance. There are a lot of sexually explicit passages as well as a very lengthy and graphic description of an incestuous encounter with Michael and his father...readers who don't usually warm to that kind of thing should probably steer clear of this book. However, I thought it was very touching and well-written overall, even though it's not the kind of book I usually get into."],"string":"[\n \"Product: ATTENTION: Touch Screen Sensitivity *Touch Sensitivity Adjustment: Go to your phone Settings menu - Advanced Features - Turn On Touch Sensitivity *Sensitivity of the Home Button: Go to your phone Settings menu - Display - Navigation Bar , youll see the Hard Press Home Button feature. The default setting is 3, but you can increase this up to a stronger setting of 5. There is a test at the bottom of the screen that lets you gauge the sensitivity at each level, so go with what works for you. Features: Material: Tempered Glass Touch screen will function as normal Prevent scratches, dust, wear and glare Anti-glare, anti-bubble, anti-fingerprint and anti-slip It provides great security at 45 degree viewing angle Offers tough and durable surface while keeping the LCD screen clean Made of high-quality material that is very lightweight and impact resistant Package Content: 2 X Tempered Glass Screen Protectors 2 X Dust Removal Stickers 2 X Wet/Dry Wipes\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The ultimate vacuum cleaner\\n\\nReview: Let's get something straight: I love to clean. Other women like to bake and sew, but I get my kicks from vacuuming. I vacuum pretty often and always thought I kept a pretty clean house...until I got a Dyson. I always knew that my old Hoover was a piece of crap...it literally fell apart after less than three years of use. Several of my girlfriends have Dysons and swear by them, and I have a cat who sheds a lot so I wanted a vacuum that would work wonders with pet hair. My husband bought me the Dyson DC14 as an early Christmas gift. It was very easy to assemble and comes with clear understand instructions and a bunch of extras: attachments, carpet cleaner, you name it!\\n\\nThe vacuum is very lightweight and easy to maneuver. I was amazed (and disgusted) by how much pet hair and DIRT the Dyson sucked out of my carpet! I had vacuumed the day before we got the Dyson, but I used the DC14 in three rooms and the collection cup was completely full by the time I was done. AMAZING!\\n\\nOverall, I am extremely impressed with my new vacuum. It really gets the job done! I'm not sure how often I'll use all of the attachments...so far I've tried the smaller ones that attach to the base of the vacuum itself, and they were both very effective. The 17-foot cord is very nice...it would be even nicer if it automatically wound itself up, but oh well. Also, I wish the DC14 had a headlight, but that's something I can live without.\\n\\nI will never go back to a Hoover or any other vacuum-wannabe brand! Dyson is the only one for me. If you have pets and are looking for a way to manage all that shedding, a Dyson Animal vacuum is exactly what you need. Also, the Dyson is a bit of a miracle worker: even my husband gets excited about cleaning when he uses this thing!\",\n \"Product: This Sony kitchen CD clock radio's sleek, under-the-cabinet design, keeps it out of the way while you listen to your favorite music or radio programs in the kitchen. Features a built-in 2-position selectable Mega Bass sound system with a 2-5/8\\\" speaker; clock with easy-set kitchen timer; AM/FM/TV/Weather tuner with 15 memory presets; and a CD player with CD-R/RW playback functionality. Includes remote control and mounting hardware. Silver. 2-7/8Hx13-7/8Wx12-1/4D\\\".\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Great sound and excellent quality\\n\\nReview: I bought this Sony kitchen CD player/radio for my husband as a Christmas gift, and we both love it. Not only was it incredibly easy to install, but it's just the right size and fits perfectly under our cabinets. I hardly ever listen to the radio, so I really can't comment on the FM/AM reception quality, although it seemed to work just fine when we tested everything to make sure it worked. The unit was easy to program and the CD player works great. I was pretty amazed by the sound quality, which is very good. The bass is also very impressive, and the volume can be turned up very loud so we can enjoy music throughout the main floor of our house. The remote control is also very handy, and it even has a magnet on the back so we can stick it on the refrigerator without worrying that it might get lost. All in all, this radio is excellent, and it's a great value for the price.\",\n \"Product: Take Hello Kitty everywhere you go. This personal CD player has 45-second ASP; CD-R/RW capabilities; programmable memory; intro/random play; bass boost; skip/search forward and back; and repeat 1 or all. Headphones included. Imported. 2-1/4Wx8-1/4Lx11H\\\".\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Very cute, good quality.\\n\\nReview: Hmm...why is this thing classified as a toy? I bought it at Target in the CD/audio section with all the other CD players. Adults like me will love this CD player just as much as kids will (and maybe more!).\\n\\nWell, the reason I picked this particular CD player is because I love Hello Kitty and I thought the design of this product was very cute. The quality of the CD player is also very good. I've been able to play regular CDs and burned CDs without a problem, and the skip protection feature on this thing actually WORKS, unlike many other models.\\n\\nThe CD player is easy to operate. It has your typical play/stop/pause/rewind/fast-forward buttons as well as a repeat track or entire disc feature and a special jogging mode for when you exercise. The headphones that come with the player are pretty decent, too, which is shocking.\\n\\nOverall, this is a great CD player that Hello Kitty fans of all ages will enjoy. It's easy to use, the sound quality is fantastic, and it's Hello Kitty, for god's sake! What more could you ask for?\",\n \"Product: Created in a blend of fashion and class, this Swiss Legend timepiece exhibits a bold style that adds flare to your collection.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: A waste of a pretty watch\\n\\nReview: This watch is awful. I cannot even explain it to you. The face of the watch is beautiful. However, it's completely impractical. It's so heavy to the point that it's uncomfortable to wear, and it's also impossible to loosen the middle dial to change the time. I've been messing with it for two hours and still haven't been able to do it. Secondly, the band is ridiculous. It's a combination buckle/clasp that is stupid, hard to use, and completely unnecessary as you can't even see the clasp when the watch is on, so what the heck is the point?! I guess I could swap out the band, but that won't solve the issue of the watch being too heavy. I will never, ever wear this.\",\n \"Product: A classic Disney animated fairy tale meets with the modern, live-action romantic comedy in Walt Disney Pictures ENCHANTED. Featuring an all-star cast, the film follows the beautiful princess Giselle (AMY ADAMS) as she is banished by an evil queen (SUSAN SARANDON) from her magical, musical animated land and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that doesn't operate on a happily ever after basis, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer (PATRICK DEMPSEY) who has come to her aid -- even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy tale prince (JAMES MARSDEN) back home -- she has to wonder: can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Once upon a time...\\\"\\n\\nReview: I absolutely adored this movie, and I can't believe the Walt Disney company actually made it! \\\"Enchanted\\\" is a hilarious film in which a classic Disney fairytale collides with modern-day New York City. Prince Edward meets his true love, Giselle, in the fairytale world of Andalasia. Unfortunately, the prince's wicked stepmother doesn't want him to get married because she will forced up to give up her position as queen. Evil Queen Narissa pushes Giselle down a magical wishing well, and the poor princess-to-be ends up in a New York City sewer (where she also ceases to be animated).\\n\\nNeedless to say, Giselle (Amy Adams) and her fairytale mentality don't mesh well with the big city lifestyle. Fortunately, she runs into Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a kindhearted lawyer whose young daughter convinces him to lend Giselle a helping hand. Robert's kindness ends up causing a major rift between him and his girlfriend (Idina Menzel), and when Price Edward (James Marsden) finally arrives in the Big Apple to rescue his true love, Giselle realizes that her \\\"happily ever after\\\" story isn't all it's cracked up to be, and her heart may actually belong to someone else.\\n\\nThis is a fantastic film that celebrates (and slightly satirizes) many classic Disney animated films, especially \\\"Snow White\\\" and \\\"Sleeping Beauty.\\\" It's such a clever film, and the concept of fairytale characters walking around New York City in the year 2007 is every bit as funny to watch on-screen as you can possibly imagine. I really enjoyed the twist with Giselle's happily ever after ending, which I didn't see coming at first but suited the film perfectly. \\\"Enchanted\\\" also benefits from an outstanding cast. Dempsey and Marsden are excellent, and Susan Sarandon delivers an entertaining performance in the role of Queen Narissa (although I wish she'd been given a bit more screen time). However, this movie belongs to Amy Adams, who is absolutely brilliant and deserves an Academy Award nomination for her performance. She is amazing!\\n\\nOverall, \\\"Enchanted\\\" is a very enchanting movie that deserves a place of honor in the Disney vault! Children and adults will adore this film.\",\n \"Product: PLEASE READ!!! THIS IS VHS VIDEO NOT DVD!!! New!!! (3-Tapes Box Set) VHS TAPE Sealed (as shown) \\\"Star Wars Trilogy (VHS Boxed Set)\\\" Fast shipping..(T6)\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I'm thankful to have these movies on DVD, but still...\\n\\nReview: ...George Lucas could have done a better job. The bottom line for me is that I've waited a very long time for the \\\"Star Wars\\\" movies to come out on DVD, and I'm happy to finally own them. However, the boxed set could have been a little nicer. The actual box that the DVDs come in is quite flimsy, which is disappointing. It is also disappointing to see all the little tweaks and changes Lucas has made to all three movies, none of which really make anything better and a few of which have actually pissed a lot of fans off. (For example, in one of the final scenes in \\\"Return of the Jedi,\\\" the ghost version of Darth Vader/Old Anakin that appears next to the ghosts of Yoda and Obi-Wan has been replaced with Hayden Christensen/20-something Anakin. It doesn't make any SENSE! They didn't replace Alec Guinness with Ewan McGregor, so why mess with Anakin at all? I don't understand!)\\n\\nDespite the little indescrepancies, it's nice to have a version (any version) of the \\\"Star Wars\\\" films to enjoy. Maybe Lucas will decide to release the original film versions on DVD one of these days, thereby making a lot of extra money for himself and satisfying his bewildered fans.\",\n \"Product: home decorating vhs\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Proof\\\" adds up perfectly\\n\\nReview: Based on David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, \\\"Proof\\\" revolves around Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow), the daughter of a brilliant, recently deceased mathematician (Anthony Hopkins). Although Catherine has inherited her father's mathematical genius, she fears that her knowledge might come with a heavy price. Her father had a history of mental illness for many years, and Catherine is worried that the disease has been passed on to her. To make matters more complicated, Catherine's pushy sister (Hope Davis) returns to town for her father's funeral and is intent on bringing Catherine back to New York City to stay with her. However, when Catherine shares a breakthrough mathematical proof with her new lover, who also happens to be her father's former graduate strudent (Jake Gyllenhaal), tensions arise as the authorship of the proof is questioned. Did Catherine's father write this amazing proof before his death, or is Catherine its true author?\\n\\nI thought this film was an excellent adaptation of Auburn's play. Paltrow gives an outstanding performance as a young woman coping with the death of her father, her own personal regrets, and mental instability. Hopkins also delivers a great performance as the delusional father figure, although I wish he had a bit more screen time. The only performance I was slightly disappointed with was Gyllenhaal's, who is kind of a putz. However, his character is a bit of a putz, too, so I guess I can't hold it against him too much.\\n\\n\\\"Proof\\\" is an excellent movie about family obligations, mental illness, and self-discovery. Put this one on your must-see list.\",\n \"Product: Mrs. Claus tells us about the time Santa had a bad cold and decided to take a vacation from Christmas. Two of his elves, Jingle Bells and Jangle Bells decided to go out (with Vixen) to find children to convince Santa that the Christmas spirit is still important to everybody else. But they have to get past Heat Miser and Snow Miser, first, before they land in Southtown, USA, where it never snows for Christmas. But the Miser Brothers can't agree to let it snow in Southtown. But Mrs. Santa knows their mom--Mother Nature. Written by Kathy Li\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: What's Christmas without Nestor?!\\n\\nReview: I'm sure the other two cartoons on this DVD are good, but the only one I really care about is \\\"Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey.\\\" I remember watching this special on television each year when I was little, and I absolutely loved it. The story is about Nestor, an adorable little donkey who was born with two ears as long as a pair of elephant trunks. Poor Nestor has a hard time managing with those ears, and everyone makes fun of him. When his mother gives her life to save him on a cold winter night (a scene that makes me cry harder than when Bambi's mother dies), he finds himself all alone in the world. Soon Nestor meets a friendly little cherub who guides him on a quest that puts his ears to good use. Nestor SINGLEHANDEDLY (or maybe singleEARdedly?) saves the Virgin Mary's life when she is carrying Baby Jesus to Bethlehem! How cool is that?! (I guess you have to see it to believe it, but trust me, it's quite entertaining!)\\n\\nAll religious undertones aside, this is still a great holiday classic that everyone will enjoy. Nestor is irresistible, and I'm thrilled that I finally own the DVD and can watch it whenever I want.\",\n \"Product: Animated\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A holiday cartoon classic!\\n\\nReview: I am so glad that \\\"He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special\\\" will be released on DVD in time for the holidays! I still have my old VHS copy of the show that I recorded from television back in the 80s, and I still watch it every year.\\n\\nCharacters from the \\\"He-Man\\\" and \\\"She-Ra\\\" cartoons come together in this special holiday episode. Adora has returned to Eternia to celebrate Christmas with her parents and her twin brother, Adam. She's also brought a bunch of friends from Etheria with her to join in the fun. The holiday celebrations turn sour when Orko is playing in one of Man-at-Arms' new defensive devices, a Sky Spy. Poor Orko inadvertently launches the ship, and he ends up taking a trip into space and landing on a mysterious planet called Earth. Orko meets two children, Alishia and Miguel, who are lost in the woods. They join Orko in the Sky Spy to get out of the cold just as Man-at-Arms figures out how to bring the ship back to Eternia...with Orko and the kids in tow.\\n\\nOf course, Christmas with He-Man and She-Ra wouldn't be complete without everyone's favorite villains. Skeletor and Hordak are commissioned by their boss, Horde Prime, to kidnap the children and deliver them to him...Horde Prime believes that they are the source of the \\\"disgusting Christmas spirit\\\" that is polluting his universe, and he is determined to get rid of them! Skeletor and Hordak compete against each other to see who can kidnap the children first. Alishia and Miguel end up spending a good portion of time with Skeletor, and in my opinion, that's the best part of the show. We get to witness the evil Skeletor become attached to these two kids and their Manchine puppy, Relay. It's hilarious!\\n\\nIn the end, Skeletor becomes filled with the Christmas spirit, and he saves the children from what would have been certain doom at the hands of Horde Prime. The kids get to enjoy Christmas and are eventually returned to their Earthen parents safe and sound.\\n\\nOverall, this Christmas special is one of my favorite parts of the \\\"He-Man\\\" and \\\"She-Ra\\\" series. All of our favorite characters are together in one place, which is a lot of fun. There are also plenty of new characters, including the Manchines, who are a bunch of little robotic people and animals. Even though we get to see a lot of He-Man and She-Ra in this episode, Skeletor is the real star of the show...I crack up every time I see him get all sentimental on the screen!\\n\\nI'm thrilled that this DVD is finally being released. Now that the \\\"He-Man\\\" series has slowly started to trickle out on DVD, hopefully \\\"She-Ra\\\" won't be far behind!\",\n \"Product: VHS TAPE\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Two Ewans are better than one\\n\\nReview: The big thing about \\\"The Island\\\" is...there is no island. It's just a ploy to lure unsuspecting clones to their deaths. The year is 2014 and a corporation has developed a method to produce human clones. The clones have been led to believe that the Earth has been contaminated, which is why they're all being quarantined indoors. Every so often the facility has a lottery drawing, and one lucky winner is offered the chance to go to \\\"the island,\\\" which is supposedly the one place on the planet that hasn't been destroyed.\\n\\nOne of the clones, Lincoln Six-Echo (Ewan McGregor) finally discovers the truth when his friend Jordan Two-Delta (Scarlett Johansson) is chosen as a lucky lottery winner...in order to protect her from being killed, he convinces her to break out of the facility and find out the truth behind their existence. A man who Lincoln befriended at the facility (Steve Buschemi) informs the clones that they are only several years old and have been implanted with the memories of their \\\"owners\\\"...filthy rich people who paid a fee of $5 million apiece to have clones provided as \\\"insurance policies.\\\"\\n\\nUnfamiliar with their new surroundings, Lincoln and Jordan set off to find their owners and enlist their help in bringing down the cloning facility. They manage to avoid being captured killed by the facility cronies, the FBI, and the LAPD, and Lincoln finally comes face to face with his owner, Tom Lincoln (also played by Ewan McGregor). Unfortunately for Lincoln, his owner isn't thrilled about the fact that his insurance policy just wandered into his living room, and Lincoln and Jordan have to take it upon themselves to try and stop the mastermind of the cloning facility (Sean Bean) from killing more innocent \\\"copies.\\\"\\n\\n\\\"The Island\\\" is both a great action/sci-fi movie and a very emotional story about two people who are forced to examine the purpose and validity of their own existence. McGregor and Johannson deliver superb performances and have great onscreen chemistry. I also enjoyed the chemistry that McGregor has with...himself! The scenes between Lincoln and Tom were very enjoyable. (It would have been nice to see Jordan's character encounter her owner in person, but the movie is over 2.5 hours long, so there really wasn't any room for extra footage.) The cinematography is also very impressive: in typical Michael Bay style, many of the scenes flash by in extremely fast sequences, which is unique and really sets the film apart from other action movies.\\n\\nIn an age where cloning is a very hot topic, \\\"The Island\\\" definitely raises some interesting questions. There are a few cheesy moments in the film (such as when Sean Bean borrows a line from Cliff Huxtable in \\\"The Cosby Show\\\"...that was so lame!), and the first 40 minutes of the movie drag a bit. Things pick up quickly when Lincoln and Jordan finally manage to escape the cloning facility: from then on it's nothing but non-stop action and adventure.\\n\\nOverall, \\\"The Island\\\" is a very interesting sci-fi thriller, and those are pretty hard to come by these days. Fans of McGregor and Johansson will be treated to great performances by two very fine actors, and the plot will give you plenty to talk about when you go out for drinks after the film. :)\",\n \"Product: A pleasantly surprising comedy.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: There's something about this movie...\\n\\nReview: It took me ten years to see this movie, and I'm glad I finally did! \\\"There's Something About Mary\\\" is the story of Ted (Ben Stiller), a lonely guy who has been in love with his high school prom date, Mary (Cameron Diaz), ever since they shared the most horrifying pre-date experience possible. Thirteen years later, Ted still can't get Mary out of his mind. He hires Patrick (Matt Dillon), a sleazy private investigator, to track Mary down. Unfortunately, when Patrick gets a good look at Mary, he decides that he wants her all to himself. Patrick concocts a wild scheme to keep Ted and Mary apart, but Ted eventually figures out what's going on and embarks on a hellish journey down to Florida to set things straight. It turns out that many more men have become smitten with Mary, and it's anyone's guess what will happen in the end.\\n\\nThis movie is incredibly funny. There is definitely some humor in it that I would usually consider uncouth (bathroom scenes, anyone?), but even I couldn't keep myself from laughing. The bits with the dog are hilarious, and the actors are all fantastic. Overall, \\\"There's Something About Mary\\\" is great for a lot of laughs. Don't wait as long as I have to see it!\",\n \"Product: Thrill-seeking billionaire Thomas Crown (Brosnan) loves nothing more than courting disasterand winning! So when his world becomes too stiflingly safe, he pulls off his boldest stunt ever: stealing a priceless paintingin broad daylightfrom one of Manhattan's most heavily guarded museums. But his post-heist excitement soon pales beside an even greater challenge: Catherine Banning (Russo). A beautiful insurance investigator hired to retrieve the artwork, Catherine's every bit as intelligent, cunning and hungry for adventure as he is. And just when Thomas realizes he's finally met his match, she skillfully leads him into a daring game of cat and mouse that's more intoxicating and dangerous than anything either of them has ever experienced before!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: One of my favorite movies ever!\\n\\nReview: Pierce Brosnan plays Thomas Crown, a billionaire executive who decides to have a little fun by stealing a priceless Monet from his own museum, basically just to see if he can get away with it. Enter Renee Russo's character, Catherine Banning, a high-class bounty hunter hired by the company that insures the painting who is intent on proving that Brosnan is guilty. Despite her professional obligations, she cannot help but fall for Crown's charm, and the two enjoy a fabulous romance while still trying to outmatch each other.\\nBrosnan and Russo have incredible chemistry. They compliment each other perfectly on screen and make the most out of every scene, both the silly ones and the serious ones. Denis Leary has a great supporting role as the detective working on the Crown heist, and his scenes with Russo are excellent as well.\\nThe plot is very enjoyable, and there are a lot of twists and turns along the way that the audience doesn't see coming. Crown's final \\\"prank\\\" at the end of the film is absolutely priceless, as is his final scene with Russo. This is one instance where a movie remake is ten times better than the original. I'm glad that there are plans to make a sequel.\",\n \"Product: With Russell Crowe (THE INSIDER, A BEAUTIFUL MIND), Hank Azaria (GODZILLA, THE BIRD CAGE), and Burt Reynolds leading an incredible all-star cast, here's a fun, uplifting, action-packed story that everyone will love! A remote hockey-obsessed town populated by 633 of the most eccentric characters you'd ever want to meet, Mystery is the kind of place where nothing ever changes. But then life as they know it gets turned completely upside down! When a publicity stunt brings the world-famous New York Rangers -- and the national spotlight -- to Mystery for a game with the local team of weekend warriors, the whole town rises to meet the challenge of a lifetime! Also starring Mary McCormack (TRUE CRIME, DEEP IMPACT) and Lolita Davidovich (PLAY IT TO THE BONE, JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE) in another critical favorite from the hit-making director of AUSTIN POWERS 1&2 -- you'll stand and cheer as this ragtag bunch shows that nothing can melt their dreams of a miracle on ice!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Decent screenplay overshadowed by a lousy leading man\\n\\nReview: There is one major problem with this movie, and the problem's name is Russell Crowe. I CAN'T STAND Russell Crowe! I think he is one of the most overrated actors around, and his arrogance bleeds into every single movie he appears in. He is not particularly talented and makes the same faces in every film, and it drives me CRAZY! In this case, we have what could have been an okay movie, but Russell Crowe poisoned the whole thing with his very presence.\\n\\n\\\"Mystery, Alaska\\\" has the potential to be a decent movie. It's about the small Alaskan town of Mystery, a place where everybody knows everyone else and each resident is obsessed with the game of hockey. One day a former Mystery resident turned sports promoter returns to town with very exciting news: he's set up an exhibition game between Mystery amateur hockey players and the New York Rangers. The people of Mystery must learn to put aside their various differences and pull together in preparation for the event of a lifetime.\\n\\nThis film is sentimental and can basically be summed up in one cliche: \\\"It's not about whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game.\\\" There are several strong performances in this movie, including Hank Azaria as Mystery's prodigal son and Burt Reynolds as the town judge/coach. However, Russell Crowe spoiled the whole film for me. He plays the town sheriff/hockey player/coach, and he's basically just a big cocky oaf on ice. There's this one scene where Crowe's character is supposed to have a \\\"touching\\\" moment with his wife. He crosses out a bunch of words in a newspaper column and instructs his wife to read the remaining characters out loud. I think the intention of the scene was for Crowe's character to come across as being all sentimental and deep, but it was just incredibly stupid and serves as a perfect example of how every movie Crowe is in basically turns to garbage.\\n\\nIf ANYONE but Russell Crowe had been cast in the role of John, \\\"Mystery, Alaska\\\" might be worth watching. Sadly, though, I must advise you to skip it.\",\n \"Product: Pixar genius reigns in this funny romantic comedy, which stars a robot who says absolutely nothing for a full 25 minutes yet somehow completely transfixes and endears himself to the audience within the first few minutes of the film. As the last robot left on earth, Wall-E (voiced by Ben Burtt) is one small robot--with a big, big heart--who holds the future of earth and mankind squarely in the palm of his metal hand. He's outlasted all the \\\"Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class\\\" robots that were assigned some 700 years ago to clean up the environmental mess that man made of earth while man vacationed aboard the luxury spaceship Axiom. Wall-E has dutifully gone about his job compacting trash, the extreme solitude broken only by his pet cockroach, but he's developed some oddly human habits and ideas. When the Axiom sends its regularly scheduled robotic EVE probe (Elissa Knight) to earth, Wall-E is instantly smitten and proceeds to try to impress EVE with his collection of human memorabilia. EVE's directive compels her to bring Wall-E's newly collected plant sprout to the captain of the Axiom and Wall-E follows in hot pursuit. Suddenly, the human world is turned upside down and the Captain (Jeff Garlin) joins forces with Wall-E and a cast of other misfit robots to lead the now lethargic people back home to earth. Wall-E is a great family film with the most impressive aspect being the depth of emotion conveyed by a simple robot--a machine typically considered devoid of emotion, but made so absolutely touching by the magic of Pixar animation. Also well-worth admiring are the sweeping views from space, the creative yet disturbing vision of what strange luxuries a future space vacation might offer, and the innovative use of trash in a future cityscape. Underneath the slapstick comedy and touching love story is a poignant message about the folly of human greed and its potential effects on earth and the entire human race.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Good movie, but it sends the wrong message\\n\\nReview: \\\"Wall-E\\\" is the story of a small robot with a big heart. The last of the \\\"Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class\\\" robots, Wall-E's job is to compact the garbage that's taken over Earth and caused humans to abandon the planet some 700 years ago. Wall-E dutifully goes about his job, but demonstrates many human characteristics, including a desire to love. When an EVE probe is sent to Earth, Wall-E falls hard for her and follows her back to the Axiom, a luxury spaceships where what remains of the human race has been loafing around for the past several centuries. The captain of the ship ultimately joins forces with Wall-E and EVE in an effort to return to Earth, but they must overcome powerful technology that's been in place for a very long time.\\n\\nI appreciated this movie's charm and innovation, but didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would. I appreciate the eco-friendly messages \\\"Wall-E\\\" is trying to send, but the ending of the film bothered me because it seemed too easy. What happened to all of the waste that had been polluting the Earth for many hundreds of years? Did it just disappear? I think it sends the wrong message that pollution can always be overcome, even if it takes hundreds of years, but the reality is that if we destroy Earth, it may never be habitable again. I would have preferred to see the humans in the film colonize a new planet and take better care of it instead of have Earth magically restored to its past splendor.\\n\\nEnough of my soapbox, however. \\\"Wall-E\\\" is still a very cute movie. Also, Fred Willard is in it, and he's absolutely hilarious. What more could you want?\",\n \"Product: Hugh Grant (Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary) is simply brilliant in this comedy hit the critics are hailing as \\\"Hilarious!\\\" (Premiere). Will Lightman (Grant) is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up. About A Boy is the irresistible comedy smash that Time Magazine says is \\\"smart, funny and winsome.\\\"\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Just not up to par\\n\\nReview: I wanted to like this movie, I really did. But I was disappointed by it.\\n\\nThe premise of the film is that Will (Hugh Grant), a selfish slacker who has no job and lives off his father's old royalty fees, decides to start preying on single mothers who are looking for a little romance. He then meets Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), the young son of a suicidal woman who is desperately seeking help and friendship. Will eventually asks Marcus to pretend to be his son in order to have a shot at dating an attractive single mom (Rachel Weisz), and everything goes downhill from there.\\n\\n\\\"About a Boy\\\" isn't at all what I expected it to be. I didn't think it was all that funny or moving, and I probably wouldn't have sat through the entire thing if it weren't for the fact that I adore Hugh Grant, and he really does a great job in the film. I think my biggest problem with the movie is that the kid who plays Marcus is kind of freaky, and I cringed every time his creepy little face popped up on the screen. I do not recommend seeing this film unless you are a big fan of Hugh Grant, in which case I suggest tuning in only for the final fifteen minutes so you can see him sing a rousing rendition of \\\"Killing Me Softly,\\\" which is pretty freakin' hilarious. Otherwise, this is definitely a film to pass up.\",\n \"Product: \\\"Get ready for fun!\\\" (Leah Rozen, People) with the \\\"feel good movie of the year!\\\" (Clay Smith, Access Hollywood) Love Actually is the ultimate romantic comedy from the makers of Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill. Funny, irresistible and heartwarming, an all-star cast (Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth and Emma Thompson, to name a few!) will take you on a breathtaking tour of love's delightful twists and turns. Fall under the spell of Love Actually and share the laughs and charm again and again.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: I can't believe it took me so long to see this movie!\\n\\nReview: I bought the DVD because I knew I'd love the film, and I do. First of all, every single notable British actor that you can think of is in this movie. The plot follows approximately ten different couples who are struggling through their respective relationships. Some of my favorite couples are Hugh Grant's character (the Prime Minister) and his outspoken assistant, Liam Neeson and his adorable son, and Colin Firth and his Portuguese maid. The best scenes in the film are between Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman, who portray a married couple going through a rough patch. This is an amazing movie that will have you in fits of laughter one minute and fighting back tears the next. The DVD is great because it contains over 20 minutes of deleted scenes, most of which are very good.\",\n \"Product: As Harry Potter readies himself for his third year at Hogwarts, an incident in which he is unable to control his anger forces him on the lam. At the same time, a dangerous man named Sirius Black escapes from the Azkaban prison with one thought on his mind: to track down and kill Harry Potter. The third year at Hogwarts is full of excitement and danger for Harry and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: The best of the Harry Potter films so far!\\n\\nReview: \\\"Prisoner of Azkaban\\\" is probably my favorite book in the Harry Potter series, so I guess I'm a little biased when I say that it's the best of the three films. However, I think Alfonso Cuaron is the real reason behind that. This is a BEAUTIFUL movie. What struck me the most about it was how many gorgeous \\\"pictures\\\" of Hogwarts Cuaron created throughout the film. He's always been one of my favorite directors, and I think \\\"Prisoner of Azkaban\\\" is his best film to date.\\nThe kids have grown up even more since the last film, especially Neville, who doesn't look like the same person he was in the last film. (He got really tall and lost all his baby fat!) Harry's voice is deeper now (Ron shocked us all with his mature voice in \\\"Chamber of Secrets\\\"), and Emma is becoming a very pretty young woman. It was nice to see all \\\"my kids\\\" again!\\nAs always, the entire cast gives an amazing performance. The kids were fabulous, of course, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed David Thewlis as Professor Lupin. I was very disappointed when I initially learned of that casting decision because I had always envisioned Ralph Fiennes in the role, but Thewlis was perfect. (They've yet to make any casting mistakes with these films, so I won't let myself worry about things like that ever again.) Except for his voice, Michael Gambon's Dumbledore is almost identical to the way Richard Harris played the character, which is comforting (albeit a bit creepy).\\nEmma Thompson is hilarious as Sybil Trelawney, but she was only in two scenes, which was very disappointing. My favorite new character was Gary Oldman as Sirius Black. Everything Oldman does is amazing, and this role was no exception. Oldman doesn't have much screen time in \\\"Azkaban,\\\" but he was brilliant. I can't wait to watch him in the next two films.\\nThe music and special effects were amazing, for the most part. I liked the fact that John Williams threw some jazzy melodies into the mix to liven things up a bit. And the special effects were amazing! Lupin as a werewolf, Sirius as a dog, the dementors (so creepy!), the Whomping Willow, Aunt Petunia's inflating incident...everything was great. The only special effect I was actually disappointed in was Harry's patronus. I always envisioned the stag being much larger than it was portrayed in the film. It was just this regular-size stag that was on the screen for a fraction of a second. I expected a lot more than that.\\nObviously, some material from the book had to be cut. The only real gripe I have with this movie is that, unlike the first two films which stand pretty well on their own, I think that people who haven't read \\\"Prisoner of Azkaban\\\" will be a bit lost at several points in the movie. This film glosses over several details that are relatively minor, but which could easily lead to some confusion for those who haven't read J.K. Rowling's novel (Harry's permission slip for Hogsmeade, the tension between Ron and Hermione over Crookshanks and Scabbers, Buckbeack's trial, etc.)\\nThe biggest thing that was omitted from the film was the story behind the Animagi. We never find out who Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs really are and why they all became Animagi in the first place. That's one of the best (and most important) parts of the book and it was completely omitted from the movie.\\nSince most people who see this film have (hopefully!) already read the book, it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. However, if you analyze the movie by itself, there are definitely a few minor holes in the plot. And since the film only ran for two hours and fifteen minutes, there's no reason at all why Cuaron couldn't have allotted himself another fifteen or twenty minutes to tie up some loose ends. (\\\"Goblet of Fire\\\" and \\\"Order of the Phoenix\\\" are going to have to be at least three to three and a half hours long to cover enough material, don't you think?\\n\\\"Prisoner of Azkaban\\\" was rated PG, and I personally think that some of the scenes were pushing into PG-13 mode. However, think of what will happen in the next two films. If \\\"Azkaban\\\" had been given a PG-13 rating, then \\\"Goblet of Fire\\\" and \\\"Phoenix\\\" would probably have to be rated R, and that's just not right. These are supposed to for kids, after all.\",\n \"Product: After ten years of being away from home, a young man returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral. A young woman from his past helps him to reconnect with his family and his roots.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Why is this guy wasting his time on \\\"Scrubs?!\\\"\\n\\nReview: I think \\\"Scrubs\\\" is a terrible show, so I had no desire to see Zach Braff's movie \\\"Garden State\\\" when it was released. I heard a lot of good things about it, though, and the soundtrack rocks, so I finally decided to watch it when it was on cable, and OH MY GOD! This is SUCH an amazing movie! Braff wrote the script as well as directed and starred in the film, and he did a fabulous job. Braff's character, Andrew, is a small-time actor in L.A. who returns to his home state of New Jersey following the death of his mother. Andrew's emotions are in high gear and he passes the time by hanging out with some old school buddies (including the very talented Peter Sarsgaard, who plays Mark) and beginning a tentative relationship with a slightly crazy girl (Natalie Portman) who somehow brings him comfort.\\n\\nBraff, Sarsgaard, and the rest of the cast of \\\"Garden State\\\" are amazing in this film, but Portman steals the show with her hilarious performance as Sam. This movie is very touching but also very funny, and I enjoyed it so much that I watched it twice in a row! It's a wonderful story about seeking out what you want in life and making the most of it. I highly recommend it!\",\n \"Product: The year's most disturbing thriller explores the unsettling possibility that the dead can contact usall we have to do is listen. When architect Jonathan Rivers (Michael Keaton) loses his wife in a tragic accident, he turns to the shadowy, unnerving world of Electronic Voice Phenomenon - communication from beyond the grave. But as he begins to penetrate the mysteries of EVP, Jonathan makes a shocking discovery: once a portal to the other world is opened, there's no telling what will come through it.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Is a decent ending too much to ask for? Apparently so!\\n\\nReview: It is rumored that prior to his death, Thomas Edison was working on an invention that would allow people to communicate with the dead. \\\"White Noise\\\" is based on the concept of electronic voice phenomenon (EVP), which is the alleged communication of the deceased through tape recorders and other electronic devices. It's an intriguing concept, but unfortunately \\\"White Noise\\\" is one of those horror movies that start out fabulous but then fall apart at the very end.\\n\\nMichael Keaton plays Jonathan Rivers, a man who is grieving over the tragic death of his wife, Anna (Chandra West). Shortly after his wife's death, Jonathan received a visit from a mysterious man (Ian McNeice) who claims that Anna has contacted him \\\"from the other side.\\\" Jonathan becomes obsessed with EVP, desperate to communicate with his late wife. In doing so, however, Jonathan unwittingly becomes entangled in the lives (and deaths) of others, and ultimately puts his own life at risk.\\n\\n\\\"White Noise\\\" boasts an excellent cast and an intriguing storyline. Good horror movies are few and far between these days, but I was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time while watching this, completely freaked out by what was happening on the screen. Unfortunately, though, the film completely crapped out during the last five minutes or so, like most modern horror movies tend to do. I don't even really understand what happened at the end of the film because it was so freakin' WEIRD! The ending completely ruined the movie for me, and instead of being spooked, I'm just pissed off. Why can't these films keep it together at the end?!\\n\\n\\\"White Noise\\\" disappointed me the same way films like \\\"Secret Window\\\" and \\\"Hide and Seek\\\" did...they were all great nail-biting thrillers until the last few minutes, when everything went to hell. Why can't these movies have decent endings?! I swear to god, the last good quality thriller that was released in theatres was \\\"What Lies Beneath,\\\" and that came out all the way back in 2000. How hard is it to make a decent scary movie?! Hollywood should be ashamed.\",\n \"Product: New The Namesake [dvd]\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Good movie, but the book is so much better\\n\\nReview: Based on Jhumpa Lahiri's acclaimed novel, \\\"The Namesake\\\" tells the story of a young engineer, Ashoke Ganguli (Irfan Khan), and his new wife, Ashima (Tabu), who move from Calcutta to New York shortly after their marriage. Adjusting to life in a new country is difficult, especially for Ashima, but the Ganguli's children have an easier time blending in with American culture, because it's what they were born into. However, being an American-born child with Bengali parents is a difficulty in itself, and it's something that Ashoke and Ashima's son, Gogol (Kal Penn), has a very hard time dealing with. As Gogol grows into a young man, he distances himself from his family and embraces the American way of life. However, when tragedy strikes, Gogol realizes that his priorities are completely out of whack, and he attempts to make some changes in his life, but not everything goes according to plan.\\n\\nThis is a decent adaptation of a stunning book. The cast is fantastic, and I was especially impressed by Khan and Tabu's performances. I think that I expected more out of the film because I am such a huge fan of Lahiri's novel, so it was probably impossible for the film to measure up in my eyes. Lahiri's writing is just so incredibly descriptive and emotional, and it's impossible to transfer her beautiful words onto the screen, so the movie didn't really do it for me...the book is just so much richer and more powerful. I encourage everyone to read the book prior to watching the film adaptation.\",\n \"Product: Kate Hudson twinkles as the heroine of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. She's a magazine writer assigned to date a guy, make all the mistakes girls make that drive guys away (being clingy, talking in baby-talk and so on) and records the process like a sociological experiment. However, the guy she picks-- Matthew McConaughey--is an advertising executive who's just bet that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days; if he succeeds, he'll win a huge account that will make his career. The set-up is completely absurd, but the collision of their efforts to woo and repel creates some pretty funny scenes. McConaughey's easy charm and Hudson's lightweight impishness play well together and the plot, though strictly Hollywood formula, chugs along efficiently. At moments Hudson seems to channel her mother, Goldie Hawn, to slightly unnerving effect. --Bret Fetzer\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A surprisingly good little movie\\n\\nReview: I never had a desire to see this movie when it was in theatres, but there was nothing on television the other day so I started watching this, and I was amazed at how good it is! Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey have great chemistry as two people who are attempting to use each other to advance their own careers: Andie (Hudson) is a journalist attempting to write a feature article on things women do to drive men away (hence the title \\\"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days\\\"), and McConaughey plays an advertising executive who makes a bet with his coworkers that he can make a woman fall in love with him in ten days, and if he wins the bet, he'll land a major account with his firm. The plot isn't exactly relaistic, but there are some hilarious scenes in this movie. Hudson's psychotic episodes are hysterical, and I gained a whole new respect for her as an actress after seeing her in this role. The pace kind of slows down in the last third of the film, and the ending is kind of predictable and could have been a lot funnier, in my opinion. Overall, though, this is one of the best romantic comedies I've seen in a while.\",\n \"Product: Academy Award(r)-winner Julia Roberts (Best Actress in a Leading Role, Erin Brockovich, 2000) leads an all-star cast featuring Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhall and Marcia Gay Harden. MONA LISA SMILE is a funny, inspiring and uplifting film about an art history professor with a lot to teach about life and much to learn about romance.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A catfight or two would have made the movie even better!\\n\\nReview: This isn't a brilliant cinematic accomplishment by any means, but it is definitely an entertaining story. Julia Roberts portrays an art history professor from Wellesly who has a difficult time adjusting to the fact that most of her brilliant students have no professional ambitions of their own and simply want to get married and have babies when they graduate from college. Roberts is excellent in the film, but the younger actresses are also very good, most notably Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Ginnifer Goodwin.\\nSome people will probably be turned off by the attitudes about women that are depicted in the film, but that's the way things were done 50 years ago, and the fact that we're so bothered by it when we watch the film shows that the director has done a fine job. What bothered me about the movie was the way that several of the characters interacted with each other. Dunst's character was NASTY, and in the course of a two-hour film, she exposes her best friend's deepest secret to a large crowd, lies to one of her friends and convinces her that her boyfriend is cheating on her (he's not), calls another friend of hers a tramp (once again, in front of a crowd), and writes several controversial editorials in the school paper that everyone disagrees with. After all of that, no one really lashes out at her at all. It's true that Dunst's character is coping with her own problems, but I don't think that any girls would let their friend get away with all the crap that Dunst pulls in the movie. I was hoping that someone would haul off and slap her at the end, but no one did, and that was disappointing.\\nThere were also some things that bothered me about Julia's character, especially the fact that such a strong and independent woman would have an affair with a professor who was openly sleeping with his students. That was a major thing that I didn't understand at all.\\nAll that aside, though, it was still an entertaining movie. My boyfriend called it a \\\"chick flick,\\\" and I agree that the film probably appeals to women more than it does to men. It's worth watching, though, and I'd recommend it to everyone.\",\n \"Product: Cold Mountain [VHS]\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not nearly as good as the book\\n\\nReview: The biggest problem with this movie is that it simply cannot compare to Charles Frazier's novel. However, there's only so much you can expect when a film is adapted from a book, and overall, the movie \\\"Cold Mountain\\\" isn't all that bad...but I still think it could have been better.\\n\\nIn the film, Jude Law plays Inman, a Confederate soldier who deserts the battlefront after surviving a serious injury. He encounters many hurdles in his attempt to return to Cold Mountain and to Ada (Nicole Kidman), a woman he fell in love with following a very brief encounter prior to his departure. The film flashes back and forth to Inman's adventures and Ada's struggle to survive on her farm following the death of her father. She is fortunate to have the assistance of the free-spirited Ruby (Renée Zellweger), with whom she forms a powerful friendship that feeds her spirit and gives her the strength to keep on believing that Inman will return to her someday.\\n\\nI'm usually a big fan of Kidman's work, but her performance in \\\"Cold Mountain\\\" was a bit disappointing. I'm not sure if that's a reflection on her as an actress or on Ada's character, which is kind on one-dimensional. Law's performance is acceptable but not extraordinary, and the real star of the film is Zellweger, whose portrayal of Ruby is vibrant and also downright hilarious at times. Natalie Portman also has a small but strong part as a woman that Law's character encounters along his journey home, and Brendan Gleeson does a great job in the role of Ruby's deadbeat father, Stobrod.\\n\\nThe first forty minutes of the film are incredibly dry...I almost had to turn it off. However, things picked up after a while and the film got much better as it went along. The movie just doesn't have the same emotional appeal as the novel, which is why I can't give it a high recommendation.\",\n \"Product: Academy Award(R) nominated stars Joaquin Phoenix (Best Supporting Actor, GLADIATOR, 2000) and John Travolta (Best Actor, PULP FICTION, 1994) ignite the intense action in this heroic tale of ordinary men with uncommon courage! As part of a tightly knit brotherhood of skilled firefighters, Jack Morrison (Phoenix) grows from inexperienced rookie to seasoned veteran as he faces a dangerous job that makes him a hero to strangers but often shortchanges his wife (Jacinda Barrett -- THE HUMAN STAIN) and kids. Then, when he becomes trapped in the worst blaze of his career, the things Jack holds most important -- family, duty, courage -- come sharply into focus.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Don't worry, this is not another \\\"Backdraft!\\\"\\n\\nReview: I first saw \\\"Ladder 49\\\" when it was released in theatres, and I was amazed at how good of a movie it actually was. Joaquin Phoenix plays Jack Morrison, a firefighter who finds himself trapped inside a burning building. As he waits for his rescuers to arrive, Jack reflects back on his career and family, flashing back to his days as a rookie and his relationship with his wife Linda (Jacinda Barrett).\\n\\nThe reason this movie is so good is because it has so much to offer: amazing action sequences and special effects (some of the best fire scenes ever are in this film), humor (John Travolta's flowered boxer shorts), human drama (the reality of the dangers involved in being a firefighter), friendship, and a love story. I guess you could say that the story is a little predictable, but I can almost guarantee that you'll be surprised by the way the movie ends.\\n\\n\\\"Ladder 49\\\" is definitely worth watching. The DVD doesn't do the amazing fire scenes justice...it was really awesome to see that on the big screen. However, this movie has something for everyone, and the cast is really great. I think you'll enjoy it.\",\n \"Product: M. Night Shyamalan (SIGNS, UNBREAKABLE, THE SIXTH SENSE), the director who brought you the world's greatest thrillers on DVD, now creates his most thought-provoking triumph yet ... breaking international records and dazzling audiences around the globe! THE VILLAGE is a smart, edge-of-your-seat chiller crawling with terrifying surprises and frightening twists and turns. An isolated, tight-knit community lives in mortal fear of an oppressive evil inhabiting the forbidden forest just beyond their tiny village. So frightening that no one ventures into the woods ... until one villager dares to face the unknown. With unforgettable performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, Adrien Brody, and newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard, this powerful motion picture is one of Hollywood's best psychological thrillers and ranks with the best of Hitchcock!\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Another stupid Shyamalan flick\\n\\nReview: With the exception of \\\"Signs,\\\" every film that M. Night Shyamalan has made is extremely overrated. \\\"The Village\\\" tells the story of a group of people living in an isolated community that is surrounded by woods. Everyone in the village is warned not to go into the woods, which are patrolled by evil \\\"creatures\\\" decked out in red hooded capes. Beyond the woods are \\\"the towns,\\\" and all anyone knows about the towns is that they are BAD, and NO ONE is supposed to venture into the woods or the towns, or TERRIBLE THINGS WILL HAPPEN!\\n\\nSound intriguing? Maybe a little bit...but trust me, Shyamalan manages to screw it up.\\n\\n\\\"The Village\\\" has a typical Shyamalan \\\"twist\\\" ending, which anyone with half a brain will be able to figure out long before the \\\"secret\\\" of the village is revealed to the audience. Overall, though, there isn't anything remotely scary or suspenseful about this movie. There are a few decent performances (Bryce Howard is very convincing in the role of Ivy), but even a collection of very talented actors can't compensate for 108 minutes of Shyamalan crap. In some ways \\\"The Village\\\" is even worse than \\\"The Sixth Sense,\\\" which is another movie that I hated. There's nothing scary about the endings of these films at all...nothing creepy or supernatural actually happens. (At least there are actual aliens in \\\"Signs,\\\" which is probably the only thing that saved that movie.)\\n\\nI wish Shyamalan could figure out a way to make another thriller/horror movie that was actually SCARY. So far the only film he has succeeded with is \\\"Signs\\\"...whether he'll ever make another decent movie remains to be seen.\",\n \"Product: Quick Shipping !!! New And Sealed !!! This Disc WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. A multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player is request to view it in USA/Canada. Please Review Description.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Kind of lame, as most horror movies are\\n\\nReview: I'm not usually one for horror movies, but a friend of mine made me watch \\\"The Descent\\\" with her, and it wasn't as awful as I thought it would be. The first half of the movie is scarier than the rest, because it involves a group of six women exploring a dangerous underground cave. Being extremely claustrophobic, that alone was scary enough for me! However, then the women start being hunted by evil Gollum-like creatures who live deep within the cave, and the film takes a turn for the worse. If you're a fan of horror films, you'll probably enjoy \\\"The Descent\\\" because it's gruesome and relatively scary, unlike most of the ridiculous films that currently pepper this film genre. However, if you're like me and don't care much for these type of movies at all, definitely skip this one.\",\n \"Product: For six seasons Carrie Bradshaw and friends Samantha Miranda and Charlotte offered us their hilarious outspoken and outrageous look at dating mating and relating in the big city. Celebrate the show that explores the day-to-day -- and night-to-night -- world of single women in this the definitive collector's edition.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 026359866128 Manufacturer No: 98861\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: Too little, too late\\n\\nReview: Let me start out by saying that my review of this product is completely biased. If I was judging this DVD set solely based on its design, content, and value, I'd have to give it five stars. The elegant suede photo album packaging and the extra bonus DVD are fabulous, and the cost is a real bargain...the entire \\\"Sex and the City\\\" series for under $200? You can't beat that, especially when you look at the way HBO jacks up the prices on its other TV DVD sets.\\n\\nHowever, I'm very bitter right now, which is why I'm only giving this item one star. I bought all the original \\\"Sex and the City\\\" DVDs when they first came out. The plastic packaging of the single-season DVD sets is unbelievably shabby...the covers are extremely flimsy and I have Scotch tape holding several of my DVD sets together. Also, I paid the full price for each DVD set, which averaged out to about $40 a pop. (It looks like the price of the old sets has since been lowered, at least on Amazon's site.) Plus, HBO screwed its fans by releasing the fifth and final season of the show in two parts, so we had to shell out even MORE money. Now they're coming out with this gorgeous collector's set a year later, and it's such a bargain, which makes me very ANGRY! Why the hell did I shell out all that money to begin with? I'll tell you why: because I love \\\"Sex and the City\\\" and I was willing to put up with the crappy plastic packaging just so I could watch my show whenever I felt like it. There is NO WAY I'm shelling out another $200, even though I want this gift set SO BADLY! ARRGH!\\n\\nI hate HBO.\",\n \"Product: Corpse Bride\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"And in other news, THE DEAD WALK THE EARTH!\\\"\\n\\nReview: I have been looking forward to seeing \\\"Corpse Bride\\\" ever since I learned that it was in production. I was not disappointed...Tim Burton always makes amazing films, and this one is no exception.\\n\\nThe animated tale revolves around Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp), a young and somewhat jumpy young man who is betrothed to Victoria (voiced by Emily Watson), a girl he's never even met before. The parents of the newlyweds-to-be are both hoping that the union of their children will better their own reputations and ease their financial burdens. Victor and Victoria finally meet and are pleasantly surprised to discover that they actually like each other. When Victor botches the wedding rehearsal, he rushes out into the woods to practice his wedding vows. He places Victoria's wedding ring on a tree branch, which suddenly grips his hand and emerges from the earth attached to a corpse bride (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter). She takes the unwilling Victor to her home, the land of the undead, which exists beneath the surface of the earth. Victor struggles with his new bride while poor Victoria must cope with the evil man her parents have found to fill in for Victor at the wedding ceremony.\\n\\nThe animation in \\\"Corpse Bride\\\" is phenomenal...if this movie doesn't win the Best Animated Feature category at the Academy Awards, I'll be furious! But the animation isn't the only amazing thing about this movie. The storyline is fun (and perhaps slightly predictable, but what can you do?) and the characters are extremely well-developed. There are several musical numbers in this film, all of which are very enjoyable. (I especially enjoyed the skeleton jazz band!) I guess the only complaint I have is that I wish it was a slightly darker film. Burton is famous for his extreme creepiness...I was basically expecting to see an animated version of \\\"Sleepy Hollow,\\\" but this is much more along the lines of \\\"The Nightmare Before Christmas,\\\" which was an amazing Burton movie but is still geared toward children. There's nothing wrong with that, of course...it's just that I'm an adult and I prefer Burton when he's at his most macabre. :)\\n\\nOverall, \\\"Corpse Bride\\\" is a wonderful film. It's a great movie to take the kids to see before Halloween, but adults who are fans of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp will enjoy it as well.\",\n \"Product: This two-disc set includes the five best episodes of the long-running series She-Ra: Princess of Power, as voted on by fans. It also includes the 1985 feature film \\\"The Secret of the Sword.\\\" The set is packed with special features including a documentary featurette, a feature length audio commentary, a music video featurette, trivia, collectibles and more! She-Ra: Princess of Power first aired on television in 1985, as a female-directed spin-off of the popular He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"For the honor of Grayskull!\\\"\\n\\nReview: My life is complete.\\n\\nI have spent MANY, MANY YEARS waiting for \\\"She-Ra\\\" to come out on DVD, and it's FINALLY happening! HOORAY!\\n\\nThe release of the \\\"She-Ra\\\" DVD sets will be similar to that of the \\\"He-Man\\\" DVDs. The first \\\"She-Ra\\\" DVD set will consist of the movie \\\"The Secret of the Sword\\\" (which features He-Man and explains how Adam has a twin sister, how Adora became She-Ra, etc.) as well as five of the most popular episodes from the series, which were voted on by fans at He-Man.org. The five episodes that will be featured on the \\\"Best of She-Ra\\\" DVD are \\\"The Price of Freedom,\\\" \\\"The Sword in the Stone,\\\" \\\"Horde Prime Takes a Holiday,\\\" \\\"Of Shadows and Skulls,\\\" and (my personal favorite) \\\"Sweet Bee's Home.\\\"\\n\\nThe quality of the \\\"He-Man\\\" DVD sets is incredible, and the \\\"She-Ra\\\" DVDs are expected to be just as good, if not better. In addition to the fully restored episodes, the \\\"Best of She-Ra\\\" DVD set will include a documentary, feature-length audio commentary, a music video, storyboard spreads, DVD-ROM scripts, \\\"She-Ra\\\" trivia, hidden Easter eggs, and two collectible comic book art cards. How cool is that?!\\n\\nAlso, just like the \\\"He-Man\\\" DVDs, the complete \\\"She-Ra: Princess of Power\\\" series will be released on DVD in three separate volumes beginning this fall. Each DVD set will contain a variety of special bonus features.\\n\\nWords cannot express how excited I am about this DVD set! I grew up obsessed with She-Ra, and I am STILL obsessed with She-Ra! When I was a young girl I owned all the She-Ra action figures, the Crystal Castle...even that awful Crystal Falls playset that had a pump shaped like a seashell and squirted water all over everything! I had She-Ra books, She-Ra clothes, a She-Ra birthday cake...EVERYTHING! For the past 20 years I've had to settle for watching my treasured yet crappy VHS copies of the series that I always feared would fall apart at any moment. Now I'm finally going to have the entire series on DVD to enjoy in all its glory for the rest of my life! I couldn't be happier!\\n\\nJuly 18 is already marked on my calendar...I am probably going to take the day off work so I can sit at home and watch \\\"She-Ra\\\" all day! I'll be able to recite the words to every episode, too, since I watched them all about a thousand times! \\\"I am Adora, He-man's twin sister and defender of the Crystal Castle.\\\" AHHHH! I get goosebumps just thinking about it!\\n\\nSHE-RA FOREVER!!!\",\n \"Product: Battlestar Galactica's season 2.5 (i.e., the final 10 episodes of the second season) picks up where season 2.0 (the first 10 episodes) left off: Galactica's giddy reunion with the Pegasus had taken a sour turn when Admiral Cain (Mich\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A bit predictable in places, but still frackin' amazing!\\n\\nReview: I'm really looking forward to this DVD release. A lot of \\\"Battlestar Galactica\\\" fans have had negative things to say about Season 2.0, Volume 2. I agree with some of the criticism, but not all of it. The one real problem I have with this show is that most episodes are very predictable and many of the storylines just keep recycling themselves. Almost every episode in this season seems to revolve around Adama, Starbuck, or Apollo being in mortal peril...that gets kind of old after a while. However, in spite of that, this is still a great show. It's so FRACKIN' INTENSE! A lot of important things happened during this season involving Adama's clash with the commander of the Pegasus ship, President Roslin's terminal cancer diagnosis, Starbuck and Apollo's personal relationships and professional development, Gaius Baltar's rise to power, and the cylon's infiltration into what is left of the human race.\\n\\nI don't want to spoil the season for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but there are plenty of \\\"shock and awe\\\" moments to look forward to. Beloved characters will die, surprise relationships will form, and the season finale cliffhanger is unlike anything you've ever seen in the series before! NOTHING will prepare you for what happens during the last 15 minutes of the final episode!\\n\\nI can't wait until the new season debuts this fall, but until then, I'm looking forward to catching last season's episodes for the second time with this DVD set.\",\n \"Product: Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. \\\"Measuring their lives in love,\\\" these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic. RENT is based on Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical, one of the longest running shows on Broadway. The raw and riveting musical stars Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Tracie Thoms and is directed by Chris Columbus.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty impressive, but sloppy in parts\\n\\nReview: It wouldn't be fair to expect the film version of \\\"Rent\\\" to completely live up to the original Broadway show, but Chris Columbus' production does a pretty good job. This is a great example of a musical that has been successfully adapted to the big screen. However, there are definitely some kinks that prevent me from giving this movie five stars.\\n\\n\\\"Rent\\\" is a rock opera that was loosely based on Puccini's \\\"La Bohème\\\" and also contains elements reminiscent of \\\"West Side Story.\\\" The story revolves around an eclectic group of young people living in New York City that are coping with a world filled with corruption, anger, and disease. With the exception of Rosario Dawson as Mimi and Tracie Thoms as Joanne, the entire Broadway cast returned to star in the film version of the show, and that's what makes this movie so great. The performances are emotionally riveting and the music is absolutely phenomenal.\\n\\nI don't understand why it took Hollywood almost ten years to turn \\\"Rent\\\" into a movie. Even though the cast is every bit as it was ten years ago, it's kind of weird to see that all of the characters are a decade older than they're supposed to be. The film feels kind of dated when you watch it: although Aids and homosexuality are still topics of discussion, they aren't the issues at the forefront of our lives anymore, and I hope that doesn't turn off people who are experiencing \\\"Rent\\\" for the first time.\\n\\nThere are a couple of nitpicky issues I have with the movie, and the first is the omission of the song \\\"Goodbye Love.\\\" Ordinarily, I can completely understand that directors have to cut material for film adaptations, but I read an interview with Columbus in which he said that he chose to cut the song because he thought it was \\\"too emotional to deal with after Angel's death.\\\" WHAT?! Talk about disrespecting someone else's artistic choices and completely belittling the mentality of your audience in the process! That was just ridiculous. Also, the film was supposed to be set in 1989, but I never would have picked up on that if the characters hadn't made reference to it a couple of times...everything looked like it was supposed to be set in the present day. The only other \\\"clue\\\" about the time period that Columbus threw into the film was a poorly-placed shot of the World Trade Center, which I thought was tasteless and kind of sloppy. There were also some very stupid camera shots in the film, such as that awful close-up of Adam Pascal when he's singing \\\"Your Eyes\\\" to his beloved Mimi...he looked so ridiculous that it completely ruined the moment. Also, there were some issues with poor character development in the film. That had nothing to do with the actors' performances: certain elements of the story just didn't transfer very well to the big screen. For example, poor Taye Diggs (who is a very good actor) had nothing to do during most of the film and just wandered around looking like a lost puppy dog. It was a real waste of some extraordinary talent. Oh well.\\n\\nOverall, this is a very good movie. The cast is wonderful and the music is spectacular. The not-so-great things about the film are all Chris Columbus' fault, so maybe someone should tell him not to make any movies for a while.\",\n \"Product: Who knows what American journalist Jake Geismer (George Clooney) expected to find in postwar Berlin? Peace, maybe. Or at least a story. But certainly not Lena (Cate Blanchett), his beautiful, embittered one-time love. And not the trail of secrecy and deception that leads from Lena to the scheming young corporal (Tobey Maguire) who's her new lover...and to a murder no one seems interested in solving. Except Jake. Steven Soderbergh directs three of today's top talents in this zigzag thriller that's both an atmospheric homage to 1940s filmmaking and a deft modern film noir. The Good German is \\\"haunting and hypnotic, it's pure moviegoing bliss\\\" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A good movie, but it could have been much better\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Good German\\\" is a tribute to the old Hollywood classics like \\\"Casablanca,\\\" which is the movie that this film tries so hard to emulate. Stylistically, \\\"The Good German\\\" is incredible. The entire movie is filmed in glistening black and white, and it's very hard to distinguish it from a movie that was made 60 years ago. The basic plot is pretty good, too: an American military journalist (George Clooney) arrives in post-war Berlin to cover the Potsdam conference, only to stumble into a murder plot involving his newly-appointed driver (Toby Maguire), a former flame (Cate Blanchett) and her not-quite-dead husband. Unfortunately, \\\"The Good German\\\" fails to generate a strong emotional response from the audience the way \\\"Casablanca\\\" does, which really takes away from the other wonderful accomplishments the talented director and cast managed to achieve.\\n\\nClooney delivers an excellent performance, but I was disappointed in Maguire, who seemed very out of place in the film. (Fortunately, his character doesn't stick around for very long.) However, the two shining stars of this film are Blanchett, who delivers a stunning performance in her mysterious role, and the cinematography itself, which is absolutely breathtaking. Being a huge fan of old movies, I really enjoyed this modern throwback to 1940s filmmaking. In my opinion, though, the graphic sexual content and foul language really took away from the classic aesthetic feel director Steven Soderbergh tried so desperately to recreate: it was unnecessary, and it really took away from all the other old-fashioned movie elements.\\n\\nThe final scene in the film is very obviously a recreation of the last scene in \\\"Casablanca.\\\" Again, while I enjoyed the tribute, I felt that the last scene of \\\"The Good German\\\" severely lacked the same kind of emotion and passion that \\\"Casablanca\\\" has, which is a real shame. The acting was good, but I really didn't care about what happened to any of the characters, which signifies a major problem with the script.\\n\\nI hope Soderbergh attempts to do another \\\"modern film noir\\\" movie eventually. He has the look of it down pat: now all he needs is a slightly stronger script, and we'll be back to the days of Bogart and Bergman in no time!\",\n \"Product: NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Pretty to look at, but the whole story feels very forced\\n\\nReview: \\\"Becoming Jane\\\" is a so-so film that depicts events which may have shaped the life of author Jane Austen (played by Anne Hathaway). In the movie, Jane's parents (James Cromwell and Julie Walters) are anxious for their daughter to marry, but no one is able to meet Jane's high standards. When Tom (James McAvoy), a brash Irish law student, arrives in town, Jane is instantly irritated by his very presence, à la Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. However, annoyance quickly blossoms into affection, but unfortunately for Jane and Tom, they don't seem destined for a happy ending.\\n\\nI had high expectations for this film, and was disappointed. I'm not a big fan of Anne Hathaway, and she didn't win me over playing Jane Austen. I didn't sense any real chemistry between Jane and Tom, which pretty much ruined the whole movie. \\\"Becoming Jane\\\" has beautiful scenery, fun costumes, an exquisite musical score, and a great supporting cast, but all that isn't enough to carry this film. My advice is to skip this movie and watch \\\"Pride and Prejudice\\\" instead.\",\n \"Product: A slightly different slant on the 'slacker' comedy genre directed by 'Friends' star David Schwimmer. Five years ago Dennis (Simon Pegg) was at the altar about to marry Libby (Thandie Newton), his pregnant fiancee. He got cold feet and headed for the hills, and he's been going in circles ever since. When Dennis discovers Libby's now hooked up with high-flying go-getter Whit (Hank Azaria), he realises it's now or never. Assisted by his friend Gordon (Dylan Moran), he decides to enter a marathon to show he's not a quitter but then finds out just how much sweat, strain and pain it takes to run for 26 miles. No one rates his chances, but Dennis knows this is the only way to stop being a running joke.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A fantastic feel-good film\\n\\nReview: \\\"Run, Fatboy, Run\\\" is a hilarious and uplifting film about a guy named Dennis (Simon Pegg) who is a loser in every sense of the word. He leaves his pregnant fiancee, Libby (Thandie Newton), at the altar because of pathetic insecurity issues and doesn't realize the gravity of his mistake until five years later, when Libby is involved with the pretentious and wealthy Whit (Hank Azaria). Determined to prove to Libby that he's actually capable of following through with something, Dennis decides to run in a 26-mile charity marathon, which proves to be a bit of a challenge considering the fact that he's completely out of shape and only has three weeks to train.\\n\\nI was pleasantly surprised by this film, which is an incredibly funny, feel-good movie. I lost a bit of respect for it because there's a bit of unnecessary crude humor (close your eyes during the blister scene), but even in spite of that, this is a great movie that I highly recommend.\",\n \"Product: Meet Ally McBeal, a single lawyer both blessed and cursed with eccentric colleagues, a now-married-to-someone-else childhood sweetheart , and an incredibly overactive imagination that's working overtime! With guest stars including Robert Downey Jr, Elton John, Christina Ricci, Dame Edna Everage, Jon Bon Jovi and the soul legend Barry White.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Long live Ally McBeal!\\n\\nReview: \\\"Ally McBeal\\\" is hands-down my favorite show of all time. I've literally been waiting more than a decade for the series to come out on DVD. I'm so thrilled to finally own this amazing boxed set, which is every bit as fabulous as I hoped it would be.\\n\\nThe best thing about the set is obviously the episodes themselves. They're completely unedited in any way, and yes, they do contain all the original music from the show, which is something fans were worried about. Let me tell you, watching Ally McBeal on my big flat-screen TV is absolutely fantastic! The boxed set itself is very nicely designed and encased in high-quality packaging, which I really appreciate. Best of all, the set comes with a bunch of extras, like a new \\\"Ally McBeal\\\" CD, the crossover episode from \\\"The Practice,\\\" featurettes, and more.\\n\\nThe only slight letdown is the soundtrack CD, which only contains one previously unreleased song. I own all the other \\\"Ally McBeal\\\" CDs, so this album really doesn't offer anything new, but I can live with that because I NOW OWN \\\"ALLY MCBEAL: THE COMPLETE SERIES\\\" ON DVD!!! WOO-HOO!!!!\",\n \"Product: A slightly different slant on the 'slacker' comedy genre directed by 'Friends' star David Schwimmer. Five years ago Dennis (Simon Pegg) was at the altar about to marry Libby (Thandie Newton), his pregnant fiancee. He got cold feet and headed for the hills, and he's been going in circles ever since. When Dennis discovers Libby's now hooked up with high-flying go-getter Whit (Hank Azaria), he realises it's now or never. Assisted by his friend Gordon (Dylan Moran), he decides to enter a marathon to show he's not a quitter but then finds out just how much sweat, strain and pain it takes to run for 26 miles. No one rates his chances, but Dennis knows this is the only way to stop being a running joke.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A fantastic feel-good film\\n\\nReview: \\\"Run, Fatboy, Run\\\" is a hilarious and uplifting film about a guy named Dennis (Simon Pegg) who is a loser in every sense of the word. He leaves his pregnant fiancee, Libby (Thandie Newton), at the altar because of pathetic insecurity issues and doesn't realize the gravity of his mistake until five years later, when Libby is involved with the pretentious and wealthy Whit (Hank Azaria). Determined to prove to Libby that he's actually capable of following through with something, Dennis decides to run in a 26-mile charity marathon, which proves to be a bit of a challenge considering the fact that he's completely out of shape and only has three weeks to train.\\n\\nI was pleasantly surprised by this film, which is an incredibly funny, feel-good movie. I lost a bit of respect for it because there's a bit of unnecessary crude humor (close your eyes during the blister scene), but even in spite of that, this is a great movie that I highly recommend.\",\n \"Product: Meet Ally McBeal, a single lawyer both blessed and cursed with eccentric colleagues, a now-married-to-someone-else childhood sweetheart , and an incredibly overactive imagination that's working overtime! With guest stars including Robert Downey Jr, Elton John, Christina Ricci, Dame Edna Everage, Jon Bon Jovi and the soul legend Barry White.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Long live Ally McBeal!\\n\\nReview: \\\"Ally McBeal\\\" is hands-down my favorite show of all time. I've literally been waiting more than a decade for the series to come out on DVD. I'm so thrilled to finally own this amazing boxed set, which is every bit as fabulous as I hoped it would be.\\n\\nThe best thing about the set is obviously the episodes themselves. They're completely unedited in any way, and yes, they do contain all the original music from the show, which is something fans were worried about. Let me tell you, watching Ally McBeal on my big flat-screen TV is absolutely fantastic! The boxed set itself is very nicely designed and encased in high-quality packaging, which I really appreciate. Best of all, the set comes with a bunch of extras, like a new \\\"Ally McBeal\\\" CD, the crossover episode from \\\"The Practice,\\\" featurettes, and more.\\n\\nThe only slight letdown is the soundtrack CD, which only contains one previously unreleased song. I own all the other \\\"Ally McBeal\\\" CDs, so this album really doesn't offer anything new, but I can live with that because I NOW OWN \\\"ALLY MCBEAL: THE COMPLETE SERIES\\\" ON DVD!!! WOO-HOO!!!!\",\n \"Product: Driven by a clever script and fine performances, SMART PEOPLE is set in the land of academia, a place where both Lawrence and Vanessa have taken refuge and plunged themselves into as escape from the external world. In spite of their high IQs, both father and daughter are equally clueless when it comes to navigating relationships. This becomes obvious as Vanessa develops a line-blurring relationship with her uncle, and Lawrence stumbles in romancing his doctor. If Vanessa wants a shot at happiness and Lawrence wants to make things work in his love life, both will have to adopt new attitudes or risk further alienation. Starring Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, and Thomas Hayden Church.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Should be called \\\"Stupid People\\\"...or better yet, \\\"Stupid Movie\\\"\\n\\nReview: I really wanted to like this movie, but I kind of hated it. The film is about a widow/college professor, Lawrence (Dennis Quaid), who is a complete jerk and unable to form any type of meaningful relationship with another person. His daughter, Vanessa (Ellen Page), is exactly like her dad. She's so obsessed with her SATs and other everyday responsibilities that she forgets to have any type of social life. Eventually, Lawrence becomes involved with Janet (Sarah Jessica Parker), a physician who also happens to be a former student of his, and Vanessa develops an unhealthy fixation with her \\\"adopted uncle,\\\" Chuck (Thomas Hayden Church).\\n\\n\\\"Smart People\\\" boasts a very talented cast, and Quaid's portrayal as a stodgy English professor is the best part of the movie. However, he has absolutely no chemistry with Parker whatsoever, and Janet's character makes absolutely no sense to me at all, so this whole part of the story was a total loss to me. The Vanessa/Chuck storyline was also kind of creepy, and I was very glad when the film was finally over. Definitely skip this one...watch \\\"Sideways\\\" instead.\",\n \"Product: ALICE IN WONDERLAND - BD\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: It's the WRONG ALICE! (The better Alice!)\\n\\nReview: For someone who is not a big fan of the story \\\"Alice in Wonderland,\\\" I am surprised that I enjoyed this movie as much as I did. In Tim Burton's film, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is all grown up and escapes from an unwanted marriage proposal by falling down a rabbit hole and returning to the strange world she visited during her childhood. The kingdom is in peril, suffering under the rule of the Red Queen (played brilliantly by Helena Bonham Cater, who is by far the best part of the movie). Alice encounters many old friends, including the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), who attempts to help Alice slay the Red Queen's Jabberwocky and save the kingdom.\\n\\nThis is a very good film. The story is clever and the cast is very good, with the exception of Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. (Her idea of acting in this film is keeping her arms raised above her head the entire time. So annoying.) I saw the movie in 3D, which is something I didn't think I would enjoy but actually did. Instead of being a distraction, the 3D effects just served to make Alice's world look even stranger.\\n\\n\\\"Alice in Wonderland\\\" still isn't my favorite fairy tale, but this new and improved version is much more enjoyable than the original Disney cartoon, and I recommend seeing it in the theatre for the 3D experience.\",\n \"Product: Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemorts immortality and destruction the Horcruxes. On their own and on the run, the three friends must now rely on one another more than everbut Dark Forces in their midst threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile the wizarding world has become a dangerous place. The long-feared war has begun and the Dark Lord has seized control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting all who might oppose him. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemortalive.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A few flaws, but overall a fantastic film\\n\\nReview: As a die-hard fan of the Harry Potter books, I can honestly say that I enjoyed this movie very much, although a few things about the film could have been better.\\n\\nThe best thing about \\\"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows\\\" is that the producers were smart enough to split the final installment of J.K. Rowling's brilliant wizard saga into two films. As a result, not nearly as much content from the book was cut for Part I of \\\"Deathly Hallows\\\" as has been the case with the other HP movies. The book chronicles Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they decide to abandon their final year of education at Hogwarts and set off on a quest to take down the evil Lord Voldemort. What begins as a search for Voldemort's horcruxes also turns into a hunt for the three mysterious Deathly Hallows, along with a struggle for survival.\\n\\nThis is a very dark and intense film, and rightfully so, as the seventh book in the HP series is the most grim of all. The filmmakers got a lot of things right, but there were a few disappointments. (Note: a few spoilers are ahead.) I understand the need to omit material from movies to meet time requirements, and I even understand the desire to make small alterations so certain things translate better from page to screen. However, changing things just for the sake of changing them really irritates me. One thing that really disappointed me was the sequence where Harry is taken away from the Dursley residence, and a bunch of Harry Potters undergo an airborne attack by Death Eaters. That scene was way too short in the film, and for some reason half of it took place in the middle of a busy London street, which made no sense at all. Hedwig's death was also rewritten a bit, and in my opinion it happened way too fast and didn't do the poor owl justice. (At least the Dobby death scene was much better.)\\n\\nI also wasn't happy that the film added some scenes that weren't in the book at all. This takes away from an opportunity to showcase more of the original plot from the novel. Why, for instance, include that stupid scene with Harry and Hermione dancing in the tent and cut the Harry/Lupin fight that occurs in Grimmauld Place? Most of the scenes that were new to the movie easily could have been omitted in favor of Rowling's original material.\\n\\nIn spite of those shortcomings, however. this is truly an excellent film. It was made for fans of the books, so critics who blast the film for being too long and dragging in the beginning obviously have no idea what they're talking about. The cast is amazing, the effects are phenomenal, and you REALLY need to see this movie in the theatre. I cannot wait to see the final movie next spring.\",\n \"Product: Den andra filmen i Mileniumtrilogin.I uppfljaren till Mn som hatar kvinnor r det Lisbeth Salander som str i centrum. Hon blir anklagad fr trippelmord och dras in i en hrva som leder tillbaka till hennes mrka frflutna.Mikael Blomkvist p Millennium har ftt korn p hett nyhetsstoff. Journalisten Dag Svensson och hans sambo Mia Bergman har hittat avsljande uppgifter om en omfattande sexhandel mellan steuropa och Sverige. Mnga av de personer som utpekas i traffickinghrvan har hga positioner i samhllet.Samtidigt tervnder Lisbeth Salander till Sverige och hndelser i hennes mrka frflutna brjar gra sig pminda. Nr Dag och Mia blir brutalt mrdade riktas misstankarna mot Salander och en stor polisjakt drar igng. Salander bestmmer sig fr att en gng fr alla gra upp med det frgngna och straffa dem som frtjnar det. Blomkvist och Salanders vgar korsas nnu en gng.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Could have been better\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Girl Who Played With Fire\\\" is not as good of a film adaptation as \\\"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo\\\" was. Although the acting is excellent, I was disappointed with the screenplay itself. So much material from the book was cut, and while I understand that not everything can be included in the movie version, I think the filmmakers cut too much in this case. Many details from the book were also changed for reasons I do not understand. Why deliberately change something if it has no impact on the movie plot? I was also disappointed with the way Erika Berger and Zala were portrayed in the movie...they are watered-down versions of their literary characters. Ultimately, I didn't think this film was nearly as powerful as the book, especially the ending. It was entertaining, but could have been a lot better.\",\n \"Product: David Finchers The Social Network is the stunningtale of a new breed of cultural insurgent: a punkgenius who sparked a revolution and changedthe face of human interaction for a generation,and perhaps forever. Shot through with emotionalbrutality and unexpected humor, this superbly craftedfilm chronicles the formation of Facebook andthe battles over ownership that followed upon thewebsites unfathomable success. With a complex,incisive screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and a brilliantcast including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield andJustin Timberlake, The Social Network bears witness tothe birth of an idea that rewove the fabric of societyeven as it unraveled the friendship of its creators.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very good, but a bit overhyped\\n\\nReview: It's ironic that I manage most of my company's social media channels, and only tonight did I get around to watching \\\"The Social Network.\\\" I thought it was a very good movie about how the global phenomenon that is Facebook originated at Harvard University. This is more than just the story of a successful business launch, however. It also chronicles the way Facebook destroyed the friendship between its two co-founders.\\n\\nI thought \\\"The Social Network\\\" was a very smart movie, but I was expecting a bit more, probably due to all the hype that surrounded the film upon its release. It's not a bad movie in any sense, but it's not a movie I'd ever take the time to watch again. Still, Facebook addicts will surely get a kick out of it.\",\n \"Product: Sandra Bullock is at her funniest in THE PROPOSAL -- the fresh, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy on Blu-ray Disc(TM) with its hi-def picture and theater-quality sound. On the verge of being deported and losing the high-powered job she lives for, the controlling Margaret (Bullock) announces she's engaged to her unsuspecting, put-upon assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds). After proposing a few demands of his own, the mismatched couple heads to Alaska, where they have four short days to convince his quirky family and a very skeptical immigration agent that their charade is real. Featuring a star-studded supporting cast, including Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson and the delightfully inappropriate Betty White, this madcap comedy will have you saying \\\"yes\\\" to THE PROPOSAL again and again -- especially in Blu-ray High Definition.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A great romantic comedy\\n\\nReview: In \\\"The Proposal,\\\" Sandra Bullock goes against her usual girl-next-door roles and plays Margaret, a no-nonsense Manhattan publishing executive her employees affectionately refer to as \\\"Satan's Mistress.\\\" Unfortunately for Margaret, she's a Canadian whose visa is about to expire, and so she ropes her assistant, Drew (Ryan Reynolds), into agreeing to marry her. The fake couple carries their scheme all the way to Drew's home state of Alaska, where they inform Drew's family of the news and continue the fiasco all the way to the altar.\\n\\nI didn't expect to like this movie as much as I did, but Bullock and Reynolds are hysterical. The film also boasts a great supporting cast, including the sassy Betty White as Drew's outlandish grandmother. \\\"The Proposal\\\" is a hilarious romantic comedy that I will definitely want to purchase on DVD and watch again and again.\",\n \"Product: Homeland makes its triumphant return after winning six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress for Claire Danes, Outstanding Lead Actor for Damian Lewis and Outstanding Drama Series. Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brody (Lewis) is now a U.S. congressman, and former CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Danes) has returned to civilian life. But when a new and potentially devastating terrorist threat emerges, Brody and Carries lives become intertwined once again and they resume their delicate dance of suspicion, deceit and desire. Delve deeper into the edge-of-your seat suspense and mystery with the thrilling second season of TVs most acclaimed show. Contains all 12 episodes and prologue to Season 3. Bonus features The Border: A Prologue to Season 3 A Super 8 Film Diary by Damian Lewis Return to the Homeland: Filming in Israel The Choice: The Making of a Season Finale Deleted Scenes\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Such a great show\\n\\nReview: \\\"Homeland\\\" is probably the best show on television right now. I was afraid that its second season couldn't possibly top the first, and it didn't....but it's still unbelievably fabulous. I don't want to give away all the gory details, but let's just say that as is always the case with this show, nothing went along as I expected it would, and the season finale was INSANE and leaves everything completely up in the air for Season 3.\\n\\nI will gripe for a moment about my only (very, very small) gripes with this show. One, Jessica's character has become even more annoying, and while I sympathize with her plight, she does something with her kids in the next room that should earn her the title of Worst Mom of the Year. Seriously, what was up with that? Second, there is not and never has been any chemistry between Brody and Jessica at all. I guess you can easily explain that by saying that obviously there's no chemistry, because they both changed so much in the eight years that they were apart and have nothing in common anymore. Fine, I get that (though it would be interesting to incorporate some flashbacks of what they were like together before Brody went to war and was taken prisoner). My other gripe, though, is that there's no real chemistry between Brody and Carrie either. It just makes me wonder what their deal truly is as a couple. Are there really feelings there? It never seems like it to me. Or are they just two super messed up people taking comfort in the fact that they've found someone who is just as crazy as they are? I guess only time will tell.\\n\\nAnyway, aside from my ranting...great show, great show, great show! Can't wait for Season 3.\",\n \"Product: The Bellas, an all-girl singing group thriving on female pop songs and their perfect looks, are forced to regroup after an epic fail at last years final. Among the new recruits is freshman Beca (Anna Kendrick, Twilight), an independent, aspiring DJ with no interest in the college life. But after getting to know the group of oddballs and misfits, including Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson, Bridesmaids), Beca has a new outlook and takes it upon herself to help the Bellas find their new look and sound and get back into the competition. Full of hilarious jokes, witty one-liners and awesome music, Pitch Perfect is the ultimate feel-good comedy. Bonus Features: Starships: The Pitch Perfect Music Video Deleted and Extended Scenes: Parents Say Bye/Beca Lays Down Rules, Radio Station, Dad Gives Beca Incentive, Trebles Initiation, Trebles Tag Tonehanger Van, Training Montage, Welcome To The Riff Off, Holiday Transitional, Burritos and Benji, Beca Goes Out With Luke, Benji Goes To ICCA's, Beca Goes To Dad Meanwhile... (Activities Fair, Hood Night, Burrito Hit, Tonehangers, Confessional) Line-O-Ramas: Line-O-Rama, Line-O-Rama: The Aca- Inappropriate Version, Announcer Line-O-Rama Backstage at Barden: Benji Goes To Barden, A Capella Beat: Gail Interviews Bumper, A Cappella Beat: Gail Interviews Benji On the Set: Burrito Drive By! A Look Inside Feature Commentary with Director Jason Moore and Producers Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Like \\\"Mean Girls\\\" for music majors\\n\\nReview: I cannot believe I waited so long to watch this movie! I freakin' LOVE IT! So much fun.\\n\\nAnna Kendrick stars as Beca, a disenchanted college student who dreams of leaving school as soon as possible and moving to L.A. to try her hand as a D.J. Her father, a professor at the college she's attending, promises to support her dream if she gives college a real try for at least a year. Compelled by her dad to get involved, Beca joins the Bellas, an all-girls a cappella group. The Bellas are in a bit of a rebuilding year after an embarrassing performance the prior semester in which they lost the international a cappella singing competition to their rivals, the college's all-male singing group, the Treblemakers.\\n\\nUnfortunately, Beca finds that the Bellas are a bit old-fashioned in their way of thinking, performing outdated standards that will never vault them to the top of the competitions. Beca attempts to spice things up in the group, all while fighting her growing attraction to Jesse (Skylar Astin), a member of the Trebles.\\n\\nI cannot say enough great things about this movie. It's super fun, well-written, and hilarious, with great performances all-around. And the singing is so awesome!!! \\\"Pitch Perfect\\\" is a must-see, and it's a movie I will be adding to my permanent movie collection.\",\n \"Product: new\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An endearing little movie\\n\\nReview: I didn't think Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymoore could make a movie that topped \\\"The Wedding Singer,\\\" but I was wrong. Providing that you abide by the rules of suspension of disbelief, you'll really enjoy \\\"50 First Dates.\\\"\\n\\nSandler's character Henry meets a spirited girl named Lucy (Barrymoore) who has suffered a brain injury as a result of a car accident that happened a year ago. Lucy has no short term memory, and she wakes up every morning with no memory of the day before...and no memory of Henry.\\n\\nThe chemistry between Sandler and Barrymoore is incredible, and that's the real reason why this movie works. There is also a great supporting cast, including Sean Astin as Lucy's dimwitted, steroid-addicted brother, and Rob Schneider as Henry's uncouth (and hilarious) Hawaiian friend.\\n\\nRegardless of the fact that there are a lot of holes in the plot, the characters are fantastic and you'll be rooting for them until the end. I was a bit disappointed with the ending (why couldn't Lucy have slammed into another cow and had her memory restored?), but I guess it was as good as it could be under the circumstances. Still, if you're in the mood for a unique romantic comedy, you won't be disappointed.\",\n \"Product: NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk has English audio and subtitles.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The weakest season by far\\n\\nReview: I have nothing but sympathy for Julian Fellowes. Last season, \\\"Downton Abbey\\\" lost two lead characters when the actors portraying them decided they wanted to leave the show. No one could have anticipated that, so Season 4 of the show is really a rebuilding season. I was very, very worried for the first half of the season, which is just....really bad. Things do pick up considerably halfway through, but I still think this is the weakest season of the show by far. Without giving too much away, there is a terrible plot involving Anna that I absolutely hated...LEAVE THE BATES'S ALONE!!!!\\n\\nMany of the other plots this season are either bad, annoying, or just downright stupid. Daisy has never been my favorite character, but the dull love triangle between her, Ivy, and Alfred quickly grows tiresome. Edna returns to Downton for a stint as Cora's new lady's maid, and she is such a troublemaker! I hate her! Edith has always been an annoying and stupid character, and her storyline takes some ridiculous turns this season. Fellowes couldn't even really come up with anything original for her; he just recycles another character's storyline from earlier in the season. I also think that Maggie Smith is drastically underutilized for the first half of the season (fortunately she compensates for it in the later episodes, with some of her best zingers to date). Sherley MacLaine returns for the final episode reprising her role as Cora's mother, and again I was very disappointed in her performance, feeling that she was vastly underutilized. Paul Giamatti's guest role as Cora's brother is slightly more interesting, but just kind of odd.\\n\\nThe best thing about the season by far is Lady Mary's storyline, focusing how she deals with Matthew's sudden death and takes on a more central leadership role at Downton. While I loved the Mary/Matthew romance and was very sad when Dan Stevens departed from the cast, I have come to believe that Matthew was sort of holding Mary back. We see more of the old Mary this season, the strong, unyielding Mary, who will likely be the reason for Downton's survival. There's also some romance as Mary considers getting back into the dating game, but she takes the whole courtship thing slow. We are left with two primary suitors for Mary, and while they're both okay blokes, I have to wonder if someone better suited for Mary might come along next season.\\n\\nAnother surprise for me this season was how entertaining Rose's character has become. She was super annoying last season, but provided some much-needed comic relief this time around. Also, Isobel has always irritated me to no end, but that wasn't the case this season. Her character undergoes a bit of a transformation as she copes with the death of her only son and slowly returns back to life. Penelope Wilton delivers some great performances.\\n\\nAside from Anna's tragedy, there wasn't anything super shocking this season. I think Fellowes let the audience off easy, and Season 5 will probably consist of many more deaths and dramas. I hope that's the case, and that it's much better than Season 4.\",\n \"Product: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock star in this award-winning sci-fi thriller directed by Alfonso Cuarn. Seasoned astronaut Matt Kowalsky (Clooney) is on his final mission in space, while medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is making her first outing on the NASA Space Shuttle Explorer. While they are engaged in extra-vehicular activity, debris collides into the shuttle, damaging it irreparably. Kowalsky and Stone now find themselves drifting in space with low oxygen supplies and cut off from all communication on Earth. They work together in their attempt to survive but will they make it back to solid ground? The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won seven including Best Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki), Best Director (Cuarn) and Best Original Score (Steven Price), and also picked up the Golden Globe for Best Director and BAFTAs for Best Director and Outstanding British Film.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: you won't be able to fully absorb the special effects that make the film so awesome. It's a great movie because of the strides .\\n\\nReview: This is one of those movies that was made to be seen in theaters. If you watch \\\"Gravity\\\" at home, you won't be able to fully absorb the special effects that make the film so awesome. It's a great movie because of the strides it makes with filmmaking in general, and also with acting: if you watch some of the behind-the-scenes footage and see what Sandra Bullock and George Clooney had to go through to actually film this movie, and make it so emotional and believable, you will gain a whole new respect for the film. It's a great movie, unlike anything else I've ever seen before. I'd classify it as an action film, unlike any other one you've ever seen, but an action film nonetheless. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you need a final sell, just remember that George Clooney is in it. That's good enough for me!!!!\",\n \"Product: Bates Motel has vacancies and welcomes you for a second season, starring Academy Award -nominated actress Vera Farmiga andFreddie Highmore. In the aftermath of Miss Watson's murder, Norman's (Highmore) innocence is buried under blackouts, suspicious characters, and his strangebehavior. Meanwhile, Norma (Farmiga) faces dark truths of her own when family secrets begin to unravel and looming threats from local villainsjeopardize Norma's stab at happiness. No matter where you turn there's no escaping what bubbles beneath the surface in White Pine Bay.Experience every thrilling twist and turn with all 10 episodes, back-to-back and uninterrupted, from Bates Motel Season Two.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Super lame compared to last season\\n\\nReview: I don't understand all the five-star reviews this season is receiving. The first season was great, but I think Season 2 started out strong and then fell steadily downhill all season. The subplots involving Dylan and the town's drug cartels really bring the rest of the story down. They're stupid and no one cares about any of it. On top of that, there are so many ridiculous elements to he show this year that would just NEVER happen, especially in regards to the way the police force operates. It's just ridiculous. The Norman/Norma scenes remain the best part of the show, but even those are a bit much at times. I hope Season 3 is better, or else I will probably stop watching.\",\n \"Product: From Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, and Jon Turteltaub, director of PHENOMENON, comes NATIONAL TREASURE. It's the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat adventure starring Academy Award(R) winner Nicolas Cage (1995 Best Actor, LEAVING LAS VEGAS) as Benjamin Franklin Gates. Ever since he was a boy, Gates has been obsessed with finding the legendary Knights Templar Treasure, the greatest fortune known to man. As Gates tries to find and decipher ancient riddles that will lead him to it, he's dogged by a ruthless enemy (Sean Bean, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) who wants the riches for himself. Now in a race against time, Gates must steal one of America's most sacred and guarded documents -- the Declaration of Independence -- or let it, and a key clue to the mystery, fall into dangerous hands. Heart-pounding chases, close calls, and the FBI turn Gates's quest into a high-stakes crime caper and the most exciting treasure hunt you've ever experienced.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A fun, fast-paced adventure\\n\\nReview: Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicholas Cage) has spent his whole life searching for the famous Knights Templar Treasure, which is supposed to be a priceless collection of artifacts and gold. As Ben and his friends get closer to finding the treasure, they face multiple challenges, including a nasty enemy (Sean Bean) intent on finding the treasure and keeping it all for himself, and a team of FBI agents (led by Harvey Keitel) who are after Ben for committing the minor infraction of stealing the Declaration of Independence. The film is full of suspenseful chases and an exciting treasure hunt that keeps the audience guessing until the very end.\\n\\nIt's true that this movie is completely unrealistic and also rather silly at times, but it's also a lot of fun and provides quality entertainment: I don't think there's anyone out there that wouldn't relish in the idea of such a large-scale treasure hunt. The one thing about the film that bugged me was the character of Abigail (Diane Kruger), who works at the National Archives and ends up assisting Ben and his partner Riley (Justin Bartha) in their quest. I could buy the fact that Abigail would refuse to let Ben take off with the Declaration of Independence in hand, but the fact that she was so quick to join up with them in the end was just a little out there for me, and not at all true to the character that was sketched out for her in the beginning. Still, that's a relatively minor gripe. \\\"National Treasure\\\" is a fun adventure for the whole family, and I'm looking forward to the highly-anticipated sequel that will be released later this year.\",\n \"Product: Immerse yourself in a whole new dimension of family entertainment. Bring the 3D experience home with this hilariously uplifting adventure from the creators of MONSTERS, INC. and FINDING NEMO. Part rascal, part dreamer, retired balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. But unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time -- Carl's front porch! Experience every thrilling moment of their adventure as it comes to life before your eyes in spectacular Disney Blu-ray 3D that will send your spirits soaring UP, up and away!\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Another brilliant installment from Pixar\\n\\nReview: \\\"Up\\\" tells the story of Carl, an elderly man who recently lost his beloved wife, Ellie, and is determined to abide by a promise he made her long ago to take their house to the top of South America's beautiful Paradise Falls. A retired balloon seller, Carl devises a plan to lift his home off its foundation and fly to the Falls using thousands of helium balloons. Once his journey begins, Carl is shocked to discover that he has a stowaway on board: Russell, a neighborhood Wilderness Explorer Scout who's desperate to earn his Elderly Assistance Badge by helping Carl. Over the course of their adventure, Carl and Russell encounter a gang of talking dogs, a giant exotic bird, and a dangerous explorer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Carl ultimately discovers that he still has a whole lot of living to do.\\n\\nI love that Pixar is brave enough to roll with such ingenious ideas that go completely against the norm when it comes to making children's films. \\\"Up\\\" is a great story that will touch the hearts of kids and adults alike. In fact, the first 10 minutes of the movie are so incredibly touching and heartbreaking that they left me, a 30-year-old woman, literally in tears. I don't think any other animated film has ever affected me so much. \\\"Up\\\" is fantastic. See it ASAP.\",\n \"Product: TMOBILE POSTPAID MOTOROLA RAZR V3\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Get the pink one!\\n\\nReview: I have a pink Motorola RAZR from T-Mobile and I LOVE it! I'm going to be honest...the only reason I wanted this phone is because it's pink. And it's not just pink...it's a beautiful shiny pinkish-red MAGENTA! How can any girl resist that color?! I love it, love it, LOVE IT!\\n\\nAside from the fact that it's very fashionable, the RAZR has also proven to be very functional. It has more features than I really need in a phone...I don't use my phone for e-mailing or instant messaging or even much text messaging, but if I did, this phone would perform all those functions very well. The color screen is HUGE and is ridiculously bright and clear. Also, the screen is very customizable and all the different menus and options on the phone are pretty easy to figure out. The camera function is easy to use and produces decent images. I love the overall design of the phone, too. It's stylishly thin but isn't flimsy. I love the fact that it's not bulky at all but when you open it, it's much longer than other flip phones...most cell phones are way too tiny for me, but the RAZR is just right. Most importantly, the reception on this phone is AMAZING! I called my dad on my RAZR and then called him back a while later on my home phone, and he said that the RAZR was a thousand times clearer than the cordless in my living room. Rock on!\\n\\nI've read a lot of bad reviews that claim this phone is too fragile and breaks/scratches easily. I bought a case to keep my RAZR in so it doesn't bang around too much in my purse, so hopefully that will protect it. (However, I noticed that a lot of the people who wrote the negative reviews complained that the phone broke after they dropped it several times. Well, what the hell do you expect? Things tend to break if you don't take care of them.)\\n\\nThere are a couple of things about the phone that I don't like, but I think they're all Motorola-specific things and not RAZR-specific things. The phone comes with an insane amount of ring tones, and 98% of them suck. I don't think there's a way to delete any of the crappy ring tones to free up memory on the phone, either (or if there is, I haven't been able to figure it out). I also don't like the fact that Motorola doesn't offer one-digit speed dial (again, if it does, I haven't been able to figure out how to program it yet). Why would I set up a four-digit speed dial when I can dial the whole number just by pushing three extra buttons? The only reason that doesn't bug me enormously is because the phone book only takes about five seconds to initialize after you turn on the phone, unlike my old phone, which took two minutes to load. TWO ENTIRE MINUTES! (Stupid Samsung phone...)\\n\\nOverall, I am in love with my pink phone. It's very pretty but it's also a great quality phone. I highly recommend it!\",\n \"Product: Madonna I'm Going To Tell You A Secret - DVD Case Edition UK 2-disc CD/DVD set\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: FINALLY...a live Madonna album (and a great DVD)!\\n\\nReview: I don't understand why this CD is generating so many bad reviews. I agree that people who aren't big Madonna fans probably won't enjoy the documentary...however, why would a non-Madonna fan buy her film anyway?! That makes no sense to me! Anyway, anyone who loves the Material Girl will surely enjoy watching her latest documentary. However, the CD is the best part of this compilation. I've seen Madonna in concert several times, and the Re-Invention World Tour was by far my favorite experience. Live Madonna recordings are few and far between, and the fourteen songs on this CD are of incredible quality and make me want to get up and dance every time I listen to them! In addition to many of Madonna's greatest hits (\\\"Vogue,\\\" \\\"Like a Prayer,\\\" \\\"Die Another Day\\\"), the CD includes a great version of John Lennon's \\\"Imagine,\\\" which was one of my favorite aspects of the Re-Invention Tour.\\n\\nMy only real complaint is that there aren't enough songs on this CD. I am especially disappointed that the version of \\\"Material Girl\\\" Madonna performed on tour isn't included on the CD, but oh well.\\n\\nThe bottom line is that this album is a must for all Madonna fans! I can't wait for the Confessions Tour album to come out in 2007.\",\n \"Product: Rock Collections ~ Notes From The Underworld\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Get stung by Persephone's Bees!\\n\\nReview: I have been waiting a long time for this CD to come out! I first heard Persephone's Bees perform their most famous song, \\\"City of Love,\\\" in the movie \\\"Bewitched\\\" a few years ago. Since then, I have been following this San Francisco-based pop band with much interest, and I'm thrilled that their first major album has finally been released! \\\"Notes from the Underworld\\\" is everything I expected it to be. It's a fun, refreshing pop album with a lot of spunk and style. Lead singer Angelina Moysov has an incredibly sultry and captivating voice that controls all 11 tracks on the CD. In addition to \\\"City of Love\\\" (which is a slightly different version than the track included on the \\\"Bewitched\\\" soundtrack), the other songs are incredibly breezy, catchy, and engaging. I especially like \\\"Muzika Dyla Fil'ma,\\\" which is performed in Moysov's native Russian language, and the rocking \\\"Way to Your Heart.\\\" In reality, there is not a single bad song on this entire CD. Persephone's Bees has a very unique and fun sound that everyone will enjoy. Pick up this album today!\",\n \"Product: 2007 release of the soundtrack to the motion picture adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy along with Brenda Blethyn and Vanessa Redgrave and directed by Joe Wright. Marianelli is known also for the soundtracks of \\\"The Brothers Grimm\\\" and \\\"Pride & Predjudice\\\".\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A stunning musical score\\n\\nReview: \\\"Atonement\\\" is hands-down the best original film score of 2007. Dario Marianelli composed intense, dramatic, passionate music to enhance this amazing movie. This CD is an incredible collection of edgy classical music. All of the tracks blend together seamlessly, and there isn't a single bad song on this album. My personal favorites include \\\"Briony,\\\" \\\"With My Own Eyes,\\\" and \\\"Come Back,\\\" which incorporate clicking typewriter keys into the music for an amazing effect. Other noteworthy tracks include \\\"Love Letters,\\\" a sweeping romantic piano melody, and \\\"The Half Killed,\\\" which is chilling and dramatic. This is a fantastic score, and if you are a fan of the film \\\"Atonement\\\" or are just looking for some great music to enjoy, you should definitely purchase this CD.\",\n \"Product: SPRINGSTEEN BRUCE MAGIC\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Quite good, though it could use a bit more \\\"magic\\\"\\n\\nReview: I really like this CD, but it doesn't live up to its hype. The best song on the album is hands-down \\\"Radio Nowhere,\\\" which was also the first single taken from the CD. The tune is fast and catchy, and as soon as I heard it, it became one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs of all time. I expected the rest of the album to follow suit, but it really doesn't. I think the biggest issue is that most of the other tracks on the CD are pretty mellow, so to lead off with \\\"Radio Nowhere\\\" kind of sets an inappropriate mood for the rest of the disc. Still, all that aside, the rest of the songs on \\\"Magic\\\" are very good. I especially like the breezy \\\"Girls in Their Summer Clothes,\\\" the heartfelt \\\"I'll Work For Your Love,\\\" and \\\"Last to Die,\\\" which reminds me of a lot of Springsteen's songs from 20 years ago.\\n\\nMaybe I had unrealistic expectations for this CD, and considering the amazing Springsteen CDs of days gone by that I'm comparing it to, it's understandable why I'm a little critical. I think \\\"Magic\\\" is an excellent album, certainly better than many of Springsteen's more recent efforts, but it's definitely not one of his best albums ever. Still, it's a very good CD, and I recommend it.\",\n \"Product: Now this is more like it - Bruce and the E Street Band together again, writing, singing and playing great and memorable music. Lead single \\\"Radio Nowhere\\\" begins with `80s pop-rock rhythms, and then moves into a rockin' beat reminiscent of Bruce back in the \\\"Born in the USA\\\" period. You may even feel motivated to dig up those old school dance steps (a la Courtney Cox in that famous video) but try not to do it in the presence of the younger generation.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Quite good, though it could use a bit more \\\"magic\\\"\\n\\nReview: I really like this CD, but it doesn't live up to its hype. The best song on the album is hands-down \\\"Radio Nowhere,\\\" which was also the first single taken from the CD. The tune is fast and catchy, and as soon as I heard it, it became one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs of all time. I expected the rest of the album to follow suit, but it really doesn't. I think the biggest issue is that most of the other tracks on the CD are pretty mellow, so to lead off with \\\"Radio Nowhere\\\" kind of sets an inappropriate mood for the rest of the disc. Still, all that aside, the rest of the songs on \\\"Magic\\\" are very good. I especially like the breezy \\\"Girls in Their Summer Clothes,\\\" the heartfelt \\\"I'll Work For Your Love,\\\" and \\\"Last to Die,\\\" which reminds me of a lot of Springsteen's songs from 20 years ago.\\n\\nMaybe I had unrealistic expectations for this CD, and considering the amazing Springsteen CDs of days gone by that I'm comparing it to, it's understandable why I'm a little critical. I think \\\"Magic\\\" is an excellent album, certainly better than many of Springsteen's more recent efforts, but it's definitely not one of his best albums ever. Still, it's a very good CD, and I recommend it.\",\n \"Product: Japanese pressing of Madonna's 2008 full-length album includes one bonus track, 'Ring My Bell'. Hard Candy is a brilliant uptempo collection that adds a hip-hop beat to the cultural icon's club sensibilities, thanks to collaborations with Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, and Nate \\\"Danja\\\" Hills. Hard Candy punctuates the first 25 years of the album career of the most successful female artist in history with a musical exclamation point. 12 tracks..\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A girl in a \\\"Candy\\\" store\\n\\nReview: To hell with the likes of Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Christina Aguilera: Madonna is and always will be the hottest female artist on the music scene. (Can you believe she's almost 50 years old?!) I didn't think the Material Girl could possibly top her last album, \\\"Confessions on a Dance Floor\\\" (which is probably my favorite Madonna album of all time), but I was wrong! \\\"Hard Candy\\\" is every bit as fabulous as I hoped it would be, and it's Madonna's sexiest album ever.\\n\\nWhen I listened to \\\"4 Minutes,\\\" the album's first single, I thought \\\"Hard Candy\\\" would have an overall hip-hop flavor to it. Luckily, I was wrong. Madonna's duet with Justin Timberlake is good, but it doesn't even begin to compare to the other tracks on this CD. \\\"Hard Candy\\\" is more of a dance album than anything else, with traces of electronica and, yes, a bit of hip-hop to boot. But have no fear, hip-hop haters of the world: This CD is awesome! It opens with \\\"Candy Shop,\\\" a breathy pop number that sets the tone for the rest of this sexy album. \\\"Give It 2 Me\\\" is a fantastic dance track that's all about girl power. Other highlights include \\\"Miles Away,\\\" which Madonna says was inspired by the difficulties of maintaining a long-distance relationship with her husband, Guy Ritchie; \\\"She's Not Me,\\\" a story of two women competing for the same man; \\\"Incredible,\\\" my favorite track on the CD, which starts off as a bittersweet recollection of a former lover and quickly turns into a frantic craving for sex; \\\"Dance 2 Nite,\\\" a slinky, mellow little number; and \\\"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You,\\\" a sad reflection on a relationship gone wrong.\\n\\nI cannot get enough of this album! It's energetic, powerful, and soulful...concrete proof that Madonna just keeps getting better and better! Run out and buy this CD so you can hear the magic for yourself.\",\n \"Product: Japanese pressing of Madonna's 2008 full-length album includes one bonus track, 'Ring My Bell'. Hard Candy is a brilliant uptempo collection that adds a hip-hop beat to the cultural icon's club sensibilities, thanks to collaborations with Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, and Nate \\\"Danja\\\" Hills. Hard Candy punctuates the first 25 years of the album career of the most successful female artist in history with a musical exclamation point. 12 tracks..\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: A girl in a \\\"Candy\\\" store\\n\\nReview: To hell with the likes of Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Christina Aguilera: Madonna is and always will be the hottest female artist on the music scene. (Can you believe she's almost 50 years old?!) I didn't think the Material Girl could possibly top her last album, \\\"Confessions on a Dance Floor\\\" (which is probably my favorite Madonna album of all time), but I was wrong! \\\"Hard Candy\\\" is every bit as fabulous as I hoped it would be, and it's Madonna's sexiest album ever.\\n\\nWhen I listened to \\\"4 Minutes,\\\" the album's first single, I thought \\\"Hard Candy\\\" would have an overall hip-hop flavor to it. Luckily, I was wrong. Madonna's duet with Justin Timberlake is good, but it doesn't even begin to compare to the other tracks on this CD. \\\"Hard Candy\\\" is more of a dance album than anything else, with traces of electronica and, yes, a bit of hip-hop to boot. But have no fear, hip-hop haters of the world: This CD is awesome! It opens with \\\"Candy Shop,\\\" a breathy pop number that sets the tone for the rest of this sexy album. \\\"Give It 2 Me\\\" is a fantastic dance track that's all about girl power. Other highlights include \\\"Miles Away,\\\" which Madonna says was inspired by the difficulties of maintaining a long-distance relationship with her husband, Guy Ritchie; \\\"She's Not Me,\\\" a story of two women competing for the same man; \\\"Incredible,\\\" my favorite track on the CD, which starts off as a bittersweet recollection of a former lover and quickly turns into a frantic craving for sex; \\\"Dance 2 Nite,\\\" a slinky, mellow little number; and \\\"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You,\\\" a sad reflection on a relationship gone wrong.\\n\\nI cannot get enough of this album! It's energetic, powerful, and soulful...concrete proof that Madonna just keeps getting better and better! Run out and buy this CD so you can hear the magic for yourself.\",\n \"Product: 2 CD edition. Madonna, who has racked up a record 37 top 10 hits as well as seven No. 1 albums (including her last four) on the Billboard Pop Charts, has given her fans yet another opportunity to 'celebrate' her musical achievements. The songs on 'Celebration' have all been remastered and selected by Madonna and her fans. They cover the expanse of the Material Girl's extraordinary career of hits\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: 36 Madonna songs...what's not to love?!\\n\\nReview: This is a fantastic CD collection. Even though I already own all of these songs on other albums, I needed to get this CD for three reasons.\\n\\n1. It's Madonna! And I buy all of her CDs no matter what! She is a GODDESS!\\n\\n2. Who cares if I already own 34 of these songs already? Now I have all of Madonna's Top 10 hits in one place. The track sequence is perfect and the sound quality is phenomenal.\\n\\n3. There are two awesome new songs on here, \\\"Celebration\\\" and \\\"Revolver.\\\" Love them, love them, LOVE THEM!\\n\\nOne criticism...what happened to \\\"4 Minutes\\\"?! The editing team butchered that track for some reason. Major bummer! However, I forgive them, because Madonna is Queen. Enough said!\",\n \"Product: Import only budget vinyl pressing of this classic 1994 release. Debut release from NAS (Nasir Jones) that features DJ Premier and Q-Tip from a Tribe Called Quest.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very, very, VERY good...but just shy of great\\n\\nReview: I've never heard a Goldfrapp album that I didn't like, and \\\"Head First\\\" is no exception. This album goes back to the group's electro-roots and is much different from their last CD, the much mellower \\\"Seventh Tree.\\\" \\\"Head First\\\" contains pulsating, flowy, fantastic songs that almost have an 80's feel to them, for some reason. Every song is great, and my personal favorites are \\\"Believer\\\" and \\\"Voicething,\\\" a breathy song without words that is truly, truly, truly outrageous. (Yes, I stole that from Jem. So what?) I guess my only complaints about the CD are that it's so short (only nine songs?!), and although I really like all of the tracks, none of them really stand out the way \\\"Train,\\\" \\\"Ooh La La,\\\" and \\\"A&E\\\" did on their respective albums. Still, \\\"Head First\\\" really is a work of art.\",\n \"Product: Double vinyl LP pressing. Long awaited 2010 album from the multi-platinum and Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter, her first studio album of new material in seven years. Laws Of Illusions was recorded in Montreal and Vancouver with Sarah's longtime collaborator/producer Pierre Marchand. Sarah has sold over 40 million recordings worldwide since her recording career began in 1988 with her debut album. Each and every one of her albums has been certified Gold or Platinum. Features the first single 'Loving You Is Easy'.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Dare I say a tad disappointing?\\n\\nReview: I love Sarah McLachlan and I am very happy that she has released her first studio album in seven years. However, after all that build-up, I was expecting something more, and I was a little let down with \\\"Laws of Illusion.\\\" Don't get me wrong: this is a very solid album. My favorite tracks are \\\"Loving You is Easy,\\\" \\\"Changes,\\\" and \\\"Forgiveness.\\\" However, I think the album is lacking an absolutely amazing, knock 'em out of the park song, which all of Sarah's other CDs boast. I also don't think the songs on this CD are as emotional as most of Sarah's previous releases. Admittedly, the tone of this album is different from previous ones: it's not as melancholy, and perhaps that's what Sarah was going for. Still, although \\\"Laws of Illusion\\\" is a good album, it's not one of Sarah's best.\",\n \"Product: Original soundtrack to the 2013 motion picture directed by Baz Luhrman. The soundtrack features songs performed by Jay -Z, Beyonce & Andre 3000, will.i.am, Florence & The Machine, Lana Del Rey and many others. The film is an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Don't listen to the naysayers...\\n\\nReview: ...this is a great soundtrack. It really is. I haven't seen the film yet, but I was really excited to hear the music, as it features such a great collection of dynamic artists. There are some songs that I think are just okay, but I like most of them very much. Highlights include the hypnotic \\\"A Little party never Killed nobody\\\" by Fergie...this will be the club track of choice this summer, methinks. The Florence + The Machine track, \\\"Over the Love,\\\" is my other fave, and this deluxe version contains two versions of the song. The Jay-Z song is just okay, but honestly I'm not a fan of his anyway. The other songs are great, too...high energy and fun, with some desperately longing ballads in thee for good measure. It's no \\\"Moulin Rouge,\\\" but the album invokes a similar spirit. I'm glad I bought it and sprung for the deluxe version.\",\n \"Product: Wellness CORE Air Dried Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food is healthy, grain free puppy food for puppies featuring tender protein morsels made with 70% natural, raw protein fortified with vitamins and minerals for healthy growth and development and then air dried for the taste of raw and the ease and convenience of kibble, yet no refrigeration required. Wellness CORE grain free dog food formulas are based on the nutritional philosophy that dogs thrive on a diet mainly comprised of meat. Each grain free, nutrient-rich formula provides high quality protein for your dog.\\n\\nRating: 1.0\\n\\nSummary: If you love doggie diarrhea, by all means, feed this to your pooch.\\n\\nReview: My dog has a very sensitive stomach, and he regularly eats the regular Core Wellness dry food with no problems. I was offered a free bag of this new air-dried version of the food via Amazon Vine and thought I'd use it as a special treat for my dog (because seriously, who would pay almost THIRTY FREAKING DOLLARS for a two pound bag of this stuff?! What is the company THINKING?!). I assumed that it would be fine since it is from a company I trust and is basically a different version of the food my dog already eats every day. I WAS WRONG.\\n\\nI gave my dog just a tiny amount of this food, for three consecutive days...not as a replacement for his meals, but as a small treat. He absolutely loved it. And then, let's just say his Number 2 turned into a bunch of slimy goo. NOT GOOD. I have no idea if this is due to my dog's particular stomach sensitivity or not, but just a very small amount of this food made him sick, and for that I am very angry. I see other reviewers on here have had problems with their dogs as well. I strongly urge other pet owners NOT to feed their dogs this food. I am extremely disappointed in the Wellness brand as a result.\",\n \"Product: Littlest Pet Shop Slide and Dive Playset\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Okay for a waterless water toy\\n\\nReview: I am not a parent, and most parents probably think toys that involve real water are THE ENEMY. But when I was a kid, I hated \\\"fake water\\\" toys that you couldn't add real water to. This Littlest Pet Shop Slide and Dive Playset reminds me of that. Yeah, the setup is okay and the little penguin is cute, but this toy could have been a lot cooler if the moveable penguin were replaced with a non-battery-operated penguin in exchange for the slide and pool actually using real water. It doesn't do that, so I think it's kind of lame...and my niece agrees. (The waddling penguin is pretty cute, though, I will admit.) I wish this thing were more along the lines of the Barbie swimming pool you could actually fill up with water, or (my personal favorite) the She-Ra Crystal Falls playset...does anyone remember that? It was basically a seashell lagoon with real running water that I played with for HOURS as a girl, and as I recall did not make a huge mess, either. The Littlest Pet Shop toys are all so cute, but this particular playset could have been better, in my opinion. Of course, kids can use their little imaginations to envision the water, but seriously, splashing around in real water would be much more fun (for niece and auntie alike).\",\n \"Product: Oprah's book club...A very interesting read.\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: 90% fabulous, 10% god-awful\\n\\nReview: I really enjoyed the majority of this book, but it completely fell apart at the end.\\n\\n\\\"Daughter of Fortune\\\" is the story of Eliza Sommers, an orphaned girl who is taken in by a well-off family in Chile during the late 1800's. Eliza grows into a spirited young woman and experiences true love, which she keeps hidden from her family. When her lover leaves for California in search of a gold fortune, Eliza discovers that she is pregnant and sets off on a harrowing sea voyage, determined to be reunited with the man she loves. Along the way, Eliza is helped by a young Chinese man, doctor Tao Chi'en, and together they make their way to San Francisco in search of their dreams.\\n\\nThis is a well-written story with dynamic characters, and I couldn't put it down. However, the ending totally sucks! It was stupid, and in my opinion wasn't even a real ending, so I feel completely gypped and therefore will only give this novel three stars. Hmph!\",\n \"Product: The God of Small Things\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: A bit of a let-down\\n\\nReview: \\\"The God of Small Things\\\" is set in India in the 1960's. The story revolves around a set of twins, Rahel and Estha, and the family secrets and scandals that lead to the death of the twins' cousin, Sophie Mol.\\n\\nI expected to like this book more than I did, given all of its critical acclaim. However, although the core of the story is intriguing and the writing itself is good, the author spins off in many different directions and weighs down the book with excessive verbiage, which caused me to severely lose interest. Also, I never felt fully vested in any of the characters, which is unfortunate given the high emotional stakes in this novel.\\n\\nOverall, I was disappointed. I expected much more from a Booker Prize winner.\",\n \"Product: 'The Namesake' is the story of a boy brought up Indian in America. 'When her grandmother learned of Ashima's pregnancy, she was particularly thrilled at the prospect of naming the family's first sahib. And so Ashima and Ashoke have agreed to put off the decision of what to name the baby until a letter comes!' For now, the label on his hospital cot reads simply BABY BOY GANGULI. But as time passes and still no letter arrives from India, American bureaucracy takes over and demands that 'baby boy Ganguli' be given a name. In a panic, his father decides to nickname him 'Gogol' -- after his favourite writer. Brought up as an Indian in suburban America, Gogol Ganguli soon finds himself itching to cast off his awkward name, just as he longs to leave behind the inherited values of his Bengali parents. And so he sets off on his own path through life, a path strewn with conflicting loyalties, love and loss! Spanning three decades and crossing continents, Jhumpa Lahiri's much-anticipated first novel is a triumph of humane story-telling. Elegant, subtle and moving, 'The Namesake' is for everyone who loved the clarity, sympathy and grace of Lahiri's Pulitzer Prize-winning debut story collection, 'Interpreter of Maladies'.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Caught between two cultures\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Namesake\\\" is the story of Gogol Ganguli, a man born to Indian parents who moved to America shortly after they were married. Gogol's name has always been a source of deep resentment for him, as it is neither Indian or American. Eventually Gogol opts to have his name legally changed before he leaves for college. In addition to adjusting to his new name, Gogol continues with a struggle he's faced his entire life: How to relate to and maintain his Indian culture while living on American soil. Gogol rejects most things about his heritage, preferring to lead a more \\\"Americanized\\\" lifestyle. His choices create a barrier between him and his family, but try as he might, Gogol never feels completely at ease within the American culture, either. He establishes a successful career for himself and has has several serious relationships, but Gogol never really finds a comfortable place for himself in this world. Eventually he finds happiness with an Indian woman, of all people, who relates to him on so many levels. However, Moushumi has her own way of rebelling, and at the end of the novel we find Gogol back at the very place his life began, where he begins to rediscover himself.\\n\\nI fell in love with this book after reading the first few pages, and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed it even more than author Jhumpa Lahiri's collection of short stories, \\\"Interpreter of Maladies.\\\" Lahiri writes in a simple yet emotional style that is rich in detail. Although the novel revolves around Gogol, Lahiri occasionally shifts perspective and gives the reader a glimpse of the story from the eyes of Gogol's parents and Moushumi. All of the characters make a lot of mistakes, but I was able to easily relate to and empathize with each of them.\\n\\nThis is a book about family, identity, heritage, and self-discovery. You don't have to be the child of immigrants in order to relate to the process of pulling apart from your family and discovering the person you're destined to become. I think this book has something to offer everyone, and it also happens to be a beautiful, poignant story. \\\"The Namesake\\\" is a must-read.\",\n \"Product: Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: \\\"Virtuous women did not open their mouths in paintings...\\\"\\n\\nReview: \\\"Girl With a Pearl Earring\\\" is based on the Johannes Vermeer painting with the same name. Sixteen-year-old Griet is forced to leave home and go to work as a maid for a painter and his family in order to provide for her family. Although she faces numerous challenges with most members of the Vermeer household, Griet slowly begins to bond with her master, who commissions her to help him in his studio and eventually has her sit for one of his paintings.\\n\\nThis book is interesting on many different levels. For one thing, creating this fictitious tale based on such a famous piece of art is intriguing, and Tracy Chevalier's characters are all very believable. Having the story narrated from Griet's point of view was also an excellent choice. The reader is treated to a description of how life was for a young woman living in poverty during the 17th century. Griet is forced into so much during the course of this novel, and all her options seem vert limited: there could be serious consequences if she continues to work for the Vermeer family, but her family will starve if she chooses to leave. There is also the potential of romance with a young suitor, but Griet is torn between a \\\"sensible\\\" relationship with Pieter and the growing feeling she has for her master.\\n\\nThe relationship between Griet and Vermeer is very mysterious and still leaves a lot of questions until the very end. We become aware of Griet's feelings for her master, but how does Vermeer really feel about her? Griet's interaction with the other women is also interesting to follow...Vermeer's wife sees her as a threat, Tanneke sees her as a rival, and Cornelia sees her as someone to destroy. The relationships between all of the women in her life escalate as the story progresses, which makes the final confrontation in the last few pages of the book even more powerful.\\n\\nI would recommend \\\"Girl With a Pearl Earring\\\" to anyone. Now that I've read the novel, I am very eager to see the movie version...hopefully Hollywood didn't butcher it beyond repair. :)\",\n \"Product: Book by Coelho, Paulo\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Too warm and fuzzy for my taste\\n\\nReview: I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for this, but I don't think \\\"The Alchemist\\\" lives up to all the hype surrounding it. The story revolves around Santiago, a young shepherd boy who decides to leave his flock behind and journey to the Pyramids, where he hopes to find his \\\"treasure.\\\" Along the way, Santiago encounters a variety of colorful characters, including gypsies, kings, warriors, and an alchemist who warns Santiago not to give up on his dream.\\n\\nThis book is a parable, which is why it was kind of lost on me. (I'm not a big fan of parables...they generate unpleasant flashbacks of my Sunday School days.) The moral of the story is a good one: never give up on your dreams, your life is what you make of it, blah blah blah. I can appreciate the writer's simple yet effective prose, and while some people may be inspired by Santiago's tale, I really didn't think it was all that insightful. The whole \\\"follow your dreams\\\" concept has been around for a long time, and \\\"The Alchemist\\\" doesn't take that idea to a new or remarkable level.\\n\\nYes, I'm being incredibly cynical, but so be it. If you're a cynic like me, don't waste your time with this book. However, if you're into all that touchy-feely, Oprah-esque stuff, I'm sure you'll enjoy \\\"The Alchemist.\\\"\",\n \"Product: Shipped from UK, please allow 10 to 21 business days for arrival. Very Good, A very good, near fine copy in black cloth boards, gilt title on spine with a very good, near fine dust jacket. Mayflower: a voyage to war. xvii, 461 p. : ill., ports. ; 24 cm.. . Includes bibliographical references (p. [415]-443).. .\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not what I was hoping for\\n\\nReview: I couldn't get into this book because it was very different from what I thought it would be. I expected \\\"Mayflower\\\" to be a detailed account of why the pilgrims decided to journey to America, and also a vivid description of what life aboard the Mayflower was actually like. The book did cover those things, but only for a few short pages. Most of the book is devoted to the history of Plymouth Colony and King Philip's War. Author Nataniel Philbrick does an excellent job of shooting down the myths many people believe about what the pilgrim settlement was actually like, but I was much more interested in reading about the actual Mayflower journey and was disappointed that so little information about that event was included in this 400+ page book. \\\"Mayflower\\\" should be called \\\"King Philip's War\\\" so readers know what they're getting into.\",\n \"Product: The Constant Princess\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Not the author's best work\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Constant Princess\\\" was written by Philippa Gregory, the author of many excellent books including \\\"The Other Boleyn Girl\\\" and \\\"The Virgin's Lover.\\\" I expected it to be a lot better than it actually is.\\n\\nThis book is about Catalina, the daughter of Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Catalina has been betrothed to Prince Arthur, son of the King of England, ever since she was a young girl. Catalina grows up and fulfills her destiny by marrying Arthur when she is 15 years old. Their marriage is uncertain at first, but soon the newlyweds fall in love and plan their future together. Their happiness is cut short when Arthur falls ill and dies several months after the wedding. Catalina is forced to grieve for her husband in secret so she can find a way to honor the deathbed promise she made to him, which was to marry his younger brother instead so that Catalina can still become Queen of England.\\n\\nIt takes many years of waiting (and fending off the unwanted advances of her father-in-law) before Catalina finally gets her way. She marries the headstrong Henry VIII and becomes Queen Katherine of England. Never letting go of her love for Arthur, Katherine carries on with her life and struggles to carry a child to term, maintain her husband's affections, and rule a country.\\n\\nThere are parts of this book that are very interesting, but a lot of the content is repetitive and dull. Catalina is an admirable character, but her whole \\\"I am the Infanta of Spain!\\\" song and dance gets really annoying after a while, as does her constant whining about her \\\"destiny.\\\" Also, the portion of the book devoted to Catalina and Arthur's romance is supposed to be very touching, but I think it contains way too many chapters detailing the two of them telling stories and singing songs in bed. How boring. Finally, the whole concept of Henry VIII's father lusting after Catalina seemed a bit farfetched to me, and that aspect of the story took away from the rest of the book.\\n\\nThis is the fourth book of Gregory's that I've read so far, and it is definitely my least favorite. If you're interested in learning more about Katherine of Aragon, I'm sure you will appreciate bits and pieces of the story, but it just isn't as gripping of a novel as Gregory's other works.\",\n \"Product: Book by Lamb, Wally\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: Very good, but drags at the end\\n\\nReview: \\\"The Hour I First Believed\\\" largely revolves around the real-life Columbine school shootings, but it quickly evolves into so much more than that. Caelum Quirk and his wife, Maureen, are both employed at Columbine High School, but only Maureen is present during the horrific school shootings. She is unable to fully recover from what she witnessed at Columbine. In an effort to help his wife, Caelum moves himself and Maureen back to the Connecticut farm he grew up on. Eventually it seems like Maureen is finally making progress, but then another catastrophe unfolds, and the Quirks' lives spiral dangerously out of control.\\n\\nThis is the first book by Wally Lamb I've read, and I really enjoyed his writing style. The story itself is intriguing, and this is one of those books that I didn't want to put down. I was a bit disappointed by the last fourth of the novel, however. Much time is devoted to rehashing the Quirk family history, and all those letters and paper excerpts became kind of boring after a while. Also, there was almost TOO MUCH tragedy in this book. By the time the last 200 pages rolled around, I was thinking, \\\"Seriously? How much more can happen to any two people?\\\" It was just a little over the top. Still, I enjoyed the book and will likely check out Lamb's other work.\",\n \"Product: The Banks children, Jane and Michael, change nannies just about as often as most people change their clothes. It's not that they're naughty, exactly -- just awkward. Everyone in the household is at their wits' end with them -- until Mary Poppins arrives! The Classic tale from P.L Travers. This, the first book about Mary Poppins, will be familiar to everyone who has seen the film. For it is in this book that Jane and Michael draw up their advertisement for a nanny, and Mary Poppins appears out of the sky with her parrot-headed umbrella which talks. She is strict but fair, slides happily up the banisters, and takes the children on the most extraordinary outings -- to a funfair inside a pavement picture; to uncle Andrew who sails up to the ceiling when he laughs -- which she firmly denies afterwards. Needless to say, the children are devastated when she leaves, but by then, they and their parents are far more of a family than they ever were before Mary Poppins appeared.\\n\\nRating: 5.0\\n\\nSummary: Practically perfect in every way\\n\\nReview: As a child, I was obsessed with all things Mary Poppins. I remember finding this book in our school library and checking it out again and again every couple of weeks until my teacher finally caught on and made me check out something else. Now, as an adult, I am STILL obsessed with Mary Poppins, and I still adore this book. It's very different from the iconic Disney film, but it's brilliant in its own right. P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins is much harder and at times even darker than her sunny Julie Andrews counterpart, but she's every bit as magical and magnificent as you can imagine. The book itself is incredibly well-written and is something that can be enjoyed by children and grown-ups alike.\",\n \"Product: Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010! The misadventures of Tallulah Casey! Hilarious new series from Queen of Teen -- laugh your tights off at the (VERY) amateur dramatic antics of Talullah and her bonkers mates. Boys, snogging and bad acting guaranteed! Picture the scene: Dother Hall performing arts college somewhere Up North, surrounded by rolling dales, bearded cheesemaking villagers (male and female) and wildlife of the squirrely-type. On the whole, it's not quite the showbiz experience Tallulah was expecting! but once her mates turn up and they start their 'FAME! I'm gonna liiiiive foreeeeeever, I'm gonna fill my tiiiiights' summer course things are bound to perk up. Especially when the boys arrive. (When DO the boys arrive?) Six weeks of parent-free freedom. BOY freedom. Freedom of expression! cos it's the THEATRE dahling, theatre!!\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Funny tween Brit chick lit\\n\\nReview: I am not typically a reader of YA novels, but on a recent trip to London I saw a bunch of promotions for this book, and it intrigued me. I had to check it out. \\\"Withering Tights\\\" (love, love, LOVE that title!) is about 14-year-old Tallulah Casey, who embarks on a journey to Yorkshire to spend her summer at a performing arts college. Tallulah is hilarious, but she's also a hardcore portrait of a stereotypical teenager, which was a bit cliche. Still, her clever observations and offhand remarks kept me laughing from beginning to end. I love the fact that this book includes a glossary at the end so readers can easily define many of Tallulah's obscure references. Perhaps the best thing about this book is Tallulah's candidness and honesty throughout the entire story. I think most teenage girls, regardless of whether they are British or American, will be able to relate to her.\",\n \"Product: \\\"Breathing Lessons\\\" covers the events of a day in the life of Maggie Moran, nearing fifty, married to Ira and with two children. Her eternal optimism and her inexhaustible passion for sorting out other people's lives and willing them to fall in love is severely tested one hot summer day. Maggie and Ira drive from Baltimore to Deer Lick to attend the funeral of the husband of Serena, Maggie's childhood friend. During the course of the journey, with its several unexpected detours - into the lives of old friends and grown children - Anne Tyler shows us all there is to know about a marriage: the expectations; the disappointments; the way children can create storms in a family; the way the wife and husband can fall in love all over again; the way that everything - and nothing - changes.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A moving story, although it dragged a bit at times\\n\\nReview: \\\"Breathing Lessons\\\" is a very subtle and touching novel about the Moran family. Maggie Moran is a loveable yet meddling woman who makes it her business to interfere in other people's lives. When Maggie and her husband, Ira, embark on a road trip to attend the funeral of a friend, Maggie hatches a plan to reunite her son Jesse with his estranged wife and daughter.\\n\\nIn some ways, this book kind of drags because not much happens in the story. The events in the novel take place over the course of a single day, and at the end of the book, nothing about these people's lives has really changed. However, I think the fact that the Morans are so ordinary is what makes the story work so well.\\n\\n\\\"Breathing Lessons\\\" is about loving people in spite of their many differences and shortcomings. Certain passages are quite funny, but much of the novel is bittersweet and even slightly depressing at times. I enjoyed the book, although I have to admit that there are other Anne Tyler novels I liked more.\",\n \"Product: Tom Sullivan is about to graduate from Princeton. He's intelligent and popular, but haunted by the violent death several years earlier of his father, an academic who devoted his life to studying one of the rarest, most complex and most valuable books in the world. Since its publication in 1499, \\\"The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili\\\" has baffled scholars who have tried to understand its many mysteries. Coded in seven languages, the text is at once a passionate love story, an intricate mathematical labyrinth, and a tale of arcane brutality. Paul Harris, Tom's room-mate, has deeply personal reasons of his own for wanting to unveil the secrets the book hides. When a long-lost diary surfaces, it seems the two friends have found the key to the labyrinth - but when a fellow researcher is murdered only hours later, they suddenly find themselves in great danger. And what they discover embedded in the text stuns them: a narrative detailing the passion of a Renaissance prince, a hidden crypt, and a secret worth dying to protect.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: I give \\\"The Rule of Four\\\" four stars\\n\\nReview: I really wish that I could give \\\"The Rule of Four\\\" five stars, but I can't do that in good conscience. Still, I want to stress to you how absolutely fabulous this book is! A lot of comparisons have been made between this novel and \\\"The Da Vinci Code.\\\" Both books have the same kind of high-stakes historical mystery going on, but \\\"The Rule of Four\\\" is much better written than \\\"The Da Vinci Code.\\\" It's also a fantastic story! \\\"The Rule of Four\\\" revolves around four friends who are about to graduate from Princeton University. All four guys have been busy writing their senior theses, and two of them have ties to the mysterious \\\"Hypnerotomachia Poliphili,\\\" a book that has baffled scholars for centuries. As the students get closer to decoding the literary mystery, strange things begin happening on campus: there is a break-in and then a murder, and as the group of friends gets closer to solving the mystery of the \\\"Hypnerotomachia,\\\" more and more things keep happening that ultimately put the students' lives in danger.\\n\\nI enjoyed every page of this book. I was slightly disappointed by the ending, though, because I cannot accept what ultimately happened to Paul. I think the authors' choice to do what they did to that character was a poor one and it kind of ruined the ending for me. The only way I could forgive them of this error is if they wrote \\\"The Rule of Four II\\\" and let us know what happens in Italy...I'm sure that adventure could fill several more books!\\n\\n\\\"The Rule of Four\\\" is a great historical mystery/thriller. Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason referenced a lot of material from the actual \\\"Hypnerotomachia\\\" and also wrote about Renaissance history and the history of Princeton University, which was very enjoyable to read. I also liked the fact that two young guys who are very good friends wrote this book...I think that's pretty cool. And it's SUCH a good book! I hope the authors collaborate on another novel in the near future.\",\n \"Product: They spend their days - and too many of their nights - at work. Away from friends and family, they share a stretch of stained carpet with a group of strangers they call colleagues. There's Chris Yop, clinging to his ergonomic chair; Lynn Mason, the boss, whose breast cancer everyone pretends not to talk about; Carl Garbedian, secretly taking someone else's medication; Marcia Dwyer, whose hair is stuck in the eighties; and Benny, who's just - well, just Benny. Amidst the boredom, redundancies, water cooler moments, meetings, flirtations and pure rage, life is happening, to their great surprise, all around them. \\\"Then We Came to the End\\\" is about sitting all morning next to someone you cross the road to avoid at lunch. It's the story of your life and mine.\\n\\nRating: 2.0\\n\\nSummary: Not at all enjoyable\\n\\nReview: I was surprised that I disliked this book as much as I did. I can recognize the talent of the author, but for me, this book was unbelievably depressing and miserable from the very beginning, and I did not like any of the characters, so this was a very long almost 400 pages to get through.\\n\\nThere are several things that the author of this book does very well. The entire book is written in the \\\"we\\\" first-person narrative, which must have been very hard to pull off, and yet it works very well, especially as a sort of mockery of modern day corporate culture. Also, the book captures a lot of pretty office drama (gossip, policies, relationships, etc.) as I have seen it play out in real life. I'm sure anyone who has worked in an office environment will be able to relate to this book on some level. Finally, the book is set in Chicago on Michigan Ave., which happens to be where I work. I always enjoy reading books that are set in Chicago, and the author does a good job of making Chicago a small supporting character in this novel.\\n\\nAll that aside, however, I still did not enjoy the book. It's so miserable and depressing with so many people getting fired and having all of these people's personal lives so messed up. I cannot in good conscience recommend the book to anyone, unless they are looking to read something that will make them feel unhappy for almost 400 pages straight.\",\n \"Product: The year I turned ninety, I wanted to give myself the gift of a night of wild love with an adolescent virgin. I thought of Rosa Cabarcas, the owner of an illicit house who would inform her good clients when she had a new girl available. I never succumbed to that or to any of her many other lewd temptations, but she did not\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: An interesting plot gone wrong\\n\\nReview: \\\"Memories of My Melancholy Whores\\\" started out great but ended up a bit of a dud. The premise of the book is interesting enough: a 90-year-old man decides to treat himself to a young virgin on his birthday. He ends up falling in love with her, and spends the next year obsessing over her and reflecting back on all the prostitutes he's slept with over the years. The book also touches on what it's like to age and fear one's imminent death. Unfortunately, though, many of the narrator's recollections are incredibly bland, making this short novel difficult to plow through. I suppose the author was trying to show us how uneventful the narrator's previous relationships have been, but that technique lost my interest in the process.\",\n \"Product: Controversial and compelling, \\\"In Cold Blood\\\" reconstructs the murder in 1959 of a Kansas farmer, his wife and both their children. Truman Capote's comprehensive study of the killings and subsequent investigation explores the circumstances surrounding this terrible crime and the effect it had on those involved. At the centre of his study are the amoral young killers Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock, who, vividly drawn by Capote, are shown to be reprehensible yet entirely and frighteningly human. The book that made Capote's name, In Cold Blood is a seminal work of modern prose, a remarkable synthesis of journalistic skill and powerfully evocative narrative.\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: An excellent book, but not for the faint of heart\\n\\nReview: I know, I know...you are probably thinking, who does this girl think she is, giving Truman Capote's masterpiece only four out of five stars? The thing is, I know \\\"In Cold Blood\\\" is an amazing book. If you are a big fan of crime novels, I am sure you will love it and it will become one of your favorite books of all time. However, I am not big on crime novels myself, and although I recognize that this is a brilliantly composed book, I didn't particularly enjoy it. That's partially because murder stories in general give me the willies, but also because this particular book kind of drags. I realize that what I deem as a dragging sensation actually parallels a stalled criminal investigation that goes nowhere until the detectives finally stumble upon their first big lead, but still...IT DRAGS. Which doesn't make it fun to read. And the descriptions in this book, while wonderful and thorough and all that jazz, are kind of overkill, which enhances that whole dragging problem. Bottom line: great book...for true crime fans. If you are not a fan of the genre, you may appreciate this book as I do, but it will not become a favorite.\",\n \"Product: The Nanny Diaries Full Screen DVD\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A modern-day Mary Poppins\\n\\nReview: I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, which is an adaptation of the hilarious book by the same name. \\\"The Nanny Diaries\\\" stars Scarlett Johansson as Annie, a recent college grad who decides to postpone her impending business career and takes a job as a nanny for Grayer, a young boy who lives on the Upper East Side in New York City. Annie quickly discovers that her new life as \\\"Nanny\\\" isn't all it's cracked up to be. Grayer's father, Mr. X (Paul Giamatti), is an adulterous workaholic who's never at home, and Mrs. X (Laura Linney) is a completely hands-off mom who is also the Employer from Hell. Even though she desperately wants to quit her job, Annie decides to stick it out because she can't bear to leave poor little Grayer alone with his crazy inattentive parents.\\n\\nOverall, I enjoyed this film. It wasn't quite as funny as the book, but the cast is excellent, especially Johansson and Linney. This is one of those rare instances where a lot of elements from the book were changed for the big screen adaptation, and most of the changes didn't bother me all that much (having Annie live with the X's, Mr. X making a pass at Annie, etc.). The ending of the movie is different from the book, in that Mrs. X actually manages to grow a heart at the end of the film, which SO does not happen in the novel! I prefer the way the book gave an honest depiction of the fact that there are a lot of horrible parents in the world who will just never change, but I'm sure the Hollywood types prefer a happy ending whenever possible, and that's what they gave this film. As a standalone movie, I think the ending was perfectly fine...I just like the book version better, that's all.\\n\\nIn spite of a few minor flaws, \\\"The Nanny Diaries\\\" really delivers. It's a light, fun little movie that I recommend.\",\n \"Product: The Nanny Diaries Full Screen DVD\\n\\nRating: 4.0\\n\\nSummary: A modern-day Mary Poppins\\n\\nReview: I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, which is an adaptation of the hilarious book by the same name. \\\"The Nanny Diaries\\\" stars Scarlett Johansson as Annie, a recent college grad who decides to postpone her impending business career and takes a job as a nanny for Grayer, a young boy who lives on the Upper East Side in New York City. Annie quickly discovers that her new life as \\\"Nanny\\\" isn't all it's cracked up to be. Grayer's father, Mr. X (Paul Giamatti), is an adulterous workaholic who's never at home, and Mrs. X (Laura Linney) is a completely hands-off mom who is also the Employer from Hell. Even though she desperately wants to quit her job, Annie decides to stick it out because she can't bear to leave poor little Grayer alone with his crazy inattentive parents.\\n\\nOverall, I enjoyed this film. It wasn't quite as funny as the book, but the cast is excellent, especially Johansson and Linney. This is one of those rare instances where a lot of elements from the book were changed for the big screen adaptation, and most of the changes didn't bother me all that much (having Annie live with the X's, Mr. X making a pass at Annie, etc.). The ending of the movie is different from the book, in that Mrs. X actually manages to grow a heart at the end of the film, which SO does not happen in the novel! I prefer the way the book gave an honest depiction of the fact that there are a lot of horrible parents in the world who will just never change, but I'm sure the Hollywood types prefer a happy ending whenever possible, and that's what they gave this film. As a standalone movie, I think the ending was perfectly fine...I just like the book version better, that's all.\\n\\nIn spite of a few minor flaws, \\\"The Nanny Diaries\\\" really delivers. It's a light, fun little movie that I recommend.\",\n \"Product: Brand New. Never opened\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: The first boring thing J.K. Rowling has ever written\\n\\nReview: Like 99.97% of everyone who has read this book so far, I am a huge \\\"Harry Potter\\\" fan. However, I love to read books from many genres, and I was very well aware that \\\"The Casual Vacancy\\\" was J.K. Rowling's foray into a whole new world. I wasn't expecting wizards or magic or broomsticks or even humor. What I was expecting was a novel that wasn't super dull to read, and unfortunately for me, that's exactly what \\\"The Casual Vacancy\\\" is, from start to finish: boring, boring, boring. And my goodness, how it DRAGS! Rowling's extremely vivid descriptions and characterizations were apparent in this book, but the problem is that all of the characters are basically selfish and one-dimensional, not to mention completely uninteresting. This book paints a dark picture of the lives of the residents who inhabit a small English town and come to blows over its politics, but there's nothing for the reader to really grab onto or care about, and the pacing of the story is unbelievably slow, especially for the first half of the book.\\n\\nI don't think it's fair to call this a BAD book, but its certainly one that I thought I'd enjoy much more than I did. Some reviewers are aghast because of the sex scenes, foul language, and other adult material depicted in this book. None of that bothered me in the least. Again, I wasn't expecting another \\\"Harry Potter\\\" novel, and I give mad props to Rowling for wanting to try something so entirely different from her other books. I just hope that her next book is...better. I'd give \\\"The Casual Vacancy\\\" two and a half stars if I could, but Amazon forced me to round up to three (lucky for Rowling, I guess).\",\n \"Product: Book\\n\\nRating: 3.0\\n\\nSummary: Be careful what you wish for!\\n\\nReview: Michael Blasco is a 38-year-old British scientist who spends most of his time conducting experiments on baby chicks. Trapped in a sexless relationship with his partner, Phil, Michael indulges in a fantasy about an attractive man from his gym and is shocked when the man suddenly materializes in front of him and drops his trousers. It turns out that Michael has developed an unexplainable ability to bring his sexual fantasies to life. He has the power to summon any person, living or dead, and make them do anything he wants them to. As you can probably imagine, Michael begins to ignore his other responsibilities and concentrates on his new extracurricular activity, summoning everyone from a security guard to Billie Holiday to Pablo Picasso. Michael's magical power isn't all it's cracked up to be, though, and instead of satisfying his lust and finding true love, Michael's life begins to unravel in ways he never imagined possible as he discovers disturbing truths about himself and realizes what is really important to him.\\n\\n\\\"Lust\\\" is a very entertaining story filled with humor, tenderness, and romance. There are a lot of sexually explicit passages as well as a very lengthy and graphic description of an incestuous encounter with Michael and his father...readers who don't usually warm to that kind of thing should probably steer clear of this book. However, I thought it was very touching and well-written overall, even though it's not the kind of book I usually get into.\"\n]","isConversational":false},"profile_size":{"kind":"number","value":84,"string":"84"},"task":{"kind":"string","value":"longlamp_3"},"split_kind":{"kind":"string","value":"user_based"},"id":{"kind":"number","value":99,"string":"99"}}}],"truncated":false,"partial":false},"paginationData":{"pageIndex":0,"numItemsPerPage":100,"numTotalItems":14745,"offset":0,"length":100}},"jwt":"eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSIsImtpZCI6IjVHZDBvd0g5MTM2eDZjc1FvbE1zcktNWUZoRVFoUm5PVVVybEpjOUhaUEEifQ.eyJyZWFkIjp0cnVlLCJwZXJtaXNzaW9ucyI6eyJyZXBvLmNvbnRlbnQucmVhZCI6dHJ1ZX0sImlhdCI6MTc4Nzk0MDY4MywianRpIjoiMGQxN2JmOWItNTRiYi00YWE1LWEwYjEtNGFjNDIyZmZlMTUxIiwic3ViIjoiL2RhdGFzZXRzL01lbW9yeUFzTW9kYWxpdHkvTG9uZ0xhTVAtMyIsImV4cCI6MTc4Nzk0NDI4MywiaXNzIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9odWdnaW5nZmFjZS5jbyJ9.0PZyNO9mPJcjtzeap0KT7LLLBEqsg1RDFtx0GUVyTJ29zWCQ9R40a5xZ4fxAhZRbX6uUw6JCEFCVTy5y1iFYCw","displayUrls":true,"splitSizeSummaries":[{"config":"default","split":"train","numRows":14745,"numBytesParquet":685612512},{"config":"default","split":"validation","numRows":1826,"numBytesParquet":81282560},{"config":"default","split":"test","numRows":1822,"numBytesParquet":90474619}]},"discussionsStats":{"closed":0,"open":1,"total":1},"fullWidth":true,"hasGatedAccess":true,"hasFullAccess":true,"isEmbedded":false,"savedQueries":{"community":[],"user":[]}}">
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A2NBJIQCK9V2WT | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Quinn is a 32 year old wife, mother, nurse, and writer, not necessarily in that order. She lives in beautiful North West Arkansas with her husband, son and Nora their Doberman pinscher. She loves wr... | I have been a huge fan of this series ever since I read Prince of Wolves, the first book in the Grey Wolves series, and the author Quinn Loftis is an amazing person too.
This lady really knows how to write dialogue! Reading the chit chat between the three girls and their interactions among the other werewolves is so f... | I have been a huge fan of this series ever since I read Prince of Wolves, the first book in the Grey Wolves series, and the author Quinn Loftis is an amazing person too.
This lady really knows how to write dialogue! Reading the chit chat between the three girls and their interactions among the other werewolves is so f... | [
"Product: Perfect size for cupboards, closets, cabinets, Countertops, or even for tools or cords in the garage. Interlocking legs make for simple stacking, allowing you to maximize storage space. Coated-steel prevents scratching on any surface and adds durability, while providing a clean modern look.\n\nRating: 5.0... | 6 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 0 |
A18AQ70ZVFLWJ | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Janalyn Voigts father instilled a love of literature in her at an early age by reading chapters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Robinson Crusoe and other classics as bedtime stories. When she grew ... | My review is 4.5 Stars
Reading Cheyenne Sunrise was an adventure. Following Bry on her journey from Boston to Montana not only covered miles in distance but was also a journey of learning about faith and forgiveness. There is a strong Christian theme that was beautifully woven into the story.
The story tackled the ... | My review is 4.5 Stars
Reading Cheyenne Sunrise was an adventure. Following Bry on her journey from Boston to Montana not only covered miles in distance but was also a journey of learning about faith and forgiveness. There is a strong Christian theme that was beautifully woven into the story.
The story tackled the ... | [
"Product: Debby Mayne is the author of more than 60 novels and novellas. She writes family and faith-based romances, cozy mysteries, and women's fiction. She has also written more than 1,000 short stories and articles as well as dozens of devotions for busy women. She is currently an etiquette writer for The Spruce... | 4 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 1 |
A3FG0FQHNV2UP2 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Cut the cord and move wherever the music takes you with the high-quality immersive listening experience of Beoplay H8 wireless headphones. Bang & Olufsens Signature Sound remains perfectly balanced ... | Overall, I'm very satisfied with the H8 sound - it trends flat, but I don't like the jacked up bass that's currently popular so I consider that a win. Sound was cleanest to me cabled with the ANC off (that took forever to figure out, not intuitive at all) but it was still excellent with ANC activated. Range for bluetoo... | Overall, I'm very satisfied with the H8 sound - it trends flat, but I don't like the jacked up bass that's currently popular so I consider that a win. Sound was cleanest to me cabled with the ANC off (that took forever to figure out, not intuitive at all) but it was still excellent with ANC activated. Range for bluetoo... | [
"Product: A perfect re-creation of Bubble Bobble's frantic platforming gameplay, complete with all the secrets and fun that made the original such a classic. Compact levels are spread across the two DS screens, complete with charmingly detailed versions of the series' signature enemies. Rendered in keeping with the... | 36 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 2 |
A1ODOGXEYECQQ8 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "The Classic saut pan is a multifunctional pan for enthusiastic home chefs. The tall edges of the pan makes it easier to stir foods, add stock and slowly simmer dishes. The pan is made of hand-cast a... | We got a large sauce pan, 1 small and 1 medium size fry pans.
I was very excited the first time we got our Scanpans. I read about the new technology surrounding this product that supposedly to be non-stick for many years. Now, we only have the big sauce pan left. We have to throw away the 2 fry pans.
To give it some c... | We got a large sauce pan, 1 small and 1 medium size fry pans.
I was very excited the first time we got our Scanpans. I read about the new technology surrounding this product that supposedly to be non-stick for many years. Now, we only have the big sauce pan left. We have to throw away the 2 fry pans.
To give it some c... | [
"Product: Two CD/DVD. 2008 brings the album Revelation from Journey. Neal Schon (guitar), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Ross Valory (bass), Deen Castronovo (drums)--are proud to introduce fans all over the world to their new lead singer, Arnel Pineda ('pin-eh-da'). He replaces Jeff Scott Soto, who parted ways with the... | 200 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 3 |
A9XX8OHS2ZQ2X | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Carol Smallwood received her MLS from Western Michigan University and her MA in History from Eastern Michigan University. She wrote, co-wrote, edited, co-edited 18 books for Scarecrow, McFarland, Li... | This is a wonderful book for librarians who have any interest at all in writing for publication. With contributions from about 50 librarians from every sector of librarianship, there's not a writing-related topic that I can think of that isn't discussed in at least a passing manner except indexing and it's probably in ... | This is a wonderful book for librarians who have any interest at all in writing for publication. With contributions from about 50 librarians from every sector of librarianship, there's not a writing-related topic that I can think of that isn't discussed in at least a passing manner except indexing and it's probably in ... | [
"Product: Create perfectly symmetrical designs with Inkadinkado Stamping Gear. This Deluxe Set includes a clear paddle block, circle cog, oval cog, circle wheel, oval wheel and 4 cling stamp sets design specifically to make the most of Stamping Gear. Stamp around the cogs and inside and outside of the wheels to cre... | 7 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 4 |
A20PT8F0MQEDN5 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Sunlite LED lamps are extremely energy efficient and will greatly reduce your energy costs. These lamps can last up to 25000 hours making them virtually maintenance free. They contain no mercury Ele... | I love LEDs and this globe one is great! It is pretty bright, as most LEDs are, so I recommend using it in an enclosed fixture or in a lamp with a shade if you don't like bright LEDs. The great thing about these LEDs is the money saving factor. The life span on these is incredibly long (22 years!). I am hoping to repla... | I love LEDs and this globe one is great! It is pretty bright, as most LEDs are, so I recommend using it in an enclosed fixture or in a lamp with a shade if you don't like bright LEDs. The great thing about these LEDs is the money saving factor. The life span on these is incredibly long (22 years!). I am hoping to repla... | [
"Product: Tea (& Coffee) Drinkers Get Excited! Lakemint brings you the perfect Glass Bottle with Infuser for all your hot and cold drinks, we simply call it T Your hand made bottle has been designed with 2 super thick glass walls, which insulate your drinks, keeping the temperature for hours, to enjoy when you're r... | 20 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 5 |
A35YEXS1E1PYSN | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "It's all the protection you've been looking for - and in a super slim design. Speck's Mighty Shell + FACEPLATE outperforms the military drop test standard by 2X. When you want a case that's going to... | Specks Mighty Shell + Faceplate for the iPhone 6 is a slim, sleek, and nifty case, the company claims the case outperforms the military standard drop test, I have not tested this out, I shall take the company at their word. The case is a sturdy, has 5 layers of shatterproof protection, it is rather easy to get the pho... | Specks Mighty Shell + Faceplate for the iPhone 6 is a slim, sleek, and nifty case, the company claims the case outperforms the military standard drop test, I have not tested this out, I shall take the company at their word. The case is a sturdy, has 5 layers of shatterproof protection, it is rather easy to get the pho... | [
"Product: 13136500 Features: -Good Grip collection. -Pivoting hook holds caddy securely and fits on most pipes at different angles. -Trays have convenient drainage slots so water doesn't pool. -Soap tray drains to the side and doesn't drip on hanging items. Product Type: -Shower Caddies. Color: -Stainless Steel. Ma... | 5 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 6 |
A2SETXU4UY67C9 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "2.0" for a product with description "O (Two-Disc Special Edition)". The summary of the review text is "Really didn't like it". | What do you get when you take a brilliant seventeenth century Shakespearian tragedy about a general who driven to a murderous rage by a deceitful underling into believing his new spouse is unfaithful and set it in a private high school in the twenty first century? A very unconvincing, well meaning, but ultimately avera... | What do you get when you take a brilliant seventeenth century Shakespearian tragedy about a general who driven to a murderous rage by a deceitful underling into believing his new spouse is unfaithful and set it in a private high school in the twenty first century? A very unconvincing, well meaning, but ultimately avera... | [
"Product: Disney's hilarious smash hit stars Academy Award(R) winner Julie Andrews (1964 Best Actress, MARY POPPINS), the enchanting Anne Hathaway, and Hector Elizondo (PRETTY WOMAN), THE PRINCESS DIARIES is a cool, comical Cinderella story that will touch your heart. For teenager Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway), just s... | 9 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 7 |
AAMEE2ZH226NF | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Author lives in Wisconsin.". The summary of the review text is "Gone Fishing For Trouble". | This crime novel is set in the Wisconsin countryside, I am sure not far from where I was born. I remember seeing Amish horse drawn buggies along Highway 29 when it was still a narrow road. They all wore orange triangles on the rear, warning signs that they go slow. The story here is not fast-paced either; you creep int... | This crime novel is set in the Wisconsin countryside, I am sure not far from where I was born. I remember seeing Amish horse drawn buggies along Highway 29 when it was still a narrow road. They all wore orange triangles on the rear, warning signs that they go slow. The story here is not fast-paced either; you creep int... | [
"Product: Kimmies home is on the streets of Copenhagen. To live she must steal. She has learned to avoid the police and never to stay in one place for long. But now others are trying to find her. And they wont rest until she has stopped moving for good. Detective Carl Mrck of Department Q, the cold cases division,... | 4 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 8 |
AD6G5M3KL7GTB | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "CASSETTE.". The summary of the review text is "Classy English Debut from Celine". | Celine Marie Claudette Dion was born in Charlamegne, Quebec and the youngest of 15 children. She has been singing since the age of 5 and was a teenage star in her native Quebec before being discovered by musician David Foster. She eventually landed a deal with Sony Records and became an instant sucess with the classi... | Celine Marie Claudette Dion was born in Charlamegne, Quebec and the youngest of 15 children. She has been singing since the age of 5 and was a teenage star in her native Quebec before being discovered by musician David Foster. She eventually landed a deal with Sony Records and became an instant sucess with the classi... | [
"Product: Pretty-in-pink lawyer Elle Woods heads off to Washington to accessorize her rights, take on the political establishment, and initiate legislation in the name of her beloved dog, Bruiser.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Just A Good, Fun and HALARIOUS movie.\n\nReview: As I only rented the first \"Legally Blonde... | 41 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 9 |
A3ECOW0TWLH9V6 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "2.0" for a product with description "This yarn ball winder (Model YBW-A) makes center pull yarn balls with a capacity of about 4 ounces. The clamp-on base allows it to be firmly fixed at the edges of tables, chairs, benches, or any oth... | I miss my little Royal Yarn winder. Yes, I eventually stripped its gears, but the cakes it produced were immaculate, no strands across the top or bottom, no mess, which if you love yarn is important when managing your stash. It was especially good with lace yarn. A messy start can mean you may yank a huge tangle from t... | I miss my little Royal Yarn winder. Yes, I eventually stripped its gears, but the cakes it produced were immaculate, no strands across the top or bottom, no mess, which if you love yarn is important when managing your stash. It was especially good with lace yarn. A messy start can mean you may yank a huge tangle from t... | [
"Product: For sale is a jumbo size metal ball winder. This super high quality winder is built to withstand heavy use. In comparison to competitors' models, our model has the following advantages: (1) We use special nylon material for cogwheels. They are super strong but make much less noise than the metal cogwheels... | 20 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 10 |
A1QMN8SJYRREMT | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "Automatically up convert standard Blu-ray discs directly into 4K with 4K Direct Chroma Upscaling for imaging with the natural textures and depth of 4K UHD. Plus, upscale standard DVDs for enhanced c... | I got this for a friend who has a nice HD screen but it's not a smart TV (meaning no internet access), and she likes to watch Hulu, Amazon Prime and Netflix. Unfortunately, this Panasonic doesn't have the Hulu app and after hours of researching and hacking away at the problem, it is obvious there is no way to get Hulu ... | I got this for a friend who has a nice HD screen but it's not a smart TV (meaning no internet access), and she likes to watch Hulu, Amazon Prime and Netflix. Unfortunately, this Panasonic doesn't have the Hulu app and after hours of researching and hacking away at the problem, it is obvious there is no way to get Hulu ... | [
"Product: Get ready for the softest, doughiest memory foam ever. This pillow is simply amazing! It offers immediate support while the foam has a soft, quick recovery quality. The open cell technology will prevent the pillow from flattening over time and also promotes better air circulation for superior heat transfe... | 63 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 11 |
A1YC9XEDFKXPLK | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "Vin Diesel stars as a DEA agent on a deadly vendetta to take down the powerful drug cartel that killed his wife.". The summary of the review text is "A Movie Picked Apart...". | Despite the mixed critiques, luke warm reviews, A Man Apart ain't all that bad...Diesel is still in his early stage of his acting career so there is much room for improvement...You still have to give the man an A for effort at least. But, soon he will definitely need something to really prove that he can play other wel... | Despite the mixed critiques, luke warm reviews, A Man Apart ain't all that bad...Diesel is still in his early stage of his acting career so there is much room for improvement...You still have to give the man an A for effort at least. But, soon he will definitely need something to really prove that he can play other wel... | [
"Product: The AT92ECD is a .3 x .7 elliptical cartridge fits both Half-inch and P-Mount turntables.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Solidly Good Cartridge\n\nReview: This particular Audio Technica cartridge will suprisingly enough yield very crisp and clear audio quality. Bass response is tight but not overwhelming no... | 99 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 12 |
A1VDC0YZ9CWTKW | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Long lasting protection from mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers and fleas". The summary of the review text is "Better than using a spray can.". | I bought these for our trip to the Amazon basin in Peru. At the last minute, I threw a can of spray in the suitcase. I got a lot of bites when I forgot to use these and none when I used them. The only time I used the spray was one time on my shoes and socks when we went into the rain forest after a heavy rain.
We t... | I bought these for our trip to the Amazon basin in Peru. At the last minute, I threw a can of spray in the suitcase. I got a lot of bites when I forgot to use these and none when I used them. The only time I used the spray was one time on my shoes and socks when we went into the rain forest after a heavy rain.
We t... | [
"Product: Microsoft Wireless Comfort Desktop 5050 (PP4-00001)\n\nRating: 1.0\n\nSummary: Optical Mouse Is a Piece of Junk\n\nReview: I had a much earlier model that I loved, so I bought this one thinking it would be as good or better. The mouse is a piece of junk. It is an optical mouse and the mouse pointer is j... | 4 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 13 |
A5Q1FK0FWU7DH | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Inspired by soothing warmth, the ultra-soft microplush camelot cuddler warming throw is the perfect way to pamper yourself. The camelot cuddler warms your heart and your home.". The summary of the r... | This heated throw serves it's purpose in that it heats up more than enough, has a 3 hour auto shutoff and is more plush than throws of the past. And in its price range, it is probably the best throw available-especially knowing that sunbeam is a well known brand in heated blankets. Con: You can definitely feel the w... | This heated throw serves it's purpose in that it heats up more than enough, has a 3 hour auto shutoff and is more plush than throws of the past. And in its price range, it is probably the best throw available-especially knowing that sunbeam is a well known brand in heated blankets. Con: You can definitely feel the w... | [
"Product: The Energizer Flat Panel 2x Induction Charging System includes an induction charging stand and 2 rechargeable battery packs.Its an officially licensed Energizer product and saves your money on batteries. It features magnetic cradling for optimal remote placement. The easy to read indicator lets you know w... | 25 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 14 |
A33Z8L75OXCP78 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "2.0" for a product with description "From acclaimed writer Charlie Kaufman and visionary director Michel Gondry comes Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. An all-star ensemble cast shines in this comical and poignant look at breakups... | By the title of this review, one can surmise that I'm not wild about Jim Carrey. Didn't like the Truman Show, didn't like Ed Almighty or whatever his name was in that. In this movie, he was supposed to be playing it straight, and I guess for Jim Carrey, he was. I wanted so much to like this movie, to see Jim C redee... | By the title of this review, one can surmise that I'm not wild about Jim Carrey. Didn't like the Truman Show, didn't like Ed Almighty or whatever his name was in that. In this movie, he was supposed to be playing it straight, and I guess for Jim Carrey, he was. I wanted so much to like this movie, to see Jim C redee... | [
"Product: Remove all the hassle with self-setting time control by radio frequency with the La Crosse 12.5 in. Walnut Atomic Wall Clock. The signal is updated automatically for Daylight Saving Time. This clock is accurate to the second and with large viewing numbers so you wont have any problems checking your time.\... | 10 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 15 |
A1T5CK8KC56JZ9 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of steamy new adult books for the young and young at heart. Under the penname Diane Alberts, she writes be... | EMOTIONAL!!! That is the term that I would use to describe the final book of this series. I have followed Finn and Carrie for these three books. This one takes place right after Finn has had his accident with the military. This is not a stand alone, so you must read the other books before you read this one. You wil... | EMOTIONAL!!! That is the term that I would use to describe the final book of this series. I have followed Finn and Carrie for these three books. This one takes place right after Finn has had his accident with the military. This is not a stand alone, so you must read the other books before you read this one. You wil... | [
"Product: BOOKS\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Chase Sullivan is a hit\n\nReview: This is a very good series. I didn't read them in order so I think that you could read them out of order and still be ok. I feel that each one has its own story, but the characters are the same throughout. This is the first book. Chas... | 16 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 16 |
AZ2YLC0GWTAH2 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "vhs". The summary of the review text is "The Beginning Of A Summertime Wrestling Tradition". | Thanks to an internet download, I saw able to see this VHS tape of the first annual Great American Bash held at the American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC which was a joint production with Pro Wrestling Illustrated as this was a one hour tape that just showed highlights of the big attraction matches througho... | Thanks to an internet download, I saw able to see this VHS tape of the first annual Great American Bash held at the American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC which was a joint production with Pro Wrestling Illustrated as this was a one hour tape that just showed highlights of the big attraction matches througho... | [
"Product: Ray Bradstone (WWE Superstar Paul \"Triple H\" Levesque) has just been released from prison after serving seven years for driving the get-away car in an attempted bank heist. Completely rehabilitated, Ray cares only about winning back the respect and love of his 15-year-old daughter, Sally. His first oppo... | 200 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 17 |
A2BC9TW5GO4XJR | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Will water cyborgs, created in an underground laboratory, put an end to the human race? Stars Sonny Chiba.". The summary of the review text is "Terror Beneath the Sea (Dark Sky Films DVD)". | Fun, late 60's English-dubbed Japan-US collaboration Sci-fi film. A mad scientist starts creating a race of amphibious men to rule the world from under the sea. A pair of investigating journalists are captured and threatened by transformation. Meanwhile the Navy is searching for the reporters and investigating the s... | Fun, late 60's English-dubbed Japan-US collaboration Sci-fi film. A mad scientist starts creating a race of amphibious men to rule the world from under the sea. A pair of investigating journalists are captured and threatened by transformation. Meanwhile the Navy is searching for the reporters and investigating the s... | [
"Product: The reports are unbelievable: At a remote site outside of town, locals sight a strange creature in the water. But when tourists begin to disappear from the tranquil waters of Crater Lake, the town's sheriff reluctantly faces the prospect that something evil is afloat.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The Crate... | 52 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 18 |
A6Y3K7L1FRWP3 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "book". The summary of the review text is "Interesting as a Historical Document". | If you want a slice of how people looked at the world in 1970, this is a good resource. Everyone thought of the future in gloomy, apocalyptic, science fiction-like terms: it was all about inevitable nuclear annihilation and ecological disaster, about books like "1984" and "Brave New World". So naturally Toffler cloth... | If you want a slice of how people looked at the world in 1970, this is a good resource. Everyone thought of the future in gloomy, apocalyptic, science fiction-like terms: it was all about inevitable nuclear annihilation and ecological disaster, about books like "1984" and "Brave New World". So naturally Toffler cloth... | [
"Product: PDP hardware is designed by industry leader Drum Workshop. DW has been solving hardware problems for drummers since 1972. The 400 Series Double Pedal offers players an amazing value without breaking the bank. Exactly like the standard version, the DP402L lefty has sleek, racing-inspired pedalboards and fe... | 14 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 19 |
A3NWDVRYFBV72W | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "Discover a thrilling I SPY adventure hidden in a mysterious old house! A clever skeleton traps you inside his spooky mansion with a challenge to find his secret way out. In first-person play, explor... | For those of you who don't know, this game originally came out in 1999 for the PC. They re-released it for the Wii and added a handful of new things. I bought this for my 5-year old daughter so we had some games to play together.
Story: You enter a mansion only to be trapped inside. You are greeted by Skelley who tell... | For those of you who don't know, this game originally came out in 1999 for the PC. They re-released it for the Wii and added a handful of new things. I bought this for my 5-year old daughter so we had some games to play together.
Story: You enter a mansion only to be trapped inside. You are greeted by Skelley who tell... | [
"Product: Rubbermaid Refill, Reuse 32-Ounce Jumbo Size Chug Bottle, Assorted Colors, Pack of 4 Bottles\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great for on the go people and around the house\n\nReview: I have bought several of the 20 ounce Rubbermaid bottles so my wife wanted to try the 32 ounce ones. These are a great addition... | 45 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 20 |
A2E7C4E7NI91YX | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "I live in Utah with my six children and I'm the author of twenty-four books - so far. I write YA Paranormal Romance under my pen name, Katie Lee OGuinn. I enjoy the outdoors, reading and being with ... | *dreamy sigh* Come To Me was exactly what I needed to get me out of my reading rut! I LOVE it!
So I've had this love/hate relationship with Rob since the Love and Dessert trilogy. I loved him... then hated him... then liked him... then thought he was a putz... and in the end... I loved him again! Rob has been burned b... | *dreamy sigh* Come To Me was exactly what I needed to get me out of my reading rut! I LOVE it!
So I've had this love/hate relationship with Rob since the Love and Dessert trilogy. I loved him... then hated him... then liked him... then thought he was a putz... and in the end... I loved him again! Rob has been burned b... | [
"Product: Jenni James is the happy mother of seven boisterous children and the author of several book babies that include: Pride & Popularity, Northanger Alibi and Persuaded from The Jane Austen Diaries for teens and Prince Tennyson an inspirational novel. She enjoys writing clean literature for children, teens and... | 4 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 21 |
A23RZIU0N8K2KR | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "Ring stacking fun for baby! Baby can stack three stacker rings on the roly-poly, bat-at rocker base with a teethable friend at the top. Stacking the jingle, rattle and crinkle rings on the wobbly ba... | I gave this to my cousin's baby and she adored the product. The different sized rings gave both tactile and visual education. We try to teach her the colors of each ring though we know she is too young right now to grasp all the information.
For the toy itself, the toy is great. Its not heavy, she can pick it up just ... | I gave this to my cousin's baby and she adored the product. The different sized rings gave both tactile and visual education. We try to teach her the colors of each ring though we know she is too young right now to grasp all the information.
For the toy itself, the toy is great. Its not heavy, she can pick it up just ... | [
"Product: Whether you're sauteing foods or preparing risotto, this is the quintessential piece for any chef's kitchen. The deep, straight sides of this entertaining size saute pan lend room to any party size dish. Used for sauteing meats and vegetables, frying chicken, pancakes, eggs, or grilling sandwiches. Deep s... | 20 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 22 |
A2SOGLL0PXAEA7 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Enjoy reliable cooking performance with T-fal Ultimate hard-anodized nonstick cookware. Its innovative Thermo-Spot heat indicator lets you know when the pans are properly pre-heateda critical compon... | I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I FOUND THIS ON SALE. I HAVE BEEN NEEDING A NEW FRYING PAN FOR AWHILE NOW. I HAVE1 THAT IS LIKE A 10 INCH AND THAT IS TOO SMALL FOR SOME JOBS AND I HAVE 1 THAT IS 14 INCH AND THAT IS WAY TOO LARGE FOR EVERYTHING ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GOES LIKE 2 INCHES PAST THE HOT SPOT ON MY GLASS TOP STOVE AND THAT... | I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I FOUND THIS ON SALE. I HAVE BEEN NEEDING A NEW FRYING PAN FOR AWHILE NOW. I HAVE1 THAT IS LIKE A 10 INCH AND THAT IS TOO SMALL FOR SOME JOBS AND I HAVE 1 THAT IS 14 INCH AND THAT IS WAY TOO LARGE FOR EVERYTHING ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GOES LIKE 2 INCHES PAST THE HOT SPOT ON MY GLASS TOP STOVE AND THAT... | [
"Product: The unique use of Lemongrass and Lily oil in this aromatherapy body oil relaxes body and soothes skin exposed to sun and pollution. It also calms mind which induces better sleep and relieves body and headaches. A regular massage with this oil also helps keep the skin well moisturised.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSu... | 54 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 23 |
AWIMLMBX13EQQ | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "30 quart stainless steel mixing bowl. It is medium weight for easy mobility and handling. This product is made of stainless steel and attractive mirror finished to ensure long lasting usage. Design ... | I wanted a large for multi-purposes, but what I ordered was a mini baby bath-tub. If you're looking for a large bowl, look elsewhere however, if you want the mother of all bowls. You've come to the right place. Needless to say, I was a bit awed when I opened the box. It can't fit in my sink so, I usually wash it in... | I wanted a large for multi-purposes, but what I ordered was a mini baby bath-tub. If you're looking for a large bowl, look elsewhere however, if you want the mother of all bowls. You've come to the right place. Needless to say, I was a bit awed when I opened the box. It can't fit in my sink so, I usually wash it in... | [
"Product: Claremont desk.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Adds touch of elegance\n\nReview: I recently purchased the Z-line Claremont desk as I work at home and wanted a non-traditional desk. At first, I was a little upset as two of the pieces would not fit. I called their customer service who; by the way, were very fri... | 6 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 24 |
A1HG82U7GY9531 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "About the bookconsolidating some of his all-time favorite writings from the new yorker, malcolm gladwell came up with a set of 19 epic articles titled what the dog saw and other adventures. It has t... | What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell is a collection of essays first published in The New Yorker. These vignettes are both entertaining and thought-provoking! What I love most about Gladwell's writing is his approach to the subject. Gladwell is a gifted writer who is able to turn the ordinary (ketchup) into the extraor... | What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell is a collection of essays first published in The New Yorker. These vignettes are both entertaining and thought-provoking! What I love most about Gladwell's writing is his approach to the subject. Gladwell is a gifted writer who is able to turn the ordinary (ketchup) into the extraor... | [
"Product: Compact, affordable electrics chop and mince in a flash. Hamilton Beach Food Choppers speed food prep by handling the chopping, mincing and mixing for you. Don't let the compact, lightweight design fool you. These popular food choppers are powerful enough to take on onions, herbs, nuts, garlic and more. Y... | 14 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 25 |
A126JVOAOOR42V | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "The hauntingly prophetic classic novel set in a not-too-distant future where books are burned by a special task force of firemen. Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidd... | Fahrenheit 451 is a portrait of civilization in collapse.
Bruno Bettelheim once gave a lecture in which he said that modern mass-society displays a manic and unhealthy preoccupation with speed and motion, and that this preoccupation betrays the inner emptiness of "a hollow man". "Instead of asking where we are [inward... | Fahrenheit 451 is a portrait of civilization in collapse.
Bruno Bettelheim once gave a lecture in which he said that modern mass-society displays a manic and unhealthy preoccupation with speed and motion, and that this preoccupation betrays the inner emptiness of "a hollow man". "Instead of asking where we are [inward... | [
"Product: This versatile and affordable poster delivers sharp, clean images and a high degree of color accuracy. Your poster is printed with an offset lithography press with a coating to protect the inks.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The Face on the Shroud\n\nReview: This print is brown-and-tan hued rather than black... | 16 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 26 |
A32HPEJOM37MF4 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon... | Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews is the 1st book in their new The Iron Covenant series. I looked forward to reading Hughs story, especially after he was no longer part of Kate Daniels series. Frankly, I will read anything and everything by our illustrious duo, Ilona and Gordon Andrews. There has never been a book tha... | Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews is the 1st book in their new The Iron Covenant series. I looked forward to reading Hughs story, especially after he was no longer part of Kate Daniels series. Frankly, I will read anything and everything by our illustrious duo, Ilona and Gordon Andrews. There has never been a book tha... | [
"Product: THIS IS BRAND NEW BOOK.WE PROVIDE 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A wonderful enjoyable book by Sarah Dessen\n\nReview: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen is a simple story of a young girl, in a small town setting, who is spending her last summer at home, before she goes off to colle... | 5 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 27 |
A2I1SOYS62NJDT | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Wither". The summary of the review text is "Wonderful world-building and character creation". | Wow, this is a powerful book in so many ways yet still entertaining. What would you do if you knew that you would die by a certain age? What would you do if you were taken by the "Gatherers" to be a suitable wife to a house Governor? That is exactly what Rhine faces. She is carefully existing in a post-apocalyptic ... | Wow, this is a powerful book in so many ways yet still entertaining. What would you do if you knew that you would die by a certain age? What would you do if you were taken by the "Gatherers" to be a suitable wife to a house Governor? That is exactly what Rhine faces. She is carefully existing in a post-apocalyptic ... | [
"Product: Take Protection & Style to the Max. This revved up Samsung Galaxy S III Grip case features raised edges that absorb shock and defend your screen against scratches. Interior AirShock Pockets evenly disperse the force of impact. The Grip Max is extra-protective, yet still sleek enough to slip easily into yo... | 6 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 28 |
A3KJS0TGYIX2O1 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "High adventure, mind--blowing suspense. Tom Kirk, the world's greatest art thief, is back on another life--threatening mission. In London, an Auschwitz survivor is murdered in his hospital bed, his ... | James Twining's "Black Sun" is one of those novels that would play better as a movie. As a matter of fact, this could probably be the third in the Nicholas Cage "National Treasure" movies since that is exactly what this story is like-a hero finds himself inadvertently thrown into a treasure hunt and is only guided to i... | James Twining's "Black Sun" is one of those novels that would play better as a movie. As a matter of fact, this could probably be the third in the Nicholas Cage "National Treasure" movies since that is exactly what this story is like-a hero finds himself inadvertently thrown into a treasure hunt and is only guided to i... | [
"Product: The acting, photography and score are tops (Leonard Maltin) in this lively satirical homage from seven-time Academy Award(r) winner* Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard) and his long-time writing partner I.A.L. Diamond (The Apartment). When a beautiful woman claims that her dear husband has disappeared, the in... | 11 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 29 |
A2U1SCO747SUFJ | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Synology Disk Station DS1815+ features an all-new quad core CPU with an AES-NI hardware encryption engine, providing outstanding performance and data encryption acceleration. With four built-in Giga... | I thought Synology devices were expensive when I first started shopping for a NAS a few years ago, but a Synology NAS is more than storage - it's a full server. You can run a website, VPN (PPTP, IPsec, OpenVPN), email server, and much, much more. There are cheaper NAS devices out there, but you get what you pay for. Ev... | I thought Synology devices were expensive when I first started shopping for a NAS a few years ago, but a Synology NAS is more than storage - it's a full server. You can run a website, VPN (PPTP, IPsec, OpenVPN), email server, and much, much more. There are cheaper NAS devices out there, but you get what you pay for. Ev... | [
"Product: For real trees up to 10 foot (3.05 meter) tall. The push-pull ratchet mechanism makes set-up and take-down easier than ever. Three strong galvanized pins in the center of the stand's base help to lock and centralize the tree before final adjustment. A clean leather cloth finish is used on the Express stan... | 27 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 30 |
A2337ZUNGE90FH | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Aqua blue hyacinth placemat is made from sun-dried water hyacinth stems which are woven, dyed, and sewn with cotton and polyester threads. Material wipes clean with a damp cloth. Water hyacinth is a... | I bought these after I got the purple ones and had lived with them a couple of weeks.
The strips of water hyacinth look sort of like super thin pieces of bamboo woven with the colored threads.
They lie nice and flat and don't have any bumps or bits that make plates feel wobbly,
They spot clean very nicely ( dabbing gen... | I bought these after I got the purple ones and had lived with them a couple of weeks.
The strips of water hyacinth look sort of like super thin pieces of bamboo woven with the colored threads.
They lie nice and flat and don't have any bumps or bits that make plates feel wobbly,
They spot clean very nicely ( dabbing gen... | [
"Product: Clara Clark Supreme 1500 Collection Bed Sheet Set, Lavender, Queen (4-Piece)\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Super soft but cheap fabric and construction\n\nReview: These sheets are super soft and the color is exactly what I wanted; but I don't love these because of how cheap the quality and workmanship are.\n... | 23 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 31 |
AJILFNF25WNUQ | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "A. Zavarelli is a romance book junkie, cat lover, and traveler when plagued by intense cases of wanderlust. She likes all things chocolate, books that come with warnings, and pretty much any kind of... | The first book in the Bleeding Hearts Series, Echo is a story of revenge, faith, hate, love and forgiveness. Whew.
Brighten and her twin brother, Brayden...... Tho he tells her he is guilty of the crime he is being sent to prison for, Brighten believes in her brother's innocence. She cannot understand how this could... | The first book in the Bleeding Hearts Series, Echo is a story of revenge, faith, hate, love and forgiveness. Whew.
Brighten and her twin brother, Brayden...... Tho he tells her he is guilty of the crime he is being sent to prison for, Brighten believes in her brother's innocence. She cannot understand how this could... | [
"Product: Hawk's Ascension is a foray into colonial Singapore at a time when the British East India Company's power was waning in the east. The story follows Nathaniel Hawk as he struggles to overcome the ghosts of his past while forging a life in the dangerous world of the high seas.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSu... | 8 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 32 |
A392BGTO28EN6V | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Our highly efficient Apevia 750w Warlock power supply is specially designed for PC gamers and enthusiasts. This quad-rail power supply features 4 independent +12V rails for better power distribution... | <div id="video-block-R1O4VTDVZDWXZZ" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B19dkKn833S.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/913WiZb... | <div id="video-block-R1O4VTDVZDWXZZ" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B19dkKn833S.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/913WiZb... | [
"Product: The newest generation of memory foam, Classic Brands 10-Inch Memory Foam mattress is specifically designed with 3 inches of breathable memory foam and 7 inches of supportive base foam combined to work together to bring you the relaxation you crave and the amazing sleep experience you deserve. Look for mor... | 15 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 33 |
A3IO7MPX2U52HX | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Collection CD POLYDOR, 849271, 1991, 14 Track". The summary of the review text is "Malmsteen's not much of a "Greatest Hits" artist.". | This CD has some great music, but it's hard to compile "Greatest Hits" for Malmsteen because he's not really a "hits" composer. The first two tracks, from his first album are incredible, but then The Collection launches into an overview of his more pop oriented compositions with vocals. All the songs are platforms fo... | This CD has some great music, but it's hard to compile "Greatest Hits" for Malmsteen because he's not really a "hits" composer. The first two tracks, from his first album are incredible, but then The Collection launches into an overview of his more pop oriented compositions with vocals. All the songs are platforms fo... | [
"Product: Logitech Quickcam Pro 4000 - Digital video camera - USB\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Software is awful. Cam is ok.\n\nReview: Bought this and ultimately returned it. Had a cheaper Creative cam before (Creative Labs PD1130 WebCam NX Pro) and loved the SW on it. It worked well and unobtrusively and if you ... | 22 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 34 |
A3TUZGW2KDZ93K | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes -- and the women who love them. Meli rod... | This series gripped me from the beginning, and this second book in the series is no different. It is not for the faint of heart...there is some disturbing content, but it is written well and gives only enough detail to get the point across. The way the story is told is compelling and makes you want to keep reading to ... | This series gripped me from the beginning, and this second book in the series is no different. It is not for the faint of heart...there is some disturbing content, but it is written well and gives only enough detail to get the point across. The way the story is told is compelling and makes you want to keep reading to ... | [
"Product: With the Lekue Popcorn maker, you can prepare healthy and original home-made popcorn in just 3 minutes in the microwave. The innovatively designed collapsible bowl makes for easy storage. Make healthy natural popcorn with no saturated fats. The Popcorn Maker includes tasty recipes, inspired by famous film... | 11 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 35 |
A1OSJ03DD0I9C9 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Ring Light for Camera [Rechargable Battery] Selfie LED Camera Light [36 LED] for iPhone iPad Sumsung Galaxy Photography Phones, White". The summary of the review text is "Great set for Father's Day!... | We have an electric smoker, and learned pretty fast that cloth oven mitts aren't the best when dealing with a smoker. They get dirty FAST and really don't protect well from heat.
This set of tools for BBQing was a total godsend the silicone mitts and potholder were perfect. They're grippy, easy to use, fit perfectly ... | We have an electric smoker, and learned pretty fast that cloth oven mitts aren't the best when dealing with a smoker. They get dirty FAST and really don't protect well from heat.
This set of tools for BBQing was a total godsend the silicone mitts and potholder were perfect. They're grippy, easy to use, fit perfectly ... | [
"Product: For all the Loose Leaf Tea connoisseurs this is a must have. This 10 piece unit will keep your loose leaf tea station organized, functional and pretty. Canisters are 3.25 W inches x 2.5 H. Actual drawer is 8 inches wide, 8 inches deep and 3 inches high.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Perfect for those of us w... | 6 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 36 |
AZJLMAKG5FY72 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "Alan Turing". The summary of the review text is "Alan Turing accomplished two fundamental things: 1. Created ...". | Alan Turing accomplished two fundamental things:
1. Created a model of what we call now a 'computer' - the model is in 2015 called the Turing Machine
2. helped to decipher the Nazi secret codes decades ago
And, unfortunately, because of stupidity of the UK society, killed himself...
Should I search, so to speak, th... | Alan Turing accomplished two fundamental things:
1. Created a model of what we call now a 'computer' - the model is in 2015 called the Turing Machine
2. helped to decipher the Nazi secret codes decades ago
And, unfortunately, because of stupidity of the UK society, killed himself...
Should I search, so to speak, th... | [
"Product: Everything you need to create, customize, print, and share detailed maps containing your own contact address locations, and much more. Create databases of your business information. Import, edit, and map your vital contact manager data, or additional data from Excel or other sources. Display radius inform... | 6 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 37 |
A1YTML4F7N6F7S | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Bag of 100 tea light candles. Unscented, white candles can be used in many different ways. Biedermann & Sons has specialized in unique candles and decorative accessories since 1956. The highest qual... | I have a standing subscription order for these tea lights as I use them on a daily basis; I love lighting one for each member of my family every day.
They burn for a good long time for a tea light candle, which tells me they are a 100% paraffin as described, and not the cheap stuff that most any type of candle is bein... | I have a standing subscription order for these tea lights as I use them on a daily basis; I love lighting one for each member of my family every day.
They burn for a good long time for a tea light candle, which tells me they are a 100% paraffin as described, and not the cheap stuff that most any type of candle is bein... | [
"Product: The worldwide phenomenon comes to life in Fifty Shades of Grey, starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in the iconic roles of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. Ana is an inexperienced college student tasked with interviewing enigmatic billionaire Christian Grey. But what starts as business quickly be... | 6 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 38 |
A2ZOPAP7KYQECC | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "e3". The summary of the review text is "Mostly works, but is it worth the effort?". | I had this system for several years in a previous house.
Pros:
Easy to install. Loud alarm. Effective 95% of the time. Very flexible installation and operation options.
Cons:
Control pad eats batteries. When battery is low, the keypad will not function properly. For example, it won't disable the system when you ... | I had this system for several years in a previous house.
Pros:
Easy to install. Loud alarm. Effective 95% of the time. Very flexible installation and operation options.
Cons:
Control pad eats batteries. When battery is low, the keypad will not function properly. For example, it won't disable the system when you ... | [
"Product: Our Guardian CW-012 Featherweight Cases feature a high-density foam padding, black plush lining and a nylon DuraGuard cover with zipper.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Great case. Better than most that cost more.\n\nReview: I just received this as an early Christmas gift from my Sweetie.\n\nI love it - yup -... | 26 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 39 |
A3OO2SFEKNMTZV | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Richard Castle is the best-selling author of the Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm novels. He is played by actor Nathan Fillion. Tom Straw is an Emmy-nominated TV writer and producer. He has written and ... | I wasn't sure what to expect listening to a book reportedly written by a T.V. character. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the action and suspense that ended with me looking forward to the next installment.
Narrator Johnny Heller does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. He gives each their own disti... | I wasn't sure what to expect listening to a book reportedly written by a T.V. character. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the action and suspense that ended with me looking forward to the next installment.
Narrator Johnny Heller does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. He gives each their own disti... | [
"Product: These premium jar candles are highly scented and are available in beautiful colors that complement any room's decor and a double wick design that allows for hours of clean, even burning. With several unique smells to choose from, all our candles are made in the USA with only the finest quality ingredients... | 6 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 40 |
A3HR0ZZOFKQ97N | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Drivers, start your engines! Gear up and get ready for some high-speed adventures with the Fast Tracks Racing Team by Mega Bloks First Builders. Your little race car driver can build with the tracks... | The Mega Bloks First Builders Fast Tracks Raceway is a solidly constructed, fun toy! that has the added benefit of stimulating creativity while building hand-eye coordination. It can also be used to reinforce learning colors.
The pieces are large and colorful and easy to grasp with small hands. They require little ef... | The Mega Bloks First Builders Fast Tracks Raceway is a solidly constructed, fun toy! that has the added benefit of stimulating creativity while building hand-eye coordination. It can also be used to reinforce learning colors.
The pieces are large and colorful and easy to grasp with small hands. They require little ef... | [
"Product: TEAC's new UD-501 is the star of the 501 series. The UD-501 supports DSD 2.8/5.6MHZ file native playback by ASIO 2.1 or DoP methods or up to 32bit/384kHz PCM. TEAC also packed this incredible unit with two 32-bit BurrBrown DACs per channel and JRC MUSES op amps, dual monaural design, fully balanced XLR as... | 30 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 41 |
A2JP9E1H0SF392 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Black colorway features ELITE Transfer fabric with InRCool technology to provide optimal cooling and sun protection by reflecting UV raysWhite colorway features ELITE Transfer fabric with InRCool te... | I love Pearl Izumi long sleeve (in-R-cool) summer jerseys, but they are friggin expensive. I have plenty of short sleeve jerseys and adding these to the arms for sun protection is just the ticket. I prefer this over lathering my arms with sun screen.
Fitment is a puzzle to me. If I wear Large shirts, should I buy L... | I love Pearl Izumi long sleeve (in-R-cool) summer jerseys, but they are friggin expensive. I have plenty of short sleeve jerseys and adding these to the arms for sun protection is just the ticket. I prefer this over lathering my arms with sun screen.
Fitment is a puzzle to me. If I wear Large shirts, should I buy L... | [
"Product: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Monitor Headphones + Slappa Full Sized HardBody PRO Headphone Case (SL-HP-07)\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Excellent pair of headphones, especially for the price.\n\nReview: I admit it. I have an addiction to headphones. I already have a bunch so didn't need the Audio-... | 50 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 42 |
A2HXE29CU1I24Y | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "20MB/sec sequential read & write speeds / Class 6 Speed Performance / For Windows 2000 SP4 and Mac OS 10.1.2 or higher". The summary of the review text is "Ducati Edition commanding a high price". | SanDisk has partnered with Ducati to create limited edition products for purposes of branding. Ducati has nothing to do with the technology of these memory flash cards, but simply to lend it's name so as to equate the fast motorcycle speed with the fast transfer speed.
FEATURES:
1. SD PLUS - This feature was first s... | SanDisk has partnered with Ducati to create limited edition products for purposes of branding. Ducati has nothing to do with the technology of these memory flash cards, but simply to lend it's name so as to equate the fast motorcycle speed with the fast transfer speed.
FEATURES:
1. SD PLUS - This feature was first s... | [
"Product: As the most critically acclaimed model in the M-Series line, the ATH-M50 is praised by top audio engineers and pro audio reviewers year after year. Now, the ATH-M50xBL (limited-edition blue) professional monitor headphones feature the same coveted sonic signature, with the added feature of a detachable ca... | 68 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 43 |
A19RGDJPNZ7NZ | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "New, Aluminum water bottles; chuck the BPA laden water bottle and step-up to metal bliss. Our new aluminum water bottles have classic wide mouth design making it a sure fit for water filters, spill ... | I use this to mainly take milk to work for my morning cereal. I can usually get two mornings worth out of it, with enough left over for a bit of milk for my coffee on both mornings to boot.
I also have another bottle from another manufacturer with the more common, smaller opening. Once you get used to the wide openi... | I use this to mainly take milk to work for my morning cereal. I can usually get two mornings worth out of it, with enough left over for a bit of milk for my coffee on both mornings to boot.
I also have another bottle from another manufacturer with the more common, smaller opening. Once you get used to the wide openi... | [
"Product: The officially licensed Siberia X300 High-Performance Gaming Headset is the ultimate choice for luxurious comfort and stunning natural audio on the Xbox One and other devices. The iconic Siberia suspension headband comes to Xbox One offering enduring, lightweight comfort for hours of gaming. Powerful, nex... | 106 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 44 |
A31PCCSMDTQ1PU | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "The pianist performs works by Rachmaninoff and Schumann/Liszt in these 1958 and 1972 live performances at the Big Hall of the Moscow Conservatory with the Moscow Philharmonic conducted by Kyrill Kon... | It is not often that an American legend can be caught on a DVD making history but thats exactly what we have here. The sound quality of the 2nd Piano Concerto of Rachmaninoff recorded in 1972 is acceptable for monaurel standards of that time. Performancewise, it is a mystery to me why Cliburn rolls the opening chords o... | It is not often that an American legend can be caught on a DVD making history but thats exactly what we have here. The sound quality of the 2nd Piano Concerto of Rachmaninoff recorded in 1972 is acceptable for monaurel standards of that time. Performancewise, it is a mystery to me why Cliburn rolls the opening chords o... | [
"Product: Sandisk's compact Sandisk SDCZ6016GA11 16GB Cruzer Micro Flash Drive (UFD) connects to your PC's USB port, so you can easily store your key documents, pictures, music and video clips. And with 16GB of storage, Sandisk SDCZ6016GA11 16GB Cruzer Micro Flash Drive can transfer a wealth of digital data onto an... | 10 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 45 |
A3J6V6FWETLBDU | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "2011 two CD compilation from the Scottish pop-sters who scored hits in the late '60s and '70s. Includes the UK number one smash hit 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La Da' and the major US hit 'Reflections of My Life'... | The Marmalade's career wasn't as commercially successful as it might have been - a smattering of UK hits and one (big) American hit, but their material holds up well Few songs are as nostalgia-inducing as 1970's "Reflections Of My Life," which captures the setting of the hippie "peace & love" era to great effect. The... | The Marmalade's career wasn't as commercially successful as it might have been - a smattering of UK hits and one (big) American hit, but their material holds up well Few songs are as nostalgia-inducing as 1970's "Reflections Of My Life," which captures the setting of the hippie "peace & love" era to great effect. The... | [
"Product: Triple Cleaning Performance. Non-Stop Power. This product is ideal for daily maintenance between use of your full size Miele vacuum cleaner.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not ready yet . . .\n\nReview: Well . . . it it doesn't work very well. The suction power seems weak at best. It can pick up threads, lo... | 7 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 46 |
A4J9EMK63RBNE | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Hop on Periwinkle's Frosty Sled inspired by the Secret of the Wings movie and head off on a fun sledding adventure in the Winter Woods. The set includes a baby bunny that bunny bobs up and down when... | My daughter received this as a Christmas present, and loves it. A couple things:
1. It only comes with Periwinkle mini figure. Tink is not included.
2. Peri's skirt had a weird plastic lining that we had to cut out (it wasn't part of her outfit -- it appeared to be there to keep the skirt's appearance fluffed out in t... | My daughter received this as a Christmas present, and loves it. A couple things:
1. It only comes with Periwinkle mini figure. Tink is not included.
2. Peri's skirt had a weird plastic lining that we had to cut out (it wasn't part of her outfit -- it appeared to be there to keep the skirt's appearance fluffed out in t... | [
"Product: Dust free storage and organization for all of your thread spools! The Super Satchel Thread Box with 2 removable thread trays securely holds thread spools regardless of how the closed box is stored (vertically or horizantally). The thread trays offer the capacity to hold (224) 20-millimeter spools, (108) 3... | 31 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 47 |
A1IPKBAP6LOWCR | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Snub nosed dryer with nano-diamond technology-the diamond coating has the highest thermal conductivity of any known solid which allows for professional high heat and faster drying. Tourmaline techno... | I'm happy I got the chance to pick this in the latest Vine newsletter. Every time I go get my hair cut, the stylist always uses the flat attachment to straighten out my hair. When I saw that this dryer had one, I had to try it out.
The overall design is compact and lightweight. I like that it has not only the flat att... | I'm happy I got the chance to pick this in the latest Vine newsletter. Every time I go get my hair cut, the stylist always uses the flat attachment to straighten out my hair. When I saw that this dryer had one, I had to try it out.
The overall design is compact and lightweight. I like that it has not only the flat att... | [
"Product: The Bissell Lift-Off Deluxe Pet Upright Deep Cleaner features two machines in one: a full size deep cleaner for whole room cleaning, plus a portable spot cleaner for hard to reach areas. This 12 amp deep cleaner thoroughly removes deep down dirt and leaves your carpets beautifully groomed. The portable sp... | 12 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 48 |
A3SETGFGBQ9YL3 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Commercial grade vacuum sealer bags are ideal for sealing perishable foods or valuables to protect them in storage. 11 by 16 size, 100-count per package". The summary of the review text is "Excellen... | I have been using Weston vacuum sealer bags instead of Foodsaver brand's bags for over two years now and am very satisfied with their performance and value. These quart size bags are similar in construction and equal in thickness to Foodsaver's bags, and they hold a good seal, protect foods from freezer burn equally we... | I have been using Weston vacuum sealer bags instead of Foodsaver brand's bags for over two years now and am very satisfied with their performance and value. These quart size bags are similar in construction and equal in thickness to Foodsaver's bags, and they hold a good seal, protect foods from freezer burn equally we... | [
"Product: Now there is a way to easily and securely mount your Country Living Grain Mill to a counter or workbench! This indestructible clamp is made from 1/4 steel and will mount to any horizontal surface up to 2 3/8 thick with at least a 1 1/4 lip. Keep in mind that your grinding experience will only be as good a... | 99 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 49 |
A22N03OBDDVSEB | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "The Cars: Ric Ocasek (vocals, guitar); Benjamin Orr (vocals, bass); Elliot Easton (guitar, background vocals); Gregg Hawkes (keyboards, saxophone, percussion, background vocals); David Robinson (dru... | the Cars were a breath of fresh air in 1978. Disco and sappy pop was the rule in '78, but with this release by these Boston modern rockers, it would lead to a 9 year relationship with this band. Led by guitarist,vocalist Ric Ocasek, bassist,vocalist Ben Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, drummer from the Modern Lovers Dav... | the Cars were a breath of fresh air in 1978. Disco and sappy pop was the rule in '78, but with this release by these Boston modern rockers, it would lead to a 9 year relationship with this band. Led by guitarist,vocalist Ric Ocasek, bassist,vocalist Ben Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, drummer from the Modern Lovers Dav... | [
"Product: Includes: All Is Quiet on the Western Front, Hang 'Em High, I Hear the Call, Roverpack, Cheyenne, The Gauntlet, With My Boots On, The Ghost Dance, The Loner, The Preacher, Grace\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Glad I found this again\n\nReview: Southern California rock band that played western themed songs. T... | 102 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 50 |
A1VIPUH954WALF | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "'This album proves once again that they are one of the legitimate and legendary American rock and roll bands of our time' - Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue. 'This is not a case of some 80's band trying to... | First off, new vocalist Solinger is great, but he's no Bach. I saw them open for Kiss a few years ago, and he sounded great live also.
This album is very good. Several tracks are strong. New Generation, Lamb, Thick is the Skin, Born a Beggar, and Hittin a Wall, are the best, and would fit wonderfully on Slave to the Gr... | First off, new vocalist Solinger is great, but he's no Bach. I saw them open for Kiss a few years ago, and he sounded great live also.
This album is very good. Several tracks are strong. New Generation, Lamb, Thick is the Skin, Born a Beggar, and Hittin a Wall, are the best, and would fit wonderfully on Slave to the Gr... | [
"Product: After narrowly escaping the horrors of the underground Hive facility, Alice (Milla Jovovich) is quickly thrust back into a war raging above ground between the living and the Undead. As the city is locked down under quarantine, Alice joins a small band of elite soldiers, led by Valentine (Sienna Guillory, ... | 8 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 51 |
A9AGFKGEQH5DE | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "The GPS watch and heart rate monitor to maximize your run performance. This lightweight GPS watch/heart rate monitor, endorsed by marathon champion meb keflezighi, measures heart rate and critical s... | This is my 3rd GPS watch, and of the 3, it's in the middle. It wins big on comfort--it's very light and easy to wear. But it is ugly. It takes longer than my TomTom to find the satellite, which is cold weather is annoying, but it's better than the Nike+, which never finds the satellite at all. Set-up isn't too difficul... | This is my 3rd GPS watch, and of the 3, it's in the middle. It wins big on comfort--it's very light and easy to wear. But it is ugly. It takes longer than my TomTom to find the satellite, which is cold weather is annoying, but it's better than the Nike+, which never finds the satellite at all. Set-up isn't too difficul... | [
"Product: P14P3 Features: -Pizza pan. -Material: Cast iron. -Hand wash only. -Side loop handles for safe. Item: -Pizza Pan. Material: -Cast Iron. Color: -Black. Dimensions: Overall Product Weight: -11 Pounds. Overall Height - Top to Bottom: -2.5 Inches. Overall Width - Side to Side: -15 Inches. Overall Depth - Fron... | 22 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 52 |
A35VJB4C6QV3IW | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "Together Patch and Nora have overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past, bridged two irreconcilable worlds and faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love ... | I know it's been a while since I was a teenage girl. But even I don't recall anyone as ridiculous as the female characters in Ms. Fitzpatricks books.
In Hush Hush, Nora's best friend Vee grated my nerves to the point where I simply could believe anyone could be that selfishly vapid and irritating and have ANY friends a... | I know it's been a while since I was a teenage girl. But even I don't recall anyone as ridiculous as the female characters in Ms. Fitzpatricks books.
In Hush Hush, Nora's best friend Vee grated my nerves to the point where I simply could believe anyone could be that selfishly vapid and irritating and have ANY friends a... | [
"Product: Breeze through food preparation tasks with the beautifully designed Chef'n StemGem Strawberry Huller. You can even get the kids involved in kitchen prep with this simple, safe, and effective alternative to hulling or coring with a knife. Simply insert the stainless steel claw, push gently, and twist out t... | 7 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 53 |
A3OJFPKMCXKOM0 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Certain criminal cases have a life of their own. Despite the passage of years they continue their hold on the public imagination, either because of the personalities involved, the depravity of the c... | FBI veteran John Douglas (with Mark Olshaker) takes a detailed, analytical look at several infamous crimes including Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden, The Lindbergh Baby, Zodiac Killer, Joan Benet-Ramsey, etc. Only two of these crimes were solved, and even then some wondered if justice had prevailed. As an FBI agent Do... | FBI veteran John Douglas (with Mark Olshaker) takes a detailed, analytical look at several infamous crimes including Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden, The Lindbergh Baby, Zodiac Killer, Joan Benet-Ramsey, etc. Only two of these crimes were solved, and even then some wondered if justice had prevailed. As an FBI agent Do... | [
"Product: William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest playwright the world has seen. He produced an astonishing amount of work; 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 5 poems. He died on 23rd April 1616, aged 52, and was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Nicely Annotated versio... | 24 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 54 |
AOA0XDHSL5GRY | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "The Zoom Model 5341J cable modem meets the cable industry's DOCSIS 3.0 standard for speeds up to 343 Mbps, and also works with lower-speed DOCSIS 2.0 and 1.1 services. And with IPv4 and IPv6 network... | I used this to replace an old Docsis 2.0 Motorola SBG900.
The SBG900 worked well enough until I purchased a Logitech Revue, which has issues with the SBG900, such as dropping connections which required a reboot of the router, among other things.
After doing my research, I found that the Zoom 5341J was Comcast compati... | I used this to replace an old Docsis 2.0 Motorola SBG900.
The SBG900 worked well enough until I purchased a Logitech Revue, which has issues with the SBG900, such as dropping connections which required a reboot of the router, among other things.
After doing my research, I found that the Zoom 5341J was Comcast compati... | [
"Product: From Napco's Web Site: NAPCO has served the HVAC and appliance industry for over 24 years. NAPCOs mission is to manufacture proprietary heating elements in the US and supply high quality generic heating elements in conjunction with supporting heater components to the appliance and HVAC service indust... | 31 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 55 |
A1ZX4J9DUL17GY | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "A stunningly repackaged omnibus, gathering together every short story featuring one of Agatha Christie's most famous creations: Miss Marple. Described by her friend Dolly Bantry as ' the typical old... | Agatha Christie always seems to me serviceable, rather than great, especially when her plots depend on such shallow psychology. However, she had a genius for creating detectives, all of whom are memorable. I find myself recalling even the obscure ones like Mr. Parker Pine and Mr. Harley Quinn. For me, her most inter... | Agatha Christie always seems to me serviceable, rather than great, especially when her plots depend on such shallow psychology. However, she had a genius for creating detectives, all of whom are memorable. I find myself recalling even the obscure ones like Mr. Parker Pine and Mr. Harley Quinn. For me, her most inter... | [
"Product: Knighted for his service to music, with numerous gold and platinum records and Top 40 Hits, Sir Tom Jones is one of the all time great vocalists to emerge from the British Invasion. Following in the spirited and undaunted footsteps of the critically lauded Praise & Blame (2010), and Pop icon though he is,... | 7 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 56 |
AW07NZ2EGA8PP | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "The pocket size of Nissin i40 weights only 203g of weight. It is suitable for filling shadows on even the sunniest of days, suitable for family shooting, indoor/ outdoor shooting and especially suit... | I've had this flash for a year-and-a-half. In A (Auto) mode this flash does the job with the Sony mirrorless. I am not a prolific flash user but there are times it has come in very handy. I have no problem using it as a bounce flash with the diffuser attachment. Overheating does not seem to be a problem with this flash... | I've had this flash for a year-and-a-half. In A (Auto) mode this flash does the job with the Sony mirrorless. I am not a prolific flash user but there are times it has come in very handy. I have no problem using it as a bounce flash with the diffuser attachment. Overheating does not seem to be a problem with this flash... | [
"Product: IP54 rated for water and dust resistance. Features. Withstands a 9.8 foot drop Test. temperature range 62 Max -22 to 932 Max -22 to 1202. adjustable emissivity. Hi and low alarms. dimension - 6.8 x 3.3 x 2.9 in.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: The manual is substandard.\n\nReview: An instrument should be sold ... | 59 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 57 |
A239MFM40GO85W | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Waste King L-2600: 1/2 horsepower garbage disposal with pre-installed power cord and sound insulation. Energy efficient permanent magnet motor and stainless steel swivel impellers help reduce jammin... | I replaced my sink, disposal and faucet all at the same time. I swapped out an old ceramic sink with a stainless steel and my badger 1 disposal with this one. Even with sink types considered, since ceramic sinks usually dampen sound better than SS, this disposal is quiter than the old junky, defective badger 1. I've... | I replaced my sink, disposal and faucet all at the same time. I swapped out an old ceramic sink with a stainless steel and my badger 1 disposal with this one. Even with sink types considered, since ceramic sinks usually dampen sound better than SS, this disposal is quiter than the old junky, defective badger 1. I've... | [
"Product: A lightweight 2-in-1 Lift-Away upright vacuum with a detachable canister for portable cleaning power. With the push of a button, Lift-Away technology allows you to lift the canister away and easily clean in hard-to-reach areas. This vacuum is also equipped with a completely sealed system and a HEPA filter... | 24 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 58 |
AWZXZL8P7UYON | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "World in Conflict: Complete Edition PC". The summary of the review text is "Good Fun for a While". | I can't say this is the greatest game I've ever played, but it was fun and since it didn't cost much, I'd say it was definately worth the money. Had it been a game for $30+, I would not have seen the same value but I think I paid like $10. If I had paid more, like what a normal game costs when its new, I probably wou... | I can't say this is the greatest game I've ever played, but it was fun and since it didn't cost much, I'd say it was definately worth the money. Had it been a game for $30+, I would not have seen the same value but I think I paid like $10. If I had paid more, like what a normal game costs when its new, I probably wou... | [
"Product: MODEL- 49297 VENDOR- THQ FEATURES- Company of Heroes PC Command the Company that Changed the Face of History From the studio that brought you the blockbuster Game of the Year titles Homeworld and Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War comes the next revolution in action st... | 8 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 59 |
A2X0LSVXQY8I39 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "The kingdom of Radata lies in a world where humans and fairy creatures coexist. Jack is the son of the late hero and dragon slayer of Radiata. On his 16th birthday he tries to become a knight of Rad... | This game does have an interesting storyline, however that could have been integrated with a stronger battle system, situation map, and deeper strategical challenge to make the game that much better.
The battle system is not very involved. You control the main character, Jack, and the enemies scatter around as you ... | This game does have an interesting storyline, however that could have been integrated with a stronger battle system, situation map, and deeper strategical challenge to make the game that much better.
The battle system is not very involved. You control the main character, Jack, and the enemies scatter around as you ... | [
"Product: Renowned for its innovative gameplay mechanics, this latest incarnation redefines the Breath of Fire role-playing game. Breath of Fire series for the PlayStation 2 sports a whole new 3D-world look, an engrossing storyline, brand new stylized visuals and innovative gameplay features.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSumm... | 15 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 60 |
A2TRDIO44OUHTO | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "S805 BT DJ Stereo Bluetooth Headphone". The summary of the review text is "Beyond what I expected". | I have a T-mobile Sidekick, and found the headphone jack is in an awkward location, as most holsters cover up the hole. So I went on a quest to find some bluetooth stereo headphones. After looking at the more expensive (about twice the cost) Sony headphones, I found these ones by Motorola. I was concerned that they wou... | I have a T-mobile Sidekick, and found the headphone jack is in an awkward location, as most holsters cover up the hole. So I went on a quest to find some bluetooth stereo headphones. After looking at the more expensive (about twice the cost) Sony headphones, I found these ones by Motorola. I was concerned that they wou... | [
"Product: 8120 Features: -Able Life collection. -Protects against falls and makes standing or sitting easy. -Fits all doors and no vehicle modification required. -Fits parallel to car for comfortable grip and optimal leverage. -Comes with space key compartment. -Perfect for removing ice and annoying bug residue. Pr... | 13 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 61 |
A1UYARR67EP9NC | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Modern science proves that your dog shares the DNA of the wolf. Years of domestication and excellent care have turned your dog from a short-lived potential foe to a long-lived best friend. Although ... | I've tried a lot of different food for my dog over his 10 years of life. Wellness, Wellness Core, Blue Buffalo, and many, many others. Some were good, some not so good. Some were super expensive and some were more reasonably priced. Taste of the Wild is a great food and is a bit in the middle of the road as far as pric... | I've tried a lot of different food for my dog over his 10 years of life. Wellness, Wellness Core, Blue Buffalo, and many, many others. Some were good, some not so good. Some were super expensive and some were more reasonably priced. Taste of the Wild is a great food and is a bit in the middle of the road as far as pric... | [
"Product: High-quality, high tensile strength aluminum foil coated in epoxy resin with strong, cold-weather solvent acrylic adhesive set on a easy-release silicone paper liner to preserve the adhesive and provide ease of use. Meets or exceeds the quality of other leading brands of aluminum foil duct tape (based on ... | 20 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 62 |
A2A8E70X0VXJT0 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "1.0" for a product with description "This36 cu ftDOE equivalent high-efficiency EcoConservetrade washer uses over 70 less water and energy than pre-2004 traditional top load washers The IntelliCleantrade impeller delivers increased was... | The only good thing I can say about this up-to-date, computerized, HE piece of crapola is that it's better than the previous up-to-date, computerized, HE piece of crapola front-loading machine I had before. Sometimes I can get a load clean in one washing with this one, as opposed to the previous "washer."
Other review... | The only good thing I can say about this up-to-date, computerized, HE piece of crapola is that it's better than the previous up-to-date, computerized, HE piece of crapola front-loading machine I had before. Sometimes I can get a load clean in one washing with this one, as opposed to the previous "washer."
Other review... | [
"Product: 7 Piece Gold Testing Acid Jewelry Test Kit w/ Scratch Stone \n10k, 14k ,18k ,22K, Platinum, Silver, and Scratch Testing Stone\n\nFresh from the Factory This Comes with a large testing stone 2\" x 1.5\" \n\nEach bottle has 1/2 fl oz of acid. The sturdy plastic bottles maximize safety and allow the user to ... | 36 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 63 |
A3ODJACL1KY0YU | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, Stalker Duology, Twenty-One... | What can I possibly say about this book or author that hasn't already been said. Clarissa Wild is a freakishly amazing author. Her stories are always fantastically written. They keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The amount of crazy, mystery, and psychotic that she is able to write is scary. Serio... | What can I possibly say about this book or author that hasn't already been said. Clarissa Wild is a freakishly amazing author. Her stories are always fantastically written. They keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The amount of crazy, mystery, and psychotic that she is able to write is scary. Serio... | [
"Product: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laurie London lives in the Seattle area with her family.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: What a Way to Meet!!\n\nReview: Steamy kiss in a dark alley, with a complete stranger? I've never met anyone like that, but I'm not adverse to trying, lol. With a meeting lik... | 7 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 64 |
ANL3T8RWYIK1L | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "1.0" for a product with description "Underrated 1988 album of seamlessly-sequenced carnal funk 'n' pop! Includes "Alphabet St" ; "I Wish U Heaven" and "Glam Slam".". The summary of the review text is "One of Prince's worst album ever."... | If this album sold any copies, it must be because of the cover (nude). The follow-up to the best album Prince has ever recorded, SIGN "O" THE TIMES, is the worst album Prince has ever recorded. Well, one of the worst, if not thee worst.
Prince was set to release another double-disc epic but I guess Warner Bros. wouldn... | If this album sold any copies, it must be because of the cover (nude). The follow-up to the best album Prince has ever recorded, SIGN "O" THE TIMES, is the worst album Prince has ever recorded. Well, one of the worst, if not thee worst.
Prince was set to release another double-disc epic but I guess Warner Bros. wouldn... | [
"Product: CD 101.I Want You Back02.ABC03.The Love You Save04.Got To Be There05.Rockin' Robin06.Ben07.Blame It On The Boogie08.Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)09.Dont't Stop Til You Get Enough10.Off The Wall11.Rock With You12.She's Out Of My Life13.Can You Feel It14.The Girls Is Mine15.Billie Jean16.Beat It17.Wa... | 21 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 65 |
AQBRMBQ99ESI7 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "JOANNA EBERHART HAS COME TO THE QUAINT LITTLE TOWN OF STEPFORD, CONNECTICUT WITH HER FAMILY, BUT SOON DISCOVERS THERE LIES A SINISTER TRUTH IN THE ALL TOO PERFECT BEHAVIOR OF THE FEMALE RESIDENTS.".... | I had never seen or read any version of the Stepford Wives until the remake a few years ago. At that time, I saw the movie and was somewhat entertained. It was a male chauvinist fantasy gone wrong with plenty of elements of comedy. It was not a great movie but it was fun while it lasted. Now I have seen the original an... | I had never seen or read any version of the Stepford Wives until the remake a few years ago. At that time, I saw the movie and was somewhat entertained. It was a male chauvinist fantasy gone wrong with plenty of elements of comedy. It was not a great movie but it was fun while it lasted. Now I have seen the original an... | [
"Product: Round out your hard-disc based rig with the jaw-dropping fidelity of the Delta 1010 PCI Digital Recording Rig. The Delta 1010 combines 8 balanced or unbalanced analog ins and outputs with S/PDIF digital, Word Clock, and MIDI I/O. All channels are capable of 24-bit/96kHz bandwidth for the ultimate in sonic... | 71 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 66 |
AS5WZV6SBZAAK | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "A small Maori village faces a crisis when the heir to the leadership of the Ngati Konohi dies at birth and is survived only by his twin sister, Pai. Although disregarded by her grandfather and shunn... | I never liked and still do not care for the cover art of this movie. Even the title turned me off... it looked like "Free Willy" or some kid/animal movie which I had no interest in.
Somehow this movie made it to my DVD player, and it has become one of my top 10 movies of all time, and I'll tell you why.
Powerful Dra... | I never liked and still do not care for the cover art of this movie. Even the title turned me off... it looked like "Free Willy" or some kid/animal movie which I had no interest in.
Somehow this movie made it to my DVD player, and it has become one of my top 10 movies of all time, and I'll tell you why.
Powerful Dra... | [
"Product: Gator Cases GE-SHLF-SLD-1U 1U Sliding Shelf, 13.8\" Deep, Black\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Sturdy, but as others say, doesn't fit well.\n\nReview: Sturdy shelf? YES.\nDifficult to install? YES.\nImpossible? NO, but it may depend on your Gator rack case.\n\nIf you haven't read other reviews, be forewarn... | 23 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 67 |
A2SDYWB9LB1LYI | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Benvenuto Cellini tells the story of his life as a hot-tempered rebel and outstanding sculptor in Renaissance Italy.". The summary of the review text is "One of the all-time greats". | Benvenuto Cellini was a leading figure of the Italian Renaissance. He was close to the Florentine court and participated in royal intrigues. He was a major artist in a period of major artists, creating numerous works of beauty that can still be seen today. (His most famous work is the statue of Perseus holding the h... | Benvenuto Cellini was a leading figure of the Italian Renaissance. He was close to the Florentine court and participated in royal intrigues. He was a major artist in a period of major artists, creating numerous works of beauty that can still be seen today. (His most famous work is the statue of Perseus holding the h... | [
"Product: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, already the director of almost twenty films by the age of 29, paid homage to his cinematic hero, Douglas Sirk, with this updated version of Sirk's All That Heaven Allows. Lonely widow Emmi Kurowsky (Brigitte Mira) meets Arab worker Ali (El Hedi ben Salem) in a bar during a rainst... | 16 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 68 |
A1JG3Z0ZRRAKLT | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "The Marciano & Co. house brand M&c offers customers superior value in an increasingly competitive market. The M&c product lines draw inspiration from the most popular designs and are ava... | It's Ok and keeps time. Fashon-wize, I think it would be ideal as a disposable watch for a health care professional (nurse, doctor, technitian) who wants an inexpensive watch that they would be afraid to ruin. Although the item that arrived looks EXACTLY like the picture, the reality wasn't quite as cool as the conc... | It's Ok and keeps time. Fashon-wize, I think it would be ideal as a disposable watch for a health care professional (nurse, doctor, technitian) who wants an inexpensive watch that they would be afraid to ruin. Although the item that arrived looks EXACTLY like the picture, the reality wasn't quite as cool as the conc... | [
"Product: At Vater, our goal is simple...to produce the very best drumsticks and percussion accessories in the world.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: Built like a tank. Does sit up and out from where it mounts, though.\n\nReview: I purchased several of these for my mom (who is in a wheelchair). I got this Vater and th... | 42 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 69 |
A2G6GO4O7EVCPF | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "1.0" for a product with description "Some people are willing to die for their friends. How many would die at their hands? Unleash the horror in this terrifying tale of seven friends reuniting at a graveyard to honor the memory of their... | A group of friends go to a graveyard for a game of hide and seek but something happens that night when their friend Eric is accidently killed. Their friend Bobby takes the wrap and is sent in lock up for 5 years. Now 5 years later Bobby is sprung out and the gang all go to remember their friend Eric. They all camp up a... | A group of friends go to a graveyard for a game of hide and seek but something happens that night when their friend Eric is accidently killed. Their friend Bobby takes the wrap and is sent in lock up for 5 years. Now 5 years later Bobby is sprung out and the gang all go to remember their friend Eric. They all camp up a... | [
"Product: VHS\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: If only they let Santa use a machine gun.....\n\nReview: Martians travel to Earth to find the man called Santa Claus played by John Call (The Anderson Tapes, Cinderella) because their Martian children are watching the Earth TV programs. While landing in a city 2 Earth childr... | 37 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 70 |
A2M4U0ZK4R3ZXW | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Rope King ST-300 Sisal Twine - 300 feet - is perfect for shipping departments, industrial packaging, bundling, recycling, handyman, arts and crafts and gardening applications. Natural fibers grip ti... | I used this twine in a Florida Weave (tomato support system) I created in my garden this summer. I would like it if the twine were a bit thicker, but it was hard to find that online, and this was a good price, so I went with it instead and hoped it would work. It was very easy to cut and tie. I used it to support 9 ind... | I used this twine in a Florida Weave (tomato support system) I created in my garden this summer. I would like it if the twine were a bit thicker, but it was hard to find that online, and this was a good price, so I went with it instead and hoped it would work. It was very easy to cut and tie. I used it to support 9 ind... | [
"Product: A professional keyboard cover to keep your keys free of harmful dust and debris. Dust free spandex material stretches to fit 61, 76 or 88-key keyboards. Comes complete with a built-in bag, plastic cord and locking clasp. Locking clasp secures dust cover over keyboard and also fastens bag shut. Entire dust... | 78 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 71 |
ABOM48ZPQGJ9K | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "How to survive good on just working 4 hours a week". The summary of the review text is "Specific Guidance for Startup Entrepreneurs". | This book is an operations manual for people who want more options in life. More options come from having an adequate income stream that is largely independent of your daily involvement. This review is of the original edition published in 2007. The new version is on order and I plan to update this review once read.
"A... | This book is an operations manual for people who want more options in life. More options come from having an adequate income stream that is largely independent of your daily involvement. This review is of the original edition published in 2007. The new version is on order and I plan to update this review once read.
"A... | [
"Product: Totally different from your dad's old needle scale, the Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale uses advanced technology to track weight, lean mass, body fat percentage, and body mass index, allowing you to see all the numbers you need to start living a healthier lifestyle. With room for the storage of up to eight u... | 6 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 72 |
AL5OEDM8TPTKV | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "1.0" for a product with description "Paul is completing his last year of Bible College but is struggling with some desires that may get him thrown out of school.". The summary of the review text is "The Last Year Lasted Five Minutes...... | ... in my DVD player before my boyfriend and I hit the "eject" button. As a fan and appreciator of independent films, I'm more than generous when granting filmmakers a pass on quality if the story and acting is quality. Unfortunately, this film quickly showed a lack of acting ability and quality.
Normally in my review... | ... in my DVD player before my boyfriend and I hit the "eject" button. As a fan and appreciator of independent films, I'm more than generous when granting filmmakers a pass on quality if the story and acting is quality. Unfortunately, this film quickly showed a lack of acting ability and quality.
Normally in my review... | [
"Product: Ultimate Edition is an Action Adventure game, published by Infogrames, which was released in 2002\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: A Big Step Forward\n\nReview: I was one of the reviewers who slammed the first release of the Survivor computer game. Unbelievably boring challenges, tedious camp time that just did... | 29 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 73 |
A11BZ39QSLERNI | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Set in England during a world-wide viral infection, this documentary-style frightfest records the rise of the undead from the videocams of several survivor groups. As each struggles against the fles... | Scattered groups of survivors try to stay alive at the time of a terrible, fast-spreading zombie plague. The movie has us follow their demise in a documentary, shoulder-held camera fashion.
Critics for this low budget, low publicity, UK-made movie have been black and white. People either love it or reject it, there is... | Scattered groups of survivors try to stay alive at the time of a terrible, fast-spreading zombie plague. The movie has us follow their demise in a documentary, shoulder-held camera fashion.
Critics for this low budget, low publicity, UK-made movie have been black and white. People either love it or reject it, there is... | [
"Product: You don't have to be a professional pilot to experience the thrill of ultra-realistic flight combat simulation in this technologically advanced game.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: A \"must-have sim\" for any aviation enthusiast!\n\nReview: In spite of its age, Lock-On remains one of the key references in mil... | 5 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 74 |
A3B086LGMBTXEI | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Title: Dune, Frank Herbert (Hardcover)
Binding: Hardcover
Classics of Modern Literature". The summary of the review text is "Good, but it didn't "grab" me". | After seeing part of the movie (as much as I could stand to watch), I've always avoided this book, but after reading some reviews of it, I decided it was probably just the movie that stunk and gave it a try.
I liked the book. I thought the plot was good, and the characters were solid, and I was always interested to fi... | After seeing part of the movie (as much as I could stand to watch), I've always avoided this book, but after reading some reviews of it, I decided it was probably just the movie that stunk and gave it a try.
I liked the book. I thought the plot was good, and the characters were solid, and I was always interested to fi... | [
"Product: Three slender, yet sturdy layers offer tough protection in a sleek package. With a slim form factor and smooth outer layer, this case slides easily in and out of a pocket, purse or bag.\n\nRating: 2.0\n\nSummary: Not worth the money\n\nReview: I wanted to get a quality case that would protect my phone, an... | 6 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 75 |
A13QM0HT6VXHL5 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Our newest baking essential addition to the Rodelle family our Dutch Processed Baking Cocoa. Our baking cocoa is European Dutch processed for rich flavor and appearance. It contains one of the highe... | I purchased this cocoa twice and I love it. In fact, I love it so much, I gave my granddaughter a bunch of cookbooks for her birthday AND a container of this cocoa beause it's really that good. It's extremely chocolate-y, dark, a little bitter but not in a bad way. Most importantly, it's very finely ground so I've h... | I purchased this cocoa twice and I love it. In fact, I love it so much, I gave my granddaughter a bunch of cookbooks for her birthday AND a container of this cocoa beause it's really that good. It's extremely chocolate-y, dark, a little bitter but not in a bad way. Most importantly, it's very finely ground so I've h... | [
"Product: RSVP strives to offer quality kitchen products and cooking tools at competitive prices.Our set of four Endurance Round Biscuit Cutters, Plain are a perfect example. Whip up some excellent biscuits for your family and friends with these biscuit cutters. The set is constructed from a heavy-gauge polished st... | 19 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 76 |
A2XR3I3HASE747 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Ace in the Hole (1951) / REGION FREE DVD / Audio: English / Subtitles: English, Simp. and Trad. Chinese / Actors: Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling / Director: Billy Wilder". The summary of the review text... | After years of alcohol abuse and slipping around the truth, an East-coast reporter (Kirk Douglas) washes up in dusty New Mexico. When a local man hunting for ancient Indian treasures is trapped by a cave-in under tons of stone, Kirk seizes his chance: He repackages a small private tragedy as the human interest story ... | After years of alcohol abuse and slipping around the truth, an East-coast reporter (Kirk Douglas) washes up in dusty New Mexico. When a local man hunting for ancient Indian treasures is trapped by a cave-in under tons of stone, Kirk seizes his chance: He repackages a small private tragedy as the human interest story ... | [
"Product: United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene... | 7 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 77 |
A1HRECPV2Q79BG | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "The Big Chil has big exterior pockets for your belongings. It insulates contents both hot or cold for 3 hours. It is collapsible. It has a wipe-clean PVC-free interior lining. The Hip Pod has a coll... | I think some of the reviews miss the point of this bag set--it's not for everyone, but it's particularly well-suited to an urban, pedestrian lifestyle. If you drive everywhere, you don't need these. If you walk often, read on.
We live in a city where a lot of shopping is done on foot. Here we still have the butcher, f... | I think some of the reviews miss the point of this bag set--it's not for everyone, but it's particularly well-suited to an urban, pedestrian lifestyle. If you drive everywhere, you don't need these. If you walk often, read on.
We live in a city where a lot of shopping is done on foot. Here we still have the butcher, f... | [
"Product: Extra Large Band-Aid Brand Tough-Strips Extra Durable Adhesive Bandages provide heavy duty durable wound care protection that stays with you all day. These extra durable Band-Aid adhesive bandages are made with Dura-Weave fabric and provide superior adhesion to stay on up to 24 hours. Band-Aid Brand Tough... | 43 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 78 |
A1MCH5RXDOH87H | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "The 48-Count Gel Pens in an Acetate Box by ECR4Kids is ideal for adult coloring, scrapbooking, journaling, drawing, or anything else you are looking to create. Pens are organized in four rows of 12 ... | Not super impressed. The colors honestly are very pretty when you're careful and lay them down evenly which isn't as easy as it sounds. You have to be soft, slow and gentle to get large areas covered smoothly, cleanly and completely. They do go down nice if you take care but we found some of the pens were scratchy when... | Not super impressed. The colors honestly are very pretty when you're careful and lay them down evenly which isn't as easy as it sounds. You have to be soft, slow and gentle to get large areas covered smoothly, cleanly and completely. They do go down nice if you take care but we found some of the pens were scratchy when... | [
"Product: It's the trimmer that's as tough as your beard. The Remington Virtually Indestructible Beard Trimmer Kit is loaded with premium features. Titanium-coated blades provide consistent cutting performance, with bonus detail and stubble blades for total control over your look. High-impact polycarbonate housing ... | 49 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 79 |
A1JZTXHN3OWWM0 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Laura lives in the Southern United States with her family, including a precocious cat that acts like a dog. When she's not daydreaming up future stories, you can catch her wearing out the Kindle app... | The premise of this story scares me...does this kind of thing still happen? Have we not evolved yet? Why is it that the Boys Club can still exist?
Jana is a successful Sales Rep for a medical device company. She has worked diligently to achieve her high standards and the respect of her colleagues and customers.
Jana ... | The premise of this story scares me...does this kind of thing still happen? Have we not evolved yet? Why is it that the Boys Club can still exist?
Jana is a successful Sales Rep for a medical device company. She has worked diligently to achieve her high standards and the respect of her colleagues and customers.
Jana ... | [
"Product: Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. When she's not writing, she's probably shopping, baking, or reading. You can often find Jasinda drinking sweet red wine with frozen berries and eating a cupcake. www.jasindawilder.com\n\nRating: 5.0\... | 5 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 80 |
A3H823MCJOPT90 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "1.0" for a product with description "Features Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE) with a patented print head firing ink droplets as small as 2pl. Combines dye ink for vivid colors and black pigment ink for sharp text... | Printer is small and light, fairly easy to set up until you get to the point where you need to hook the printer up to the USB/Firewire cable. Canon blithely assumes you will have such a cable, and does not include it with the purchase of your printer but it is entirely possible that you may not have the required cable,... | Printer is small and light, fairly easy to set up until you get to the point where you need to hook the printer up to the USB/Firewire cable. Canon blithely assumes you will have such a cable, and does not include it with the purchase of your printer but it is entirely possible that you may not have the required cable,... | [
"Product: An excellent reference tool for both students and skilled artists. Fully articulated right hand manikin holds its pose. Constructed of smoothly finished natural wood and features adjustable wrist, fingers, and thumb. Also known as mannequins.\n\nRating: 3.0\n\nSummary: Limited Possibilities Somewhat Disap... | 13 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 81 |
A24O617GI0GZIJ | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author Michelle A. Valentine is a Central Ohio nurse turned author of erotic romance and New Adult novels. Her love of hard-rock music and tattoos inspire h... | I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
From the first moment they lock eyes Anna and Xavier's chemistry is palpable! She is trying to leave behind a controlling father who is trying to force her to live this bland life and she is yearning to break free and discover everything life has to offer.... | I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
From the first moment they lock eyes Anna and Xavier's chemistry is palpable! She is trying to leave behind a controlling father who is trying to force her to live this bland life and she is yearning to break free and discover everything life has to offer.... | [
"Product: Debra is a native New Yorker who made her escape to the suburbs. She often returns to her hometown to visit her favorite deli for a bagel with butter, because theres no better bagel than a New York bagel. When not in search of bagels, Debra spends her time running Book Enthusiast Promotions, an online pro... | 11 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 82 |
A2REQUI85URT87 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Style, convenience, and power come together in the Cuisinart electric can open. With chrome accents and elegant contours, it fits nicely with other modern countertop appliances. The easy single-touc... | As far as basic functions, this is a good, albeit cheap-looking and cheaply built, basic can opener. However, in an obvious, but misguided attempt to lower the production costs by a few cents, they made the power cord as short as I have ever seen on a counter-top appliance -- about 18 inches, as opposed to the usual 24... | As far as basic functions, this is a good, albeit cheap-looking and cheaply built, basic can opener. However, in an obvious, but misguided attempt to lower the production costs by a few cents, they made the power cord as short as I have ever seen on a counter-top appliance -- about 18 inches, as opposed to the usual 24... | [
"Product: Quicken Will Maker Plus is the easiest way to create your estate plan, whether you're just getting started or you want to update your previous arrangements. This powerful software guides you through the process from beginning to end, giving you the practical and legal information you need to make the best... | 55 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 83 |
A10QUY14I0ZYFL | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "1.0" for a product with description "The original Snappy Trainer was the most effective, least expensive product of its type available. Still sold in 3 packs! Now shipped assembled with pride in the USA, deeper grooves under the mount... | DO. NOT. BUY. THIS! This product is WAY too expensive for what it is and is a huge rip off! All it is is a cheaply made wooden Victor mouse trap you can buy for 50 cents at the hardware store and a red piece of plastic that goes over the metal part of the trap. You can probably make your own by cutting a plastic take o... | DO. NOT. BUY. THIS! This product is WAY too expensive for what it is and is a huge rip off! All it is is a cheaply made wooden Victor mouse trap you can buy for 50 cents at the hardware store and a red piece of plastic that goes over the metal part of the trap. You can probably make your own by cutting a plastic take o... | [
"Product: Good cuting and high quality, every woman should have these earrings. They are suitable for all kinds of gathering, such as wedding, party, ball,etc.\n\nRating: 4.0\n\nSummary: Pretty but not so functional\n\nReview: This jewelry is stunning and beautiful. It seems like good quality and good for the price... | 52 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 84 |
A23P5BO1UGNIRR | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "A baker's essential! End the baking process profoundly by placing your fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies, cakes, and breads on these Stackable Cooling Racks. Made of durable, lightweight chrome, this se... | This is a nice set of icing bottles for fine decorations of the type you might do on cookies and cake pops, or for writing on cakes. The bottles open easily, are softly squeezable for good icing flow, and come with reusable caps so you don't have to toss or remove your icing to store leftovers. I melted some candy melt... | This is a nice set of icing bottles for fine decorations of the type you might do on cookies and cake pops, or for writing on cakes. The bottles open easily, are softly squeezable for good icing flow, and come with reusable caps so you don't have to toss or remove your icing to store leftovers. I melted some candy melt... | [
"Product: With friendly faces and matching zipper-pulls, Zoo Lunchies make lunchtime fun time! Sized just right for little kids or a mom and baby on-the-go, these soft lunch bags have a roomy main compartment that holds sandwiches, snacks, drinks and more. An insulated, wipe-clean interior keeps food and drinks col... | 200 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 85 |
A13OWJOBS7Z90I | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Gina Lake is the author of over twenty books about awakening to one's true nature, including From Stress to Stillness, All Grace, In the World But Not of It, The Jesus Trilogy, A Heroic Life, T... | I adore Gina Lake's writing and the voice she gives to Theo, the entity she channels. Each book brings gentle, guiding messages to each of us. The work is similar in meaning to Eckhart Tolle's work, but a bit less esoteric and a bit easier to understand for those of us who make need that :-D
Getting into the FLOW of l... | I adore Gina Lake's writing and the voice she gives to Theo, the entity she channels. Each book brings gentle, guiding messages to each of us. The work is similar in meaning to Eckhart Tolle's work, but a bit less esoteric and a bit easier to understand for those of us who make need that :-D
Getting into the FLOW of l... | [
"Product: From the producer of Alice in Wonderland comes a new vision that turns a legendary tale into an action-adventure epic. The evil Queen Ravenna (Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) will rule forever if she can take the life of Snow White (Kristen Stewart), so she dispatches the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) ... | 5 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 86 |
A1WCJQWPDVH5RY | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "J.M. Benjamin is a successful, powerful and impacting author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker from Plainfield, New Jersey. Since released from prison he has received numerous of accolades and ... | He's back like he never left, why is that? Because he never left us without a book to read. Mr. Benjamin comes back strong in this third part to the series. Be forewarned you will need part 4 and quick. Yes I said it, you will not be ready for this series to end, you are going to need more.
We pick up three years late... | He's back like he never left, why is that? Because he never left us without a book to read. Mr. Benjamin comes back strong in this third part to the series. Be forewarned you will need part 4 and quick. Yes I said it, you will not be ready for this series to end, you are going to need more.
We pick up three years late... | [
"Product: Moses Miller is an award winning author, journalist and co-founder of Mind Candy, LLC, which is a company focused on book publishing and the development of creative and thought provoking screenplays. A native New Yorker, Moses exhibits the uncanny ability to capture the pulse of the streets with intellige... | 11 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 87 |
AI6BUH5TK5ZWT | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "In August 1914 the two greatest navies in the world confronted each other across the North Sea. This is a book about leadership and command, bravery and timidity, genius and folly.". The summary of ... | Castles of Steel is the "sequel" to Massie's superb Dreadnought. Dreadnought covered the unification of Germany, the establishment and massive expansion of the German Navy, which catalyzed the gradual deterioration of relations between Britain and Imperial Germany which was a prime driver of WWI as we know it. Castles... | Castles of Steel is the "sequel" to Massie's superb Dreadnought. Dreadnought covered the unification of Germany, the establishment and massive expansion of the German Navy, which catalyzed the gradual deterioration of relations between Britain and Imperial Germany which was a prime driver of WWI as we know it. Castles... | [
"Product: Max Hastings is the author of twenty-six books, most about conflict, and between 1986 and 2002 served as editor-in-chief of the Daily Telegraph, then editor of the Evening Standard. He has won many prizes both for journalism and his books, of which the most recent are All Hell Let Loose, Catastrophe and T... | 4 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 88 |
AOI2MD752ZWFU | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "What's more fun than a logging toy truck? One that lets kids play lumberjack with squishy, colorful Play-Doh compound! This toy construction truck for kids ages 3 and up lets kids make and haul thei... | Even my 3 y/o daughter got in on this play-doh action. Anyway, my two boys ages 5 and 7 are still having loads of fun with this. I think the best part is the truck, because well, its a truck and my boys are playing with it with their other cars and trucks.
The actual intended use of the truck and its two blades, func... | Even my 3 y/o daughter got in on this play-doh action. Anyway, my two boys ages 5 and 7 are still having loads of fun with this. I think the best part is the truck, because well, its a truck and my boys are playing with it with their other cars and trucks.
The actual intended use of the truck and its two blades, func... | [
"Product: Take care of your Wii U GamePads charging needs with the Tomee Charge Cable for Wii U GamePad. Compatible with the GamePad, this cable is 10 feet in length, and plugs into any open USB port on the Wii U, allowing for simultaneous play and charge.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: 27,000 Stars, Nintendo get a clu... | 29 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 89 |
A3419UGPGGIKNE | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Evapo-Rust is a product of extensive research, Evapo-Rust rust remover is an environmentally safe water based product that has been proven to make even deep rust disappear without any scrubbing. It'... | Evapo-rust is now a standard part of my garage. I work at restoring various motorcycle and car parts and nothing I have found is as effective as this and completely non-toxic. I have had a few friends try this and the reaction is always the same - they buy a gallon immediately and are amazed how well it works.
Often... | Evapo-rust is now a standard part of my garage. I work at restoring various motorcycle and car parts and nothing I have found is as effective as this and completely non-toxic. I have had a few friends try this and the reaction is always the same - they buy a gallon immediately and are amazed how well it works.
Often... | [
"Product: Exclusively from Saga Musical Instruments, Golden Gate musical instrument cases continue the tradition of making high-quality, durable, and affordable cases by offering a new line of Deluxe Vintage cases designed for the professional player, but with the beginner's budget in mind. Available for Dreadnaugh... | 25 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 90 |
AXKOFQ3C2H0L1 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "3.0" for a product with description "LP35236-PEU Color: Black Features: -Belt pack.-3D contoured mesh lumbar belt with dual-adjust system evenly distributes weight and provides extra comfort.-Materials: 600D polyester, 420D nylon doubl... | I've been trying to find the perfect bag on Amazon - at this point, I've tried several (which I list at the end of the review). I would have to recommend the Dolica Shoulder Bag over this.
Why?
I was expecting to love a belt pack camera bag, being easier to access than a shoulder bag. However, this bag is simply too ... | I've been trying to find the perfect bag on Amazon - at this point, I've tried several (which I list at the end of the review). I would have to recommend the Dolica Shoulder Bag over this.
Why?
I was expecting to love a belt pack camera bag, being easier to access than a shoulder bag. However, this bag is simply too ... | [
"Product: TASCAM's incredible DR-40 lets you take true 4-track recording on the go! This impressively affordable 4-track recorder gives you all of the tools you need to capture audio anywhere in any environment. Want to record live music? Plug the main feed from the board right into the DR-40 and use the built-in m... | 29 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 91 |
A2GJX2KCUSR0EI | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Vintage paperback". The summary of the review text is "another enjoyable adventure for Garrett and crew". | This book is a little less of an adventure and a little more of a detective story than the first book in this series. As such, I think the detective story is pretty good. Glen Cook has dreamed up quite a few suspects, all with realistic motives. I could not predict the eventual culprit, and there were a few things e... | This book is a little less of an adventure and a little more of a detective story than the first book in this series. As such, I think the detective story is pretty good. Glen Cook has dreamed up quite a few suspects, all with realistic motives. I could not predict the eventual culprit, and there were a few things e... | [
"Product: Foil liners for grease catch pan. The inside dimensions of the pan are 7 inch by 5 inch by 1 inch. The outside of the dimensions are 8 inch by 6 inch by 1 inch. The drip pans fit Weber Q grills, Spirit gas grills, Genesis gas grills, Genesis II / Genesis II LX 200 and 300 series gas grills.\n\nRating:... | 200 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 92 |
AD3EX5UG7UZPB | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Record live music, lectures and notes with this digital voice recorder featuring a built-in 2GB flash memory, a memory card slot and an easy-to-read display. Press record and capture every sound. Th... | Okay, let's start with WAY OVERPRICED, However, a very good unit... I got this on super clearance at a Walgreens of all places for a cool 20 bucks - brand new, unopened. I don't think it is worth the retail price here (I think the retail at Walgreens on this was about 70, MAYBE 80) but it is a recorder of high quality.... | Okay, let's start with WAY OVERPRICED, However, a very good unit... I got this on super clearance at a Walgreens of all places for a cool 20 bucks - brand new, unopened. I don't think it is worth the retail price here (I think the retail at Walgreens on this was about 70, MAYBE 80) but it is a recorder of high quality.... | [
"Product: What's so special about the Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar? The super-low price for starters and that's not all. It gives you all the essential elements of a Les Paul. Made with a mahogany body, bolt-on mahogany neck, smooth 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, this baby is every bit as handsome as... | 55 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 93 |
A93AYSDMVYD8W | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "Produced by FOGERTY, one of rock's most important artists and a national treasure who s sold over 100 million records, WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE is a celebration of his iconic songbook and a collect... | I have to admit that I approached this album with some trepidation, after all, we are talking Creedence Classics, and any re-working of those great songs are sure to ruffle some feathers. As it turns out, there was no need for concern, for it has been managed very, very well. Mind you, it's not without its faults, but ... | I have to admit that I approached this album with some trepidation, after all, we are talking Creedence Classics, and any re-working of those great songs are sure to ruffle some feathers. As it turns out, there was no need for concern, for it has been managed very, very well. Mind you, it's not without its faults, but ... | [
"Product: When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, an... | 7 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 94 |
A1LK03QPWLVTGM | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "5.0" for a product with description "This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages.". The summary of the review text is "A Particular and Unique Account of WW1 Tren... | Very enjoyable vernacular account of one very enterprising American who went to war with the Canadians in WW1. He was a machine gunner, but brought his naturally developed marksmanship, and above all field craft skills, to bear as a part time sniper, when the Canadians first got round to employing and training snipers.... | Very enjoyable vernacular account of one very enterprising American who went to war with the Canadians in WW1. He was a machine gunner, but brought his naturally developed marksmanship, and above all field craft skills, to bear as a part time sniper, when the Canadians first got round to employing and training snipers.... | [
"Product: Cleanblend has designed the perfect blender to help you through the journey to better health. It is an all-in-one appliance that makes smoothies, fresh juice, ice cream, milk shakes, cappuccinos, margaritas, soups, sauces, batters, dressings, salsas and more! It replaces up to 9 other appliances with 1 fa... | 13 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 95 |
AHBU2B13R5SVF | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are gratef... | 4.5 stars
I read this as a WIP and then having obtained the book when it was published put off writing a review until I reread it. There is little resemblance to canon although we do have most of our main characters from such.
Set at Rosings and then in London the Bennets are living nearby the former as Dr. Bennet h... | 4.5 stars
I read this as a WIP and then having obtained the book when it was published put off writing a review until I reread it. There is little resemblance to canon although we do have most of our main characters from such.
Set at Rosings and then in London the Bennets are living nearby the former as Dr. Bennet h... | [
"Product: In the years before the Civil War, the Mains and Hazards achieve their triumphs and suffer their tragedies against the panorama of American history. 2 cassettes.\n\nRating: 5.0\n\nSummary: \"To pause and look back when thou hearest the sound of my name\": Gerald Griffin\n\nReview: Each chapter has a quote... | 33 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 96 |
A2H587O1MJCEL9 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Paul Barach is a stand up comic, storyteller, producer, and writer from Seattle, Washington. After graduating from Carleton College, he backpacked across Europe, taught English in South Korea, ran t... | A reader who doesnt get a sense of where this travel memoir is headed from the description surely will if they pause to consider the two quotes that proceed the prologue.
Every day some new fact comes to lightsome new obstacle which threatens the gravest obstruction. I suppose this is the reason which makes the game s... | A reader who doesnt get a sense of where this travel memoir is headed from the description surely will if they pause to consider the two quotes that proceed the prologue.
Every day some new fact comes to lightsome new obstacle which threatens the gravest obstruction. I suppose this is the reason which makes the game s... | [
"Product: Maria is the author of the Sedona O'Hala mystery series, the Moon Shadow urban fantasy series and several short stories, including two anthologies for Kindle. She has published stories in Coyote Wild Magazine, TownDrunkMag.com and "Over My Dead Body." Her latest novel is a fantasy adventure: Dra... | 7 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 97 |
A1UWPSFAJKKAW0 | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "Catherine Fisher is an acclaimed novelist and poet, and has written many fantasy books for young people. She lives in Wales.". The summary of the review text is "3.5 Stars - Not quite as good as the... | lot Summary: Finn has finally escaped the sentient prison known as Incarceron, but he's tormented with guilt because his oath-brother Keiro is still trapped inside. The Warden himself is now trapped in the prison, and his daughter Claudia is trying to hold his place on the Outside, but the Queen wants to undermine bo... | lot Summary: Finn has finally escaped the sentient prison known as Incarceron, but he's tormented with guilt because his oath-brother Keiro is still trapped inside. The Warden himself is now trapped in the prison, and his daughter Claudia is trying to hold his place on the Outside, but the Queen wants to undermine bo... | [
"Product: We've built in all of the best features for function and comfort into our Deluxe Grocery Bag. These rugged bags can comfortably carry a load full of bottles or other heavy items without tearing or breaking. The 6 pop-out bottle sleeves help keep tall items upright and in place, or leave them empty for the... | 14 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 98 |
A3KEZLJ59C1JVH | Generate the review text written by a reviewer who has a given an overall rating of "4.0" for a product with description "BBC Ones much praised, multi-award-winning drama Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, returns for an eagerly awaited third series of three, 90-minute films The Empty Hearse, ... | I had a feeling "Sherlock" would slowly start getting a bit wobbly as the seasons wore on and the producers focused on the best and most well-known of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, leaving less and less material to work with. I was right. Season 3 consists of three episodes, the best being "The Sign of Three," whic... | I had a feeling "Sherlock" would slowly start getting a bit wobbly as the seasons wore on and the producers focused on the best and most well-known of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, leaving less and less material to work with. I was right. Season 3 consists of three episodes, the best being "The Sign of Three," whic... | [
"Product: ATTENTION: Touch Screen Sensitivity *Touch Sensitivity Adjustment: Go to your phone Settings menu - Advanced Features - Turn On Touch Sensitivity *Sensitivity of the Home Button: Go to your phone Settings menu - Display - Navigation Bar , youll see the Hard Press Home Button feature. The default setting i... | 84 | longlamp_3 | user_based | 99 |
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